Nick Carter Weekly (no. 312) (1902 05 03)

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Ce eis Se boel asia Seats nook he li : 5 ; | / 7 q FRANKLIN PULLED A PISTOL FROM HIS POCKET, AND FIRED AT THE DETERCTIVE’S HEAD, BUT NICK RAISED THE CASKET BEFORE HIS FACE, pe ; AND THE BULLET ENTERED THE SOFT WOuD.

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NICK CARTER WIEENLY Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, ae William St., N. ¥. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1902, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. No. 352. NEW YORK, December 20, 1902. Price Five Cents. Nick Carter Among the Hotel Thieves; OR, so FHE GREAT JEWEL ROBBERY. By the author of “NICHOLAS CARTER.” CHAPTER I. A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE, y Ting-aring-aring-aring! eis. It was the call-bell from Room 123, and it ihalesnesn | ____to sound for several seconds after the boy went off to answer the summons. ile “Madame Angot must be deucedly impatient,” mut- tered the clerk to himself. The clerk’s name was Andrew Evans, and he was in _ charge ofthe desk of one of the finest hotels in New 5 York City. ‘ He was only twenty-three years old, but he was one of the smartest young men in the business. ded - i a _ He could read the average man or woman at a 2 - een e, and it was rarely that he failed to get onto any : that was ee em The hands on the dial pointed to exactly seven min- utes past one. ‘Less than five minutes before, “Madame Angot and her husband had passed in at the ladies’ entrance of the hotel, and taken the elevator to the third story, where the couple occupied an elegant suite of rooms. Madame Angot was one of the leading contraltos at the Metropolitan Opera House, and had that night made one of the greatest hits of her life. ‘After being complimented by the manager and a number of others upon her success in the new réle she had sung, she and her husband and five others had ac- cepted the invitation of Mr. Lawrence Temple, the banker, and partaken of supper at Delmonico’s. > The feast of good things and flow of champagne had lasted until twenty minutes to one.

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. Then the madam and her husband had entered their coach, and were driven directly to the hotel. “Tt was, indeed, a success, Aida,” remarked her hus- "band, as they rolled along. “Yes, yes, Poins, and I am so-glad,” was the reply. ‘But one regret remains.” “And that?” ’ “T did not wear all my diamonds. In my haste I. left the best of them behind, as well as those bracelets a the prince gave me, and the brooch the Count Mundt ioe gent? __. “Never mind, they will shine another time, Aida; to your voice was the best of all jewels to-night.” Se moment later the pair entered the elevator, left it at the third story, and entered one of their rooms. ’ The gas was turned low, and a bright fire burned in As the open grate. The husband drew up an easy-chair for his wife, but, 3 _ before she sat down, she turned to one of her dressing- - c alee to bring forth the jewels she had left behind. - She usually kept them in a handsome sandalwood » box, silver bound, and lined with satin and plush. ae ‘She unlocked the middle drawer of the singer and put down her hand to draw forth the casket. . Then she gave a suppressed scream. husband, who was just taking off his gloves of the fire, started and turned. pot it in any oaks by mistake?” wt My 3 ek are Bt yee sn ee ‘ae 3 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Her husband crossed the room, and knocked on a door. fs “Annette, Annette!” he called. In a moment a tidy-looking maid appeared. “Annette, have you seen my jewel casket?” criea the madam, turning to her quickly, “The casket! Oh, no, madam!” “Tt is gone.” “Gone! Madam has it not?” No,” The girl gave a cry. “And the jewels—the beautiful donde she gasped. “All gone.” The maid sank back into a chair. All the color seemed to leave her face, and ‘she trem- ” bled from head to foot, “You know nothing ‘of the matter 2" asked the hus- band, sharply. ie “Oh, no, sir; I know nothing.” ~ But as she spoke, the girl clasped her hands and averted her face. “Was any one in the rooms while we were gone?” “T saw no one, sir.” “Ring the bell, Poins,” “Ring it quickly.” When the bellboy appeared he found the madam in a chair in a dead faint. : “Send Mr. Maillard, the proprietor, bee. my once,” said the husband. __ * The bellboy disappeared, sod: ‘hn isha pete his attention to his wife, who was slowly saetateess “A glass of water, Annette.” ah . put in Madame Angot. “It was brought, and just as Madame Angot opened her eyes and sat up, Mr. Horace Maillard appeared. “You wished to see mé?” he asked: td “Tdi, sir,” was the reply. ‘ b. “My jewels, my precious jewel’ aaeeaulie. as t starting, Sapte Lpmranaganecies cee AS lt) ps t <4 :

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that nies when we went to the Eee: house, and now ; % it is gone.” ‘Mr. Maillard knitted his brows. The crime was the first that had occurred at the house for a long while. eS _ “What did the box cantain?’” he asked, quickly. S _. “All my jewels with the exception of these,” replied > ots Madame Angot, holding out hae she had worn. 3, “And their value?” “Priceless.” . Such was the woman’s answer. “Not Jess than thirty thousand dollars,” said her Mr. Maillard gave a low whistle. : _ Here was, indeed, a loss.. What was to be done? x. “Do you know anything of the matter ?” he de- _ manded, turning to the_ maid. aha Evans aside. isk s room has been robb@d,” he iid. sket, containing ee thousand dollars’ fered from thieves of one kind or another, we MAve first-class detective on the case at once.” NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 3 “Did any stranger go to any of the rooms?” “No.” “You knew every one who came in?” . “Yes, sir. There were Mayor Low, Gus Foley, Sen- ator Ford, and a number of others, but I knew them all.” 43 “Did any stranger come down?” “T didn’t see any, sir.” “Were ce at the desk all the while?” ; wea Sit The hotel -proprietor mused for a moment. “We will question the hallmen,” he said. This was done, but one and all declared that no sus- picious person had been seen above the ground floor. Then the bellboys were sent one by one to the private office, and made to tell all they knew. Several of them thought they‘had seen a man on the second floor, but they were not sure. In the midst of the examination one of Captain Titus’ assistants arrived, and he, aided by the hotel people, made a search for the box in the servants’ rooms ‘ and a number of other places. All,in vain. The casket was not found. ~ “This won’t do,” exclaimed Mr. Maillard. “Thirty , thousand dollars’ worth of jewels is a great loss, notto 8 ~ say anything of the blow it will be to the hotel’s reputa- tion. While all the other houses in this city have suf- aa heretofore protected . every guest who stopped here. The reputation must be maintained.” eye" “Yd give a hundred dollars of my salary to see the ‘ fellow caught,” exclaimed Evans, “It makes me f sick to have the record broken. We ought to have 4 a ; _ “You are right. I will send to the captain at once for the best man he can get.” — WAS “Why not send for Nick Carter?” Sages “Can we get him? Mr. Carter is pare ee busy.” Lee ant aad moon ty.

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ta NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Mr. Maillard also notified the captain of what he q had done. Wf “Get Nick if you possibly can,” came back the reply : over the telephone. “He is the best man in New York for that or any other kind of work. He has’ gone to ic Newark to settle a case, but he will be back early in the -. morning.” é : “Just as this message arrived there came another ring of the bell from Room 123. In a moment Mr. Maillard presented himself at the door. TFs “I wish a first-class detective sent for at once,’ Madame Angot.. “Tt has been done already, madam.” “Whom have you sent for?” “The best in the United States, Nick Carter.” “T have heard of him. When will he be here?” Before the hotel proprietor could reply, a bellboy handed him a message. “Mr. Carter says he-will be here at six o'clock this uh morning) " he said, after reading the note. ee “Iam glad,” said the madam’s husband. “I will ; ‘givea thousand dollars to have the jewels recover: _ “Let me settle with Mr. Carter,” said the hotel pro- ae prietor.. “For: in working” to regain your jewels, he Nacath work to regain the teks ee cc of this house.” Bs es ai; " said \ —“-_-_---_— CHAPTER IL | ‘POINTS ON THE CASE, ae ne eae curly black hair, and carrying a ot tacit wider his arm, appeared at the hotel. dinary observer, he would have been mis- | edges eccemhun ronan : “Then this is Nick Carter, the a detective?” he said. gave a short latigh. “T am Nick Carter.” “But you are disguised ?” “T never appear in public otherwise.” “You make a good operatic singer.” Mr. Maillard “Well, suppose we come to busi- ~ ness at once.” “Nothing will suit me better. As you may know, my time is valuable.” “T know it, Mr. Carter, but if you will restore what has been stolen I will give you five thousand dollars.” “It’s a bargain.” “Madame Angot is now trying to get a nap, but | - will send up your card. “Tell me what you know of the case first.” Mr. Maillard did so. Nick made a note of all that was said. “You can trust Evans to tell the truth?” he asked. , “Yes. I know the young fellow is thoroughly hon- est. » “And he saw no iy vi character go up or come down ?” “So he says.” “Who is the hallman on the third floor?” “Decker is one.”’ “How. png. has he worked for beget a “Six years.” “Honest ?” hn Wha , “T think so. Never tinh anything to sey! con- trary.” eons “Was this Atinets ia the room all the evening?” ee - “Tn that room and the one adjoini ee “Was the door open between the two?” | “Part ofthe time’ digas cael: tanks “Two.” RST Ospina d ; ar) set : ¥ af “Were they closed up?” males , a Fa MPs ne ai wove “Are there any other rooms. ‘to ‘a sive?”

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ec Pe n NICK CARTER WEEKLY. aie “T believe so.”. - Nick mused for a moment. “T am ready to go up,” he said, finally. / A little later Mr. Maillard introduced him to Madam Angot and her husband. The story was gone over once more, and the great detective gained a few other points. _ He learned that Annette was in the habit of getting madam ready for her carriage, and then taking a nap on the lounge in her room until her mistress came back, no matter how late the hour. “When were you left alone last “a ?” he asked of oF the girl. 7 _ “About half-past seven, sir.” “Did you lock the door?” “No, sir. _ Monsieur Angot he lock the door from the outside.” “Did you have a key?” “No, sir. I have one key for the door of n my own room only.” “Does it open upon the main hall?” Paw tag “No, sir; on one side hall.” . ‘pas e Be ip “But the door between this room and the other was open?” Xe *Yes, sir.” qt the time?” 3 emilee I get col an shut him” x a Fe French girl shrugged her shoulders ; “a yo awe it to remain nosed? ale ns 2 rings as if their owner was suffering greatly from the loss of sleep. Without saying anything more, the detective in- spected the suite of rooms in which the robbery had been committed? The two main apartments faced the street. Behind the one to the left, which was on the main hall, was the madam’s chamber, and next to this, on the side — hall, was the girl’s room. One of the elevators was situated at the point where the two halls joined. The girl’s room beside the madam’s apartment was dark, but the room in front of it contained a window on the street, and another looking down on the top of a low three-story building, the roof of which was di- rectly under the window sill. “Do you usually keep this window locked up? > asked Nick. ; “Oh, yes,” replied Mr. Angot. “I always make it a point to lock it before we go out.” “4 The detective passed over to the window, and ines it was tightly locked. - “Has it been this way all night ?” “Yes, no one has touched it.” He opened the window carefully and looked out. _ As he did so the print of a muddy foot upon the outer edge of the sill caught his eye He bent down and examined the eink It’ was still fresh. a “Did any one go out of this window yesterday? he asked. “Not to my knowledge,” replied Madam Angot. And the French girl shook her head. Aa Nick hopped out of the window, and wakee poind the roof. é ania and another in the rear, Near the center aoe was $ atthe eating stairs, / ; "The scuttle was iocked. ie eve Walking around the oes of the a i Nie : : ‘came to the Sean pe soaieaae ber

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a bit of white fluttering in the wind on the rough bricks of the chimney. : | _ He secured the thing, and found it to be a bit of ae - rare lace, about an inch wide and sixteen inches long. He togk it back with him to the xeom. “Does this belong to you?” he asked of Madam _. Angot. =a “Why, yes, it is one of my collars.” “When did you wear it last?” Madam examined it. cs “Yesterday afternoon,” she cried. ‘Where did you , find it?” : “On the roof!” “And the window was locked, Annette.” | The girl came forward. “The gentleman tells me this was found on the roof - outside. How did it get there?” “On the roof?” The girl gave a cry, and turned » white “Perhaps it blew from the window,” she fal- is “But the window——” Soh 2 ~I—dusted it‘after you were gone, and I mace for one short five minutes.” Dusted? ‘The room was clean when I left.” Mad- e ome girl by the shoulder. | CHAPTER ML cose WORK. ae sie gave f ‘loud _on Nick to her. aes NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Was it possible that she was guilty, and all this show of innocence was mere acting? As Madam Angot turned to the girl, her husband . turned to Nick. “What do you think of this?” he whispered. “T never think,” was the quiet reply. “I go to prison!” cried the maid. Have mercy!” rr “Yes, to the prison you shall go. Is she not guilty?” continued the great songstress, turning to the de- tective. “Not proven,” was the short reply. “You say you dusted in the evening directly after your mistress went “Oh, no, no! , away?” he asked of the girl. “Yes, sir.” “Do you generally dust at that time?” “Sometimes.” “But not often?” “Sometimes, I say.” “And you closed and locked the window just as soon as you were through with the work?” “Yes, monsieur.” Nick stalked over to the open window, and stood for a moment in silence. Then he wheeled around suddenly. “We will have the girl taken to the prison,” he com- manded. “Please ring the call-bell.” At these words the girl gave a terrible cry and burst into tears. “The man to take you away will soon be here,” went “If you have anything to confess you had better do so now.” For an instant the girl sprang torwacd's as if about to speak. ; s Then she closed bes mouth tightly and tstneds away. This action was not lost upon the great detective. “That girl knows something about this,” he thought. “Perhaps she is the accomplice of some skillful thief.” In a moment the bellboy appeared. , “Tell Mr. Maillard to send for an officer.” , _ This was: done, and soon m galicenan came. ‘Now, have you anything to s aa oh ee

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re ; “No.” Such was the short reply. “Annette, tell the truth,” “TI say nothing more.” __A little later the girl was taken away. . “She is guilty, but that does not bring back the dia- monds,” sighed the madam. ee “She is not guilty,” replied Nick. something she does not care to te’l. ibs ‘tain can get her to confess.” 3 oe . Madam Angot shook her head. me " She was sure she was right. < Nick continued to inspect the rooms, and at length ey i acied his attention to the drawer from which the casket had been taken. ; ‘The lock was a Plain one, and Nick saw m tte it could cried Madam Angot. “But she knows Perhaps the cap- But this had not been done. a ig fis 9 to the edges of the keyhole were ininute es of wax, and some of the wax was to be eand on the carpet. “A een: clew,” ~ self. - we $ ah Taking some wax from his own pocket, he took an 1 of the lock, and stowed it away for future muttered the detective to net ‘ - co eae: sccthicie prompted baer. it suc see with a patent ee “J thought I heard some one talking and tau 2m “Who was it?” . rae heard Gut French girl laugh.” NICK CARTER WEEKLY. oY “Do you think you will win?’ asked Mr. Maillard, anxiously. nee “If I don’t it will be the first failure I have ever made.” " . “T am glad to hear it. For my sake as well as your own don’t break your record.” “T won't. Now I want to interview your hallmen and the bellboys.” “All right. and examine them at your leisure.” Nick entered the office, and the first man brought to him was the hallman named Decker. “You were on duty in the hallway of the third floor from what time?” “From noon to midnight, sir.” “Who relieved you?” “Danny Gould, sir.” “Was he on hand when you went away?” “He came up in the elevator when I went down, : sir.’ “Where did you pass him?” a | didn’t pass him, sir. floor.” ' “And ee saw him get into the elevator ” Yes, sir.’ Here, you can have my private hte “Did you notice any suspicious characters in the halls while you were on duty?” &, “No, sit.” “No one at all?” — “Not a soul. There was pa ten of twelve soa : irase. / up there all the ites and I vice AID, one of them.” Mie - | wap cy Salaun sini bain Ager stoma?” cb ae aot “Several times.” tt ? “Did you hear any noise in them?” I met him on the ground

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-\ “What time was this?” “Between eight and nine o’clock.” “When did the sounds stop?” “Some time after ten.” “And they were not renewed?” “T didn’t hear anything more.” Nick dismissed the man, and called for Danny Gould. Gould was a broad-faced, humorous Irishman. “You took Decker’s place at midnight.” “Oi did that, sur.” > “Where did you meet Decker?” 4 Fi “On the ground flure.” oe: “Did you go right up to the third floor.” ase Ss “Oi did afther a bit, sur.” te “After a bit? What do you mean?” “Well, you see, sur, Oi'm a bit swate on Maggie ‘Rooney, as is on the second flure, an’ Oi shtopped off _ fer a second to—to——” “T see. How long did you stay with maga er “About tin minutes, sur.’ P -__ *Not more than ten?” ; “Well, mayhaps fifteen, sur.” “Sure it wasn’t half an hour?” Sue ee wasn't more than that, sur. ok an’ me, sur——” _ * “Never mind about that. Then you went up at the end of the seaha ves ad : rey @ ‘fis, sur.” “Did you notice anything suspicious?” oe “Divil a bit, sur. Not a soul was about till the ae dar an’ her man kim in.” jf “Did you hear any sounds i in her rooms?” ie Sesh a a sur.” You set, Maggie Ns x sabes t five had no testimony pe give. was a boy named Poole. | » Sir; up to Room 126.” i for?” ; > gentleman wanted ‘the morning. paper = go up to the third floor during the even- 8 ,» NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “No, sir.” “See anything suspicious ?” “No, sir. But “What ?” “I suppose it ain’t got nothing to do with it, but Mr. Dilks was cleaning a pistol, when he told me to send up the paper.” \ CHAPTER IV. A VERY STRANGE DISCOVERY. “Mr. Dilks was cleaning a pistol?” “Yes, sir.” “What kind of a pistol?” “j\ nickel-plated one, sir. I didn’t get a very good look at it, for when I came in he hid it behind a center- table.” “Ts Mr. Dilks an old guest?” “No, sir, he came about a week ago.” “Do you know if he is in his 1 room now ?” “I don’t, sir.” “What kind of a looking man is he?” “Tall, with a black beard.” Nick mused for a moment. “You can go, Poole.” After Poole was gone there came a sharp tap on the door, and the next bellboy entered. . He was very slender, Kise blue eyes and light curly hair. “Mr. Maillard said you wished to see the different bellboys, sir.” “T do. What is your name?” “Georgie Franklin, sir.” The voice came thin and clear, and’ Nick looked at the speaker closely. “Were yeucip to the third floor last night ?” ‘Neg, sir,” “What did youdo?> | “T answered a call from nae 1 35." “What was it?” “Mrs. Van Gilder wanted the fire attended to. s “Any other call?” “Yes, sir. No. 142 wanted a bottle of extra meee “Who was it?” , “Senator Parsons.” Ave “T see. Any other car “No, sir.” = BY ee dee , a asking questions vi ind ean the ve ; ‘

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 9 - There was something about Franklin’s make-up that puzzled him. Suddenly an idea flashed through his mind. “If there was only some way to prove it,” he thought to himself. He looked out of the window, which opened upon a small side courtyard of the hotel. On a high fence opposite a cat was sitting. “Confound that cat! it makes me nervous!” he cried, jumping up. “Here, Franklin, take that paper weight, arid when I open the window let the beast have it in the neck.” And he threw open the window. The bellboy took up the paper weight rather gin- gerly, swung his arm around over his shoulder, and let fly the object, which struck the fence about three feet below the cat. “Not much of a shot,’’ observed Nick, as he let down the window. “Any woman could throw as well as that.” The bellboy’s face grew red as fire, and then white. “J haven't had a chance to throw a ball in a year,” he explained. “Well, never mind, the cat is gone, and that’s the main thing. Now, tell me, did you see any suspicious character on the third floor while you were up there?” “No, sir.” “Very well, you can go.” After Frankliln had departed the remainder of the bellboys were called in, but nothing of importance was “earned. Then Nick calied Mr. Maillard. “y! have made one important. discovery,” said the detective. “Whether or not it affects this case I can’t say, but it is something that you ought to know.” “What iseit, Mr. Carter?” / “Tt concerns Georgie Franklin. How long have *! yous had that bellboy in your service ?” ~ “Not very long, in fact, but two or three weeks.” “How did you come to engage the person?” | “He looked neat and willing, and I needed extra te ree | “Did you know Georgie Franklin was a girl, or “rather, 2 yeung woman?” “Not if you look at her sharply. I had my sus- Ppicions aroused as soon as I heard her voice, and [ made up my mind to test her. I got her to throw one of your paper weights out of the window at a cat, and she threw it just as a woman throws and not a man.” Mr. Maillard mused for a moment. “I believe you are right. I’ll have her locked up at once.” “Do nothing of the kind. Don’t even let her think you suspect her.” “But “She may know something of this mysterious rob- bery. Mind, I don’t say she does, but it is best to wait and see. You can have her arrested later on.” “Tt shall be as you say.” “Now, I watt to know about Mr. Dilks, who occu- pies Room 126.” “What of him?” “Who is he?’ “I don’t know. Stel I ask Evans?” “Ves. ” The hotel ce chet left the office and came back in five minutes. © “Mr. Dilks cigs the room last Monday, and left last night,” he said. “Evans don’t know him. e says the man talked iron, and he took the fellow to some construction company’s agent.” “Left last night? Where did he go to?” “Evans didn’t know.” “Then that’s all. Now, I’m ready to go to work.” “I think you have done a little work already.” Nick smiled, but made no answer. A little later he left the hotel. His disguise was completely changed, and now, instead of looking like a singer, he would have passed anywhere for a car- penter or cabinet-maker. eral thick pencils were sticking from his vest pocket, and his clothing was covered with fine sawdust. From the hotel he struck out directly for the East Side. establishment, and this he entered. Mr. Fodenshine, the proprietor, was waiting on a customer, but he was soon at liberty. . “Vot can I do for you, sir?” he asked, brusquely. ; “Can you make’a key for me from a wax impres- sion?” : “We can, if the impression is a clear one.” “My. partner He wore a soft hat, sev- It was not long before he came to a locksmith’s _ ¥ one impression taken and 3 a ke key

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rm: iad made, but we have got to have another key. Here is the impression.” _» And Nick brought it forth. "Mr. Fodenshine’s eye lighted up when he saw it. “I made dot key for dot bardner of yours,” he said. "You are sure? I want a key just like the other S54 ones * \- *T vos bositive, sir. It vas von funny little key.” -©Do you remember what kind of a looking man my partner vas?” _ “A tall man mit red viskers.” “That's him. When will you-have the key for me?” “To-morrow afternoon.” Rh u / “AN right.” - Nick left the shop at once. 4 nes the man who had that key made was a tall fel- low, who wore red whiskers. That is one point gained. “Who can it be? This Dilks was supposed to Have a black beard, but. apors professional crooks such a oth ‘qrouder if it would pay me to-shadow that girl? If I don’t strike a running clew by evening I'll see | what can be done in that direction.” hy hepato Nick, wandered down the street. olis. y he felt a terrible blow on the head. 7 heavy red beard. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. He remembered the words he had:heard, ail tooked up and down the street. No one but a number of tagged ¢ and tity children were to be seen. Slipping into a nearby alley, he dressed his wound and changed his disguise.* = As he did so, he was busy chitin over what had happened. Who had attacked him? Was it some old ilivactes: or was it some one connected with the hotel mystery? When he emerged from the alley he was trans- formed into a ragged and half-drunken Dutchman. “Say, you childs,” he hiccoughed. “Did you see yon mans go by der street down chust now?” “T did, Dutchy.” “Who vos it?” “Do yer wanter know, pop?” put in a little girl. i Aa “Then find out.” | And the little girl made off, laughing shrilly. But in just two seconds Nick had her by the collar. “Make fun of me, vill you?” he snarled. “Lemme go.” The girl was frightened half to death. “T let you go ven you tole me who dot man vos.” “Will yer?” “Yah; but you must tole me der truth, or ’ vos lick you halluf ter death,” “Tt was Blinky Nolan.” Nick thought for a moment. Blinky Nolan was one of the toughs of the dintcict. “Did he run?’ ‘ “Kinder walked fast. Lemme go now? wr, & ay | “Vere did he go?” a “Around dat corner. You said an lemme 80, if I tol’ yer. ” ‘ ay tie “Yah, and i. vos “keeps mine word, Here vos. a _ penny for you.” And, handing over the coin, Nick shed along and around the corner, _ Once out of sight, he straightened act and ‘rushed ' ays some of the dirt from his clothing. Then he pulled his hat over his eyes and ssh . et Ky ae “Now, why did Blinky Ne oe i : "ie tn Ne pee

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. He had hardly finished the thought before he caught sight of Nolan coming out of a saloon. The tough had been having a bracer after what he thought had been his deadly work. No sooner had he appeared than Nick walked up to him. “Say, mine friend,” he began. “Say it yerself,” growled Nolan. want, cully ?” *Vot ist der best be ter git by dot Bowery, ain’t it?” “Der Bowery, hey? Wot yer want in de Bow- ery?” “T vos lookin’ by a feller vot schwindled me mine money avay alreatty.” “Did he lift yer?” “Vot ?” “Swipe yer leather?” “He took me mine pocketbook off.” “Dat’s wot I mean. Yer might as well leave it go.” “Yah? ‘Dis vos -von awful town. By der next block I see me von dead mans on des sidevalk.” The tough shuddered and turned slightly pale. " “Did, hey?” “Yah. Vill you go mit me and see him.” “Not much; I don’t take to stiffs nohow. Let his friends come and help him.” And before Nick had a chance to say more, Nolan hurried away and down the street. “That settles it; he is the man,” thought Nick. will follow him up‘ for a bit and see where he goes.” Stepping into a nearby coal yard, Nick took off his “What does yer “y beard, turned his coat inside out, and | otherwise aneres t his appearance. When he came out the tough was fully a block ahead. Nick kept him within easy sight. Nolan turned down a side alley, and, taking up his station on the vy aff, rts - opposite side of the street behind a billboard, the de- tective watched his every movement. He saw Nolan approach a dingy house that stood ‘at the end of the opening, and, mounting the steps, knock upon the door five separate times, and then kick his foot upon the stoop. ‘ A second later the door was ore and the tough or a moment he thought to gain an entrance into 1 but Hie he concluded that it would take closely. \ a aridity Tooter’s ranch,” — Nick to himself. What exe Nolan be doing there?” ) I! too much time—time that.might be spent more profit- ably elsewhere. “T can put Chick onto the thing. He can do such work just as well as any one.” It was close on to supper-time, when Nick presented himself at the hotel again. “Ah, Mr. Carter, I have just received a letter in reference to the case,” said Mr. Maillard. ‘ “Indeed !” “Yes., Here it is, you can read it for yourself.” Nick took the letter which had been sealed but not posted, and read the following: “Mr. Martrarp, DEAR Sir:—You made a great mistak when you had Miss Annette Garnet arrested for that stolen jewellery case. She had nuthing to do therewith and You had better Let her go fre, “yours truely, “one WHO KNOWS THE TRUATH.” “What do you think of it?” “I think it tells the truth.” “You think the girl is innocent?” “Of the robbery, yes.” “What do you mean?” . “I think she knows of something in cdhnection with the case that she does not care to tell.” “Ah, I see!” “Who brought this letter ?” “T don’t know. It was left on the desk during a rush, and Evans did not pick it up for five or ten minutes after,” said Mr. Maillard. “Evidently the writer was not an educated man.” “The misspelling may be only a blind. One thing is certain, the party who wrote it was a foreigner, pos- sibly a German or a Frenchman.” | “How do you know that?” “Do you notice how the letters slope? That is a foreign hand. No Americans write in that fashion.” “That’s so! You detectives think of everything.” “That is our business. So there is no means of finding out who left it on the desk?” {Sy “Evans thought it might have been a tall man, who was looking at the directory.” x Nick took the sheet of paper, and examined it” “Foreign paper, too,” he went on. we can determine the brand.” “What good will that do?” P “We may be able to find out where it came < from” ie Nick peered at the paper closely. “Ah, what is this!” — ; i “Let us see it ‘

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‘te: In turning the sheet over his eye had rested upon a __ line of writing that had been almost totally erased. __- He walked over to a window, and got out his micro- scope. “What do otis see?” eae Mr. Maillard, eagerly. “Te is-very faint.” At length Nick began to put down letters. a Settee Nherrere” He looked at them for a moment. _ “What are the words, Mr. Carter?” : _ “Annette Garnet.” -“Tndeed! Can you make out the rest?’ “Not at present. But, perhaps, I can after I pre- i ‘pare the paper, By the way, I wish to go up to — Angot’s apartments and examine that girl’s i o. 4 > i} i AA a AT right. The madam and her husband are out. - Wish-to go up alone?” Yes.” t “Then here is the key to 123." 8 moment moré Nick was in the elevator, He was the only passenger, and the man in charge Was so sleepy that he ee but scant attention to what owas | ing: On» ii, Dou,” vasidh Nick. " : they passed the second floor Nick peered through ‘ corridor, bit 2 few feet away, a tall man aiid joy were quarreling. bellhoy held a small square bundle in his ( : 1¢ man was trying to get it away. hand the man had a short dagger, and t he was ie to make an attempt upon —— CHAPTER, vi. r be SORRTOCR severe, ‘ mean? echo ant Nick wan $0 srpris wae sels awit d stopped ee. ‘devator, Sor, a. on. a sight that thrilled him to had fh waa ier the, an in df 7 | ony vo dele in it, a jewel NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Guests ain’t allowed to touch the pull % “Vmein a harry"): - Sih ne Gee The man allowed the sighadeis to detent For about five seconds it had gone up out of sight, As it did so, Nick fancied that he heard an angry and surprised exclamation. ; Had he been seen? They stopped at the sennind floor, and Nick passed out into the hall. The man and the bellboy had disappeared, In vain Nick looked up and down and into the side halls. = # Not a trace of either could be seen. It was as if the very floor had opened and swallowed them up. For once the great detective was surprised, Never before had he witnessed such a rapidity of movement. ; His passing must have been noticed, and both beil- boy and man must have run for it immediately, Nick could not help but wonder who the two were, and what the square package had contained. The faces of both had been turnediaway from him,. and, in the dim light, Nick had noted nothing by which either of them could be identified. As he passed over the spot the deteetive’s boot down upon some hard, reynd substance that lay imbedded in the soft carpet. He stooped and picked the abject up. apy It was a shoe button, similar to the one found in the madam’s room. Here was a clew. ¢ Beyond a doubt, the-man who had stolen the j jewels and the fellow wlio had attacked the aii | were one _ and the same. ® _ But who was the fellow? Was it Mr, Dilks, formerly of Room 126? Not improbable. ng that nothing was to be gaived, by lingering ig the rv) Nick mounted the stairs to the third floor, _ A yang passed into Madam Angot's apartments. In the girl's room he found a neat leather trunk. It took but a second to pick ihe Tock, and he ine i “epep the lid. + The trunk was filled with clathing, and various ater a . ee a a omen s toilet. Uh tie Seer. oc -

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‘They were all in French, but the detective was a , first-class scholar and had no difficulty in reading them, . A number of them were from parents and friends in Paris and Lyons. Then came half a dozen written in New. York. These had been sealed, but not posted, and a glance. % convinced the detective that they had been written by the same party who had sent the recent communication to Mr. Maillard. fr They were love letters, signed “Jean.” _ One in particular attracted Nick’s attention, Translated, it ran as follows: A “BELOVED ANNETTE :—Three long days have passed ‘and I have not’seen you, It is an eternity and I can *s no longer. I know you are busy and cannot leave Be - your work, but to-night I shall come to you. we were but rich how quickly | would make you mine! lf I but possessed half the value of the madam’s jewels i would never ask for fe ‘more. Is it not hard to think _ that »while sag and er husband are so rich we are so rr? Why acy she not grow generous and open her heart to you Seer never mind. Some day there a change, an we will he as rich and happy we ay one. Remember I flab to-night in the 7, SE, your own. Jean.” ed for: several imoments after persuing the Mr. Dies? man seen in the corridor? . olay Sanpe Pape eae tat TENA bias take the es casket wah ar pean NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Oh, if over Wore isd pi isco maid a with all possible ‘speed. “Patsy yt ndred-dollar check mystery, in Thirty-eighth street, said Chick. eo have. Lp idga Lee get os istiow “ passed that cheek.” - y go the ges sk ig ed,” put i hg “Yes, to-night.” ~ He moved jn the direction of the voices, but when he reached the spot no ane was to be seen. “Another failure,” he muttered to himself, must be getting slow.” Nick was terribly put out because he had not caught the two speakers. But he felt certain of one thing. That wag that one of them had been a man and the other a woman. “Mammy Tooter’s, eh?” he said to himself. “Then Blinky Nolan is in the game, after all.” The threads of the mystery were still widely sepa- rated, but Nick was’ sure that sodner or later they would come to a common center. The few words he had heard made him change his course of action. There was to be a meeting of some kind at Mammy Tooter’s that night, and he must be on hand to’ wit- ness what took place. - Mammy Tooter was a notorious fence, Who, more than once, had been up before the courts for receiving — stolen goods and sheltering criminals from the iron hand of the law. But for some reason or influence she had got off scot free, and her ranch was still in a pares con- dition. , Nick knew that .to-enter the place he must stand Be “a Ngid examination. Mammy Tooter and her son Jake were not to be taken in casiiy, and, if discovered, Nick knew that — his life would be worth pesca more than a oe mee q ance upor it, ; ww ly thinking the matter over Nick came to the con eg ‘clusion that the man he heard speak in sin hall was going to. the old fence’s place to see Nolan. ‘Why, he could not determine, excepting it might be to concoct some new villainy or settle “p for wha had been done. Pere, fy Jumping - into a cab, the detective was driven home te ~ Here he dene Chick in deep conversation isthe: ; r “Well, boys, anything new?” aie Nick, Gee “TE you don't mind we intend to take up onl pad “And T have an ‘idea: that ten get the pa rty y

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14 “You mean it wasn’t a forgery?” asked Nick. “TI. do,” said Patsy. “The signature is genuine. Mr. Parlett admits as much, but he says he can’t re- member signing sich a check.” “Have you anything to work on?” “T have a description of the man who drew the money. He impersonated Frank MHarrison, you know,” replied Chick. “TI have a theory, based on a telegram that Mr. Parlett received, and which he says was not necessary,” added Patsy... ¢ “What is it?” -« ta” “Simply this: That velegrati was sent by the man j who drew the money. It was delivered by his part- ner, who approached Mr. Parlett when he was in a great hurry, and got the gentleman to put his name ~- down in the book without noticing upon what he was writing.” _ “You mean that he saeed on the bottom of a blank check instead of on the page of a book ?” “Ves. ? “Rather ahead: but good enough to begin on,’ replied Nick. “And we can go ahead?” asked Chick. cs “Certainly. I believe I can work this hotel rob- ~ bery alone, although it is a deep game.” “Tam willing to help on that, if you say the word,” put in Patsy, eagerly. “No, go’ahead on your own hook.” : “All right. ” “By the way, what kind of a looking boy was ‘it % ‘delivered the telegram ?” 1 ee theory i is that it wasn’t a boy at all,” said Patsy. i “Yes! >? Shia aE think it was a eu ad he half agrees | with me. I see Mr. Parlett about Dist is another rea- ~ 4 “He was tall and thin.” “Have light blue eyes?” And How ae ae a - the former.” ee NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ing as a bellboy under the name of George Frank- lin-———” “That's the name of the messenger,” cried Patsy. “Ts he still working for the telegtaph: bi: te “No, he left about three weeks ago.’ . “Just the time that Franklin went to work at the hotel. I think you have struck a clew, Patsy.” “Thank you, sir, you are the one that pointed it out. Can I work on it?” Nick mused for a moment. “T may want to use the girl,” he said. “Do what you please in secret, but, before you allow the = to know a word oF what you are up to Bei to me.’ “T will, sir.’ “If you don’t, it may spoil my case.’ “T’ll be careful, sir.” And Chick promised the same thing. CHAPTER VII. MAMMY TOOTER’S RANCH. Nick did not tell his two asq stants all he knew. He preferred that they should work out their own case. If the girl, Georgie Franklin, was a bad one, it was not improbable that she was connected in some way with the disappearance of Madam Angot’s jewels. The detective knew well that a sneak thief could have secured valuable assistance from a bellboy, who could tell him all about the location of the guests’ rooms, and when people were in the habit of leaving their apartments and coming back. There were many deductions to follow this thought, the principal one of which was that Georgie Franklin might have been the bellboy who had —_ attacked in the hallway. + If so, who was the man who had attacked her? Was it the Frenchman called Jean? and was he the same man who had presented a dee ie ob sl check for payment? Nick dismissed the latter eiarcht at once. Up toa few days before Jean had written that he was poor. - lf he had gotten the money on the check this would not have been true. “There is another, man in the case, possibly that Mr. Dilks,” nitteredt the great detective to: himself, “And the robbery lays between the French lover and the eng with the Svidence eapengs eee #0.

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. A little later Nick emerged from the house by the - ; back. way. : : He was completely disguised, not only his outward : appearance being changed, but even his underclothing and the things he carried in-his pocket. Any keen-eyed New Yorker. would have taken him for a bunco steerer or a pickpocket. As he passed down the street he met two men in dis- guise whom he knew were Chick and Patsy. He rushed up, and took Chick’s hand. “Why, how d’ye do, old boy,” he exclaimed. “Come off, you’re on the wrong lay, old man,” was _ the quick reply. - “Oh, no, Im not. ” “Bet you a dollar you are,” put in Patsy. ' “Take you up,” returned the great detective. , Sesvid it two, and I'll name you both.” “Done !’ and Patsy drew out the money. - The great detective covered it. “Your friend is Chickering Carter———” “How in ‘the world——" bye “And you are Patsy Murphy? 4 nd who in, the devil are you: }?” burst out Chick. “Or ! . ae wat re ou Patsy. ea hurried along, and about nine O'clock entered r Ape: ech Mammy ‘Tooter's s sais was situ- ‘4 ‘tht. den of vice was very “mh like se: peers mouth, ; his identity be discovereti, every one in the id ready to take his life. — ve gone thus far, piles turn back,” se a Mena Oe 2 the _ ina slightly louder tone. ¢ moment he. stood ne the ale, and here e -“Hamph! eae Gloria,” "ose epee eee ) “Who's there?” asked a voice from out the dark- ness of the hallway. : “Easy there,” whispered Nick. “Say it ag’in, I didn’t hear yer,” growled the voice. — “That ain't it,” whispered Nick. “I said be easy.” “Raise yet voice, yer darn galoot, I can’t sith a word.” “Anybody like you makes me tired,’’ howled Nick, “T tole yer ter pipe a bit lower.” “That's different.” The speaker lowered his voice, and came closer to the opening. “Wot yer want? I don’t know yer.” “Easy there, I knows you, Jake Tooter. Is Blinky Nolan here?” ‘4 “Maybe he is. Wot yer want ter know for?” “Expect yer wants ter know all my business, don’t yer?” replied Nick, sarcastically. “If yer do, let me cut yer short by tellin’ yer it’s no go. See?” “Yer mightly fly, ain’t yer?” howled Jake Tooter. “Tell me yer name, or I’ll shut de peeper up.” “Eastern Frank. Does yer. recognize it?” “Rather guess I do, sonny. Yer wanted in New Bedford, ain’t yer?” “Well, der perlice wouldn’t git outer der way, if da seed me comin’.” ? “Where you been keepin’ yerself for der las’ two years?” “All around. Been down ter Elizabethport de las’ tree weeks.” Nee: “An’ yer wrastts. ter see Blinky?” ae “Yes. But don’t let it out so loud. Dere’s-4 a fly o; cop comin’ trough de street.” aE ' There was a second of silence. Then the “peeper” ees _ was closed, and the door was opened. * — “Cum in wid yer,” said Jake Tooter. =. Nick entered, and the one “was closed and: bolted after him. af “Who give yer de. signal?” ?” asked Tooter, as they p _ \stood in the dark hallway. — iF Bi hy ea dott igh -“Wot's his name?” ’ “Jean. ” : she a. “Jean?” "3 : ; Whe wag CV Eg india SP eiNas _ “Wot’s his other: handle? 6532.) p of ae ig “TI don’t know. He’s a Frenchman.” Fy

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16 “Wot’s his last namie?” “Glorieaux. ‘Tall, slim feller?” ‘ “Dat’s him.” “He’s comin’ here ter-night, ain’t he?” “He said he might, but I was to see Blinky an’ make sure.” } “Business on hand?” “Bet yer sweet life.” “Better hurry up, then. Blinky is getting full fast.” Jake Tooter led the way to the end of the hallway and up a flight of narrow steps. At the top he threw open a door, and ushered Nick - into a large room, the windows of which were boarded over. The place was dimly lighted by several kerosene ‘lamps that gave forth a vile odor, which was mixed with the smell of strong liquor. There were a number of small tables in the room along with a couple of dozen chairs. _. Around the tables were seated just sixteen of the worst looking cutthroats in New York City. - Most of them were drinking and playing cards, while a few were plotting over more wrong-doings. rig To‘one side, near a kind of a bar, sat Mammy ode 5 ter, deep in conversation with the most brutal- ___ looking individual in the place. , _. She looked up sharply as Nick itcted and cast inquiring glances at her son. RP “There is Blinky in de corner,” said Jake. NICK And then Wo a he leit the detective and hurried over to his mother. {Nick approached the tough, who had been drinking é ay: heavily, and held out his hand. : eens Blinky, old boy!” he exclaimed. ‘Nolan looked up sleepily, and leered at him. th “Hullo, yerself Y’ he hiccoughed. “Wot yer want?” rs Rt cum in ter see yer on buSiness,”’ went on Nick, r a loud voice, that Mammy Tooter, who was listen; Sima ro cette CARTER WEEKLY. “Eastern Frank.” “I don’t know him.” - “Well, it don’t matter. enough.” “Wot yer goin’ ter warn me about?” . “De fly cops is onter yer.” “Wot fer?” “Fer downin’ Nick Carter.” Blinky Nolan turned pale. “Who says I downed him?” “He says so nasels, leastwise he did, aide he died.” “Tt ain’t so.’ “He said so, an’ it goes. He says you struck him wid a brick, and smashed his skull. He crawled away, and got took to de hospital, but de doctors couldn’t do nuthin’ fer him, and he’s a goner.”’ a I knows de boss, an’ dat’s CHAPTER VIII. A FIGHT FOR LIFE. So skillfully did the great detective tell his story that Blinky Nolan believed every word of it.~ The tough was greatly disturbed, for he well knew that in killing the greatest detective in New York, as he supposed he had done, he had brought down upon himself all the wfath of Captain Titus. He knew the detective and the captain had been warm friends, and that the latter would leave no stone unturned to bring whoever was guilty to justice. “Tt’s a lie, I didn’t do it!” he burst out. “Nick Carter said' you did, an’ his word goes every time,” replied the detective. “De boss told me ter tell yer to keep shady fer a long time ter come.” “YT intended ter do that, anyhow,” replied Blinky. “I’m only waitin’ fer him ter pony up, an’ then I’ll slide out fer Ruggle’s pee in Philly.” “Wot’s de boss goin’ ter give yer fer dis job?” “Wot bus’ness is dat of yourn?” “Nuthin, only I wouldn’t be bought off too cheap, dat’s all. fm goin’ ter strike him fer more dan he promised.’ “Wot did you do fer him?” “Oh, I was upstairs in de hotel.” “T’m goin’ ter strike him fer two thousand plump,” replied Blinky.. “Say, have a glass?” mt “Don’t mind ef I do. Wot yer takin’ ?” ; “Rye.” / “Dat's me. Jake, give us annudder bot of sn will ba Bens einer ees vey

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. | 17 Jake Tooter did so, and Nick proceeded to take a light drink, and filled up Nolan’s glass. “My treat, Blinky,” he went on. “Say!” “Spit it out.” “Where did you meet the boss?” “I was hangin’ ’round de Hotel Royal, and did a neat bit of shady work fer him when he had a lady wid him.” “De Hotel Royal? it?” “Tt is, when he’s in de city.” “He cums from Boston, don’t he?” Dat’s where he hangs out, ain’t “Naw! Chicago and St. Louis. Where did you meet him?” “In de Cosmopolitan. I was doing a bit of de pass _ key work meself.” “It’s de best business I see yet,” hiccoughed Blinky, who was getting more drunk every instant. “I'd go in it meself, if I was a little more on de tone.” ’ “Better keep shady fer a while.” “Of course. Say!” . “Wot?” “Suppose us two go in dis game on™our own hook ie >” “T’'m willin’. Nick was silent for a moment. _ _ There were a number of questions he wis‘ied to put to Blinky, but he knew that he must be extremely cau- tious, for though intoxicated, the tough was a mighty shrewd customer to handle. While the two had been talking, Jake Tooter had - He now entered accompanied by a stranger, and the two began an excited conversation with Mammy - Tooter. "Nick saw the three cast frequent glances toward it made him feel uneasy, and he slipped his hand pd pocket to see if his pistol was ready for use. a: “Say, Blinky,” he ‘began. ‘“‘Wot's de boss’ real .- =. 4 e the tough could reply, the’ stranger: and we ched the table. + Jake put his hand on Nick’s shoulder. ter: talk wid you,” he said, in a loud tone. der yer want ?” Eos the detective. . several hiccoughs. which had shot out like lightning. He had hardly uttered the words before: Nick jumped to his feet, and drew a revolver. “I don’t allow any man ter talk ter me in that fash- ion, sonny,” he exclaimed. And he pointed the weapon at the nran’s head. The fellow tumbled back. “Take that where it came from, or I'll let the electric lights shine right through yer carcass,” went on the detective. “What yer want ter say yer Eastern Frank fer?” growled the man, in a lower tone. “*Cause I am.” “Yer a li—~” «Stop thar, ’ceptin’ yer wants ter commit suicide.” “I’m Eastern Frank meself.” As the stranger uttered these words, Jake Tooter looked at the detective closely to note the effect. But Nick did not falter. “Yer say yer Eastern Frank,” he said, slowly. “Well, I ain’t got no cousin, an’ I say yer a liar from Liarville, an’ yer can’t back it.” At these words the stranger’s face grew dark as thunder, and he put his hand back to draw his pistol. “Hold up, sonny!” ordered Nick. “I wasn’t born yesterday, an’ I don’t allow ennybody ter git the best .of me in that style. Own up like a man, wot’s yer right name?” “My name is Eastern Frank, I tell yer.” “Yer a liar. I'll give yer two minutes ter tell it straight, or by the jumpin’ snakes I’ll blow yer teeth out one at a time.” The real Eastern Frank was completely stumped. He knew not what to do. Jake Tooter looked from him to Nick. “There is something wrong here,” he growled. “An’ I wants it cleared up in short order.” He turned to Nick. “Can you prove you're the right man?” “Course I can, Jake. Ain't I Eastern Frank, © Blinky ?” As Nick spoke, he winked at Nolan. “Course he is, Jake,” replied that individual, with | ; “He’s all right. That ere feller is some spotter.” ae “Yer a liar,” burst out Eastern Frank. ' And he gave Blinky a terrific smash in the nose. He had hardly done so before he found himself flat — on his back, sent there by Nick’s strong right arm, —

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hae NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Strike my frien, will yer!” howled the detective. “I am, am I?” cried Jake. oe _. “Skip out of here before I. pulverize yer.” Nevertheless he paused. oh : The loud words and the blows drew the attention of But those behind pushed him forward, and Nick _ all the other men in the room, and they gathered around. “Wot’s the row here?” “Let them fight it out in the yard,” Eins make so much noise, de cops will be down ; on us.’ : “Wot’s de trouble, Jake?” “Both dese men says da is Eastern Frank,” explained Tooter. — Pe cp of *em is a fraud, but I can’t teil which one.’ “Eastern Frank, eh?” exclainied a tall man, ; Wee ““Dat's it, Kossey.” he ee vel I uster know Frank. Let me take a look at Ue ‘ nha E “And Kossey pressed closer. Shi “That's him,” he said, pointing to the newcomer. “Ain't I right?” .. ‘ “Course you is, Kossey,” returned Eastern Frank. “Don’t you remember de row down ter eens doin’ up der old farmer?” “To be sure, Fiankie.” Kossey tihedd to Nick. Nick was: in a tight 4, and no jsrail Still he knew it would mean instant death to falter. _ He bent over Nolan, and whispered in his ear: Hy: “What: shall I do, Blinky?” he asked. “I had ter do it ter. git-in ter tell yer. Der. boss ister blame, I rt. Is yer goin’ ter help me?” — “Cert, replied Blinky. i. “ But I guess yer got ter fight fer it.” out Mameny Tooter. i from ef Bee al up, ‘men, ike “I don't go back on no neite got ter say, now ?”. demanded Jake ne & ‘sus-_ soon found himself pewined in. “Down with the spy.” “If he is a detective, kill him on the spot !”” Nick said no more. The time was past for parleying; action was now the order of the day. Raising his pistol, he brought the butt down with all force on Jake Tooter’s head. It made an ugly wound, and the man fell to the floor stunned. “He has killed my son,” “Kill him, kill him, boys! ‘ shrieked Mammy Tooter. A hundred dollars to the “first man who runs a knife through him,” At these thrilling words a dozen blades were brand- ished in the air. For an instant Nick thought his last hour had come. He resolved to fight to the last. Both arms shot out with tremendous force, and over went two of the foremost men like a couple of tenpins. “T am not to be taken. Stand back every one who does not wish a bullet through his heart.” “Good. I’m wid yer,” whispered Blinky. And he reached out, and knocked over one of the - smaller men. “See if you can get to me door and open it,” whispered Nick. — Following this advice, ibe tough dove under tees table, came up on the other side, and me for. the door. “Mammy Tooter saw the action, and jumped ” to stop him. Blinky was full of liquor or he never ‘would Ne done what he did. ; That was to hit the old woman ibe knock her down. To touch Mammy Tooter was wneud rere we _ never been heard of. _ To the men who frequented anh place, she was a sort Rs) sacred personage. btias on « She knew all their Leecgo he “ never riven tes light itest thing away. > sb a ed? Blinky. paid dear for his action. a Ligand of the entire crowé he

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» CHAPTER IX. A TIGHT AND ROUGH FIX. Nick was as much surprised as any one at the death of Blinky Nolan. It pained him to think that the tough had lost his life while trying for once to do something that was really praiseworthy. But now was no time to give this matter considera- tion. The attention of all peso was drawn to Mammy Tooter on the floor, and the corpse beside her. For the moment the detective was forgotten. ' And of that fraction of time Nick made good use. + He glanced around quickly, and saw another door in the rear of the room. , Fle had no idea where it led to. It might be merely the door to a closet, but he must, run the risk. He backed for the door, and, reaching it, threw it oP ed | into a back hallway, and into this he jumped, closing the door behind him. pes As he did so, he heard a wild cry, and knew that his flight had been discovered. The hallway was dark, yet Nick did ts stop for this, but rushed on, his, hands before him. af ps A dozen steps and he struck a wall. "along this, and came to another door. As he did so, the other door opened, and Jake Tooter and two » ini men came rushing out. “It’s as dark as pitch here,” he cried. _ git a light, quick.” One of the men Started back. reg he returned Nick had opened the second door, passed beyond, and closed on it behind him. 4 He now found himself,in a sort of bedroom. There were bunks on all sides. A dim lamp lit up the scene, and by it he saw several men lying asleep. He tiptoed his way across the room as lightly as he could. As he did so, one of the sleepers roused up. - “Ts that you, Foley?” he asked, drowsily. + “Yes,” replied Nick. “Don’t make any noise.” The man turned over, and gave a yawn, Nick ‘oo passed | close to his bed, and on to the end of the room. ~ As he did so, he heard the handle of the door turn, i he had just time to hide behind a curtain before ooter and the others burst in. > he came this way. Let us 5 sarc the He passed “Some one ma - of’ 4 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ’ was stunned. » +9 “What’s the matter?” asked’ the man, who had just spoken to Nick. “Did any one just come in here?” asked Tooter. “Foley just came in.” “Foley!” “What's de matter wid you, Matt. Here I am.” “Is that so. Well somebody just came in, an’ he said as how it was you.” “It’s that spy. Search the place, boys!” The men separated at once, looking under the beds and into several closets. In his place behind the curtain, Nick discovered a partly closed window. He raised its sash to its full height, and peered out. In the uncertain light he saw an alleyway some six or seven feet wide. Beyond was a house, the roof of which was several feet higher than the window. Could he jump from the window and catch the gut- ter of that roof? It was a risky thing to try, but was it as bad as to remain where he was? In two seconds Nick was through the window ands standing on the sill. Another second and he would have taken the jump. But at that instant a pair of strong hands grasped him by the-ankle. “Here he is, Jake. I’ve got him.” Nick tried to kick the speaker, but the chap was smart enough to keep at armt’s length. In a moment Jake Tooter and the others appeared. ~ “We've got you at last, have we?” he snarled. “Make another move an’ I'll blow the whole roof of yer darn head off.” Two revolvers were leveled at Nick’s head, and the point of a dagger was thrust through the leg of his pants, until it rested directiy upon the calf of his ‘leg. He tried to draw his pistol, but in his peculiar posi- tion found it impossible to do so. He hesitated for a second, and then sprang back into the room. _ Instantly all the men set upon him. One gave hiin a sharp crack in the forehead, and for a moment he When he recovered he found himself bound hand and foot, and Mammy Tooter standing over him. “Yer a spy!’ she cried, loudly. “Boys, what shall we do with a spy? Shall we kill him on the spot?” “Let’s find out something abeut him first,” sug- gested Jake Tooter. es And he knelt down beside Nick:

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20 Suddenly he jumped up. (crit take a look and tell me whe you think this - chap is.” The man addressed did so. “Nick Carter.” . : '“*What!” cried Mammy Tooter. ~~» “It's true, mammy.” _. *Let’s see,” cried another of the men. “Yes, darn ‘2 him, it is. This is the biggest haul ever made. 4 , “Nick Carter, the greatest detective in New York. a owe him one fer sendin’ me up fer three years,” “He had me sent up fer five,” _ “Fle had my pal hung.” “Kill him, kill him!” “Let's torture him to death.” nA _ The last suggestion was hailed with mak “at “Yes, yes, torture him.” What will we do?” | “Cut off some part of his body every half hour,” an - suggested one. “Soak him with kerosene and set fire to him,” put in another. eae Aeteut ‘off his feet and throw him into’ the sewer,” Lie wae third. |) “Ha, I have it!” cried ‘Misting Tooter, “I will give him a vitriol bath and leave him to starve to death surrounded. by food soaked with the same stuff.” There was a shout of approval, and Nick was ‘dragged from the room and rolled downstairs. - ou OF, you go!” na the old woman, giving. Dephi Ped als 605 nearly took it off. “Rest in the - till we’ git Nolan's frp out = 1 and a pace a his pe } _ auhe nrdttasghoniy ty NICK CARTER WEEKLY, a , “No.” “Yer she: _ would scrape up every case yer got in the world. | But yer know me too well. There ain’t many fly cops here wot don’t know Mammy Tooter an’ ain’t afraid of her. Do yer know wot I’m a-goin’ ter do wid yer?” “T don’t know and I don’t care.” “That's another lie. I’m a-goin’ ter take a pan of _ vitriol and soak yer right foot in it, an’ then yer left, ‘an’ then each hand, an’ oh, my! won't yer holler! It will eat the flesh off ter the bone in a minit. An’ all the eatin’ yer git will have vitriol sauce over it. Ho, ho, but I'll make yer squeal afore I’m done wid yer, see if I don’t.” At these words Nick could not help but shudder. Such a punishment was terrible beyond description. As many readers know, a single drop of vitriol burns worse than a coal of fire. What, then, would a bath of the stuff mean? “Ah, I thought I could make yer knock yer knees,” screamed Mammy Tooter. “Dump him down, Jake. We'll tend to him in less than half an hour.” At the words Jake Tooter pushed Nick until his head hung* over the black opening beneath. “Let him down kinder easy,” said the old woman, Bastily. “We don’t want him to break his neck i an » we've had our fun.” _ So a rope was procured, and the detective was low- ered to the floor of the cellar below. 4 t ane U / MATTERS GET MIXED, We have just said that Wien was" left alone. This is not strictly true. | ‘The cellar was inhabited éy swarms of sabe: big jel bs - — lews, too, and it was eet long papers: wig! made their — peanenie moire: P: S; peta 0 "He was ip'a tight fx; and vo! mistake. eee oe He was bound hand and foot, and lyingzon the floor nif gt a cellar, the ontlet of so was erp agent ‘ closed. - List ¢ HES ee a <A alse bgt oo gr : 4 ae If yer thought I would let yer go yer . 8 n he was dragged through the lower hall to a ‘ fede the trap was closed above him, aod he was left | xh IS ACRE REB onF corot otha : me

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To his delight he found the rope on his left wrist somewhat loose, and two minutes’ work made it pos- sible for him to slip his hand through the loop. __- This done, it did not take him long to get clear of the rest of his bonds. _ While he was working he heard a noise on the floor above him, and presently the trap was thrown open, af Instantly the detective threw himself on the floor ager more, and piaced the ropes about him. - “Roll out of the way down thefe, if you don’t want : “pera a dead weight onter yer,’ ’ called a voice from “Nick did so, and a moment later Nolan's corpse came pombting Gas, and os ‘trap was closed once more, To. an ordinary person it would have been a ter- “ribie situation to. have the | corpse of such a tough be- side him, but Nick’s nerves were steeled against any _ terrors of such a nature. — i Instead ‘of being frightened he was delighted that ne the murdered mayi’s” paca eat been placed within his re & as Bide fe ae eibarn and examined all ts of the clothing. s he ssi find some elew of value. ee Nick thought of npsHaCe himself é tough's suit. was: ppreency and not a moment must be te » Sad yn Pasta FS t been Worsted of his belongings, Mainmy ing to leave that until later, and now cave to elose the e NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ~ door. eit a way toa 21 “Hello!” he said to himself. “Here is something worth knowing. I'll have to send somebody down to investigate this later.” He pushed open the door to the back room, about an inch, and peered in. Two men were seated at a table, playing cards, One was a short, stout man, evidently an English- man. The other was a tall, slim fellow, with black, well- waxed mustache. Nick sized him up at once as a Trenchinan, and he was right. ‘And so they took the girl hoff to the jug, did they?” the Englishman was saying. “Yes, the beattiful Annette, whom I lof so much,” sighed the Frenchman. ‘Is it not.von terrible thing?” “And you wrote to the hotelkeeper habout it, did you?” “Yes, I write von lettair, but him does no good— my beautiful Annette is still kept behind the dark, dark valls.” “Hit's a bloomin’ shame, han no mistake, Jean, but I don’t see what is to be done.” Wi So Hasker. poverty.’ “An’ yet you was hallways finding fault heeause you was poor, It seem$ to me, Jean Glorieaux, you are never satisfied. You ‘ave been complaining hever since you come to this blasted country.” “] shall nefer complain agen if my beastifet An- nette gets free vonce more.’ “You say you spent the evening, with her?’ “Yes.” “How did you get.to the rooms? By the heleya- , ton?” "Nol J haf a friend that lives in the house next He let me go to the roof, and I crawl in the ~ window.” =; “A good friend. that.” “Not so, for he now believe I stole the jewels,” “Hii see. Does the henutifal Annette believe so, too?” : “T know not. I left the house verra secre Hy m afraid you are in a blasted nasty a Jean, keep shady for a bit, don’t cherknow.” nial © 1. Mon dieu, but it is lage The two men were drinking wine. tied ir glasse nn Gr hen ae t: with bated breath wy all cee was said, Tt is den dousand times verse than

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22 Evidence pointed that way. The young Frenchman had visited the maid on the evening of the robbery. He had been let in from the housetop next door by the girl, and no doubt had departed the same way. In his letters he had expressed a desire to be wealthy, and had spoken of the value of the madam’s jewels. What more likely then than that, when going away, ’ he had taken them with him? The man who had had the talse key made was a tall fellow, and in this particular he tallied with the French- man. But what had become of the casket of jewels? It would never do to arrest this man until the jewels were recovered. “Going home, new ?”’ went on the Englishman, after the glasses were again emptied. “No, no! I am afraid the police they await me. I shall stay with Monsieur Enfante.” -“Hain’t going hout to-night?” Yes.” “Where?” “To the Hotel Royal.” Nick started. , It was the very hotel Nolan had” mentioned. “A man and I am to meet.” “Who is it?” Before the Frenchman could answer, _ Frenchman entered the room. ‘He said something to Jean Glorieaux, and that in- = dividual arose at once. “Ve vill have to leave,” he explained to the English- man: “Monsieur Enfante say some men desire to search this place for a man who came from the back amd is hiding.” “Hii didn’t see hor ’ear hennyone,” replied Hasker. Us Nevertheless he followed Jean Glorieaux, and, after the latter had paid the score, both left the premises. at _ A moment later there was the tramping of feet, and eta Jake Tooter and two others entered the back room. “He must have come through this way, boys,” Jake - said. me ae “Couldn’t he git outer de passage?” asked Foley. Ss ae a “No.” aa te Dat uster be a good way, up trovrh Slitter’s.” another ee a aS we Svaiina ee. ‘uN had dat bricked up last sponthy: aiter that Sweed-_ NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Lookin’ fer a bloke wot escaped,” searcher. “Who vos it?” “Nick Carter.” “Ze celebrated detective?” j “That's him.” “And he ees here?” “We think so. He is somewhere about, and we are bound to catch him.” “He no enter ze saloon.” “Then he is either in the cellar or in the back yard. Lively, boys, and don’t let him escape.” replied the third CHAPTER XI. HE HOTEL ROYAL. Of course, Nick took in every word that was spoken. At the same time he planned some means of escape. From the conversation he knew it would be useless to go back to the cellar, as that would but lead to the point from which he had started. Yet he must act quickly. The hunters meant business. In another moment the men would open the door to the entry. Nick looked around for the door leading to the yard. It was locked top and bottom, and both the keys were gone, To pick the two locks would take too much time. Already one of the men was approaching. The detective cast the rays of his pocket lantern up- ward. By its light he saw a narrow shelf directly ore the door. : By a quick effort he puilled | himself up, and, by placing his hand on the wall opposite, managed to stand upright. It was a dangerous place, for the shelf was not. strong, and threatened to come down at any moment. © He had hardly reached the position before the door opened, and Jake Tootef looked. in. “Don’t seem to be here,” “Maybe he’s in the cellar,” suggested Foley. “I'll go down and look.” _ : E Tooter passed on and Foley followed. The third s: man and the landlord remained in the entry. “See anything?” called down the former, after, a - moment of silence. ; =i No. Ri ape bese \ ee m he muttered to the others.

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: The remainder of the sentence was lost to the lis- teners. _ _ There was a crash, and down came the shelf, and Nick followed. The detective landed squarely upon the head of the - third hunter, and sent him to the’ floor like a shot. “Mon dieu!”’, burst out Monsieur Enfante. “He said no more. An arm shot out, and he went « over on top of the other man. “What's the hyhk up 7a ?” cried Jake Tooter, _ “He's here,” gasped Foley, who stood at the foot -. of the steps, and caught a glimpse of what occurred. Nick heard no more. - _- Juniping over the body of the prostrate Frenchman, a PE slid through the back room into the saloon. : et: young man stood behind the bar, and several per- ibs s were drinking. “The boss wants you,” said Nick to the bartender, as the young fellow started for the back door, + the detective’ hurried for.the front. aE. Once outside, it did not take Nick long to tas a ies Shak was not However, steatly disappointed. ot bier where he d soon be able to meet his stepmniaern, were to come together. at other? — ' bee ow ‘tell,” soit. Nick to himself. did ena NICK CARTER WEEKLY (Gienaix hed mentioned: the! Hotel Royal as dream of prouedere evecare © him. i _ of sight, and then started for the café, 23 “All right) -boss,.get right in.” “How—hic—much ?” “Where do you want to go?” “Hot’lroy’l.” “Where?” “Hot’lroy'l, corn’r Six’ av'nue an’ Fot’ stree’.” “All right. Let me help you in.” “How much—hic—th’ charge?” _ “Two dollars.” “Giv’ haf’ dol.” “Make it a dollar, and I won’t say a word more.” “Ke-rec’. . Whip’er up!” Nick plunged into the cab and on a Seat. was banged shut, and they drove off. It took but a few moments to reach Broadway, and the cabman kept on this great thoroughfare until Thirty-third street was reached. Then he turned down Sixth avenue, and presently came to a halt be- fore a brilliantly-lighted café. “Here we are at the Hotel Royal,” he said, as he opened *the door. “Hot'lroy’l?” “Yes, sir.” “The true an’-hic-genuine ?” “Yes, sir. Here, let me help you out.” “Don’t want—hic—help.” “You had better let me give you a lift.” And the cabman took hold of Nick, and started to set him on the pavement. “Keep yer—hic—han’ outer Phot cried the de- tective, suddenly. For he had found the cabman bere to rob him. “All a mistake, sir. ‘One dollar, please.” Slowly Nick drew forth the money, and iuniiate’ it over. ' As soon as he received the fare the cabman turned to his box. “Want to go anywhere else?” he asked. “Naw.” At this the man ‘made off. Nick watched him out The door He straightened up a little as he entered and took a seat near the back. e café was attached to the hotel, and it was now - comforfably filled by patrons who had drifted in from the various ¢ theatres and bother haat of amusement |

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2 4 ” ’ « The waiter came up, and the detective ordered some light refreshments. “Then he settled back and began a careful survey of the people present. He started with those around him, A couple at the table directly before him soon at- tracted his attention. The man was a heavy set fellow, with reddish beard. The girl was slightly built, and wore curly, golden hair. The man sat with his back to the detective, but his companion faced Nick. “Who the deuce is that woman?” thought the de- tective. “I am positive I have seen that face be- fore. It was at the other hotel, too.” Straining his ears, Nick caught the sound of the young weman’s voice as she spoke. _ Then the truth came to him like a flash. ; The young woman was no other than Georgie Franklin, the assumed bellboy. ; What was she doing in this place, at this hour of the night? Who. was her companion? At length it became a little more quiet in the place, and then Nick caught most of what was being said. And you say you threw up the job: to-night, Georgie?” ; aes 7a . _ “Yes; at seven o’clock.” __ “It was a bad thing to do.” “Bah! Do you suppose I want to play servant any more than is necessary?” ; “But this sudden es i may direct suspicion to ” “Don’ t worry. I provided for vaya “In what way?” Fe _“T got into a row with two of tHe other bellboys.” PEA see “I thought I would be discharged. Ee you ert ay ; ° NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Bah! Paul, you are as chicken-hearted as any man in New York.” . “No, I am not. “Pooh!” “If you started the muss why wasn’t you dis- charged ?” “Well, I suppose I was the best looking of the But I believe in being cautious.” crowd, and that counted in my favor.” “But you left?” “Yes, rest of the boys were down on me.” “What did Maillard say ?” “Nothing, simply directed Evans to pay me my wages.” There was a moment of silence. “Tt is just as well,’ resumed the man. row we can start for Philadelphia.” I said I wouldn’t work in a place where the “To-mor- “T thought you said something about seeing Nolan to-night ?” “I intended to, but I’ve changed my mind.” < “Why } ?”? “Tf I leave town, what’s the good of paying him anything?” ‘ “He may squeal on, you.” \ “Not much. I’ve got him» where the hair’s short.” “Did he do up Nick Carter.” “He sent word that he had.” cr “How ?” “Let a brick fall on his head from the top of a tenement house. He said it knocked Carter stiff.” “What did you promise him for the job?” “A good deal more than he'll ever get.” And the man chuckled to himself. The couple went on ‘eating. a Once or twice the young woman cast a sharp glance s at the detective, but she only saw a young man, ap- ~ parently half full who took no notice of anything but what was directly on the table before him. “Do we stop here to-night, Paul?” ee Se “Tf you say so.” aa t ; “Yes,” f ; ee “All right. I want to set two Pirin as. rooms.” bi ‘ corer ts ‘Se I ; pay Lol Py ais +f re reas ieee

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY “T expect several callers Bbow een “Indeed! Who?” “You'll see when they come. A young wife like you should: not be too inquisitive.” “T have to be where you are concerned.” “Why?” "Do you think I have forgotten the way you at- tacked me in the corridor of the hotel.” “You had no business to anger me.” “Then why did you want to do something for that _ miserable French girl.” “Because I was interested in her, see it was a wii to see her go to prison on our account.” ; “Bah! Paul Franklin, remember you are a married man.” “I am not likely to forget it while you are around.” And the man laughed bitterly. “Enough of that,” cried the young woman, angrily. “Tf it was not for my wits yor would still be as poor _as you ever were. Every dollar you have came to you only through me.” To this the man made no reply. | Picking up a small satchel that stood on the floor, he placed it on the table. “Have you finished?” he asked, sullenly. “Yess We can have a bottle sent up later on if we want it.” : Nas -. Then the young woman arose, a the two passed to the desk and then to the hotel office. © es, _ They had hardly done so when the young man about town also stopped eating. ; 2 - “Where’s th’ check?” he hiccoughed. ee ~ Tt was brought, and with some difficulty he paid it. aan “Guess I’ll go and get a room,” he said to the waiter. _ My: head feels as if it was going to split.” y) It took him several minutes to reach the hotel office. te he did so he found only the night clerk in ; eee $e time?” oe ae Ya eo ea . af’ y 7. 25 “FRANKLIN PAULING AND WIFE., PINE ‘“Busu, N¥.” Behind this was the number 658. “Dickson ain’t here,” muttered the detective, appar- ently to himself, but loud enough for the clerk to hear. “What’s that, sir?” “My friend ain’t here. But I suppose I can have a room all the same.” ; And Nick closed one eye hard. “Certainly, sir. Something pretty good?” “I don’t know. Say?” “Well, sir?” “I had 58 las’ time was here. Does that go this “Just taken, sir. I can give you the room next to it.” “Tus? as—hic—good ?” “Yes, sir.” “All right. Up we go.” In a moment Nick had scawled a name on the re- gister, and'then he was shown to Room 659. CHAPTER XII AMID THE FLAMES. The detective was positive that he was on the right track at last. But two things remained to do. One was to recover the stolen jewels. The other to bring the thieves to justice. When Nick entered Room 659 he found it not un-- like hundreds of other hotel apartments. It was well furnished, and there was a closet in the corner for storing clothing and other wearing ap- parel. As soon as he entered, Nick locked the door, . * Then he lit the gas, and turned it down low. . Next he approached the wall on the right and lis- tened intently. He heard the murmur. of voices, and recognized the tones of Paul Franklin and his wife Georgie. He opened the closet door, and was delighted to

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26 learn that there was in it a door leading to the next room, so that the closet could’ be used from both sides. Of course, this door was now locked, and the key had been taken away. In two minutes Nick had the lock picked. "Then he opened the door just about the eighth of an inch. By is this he could hear and see all that was going on. ; “Paul, are you sure the doors are tightly closed?” “Ves, I tried them all.” “No one must surprise us while we inspect the ~ jewels.” ‘. * “No. Bring out the casket.” ~ | The young woman opened the satchel, and brought bg "something forth. Ata glance Nick saw that it must be the stolen Ss siaRe te casket belonging to Madam - Angot. She opened it. Lis “Are they not beauties,” she cried, holding up a are ‘number of diamonds and a pair of bracelets. “Paul, ee. these will be worth twenty thousand dollars to us. How he “Tacky it was that I discovered that Danny Gould was ine “off duty from midnight till one o'clock. . ie ~ been sleeping. Even as it was, I had to give her a Ri oo small dose of chloroform to “7 her from waking up - 400 egsly. % don't know. convteomnmageinaals ho were they?” fips ia ould have been no good if that Annette had ine creeping under every doorway.. _ : _ from the elevator and gain a staircase in the rear. — ty One was Roxey, who wanted to go to Philadelphia h me. NEF Id ag ean eae austin ad found it wide open. vt : By NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Weil, rather. Didn't I plan that bogus check busi- — ness ?”’ ; “Yes; but it was my nerve that got the signature. Besides that, who concocted that. job down at the Astor House that brought us in two thousand?” “Don’t blow, Georgie. I won’t feel safé till we are out of New York,” : “Bah! I knew you had no sand.” Nick took in every word that was spoken. He now learned that what his assistant, Patsy, had suspected of the young woman bellboy was true. Nick looked ‘at his watch. It was exactly three o’clock in the morning. His duty was plain. : “He must feave the hotel, ‘ai the pair arrested. He opened his door, and stepped into the hallway. As he did so a sudden cloud of smoke smote him in the face. “Fire, by George!’ he muttered. He ran for the elevator. He had hardly reached it before, with a sharp, crackling sound a column of flame shot up and swept toward him, causing him to retreat. Then the whistle of a locomotive on the elevated 7+ road rang out along with the hoarse and sab on a rs that echoed on all sides. . ae “Fire! Fire! Fire!” REE, The Hotel Royal was in flames. ut Vids ae The flames were shooting into every sanhtiad = and be 3 cay BY summon assistance and ‘ - ta Knowing the great danger, Nick started tor run awa As he did so, he passed ape done nf sie sie ‘and Rint speneiting tnetindecha. eich ani + eae Rirasliadas: cto ans ek Ke naa aks £

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY An instant later Nick found himself confronted by raul Franklin. “Give me that casket!” he roared. “Not much, you thief!” “Tt is mine! Give it to mé!” “Stand back!’ “Who are you?” “Nick Carter.” - “Nick Carter! Then Nolan did not kill you!” “Not much. Instead Nolan is himself dead. “I will have the jewels.” ; Paul Franklin pulled a pistol from his pocket, and fired it at the detective’s head. Nick raised the casket, and the bullet entered the soft wood. Before the weapon could be again discharged, Nick sprang forward, and hit Franklin a stinging blow in the temple that sent him to the floor beside the woman he himself had knocked down, As Nick jumped back two men sprang from a room _ close by. At a glance Nick saw that they were Chick and Patsy. “We followed him here,” cried Patsy. “He is the guilty party.” “Yes; guilty in more ways than one,” replied Nick, grimly. “We must escape,” exclaimed Chick. fi. : is all around us.” “Follew me,” was the great detective’s response. Crouching lew, he led the way to a back hall. The _ smoke was stifling, and the space hot and full of sparks. | _ At length they burst into a room ee. fire had not yet 5 “Quick now, boys!” cried Nick. “Here are a couple “See, the \ 4 Re en ‘Open them and jump for the telegraph ant ‘all es of the diesel found them- ;fhrough the air. A shout from be- 27 “They will be killed.” “See, the—first two are safe!” “Get a ladder.” “The third man has hold of a single wire.” Then a cloud of smoke hid the leapers from the ‘lew of the spectators below. “Are you safe, Chick?” Vee “And Patsy?” “All right, sir.” “Then follow me along the wires. Here is the pole. Slide down, and get away from the crowd. We must not be recognized.” This was done; and thus Nick Carter and his assist- ants escaped from, the great disaster known as the Hotel Royal Fire. In the ruins later on were found the charred bodies of the great sneak thief, Paul Franklin, and his wife Georgie. No one but Nick recognized them, and he allowed them te be buried as twe unknowns. Madam Angot was overjoyed to recover her jewels. She rewarded the great detective handsomely, and Mr. heiiaed paid over the sum he had promised. The French maid, Annette Garnet, was at once re- leased, and is now engaged to marry Jean Glorieaux. And thus ended the great case of the stolen jewel casket. THE END, Nick Carter’s next case took him to Florida, where an unusually brutal murder developed a mystery which became only more deeply involved as the investigation proceeded. It was a fight by inches for Nick to untangle the slender threads that marked the trail, and no one was more surprised than he at the startling direction it finally took, ending in the counterfeiter’s den. Don’t miss this great story, exhibiting the detective’s skill até its best. It will appear complete in next week’s issue (No. 313), and will be entitled “Nick Carter’s Four- fold Murder; or, Clever Work in Florida.”

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STORIES OF [IYSTERY. The names of the prize-winners in the last contest will be announced next week. Meanwhile the new contest goes merrily on. Itisa corker. : Be sure and get into it. For full particulars, see page 35. A Peliceman’s Capture. (By R. A. A,, Jacksonville, Fla.) ' {t was two o'clock in the morning when Policeman Forbes made his second report to the Fourth precinct. Then he shut the door of the call-box and made his way carefully through the intense darkness and heavy downpour of rain to his former place of shelter—the spacious doorway of a house several blocks up the avenue. ~ He was about to step inside when a vivid flash of light- ning rent the semen yd blackness, followed by a dis- Sepang th al of light, the offi at phe nga interval o it, the officer had caught a brief eines of two objects ‘that caused him to remain with one foot poised above the second step. Near the end of the block.the outlines of a closed hack had been plainly revealed to him, and at the corner, a few rods away, a motionless figure had stood. _ Officer Forbes had been on the force only a few weeks, ‘and, although but a supernumerary, he was a man keen perception and prompt action. Four of the houses between the hack and the corner p=! Had been boarded up only a few eee since, their occu- people of moderate wealth, seeking the cooler at- mosphere of the mountains or the pleasures of the sca- _ side Summer resorts. _ The presence of ‘e é vehicle and figure, then, was, at least, suspicious, and t action. He made his way slowly: toward the corner, dodging from door’to door to avoid ae discovered by a flash “rc pl ightning to the silent igure he had seen Te pt hack was dimly euitlined before him, and the officer sapily, yet. cautiously, stole from the last pro- >. «= Ten minutes passed, w a “house in front of ig the tek 9 song. a man emerged. deposit wit 3 e he officer decided upon a plan of | d ay and gained a ition in the rear of the a vei, oe abthey. watke: from the basement of the His back was turned to Forbes, and the latter, with a leap, was upon, him, his strong hands encircling the ras- cal’s throat. Then, despite the fellow’s efforts, the officer pinned him to the floor, face downward, his hands still retain- ing their grip and choking the man into insensibility. The unequal struggle soon ceased, and Forbes se- curely bound and gagged the thief. Then he returned to the basement door and peered inta the darkness beyond. Satsified, he stepped toward the hack. He had almost reached it when a flash of lightning il- lumined the scené, revealing the fact that the figure was no longer at the corner, but at the side of the vehicle. The same flash disclosed the officer’s presence and iden- tity, and a bullet whizzed by his head. ; Forbes sprang forward and brought his clubbed re- volver down upon the man’s head ere he could fire again. The fellow sank limply to the sidewalk, where the offi- cer sectited his wrists and ankles with handcuffs, after which he gagged him and thrust him inside the hack. Then he dragged the first thief from the house and placed him beside his companion, saw that both doors were tightly closed, mounted the box and drove to his Bee cinct. The two criminals and their booty were turned over to the sergeant, and Forbes related the story of his capture to his fellow-officers, receiving their hearty bias. rin 27 i tions for his brave and clever work, The owner of the burglarized house was notified, and hastened back from his pleasure trip. The story was repeated, and'a few days later Officer Forbes received a substantial token of appreciation. A Murder and Robbery. (By D. Elrick, Frostburg, Maryland.) “Tt was not so very long ago that this murder took place. Sey A very wealthy man was living on a farm about three _ miles from any neighbor. He lived there mit, his. wits oh and granddaug shar" and three farmhands. cee Aguy the ni ht before he was murdered, a man one. = of the Ades ao how many of the family [be at home on the following evening, He said he bay jewelry. The farmhand said only the “ie vin and and the rest

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eT, % 7, e me had his jaw tied up. He said he had the tooth- uche. — : The other one said he had lost some jewelry, was look- ing for it, had a search-warrant and he would like to search the house. The farmer was scared, for he had $15,000 in the house, as he was going to buy some land the next day. But he took them to all the rooms in the house, and the last one which had the stand in. The _ men made him ‘take everything out and tell them what __ everything was. And when they came to the money-box _ they made him open it. Just as he opened the box, one é of the men shot him dead. They tried to kill the grand- child, but she escaped and called for help. The farm- Coa ers wife rang the farm bell and the three farmhands, who were on the way home, heard it ring and thought it ie for the farm so and ahh Hig’ hurried home, but were too late. The murder- ers had gone with the fifteen thousand dollars. Thg 4 farmhands scoured the whole place, but it was of no use. = A couple of weeks after, three men were walking ground a town spending money like water. Two of the as: _ mien were ueighbors of the murdered farmer. They were to be poor. They were arrested and put in jail. ‘Their trial came off. The grandchild recognized two of the men’ who murdered her grandfather. They were Eerie maarerend acral to. be ES ns : Lost and Found. (By E. M. Klingel, Marion, Ohio.) i In the suburbs of the little village of, Mt. Gilead, Ohio, bagel big th ago, lived Mr. and Mrs. Wayne, and their Oi . Violet, who had seen but four seasons. = _ She was a perfect beauty of a child, her golden curls ging to her shoulders and almost hiding her pretty fi my we Se “Ona pleasant summer evening, after the sun had gone iy a ‘the pretty little girl was playing by the road- le, ete mother was at her evening work and thought iter was spe until she went to look for her and - She at once told her husband, and | through the village and country. had igeust a covered wa ; before, and NICK CARTER WEEKLY ll to ring at ten o'clock in the night,” ‘an. dark when Mr, Baker left with the money.’ +e eed nae, bt 29 with gypsies utitik she was sixteen, when she escaped and went to Dailas, Tex. She then produced a small locket with a miniature photo, which the old man at oncé ~ recognized as his dead wife, and she his little Violet, who had ‘been Stolen years ago. Thus two. hearts beat happily, but not as one life, and the old man had his loving daughter for a companion the rest of his days. Two Boy Detectives. (By Clement Y. Yates, Milford, Conn.) On Monday, November 18, 18—, a prominent citizen of Milford was attacked on the corner of West Main and High streets by a man with a large stick, and he turned around and ran home and arrived there breathless and nearly scared to death, On the same night, Mr. Clark was attacked in the ‘same place, and he, too, was scared and ran hoine. Two boys, who were nicknamed “Nick” and “Chick,” and who were amateur detectives, decided to solve this. So when “Nick” told “Chick,” they each took a man to interview. When they returned home, “Chick” asked “Nick” to bring his man to their headquarters in an old barn at 6 P. M. sharp, and he said that he would. Nine o'clock came, and Chick pulled his man inte a dark corner of the yard just as he heard “Nick” come up with Mr. Baldwin. It was too dark to distinguish a person’s features, and so when “Nick” and Mr. Clark came into sight, Mr. Smith exclaimed: “That’s the man.” And Mr. Clark said: “Your partner has the criminal in the shadow of those bushes.” Then the two boys took their men into the harn, and, by comparing notes, it was proved that, instead of a great crime having been committéd, the two men had Tun into each other. Mr. Smith had offered a reward of twenty-five dollars for the arrest and conviction of his assailant, and he now ' gave it to the boys after being convinced it had been a collision. ta Hie: ‘Rob’s First Case. (By Edward Burch, Cincinnati, Ohio.) Rob was a freckled-faced lad of thirteen,'who worked in one of the many broker offices in Wall street. It was the custom every night to take the money in the sate down to the overnight, To do this, Mr. Baker, the junior member, carried it in a large valise. is particular evening it was after Asheneared _ an alley, two men ‘sprang out and, as one snatched the _ pgs ys ce a wet ico item jae et ' pa i.aneo the robbers pice up the ye be thought an looked into chat

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30 barrel but Bob, and going to his boss, he reached in his pocket and, taking out two thirty-twos, followed the rob- bers. “Guess des will help me er long,” remarked Bob, “cause Tom Burkefand Joe Sweeney er tuf nuts.” He was well acquainted with these two worthy gentlemen, because one had been his father’s pal. Making his way to one of the lowest dens in the city and climbing through the window, he secreted himself under a sofa. He had not long to wait, for in a few minutes the men came in and seated themselves, and began countiug the money. “An’ jes’ ter think, Tom, it’s all fer us,” said Joe. “Yes,” said Tom, ‘$96,450 ain’t no little bit.” “Ah! no, gentlemen, it is for its owner,” said a childish voice, and, turning, they found themselves confronted by two revolvers in the hands of a boy who was stand- » ing on a chair. “By jingo, if’t ain’t Jim’s kid.” “Yes, Tom Burke, it’s me, and I want you and ver pal to throw up yer hands and march out, and if yer move I'll pump, er full of lead.” And, picking up the valise, he marched lis prisoners to the police station. Great was the joy next day when it was found that the money had been saved, and the prisoners caught by the’ _ office boy, Bob. His salary was doubled, he was made - ren some g waited, and saw a a clerk, and received a present of five hundred dollars. If to-day you should visit New York you would see ‘on an office window: “Robert Waddell, Private De- teetive.” ; j A Fair Deceiver. (By Tony D, Richards, New Castle, Pa.) There was a man named Mr. Richard Burton, who was a jeweler at Notting Hill. He was robbed every night. So he put a detective on watch one night. This detective heard a noise. He irl, masked. She had a key which fitted the safe lock. She got what she thought necessary and was going to leave. but the detective jumped from his hiding place. At last he discovered who it was. He told whom he suspected, but the jeweler thought it was impossible, so the detective brought the girl before him with the jewels in her hand. So this girl was brought to ore by Mr. Donavan, detective, of the London sta - Mr. Burton still has‘his jewelry store, Mr. Donavan __ has his place as a detective, and Miss Lydia Hartely has _ been brought to justice at last. The Tel'-Tale Heel. | (By Herbert Werle, Metliord, Wis.) There was a’ storehouse by the river in which valuable . were: stored, such as binder twine, barb wire and of tools. The building was built on posts. One s were gone. No trace of them. morning some more were gone. Nothing was tam- ed with, but the Peg e gone. Some of us boys the building. The bottom .was wet sand. | Jay on it, and a man’s footprints were seen. f a curious Leg avo it had no corners! 1 -OC! _ stuck in the sand. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. but we had not the thief. and from it. We found tracks to the river, We also found where a boat had been The nose pointed up the riyer. So we proceeded slowly, but surely, till we found a farm down the river where boats were. But on the river bank were those same tracks. The owners got a search war- rant and searched the farmer’s house and found the goods, and the farmer with those shoes on. He was ar- rested and sentenced to twelve months in the work- hotise, and the owners gave us each a twenty dollar bill * for our services. This was our fifst detective work, and it was easy enough. Killed Over a Shotgun. (By Chas. Burbage, Sylvan Springs, Ark.) Horace Denton, colored, unwillingly gave up his life hs a forfeit for that of Tom Vestal. The conviction was secured under a perfectly clear, but most peculiar, chain of circumstantial evidence. The murder occurred in January, 1902. Vestal resided in northern Arkansas. He had traded a gun to Denton and Denton had given him ‘a cow in payment, claiming the cow was ‘his own, but later it was found that the cow belonged to Ed, Wil- son, also colored, who resided near Denton. A few days later Vestal went to Denton’s and got the ~ gun, telling Denton that the cow belonged to Smith. On the following day, Vestal was shot and killed while at work in his field, .ear the house. Vestal’s wife, being in the garden at the time, heard the report of ‘the gun and saw Vestal fall, but she did not see the person who fired the shot, as the assassin was concealed in a thick growth of hazel brush, She alarmed the neighbors, and a thor- ough search was made. They discovered tracks behind a tree where the murderer had fired from ambush, and the ground being very soft, the tracks were casily fol- lowed to a creek, in which the murderer had waded for a half mile to ward off discovery. On the opposite side- of the creek the tracks were found again, and it led di- rect from there to Denton’s house. The tracks showed plainly that the boots worn by the man making them had ‘twenty-four square-headed tacks in the heel of the boot worn on the left foot, and nineteen round-headed tacks in the heel of the right one. A girl at Denton’s house said that he came home wet to the waist and had taken off his boots and put on a pair of shoes. , ro Denton was arrested, A search was made, and the boots were found in a hollow stump about a quarter of a mile from the house, where he had hidden them. 7 boots fitted the tracks perfectly, even to the print of a sock where it protruded through a hole in one of the boots. ' At the trial it came out that Denton, fearing that Vestal would have him arrested for trading a cow that did not belong to him, had killed him to stop any further pro- ceedings. He succeeded in his purpose, but it cost him his life, as he was convicted, and, on the 17th of October, was hanged. \, ROP od

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nae STORIES OF MYSTERY RE you interested in stories of that nature? Do you know any stories with a mystery in them? If you do, write it out and send itto us. In this new Mystery Story Contest we are giving away FIFTY PRIZES—175 SPLENDID BOOKS Just look at the list of books for boys given below, They are the finest stories that money can buy and written by celebrated authors et whom you are all familiar. Do you want to win two or more of these books? YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN TEN. Write out any story you know into which the element of mystery enters, and send it in. ; 58—Gilbert, the Trapper...... soccvecesee- BY Captain C. B. Ashley FIVE FIRST PRIZES! The af oe ‘0 age ee Rajah’s Tortress. beieeccecsccee BY William Murvay Graydop © Mountain Cave.....s.seseesseees- By George Joomer send ay sai ee cst aoe me am BOY. ssegeccenscosveence BY. Horatio Alger, ie a How He Wone...s,secesscscesescesessBY Brooks M Cormi stories will each re 63—In the Sunk Lands. ..’.”’. By Walter F. Borne ‘By Matthew White, Jr. he in . a 64—Tho T f a Private ceive TEN BOOKS from this list. Si—Tho Tour of a Private Car BY BEET Gomer «ee. BY. Z, enne’ ; ff A ; es: it 67—Tom Brown's School Days.. iececessBy Thomas Hughes 4) The ten b °o y¥: S. TEN SECOND PRIZES ! 68—-Smuggler’s gre: ae a2 tere rwccceres By Annie ‘Ashmore “ee who send in the eS anes eer OR CR UMEIMD s 510. b5a dn Geo b/ Ob 'o-00 tabs Bie ke By peasy oe y F ‘next best stories 71i—Mark Seaworth’s Voyage \on the jatee ag R B S Base am H. G. Kingston : TS sameigh “apie van hte OOK they ray BS att oo Wert. praca. p, Tom Randall.. ac -By Sires be tae “nat his 3—T’ oy oO MR pc ccccececcese ses am Dalton seie in ASK, 74—The Dingo Boys........... 12 geese se BY. ‘aoonge Manville Fenn 75—The Boys in the Forecastle. By George H. Coomer aa IFT FEN THIRD PRIZES The fifteen 76—The War Tiger—A Tale of the Conquest ‘of China, By William Dalton boys who 77—Perils of the Jungle.....,.. By Edward S$. Ellis 78—Both Sides of the Continent. By Horatio Alger, Jr. send us the 79—The . Rival Rattalions wis wees “By Brooks McCormick 80—Afloat in the Forest. .... 4... ..5 se eeeees By Captain Mayne Reid (ee om stories will each receive any THREE | 81—artbur Helmuth of tha Hi. &'N. 6. Railway..By Edward 3° Hills 82—The Young Editor.........+eeeeeee+,+-H¥ Matthew White, Jr. So ie a may select in this list. 83—The Tiger Prince... .-..yssc+reeess .By William Dalton 84——The Butcher of Vernon « By Witiiam Murrey Graydon .B A. Henty y 85—Facing Death.. H y G. fy The. twenty | se—catmur's Gave.. :/ By Richard Dowling 7“ 87—The Five-Hundred-Doilar Check. By Horatio Alger, Jr. * boys who | ss—My Mysterious Fortune.......-. By Matthew White, Jr. 8$9—Clinton ; or, Pan Life in the Country. ° si .+».By Walter Aimwell send in the | 9—out on the Pampas ov yensss a NUG Wasinols ian Bt Ges sho rent Bee sat ae Contato s By “Louis Boussena any TW 92-8pe Srsges saeco a ASAD aide ‘eee best. aporien will each receive any 9 Q—Specter Gold «veanenssycyeeet .By. Headon Hill . vale ces 6.08 .By Horati Al J BOOKS they may select i in this list. 84—Oecar: oF, The eBoy” Wiig iad its Owe’ Was. "py Walter Amwell TE ee aD a ats ae A ne A Cece men eee eT 8 ee Serre er ee eee ee eee eee) - en 1 Eee = ¥ 5 £ Mablags 75-< sos csr asyesagusac. BB 3 Jamies ts TS ie eve c er eceweseeses vy Too cCormic: HERE ARE THE DIRECTIONS re it” cena ieee elisa be Geass Madville Peon a eee will close March rst. Remember, whether Bile mt Beg ad ie rules od ord agageraer chon merge nie 9 James Otis ‘oF not, t stands a good chance of poms py ublished, cag ogee ort snd | Settler. : ‘.....:By G A. Hent py k Devopis « goaveatant yar ennae prizes, you mus! sou “a rize io she Lan ne ee by Captain Mayne Rel N aithew White, Jr. joa the Pir otires of Rex Staunton. Mary A. Denison Be ted 104—Heir to a ures of Haz Staunton 2004215 By aa H. Converse outproperly | 105—The Yo ACEOP.. cecceeereccsvecegeet» By Gayle Winterton , ae il int 406—-T be ay Knight... en PES we'd es -By G. A. Henty '—Van; or, In rch’ of ‘an Unknown Race. vBy Frank H. Converse 1 exar’s ape aed cease gpinies spe yess By Jul vi ie Dash to the Polo. 2 2222222.00 22101 .]by' Herbert D. Ward ch ema ck grinect fia * tiggt By ules Verne SE SSEKSSD ace es Sept cer omp Useqe Oe sso YeuraeE Eas vEewS ipman, uke Merry... By G. Kingston eich COX dertventy Tuoueand J egetes Under the Sears...» Py cles Vern eS: | NOsssenennanenses-seseeerenernyenresssasasecnee ff { mene gabe etyy etter. FA: te ae ‘< . 114—The Old Man of the Mocatains...........B7 Ceo. H. Ooem seeseerens P igang Ce of ee’ pare Se eeeee BY Matthew Wane tes i ‘Brathwaite, the Supercargo:. By Wini am Ti. % Kiugstoy ’ Yi as “tol estate ed as pestle ys nS ate ats By GC. A. ie New Mexico.. +. +.,.+.-.By G. *Manvilie Dae apie. gine ba Cade +B Wm. H. G. \ ve sald ea RAE Ed B. Horatio 5 i Mons A tad apt. By G. 4 Ee ‘ae, ELAS" Gearae for ’

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NICK GARTER WEEKLY (LARGE SIZE.) The Best Detective Stories in the World. 276—Nick Carter’s Land Cffice; or, Outwitting a Clever Swindler. 277—Nick Carter and the Professor; or, Solving a Scientific Problem. 278—Nick Carter as a Mill Hand; or, The Fall River Murder Mystery Revealed. 279—Nick Carter and the Kidnaped Heiress; or, The Recovery of a Great Ransom. ' g80—Nick Carter Strikes Oil; or, Uncovering More Than a Murderer. 281—Nick Carter's Hunt for a Treasure; or, A Fight for I ife 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 “hirteen Club; or, Trailing a Triple Murderer. 285—Nick Carter’s Chinese Puzzle; or, Patsy’s Little Game. 286—Nick Carter’s Pullman Flot; or, Following a Chance Clew. 287—Nick Carter’s Wedding Giit; or, Landing an‘Old Offender. 228—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 Murderer. 291—Nick Carter and the Snake Brooch; or, Making a Startling Discovery. ate. 292——Nick Carter's Note of Warning; or, The Murder of the Empress. 293—Nick Carter’s Ghastly Find; or, Sleuthing in the Dutch Mountains. 294—Nick Carter’s Handicap; or, Victory Won in a Canter. 293—Nick Carter’s Palm Clew; or, What Chick Saw Through the Window. ‘ 206—Nick Carter and the Stranglers; or, The Coin Cuff Button. 297—Nick Carter at Mount Vernon; or, The Old Rabbit’s Paw. 298—Nick Carter’s Bath Mystery; or, After a Sleek Pair. 299—Nick Carter Among the Peter-Players; or, The Little Knocker-Out. - 300—Nick Carter’s Suspicious Companion: or, Discharged from Custody. 301—Nick Carter in Chicago: or, The Crime of the Lake City. F 302—Nick Carter’s Queerest Case; or, A Murder in the Snow. ge 303-—Nick Carter's Wonderful Nerve: or, The Little Giant’s Task. 304—Nick Carter in Baltimore; or, The Conspiracy of the Red League. 305—Nick Carter's Clever Decipher; or, The Letters on the Floor. 206-—Nick Carter’s Greatest Peril: or, On the Trail of a Human Fiend. 307—Nick Carter’s Chase of the Thirteen: or, A Prisoner for Life with the Dead. 308—Nick Carter’s Asylum Case; or, A Great Crook Outgeneraled. 309—Nick Carter’s Dog Detective: or, A Race with a Maniac. * 310—Nick Carter’s Mystery of Seven; or, Sleuthing at Ninety Miles an Hour. . 311—Nick Carter in Mexico City; or, Arrested as a Criminal. All of the above numbers always on hand. If you cannot get them from your newsdealer, five- cents a copy will bring them to you by mail, postpaid. te ; STREET & SMITH, Pustishers, 238 William St., New York

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OT FQN 222A SEED 222A <i ) ) THE BEST AND MOST FAMOUS BOOKS WRITTEN FOR BOYS ARE PUBLISHED IN s he Medal Library ; em. Among the many writers found in this library may be mentioned the names of Se if 1 Oliver Optic Geo, Manville Fenn 2.34 Horatio Alger, Jr. Arthur Sewall: _ 4) Lieut. Lounsberry Gordon Stables ‘Gilbert Patten . Cuthbert Bede Leon Lewis Matthew White, Jr. @ G.A. Henty Frank H. Converse ==! James Otis W. H. G. Kingston S24 Edward S. Ellis Capt. Mayne Reid Jules Verne Wm. Murray Graydon Capt. Marryat Brooks McCormick GS | Disa: books are Sarge. Bound in hahdsome illuminated covers. The authors of the stories published in the Menar Lisrary hold first place in the hearts of the youth of our land. i Price, 10 Cents. All Newsdealers. at : STREET g ‘su, Peau 238 WILLIAM ST., NEW YORK, ase = aC 5 a —_— 7C see Foe aS FN I Se Cee DY ESET SETI ESE Ct EES » se ar, "