Nick Carter Weekly (no. 284) (1902 06 07)

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a oS _ * Fora iy BS a Te ] HE THIRTEEN CLUB soe iS oS ds we oe Me. Se SS ND CHICK LEAPED FORWARD, AND THE MEN WERE HURLED BACK, INSTANTLY NICE

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Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year. NIGKQGAIRTIER WEEKLY Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, ¥ STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., N. Y; Entered according to Act ef Congress in the year 19aa, in the Office of the Librartan of Congress, Washington, D. C, No. 284. NEW YORK, June 7, 1902. Price Five Cents. Nick Carter and the Thirteen Club; OR, TRAILING A TRIPLE MURDERER. By the author of “NICHOLAS CARTER.” CHAPTER TI. A DOUBLE MURDER. “Have you read the morning papers, Nick?” Chick asked the question as he bounded into Nick Carter’s private room in New York early one morn- ing in September. | “Yes,” replied Nick, looking up from the work of packing a small valise; “what do you make of it?” Familiar as Chick was with the odd ways of his chief, he stopped and stared at him with a blank look on his face. ~ “What do I make of what?” he asked. “Of the case you came here to talk about,” was the sober reply. Chick threw himself into a chair and lit a cigar. x “Perhaps,” he said, “you can tell me the name of the case I came here to talk about?” Nick never looked up from his work of packing: “Of course I can,” he replied. “You're a° mind reader if you can,” said Chick, “for the papers are full of murders, burglaries, and embezzlement cases this morning.” “But,” replied Nick, “there is only one case in the whole lot calculated to put a detective on his mettle.” “Welt?” : “And you, being a good detective,’ continued Nick, “came here to talk about that one case.” “When you get done with your flattery,” said Chick, with a pleased look on his face, “perhaps you'll have the kindness to give a name to that one case.” “ “Certainly. It is the double murder down in Ohio.” | “Correct. Queer case, isn’t it?” ee

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i . “Decidedly so, I should judge, although the papers ‘ Say very little to the point.” » . | “14 like to.take a.whack at it,” said Chick. ; : “How s6on.car. you get ready?” . “To go to Ohio?” fe ¥es.”. ERT Kg 4 ST am: ready now,” was the: excited reply: ‘Have _-you accepted the case.” ee ions. a _ Chick threw his hat towned the ceiling, and gave a most undignified whoop. _ “Tt’s just the thing,” he said. , “I’m dying for a beeath of fresh air. Tt seems as if I’ ‘d ipert working a on city bases for the last million years.” aS 2 afraid. this. Ohio case w on't prove. much of @ a picnic,’ * said the detective. ; y “Who employed you?” > - “The Cousty authorities.” Mano ewe Ma eet. eee | Bane say not.” — ae: a ~ Chick laughed. Meigs of ral # - * “They wouldn't t know a “clew from a red barn,” he said. : “Ww hen do you start”? * ; cy “mn ten minutes,” caged Nick, ee. at his ah that he had five minutes to sare. © ‘the next mornirig the detectives found them- in 1 Toledo, and about ten o'clock they ‘alighted ia a pry at the sini, ay of fis chief,and he began inti at once; y Idon 1 a “blind siding,” some distance views vo Sid have feed "P the i white éle- “the bodies found?” is ee to “other side of | this door, and ni wife was Le NICK: CARTER WEEKLY. . Sens - ae “Ts it the hay 3:48 ae Chick: ?” asked nthe sheriff. . “Thre same.’ “Toexpected to see a couple of giants, ” said the shériff, with a smile. “Well, we are all here,” repliéd Nick,’ “$0 you see all there is of us. You may as well take us to the house~ at» once.” . “Tt is just over the hill,” said the sheriff, “and I ‘can tell you all I know of the case as we walk along.” “Don't say a word about it,” replied Nick, “I want to get my own impressions first.” If five minutes the three men stopped at a com- fortable farmhouse, ne tee a short distangé from the main road. 7 “This is the Weldon place,” said the sheriff, “and here is where the murders were committed.” “I understand,” said Nick, stopping at the. rear door, “that the murdered man and his wife were alone in the house at the time the deed w as con~ ‘mitted? The. papers said that much?” “Yes, all alone, and the Dodies were not found until the next. morning.” f 2 “And that was the. day before yesterday: atk ee “Ves; the murders were committed on Sunday night.” when does. tle ‘ieral take place: ins asked. Nick. “It took place yesterday afternoon.” ae gs “That's “bad,” said Nick. “You. should have waited ‘until I got upon thé-ground’” = “The relatives insisted’ probes Livaciy sd bios : “Ah!” Fisk 3 ee -- The sheriff, Bae igs stance i in nthe direction mS. fey detective. cine SOE Sot “Surely,” he said, pod don't suspect, the rela. tives? SRD PRET see PETRY “T suspect no one,’ was the diol “Where “ere ; “The man was found on the ‘kitchet floor é sleeping-Foon." te ee + af “Ont the floor? rsd cs. She had we shot three ste

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 3 the arm, once in the back, and once through the heart.” f { The sheriff opened the kitchen door and began pointing out the bloodstains on the floor. > “Wait,” said Nick, darting into the room. “Has anything been moved since the rile of the mur- ders?” 7 “Nothing ; I have been very careful about that, both here and at the barn.” sy “Show me the sleeping-room,” a The sheriff led the way through the dining-room ‘and opened a door leading into a large bedroom. s _ “They slept here,” he said, “and here is where fe the body of Mrs. Weldon was found.” ‘ _ There was a heavy rag caspet on the floor, and _ Nick examined it carefully. © ~~ Then he paused for a moment in the dining-room ae and hastened to the kitchen. ~ ~ When the sheriff got to the ae room he found = athe: cellar. door open, and heard the detective prowl- _in 1g around among the barrels and potato bins. Lo “There is ‘nothing to be learned down there,” he Te _ Said, turning to Chick. “He is only losing time.” : “We pa Mace was the e reply. at, ae ae Rin sty 54 . “What do you make of it?” asked the sheriff. EP ee ¢ Weldons were away from home in the even- “ing hisfage'she-soprder asked Nick. ‘ "Yes, _ How did you find that out oS ¢ Ni begin Ses _ in the aan where 1e |: = were “filled in the fiona he said, 7 es aioe : ARE have: not been “How do you know that?” demanded the sheriff, in surprise. Nick pointed to some drippings of tallow on the floor of the kitchen, and then hastened out to the barn. He returned in. a few moments with a large tin pail and a crushed candle in his hand. “The murderers were waiting for them when they got home,” he said, addressing the sheriff, soon as they were in bed, they knocked on the kitchen door.” “and as “How do you know they were not in the house?” asked the sheriff. “Because Weldon got out of bed, probably very softly so as not to awake his wife, who was asleep, “and opened the kitchen door. “Then a bullet was fired from an unusually large revolver, and the poor fellow fell dead in his tracks.” “Yes.” “The sleeping wife pidbotity mistook the sound of the shot for the slamming of the kitchen door, and got up to let her husband into the house.” “He might have let eet in,” said the sheriff, _“if that had been the case.’ _ Nick pointed to a night lock on the kitchen door. “You must remember, ” he said, “that Weldon-did not take his keys to bed with him. They were in the pocket of his trousers, lying « on a chair at the head of his bed.” “ “That is where they were found,” said the sheriff. “Of course. morning, and the people who took charge of his ef- fects were obliged to allow his watch to run gin — “You have guessed it exactly.” “There is “no guess work about it,” said Nick. “When the trousers were taken from the back of the chair the key fell out and remained hidden between — the chair and the wall. bats is a peculiar Keys and a, no other will fit the watch “Right again. You ath be a wizard.” They were found there the next. eo” ee gta Weldon’ heard the dere id suinet ae

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4A she saw the man who had done the shooting, stand- ing by the door with a candle in his hand.” The sheriff was too surprised to make reply. “The candle went out when it fell from the hand of the murdered man,” continued Nick, “and the murderer had just relit it when the woman made her appearance.” Chick began to look decidedly interested. “He had some difficulty in lighting it,” resumed Nick, “for the reason that the wick had been best ‘ over in the fall. He used the stub of the match to straighten it wp with, and then advanced upon the ¥ woman.” 4 - “The match is there on the floor, behind the door,” Ne said Chick. “I saw it a moment ago, and noticed that a it was burned short, and that what remains of it is covered with tallow.” : sf . “Exactly,” said Nick. “The woman fled, but re- ie “ ‘ ceived a shot in the arm before she got to the door.” _ » “Which arm?” asked the sheriff, with a smile. a Nick saw in a moment that it was the purpose of nA: ‘ the officer to quiz him. “In the right arm,” he feplied, Bea 8 “Why the right arm?” ES thy _ “Because the blood dripped on the right side of "the room, facing the dining-room door: he I cor- _ rect?” , eee e 3 "Yes; go on.” fe : of _ “As soon as she cedicuedd the dining-room,”, con- fs ‘tinued Nick, “another shot was fired, this time strik- i. a in the back.” “What makes you think so?” ns the wound in the breast had been received in i re “yr see.” ” “She gained t the sleeping-room and fell to the floor. ' ortega, inf third wound, fired from, a very of Ae “we ea a heavy revolver 0 once before,” not seen the wounds, ee. the sheriff. Bes suggested, the apelin 5 Sg 8 et it ae NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Because,” replied Nick, “the bullet went through the body, through the carpet and the floor, and landed in the cellar.” The detective handed-a flattened piece of lead to the slreriff as he spoke. “There,” he said, “is the bullet which finished the work begun in the kitchen.” “Tt is strange,” replied the sheriff, “that none of my officers found it.” “After killing the woman,” continued the detect- e, “the murderer went to the pantry in search of a lantern. He searched the place, but did not find one, for the very good reason that it had been left in the barn by the farmer.” “What next?” asked the sheriff. hts ge des +O het ee ages “Failing to secure a lantern, he conceived the idea of using a tin pail to protect the flame of his candle from the wind. “You can see where the blaze burned the bottom.” “T see,’ ’ said the sheriff. “Then he went to the barn and took a white hibeas. “trons the rear stall on the right hand side.” “He certainly did.” “The horse had been used by Weldon and his wife that night, and fad not finished eating his oats, so the murderer had wate a struggle getting him away from the manger.” “Yes, the horse was a pet, and probably resented being taken out at that time of night by a stranger.” “In the struggle the murderer dropped the candle and the pail, but finally got the horse out of the barn, hitched him in the corner there by the wall, and re- entered the house.” “How do you know it was a otk horse?” asked “How do you know it was hitched there in the corner?” “There are white hairs where the beast bensee: st the wall,” was the reply, io of horse's feet in the flower bed.” “But they may have been made at some 4 > nd So ery rs Gs ae ai eg “and there are w a

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rss el ardty,” replied Nick. “Weldon would not have tied a horse on his wife’s flower bed.” “Well,” said the county official, drivet: into a cor- "into the house?” * “The body of the farmer was moved after the blood ean to dry,” was the ‘reply, “and the murderer "searched the dresses i in the sleeping-room before he : ~ washed his hands, which were not bloody when he - got the horse.” Cs The sheriff started. Be: “We did not ascertain that the house had been r: searched,” he said. — “Tt was searched most carefully,” was the reply, - ‘and the searcher did not oh what he was look- hig atier” 2 : aie “How do: you waow tS ES “Because he. started away once or twice and re-. ed, and because he was finally frightened away.” have found a man who passed the place at it,” said the sheriff, “and all was quiet then,” . “Had he turned in,” said Nick, “he would have 2 nd _the murderer sitting Sins saddle there af Poe f ide’, S. ea ae a) Tq 1 as 7 re ie 7 “The Siieerdered Pails Nicks, ves endeavor- sd solely case, he should have taken SNS | “of ye tee tangle i in was Hot g for panes, ; NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 5 r, “what makes you think the murderer went back | -called on him here?’ — . ing to leave the i pression ‘that the crime was com- ‘Not that I know of,” for he purpose of robbery. That be- Bis, lived long enough.” ~ " | th think: se J : “Certainly not. Do you know whether Weldon or his wife had any bitter enemies in this vicinity?” “T think not.” “What sort of a man was ne? “About thirty-five, healthy, jolly, and worth twenty or thirty thousand dollars.” A “His heirs?” . “There is but one—a boy of five years, now visit- ing his mother’s sister in Indiana. It was thought best to keep him away from the scene of the tragedy, Se 2 Ce ‘¢, tae . 4 sr ~“ peal Ligeti gat, 2. as he is nervous and timid.” “Was Weldon born in these parts?” “Yes, but he left at the age of twenty, and re- turned and married a neighbor's daughter about six years ago,” “Where did he bie ibinielt during the nine years he was away?” * a vee Geer a te, Pos 7 ome es ae oh silat on aaa - “No one knows. | It is.said he lived a wild life. He as always had plenty of money when he returned home _ a on a visit, which happened about three times during — me - the whole period.” ~ ee “Did he ever talk about those nine years: ih a a ~~ a N ever,’ os bs: “Do you know whether’ any of his old friends ever he “T think not.” | Saas “Had he any business Ss Ize r “Property all invested around here?” io engnet “I think so, and yet he ‘occasionally talked of a very large fortune he was likely to get some Way if “Did he ever r say Where tt it wae, 53 wat eh: wasn h ce tarone yrs | WS 6 2 i ie. ” : 7 “You beat told eat be See ever heard ae about ce ‘7 er vy ;

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¢ “I always thought he referred to an endowment . policy.” "After making another careful examination of the premises, the two detectives left the house, first warn- ing the sheriff to say nothing of their arrival. . At the “blind siding” was a small hotel, patronized pe: principally by farm hands and section men, and here a 3 the two detectives registered, leaving word with the Be: _ proprietor that they would like employment at any, "kind of farm work. 4 her: CHAPTER II. g ee THE -, “What do you make of it now?” ieee “You heard what Sheriff Colleton said about the five-year-old boy ?” “The heir to the estate? Certainly.” © S: " ©Well, don’t you think he ought “ have pretty good care?” (94 ss “What are you driving at, Chick?” 4 “I mean that he ought to be guarded day and 3 ‘right. m “Goon. That is not all you started to say.” ; — stands between this fortune and a a lot of rela- THIRTEEN CLUB. and Nick and his assistant were sisting in the “Mchen of the deserted farmhouse. ate Outside, the level fields were flooded with the light a quien gr and the crickets were chirping in af a pet nearly twelve ° cent and the detectives had st succeeded in getting out of the hotel unobserved. $3 Hundreds of people had visited the premises dur- z the day, but no one had been allowed to enter the st after the departure of the detectives. ‘ou ou may be right,” replied Nick, “but I can 't be- re the r are mixed up in the affair.” he spoke, the detective unrolled a bundle which peril his arm, ib blankets NICK CARTER WEEKLY. He at once began covering the windows with the blankets, taking great pains to leave no opening by which a ray of light might escape. “Nails,” he said, pushing away at the screws, “would have made too much noise.’ “I wondered what you were hunting around after screws for,” said his assistant. “We can’t be too careful,” replied Nick, surveying the sealed windows with satisfaction, and then pass- ing on to the sleeping-room. When the windows there were sealed, he lit his dark lantern and began a close inspection of every article in the two rooms. He crawled under the bed, drew the tacks from the carpet, and even pried up a loose board, which looked as if it might have been recently removed. “The murderer spent a couple of hours in the house,” he said, “and did not find what he wanted, so it is quite evident we shall have a long hunt for the private papers of the dead man.” He pulled the dresser away from the wall, and re-- moved the back. ; Chick hastened to his side. “What is it?” he asked. “A hiding-place between the boards of a double back.” “What does it contain?” “Papers probably relating to that mysterious pe- riod of Weldon’s life.” Nick untied the thin package, which was carefully wrapped in a piece of oiled silk, and laid its contents on’ the table. Then the two detectives speht an hour examining the documents. There were old letters, memoranda of streets and numbers in all the large ‘ities of the country, and whole papers of figures and calculations. “It is as | supposed,” said Nick. “verything here relates to, those nine mysterious years.” ; “Wait,” said Chick, puzzling over a paper, “here are dates which indicate recent writing.” aN He handed an ordinary sheet of letter paper to ms : oe Snare ee Peace ‘ities be Aili:

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ; ry. chief as he spoke, and Nick lost no 5 time in mastering its contents. Tt contained thirteen names, as follows: No. 1. Anton Baade, 1878. rs Nov. 3, 1880. Three payments. Fever. ee No. 2. Larry Pierce, 1878. - Jan., 1881. Three payments. Railway accident. _ No.3. Howard Dodge, 1878. July 4, 1882. Five payments. No. 4. . Charley Class,. 1878. . October g, 1882. Five payments. “No. 5. Henry ‘Lyon, Tee June 2, 1885. Eight payments. No. _ James W. Maloney, 1878. RS a ‘August 2, 1886. Nine payments. ’ No. vt “Martin Brown, 1878. - September 9, 1889. Twelve payments. No. 8. Frank Rogers, 1878. a November 6, 1889. Twelve payments. A ‘ No. 9. Richard Dixon, 1878. 2 ‘Sixteen payments. Address, Toledo, O. oer Boe: Ne 10. Robert Weldon, 1878: : : ~ Sixteen payments. Alive and all right. = No. ar, Lot. Casey, 1878. Ne - are December, 1890. » Thirteen payments. No.1 Moses Hayden, 1878.>- , vy Sams ag bogs Reg ere Murdered. NS . ae. +? sey 61 6, 1895. — payments. Murdered: +3 ae ay ite Drowned. Smallpox, Cancer. . La grippe. Quick consumption. i is ° & ever. ke written i in the handwriting of the dead 1 man: ‘The payments shod interest si date amount to more “than $60,000. ae T live to enjoy it. ‘ ‘ = aaa = toe SRO OT) ess eC ¢ ‘threw fore the parE OH 8 a snort of satis- . a a ind 50 tele about ~_ “The club must have been formed,” ' were alive after serene: for three have died, - the first death. tom “of the names and memoranda was “And, if this is-the case, ibis Waneiet r interest “inthe chib?”” of Raa es OF; eee aT A : esht “Not's so fast, Ev diag good Nick; “eet hae xt te > Me ~_velone, ident & containing a number of a t continued the detective, “as a sort of life insurance concérn, the surviving member to receive all the accumulations.” ‘Chick sprang to his feet. “A motive for the murder! sand dollars!” “Possibly,” said Nick. . A “There is no other way to figure it,” said Chick. ” said Nick, “that otie per- son out of thirteen dies ev ery year, but in this case "he said. “Sixty thou- “Tt is a Well-known fact, the: mortality seems to have been considerably greater.” “And yet,” said Chick, “out ef this thirteen, four . or been murdered, this year.” “Yes, but.the original thirteen chaved to exist after Now, you see, three out of four have died since last spring.” >. SS de , » ‘Ande ow about the sixth entry,” said Chick. “What do you make of the case of Mr. ees Ma-_ — fs St i * “He stopped: paying at the od of:nine yours,” said = Nick, “and there i is no record of his death. He inst “ie ie have defaulted in his payments.” s- 2 ; ‘e S 2 se # 4 ie thee said Chick, “we have only Mr. » Richard ‘Dixén'of Toledo, to look after.® 0 °° a ele yer ats a, seis rs “But. it He has Aefatilted, Sat is out ‘of the ; “We have te guessed at that,” said Nick. qe es tay come to ‘the Sig ieee in some. of ese pan steve t - This may contain the clew ¥ the whole matt ~ place ibs ees interruption before o 7 oro ave sy wih Dey 4

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“Td like to get my hands on Mr. Richard Dixon 4 this? moment,” said Chick. “Just look at it. Hay- _ den, Reed and Weldon murdered within a period of - little more than three months, and Dixon the only one who seéms to have an interest in their death.” 3 “You might make a mistake.” “How could 1?” -“Get back to Maloney!” = Chick laughed. : j “You said that before,” he ai gids _ “These clubs are strange things,” replied Nick. . “Maloney might have been excused from keeping up his payments on the ground of poverty. In that case, he is still on deck—perhaps ready to make the a deferred payments at the proper time.” $ _ “That is true.” “And in that case, he would. still have an interest in herit about sixty thousand dollars at their death.” t es think,” said Chick, with a smile, ‘ ‘that we had ; «6 And now ; about these ad murders,” said Chick. . “We must look them up.” ae uy recall | both perfectly,” said Nick. But you were not crablovede on the cases.” Jo; but I havea history of each in my book here. ": 's keep such things.” y Bes the detective took a sraait notebook pocket. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Victor Reed;” he said, referring agein to his “was found dead in his bed at a hotel in New York. Poison. Was last s¢en in company with a charming young woman who claimed to be a distant notes, relative. No cause for murder assigned. No clew-’ “Good again,” said Chick. ‘Both murders were ’ similar to this one.” Nick was still busy with his notebook. “In the case of Hayden,” he said, “the convivial young man, the last person seen in the company of the victim, was a small, slight man, with a fair com- plexion and very black hair and eyes. Had small hands and feet, the former very white and shapely.” “Well?” “And in the case of Reed,” continued Nick, “the charming young woman was rather slight in form, with ‘a milk-white complexion and black hair and eyes. She had shapely hands and small feet.” Chick walked up and down the fos apparently greatly excited, “What do you make of it?” asked Nick. “Same person.” “T don’t know about that;” said Nick. “You must recollect that small feet be a man would be ong nary feet with a woman.’ The assistant made no reply, Nick continued the examination of the papers, but found nothing more of importance. Chicks, " he said, at length. "“Yesi” “We will have to goa long way from this place to solve the. amy stery of this murder.” s “It's a sure thing. The place to start on the trail is the place where the charming young woman or the young Sige was last seen. And we. can't get away tod soon.’ ‘ oie “Va A Nick eaet a up the papers and put them in his “T should like to et he said, “whether any . ‘charming young women see =n seen: need these parts tately, ae ae ty ot ie 4 a hee, *

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ee! NICK CARTER WEEKLY. _ “We ouglit to be able to find out that with very _ little trouble,” replied Chick. f “The taking of the horse puzzles me.” .. “Why does it?” “Because a person coming here to commit such a crime would not be apt to run the risk of identifica- | tion by coming on the cars, and in that case he would naturally go away in his own rig.” _ “He might have walked.” = “That would be too slow. When the truth is known, ‘you will find that the murderer drove into this section after dark.” “Well, we may as well gol back to the hotel,” . Chick. “Wait,” said Nick, “Iam going through the house pest.” As he spoke, the detective took. thie papers from his pocket, ran them over to see that they were all _ there, and placed them on the table while he adjusted his dark lantern. ~ ’ % When he left the room, a second later, he leit | them lying on the table. . When he reached the kitchen, Nick turned to his -aesistant. said : gules. down cellar,” "s he. said,. “and Pil go up- | _ Be careful and not show. any light at the win- dows. i we | find aby desk or bureau that ought to be searched, ‘we'll seal the windows of the room where it is situated.” i fe a) Chick passed down the cellar stairs, closing the » door aiter him, and Nick mounted the front stairs. No sooner had they disappeared from the kitchen in the outside door was softly ane and a dark m erept in. . sare was that t ofa man, _ somewhat above the * eo tage ep ag x - 5 (Sapo plage pata ie oer weer ee his: leave the house.” There was a smile of triumph on his face as he felt the important documents leave his hand. “They are sharp fellows, they had plenty of time to search.” * he muttered, “but then He started for the door again, but paused before reaching it. He heard-the sound of footsteps. on the cellar stairs. Chick, having completed his investigations, was returning to the upper floor. ‘The next instant the intruder heard the cellar door open. He stood in the center of the.room with a wicked-_ looking knife in his hand. “This may ‘be the proper way to settle the case, after all,” he muttered. . Chick stepped into the kitchen, hesitated a mo- ment, and then passed on toward the front of the house. ; The intruder stepped toward the iritehelh: At that instant Nick was heard descending the front staircase. The keen rays of Chick’s lantern flashed for an in- stant into the room the intruder would have to pass through in order to gain the outer door. There was no hope of escape in ‘that direction. While le stood there, irresolute, he heard the voices of the detectives in the parlor. “Anything new?” asked Chick. “Nothing,” was the reply. “There was nothing down cellar,” said Chick, . “Ww ell,” said Nick, “I left the papers on the table in the sleeping-room. T'll get them, and then we will | The intruder crouched back into the shadows by a the foot of the bed. i _ The knife was still in his hand. Nick and Chick stepped into the kitchen. - * There the former paused and listened. Te “T thought I heard a horse out there,” he fuses a Chick see to the door. | Sai 38 see

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“Get your papers,” he said, “and I'll go out and The ‘assistant passed out into the shadow of the ia building, and Nick hastened into the sleeping-room. Turning the rays of his dark lantern on the table, BS he put out his hand to take the papers. ‘a “He turned the rays of his lantern on. the floor, thinking they might have fallen off. . The papers were nowhere in sight. and stepped toward the door. e "He knew well enough what had happened. rs _ They ,had been followed to the house, and the papers had been stolen during | his brief absence! - Theretore, the murderer “had been in the $. place ’ ag hin the last three minutes! —- . . ‘ ¢ might be shiv yet! \ oni | na aay Heard him ite a tow: tignal, the ag) beried upon in, case of danger. — ; listened intently for some sound in ‘the room. ly it came. = ; TI * intruder moved away irom the foot of the bed, da pees Ke the table, and aaed toward Ne g vf his position by, the spd of his steps, gOS Ss darted forward. was pee ‘ieee fe ees Nick fel the ; si stig drape, tae a his sian NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Quick as a flash the detective turned off the light _ No one would want the: papers but the murderer. | The mysterious intruder darted. over the fallen man and disappeared. The next instant a horse galloped away. CHAPTER III. MR, RICHARD DIXON APPEARS. or There is no such name in the city directory.” “And yet the memorandum must have been made since the publication of this year’s book.” The two detectives. were ‘sitting in a room of a quiet hotel at.Toledo, Ohio: — Ta ‘The time was the evening of the day following the events detailed in the last chapter. : “The man may have given a fictitious address,” said ‘Chick. ©“‘Froni what we have learned about -the- case, I should judge that he does not belong here.” “Where did you get that idea?” asked Nick. “Well,” was the reply, “clubs of the kind we are looking up would not be likely to be formed in a city of this size.” . “Go on.” +438 “Inthe first place, it was a wild scheme—just such a scheme as a lot of club men, and high-rollers at that, would be apt to conceive after the first dozen bottles of champagne. Toledo has no club with thir- teen men of that-stripe in it; or,at least, it could not have had” sixteen vears ago, W hen the club: was formed.” “Good reasoning,” said Nick. “Proceed.” “In the next place,” continyed Chick, “in order to. have. sixty thousand dollars now, the members must "have put up at least five hundred dollars a year each. In 1878 there were not thirteen young men in Toledo. Gad enough on, reckless enough to do that,” “Good again.” ; <éDKerelore, the! club must have been formed in one of the large cities New. York, Boston, Phila- ‘delphia, Chicago: or San Francisco. I should’ say “Chicago or San Francisco. .e ~*But ‘Hayden’ was meni 4 in Pidepin Kg “Did he asieapedl Peat peers rie

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. dered in New York, lived in New York, and had, since infaney?” “Then it follows that the peer of the club ra not all live in the same city? ve ag % “Well,” said Chick, “you have knocked me out once more. Dixon may live here, after all.” “Certainly, although he may be a wanderer.” “In that case we are likely to have a long search,” said Chick. ‘j “There is an easier way than that,” i Chick looked up in surprise. “The only way to bring. the fellow to:justice,’ said, * ‘is to find him.” hs “What I mean is, "replied Nick, “that aie is an easier way to find him than the one which seems to bs be in your mind.” “Well?” | “This money is drawing interest?” } Yess’ “Then it must be i in some bank?” * “Of course.” “When we find the bank, we'll find Mr. Richard Dixon or Mr. James. Moloney trying to get the money.” Chick frisked about the room like a ae bis “Then it is only a question of time,” he said. nod eth fl Bac Nick, “the case is s becoming very commonplace.” “But. siti is Still sia of work in it,” * suggested ; “Te looks that way,’ ie Nick, “hut | arh going o make a strong effort to find Mr. iesmmated Dixon k efore I work the bank act.” — “Perhaps he will find us first,” said case, jecling “plete a ee replied Nick. J he ene sate oe . oF hy sore head. a ne one found us at the Weldon House last night,” said Nick, “and camé near fixing us both.” beg ‘ens hag 3 “you ‘who came near fixing me,” Chick ae paoghy “Your bullet grazed my head knocked me out gd enough for the Jeter to an “3 forgi ] in the right leg.” , said 11 “And take the papers with him,” added Nick, im- patiently. “But he left his card on your hand,” suggested ~ Chick, glancing at his chief's bandaged fingers. “Yes,” said Nick, “and from this time on he will never leave our trail. He knows who we are and what we are after. That is more than we learned about him.” “He is a sprinter, at any rate,” said Chick. “He got over me in,a hurry.” “Still,” said Nick, “he has left us a clew, after all.” “A clew?” we ii “T fail to see it. your person you may as well show it up.” If you have it concealed about “He left us the description of the murderer,” was the reply. é “He did?” ~ “Yes. The description of a very large man, with sandy hair and beard. He has unusually large hands anda Roman nose. He drinks whisky, and is a great +S lover of horses—probably plays the races. Heisin — the army, and draws a pension for a wound received “Do you know what I think?” asked Chick. “Certainly. You think 1 am accumulating @ choice collection of wheels in my head.” “Right you are.” ee “Tm order to punish you properly for your con- duct,” said Nick, with a laugh, “I shall not tell yoy how I know all this. When the man is caught, you — shall see for yourself.” ne “There is at least one satisfaction about it,’ Chick, smiling. “Well?” “Your description brings a new man into the field and casts doubts over all your other conclusions.” “You refer to the pale young man and the young. é woman with small hands and feet?” : “Yes. Don’t you see that nothing can now be gained by following the ‘murderer or murderess ‘ Hayden and Reed?” - . ” said Saas

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“Wait until we find Richard Dixon,” said Nick, “Will he show up i or little? Poa cy “Neither, He is neither the slim woman, who. oa probably masqueraded as.a man in Philadelphia jn order to murder Hayden, nor the big blonde who . uses a knife so yiciously.” _ “Well,” said Chick, “I wish you would find some- thing for me to do back there at the Weldon farm. T want another sight of growing corn, and another sniff at that breeze.” “You had better go out and get a sniff of the Maumee,” laughed Nick, “and don’t forget to keep. your eyes out for a man with big hands and feet, and’ Roman nose.” The assistant smiled pleasantly and left the room. _ Nick followed him in a few moments, going di- rectly to the post office. _ a Ni see first,” he mused, “whether Richard Nixon, mail here.” pi se) cae “Yes, "replied the man in chaige o of the office, after N ick had convinced him that his i inquiry was a legiti- € one, “Richard sien gets mail here.” m ie F . aie Peaste f rm have the Picci! asivery uae ” Niphe: ‘Goodnight ay iho of an old man vith long white - : were seated in the detective’ s room, NICK CARTER WEEKLY. The old gentleman smiled. z “Why impossible?” he asked, in a low, sweet voice. “I beg your pardon,” said Nick, “but I thought you were a young man; at least a man in middle life.” “T am fifty-five,” was the reply, “but time has not dealt kindly with me, and I appear to be much older.” “If you have a little time at your disposal,” said the detective, “I should like to talk with you.” The old man glanced keenly out from under His heavy eyebrows. “We can talk as we walk along,” he said. “It is hardly a matter to be talked over in a street conversation,” replied Nick. “My home is no place to talk,” said the old gen- tleman. “I have a room at the hotel,”’ said Nick. you object to going there?” “Would was the reply. “You look like an honest man, and then I have nothing to fear.” After walking a few feet, Nick turned and faced his companion, * “There may be a mistake,” he said. “I am in search of the Richard Dixon who was associated with Larry Pierce and others in the year 1878. ne you that man?” _ Nick thought the old gentleman turned a trifle paler. ; . Once or twice he essayed to make a reply, but his voice seemed to fail him. , “T am on the right track,” thought Nick. “Yes,” said the old man, sadly, in a moment, “I> - “Certainly not,” _ knew Larry. Pierce in 1878.” _“And Martin Brown and Noses sé ydens 2” asked Nick. : “Yes,” answered Dixon, “I knew them all. There were thirteen of us banded together in a foolish, drunken moment.” . sg. Not another word was spoken until the two men i Then Nick asked: ful eg thie hat became of James W. Moloney?” > 2 gates. cases. to basaetie the - man

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= |: ; man, “since I heard of Hayden's death. It was a vil- < The word was almost a shriek, lainous compact.” Set . eg bres,” replied Nick, “he was sanryered last Sun- “Where is the money deposited?” wv F lay night, in a most mysterious manner.’ “T don’t know.” A “That makes three!” ‘ “Not know, and your interest so great in it?” said remained silent, for he Saw that the old m39 Nick, in amazémént. i Nas about to continue. jn Me i “Weldon was the secretary,” said the old man, pore heen he said. “T always believed he “and the papers will now be sent tome. Then I shall to inherit the money,” ates have the proofs of the death i the other members ik “the money lies between and know all about the money.” e ch f. Itisa large sum, is itnot?” Nick thought of the sealed pee which had * 1¥es, a very. large sum; still, I shall) ‘probably not been taken with’ the other papers, and remained make my néxt PEYIENE es are eh 28 es: oflemt. oe Why not?” . mest Saws Kees? The thief, then, held all the sieht te aati \ Why should I, with the fate of Wei Reed and ‘in his possession. | r on before my eyes?” : Aare The case was developing into eyeing, but a com- you. think——” 4 iSwatt & _ monplace one. an stopped h Babs G51) ety The idea of tracing the eas hong the ¢ bank "he cried. “Dow t put ‘me iy Was of no avail, . ers a i, Passe of their The theory ‘connecting Dixon with the Larder P was exploded. ¥, Me set Ni _ | There remained only. afin’, We: vai _ It was evident to the detective that Richard Dixon,

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14 “He was a weak, timid old man, incapable of such a series of crimes. “Does Moloney know where the money is depos- ited?” asked Nick, after a moment. “T think. not, unless he made the deposit with Wel- don before his murder. In that case, however, he would not know, unless Weldon took him to the bank, which would be against our rules.” - “Then how can ‘he make his payments, if he has not already made them?” asked Nick. “By coming to me, after I get the papers in my hands.” oa “Ts there no limit fixed to the time in which he may | make these payments?” asked Nick. “Yes. Itisin this way: Iam now the only living member in good standing. If he does not make the payments before the time comes for me to make mine the money reverts to me.” “Then why do you say you may not make your next payment?” » “Because I have no doubt that he will make his * payments. Then it would lie between us two. I don’t want such a thing to happen. My life would not be worth a dime.” be: The old man started at the sound of his own voice. “I have said too much,” he said, springing to his feet. “Don’t understand me as ceprensing any fear of Moloney.” _ “But you have expressed great fear.” . “#"y ou don’t understand,” said the old man. 4 sight be willing to drop out in his, interest. Don’t gle » ? “People in their right minds don't give away sixty ve - thousand dollars,” said the detective. - ymsanin soe lecietes cea and soon arose to go ; away. 5 Nick resolved to try him on ‘ahatties tack. “Tti is very strange,” he said, “that the three men ‘ho stood between the money-and yourself should all ; eid ta tin . i The old man fond Sie sae k, be murdered, a that not one of the murderers i Det pit ae na ' eer ae fo“ tee i eee ef 2 OS i ane. Lee 8 er ee NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “You surely don’t suspect me?” he almosiny shrieked. “Remember that Moloney still lives, and, may make his payments.” . ‘ Then the old man saw that he had said too much © and went grumbling out of the room. Di Nick followed him. He had not forgotten his words: : “Then the money would go to my heirs.” wi “T wonder who his heirs are?” thought Nickafol- : lowing on down a dark thoroughfare leading towardas Washington street. Presently the old man stopped and muttered: re “T didn’t call for my letters. I was so occupied ~ with the fellow that - didn’t call for my. letters. fc Well, it is too late now.’ He passed on, and before long turned into a nar- row hallway. Then Nick heard him ascending a staircase. As Nick stepped into the hall, ne saw 2 man stand- ing directly in front of him. The next moment he gave an exclamation of as- tonishment. ; It was Chick. “You are followed,” whispered the latter. “Don’t talk above a low whisper. Was that Richard Dixon! who just went upstairs ; ?” “Yes. How did you know that / ?” asked Nick, in astonishment. “J found out in the same way you learned that our friend of last night drew a pension, ” said Chick, ee " a laugh. ' The fellow who had been following Nick now ; stopped a short distance from the hallway. { , “That's one on me,” said the detective. “I was so_ busy following Dixon that I did not see the fellow,” The detectives were dressed exactly alike, and it would have taken a close friend of the two men to have told which was which. “Step out, and walk down the street,” said Nick, “and he will follow aes Then I will see about Dixon.” | . “When you get up there,” said Chick, “you will 4 ~

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Fe! ee ke l nd a charming young tady; with: lack hair and eyes, angind small hands and feet.” *- “Who is it?” asked Nick. *“Dixon’s daughter. I heard her addressed as ixon on the street, and atretgs her here. I was ust going up when you came.’ ith a laugh, ae ol :Have you “heard anything sou iow ater tide rdaskett Chick; ~ “T have heard of F noting but Moloney: st : reply. Peers =: ed © Chick stepped into the street, as at ‘shadow” 8, ae him away. - : was the pepe: - CHAPTER IV: me THE PRE. GET INTO TROUBLE. ing to the cipt out ofa wide alah. a at, the | end°of. t the hall was a large vacant room, Ww tenants of be ‘building kept, their coal 5 the right, a and terminated at ‘the head of another stair- .} case opening on another street. door bit the large coal-room was never locked, tenant ¢: carrying a key to his own box. ” n Nick Carter reached the head of. the stairs View iced that the rooms were all dark, and that the igi in the hallway was burning | very dimly. of « 10 ved. ey: ae until | he teached the ‘open NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Are you sure it wasn’t Moloney?” asked Nick, At the door af this Sic: the hall turned | sharply to \ 15 hers-is the Jast face Hayden and Reed ever looked upon?” ‘The whole matter was a puzzle to the detective. Dixon did not seem capable of murder. He trembled at the mere mention of the name of James Moloney. : Yet here was his daughter, answering perfectly the scription of the last person the two murdered men had been seen in company with. _ The fact that she had appeared as a young man at Philadelphia was proof positive that she was with Hayden ; for no good purpose. . For the detective was positive that the last person seen with Hayden was the same person who had been with Reed just before his death. The girl looked carefully up and down the hall and then called out, in a tone of voice strangely resem- - bling that of Richard Dixon: “Clarence !”’ There was no answer, and the girl walked to the head of the stairs and looked down. “Clarence!” . While she stood there Nick preet out of the Konks room and approached a door opening into.the suite of rooms phe bad justigit: oo Gar i ae -This door was at the rear of the suite, aa a aceon on that part of the hall which led to the second stair- case, and was, therefore, notin sight from the place where the girl stood, or from any part of that portion of the halt ending at the coalhouse door, ‘The girl called again, and again, and presently the : detective heard a movement on the stairs at- a dt. Then. a man’s | voice mae, out: Coming. Madge.” 15. - oes é if é In order to reach the girl the fellow would be” = a n ts te ooh Sys ert! obliged to pass the spot where Nick stood. very “To be seen would be tetatto ise of ne den a) teeth cul A “

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16 dodged into.the room, closing and locking the door after him. The next moment the knob was given a quick turn _from the outside. Nick heard the fellow utter an exclamation of im- patience, and pass on down toward ‘that part of the hall where the girl was still standing. The door between thé two rooms was open, and the outer door still stood ajar, just as the girl had left it on going to the head of the stairs. ‘Therefore Nick could hear all that was said by the two persons. \! “[ thought you were never coming,” petulantly. The fellow did not reply for a moment, and then he said, with the faintest suspicion of excitement in his tone: “Who was that with your father?” 3 “There was no one with father,” was the reply. _ “He came upstairs alone and went directly to bed.” siren “Where—in the back room?” eh Yes.” : a | noticed the door was locked =e I came up. You promised to leave it open for me.’ . “T did leave it unlocked.” .. “Then your father must have arisen and lacked it.” “No,” replied the girl; “L wee him an extra shi ‘anilhe was asleep in a moment.” “Well, the door was locked.” _ Nick stepped softly back jto the door, turned the ; “hey and concealed bcs in a no corner, said the girl, 2 “You didn't half try,” itis said ; “the door was not Si locked.” _. The fellow ‘sonibted out some reply and chee himself into a chair in the front room, first closing ot Be ceeitiions by which he had entered: The girl bent for a moment over the bed. where ather lay asleep, and then joined him. 7 ck hea: ‘the regular breathing of the old ‘man, | Lecstrsidy sree from him, * “Be careful,” NICK CARTER WEEKLY. The odor of opium was strong in the room, -and the detective knew why he slept so soundly. He was a victim’ of the morphine habit, and was but a child-in the hands of his daughter. “Father was late to-night,” finally came home from the postoffice without asking said the girl, “and for his letters.” “Yes,” said the man who had been called Clar- ence, “he was too much occupied with a man he,met at the office to remember anything. They talked in the street, and then the old man went into a hotel and remained a long time.” “Could you see’ who the man was?” “T have seen him before. It is a man we must watch,” was the almost savage reply. “Yes,” said the girl, ‘‘it is not safe to allow father to talk with any one in the condition he is in.” said Clarence; “he may hear you.” The girl arose and closed the door between the two rooms. ‘““Heis asleep,” she said, “but we can’t be too care- ful.” : ; Nick stepped into a chair, mounted the top of a small dresser, which stood behind the door, and looked through the transom. 2% His heart gave a sudden bound as his eyes rested. upon the figure of the man, sitting in the full hght of the blazing gas-jet. ; The man was large ‘and tall, with sandy hair and beard. He had unustially large hands and a Roman nose. ~ His face bore marks of dissipation, and, as he arose to get a match from the table, he limped slightly with his right leg. The very image of the man the detective had de- scribed to Chick. : The man who had crept into the Weldon house the | | night before and removed the papers relating to the | club. ve he case is opening < in great ‘ore natatet -the detective. Shi ¢ “Hate i the git who le Hayden and Resd to a Wb Fes be: ttn y ": ee, al

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. q their death, and here is the man who murdered Rob- ) ert Weldon and his wife in their own home.” ; «Tt is just as well that your father did not ask for his letters to-night,” “Why ?” “Because the contents of his mail would have ex- - Cited him greatly.” “Excited him?” <b es: “Explain, please.” , “Robert Weldon is dead.” The girl sprang to her feet. | “I know what you are going fo say next,” claimed. “He was murdered.” — “Yes, he was malirdered. * ‘a Whhen?” “Last Sunday night.” — The girl sat down again, and buried her tice in her, hands.” “The third one,” snk said. “And the last one,” replied Clarence. 4 “T don’t care for that,” sobbed the girl. “I wish there were a hundred more. Father’s turn will come ical : - “But the money belongs to him now.’ “You forget Moloney.” ° _ Clarence Started to his feet, barely suppressing an oath. : “Moloney is dead,” h he said. “T don’t believe it,” said the girl. “Father lives in constant fear of him. ‘He will come upon us some said Clarence, in a moment. she ex- 2 - and murder us both.” ot; “But he could have no motive in that,” urged . _ Clarence. ee murdered Hayden, and he murdered Reed,” said the girl, “and now he has murdered Weldon.” - Nick’: s theories were tumbling to the ground. ‘He he had made a mistake in the girl. _ She might have had no hand i in the alg of Hay- “den and Reed: a ‘She seemed to deisore te death of Weldon; be- 4 oe. father-in pet peril eae Sh Ah at 7 ae ——¢,., eee Pans - to-night ?” 17 thought Nick, “I can’t be mistaken in He is the man who “At least,” the man who sits there smoking. secured the papers last night.” “T don’t believe in the connection between the club said Clarence, after a “Tt is only a coincidence, that is all” money and the three murders,” pause. _ The girl made no reply. “And that recalls another coincidence,” continued Clarence. ‘You doubtless remember that the per- son last seen with Reed was a young woman answers ing exactly to your description.” ‘“Moloney’s work,” replied the girl — “How can that be?” “If the existence of the club had been discovered at that time,” was the reply, “I should have been fol- lowed and persecuted by the officers of the law until I proved that I was not in New York at the time of the murder.” “But where does Moloney come in?” asked Clar-+ ence. “He did it to cast suspicion upon my father ang myself.” “Oh.” “You needn't laugh,” said the girl, angrily. no laughing matter.” “What did your father say when he came in to- night?” asked Clarence, ina moment. , “He said very little.” “Did = mention ‘meeting any one?” “No. “Did he seem excited?” - “I thought so; that is why I gave him an extra dose.” “Then,” “Tt is said Clarence, hastily, “the man he met was a messenger bearing news of Weldon’s death.” “You said a moment ago,” said the girl, “that you * had seen the man before, and that he was a man to be Where and when did you see him before ~ watched. orem The fellow hesitated. bits S. . “Thave seen him with your father many meta! 2 replied, after. a@ short pause, - ‘i

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18 The girl shuddered. fons _ “Tt may ‘be Moloney,” she said, “I thought that,” was the reply, “although I have always believed Moloney to be dead.” “Father can’t live long now,” said the girl, sor- rowfully. “Tt is the morphine that motes. him alive. Moloney will soon have his blood money.” . “But he has 2 large pay ment to make before he ~ ¢an dlaiin it.” - “He will make it.” | _ Clarence went to the door, and looked out into the hall. na Al priti | *“T heard a noise out there,” he said. Nick crept down from the transom and ‘stood by the rear door. ~ He had‘an idea that it was about time for Chick ¥ to show up. i a Clarence stumbled around in the hall for a mo- f ment, and then went into the coalroom. : Nick heard him/moving around in the aateneon for ve va moment, and then he reappeared i in the hall. ~ Tt must have been some of the roomers passing dy through the hall,” he said, storied the © eh | _ think. I'll go now.” pie ae _ The girl closed ee ee and readasias went on _ downstairs. : Se ‘ Ree ies ’ Nick left the Pobii y the rear + door and foftowed “At the foot of the stairs he saw’ Chick standing ‘just across the street. Cterdhes tad passed along without seeing hich’ “Well,” asked the detective, when the two men Pa montent later, “where did he go! e 5,1 got out of the pice: just in time to pre- i secing me,’” was the reply, lare: = Was still i in sight, and the detectives fol- ; ‘bd you 3 discover ?-asked Chick, He just chased around until he lost track of me, . ee went to ‘the re where you found NICK CARTFR WEEKLY, “The girl theory is exploded, * was the sere “Exploded?” - “Yes.” “T would have gambled on that,” said Chick; “So would I, a short time ago,” said Nick, “but there is nothing in it. She even fears that her father will share the fate of the other three.” . -' “Did you catch a good leok at the fellow who fol- lowed you?” “Yes.” “Who is it?” “The man'who.murdeted Robert Weldon, and the man who stole the papers ‘last night.” '“Then,”’ said esas ‘we have very little more to do in this case.’ “We have the proof to ga ” replied Nick. “How do ‘you propose to get that?” “T mean to turn burglar, and sneak into his room to-night,” was the reply. ; “He probably is not fool enough to keep the | papers there.” “We shall see,” replied Nick. Presently the fellow turned toward Summit street, and walked up that-thoroughfare until he.came to a_ large ‘building not far from the corner-of Jefferson street. ie a ; - There he turned in, aa soon a light niente in one of the front windows on the third floor.. -“There-he is,” said Nick, as Clarence stepped to the. window and lowered the shade. se » Phe‘halls arid passages on the interior of the build- ing were very: irregular, and it took some moments for the detectives to locate the door of the room Clarence had entered, $2: + All was dark outside: Sana they stood 3 in the fittle entry leading to the door.and waited. - . Before long they heard voices on the isidides “Now for the true story,” whispered Nick. . “How did you get ¢ on?” asked a voice. - “Tough, Andy, soe. ss replied Clarence, _ ity What's up?” ” ee "The very devil is t6 pay.” hia wane

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” up.” NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ) “Well?” = ay re _ “A detective had hold of old Dixon Koanicht: cgi “Pshaw!” | “IT saw him meet the old man in the post office,” ' said Clarence, “and followed.them to a hotel.” “The devil!” “They remained in a private room a long time, and When the old man went away the detective followed him.” rs = “And you followed the detective?” © “Ves, ” a “And spotted him?” asked Andy. “No; confound the luck, he got away.” “And then?” “T went to see Madge.” “Did you tell her about the murder.” “Yes, and she raised a great rumpus over it.” “She did the same thing last Sunday night when you were talking about the other murders.” Last Sunday night! : The listening ‘detectives caught each other by the arms. i The night of the Weldon murder! That man in Toledo that night! “T have an idea,” whispered Chick, “that we had better go and put some penpals Conataie on dea case,’ » mar Nick laughed softly to hignelt. - “First,” continued Chick, “we were sure of the girl, and she showed up all right. Now we are here _ to capture the murderer, and find that he was here on the night the ‘murder was committed. I give it ¢, Ris “Be patient,” - whispered Nick. “He may not have been here, after all.” : “Patient,” repeated Chick, “we haven’ t an inch of " ground -to stand on. Weare knocked out, unless he- “ has deceived his roommate.” “You forget Moloney,” whispered Nick, “We are “mot knocked out until we investigate him.” Si Bai said Chick, “if you don’t stop bring- ‘ 19 ing Moloney into all phases of the case, I shall do you personal violence. Iam sick of Moloney.” “He'll be sick of himself when we get done with him,” replied the detective. “Are you going to stay here?” “Yes: remember that the man who got the papers is on the other side of that door. I mean to have those papers.” Presently the voices stopped, and it became evi- dent that the men had gone to bed. Then Nick applied his picklock and pushed the door open. A dim light, shining in from the street, revealed the fact that the room contained no bed or couch of any kind. The detectives turned toward a side room, pushed aside a curtain, and found themselves looking down the shining barrels of two revolvers. “I thought you'd come here,” said Clarence, with a brutal grin. “I knew you were following me.” _ CHAPTER V, . MR, JAMES MOLONEY IS MURDERED. “Rush in, boys!” shouted Nick, never taking his eyes irom those of Clarence. For a single instant Clarence and his companion turned their eyes and the muzzles of their revolvers toward the door. “T’'}l shoot the first man that shows his head in- side the door,” said Clarence, But there was no movement at the door, for there Was no one there. Instantly Nick and Chick leaped forward, and the men were hurled back. Clarence’s revolver was knocked from his hand by a blow which almost broke his wrist, and he lay helpless on the floor, in the power of Nick Carter. Chick had been equally successful with Andy, and the irons were soon on the wrists of both men. “We didn’t come to Toledo for the purpose of being captured or mursered,:, said faa rang he his feet. eee

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ___ *At least not by such bunglers as these men seem “All you can charge me with,” said Andy, “is to be,” added the assistant, rooming with this man.” ae reo) ‘Clarence arose to a sitting position, and glared Nick had no difficulty in getting the police officers angrily about. to take charge of the prisoners, and then the detect- y “What does this mean?” he demanded. ives went to their room at the hotel. “Tt means,” was the reply, “that you are under = “Now,” said Chick, as the two men lit cigars, arrest for the murder of Robert Weldon.” “perhaps you can throw a little light om this case. The fellow did not appear to be in the least What's up?” alarmed at the information. He looked the detect- “Moloney!” ive in the face and laughed. “Chick threw a book at his chief's head, and “Tf that i is all, ” he said, “y have nothing to fear. ” laughed heartily. nee “Perhaps you did not do the shooting,” said Nick, ‘but you stole the papers, and no one who did not want Weldon out of the way would have done that.” “I think,” said Clarence, with a smile, “that you : had better give: up detective work and go and saw “You remember what I said about the wheels,” he said. “Moloney,” said Nick, “who has been mentioned once or twice before in this case, has paid up his back assessments, and is on the uptpath. * “When did he pay up?” “Last Tuesday; at least, that is what Clarence "You're a cool duck,” said Chick. ie ‘ said. “What are you going to do with us?” asked Andy. _ “Take you to the police station,” replied Nick. “Well, hurry up, then,” said Clarence. “I want let my friends know where I am, so I can get “After the murder ?” . “Yes, after the murder.” “Dixon does not know this?” _ “No; his daughter does not know, either.” “How did Clarence find out *about it?” “He took one of the old man’s letters from the postoffice and opened it. He,don’t want the old mitted 43 bail.” man to know.” ‘ F f n let- es detective took the fellow into che Bex room Anpther. case against him, one for ope ing - ” nd drew the hea curtain. ters. Ae it tell ; sod t pres oj ee « “Yes, but it don’t help us any.” € xO! rs ory,” g e Sal t “He’s a cool chap,” ‘said Chick. “Did he apolo- fteen minutes later, when the two men joined - gize for giving you that slash across the hand?” and: et in the- ‘main FOQM, Clare sit. was ‘othe idiot denies having done it. He even says . 4 he never saw the papers. : He says he was not at SgMine Depa se fa the Weldon house,” bie: ie “The iellow-is right,” said the: dobver.| "We would “Of course he lies.” T go out and look for wood to saw.’ . “Of course ‘he does. If he had dion up the up?” asked Chick. 4 papers he would not have been locked up.” th up, for one thing,” replied Nick, “and we “What is his interest in this case, anyway?” ywell get. these men to the station at once.” = ‘‘He expects to get. hold of the money by was t charge?” demanded Clarence, -rying Dixon's daughter. Great scheme, eh?”- . er “i said Nick, Pea ‘é LP ae neale say tgs . , ys . FF

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Peers ye a} ae * 4 “He knew of Weldon’s death on Monday,” said 1S Nick; “on Wednesday he learned that Moloney had “ paid up and was a competitor for the money, and on. _ Wednesday night stole the papers to tc them out a of the old man’s hands.” : ae “Why out of the old man’s hands.” “Because Dixon would have destroyed them. He 3 hives in constant fear of Moloney, and would, at his demain. surrender all interest in the sixty thousand “oe ai eS *Then there is Feknethitie between the two men Shieh does not-appear on the surface.” i eae “Most undoubtedly.” Rat nae said Chick, ‘ ‘we've got to find Moloney. 3 es now.’ Pa. “We've ‘got to do more ‘than that, * said Nick. “We've got to connect him with the murder, There — not a line of proot against him at the present mo-. - nd a stranger combination yet,” said e are done with fhe: case. _ Moloney sto be a pink” ais aa aie t has he done so very picts ie. has: murdered Hayden, Reed and Weldon,” P. 4 You must admit that that is some-_ rou consider e's suspicion has never ee oy iim sisitet ha oat ach NICK CARTER WEEKLY. about the room. have always wanted to meet you.” night,” 21 * replied Nick. “The man who murdered Weldon walked with a limp in the right “You were right, leg, had sandy hair and whiskers, and wore a Grand Army badge. If Clarence did not murder Weldon, ‘the man who did it was’ made up to represent him.” “How do you know all this?” “By the foot-marks between the house.and the barn, by the sandy hair, and the ravelings from the badge found in the stable, where he had the strug- gle with the horse.” “Did he leave his pension papers there?” asked Chick, with a smile. “No, but he left part of an envelope bearing the | stamp of the commissioner of pensions—purposely left it, in order to make the case against the lover of Dixon's daughter seem all the stronger.” “Moloney does seem to be a brick,” Chick. : “And he has some hold on Dison,” “I am anxious to find out what it is.’ commented said Nick, After some further talk, the detectives went to bed, and slept very soundly until morning. At nine o'clock the next day they were at the ee station. * ‘ “How are the prisoners I brought. here last might?” asked Nick of the chief, after presenting his card. “Nick Carter!” exclaimed the chief, bustling - Nick bowed, and the chief summoned a man froma the turnkey’ s room on the first floor. “Bring up the two men these officers left oe tal he said, £8 As the officer made his SHPEAE ance. : “Something strange fancied. here last night,” _ said the turnkey. ) e “Just after the men were locked up a woman ~ came here and asked to see one of them.” : “What sort ofa | woman ?” asked Nick. We ate: : ie. oe soalish ones, with. bigck hale and “This is mneet. a great honor! I. ~ : Ate

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; the reply. 4 ‘the Dixon people,” 22 _ “Was she allowed to see him?” - “Yes; the night man very foolishly permitted an interview,” was the hesitating reply. “Did“any one hear what was said?” “ No.” > {Well?” “When the woman went out, the officer in charge thought he saw a package of papers in her hand and called to her to return, but, instead of doing so, she took to her heels and ran away.” “And the officer failed to catch her?” demanded the chief. “He says she absolutely disappeared the moment she left the door.” “Were the prisoners searched?” asked the chief. “Yes, but only for weapons,” was the reply. Nick arose to go. “You needn't bring the men up at present,’ he said. i “There go the papers,” said Chick, as soon as the detectives were out of the chief's office. “T suppose so, and now the question is, what will the girl do with them?” ‘“Where are you going?” asked Chick. “IT am going to have a talk with that girl,” was “T want to know how she found out that Clarence was under arrest.” “Shall I go with you?” 7 “No. Go back to the hotel and wait for me.” _ The detective hastened to the building where he had seen the girl on the previous evening, and has- _ftened upstairs. The door was locked, and there was no sound of life in the room. While Nick stood pounding on the door a man came out of the coal room. P*Xog" needn’t wait there,” he said. “Dison and his daughter moved away early this morning.” “Where did they go?” asked Nick, cr: _ “I. don’t know.” . | “Do you belong here? oe “Yes; Lam the janitor.” “Then, perhaps, you can tell me something about Said Nick. =. “I know nothing about them.” % ‘How long ago did they move here?” bun pak ens bi es in the matter lies in that part of it. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “How did they go?” “In a hack.” “Then they are probably still in the city?” “T can’t say. They were packing all night, and their furniture looked to me as if it had been put up for a long journey.” Nick went downstairs and walked up and down the street, trying to figure it out. Finally he went to the hotel and sat down by. the side of his assistant, who was smoking in the office. “They have skipped us,” he said, “and we shall have to rent the rooms they occupied. They may have left something there which will furnish a clew to their whereabouts.” “T see,” replied Chick, with a provoking laugh, “they are fleeing from Moloney.” “That’s what I imagine,” replied Nick. “And the girl has the papers?” “T suppose so. They, the girl and her lover, are determined to keep them out of the reach of the father.” - “Well,” said Chick; about Dixon's relations with Moloney. help us.” “We shall never know until we catch Moloney, or get Dixon to talking,” was the reply. “Don’t Clarence know?” “No. He wonders over it as much as we do. He only knows that the money will soon go to the 4 girl, by reason of the death of her father, if Moloney can only be kept out of the way. His sole interest be He is about disgusted, now that Moloney has made his pay- ments, for Dixon can’t live long, the way he takes morphine, so Moloney may get the money in the course of a year or so.” , “It does not seem as if a girl like that would marry a loafer like Clarence. By the way, what is his other name?” “T don’t know what his other name is. never tell what a girl will do.” “We had better let him go,” said Chick. aa ° V6 hy?” “T have an idea that he would kill Moloney on, “T’'d like to know the truth That might You can ~ sight. Then we could have him hanged for tj crime. That, you see, would end the whole may nicely,” “He Bg do that, for. Moloney seems about #

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the girl. I don’t think he will marry the girl until ‘she gets the money. Well, we'll release him and take him in again after he finds Dixon for us. + _ “Suppose we go and talk: with him. He may have an idea’ where Moloney is. Of course, he won't tell us where, Dixon and his Senghter have ae We must follow him to learn that.” Before going out of the hotel, Nick stepped up to ‘the register and -echira ran down the list of new arrivals. ytigny? to. a moment he called Chick to his side and ointed to a name on the page. ‘There in very black ink, and in a very rough hand, was the entry: “James W. Moloney, Chicago.” ~ ©That knocks me out,” said Chick. ~ “IL imagine it would knock any one out, Nick. “What do. you make of it?” ne _“He has come here to look after Dixon’ s health.” “And Dixon knew it, and moved away?” a) “T think so,” said Chick. ‘3 ee “Well, ” said Nick, “We wanted Dixon, and he pre- ‘sented himself ; we wanted the big blonde, and he d up without trouble; we wanted Moloney, ct here Wetiae it “It is a strange case, and yet. we are coming - to the truth all the time.” es, panic. we have had wey little ‘knocking so probably come in time,” said Chick. > detect ve - turned to the ‘clerk “Do you know where Moloney is?” he asked. { “clerk cast his eye over the men sitting in the pe inted. to one of them wie his pen. sits,” he said. ~~ Patetee ent a slightly-built- etait snikn, ahh pair of gold reese: stepped > and looked it over. ne, ced. around. the’ pene avd bows NICK CARTER WEEKLY. * replied . maids. ery. young woman rafi out: 23 said Nick. “‘I shall begin to think, before long, that Weldon is still alive;” “Do you ‘know,’ asked Chick, with a senile: “where we can secure a good job sawing wood— _nice soft wood?” “IT am not going to hire out just: yet,” replied Nick. - “I’m going. down and release Clarence. The girl has the papers, so it’s no use holding him; and, besides, I want to set him on Moloney.’ Clarence turned pale when he learned that Mo- loney was in the city. He refused to say anything about the girl who had taken the papers the night before, but Nick re- leased him, intending to keep him in sight. Chick, disguised as a hackman, sat outside ready to follow the fellow, and so Nick went back to the hotel. There he ey map of the city, and prepared. - to make a thorough search for Madge Dixon. He believed her to be still in the city, and had an idea that her lover would go straight to her; still he was working two ropes. If Chick did not find her by following Clarence, he might by making a systematic search. Then Clarence would be arrested again. Soon after dinner he heard a rush of feet. on the stairs, and then loud cries of horror and fear rang teense the hotel. “What is it?” demanded the clerk, imme: his desk and his dignity at the same moment. « “Murder!” _ Nick bounded upstairs. The hall was full of people, and the door of one of the rooms was wide open. ‘This room seemed to be the point of interest, The detective hastened inside. ‘There, 6n the floor, with a knife in his heart, and’ the blood forming a red pool about him, BY: seed W. Moloney! P He'’was quite dead. _ “Who did it?” demanded the clerk, bustling into the room, ““Tdon’t know, sir,” + sobbed one of the chamber- “I was passing the room when I heard’a The next moment ‘the et Operate and - “What sort of a woman: ?” demanded Nick. | ara slender womans: with dace we oe

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“Down the back way. I tried to stop her, but wis not quick enough; she ran so fast.” Another chambermaid stepped forward. “Light hair, nothing,’ she said. “She wore a ’ wig, and it fell off back there. Her hair was as black as—as midnight.” _ She produced the wig as she spoke. CHAPTER VI. ‘A NEW CHARACTER PRESENTS HERSELF. - ~The detective took the wig and examined it care- fully, It was of the same color and texture as the one worn by the young man in the forenoon. He was about to leave the room, when-Chick made his appearance. _. Nick called him away to their room, and ex- plained what ‘thad taken place. “Now,” he added, “before you-express any opin- ion, telt me what you have discovered. Have roa tearrested Clarence yet?” “No,” replied Chick; “I got the fellow into my hack. He traveled all over the city, as if to elude ‘pursuit, and he finally ordered me to drive to a house away out on Dorr street.” | “Ves? 2? ' “There he got out and dismissed me. When the door was opened I saw a woman answering to the description of Miss Dixon.” ae . re? * mbes | ae to the next corner, hitched the team, and watched the house. -“In a few moments a boy came out and chased away after another hack.” “Did you offer yourself again?” “No; I did not know what he wanted until he came back with another hack. A man and a woman _ got into the vehicle and drove away.” _ “And you followed them?” 3 “Yes. They chased around town for an hour or x & “ge and then went to a house near this hotel.” . ss “The plot deepens,” said Nick. . “I waited on the next corner, until a few moments ae ago, and then came straight here.” Xow ae ae had nd 2 asked Nick, ex- a ie sure of 3 Sionig’ sibs tines ever — out apg dbase thee} know.” « ay i. ~ NiCK CARTER WEEKLY. «1 Well, girl went.” “Where ?” “She came. here and murdered James W. Mo- loney. What. do you say to that?” “It is very probable.” Nick laughed. “T caught you in my trap,” he said. ‘Madge Dixon never killed the man lying dead upstairs.” ‘Not kill Moloney if she got a chance—aiter all you heard her say about him last night!” “T don’t think she did.” “Then who did?” “That I can ’t say at present,” was the reply, “but I have a faint suspicion. Do you think you can find Clarence again?” “Find him? I’ve got to find him!” “Fix up in some way, and go to the house he vis- | ited this forenoon; also the’ house to which you trailed him last.” “And if I find him?” “Arrest him. If he fights, kill him. man we want.’ “Perhaps | had better go to the last house first,” suggested:the assistant. , “That is a good idea,” replied Nick. “The | woman may have gone there after committing the: | murder.” : Chick hastened away, and Nick began a’ anew search of the room where the murder had been com- mitted, presumably under the direction of the chiei of police, who had arrived upon the scene. One of the first things he discovered was a sheet of © paper covered with figures. The total of the figuring was sixty-one thousand dollars, and the figures were in a man’s writing. “They were talking about the club,” thought ‘Nick. j “That is probably | Fhe way the woman interested — him. ” The knife with which the murder had been com-— mitted was of foreign manufacture. | “He was murdered with his own weapon,’ Nick. . The detective spent the afternoon about the hotel, waiting for word from Chick. About six o'clock he was sitting in the office, when — said Nick; “we at least know where -the —— He is the ) "sought ‘he felt himself touched lightly on the shoulder. . He ‘turned, to find eer Dixon aes be~" " hind shim, eas ha eee +E CS tries i of = sane | i we ¥ YS : 4 ‘ -! 4 1 f 4 if . - - eh? i ei i, eh Von Ps } ' >

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q | NICK CARTER WEEKLY. - The old man was’ very pale, and he was trembling -£ .and that I should take my chances with the rest.” 4 jolenity “You are the man I talked with last night,” he Said; “that is why I address you. I am too weak to make in person the inquiries I wish made. Will you aid me?” $ Nick took the old man by the arm and led him to _ his room. “Now, tell me what you want,” ibe said. --"T botight a paper just now,” said the old man, “and I saw in it an account of a murder in this - hotel. Will you tell me who was killed?” : “Yes; it was James W. Moloney, the man we talked about last night.” The old man shuddered. “J hadn’t the strength to read the paper,” he said; “tell. me about the murder, if you please.” ‘Nick did as. requested, laying particular stress upon the description of the girl. “Do you think she did it?” asked Dixon. - Be ves.” Dixon bowed ee face in his hands, and fairly __ sobbed. ha | am in great trouble,” he said. “I left my old Mc: this ntorning for reasons best known to tnyself, and sirice that time I have not seen my daughter. ” : «2 The detective staeted to his feet. »- “Tell me why you left the old rooms,” he said. eae “To get my daughter away from one Clarence vie ings, who pretends to love her. I am afraid eet for she is esi with aint, at this mo- ment. 37 - “She was very ‘nervous about this man Moloney, , ‘ Nick. , “Do you think she ie have been. in- to kill him?” do.” were you tiati so feachal of Moloney ?” | a 2a panty and sobbed, and Bally. re- y and aha laos, we Searitad a to tos peti omnes % the ielab and divide Oe ! +H followed me to Chicago, “Under Clarence’s directions is don’ t know at ; ie San Thad 25 and declared that the work of murder should go on, “Well, did you report the matter to the officers?” . “No; we had drawn up an agreement which would have implicated me. My lips were closed. Since that time three members have been murdered, and I have not dared to say a word. It is horrible.” “And your daughter knew this?” “Yes.” “And she told her lover?” “Tl fear :so:” “And at least two of the murders have been com- mitted by a woman resembling your daughter?” “Wes, it seems so.” “T don’t mean that the woman struck the blow in all the cases,” said Nick, “but she has appeared in every case except that of the man Weldon.” “Yet she is innocent,” said the old man, “for she was with me when Hayden and Reed were mur- dered.” “Are you sure?” ; “Yes, sure. If she has killed Moloney, it was to protect me?’ Nick remained silent for a moment, and then said: “Moloney was in Europe when Hayden and Reed were murdered.” wt Dixon bounded out of his chair and seized Nick a the arm. “How do you know that?” he demanded. “I saw proof of the fact in his hands today, but a short time before he was murdered.” “Then who committed the murders?” Nick drew nearer to the old man, and whispered in his ear. Dixon fell back in his chair. “My God,” he said, “it can’t be possible.” . “But there can be no doubt of it.” “Who are you?” asked the old man. “Nick Carter.” “Then you must be right.” “We shall know before long,” said Nick. waiting now for my assistant to report.” “Where has he gone?” . “In search of Clarence.” tase “T hope and pray he will not find toy Seuiiten with him,” said the old maa. De you think he will 2”. » “Lam atraid :0,” replied Nick, sorrowtully AT am aan - ae ‘ ¥ : : < rte

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*“Lhavealways warned her against that man,” said Dixon. “See what has come of her disobedience.” | » “We will believe nothing, take nothing for granted,” said Nick, “until we find them.” _ + “I anrafraid Madge has been with Clarence a great deal lately;” said the old man. “I have not been in -a condition to know much about her doings.” “She was with him last night,” said Nick, “ey all that passed between them.” ‘It grew dark while they talked, and the detective _ became anxious about Chick. But fhe assistant was quite busy about that time. .~ After leaving his chief, he went to the house where he had last seen Clarence and the woman. : Inquiries male of a policeman posted him in re- cd to the place. It was a boarding-house, with a ver y poate repu- aietion: : é “and I _ He went into a convenient hallway, which for the - . taken place in Moloney’s room.’ ; moment chanced to be deserted, and came out look- ing like a Bowery tough. — . : Then he_knocked Boldly at the rae of the Re Br, : ‘and after being closely scrutinized, was admitted. te “What. do you want?’ asked the vinegar- -faced S ~ woman who had admitted biti: ta - Board. ” A : + “Who sent you here?” My “Man down at a s'loon,” was “the: ‘reply, in the choicest dialect of the Bowery. . “Then you've got money, I suppose?” ©. Chick took out a ten-dollar bill. f “P¥8 got monéy to butn,” he said, “ain” sorne folks | a would like ter know how L get at See t eset see,’ said the wortian, | “You'd better have a ‘oom on ‘the top floor. It’s quieter there.” . \ Chick was shown to an apartment at the fear of ne building, on the ‘second floor. yf the nes i a sudden taab’ ts he s saw a hack hie os ee kedithe vhs le voice. ~, “We must find. him,” ee Below the window was a little alley, and the heart - “deny: and Reed. “Some iellow aris wants to-keep. out of the’ way or a'spell,” 7 a shall I get Niek here?” ae. “6 That qasindee NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Slowly. and carefully, Chick began boring a- hole through the lath and plaster wall with the blade. ofa knife. It did not take him long to cut through the half of the wall on his side, and then he began to remove the plaster which obstructed his view of the other room: “What's that noise?” “Mice,” was the reply. this old trap of a house. out of it.” “Don’t let them eat the papers,” said Clarence. | “T have the papers under my corset,” was the an- | swer. “How did you find me last night?” asked Clatence:| 4 was just going to Ade ie ag: when the detect- | ives took you to the station,” was the reply. | “Are you certain no one followed you here?” “Yes;.they were all too busy finding. out what had asked Clarence. “They are very thick in I hope we shall soon be said C nies \ : “It’s strange where Dixon went,” in a moment. said the woman. “We get the money as soon as he dies.” “We may have to help hitn die.” - “No. There must be no/murder to investigate | when the papers are presented at the bank.” . “You are right.” --“And you must t BO through the form of marrying = om -the girl.” “T suppose so,’ yf Ys “Well, it won't ee you long to ‘get the money | 7 after she has it in her possession, and then all our, work will be rewarded.” “Yes; we have hed a ae time of it,” vebtied Clar- | CHEE. Se . “Bah!” said the woman, contempéuously “what have you done?”- ‘ aa “Planned the Avhole thing.” “Your planning did little sood | in the cases of Hay: I had to fall back upon. my own resources.” ‘ y “You have acted nobly,” was the reply. | ) “Chick drew away from: the slight opening and stood in the center of the room with a look’ of com plete satisfaction on his face. m4 “The case is made,” ‘he thought.

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Clarence and the woman. were doubtless armed, ‘and the house was, of course, filled with toughs who would not hesitate. to murder a man who should attempt to make an arrest there. Finally he opened his window and leaned out. The hackman stood by the door of his vehicle, and he beckoned to him to come to his room. In a moment he heard him knocking at his door. - _He opened-it to find Clarence and the woman { looking out of the doorway of their room. “What are you doing with our hackman?” de- -manded the former. “J want to use him fer toe minutes,” Chick. ‘Have you any objections?” “Not if you pay him well, and he gets back here before dark.” . “All right,” replied Chick, motioning to the hack- _ man to follow him down stairs. : i “Now,” said the detective, when they both stood a in the alley, “I want to go to that hotel around the corner. I’ve got a pal there.” ~ “Get in,” _. ~ the hackman was evidently familiar with tough- lookin chaps who had “pals.” ‘ At fe oath is what Chick thought. oie: had not observed a signal which passed be- Clarence and the hackman. _ When Chick sat down in the hack he noticed that ‘it “was. very close, and tried to let down the window. . Failing in this, he made an effort to open one of | te doors, but did not succeed. ~ Both doors were locked in some mysterious man- ‘i ner. . Then the detective began tornotice a peculiar odor the vehicle. { A ee 2 . . replied - the hack next to the driver's seat.» Wis oe saoagagsd from some sort of reservoir under ‘a oa ‘he was too weak to do so. next moment he fell teks in pe seat, uncon- took - ‘his a ii way out in the NICK CARTER WEEKLY. sone saw a small tube protruding ons the aged. thy seat | Bo 27 “He looks like a decent chap,” muttered the jehu, “but Clarence and his woman got it in for him be- He'll be all right in a short time, the people will get out of cause he saw them together in that house. the house, and everything will,be lovely.” The hackman left Chick lying by the side of a fence, and drove rapidly back to the house. When Chick regained consciousness some one Was pouring very bad whisky down his throat. He tried to get up, but was held down. “Keep still, podner,” “You got knocked out—I hope it was on account of a said a rough voice. square meal—an’ Jay down here too long. Take an- other drink?” Chick pushed the tramp aside and got up. | His first thought was to feel in his pockets and see if he had been robbed. Nothing had been taken. “How far am I from town?” he asked. “Bout t’ree miles.” : “Street car near here?” “Right over there.” The detective threw the tramp a dollar, endl bounded over the fence toward a street car, which was passing along only a few rods away. The last he saw of the tramp he stood.looking at the dollar as if it had dropped from the ‘clouds. The street car belonged to a suburban line, and ran very slowly, and it was dark when Chick got back © to the hotel. He found Nick waiting dos him, pica having gone home. Ina few words he told just what had happened, Nick laughed heartily at the disgusted look on his assistant’s countenance. “IT have had just such luck before now,” he said, “and if you worry about it I'll have to give you a thumping. We can catch them yet.” \ “I doubt it.” “They think you're out of the way,’ » seplied Nick, “and won't leave the. gee until it Foy darker ae Se 4 is now. Come on.” ite RA bets : it sete Pune ODS eae ae » me se hee

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gs ES The two detectives were soon at: the boarding- house, and both ibe softly upstairs, without knock- y oe ; The door of the room Clarence had ‘occupied was’ open, and they could see that it Was empty. Then’ voices in the room Chick had me attracted their attention. “See,” said the woman, “he was spying on us. We __ did well to get him out of the way.” “We ought to have heard him cutting that- mote /: said Clarence. “We did, and thought the noise ‘was made by mice” . SS detectives opened the door, and confronted the pair with revolvers in their hands. pat “If you make a move, or try to call help,” said _ Nick, “Pll blow your head off. You are under ar- rest for murdering Hayden, Reed, W eldon and Mo- loney.” ; _ They both weakened. r “*, $42 eit tse ete Dorey Fai Sale eld he ten minutes more were at the police station. pe ‘The | woman gave her name as Elsie Cummings. “The wife of that man. ee asked Nick. "Yes, ese aes “Why “did you diets so as to represent Madge ¥ _ Dixon?” was the next question. : et 3 ansaid throw suspicion | on her.” Ds 4: “Te: eet her fate Biveuae’ s power.” mt “And you : succeeded?” “Yes. pi Sata is ‘she? yn cae g: ee ; _In five minutes they were out lof the house, and in » the woman. : She thought he was preventing bibs from being persecuted by the officers 7A ae a - the mur-. rerne on “ar ‘ oy hee at wry Fo jvm talk * ening ste Riis wi ne boys. | NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ing about his being in’ Toledo on the sight of the’ murder.” “Yes, he told his roommate-he was with me that night, and,even told him what we talked about, so as to throw him off the track in case he began to sus- pect anything.” “How did you get to the Weldon house?” asked + Nick, turning to the trembling prisoner. “T went there after dark, ona horse,” was the re-’ ply. “The horse went lame, and I had to take one. from the barn.” “Then your roommate was not in with the scheme?” “No,” At that moment the door of the turnkey’s room. opened, and Robert Dixon and his daughter entered. Both started back when they saw Clarence and. the feminine counterpart of Madge. ~ ; “The girl heard of Moloney’s murder and omic said the old man, briefly. said Nick, home,” “The case is closed,” “and the mur-| “derers of cae Reed, Weldon and Moloney are, ‘before you.’ { “Why shouldn’t we murder Moloney?” demanded} “We had moved heaven and earth to get the fortune, and when we were about to grasp it, by way of Clarence’s marriage with the weakfaced girl, Moloney made Ai appearance. It was too pro- voking.” The two detectives turned away, accompanied by = Dios and his daughter, the latte looking ybekot and. fresher than.she had for months. — Clarence and Elsie pleaded guilty to murder in the ee degree, and were executed. . Dixon received the fortune held in trust by” the! bank, and the little boy secured the property of his) “murdered bia bah and mother. ; { THE END. Next jreok’s j issue 2 (No: 283) will contain? = ’ “Carters Chinese Puzzle; or, Patsy’s Little G Rage! 2 a

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Hold your sides, boys! You're in for a lot more laughter yet in this contest. We've got a pile of jokes on hand funny enough to make a wooden Indian in front of a cigar store drop his hatchet and crack his paint trying to smile. Get ready for them, for they are going to be printed. Full particulars of this contest on page 30. A Talk Over the tvires. (By N. G. Chandler, Me.) A subscriber to the Telephone Exchange asked to be ‘placed in communication with bis medical man. _-* Subscriber: ‘‘My wife complains of a severe pain at the back of the neck, and occasional nausea,’’ ' Doctor: ‘She must have malaria.”’ Subscriber: ‘‘ What is best to be done?”’ At this moment the clerk at the central station altered the switch by mistake, aud the unlucky husband receives _ the reply of a mechanical engineer in answer to inquiries ofa mill owner. . , mks f ut Engineer: ‘‘I-believe the inside is limed with excoria- ‘tions toa considerable thickness. Let her cool during | the night, and in the morning before firing up, take a . hammer and pound her vigorously. Then get a garden ‘hose. with a strong pressure from the main and let it : play freely on the parts affected.”’ To his great surprise, the doctor never saw his client ? again. ’ ' Hard Luck. mi (By J. L, Hughes, Tex.) Last summer I got the traveling fever and thought I would take a trip on the car-boxes, so I got an old SD iriea of mine whose name is Sam Ovensby, and we struck out for Fort Smith. We tp Be little money when i we left here and less when we got there. So when this was all gone I proposed that we try our hand at bum- yuts. After a few minutes’ walking we spotted whith we thought we could get something to another house. So we goes up, knocks on the door, the lady came, and Sam said: ‘Lady, will you please give us something to eat, we are so hungry we could eat the jambs off the door cas- ing.’’ She referred us to the woodhouse, saying that there were plenty of chops but there. We didn’t like that, so we went on to the next house, the lady came to the door, and we gave her the same speil, and she says to ne: ‘‘What profession do you follow ?’’ I told her that I was a walking delegate for the non- laboring association. Then she says to Sam: ‘What profession do you follow ?’’ Sam says: **T am an acrobat.”’ ‘All right,”’ says she, ‘‘ you can go out to the wood- houte and do the split; then I will give you something to eat.’’ Sam did the split all right, then we went to get our grub. She handed up two slices of bread with the remark, ‘‘ This is. for God’s sake.’’ ‘Then for our sake,’’ says I, ‘‘put a little butter on it.’’ She put the butter on, and we went to another house. The lady in this place handed us two slices of bread as thin as tissue paper. We took them, and I said: ‘ 7. .

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- _ the street asa i) ae : ‘‘Well, you ought to be getting better, don’t you feel any change?”’ “Oh, yes, doctor,’’ I replied, ‘but not as much as I 2 xpected. “Well, I suppose you are not feeling very well,’’ he said. I am stopping at a boarding-house now, and the other evening as I was sitting on the porch I overheard two soldiers discussing a battle which they had been in. One of the other men sitting near interrupted them. ‘** Aw, goon,’’ said one of the soldiers, ‘‘you weren’t there, what.do you know about it, anyway, you never saw any bombarding.”’ ‘Maybe not,’’ replied the man, ‘‘but since I’ve been staying here I’ve seen plenty of bum boarding.”’ About four o’clock one afternoon a rather dilapidated- looking man entered one of the swell Chicago hotels. He walked up to the head clerk and asked to see the manager. The clerk called a porter and told him to show the gentleman to the billiard-room on the second floor where the manager was playing billiards. The porter showed him to the room and pointed out the manager. The man walked up to the manager and spoke to him. The manager took small leather piece from the tip of the cue he held in his hand and said: “Take a tip and get out of here.’’ The man looked rather abashed, took the tip handed to him and walked out. At the head of the stairs he met the porter to whom he gave the tip for showing him up, but the porter threw him down the stairs, while he was rolling down he met a man coming up who asked him what he was doing. ) ‘*Looking for a place to stop,’’ he said. ‘*Why don’t vou stop here?’’ asked the man. ‘*Nope—too steep,’’ he answered. Two Rib Ticklers. (By C. De Boupa, Maryland.) Colonel B——, who was very fat, was accosted by a man to whom he owed money with a ‘‘How do ye do?”’ ‘* Pretty well, I thank you. You find I hold my own.”’ ‘*Yes,”’ rejoined the other, ‘‘and mine, too, to my . sofrow A milkman’s lad on delivering his milk a few morn- ings ago was asked by a lady why the milk was so warm. “*I don’t know,” he replied, with much simplicity, ‘*unless they put in warm water instead of cold.” The Only Way. : (By Ed. Collins, Ohio.) / Two tramps were discussing as to how they might earn a living. The discussion became heated, and one turned to the other, exclaiming: ‘The only thing you are fit for is for me to lead around performing monkey tied to a string.”’ “But,” said the other, quietly,, ‘‘you would want ‘‘Why 2!’ said the first. _ ‘To point out at wh ich end of the string the monkey Wwas.’” Ries Rs Pr F? ‘ ; . . i a NICK CARTER WEEKLY PRIZE CONTEST No. 3. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 50 Prizes = 50 Prizes There is a good chance for every Funny Story Contest Y° ALL KNOW what rattling funny stories we printed in the recent contests. We are following them with another of the same kind, You have just as good a chance in this contest as any other boy in America, whether you entered the other contest or not. We want More Funny Stories . Think of the funniest story of which you have ever heatd, or the best joke. Write it out and send it to us— then look out for funny stories. We are publishing in this contest some of the best side-splitters that ever came out of the joke factory. Remember the prizes we are offering. In this contest there are Fifty New Prizes FIVE FIRST PRIZES 2 8,225 22 send in the five fun- niest stories will each receive TEN BOOKS from the list given in No. 280. The list ineludes someof the best de- tective stories, tales of adventure, and most interesting boys’ stories ever written. _ ; TEN SECOND PRIZES 2,0 202 send in the next funniest stories will each receive any FOUR BOOKS they may select in the list in No. 280. The fifteen FIFTEEN THIRD PRIZES ..). °c: send us the next funniest stories will each receive any THREE BOOKS they may select in the list in No. 280. The twenty boys who send in next funniest stories will receive any TWO BOOKS they may select in the list in No, 280. HERE ARE THE DIRECTIONS This contest will close ber Ist. Remember, whether pene story wins a prize or not, it stands a good chance of being pub- ished, together with your nam e. To become a contestant for these prizes you must cut out the Prize Contest Coupon printed herewith, fill it out properly, and mail it to NICK CARTER WEEKLY, care of Street & Smith, 238 William St., poe For’. City, hy eet with your story. No story will be considered that does not have this coupon accompanying it. - COUPON Pere es aa on ds Pa kph ce eetc cb et cowbe sete ts SSCCGSSSSSTE08 eee POC O0 9006 608 00088 50555000000050080855 25525 S ESOS EE ETOE TEES hh ht etd

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~~. Ama D | ~- Amateur Detective Work. Boys, in reading one of the Nick Carter stories did you ever try to think ahead and guess who was the Stiminal in the case? ; Each of the readers has a chance to find out how good a detective he is, 3 He has the facts of the case laid before him just as Nick Cartér hiniself has. ; »Of course, he has not got Nick’s experience or wonderful detective instinct. Still, he can prove whether @r not he isa good detective by trying to decide i his own mind what the solution of the mystery is before He has read to the end of the story. The earlier in the story he is able to make his guess and the more aceyrate it is, the better detective he is. We want to see what sort of detectives‘the readers of the Nick CarTER WEEKLY are. , , We want one and all of you to write to us, telling us whether you were able to solve the mystery that . Nick Carter had to solve before reading’ to the end of any of the stories. . Tell us how far you read before you arrived at your decision, and jus/ what points guided you tw making your decision. Your letters will be printed in this colunin. SAS ’ BLAIRSTOWN, Iowa, May 2, 1902. lem. I reasoned that two toughs would not steal a corpse Dear Sir: I am a réader of the Nick Carter Weekly and have-been for years. Isaw yotrr amateur detective Work, so I thought I would try and see what kind of a detective I am. : » I took No. 277, or {‘ Nick Carter and the Professor.’’ for their own sake. There was somebody who prompted them to do it. As it was later shown that the father had no. enennes, it must have been a medical student who desired the body. When I saw -how desirous the pro- fessor was of meeting Nick Carter, and later how he tried to impress upon Nick aii absurd fact about the coachman, I knew that the professor had something to do with the case. eit _-Then, again, the fact that Taylor was see to go into the professor's house and the attempt to kill: Nick it front of the hotise, the disappearance of Lucy, the pre- fegsor’s anxiety over this fact, all led me to believe that Drummond, if not the chief criminal, was one of the per- petrators of the crime, _ Respectfully yours, — ; ; FRANKLIN. PARERR. Good work. You are a corking detective, Franklin, You show that you have first-rate reasoning powers, We accept you as a worthy member of the Nick Carter Amateur Detective League. : When Fielding told Nick that Dr. Drummond wanted to See him as soon as the doctor’s name was brought in I Suspected ‘him of haying sotiething to do with the ghouls. Then when Lucy was taken I thought at once t the doctor had his conféderates take hef. =~ . . Three'cheers for the Carters! ° Witnie Crurrt. * Bravo, Willie. Three cheers for the Carters, by all _theans. They deserve them, don’t they? Write again.’ BP Gikhs aly ce Saale ee ee omnes puts tie ) 2 t d ay _. Burrato, N.Y. | Editor Nick Carter Weekly— Bit eegit- . Dear Sir; I am just reading ‘Nick Carter aud the Professor” ‘and I want to write how.I solved this prob- _ In the Same Fix. (By Eugene Hammond, Ala.) be, ore An Essay On Dogs. | | oe (By E. M. Schemerhorn, N. Y.) eS Last summer our dog Towser was a lyin’ in the sun _ bad he had to cateh them and bime: by a beé lit on his. head’ and was working about like the dog was hisn. Towser he held his head still atid when the bee was 3 lose to his nose Towser winked at him, like he sed you _ See what this buffer’s doing, he thinks I’m a lily-of-the- upilley, which isn’t opened yet, but you just wait till } r m and you will see some fun. . enuff, Towser opened his mouth very slow so as ) friten the bee, and the bee went into, Towser’s . Then Towser he shet his eyes and mouth and Pe eee 4 43 ‘ r Raney Ta

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. } = (LARGE SIZE.) =: - bare Best Detective Stories in the World. ox2-Nick Carter Tracking a Traitor; or, Night Work in a Country Town. 253—Nick Carter’s Tunnel Mystery; or, Lost: $200,000 in Gold. 254—Nick Carter’s Queer Murder Case; or, Under a Terrible Suspicion. 255—Nick Carter Challenged; or, Fighting a Powerful Enemy. 256—Nick Carter and Arizona Jake; or, The Big Westernet’s Part in the Cooper Suicide. * 257—Nick Carter in the Council of the Reds; or, The Plot of the Anarchists. 4 258—Nick Carter and the Secret of the Tin Box; or, The Man Who Stole His Name. P 259—Nick Carter’s Fire Trail; or, Thwarting a Villain’s Plot. 260—Nick Carter on the Track of the Freight Thieves; or, The Boldest Gang in New York, 261—Nick Carter on the Track of a Gentleman Burglar: or, Robbing a Thief. 262—Nick Carter Attacked; or, The Desperate Plot on the Detective’s Life. ; 263—Nick Carter on the Trail of the River Pirates; or, The Dangerous Work on the River — Front. 264—Nick Carter and the King of the Tramp Thieves; or, Patsy’s Lane Hand Against the Hoboes. 265—Nick Carter and the Man in the Cask; or, Patsy’s Terrible Biellicaniese. 266—Nick Carter and the Shoplifters; or, The Automobile Clew. 267—Nick Carter's Ocean Chase; or, The Missing Crown Diamond. 268—Nick Carter and the Broken Dagger; or, The Black Man from Borneo. 269—Nick Carter’s Advertisement; or, A New Way to Catch a Criminal. 270—Nick Carter and the Nihilists; or, The Mine Under the Grand Duke’s Palace. 271—Nick Carter in the Convict Gang; or, Ida Jones to the Rescue. 272—Nick Carter and the Guilty Governor; or, The American Detective and the Russian i* Officer. 273—Nick Carter in Canada; or, Showing the Way to a Treacherous Guide. 274—Nick Carter and the Smugglers; or, Thief-Cafthing on the Bordet. ay | 275—Nick Carter's Enemy; or, Bringing a Murderer to the Gallows. 276—Nick Carter’s Land Office; or, Outwitting a Clever Swindler. ' 277—Nick Carter and the Professor; or, Solving a Scientific Problem. 278—Nick Carter as a Mill Hand; or, The Fall River Murder Mystery Revealed. 279—Nick Carter and the Kidnaped Heiress; or, The Recovery of a Great Ransom. 280—Nick Carter Strikes Oil; or, Uncovering More Than a Murderer. 281—Nick Carter’s Hunt for a Treasure; or, A Fight for Life with a Mysterious Foe. : _282—Nick Carter and the Highbinders ; or, The Great Chinese Mystery. _. *. 283—Nick Carter Facing the Mob; or, Smashing the Red League. ae 284—Nick Carter nd the Thirteen Club; or, Trailing a Triple Murderer. . , . ; All of the above numbers always on hand. If you cannot get them from your newsdealer, five — § cents a copy will bring them to you by mail, postpaid. STREET & ‘SMITH, PustisHers, 238 William St., New York.

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é dees can be no question about the advantage of being able to box well. When called upon to defend yourself you are always ready and the manly art of boxing if practiced as set forth in the pages of the book entitled “The Art of Boxing and Self Defense” will bring the muscles into play and transform a weak man into a noble specimen of his race. The Artof Boxing :** Self Defense By PROF. DONOVAN McGOVERN CROSS-COUNTERS WITH HIS RIGHT. The only authentic work on Boxing now on the market. a THE CONTENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS WILL train baci HAND BOOK HAND BOOK I= es INTEREST THE MOST INDIFFERENT PERSON. agg tone cuts, showing the different positions and blows. The originals of these illustrations are such noted pugilists as James Jeffries, Robert Fitzsimmons, James J. Corbett, Terry McGovern, Young Corbett, and all the heavy and light-weight fighters who have ever held the championship of ’ their class. The book is printed on good paper, clear, sharp type and bound in attractive illuminated cover. PRICE 10 CENTS ALL NEWSDEALERS If sent by mail, 3 cents additional for postage. . tt tt OO OA ~ LEFT ON McGOVERN’S STOMACH. STREET & SMIT tical gl meth le oat YOUNG CORBETT GETS IN A STRAIGHT d is profusely illustrated with 37 elegant half- —H