Nick Carter Weekly (no. 291) (1902 07 26)
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Lh THE SNAKE BROOCH STRUCK NICK IN
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Issued Weekly, No. 294. — NEW YORK, July 26, 1902. By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., N. ¥. © Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1902, tn the Office of the Librartan of Congress, Washington, D. C. “ Price Five Cents, Nick Carter and the Snake Brooch: \ OR, MAKING A STARTLING DISCOVERY. By the author of “NICHOLAS CARTER.” CHAPTER I. 4s MYSTERIOUS’ MURDER. “And so Blanche Martel is under arrest at last ?” “Yes, but I shall not feel quite safe aLout her until She is out of Chicago, and on her way to New York.” “Well, It has been a hard enough job to catch her.” The chief of the Chicago police force and a "trusted assistant were sitting together in the private Office of the former in the City Hall of Chicago. Both had been very anxious all day over the opera- “tions of a number of officers who had for a long time “been trailing a noted confidence woman who was “now charged not only with bank peat but with murder. Two of the best men connected with the Chicago the officer should take no chances now. force had been out for weeks tracing the woman from one hiding-place to another. Ge - The arrest had finally been accomplished in an in- terior town in Wisconsin, and Fred Green, the suc- cessful officer, was expected to reach the sity: oe afternoon with his prisoner. Upon receiving the news by wire that the long- desired capture had finally been made, the chief had sent the following dispatch to Detective Green: : DerartMent or Potrce, Cu1caco, It. Mr. Frep GREEN :—You now have in your custody one of. the most dangerous and desperate criminals in the world. Grant her no favors. Shall expect you in this afternoon” Tue Cuter, ~ i In an hour’s time the faithful officer wired back to his chief: : aia To tHE CHIEF oF. POLIce, Cureaco; 4h Your timely warning} received: and appreciated, I have never taken my eyes fron the face of the woman since the moment of ‘ Wr Sa, er n
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ree NICK CARTER WEEKLY. She is handcuffed and within easy néach of a pair Have New York man at Union depot FRED GREEN. her arrest. of splendid shooting irons. this afternoon, : “There,” said the chief, as he exhibited the ‘dis- patch to his assistant, “that looks hike business.” “J don’t understand the reference to the New York man.” % “Well,” said the chief, with a smile; “you see the arrest is being made for the officers of the State of New York. That being thé case’ those officers should assume the responsibility at the earliest .pos- sible moment.” “I see,” interrupted the other, with a smile. “And so,’’ continued the chief, “when Green lands the woman at the Union Depot he will place her in charge of the New York officer.” “Tt seems an easy matter to transfer a handcuffed woman from Chicago to New York,” said the as- TRistants sz. ieee “That's the thing 2 it;-it ihe tq easy.” “Has she ever made an escape?” . “More than a dozen. of them.” “Tam becoming interested i in her.” “You may well say that. The story. of this woman's crimes and escapes will, when completed, form one of the most remarkable stories in fhe records of crime in the world.” _ “Then Fred Green made a decided hit when he captured her.” "He certainly did. You must dadersiand.’ how- ever, that all his movements were directed from New York.” eT eg t that somewhat ntisual’ Bt Pires, but the case. “has for some time been in charge of the best detective on the continent, and everything has been done at his dictation.” You “that i am entitely at sea “How long has the search been going on? see,’ ’ continued the officer, concerning | the ‘case,’ ar “Abort two years, ” was the reply. “What was the first offense?” “The woman was accused of playing a confidence - part in a 1 bank Pophedy: ‘The eee and 1 thanag- ey rie be s v ing director of a bank in Broadway met the woran y something over two years ago, and became - infatu- ated with her.” Pe “Met her in society ?” ir: Ne “Well, not exactly. He met her, I think, in that class of society which thrives about the fashionable hotels, knowing a little of the leaders of Arriets but © not familiar ees any of ait. “Well “There was no hint of a scandal about the case, fon the woman, who claimed to be living under the pro- tection of her brother, was more than discreet. ity seems that the worthy pair were working a strongen — game than that of blackmail.” The assistant was more than interested. |" >” He never took his eyes from the face of his su- perior. “And the end,” he said, excitedly ; “how did it all. come out?” ‘Well,’ said the chief, slowly, “the si lias and - manager was cajoled or forced-+no one knows which, for he would never tell—into the bank. during the night time, and one hundred thousand dollars i in greenbacks were taken.” edd “But the time-lock, the bank guards, and all that? dl a “That’s the mysterious part of it. “It has been q thought that the victim had been induced to change | the combination on the time-lock in order to please some pretended caprice of the woman, and for some reason the guards were not on the main floor of the bank at the time thé robbery occurred, ‘s ae “There was no evidence of any force: having been ‘ used. bg aaa I “The vault was opetied in the ‘usual ioe as ' “And the president?” pee teal ECS te ty -“Heswas found by the janitor the follansie: morn ing in his private office, neatly. handeufied and gagged.” PA chet “His financial standing with the bank’ mist have been’ excellent in order to withstand. an- occurrence oa of that sort. at once.’
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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. eae “But he took steps to find the woman, of course?” “Ves; he placed the matter in the hands of a pri- vate detective agency. called in only after the agency men had failed.” “And-you say the woman has been arrested be- fore?” : “Ves, and at least two men who were close upon her trail have been murdered.” “Murdered?” “Murdered in the most mysterious manner.” “The case is a most interesting one,” said the as- sistant. “I hope Green will come out of it all right.” “T haven’t a doubt of it.” “And this New. York man, has he reported here year” “The New York man,” ay have been in the city for a week for all I know. said the chief, with a smile, may even be out on the road shadowing Fred his prisoner. You never can tell when or wherte k Carter will turn up.” Nick Carter!” “Yes: the famous Nick Carter has the case; and it is owing to his efforts that the arrest has been accom- plished,” “Doesn’t he usually make his arrests himself?” “Yes; but he is a busy man, and he would take the case only with the understanding that he was merely to direct the movements of mty officers, and to take the woman off our hands here if an arrest was made. He should have been here this morning.” “The woman will be eet to the Armory station, of course? “No; we have orders to transfer her directly from the Northwestern Depot on Wells street -to the ‘Union Depot. . The transfer will be made in an ordi- : nay Parmalee bus, on the theory that there is safety ‘ina crowd.” “It’s a great case,” said the assistant, rising to his feet. “I wouldn't mind having made that arrest myself.” . | “It is about time for the train to be in,” said the | chief. “Suppose you step over to the Northwestern Depot to meet Fred.” Pa The public officers were — “Very well,” was the reply. “I'll get there in time if can, but I think I am about five minutes late.” The assistant was right in his surmise. _ He was just five minutes late. When he arrived at the depot the learned from a depot policeman that Detective Green, accompanied by a veiled lady, had taken a Parmalee transfer oe for the Union Depot. “It seems to me,” thought the assistant, as he took a cab, with instructions to the driver to take him to the Northwestern Depot as quickly as possible, “that some one should have been here to meet Fred with his prisoner. Suppose Nick Carter should ie to show. up?” When the cab containing the officer drew up at the Union Depot =e transfer bus had not yet ar- rived. A gray-whiskered gentleman in spectacles, and wearing a slouch hat, stood by the o his hands thrust carelessly in his pockets. He glanced keenly at the officer as the latter alighted, and in a moment stood at his side.’ “T am looking,” he said, with a smile, “for a gen- Ii my information Have tleman by the name of Green. is correct, he will be accompanied by a lady. you seen him?” The assistant chief looked at him suspiciously. The last time he had met Nick Carter he had seen him in the disguise of a timid young man from the country- “You don't remember me, I guess,” said the de- tective. “I am here by appointment to take charge of Detective Green's traveling companion.” is- tt Beg nye began the assistant, “that you are “Nick Carter, The Chicago officer regarded the New York de- tective for a moment, and then reached out his hand. . “T shall be glad at your service.” “T am glad to see you,” he said. when this job is off my hands.” “Only for an unforeseen delay of half. an oun said Nick, “I should have met Mr. Green on his ar-_ : a! f. “A : ‘ 7 . : i , Sie Shs : hint Lt , oak OES h>F t S
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4 _ NICK CARTER WEEKL rival at the Northwestern Depot. I myself am very uneasy about the case.” “Oh, I guess it will be all right,” “Fred is a good officer.” “And still,” said Nick, “he is handling a diet customer, and there is more danger between the two depots in Chicago than in all the miles of country. roads which he has traveled with her.’ “We shall soon know all about it,” ant, “for here comes the bus.” As the bus drew up at the curb the agaistant stepped forward and opened the door. “There is some mistake here,” “There must be another bus on the way.” As he spoke, the only passenger in the bus stepped said the assistant, said the assist- he exclaimed. out. | “Keep this man here for a moment,” said Nick, quietly. “I don’t like the looks of things.” Then he turned to. the man in charge of the vehicle. | “How ‘many passengers did you take from the Northwestern Depot?” he asked. .The man looked at the detective insolently for a moment. ; Then he caught sight of the city officer, and an- swered the question in one word: mat TE WOL _“A man anda woman?” ENS. “Did -you recognize either of these atties: os ad man is’a city detective. I don’t know his name.’ “Will you ‘step here fora moment? ?” he asked. The man did as requested, and Nick pointed at the solitary passenger standing at.the rear of the bus. _ “Ts that the gentleman who got in at the North- western Depot?” he asked. - “No,” said the man, sharply. _ and got in at Madison street.” Nick now turned to the passenger. “He hailed the bus, “Was the bus empty,” he asked, “when you got. in?” ai re cose The man. hesitated. ey iy Mi Lb ¢ MESS BRET Cr AR IPA Yes? he said, at ice ; “it was empty,” coat; “tell me if you. ever saw those before ee “Take him in charge,’ na Nick, quietly. Martel has escaped again.” The Chicago officer turned pale. “Poor Fred,” he said. “FHe’s probably still on the hunt,” said Nick, “and he’s likely to have a merry time of it.” > ] “Blanche As Nick spoke he stepped inside the vehicle and looked carefully around. _In a moment he started back in astonishment and ; heuer: The toe of a man’s boot 4 was protruding from un- der one of the seats. - 2 4 When he rose again he nesoe to the Chicago fi officer to step inside. fe 1 The latter advanced to the door without removiz his hand from the prisoner’s coat. ; What he saw as he looked in was the body dead man lying on the floor of the bus. The face of the dead man was that of Fred Gr Its expression, as well as the position of the limbs,» told plainly of a sudden and violent death, The body was still warm. “He has not been dead three minutes,” said Nick, | putting his hand upon the breast of the corpse. _ *Take your prisoner . the station- house hai re- | port the matter at once.” \ “Where are you going” ” asked the officer, as Niel turned away. Rue. _ “Going?” said the detective ; “Tm going to find . Blanche Martel.” Nick advanced a few steps down the ‘teat ain then returned to where the city officer was standing with his prisoner. Tt may be well for me to know.” he said, “what that man has in his pane ” rveheit Tey eet niened, seni AEEEy | said Nick, in a moment, daar a pair of handcuffs from an inner pocket. of the Bri “Yes,” Mes the omeey, pking ¢ t h
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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. | : 5 his hand and examining them; Fred Green.” “Gentlemen,” me to explain “they belonged to began the prisoner, “if you'll allow ” “I advise you not to make any statement here,” said Nick. Then he turned to the officer. . “Handcuff him,” he said, shortly, “and take him to the station-house.” The officer started away with his prisoner, and Nick Carter left the place, with anything but a good- natured look on his face. “That woman,’ crowded street, “must be in league with the devil.” CHAPTER Il. A DRAW GAME. “Now then,” thought Nick, as he walked slowly along Clark street; “if Blanche Martel had not had ~ One intimate friend in Chicago she never could have “been traced to that little town in Wisconsin where she was captured. I wonder if she can be traced from the friend’s residence again.” After carefully inspecting his notebook, the detect- ive crossed over to Dearborn street, and took a cable car for the North Side. Near the corner of North Clark and Erie streets he left the car, and walked over to Dearborn street, “Blanche Martel had a friend here named Sarah Cathcart,” he muttered, pausing in front of a large brick edifice. “She took rooms here when we traced her from New York, and it was here that Blanche Martel stopped while in Chicago. I wonder what her friend will say if I go in there and ask for her now ?” The detective again referred to notebook, ascended the broad steps leading from the street, and rang the bell. “have an acquaintance here,” he said t the lady who opened the door, “by the name of Sarah Cath- cart. Can you tell me whether she is in? in oe all the impadence and suspicion of a Chi- his "he thought, as he walked along the » cago domestic depicted upon her face the fachis said “Wait,” and closed the door. She returned in a moment, and showed her head at a small opening. “Miss Cathcart,” “is employed at a department store on State street. There is the number,” she added, handing the detective a card. “Go there if you want’ to see her.” The detective took the cat again, and soon landed at the corner of Monroe'and Dearborn streets. “Miss Sarah Cathcart,” he thought, changed her plan of life since leaving New York. She didn’t work then.” The detective was not yet clear in his ey as to what course to pursue. He entered the store, and pushed his way through | she said, briefly, “must have the crowded aisles. The woman was well known to him, she having been a consort of thieves and gamblers in oe) York. His idea now was to get a look at the woman, and then make up his mind what course to pursue. He ‘saw her at length behind one of the long -counters on the third floor. “She has improved somewhat in appearance,” he thought, “and her present intention may be to lead an honest life, but the chance$ are in favor of a big steal being discovered here some day.” As he stood at the counter a few feet away an . the woman, making some trifling: purchases, and waiting for his change, he saw that the woman was watching him closely. “That’s maak *"he nina “it can't be that she FY. recognizes me.” | ; At that moment a cash girl came hastily down the aisle and handed the woman a sealed envelope. “A messenger boy left it at the office,” she said, - He said he didn’t. | want nothing but business going on sein ise: busi~ 4 “and the manager didn’t like it. ness hours.” : pee The woman opened the envelope with a nervous hand, and read the nisin ey eee ee Paley as. 4 apie ta be ietesciiae ret»
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6 _ NICK CARTER WEEKLY. It was perfectly clear to the detective that the note was from no less a person than Blanche Martel. Just then one of the floor-walkers stopped in front of the counter, and engaged the woman in conversa- tion. They were evidently not talking about the business going on around them, for they.conversed in very low tones. The woman seemed insisting upon something, and the man seemed to be holding out against her, | Nick walked away to another counter, near the elevator, and stood watching the couple for some moments. When the floor-walker left the woman he passed to ‘the elevator and went downstairs, glancing at Nick keenly as he approached the spot where he stood. “Tf [am not very much mistaken,” thought the de- tective, “I have seen that face in New York. I guess there are two New York crooks in the establishment instead of one.” The man was known to Nick as Budd Maynard, a famous New York crook. Nick passed back toward the counter and watched "the woman keenly, but she went on about her busi- ness as usual and paid no further attention to him. lf she had recognized him at all she was now cer-. tainly on her guard. "The note she had received lay with its envelope on the counter. Raines ie could get hold of that puke thought Nick, ; vd might know where to start in.’ _ He approached the counter and began examining ‘the goods near the coveted paper. The woman’s face gave no indication that she was: - aware of his presence. i While the woman’s back was turned he secured possession of the note, and was turning away, when a clear voice reached his ears: “Tt you are curious about my correspondence, sit, you may read the note. Then; perhaps, you will re- “turn it.” Nick glanced back, to ‘find the woman gazing at him with flashing eyes. “TD ex your pardon,” he said, dking 4 in seeming i astonishment at the ‘crumpled bit of paper in his hand; “I was thinking of something else at the time, and the act of taking it was an involuntary one. I really beg your pardon.” “The explanation is sufficient,” said the woman, coldly, and Rick passed on downstairs. He was angry with himself at having been caught in a'trap, for he regarded it as nothing less. “She left the paper there on purpose to see if I would try to obtain it,” he thought. “That’s a mighty sharp woman, and I ought to have known better. There’s a good chance now for trouble in working the case. However, the woman cannot leave her counter until six o’clock, and I shall be free until that time.” 3 The detective had caught a glimpse of the con- tents of the note, but had gained no information from it. It merely read, ness, but may see you before I leave.” It was simply signed, “John.” _ “It means something, of Sere “I am in town again, full of busi- Nick thought, “but-no one can tell what it is.’ He went to the nearest telegraph office, and sent the following, dispatch to his home address, i in New York: Start Ida Jones for Chicago on the first train, He knew that he had a long and difficult case to — *handle, and he had decided to call in Ida Jones, his assistant. Sarah Cathcart ead have to be sation night | and day, and he had an idea that Ida was just the person for the undertaking. As he left the telegraph office he noticed a spruce- looking fellow standing by the door. One glance told him that it was the floor-walker in the department store on State street. “That looks like business,” thought Nick, as he walked away in the direction of the City Hall. He was greeted warmly by the chief of police and — shown into the private office. ie ae re _ “Only for my assistant’s description of ‘your ap- i
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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. . ee a > pearance,’ oe the Shieh ae never should have rec- ognized you.” “You are a trifle behind the times,” said Nick, with a a “for I have already been recognized in ete cago.” ~-“In connection with this case?” asked the chief. en was the reply, case.” ” . “in connection with this “You understand, of course, that you can have all the assistance you want.’ i ” said Nick “You have a description of the woman?” “That’s what I camé to see you about, “Yes, and I will do everything in my power to bring the murderer of poor Fred Green to justice.” “You can do nothing now,’ have. all a outgoing trains and boats carefully “said Nick, “except to w atchied.’ “T have already given Grdcts for that to He done,” said the chief, 92 “That's all now, said Nick, “but I may need more help in the future.” __As Nick passed out of the City Hall on the Ran- dolph street side the floor-walker stood near the curb, es te with a cabman. FoF: a. moment - the detective was at a loss what course to pursue. After a moment’s thought, however, he turned south on Clark nee and walked in the direction of of ourth avenue. nthe 5) oi a Spat: s “The only Way ‘to bririg out ‘that fellow’s strong points,” he Saad ‘Ss to give him a chance, and see Si sagl fre will do.” «Tf was: “now hetviben four’ and: five o’élock in the .. afternoon, and Fourth avenue was crowded with its ‘ustial class of'frequenters. - : A short distancé down’ the stréet hé paused long “enough’to see that the floor-walker was keeping him in sight, and turned into asaloon which seemed to be “patr onized priticipally. by negroes. x “Budd Maynard,” thought Nick, séating himself “Gn the rear of the room, and ordering a glass of beer, » “frequented resorts of this sort in New York City. Passed. on into the main hallway runing, “east and I wonder if he ge isang the seas of the gang here.” SE Rae ; Coe Tair ee seat he occupied was shine ria in line with the person ainaiee at igi stesncuitaes on the’ street side of the screen. Sete In a moment.’ Floor-Walker Budd Maynard stepped into the front of the place and stood talking in a familiar manner with the bartender, who gre out to the cigar case to meet him. “That ‘settles it,” thought Nick; “I've got’all the ‘toughies i in Chicag6'to fight in this case, and I may as well shake this fellow, and get to work.” In the rear of the main barroom was a small room, evidently uséd for private parties after closing hour. Nick carelessly walked into this place, his hands in his pockets, and stood one out into a ‘small court. “A door ‘opening on the south’ oe of the room at- tracted-his attention. ~~ A spe iia As he looked, the door was hastily opened, and a boy came in with an empty pitcher, which he ‘pro- ceeded to-have filled’at ‘the bar. 96 =< = : “Nick saw in a moment that the small edb the other side of the doo? must lead’ somewhere to” a main hallway connected with the street. _ He walked out to the bar, bought a cigar, and walked up and down both rooms, smoking. t _ Maynard still stood concealed by the screen, ‘and. fhe detective busied himself for a moment, and then iA nari west. “Hello,” said the bartender, in a moment; ne ‘irene Bt dar where ‘he old fellow went? I thought \ we pigkt have some fun with him.” ¢ any a “Ves, you' ‘lL have, lots of Sy pith him,” ae May- ‘ vat with a grin. “Has. he actually. gone? rigs oy) | : at - “Sure,” was. the reply;. ‘he probably. went out through the main entrance to the. building.” ne Be Maynard bounded out of the place, and Hopped ‘ato : the door of the hall:on-the.outside. - . Wiss af ‘Has | any one pacers out of here lately? Br ihe aske f Ky i Mae, rede ‘ PT CH) ry Ne
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‘out his money in that way. of a rough-looking fellow who. was lounging.on the Steps. -\/* ea “Nobody but a bloomin’ dude,” was the reply. “What did he look like ??s:0- “Wat yer givin’ us?” Maynard sunbed a dollar into othe fellow’s hand. “Now, tell me,” he said, with a captivating smile, “just how the dude looked.” “Red hair’n mustache,” said the fellow, face, and gold eyeglasses.” “How was‘he dressed ?”’ “Black ‘suit and cutaway coat, wid patent leider “freckled shoes.” “Which way ae he go?” The fellow pointed south. “Do you want him for anything?’ he asked: “Vou must be a stranger around here,” said Budd, with a grin. “Ves,” was the reply; ay just got in ee Kala- mazoo, Michigan. Wa’s de dude bin doin’ ?’” Budd hastened away toward the south without making any reply. “Nick’s cunning,” he thought, as he walked along, “but I’ve got on to another of his disguises just the same.” ; After his departure the slouchy-looking fellow in the doorway turned and walked slowly northward with a true Fourth avenue swagger. “Maynard: must be in luck,” he thought, How he would swear if “ec =. » to give he knew that that dollar had passed into the posses- ston of Nick Carter!” It was now five o’clock, and Nick hastened directly to his room in the Palmer House. A few minutes! later a rather well-dressed gentle- man left the hotel and proceeded to the third floor of the department store. Pa ihe. ~The. woman’ was’ still at her counter, and Nick kept-away from the place where she stood. His idea was to ‘Temain near the ‘elevator, ahd : iil: her from the moment her duties for the day ty eased: 88225. oe ake x itd As he stood there ithe dae walker, ooking deiched stale off below. -what-time the watchman gets. around,” abe 8 NICK CARTER WEEKLY and worried, stepped. out of the elevator, and pro- ceeded directly to where Miss Cathcart was at work. At that moment the first closing gong sounded. “In fifteen minutes,” thought the detective, “the “place will be closed, and I can follow the two. away together.” The floor-walker passed down the ‘sib, re- mained a few moments and returned, looking sharply at Nick both times. | When the plotting: gong sich there. was a a eta rush for the exit, and in a very short time Nick.and _ the two people whom he was shadowing remained alone on the floor. “Come,” said the floor-walker, advancing to the place where Nick stood, “take the elevator if you are going down. It will stop running in a moment.” “T haven't been waited on ee + Said Nick, inno- cently. : a “Tt’s too late’ now,” said Maynard. - i canes are all gone, and I am the last manin ‘the store. Take the elevator. This is the last trip down.” Nick stepped into the elevator, and Maynard * stood in the doorway, as a Ue about pee to fava re in, re Instead of doing so, however, he reached ‘his ae in and grasped the cable. i aa The elevator shot up to the eae ree the Tope and stopee There followed a slight sound He machinery i Pay mo- tion and two heavy doors in the elevator shaft on a_ level with the floor below closed with a jar. The detective was suspended in me cage. above ‘doors in ‘the ‘elevator bhatt inkendadh ‘ani ios. use, in case of fire were closed below. - He seized the cable and pulled desperately at. it. - The elevator did not move. |The. power had peeP “Well,” muttered the detective, exceedingly good for a long: session. For obvious reasons. F: toor-Walker eee and “the chances are. ¥
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+ ment to make.” NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Miss Sarah Cathcart did not ee ae by the elevator that ‘night. As ‘they passed out of the store Maynard handed a five-dollar bill to a man who stood at the entrance, evidently waiting for him. ; “He'll kick when he gets out,” said Maynard, with a’ smile, “but, as I told you before, it’s only a joke. Keep him there as long as you can.” ‘If the imprisoned detective could have been con- sulted he would have pronounced it a very serious joke: CHAPTER HT, Dee IN THE “PARK RAVINE. eos au time after the departure of Nick Carter from the*City Hall the man arrested at the Union Depot-was taken to the office of the chief of the de- tective force. “T am told,” -said the chief, “that you have a state- “Yes,"! was the reply, “and after I Haas aad it I hope to be released.” . He was.a good-looking, well-dressed young: fel- low, who had neither the manner nor the appearance: of a criminal. “When I ect into the bus at Madison street,” began, * he “jt had one passenger, a very handsome woman. abs ad “Fer hands were clasped i in ae lap, and she ap- detective, peared to be in great agony of mind.” “You did not tell the truth, then,” ‘interrupted the “when you said at the Union Depot that there were no passengers | in the bus sles you. got in?” “NO,” * was the reply, “I believed the’ woman’s “Story, and told a deliberate Br sh in: Binieed to f shield her.” Sit “First, ie em the a Cede mea. foun eet of the’ woman.” _ Handsomest woman I ever mit. oSP-can only say,” was the reply, “that she was the ’ You must remem- me i bet that I was’ in her- company ae a very. short time.” * “Your short: selene said the chief, “is an accurate one. The woman: was Blanche Martel, the bank robber and murderess.” The young man dropped weakly back in his chair. “Great Heaven!” he exclaimed. “Then the case is a very serious one.” “You are right there... What did she say to you?” “She said that she was being abducted by the paid agent of an unscrupulous law firm in New York. “She declared that she had been dragged away from a young infant, who was certain to die without her care.” “How did she account for being alone in the bus?” “She said: that her captor had returned to the depot to make a last arrangement about the bag- gage, and vines the bus had driven off and left him.” “Go ‘on, ; “As she raised her hands imploringly, I saw that she’ as handcuffed. . It wasa pitiful sight. _ “ ‘See,’ she said, extending one of her pink palms, £ have the key to the handcuffs in-my possession. He dropped it on the floor: while searching for his checks. «If you have the heart of a man make use. of the key, and release me.’ eras, it did what any man would have done under, the circumstances. “T made use of the key, and she sprang from the s.' I can only say, by way of apology, that the »woman was handsome and in tears. “I only did what ninety-nine men out of a hun- dred would have’ done. “All this took place;” continued the young man, “in much less time than-I have been. Aeling you ‘the story.” “Where did the woman leave the bus?” ““T can’t exactly state. 1 think, however, ‘hese it was at least a block north of: ie ie Depot.” “Did you observe her movements after leaving the bus?” - : “Only for an instant. the crowd.” ~ Es 1.958 x She soon became lost in
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10 - “And during this time you had no intimation ofva murdered man lying under the seat?” “Not the slightest.” ““This isa very remarkable story, “and I doubt very much about its being be- For my own part, I have'no opinion to ex- bi} said the detect: ive, lieved. press.” “With what am I charged?” . yi “With the murder of Detective Fred Green.” ~ “Why, man, Inever saw the woman before if my life., Is it likely, thert, that.I-should proceed to. such extreinities'in order to.aid her?” Bi “And still,’ said the detective, “how could that: handcuffed woman have accomplished the crime?” The: young man shook: his head:sadly, > «:: “T ednrot account for it,”-he said. “And the handcuffs,” continued the officer; “they wete ‘found, I think, secreted in one: of your ianer _ pockets ?”” sere ney) bh fea! “T can’t account for that, either, “T don’t remember of bestowing a tame 99, lie the young man. ‘upon them.” It is very singular,” ce, the Ahcer, leas “My people are wealthy, and 1 ‘can furnish ‘any: amount of bail. Will it be accepted?” +». Mpthink notte: 2A Gino ae “Tt is a hatd case. presume: ee “A> dozen, if you like. ‘ doy eas ® . . ZA * ee employ an attorney, 1 | The prisoner was: cauned back to’ sity aii and étiei detective sat there in a brown: study. “Poor. Greén,” he mused. - “He is thé thitd -Of- _ ficer who has been murdered while in pursuit of this i wowan. All have died in the same mysterious man- r. Thete has been no mark of weapon, no ‘trace of poison. Iam glad Nick Carter has itches of the case, as it is beyond:my comprehension.” oa Ee a moment he sprang to his feet and sae the door. Gare nis - The officer was half-way: down the tong core idor 4 with his- prisoner. pal & me a a “Bring hiny back,” said the chief, fvabrortly.” ; overlooked an important point. “y have’ NICK CARTER WEEKLY: Hows tell me,”’ ie ata as the young’) jee nto: on the. inside of the closed door, .regarding him curiously, “whether yous noticed anything particu-. larly*striking or. cae ieie about the woman’s person or apparel.” . “T can’t say that I did. is BS Be Fiden 9 8 ae “Think again,” : ated tie officer. . “Recall | the scene again to your mind, and tell me, if you can, what: it was about her that you remember most dis- tinetly.”? ; Piast (dy fice a SF “An! exclaimed the young man, eagerly, “that she wore a ath pant brooch at the neck of ‘her dress.” “Describe it.” _ “Its most striking feature was two gold serpents, coiled; and in the act of striking—not at éach other, but straight in front. I remember now that ‘their eyes were emerald, and that their mouths were ee! I remember now,” showing the farigs.!: {eo toeiiscnpen ee Yes? ‘said the chief, daa usually ; wears that ‘peculiar snake brooch. She has been: known to wear it in the public street, even When the’ ‘ officers were close in pursuit of her.” ie “Tt itiay Jead to her discovery now,’ ’ said the pris: : at hope 80, at least.” oner, hopefully. Warne eh “Another thing,” ‘continued the chief of ‘detect: ives, “did you notice anything peculiar about the’ at. mosphere of the bus when you entered tai “The air seemed to be heavy with perfunie, was all.” Bae wo “Well,” said the chief, ‘when ‘the ‘body of Fred Gredi, was first removed there seemed to. be a pecu- liar odor about the mouth and ‘nostrils, _ Only. for the fact that it disappeared ‘almost immediately that, ) might have explained the cause of his death.” “That “My only hope of release now,” said the prisoner, “lies in the suecess of your officers, a hope they, silt do their best.” yah “You may be sure ot that,” Sjeleasan The prisoner. was now. returned to his calls andthe’ chief busied: himself-with other-matters.o 0005 ca6 He was, aka at his Lies longer than. aunt that a 7 . HE a Th
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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. day, and it was nine o’clock before he was ready to leave for home. As he rose to leave the room an officer entered with a sealed note in his hand. : “This was left at the desk 2 moment ago,” the of- ficer said, “by a messenger boy, who said that it was to be delivered to you at once.” The detective opéned the envelope and gave a start of surprise as he read the following message: Have two of your best detectives at the Lincoln Mecuiieat in Lincoln Park at two o’clock sharp. Watch for a negro. with a white handkerchief about his neck. The note was signed “Nick Carter.” “This looks hopeful,” mused the detective. “Nick has, at least, found a starting point.” Then he turned to the officer: “Send Wells here,” he said, prepare for a night of hard work.” Then, 4s the officer turned to leave the room, he stopped him with a motion of his hand. “Tam going out with Wells,” he said, “so it will be “and tell him. to useless to attempt to communicate with me at my residence if anything happens.” At exactly ten o’clock the two officers stationed themselves at the foot of the steps at the danas Monument. It was a warm, pleasaute evening. A full moon shone high in the heavens, across which light, fleecy clouds were slowly drifting. As a bell in a neighboring steeple struck the hour of two, a burly-looking negro with a white handker- chief about his neck left the heavy shadow of the base » of the monument, and guvanded to the spot where the two officers stood. “I am glad to see you here in person,” he said. “We may have desperate work before the night is over.’; “Fave you discovered anything new?” asked the dete@tive, after presenting his companion. | “Yes,” said Nick, “the friends of Blanche Martel _. Wave arranged a meeting at the Grant Monument at half- past ten, and I have an idea that the lady h beasts may Saas the occasion with bse arsine 11 “The friends of Blanche Martel!” repeated the de- tective. “How in the name of all that is wonderful did ‘you find out who her friends are?” “Oh, I ran across a couple of them down here,” said. Nick, with a smile. “They are old New York acquaintances of mine.” “Did they recognize you?” “T should think they did. They even attempted. to provide a lodging-place for me to-night.” “Were the quarters desirable?” acer the. detect- ive, with a smile. “The place was at least jee from noise,’ said Nick, “It was in an elevator in a department store, closéd for the night.” In a few words, then, Nick told the officér what had occurred during the afternoon and evening. “How did you get out?” asked the detective. “Oh, Ll always carry a funny little tool,” said Nick, I got out of the ee without any trouble, and the rest was easy.” “The watchman came, I suppose?” “Yes, and he explained it all to me as a playful joke on the part of my friend, Budd Maynard, of Mulberry Bend, New York.” “Why didn’t you arrest bitin’ "hd “Arrest him? ing over the joke with him. You should have heard me lati: “And now,’ wonder where I'll find these playful friends of mine. I should like to get even with them this very night.’ . ‘carelessly, “which will cut.through’almost anything. — ““Tll tell you,’ he said, ‘if you won’t give we away, ne “I gave the necessary assurance, and he eye me his secret. ““When they went vais he said, “I heard ak talking about meeting some one at the Grant Mon-. ument at half-past ten. I gathered from what they said that the person they were to meet is to leave town to-night. better hurry up there.’ “That reminds me,” continued Nick, “that we ad better be moving in that direction. I'll go straight there, and you separate and come up from different ms tek he : eS | ‘ wt s) Se I said to. him, as I turned away, ‘I; So if it’s a friend of yours you had 6 his a
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12 ways, one from Clark street and. the other from the driveway by the lake. “Let three sharp whistles be the call for help, in ’ ease any of us, géts into trouble.” Nick approached the monument from the walk leading over the tunnel under the base, and under the statue proper. While under the statue this walk resembles a lofty chamber, with arched entrances on three sides, more than anything else. Arched windows look out over the water on the side toward the lake. Four persons stood by one of these windows as Nick strolled carelessly through the place. The party apparently consisted of two men and ‘two women. » One of the men was Maynard, but it was not the _ Maynard of the department store. He was dressed in a rough costume, aie wore a- fail, black beard: Upon the breast of the other mu figure gleamed the emerald eyes of the snake brooch. Oiies of the woinén wasSarah: Cathcart.’ The other was unknown to the detective. Nick knew well enough that Blanche Martel stood before him, dressed in male attire. - His first impulse was to rush forward and make the arrest then and there. Had either one of the officers been in sight he | world have pursued this course. He passed on through the place, turned to the _ left, and disappeared in the. shrubbery bordering the” _ driveway between the monument ‘and Clark street. There he met the chief detective. “Blanche Martel, with three companions, stands in . the covered way at the monument,” he said. ‘Do ‘i you know where Wells is?” “He is probably somewhere on the Tower drive: way. What do you propose to do now?” __ “T feel just like rushing in there and arresting the Hh whole party.” “Tam ready,” said the detective. thought. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “And still,” said Nick, “I have a sort of curiosity to know what move they will make next.” : As he spoke Nick, closely followed by the chief detective, turned to the south, and crossed the road and footpath bordering the lower drive. Nick said, “Tf Wells is down here,’’ ee! want to know it. We may need him.” This change of position was a fortunate one. :— As they stood looking out from the shelter of the shrubbery the four figures left the arched window of the monument, and turned down the steps leading to the lower level. . At that moment the sound of oars came from the lagoon lying between the border of the park and the newly constructed lake-shore drive. “That explains their presence here,” said: Nick. “They are going away, in a rowboat.” Fal The party of four now passed the concealed de- tectives, proceeding in the direction of the narrow channel leading from the lagoon out into the lake. The sound of rapidly advancing footsteps. now ne came from the north. 4 In a moment a park policeman cafne into view. He passed the little party, and walked to the place where the boat had been drawn up to. the bank, A few yards to the south Wells stepped into the walk, directly in the rear of the party. One of the party turned about and said ‘something — to the detective, which Nick and his companion Sa not hear. The detective made some reply, and walked on ahead of the party. The man in the boat pushed out from the aie ‘iss ‘and rowed down toward the little bridge. “Things couldn't be in better shape,” whispered | Nick. ‘‘When they get on the bridge we'll bag the whole crowd: But things will not remain in this position long.” a + i : Just before reaching the bridge the party sépa-_ é rated, the two women going west, in ‘the direction of Clark street. j nod “Let them go,” ahd’ Nick, altet a. “minute's “Tt is just as wel not to have the women 3
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i NICK CARTER WEEKLY. around. | lowed.” b. | ©There’s the park policeman,” said the chief de- jtective. ‘‘He can at least keep track of them while | they are in the park.” The park policeman soon satisfied himself regard- ing the mani with the boat, and turned back in the di- I should like, however, to have them fol- ain of the spot vhere tle officers were conceated. “It’s time for us to be moving,” said Nick, “and you can speak to the policeman whe we meet him.” i The policeman at once recognized the chief of the had stepped from the shrubbery. _ “What did the boatman say to you?” asked the chief. “He said that the two gentlemen of the party were ‘oing out for a moonlight ride on the lake.” “Do you know him?” “Yes; he’s all right.” ‘Well, his passengers are not all ipl ” said the hief. “The two women who just left them are not bove suspicion. through the park.” I wish you would follow them “ATE they to be arrested if anything suspicious takes place: te “Certainly.” The policeman darted away after the retreating figures, and Nick turned to his companion. “Tt won't do for you to go down there,” he said. “Tt is almost as light as day, and you would be recog- nized before we got within reach of the people w we are after.” “But you may: need help.” ' “T usually make my arrests without asbistance,” said Nick, with alaugh. “You can best help me now ‘by finding Wells and being ready to take charge of the prisoners after the arrest is made. Whatever you do, don’t get into sight after I get near enough to attract the attention of the people yonder.” _ “Remember,” said ite chief, “‘that Blanche Martel is a dangerous woman.’ gsi Nick passed on without ety any reply, and ar- tived at the bridge just as the rowboat drew up. | : | | City detectives, and stopped at the place where they 413 Maynard stood leaning over the railing with his eyes fixed on the water, while his companion stood + near the boat. | Tiey both started as Nick’s footsteps sounded on the planks, and Maynard advanced to the center of the bridge to meet him. “Why are you following us about?” he demanded. “You d better light out if you want to keep a whole skirt.” said Nick, in his “J ain’t doin’ nothin’ to “You done keep ‘way fm me,” choicest negro dialect. your | , ; Maynard still advanced upon Nick, and the, te- tective caught a gleam of steel in his hand. Nick had very little time for thought, for he knew that the man suspected him. He sprang forward and dealt the crook a powerful blow on the point of the chin. Withow waiting to see the effect of his blow he sprang back, and threw both arms around the body of the fallen man’s companion. “The game is up, Blanche Martel!” he cried, “You are caught at last es . A low, mocking laugh came from the lips of his prisoner. ae . “Not so fast, my friend,” said a female voice; “the best of us are occasionally mistaken.” . | The moonlight fell full upon the face and figure ot the speaker. She made no attempt to regain her liberty. Nick sprang back, almost stumbling’ over sical nard’s prostrate form as he did so. The face was not that of Blanche Martel. The woman he was in search of had escaped. Without waiting an instant Nick darted away in the ditectiod taken by the two women. The chief “detective and Wells were by his side i in a moment. “The two women changed ‘disguises at the mon- ument,” Nick said, hastily, ‘and bafta) be Martel has escaped. 4, “There is a possibility,” park policeman has captured her. said the chief, “that the ‘Ithought I heard
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14 the sound of a scuffle over there in the ravine a min- ute ago.” The men were soon at the place pointed out. There, under the bridge, they found mag dead body of the park policeman. By its side lay a woman’s dress, shawl, and hat. * said Nick; “he caught them while she was shifting her disguise, and was mur- “You see how it 13,” dered just as poor Fred Green was murdered.” The chief bent over the body. wounds, but a pe odor still lingered about the There were no nostrils, CHAPTER IV. ‘A HARD-HITTING EXPRESSMAN, Two days after the mysterious murder of the po- liceman in the ravine’at’ Lincoln Park, there was a . new second girl at the house on Dearborn street. She was young and pretty, and the letter from the intelligence’ office through which she had been em- ployed gave her’name as Polly Mikens. “Dat girl,” declaréd Pinkey Kidder, “is one of dem - girls w’at has more lip dan work about ’em.” Pinkey Kidder was the star boarder of the estab- - lishment, _ He was short and stout, pe a neck like the cylin- : abs of a steam engine. =; Just, how he got his living no, one not in the con- fidence of himself or his tough- hers pals see to know. — He played the races at Garfield Park, played faro in Clark street, and occasionally hung around the House of David to catch returns on the policy draw- ings, From the very start Polly seemed to take a great fancy to Pinkey. . She took extra care of his room, and never passed him in the hallway without a saucy nod or a bit of slatigy greeting. is ; “She’s a sharp little kid,’ the worthy Mr. Kidder explained to the landlady on the day following her NICK CARTER WEEKLY. appearance in the house, “and you want to keep a mighty sharp eye on her.” . Polly’s duties took her to every part of the house, and she made the best of her time whenever she | found herself alone in any apartment. E om She searched the pockets of clothing hanging in | the closets, poked her fingers into dresser drawers, | and did a great many other things indicative of an inquiring turn of mind. After Polly had been in the house one day, one of Brink’s express wagons delivered a small trunk and a rather flashily dressed young man at the door of the domicile. The young man refused to deliver the trunk to the landlady, but insisted upon seeing the girl in person for the purpose of getting a receipt. “Well, Polly,” said the young fellow, with | a smile, “how do you size it up?” “There isn’t a Bray person in the house,” Polly. “Well,” said the driver, “keep yqur eyes open. If we don’t get track of Blanche Martel from this place, | we won't get track of her at all. Have you heard | Sarah Cathcart’s name mentioned since pas have | been here?” | sai d eS Yiess but only mentioned casually.” “Y’m afraid we've got a Hard case to work,” said | Nick. “I am positive that one of the three persons we are in search of is in communication with the peo-_ ple in this house. We must trace Sarah Cathcart | from here and Blanche Martel from Sarah Cathcart.” | Nick carried the trunk up to the girl’s room on the | third floor, and started back toward the street door. | In the hallway he found Pinkey waiting for him. “Wat you talkin’ ter dat girl about?” Pinkey de-_ manded. “We don't ‘low no chinnin’ in dis house.” “You can’t | make a mash there.” Dae eas “T’ll make a mash here in de hall,” sae Partkiey af you give me any gab.” fs i Nick turned toward the door again with ‘an | “Oh, go’n chase yerself,” said Nick, amused look in his face. aM “De next time you come Rete fs ” Pinkey & said, eh
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NICK CARTE KR WEEKLY. lowing on after him, “you keep outside. You make de house smell of horses.” Nick, without making any reply, stepped into the doorway. The next moment he felt sional seized by the shoulders, and given a fierce push which would have “hurled almost any other man headlong down the stone steps. . Enraged at the unprovoked assault, Nick, who had barely saved himself by catching hold of the door, turned and dealt the fellow a_ straight- from-the- shoulder blow which stretched him at full length on the floor of the hall. 3 In a moment more he was driving rapidly away in “the express wagon. _ “What’s this?” demanded the landlady, biaaping out of the sitting-room as the bully was wiping the blood from his face. “Tt’s just dis way,” said Pinkey, stepping into the sitting-room and looking about carefully to see that "no one but the landlady was within hearing, “I got a Pointer to-day from Maynard to watch every person dat came here to see dat gal.” ny LOU made a good beginning, with a sneer. “Well, L.didn’t like de looks: of dat expressman,” } “said the bully, ‘ ‘an’ af thought I'd see what he talked like. . “What makes Maynard suspect Polly?” ” said the landlady, “Well, * said Pinkey, “I suppose he dinks they; ll. pick up the clew from this house again.” “Tf you think she is a spy, Pll turn her away.” “Dat would queer the whole act. here, an’ we I} find out w’at she’s made of. a4 ; . “You have already found out what her friend was } HG ki i made of.” “Well,” said Pinkeys with an bath, ey? 1 bet four ‘ dollars to a bump of the head that that man- was ‘ Nick Mantes Brink’s expressmen don’t hit like O dat.” 2 “You can find out whether he i is. a, deep express- _man or not. by going to the office.” “J didn’t think of that,” said Pinkey. Let her stay 28 well do it here as anywhere else.” “TL find out 45 ‘otay.: In the meantime } oe see that that girl oot t stir out of the house.” - When Pinkey passed. out of the sitting- -room a the! girl was dusting the furniture in the hall. “What's the matter with your mug, Kidder?” she asked, innocently. bevels “Fell down an’ stepped on it, re sah Pinkey, BROFHY, “You ‘tend to your own business.” That night there was a secret. gonfarence d in one of the upstairs.rooms. aE es Kidder had been at the main express pffieel on- Washington street, and was ready with his report. “Dere’s somethin’ funny "bout dat,” he said. “Dey won’t say anythin’ "bout it at de office.” “That's enough, ain't it?” said the woman. “What do you'mean?” i .“T mean that it was Nick Carter or some other of- ficer, and the express people let him have the Hg: he drove up here with.” " ae ““T guess you're right,” said Pinkey, bigewe abe watch ‘the girl so she can’t communicate with any one, and he'll’ have to come again, ‘probably in some other disguise.” “What then?’ “Well, I'll be here and fix him so he won ch tie mak ing this house his headquarters any more.’ “fs “Now, see here,” said the woman, “I don’t’ want #o get into a fight with the officers: The easiest way is to end the whole thing by: discharging the girl.” “No, youdon’t. We've got to shut off that man’ s wind before Blanche can have any peace, and y we nay 4 “Tes risky.” ° “Well, we’re in for it, now. You watch the girl, and we'll do the rest.”. _ Ag the two separated, ‘Polly stole carefully out of the next room, and sought her own apartment. | “This looks bad for Nick,” she thought. a ie find some way to notify him of what i is going. on.’ The only way. to do this, seemed to be by letter, So: she wrote a, note, and sealed and stamped it, Mis But there seemed to be no such ne as getting it : ey i ee
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me ' into the box on the corner, or into the hands of the postman. z That night, after all was still in the house, she arose and crept noiselessly downstairs. Once or twice she thought she detected a move- iment in the hallway ahead of her, but the case was a desperate one, and she did not turn back. As her hand touched the knob of the front door, a light flashed up in the hall, and Pinkey sprang to- ward her. “Til take that note,” The girl darted away, and in a moment the’ enve- he exclaimeds lope and its contents were torn into tiny fragments. ~ “T guess you won’t take it,” she said, angrily. “No duffer like you can read my love letters.” - _ “J was only jokin’,” said Pinkey.. “You-needn’t have torn it up.” The girl, of course, knew better, and returned to her room with a heavy heart. she thought, “and How. can I . “These people mean murder,” Nick will surely be here to-morrow. save him?” . ‘There was an air of mystery about the place all the next forenoon.’ en ae The girl was never out of ssi a some member of ‘the household. i - Pinkey-spent his time. watching at one of the front windows, and the landlady wandered about the place in great excitement. ' At first the girl resolved to remain near ct front entrance in order: to warn Nick, should he make his appearance. This ‘plan was defeated by the cpcnee | Kedenae her to her own apartment. Ten minutes later the landlady gave a quick turn to the knob of'the door of Polly’s room,.and entered as though expecting to find her in some mischief. ' She did not find’ her at all ’.The room was empty. “Where has that little monkey gone?” The woman looked in the closet and under the bed. Then: she inspected: all. the rooms on that: floor in the building ~* Er Sgh ee ash s : NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Polly was nowhere in sight. Keenan The landlady returned to the room, and raised the lid of the girl’s trunk. Polly’s clothing was all there, even to the saucy hat she wore while running errands. ? “She’s certainly in the house,” thought the woman. Then she went to the head of the stairs, and called Pinkey. That worthy seemed to catch a.tone of warning in. her voice, and came up the: stairs with a rush. “What’s up?” a / “Polly has disappeared.” “The devil she has!” “Have yoy seen her anywhere in the lower part a | the house?’ | “Waw ties “Well,” said the woman, “we've got ‘to find her.” Pinkey’s reply was a fierce oath. “Find her?” he repeated. “‘She’s half-way to Nick Carter by this time.” “No,” was the reply, the house.” They searched the place from basement to attic. Polly was nowhere to be found. There was one room in the house especially de- voted to plots and such talks. as the speakers did not want overheard. “she’s hiding somewhere in! It was a rear rooin on the second floor. ; Its one door opened into the hallway, and-its one window opened on a rubbish-lined backyard. The backyard ended at the alley. running between . Dearborn and North Clark streets. The room was furnished with a folding bed and the - ordinary fixtures of a sleeping chamber. rink After making the seakch, Paley and the gies repaired to this room. “Now,’ * said the woman, facing her star Baked: angrily, “you see what comes of your ak your own way about keeping the girl.” “It's no good chawin’ de tag,” said Pinkey. “W’at’s to be done, now?” i “For one thing, you’ve got to: go. os abe stay, away until this she blows cover? A
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“W’at’s de good o’ dat?” >» “That will break the communication between.my _ house and Blanche Martel.” “De best ting you can do is to give me a hundred dollars to give to Blanche Martel, and let her get out of town.” “T gave her money before, and what did it amount to?” “Well, she can’t go till she gets money.” “Tf you'd let stud poker alone, you'd have had money of your own to give her.” Pinkey made no reply. “When can you see her?” “To-night.” “Where? here, I hope?” “‘Here?.and wid dat bloomin’ Nick Carter on her . heels? I should say not!” “Why don’t you answer my question?” “Well, lam going to meet her at the World’s Fair grounds.” o ‘ ‘At the World’s Fair grounds at night?” | “Yes; we know a way of getting into the imining puiiding without iia across any of the watch- _™men,’ : “Why not met her uptown? » The fact of going to the World’s Fair grounds at night looks suspicious.” “She is afraid to come inside of the police district. You see, the police down there are only watchmen.” The next minute the doorbell rang, and the land- lady hastened away, The door opened and closed, and two persons ad- vanced up the stairs. Pinkey, sitting alone in tne! room, sprang to his feet with an oath as the door opened. “Great Heaven!” he cried. “Blanche Martel, how ‘dare you come here?” You haven't, made an appointment ae CHAPTER V. THE MYSTERY OF A FOLDING BED. _ Nick Carter had received no word from Ida Jones ten: of course, Polly was none other than Nick’s usssistant-tor more than twenty-four hours, me a” NICK oes WEEKLY. A eae : 17° During this time he had followed. many clews, and had been in many parts of the city, but had been un- successful everywhere. So far as his efforts to discover her were con- cerned, Blanche Martel might have been in the cen-+ ter of Africa. Nick should have received a. wager by teil fou the girl that morning, but none had arrived. As the reader understands, the note that he waited for had been torn into fragments the night before. He was anxious about the girl, and resolved to visit the house at once. This, however, was a Sipe. bit of work. He knew from reports received at the express ofs fice that he had been recognized on his previous visit Therefore, the utmost caution would be necese sary now. ‘ About ten o'clock a young man, dressed in the height of fashion, with a diamond sparkling on his searf, and his short red hair cut pompadour, pulled the bell at the Dearborn street house. The landlady opened the door in person. She appeared to be nervous and excited, and stood with her ample figure blocking the half-open door- way, as she demanded: | “What do you want?” “You take boarders, I believe,” dia Nick, with a smile.’ pate “Who told you that ?” ep “Well,” said Nick, with an air “at PER EAS Bere “you see I met one of your young lady boarder: a short time ago, and she is “Sarah Cathcart.” “Where did you know Sarah Cathcart?” “At the department store where she works.” At the first mention of Sarah Cathcart’s name Nick had heard a half-suppressed exclamation in the hall, behind the woman he was talking to. Now, at the mention of the department store, he heard rapid footsteps on the inside and a door opened and closed witha bang. “If Miss Cathcart is in fe house,” he said,, per haps she will youch for me.’ ]
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‘16 The woman ied away from the door. “Wait,” she said, ‘and I'll see.” While Nick stood on the porch, staring at the locked door before him, the woman was proceeding to the rear room on the second floor. Pinkey and Blanche Martel sat there waiting for her with very anxious looks on their faces. 4 “Well?” the landlady said, sharply. ; ' Pinkey arose, and. looked carefully up and down the hall. “T heard what he said.” “And you saw him,” added ‘the landlady. tell me what you think?” “Think? exclaimed Pinkey. Carter.” _At the mention of that naine, Blanche. Martel started back in dismay. “Now, “T think it’s Nick “Great Heaven!” she exclaimed. coining here now of. all other times.” “You shouldn't have come here,” “To think of his said Pinky. “But Iam here. Now, tell me. what todo.” “He can’t search the house ’single- hatided and shane broke in the landlady. “You must hide your- self in sothe other room, and we must.let him in.” What then?) ; pe aii ieg While I am showing him the rooms on she, top floor, you can take your escape.” “But the house may be watched.” Pinkey gave a grunt of disgust. _. “No danger of that,” he said. -~ “No,” broke in'the landlady: mind would think you were fool enough to come’here ay broad daylight.) win ive atop “ac “Why i is he here then?” “He has a spy in the house.” “A spy! And in this house !” weer es, Sard irae ‘and age 8 here to communi- “date With her ee Pe "Well, we can’t leave him he at the -door there all day,” said the se iene alae be “Shall d let him in?” é Blanche Martel said no. » - Pinkey said yes! NICK CARTE R WEEKLY. “No-uwman itr his sane « ~ woman on the street below, but. watched in'vain, | woman say. Fi, fr) Reto The landlady looked ieee one to Ae other, Then she decided the ss hee for herself. “There is no. other way,” she said. down to the front parlor, and close and ideke the door behind you. While I show him the rooms, ids can leave the house.” “Rplow ‘me “And when I see you again,” said Pinkey. “you'll have nothing more to fear from Nick ae \ “Do you mean to kill him?” a The landlady looked Pinkey steadily in the faces “Not in my house,” she said. _ “To.the devil with your house,” exclaimed pints) “We shall all hang, if we ‘don’t get rid of him.” The landlady turned toward the door. Pa . Wait a moment!” said’ Pinkey. “Where are you going totake him?” ra “To the third floor,” ; ; | Paine! said Pinkey, firmly ; ee him sid ons room.’ Zieh OAS i see - The landlady passed out, closely. followed by ae } handsome murderess. 4 'Pinkey took’ a heavy billy from his nines baie rh tere ined it carefully, and returned it to its place: ° | MT have always had my way in shan bianca a mut- tered, “and I shall have it now.’ a sie ‘When the stéps died out on ‘the ietarrcasa he- ee the door and walked to the front of the-house. « After a moment’s. thought, hie erttered’ a room — opening to the left, and looked out upon the street. Before proceeding any farther-in’ the: desperate | game he was playing, he wanted. to make sure that Blanche Martel was out of the house. Sia _ He- heard the hall door open, and then ‘he seuisa | of two persons ascending the stairs. bs He watched:anxiously for thevappeatartce ot athe | “Blanche . must. be crazy,’ hes thought.) ae a ought not to lose a moment’ 8 time in. getting away.’ He opened the door of his room and listened. © 4 The landlady and’ the detective. stood beatin in | ‘et of the door of the rear apartment. 5. a- “It’s the. only 1 room we have wey he « beard
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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Pinkey smiled. In spite of her protests, the woman was obeying his orders. : He took the billy from his pocket and pushed it up his right sleeve, leaving the strap wound about his wrist. ‘ Then he stepped into the hall, and walked toward the rear room. “This gentleman has been occupying the room,” explained the woman, as Pinkey advanced and stood at the side of the detective; traps out at once, if you decide to take it.” “but he can move” his The detective saw the fierce look in the bully’s eyes, saw the billy strap inclosing his muscular wrist, and stepped carelessly back. Just then a woman appeared at the bottom of the ~ stairs. ‘Have you found Polly yet?” she demanded. “Her work is waiting for her down here.” “No,” answered the landlady.’ “Polly seems to have left the house.” Nick knew that the eyes of bith his companions were fixed inquiringly upon him. He realized that he was in a very tight place. “T don’t know about this room,” he said, stepping away from the door. “It isn’t exactly what I want.” “You needn’t be afraid of crowding me out,” said Pinkey, motioning ionae the room. | change quarters, anyway.” o 4 “T’m going to py Nick ‘saw no reasonable excuse for an abrupt de- ~ parture, so he stepped into the room and looked _ around. i - Pinkey followed him in, and carelessly closed the _ door. ; ; The landlady, with a white, scared face, turned _ and almost sprang downstairs. | The parlor door was locked’ when she came to it, _artd she pounded upon it with one clinched fist. “Let me in,” she cried. “It is only I.” 2 The key was turned in the lock on the inside, and the aout opened. % “Why are you Still here?” she cried, wringing her r in her eyes. 19° hands at the sight of Blanche Martel’s white, set face. “Why don’t you go away?” “Go away?” repeated the other. go away?” “Why should I “Because something dreadful may happen, if you don’t. The officers may be here at any moment.” “Why should I go away?” demanded the other, fiercely. “And that man Carter so near his death. Why should I go away without looking on the dead face of the man sa has tracked me like a blood- hound for a year.” The landlady only wrung her hands. “I mean to stay here,” went on the hard voice, “and see that the work is well done. When he lies dead before me I shall rest again. There will be no need to fly, then.” The landlady stepped to the parlor one and opened it. “Do you hear am@™ng up there?” she asked. Both stood for a moment in a listening” attitude, “Nothing.” “I thought I heard the sound ofa Sct ae “T heard nothing.” In the silence which followed, the sharp report of a pistol rang through the house. Blanche Martel sprang toward the door. “Great Heaven!” gasped the landlady. “Don’t go there!” suet Blanche tried to release hierself from the detaining grasp of the excited woman, but all in vain. As they struggled, a sound as of some heavy obs ject falling to the floor, echoed down the stairs. “There!” shouted Blanche, with a look of triumpfi “What we have been waiting for has taken place. Let me go!” | The landlady only held her more closely “How can we tell what has happened up there?” she demanded. Nick Carter is a dangerous man, I beg of you to leave this place.” Blanche hesitated. 3 “Hide me somewhere,” she said, at length. “Whats t X
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and round. 20 ever has happened, Nick Carter cannot even suspect that I am in the house.” * %* 2k * * * * * 7 ““You see,” said Pinkey, as Nick stepped forward at the closing of the door, “it is all nice and quiet here. There are no street cars in front, and the people of the house are orderly.” Nick walked carelessly about the room, but he never took his eyes from the face of his companion. “That strap was put about your wrist for some. purpose, my fine fellow,” he thought, “and I have seen straps like that with billies at the end of them.” At last Nick stood in the corner of the room farth- est away from the window. Pinkey raised his hand to strike. , In a moment the men were struggling fiercely. The detective had met a giant in strength and cunning. It was impossible for him to reach his ‘weapon. The battle was one which must be fought out hand to hand. * -At last Nick’s feet struck some obstruction on the floor, against which he had purposely been forced, and he fell back heavily, striking his head upon a chair as he did so. Dazed and stunned as he was by the blow, he saw that the bully was bending. over him with the billy raised high in air. : That moment he believed to be his last? ~ Was that the sound ofa pistol shot? Was that the odor of burning powder in the room? Was that heavy weight upon his chest the pony of his. late antagonist? . : ‘The articles in the room seemed ee round ? : He noticed particulary that the folding bed : seemed gifted with the power of motion, - bridge over the lagoons. us! 2? tel. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. wie were trying to force it apart. aa aS Surely it moved and creaked as if some power . ‘ In a moment there could be no doubt that stehis, ; at least, his senses had not deceived him. ie The bed part of it fell to the floor with a crash. The next moment the face Of his assistant, Ida Jones, was bending over him, tugging Pee at ‘ the heavy body lying across his. chest. A pistol he had seen her practice with lay upon abs , floor by his side. aS The origin of the shot which had saved his life was hp no longer a mystery. It had come from the folding bed, which had ale apart during the. girl’ s efforts to extricate herself. When the. landlady entered the room, Nick was bending over the wounded bully, with the form of the unconscious girl in his arms. For the first time in her life she ‘had bacon CHAPTER VI. Bs NIGHT AT THE WORLD'S FAIR, GROUNDS. ° : Two figures crept from the heavy shadows. lying about the agricultural building at the’ World’s Fair : 4 grounds, and advanced stealthily across the foot- MA In a moment they were on, the wooded island ly- a ing to the east of the transportation building, and were soon concealed in the tall shrubbery with which the place is still covered, One figure was that of a short, heavily-built mage , The other presented a slight and boyish appearance. “T thought I saw the figure ofa man standing there by the bridge as we crossed,” "said the younger per sind son. “Are you sure there is no one here to Spas po ;
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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “One of the watchmen, probably,” said Pinkey; ait he won’t make any trouble. They think we’re enc e to get a view of the grounds by moonlight; : tie. e The bully chuckled coarsely as he spoke. ‘How long have we got to stay here?” “Not very long, I hope.” “Where did you leave Sarah?” _ “At the Twenty-second street garden. Maynard is to meet her there with the money.” 9 “I’m getting tired of all this,” said Blanche. “Nick Carter has made it pretty hot for us.” “Yes, and he'll keep on doing it until I get out of | the country.” ; “Tt beats the devil that we should all go broke just -at this time,” said Pinkey, with an oath. | “Yes; everything goes wrong.” “Well,” said Pinkey, to-day, you'd be in jail now.” “if we hadn’t had a little luck “What thing in the shape of luck has happened to- say?” “Tf that girl hadn’t fainted when she fell out of the. folding bed at the house on Dearborn street, she’d have told Nick Carter that you were in the house, and that wetald have settled it.” +>. "Yes, I presume so; You were stunned by her Bullet, and couldn't have helped me.’ “And $0,” continued Pinkey, “Nick Carter didn’t He , SEAS, how near he was to you. Not knowing, he ee ist picked the er] up i his arms, and fhade for the Yt street.” “We must keep a sharp eye on that girl, a sand’ "Blanche, ' 3 “She’ sa cute one. | of hiding in that folding bed?” ‘Blanche caught her companion quickly by the rm, ay checked him as ihe was ebor to Spee again. i. “Look there!” Who aise would have thought 21 As she spoke, Blanche pointed with her hand to- ward the open space in peas of the transportation building. “Those people have passed up and down there two or thred times since we have been standing here,” she said. “I wonder what they want ig As she spoke, two figures stepped into the itoon- light again. i “One isa watchman,” said Pinkey. ‘So it’s all right.” | Bl es. “But the woman with him—did you see her face?” “N6? “T may be nervous,” ‘said Pinkey; “but it’s probably his wife.” said Blanche; “but I thought I caught a resemblance between that woman and Polly.” The two stood in the shadow. of the trees some moments in silence. The watchman and his companion had. disap-_ peared.. As they stood there, the dash of water|came faintly to their ears. Py . gaia! ” “I wish Sarah would come,” said Blanche, taking her companion by the arm again. “She'll be -here directly,” “Do you know,” said Blanche, in a uitenen that I have an idea that some one is swimming across the lagoon?” Pinkey laughed, be “Tt would be horrible to ieek. the officers hese, whispered Plansbe “We would Bak: no possible. chance of escape.” Pinkey left his companion’ Ss ae, and advanced to- © ward the north end of the lagoon, “Where are you going?” The man motioned for the woman to. remain where , she was, and crept on towar d the shrubbery. _ : Reaching the bank, he saw that the water lay still ane smooth in the <n oHEe
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-~22 No boat or floating figure was in sight. His face was pale as death. “We never should have come here!” he growled, with an oath. “We have made a fatal mistake.” “Why do you say that?” - Pinkey started, and half drew a weapon before he recognized the voice of Blanche Martel, who had fol- lowed him. . “Why do you say that?” she repeated. “T remember now,” said Pinkey, “that that girl must have been secreted in the folding bed when the landlady and I talked about this appointment.” “What is to. be done ig - “Stay here and fight it out! You have a way of settling Nick Carter, if he attempts to arrest you.” ‘Pinkey pointed toward thé emerald eyes and ex- posed fangs of the snake brooch as he spoke. “Hush!” said Blanche. ) Bridge, and there is certainly some one else on the island.” “No one has crossed the The faint rustle of foliage came from the direction of the eastern bank.’ ; : “N ow, then,” said Pinkey, ‘ ‘we must separate. Conceal yourself i in the shrubbery there by the bridge and watch for Sarah Cathcart.” “And you?” “T’'ll soon find out whether theré'is any one else on the island.” a “Remeimber. this,” said Blatiché: as! ‘the other turned away, “for something’ may happen before we meet again. I havé arranged with one of the clerks in the drug store in the auditorium building for a supply of the powder for my brooch, to-morrow morning. If I get the money to-night, I shall go directly from that place to the Illinois Central Deport and leave for the East.” A : “Pinkey made his way careful through the seit = a NICK CARTER WEEKLY. bery and didapnedked, and Blanche secreted herse “a near the approach to the bridge. “ For some moments she listened intently. A sound of voices came from one of the building” é across the water y, A light breeze stirred the foliage of the trees, He a night bird called out to its mate, There were no other sounds. ‘Rams After some moments the figure of a woman crossed’ the clear space at the end of the bridge, and stepped _ upon the structure. : Blanche heard the voice of a watchman, ane ‘saw the woman turn back. } " She was positive that the woman'was Sarah’ Cath- cart. ‘ “i She was about to spring forward to overtake her _ when the noise of.a struggle in the thicket attracted ; her attention. . She heard the shuffling of feet, and the sound of a # heavy blow. - — . 4 Then all was still for a moment. . : 1 ae Then came the sound of oars from the north, Some one was rowing across the lagoon. a Two watchmen, who had evidently: heard the | struggle, advanced to the bridge, and stood look- é ing toward the island. gan Kk = “I was right,” thought the irightened woman. '% fs “Some one swam the lagoon a short time ag0, bhi has met Pinkey in the thicket.” ” The girl was terribly excited. She had no means of knowing the pelo ‘of the struggle which she had heard. Her only course spear to be to lie still in hiding-place and wait. 1 a If her companion had come off victorious, he would soon’ come back to her. gs If he had been injured or ieee under atrest, 8 e] oh beth EN was in i amet et Pacer Gs y
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“end of the. bridge, and again the watchman stopped hes. patna es E ‘There's something going on over. there that 1 don't, quite ‘understand,”’ Blanche heard the wateh- man say. blows, and now some one is crossing the lagoon at the north end.’’ ; _ _ Blanche itty not hear the woman’s reply. B41 can’t help that,” “If your friends are over there, you may said the gruff voice of the swatehman. » stay here until they cross the bridge. No one else 4 crosses to the island until I know what is going on there.” The. woman drew back, and once more Blanche Was, about to. leave her. place of concealment. For the second time a noise in the shrubbery of : the island. attracted her attention. This time it was not the sound of a défuigele. It was a sharp, clear, click, click, like 1 the fastening of handcuffs, or the cocking of a single-action re- a 4 volver. siifes, 3H ‘ x \ The next moment she was startled by. the sound of at -cealed. Paps ere b gp ‘e The, intruder seep few steps be ovata ae 4 carefully. about. ; ee Sage oi ; ” Although he stood: in bale. nivictoss ak the, trees, Blanche could see that.it was the watchman she had seen on the opposite side of the lagoon a short time efore. : | | He stood for a moment as though undecided, and Only, shelter... a ‘Yo * said a quiet < voice. The barrel of. arpistol gleamed in the ‘moonlight, an he saw that. all, resistance. was. useless. “You may as well come out,” NICK CARTER WEEKLY. At ce te i Again the woman advanced bovnede the opposite. “A little while ago’I heard the sound of — footsteps approaching the place. Where she lay OMe. 1en thrust aside the bushes which formed. Blanche’s ‘is no harm in lodging here, I hope? she | 23 said, imitating a ‘sleepy. yaw a. ous haye no other place to go.’ ae ‘ . itd “That won't do, Blanche Marte. a] have run you to earth at last.” . The voice was cnmistakably that of Nick Carter The woman ‘started back i in distiay. : ‘said } Nick, ‘ Ligtite rg 4 erie on . “Come!” ‘step. out here. in the: moon- Just then two. watchmen Stepped upon the tooke planks: of the improvised bridge, and moved toward the spot Ww here the detective and his prisoner were standing. | sa as th ree Whatever was to be done, must be done quickly. “Ina moimefit the situation wold ‘be explainiéd to the watchman by the detective, and then all would be lost. Na ee | Sea ins vee ava ie Tee “You are mistaken,” Blanche said, thrusting her face almost. into that of the detective. “Look at me well, and see iff am the ‘persoti you are in search of.” Nick drew a pair of handcuffs from his pocket. he: said, slowly, “that you might go out without that. tell-tale: snake “Tt seems: to-me;” i: brooch.” . 2, : ify »Blatiche: léaneg Upsnint nti: ‘oar dpeentiis was vwithin half a foot of the detective’s face. PNG ey | fad dle As Nick reached out to make use of the handcuffs, the. woman pressed. her. sieht hand nervously, ty her side. as Ee NES He: A foul-smelling spray, struck the. detective full in the mouthand.nostrils. 45 5. His throat and. brain seemed, on fire.’ He staggered fora moment, clutched at the shrub bety, for support, and fell senseless, to the. earth. of . The Jootsteps of the. watchman . were no longer heard on the bridge. cs, sae a Racy They had reached the soft turi of the. island, and Ww ere,within, a few: yards, of. where the. woman, stood beside the prostrate ote: 1
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24 “In ‘a moment Blanche Stood by their side. she said, “I am glad you came,” in a-trembling voice. ': “My ‘companion has disappeared, and: I am afraid to be in this desolate spot alone.” “One of the watchmen grasped the seeming boy by the arm... “What’s going on here?” he demanded. A third ‘watchman crossed the brigee, and joined the little group. ‘Flere, George !” said the first speaker, “you take this lad over there and keep him ina safe place until . we find out what’s going on here.” “The watchman addressed as George seized Blanche roughly, and conducted her across the bridge. “Now,” he said, gedting’ hithselt by her side on a pile of timber, “you stay here until those men make their report.” ; In the meantime the two watchmen were making a systematic search ofthe island...) - In a moment the one, nearest tux: bridge. heard a cry from his companion farther. north. . aa He sprang, forward i in the direction « ot the. sound, and stumbled over the body of a man lying. in the, thicket. | _ He was on his feet again in a moment, and the two “men met in the clear space not faraway. “The devil is to pay here to-night, * said the first watchman. “There’ 8a man n dying back here * gagged a “ ay i and handcuffed. Add, there’s a ‘ieee man, lying back heré in the ° .' bushes,” said the other, excitedly. - > The men. called out to. their companion to make sure of the boy he was guarding, but received no reply. Cine Pe They dashed ¢ across the bridge, orily to find him 115 sc a ae lying unconscious ona pile of timbers. The seeming boy had disappeared, and with him Oe {7 ty 4 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. the woman who had beén waiting’ the return rot hach friends‘on the island. te vA short time later a veiled woman and a boyish-' ' looking youth took the cable cars northward. : On the same car a plainly-dressed girl sat seem- ingly half asleep on the rear seat. CHAPTER VII. THE SNAKE*BROOCH.,. The loungers about the Auditorium Hotel the next — morning were unanimous in the opinion that the young girl who sat writing ata desk in the drug stoee vif on the Congress.street side was the handsomest.and ‘ brightest girl they had seen in many: a day. _ The girl, however, seemed to pay very little atten- — tion to the prees and remarks of the fashionably. dressed young men who lounged about thé Plage. oh? : She had been at the desk but a short time, when a young fellow, who looked like 4 dlerk in the ‘estab lishment, _entered and approached ig eee where she sat. Phy peo a oe “Anything new ie he asked, ina low tone. ie The girl, shook her head, “You have heard nothing tea Mr. Carter? pe * ‘Nothing.” ; Vitis: “e ‘Isn! t that a little strange: A aOR “y ‘eine at * said the girl “We Know from the : “ ; ast ene
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“well, ” said the young iil, “this is one of my a srst.cases, and I hope J may succeed in catching her, if she comes here.” _. The young man took a seat behind the. counter, and the girl went on with her writing.. met) As busy as she appeared to be, however, she sub- jected every person whe entered to the strictest scrutiny. In the stylish young lady at the writing-desk, no one would have recognized the second girl of the Dearborn street house, or Ida Jones, Nick’s assistant. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. As the young man sat watching the business going on-about-him, his attention was ‘attracted by the tap- ping of a pencil on the girl’s desk. A messenger boy stood talking to one of the clerks in the bigecription department. “They said you ‘would have it all ready,” the boy was saying, impatiently, “and that I was to hurry with it.” : The youne fellow stepped from behind the counter, gave a signal to the aces and advanced to the door. s The clerk handed the mpssenger ey a neatly eee package, and seeping over ss Dithe JORns. lady's desk. ee a fs “called for the He is to be fol- “That boy,” he said, in a. whisper,‘ “powder arranged for yesterday, lowed.” ee | . Saas! oa “Yes, : said he girl,. “and your young detective sat there almost Asnee until I called his attention to what was going on.’ 5 gy “The girl left her seat, and es to the door, we The. messenger boy. had. disappeated, ae the \ ti 25 young detective was walking wy among the crowd on the walk. When he saw the girl, he stepped up) to the ae where she stood. “Did you let him escape?” she asked. “He dodged away before I got a nee to eee him,” was the dejected reply.” ~ The girl stepped into the store, and put on Her hat and wrap. . i : “There is no use staying here now,” she thought, bitterly. ie | ae As she moved east on Congress street, in the direc- ‘tion of Wabash avenue, the conversation of two men standing on the edge of the walk attracted her atten- tion. rn The walk was crowded and no one noticed the girl standing there, ‘as though in doubt which way to turn, “Did you hear the news?” one of the nen asked. “What news ?” fA “Why, the handcuffed man who ics eatbe B froin the World's Pair grounds last night has just been turned ‘over to the sii at the Cottage Grove avente station.” The ict then saw. by. the agen peeping from bes neath theig oat that the two men were city de- tectives.. iglesé : gene SiG be Fs: 48 “Tt would be more to the purpose,’ “said: one: of.the men, “if that New York chap: cio turn Blanche Martel over to the officershere?* 0) ali “But ne New York ies didn’t turn: i mat: imi a “Who did?” fh Bat Reet tA young dude, who found him wandering around handcuffed, and led him i in because he didn’t know what else to do.” : Fe: el A OPEN
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. 26 . vice NICK CARTER WEEKLY, bees: ga “welt, that’ s nny Said the other. “You kaw, She turned to see that Nick Carter ‘eucnal i olaies oes ‘of course, that the man Maynard was arrested last one of the women ee by the arn.” “hight?” gee anit, : | | “By whom?” ; . addressing one of them. “You ¢ can t rake pt "a “That's what we don’t know. The chief knows, acid out of that?” : but he ain’t saying a word about it.” “I Bets. it s all Nick Carter’ $ work,” ‘said the other VRIES moving along. As the girl walked on toward Wabash avenue, an 4 ‘elegantly-dressed woman just ahead of her stopped there,’ said the captain, as the HENONG ES wore in front ofa window and looked in. * . “marched abated to their cells. pete Th a momient another woman stopped bysher side > Nick smiled. panei ans te pe es and sccm to fix her attention at something'in the — “She came’ here late jae night,” continued window. ‘The‘girl saw a small white package papers utes “and reported ‘that. Blanche “Martel would from-one : tO" the other. PRR FE i718 SIGS Sates ‘call: for a ‘certain powder at the -Auditorian She. was: certain that-one of: thé! women’ was store this morning: So we had the. place. wa chec “Biioele Martel, and that the other was Sarah Cath- It seems she. had ‘track oF Blanche Martel Bi cart “She had never had a full’ view of either” one of hie Sesh Sule WAL BE Riba HOC lie if she ae 48. 23 me Bidets He Na cn demesy: aston: ais . ‘ ens one eed ever have: recognized thent i in “their ie jee Feidier of éhein was in side” a cae eas Ae saree 2 ews oy ey Pode Se a Sei “She was at a loss What. course to pur sue. iat ous "7 You ’ Heed yt j fag! At that moment some oie’touched her iignely 6 on 4: Mares . ; ‘ hiteten “iS swam: over to. the i. ware f y 3 rs # bits BRFSS 5 pla “et Tire! arter looking smilingly | island first, you see I wou ae as MN) in tx 4 Aisi. ‘ SoS ieee e delayed Seite “if | taming wer
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did about the woman’s intention to go there after a powder, and I was there a long time before she was . this morning.” e “Well, it’s been a great chase,” “J suppose you'll capture the big reward.” “But the mystery still remains to be solved,” said = N ee “T want to know what killed Detective Green ; and the park policeman. When I know that, I shall __ know what keeled me over last night.” When the clothin g of Blanche Martel was searched _ that day the mystery was solved. One of the most ingenious contrivances that ever served the purpose of murder was found upon her person. Inside the dress, just above the waistband, on the : Byer t hand side, were found two small rubber-ball 5 ‘pumps, such as are used for ordinary spray pro- 7 ducers. - el 7 From Pikes two tubes led up toa bottle suspended -round the neck. | This had two compartments, and two necks closed | by rubber stoppers, through which ran two tubes, which ended in the mouths of the two golden ser- Ee pents coiled in the form of a brooch. __ The horrible apparatus was so arranged that, on 3 working the ball-pumps by pressing the right arm it aN against the side, two id of vapor could be projected NICK CARTCR WEEKLY. said the captain. 27 or no danger, provided she held her breath for °a’ couple of minutes and moved quickly away, as the gas mixes very rapidly with the air and is soon lost. © In a confined space like the ’bus, the atmosphere could be so saturated that it would be death to breathe it. The park policeman had evidently received more than one spray of the deadly gas as he lay uncon- scious on the ground. Only for the timely arrival of the watchmen in the World’s Fair grounds, Nick Carter would probably have been served in the same way, and would have © been found dead there in the morning. Blanche Martel was held in Chicago for the murder of Fred Green, and was convicted and executed. Sarah Cathcart, Maynard, Pinkey and the landlady were charged with being accessories after the fact, and were convicted and given long-time sentences. Of course, the young man arrested upon suspicion of having committed the murder in the ’bus was rex leased at once. He complimented Nick warmly on the manner in which he had worked the case. Ida came in for her full share of the praise, and returned to New York City with Nick, a very happy girl: zy ; ; | THE END. | “Nick Carter's Note of Warning; or, The Murder. of the Next week’s issue (No. 292) will contain: Empress.” The note of warning was a lucky thing for Nick. ‘How lucky you cannot know unless you read the story. One of Nick’s mos: interesting cases ‘ wall be made public in all its details in next week's : £4 Ba Fit ab eatereD iasaes
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Whew! The Mexican Variety. (By John Bennet, Mexico. ) THE HAPPY PARENT INSULTED. -Old-Man Hicks: “Why did you come out before Sun- day school was over?’’ Dick Hicks: ‘‘The teacher said I Tooked like you!”’ _ THE MYSTERY SOLVED. The Wife: See hee,’ pit The Ee nahane: ‘“*Probably that’s what causes her to make such unearthly noises.’ THEIR COLLHGE STANDING. Hojack: ‘ “Are those two men college graduates? I heard one boast that he had graduated higher than the other.”’ ‘Tomdick: “No, they are Keeley graduates, but th- boaster took the morphine course,’’ “Mabel takes great pains with her sing- EXPENSIVE. Attendant ‘* Heavens, | déetdett there’s a sponge miss- ing. I think you have sewed it up in the patient.’’ Surgeon (a4 few minutes, after): “Thanks for calling my attention to the, matter. T hat perenne cost two dol- WEES ia BN Meee Right, All the Same. '. (By H.C. Godale, R. I.) Examination question paper: “*What is the difference between 500 and 2,580?” Boy’s answer paper: . i ‘One is larger than the other.’’ _ GETTING EVEN. a Fsdiak! ‘‘An accident happened to me night before ast.”’ Kg Svowler: ‘What was it?” Jaslar: “‘I was run down by a Horse. -car. ug ~ Snowler: ‘‘Did you get hurt?’ — ** Jaslare® . Snowler: “* How’ was that ??’ : Buea “You now that I work, ona freight train.” _ again and kept gathering speed as it went down. It kep. ‘have a beer to wash it down.’? ‘all stheared with molasses candy dropped his tg enn ‘the box, saying, ‘A fool and his sib soon ee Y ci iy : ‘formanee. with the assistance. ofa‘ “horseshoe.” “Not a scratch.” Ses de ¢ What a gale of laughter this contest has started all over the country. It’s a regular cyclone of metry ha-has that come, wafted on the summer breeze, from Nick Carter ieadere: all over the continent. If you are a new reader and don’t understand what this is all about, look on page 31. Sy ERS ASC ERS EES ae. is ‘ { { 4 . Snowler: ‘“Yes.’ Jaslar: ‘‘ Night ‘arene last we had: a horse-car o horses on. It happened that this car was to be droppey off without stopping at all. The car was put behind i caboose, and I was stationed on the car, so that I coul drop it off. When we were a little way from the top a steep grade the car happened to uncouple from the reg of the cars. ‘Of course, the car kept running from th) force of its momentum. .The car was just about to sto when we were at the top of the grade, but it starte i running until it struck the rest of the car, which ha stopped about half a mile from tie foot of the grade. — “Ts that enough for you? I guess that will pay it fo the one that you played on me last week. Ha! ha! ha do you see how I was run down by a horse-car??’ i Snowler: ‘“That’s enough for me. Let’s go in an 5A Sc riniuie Sayings, (By William J. Creemers, Mass.) It was customary in a little church out West wh i little children dropped their peunies in the poor-box ol Sunday, to quote some little passage in Scripture. : One little girl caine in and dropped her penny ’ in box, saying: ‘It is more blessed ‘to give than t) receive,’? euch Another said: “phe Lord loveth a che erful gi ' One little fellow who strolled in ‘last, with 1 JA Thick-headed Witness. (By. Wilford Ruble, Wash.) Pat McCarty went all ahs way ftom c k to gu arrested and brought before J ustice” "Sim lem of the examination is as follows: ‘Court: ‘‘ Well, at you. came h not??? Oy teh ;
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* eut it, did you? ~ ently he was overtaken NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Court: ‘‘You see the Canieebdan’ s head’; it was: crit by a sharp instfument—do you know what cut it?’ Pat: ‘‘Ain’t yer honor after sayin ‘that a sharp instru- ment did?’? Court (becoming testive): “ey see you mean to'equivo- cate. . Now, sir, you cut that head; you caine here to Now, sir, what motive brought you here?’”’ Pat: Court (waxing warm): “The locomotive, yet honor.’ scoundrel!’ (Raising up the horseshoe and holding it before Pat). ‘‘Do you see that horseshoe, sir?”’ Pat: ‘‘Is it a horseshoe, yer honor?”’ Court: ‘Don’t you see it, sir? “Are you blind? Can you not tell at once that it is a horseshoe?’’ Pat: ‘‘Bedad, no, yer honor.’’’ Court (angrily): ‘‘No?”’ Pat: ‘‘No, yer honor; but can yourself tell?’ Court: ‘‘Of course I can, you stupid Irishman.’’ Pat (talking loudly): ‘‘Oh, glory be to goodness, see what education is, yer honor! Sure, a poor, iguorant creature like myself wouldn't know a horseshoe from a “-mare’s shoe.’”’ ‘ en Peo Two Jersey Jokes. (By Percy Nichols, New Jersey.) WHAT HE WANTED IN Iv. _ When the waiter brought in the guest’s breakfast he set a cup of coffee down by his plate and the guest picked it up, and took a s’p. “Cream in it, sir?’’ inquired the waiter. “ec No! 1)? “Sug ar???’ er, 7! We »” bs ‘* Perhaps you’ll have a spoon,’’ smiled the waiter. ‘*No, I don’t want a spoon, either,’’ growled the guest. The waiter was puzzled. ‘*Won’t you have anything in it?”’ he asked. ‘‘Ves, heat! Take it back,’’ and the waiter took it - beck; NOT A MAN. “Our hero sat in the corner of the railway compart- _. ment deyouring his newspaper,’ read Miss Myrtle Dolan _ from. the Jatest hook added to her paper- -covered library. “He was devouring what?’ asked her father, with sudden interest. ‘* His newspaper, the book says,’ replied Myrtle. ‘“Go on wid yez, Oi t’ought t’wor a mon ye wor _ readin” about, an’ now, be the powers! he turns out to be a goat.”’ What Troubled Johnny. (By John Born, Wis.) __ A small boy bile goin g to Sunday school one hot Sun- day morning. The road was very dusty and he took off is shoes, not wearing socks, and fastenitig them together ‘with a’string, he swung them over his shoulders, Pres- ing in a fine carriage, ae pete Generate hearted, geen said: ' ys 2 : ““Kquivocating again, you: _ shoes under the seat. ‘crumbs from the rich man’s table. by.a rich gentleinan who was. 29 “‘Little boy, would you fot like to take a ride with mer’? The boy got in and placed his shoes under the seat, Said the gentleman.to the boy: ‘‘Where are you going?’’ “To the Methodist Sunday school,’’. anewered the boy, '“J,am going to the Baptist church some distance beyond, and I can take you all the way.’’ As they drew near the Methodist. Sunday school the gentleman said: “3 ‘Are you not going to put your shoes on} Pe ‘*No,’’ said the boy. The gentleman was aware that it was allowed for little children to go to Sunday ‘school in that section without their shoés on. **Well,”’ said he, ‘‘if you are ready before I am, wait here for me, and I will take, you home,,, Leave your If I am ready before you, I will wait for you.’’ : Agreeing to that, the boy goes to his class and the teacher reads him the lesson. By a remarkable coinci- dence, it is the story of Dives and Lazarus—Dives feed- ing sumptuously aud Lazarus at the gate, eating the After she had read the story to him she wanted to see how much attention the little boy had paid; but the boy had not followed the trend of the story. ‘‘Johnny,’’ said the teacher, ‘ go?”’ He looked at her, surprised indeed to know that she was aware of what he had been doing: “Why, he went BOwatS to the Baptist Spee we! ma’am,’?’ he said. She was puzzled now.. ‘“No, Johnny,’’ she said, ‘the went to hell. iid ‘where did the rich man “But, good heavens!”’ said Johnny, ‘‘he has my shoes.’” t STA PS° all different from Africa, China, Asia, etc., only x0c. ‘50: dif. 6c. 7 dif, 3 unused Cuba or Porto Rico only, qoc. 6dif. tinused Philippines onl 24 dif. Canada only x6c. a9 dif. Saat only 16c._200 different only esc. Send for-our approval sheets: Agenis wanted go per cent. com. CARL M. WILIGS STAMP CO., Sullivan, Indiana, A LIBERAL PRICE Will be paid for the « following Weeklies: _ True Blue Weekly, N umbers 43, 46, 49, Statry Flag“ “1. 4S, 7,9 10, 1, 12, 16, 17. Adventure 4 "i vie to 13 and Nos. 16, 19. Klondike Kit “ “4,5, 14, £2, 13, 15, 18, 19, Diamond Dick, Jr., Weekly, Number 118, Any boys who have copies of the above mentioned numbers should communicate at once with. Srewarr, Box 192, New York City. Unless you have one or more of the numbers wares do sit write, as no icp) nuntbers of ‘the’ Weeklies are Wanted, a
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lips. Amateur Detective Work. Boys, in reading one of ‘the Nick Carter stories did you ever try to think ahead and guess who was the criminal in the case? Each of the readers has a chance to find out how good a detective he is. He has the facts of the case laid before him just as Nick Carter himself. has. Of course, he has not got Nick’s experience or wonderful detective instinct. Still, he can prove whether or not he isa good detective by trying to decide in 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 accurate 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 us, telling us whether you were able to solve the Pystery that Ae 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 just what points guided you in making your — decision, Your letters will be printed in this column, 276 Summit Ave., Buffalo, N. Y. Fellow Readers: Why can’t we have a kind of a club and write to each other and start a friendship in this way? There are some readers in our own towns who we do not know, and if we became acquainted would be glad ‘we met each other. If any of you would care to write to me, address me at the above. I would like to hear from Miss Stockton very much. Hoping to hear from some of you, I am yours for Nick Carter, C. S. Illingworth. Your idea isa good one. Let’s hear what the other members of the league think of it. Washington, D. C., June 12, 1902. ' Editor Nick Carter Weekly— Dear Sir: I have just finished reading No. Bs: ‘I sus- pected Crabbe from the time the light was turned. out. My reason for suspecting him was this: Mr. Delmar said, in his story, that bis diarnond was colorless, and when he turned the light on Crabbe had: his glass to his Now, I said. to myself that diamond is colorless, he (Crabbe) could pretend to be drinking and at the game time drop the stone in the water. By reading further I found that my suspicion of Crabbe was well grounded as it proved just as I had guessed. I also suspected that Crabbe could see, because | an acquaintance of mine has a friend who can see, but ‘a very little in the day, but as well as any nian in the night. : It was a clever piece ‘of -work to recover that stone from such a man as Crabbe. But no matter what Nick Carter goes at he always comes out on top. Good luck to the Carters in all undertakings. James M. Wade. You’ ve got the making of a fine detective in you, Jim. You certainly show great ability in the way you went to work on that story. Let’s hear from you again. Buffalo, N. Y., June 20, 1902. Editor Nick Carter Weekly— ' Dear Sir: Seeing that my first letter was printed, I deterinined to write another. I took this time for a - erst problem, ‘‘ Nick Carter’s Hunt for a Treasure.’’ At first it puzzled me. I knew that unless the two other men were very shrewd criminals that they would not ask each other for the diamond. As it was shown that they were no professional criminals,.and later in their attack on the blind man, I realized that they could ‘not have the diamond. I turned my attention to the blind man. I knew that, as he had to strip he could not have the diamond on his person. With the other two out of the way, there remained only the blind man and’ the owner, Mathews. To think that the owner had it seemed absurd, so I con- cluded that the blind man had taken the diamond, but how he took it, I never could guess. That part of the story of the midnight fight was very interesting. I be- lieve that the Nick Carter Weekly is not only highly in- teresting and entertaining, but also instructive. It ex- cels all others. Respectfully, Franklin Parker. In reply to your inquiry as to whether we should ad- mit a girl into our circle, I wish to say that we ought to adivit her. The young ‘lady has shown good. judgment in her letter, and good judgment always counts in the making of a good detective. Look at Ida Jones, for in- stance. In many cases, Nick Carter could not have got along without her. I believe we ought to admit. Miss — Mary Stockton. Franklin Parker. All right, Frank. In she comes. Let us all congratu- | late her ou her success. As for your letter, Frank, it’s a _ fine one, and shows that youcan solve a knotty problem: Write again. Rochester, N. Y., June 22, 1902. Messrs. Street & Smith— Gentlemen: The following dedictone as to the iden tity of the murderer of Robert Weldon in the story,’ ‘Nick Carter and the Thirteen Club,’’ were all made — after reading the first four chapters, and before going on with the story.. I wish to submit them to the Aeateuk Detective ‘Work Department, with the comment that whatever ability” I have attained in this line, js entirely — hy due to my knowledge of Nick Carter’s methods as shane in ge Nick Carter beer! ;
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| | ability.»°..: NICK CARTEK WEEKLY. Four persons would be benefited by Wéldon’s death, Dixon, Moloney, Madge Dixon aud Cummings. Suspi- cion is turned away from Dixon by his: conduct toward Nick, and Madgeé’s conversation with Ctmmings showed her innocence. By a minute examiinatiow of the scene of the crime, Nick discovered’ that the murderer was a man with unusually large hands... This was shown by the blood- Stains on the clothes in the closet. Footprints showed that he limped in his right leg. Cummings knew that Weldon had the papers neces- sary: to get hold of the money, and evidently believed Moloney dead, This gives his motive for the crime, Moloney, of course, had as strong a motive in belong- ing to the club. Remenibering these facts, we must conclude that it was either Cummings who committed the crime or Moloney disguised as Cummings, Had Moloney been impersonating Cummings, as the connection with the other murders of a girl resembling Madge might lead us to think, he would have done so, only on the possibility of his being séen by some chance passerby. But the foot- prints showed that the murderer limped: Moloney, impersonating Cummings, never would have thought of limping when there was no one to see hitn do it. Hetice, Cummiings was the murderer. etal ee Me Very truly yours, Paul F. Case. _ You are certainly an apt pupil of Nick Carter. Your deductions. and logic are apparently without a flaw, and “weare glad to compliment you on your ability in this line. We would be pleased to hear from you again. —. : New York-City, June 23, 1902.. Editor Nick Carter Weekly— ~. i a 2 Og a i i, Sa _Dear Sir: Long before you started Amateur. Detective Work in the back of the Nick Carter Library, I tried to solve the mystery and many times succeeded. Before I started reading Nick Carter I thought it was trash made up from any old thing, but on reading them I find that they are the best of books, TI have just finished reading ‘*Nick Carter’s Pullman Car Plot,’’ and at first was puz- zled how Black Bart discovered Nick was on. the train anid went carefully over the whole thing again to find if I had skipped any possible clew. I meyer look. to see, “how a story ends, but ‘draw miy conclusions before I fin- ish or about in the middle, and I often come out right. -As Doyle: says 1n One of: his detective stories that every new case that comes to light has old features in it and by comparing the two come to the right. conclusion. Nick, Chick and Patsy and also Ida are all right. I hope to see this in the paper soon, and hope I do if well enough to solve a big mystery some day. ee Le ate Yours truly, ee te Oe ee _.Good. work, Fred. Write again. You have.decided considered that does not have this, "NICK CARTER WEEKLY PRIZE CONTEST No. 3 ONEMIO ok eed eee aa es Be eels ChidK eae Bind Fete WKe aie Hide 50 Prizes = 50 Prizes There is a good chance for every boy inournew .. . Funny Story Contest VY OU ALL KNOW what rattling funny stories we 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 heard, or the best joke.’ Write it out and send it to us— then look ont 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 send in the five fun~ niest: stories’ will each receive TEN BOOKS from the list . given in No. 280. The list includes some of the best de- tective stories, tales of. adventure, and’ most interesting boys’ stories ever written. ro HS ‘TEN SECOND PRIZES The ten boys who send in the next funniest stories will each receive any FOUR BOOKS they ~ may select in the list in No, ‘280. ©; } FIFTEEN THIRD PRIZE ‘boys who "send ts the néxt 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 September 1st. Remember, whether ished, together with your name. ‘To beconte a contéstant for Prize Contest Coupon printed herew)th, fi mail it to NICK CARTER y< r St., New York City, together.with your story. No story oupon accompanying it. it out prope COUPON... fy Sereek Mad NAO i 5 60 ks LE SST ae Chey or Towa AHS, BE SUBIG, oo eecihse settee gee eeees pad pe 00's oRclelnn salde Title of ‘Story sects See Le: ae th Vigne Seen i 31 printed in the recent contests. We are following® The five boys who phe * Atte: our.storyywins a prize or not, it stands a good chance of being pub- , these prizes Poe must eut gut the R il rly, and | EEKLY, care of Street & Smith, 238 William © will ,be; At reeece Re y
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NICK CARTER WEECEG The Best Deteve Serie the World. | 258—Nick Carter and the Secret of the Tin sae or, The Man Who Stole His Name. 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 Gangin 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, biped! s Lone Hand Senay athe Hoboes. 265—Nick Carter and the Man in the Cask; or, Patsy’s Terrible Predicament. 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; 01, 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 Officer. 273——Nick Carter in Canada; or, Showing the Way. to a Treacherous Guide, 274—Nick Carter and the Smugglers; or, Thief-Catching on the Border. 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. aS 279—Nick Carter and the ea Heiress ; or, The Recovery of a Great Ransom. 280—Nick Carter Strikes Oil; : Undovering More Than a. Murderer. 281—Nick Carter’s Hunt for a ates 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. 284—Nick Carter -nd the Thirteen. Club; or, Trailing a Triple Mardarens 285—-Nick Carter's Chinese Puzzle; or, Patsy’s Little Game. 286—-Nick Carter’s’ Pullman Plot; br, Following a Chance Clew. 287—Nick Carter’s Wedding Gift; or, Landing an Old Offender. 288—Nick Carter’s Expert Exposure; or, Downing the Freight Thieves. 289—Nick Carter and the Bank Draft Raiser; or, Catching a Slippery Criminal. 290—Nick Carter’s Quick Decision’; or, A Strange Weapon for a Murder er. All of the above numbers always on hand. If you cannot get them from your newsdealer, ive vents a copy will bring them to you by mail, postpaid. STREET & SMITH, PuBLisHers,. 238 william St... New York.
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pee 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 mtiscles into play and transform a weak man into ie McGOVERN GROSS-COUNTERS WITH HIS RIGHT. a noble specimen of his -race. The Artof Boxing .°* Self Defense By PROF. DONOVAN Pee ae A Boe ND Die THE CONTENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS WILL ee HAND BOOK HAND BOOK —————_INTEREST THE MOST INDIFFERENT PERSON, 29 —————— No. 9 No. 9 ie is profusely illustrated with 37 elegant half- 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 The only authentic work on Boxing now on the market. E LEFT ON McGOVERN’S STOMACH. PUBLISHERS | Y N RBETT GETS IN A STRAIGHT | STREET & SMITH xPw's’or x | YoUNs co eee eee EOE — HH GG GG CC SO