Nick Carter Weekly (no. 84) (1898 08 06)

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issued weekly. Subscription price, $1.00 per year. Entered as second class mauer at the N. Y. Post VU; NEW YORK, August 6, 1898 THE COIN PASSER HAD CUT HIMSELF OPEN AND THE AIR BAG SINKING ROOF,

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— ile ail aT NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Bniered according to Act of Congress in the ned 1898 by “es Smith, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washingion, D. Entered as second class Matter at the New York, N. Y., Post Office. Issued weekly. Subscription price, $2.50 per year. August 6, 1398. No 84. 9 srreer & Srv, Publishers, NEW YORK. 81 Fulton 8t..N.Y¥. 5 2 ere erties | THE peel ON HAND oe CHAPTER I. A HOT SHOT. **Drop that!”’ **Never!’’ ~~ **¥Vou shall!” © Whiz—whang! A knife blade cut the air like a flash of descending lightning. The hand of Bob Ferret was the tar- get aimed at—Bob Ferret engaged on his first great case in behalf of the United States Government. The scene was the interior of a little notions stcre located ona side street in Washington city. Into it Nick Carter’s indomitable pu- pil had one minute previously followed a =< eee man he had been shadowing for an =e « “This sinister-faced fellow now con- fronted him—snarling murderously, grit- ting his gleaming teeth with malice and hate. ~The stake was a ‘coin—that coin the first link of evidence in one of the most intricate and remarkable counterfeiting exploits that had ever puzzled and baffled the government secret service. The fellow had tendered it—the suspi- mt cious store lady had refused it. _ DIAMOND DICK, JR., HAS MANY HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES. Bob had caught a sight of its face sie lay on the counter. ‘Coinage of 1893’’—that was enough® for him. nie MS A He had put out his hand to seize it. ~ Like a flash the fellow turned. a If ever he read determination in a hu- man face, he read it here. If ever his alarmed senses traced ‘‘de- tective’’ in resolute eye, sure, firm lips, — nerves steady as iron, they traced them now. “Give it up?” “No! py» Then the whirl of a knife, its descent, — poised squarely for the sinewy hand out- spread across the tell-tale piece of money. Bob saw the keen weapon gleam—he shot out his fingers fan shape. d It was a hazardous risk, but Bob took the chances. Chink! The knife point shivered, dulled, slid across the counter. : It had met the coin instead of wood or a flesh. ia It ridged the one, it shavniged the . other, grazing like a razor. —e The coin slipped along with it. ee ‘Help! murder! thieves!”

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The storelady distracted Bob’s atten- tion by the affrighted scream as the knife whanged toward her. The man improved the ‘moment —he secured the coin. “Get out!” he shouted, sweeping past _ massing his his opponent, furiously strength for a whirl at the door. “Stay i in!’ spoke Bob, calmly. “Perdition !”” Its key had been turned and was now : reposing in the young detective’s pocket. For a second the baffled fellow panted, glared, like a wolf entrapped. xpected thing, that made Bob quake the storelady faint sheer away. he door was single and formed of one t of heavy plate glass. hrough it the man dashed unhesitat- v. 3 ut on the pavement he landed with a htful rush and clatter. he denuded woodwork, ptonged and t-armed, still showering glittering nters, framed Bob, stationary. he man had seized ascale.scoop and 1 it had protected face and head iu his dive. > Here he comes!”’ ‘What's this?”’ - ‘There he goes!’’ **Zounds!”” Passersby shrank at the startling ap- pearance of the wild figure dashing out and then past them. In an instant he had set the previously asi capital street ablaze witht commo- ion and excitement. **Catch that mari !’’ Bob made the.air ring with the vibrat- ing words. .. He was not shouting to the winds, and he knew it... ~ He had undertaken the present phase of “the case ‘‘in harness,’ se his ‘‘partner’’ _ was_waiting outside—Roxy, In a new field, the girl wonder of Nick _ Carter’s detective school was arrayed in new gitise. She had been one. of the ¢ careless, hap- res’ s sdeainaat ie hee such now, waiting her next | hen he did a venturesome thing, an_ NICK CARTER WEEKLY. point a few rods down the pavement, only that she was holding one end of a skip. ping rope for some tripping midgets. The crash sent Roxy’s keen eyes in- stantly boring like gimlets. The shout in Bob’s tones was a clear ~ Catch that man!’’ “Ves!’ spoke Roxy, promptly, to her- self, and—prepared. - The running fellow was coming full tilt at the crowd of children. All saw and all scurried—save one. _ “Let go!’’ spoke that exception, sharp. ly, and as the otlrer end of the rope was dropped, Roxy looped it at her side. She played the scrambling, affrighted girl to perfection as the fugitive sped to- ward her, This threw the nimble runner com- pletely off his guard. + ‘ He saw a clear course, a convenient corner, near ahead—a pursuer thirty sec- onds Jate at starting point to the rear. “Out of my way!’’ he snarled at Roxy, as he shot near her and tried to give hera ushi. : “Don’t get in mine! Stop!’? The fellow uttered an absolute scream. It was a curious mixture of amaze- ment, fright, rage and pain. Across him plump the uervy girl detec- tive had flung the skipping rope, lasso fashion. It staggered him for a moment, slipped . his hands to his waist, and—held. A quick, savage glance told him that scare tactics would not avail him here. Courage, animation, almost a sense of enjoyable excitement, were to. be traced in Roxy’s clear-cut features. ‘If he was one, she’s another !’’ panted the man. ‘‘Same breed—I’m scotched !”’ He made one effort to lift the loop and throw it off is head—one to back and drop it past his feet. Roxy was too cute for him. Her spry, dodging maneuvres baffled the exploit. ‘Come on, then!’’ he bamigts hiss- ingly. “Tl do just that!” There was some eight feet swing to the rope—Roxy did not try to hold back. She could slightly impede the man’s flight as it was, and that was all the Me™ Sone DICK, JR. CAN'T BE BEAT. ’

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€va Roxy’s pearly teet closely after it. : NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 3 ‘ete sprinter, Bob Ferret, would ask, onte he got his paces. * The fellow probably realized that he was by no means certain of escape. Roxy watched ‘his every move. She traced something suspicious in the rapid- ity with which he shot one hand to an "inside pocket. “It came ‘out tachia eh rewek the “‘Jocked fingers Roxy caught a bright yel- low gleam. “The bad’ money! !” she soliloquized in- stantly. ‘The race was now a qneer one. Roxy glided forward as smoothly and rapidly along the even pavement as a boy'on a “sled Tehitch behind.” The man'made a sharp veer—rather a - citeling swoop. -His hand went up. Roxy had both of , hersin use, holding each an end-of the rope, so as_to be on the alert for any g trick’ on the ftigitive’s part. - She could not prevent the fling he man hastily made—that of a whole handful of ¢oin squarely at the yawning mouth of a curb orifice leading to the street sewer. _ She saw the man’s point—to get rid of ‘incriminating evidence of his guilt. He was a deft thrower—the pieces flew at the opening, disappeared down it as if shot from a gun. All except one, and as this struck the © ~ store, , tébounded and rolled into the street, the man wavered. | : Ss evi : maybe, bids ‘breathed Roxy. ‘Then—mine!? She dropped one end of ‘the rope and swung free. A sliding dart bronght her up to the coin, but its recent possessor at the same = ~ moment. Both s¢rambled, both almost fell-— Roxy gotit. © The man made a stab for her hand. ‘*VYou don’t!’? declared Roxy. “*But I do—you vixefi!? - With a click ie € coin went past Jace bl ae plumped “Drat vou!’ hissed the an “Tl tear - your tongue out! T’ll—wow!? — His brutal fingers had forced Roxy’s ‘ips “3 but he had got his reward. The cence his ti Soe =e forced her teeth open, down they clicked. ‘*Let go!’” bawled the man, im excru- ciating pain, ‘‘I’ll giveit up!” An erratic blow grazed her head, but Roxy never budged. Bob would soon be due—if she could hold on two minutes longer she would have scored the victory. A whistle cut the air. Roxy could not look back; but she saw the fellow she had pinned change color rapidly. e Bob’s call for the dog! 1”? xa. told her- sees! One of her own expert feeds had been a third dumb partnér in their present énter- prise. _ She had’ missed the amimal, and fancied ” he must ‘be keeping tab on her colleague “when he entered thé store. At all events, the signal was for her canine friend, and Roxy expected some- thing to happen. It did. With a roar and a jerk she could note resist her captive tore his finger free. Roxy got to her feet to see him peaed= ing alony the walk. A darting flash, the dog pursued. There was a growl as man and animal met, and then a tipping, tearing sound. With one great mouthful of the man’s coat in his jaws the animal fell free, darted up again, and disappeared. Roxy ran forward in amazement, for the fugitive, quelling a shriek of terror after a glance of i a sped around the corner. “Bob! yo? Thé two novices nearly ran into one another. ‘Down, there!’’ panted Bob, pointing through an open coal hole. ‘*The dog?’’ (¢Veg,2? ‘*Get him.”? “But the man——”’ . “Tt means the man, don’t it???” Bob dropped from sight. His hands came up holding the dog, unhurt and still clinging to the tofcloth. _ ~ Roxy tore it from its jaws only to wave it and hold it to its mose. — ‘After age gleet _, good fellow s 1)

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4 » NICK CARTER WEFELY. she coaxed, trailing it where the man’s bleeding finger left an occasional trace. “‘Wait here, Bob.’’ ‘*Hold on——’’ As well call to a flash! “2 Bob, lifting himself with some diffi- culty through the orifice in the sidewalk, saw two flying forms, One was the dog, speeding around the next corner, its nose to the pavement. The other was Roxy. A red-painted fire buggy had just sped into view. The girl detective made one slide to- ward it, grasped its rear axle, and was whirled out of sight. When Bob got to the corner, fugitive and pursuers had disappeared. 2 ae Roxy has struck: the lead I can afford to wait,’’ he determined, taking to ~ the shelter of a doorway away from an _onpressing crowd. ‘‘If she hasn’t she'll lose no time getting back.’’ - Bob waited ten minutes, then he took ___ a peep past his shelter. bat ‘Hello!’ he voiced—‘‘how shall 1 . tead this oracle, I wonder ?’’ _ Roxy was returning at quite a leisurely pace—the dog trotting at her heels looked not a whit disappointed. She smiled radiantly as she came in sight of Bob. ‘‘Where’s your man?” interrogated the latter, quickly. ‘*He’ll keep!”? ‘*Then he didn’t slip you?” r “Us, Bob—the dog and me—no,’’ “ ee “Good as caught.’’ .. ‘Which means?” _» “That I know where to find him when __wanted.”” > “Capital!” “Most of his coins went into that + sewer.’ **Too bad !’’ **But here’s a saimple.’’ rs Bob’s eye brightened as Roxy produced Zz a five-dollar gold piece. _ weighted it. Good !"? he commended. <a start—sure, Roxy!’’ ‘ “Yes, and I think I see our finish. I ss she, man home, When he is SF a “Weve got lee ~p He examined the date speedily and _ wanted—Bob, five o’clock!’’ Roxy inter- rupted herself as a bell tolled the hour. ‘“That’s true. We mustn’t iniss our ap- pointment.’’ Bob led the way rapidly to the next street, found a cab, gave the address of a small hotel, and they were soon at it. The apartment they entered a moment later was one of a suite—its sitting - -room. A cheerful series of welcomings ran the rounds of its occupants. Nick Carter’s detective school had cer- tainly been transferred to Washington— temporarily, at least. Jack Burton, Buff Hutchinson, Aleck White and Larry Moore looked up quickly from unpacking various professional ap- purtenances from their satchels. “All here??? hailed Bob, running his eyes over his colleagues in order. ‘‘All here,’’ piped a cheery chorus— ‘fon time!’ ‘*Rven the dog,’’ put in Buff. “Good thing, too!’’ nodded Roxy, brightly. ‘‘He’s made the first point— gives us a clue torun down directly after we’ve seen——’’ Tap-tap! » ‘Some one at the door,’’ spoke Bob, going thither. The others looked expectant and eager during a brief whispered conversation at its threshold. Bob admitted the visitor, closing the door after him. “‘Fellows,’’ he said, and his glance in- cluded Rory, ‘ ‘a representative, on busi- ness, from the United States Treasury.’’ CHAPTER II. THE SKELETON HAND. -The man Bob Ferret introduced as so important a personage took a quick-witted survey of the interesting group. “The famous detective school?” half murmured. ‘CVes,’’? nodded Bob. ‘Glad to meet!’? bowed the visitor. “Five of you, and Miss——’’ “Plain seers tS smiled the girl detec- tive. “Heard of youl All business, you peo- -ple, I can see that, so—short stories !’’ The man was right. He could see busi- ness from the word go, sharp and progres- he 3 _ DIAMOND DICK, JR. IS OUT OF SIGHT.

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7 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 5 sive, in every one of the expectant, intel- ligent faces before him. The little coterie was far less impressed with this man’s important personality than his real mission. } ‘Call me ‘Sixteen,’ for convenience,’’ he suggested. ‘‘I came from—the govern- ment.’’ _ Bob bowed as calmly as if used to re- ceiving government clients every day in ‘What's yours, might I ask ?*’ insinu- ated the agent, with quite irnocent inter- est. *‘Brains!’’ promptly vouchsafed Roxy, her eyes flashing enthusiastically on her chum and hero, ‘‘They’ve all got that, mister—’cept me.’’ “You must have something that an- swers for them, Roxy!’’ intimated Bob, very positively. the year. ‘‘Judging from the uumber of hard “You come from Mr. Nick Carter,’’ places she’s helped out of-—I should proceeded the man. . say so!” interpolated Jack. Bob bowed again, but quite con- “Oh, that’s luck!’ claimed Roxy, descendingly, as if that royally famous modestly. ; name was well worth being proud of. ‘‘T was commissioned to write to Mr. Carter a week ago at the solicitation of several national departiments,’’ proceeded ‘*Sixteen.’’ ‘“I'he services of some ex- pert, some mote than ordinary profes- _ sional, were in sore request.’’ ‘*And, therefore, his,’? murmured Bob. “Mr. Carter announced that-he was out of active service.’” — Bob nodded. * “But that his detective school was quite the coutrary.’’ “‘Should say. so!’’ remarked Aleck, with an admiring glance at Bob. _ “Just,’’ simply quoted Buff, who en- vied Jack Burton his giant muscles, and therefore focused his enthusiasm on the young athlete. ; ‘*He stood sponsor for all you might do!’’ went on the treasury agent. ‘‘We'll try never to disappoint him,”’ promised Bob. ; “Said you had quite outlearned the master. ’’ ‘“‘Mr. Carter puts it strong because he “Call it what you ‘will,’’ spoke the treasury agent, ‘‘your record makes you the people for me—Mr. Carter’s recom- mendation clinches it for keeps. You know your business. He wrote me that. I have not come here to suggest.’’ **No?’’ insinuated Bob. ‘*But to explain.”’ ‘*Yes, sir?’’ nodded big-eyed Aleck, all attention. . ‘‘Or, rather, recapitulate.” +S ers aes © ‘Go on,’? murmured Bob, courteous “As we wrote Mr. Carter, and as he has: undoubtedly told you, the various departments at Washington—treasury, war, state, even agriculture—sometimes strike some very knotty problems.’’ “(As how ?”’ asked Roxy. ‘“‘Crimes, frauds, swindles, mysteries. The world is full of crooks. The sleek ones often make the national capital their stamping ground, plan a bold grab, take a big trick—and it’s a big one when they do corner it—and beat us out because our secret service men are so well known.’’ Bob saw the point of this argument clearly. “There are now,’’ continued the narra- tor, ‘‘half a dozen cases shelved, muddled . or abandoned, which have absolutely de- fied the efforts of our best detective ex- perts.”’ The announcement made more than ee eye glow with hungry professional zeal. , ‘We propose to turn the same over to you, to see what you can do with them.’’ ‘‘Absolutely ?”’ stipulated Bob. likes us,” bluntly observed Jack. pars “*That you could do all that he might _ do—that you knew his methods expertly. _ In fact,’’ rounded out the speaker, elo- quently, ‘the vouched for you, guaran- od you, offered to designate you as his sentatives. ’’ “*So, we moved down here,’’ observed practical Aleck, pawing over his great : albums of ‘‘noted criminals.” = ‘In a body!’ smiled Bob. ‘‘We’re quite a. machine when we get going, of which each fellow with his specialty isa . ‘‘Absolutely,’’ assented the treasury ‘practical working part.”” agent, ‘without qualification. The most DID YOU EVER HEAR OF DIAMOND DICK, JR? A rd = Ps, ee - =e

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6 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. pressing is in my own special depart- ment.’ ‘“‘Which we are to tackle first ?’’ quer- ied Bob. ‘*As I wrote Mr. Carter. Simply, some one is flooding the country with a pecu- liarly dangerous five-dollar gold counter- feit.*? “Like that?” asked Bob, quietly. He spun across the table the coin Roxy had saved front fhe lot hurled into the sewer, The agent started a trifle at the pat tation. He inspected the coin critically. “Then he said: ‘Like that. Where did you get it?’” ‘*From the man who is passing thenr.’” ‘*Pretty quick work, that, isn’t it?’’ “'Not at all,” answered Bob: ‘‘We knew the surface details of this case, and having two hours to wait for you a “Got into practice, ‘just like the base- yall fellows tossing the sphere to limber ap before a game,’’ suggested Roxy. “You mean you know the man who is ssing these?’’ “One of them, sure, ”” assented Bob. ‘Who is he?” “We can tell you his name later, if you want to know.”’ “Oh! you haven't got him, then?” ‘‘Yes, we have!’ interrupted Roxy. ‘‘I ‘know just whee’ we can lay our hands on him. %) 3% “Then, why” began the agent, * excitedly.” ‘Don’t we ‘pinch’ him?? queried Bob. "Ves. ” _- **'We don’t want to scare away’ the whole ‘covey just to get a stray speci- men.”’ he | see. ” “'Tt’s our way, you soslivreediilt ” sug- . Jac “I'm not inteferring—I’m not criticis- ing,’’ declared Sixteen, hastily. You take your own plans. But you’re good . ones—striking the trail direct so soon! ee We've done that ourselves, though, sev- eral times. We've bagged a dozen men a ing the queer, but that ended it.”’ AW P2!9 ‘You see this coin is very perfect?” went on the agent. ‘*T notice that,” admitted Bob. ‘Ex. cept for the feel and weight, it’s the cleanest cut I ever saw.” “Know why?" interrogated the agent, animatedly, and Bob discerned that he was leading up to some important disclos. ure. ‘‘Because an expert made the dies, I should say.” ‘*Rxactly. My friends, those coins ate préduced directly from government dies!’’ “*Aha!’’ cothinented Buff. ‘*How is that?’’ pursued Bob. ‘“That’s what’s troubling us. About a year ago arich haul was made from one of the treasury storerooms. Some one broke in and carried away a lot 6f phuin- der, the absence of which worries us _ badly. “The die that makes that coin-sdmoig it?’ guessed Bob, promiptly. I ‘*You’ve struck it. Itseems that some signatures, bond plates, and a lot of other official paraphernalia likely to be very dangerous property in criminal hands, had been stored in a sub-cellar apartment. Tried to place them. Gave it up—hoped they were: simply lost, mislaid, or sban- doned after being taken."’ ‘“When did you find out eee mis- take?’’ asked Bob. ‘tA month ago, when these coins began to appear. ”’ “They are made from the missing trea ury die?’’ ‘ositively.’? + Merez** ‘“*We are inclined to in Washington.’’ ‘*Why not meengnt to the surface be- fore?’’ “°There’s the mystery: Either the thief” judge right here “was sick, frightened, or he wanted to take time preparing a metal that, with this exquisitely perfect impress, would ‘almost deceive the department itself.’’ ‘It’s a great graft!’ murmured mae speculatively. POeNo! sharply dissented the agent: rey en it?” asked Bob. “*“Phat isn’t troubling us a bit.” “ They turned ont small fry—second- Bob looked somewhat surprised at this ‘and Gonidne — head centre.” blunt paradoxical statement. = ig “DIAMOND DICK, ye IS A DANDY. ieee cas Oe es ‘ A as eee Y el 7 —

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 7 **No,”’ 1epeated Sixteen, ‘‘that is the least of our troubles. The banks can be warned, the people posted to look out for this especial coin ‘Fives of 939” nodded Bob. ‘*Exactly.”’ “Ves, ict's. easy.’ _ » But the other SR signatures, the bond plates—treally! so great would be the complication if the holders got at work with those, that the Secretary of the Treasury has. seriously meditated the recall of entire issues, whole series.”’ “IT begin to understand, said Bob, so- berly, reflective: “‘It is not the coin ts you care about.’’ **Quite secondary,’’ **But the man who engineers the whole brilliant project ?”’ *“That’s it!’? **You want to strike at him.”’ “It is vital. Iam authorized to offer you, for this case. alone——”? __ =, alae snaNneD ageut leaned forward im- pressive He ead asum in Bob’s ear the munificent amount of which was quite sensational, “And cheap. at the money!’ he de- clared, with effusiveness. “Oh! we'll find your man,’’ promised Bob, easily. “T certainly hope so!’’ murmured the anxious agent, ‘‘but you are so con- \ fident——"" ss ‘*Because we never missed yet, mis- > ter!’ explained Roxy. =. ae rs _ “And now,” said Bob, @‘‘as to the aS _ “Ah, yes, as-to the man!’’ sighed the * agent, blankly. ghee on’t know who he is?” Wish dad _ ‘Don’t even suspect ?”? - “How can we? He left not a trace— __ that.is,”” corrected Sixteen, spurring up = si , ‘not until yesterday. ” it “What's that!’ sharply pronounced Bob, who did not like vagueness, = _ “What I say.” Be Until yesterday ” # . . *Ves,” » ; Bae you found a trace? ae ; = a 7 “It will be a big card for you—for my- * “T can’t exactly say that,’’ demurred Sixteen, slowly. ‘“Then what do you mean ?”’ *‘T mean that yesterday, accidentally, quite unexpectedly, I made a remarkable discovery.’’ ‘‘In line with this case?’’ “In direet line with the theft of the coin dies and the bond plates, yes.” ‘‘What??’ The treasury agent got up here. was evidently excited and restive. He started to speak, then he checked himself, made another break, and blurted out: ‘“No, I won’t describe! You're no red- tape workers—you’re chain lightning, I can see that. I want you to inspect for yourselves.’ ‘ ‘*Inspect?’’ pressed Bob, *“What?’’ queried Jack, very much in- terested. ‘““What I found. It’sa ‘discovery, as I say, quite accidental, but it tells just how the theft was committed. ’’ ‘*Good—we’ re getting on !’’ commented Bob Ferret. ‘I’ve said nothing to anybody—I haven’t disturbed even a speck of dust.”’ ‘‘Why, say !’’ encouraged Bob, heartily, ‘‘vou’re the right kind!’’ “*T just said to myself, ‘Nick Carter’s slick ones are coming—I’ll turn the whole matter over to them, fresh, un- pawed, just as I ran across it.’ ”’ ““Excellent!’’ nodded Bob. then, what is it?’’ “*Come and see.” ‘All of us?”? **It’ll be an object lesson, I fancy.”’ ‘*Where is it??’ “Under the United States Treasury.”’ He “Now, ‘‘Whew!’’ whistled the absorbed Buff, . excitedly. “Great beginning !’’ murmured Jack. “The right. stuff—sure!’’ nodded im- pressionable Larry. The treasury agent took up his hat. He briefly and rapidly described where they would meet him in half an hour. _ At the end of that time Nick Carter’s six interested detectives found themselves _ amid the most unique environment of their career. Quite ‘casually and ‘cautiously, and by aay You Read Diamond Dick, ied In Alaska? oy ~ a = iad at “ ren (ae Pee ae eee e a = 3 i: ere % i"

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~~ 8 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. different entrances, they had gained ad- mittance to the treasury building, as di- rected. Now they were grouped together, and being led along a narrow passageway quite under the ground floor of the main structure. Sixteen was in the van with a lighted lantern. When he came to a halt it was in a lit- tle partitioned off storeroom. ‘*There’s the shelf where the stuff I described was stored,’? he indicated, pointing. ‘*A year ago?’’? murmured Bob. ‘When last seen.’’ ‘*And missed ?”? **About a month later.’ **] see,”? ‘‘We supposed it had been got at from this corridor—a sneak, the collusion of some attache.’ ‘*Wasn’t it?” . "No. **You’ve found that out ?’’ — “‘Beyond the vestige of a doubt. Now follow me.’’ - The agent pushed open a door. It led ot _. The second time he didnt’ get in,’ _ proceeded the treasury agent. **No?” ie into a place unused because floorless and damp—a sort of waste space made so by the exigencies of the construction of the sub-foundation. He came at the back of the shelf whence the material described had been removed. 5 Without effort he pried a board free. ‘Just a reach through and help your- self!’ he explained. ‘“That’s easy,’’ nodded Bob. ~ Here’s where the trick was done.”’ ‘‘Prom outside ?”’ **Ves. ” ‘*How do you know?” **You’ll know, in a minute! I’ve traced how the fellow got in. That corner yon- _ der has a drain. He got into the drain in some way, got his stuff, crept out and away.’? ‘He was bold.”’ ‘“Then he came back for more.’’ ‘‘Vou’re getting a great tracer, if you can prove all this!” commented Bob, ae ie a4 “*No,’’ asserted the speaker, positively. ‘And why not?”’ ‘*He had pried out of plumb a stone encircling a pipe. The second tiie the stone tipped. It came down with ¢rushing force directly across his wrist.’ Bob could tell from the narrator’s flut- tering manner that he was working up to a definite climax. ‘*The stone clamped that man’s arm as if built to do it,’’ went on the agent. ‘*He couldn’t get free?”’ ‘*He was in a trap.” “What did he do?”’ Astart went the rounds, vivid, intense, at the extraordinary reply. ‘He cut off his hand.’’ “Ugh!” shuddered Roxy. ““Tragic!?’ breathed Jack, worked up, but watchful. ‘*He left it behind him.”’ All this time the agent had been moy- ing toward the stone he described, He seemed'to know the value of a dramatic finale, for he held his lantern as if ready at the proper moment to flash it like a calcium when the climax was reached. ‘““How do you know all this??? de- manded Bob, half incredulously. ‘*Because—there is the hand in ques- tion!” ‘Flask! A bright focus spread sharply. It outlined, as the man had promised, the one great clue to the famous treasury ‘steal. A skeleton hand! CHAPTER III. ROXY’S WHITE MICE. Nick Carter’s young detectives stood _ transfixed. They had faced many a tragic spectacle in their lives; but probably never before one so essentially dramatic and sensa- tional as the present one. Here, amid the great vaults of the vast treasure storehouse of the nation, a quick lantern flash had presented the most re- markable clue ever put into their hands. Buff went all to pieces with excite- ment. “Look!” he gulped. There was something worth looking at. _ Diamond Dick, Jr. Contaius Fascinating Romances of Western Life~ ?

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 3 ‘The hand maintained the rigid pose which it had held for twelve long months. : It filled a narrow round cut in the mas- sive stone block which must have crushed the bones of the wrist before it was cut off. Bob’s vivid imagination could depict the lonely hour of terror that its owner must have endured before he worked his -eourage up to a point that must have tested extraordinary nerve and powers of endurance. ‘“There’s your clue!’’ spoke the treas- ury agent, solemnly, and he looked solemn. **It’s a good one!’’ nodded Bob, ina business-like way. ‘*What are you going to do?”’ ‘Find its owner.’’ “ot “Oh! > Sixteen acted a trifle disappointed. **Don’t make much fuss over it!’’ keen- ~~ eared Roxy caught his slow mutter. “It’s Bob’s way,’’ she“ whispered— ‘but he’s doing a power of thinking!” Bob was. As the leader of the school, his was the privilege and province to make a first “miove, — He took the lantern from the agent’s hand and advanced toward the gruesome memento of a mysterious national crime. ‘*No baby, the owner of that hand,’’ insinuated Jack. “*Well, hardly.’’ "And no child’s play tracing him.”’ _~ “An investigation will tell. — I thoright 3 I noticed something !”’ ae Bob with his cap flecked a great ridge of dust off from the skeleton outline. ; “Oh!” uttered Roxy, spontaneously. ~—— **A spark !’’ said quick Larry. - | he third finger of the hand now eas "showed a circle of gold. . weegee Prominently attached, plainly visible _ was a setting. = a almost as big as a hazel nut. 32 aitwe points already et declared Bob to ac __ ‘Yes, no pauper this mysterious treas- ury thief.” eee sporty—the. ring’s worth a hand- ‘some something. Can you get me a box >” asked Bob, turning to the agent. It held a nugget of flame—a diamond ._ net READ THE LIBERAL OFFER: = PAGE 32. The hand was carefully worked into a pasteboard receptacle fished up from some rubbish. Bob detached the ring and put it in his pocket. Then, applying the cover to the box containing the skeleton hand, he pointed beyond the round aperture the gruesome memento had just filled. “Anything worth looking at there?” he queried. ‘*Nothing,’’ answered Sixteen, prom pt- ly. ‘‘The drainisa broad pipe twelve feet long. Ends under some broken flag- ging, which, falling in, has filled up the break.’’ “Very well. guess. ”? Bob acted and talked so cool the agent looked dissatisfied—the young detective’s remark amounted to a tacit dismissal. “That’s all you want of me?’ he queried. “Why, my friend! Isn’t it enough a ‘*Sort—I sort of feel second fiddle !’’ **On the contrary, you’re big bass viol, snare drum and orchestra leader com- bined!’’ declaimed Bob with honest ap- probation. ‘‘All? You’ve given us a clear and strong a lead as I ever struck.’’ The treasury agent brightened up and got quite chatty by the time they reached the open air again. He looked wistfully after Bob, how- ever, as the detective group began to scatter. ‘*You’re going to make it—I can see that!” he muttered. — ‘*We’ve got lots of hope!’’ smiled Bob. ‘‘Wish you was one of us? Don’t fear— you shall come’in at the windup and score full credit. You’re too good a man to leave out in the cold, you are!’’ “Bob! You’ve got a way of making every body feel comfortable,’’ commented Roxy, as they started back for the hotel. ‘Have I1?’’ nodded Bob, but absently. “Although you’re getting grum and grim as an old fossil!’? added Roxy We're pees, thén, I pointedly. ‘‘Why can’t you talk mith a fellow ?”’ “Because. I’m. thinking, -Roxy,”” re- plied Bob. ‘‘Isn’t there need?””. “Oh, I don’t know!” — ‘The clne—that skeleton hand——” = Tex * aa

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Fe chased down ?”” ©’ Before’ Roxy could- answer Jack came ace tearing down the hall interruptingly, and — _ the e detective saned sePay* on pee —? miss 10 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. *“How about mine—and the dog’s?”’ corrected Roxy, promptly. ‘‘I wouldn’t go back to that mysterious old hand! My man’s right in view, if you only want to follow him up.’ ‘*He’s only small fry, Roxy, and we’re after the big mogul of the whole scheme, you know.”’ ~Mayn’t my man lead us right up to your “great mogul,’ just the same!’’ de- manded thé persistent little lady. “Oh! we'll take him up !ater—we shan’t drop him, by any means.”’ “T won't!” declared Roxy, with posi- tiveness. She proved her words ten minutes after reaching the hotel. The girl detective had gone to her.own room, and Bob, after a cursory inspection of the treasury clues, had started Jack out on am important side line covering the same, and the rest of the boys to their supper, when Roxy tapped at the door and pushed it open slightly, - “Dm going out, Bob,’’ she announced. ‘*Alone??’ ‘Yes. No harz closer the fellow noon, is there ?’’ ‘“‘Not a bit of it, but don’t get into trouble.’’ “I shan’t.’” nd.what have you got. there?’ : Roxy held a handkerchief in her hand if 1 ae up a little rauxdown this after- in a way that caused the observing Bob to at once discern that it contained some- thing uncommon. “Oh! two of my pets, » smiled Roxy? ‘What two?’ Roxy threw back a fold.of the dainty piece of cambric. vot retwo white mice!” stared Bob. ‘SVep Poe “y don’t see——”’ "Bob, declared Roxy, seriously, Dye got-an idea?’ ~ o “And they: help out?"? - I think they’re going to.’ **Concerning | the ae passer you i 2Os si sa Jack had the box containing the skele ton hand thder his arm. ‘Well? interrogated Bob, as it was placed on the table and the hall door closed. ° ‘‘Found out,’’ reported Jack. “Go ahead.” “TI went to the anatomist’s with the hand.”’ “‘What does he say?” “The owner of that hand is about thirty-five years old, fair complexion, above the average height, slim and wiry, and a man of idle habits. ”’ “Good. for science!’’ commended Bob, **So much for our mysterious friend’s personnel. Now for the fellow’s name.” **Eh ?”? exploded Jack. ‘“That’s the next step, isn’t it ?”’ asked Bob. ‘The man’s name ?”’ - i Bxactly 2 ‘*Vou expect to learn that ?’’ _ Got to have it, hayen’t we?”’ “Why——’ “And I think we will, inside of . the next hour,’’ predicted Bob. “You must have been working since I left you?’ suggested Jack. “Hard as I know. how?’’ Bob. . ‘‘See here.’’ Bob passed around, the table to where, ona piece of black velvet, lay the dia- mond circlet he had removed from the skeleton hand. A. powerful maguifying glass rested beside it. ‘’There’s a tracitig, inscription, inside of that ring,’’ he remarked. ‘You'd find it if any one aid, ” en- thused Jack. answered “T did find it. See if you can read it. Jack held the circlet to the lightand focused the glass upon it. ‘‘Wealth, Trust, Order,’ he reported. “That's a funny combination ! fee Bob nodded, sat down, aud pulled toward him a pile of photograph albums. They were Aleck’s property. was the librarian and historian” 3 the school, so to speak. Of a studious and thoughtful ‘father than‘ an investigating and active trend of mind, his professional ‘employment had MAKE ‘rm ACQUAINTANCE OF DIAMOND DICK, JR. Aleck * —

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY, hi latterly been of a clerical cnaracter com- plete. The volumes ia question. held plioto- graphs of every known criminal, with a brief but comprehensive epitome of his record underneath the portrait. Bob an. scanning .these books. While Jack was speculatively regarding the ring, he ran over the index, From A to W Bob’s probing finger traced a course—there he stopped, read a name, and turned to the page indicated opposite. “Slight, you. said the anatomist re- ed the owner of that skeleton hand to be ?”’ he suddenly. broke forth animatedly. *“Ves,’’ nodded Jack. ‘‘You’ve found out something more, Bob?”? I guess I have.’’ “Pitted the hand?” “Toa name, if that ring goes for any- thing. Thirty-five years old 2” 6€Ves, ”» _... “*Fair complexion ?¥ ‘*'That’s the report.”’ “Now, then, what does that ring say ?’’ ‘ ‘Wealth, Trust, Order.’ ”’ “In other words, the initials are W. T. and O.”’ “‘Ah, I see what you’re getting at!’ exclaimed Jack. ‘Those are the initials of the owner’s name 2}? ‘‘No, initials in the owner’s name.”? ‘‘What’s the difference ?”’ “Vast!” Hi “How ?”’ } “They are the, niteunate: letters in a - man’s name.’ ee “Explain 7 27) fx Ws Te QO.” **Go ahead.*’ ‘‘Supply a letter after each initial. ve > Can’t do that—in a second.’ ~ ‘*How would A, S and N fit?”’ detectives certainly answered wonderfully to. the amnatomist’s description of the owner of the skeleton hand. ; The initial coincidence gave Bob’s sup- position immense support as well. “Telegraph Nick Carter at ouce,’’ he ordered. ‘‘About what ?’’ “The record and -whereabouts of Duffield Watson, the .celebrated Western bank sneak.’ Jack lingered for a moment, interested in reading the description of the picture Bob had fastened on as the counterfeit presentment of the man who had robbed the United. States. Treasury. “‘He’s the fellow who made the big grab for the imperial jewels on show at the Paris Exposition !’’ he murmured. ‘Ves, with his famous red dog—a trained pet that penetrated the glass safe and nearly got away with the plunder,”’ explained Bob. “We'll make a iny on him, eh?” queried Jack. . “Soon as. we hear from New York. Duffield Watson and his red dog !—there’s the watchword for Nick Carter’s detective school till we run down the owner of the — skeleton hand.’’ ‘-Bob ia ’ Jack had scarcely left the apartment before a surmy head was intruded. It was the girl detective. Roxy never got rattled, but she looked immensely animated just. now. “Helio!” welcomed ~Bob—‘‘back quick.” ‘‘Had to,’’ breathed Roxy, panting a trifle. **VYou’ve been running ?” ‘‘Had to do that, too.’’ “Got anything ?”’ “1 think I have.”’ “Watson! “What ?”” | ‘Precisely. “See here, Jack—I feel ‘“The man who passed the fake coin.’’ - pretty sure I have oe the ownerofthe. ‘‘Thought you had him before ?’’ 3 Skeleton J hand.”’ a did—as to the block he burrows seen wets him?) interrogated Jack in. eagerly, scanning the ‘Portrait and de- and now??? . ‘ seription in the book. . ‘His room, his ane if you -come ‘““That’s the man,’’ affirmed Bob con- quick.” -wincedly, ‘and Barelg the crime that ‘That's. good enough !”” exes ‘Bob, _ made him famous,” — hustling the table into order. ZF _ The picture which faced the two young ‘*You’re with me?’’ DIAMOND DICK, JR., IS OFTEN IN DANGER.

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12 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Why not?’ “You acted as if that skeleton hand was the sole magnet in the case!’ “Not at all, Roxy, but one thing ata time, you know. Ready!’ ‘“‘Wait a minute.” Roxy dropped her handkerchief to the table as if to refold it more conveniently As she did so Bob made a discovery. “Ah! he commented. ‘‘Only one _ white mouse.’’ oxy nodded. “You took two away with you?’’ **T know I did.’’ ‘*Where’s the other ?”’ ‘Tn the pocket of the man we want to hustle and hunt down!’’ was the girl de- tective’s remarkable statement. CHAPTER- IV. THE HEAVYWEIGHT DISGUISE. Bob Ferret gave the incomparable little detective lady a shrewd glance, and hur- tied on his hat. “You put the mouse in the man’s pocket !’’ he exclaimed. ‘*Yes,”” tranquilly nodded the girl de- tective. Roxy very deliberately and carefully nested her remaining pet in her handker- chief. Then she joined Bob, and both sped down the corridor to the stairway and the ” street. ‘*You must indeed have ‘got an idea’ !”’ half smiled Bob. fete ‘‘Oh, I guess it will work! Make fun of me iif you like, Bob Ferret, but don’t guy my pets!”’ Aa ‘‘Who’s making fun?’’ ‘Watch the results. That’s my test!’ Bob ‘“‘closed up.’’ He had, indeed, little reason for poking fun at the New York flower girl. Roxy had demonstrated in the past in a marked way her ability to cope with the most adroit criminals. Latterly, she had impressed some of her wonderful pets into detective service in quite as signal a manner. What would seem ridiculous in others could be taken quite seriously where am was concerned. ~ Ps trained dog had got to be quite her second ally in sharp intelligence and boldness. The morikey she had secured as a trophy from a gang of wire tappers had done some positively remarkable things. ‘‘You see, Roxy, your latest fad, the white mice, are quite a new proposition to me,’’ remarked Bob. ‘‘Being only a boy!’’ shot back Roxy, ‘Cof course you can’t understand what patience and care will- do to reach these cute little creatures !”’ ‘‘T know you can do most anything i in the training line,’? confessed Bob. **Don’t spar, Roxy—you and I are too good friends for that. What have you accomplished ?”’ _‘‘Well, as I told you, I narrowed that fellow who jumped Sant de the glass » store down to a block.”’ ‘*You told me, Roxy!’ “To-night I ran him to cover in a building.”’ ‘“‘Which you are leading me to now?’ _ “That’s it. I saw him come in—I waited. I saw him come out—lI bolted.’’ ‘*Here?” ‘No, after him.’’ ‘*Where did he go?” **To a pawn shop.’’ “And got——’’ ‘*A bundle of clothing.’ ‘*For himself ?’’ ‘*Yes. It wasa hard race. He was as wary and nervous as a chased fox.’’ ‘Which didn’t faze you any!’ “It gave me some quick dodging and running, I can tell you! I had to drop him at one spot—get back to the shadow of the building, saw him coming, hesi- tated about, followed him up into it, and—”’ ‘*Dropped one of the white mice into his pocket ?”” ad § did. ” ‘‘And yott expect to trace him through that?’ ‘Don’t I tell you I’mn going to do it?’’ demanded the little lady spiritedly. “How yes “You come and see. There’s the build- ing. ” Roxy crossed to the structure she had described—an ordinary room and adics edifice. = "DIAMOND DICK, JR. COSTS ONLY FIVE CENTS.

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= WICK CARTER’ WEEKLY. 1s: Once within the sheltering shadow of its broad street stairway, she motioned _ Bob to silence and caution. She hugged the side wall close till she got to the top step. Bob followed. ‘Lights from the street only fairly illu- minated the bare, uncarpeted diverging ‘halls and corridors. “‘Now, then!’ she whispered to Bob. w7 8 9," Oy.” ‘“Try and keep your eye on the mouse.”’ ‘*You’re going to let it go?”’ ‘‘Got to, if I hope to accomplish any- The mouse had flashed out of sight as if by magic. ‘‘There’s your man!’’ breathed Roxy into her colleague’s ear in a tone of thorough conviction. She pointed beyond the door: Bob listened, but caught no sound—he tried the keyhole, it was stopped up closely. “(Don’t dare to venture ‘a lean on the knob and a peer over,’’ he soliloquized. “Still, I'd like a look past that transom. Ah, this way !’’ Directly opposite was the door of a & dark room. thing.’’ Bob leaped lightly to its knob, clung “You think it will seek and find its to its transom sill, and glanced toward mate ?”’ oe the half closed aperture opposite. “T know it will.” ‘*Hello!’? he marveled with a sharp “1 hope——”? stare. _ ‘Because I’ve tried this same experi- The girl detective had not ‘‘got ideas”’ ment twenty times before.”’ in vain! on Pr 2% She knew the ability of her trained “Get into action »” pets, had relied upon the same, and here arta “Tt is action!’? — was a practical demonstration of their cleverness. There, upon the mantel of the room beyond, were Roxy’s two white mice— the dumb shadower had found its mate! Bob dropped lightly and glided to the Bob had used a hound half-a-dozen times to help him out on an obscuge trail. "That was in the open air, however, with a sizable object to keep in view. All*he had to guide him now, as Roxy set her pet on the floor, was what seemed _ side of his expectant comrade. we like a rolling white ball. et: “Well?” murmured Roxy, inquiringly, ~ A rapid ball, a dodging ball it was, “It is well!” es too—that flashing speck flitting about “(I fancied it would be.”’ Re, like a butterfly. ‘ ‘Weve hit it!’ Bob lost it in a dive around a corner. Roxy was with him as he reached it. ‘‘Nowhere!’’ he whispered forcibly. **Oh, yes—see?”’ “It’s the room of the man we’re after ?”” **Both of your white mice are in there.”’ ‘*And the man himself ?’’ Run!” “Vanish !”? The mouse was aloft’ It ran the casing of a door in a flash. _ Then it put on again, came to a stair- : _ way, leaped it step by step, and made a Si Se ak shoot, its top reached. ; z = ing pretty closely there!’’ com- ‘mented Bo The warnings were a breath, but they sounded none too quickly. With the rapid aspirations, Bob darted one way, Roxy the other. The door of a room had opened quick- ly—a man stuck his head out. mls He looked sharply up and down the Tes. hall, listened, his face became less sus- By Some. delicate sense of scent picious in its expression, and he retired ___ _Roxy’s pet seemed actually tracing its from view again locking the door after 2 missing mate. : tesa: = It ran ahead, evidently struck a wrong’ The two detective workers came to- trail, and darted back to the door, above gether again, but six steps down the : ented Bob, as, nearly upon the little __worker, both he and Roxy paused to eo watch its maneuvres, which tilted a transom letting out rays of _ stairs. + aga light. — ites 3 “It's the man we chased to-day,” ‘That was quick !’’ uttered Bob. affirmed Bob. Ae eon id DIAMOND DICK, JR. KNOWS HOW TO USE HIS FISTS.

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oe —- ~ 14 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. : ‘*Ves, I saw his face,’’ nodded Roxy. **Going to nab him ?”’ Bob “reflected. ‘I. don’t know,’’ he dapauinted: with some hesitation. "CTt struck me he was preparing to go out.’’ ‘Ves, he had a comb iu one hand and; his hair half parted.’ “Then it might be well for one to fol- low——’’. “Pi take that!’ **And the other to remain, get into the room, and see what it shows up.’’ ‘“‘Wour the burglar of the outfit, Bob!’’ ‘““Then, if that’s the programme, no need of risking being caught here.”? .. They descended to the street. Bob planned that they would follow the man, when he came out, far enough to see that he would not immediately return—then for a surreptitious visit to his room. He posted himself in a corresponding doorway across the street. Roxy wedged her way iuto an embra- sure leading toward an area. Bob put in some time wondering over _the probable fate of Roxy’s pets. He speculated as to what the occupant of the room up stairs thought of the it got out of his pocket, but he must noticed the two if he eens at the bly he’ll think they’ ve asia “in from some other room in the build- ing,’ calculated Bob. Something was fired from the darkness of the doorway into the street with a rattle and a roll—a piece of coal. It put Bob on the alert at once. ‘‘Pronr Roxy—man’s coming !’’ he in- . stantly decided. Such was the case—down the stairs, out into the street, came the fellow the two young detectives had labored so arduously to run to covert. The stray gleam of the street light showed his face unmistakably, aud Bob _ knew him in an instant. Then the same rays falling to the -wan’s figure from his neck down, Bob : _ nearly tumbled off the step he was stand- — whereas that the coin passer at _ A DEAD CERTAINTY: j . Bau By hee i eam his last..street appearauce visible to Bob - had been,a rather spare, active fellow, he was now a bulky, waddling monstrosity! He was disguised—Bob “discerned this in a flash—but strangely, grotesquely, ridiculously. A modern Falstaff, bow-windowed to gigantic. proportions, from chin to hips he woré an enormous false front, And Bob Ferret, shrewd Bob Ferret, ~ but startled, puzzled Bob Ferret, won- dered why ! CHAPTER V. A DESPERATE STRAIT.. The man upon whom Bob’s eyes were glued paused at the threshold of the big building in a wary manner. He turned his eyes suspiciously up and down the pavement, across it, back along the stairway, and then seemed satisfied that there were no lurkers about. ‘Wonder what he means by that get up!’? murmured Bob, studying the strange appearance narrowly. It was,certainly a wonderful one, for it only disguised the mau’s foxm-—bis face, not at all. That the fellow half concealed = pull- ing down his big slouch hat so that his features were now in shadow. For all this, the great contrast between his small head and limbs and his podgy centre, almost made the watching young detective smile. The coin passer took a slow deliberate step across the sidewalk. He waddled, rather than walked, shift- ingly, uneasily, as though his unfamiliar attire bothered him dreadfully. The girl detective came out of her covert almost instantly. She had seen at close range what Bob had seen at a distance, and must have arrived at the same conclusion as himself. There, was little danger of the man who had just passed her turning around. To accomplish that fact he would have been forced to twist his bulky form with the slowness of a safe switched by a derrick. 3 The man proceeded very slowly to the curb. Several persons passed by. None of these, however, particularly noticed him. —— DICK, JR. IS A FAVORITE.

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i e NICK CARER WEEKLY. 15 *‘T see how it is—looks normal enough to others,” soliloquized Bob; ‘‘but to us he seems ponderous, ‘just decause we know it’s a get up The coin passer Pneld a light satchel in one hand.. nis he gtipped, Bob noticed, as if it held something valuable. “He looked anxiously up the street, down the street. Then he proceeded south, keeping Close to tlre curb, and watching nartowly every vehicle that Joomed into view. Bob got over his stupefication at the man ’s chan appearance. He ventured to cross the street, for his back was turned. - ~~ **Roxy!? “he uttered with’ emphatic significance, joining his girl comrade creeping along in the shadow. - = + wees ‘‘Now, whatever has he done it for?’’ “That false front?” - oe es. Ie Well, Bob, T guess Bret, that he thinks he’s disguised. oe = “*That is apparent.’’ 2 “Next, he is—loaded, Ny ‘‘How! ps “Tf that man hasn’t got that false front of his packed with all he possesses, I miss . my guess.’’ eet ~ Whe deuce—it’s so!” ' , ‘“‘Cheap way of moving—see?” _ “He’s moving, you think a ~-" Don't it look it?” ‘Then he mustn’t get away.’ ~ “Not much danger—with et bulk.’ ‘Ves, but he’s watehing out for some- “thing?” _ **T notice that.”’ at my. carriage.” He acts that way.” nd—there it comes!” A little distance down the street a € The had ebtigle Seed * a ra his mouth,” poe Spe whistle awoke the echoes ‘ bo Ty ae hailing that driver!” spoke Bob eS. icky «We mustn't let iin: get on wheels?” tes eS for that satchel he carries, © Ox : yi ‘see to i ‘isc ‘passer put his two- prone DICK, JR.IS A REAL HERO. ““Now, then!’ ‘Oh, dear!’ It was rare that Roxy made a misstep. A piece of banana peel, however, placed just right, caught ler feet as she started She fell almost flat, struck out her hands to’ prevent a tumble, and both palms landed with quite a resounding slap. The disguised coin passer had halted and stood almost sideways. He was abont to repeat that whistle signal when Roxy’s mishap occurred. The minute he made out a boy anda girl—for Béb had run to Roxy’s assist- ance—it seemed enough to put’ on the tazor edge of suspicion eyery alarmed ‘sense, He started down the pavement, run- ning faster than Bob had: fancied he pos- sibly could, hampered as he was. — “He’s ‘taken the hint!’ spoke Bob, quickly. ‘Roxy had regained ‘her feet, ready to join in the pursuit. The fugitive was shouting frantically, and Bob saw why. He ‘had probably ordered a Setxigge to await him at the curb. 2 It had not arrived, and he had! vanced to meet it. : “The vehicle hesitatingly proce some distance away was probably the € he had ordered. That whistle of his had not served acd guide its stupid, ill-iformed driver to the anxious, watching fare. The carriage was now turning to look for its load down instead of up the street, Upon overtaking that vehicle, the wad- dling runner must have guessed, depended all his fate. **Stop !’’ he screamed. The driver seemed deaf and blind. “Cabby ! cabby!”’ The coin passer waved hig hand wildly and the satchel with it, but all in vain. ‘The carri was proceeding slowly, but he had to go dreadfully slow himself. If it turned to meet hiin a- junction might result before the twain the coin ‘passer certainly recognized as enemies could overtake him. “Here! here!’’ he fairly shrieked,

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16 **Aha!’?’ cried Bob. ‘*Ves, we’re due!’’ chipped in Roxy. The carriage had turned—at last. “This way,’’? bawled the runner. The cry halted in a kind of a wail, and the coin passer paused with a joggle and a shock. : He saw that ten strides’ would bring his pursuers upon him as many seconds in advance of the vehicle, even if its driver was making for him. The fellow faced about desperately. His eyes were haunted with fright and suspense—his face was pale to the lips. ‘*He’s going to fight,’’ warned Roxy. “Took out!’’ cried Bob. - The fellow had drawn a long, murder- ous-looking knife. He brandished it at the advancing duo and gnashed his teeth. **T will kill!’ he hissed. Bob laughed outright. The laugh drifted into a chuckle, for the driver of that vehicle, while he had turned his horses around, was gawking at the street numbers stupidly as ever. ‘“*Will he never come!’ fairly wailed the coin ee “‘T reckon he won’t!’’ sang out Bob. He advanced straight on his foe, draw- g no weapon. “In normal trim Roxy and _ himself uld have been fully able to handle this n. ; ‘Now, hampered, he was a mere whirli- gig—his reach could scarcely extend over the formidable wall of air and rubber he wore. “What. do you want?’’ he quavered, - directly at the onspeeding Bob. _ -Can’t you guess?’” — *Don’t come near.’’ “Oh, but I’ve got to!”’ One last hopeless yell the fellow directed at the distant vehicle. ~ One desperate glance he bestowed on his agile young opponent. Then he raised the knife. It went up with a flash, and it came down with a circling swoop. “ ___ Roxy’s lips pursed to a perfect rosebud ~~ “of wonder. _ Bob’s sharp eyes emitted a marveling bys ia ; _ you CAN BET ON DIAMOND DIUK,-JR. NICK. CARTER WEEKLY. rm Flop! The coin passer had cut himself open! He had split himself from stem to stern. 4 That great air bag that had fronted him went down like a sinking roof. The Jekyll-Hyde transformation, how- ever, did not end with a mere tame change of identity. His slit, flapping attire clinging about him like a winding sheet, the coin passer disgorged as well as collapsed. From out the severed folds of his false front there tumbled a parcel. ‘*A bag!’ read Bob, marveling aloud. **Of coins,’’ supplemented Roxy. The bag struck the pavement with a tang. 5° It split with a sparkle and a jangle. The secret of the coin passer’s ‘‘dis- guise’’ was patent at last. The sidewalk was flooded, spangled, rolling With yellow gleaming circles, ‘Coinage of 1893!’’ shouted Bob Ferret, putting promptly for the man with the knife. CHAPTER VI. SENT ADRIFT, “‘We’ve tapped the mint!” cried Roxy, irrepressibly. Bob took time to stare—it was a spec- tacle worth staring at. His ready mind found an instantaneous solution of the present bewildering situa- tion. The coin passer, as the girl detective had hinted, must. be ‘‘moving.’’ a His narrow graze of the day had fright- ened him. He was abandoning his quarters up in the building just left behind. The idea of a disguise that would serve the double purpose of an express wagon must have occurred to him as a brilliant piece of cleverness. ‘ Utilizing the scheme, inside that bal- loon-like front he wore he had in some way secured his stock of spurious coin. Now it lay at his feet—he was worse than discovered, thoroughly hedged in with irrefutable evidences of-his guilt. ‘‘Nab him, and close the deal!’’ shot out Bob, sharply. : The man caught the words. He did © +; Set poe

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. not pause to recover any of his fallen treasures, Evidently he had counted on their abandonment in conjunction with the collapse of his unwieldly front. Reduced to usual size now, relieved of the weight of the coin which must have been considerable, he was in trim for normal action. Bob saw that a forced stand had changed to a sharp break. ‘*Another race!’ he muttered. The coin passer turned and darted _ away like a flash. Evidently the carriage no Pease en- tered into his calculations, for he did not make for it direct, That vehicle was coming his way, and _ a dozen leaps would. bring him to it. It was coming Bob’s way and Roxy’s -also, hewever, the adroit fellow must have seen, and before he could direct a turning the young detective would un- ~~ doubtedly be upon it. gh + fe —— “young detect ‘there?’ panted Roxy, k The sidewalk was clear for half a block ahead, and the runner started without an obstruction i in view. He shifted his head over his shoulder and took a quick look backward. *“Come to time!’’ called Bob, grimly. A hissing gasp was all the ‘reply that = was vouchsafed. ‘*Because we’ve got you this time!’’ There was an ugly, defiant snort. The successive sentences, however— _ the last soundiiig much nearer than the first—told the fugitive that he was losing ground. Now, Bob observed plainly that his ae centred on the satchel he carried. _ This he suddenly swung from a one- ngs ores toa clutch of both directly : im, gree there!’ guessed the "i this way ue, the coin. passer was ing it false front. it just as he had the “Are we to leave all Sn gold back Bob. ceping up with ‘*Brass, you mean—letYt slide e Ssit has !? _ “Never mind thatthe” aia the 17 point now. Sheer off! I’m going to stop him.’’ Bob’s eye lit ona small wooden sign wired lightly to an iron railing in his course. He gave it a jerk as he passed, swung it free and back, and aimed it at the run- ner now less than twenty feet in the lead. It struck and slid faster than the run- ner could go, but its swishing bang must have warned him. At all events, he jumped up six inches. The board just grazed his heels, shied to the curb, and the man ran on. ‘“Clever !’? commented Bob. ‘“What’s he at?’’ breathed Roxy. ‘“That satchel seems to trouble him.’ **Tt’s locked.”’ ‘*And he’s trying to open it.’’ ‘To get something out.”’ ‘A revolver, maybe ?”’ ‘And can’t do it—use yours, or he'll slip us!”’ It looked this way. Desperation had given the man new nerve, and he was sprinting pretty well up to adept Bob’s own average. The sharp, constant jerks and dartings . of his head toward doorways, every area, showed hopes of discovering some safe avenue to hiding. ‘Back!’ he suddenly yelled, wavered. A man had stumbled into the fugitives path—clumsily, unknowingly. An Italian peddler carrying on one arm a bundle of toy whips, iu the other hand a dozen or more colored rubber balloons, stepped out of a doorway. His head was down with the dejected air of a man homeward bound aftera dispiriting day’s effort to dispose of his wares. The wecing, flash of red, blue and green must have slightly dazed the runner. With their holder, the balloons about filled the sidewalk space. “Out of the way!’ bellowed the spin- ning runner. ‘*Sapristi!”’ The peddler gave a \jump, but his balloon attachment swept out sideways, light as they were resisting a forcible ull. # “Maledetti!”’ he screeched. DIAMOND DICK, JR. IS A DEAD SHOT. and

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The man went sprawling with the word. A collision and then a mixup “had been precipitated. Therunner could not stop himself— probably did not try to. He grazed the peddler and squarely met the long, grouped threads that held the bunch of rubber balloons. These flopped aside of him and around, and quite stayed and staggered him. He gripped for the cable of threads and seized it. Tearing it free from the holder’s grasp, he made a spring to jump free of the en- tire entanglement. At that moment one foot of the spin- ning peddler struck his heels. His toes shot up in the air, and he came down with a teeth-chattering con- tart on. “T guess,’? nodded Roxy, and ran for- ward, too. The an saw them. baffled, beaten glance at them. He ‘raised the satchel he carried, and swung it as if desperate enough to hurl it anywhere. ‘‘Wants to get rid of it pretty badly!” traced Bob. “Wants to get it out of our reach, you mean,’’ corrected Roxy. z “He has!’ The man changed his Smeditated fling sharply: He had partially let go of the strings holding the swaying, bobbing balloons. ‘Now he gripped them for keeps, and a 5 quick aspiration told that he had thought _ of something. - With almost incredible rapidity, he “whipped the trailiag bunch of threads _ around the handle of the satchel, A dextrous knot was slipped. Both the wideawake young detectives ~~ saw what the man was at at the same mo- ment. Bob’s progress was a slide, Roxy’s a spring, but’ both were too late. The man gave the satchel’ an upward ‘Hing: € hehe At the saine instant he let go of the balloons. ~ ' «Got him now!’ voiced Bob, pressing He directed a= ‘the handles, DIAMOND DICK, ‘JR. DEFENDS THE HELPLESS. 18 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘(He shan't beat us!’’ breathed Roxy, grittily. She made a leap, but her hand just grazed the bottom of tlesatchel. © Then, stare-eyed, ‘finttering, she saw the aerial convoys slot starward. ‘fA way out!” shouted the man on‘the sidewalk, ‘“Tedeschi! pay!’? howled the peddler, hitching his way across the pavement. ‘‘VYou didn’t make it!’ sneered the coin passer hotly into Bob's face. ° Bob’s hand was on his arm. “We've got you, all the same, my man,’’ he spoke, calmly as he could, “Roxy! i But Roxy was not in sight. Bob had noticed her eye ‘steadily, eagerly fixed on the floating bunch of air- iness with its queer attachment. He‘had-no idea that she had followed ite Balloons and Roxy were both out of sight now, however, and Bob was forced to guess that the plucky little novice was on the trail of that mysterious satchel. . His share of the exploit of the hour now centred om the man sitting jstub- — bornly on the sidewalk, ‘ ‘*My.pay!’? bellowed the peddler. . His-fist raised and shaking, the fury- faced balloon vender hovered in front of captive and captor. ‘Vou get away !’’ ordered Bob, giving | the irate Italian a little push. ‘*You cheat me.’’ “Pi fix that.”’ ‘*T fix you!’’ “Don’t try it!’ | Bob was single-handed, but as the man who took. him to be in collusion with his despoiler raised his bundle of whips by) Bob caught them by the lashes. He almost jerked the man off his feet with one big pull, and coolly flung the heap into the gutter. 4 “‘Now you be good, my friend!” - _‘Birr-rr-retti!”’ choked the fellow. ‘‘}’j] pay you—go back the sidewalk~— see where the yellow heap is?’ ‘‘Aha!’’ glared the electrified man, catching a glimpse of the scattered rich- ness in the distance. “Gather it up, watch it till I come-

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 19 Be careful!’’ warned Bob—‘‘it’s the gov- ernment’s!’’ ae _ His captive squirmed at the allusion. ' So are you!”’ proceeded Bob, uailing the man fast with an iron grip. ‘‘Get to '. your feet!” gs. **T won’t!’’ sullenly retorted the coin PASSER on 8 on, oe Bob gave hima jerk that made him howl. - 7 can’t!” Bob helped him, to find out, The fellow seemed hurt. One limb dangled, and the other limped as if -his ‘sharp tumble had badly disabied him. There had been no crowd attracted by what had taken place. . The street held few people, and these at some distance. Bob glanced at the “Italian. He had reached thie scattered heap of coins aud was staring dumbly. Bob looked up and ahead. The bal- _ loons were a memory so far as nearby ap- - pearances went. es ! Roxy was nowhete in sight. There wasa box standing against an _ iron-blinded window, upon a glass bull’s- eye fretted cellar door. ‘Bob backed his captive to it... “Sit down there for a spell,’’ he or- - dered. . =e aoe “The man sank to the box with a dis- ‘ tinct groan. “Wait a minute, though!”’ _ Bob ran his hands over the man ‘Swiftly |. ce No weapons,”’ he reported. = ee he added, significanlty tap- Ping his hip pocket. ““You’ve got me!’’ grumbled the fel- Bob started, bent his ear, let go his pick clutgh 98 his helpless, injured Charge. st “Roxy!” he aspirated, eagerly. Bang! bang! bang! bang! hang! ! bang! ; Fo re coated Bobi pind, and his grew intense. “‘It’s Roxy firing at the balloons!” ee “Eight !’’ blared the voice ef his cap- tive at his side, suddenly, sharply, with 7 ad CHAPTER VII. THE RED DOG. “*And nine!”’ , Bob Ferret ‘recoiled with a shock—the movement saved his life. Tracing the possible. source of those distant pistol explosions, he had for a mo- ment got off fis guard. A moment, it seemed, was enough for his specious captive to score a shrewd point. ‘ He must have been waiting for the preseut opportunity, had feigned helpless injury all along. Bob felt a light pickpocket touch at his hip, a vigorous jerk, those flaring, vin- _ dictive numerals, a hot, searing contact— all at once, it seemed. The coin passer had snatched at Bob’s revolver, got possession of. it, and had fired promptly, and point blank at the young detective. ee sr Hes Bob’s head took aspin, for* he was nearly deafened. That sharp, alert, involuntary dodge had saved him the upper half of that use- ful, needful, busy head of his. As it was, the powder singed . and flecked one cheek till it stung as if burned by a red hot plate. “Ten!” ‘Bob retreated—it. was the only way, under present rapid aud distracting con- ditions. A ceaseless fusilade right at hand had taken up Roxy’s dropped firing. _ Just as she had been bombarding the balloons, the coin passer was now trying to pepper Bob. A bullet ploughed a furrow along Bob’s shoe. " Another perforated his cap peak, and Bob dropped over into a pait of cellar steps to shelter, just here. He saw dismayedly his late captive, agile though now, leap to the box. With a nimble spring he caught at the lowermost rung of a fire escape ladder running up the building. ‘‘It won’t do!’’ voiced Bob, in despera- tion, and came to the surface boldly. ‘Have another!’ crowed down the ascending flash. The hammer feil with no explosion fol- lowing. DIAMOND DICK, JR, GOHS ON THE TRAIL.

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20 Bob jogged his memory to recall the cartridge armament of the weapon. “Three chambers empty,’ he calcu- lated, rapidly. ‘‘Now, my man!’ Bob sprang boldly upon the box, nim- bly to the iron ladder. “Take it!’ bolted the man, twenty feet up. ‘Whew!’ winced Bob. The man had thrown the useless weap- on with all his might. It struck Bob’s hand tight where the knuckles rounded to the bar grasp, near- ly paralyzing it. Bob dropped, but was up again in an instant, poising to regain lost ground. “Hold on, there!’ ‘Don’t interfere!’’ shouted Bob toa policeman runuing up excitedly, at- tracted by the shots. ‘*Who’s firing?’ ‘*That man.’’ ‘What man ?”’ ‘*Up there.’’ ,,UP where ?”’ “Burr!” shivered Bob. ‘Ugh!’ winced the policeman. A crash overhead answered the ques- tion, but a shower, brittle and penetrat- ing, prevented an investigating look. ~ The coin taker had vanished. He had kicked in a window, and bolted through the aperture thus audaciously made. ‘*Who is he?’’ gasped the policeman. A . crook. ” _' What kind of a crook ?’’ “Up that doorway! I'll take the fire escape. Ask questions after you’ve Saught him.”? ‘Well! officer. “Oh, you’re no good !”” The lumbering nonentity actually made a sweep at Bob with his club. Bob’s heels dangled in his face ina Boy!’ snorted the affronted ~ flash. A lively ascent, a dive through the broken window, a run through a laby- rinth of halls and corridors, and Bob came down to the street with a pretty rueful face. _ The policeman was waiting for him. aes made ea pounce as Bob reached the Sor NICK ‘CARTER WEEKLY, “Hands off!” ordered Bob, none too good-naturedly, backing. ‘See here! my lark——”’ “*Well, you old owl?” Bob was mettled. ‘*Now, then, whio are you, creating all this disturbance ?”’ ‘‘Mind your own business!’’ snapped Bob, testily. “Vou daring young bobolink——”’ ‘“Tending crossings—you don’t seem to know how to catch a thief.’’ Why, I'll lock you up!”’ “Try it!’? dared Bob. ‘‘You might have caught that man. Leave me alone.’’ Bob staggered the perverse fellow, bulky a he was, by grasping his extended arm in a gtip that pained him. With the other hand he flashed a badge tight into the man’s eyes. “Ah! ah—why, you’re one of us!’ floundered the policeman, goggling at a secret service badge with which the treas- ury agent had ae ae young detec-_ tive. Tikely!” Bob swept on in superb disdain. He scurried to where the balloon ped- dler stood like a statue. He had found an old battered tin pail —into it he had piled the scattered coins. At them he stood staring, vaguely, blankly, like a person in a dream. Bob scanned keenly for any missing, but the fellow seemed to have done his work well. ‘‘How much for those balloons?’ = queried, hastily. ‘*Sixateen.”’ “Well ? ’ “Ten apieca.’’ ‘There’s double, but look here, my man, if you’ve helped yourself to any of that coin——”’ ‘‘Nevera! nevera!’’ Italian. **They’re counterfeit,” ; “‘Aha!—sticka to my fingers. Sapristi! I wanta not!” The Italian swooped a dozen coins from his pocket. They jangled instantaneously into the pail with affrighted vehemence of direc- tion, and the fellow shot away. Bob spread a handkerchief over the protested the RUFFIANS HATE DIAMOND DICK, JR.

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 21 pail top, and started in the direction the balloons and Roxy had gone. ‘‘A bad miss, that fellow getting away!’ he ruminated. Bob felt pretty sore. He was changing his mind about the coin taker. The latter might be a secondary char- acter in the treasury plot, but he was cer- tainly an important adjunct of his class. His handlings of coin were no pinch- penny transactions—the satchel, judging from his anxiety for its safety, contained something out of the ordinary. : Bob paused at the first intersecting street and looked down it. Then he glanced up, and his eyesight focused at the roof apex of a building half way down the square. Some people opposite were staring up there in a wondering, puzzled way. Bob, advancing a few paces, saw what Roxy handed the satchel to Bob. He noted that its lock had been forced, but the handles were tied close together by a handkerchief he at once identified as belonging to Roxy. **What?’? he queried, aud shook the satchel. **Tt won’t shake, Bob.’’ “Eh? ah! say!’ _ Bob’s face wrinkled to a queer expres- sion, Something moved in the satchel— something made a low noise, half whim- per, half whine. “‘Well!’ cried Bob, ‘‘an animal!” Roxy nodded. “Tell me!’ pressed Bob, devoured with curiosity. “It will tell its own story.’’ ‘*Show me!’ -In a minute. quite_ eagerly, Bob, that man you’ve they saw. z = caught 2 “The balloons,’? he soliloquized, and ‘The coin passer ?’’ stared more sharply. te Yos’. They seemed caught ina jagged piece of cornice. Half of them were shattered and shriv- eled—the few remaining did not seem to possess sufficient strength or buoyancy to lift readily. make “The satchel? No——’’ began Bob. ‘“The satchel, yes!’’ corrected a voice at his side. s ‘*Hello, Roxy!’ 4 ‘“*Hello, Bob!’’ The girl detective had flitted from be- twéén two houses just where her colleague stood. She looked flustered, well done out. ““Good thing I can run!’’ she spoke, excited, pretty -Teflectively. _ ~Bob glanced at her mud-spattered boots. ~~ “And shoot,’’? she insinuated, softly, Bob’s glance fell. **T haven’t caught him, Roxy.”’ ‘What! he got away?” " Bob narrated how. “Thought you thought he was small fry » “I’ve half changed my opinion. ’’ “I guess so—not such small fry after all, for he’s given usa big pointer!’’ ‘“The satchel ?”’ ‘*A great big pointer!’? ‘‘Come, come, Roxy! you’re torturing me!’’ cried Bob, impatiently—‘‘what’s in the satchel ?”’ {tA dog. ” Ah Pp? ‘‘An animal, Bob,’’ proclaimed Roxy, impressively, ‘“‘that is the next best thing to the owner of that skeleton hand.”’ - further. “And climb!’ . = Her torn attire told that she had been- _ climbing, and by tio smooth course, m= either. SS “But you got it?” hailed Bob, eagerly. se ee tS fast riveted on the satchel in Roxy’s hand. — a as = “*T got it,’’ nodded Roxy. x “Let's seel?? > — : “Oh, I’ve seen!” ; ~~» “Have you?” heim x s DIAMOND DICK, JR. BREAKS THE RECORD. Bob looked expectant and excited. “The fellow who robbed the United States Treasury.’’ ‘You don’t say so!”’ “That satchel contains——”’ ‘*Speak it out!’ ‘‘Duffield Watson’s famous red dog!””

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2 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. CHAPTER VIII. FOUND AND LOST. Face, eyes, voice—Bob Ferret flashed out an unmistakable sentiment of appro- bation and surprise. “Got Duffield Watson’s famous red dog !’’ he cried. ‘*Things fit that way,’’ nodded Roxy. ‘“‘The animal that helped that _re- nowned bank sneak neatly get the im- perial jewels at the Paris exposition ?”’ _ “Tf it’s the same.’ ‘“’TPhen we’ve as good as got——”’ ‘The owner of the skeleton hand—the great treasury thief.’’ ‘Yes, Duffield Watson himself !’’ Bob Ferret thrilled as he took a closer grip on the satchel. His eyes bestowed on Roxy—delight- ful, energetic Roxy—a rare commending glance. = ; ‘Great asa girl—royal as achum!’’en- thused Bob. ‘‘Roxy, you’ve brought in the clue of all clues! I’m staggered. Let me think.”’ In sixty seconds quick Bob Ferret had conjecture and positive facts righted, dovetailed, in order, “The coin taker must be Watson’s right-hand man ?’’ suggested Roxy. “Tf this is the dog we think, yes.”’ “Suppose you find out?’’ Bob scanned the buildings nearby. He singled out a candy store and made for it. - It had an ice cream parlor at the rear. This they had to themselves, and the satchel on the table between them, two minutes later. ‘‘Now then !’’ said Roxy. _ Yes, now, then!’’ echoed Bob, unty- ing the handkerchief. He opened the handles cautiously. An elfish, shrewd-eyed little head poked out. / It was that of a slim, nervous dog, weighing not more than six pounds, blue blood speaking in every delicate curve of the sensitive mouth and nostrils. Its meck had a scruff of bright red hair. ‘*T accept it!’’ said Bob, definitely. **As Duffield Watson’s dog?” © true, aad this little animal is a valuable, an important ally in Watson’s schemes, asitalways has been, would. the coin taker be so anxious to keep out of our clutches ?’? - ‘*Sound logic, Bob!’? ‘Isn't it?” ‘‘Don’t I say it is!’ Bob mistrusted the quick-blinking, crafty eyes of the dog, and would not let it our farther than the neck. ‘‘Seems to have a blanket on ?’’ he re- marked, feeling. : ‘Yes, hair shaved clear from the neck back, clipped close, I faucy,’’ nodded Roxy. ‘‘Now, what?’’ Bob became thoughtful. ‘‘We've certainly got a great clue,’’ he murmured. ““If we can use it.” ‘Oh! it’s got to bring us up against its master !’’ ‘Then why don’t you start in?”’ **Vou suggest ?”’ ‘“The way we’ve tried. a dozen tinies— turn the dog loose.’’ ‘* And lose him ?”’ ‘‘No, turn him loose and don’t lose him.’’ “Go ahead.”’ “Start from the building where we traced the coin taker.”’ ““Well?”? } ‘* And follow, that’s all. He’ll land us home. ‘Tf he’s half as smart as_ his train- ing ought to make him, that’s a fore- gone fact.”’ ‘©All right.’’ Roxy left Bob and proceeded to the nearest hardware store. She came back with a fine stong steel chain and collar. -‘‘Now let him out, if you want to,’ she directed, a minute later. 4 The first thing the little animal did was to bolt for the door. ‘‘No, you don't—not too fast!’’ de- murtred Roxy, holding to the other end of the chain. ‘Come, Bob. Qh, catch him {?? > : : The dog had got loose. Bob sprang to his feet and made a dive. He had affixed the collar, Roxy _ “Yes, Haven’t we got to? Don’tit the chain, and not knowing as much seem plausible? Why else, unless itis about dogs as the latter, Bob had com- : Ss I OUGH1 TO READ DIAMOND DICK, JR. | - ee oA we : ; A am = 2 € “ ek i hs a ~ _ ; 4 ‘ : e - =o. ; , : n h

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mine amarked i in some way on its side. a oto distinctly! NICK CARTER WEEKLY. * 93 mitted a serious blunder, for he had given the animal’s throat too much play. Defeated in jerking loose, the shrewd little midget simply lay flat, turned over, ‘thrust both paws up to its neck, pushed off the collar and was free. It’sped for the front of the candy store . like a flash. ‘Bob followed so precipitately that he swept one of the swinging baize doors clear off its hinges. “Got him!” he exulted. “‘No, you haven't!” ‘“The dickens!’’ Bob had thrown him- self headlong’ just as the dog reached the = street threshold. His hand gripped the blanket covering the little red wonder. Keeling over instantly, the animal did for its jacket what it had done for the ‘eollar—slipped deftly out of it: Bob. glared at the ‘trophy left i in his grasp—then out at the street. ‘*Say ! he fairly shouted. The dog flashed south, met a pedes- trian, turned like’a sprite, and put the other way. ““Say !? echoed ‘Roxy, mite as startled. “Gone pr b> 4Oh} “for good!” J PheLiennine had. flashed skomiiri wine, ‘anywhere, nowhere, by the time Bob got up and Roxy to the'street. - Both, however, had seen a remarkable thing. - “Do you tnderstand?”’ questioned Bob, all! a-flutter. “*T think I do!”’ “Messenger dog ?”’ -**Slick as they havethem !”? “Shaved close, and chalked, painted, I read ‘The’ sleuths are “Oh, no!” dissented Roxy; —— Sis “Oh, ‘yes! 9 48T didn’t see that. _. ** What; then?” “A street and a number.” Bob stared dubiously at Roxy. “Sure?” _ - **Looking- glass !”” she soliloquize, audibly ; ‘‘one of those tawdry signs you often see.’’. _ DIAMOND DICK, JR. IS A FINE FELLOW.

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ua NICK CARTER WEEKLY. **Be careful!’’ warned Bob, as he saw what his quick-witted colleague was up to. Roxy had taken out a hat pin. This she ran under the crack of the door. ; Then she almost noiselessly tapped long the edge of the glass panel. There was a slight whimper. Roy kept the hat pin moving. ‘Scratch! scratch! “Well! she’s made it!’’ Paws began to make various dabs and scratches in the reverse quicksilver sur- face of the panel sign. ‘‘Ready!’’ directed Roxy, as a piece the size of a quarter was scratched away by the mystified animal on the other side of the door. **Look!’’ she breathed. Both pressed close in range of the voided space on the quicksilvered back of the sign. It was a rare sight for Bob Ferret. He felt as he gazed that he had arrived at one of those moments when the climax of an important case hovered. A whistle sounded inside the room and the dog scurried patteringly across its floor. ~ Bob saw it leap to a table before which sat a man. His back was to the young detective, but Bob’s eye, roaming over him sharply, noted some material points. He .was light complexioned, he was between thirty and forty years of age, he answered in. description to the original of the picture marked ‘‘Duffield Watson’’ in Aleck’s album of ‘‘noted criminals.’’ ' “False beard, false wig, but I’ll take ~ him on trust !’’ spoke Bob. ‘*Wait!’? directed Roxy. Bob’s hand was on the knob. The man was alone in the apartment beyond. If it was Duffield Watson, he could not be corraled too speedily—before some ob- struction to his arrest presented. Bob, however, consented to wait a mo- ment or two. ____- He was rewarded by an exhibition of some pretty shrewd work in the way of Sed animal culture. Placing the dog on the table, ite ap- parent master drew a crayon from his pocket. oa He marked on one side of the animal —the side away from Bob. ~ He drew.-from. his coat a new blanket and affixed it. Then he ran over several photographs which he took from his pocket. One he held steadily before the dog, and fixedly the intelligent little animal regarded it. ‘*WVonderful—he’s taught the dog to know a face from a _ picture!’’? murmured Bob. “Wish I had that little prodigy!” breathed Roxy, ardently. **You shall—and. now is the time to get it. Watch out!’’ _Bob brushed Roxy aside—he estimated the strength of the door. Stepping back four feet, he covered it with a quick forcible forward leap. The door gave in. “If it’s got to be, you know best—I’m with you!’ murmured Roxy, doughtily. Bob ran right upon the amazed and startled man at the table. Before he could move or speak, the young detective was upon him. He bore him back, holding his hands out, tipping him, chair and all, tothe floor. ‘‘What’s this?’’ flared the man. “ Roxy » *SHere!”” ‘*Handcuffs !”’ . Click! clank! snap! **Got him!” oe ‘“The dog?” ‘*Tt’s making off!’’ ‘*Mustn’t!? — The little animal set up a dubious whimper, puzzled at the commotion. Then it bolted through the doorway, Bob and Roxy after it. At the street they paused and turned back, observing the folly of attempting to follow or overtake the flying flash streaking it down the-street like mad. “Got the man, anyway!’’ jubilated Bob. ‘*VYes, manacled one hand to the radia- tor pipe.’’ best ‘Then he hasn’t budged.’’ “But he has!’’ cried Roxy. nd “HURRAH FOR DIAMOND DICK, JR!

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5+ i Mt NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 26 She halted in dire dismay at the door of the room they had just left. - An opposite window, not open before, was open now. 5 The spot where their captive had been left pinioned was vacant. Duffield Watson—if their recent im- portant capture was indeed he—was gone. Bob set up a terrific shout of chagrin. “Thought you handcuffed him close ?”’ he began. ‘ **To the radiator.” “‘One wrist ?’?» ‘*] thought——’” — **You’ve missed ! _- Look, indeed! They had found and lost what they had sought for—Duffield Watson. _ ‘The evidence of this fact lay before _. their eyes. To the radiator pipe still clinched one of the handcuffs. | It held a hand at the wrist, but only a ~— > “hand ee ; Roxy had handcuffed the treasury thief at the wrist of his severed member. = Duffield Watson had substituted and wore for the lost skeleton hand a wood and pasteboard semblance of its original. , And this false hand was all that the adroit treasury thief had left behind him! Look !”’ —— CHAPTER IX. THE. DECOY. “Blocked, eh?’ questioned Jack Bur- ae ton. - **Stumped, I should say!’’ commented __ Buff Hutchinson. _ *Oh, not quite as bad as that, I hope!” ea <teepanies ‘Bob Ferret. _ “Pm not going to be, for one!’’ as- his colleagues, _ ; K With the escape of the man who for a second time had left a hand behind him _ asasentient reminder of his identity— _ the notorious Duffield Watson, beyond a doubt—Bob Ferret’s first great case in Washington seemed to have come toa disastrous halt: Every member of the coterie started out on an active: scout immediately suc- ceeding, but results had been nothing. The place where the last act in the drama had occurred and the former room of the coin passer had at once been put under close surveillance, but the covey had taken the alarm and refused to revisit their former haunts. The treasury agent accredited Bob with considerable cleverness for this practical ousting of the gang, but this did not suit the ardent, thorough young detective. It was not enough to capture a hun- dred-weight of spurious coin, to learn the identity of the controlling spirit in the combination, to scatter his cohorts. Bob felt that he could only consider duty done when Duffield Watson, the chief schemer, was safe behind prison bars and the stolen government property re- captured, a Since the last escape of the little red ' dog the passing of the false coin seemed to have come to a stop. More than that, hide and hair, master and man, Watson, the coin passer, their, _ accomplices farther down the line, had disappeared as completely as if they had. moved to another sphere. nd. Bob put out an active traceron the dog, all hands helping. Sik. A red dog of the description sought for was something of a rarity, but Duffield Watson’s clever dumb ally put in no further appearance. Bob left his friends immediately after a vague, unsatisfactory consultation at their quarters at the hotel. ‘‘Where are you gomg, Bob?” inquired Roxy, ready dressed for the street, meet- ing him in the hall. “Only for a walk. 2 “So am I.”’ ‘Come along, then, and we’ll—think.” “We've exhausted that feature,’’ ob- served the little lady. ‘It’s watching that will help us, if anything. We know from. Mr. Carter’s telegram that Duffield Wat- -° son a in Sader v7 e n’t we have our hands ri = tees nds right on “And my blundering let him go!” - DIAMOND DICK, JR. TO THE RESCUE}

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26 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘*Pure accident, that.’’ “Well, I feel it my duty to get him again, and if he’s here— Bob, he is here!’’ They had been passing a quiet resi- dence block as they strolled on. Trees shaded. the curb, and half to the shadow of oue of these Bob’s companion drew him so sharply that he knew intui- tively that something was up. ‘*Look yonder!’’ directed Roxy, point- ing, her eyes aflash. “The dog—Watson’s red dog!’ ex- claimed Bob, almost unable to believe the evidence of vision. **Don’t get rattled, Bob, and he’s rs. »” “Ts he!’’ *“Go ahead, but cautiously.” ‘It’s the gladdest sight for two whole days!’’ breathed Bob, ardently, gliding down the street. The red dog was beyond him. It had just come into view. There could be no possible mistake as to the canine’s iden- tity. . Roxy imagined it had come out of an alley. Bob didn’t see, and cared less. Bob started with a rush, but immedi- y let down on his pace. ‘wo men, lounging at the end of the y, and apparently hostlers at some of its numerous stables, seemed to at his urgency and excitement, ' Bob made it a professional point never to attract attention if it was possi- ble to avoid it. Besides this, the dog was in bad shape. *‘No danger of his getting away this time!’ gloated Bob. The red dog was limping, and pro- _ ceeded very slowly. Bob wasable to keep up with it on a walk. His first impulse was to overtake it, gather it up. ; His next was to shadow it, see where _ it was bound for, and this he did. He glanced back as he turned the next corner in close pursuit of his dumb guide. . “Hello!” he. commented, ‘‘that’s queer !’’ ; % 0 Bob was that -- _ What seemed “queer .or followed Ne ' Roxy had not accompani is 1, re Bae os ee ited oo 3 be — DO YOU READ ABOUT So engrossed lad he been in his task that he had not noted this till now. Now, to. his: surprise, he saw Roxy’s back only—she was headed directly away from him. ‘Thinks I can take care of this inci. dent _ alone?’’ speculated Bob. ‘Ah tight!’ If Bob could have seen the yirl detec. tive’s face at that moment, however, he would have been startled and puzzled. Roxy was walking fast, and her eyes were snapping with animated thought. “‘Planted!’’ she uttered, turning the next corner, “I must stop him!’’ she added, break. ing instantly into a run. She was safe to pursue this course now for she was out of the street where the dog had come into view. More than that, she was out of sight of the two ‘‘hostlers’’ Bob had casually no- ticed at the mouth of the alley. They were not hostlers—they wese allies of Duffield Watson, the treasury tlfief, as Roxy had found out to a cer- tainty. “Waiting for him!’’ fluttered Roxy, speeding along the pavement. ‘They had the dog in that bag I saw one of them pocket. I noticed their looks, and played the careless so they’d think I don’t suspect. Bob is being led into a trap!’’ Roxy’s worst fears were confirmed the more she reflected over little details she had noticed in the actions of the two men under suspicion. Her plan was to round the square and intercept Bob, and it was an anxious spurt of speed. It ended in the third turning with a quick halt and a blank stare. Roxy was startled, for neither Bob nor the dog came into sight. She had seen them turning into this _ square—they could not possibly have passed the corner where she now stood, they proceeding at a leisurely, she ata flying rate of speed. ‘*T see!’ exclaimed Roxy, suddenly. A street cut in, mid-square. Roxy reached it. to Down its length, some five hundred feet or more the dog was turning Bob was turning. ; DIAMOND DICK, JR? P| coil

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. a Roxy fairly skimmed the paving stones. Breathless she reached the intersecting avenue—a mere stable court. ‘*Bob!’’ she shouted. Too late. ' Bob had gone into the trap set for him —Bob had plunged into danger headlong. Roxy saw a high, fence, with a hole at its base to let out and admit chickens. She saw Bob’s heels disappear through this and that was her last sight of him.” ‘*He’s followed the dog in there. In where ?’? fluttered the girl detective, run- _ ning on breathlessly. ‘‘To his death, ' maybe!’ H - The desferate character, the sanguin- ary past record of Duffield Watson, stood out tragically menacing in Roxy’s miud in that speeding minute of thought. ~-“*Bob’s gone in there—who’s afraid to follow ?”’ she breathed, stanchly. She ran right on and~up to the fence. “noticing critically a looming shuttered building in front. c : “Got to get in, though, so!’’ began the girl detective. . And ended with a crouch and a spring. ‘Then Roxy caught the top board of the » fence, skimmed it, and in one agile leap landed in the yard beyond, deftly, lightly, as only Roxy could. ‘ vs CHAPTER X. po TRAPPED! Snap! Crack! . _ **What have I struck?” _ Bob Ferret had shadowed the decoy red dog foot by foot. | _ When it went through the hole in the he followed. t poised on the edge of a dark cel- = in the building in front tek the pitfalls. sist topping through gloom and un- certainty, struck» some wedi te ae tinged crate exactly fitted to hold a hu- ‘man being helpless. met ae trap!’’ he instantly guessed, and is work that shot up around him like a- ___ DIAMOND DICK, JR. IS ISSUED EVERY WEEK. pinioned stationary, fell flat with a clat- ter. ‘*Aha!’” pronounced a sinister voice in the darkness. Footsteps moved about, a broad door was rolled back, light flooded the place. Bob took a look at the speaker. “Tn it!’ he decided, with emphasis. ‘It’s Duffield Watson !’’ The pivot of the great counterfeiting swindle stood surveying his prostrate cap- tive with undisguised satisfaction. _ ““Dve been waiting for you!”’ he stated simply, but there was a significant ring to the tones that might have daunted a stouter heart than Bob’s. ‘**Well, ve come, it seems,’ answered Bob, promptly and coolly. ‘“‘As I have inténded. Short. stories, youngster! I know you, you knew me. You’ve done what the. government couldn’t.’? ‘*Thanks!? ; ‘‘Don’t congratulate yourself!’ ‘*Why not?’ **That’s why!’ The man stooped over. It was to grasp the end of the slatted wooden trap. Dragging it up to some kind of a pon- derous machine, he lifted it. : Bob thrilled a trifle as he was slid o a smooth, polished metal plate. Then he shivered, for he knew wht he was—he looked squarely up into t die standard of a ponderous stamping machine. é “Do you understand now ?’’ demanded Watson. . . ‘*T can guess,’’ answered Bob, in quite a subdued tone. rt ‘You traced me through acertain skel- eton hand?’ : “1’}] adinit it, if it helps matters any,” vouchsafed Bob. ‘Where is the ring you found upon one of its fingers?’’ “In New York city, im Mr. Nick Car- ter’s ssion.’’ : “Ah! That’s bad for you.”’ “Ts it??? $ “Decidedly. In other ow fellow, I see that you ta ies fat ‘to be let out. You're the one who started the hunt, the first to strike the real trail. You know ne by sight. It makes it un- Pa <a oo =

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safe for me anywhere. Guess you’ll have to get it first.’’ ‘*What ??? ‘That!’ The man proceeded up.to the machine. There was thorough cruelty and wicked- ness of purpose only in his face now. He put his hand upon a big iron bar. Bob knew what it was—the operating lever of the machine. An immense weight, pushed past the centre, usually operated such, Bob did not cry out, but his flesh crept. Watson put out his foot to touch the pressure pedal. **It don’t work!’’ he muttered. Bob discovered that something was wrong. _ ‘‘Confusion! the! weight is gone. How’s this? It was there a minute ago!”’ Bob could not trace this apparent mys- tery. As to Watson, he glared about with a darkening, suspicious brow. He ran tothe front part of the cellar and looked past an open door. No one seemed to be in view. “Is this a give-away; just as I’m mak- ing off?’’ Bob heard him mutter. —. Ashe started to inspect what looked e a kitchen, he passed a square tin x. It rested on a low partition. Spat! Bob, by straining his glance, could now low the man’s movements. . They changed froma run and looks of suspicious inquiry to a blank, staggering halt. Bob saw what Watson probably did not see—the hand that had pushed an object into the tin tank, full of some chemical employed in’ finishing the spurious coins undoubtedly manufactured here from the ‘stolen treasury die. **Roxy?’’ breathed Bob, hopefully— ‘‘yves, Roxy!) he murmured, con- vincedly. : _ The spattering liquid had struck Wat: son’s face—his eyes, as well. ‘*Slope, Bob!’’ Never were words more welcome— - never, it seemed, did such exultant relief inspire Bob as now. A form glided from behind the parti- tion and snapped some catch in the wood- ; en trap that freed his helpless limbs. ey ‘ _ DIAMOND DICK, JR. HAS HOSTS OF FRIENDS. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “My eyes! What fell?’’ gasped Wat- son, reeling bliudly. ‘‘A towel! My handkerchief!” He groped in his pocket for the latter. A parcel on top was in the way. —. He pulled this out, placed it on the par- tition top, and urgently drew out and ap- plied» his handkerchief to his burning eyes. ‘That!’ fluttered Roxy, spinning for- ward agaix. Bob, cramped, hampered by the loose framework, bent his energies to get total- ly free and to the floor. He saw Roxy dart for the package, gtasp it and glide toward tl rear of the house. At that moment Watson got his eyes free of the blinding acid—saw the flitting form—put after it. Roxy had got into the house unper- ceived, had heard and seen considerable, had disabled the stamping press. ‘Give that up,’’ stormed Watson, ‘‘you vixen! I guess who you are! Give that up!”’ eg “It’s what I guess!’’ breathed Roxy. Intu the kitchen Watson ran—abroom- stick blow drove him back. Panting, at bay, defiant, armed with the only weapon in reach, Roxy stood half way between a gasoline stove and a flour board. The package had disappeared. “Where is it ?’’ flared Watson. ‘‘Lost in the shuffle!’’ Whack! whack! a The man grabbed for a stove handle. Rattle—puff—bang! A careless knock must have disturbed the gasoline apparatus, or Roxy sawa point and made it. - At all. events, Bob, just getting into action and hastening to the connecti door of the two rooms, was driven bac by a sheet of flame. He heard Roxy cry out, ‘*Take care of yourself!’’ Watson mutter in dismay _ and alarm. Bob made a second essay to cross the barrier now blazing away like a volcano. He gave it up finally, and sought some other outlet of escape. & There was an open window at one side of the apartment he was in. 2

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Bob, reaching it, climbed through. A wagon stood directly in his way—a Vehicle piled high with potatoes. -. Some peddler’s rig, Bob fancied it to = be . __. "JT don’t know my. bearings—out of _this a bit to watch who tries to leave by - the street,’ he soliloquized. Bob climbed up to the seat of the wagon. “Get up!’ he urged, seizing the lines. __ ‘Sit still!’ pronounced a grim, menac- ing voice. E ave One hand seemed to reach from under the seat and grabbed one of Bob’s ankles _ in a grip like iron. - __ Up over the back from the vacant space ‘beneath came the other hand of the same ‘person. i An unmistakable hard, round muzzle or nozzle pressed into Bob’s back. ‘*Move, and you’re dead!’ sounded an ominous threat. — ~ £*Tt's——Watson !’? breathed Bob. The fellow must have got out of the hoftse, lifted the wagon seat, shot into _ hiding under it. “Drive on!’ came the stern, threaten- ing order, fateful as the voice of doom. > ' ss 4 3 ‘x CHAPTER XI. “BRING ON YOUR NEXT CASE.”’ Bob Ferret felt himself to be in a de- _ cidedly ticklish position. The treasury thief was driven ‘to the _ last ditch, and therefore was desperate | ~ and determined. Bob could hear yells of ‘‘Fire!’’ fire!’’ ; Otion in wiiich several voices and feet mingled, but he could not see any one, _ _ “he sides of two buildings hemmed in _ @ narrow roadway leading not to the _ Street, but toa rear court., Bob felt theclutch on his ankle _ the close embrace of tighten, Watson’s te hook _ answering fora hand. = _, Atthesame time the revolver muzzle ___ clamped closer into the small of his hack. oi _ “Drive on!’ came gruff fronf the man out of view. ‘*Where?”’ = ob saw his play, and forced it, : chattered the word, he got up quite but incisively © r _NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 29 an artistic tremor, to convey an impres- sion that he was dreadfully frightened, **Straight ahead.’’ “T will!” ‘“Remember! play any tricks!’’ ‘Please don’t!”? ‘*T will spare you if you obey me.”’ = ‘Yes, sir!” The hidden man fancied he had scared his pilot into abject subjugation. Bob proceeded reflectively. He won- dered what had become of Roxy. He speculated, further, concerning the package she had secured and got away with, and which Watson seemed to es- teem so highly. As they neared the end of the courta queer thing happened. An urchin came runuing toward them, chased by another. As he the wagon he veered to- ward it and grabbed one of the potatoes. “Tet up, or I'll plug you!’’ he bawled to his pursuer. **Yah! you can’t peg straight!” **Can’t I!” ~ The boy poised the potato. The other dodged, but there was no need. ' ’ soe Flying shy of its intended mark, potato struck a lamp post. It smashed to fragments, but as it oo so something glittered from its centréa spinnig disc of bright yellow. Bob’s eyes distended wide. pee 2 “Hello!” he muttered simply ‘a coin!” Were each of those potatoes ‘‘stuffed,”’ and under the guise of garden truck was Watson calculating on getting his spur- ious hoard to some new hiding? “Go on!’’ ordered his captor, as Bob wavered, reaching the public street. **Which way?” “Straight ahead, of course is there any other way?”’ Bob did as directed. “In two squares you turn into an al- ley,’? came the ominous voice behind him. , “Do 1?’ “You do. Stop when I say—not be- I will kill you if you me - fore.’’ _ Bob cast about for some means of get- ting out of the present. predicament. BUY DIAMOND BICK, JR.

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20 NICK CARTER WEERLY. It was a hard one—the man’s hook clutch mever loosened, and the revolver was held firm, steady, unwaveringly. If he leaped a shot would certainly fol- low, and he would be sure to topple if Watson maintained his clutch on his ankle. Still Bob was determined that he would never convey this masterful fellow to safe shelter. The described alley ahead he would never penetrate ! How to evade it was ‘the question, ‘The horse went slow, but there must. be an end to all things. Bob’s ears pricked up suddenly. Was that the detective school whistle signal? He slightly turned. His sidelong glance showed Roxy coming down the street on a run. Bob freed one hand from the reins. In active deaf and dumb telegraphing he tried to inform his approaching col- league of the fix he was in. He saw Roxy run up behind the wagon, he tired to devise some plan of utilizing her to defeat*Watson’ Ss purpose. | One square had now been covered. In two minutes more Bob would have to wturn into the alley. An idea suddenly struck him. rned into the street car tracks. “There was a difficult split switch rail ead. He had his plan, but wondered if it “would succeed. _ Back! went his hand again to the watchful ‘hitch behind,’’ indicating his Bob , = Bob hoped to snap off a wheel, to get ‘stuck, to overturn, if possible, whet he < ‘reached the switch, ~ “Get out of the tracks!’ sounded meet 4 and suddenly. **All right?” mumbled Bob. He made a feint of obeying, but man- aged to keep in the tracks till the split rail just caught the front wheel. Bob gave one line a quick jerk, and the / horse turned one whole point of the com- oe PxSwhoa ! Sys “What you dene?” - Creak—grind! Crash! ae “Let go!” STIRRING ADVENTURES IN DIAMOND DICK, JR, “Prat you !”* “Pll be killed!"” Si Bob leaped— Watson had let 20, bes cause he was avalanched, crushed, buried. _ Roxy had pulled at the tail board, then she had swung the whole rear end of the vehicle. She had “helped,” and the’ whole load tipped, and the front wheel, suapped short at the axle. There was a movement in the mass of overturned. potatoes—a form half bur- rowed up. ~ “Grab!” uttered Bob, sharply. A. revolver. was .brandished wildly, but before the half-stunned Watson could di- rect it, Roxy, slipping behind, held both _ hands over his eyes, Bob caught both wrists... ‘ One was a. mere iron hook, but Bob managed so it was held helpless by the stout steel links of the handenffs. He dragged the foaming, fuming treas- ury thief out of the mingled mass... . ‘‘Cab—express wagon!’? he spoke, shortiy, to Roxy. Roxy sped for kie=-aetnehed with Jack and Buff, whom she had caught up at the hotel, which was only three squares distant. Bob briefly explained the situation. Buff .undertook to see ithe potatoes © “loaded into the express wagon, experi- ment having veritied Bob’s suspicions that each inasked from one to half a dozen of the spurious coins. “Hel not get away from me!” pro- nounced Jack, grandiy. « Pm ready, Roxy,”’ reported Bob:at last. The girl detective had informed Bob some time back that a speedy visit was necessary to the scene of = gasoline stove ‘explosion. . “Don’t want to pester you, Bob,’ sh declared, ‘‘but there’s something we want }, to get there.” Brin Se “I'm with you, Roxy!’’ Roxy explained how she had the kitchen of the place, after o its mistress—an old colored ° woman— siping in the next yard, and — settled there for some time. é t inte

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\ ; F NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 31 ey locked a man in stout, tight coal sh d as I came away,”’ she narrated. _ *Tndeed ?”’ **A man and a dog—man We've seen before.” **Not the coin taker ?”’ ; “Tt was, and a red dog.” “There seems to be no fire?” com- “mented Bob, as they ran down the court Vegi to the rear of the tecent haunt of the treasury thief. “AIT put out,”’ reported, Roxy, darting through a gate in the fence, uow open. ete was quite a crowd i in the yard— . firemen and others. Roxy ran up to a shed, examined its = aes and nodded to Bob. “de there?” he questioned: ‘es,’’ assented Roxy. “Got the key?” “Here it is.”’ Bob beckoned ie a policeman in the crowd. | —__ He told aiaGanias was, and opened the door. The coin passer made a dart for liberty as the portal came open. The officer interfered,“and Bob forced “he red dog back as it strove to follow. He had just seen the officer start with his prisoner for the same station where he had directed Jack to idtige ‘Watson, when | Roxy him) She had a bulky package in her: eric —something done up in a towel and then | in a newspaper. _ Both were grinry, and Roxy’s shapely _ hands themselves were somewhat sooted. _ **Not much of a blaze,’’ she'said, “but a ‘gtand scorch of everything in that si ey Aas “Oh! you were in there, eh ?’’ queried “e “there ie . = iat is it ong Bob, oe _ the bundle the girl Soeetive, bore. ai : oe ees it? joke errr, se at ell see when “we get where T Open it. You bring along, the” aoa ob new that Roxy hada pis, and humored her. climax = They proceeded at once to the police station, where Jack had preceded them. A word from Bob to the officer in charge gave them the liberty of the cap- tain’s own private office. There Bob and Roxy. held quite a re- ception during the next hour. First, Jack came to report the king;bee of the ‘combination, Duffield Watson, in safe limbo down stairs. ; The officers appeared next with a sim- ilar report regarding the coin passet. In answer to a telephone message to the hotel, Aleck and Larry came hasten- ing to receive orders for a scout through the half-burned building for traces ‘of other accomplices of Watson, or more of the counterfeiting paraphernalia. Buff entered as the twain left. ““Load of potatoes safely stored, Bob!’’ he announced. ‘““Awaiting the treasury agent’s or- ders,’’ suggested Jack. “And here he comes,’’ declared Roxy. “‘Sixteen’’ looked eager and anxious. *“Well?’’ he queried—‘‘you summoned ue ?”? ‘To report,’’ smiled Bob. ‘*What ??? ‘*Man caught.’’ ‘Not Duffield Watson ?”’ ‘‘Just Duffield Watson!’ Theagent looked as if he would like to lurralt. “CA lot of plunder—coin—and his man ~~ assistant, the coin passer,” proceeded Bob. Sixteen clapped the speaker on the shoulder with immense heartiness. He shook. hands with Jack and Buff, aud bowed low to Roxy as if she was the grandest lady in the land. ‘‘Nick Carter knows his business!’’ he observed, with enthusiasm. ‘* Always!’’ assented Bob. “Nick Carter knows you kuow your business, too!’’ “We try to merit his good opinion,’’ continued Bob. “It’s a big catch! If you had only got the die, and the signature, and bond plates nw——” Cn “Oh! those trifles?’” murmured Roxy, with affected carelessness. ” “Triffes 1?” 3 eesonn DICK, IR. ALWAYS RIGHTS WRONGS.

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‘“There they are.”’ “What!” *‘In that bundle.”’ Roxy spread it open. “*PBread!’? cried the treasury agent, agape. “No, half-burned dough,’’ corrected Roxy. ‘‘I hid in the bateh—that bundle you saw Watson so anxious about, Bob.’’ “*Ves, Roxy ?”’ ‘*And there it is.”’ There it was—die, signature plates, bond plates—and the treasury agent gave full vent to a cheer, this time.’’ ‘What can I do for you, gentlemen—I mean lady—I mean fellows—of Nick Car- ter’s detective school!’’ he cried. ‘‘What can the United States Government do for you, to show its appreciation of your Messrs. Street & Smith button to every reader of easy. Read them. We publish six 32-page, each, as follows: The True Blue, The Starry Flag, We wish the readers of one series to become acquainted address, post-paid, free of all expense, 1, American Flag, embossed on gold ground, button or pin as preferred. 2. Aluminum Medal with Admiral Dewey’s portrait on front, and picture of the Maine on reverse, pendant, from Aluminum emblem. 3. The American Flag, in metal, embossed in red, white, blue and gold. Three styles—button, scarf pin and ladies’ hat pin. State your choice. v 4. American Flag on white enamelled button with leyer- hinge. (Two of these will make a neat pair of buttons.) a Yon can secure a3 many piss and badges as you desire, provided oon provided each of the set of three is from a different publ Send in rcoupon. Remember this is a purely gratuitous gift on our part, intended to cail r attention to others of our publica- ine ones you are now purchasing. If you cannot procu: rt, vob tions besides the SORE, SO OG EE SE IOS RE ae STREET one of the followin blications: Starry or Klondike Kit entidie the sender to a free NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Show Your Colors! ; Every American boy should wear a patriotic emblem to.show where his sympathies lie in these stirring times of war. The Tip Top Weekly, ~ coupon at the foot of this column will be printed in each one of the above-mentioned publications. each clipped from a different publication, mailed to our office of other publicati &@ SMITH’S PREMIUM DE NICK CARTER COUPON. One coupon from the Nick Carter Weekly, accompanied by two others, Hn Tru ih Diamond Dick, magnificent efforts in running down the inystery of the skeleton hand ?’’ 5 ‘‘Why,’? replied Bob Ferret, simply, ‘bring on your next case!”? [THE END. ]/ Next week we can promise the readers of this weekly a story in which Nick Carter details some of his own thrilling experiences with his former corps of assistants before the detective school was started, and we will continue to give his admirers a story of his’ own exploits every other issue for some weeks in re- sponse to the many requests for same, - OUT-DOOR SPORTS. Complete instructions for playing many of the most lar out ot-door games is found inthis book. The gamesare illustrated and very easily mastered. Priceten cents. Address TREET & SMITH, 25 Rose street, New York, Manna! Library Department). atriotic badge or have made arrangements to present a he conditions are their popular publications for boys. illuminated cover weeklies for boys, retailing for five cents — The Klondike Kit Weekly, The Nick Carter Weekly, The Diamond Dick, Jr. On and after the present date the | Three coupons,” , will entitle you to one of the following, sent to your with the entire line. 5. Silk Bow, with American and Cuban flags combined, 6. Celluloid American 7. Button 1 1-4 inches A—American Fl ican and Cuban ie in eter in the following designs: ag. B—Cuban Flag, C—Amem ags together. D—American — *‘Now, will you be good.?” I—The lowa. J—The Oregon. K—The husetts. L—The Indiana. M—The Brooklyn, N—The Columbia. O—The Texas, P—General Lee (order by letter and num- ber, as.7-B., 7-D., etc.) a x } on, ORDER Be hon Taran cope Oe See Oe from your newsdealer, send us ten cents and ope wh may select. A) re what you desire ich you ddress your - 81 Fulton Street, New York, each from a different gig pheno oe Bs eee n aby STREET & SMITH,

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“Nick Cart Back Numbers always on hand. HOHE HEE HE HOE HE THE HE 37—Nick Carter does his Best; or, a Fortune in the Ballace. ‘“ 38—Trim Behind the Footlights; or, the Hold Up at the Casino. _ 39—In Nick Carter’s Hands; or, A Fool and His Pau Money Soon Parted. ay 40—Nick Carter’s Detective School; or, The Young i% Reporter's First Case. 41—Nick Carter at Headquarters; or, Work on % the Inspector’s Scrap Book. i 42—Nick Carter’s Brightest Pupil; or, The Great ; Counterfeiting Case. : 43—Nick Carter Arrested by Mistake; or, The 4 Man on the Window Sill. . 44—Nick Carter’s Magic Hand; or, The Crime or ‘- The Chinese Highbinders. _. 45— Nick Carter’s Promise; or, Miilions at Stake. _ 46—The Gold Wizard; or, Nick Carter’s Clever Protege. ; ; , 47—Nick Carter in the Chinese Joint; or, A Bar- MEAT es __ gain in Crime. A, 48—Nick Carter’s Newsboy Friend; or, The Great 6 Sandoval wary. r 49—Nick Carter’s Hot Pursuit; or, On the Track of an Escaped Convict. 50—Nick Carter’s Youngest Detective; or, Work- ing on His Own Case. 51—-Nick Carter’s Second Edition. 52—Working in the Dark; or, A Novice that Bd Lends a Helping Hand. 53—A Bitton Clue; or, Tne Mystery of the Black ac 54A Young Detective’s Air Route; or, The Great Ae Hindoo Mystery. es 55—Nick Carter’s Missing Detective; or, A Warn- ing by Telephone. 56—Nick Carter's Girl Detective; or, What Became of the Crown Jewels. 57—Done With a Click; or, The Mystery of the Painted 58—The Unseen Eye; or, The Girl Detective’s Crack Case. 59—A Message of Fire; or, What was Done With i Magnet, a 6o—The | Electric Girl; or, The Figures on the Toy Balloon. . — of Nick Carter's Detective School. _ 3 61—Nick Carter's Junior Force; or, The Man With | 85—- Nick Carter-In Charge; or, A Murder in Broad > Four Arms. Daylight. . a For Sale ae, | ase ty 7 4 er Weekly Thirty-two Pages. Price, 5 Cents. _ Illuminated Cover. THE BEST LIBRARY OF DETECTIVE STORIES. STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK. _ by all Newsdeatiers. — ? Mets a “o Price, post-paid, Five cents each. 62—The Tin Foil Clue; cr, Told by the Phono- _ graph. } 63—Nick Carter’s Strongest Team; or, The Glass Face of a Coffin. pa 64—A Fight for a oot Heel; or, The NewMem- ber of the Ready Ilandlers Py 65—Caught by the Lightning Mail; or, Bob Ferret's Alliance Wit a Peruvian Mesmerist. = 66—Fighting Electric Fiends; or, Bub Ferret Among the Wire Tappers. 67—Money To Burn; or, Handling a Million Dok lar Case, 68—The Mask of Glass; or, Little Roxy in a Double Role. ee) ay a 69—The Man From Texas; or, Bob Ferret and Jack Burton in Double Harness. ak 70—Shadowing A shadow: or, A Ghost in Carter’s Detective School. » 71—Green Goods; or, A Catch Lin “Bob Ferret’s R Trap. . ; bn 72—Bob oe Password; or, The Chase of the _ Gold Ship. ‘ _ 73—Roxy’s Golden Decoy; or, The Girl Detective Plays a Lone Hand. 74—The Great Detective Trio; or, Nick Carter's Boys in a New School. \ 75—The Human Fly; or, Roxy’s Message to the Wide Awake School Boys. 76—Bob Ferret’s Trolley Trail; or, The Sch Detectives Patched up Quarry. Ry 7—Roxy’s Talking Clew; or, The Mystery of th Magic Maze. 78—The Living Target; or, Jack Burton’s Friend For Lite. 79—Buff’s Slide For Life; or, The Man Who Planted Money. , 80—On the Back of a Turtle; or, Bob Ferret and the Big Mitt Men 81—Tue Silver-Plated Man; or, The Young Tramp Detective. — “tee a 82—Roxy’s Mid Air Rescue; or, A Diamond © in a Mummy’s Head ' 83—Trusty No. 333; or, The Face on the Prison Cell Wall. e4— The Skeleton Hand; or, The Dumb Shadower: ree ” 4