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82.50 a your. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Man Rate-x. Copyright. 1593. by “KANE AND ADAMS- ONOWT 9- 1533-
V 1 X  Single PUBLISHED \VEEK LY BY BEA DLE AND ADA‘HS, Price. N 
O ' ' Number. 5 Cents» 0' ‘

N0. 98 \VILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK.

 

0r, TRACKING THE FOXES

THEHUTEL BUY DETECTIVE; To 

BY CHARLES MORRIS,

AUTHOR OF “ BOB ROCKETT, THE BANK RUNNER," “ BOB R()(.‘KETT, mp: BOY DODGER,” “ WILL wunnmc," “1mm; PAUL," 1:10., no.

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RALPH COULD CONTAIN HIMSELF NO LONGER. HE LAUGHED MORE UPROARIOCSLY THAN HE HAD AT THE IRATE JUDGE,
AT THIS QECOND APPARITYON.

a...

 

  

/

Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy (Detective.

 

 

Ralph Ready,

The Hotel v\ Boy Detective;
.1 on, .
Tracking the Foxes to Earth.

BY CHARLES MORRIS,

awnon. or “JOLLY J-m’s JOB,” “ THE YOUNG
'SLEUTHS,” “DICK DASHAWAY," “Durac-
'rrvii: DICK," “WILL mm,” '
arc, arc.

CHAPTER I.
IEW GUESTS AT THE GRAND CENTRAL

“ HEY there. Mike! where are you going with
that trunk? You are taking it to the wrong
mom.”

“Sure an’ the number was 294,” sturdily
answered the Irish orter. “ Isit meself as iver
made a mistake? e’ll be after tellin’ me next
that I'm not to my business.”

“ If blundenng is your business you are up to
it, that’s sure,” answared the first speaker. “ I’ll
beta. .
‘Pmi ’ ug torsee.”

“ Faix, and it’s little I care,” was the stolid
reply. “ Mike O’Flaherty carried trunks afore
ye was born, and h ’s :3 bit too old to be l’arnt

v is trade by a holy.” _

The porter we had on With the heavy trunk,
without further heed to the comments of his
youthful questioner.

“If anybody can get more blunders into a

uare five minutes, I’d like to see him, that’s
31,” declared the latter. “There’ll be fun at

.about those trunks, if I don’t get the thing
straightened.” v
v The speaker was a well-built, good-looking
youth of some eighteen or nineteen years of
age. 'The hair fell-in dark clusters over his
brow, his eyes were black and keen, his mouth
\flrm yet marked 1) lines of humor. He was
evidently well  to make his way in the

 

~ ‘ world. ..

The place in which he stood was a corridor of
the Grand Central Hotel—a huge pile of brick
and stone, with rooms enough to accommodates.

regiment, and celebrated far and wide for the
richness of its bill-of-fare, and—the magnitude
of its charges!

y you’ve got the trunks mixed, and '

without delay. Then we’ve only got to step
out got a window into a balloon, cut loose, and
float away. The proprietors of this hotel look
out for the safety of their guests, sir.”

“ So it seems. So it seems. How much, now,
do they pay on a Week for lying?” ‘
This quest on was asked n such a uliar

tone that the youth felt disconcer for a

moment. He then burst out into a laugh.
“Excuse me, judge. What did you say was

the number of your room ?” '

“How do you know I’m a judgel"-and the
old fellow turned his harsh face .0n the boy with
a suspicious look.

“I saw you register,” answered the youth.
“ Judge Bluebottle, of Duluth. That’s why you
were put up here. We keep the upper floors for
distinguished people.” '

The judge looked more suspicious than ever.

“Distinguished pen is ought to feel highly
flattered," he owl . “That’s not the way
we do things in Duluth. See here, little one,
can you pilot this caravan to 294? That’s the
settlement I’m bound for, if I don’t leave my
bones on the emigrant-trail before I get there.”

“ Certalnl ,” answered the youth. “Come
this way. e’ll be there in a fraction of a
minute.”

“ And just look after my trunk, will you?
Here I’ve been an hour, and not a show of it,
yet. Confoundtho baggage’smashersl. That’s-
whot brought me from my room. Look it up,
young man, and I’ll be in your debt for a quar-
ter. Solid leather, iron Corners, name in big
letters. Can’t miss it if you shut your eyes.”

“ Room 294, did you say?”

“ That’s about the heft of the figures.”

“You’ll find the trunk there. This way,

jugfe.” .
6 led the way down the long corridor, re-
membering his late encounter With Mike, and
enjoying in prospect a pos ible binder, by
which the irate judge would get the wrong
trunk. There might be an opening for a neat
, bit of sport out of this afl’air.
A short distance down the broad assage, and
a turn into another that ran at rig t angles to
it, soon. brought them to their destination. The
conductor threw open the door of the room, be
fore which be bid, stop ed.
“Here it is sir. Follhw up the numbers on
the doors, and'you can easily find it. And there
sits the trunk. Is there anything more you
would like to have i”
The judge rested his broad shoulders against

These were ‘a young gentleman and lady,
dressed in traveling costume. and dusty enough
to have come from a i-onsiderable distance.
They were both quite oung, and the lady was
Very pretty. She be thrown back her veil,
and rested her hand on her com union’s arm,
looking up into his face with a lov ng trustthat
particularly took Ralph’s eyes.

The gentleman seemed Very ill at ease. He
gazed around hi m, with a nervous distraction of

manner. Looking at the lady’s taco, he gave a
start, and bent to whisper in her ear. be im-
mediatel dropped her Vail.

“Heres a story,,” Ralph thought. “Green

and ldving. That’s part of it. And runavi ays;
that’s another rt. I’ll bet high there’s a rag-
ing father tracfing these innocents, and ready
to cowhide the boy, and lock up the girl in the
garret. I’ve read it all before. ’

in a minute or two more this couple had
registered, and were On their way to the eleva-
tor, under the care of a waiter.

The young man seemed relieved, and hurried
his lady companion from the desk, as if anxious
to escape from observation as quickly as possi-

e.
“ I’m going to follow that up,” Ralph decid—

ed. “ Shouldn’t wonder if there was some fun

back of it. This green love is always rich.”

He rose and read the names and room number
just registered. . I .'

The clerk touched him on the shoulder,-and
led back- out of hearing of the gueszs.

“ I have something for you, Ralph,” he said,
in a mysterious tone. “ I have just had a warn-
ing from the police department to be on the
lookout for some Western thieves, who are sup-
posed to be traveling this way. There‘s been
some big job done out at Illinois, and the ras-
cals have got off with the plunder.” .

Ralph sat silent, taking in this interesting in-
formation.

“ I may be mistaken,” continued the clerk,
still more mysteriously. “But from the de-
scription I have a fancy that one of them is
here now. It is hardly safe to warn the police
about a man who may prove a high-toned gen-
tleman. The Grand Central has its reputation
to sustain, and we must make no mistake. on
either side. You are a sharp fellow. Ralph.
We’ll have to put 'you on the watch. Make you
our privatedetective. 'Do you think you can
manage the job!" . . .

“ I can try,” answered Ralph. “ What is his
number?” . .

“ Here it is on the re ister. The fellow

 

The youth had a somewhat undefined pesition the doorwisy, and bent his small, wrinkled eyes

in this establishmelnt. lie wales sortof aidcdde- uporwtllie her. 1d , I k v swings a big ’title, and we’l have to feel our
1 camp to the tote 0161‘ an was expects to ' ‘ , the blazes cou n t ic it out my— wav ginger 3’- I ,
’ keel) ‘1 timer“ Sharp By; 00 the comings afid self?” heY owled. “I believe foounted figures e led. the we to the book, and laid his fin-
- , 'e

11 150.2. Orthereaw‘a . Couldn’t find any of ger on alive. 0 his su rise Ralph read the
tilese small numbers. Syee here, young gentle- name of “Judge Bluebott e, Duluth, Minnesota,

man. What‘mlghtbe your name ’ ‘ Room 294.” , . ' x .
“ ' ‘ y,sir.” , ' v “I have seen him already”exclaimed the
.,“'Then just" ‘ in mind, Ralph, thatl owe amateur detective. “ Bade. chat with him not
you fl‘quflrtel'.‘  ' at m ofiice the first time ten minutes ago, Beiwas roaming around the
you come toDuluth‘,iand firing a receipt with, fourth fi00r,‘.flgrowiin&tgczlbeing put too near
you. And see hererwben the dinner-bell rings heaven, and, swearing that he. had lost his

fetchioiui, one‘of th halloo‘nstomy room.” oom.” _ ‘ f- .  r
" Return  the mend. closed the door “Aha!” _cried the clerk. ifll‘hat looks sus-
_,r?ersonage was dressed in a dusty brown with! cit ,“"'l‘he' menu of- the turning key ous. Likely- enough he mayhave been look-
".tme °- are r   newsman-mare a... at“‘l‘l‘°.§’l"'°ztt°' rim-raw  
' ~ risen owno ees. e .. " ' avos ey , ‘ ‘
m y ryg 3%: “Show ’ w ph .-“'Ithought he was a re old idiot. who
' ‘. i 9:1..Balp'h.

a, re lied the

goings. inside the extensive caravansary.

was not exactly a private detective, though his
duties tended in that direction. . _ ' .
 He may turned and made his way toward
, .the stairs; determined to straighten up this

x

inatter of the trunks, which he was sure Mike

got  _ ‘ 4

 _ on’reachihg this locatiOn, however, he

was accosted. by‘an old gentleman, who was
distractadly through, the corridor. ,

 

was wa, . .his arms with energetic ges- tohlmseltly‘t u .bast whole box ,
'  “ ' l i " ‘  biggie“ trunks l’li‘hswe' wasn’tmetorun‘loooe.”

tu‘r -. . ., . ~. .
(2 ‘leileas .my'eyesl” he ends ' “but I’d
be cutadrift

fl; M. p, “More and more sue '
aw eat ' Ia, and. ' h
m " lungsuch a

1:. “De end on it th s ' o "~yWatch
p ' " 

.h . i...  tn, 1
$3333.“?  b. can: in m

 
  

, gentleman.”

“Did you notice this r,

layin his finger on tbevl. q
- "’ es,” laughed the cl

‘ .‘hg: music out... i .39 wal  y'afjog'wryvp’avjom   glike a hawk, boy. _ 'ytbing
{topSy-turvy prairie-dog ” wna’s‘tfl you, ' ressed'with.:tfl‘3 ' an act  “gem ud  { tionable we’ll bring thaw.de on 0111‘
. p stepping mammaamnb‘éhndedtggg . .-, .esteru .gr, fig». .

' get me the loan of a hatchet, boy!”
' v . “What do you want with a hatchet?” , .
4  “ To blaze my way out of this rat-hole. Here
A ' I left my room five minutes ago, and I might

asked Ralph,
'r'eg‘istered.
pair of love-

'~miuutes on thematic- vad door of ,
mi ‘of the hotel: in 23mm large.

  
    
    

 
  
 

  

“try.
1 i2

' orne room~.of- rand dimensions. if . _ 
as well hunt a jack rabbit in a tenanile , Qie nodding“ 115‘ ,0;- walkéd s blinded young-plumes. '5 y  h“ 0" 2°
"prairie astry to find it again. I’ve walkedup across its sounding floor he sounds V ,thellady-as if he had found , 00nd» “ldn *3
 we?“ sundries :3.th “at? has?“ in We..." date v” t his the we were  to ~
g can are 'm eseeas ~ere. - eri t- swastbo' ‘ ‘ w, ,1;:_re ster. " 2‘ "  .
tied"in a bOWLhJOt. ySege here, youngx‘inan. its semi-cirgular: front. and hm7'4mf’ fiIt’s a runaw 5'" What “in on that.” de-

wharrto become of the guests ifs firewaeto ;~ ,clared Ralph. . a“ ittbeiiodisnant parent

  
      
 
    

“WM 

    

   
    

 
 

ter,‘in which agrou‘ ’ of new-come  . ..
s    concemf’”). I 3  their V :8. a V  . .  ‘3 ‘  ,‘i kn,” here fitter   tmdays.”

1 - , "‘ ’s all'pmided for,”mwered the youth Within. the i ‘ su’re . : q; ’ i". i i " ,- The Clerkiwgbedi an.“ turned“ ‘1” deg" be‘

. , mmyg-NTbere are sWnd elevators and clerk, with hiss oothly m: ‘ , ' fore which anotheraulest had‘n‘?” 9ppeared'
. greascapesfi-  _ 3,  it do: " e; and I  ' a was 'This was 3‘ “mm” “1 “$1999”! “hose

“Very neat! But what‘good i that at}. Come-them“  .. rm  .munneratoneelttraote Ralph’s; , attention.
chap in the seventeenth story. w thin, a , his im merges n s01? 1113-95“? and... lie WM.‘l-mped"nw%wmd 0”"
5 mile of new-air, I’d like to knowiglltwwtbe  , ' 'hfifli, ' ’ ‘ _  bim der WthU’déB . ‘“ coat,*uifil8 rstoodun b5}! “ll-“fars-
i leader i'oxdiO‘Jtep-onto the Ufiufi’thatt to We} *' ;. r, . '92:. T a, 'he'said, with an air of se- A fie had 11 ml}? red {809, though It was half ("m'
a solid fiefiid. And asforyOur Stairs, they can crecy, “and wait a minute.” , MM..—  ’ cealed by his ulled-down hat, long banj- urd
. z I beat annager at twisting around, and landing Ralph entered the inclosure-nnd'heated him- bushy beard' here were dlssat‘Sfled W.”“.“'1”
“Where.” Self to wait until the clerk was through with about the mouth nnd eyes, and a general .ook

of haste and anxiety. ‘ .

He looked intently at the register before sign-
ing. "The ‘las’t'tw'o names particularliap pared
to take his attention. He pureed up is lps as
he seemed examining the handwrit ng

“There’s a balloon-corps attached to the
upper flown,” replied the sedate youth, without a r
moving a muscle of his countenance. f‘ Every-
thing is fixed. if a fire was to break out down

registering the guests. I _

As he sat waiting, hiseyes listlesst e I med ..
these persons. From them he fell to o ’ rvin‘
two others, who had ust entered, and stood
aside with something 0 a hesitating air.

h-vur » -;-.,

 

 

below the news would be telegraphed up here

‘,i , ., ,  v..\

 

 

‘ “Oh, Roger, just think of our terrible danger!”

Ralph" Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. ' ‘ ,3

 

 

“ Roger Sherman and lady,” he muttered.
“ How long have these persons been here?”
‘° About ten minutes.” answered the clerk.
“ Do you want a room?”
" Yes Yes, of course.” This was hastily
givvn, as if it were a new idea to him.
“ Then write your name and address.”
lie (lld so in a scrawling, scrambling fashion.
'John H. Benson. Chicago,”-read the clerk
. ' r he had dismissed this new guest in charge
. . waiter. “Aqueer customer that. What
a'll'l think of him, Ralph?”
' Don’t you twig?” asked Ralph. “That is
,. 1- indignant parent. Sure as you live! Look
will 1‘ >r fun in the Grand Central soon.”
Tue clerk laughed, and turned to greet some
newcomers.

CHAPTER II.
WHAT CAME or MIKE o‘rmnnnrv’s MISTAKE.

“ WILL you please excuse me, sir? But—but
do you belong to the hotel?”

It was a very soft and bashful voice that thus
addressed Ralph as he was making his wa
through an upper corridor of the hotel. 6
turned to see who had spoken. There before
him stood the pretty young lady with her shy-
faced young husband, whom he had lately seen
registering.

“ It is somehow that we ,” answered Ralph.
“ I'm very sure the hotel on’t belong to me; so
I guess I must belong to it.”

“ We are complete strangers here,” answered
the lady. “Me and m —-and my husband. We
haven’t been married ong.” She blushed, while

. the young husband drew back with an abashed

a r. l
“Don’t I know it?” replied Ralph; “Why
bless you. Mrs. Sherman, we have young mar-
ried couples every day. Keep a regular line of
that kind of goods. Can’t fool us old hotel
folks.” .

9 Is that really so? I declare I felt so strange.
We are not use to traveling, you know, and it
all seemed so queer. How ever did you know
my name?”

“It is on the register, Eliza,” said the bus-
band, ovsrcoming his shyness. " Excuse me,
sir. But—do you know if our trunks have
come?”

“ They will be sent up to your room as soon
as they arrive,” rejoined Ralph, suppressing a
smile at the verdant greenness of the pair.

“ And—and can you show us the way to the
dining-room?”

“We haVe been traveling at long distance,”
replied the young wifenu on are very hungry.”

“ Certainly,” replied Ra! h.
is. But you won’t mind i
hit of advice?” ' _

There was a significant twmkle in his eyes as
hes oke. . . . . r .

“ 9 shall be too grateful,” answered Mrs.
Sherman, while her husband pressrved a modest
silence. “ Of. course we are not usad to the
ways of the world. And with your large ex-
perience—J? ,

Ral h looked up uickly. Was the soft-
Vmce young lady. po ng .fun at him? No, she
looked as moment :as a child, and evidently re-
gnrdcd. him as a very Methusaleh.“ ’

” I 3m" "17 Old-Walt,” he answered, “ but
I can see through 8 knobbole. Excuse me, but
-t—he"s eyei- there-waiter you, like a cow after a

mum. . t '

He twirled his linger over his shoulder, while
his right eye gave a. 81 iflcant wink. ‘ ,

“ W ho is over there.” cried both in surprise,

“I see how it
I give you a little

' ,and with a show of alarm. .

“' On, an knew! NOW, 890 hero. yming folks,
vou do fool me in this little game. It’s-a r‘un.
xxx-«y match; There’s no use saying it isn’t. And
your hatefuli parants are ready to chew up the
pm- or you. Now you just might as well own
up the com.” . - ‘

5-th no, no! You are ever so mucb‘mi'si

taken! Indeed on are!” . ,
The You": VI to drew back inevident alarm.
Elie unfladsad husband half hid himself behind
 You can"? shut upthis chicken’s eye. There’s
7‘0 “99 trying 1‘ 09w” continued Ralph, with a
look of mature Wisdom. "He’s after you, I.
say.‘ He’s over there.” , ,
3 "Hal xWho can you meani It cannot be—i’
“I’d just. adme 3911 to take our meals in
your room. that’s all, If you don twant to run
foul of an indignant parent. Have you ever
heard ohm-g Benson, of Chicago?”; a ‘ I
“th”, .A 01'! Of alarm came from the lady.

Line caught nin- young husband by the shou ders

. -

and pushed him hastily toward their room.
“Mercy! Only to think of it! Oh, sir, won’t
ou see-that our meals are served in our room!

e dare not go to the ublic table.”

“I knew it,” cried lph, delighted at his
own shrewdness. “Your father is after you
hot foot, my dear lady. He is in this house.
And you’ve got to keep close as'mice, or it’s all
up With you. He’ll snatch you back to our
doll babies, and this young entleman Will We
to toddle back to school. an’t fool me, I tell
you! We are used to that sort of thing here.”

“Won’t you help us?” leaded the young
wife, with her most appealng manner. “ We
are so inexperienced in the wa s of the world.
If you will only shelter us, an keep him from
us! I will be eternally grateful.”

“Certainly, certainly,” answered Ralph, de-
li hted to become the sharer of a romance.
“ ut you are not quite as green as you let on.
See here, young man. Do you calculate Ldidn’t
see through your little game? You didn’t sign
your right name on the register."

The young husband started back, and held up
both hands in deprecation.

“Oh, sir,,I declare.”he protested. “But—
but you are really mistaken! How could I
ever—”

“Dro all that,” interrupted Ralph, with ‘a
sly smie. “But, don’t you mind. I am on
your side. I won’t sell you. I don’t like the
looks of this raging parient and I am going to
back you up square against him.”

“ Oh, how can we ever repay on?”

The blushing young wife caug t his hand, and
kissed it fervently.

“I won’t forget you, sir,” said Mr. Sher-
man, in his retiring manner. “If you ever
come out West—”

“ Oh, that’sall right,” answered Ralph, mod-

estly. “It’s a s uare ame. Somehow, I like
you. J list you so"; c ose. I’ll sea that your
on per is sent up.

9 are three confederates

m nd you. Now shut onrself up tight, and

look out sharp for John . Benson, of Chicago.

grog; going to set that individual on the wrong
a 0

Ralph hugged gayly as he proceeded on his
way, whilet alarmed young couple quickly
closed and locked their door, as if in a state of
great terror.

“ Lawsee! but ain’t they a prime pair of tur-
tle-doves?” he ejaculated. ‘ Just out of the
egg. Haven’t got their feathers yet. Green—
oh, green isn’t any-word for it. They’re just
sky blue. . There’s fun in the wind, and I’m go-
initin for my share of it.”

e went on laughing immoderately, Ra] h
had a. sharp scent fora joke and he fancied a
saw his way clear to some Jolly sport.

He had not gone very far, however, before
there came a diversion to the current of his
thoughts. The door of a room before him open—
ed, and a stout individual hustled out, swearing
and stem ing as if half-wild with rage.

“Bv allthe blasted blunderbusses of Break-
neck Valley if I don’t utterly smash the in-
fernal idiotlthat done this, then sell me out for
a caterwauling old tom-cat, and bedone with
it! If there was evera sublimer jackass I’d like
somebody to haul him up here ti l I kick some
censorinto his stupid hide!” , '

Ralphlooked up, and burst into an involuntary
roar of laughter. Y
“He had some dificult in recogniain the in-
dividual before him. t was Judge B uebottlc,
but it was the honorable judge. in an extra-
ordinary disguise. ' 4
r He seemed to have been‘transformed into :2
.queer sort of dude. . He wore a pair of check-
cred pantaloons, of Very loud attem, and so
very tight, that it looked as il’ he must have
been melted and ured into them. His coat
skirts came’ just low his waist, the sleeves.
were two inches too, short, and it would have
taken a ten-horse engine to button the flaps in
.front. On his head was a silk hat.» very tall,
and very slim. It sat‘on his crown like a thim-.
ble on a gate-post. While his hairstood Wildly
out all around its brim. Altogether he seemed
to hem got himself up can comical character.
Iona fancy dress ball. - ‘ .
toHe gagght siflt of Ralph and rushed Wily-

war lln.

“Jest Jock. here!” he shouted. furiousloy.

“ Look at me, and then go! sell. yourvblasted (1
hotel.» Ain’t I a spectacle, now? . Don’t you
dare on your life, to so I ain’t a spectaclol -

“ I think you might a most or a pair of
,1ch s,” acknowledged ph, with renewed.
mega 5% l J ; ‘ " i Oh kel
‘ a you b at.me, on ships 0
that down instglgenbr I’ll'gurst. your-knowl-

 

edge-box! I’m not here to he laughed at. I’m

4

 

Judge Bluebottle, of Duluth, I’d have you know.
Look at me. Isn’t this a sweet specimen of a
dinner rig?”

He turned round on his heel, to give Ralph a
chance to inspect him.

“ What do you think of that now?” He gave
the bat an angry jam on his head. “ What do
you think of that f” '

“ If I were you I would discharge my tailor,"
answered Ralph.

“ My “tailor? Why, hang your stupidity, do
you suppose them clothes were made for me?
Where s in trunk? That is what I demand to
know. I emand it, air, and I’ll make thin
lively,for this hotel if it don’t turn up. There 3
my name on it. Bluebottle. In letters as bi
asa cow’s horn. And what do you bring me
What but the trunk of some confounded dude!
And this is all the change of rig I have for
dinner.’ '

He turned round on his heel a in, holdin
out the scanty skirts of the coat, w ile a look 0
supreme scorn filled his important countenance.

“Inspect it, sir! Investigate it! And then
fie sell your moldy hotel to somebody who

nows how to run it. Don‘t I look like a re-
spectable father of a family now! Wouldn’t I
cut a sweet figure on the judge’s bench?” .

Ralph had hard work to repress his laughter
and put on a look of proper compassion for the
irate jnd e. Ere he could answer the last'
question t ere came another sudden diversion.

The door of a room further up the passage
burst open as suddenly as the judge’s had done, »
and another strange figure burst out into the
corridor. ‘

It was the red. wrinkled face of Mr. Benson,
of Chico 0, but his costume was even more sur-
prising an that of JudgeBluebottle.’ He had
got his arms into something) not unlike a gentle-
man’s sack-coat in shape, ut witha suspicious
red bow at the throat, and as thickly ccvned
with pearl buttons asi they had been sprinkled
over it from a pepper- ox. Beneath this coat,
which was five Sizes too small for his portly
figure, he were something white, which was
significantly frilled and ruffled. On his head
was a queer-shaped straw hat, with a bunch of
blackberries on one side and a sunflower on the
ot er.

“Lord bless you l” he ejaculated. .“‘,Look at
that! There’s a geaup for a gentleman. and a
Christian! Where’s my trun , will anghody
tell me that“! Yourent me a trunk. , yes,
you kindly sent me a Irunk. And that’s the
sort of drygoods i found in it.” _

Ralph could contain himself no longer. He
laughed more uproariously than. he had at the
irate judge, at this Second-apparition. Even
the disgusted Bluehottle could not help oining
in with a broad grin at his companiOn n mis-
fortune.

“ You’ll laugh, will you 1” roared Mr. Benson.
“Bless your eyes, if‘ I’d put on‘ailthe queer
rigging there was in that trunl: you ml ht
have seen a fi re worth laughing at! The ur-
belows and e overrkirts! You never .aaw
,such an odd gear. The a Lord knows where
they put it all! But I’mgpiag to make this
hotel sweat. They’ve confiscated my. trunk
and Iwonltstandit.” .~ -., _, _. V.

“ Oh, that will be all right,” assumed. Rel h.
“80 many trunks coming, yg§ now“ '1‘ or
can’t help getting mixed up. , e’l have tin 1.1
strid htened out in two or three ’3 V. - -

5‘ wo or three days! Am I to so arm I ll
like amermaid, half woman and 11 fish, tor
two on- tbm days! I demand my trunk instan.
m H . , u p , ., V. .

He stopped. His eyes had just caught the
extraord nary figurepf Judge iiluebot 9 who
was surveying him .With a broad grin on b ex-
pansive face. V - - .

Mr. Benson broke involuntarily into areturn

,lan h. For several minutesthe disguised men
 shakin

their sides withmerriment. M
hey survey each other, while Ralph. ned
wet the wall in a paroxysm of iaug ter.

e could hardly keep from rollingon the floor
 enjoyment of the ridiculous man before

“ 0h, mercy! If I could only get them down-
stairs! It would be just killing! «It’s ashaine
to waste all this fun.”

Suddenly Benson stoppedhis laughter, while
if; look of surprised recognition came upon his

cc. . ' .
“It can’t be! Yes itisl Judge Bluebottle,
as I live! Why, hallo! Bluebottle, old boy,

«give us your handl WhO’d "or expected to,

see on here?” . v .
“‘yfiomehow you’ve got the advantage of me.".,

said the judge,,yielding his band doubtfully to] _

the warm grasp of the other.

 

u}. .r .4. -_

 

4

Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective.

 

 

“Why, I’m BenSnn. Benson, of Chicago.
Don’t you know me?”

“ No. I’ll‘be hanged if I do!”

“That’s the way with on politicians. And
I helped to send an tot e Legislature. And
that’s all the than a I get for it. ’

“You must excuse me, Mr. Benson,” apolo-
gized the 'udge. “There were so many of

_ them. An l‘vegotsuchatreacherousmemory.
Glad to see you. On my soul I am.”

“That’s all right. I accept the apolo .
You’re a gentleman. every inch, judge.” r.
Benson kept on shaking his hand. ‘But this
is a rum go. What are we to do about our
trunks?”

“ Complain at the clerk’s office,” suggested
Ralph. ‘ That’s the only way to settle it. It’s
a confounded shame. Come with me. I’ll pilot
you down. Just you give that clerk to know
that you mean business.”

He hurried them rapidly along the hall to
where the elevator yawned, without givin
them a. moment’s time to think. The car stoo
waiting for passengers. Ralph pushed them in,
though they resisted a little.

“But,” protested the judge, “look at us.
Will there be anybody there?”

: “0h! nobody of any account,” answered the
sly rogue.

It was too late fer further retnonstrance.Q

The door was closed. The car was rapidly de-
scanding. In a minute it reach the main floor,
and the door flaw open.

“ Come,” said Ralph, hurrying his victims
out into the hall. _

They paused in dismay. The room was
ihronged with peo;le. One look was enough.
There burst out a roar of laughter that shook
the very roof of the hotel.

Peal after peal came from the assembled
crowd, while the two odd figures stood, shoul-
dgr to shoulder, in sheepish amazement before
t em.

Men laughed until the tears ran down their
cheeks. The efl'ort to look dignified in the two
victims was as ludicrous as their attire. People
gushed from every side to see the source of the

un.

"‘ Blame your dirty young picture this is all
your doings!” cried the irate judge shaking his
fist at Ralph. “ Burst mv sides, if I don’t at
even with you for it! Back upstairs with t is
thundering concern, body, quick as greased light-
ning, before that crew of jackasses split them-
selves into kindlin wood.”

I-Ie rushed back nto the elevator, followed by
Benson, and by renewed peals of laughter.

“ I Owe you a film-fer, judge. Don’t forget,”
cried Ralp as t e sliding-door sharply closed.
“ Come to my ofilce in Duluth, and ng a re-
ceipt, and I will' hand over the cash.”

 

9, CHAPTER III.
l srmen'rnnmo our m’s ancients.

“ 81:] here, Mike. There’s the very Old Nick
to pay upstairs, and all through your blunder-
ing. You’ve gone and mixed up the trunks the
worst way. nd now there’s hoary old ro es

ing around in women’s fixings; an the
next th as we will have some youn lady
marching own to dinner in a pair of hicago

aches. m, won’t you catch it!”

“ Be share. and it’s a whoppin’ big loi. I’ve
demo in’ o’ the kind, at all, at all,’ exclaimed
-‘ Mike, in a rage. “ It’s much toofond of your

you are, Mr. Ralph. Ye’re allers gettin’
up some aware the o’ the kind, widout an
ounce o’ truth in t. Faix ye’ll be afther
ullin’ me next I don’t know the differ betwixt
994 and 949; as you was hintin’ at this blessed
mornin’."

“ That‘s all very fine Mike,” answered Ralph.
“ But if you know which side your bread’s butp
tered you'll emigrate to Canada, and set up a
svl‘ireebateng in the woods. Tfhere’s a couple of viva:

rners ram or on u tairs,
bulls in u clover  y In

“ To Candy, is it! And me an O’Ii'laherty,
of the cold blood! lndade, thin, an not a step
will I stir. It’s moighty little meeelf cares for
your Westerners. And on naden’t be kin’
your fun at me. Share 1; ere’s not a man u the
hotel on; hate me at trunk deliverin’, as is well

own.
“ All right. Mike,” laughed his youthful tor-
mentor. " But bless us, won’t you be sliced
and pickledl There’s the clerk calling for you
now. Walk up to the counter and-get your
rations.”
-“ Mike! Mike O’Flahertyl” came in com-
manding tones from across the hall.
7-“ Ay, I?!” answered the irate rter. “ I’m
comin’. let go sell yerself,  I didn’t

 

 

 

Cross the salt says to be made s out of by no
blatgegin’ Yankee. And that’s very word the
inn .

Mike lumbered away to the clerk’s desk, fol-
lowed at a distance by the laughing youth, who
was bound to see the fun out.

At the desk stood two men, Judge Bluebottle
and Mr. Benson. They had got back to their
traveling-suits, and were raising Cain about
their trunks.

“ Hang it, sir, the trunk looked like mine,”
cried the judge, “ and my key opened it. But
bless your blue eyes if you‘d only seen the stuff
that was inside! I’d give a solid quarter to ace
the chap that was to wear them, shoot me if I
wouldn ti He must be a cross between a dandy
and a baboon.”

“ I had the same luck as the judge,” broke in
Mr. Benson. “ Only I found a trunk full of
women’s fixings. The queerest-lookin concerns.
Where they put them all gets me. ou never
saw such twistified bits of dry-goods.”

“ I am Very sorry, gentlemen.” answered the
suave clerk, twirling his mustache with an easy
air. “ Mistakes Will happen, you know. But
we’ll make that all right in a jiffy. See here,
Mike. What confounded blundering have you
been at now i” ~

“ Sure. the bit of a blunder,” replied Mike,
sturdily. “Excuse me, Misther Jones, if that
sames a short answer. But I’ve got me char-
actor to sustain, and well you know the loike 0’
me you haven’t ot in the hotel.”

“ That’s true, ike,” assented the clerk, with
a faint smile. “ It would be hard to find your
like at getting a straight thing crooked. You’ve
made a ridiculous mess with these gentlemen’s
trunks, and if you don’t straighten it out with-
in ten minutes I’ll dock you a week’s wages.”

“ Shure, Misther J ones—” began Mike.

“ There. That» will do! I don’t want an
hour’s blather. 03 with you now.” ,

“ OE wid me, is it? And where to, will ye
pl’ase say? I know no more where the gent e-
men’s trunks is nor the man in the moon.”
Mike stood scratching his head in stupid per-
plexity. .

_R'ilph stepped forth at this juncture from the
pillar against which he had been leaning.

“ Maybe I can straighten up this affair.
Who is’in 249, Mr. Jones?

“A pair of newly married goslin’s,” ansu'ered
Mr. Jones, looking at 'the register. “ Roger
Sherman and lady. You recollect them. Green
as meadow-grass. Here they are, registered
between them two gentlemen.”

“They’ve got the missing trunks. I told
Mike he was making a blunder. They asked
me an hour ago for their trunks. There were
only two left in the baggage-room and I sent
them up.” -

“That’s how it is,” declared the clerk, as
easily as if blunders were part of the regular
course of life. “ OE with you, Mike. Get
those trunks from 249 and take them to 260 and
294.i find take care you don’t mix them
a a n. '

“Faix an’ I’m no prophet,” rejoined Mike.
“Will you pl’ase tell me how I’m to know the
which one from the t’otheri”.

“Can you read?” asked the judge.

“Can I radel And me from ould Ireland!
Maybe 6 don’t know thatwe drown iverybody
there t at can’t rude, for the honor of the
counthry.” ‘

v“ You do eh! Then I’ve seen some‘ that
swam ashore, that’s all. You’ll find ‘Bluebot-
tle’ on my trunk and you won’t want any spy-
glass to see it.” -

. “ Here are the keys of these gentleman’s
rooms, Mike,” said the clerk. “OH with you
now, and let me hear of no more blunders.”

liilike shot away, rather glad to escape ,so
can y.

The two guests stood by the desk talking and
questionin the clerk and Ralph.

“A pre ty little 3 rk of a city you have
here,” remarked the ad “ Near as lively as
Duluth. ud brimful o rogues, I calculate.”

“I fancy we could gather u a hatful with.
out shaking the tree,” answ the clerk.

“I will have to out and take a look at it,”
announced the ju ge. “ Hope I won’t t lost.
Lend”meapieeeofchalksolcanb remy
way.

“I will shew you around if you wish,”re-

marked Ital , modestlv.
“You w , d can
. ‘ You’l showme aroun ,efig’ I’m
eversomuch obli , I am sure. But Iyou’ve
shown me‘ once already. and fancy
that will do. I haven’t forg ' my young

rout. I owe youonaandl’veg'otarodin
genohryou.”

 

Ralph slippedback behind the irate judge to
indulge in a quiet laugh.

“Oh, come, judge. Boys will be boys. you
know,’ broke in the clerk. ‘9 You liked a bit of
fun yourself in your young days, 1’“ be
boun .”

“You bet I did!” cried the udge, heartily.
“We will have to let up on t e boy, I guess.
But if he tries another game on me, shoot me
for a jack-rabbit if I don’t yank him out rm,-
window. What time do you sling out supper in
this here caravansary?"

“ Any time after six.”

“ Then look for me on hand. .And just cook
me a buffalo whole, will you? And hunt me up
a sapling for a toothpick. I’m from the far
N'll‘hh, gentlemen; and I’ve come here to eat
out my hotel bill.”

He turned away with a free swing. as if he
felt he had done his full duty by Duluth.

“One moment, judge,” called Mr. Benson.
“ I’Ve been around this city a trifle; if you don‘t
object to company, I wouldn’t mind a walk
round with you.”

“ Certain] —of course,” cried the udge,
heartily. “ ou’re Benson, of Chicago, think
you said. Hang me, if I remember you! But
you know me—that’s enough. I flatter mySelf
I’m well-known out West, if they haven’t got
my photo aph in these diggings. Come ahead,
Benson. ou‘re a brick.”

, The solid figure of the judge rolled away, fol-
lowed by his Chicago ac uaintance.

Mr. Jones looked at lph, with a smile of
amusement on his very correct face. Ralph
broke into a laugh. _

“ What do you think?” asked the clerk, With
a significant wink. " He’s either very shallow,
or very deep—I can’t make out which. Have
you seen any thing suspicious?”

“ Nothing, except a fancy for prowling
around.”

“That’s doubtful—very doubtful. And this
bluff way may be all put on. I bet he rings in
that fellow Benson. Best keep an eye on them,
Ralph’s See where they go, and what they’re

to

“ I will,” answered Ralph, dartin to the
door of the hotel, in order to put himse f on the
track of the two guests.

They were still in full view, and in a moment
he was on their trail. v

About the same instant, Mike O’Flahert was
knocking at the door of room No. 249. sort
of fiutterin sound came from inside in answer
to his knee , but the door remained closed.

He knocked a ain. after waiting for a minute.

“ Faix, I shou d have axed fur the key. May-

'be they’re out.”

He waited for some seconds longer, and was
about to repeat his summons, when the door
opened a crack, and Mr. Sherman made his ap-
pearance.

He was without his coat, and was rubbing his
e es, and yawning, as if just awakened from a
8 a I ,

“ ra , excuse me; I was asleep,” he apolo-

zed, n his abashed manner. “ Did you

)

noc -
“ I battered me knuckles a bit, anyway,” re.
joined Mike. v

“ And what can I do for on!”
“There’s some thrunks are as belon else-
where, and some thrunks beyant as glongs

here. And it’s to distribute them I am.”

“But we have no trunks here but curown.
They were brought in just before I lay down.”
Mfim’m doubttu it ye’ve examined em," said

‘Lfihy no. I thought of (spurns-they were all

“ It’s all wrong they are, thin. And I’m sent
here to make ’em right. Let me in, and I’ll
fotch ye your own thrunks in a fly.”

The conversation, so far. bad n carried on
through a. crack. Mr. Sherman holding the
door but slightly open.

“You must wait. You must really wait,” he
hastil declared, with a blush. “ Mrs. Sherman
isn’t reused for com ny. We’ll be ready in
five minutes, sir. In ve minutes."

“ Bhure and she needn’t moind me ” protested

Mike. “It’s not com n I am. is faix if
the lady’ia'ltlaun “gm be (tuggewont'ilnbglauge

h . ax er ,
on W y  folks

for y: niver seen sich a pother as

in.

The blushin youn husband shut and
locked the dogr. nit. remaing‘dkofigide, rest-
ing his shoulders against the wall, and mutter-
ing to himself. .

‘Maybe whin the young crayther has lived
long in a hotel she’ll not base nice about put.
tin on her ribbons and laces to resave a porter.

r

5.. -.

 

 

l

 

+

Q

‘1,“

Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective.

 

 

5

 

 

It’s ’asy to persave that’s she’s niver been an
ould trawler.”

Mrs. Sherman, however, did not seem inclined
to hurry. Mike was kept waiting to ' more than
five minutes. During this time some faint but
odd sounds came from the room that held the
young travelers, but Mike paid little attention
to them. Just then his soul was in old Ireland,
roaming over the green valley of Ballymacflani-
gun. and he had no ears for sublunary things.

He roused himself with astart on hearing the
voice of Mr. Sherman.

“You can come in now. You must excuse
my keeping you waiting. But—you know—”

“ I know this,” said Mike gallantly, as he
looked into the why face of the young wife.
“lknow that rs. Sherman didn t nade the
ribbons and laces as she’s been puttin’ on.
Sich a purty bird as her don’t nade fine feathers.
An’ ther’s no complimint in a word of it.”

“ Oh, now, you stop your blarney,” exclaimed
Mrs. Sherman, with a laugh of conscious pleas-
ure. “ Here are the trunks. We’ve just had
time to look at them. Just to think of a man
with that name! Bluebottlel Take them away,
for more ’s sake, and bring us our own. Blue-
bottle! 0 think of aman with such a name as
that! What is he like?”

The young lady had certainly found her
tongEe. She rattled on as Mike pulled out the
trun S.

“If ve’ve iver seen a big, fat bluebottle fly
swelled out to the bigness of a calf ye’ll know
widout axin’,” rejoined Mike. “He’s a. jolly
old blade. from the West. There. Ye’ll have
your thrunks now, in the twinkle of a banshee’s

, wing.”

Away he trundled the trunks on his bail
barrow. The husband and wife looked at each
other.

“ I’d like to mesh that Irishman’s head,”
cried Mr. Sherman, in tones loud enough for
Mike to hear.

“ What for?”

“For oglin you. I won’t have you ogled and

rcomplimente .”

“Mercy, Roger-l Then you had best put me
in a haiidbox, with sealin -wax on the lid. I
can’t help being pretty an people of taste can-
not help seeing it.”

Mike heard all this as he went away. He did
not see, however, the looks that passed between
the young couple, or he might have guessed
that they did not mean all they said.

In a few minutes he returned with the correct
trunks, and deposited them in grim silence in
their room.

“ There’s our thrunks,” he said. “ And now,
mn’am, ye’l excuse me fur one word. If he
locks up that purty face, as he talks of just
pass me the word. On the honor of an Irish-
man I’ll have ye out, if I\have to bu’st through
iron b vrs. And my name it’s Mike O’Flaherty.”

Mike walked grandly aWHy, with a look of
sturydeflance at the husband. He failed to
see the look of amusement that passed behind
his back.

 

CHAPTER IV.
ANOTHER RAGING PARENT TURNS UP.

IN a gambling-saloon not far from the Grand
Central Hotel sat two men, busily engaged in a
game _ of poker. 80 deep! interested were
they, indeed, that they faile to notice a oun
man who had stationed himself bean a d
was looking over the cards held by one of the
gamblers.

These gentlemen were the late guests of the
Grand Central. Judge Bluebottle and Mr. Ben-
son, and the young man who was observing
their game was Ralph Ready, the amateur

letective of the hotel.

“So that’s what Mr. Benson calls shOwing
the judge around?” said Ralph to himself.
“Wonder if he’s a regular card-sharp, and if

he‘s playing it on old Bluebottle? Don’t look
like it, though. Looks like a solid pork mer-
chant, or maybe a chap that goes in on margins.
He’s got the regular speculator’s twitch about
his eyes.”

He drew a chair up behind the gamblers, who
were growing deeply absorbed in their game.

“See here. Benson, where in the blazes did

you at that hand?" exclaimed the judge, ex-
cit “ You’ve swe t me out of a ten. in a
whim Never mind, 1’! have my revenge.”

“ Fortune favors the brave,” replied Benson,

as be dealt the cards.

He was as cool as a cucumber, while his an-

' tagonist grew more heated at every moment.
They gave the im preion of a practiced gambler
and an excitable nnocent.

At first Benson won, but after a short time
the luck turned in the judge’s favor, and he be-

I

 

 

gun to haul in the stakes. His angry excite-
ment now became a. ubilant manner.

“ Aha! old boy. on thought you had me,
I reckon. Didn’t know we had any card-slingers
out in Duluth, did you? Look out, Benson, now,
I’m oing to warp ou.”

“ hica 0 never acks down before Duluth,”
answered enson, coolly.

“ Then here’s a solid ten on this hand. See it
if you’ve got the heart.”

‘ See it it is," retorted Benson, covering the
t

“ An ace full.”

“Take it down,” cried Benson, flinging up his
cards.

“ Waked up the wrong ’possum this time, my
boy,” and the judge shook his sides with a.
hearty laugh. “Thought you had a softy,
didn’t you. that you’d clean right out? It’s
your deal, Benson. ’

The judge swung round in his seat and en‘
countered the young face of Ralph behind him.
At once a look of. anger came into his counte-
nance.

“Blame your impudencel” he roared, “ what
are on spying around here, for? Is that what
the Hotel kee 5 you for, to spy on their guests?
Now get, be. ore I kick you into the middle of
next week.”

“ Do you own this establishment?” asked
Ralph, composedly.

“ What the blazes is that your affair?”

“Only I wouldn’t begin to run it before I
owned it, that’s all.”

“ Did you ever hear the like of that, Benson?”
cried the judge, with a hoarse laugh. “ That‘s
the we they bring up boys nowadays. Lord.
I’m ha f-afraid to take off my boots at night
for fear some of the boys will be stepping into
them. Vamose now, my oung rooster! I
don’t want no half-feathered chicken blinking
over my shoulder.”

“All right, judge,” returned Ralph, risilig
with an easy air. " Peaches ripen early here-
aways; and boys are as smart as our men out
West. Do you want me to tell . Benson the
reason you don’t like a looker-on i”

" I want you to mind your own business, and
be hanged to you i” roared the angry judge.
“Slide now, while your skin’s warm.”

“ When are you going to pay me that quarter,
judge?" asked Ralph, with a tantalizing air.

“ I’ve a notion that quarter is about nare.”
remarked Mr. Benson with a sly smile. ‘ Let’s
find gnother table, judge, if this youngster wants
this.

“ Nary time,” answered Rel h, rising and
walking away, with a gay whist e.

The gamblers turned again to their work, the
jud still growling about “ the infernal im-
pe 'nence of boys nowadays,” while Benson
preserved his coolness of demeanor.

“ What did he want to tell me, judge?" asked
the latter.

“Oh, some of his babyish fancies,” was the
bust and nervous reply. “ Don’t ask me for
all t e nonsense that goes through a boy’s nod-
dle. Deal the cards, Benson, and don’t addle
your brains about the youn sprout.”

A faint smile came to enson’s lips as be
obeyed. He evidently “ smelt a rat.”

Ralph walked whistlin away with his hands
in his pockets. After loo ng around the room
in which there were other guests of the Gran_
Central. he left the establishment, and made his
way back to the hotel.

" What luck?” asked Mr. Jones, on perceivin
his: deputy. “ Anything in the wind?" '

“ A gudgeon piloting a shark,” answered
Ralph, with a knowing wink. “ Benson led
straight to Larry’s card den. I caught them
in a game of poker. And, bless you, you should
have seen the neat way in wbic the judge put
up the cards! He’s a sharp, from the Word go.
I bet he picks the Chicago greeny as clean as
a d rv chicken-bone.”

“ Didn’t I say so?” exclaimed the clerk.
“ Keep an eye on him, Ralph. He’s our man.”

“ He plays the blufl.’ as neat as wax-works.
Just rants and roars like a big bull calf; and all
the time he’s handling the deck like a Mississip-
pi gambler.”

‘ Look out he don’t play the same game on
the hotel. That's what e’s here for.” _

“ He can’t stack that hand on me. replied
Ralph confidently. “ I’ll watch him like a hawk
after a bluebird. Bet you high 1 checkmate his
little game.” ‘

The youthful detective walked away with an
air of shrewdness. He had full confidence in

his own ability, and he only wanted a chance

to repay the judge for his late contumely.
Ralph took the elevator and went up to the

upper floors of the hotel.

It was part of his

 

duty to keep an eye upon the halls and corri-
dors while the guests were at meals.

He had not gone far before he came upon the
young runaway wife, Mrs. Sherman, who was
movin along in rather a suspicious manner, at
some distance from her room.

On seeing Ralph her face put on an expression
of innocent relief.

“ Oh, dear sir!” she exclaimed, laying her
hands on his arm beseechingly. “ I am ever so
glad to meet you. I was own to the parlor,
and was dreadfully afraid of meeting niy—of
meeting Mr. Benson. “She hastily corrected
herself. “ Will you not kindly go ahead, and
warn me of danger? Oh, if I can only get back
to in room without his seeing me!”

“ ou needn’t be afraid,” said Ralph in a tone
of assurance “ Your father is not in the estab—
lishment.”

“My father! Why, I never said he was my
father! What ever gave you that fancy?" She
burst into a peal of ringing but somewhat
strained laughter.

“ It won’t do, Mrs. Sherman,” answech
Ralph with asly look. “We hotel folks, yen
know, get our eye teeth cut early. Don"! I
know that you’re a precious pair of runawnv
turtle-doves, and that your daddy is after you."

“ Oh, dear me, what a fancy l” and she tgaiii
lau hed merrily. "Why, we are an old mar-
rie Couple!”

“ How old?” asked Ralph, looking knowingly
into her eyes.

“ You cunning dog!” She tapped him play-
fully on the arm. “ I really thought we could
fool you.”

“ Not so easy,” laughed Rel h.

“I know how it is. It is oger. He is so
dreadfully shy. I tell him he is just letting
cvvrgody know. But it’s no use. But, “out
you my friend, Mr.-——Mr.—”

“ Ready,”-sug sted Ralph.

“ Mr. Ready, do so need a friend! Roger is
so backward. But you know all the ways of
the hotel. You can keep my—Mr. Benson, I
mean, away from me.”

“All right,” laughed Ralph. “It is a bar-

ain. I’m a regular angel in a romance, Mrs.
herman. Just leave it all to me.”

“ Do you think it safe for us to go down to
the supper-table, while he is out? I am so hun-

ry. nd I know the waiter won’t bring me
he f enough to eat, if he brings up my sufiper."

“ It is perfectly safe,” answered alph.
“Mr. Benson is in good hands. He won’t be
back these two hours.”

Ralph began to see plenty of fun ahead. He
Biloted the youn couple to the elevator. Mr.

herman seeme more shy than ever, and
stm tled nervously at the least sound.

“Don’t be scared,” Ralph remarked. “No-
body is going to eat you alive.”

“ am not used to traveling," acknowledged
the bashful spouse. “ And—and besides—”

“ Oh, put on a stiff upper lip. Folks will be
looking at you. This is the way to the supper-
rcom.’

Ralph stationed them at aretired table, called
a waiter, and then fixed himself at a distant
table to eat his own supper, while keeping an

e e on the amusin ir.
y g pa as Mrs. Sher-

They were certainly him
man had declared, if one cgi'iId jud e by the
epretty

havoc they made in the provisions.
young wife, who looked as if she had been just
weaned on rose leaves, made a frightful assault
on beefsteak, while her bashful spouse did not
Seem a bit shy in the presence of a Veal cutlet.

Ralph continued to watch them, a quiet;
smile upon his face, as he deliberately made his
own supper.

“ That’s what one might call a wild Western
appetite,” he thought. “ That delicate little
angel makes no more of a boiled potato than I
would of a chestnut. And her sweet-faced boy
husband ha= got the appetite ofabip potamus.
The ‘11 make a famine, sure if they eep on.”

His eyes were fixed on Mr. Sherman, who
had just raised a morsel of cutlet to his lips. Ho
let it suddenly drop, while a pallor came upon
his face. In an instant he had caught up his
napkin and was wiping his mouth in such a
way as to half conceal his face.

Ralph f0110wed the direction of Mr. Sher- '
man’s eyes. They seemed fixed upon a person
who had just entered the room—a tall, thin-
faced, beardless personage, with a peculiar set
in his lips, and a keen look in his gray eyes.

He stood beside a table. and moved his eyes
sharply around the room before taking his seat.
Mr. Sherman continued to hold the napkin to
his face, while he said something in a low tone
to his wife.

“ Another spoke in the wheel,” Ralph said to

  

 

 

6

Ralph Randy, the Hotel Boy Detective.

 

himself. “ Wonder if this is the boy’s daddy?
Looks like it the way the youn rogue quails.
I must slip them np-stairs guie y. - ’yo given
my word, and am in for it.’ .

v be stranger had now seated himself and was
giving his order, but his eyes continued their
watchful'glances. Ralph got up and strolled
over to the young couple. '

“ I’vo seen it all,” he said. “ It’s your ater-

‘ nal ancestor this time, Mr. Sherman. here’s
no use denying. I can see through it. If he
gets his eye on you. mercy, won’t there be a

ick upl Come, I fancy I can cOVer your re-‘

treat.”

He stationed l’ililmself so a; to Iconceal tbs dtwo
young guests. e rose asti y, artly i in,
their faces with theiyr handkerchieg. Sheite
by Ralph they managed to slip unseen from the
room.

A few minutes sumced them to reach their
apartment. Ralph was turning away, with a
strict injunction to them to keep mum. But
the pair rushed forward, Mr. Sherman seizing
one hand and shakin it fervently, while Mrs.
Sherman caught and k ssed the other.

“ How can we ever repay you?”

“ Oh, that’s nothing,” protested Ralph, break-
ing awe . “ Just wait till it’s all through, and
see if I on’t circumVent the raging parents.”

He hurried briskly away, failing to erceive
the peculiar smile that passed between usband
and wife. Were they secretly making merry
at his ex heel

A h -hour afterward he noticed the new-
comer close] inVestigating the hotel register
and questioning the clerk. .

“ I knew it,” said Ralph, triumphantly.
“ It’s the boy’s daddy,.or don’t know peas
from persimmonsl"

CHAPTER V.
A HYS‘I'ERY AT run GRAND CENTRAL.

RALPH READY sat in the clerk’s office, with
his eyes fixed upon a note-book which he held
in hishand. He read its contents carefully, oc-
casionally making a fresh note. ' ‘

Mr. Jones turned to him, after getting rid of

some inqlgisitive guests, of that sort'who think
ahliiotel .c rk is born with a knowledge of every-
t n . '
“It’s a wonder they don’t ask me next how
many square inches goes to an acre in the
moon,” he declared in a vexed tone. “If
they’d use their own brains a little they ht
give mine a rest. ow goes it, Ralp i re
you seeing through your milestone?” '

“I don t know just what to make of old Blue-
bottle ” answered Ralph, shaking his head
doubtful! . “He’s a cross between a bluster-

ing churc deacon and a full-blown rogue.”

’ ‘He looks honest enough, but actions s ak
louder than looks. Have you noticed any ing
suspicious?" “ '

‘ Yes,” replied Ralph, referring to his note-
book. ‘ It's all down here.” .
filing I fiIItid him roami 'lngdaroungdghe u r

e a re was :1 a over
for snacks. but 31510 was lost; Put thdt‘s “PE: my

“Item: He plays the innocent on Benson, works

it: into a ame of poker, and stacks the cards on

spam . Never saw more barefaoed rd»-
“ Cheated, did he?” asked the clerk. .
“Cheated isn‘t no word for it. He plucked
Bonner that’s-the truth.” _

“ A oubtful character and a practiced gum.
bier,” considered the clerk. “Anything else,

Ralph?”
I Ralph referred again to his notebook.

“Item: Caught him coming out of the em of
one of our guests. This time he was hun n for
Damon‘s room. Said that Benson had clean him
out, he wanted to have his revongc. Get into
that m by mistake. Found the door unlocked."

“That’s too thin,” said. the clerk. “Watch
Aiim close, Ralph. He is afterno good. It is
odd that people will not keep their doors locked.
But there are always some careless fools. If
we hear of an robbery Bluebottle’s our game.”

He gave lph a significant wink, who
answered it h another. -. 

“I calcula we know'a th
the youthful detective. “ Your estern sharps
are digging in the many I’m only a boy,
Hr Jones; but I don‘t ancy old Bluebottle can
salinechssp.”  . -. .

_ “Do on soothe tall, she faced fellow over
there the paper stand asked the clerk,
.pointin to the man meant. -

l

or two,” said

looked. It-was the same man whohad
given the runawaycoupie thostart in thesepper- ; .
e . had .a beamed; in greenbaoks in my true

room.

"He ison s scontofmekind,’eontinued

0.. .._....._...... .._..... ........,-.-A..a .. . .-.._... .-

 

Mr. Jones. “Investigated the register, and
asked me all sorts of questions about our guests.
He is tracking some parties, know. But he
was so rascally sly that I got on my mettle, and
ave him no satisfaction. Folks that want to
now every thing and tell nothing, don’t always
win their game.

“I know what he is after.”

“ You do, eh‘l” exclaimed Mr. J ohes in sur-
prise. ” “ What is it, then? Hang me if I could
guess. .

“ You know our pair of runaway goslin’s?”

4‘ Yes.”

“ Well, this is the boy’s daddy. Benson of
Chicago is the girl‘s daddy. Why, they ’re scared
half out of their skins. They’ve froze onto me
as their best friend.”

“By Jupiter, Ralph, I believe _ ou’re right,”
exclaimed Mr. Jones, energetics] y. “It was
a young couple he was spying after. But he
was so confounded sly that threw him of! the
track. What’s tone done? Shall we pass them
over to their daddies?“

“Nary time,” cried Ralph. “They’re mar-
ried, and that can’t be.undone. I’ve passed my
word to screen them from their raging daddies,
and I’m going to do it. It’s a neat bit of .sport,
Mr. Jones, and that just suits me. And besides
they’re so sweetly tender and bashful and
idiotic. A nice pair of babes in the woods. It
would be a royal shame to go back on them.”

“ Look out they don’t stack the cards on ygu,
as thcjudge did on Benson. They might a
pa‘i‘rlsaf Western sharps.” th V d

n on see anything green ere.’ re n -
ed Rel Ii, touching his eye. 5pc

f‘ Al right, my boy. But smartness is one
thin and experience is another.”

" ust you trust me for that. I might be
sold by a goose, but I can’t be by a osling.”

This conversation was suddenl nterrupted.
Judge Bluebottle h just leaps from the ele-
vator with a dam ng face, and eyes flashing
fury. He ran fierce] across to the clerk’s desk,
Bhouldering every yin his way rudely aside.
His hat was flungbac on his forehead, and his
long hair stood out around, like a loose fringe.

“ By the rantankerous Rocky Mountain goatl"
he shouted, “if this isn’t thinner than skim-milk,
then sell me for a played-out old jackass! I’ve
been robbed, sirl- Robbed! some of your hotel
.thieves have gone through my trunk, I tell you!
Five hundred in hard cash, and a ackage of
papers that are worth thousands! housandsi
sirl Do you hear me! i’ve been robbed! An
if the stuff don’t come back quicker than light-
ning I’ll make this hotel howli Take that dowa
sir! I’ll make it howl. worse than a speckl.
rooster with the gripes!” .. i; .e .

Mr. Jones looked at him in any rise. He was
fairly foaming with rage. It d1 not look like

a c . . v
. “Will you lease simmer down, Mr. Blue-
bottlei” adv the clerk in his cool manner.
9‘ I am not a bit hard of. hearing. Just come
down to uiet logic, and let me know, what has.

happened v . . -

‘Quiet logicl‘ It’s mighty nice talking! Do
Wu think in blood’sall buttermilki” The irate

esterner -airly danced in his excitement.
“ i’ve been robbed,'I say! Do you hear thsti”

“ We have a safe here for valuables,” answered
the clerk coldl . “If'guests choose to keep
their money in heir rooms the hotel is not re-
sponmhlen Youwill find.,the rules of the hotel
on‘yfiur reg)? door.” k . . h h

.' ang ,sir m trun was gone t ro
before I got it!  blunderiug porter stggk
it in somebody she’s room, and they went.
throgéb it.” - . .

I: Y asgt locked when you got it?”

as, _ "  l .

“ Then how do you know they opened it? It.
was in the room of . ,young- married couple,
who are _,not the kind hat ndulge in trunk-
robbing. It was not there an hour. and when
the port"newest after it he found them both
asleep.-. They didn’t know that they had the
w trunk-s till he. told them. .Sounds likely,
do t itl How do we know but your trunk was
robbed airtime train? 0r maybeyou forgot to
put our mom: in it.” '

“iii: .1 di’r ,thc‘hjudgerx “Ilook
like that ind, on’t Ill 7 on’lliell me next that
1’v:.10rgck my ears. Here’s Benson. «He’s been
re As him if he dropped his cash in

.-aratrhole ins . .of inhifl‘tl’wk

Mr. Benson had been standing behind the
ma, during this.tirade,.with an anxious face,
not able tc-gatayord. in edgewaya. He
‘nowsteppsd forward;  .. . . ,
“ all) net marks replied doubtfullyt

' man.

 

Haj“ I"
and
there are only fit: y there now." 

, I  . , I

1
‘1 . . . 1 ,
A» a- ‘3' ' ‘7 - - m . swan-.4,“ . .- .

“ How much did the judge win at that little
game of poker?” asked Ralph innocently, from
his corner. I

“ Win? Blazes! He cleaned me out,” cried
the judge. " Went through me like a rat
through a biscuit.”

“I thought you were holding the winning
hands,” remark Ral h slyly.

“ Luck turned. uck turned ” was the hasty
reply. “ Confound the cards, they always kick
up their heels at me. But what’s that got to do
with the robberyi”

“ Maybe ou’ve been having some other little

games, that’s what has gone with your
monfiy.”
“ ang your impudent young picture. do you
want me to flatten your pr mg proboscis?”
The furious: Westerner seems on the point of
springing over the barrier, and punishing the
inquisitive youth.

“ Come, come Bluebottle,” said Mr. Benson
soothiugly, catching him by the sleeve. “ There
is no nee talking here. Let us 0 lay our cam-
plaint before the authorities. hat'e the place
to get justice.”

‘ Blast me if your head isn’t level, Benson!”
roared the judge. “Come ahead, old chap.
You bet I’m not going to stand this. I’ll have
my money, or I’ll mortgage this hotel. I’m no
slouch, nary time.’ ‘

He followed Mr. Benson, still muttering
threats of revenge. _

As may be imagined, this explosion had made
a marked sensation in the main hall of the ho-
tel. A considerable number of persons were
present, guests and visitors, and they crowded
curiousl around the angry judge. Some fol-
lowed m and his companion from the hotel;
others pushed up to question the clerk. Some,
with anxious faces, made for the stairs and the
elevator. These Were probably guests who had
left valuables in their room, and vs ho had grown
nervous on hearing the judge’s startling asser-
tion.

“I know nothing whatevsr about it,” Mr.
Jones test.in answered his questioners. “Thu
trunks got mixed, and were for an hour in
the room. of a young married couple. But the '
were all right when they left there, and I don t
believe a word of this cock-and-bull story. The
man has not been robbed in this hotel.”

“A can married couple, did you say i”
asked ‘ he sgamfacod guest whom lph had
con ectured to. be the bridegroom’s father.
“ hat sort of looking page are thesei” ‘

‘2 Genuine country fol ,” answered the
clerk. “The lady has red hair, and the youth
a carroty nose, and dressed like a guy. Do you
know them, sir?”

“ No,” answered the other. “ They are stran-
gers to me.”

He; turned away with an air of disappoint-
men . '

Mr. Jones winked at Ralph, as much as to
say “I didn’t pumpworth a cent. The cat’s
in thebag-yet.” .
Silence and calm fell upon the hotel after this
excitin episode. Mr. Jones leaned his arms on
his des , and looked vacantly oi! into space.
Ralph made a new entry in his notebook. The
sharp stranger stood leaning against a pillar,
following With his e es every person that
passed thr_ h the he] . There was something
very keen in is gaze.

But this calm was only the pause before the
storm. Clouds were gathering, that would soon
break out in new thunders.

Down Gallic the elevator, and landed a donen
of excited individuals, gentlemen. and ladies,
some of them .pale, some very red in the face.
They were the guests who had burned up-
stairs on hearing of the robbery.

It: a moment, a redoublad confusion followed
the rei of calm. They hurried across to the
clerk’s ask, each in eager excitement.

“ It is true! We have been robbed. The ho.
tel has been robbed 1” they cried. In wild anxie-
ty. “Our rooms have been entered-we have
been robbed l” ,

“What is that?” cried the clerk, new thor-
oughly aroused. “ Robbedl Who says he has
been robbed!” ‘ . -

9.1 do,”sturdily answered a stout English-
“I do. I’vo lost a dozen ’andkerehiefs
and a bottle of brand ; and I’ll ’aVe it book,

" sirrah, I’ll ’ave it back.

“I have lost a pair of iamond earring,"
broke in a shewily-dress lady. “Value in
solitaire brilliants. And .«I. know my room door

- was locked " g . . r -
“ It is a confounded'pity that a man cap’t be -
.safe in his own rooms,” exclaimed, .a .hlghly-.

dressed young-gentleman. “I laid to pulse on
the bureau notan hour ago. Forgot It, in fact.

\

 

 

a . .. A _ —->--v —~-~~ »- ....—.—...—.‘...._ .

BalphwReady, the Hotel Boy, Detective.

._.._... Aw..- -- ._..._.__.._.._....... ‘

7 .

 

 

It is not there now. What do you think of
that sir?"

“ ow much money was in iti”

“ More than three hundred dollars.”

The clerk made an effort to reply, but his
voice was drowned in those of the other guests,
who eagerly recounted their various losses.
According to them the thieves had made a rich
haul. ' '

“ I am sorry to hear all this, ladies and gen-
tlemen,” remarked the clerk, as soon as he
could get an opportunity to speak. “ It is your
own carelessness, I must say. The hotel accepts
no responsibility for money or jewels left in the
rooms of guests. We provide a place for the
safekeeping of valuables. But, of course, the
proprietors of the Grand Crntral cannot rest
under this imputation. This robbery shall be
looked strictly into. I will send for detectives
at once and have every suspicious party ex-
umined.”

As he spoke Judge Bluebo".tle and Mr. Ben-
son re-entered the hotel, accompanied by a party
who looked like a detective. They were in-
stant] surrounded by the other Victims, who
eager y recounted their losses to the jud e.

“ What do you think, Ralph? 18 old “Duluth
our game?” asked Mr. Jones, turning to his
subordinate.

But Ralph had gone.
eral minutes obefore.

He had vanished sev-

 

C.HAPI‘ER VI.
mun naAns A soou'rmo PARTY.

THAT there was a bi b state of excitement in
the Grand Central us not be told. The charge
of robbery had fallen like a bombshell in the
midst of the guests. Nothing of the kind had
ever been known there before. The hotel had
led a very quiet, respectable life, and for its
cal existence to be broken in this way seemed
dre dful to contemplate.

The proprietors were quickly notified on the
circumstance, and were severely indignant at
the base idea. ‘

“I cannot believe’ it,” cried one of them,
angrily. “ Nothing of thekindyvas ever heard
of here. These good folks are dreamin . It is
a sort of epidemic: a kind of catching disease.”

“ Then you think that a charge of robbery is

like cholera or the smaleox?’ asked a est,
sarcastically. “ See here, Mr. Mulford, ’m a
few steps short of being a fool. I know that i
left evaluable ringllying on my bureau, and .I
know it is gone. aybe you will say that is
?ll fa’ncy.- I an’: “ally to swear that it is all
act. I I 'V g I ~

Mr. Jones drew his einplo er aside, and en-
gaged him in an eager, w ispered'conversa-
tion. . -
“There is no doubt of it,” he declared.
“There has been a robbery committed. It is
our duty to order an investigation at once. It
will not do for it to be said that we shirked in-

quir .”
“éertainly notl' Of course not! The thing
must be looked into immediately. But I am in

a quandary, J ones. 'Our. ople are honest. They »

gave #11 been tried. 0 has done this reb-
ery

“ That is what we want to find out,” smiled
Mr. Jones. “ Omcers are on band now. We
must leave it to them to investigate.”

In addition to the detective brought by Judge
Bluebottle. there was another present, who had
been sent for by the clerk. 'Iheee men 'had been
for some Inqu WS‘IY wse'ged- in questioning
the victimized guests. “This they did so, the
quiet, sharp-faced man, of whom we' have-al-
ready spolien, a who had registered himself
as J ohn Rnneome. 05, T019010. stood leaning in.
dolently against a pillar. his keen eyeeflxed on
the faces of the various parties interested. 4

While this was going on down-stairs some
events of importance were taking place in the
upper region of the hotel. Ralph. Wm}- the in-
stinct of a detective, had firm-ceded thither im-
mediately on hearin of t e robbery. with the
intention of examin hg the indications. Some.
thin of importance might be visible now,
whic would disappear if not at once looked

into. v

Thatthe blustering old jud was the thief.
he felt sure, the more so as g: had examined
the r‘ ' ter. and found that. the room from
which e had seen-him emerging was that of
one of the victimsof the robb'e .

“ There is no mistake about ,” Ralph con-
sidered. ' “ Old Duluth is our game. A pre.
cious rascal he is; too.  himself, ehi
That‘s an old trick. I bet he finds that he, is
gaying it on the wrong customers this-time.

ow beroareaud rants“ It is‘ a very shrewd

I

‘but it’s dreadful sometimes.

 

game, and, mi ht work if played on green
country-hotel olks. But I don’t fancy it will
go dowu in the Grand Central.” ,

This conjecture of Ralph was certainly a very
reasonable one. It was the same as was ado ted
by the detectives down-stairs, when Mr. ones
took them aside, and explained his suspicions.

In fact it seemed evident on the face of it. It
appeared so plain to Ralph that he thought it,
on the whole, rather stupid.

“ A keen thief would have covered his tracks
up better,” he told himself.

And yet it does not always do to accept what
seems evident on the faCe of it. In this world
of tricks and wiles the clear side is not always
the true side, as the young detective was likely
to find out before he was much older.

His investigations were interrupted, ere
they had made much progress, by the appear-
ance of Mrs. Sherman, who wore on her pretty
face a look of ea er determination. .

“Excuse me, r. Ready," she cried. “You
have been so kind that I hardly dare venture
to ask any more favors of you. But—but we
are all young folks together, you know. R0 er
and I have been very hasty and foolish. gut
what could we do?” She shrugged her pretty
shoulders helplessly. “ We were so much in
love. You ought to appreciate our position, for
you will be doing the same thing yourself next.”

“I will?" exclaimed Ralph. “Well, I guess
not. Not if the court knows herself.”

“ Don’t tell me,” she petulantly replied. “A
spry young fellow like you. And you are not
much younger than Roger. And ever so much
older t an me. You would not imagine what a
mere baby I am.”

“ You havs lived lon enough to know a thing
or two,” he answered, coking critically in her
face. There were lines there that told that the
youn 1'1ady was quite old enough to take care of

erse .

“You are a cunning rogue,” she declared.
tapping his arm knowingly with her fan. “I
have to be wide-awake, r. Ready, that is a
fact. Roger is such a child. He is no more fit
to deal with the world than a caterpillar.”

“‘I fancy so. The young entleman is shy,
that’s certain,” answered ph laughingly.
“ But you have wit enough for the pair, Mrs.
Sherman.” ~

“ I don’t know,” she replied, a look of hel less
trouble comingrupon her young face. “ am
just ap lled when 1 think of all that’s before
us. I o sometimes wish that I was only home
again with my dear mother. A runaway
match is very sweet and romantic, of course,
What will ever
become of us if our fathers overtake us, Mr.
Ready? They are both so angry and violent,
I know. ‘I tremble at the very thought of it.”

“ They look mild enough.”

“They? Who ‘do you meani Oh,
that notion of yours that they are
Whatever gave you such an idea?" ,

“ Youl do not say that it is not a true one,”

on mean
ere now.

remarked/Ralph,- with only look into her inno-

cent blue eyes.

“Olin. nonsense! You’re to sharp. But, Mr.
Ready, do you know that we are perfect pris-
Oners here? Afraid to move a step for fear we

will be seeni And I can’t bear the idea. It.

makes me ust wild to get out. Can’t you slip
us out of t ehotel somehow without—without

anybody seein usi I must have a iacelaround
gheiclzit; , or 1’ do something desperate, I know
in - v

Ralph considered a moment, while her bright
eyes-eagerly read his face.

“ It can be done easily enon h, Mrs. Sherman.
There is the back stairway. f W! only meet
nobody that knows you in the passages.’

“ You are everso kind,” she impulsively cried.
“ Just go and see that the way is clear, won’t
you now, my dear, kind friend! I shall . be so
grateful. I Will be dressed for the street by the
time you come back.”

“ I hardly think you will be waylaid,” he
answered. “ The trouble down-stairs will has
everybody out of the way.” -

“ The trouble? What trouble?” .

“ Why, have you not heard? I thought every-
bod in the house knew. The hotel has been
rob . Beveral‘moins have-been entered. 30“
valuables stolen. this morning.” ‘

“ Oh my i” Her eyes dilated to double their
sins. She laid both hands impulsively on his

arm. and looked with a frightened air into his.

face. “Rolmedi 0h mercy! Why, it’s too

dreadful for anythingl" But you :re only 50?

log.“ Yan'aro i tosea me.

“,No moccamhfi solid fraect.” * «
., “To'thiuk’xel‘fiti And Rim-rant! are ever
socareiess.~ Ween

 

’t it a'mereyweistayed incur,

rooms? We’d be sure to leave somethingahout.
And do on know somebody. did try our door?”

“Is t at so?” he asked. “When. was that,
Mrs. Sherman?" .

“ On, two hoarse 0. Only suppose the door
had come 0 n. and had been ere alone and
some drea ful man come inl I would ave
been scared out of every inch of my life. And
I don’t believe Roger would be much good, in
such a case.”

“ I hardly think he would frighten of! a big _
garty,” laughed Ralph. “ But get ready, Mrs. l

herman. will go see if the coast is clear.”

“ I am half afraid to let you go. You won’t
be long!” I

“ You may look for me in five minutes.”

Ralph walked brisk] away. The frightened
ynullg creature stood coking after him, with a
look upon her face that meant anything but
fright.

"Isn’t be nice, and oodmatured, and soft?”
she said to herself. “ declare it is a shame to
play on him. But—”

She Shl'u ged her shoulders meanineg as she
turned ban to her room.

Ralph proceeded on his tour of investigation.
There were but two persons whom it was neces- .
sary to avoid, and be funded he knew where
the were to be found. He hastened, accord-
ing y, to the main floor of the hotel, where he
had recent] left these personages. . .

He foundy things very different there from
their condition a short time before. The officers
and the viqtims of the robbery had disappeared.
Mr. Jones was not in his accustomed place.
Neither of the persons for whom he was seeking
were in si ht. .

“ What as become of them all?” asked Ralph
of one of the hotel employees. “They were
raising Cain here a few minutes ago.” »

“Mr. Mulford has invited them to a private
room, so that the detectives may have a chance
to investigate the ice. I believe the rooms
are to be examin next.” _ ‘

Ralph turned away after a few words more.

“Now is the time to get out my goslings,” be
believed. “ If I leave them till the canon. at
up here they will _be scared out of a wee ’e
feathers. I am not much afraid for Mrs. 8her-'
man. But poor, little, bashful Roger, what a
dear doll-baby of a man he is.” , ~ ~

A very few minutes brought Ralph back. to
the door of the young married couple.
Sherman was waiting for him rather anxiously.

1‘3‘1 am got ogten nervous, ,; she, (labels mm. ,
“ at you ave ust upset me y your org
story. We are all ready. We are going. to ,
have ever so good a run. I supposejie can
come back the same way we so?” ,. ,

“Oh, yes." . _ .. .

“It Will not be till after dark.” I

“Why don’t you go to another hotel,.Mre.
Sh“filfimmnf id to 6 th' I
. ' ama ra oany lug. ,
got to creep out only for a walk. I’ll. think it
all over to-nigbt, t ough. Come, Rogers."
must hurry now.’ . it:  

She was dressed for the street, and in».
her hand a large leather bagik oraow

. a hold. a

appeared, also ready for a we
bag still larger than that of his wifer. .
“We are going shopping,”rshe ex 1 ,
“ ger didnt want to carry thathag, at I
mantra] ham goat. I e _ t to buy-cgnfiiglergbile.”
P 9 6W”, 81"“ , .0 we no
retreating, sly way that made In laugh, One.
might have imagined that they had some deep
conspiracy in view, or were really escaping
fromthecellsofaprisona . i... . _ .
Their youthful couduc r was in his 91931.“.
This was spice to him. He was fund o: “1wa
ture of any kind. and the kittenish waysvot 'tbo
ou wife had quite won him over. He was
an to keep on the side of the runaways, and -
counter-march on their fathers. It was a re-
mance exactly to his fanc . . ,
“Oh, hush! Whatis t at?” exclaimed Hrs. ‘
Sherman. in alarm. - “Somebody is coming.
What will we do?” , ,. ,- -
“ It is only some of the chambermaids,” sug-
gested Ralph. -
“ No.” exclaimed Mr. Sherman. with an-
wonted energy for him. “It is:me steps...
They areooming u the stairs. Do. you not

hear them?” He c tched Mph’l. arm-mom. ' ,

vousl . . v . . 
“Bilateral us. boy. don’t b0 ’0 scary!” was
Ralph’s scornful answer. “The!- are, not.
shark’s, and you are not minnows. 

W3 . ' 4 1'1  I H -
.issrsranmmmns ;

that the committee of investigation was m

to examine the rooms. , ,

 

    

You see we’ve .‘ fl

   
 

  
   

u... _... ,. .w.--m.

 

“-4... w» ...-__:

I“ It is natural, though, I suppose

Masai—y... ’

- u... .-n eu-.~.— Acts”:

...__4 W “gun's-n. “

.8

l

Ralph Ready. the Hetel Boy Deteotive.

 

.‘4

 

He led on through a medley of ssages.
Finally they reached the private eta rway of
which he had s ken. This they descended, his
followers man festing an anxious‘haste which
brouvght a smile of disdain to Ralph’s face.

“ hat children they are,” he said to himself.
They know
no more about life than a monkey knows about
horse-chestnuts.”

Ere long they gained the ground floor of the
91th They were in- the servant.’ quarters,
several of whom they met, who looked with
surprise to see well-dressed guests in this region
.of the house.

Ralph winked knowingly to these persons.
and led the way to a door that opened on a rear
street.

“ You are safe for a run now,” he announced.
“You can come back this same way. 1 pre-
sume you can find your way about.“

“ Oh, vesl Do not let us trouble you any
longer. You have been ever so kind. Good-
by, Mr. Ready.” '

" Good-day, you mean. It is hardly good by
yet." He laughed as he turned backmto the
hotel.

The husband and wife looked knowingly at
each other. I

“ I hope our darling young goose won’t be too
sure of that,” remarked Mr. Sherman, in a tone
of voice very different from that he had hitherto
used.

 

CHAPTER VII. .
INVESTIGATING A BURGLARY.
Tait invostigation of the robbery was going
«on in the private room of the Grand Central, to
which Mr. Mulford had led the interested par-

ties. ' ' i

The detectives had made a close search into
the subject, sharply questioning all the parties
concerned. They had - apparently failed to
arrive at any satisfactory conclusions. All the
losing arties were sure they had locked their
room 'dpoors. Yet the rooms had been entered. By
whom and how was the question. The thief
must have a master key to the hotel
locks. Was it one of the employees?

“ Who went through my trunk. that is what
I want to find out?” demanded Judge Bluebottle
an, ' “ What the blazes is the use of your
detee Ives if they can’t answer a plain question
like that?”

“He be we might answer it,” replied one of

the re significantly, “ but we are not yet
" ‘toansweranything. Where was our
runk at the time yen think t was robbed?

“ Bless you,2 do you think I know all the ways
and means of the hotel? Ask the clerk there.

He’s responsible.”
t slightly mixed up.” replied

“ he trunks
Mr. nesé ' -“ trunks of these two gentle-

men went to the rooms of a young married *

ample,"an Shel-mm, where they remained
for an hour.” I

*‘ Ah‘l” said the deieotiv “That is an inter.
esting fact. What became of the trunk of
theselmarriedvfolksi” ’

“ They got into the rooms of our two friends
here. who opened them, and came down stairs
in fun dresses.” -

Mn? ones laughed at the recollection.

“Opened them, did they? How was this,
gentlemen? Where did you get keys?”

“My key fit the trunk,’ cried the judge
hastily. ‘1“ And it was the c v of mine. I
never thou ht of a blunder till had it open.”

“And dd your key fit the trunk you re-
ceived?” asked the officer of Mr. Benson.

“No. The trunk was not locked. I knew it

' was not mine. but 1 thought I might borrow a

change of clothing.”

Anew'laugh arose. Some of those present-

had seen him in-h'is change of clothing.

“ Is this mixin of trunks a usual thing?”
asked the omcer 0 Mr. Mulford. '

“ Not usual. I fancy some of our guests have
made a mistake in selecting their baggage.”

“ What do‘ you mean, sir? Is that an in-
sinuation against me?" demanded the judge
hotly. “ Do 3 on know who I am, sir?”

“Not yet. but I hope to know before long,"
was the cold And disdainful reply. -

“I am Judge Bluebottle, of Duluth, sir. I
can prove my words, sir. And. I will chastise
the man who dates as I ain’t, an.”

‘1‘ in feet, with a very red
face and swelling like’a turke OOCk.‘ w -«

‘“ cool, my dear sir. on will find that
blmter, thrown away here. This investiga-
' on, no matter where it hits.”

“Who ’iuder'in it.sirra‘hf Ire l our
‘  p be

dnsecall my

'the parties concerned. Doubte

 

“ Not at all. I would only say that I want to
understand how those trunks got mixed. Next
I want to know how your key proved so good
for opening strange baggage. Perhaps you
haveone that is equally good at opening strange
doors. If not, how came you in room 407, last
evening?”

This was a knock-down blow. The judge red-
dened and hesitated. Thee es of the detectives
were fixed searchineg on is face. He stam-
mered in replying.

“ I—I was huntingrBenson,” he declared. “ I
mistook the room. he door was unlocked.”

“ Is that so, Mrs. Mason? You are in 4.07, I
believe.” -

“I always lock my room door,” replied the
person addressed. a good-looking, showily-
dressed lady of an uncertain age. “ I deny the
allegation. I know it was locked this morning.
And yet I lost a box of costly laces.”

“ If your room is the one spoken of, it was
open last night,” answered the judge, more

calmly. “You will be claiming next that I
am the thief. I, that am the greatest victim of
the arty.”

“ e have only your word for that,” replied
Mr. Mulford, with cold suspicion.

“And I’d have. you know that my word is

never called in uestion. By the great Rocky
Mountain goat lll knock the next man that
calls me .a thief into the middle of next Week!
I can prove who I am, sir. I am no base ad-
venturer. .I have been robbed in your hotel,
and I am bound to beredressed, or somebody
shall bowl!
a thief. Now you hear that?”
“ Come, come, judge,” cautioned Mr. Benson
layin a hand on his arm. “There’s no good
in losmg your temper. Keep cool. Aceusatiou
is nothing without proof.”

“ Losingm temper?” roared the irate Wes-
terner. ‘ Who says I’m losing my temper? I
am cool, sir. Hang it, sir, I tell you I am cooll
I’d like to see the man that dares say, I can’t
keep my tem r.” He glanced around the
room with the ury of a caged hyena.

During this conversation the detectives had
continued silent, closely watchin the faces of
parties will
often weave the rope to hang themselves. if
given a free opportunity. Just what conclu-
sion the oficers had come to did not appear.
Their countenances were impassive. A marble
status would have shown asmuch emotion. One
of the detectives now spoke. ,

“This recrimination is utterly useless,” he
said. “We cannot arrive at the truth by wild
charges like these. It is best to gist the evidence
first ere .we form conclusions. here are two
parties whose testimony we absolutely need, ere
any decision can be reached. Will you please
send for Mr. a ‘d Mrs. Sherman?” .

“Certainly ” answered Mr. Mulford, turning
to ve an or er. ,

‘ One moment.” came a new voice. _“Ex-
cuse me for interfering. But I would like to
hear what is known about these people before
th’fi are brought here.”

e person speaking was Mr. Ransome, the
sharp-eyed individual whom Ralph believed to
he the young bridegroom’s father. So far dur-
ing the investigation he had remained quietly
leanin against a post, intently listening and
observmg. He now stepped forward. .

“ I have already told you all about them,”
cried Mr. Jones hastily and angrily. “ It
seems to me that you are very inqmsitive about

mus.”

“ I have my reasons, sir. You probabliV had
your reasons for seeking to deceive me.” here
was a very shfirp ring in his voice.

Mr. Jones colored and grew confused.

" You annoyed me by your questions,” he
declared.

“ And you humbugged me with your an-
swers. Or tried to do so.”

“ Come, come, gentlemen.” exclaimed Mr.
Mulford. “All this is useless. As for these

persons we know nothing about them. They ~

are new guests. A very young couple. Seems
to be a runaway match.” .

“ The lady small, pretty, with blue eyes, and
fiaxen hair?” .

“Precisely. And the tleman a good-look-
ing youth. But painful yshy. Do you know
theni'. sir?”

“Theta! cannot say. But I should advise
that, instead of sending for these persons. we
rPOOSGd'tO their  If they are concerned
n th s buiness a- mnmant’s warnin may give
them an ppportnnity to dispense important

evidence.
n ,cne of the

u 
detectives. .“Itis necessary a to examine

You can’t quiet me by calling me.

the ju ge.‘

,his eyes around the

 

the rooms which .were entered. The thieves
may have left their tracks.”

" If Mr. Sharp has no objections, I will go
with him to the room of the Shermans,” re-
marked Mr. Ransome. “ If I know them, asis
possible, my knowledge may be useful.”

“ Certainly,” replied Mr. Shar , a little, wiry
man. “ It is best not to go in a ody.”

In a few minutes afterward the committee of
investigation had entered the elevator, and were
ascending to the upper floors. It was at the
exact time that Ralph was prepared to set out
with his seemingly verdant profeges.

They left the elevator on the third floor. upon
which some of the thefts had been committed.
While one detective pre ared to examine the
rooms up0n this floor. . Sharp. in company
with Mr. Ransome, pscended the stairs to the
floor above, on their special mission. They
were accompanied by the hotel—clerk, who had
taken a Severe dislike to the sharp-eyed and
in uisitive stranger.

t was their steps upon the stairs that had
caused the rapid retreat of the Shermans and
their guide.

In a few moments the detectives" party reach‘
ed their goal. ,

“ This is the room. No. 249,” remarked Mr.
JOnes. “ I presume they are within. They are
a pair of sadly-scared runaways, who have been
afraid to step outside their room door. The
seem to be in mortal terror of pursuit by their
parents. Have had their meals Sent to their
room.” '

An odd look came upon Mr. Ransome's face,
as he listened to this information.

The detective knOOked. No answer came. He
repeated it shar ly. Still all was silent within.

“.They are as eep. or theiv1 are out,” he de-
clared, with a rat-tat on t e door loud enough

to awaken the dead. ,
A pause followed. All continued in utter

silence. _
“Evidentl thelroom is empty,” be con-
sidered. “ our guests have got over their

fright and have gone out.”

“ It would seem so ” remarked Mr. Jones.

“ Can you open the door? It is important
that the room he examined.”

“ Certainly. I will obtain a key.”

Mr. Jones departed, leaving his companions
to await his return. They waited in silence,
few words passing between them.

In a few minutes the remainder of the .party
ascended to the upper, floor. They had finished
their search below. .

The process was rapidly completed. Room
after room was opened and examined, but
nothing in the way of evidence ap ared. The
thief or thieves had left none of t ose tell-tale
tracks which the sharpest criminals so often
leaVe behind them. , .

“These have been. no common fines,” mut-
tered the detectives. “A practi hand has

' “Mi hty well up in bad practices,“ growled
“Here is my room.” He threw
open the room door as he spoke. “And yonder
is my trunk. I .wish you would tell me who
went through it. It isn’t the cash sir. though
five hundred is a pretty sum. lint they’ve
robbed me of papers that are worth thousands.

Thousands, sir.” ~ ,7 ‘
The detective had entered, and was pasting
room with, professions

'been at work here.”

shar .

“I should like to see the inside of your
trunk,” he coldly said to the 'udge. . ,

” Certainly“ Certainly. want you to ex-
amine everythmg. Han meifitisnte ett
go. to be robbed first, an then accused o stea -
in afterward. When this business is (war I’m
go ng to have my turn.” ~

He glared angrily at Mr. Mallard as he spoke.

The detective, with little attention to this
angr bluster, kneeled before the open trunk,
:n ts. n a minute examination ofits con-

on

He rose to his feet after a few minutes. hold-
ing in his hand a narrow piece of ribbon, of a
peculiar shade of red. .

“Does anybody recognize this article?” he

asked. .
us forward and snatched it
from his band. 00 ng at it with sugar eyes.

“ It is mine!” she declared. “ I can swat to
it. I left it in my room this morning. It was
tied in a how, but has been 0 You can
see. the creases. and the pin- .” r _

She held it up triumphantly, and fixed her
eyes with an accusing glancecn the disturbed
face of Judge Bluebottle.

“Yours!” he cried excitedly. “1511' swear,

then, it never went'into that trunk by my

 

‘9'

C

«v

Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Beteotive.

 

 

hands. There is some confounded rascality and
,mystery behind this.”

“ No mystery at all,” answered the detective
coldly. “ It is only one of those blind errors
that thieves are constantly making. You are
my prisoner sir." His hand fell heavily on the
jud e’s shoulder.

“ e? By the eternal-”

“There. Save your breath. You will need
't elsewhere. I arrest (you on the charge of rob-
bing the rooms of the hand Central Hotel.”

CHAPTER VIII.
m car our or ran nae.

MR. SHARP looked keenly about the room of
the Shermans, to which he had just been ad-
mitted. Mr. Ransome stood, with folded arms,
leaning in his usual easy attitude against the
door-post quietly looking on.

“Your shy birds have flown from their nest,
at any rate,” remarked the detective. “We
must wait for their return before we can ex-
amine them. The room looks all right. it has
been only temporarily deSerted.”

He was clOsely examining the apartment as
he spoke.
the wall books, or were thrown over chair-
backs. The bed was rumpled, as if it had been
recently used. Some hair-pins and a bit of rib-
bon lay on the bureau. There was nothing of a
suspicious character.

“Just as I told you,” remarked the hotel
clerk, with a triumphant glance at Mr. Run—
some. “It is ridiculous to suppose that this
boy and girl had anything to do with the rob-
bery.”

“Perhaps not,” was the quiet reply. “Yet
you will please bear in mind that they had the
trunks of your two W'esi'ern guests for an hour
in their room. Both the parties claim to have
been robbed. In a question of this kind, my
dear sir, the improbable often roves the true.
VJ hat do you t 'ink, Mr. Sharpi” "
"‘ You are quite correct, sir,” replied the offi-
(:vl‘. ”“I must say that you have the proper
idea. - ' \ ~

He continued dis investigation with the

' shrewd expertness of a professional, yet noth-

im,r appeared to give warrant for the slightest
suspicion. , .

“ There only remain the trunks,” he at
length said. ‘ We must await the return of
their owners before we can open them.”

“ Why not open them yourself?” inquired Mr.
Ransome.

“Because we have no key, and nothing has
appeared to warrant our forcing them open.

‘ I fancy not ” came another voice. “The
business is ende . The thief has been found.”

The Speaker was one of the other section of
the arty. ' , '

“ he deuce you say! Who is this thief
then?”

“ The blustering old Western sharp that
christens himself Judge Bluebottle. . Some of
the stolen goods were found in his trunk. The
job is nailed on the heavy rascal.” '

At this moment the remainder of the party
came by, the officer with a hand on the arm of
the risoner, who was fiercely protesting.

“ ans your ugly picture, if I don t make
yo sweat for this the saints‘hel me!” he ejac-
ula ed. “ I‘m well known, sir. can prove my
character. I‘m a member of the Legislature.
I’m a Minnesota judge. Do on hear me, sir?
I can ’bring a cart-load of test monies as to who
I am. ' =

“We have ape testimony that will not quite
fill a cart, but it Will answer,”the ofllcer uietly
replied. “When you explain‘how Mrs. flason s
ribbon got into your trupk your case will look
clearer than it dees now.

"‘ Explain it, sir? I don’t pretend to explain

I it. I know nothing about it. There’s some in-

fernal conspiracy to ruin me. But ou're bark-
ing up the wrong tree. If you ow when
ygu’fe”well off you won’t wake up old Blue-

tt 9.

Mr. Sha spoke in a low tone with his asso-
ciate. Be t on turned to Mr. Jones._

“ You me look this room again,” he re-
marked. “ 0 seem to have found the tree
that bore the apple. However, you will please
advise me when the Shermans return. They
ma give some useful evidence.” _

The omcers walked on with their prisoner.
There remained behind Mr. Ransome and the
clerk. Mr. Benson alsoleft the party and joined
them. His face was marked by an oxpresmon
of anxie . ,

“I amt‘ysorry for Old Bluebottle,” he' said.
" He seems such a bluff. hearty sort of a chtzp.
Bnt'l am afraid he is a_sl rascal. and that s
bluster is all play. I the a game of poker with

9

Several articles of clothing hung on,

 

him and he fingered the cards on me shamefully.
This young man can tell you'that.”

He referred to Ralph, who had just walked
up with a very miihh surprised faCe. ,

“That is so,” he admitted. “You were
cheated badly. But I did not know you per-
ceiVed it.”

“You 0 ned my eyes,” was the answer.
“ But the o d rat was a bungler after all. When
I saw his game I played a little counter of my
own on him, and cleaned him square out.
Taught him a lesson, I fancy.”

A laugh followed this admission.

“What is the trouble?" asked Ralph.

“We have hit on the robber,” replied Mr.
Jones. “It is the man we suspected. old Blue-
bottle. A precious rogue he is. He is good for
a five years’ Visit to the penitentiary. But
where are the Shermans, Ralph? I did not think
those mice would stir from their holes.”

“They have gone out for a run,” answered
Ralph. “I piloted them out by the back stair-
way. You neVer saw such a pair of scared
sparrows in your life.”

Mr. Ransome stood in his usual lounging posi-
tion, twisting a pieceof paper between his fin-
gers. It was a curl-paper which he had picked
up from the floor near the bureau. His shar
eyes, which had been fixed on Mr. Bensons
face, were now transferred to Ralph’s. '

“ What are they scared aboute” he asked.

Ralph looked hastily up, with ill-concealed
alarm.

“ Oh, only that they are not used to city life,
and imagine all sorts of ridiculous notions.
They fancy everybody is going to victimize
them.” He spoke in a tone of aesumed careless-
ness.

“Come, come, Ralph, that won‘t do,” ex-
claimed Mr. Jones. “ There is no use trying to
conceal what everybody knows. It is a run-
away match, entlemen. They‘are a couple of
young geese, rom somewhere 'est, and are in
mortal dread of being overtaken and spanked
by their daddies.’ _

Ralph started in alarm and indi nation. He
had laid out a neat scheme to umbug the
fathers of the runaways, and keep his promise,
and here was his plan utterly destroyed. He
cast a look of fury at Mr. Jones, and then one
of surprise at the two others, who displayed
none 0 the emotion he had ex ected.

The only expression on Mr. enson’s face was
one of slight chagrin. He had withdrawn a
step. and stood looking with covert uneasiness
at Mr. Ransome.

“I hope their parents will overtake them,”
said the latter‘carelessly. “I don’t like these
baby marriages.” ‘ .

Ral h looked at him with w1de~open eyes.

“ hat,” he cried, “you don’t mean—”

“ Nothing more than I said.” ,

“Then you are not the father of the young
gentleman?” ' r

“I his father?” It was Mr. Ransome’s turn
to look surprised. “What do you mean by
such nonsense? I am nobod ’s father.”

“ And you are not the fa her of the bride?”
fie addressed Mr. Benson.

“Not if I know myself,” reiioined Mr. Ben-
son, with a somewhat strained augh.

“Then all I’ve got to say is that they are a
pair of bloomin youn liars,” cried Ralph en-
ergetically. “ hei d dn’t ust say you were
their fathers: but t ey note it all out. Why,
the saw you in the supper-room last night,
an were scared out of a week’s growth.” This
was addressed to Mr. Ransome.

“ I, saw them,” he quietly replied, “ and
thought they acted strangely. I cannot imagine
what ails them. Mistoo me for somebody else,

robably. Folks with guilty consciences start

mm a shadow." His tone was very calm and
even, his face destitute of expression. “There
is no use to examine their rooms any further,”
be continued. “If the detective found nothing.
we are not likely to. I hardly fancy that babes
in the woods like these are burglars.”

The speaker turned on his heel and walked
away, as if was of'the whole business. Mr.
Benson followed im, with an undecided expres-
sion of face. Ralph looked at Mr. Jones w1th
curiousi uiry.

“ There is some mighty queer dodge here,”.he
exclaimed. “What di they mean b lettin
on that these two men were their fat ers an
gist guy were afraid» of being captured by

em

“They meant to pin a trick on on, Ralph,”
laughed Mr. Jones, as e closed a locked tho
room door. "They are practical jokers, and
have got one in on you.” -

“It looks like it,” he rejoined, with a monet-
ful expression. “I thought all along that t at

l

r

 

l —.

girl was anythin but a baby. All right for
them, but it’s my urn next.”

“ Look out, Ralph,” answered Mr. Jones still
laughing. “ You I
are too 9 arp for you.” _

“ Ver well, then. But if they fool me with
my eyes open the can eat me, that’s all."

‘Go down to t e Central station,” continued
the clerk. “ Bring me word of' the Blue-bottle
hearing.”

“ Ay, ay,” answered Ralph, walking away
with a downcast expression.

Mr. Ransome had by this time left the hotel.
He walked steadily on to the corner of the next

street. Here he turned shortly on his heel and .

looked back, like one that dreads pursm .
quick, searching glance satiafled him, an he
continued his walk.

A few minutes brought him to the vicinity of
the municipal buildings of the city. Here he
again paused, and stood a few minutes in a
lounging attitude on the steps of the mayor’s
office. Nothing seemed to escape the glances of
his very keen eyes. ’

He suddenly turned and disappeared within
the building. Here he sought the ofice of the
chief of police, and was fortunate enough tofind
that functionary alone and disengaged. -

A long and a parently interestin conversa-
tion followed. t had not proceed far ere the
judge left his office and sent privatemessages
by the olice telegraph to every station-inthe
City. is also dispatched an (meet, in citizen’s
dress, to the Grand Central Hotel, with special
instructions. '

This done, he returned and resumed his con- '

ference with Mr. Ransome. Their conversation
continue i for some time longer. At length Mr.
Ransome rose. '

“Then you agree with me that the prisoner
had best not have a hearing to-night'f”

“Yes. If he is discharged it might ruin our
plans. And to hold him as convicted doesnot
seem desirable.” ‘

“I would be sorry to have him locked up in
one of vour horrible policecells over night. He
is really an estimable character. Could not
bail be managed?” ' ‘

“Certainly,” answered the chief, with a
knowing wink. “I will see that itisdone. A
political friend of the judge, you know.” '

“ Very good. The chance that our birds will
fly back to this nest is a fflghtfuliy slim one, of
course. But human nature is‘a queer affair.
We must take every precaution. If they should
be blind enough to return we must do nothing
to scare them off. If not”-he shrugging his
shoulders significantly—“we have a cult

game to play!

A half- our afterward Judge Bluebottlo was
brou ht up before a police-magistrate. ‘ Iowan
still £0ilin§ over with indi ation, and com-
menced a erce tirade, wh ch the magistrate
with some diflculty cut short. - '

“Please save your ammunition until you see
your bird,” he cuttin 'y remarked: “I cannot
give you a hearing night. Your mum
lay over until morning. Queer, please remove
the risoner.” '

“ xouse me,” said a red-faced man standing
near. “It is an outrage to lock up a uentleman
in your station-cells. I k‘now Judge Bluebottle.
I will go his bail.” _ ' '

“Very well, Mr. Blondin. The ball. is fixed
gtwo, thousand dollars. Shall! draw up a hail

ndi

“ Certainly. I don’t care a fig for the amount. .

I fancy I am good for it.” ' -
The prisoner stood gazing at his friend with
open-mouthed surprise, as he signed the neces-

sar rs. , . .
‘yflpem free for tonight.” remarked the

magistrate coldly.

office at ten o’clock tomorrow for a hearin .”

The released prisoner turned impulsiv to
his friend, and warmly seized his hand. ‘

“I don’t know who the biases you our)»
exclaimed, “but I’ll be shot if yon ain’t a
straight man.” v -

“I know who you are, then,” was the reply.
“Come, judge, let’s have something warm on
this. It’s my treat.”

Mr. Ransome rose from a linden corner
and followed them from the room.

aura ems AN m-omna. ‘
Tan hoax-ingot Judge Bluebottie on a charge

 

of robbery of the rooms of the Grand Central '
The evidence against

Hotel, was concluded.
him was not great, yotit seeined decisive.
Ralph Rang: had testified to two circum-
stances. ,One. those was thetransparent cheat-
log at cards by the' prisoner. This was ruled

1 get in a worse pickle. They I

“You will appear at this ‘

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. 10'.

Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective.

 

out,” having no bearing on the case. The
other was, that he had seen the pris0ner coming
out _of the open door of 407, Mrs. Mason‘s room.

“ It is all a mistake,” roared the prisoner; “ I
was looking for Benson. Why don t people look
their doors?” ‘ v

“ Who is Benson?” asked the ma strata.

“I don’t know who the blazes e is! Some
jack-a daisy. He says he knows me, but I
never saw the chap before—I’ll swear that i”

“What did you want with him, then?”

“ He salted me out of a fifty at poker, and I
wanted reven e, that’s all.” I

“Did you ook in the bureau-drawers for
Benson i” asked the magistrate. “ And did you
tak'e this as a memento!” He held up the piece
of ribfioh. .

“If I ever saw the confounded strip of dry-
goods before, I’ll be shot i”

" Mrs. Mason.”

The lady witness stepped forward. _

Her testimony was to the effect that nothing
had been taken from her room at the time in
question. She had worn the bow on the evan-
ing of that da . The robbery had taken place
on the sauce ing day. As to her room-door,
she was sure that she always looked it.

Her evidence that the ribbon was undoubted-
ly hers, and the testimony of the officer that he
had found it in the prisoner’s trunk, closed the
examination. . . _

“The prisoner stands committed for trial,”
coldly remarked the magistrate, as he drew
some blanks from a drawer, and commenced
writing. _

“It‘s a blamed sweet country,” cried the
judge, “where the hang a man for a bit of
ribbon as long as a. aby’s finger. if I plundered
the hotel, where is the rest of the stuff? Tell
me that.”

There was no answer.

Amen had entered the room from behind,
and was whispering to the magistrate. The
latter nodded approvingly.

“Has the prisoner ba‘ to ofler for his ap-
pearance at court?" he asked.

The red-faced man who had gone bail before,
stepped briskly forward.

‘  continue on the bail bond,” he re-
marked.

“Excuse me, Mr. Blondin.
creased. Five thousand is the smallest sum I
can accept on so serious a charge.”

“ Very well, air. I Will be surety for that

amount". ' .. ~ .
accused man rushed forward and grasped
Blondin’a hand! with effusive emotion. .
“You’rea boss. sir! You’re a high-toned
. boss! Blame me if I knew they grew that sort
around here. Just you come out to Duluth, and
if I don’t give you ‘a lively shake out, then set
_ The idea
of a map of. my. standing stealing a bit of
. woman’s fineryl What would I do with it?
Won’t somebody tell me! Wouldn’t I make a

~ sweet dude with a red silk bow on my coat col-

larl» Pith on such nonsense l” .
A laugh followed at the utter disgust of the
old fellow’s tone. He touched his bailsman on

the shoulder. .
“ Blondin, we’ll have a whisky smash
on this. ou’re a man,‘ you are. Shoot me if

I could say that for everybody I’ve got my

eyooonl” .

' They, left~the room together, followed by
'most of those present. There was a uliar
expression on Ralph Randy’s face as he eft the
msgistrate‘l office. He seemed dreadfully de-,
present-and downcest. Something had .hap—
' penedto deprive him of his usual confident en-

, thusinsm.

vement outside when
by a touch on his

He had reached the
his rota was arres

., shon (if. He turned quickly. There stood a,

man in the uniform of a police car.

“‘One moment, young man.” seidvthe latter
’-. Missy. “You are wanted inside.”

-“ am! Who wants me?” , -

“ That you will soon learn. Follow me.”
. “Not much,” answered Ralph, shortly. ,“ I

ain’t no wooden man, to move when you turn a
peg. If you’re arresting me, show your war-
rant. If not, say what you want. That’s my
. Ptgfiramme.” ~. . 4 ;

e oficer laughed heartily.

“ You are a primeyonng one,” he admitted.
“I am not arresting you. my lad. But the
oblatefspolige wanta’to seeyou in relation to

“That’s”; horse. of another color.
didn’tyou aayaohalfan hour ago? Go
I’ you.” .

l
e

The bail is in?

Wb 3
“our,
2 . , . Theéhief’eomceawasaretiredroominthe ill--
'i‘   teriorofthebuilding. ltwauodimandshady

 

L 
_ thing

that Ralphi coming out of the bright sunshine,
was not ab
the persons present. He could merely make
out two individuals, one a stout person, the
other tall and spare. .

“ What is your name!” asked the stout per-
son, who sat at a desk, pen in hand.

“ Ralph Ready.”

“You are employed at the Grand Central
Hotel?”

“ Yes. sir.”

“ I wish to know something about two of the
guests of that hotel; ayoung married cou le,
re istered under the name of Sherman. T ey
is t the hotel stealthily yesterday afternoon.
Have they yet returned i”

Ralph did not answer. His eyes had now
grow n accustomed to the dim light of the room,
and he recognized, with a start of surprise, the
tall man as Mr. Ransome.

“ You here I” he ejaculated.

“ Yes, ’ was the smiling response.
terested in this business.

“ You have not answered my question,” said
the chief.

“And I don’t intend to,” rejoined Ral h, with
a sudden freezing up. “I am not an or oath.
I want to know what sort of a trap this is be
fore I walk into it.”

He stolidly seated himself, and laid his hat on
a table. He had no notion of being used as a
blind tool.

The chief turned and fixed his eyeson the
young man with the look of one who was not
used to refusals. It was a glance. that had
made many a criminal quail, but it had no
efl’ect on Ralph. He was wide awake enough to
know that he could laugh at police threats.

At this moment the ofiloe door opened and an
oflICer entered. He handed the chief several
papers. The latter read them cnrefully, and
then ssed them with a smile to Mr. Ransome.

Ra ph opened his a es with surprise. Who
was this stranger? ow had he come into the
confidence of the chief of police! What did it
all mean?”

“ Very satisfacto ,” remarked Mr. Ran-
some. on quickly ran ing the papers.

“ The are in the city yet.”

“ An have not returned to the hotel. You
need not answer, Mr. Ready.” _.

“I don’t int-nu to,” replied Ralphsturdily.
“ You can make a witness of me, i you want.
But on can’t make a tOOl of me.” .

“ ee here, my sharp bo ,” remarked the
chief severely, w eeling his c air around to face
Ralph. ” Do you knew that you have been
assisti criminals to escape from the law?” .

If he bought to frighten Ralph bv this asser-
tion he was . somewhat mistaken. The boy was
utterly at a loss to know what-all this meant,

“I am in-

.but he did not scare easily.

“ I don’t see what you are driving at,” be de-
clared. “ If you mean that pair of spooney
lovers they haven’t come back yet. The have
got lost somewhere about the city I in e, for
the are green as geese. You ain’t inten ing to
bin that those babies had anything to do with

the robbery? Why, the detectiVe searched their

room-as sharp as a cat , after a mouse, and he
didn’t find a si n.”

“ Did theyta e nothing with them when they
went out?”

“ They both had good-sized leather hand-bags.
Thev were goin sh ping, they said.”

“ Did on no ce w ether those bags appeared
to be ful or empty?” asked Mr. Ransome.

“ The had a sort of fat swell in them.”

smi e passed between the two men. .

‘See here, my by,” remarked Mr. Ran-
somo, suddenl . “ e have no wish to keep
you in the dar The hotel was robbed by the
Shermans. and you, have been bumbugged by
them. This is a matter which it is necessary
to keep secret, but I have a reason for telling
.it to vou.” ’ ~

“ You will have to prove it to me.” nnswered ,

Ralph with sturdy doubt. , “For I don’t believe
a word of it.”- - . ,

The two men convorsed, in a low tone for a
minute. while the obdurate witness fired his
.eyes obstinater 'on the ceiling. 'He declared to
himself that this was all fudge.
the question that that pair of stray babies could
be thehotel' robbers. ‘ ' i _

“Wh , old Bluehottle has been convicted of
the ro ,.”--he suddenly broke. out. “.Mrs.
Mason’s ribbon was found in his trunk.” ,

“ Don’t be-tooeure of that,” replied Mr. Ban-
ribhen... The color is peculiar, it is true: is
we can’t hang men on the color of ribbon.
if the article. Have you ever seen any-
:iheit before?" . -

e at first to clearly see the faces of'

It was out of,

asked Mr. Ransome,

i fi‘ltismotsoeafe toewear..-to a'str' of.

 

Ralph took the strip of silken tissue, and look-
ed at it closely. A g, rowing suspicion came into
his eyes as he did so.

“ I have,” he answered, in a low tone. “ Mrs.
Sherman wore a ribbon in her hair of that ex-
act color, when she came to the, hotel.”

His hearers gave a slight start at this informa-
tion.

“ Are you sure of that?” asked the chief, tak~
ino uvp his pen.

7“ ery sure. I’m not color blind.”

“ Did she wear it as a b0w?”

“ No. It was open, as it is now.”

“ When did you last see her wearing it.”

” Not after the first time. She were blue af‘
terward.”

“This is, important evidence,” remarked
Mr. Ransome. “ The Irish porter was sent for
the trunks which had been taken by mistake to
their room. He was kept waiting, on the plea
that they were not dressed. May they not have
been examining the judge’s trunk at that mo-
ment? In their haste to com lete their work
the ribbon may have been dis odged from the
woman’s head, and dropped unnoticed into the
trunk.”

' “ It is an im ortant fact,” replied the chief.
“This ribbon as never formeda how. The
creases are not in the correct position. These
have been made by an irregular crumpling.”

Ralph listened with 0 n mouth and eyes. To
what was all this to end? And why had he
been taken into the confidence of the authori-
ties?

“ One word more,” said Mr. Ransome. “ You
have told me that the detective made a.
thorough search of the room of the Shermans.
Permit me to say that be overlooked one im-
portant piece, of evidence. Will you please
read what is written on this scrap of aperl"

He handed Ral h a scrap of wri ng paper.
It was very muc creased and crumpled, but
had been smoothed out. It seemed a portion of
a letter, and contained some torn lines of
writing, to the following effect:

“* * * "‘ at Philadel hia. the 16th Sep.

* * * * chance 0 success if we
" * * * the old game.
. “Yours truly, Noam B."

"That served your young lady friend as a
curl per ” remarked Mr. Ransome. .

“ ut I on’t understand it,” declared Ralph.
“ There is nothin here but a name.” . ,

“ Excuse me. here is considerably more. I
happen to know what sort of a game ‘the old'
game ’. is. And Norah B. means more to me
than Eliza Sherman. Dolt that I was to let
them escape me again, when I had them under
my thumb!” - , .

Rel h started up in excitement. The mean-
ing 0 all this was beginning to at into his
brain. ’ And he began to see,that had been
frightfully humbugged by his innocent-seeming

pmtéges. , l ' _ e . ,

“ ho are they then?” he demanded. “ They
were scared when they saw on, and got out of
the room with ‘handkerchie s to their faces. I
helped to cover them i” X

‘ 1 know you did,” answered Mr. Ransome.
“ And you did it so well that, I could not fairly
see them. Your ass of a clerk also threw me of
the track. He was'too confounded smart,"

“ But the young fellowrmade believe you “5
his father,” faltered Belg}.

“ Don’t n ind . that, 1'. Ready,”  Mr.
Ransome, in a kindly tone. “ They have fooled
older per<ons than you. Even smart detectives
have been deceived by this innocent pair.” .

“Who are they then?” _

“The most dangerous ,holelftbievee in the

"United St tes. They have just made a round

of the est, where they made a richhaul.
The have come here to ly their trade in the
E88. The Grand Gentr escaped better than
it would have done but that they saw me.”

“ Ahl But theylare so young.”

“ Not so young as they look.” answered Mr.
Ransome, with a laugh. “Theyare good at
masquerading. They may be quiet old. folks
from the countr at their next hotel.”

’ “And tothin that I, was sold so cheapl”
cried Ralph. “ I hid them from their daddies!
I led them out the back we l I played watch-
dog for a pair of sharps! h won’t somebody ,
kick me? You needn’t try to. neck my brains
out,-for I baVen’t got any.” _

“Are you going to take this sell quietly'r'
with a smile. . .

“ Notmuch- am I!” ejaculated Ralph. “ I
bet I get even'with those shy ducks yet. The

7s‘weet spoons! I’m goagdor them -flat~fooied.”

“That iswhy I sent cryon.” remarked Mr.

'Renaome. “ You. have seen them. You should

know their faces, even under a disguise.” .

\

 

 

“ I couldn’t be fooled. easy.”

“Then I want your help. I have come East
in pursuit of these shar ers. But they will not
be easily ca tured, an we must move very
carefully. an I trust you to keep silent?”

“ I bet you can! I’m your boy square out.
They’lve had their sell on me. It 3 my innings
now.

 

CHAPTER X.
400KB AND LOCKE'X‘B.

“ Tmmm’s a confoundedly smart party of
them i" said Ralph to himself, as he balanced
himself on two legs of a chair. “ There are a
pair of smart detectives. There’s a smart Ben~
son, and a might smart Ransome. There’sa
smart chief of police, and a bowling smart pair
of Shermans. There’s only one blazing fool in
the company. and that’s me. To think of the
neat way] was taken in and done for! I’ve
hulfa mind to have a prize-fight of my own,
hang me if I haven’t! To Stand u beforea
looking-glass and punch my own hea .”

He aughed to himself at this neat way of
punishing himself for his folly. ’

“ i ain’t all a fool,” he continued. “ But if I
set my smartness to fight with my foolishness,
I dOn t know which would whip. Anyhow I’m
not going to be discounted by all these smart
folks. I’m appointed amateur detective, and I
bet I den’t disgrace the oflce.”

He held his note-book open in his hand, at a
Well-filled age, on which his eyes were fixed.

“ The wide traveler lays out his road before
he starts on his journey,” he muttered. “ Now
if I’m going to act detective, I’m not going it
blind. They want to us». me for a cat’s-paw to

all their chestnuts from the fire. Not much, 1
gancy. I’ll let this Ransom see that a boy has
some brains. First question, who is Ransome
and who is Benson, and what are they after?
The ain’t the Shermans’ daddies. That point’s
sett ed. But the Shermans know them. I take
it that Ransome is a Western‘detective who is
on their track. He is too ridiculousl wide-
awake to be anything else. But whois moon,
and what is his little game? That’s the first
matter on the pro ramme.”

He made some resh'i notes in his book, then
thrust it into his pocket, and sprung to his feet.
There was one thing to be done immediatel ;
to find out who was responsible for the mista e
in sending the trunks to the wrong rooms. Pos-
sibly that might put him on the trail of the
thieves.

Ralph was impulsivel proceeding toward the
bagge e-mom of the otel, when he was ac-
costed y Mr. "Jones. The latter was in com-
pany with Mr. Ransome and Mr. Benson, whom

e left standing in the hall, while he hurried
after the rapid-moving lad.

“Ste th you will-of-the-wisp,” laughed

are
the cler . “‘ Y‘all must be in a terrible hurry.

I want you to oafter a locksmith. You know '

where to and t e nearest. Tell him to come at

once and bring his keys. There are some
trunks to be opened.” .
“I’ll have him

“All right. cried Ralph.
here in a twinkle? _

He instantly diviued that the object was to
examine the trunks of the Shermans. He
lag!ng in his sleeve as he proceeded on his mis-
81 n. ' y - ,

“ Little they will find there,” he said to him-
self. ‘These cute coons are not the sort to
leave any clew behind them. The are too wide
awake to be snapped up easily. i can tell Mr.
Ransomo that much.”

A' few minutes sufiiced to complete his errand.
He fortunatel found the locksmith in and at
leisure. The tter armed himself with a for-
midable bunch of keys, and accompanied the
young messen or back to the hotel.-

The commi of investigation awaited their
return in room 249. , ’

‘“ We wish these trunks opened.” ‘said Mr
Jenes. “ Will there be any difficulty about it?”

‘_‘ I fancy not,” replied the locksmith, after a
glsnco at the locks.

‘ He kneeled before Mrs. Sherman’s trunk and
began operations with his keys. The others
waited. Mr. Ransome had taken his usual easy
attitudenleaning negligently against the door-
jamb,‘wrth on e ression as if he had no con.
cern in the resu t. Mr. Benson stood resting
one hand on the table, with his eyes fixed with

 undisguised eagerness. on the smith. Ralph
rested on the bed. covertly watching Benson,
whom for some reason he mistrusted.

“ Told you so,” remarked the locksmith, as a,
sharp click told of success. _ “These are only
common locks. No dimcult . about them.” '

Ho‘threw open the lid of he trunk. and prrf

a

services,” continued Mr. Benson.

.the subject of their late search.

.‘takejhis hand from his
.of the boy
,hit on nothing is at seemed f e

 

 ,_1_.1.°..¥i Beadszshs~,fiptel 305* Beware"

cecded to the other. A glance showed that the
trunk was nearly empty.’ Its contents, did not
quarter fill it. V '

Mr. Jones at once hurried forward and began
lifting out the articles of female apparel, which
be closely examined and then handed to Mr.
Benson. The third member of the arty did
not move from his position by the cor. He
took part in the investigation only with his
e es. .
y“The cunning jade has cleared out her dry-
goods amazingly,” remarked Mr. Jones.
“There’s nothing left but some well-worn bits
of women’s rigging.”

“And nothin sus icious,” added Mr. Ben-
son, as he let to] the ast garment handed him.

“I hardly expected anything,” declared Mr.
Ransome. “These are old birds. They have
been in the hands of the law before now, but
they never leave a scrap of evidence behind
them. It is not easy to convict such shrewd
thieves.”

Ralph kept his eyes fixed on Benson’s face.
It may have been pure f.‘ncy, but he conjec-
tured that he saw there a concealed uneasiness.

Ere the search of the trunk was finished the
locksmith had succeeded in opening the other.
Mr. Benson at once knelt beside it and hastened
to examine its contents. It was even more
sparsely filled than the former.

"These folks travel with very few clothes,”
he led bed, as be stirred up the scattered con-
tents, ‘or else they must have managed to
carry all their valuable effects with them.”

“They took only band-bags,” remarked
" “Not much could have gone that
way.

“Did you notice their appearance?” asked
Mr. Ransome. easily. “Any diflerence of size,
for instance?” '

“ Why, now you speak of it, they did seem to
be stouter.” .

“ I thought so,” he smiled. “ It is surprisung
what a trunkful of clothes an old hand can
wear. Quite likely, too, they were light in
baggage to begin with. Folks in their line
don t care to be overloaded.”

Ral h gave a. sli ht start. He had kept his
9 es ed on Mr. enson, who was searching
t e pockets of Mr. Sherman’s clothing, He was
sure the searcher had found something, which
he held skillfully concealed in the palm of his
hand. He rose easily to his feet, holding a
garment dangling in the air.

“Like husband, like wife,” he remarked.
“ They are not such fools as to leave any evi-
dence behind them. Here is a pair of neat
drab breaches, Mr. Jones.”

He held out the garment with his right hand,
while he'slipped his left carelessly in his packet.

“ We are on the wrong track if we expect to
find any hanging matier here ” he continued.
“ I am tired of the fruitless task.”

He seated himself easily in a rocking-chair.

“ You can finish the search. I give u all
hopes of my missing fifty. At an rate am
square. I won that much from dge ‘Blue-
bottle.” " .0

Ralph listened with an air of great innocence.
But he was saying to himself:

“You’re sharp, Benson, but it won’t work.
I’m bound to find out what on put in that left-
hand pocket. Maybe thats the key to the
whole ame.” ~

Mr. ansome had not stirred from his lo ug-
ing attitude. A faint, disdainful smile m rked
his beardless molilh. - »:

“That will do,” he said. “You may as well
return the goods, and lock the trunks. Mark to
be called for. Ifancy you will have them to sell
for unclaimed bagga 9. And now, entlemen
all that are resent now my objec . I must
re uest that it be kept secret.”

‘ ‘Cértainlv,” answered Jones and Benson to-
gether. “ s will not breathe a word.”

“If I can be of any assistance, command my
"I do not
enjoy being victimized by these young sharks.”

“Thanks,” replied Mr. Runsqme. "I shall
not forget your offer.”

By this time the articles were carelesslvre-

laced in the trunks, and the , latter locked.
he party left the room together. 7 _.

They walked along the hall cogdrsgpg “on

p m n-
aged to station himself on the left side of Mr.
Benson,'but that gentleman persistently. kept his
hand in his pocket. Whatever object was con-
cealed there was not to be come at easily. _

Some stratagem must be used to make him
pocket. The busy brain
thou ht of a hundred but hovoould

“db o ' ‘
. “Excuse me, Mr. Jones,” he suddenly cried.

 

I
l

11

 

“ Yep have dropped your handkerchief. Here
it is. ‘ ‘ ~

He thrust out his hand with a handkerchief
with such awkward haste as to nearly knock
Mr. Benson’s hat from his head.

“Mercy on us, boy, leak out how you go,”
cried the latter angrily, as he hastily caught
with his left hand at his falling tile.

“ Pardon me,” cried Ralph humbly, “it was
an accident.”

“You are alwa‘ s so ridiculously hasty,
Rel h,” remarked r. Jones severely. ‘ i

“ wish you would show me how to break
myself of it,” answered Ralph, with increased
humilitv.

Mr. Jones looked sharply around at him.
This humble tone was a new one. He saw that
the boy’s eyes Were sparkling, as if with mis-
chief. He knew Ralph well enough to know
that there was some joke afoot, though what it
was he could not imagine.

Ralph lagged behind the others as they
walked on, continuing their conversation. At
length he quickly stepped into the open door—
we of an empty room. His bright eyes were
ful of malicious triumph.

“ Done it, by the hokey !” be ejaculated, slap-
pin his knee with satisfaction. “ Went through
old cnson’s pocket the neatest way out. Now
let’s see what m prize comes to.” '

He held in his hand a neatly—folded slip of

aper, which he had managed to extract from

r. Benson’s coat pocket while that genlleman
was hastily striving to hfilder his hat‘from fall:

in .

Ralph opened this missive with on air of
hopeful expectancy. But a unled look came
upon' his face on reading the ocument. _

“What in the world does‘it mean. an howl”
he asked himself. “It looks all like tom oolei .
Wonder if it isn’t a set of cop ~book extracts.

The document was certa nly a vorv mys-
terious, or a very silly one. It ran as follows:

“ In handsome actions lie good deeds. At five
miles you cannot bring down your bird. Broad
chestnuts are the best for roosting. Sat
noon is everybody‘s holiday." .

That was all. Ralph scratched his head in

' per laxity.

it all there’s no sense in the
T e chap must he an idiot.
9 continued, with a sudden
there’s a secret meaning in
’ve got it in my‘head an ‘-

“ by, han
confounded thin l
Maybe I’m one,"
thought. “ Like]
that document.
how, and I must manage to ,et
Benson’s pocket. Won’t do to at him think he
is suspected.” ‘ .

Be hurried after the others, revolving vhrious
schemes in his mind; They had rented an
Open window at the end of the hi . , Hr. ones
had just dpaid the locksqgm for his trouble,'_and
dismisse him. . ‘

“Will yen smoke. gentlemen!” he asked,
drawinfiome cigars from ,his ‘

They . .
struck a match, but a R of air throhgh,.the
upon window extinguis ed it. ‘ . '

“ Here is a light, said Ralph, who hit! again
joined them. ,

He presented a blazing match' to In. Moon
who took it in his right hand but waqooliuci
to shield it with his left from tile wind.

The alert lad took instant advanthéo of the \ " '
opportunity to dr‘op the folded paper in the an.

guarded pocket. , , ,
They stood there a few minutes, smokin and
talkin . Mr. Benson‘wasvery lively, et lph
fan ,i that his vivacity was not in natural,
« hope ,on will succeed, Mr. nsome,” he
remarked, a hearty manner. “I am sure I
will lend you all in aid.” " _ ‘
His hand dropped, again into his et.‘ '
Ralph. who was covertly watch ng him, no-
ticed a slightchange ofexpression, undo look
ordaiiiimciifnil h d d ‘
on e s ro some hin‘ .”wos
Ralph’s s‘arcaslic thouglIthl?ed “Fl a dis he
hasn’t. It’s all love] now. But I would give
something costly to ow what the confounded
no'Bsenm on that document moans.” , , .
hey walked on. Mr. Ransome conversing fin»-
ently about his intentions, and his plans for
discovering the thieves. r
“I doubt if th are in the city the. re-
mgukpd. " But I avetheir description, and
will immediately telegraph to the authorities
in all the neighboring places.” ' _ ‘
Ra! h looked at him. The thought‘camo to
his m nd that‘all this innocent confidence might
be assumed. as Mr.
wool over Benson’s eves?
“ See here. Ralph.” exclaimed Mr.

I '-.‘ a
half-hour afterward. “ This is war .0, mini- -

t

urdayaftw'

this back a

to ,, .
th answered in the eflrm‘utivo.‘ Ho .

Ransome seeking to pull ..

    

,I.‘.

...._...'.-‘ ... J.» o

.i,
‘1“.
ed
.4,
i.

 

  

., best guess t e balance.

   

12

I

Ralph Ready, the ’Hotel Boy Detective.

 

 

kerchief. What did you mean by giving it to
me as mine?”

“ You don’t say so! Well, I declare, so it is!
How came I to make such a blunder?"

Ral h’s tone was the perfection of innocent
surpr .

 

CHAPTER XI.
RALPH snows ms HAND.

“Fax an’ I niver know what ya mane, at
all at all.”

/ It was Mike O‘Flaherty who spoke. He was
seated on a trunk in the baggage-room, face to
face with Ralph Ready.

“ That cat won’t jump, Mike. Do you calcu-
late I didn’t see through your little game from
the start? Don’t see anything green here, do
you?” He touched his eye, and gave Mike at
significant wink.

‘ " Sure, an’ I’ve a notion ye see double, now
and thin. It’s aisy fur some folks to see what
Liver happened.”

“ You may as well own up. the corn, old chap.
You can’t fool this chicken. I am not going to
.use it against you, and I don’t care how much
be game you. But I want to know which of
them it was.”

“Which of ’em, is it?”

“Just so.”

“ As ion as ye know so much, maybe ye’d
It‘s not I as will stand
in, your way.” . .

“All right, Mike.” Ralph rose from his seat
with a resolute expression of countenance. “ If I
you won‘t tell me there are those you will. I
didn’t intend to report this business, but it seems
1’“ have to.” " .

I “ What in the world is the use 0’ bein’ so dis-
agrayable about it?” ejaculated Mike, in alarm
at this threat. “ I’m ohleged to be sacret. But
if ye’ll not spake of it——”

' N~.Ver a word, Mike. On my honor.”

“Thin it was the red-faced one, with the
wrinkled-up eyes. I know his name, no more
nor the man in the moon.” ‘

"He engaged you to take the trunks to the
wrong rooms? And paid on for doing it?"

“ Waist, ye spalpeen! t’ll be the ruination

I ’of me if ye talk so loud. Faix, an’ it was onl

, up on

cal.

' document he had extracted from

\

'tok

a beggarlg dollar he gave me; and ye’re we -
come to t e half 0’ it, this minute.”

“Nary time, Mike.” laughed Ralph. “You’re
not going to get me into your scrapes. I’ll let
you this time, but if there’s any more of
this thing you’ll get your walking-papers, sure

‘ It was only a bit of a joke, as he told me,”
protested Mike.
“ A sorry joke Mike.
eep mum. don’t breathe this to a soul.’
“ Me br’athe it, is it? Is it a fool yetake me
far. thin i Ye’ll be sayin’ next that Mike
O’Fiaherty was brought up on butthermilk and

praties.”
Mike. Mum’s the word,” Ralph

See here, I want on

right,
laughed, as he left the room.

“ ,” he cried gayly. as soon as he was out
of titanium. “It pays sometimes to work on a
guess. I just carromed the truth out of the ras-
Benson is the chap that had the trunks
mixed. There’s no mistake about it. He’s a
partner of the thieves.”

Ralph walked slowl
job he" had in band. ’
was ' specially troubled about. the

on, thinking over the
are was one thing he
sterious

. enson’s
, ket. Hehsd already sdent two hours try-
tomakeout the meaning of that strange

. conimunication. but was as far from it as ever.

“It is a warning of ,some kind I’m sure of
that,” he told himself. “Anybody could see
:hat Benson was on the lookout for something,

ad that he was satisfied the minute he got that
, a or. here’s some confounded secret in it."

is reverie was interrupted by Mr. Ransor'ne,
who came u at that moment. His sharp eyes
were fixed eenly on the face of his young

at. .
J§gghing in the wind, my boy?”

“ I thought so. Where can we have a priVate
chat?"

“ Here.” ‘

‘ Ra] h opened the ‘door of an empty room,
and c d‘it after they had entered.

“New,” said Mr. Ransome, “let us see if the
young head can teach the old head. What have
you discovered i" ' '

“The first thing,” answered Ralph, “is that

you are a detective, and are playing the limo ‘

cent dodge.”
“ There is no sharpness in that, my lad. I as
much as told on that.” ‘
“Thenext hing is that you’re working some

4’

game on this man Benson. Why, you‘re as
open as a baby with him, letting him into all
your plans. It’s a queer dodge for a detective
to tell all his game to an outsider.” Ralph shook
his head doubtfully.

Mr. Ransome laughed. _

“ You think I am working a traverse on him,
then?”

“ I know it.”

“Ver good. I’ll let on into one point of
our tra e. Where you mi 8. man too sharp to
be cheated by cunnm , you can sometimes fool
him by innocence. here is no better way to
set a rogue on the wrong track than by seeming
to take him into the confidence of the law.”

“ I knew it.” declared Ralph. “ You suspect
him and don’t want him to know it?”

“ i want the little fish to show me the way to
the big fish.”
“I see it all. What’s more. Mr. Ransome, I

know you’re on the right road.”

“You do, eh?”

“I can tell you this much. It was Benson
that got the trunks mixed up, and sent the old
jud e a trunk astray, to be plundered.”

“ ery good. I suspected as much. You’re
a sharp fellow, Ralph. What was on that
paper which you slipped from Benson’s pocket?”

Ralph looked up in utter astonishment. He
suddenly gained a new respect for Mr. Ran-
some’s ability.

“ You didn’t See that?” he faltered.

The detective laughed.

“That is part of my business, Ralph. You
didn’t fancy I had my eyes shut? I had de-
signs on that document myself, but you got
ahead of me.”

“Well, if you ain’t wide awake there’s no use
talkingi. Maybe you can tell me what it means.
I’ve been puzzling ovor it for two hours, and I
can’t make head or tail of it.”

“ Written in some secret language, eh i”

“You bet it is! He’ll be a smart coon that
can see through it.”

“ Let me see it. I know _ on were wise
enough to return the original to epson’s pocket.
But you have a cop .”

Ralph looked up 1n new surprise. Did noth-
ing escape the glance of those sharp e es? Be
extracted a copy of the document rom his
pocket, and spread it out on the table.

“ There it is,” he said. “There isn’t much of
Lt. .tAnd shoot me if I can see a scrap of sense
I . v

“It is
writing," remarked the detective, drawin
paper toward him. “Let me see what
make of it.” .

He cast his eyes on the document, which
Ralph had copied from memory.

“In handsome actions lie good deeds. , At five
miles you cannot bring down your bird. Broad
chestnuts are the best for roasting. Saturday after-
noon is everybody‘s holiday." ’

Mr. Ransome’s bushy brows contracted as be
bent over the strange communication. Ralph
watched him eagerly. He was anxious to
know whatdt meant. Yet he did not care to
have his uzzle quickly solved by another,

The do tive’s observation continued scarcely
a minute. Then a quick flash of intelligence
spread over his features. I-le hastily drew out
his watch, and looked at the time.

“Half-past four, and after.” he exclaimed.
“Thete is not a minute to losei There. is work
for you, my boy. I must not be seen in it, and
you must be ver sly.”

“ What!” exc aimed Ralph. “You don’t
want to say that you have read that already?”

“That? Oh yes! That is mere child’s play.”

“ What does it mean, then?”

“ It is only a school-boy’s cipher. You have
merely to take the first two words from each
sentence. and join them together. See here.”

He hastily wrote on the bottom of the paper:

“In handsome. At five. Broad chestnuts.
Saturday afternoon.”

“I can’t see that it’s much better than it was
before,” declared Ralph, still puzzled.

“ So we change that a little. and make
itreadt isway: ‘In hansom. At five. Broad
and Chestnut. On Saturday afternoon.’ Is it
an clearer now?”

he boy sprung up, and struck his hand vigor-
ousl on his knee.

“ all. you are! smart! Why couldn’t I see
that? It’s as plain as the nese ’on a man’s
face!” .

+ “You haven’t learned.the art my good fel-
low.”.auswered the detective. “ his is part of
our profession. I will tellyouj the true in ward-
ness of it. ,This paper was left as a guide to

part of our trade to read cipbgr
t e
can

 

Benson to put him on the track of his associates.
One or the other of them is to be Waiting in a

l

hansom, at Broad and Chestnut streets, at five
o’clock this afternoon, for to-day is Saturday.
Benson is to meet them there. It is fifteen
minutes to five now. There is not a second to
1« se. Hurry up there, Ralph. Use your eyes
as I know you can. But take care you are not
suspected.’

“ Shall 1—”

“Not a word. There is no time for instruc-
tions. You must trust to your own judgment.
Off with you.”

His tone was imperative. But the occasion
required it. Ralph Seized his but from the table,
and left the room like a shot.

Mr. Rnnsome followed, tearing the paper into
minute fragments as he did so.

“ That boy is anything but a fool,” he re-

marked. “ He has in him the making of a sharp
detective. I fancy I will find him a useful as-
Sistimi.”

Ralph hurried up Chestnut street as rapidly
as the crowd a hich‘ol’nstrucied the street would
permit. He reached Broad street a minute or
two after the hour of five. He looked eagerly
around. There, on the corner opposite him stood
a hansom cab, the driver perched on an ele-
vated seat in the rear.

The carriage was occupied bye. single per-
son. At this distance Ralph could not make
him out Very well. He saw that he wore a
high-crowned white hat, that he had a long,
dlrooping mustache, and that he sported eye-

asses.

g “That is not my man,” he said, to himself.
“ But it is after five, and there is no other ban-

m.

At this instant a person stopped and spoke to
the stranger. Ralph’s free lighted up with sat-
isfaction. He reco *nized the well—known fea-
tures of Benson. e started diagonally rcross
the street, with the hope that he might conceal
himself behind the carriage and overhear the
conversation. ,

He was mistaken. After a word or two.
Benson sprung into the cab beside its occupant,
gave the word to the driver, and they were of!
at full speed.

Ralph, startled and annoyed, ran for a few
steps after them. But he quickly saw that ur-
suit was useless. There was no other ca at
hand in which to follow. He could have
punched his own head for ve'xation. To have
the bird in his very grasp, and let it fly him in
this fashion! It was certainly revoking. Yet
there was nothing more to he one. The game
was ended, so far as this part of it went.

Depressed and crestfallen, Ralph turned on his
heel,tand retraced his steps down Chestnut
stree .

He had not gone far before he met Mr. Rau-
some, who was coming u the street. A look at
the boy’s face told the s rewd detective of the
failure of the enterprise. He drew Ralph aside

from the crowd. ,

“Didn’t work. 1 see that,” he said, with
some vexation of tone. “ Were you too late?”

Ral h replied by telling just what happened.

“T ere was a stranger in the cab,” he
declared.

“ Don’t be too sure of that,” smiled Mr. Ran-
some. “The fellow we are after has more
faces than there are days in the week. But on
have not been so unsuccessful as you imag us.
We know his present disguise. That is some-
thing. And they went in a hansom. Would
you know the vehicle again?”

“ I think I would know the driver."

“Very well. Their stand is just around the
corner here. There is nothing but to wait for
the return of this particular hansom, and gues-

This suggestion was at once acted upon. The
confederates'proceeded to the o n space under
the depot oi' the Pennsylvania ilroad, which
serves as a stand for the bensom cabs.

They waited here in patience for more than
an hour, narrowly observing the faces of every
driver who returned from a trip.

“There he is. That’s our man.” cried Ralph,
at length, as another cab wheeled in.

Mr. Ransome stepped quietly up to the driver,
and o ned a conversation with him. After
five‘mmutes he returned to Rel h. t in

?fear

- tion the driver as to where he left his fare.

“Very dubious.” he said. “ hey got
the open street, at F’x-anklin and Girard.
we have lost our claw.”

CHAPTER XII. ‘
MCKING UP LOOSE THREADS.
“11' is a forlorn hope, Ralph.” said the do.
' tective, “ but we cannot aflord to leave a stone
unturned. So far these keen scoundrels have
gvot the best of us. They have broken the trail.
‘ e must try and take it up again."

 

i \

 

;
i
1

 

Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. ,

13

 

 

“ They left the cab at the corner of Franklin
and Girard. Isn’t that the spot to scout for
them?"

Mr. Ransome shook his head.

“ I am afraid you were seen,” he answered.
“If so they mayr have driven there as a blind."

“ It is worth coking after, an how. Seine—
body may have seen them an noticed their
movements.”

“ Go ahead, then. If you can discover any
trace, so much the better.” .

Ralph darted off eagerly. He felt something
of the instinct of the bloodhound in his (ii-sire it:
run the fugitives to earth. The detectiVe smilwl
to himself as he saw the eagerness of his assist-
ant.

“ It is utterly useless,” he remarked. ” These
are not the sort to leave an open trail. But it is
good experience for the boy and will keep him
warm in the chase. So let him tr it.”

He walked back to the hotel. ‘ here was an
idea in his head which he wished to put into

ractice. Benson was gone. Would he return?
hat depended on w hat he had left behind him.
It was desirable to examine lils trunk.

Ralph meanwhile proceeded rapidly to the
point indicated. it was a busy corner. Market
sheds occupied the center of the streets in which
a Saturday night market was in active lay.
Rows of stores ran along each side. A gusy
throng of people moved up and down the avenue.
Ralph whistled as he looked around him. It was
like hunting the traditional needle in the hay-
stack.

On one corner was a grocery-store. The
grocer’s boy sat on an empty box on the pave~
merit. drumming with his heels while .waiting
for a job. Ralph accosted him at a venture.

“ Been here long?” he asked.

“ ’Bout five foot six,” answered the boy with
a leg. “ Ain’t goin’ round measurin’ folks, are
you
. Ralph laughed as if this were a. very good

oke. He seated himself on the box beside the

y and assumed a very Confidential manner.

“ " I’m looking for my uncle,” he announced.

Come ug this way about an hour ago in a
hansom. ee anycthing of it?”

“ A hansom? hat’s a. hansom?”

I“ It’s one _of those new style, one-horse cabs,
With thedriver stuck up on a French roof of a.
seat behind. The que rest jiggers out. Guess
you must have seen them.”

“ Well, I should smile if I hadn’t. One of ’em
stopped jest here ’bout an hour ago, and let out
two men.”

Ralph’sheart throbbed with expectation, but
he forced himself to appear calm.

“ Like enough that’s the one I was looking
for. Did you notice which way they went?”

“I went out on an errand. When I come
back they were standin‘ on the curb yet, chafi-
ing away.” -

“ One of them was an oldish man, with a red
face. The. other had on a white hat, and a
regular F‘renchy mustache.”

‘Sure as shootin’ ” answered the grocer’s
boy. .“That’s them.”

‘rDid you hear what they had to say!”

We! , I've a notion I’ve got other business

than spyin’ round folks. What do you take me
for?” emanded the ofl'ended bo .

’s only my uncle,” decl Ralph. “ See

ere. You heard somethin . It’s worth a.

quarter to me to know what.’

He balanced a shining silver coin on his fln-
891'. The boy’s eyes opened in surprise and
cupidity.

“ I only heard a few words,” he faltered.
be‘fitch them out then. I’m good for the quar-

l‘. o
“ I heard the old follow an : "They don’t
twi . They’re showing me the r whole hand.’
An he laughed as if it was a high-up joke.”

“ What id the young one say to that?"

“ ‘ Look out,’ he says.
fire.’ Then the old cha
89% my trunk away.’

‘You’reeglayin’ with
answer . ‘I must
9 said something too

about ‘best to have a friend on the ground.’

Thi‘it was about all I heard.”

“ Are you sure? Think again.”

There wasn’t another word. Exec t I
heard the young chap say something a at
Barclay street, in a kind of whisper."

“ Barclav street!” exclaimed Ralph. “ Are
you sure of the name?”

“ Bet I am.” ‘

“ Good. Here’s the quarter. What became
of them afterwards?”

“ The old fellow got into a Franklin street car,
and rode down-town. The young chap walked
up Girard avenue, with as spruce an air as if
he owned the street.” .

“ Hey, Tom !” came a cry from the store.

 

“Guess I’m wanted,” cried the boy. “ That’s
all. anyhow. Good-by.”

Ralph walked slowly away, inwardly de-
hating on what he had learned. The boy had
not overheard much, but what he had heard
u as significant. Barclay street. What’n did
that mean? Ralph knew the street well. It
was a short street, of no Very good reputation.
It ran but one or two squares in length.

It was half-past seven in the evening when he
regained the hotel. He was hungry after his
active service, and repaired at once to the sup-
lii'l' room. He was not half-through his meal
\'. h u Mr. Ransome strolled in and took a seat
at ‘he same table.

" What luck?” he asked, first looking around
to sue that. there was no one within hearing.

“The trail’s broken; but we can take it up
again,” answered Ralph.

“ Ah! How?”

“ Benson will be back here.” ’

" I know he will.” .

It was Ralph’s turn to be surprised.

“ How do you know that?” he asked.

“ Simply because I have examined his trunk.
I did not find in it any stolen goods, but its con-
tents were too valuable to be abandoned, ex—
cept in case of necessity. He will be back after
it, since he does not know that he is sus cted.”

“Just what he said ” remarked Ralpl:5

“ What he said? You don't mean to say that
you haVe seen him, and overheard him talking?
Come, come, you smart young rogue. Let me
have yourstory.”

Ralph laughed, as he continued to eat his
supper. .
“ You thought I was on a. Wild-goose chase.
Anyhow, I haven’t come 'back without some
feathers from my goose.”

He very deliberately sipped his ten, quietly
enjoying the impatience of the detective.

“ You are a ridiculouslv slow young villain,”
growled the latter. “ Quick, before we are in-
terru ted.”

Ra ph began to laugh.

“It is not a very long story,” he remarked.
“ Guess l’li let you have it.”

He proceeded to tell the result of his e lora-
tion. Mr. Ransome listened intently. e sat
in silence for a minute or two after Ralph had
ended.

“ Well,” asked the youth, impatient in his
turn. “ Is there anything in it?”

“ Not much of importance. It has ,turned
out just as I expected. What they said told us
nothing more than we already know. Yes,
there was one thing. That street name. That
may give us a useful clew. Do you know the
street?”

“Yes. It is ,a short one. not more than a
square or two long. I have heard say it 18 a
resort of doubtful characters.”

“ Good. Very good. That is our next start-
ing-point. We may pick up the broken and of
our thread— Hushl Here comes Bensonl”

Ralph fancied that the detective must have
eyes in the back of his head. Otherwise how
could he have seen a man who had entered the
room exactly behind him. He could not repress
his curiosity.

“How did you see him?” he asked. “He is
behind you.”

“It is a way! have of looking around cor~
ners,” lau bed the detective. “ Don’t you see
there is a coking-glass in front of met”

He give an order to a waiter who was pass-
ing. r. Benson. who had indeed made his a
pearance, looked for a minute undemded y
about the room. He then walked over to the
table occupied by Ralph and the detective.

“ Room for a. third 1” he asked.

“Yes. Will be glad to have you join us. I
have just ordered a snack.”

The new-comer gave his order, and then
turned to his companions.

“ How goes the search i” he asked pleasantly.
“ Any clew yeti”

Mr. Ransome shook his head doubtfully.

“ It is just as I told you yesterday,” he an-
swered. “ We have to deal with a flair of the

riest rogues in this country. but girl,
Igorah Bouncer, would make her mark in any
country; and her husband isn’t much behind
her.

“ Sherman isn’t their right name, then?"
queried Ralph.

“No, no. It is only one out of a dosen. Theg
know me well, and that I am after the .
fanc they have left the city. I havs 0 ered
the tel: to be watched. however. It is gas
siblc the may have dropped down somew ere
else, an or a disguise.”-

“ How would your 3 ins know them, in that
case?" questioned Mr. launch. ‘ '

\

 

“He would be a poor detective that couldn’t
tell at first sight that a man was sporting a dis-
guise. We area little sharper-than you give
as credit for." . ,

Mr. Benson smiled as he addressed himsalf to
his supper. He seemed to have some doubts as
to the ability of the detective service. “ ’I hey
all know how to blow their own trumpets,” he
said to himself.

“ Of course, we have more than one string to
our how.” continued'Mr. Ransome, as he looked
cautiously around him.
dance in out”

“Certainly. I am with Iggou in this business,
strai »ht through,” replied neon.

“ ere too,” added Ralph. I

“Then the fact. is, 1 am strongly inclined to
believe that. old Bluebottle is a confederate of
the thieves.” l

“ You don’t tell me that?”

"I thought he had been victimized at first,”
continued the detective with a very confidential
manner. “But the evidence was very direct
a uinst him. That ribbon in particular, which

rs. Mason swore to. He’s a confounded old
rogue, that’s my opinion.”

“ I see: I see,” declare Mr. Benson. “Very
well judged. And by we ching him you may
strike the truck of the others.”

“Just so. That's my idea exactly.” V

“But hardly while he’s under suspicion.” .

"Let me a one for that,” and Mr. Ransome'
laughed cunningly. “ I have set him ri ht on
that point. The magistrate has alrea y dis-
charged the case against him as lacking proof.
I am going to he very innocent and conflding
with the old scoundrel.”

“To seem to shut your eyes when you have
them widest open, eh?”

“ Just so 'ust so. That’s a mighty sweet cut
of steak. on had better try some of it, Ben:
son.

“Thank you ; but chops are my favorite.”

Ralph walked away, in some doubt whether
the detictive was not rubbing it in too thickly.
There was something in Benson’s manner that
made the lad fancy that he was pinyin a part.

“Don’t do to take a man for a ool,’ he
growled. “Mr. Ransome’s smart, and his plan
is a good one. But he’s too sweetly confiden-
ti 1 with Benson. He unloads too easily.”

We must leap over the events of the succeed-
ing days. in which nothing of im rtance oc—
curred. Ransome attached himsef tothe old
judge as he had declared was his intention, and
helped him to swear against the confounded
laws of the Quaker Cit . Yet despite all this
Ralph noticed traces o uneasiness about Ben-
son. He was evidently suspicious.

It was late Tuesday afternoon when the lad
came excitedly to his confederate.

“ Benson smells a rat,” he declared. “ He has
just paid his bill and ordered his trunk tobe
sent to the Pennsylvania Railroad.” .

“ I know it,” answered Mr. Ransomo coolly.
"The game is growing ripe. Are you at
leisure Ralph? 1 Want your aid ”

H All right. I’m in on this 10 .” .

“Then hurry out to the railroad shticn.
See the officer stationed there and fire him
this warrant. Point out Benson to h if he
enltfls the station, but keep out of sight your-
se . ’

“And what is to be done!” "

“ Tell him, if Bensgn attempts to take a
train to arrest him on be t.”

"‘ Very well. And if he doesn’t?”

“ Watch 'him like a hawk. If' he leaves the
station follow him. Take care he does not throw
you oi! the track. as he did before.” .

“ I will do my best,” answered Ral , .

An hour after he was watching r. Bcnso
from a retired corner of the extensive station.

The latter restedfiwith his head on his hand,l

for some time. unt the station attendants an-
nounced the Pittsburg‘ Ex ress.

He then rose and Wi‘lke out as if to hike the
cars. ‘ Ra] h quickly signaled to the officer.
Benson wa ed toward the gate with the watch-
dog of the law at his heels, ready, if he should
take a step through. to drop a startlin hand up-
on his shoulder. At a distance Ralph ooked on,
with eager eyes. ‘

CHAPTER XIII.
RUNNING rm: so: 10 mm

Two men were seated in the smoking-room of
the Grand Central Hotel, engaged in the plea-
sure of a chat and the joy 0 a cigar.“ hey,
consisted of Mr. Rsnsome, the detective and
Judge Bluebottle. The latter had not yet got
over his indgimation at his arrest. '

“By the u
trying soft saw er on me!”

 

declined, “ I’m

“1 can place corifl—..

m ing Jehosaghat, there'sno use \ 
e

«x.

c.
v

 

:'
. l



‘.
'l

\
.i'
a

t

  

Vb-

 

14.

 

. ‘.' ' naps Ready. the Hotelier

 

80mg to make things lively, now you bet.
nose folks round here don’t know what kind of
acetamount the wake up when they scratch

is ’coon. If I on’t make themsee stars there’s
no use talking.” ' A

“Oh, come, come, judge.” said the officer
soothingly. “You must not bear malice. It’s
not according to Scri ture.” '

“Scripture be— xcuse me. I’ve got noth-
ing ag’in’ Scripture. But there’s no use try ing
to shove the Bible down my throat. Don’t tel
. me! There ain’t a case like this One in it.”

“ It says when a man strikes you on one check
you must turn him the other.”

“ Turn him the other? Me? If a man slaps
me on one ear I’m to turn him the other? The
blessed stars! Just you get soniebodyvto try it
on, and you’ll see a. lively time. by, if I
wouldn’t kick the rooster into the middle of next
week, hang me for a blowing old ’possum l”

“ I thought you were a. better Christian than
that, judge.”

“ So I am. I’m a sound Christian. There
ain’t a swseter temper this side of Jericho if
folks only let me alone. But I' won’t stand no
nonsense. ’ No, siree. I want— Oh, the
deuce!” ' ‘ ‘

He suddenly sprung up and danced in a lively
manner around the room. In his excitement he
had put- the wrong end of the cigar to his lips,
with very unpleasant consequences.

Ere he got over the excitement at the unlucky
accident a tele ra h messenger boy entered,
and approach r. Ransome, handing him a

dislpatch.

he latter quickly read it, with a marked
cha e of expression. He had been stretched
out n a very easy and comfortable attitude,
quietly enjoying the old fellow’s blustering
ways, but he now brought his chair down with
a crash, flung his half-smoked cigar in the spit-
toon, and sprung to his feet.

“ mo, judge,” he exclaimed. “ I have told
you w o are the thieves, and where your stolen
goods are likel to be found. Our apple is dead
ripe and y to tumble. Are you with me
for a ride! I’m going for t em.” .

“ Jolly boy! I m your h0ss straight through.”

“ How soon can you be ready? Within five.

minutes?"

“ I’m ready now. A‘chap that sleeps on 'the
prairie“ has at to be ready at the flash.”

“ Good sit for me then.”

He hurried out of the room, stopped for a mo-
ment at the clerk’s desk to speak to Mr. Jones,
and then hastened to his room. He was back.
inside the time mentioned. ' Meanwhile a car-
riage had been drawn up at the door of the
hotel, and 'Mr. Jones and the judge were pre-

ared to accompany him on his mysterious

' Journe . I'

y

The telegram he had received was from Ralph
Ready. It was to the following eflect:
(9.3.2:: ht? 81’3" “Twin”?

a . run on. m o 0

follow him hot in a hanszom.”  8
What th‘ere was, in this that gave warrant for

such a. hasty eXcursion, did not ap

the, deteptive had been bus during t e last few
do? and had learned a th ng or two. He now
fol sure of caging his birds.

'We’ must, however, return to Ralph, whom
we left at a somewhat critical moment. Benson
continued to advance toward the station-gate.
The officer followed, with upraised hand. A
step more, and it would have fallen on the
shoulder of-the unsuspecting victim.

» Butejust at this moment. Benson sto d,
and cautiously around him, and then as-
ned to the elevator, ‘which was about to de-

scend the lower floor of the station. Ralph

and e oflicer ran for the stairs, shouldering
their-way rudely throligh the Crowded room.

When they reached the lower floor Benson
had already disappeared. But in a minute after
‘ the recovered h
, wh ch was drawn. up to the outer door of the
ge-room‘, and was engaged in having his
two extracted from the heap of baggage.

“Good!” exclaimed Ralph. “I have my

- man. now. _
I’ll run him dowu'if I have to chase him for a
week. Will you send a telegraph message for
me! I can’t lose sight of my bird.” _

. u a(3’31‘,-lminl,\7.” axiswgred the oéficer. h. k t

l H g a scrap 0 paper; rom is e
Ralph hastily scrawled off a m 6 £190 Mr.
Ransome at the Grand Central. Handing this
'tothe o 3'-
ad whichs'tood close by. g

I ‘Bw here my frien ' Do you notice'that
carriagoat bauageroom!" '

“ Yes," was the answer. '- '-
“ Doyou think you can keep it in sight!”

1'. But'

m. Hehad hailedn carriage, -

 

Let me have that warrant, please.-

‘he accosted ’the driVer Of a ban-‘

 

“ Well, I should judge. There ain’t the blood
in them horses to get away from this pony of
mine.” ' ' ’

i “ Keep it in si ht, then. But don’t let them
see they are to] owed. I will make it worth
your while.” -

Ralph got into the low-bodied carriage, drew
the lap curtain up so as nearly to conceal him,
and jerked his but down low over his eyes.

He was hardly comfortably seated when Mr.
Benson, having succeeded in recovering his
trunk, took a keen observation of the street be-
fore entering his carriage. He evidently saw
nothing suspicious. Ralph was concealed be-
hind the corner of the station building. The
fugitive stepped into his carriage. The door
closed with a sharp clang. It drove rapidly off.

The next instant the hansom drew out from
its stand, and turned into the street. The chase

, was in full play.

It was a sharp morning in late September.
The wind cat severely as they drove rapidly
onward. But this went for nothing. They had
no time now to think of the weather. Some
hundred yards Separated the two carriages.
This distance the driver of the hansom main-
tained. He stirred up when the chase turned a.
corner, but lagged behind again when it kept a
straight course. Thus they proceeded for a
mile or tw0, in a northerlyqdirection.

“Strai ht as a die. 0 winding, and no
tricks. 6 thinks the coast is clear, or he would
be trying some game. Had his eyes shut up,
after all. ’

So soliloquized Ralph as the pursuit continued.
They were now in an up—town business-street.
The carriage wheeled in to the curb and came
to a stop.

“ Sha l I draw up?” asked Ralph’s coachman.

“Thunder. no! It will look-suspicious. "Keep
ri ht on. But use your eyes.” - -

hey drove past the halted carriage. Its late
occupant stood on the pavement. The coach-
man had thrown his reins on the horses. and
was handlin the trunk, as if with the intention
to land it. 'fiie hansom drove on, Ralph crouch-
ing so as to conceal his face and form.

They proceeded at a jog—trot onward for some
distance. Ralph looked heedf'ully back. The
coachman had landed the trunk, and was carry-
in;; it into the store'before'which the carriage
stood. Mr. Benson had disappeared.

“Draw up here ” cried Ralph.

He sprung briskly to the pavement as the
hansom stopped. He looked back. The driver
of the other carriage was again on his box, and
was drawing out from the curb. He seemed
intending to turn his horses and drive back to
his stand. Mr. Benson was not in sight.

“That’s plain sailing,” cried Ralph. “A
chap needs no chart to follow that craft. My
man has landed in that store. Wait a minute.
I will be back and pay you.” .

He hurried back. The other carriage had
now turned, and was movin back over its late
course. The next minute lph was keenly
gazing into the store which he was satisfied held
the o ject of his pursuit. .

He was right in one reagect. There sat the
trunk on the store floor. ut Mr. Benson was
not in sight. ,

The youthful scout hustled in. Nobody was
present but a well~grown girl. who seemed the
on attendant uponthe establihment.

‘ Where is the owner of this trunk?” he cried,
in a sharp tone. '

“What do on mean! He is not here,”
answered the g 1.

“Not here? -

“No.‘ He left the trunk,
again in the carriage.”

“ That’s all stud,” cried the boy angrily.
“Do you know that you are receiving stoleIl
goods? ‘ You will. t into trouble if you don’t
out with the truth nstanter.” .

“ Stolen goods?” The irl’s eyes opened wide
in fear and surprise. “ y, 811‘, he only left it
here on storage.‘ 'I don‘t know him, indeed I
don’t. Hewent ht away again.”

The confounded y lookedin her face. It
was evident that she. was telling the truth. He
rushed back to- the store door. The carriage
had disappeared. ‘His . own cab. was slowly
coming down the street, the cabman a trifle
anxious-about his fare. - . l i

Ralph rung out hastily. . .. .

“Fools I!’ he cried. “ Fooled the worst way!
He’s in the mrria still!” ..

“ The deuce! nd it’s given us the slip.”

“Pull up.” Ralph leaped alertly into the.
humour. ‘ ‘Now. listen to me.-

and went away

, Where Barclay street in" , . _
-‘“ N be 33y drivers I didn’t”, .
“Tum WitrdghtMmAnd keepm

Detective.

. She shook her head doubtfully.

Do you know:

 

 

 

eye open for the carriage. You may bring it
up again. Let out like wild.”

OE once more they went, the driver using his
whip freely. His sorry-looking but active ani-
mal made lively time, darting onward at an
unusual pace for a cab-horse. Ten minutes'
sharp driving brought them to the desired part
of the city.

“ No signs of the chase?” asked Ralph.

“Nothing sure. Just saw a carriage away

. ofl' ahead.”

‘5 We are nigh Barclay street!”

“ We’ll be there in a minute.”

“ All right. Don’t drive into it. Pull up and
move slowly past. And don’t forget that you’ve
got a pair of eyes.”

6‘  a .1”

. ’

The street in question ran at right angles to
the one in which they were. It was a rather
narrow street, bordered on each side with dwel-
ling-houses. Both used their eyes sharply as
they drove at a slow pace past its opening.

Ralph’s idea had not been in vain. There
stood a carriage, drawn up before a house mid—
we of the square. In a moment more they
ha passed the street-opening, and the view
was lost.

“ How is it?” cried Ralph. “ Is it the same
carriage?”

“ You bet it is. I know it like a book. It’s
Paddy Lynch’s team.”

“ You know it, eh? That’s good. Hold up.
I hear it coming. Just you nail Paddy, and
make him say at what house he left his fare.”

“ I’ll do just that. He’ll tell me, never fear."

They went on at a walk. In a minute more
the carriage turned into the street in which
they were and came 810wly on. Ralph’s driver
hailed the coachman, with a cheery call.

“ The top of the morning to you, Paddy.
Where’s your fare?” _

" Hillo, Tom! I jist unloaded up Barclay
street.” -

“What numberi” r

“ What’s that your business?”

“ Only I want to know.”

“Then guess. You’re allers too ready with
your questions, Tom.” , ‘

Ralph thrust his head from the carriage. He
held a silver dollar betWeen his fingers.

“ Tell me the number then,” he demanded.
“This for you if you answer square.”

“ It’s a bargain,” cried the celighted coach-

man: “ 1036 is the number. Hand over the
needful.” .
“ Done. And here’s for you.” He thrust

some mone intothe hand of his driver. “That
will do. on needn’t wait.” Y

He sprung out and hurried back, leaving the
two coachmen to talk over the strangeness of
the whole affair.‘ ’

CHAPTER XIV.

DIGGING mo run roxns' oovm.‘

WITHIN a room of 036 Barclay street sat
three persons. . Two 0 tram were evidentllivathe

rsons who had so adroitly humbugged lph

eady, but greatlychanged in ap romance.

The shy, simpering be who ad so neatly
played the part of a bash ul oung husband was
now a wide-awake man. e had discarded the
spectacles and mustache of his late disguise, but
.was dressad In the mg of a young sport, and
seemed fit to hold his own in an situation-

His. wife, Mrs. Sherman, or orah Bouncer,
as the detective had called her, also seemed to
have grown ten years older, and had quite
thrown 03 that helpless, 'rlish expression
which had worked so on Ralp ’s sympathies.

The third person of the party was Mr.
Benson. They sat around a table on which
were s read out several articles, including par-
cels of nk-notes and of oflicial-lookmg pers.

They were . just now laughing as a some
amusing joke. ' . i ' ,

“You never saw anybody so sweet] confl-
dential as Ransome was,” said Mr. enson.
“Why the man swallowed_me right in. He
told me all his plans, and did not take a step
without consulting me. It Was like the hound
consulting the fox.” ,

“.The old fellow must be losing his wits,”
answered Sherman. “ He .is counted out West
one of the sharpest .men gain .”

“ So he is,” cried the lady. “ There’s no steel-
trap that is sharper. I’m afraid of that man.”
“He has fol-
lowed us up like a cat follows a mouse. It
wouldn’t surprise me-if he walkedia-here on us
within the next hour.” .

itl’ll go a picayune he didn’t follow as,” re-
joingd her husband. “If he didn’t track Ben-
son. » ,. '

 

/

 

  

15

“Track me? Not much! I’m too old a bird
for that. I kept my eyes open, I promise you.
111.! my trunk sent to the station, and went for
the train. Played that as a blind, but didn’t
twig any spotters. Anyhow, I slipped away,
took a carriage, and got out my trun .”

“ And drove straight here?”

“Well, I should judge not. Not quite that
green, thank you. There was a hansoui that
:‘Ot‘llled to be going the same wnY as I was. I
didn’t quite like that, so I played a little tra-
verse. 1 jumped off and had my trunk carried
into a store. Just as I expected, the liansom
droVe past and stopped just ahead. Islipped
quietly into the carriage, again telling the
(-oacliman to turn and drive back homeward.”

“ Did you see who was in the hansom?"

“You bet I did. I kept my eyes open, I

romise you. Hang me, if it was any y

mt that smart young chap from the hotel!
The little rat shot back for the store, while I
drove away.”

“ The young idiot. He’s sharper than I fan-
cied.” said Mrs. Sherman.

“He’s no fool. But he was playing with an
old fox. At any rate that was the last I saw
of the hansom. I got safe away while he was
followmg up the blind trail of the trunk.” .

They all broke again into a. laugh at this.
ill]? ypujng detective had apparently been neat-

y ooe .

“ Business is the next thin in the pr0<
gramme,” continued Benson. 9‘ e’ve worked
the game, so far, very uneatly. There’s nothing
now but a square divide and a scattering for
safer quarters.”

“ Old Bluebottle bled well,” cried Mrs. Sher-
man. with a laugh, as she laid her hand on the
bundle of pa rs. “ You worked the cards
neatly, in sen ing as his trunk.”

“ Did you haVe any trouble in opening it?”

“I would like to see the look I couldn’t open.
We came near being caught, though. The por-
tei' ctau’ie for the trunk just as were investigat-
mgi .

“ I know, I know,” laughed Benson. “ I have
heard the whole story. But you never saw a
madder coon than the old judge when he was
arrested. He's done nothing but swear ven-
geance since."

“Poor old devil i” They laughed merril at
the. good joke of having the chief victim old
for the thief.”

“Now,” said Mr. Shaman, putting on a busi-
ness air, “ let us get down to work. It is not
best to waste time on this part of the job. Here
is an inventory of our plunder. You will find
everything down there to the least fraction.”

He passer] to Benson a long strip of paper
covsred with close writing. The latter exam-
ined it with an ex erienced eye.

“That seems a! right,” he remarked. “We
can make an easy divide of the smaller plunder.
I su pose Norah will go for those laces.

"“ don’t think you would care to wear them,”
she answered.

“Hardly. But I want their equivalent in
cash. We must fix a selling price on them.
However this is the heavy weight of the busi-
ness”. elaid his hand on the bundle of ’pa-
pe‘r‘s. “ They are dangerous stufl to handle.

Nonsense," we can get rid of them in New
York,” answered Sherman. “I know the fence
that will buy them. At a big discount, of

course.”
“Bless u didn’t old Bluebottle rave about
them 5” lau ed Benson—“and I don’t wonder.

They are a l securities that can be managed by
a careful hand. By the way. Norah, that was
a shrewd trick Of Yours todrop that piece of
red riben in_his trunk. It was that nailed the
business on him. 16 was sworn to by one of the
victims.” . - .

“Red ribbon i” cried Norah in surprise. “I
did nothing of the kind. By the, W8- , I missed
a piece of ribbon from my hair.
could it be—”

' She burst into a loud laugh at the thought
that the old man had been conVlcted of theft
by the lost ribbon of the thief.

“You don’t tell me that? W11 l 0'16 01 the
lady Witnesses swore to it positive Y- ’ ,

“Good! I wonder if they Will convict old

11' mercy!

Bluebottle on the strength of it! That would .
, be a Shaina. I hope the old fellow will be let.
7

“That is a
Mrs. Shaman.

These words came from a new voice. The

door, which had stood partly jar, was now
‘ e Open, and their startled yes beheld on
the threshold no less aoogerson than Ralph
Ready, a very knowing I open his face.

Jory. proper sentiment in you,

- The threethieves sprung to their feet, with
' ' 3

Ralph

w-.. . ._

;iitterly taken aback.

 

 

 

Ream P399

Sherman darted forward, as if with intent to
assail the ven‘turesome youth. But he ate ' ed
suddenly, on facing the muzzle of a pisto in
that oung man’s hand.

“ ust hold your level.” remarked Ralph,
pleasantly; “and let me give you a bit of ad-
vice. The next time you ve got plunder to di-
vide, lock your door. Guess I’ll take a hand in
this split, if on don’t mind.”

He steppe up to the table and seized the in-
ventory of the stolen goods. The villains were
They retired before
Ralph's pistol cowed but cursing. Even the
pretty lips of Mrs. Sherman gave vent to some
very strong exclamations.

“ That trunk trick didn’t work, Benson,” con-
tinued Ra] h. “ I’m a young band, but I’m not
quite a foo . Back with you, now! Drop your
hand! If you show a weapon I’ll bore you 1”

The villains had got our their first alarm,
and showed signs of belligerent inien ions.
Sherman and Benson advanced together.

“ One ste more, and down goes Iyour house,”
warned Ra ph, with his finger on t e trigger.

He had too many to cover. Norah had taken
advantage of the opportunity to slip nimbl be.
hind him. In an instant her arms were dug
around him with a strength which she did not
seem to possess.

In the surprise of the moment the pistol was
discharged, the ball going through the ceiling.
Ere he could aim it again it was dashed from
his handyand he was a captive in the grasp of
his foes.

“ Tie him to the chair! Gag him! Knock
the spy in the head!” .

Such were the various exclamations which
came from Ralph’s captors. He was held too
firmly to resist. though he showed no intention
of doing so. He was, on the contrary, alarm-
ingly cool.

‘ He has confederates,” cried Norah in alarm.
“ That pistol-shot was unlucky. We must run
with the plunder. Tie him and leave him.” '

“ And how about dear, 31 little Roger?"
asked Ralph sarcastically. “ on’t you leave
me the tootsy-wootsy for company i”

“ Take care Roger don’t punch our head,
yoili young ape,” cried that gent eman, an-
gri y.

He began to sweep together the spoil- that lay
spread out on the table. v

A slight noise was audible below. Footsteps
sounded on the stairs.

“ I forgot to tell you,” said Ralph. “ that I
advised the good lady of the house what sort of
folks her boarders were. I sent her for help.
Likely that’s the help coming.”

The alarmed thieves. startled by this in forma-
tiOn, releaSed their risoner, and rushed hastily
for the door which t e footsteps were approach-

in .

They were too late. The door was suddenly
filled with a group of men, before whom they
retired in dismay. For foremost of these'men
came Mr. Ransome, the detective, while be-
hind him Mr. Jones and Judge Bluebottle
pushed into the room. .

“It won’t work.” said the detective, in his
cool manner, his fingers to ing with a pistol.
“I’ve had a. long chase, ut I’ve ruuyouto
earth at last. You may as well ‘fiing’up the
spon e, for I’ve come here to take you.

“ nd may I be keelhauled for 'a blow—hard.
if you haven’t hit the mark uare center!”
roared Judge Bluebottle, iushin forward.
“ For if there ain’t my certificates is en you can
kick me into a pancake for a blazing old liar!”
He sprung to the table as he spoke, and grasped
his lost treasures with outspreud hnn-‘r‘.

The discomflted thieves bud retired into a.
corner of the room, utterly cowed by their dis-
comflture. , -~

“Step out here now, lively.” commanded the
detective, in a brisk tone. ‘ You know me, and
that I won’t stand any foolishness. I haven’t
tracked you for'a thousand miles for nothing.

Just drop that little rib—tickler, friend Roger, ‘

or you may get hurt.
Norah. I hate to put suchrough bracelets on a
lady’s wrists; but I happen to' know your old
tricks.” .

No resistancewas made. In a moment the
chopfallen thievas were all handcuffed. There
was that in the eye of the detective that. took
from themall idea of resistance. -

“As for you, friend Benson,”rhe remarked,
I am sorr to heme fooled you a little. 'But I
wasn’t qui e the joll green you me for.”

The only reply 0 the secured thief Was a
volley of curses. in which he was ec ‘. by
Roger. As for Norah. she crouchedbackm a
chair, with a fierce, tigerish glare in herblue

It

H9Fel..B°Y WWW? - 

cries of alarm. These speedin became oaths. l e es. She seemed

 

l
l

And step. this ,WaY. :

I

 

A... ._.._..

 

the most dangerous of the
t ree. ‘ ' > ‘

“How in the world did you'get here, Ralph?"
asked Mr. Jones, in surprisc.

“ I trailed the fox to his home,” answered
“ But I don’t see how you nosed out the

“ Let me alone for that. Ralph ” laughed the
detectiVe. “I have not been a rep since you
ave me the one of Barclay street. Have only
en waiting to catch all my birds in the nest.
Bless us, if they haven’t had good ickin s!
Mr. Jones, will you take charge of e sto en
goods? There they lie handy.”

Judge Bluebottle had b this time possessed
himself of his papers, an of one of the two
piles of bank-notes that lay on the tallie-

“ Them’s my perquisites,” he declared.
“ Guess I’ll freeze on to that artof the plunder.
And wouldn’t I give the w-ole of it to have
these sinners brought up before me in m court
at Duluth? I bet you high l’d railroad em in
a mighty lively fashion.’ ’

“ 0] your tongue. you bloated old blue-
bottle fly!” screamed Norah in a rage. “ Ill set
even with you yet for this! See if I don’t!
With the whole of

on!"

°~ All ri ht, Norah,” answered the detective
coolly.
think over it first. Come, this part of the play
is OVer.” ‘

He left the room, followed docilel by his
prisoners. Mr. Jones and Ralph gut ered‘up
the stolen goods and followed. The olgdudge
brought u the rear, vowin what he w d o
if he only ad them all out n Duluth,

We need not dwell on the sequel. . The facts
of the robbery were too patent for day defense
to be made by the prisoners. Every article was
recognized by the various victims of the theft,
and a sentence of six years each to the State's
Prison followed a short trial and arapid con-
demnation.

“ And after that term is over they are wanted
in the West,” announced Mr. Ransomev
“There’s a neat litile charge hanging our them
in Illinois, and another in Ohio. \fancy the
traveling public will be safe from‘ their depre-
dations for some long years te-come.”

“Hang me if you ain’t a shar one, Ran-
somel” cried old Bluebottle. “ d I Lever
saw a cooler duck. Why don’t you emigrate to
Duluth? There’s a pretty field out that way.
And you, too, boys. I like you. Come out
there and I’ll make your fortune.” ‘ '

“ How about the quarter you owe me, judge?”
laughed Ral b.

“You she] have it. B blazes
Just (“Ollie out to my oflco n Duluth

-- Better come with me to Toledo." remarked
Mr. Ransoine. “ You have the making of a
detective, my lad. I would like to take you un-
der instruction in the business.” -  ‘

“ You can’t havs him,” answered 110.300“.
sigh: Grand Central is not ready to spare

“Let the boy speak for himself,” responded
the detective. ** ‘ "’ i 1

“Guess I’ll stick where' I mystifide
Ralph. “ Don’t know what I’ll dO'whean‘ t a
few more years on m shoulders; ' _ 3 ts e in
Toledo and Duluth oth. But just now the
Grand Central is big enough to hold me." 

And so ends our story. Ralph inowa man
is still in the Grand Central. '_ He has not; ye
started on that tri West, which be‘ fully in-
tends totakesome ay. . '_  '-

1“ “no

you shall!

‘i

 

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1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince or the Read. By E. L. Wheeler.
2 Yellow-tone Jack. B Joseph E. Badger, Jr.
3 Kansas Ki . By Bufl'» 0 Bill. Hon. W. 1". Cody.)
4 The Wild-1 one Hunters. 3‘ Citptuln Mayne Reid and
Cnptnin Frederick Whittnker.
5 Vnnbond‘sloc. the Young Wandering Jew. By Oil Coomes.
Doubli- number it) rents.
6 Bill Biddon Trapper. B Edward 8. Ellis.
7 The Flying Tanks-e. By uionei Prentiss Ingrahsm.
8 Seth Jones; or. The Cnptlvee oi the- Frontlor. By E. S. Ellis.
9 Adventures of listron Mnuohuusen.
10 Nat, Todd or, The Fate of the Sioux “aptlves. By E. 8. Ellis.
11 The Two Detectives. Bv Albert W. Aiken.
12 Gulliver’s Travels. A Voyage to Liiiput, and s Voysge to
llmlulingoug. By Drun Swift.
18 The Dumb Spa. By Oil Comm-s.
14 Aladdin; or. 1' a Wonderful Lump.
15 The, Hen-Cat. Bnd mun Broderick “'hittalter.
16 Robinson Crusoe. .1 lllustmtlons? By Defoe.
17 Rat h [to , the Buy ilul-ruucrr. By )ni. i’rentisslngrnham,
18 Bin bad i. e Sailor. From the Arabian Nights.
19 Tte Pl’llllliitlnl Spy. By Humllu iiill.
20 'l‘ on Double Daggers. By lidwnnl 1. Wheeler.
91 The Frontier Angel. By Esiwnrd 5. Ellis.
22 The Host ‘ erpent; on'l'ln‘ Bu) Robinson Crusoe. Bv J. Lewis.
28 Nick o’the NI lug or,The Boy Spy oi’76. By'i‘.C.l>lsrbsugh.
24 Diamond  V Colonel i’runtiu ingrahuru.
25 The Do On loin. 3' Roger Stnrbluzk.
26 Clove-Is loo , the Ban 0 Damon. Bv Edward L. Wheeler.
27 Antelope Also, the Boy Guido. ByOlI Coomes.
28 Huflalo lien; the Prince ofthe Pistol. By E. L. Wheeler.
29 The Dumb I u e.
80 ' olring liltl Roe 'wood. By Hnrry St. George.
ill 'een-lsnlt‘e, rince of the Prairies. llv Oll Coonies.
32 0b Woolf, the Border Ruiiian. By Edwnrd L. Wheel”
88 The Dceau Bloodhound. By S. W. Pierce.
84 Ore on Sol. liy Captain J. P. C. Adams.
:5 “'l lvun, the Boy Clnude lluvnl. By E. L. Wheeles
ll 'l‘he'lio Churn. By Frank S. Finn.
81' The H dell Lod e. By T. C. Hnrhsu h.
e w lde, tho 7y Scout. B) Tex»: sck.
89 Death-Taco, the‘ Detective. By Edwa-d L. Wheeler.
("fl 1 II. “V John J. Marshall.
41 Lasso uek, the wqu Muetangrr. B_v OilCoomes.
42 he Phantom Miner. By Edward L. Wheeler. ‘
48 lek Dnriin , the Perry Express Rider. By Capt. Whittaker.
Rsttlln Ru . By Hurry St. George.
4-5 01d Ava ant-he the Great Annihilutor. By E. L. Wheeler.
46 (3 m Eye, iilr' ( rc-nt Shot of the “font. By J. l“. C. Adams.
Uightinule Nat; or,The Forest Csptains. By Hsrbaugh.
set-k John, the Road-A out. By Joseph E. Bud 'er, Jr.
49 Omaha 0". the Muked ' error. By Edward L. healer.
50 “I” Bourke , the Trn per. By C. E. Lasslle.
61 Thy”: Hines or, he Underground Ciunp. By Asc.lron.
g2 }‘lsc lte Bu 1..

 

all

910. By C. E. lame]

ills Blhdsoe Jr., the Boy Phenlx. By KL. Wheeler.
Nod line], the Bov Trapper. By Cnpt. J. F. C. Adams.
65 DendW-E e. the Unknown Scout. By Bufl'liiu Bill.
50 Nit-is hike-fl Pet. Bv Captain J. F. C. Adams.
57 udwood Dick’s Eagles. By Edward L. Wheeler.
58 'l' e iiorder King; or. The Secret Foe. By Oil Coomes.
59 0i i llioltoryt or. lmndv Ellie's Scalp. By Harry St. George.
00 The White Indian. By Captain J. F. C. Adll"'l.
(ii "acids-urn Bill; or. The Red Rifle Tenth. By E. L. Wheeler.
62 The fihndow Ship. By Colonel Prentiss ingrshstn.
08 The Red Brotherhood. By W. J. Hamilton.
6-1- Dnnd Jock. By T. C. Hsrbsugh.
65 ilurr cane Bill. By Joseph E. Resign, Jr.
06 Marie "and or, A Life for it Life. W. J. llnmilton.
67 Patten-Loot er Joe. B Philip s. rune.
03 e «or or 1) [Ion . Bv Buffalo Bill.
69 Gold Rifle tllr' Sh shooter. By Edwsrd L. Wheeler.
70 Old Zip’s Cabin. §Csptain J. i“. l‘. Adams.
71 Delaware Dick, the using Ranger Spy. By Oil Canines.

72 Mad Tops Western, the Tenn Rsngsr. By W. J. Hamilton.
78 Deadwood Dick on Deck. By Edwsrd L. Wheeler.

74 Hawk-eye flurry. By an Coomrs.

75 The Boy Duelist. lBy Colonel Prentiss Ingrshsm.

TB Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. By Albert W. Aiken.

77 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo. By E. L. Wheeler.
78 £402 mks , By Captsin Mayne Reid.

"L I loll Ginger, the Glsnt Trapper. By Albert W. Aiken.

80 Embed Rob. By Edward L. Wheeler.

81 Lightning Jo, By prtuin J. F. C. Adults.

82 Kit Barefoot, the Wood-Hawk. By T. C. Hsrbsugh.
new the 891 Ranger. By on Coomes.

84 I‘ll, the Girl Miller. By Edwsrd IL. Wheeler.

85 Buck Buekrsln. By Captain 1.1‘. C. Adumi.

:38 Day” Book, the Msu from Texas. By G. Wsldo Bron.
87 The Laird Pirates. 'By Csptsln Msyns Reid.

88 flatmaph Phil, the Boy Sleuth. By E. L. Wheeler.
88 Madden-s. By the suthorot “Jack Hsrkswsy.” '
“The Dre-d Rider. By George Wsldo Browns.

21 The Osptniu of the Club. By Brscsbrldge Hemyng.

n and. Chat, the Coonhrisiter Chief. By E. L. Wheeler.
88 The Boy liners. By Edwsrd 3. Ellis.

.48 lidslclst Jock, the Raul-Agent. By T. 0. Harbsu‘h,

.5 The Rival Rovers. By um. Col. Hmltlus.

’8 Watch-Eye, the Shadow. By Ede-rd L. Wheeler

.7 The Cotton Brothers. By John J. Msrshsli.

’3 ROM! M the Outlaws-i Earl. By Prof. Gilderslm
.9 The Tlcer of Tool. By Gs'orze Wsldo Browne.

100 Deadwood Dick in Iasdviile. By E. L. Wheelsr.
101 Jack Iankswsy in New York. Bmebrldge Hemp].
102‘Diek Dead-Eyes, 8y Colonel Prentiss lngrshsns.

108 The Lion oftlse Ben. By Colonel Dells Ssrs

104 Deadwood Dick's Device. By Edward 1. Wheeler.
mourns». the Hunter. . BstpsslnHJlolrnsd’

1” old Pmty, ills Guide. By T. C. Hsrhsngh.

107 One-Eyed Ill. By Juries L. Boston.

108 Darin. Derry. the Young Basr- Killer. By 11. St. George.
1” Desde Dick as Detective. By E. L Wheeler.
11. The Blue]: Steed ofthe Prniries. By J. L. Down.
111 The Des-Devil. By Colonel Prentiss ln‘rshlm.

11. The ltd Hunter. By Burton Boss.

118 Jack Hoyle, the Young Speculator. By E. L. Wheeler.
114 The Block Schooner. By Roger Starbuck.

115 The Ind Miler. By Gsorzs Wsldo Browns.

11. The Ills-solr Capt-in. By Col. Prentiss lugrshsm.
11" Gilt-Edged Dick. 83‘ Eclwsrd L. Wheeler. ‘ .
118 Will here, the Bar Drier-tire By Cllsrles Morris.
11. I‘m 8.- ; or.Ths King or the Plains. By J. E. Bsdgsr.
120 Thg»llrsnded “and. By Frsnk Dumont.

121 Clues-son Chin, the Girl Sport. By E. L. “'heelsr.
122 PM! Hardy, m u .- a. y. Br Chsrles Morris.

1” Kiowa Clark-y, “hr ‘6'. "r it siullgt'r. By'l‘. C. Hsrbeugh.

B ‘ Cnptltln Freda-rick W'hiltuker. -

124 Tippy. the Texan. By George Gleason.

125 Bonanza Bill, Miner. By Edward L. wheeler.

128 Picayune Pete. By Chsrles Morris.

127 Wild-Fire, the Boss of the Road. By Frank DumonL
128 The Young Privateer. By ii. Cavendish.

129 Deadwood Dick's Double. By Edward L. Wheeler
180 Detective Dick. By Charla-s Morris.

131 The Golden llund. By lenrge Wnldo Browne.

132 The Hunted Hunter. By Edward S. Ellis.

183 lions Hob, the King of the Bootbiucks. By E.L. Wheeler.
134 Sure Shot Seth. By Oll Col mum. .

135 Captain Puul. By C. Dunning Clark.

186 Night-lluwk Kit. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

137 The Helpless llnnd. By Captain Mayne Reid.

138 Blonde lilll. By Edward L. Wheeler.

189 Judge Lynch, Jr. By T. C. iiurhsugh.

140 Blue Blazes. ily ank Dumont.

141 Solid Sum, the Boy Road-Agent. By Ed. L. Wheeler.
142 llundsonse liars-y. By Chnrles Morris.

148 Sour-Fuoc Soul. By Oil Coomes.

144 Dainty Lance, the Boy Sport. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.
145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. By Wheeler.
146 (Silver Star, the Boy Knight. By Oil Commas.

147 “'ill Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. By Charles Morris.
148 Sharp Sum Bv J. Alexander Pqtten.

149 A Game 01' Gold. By Edward L. Wheeler.

150 Lance and Lasso. By Cuptuin Frederick Whittaker.
151 Panther Paul, the Prairie Pirate. By Jon. E. Badger,Jr.
152 Black Bess, Will Wildtirs’s Racer. By Charles Morris.
153 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. By Oil Comnes.

154 The Sword Hunters. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.
155 Gold Trigger, the SporL By T. C. Harbnugh.

156 Deadwood Dick 0 lindwood. By E. L. Wheeler.
157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. By Chsries Morris.
15% Fancy Frank of Colorado. By Bumtlo Bill.

159 The L0“. Captain. By Captain Frederick Whittaker.
160 The Black Giant. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

. 161 New York Nell. By Edward I. Wheeler.

162 Will Wildfire in the Woods. By Charles Morris.
168 Little Texas. the Young Mustsnger. By Oil Coomss.
164 Duudy Rock's Pledge. By George \Vuldo Browne.
165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. By Charles Morris.
‘ 166 Hickory Hurry. By Harry St. George.

167 Assn Scott, the Steamboat Boy. By Edwsrd Wiiistl.
168 Deadly Dash. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

169 Tornado Torn. By T. C. ilarhaugh.

170 A Trump Curd. By Charles Morris.

171 Ebony Dan. By Frank Damont.

172 Thunderbolt Tom. By Harry St. George.

178 Dandy Rock’s Rlvul. By George Vando Browne.
17-1 Bob Rookett, the Buy Dodger. By Chnrles Morris.
175 Contain Arizona. By Philip S. Warne.

176 The Boy Runaway. By Lieutenant H. D. Perry, U.S.N.
177 N obby Nick of Nevada. By Edwsrd L. Wheeler.
178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. By Oil Coomes.
179 Bob Roekett, the Bank Runner. By Chsries Morris.
180 The Sea Trailer. By Lieutenant ll. D. Perry, U.S.N.
181 “'ild Frank of Montana. By Edward L. Wheeler.
182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Cnptnln. By 01! Comm»
188 The Hidden "and. By Charles Morris.

18-1 The Boy Trallers. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

185 Evil Eye, King of the Csttie Thieves. By Frank Dumont.
188 Cool Desmond. By Colonel Del'ie Sara.

187 Fred llulysud, the Life Bost Boy. By Chsrles Morris.
188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. By T. C. Harbsugh.

189 Bob Rookett, the Cmcksmnn. By Charles Morris.

190 Dandy Burke. By William R. Eyster.

192 Captain Rig-the Wlil-ol-ths-Wlsp. By Lisut. Perry.
198 The LsdyRoad-Agent. By Philip 3. Wm...
194 anllo Bill’s Bet. By Captain Tsyiu
195 Dendwopd Dick’s Dream. By Edward Ls Whoellh
180 Shndpwcd. By Charles Morris.
19? Little'Grlt, the Wild Rider. ‘ By Col. Prentiss ingrehsm.
19,8 Arkansnw, the Msn with the Knife. By '1'. C. Hsrbsugh.
199 Featherweight. By Edward wmm. '
900 The Boy Bedouins. By Capt. Frederirlr Whittaker.
201 The Black Hills Jezebel. By Edward L. Wheeler. .
202 Prospect Pete, of the Boy Bright 3. By Oil Coomss.
208 The Boy Pords. By Joseph E. tiger, Jr. 4
204 Gold Plume, the Boy Bandit. By Col. Prentiss lngrshsln.
205 Deadwood Dlek’s Doom. By Edwsrd L. Wheeler.
200 Dark Poul, the Tiger King. By Chsrlss Morris.
201’ Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. ' By T. C. Hsrhsugh.
208 The Boy Hers-lies. By Oll Coomes. '
209 Fritl, the BoundTBoy Detective. By Edwsrd 1. Wheeler.
212 Doro Frank of High Pine. By Willism it. Eystsr.
211 Crooked Cale. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.
212 Dashing Dave, the Dsldy Detective. By Chsrlss Morris.
218 F's-its to the Front. By Edwsrd L. Wheeler.
214 Wolfgang. the Robber of the Rhino. By Capt. Whittsksr.

15 Captdln Bullet, the Raider King. By T. C. Hsrhsugh.
218 Bison Bill, the'Prines of the Reins. By Col. P. lap-shun.
.17 Captain Crack-Shot. By Edwsrd L. Wheeler.
.18 Tiger Torn, the Tenn Terran. By Oil Coonses.
219 Despard. the Duelist. By Philip 3. Wsme.
220 To. Tanner, Scsiswsg sud Scepsgrsce. By Class. Morris.
221 Smr-qukd Ban. By Edward L. Wheeler.
282 Grit, the Bravo Sport. By Col. Prentiss lngrshsm.
“8 Mark Alf, King of the Mountsln. By Mwnd Willett.
224 Dashing Dick. By Oil Coomes. ‘
as San 0han the Premium Dsrky. By Ohsrles Morris.
Fe 8w, ths'Bny Slurp. n, Edwsrd 1.. Wheeler.

7

 

Dusky Darrell, ‘i‘rspper. By E. Emerson.
228 Little Wildfire.

By Oll ‘loomss.

191 Buialo Billy, the Boy Bulivhacker. By Capt. A. B. Taylor:

‘ 818 Cirnsrron Jock.

 

229 Crimson Kate. By Colonel Prentiss ingrnham.
280 The Yankee anuh. By C. Dunning Clsrk.

231 l’luoky l’hll, ul‘the Mountain Tmil. By T. C. Hub-ugh.
282 Gold-Dust. Dick. By Edward L. Wheeler.

288 Joe Buck 01’ Angels. By Albert W. Aiken.

2B4 (lid Rocky‘s “Boyees.” By Buckskin Sam.
235 Hlmt‘low Burn, the Messenger Buy. By Charles Morris.
236 Apollo lull. By Edward L. Wheeler.
287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain.
238 The Parson Deter-live.
289 The Gold-seeker Gulde. By Captain Msyne Reid.

240 Cyclone Hit. By iidwnrd ll. Wheeler.

241 Bill liruvo and "is Boar Pnrds. By T. C. Herbsugn.

2-82 The Two " Bloods.” By Charles Moms. ‘
243 The Disguised Guide. By Oil Coomes.

244 Sierra Burn. By Edwnrd L. Wheeler.

245 Merle, the Mlddy. By Colonel Prentiss infirm

246 (Hunt George. By Buckskin Snm.

242‘ Did Grizzly and "in Pets. By Capt.“ Bruin” Adsmb.

248 Sierra Sltln’u Secret. By Edward L. Wheeler.

249 Milo Homer, the Animal King. By Capt. Fred. Whittskm

250 The Midshipman Mutineer. By Col. P. insult“

251 Light-house Line. By Cnptuin J. F. C. Adams.

252 Did“ Duuhuwuy. By Churies Morris.

253 Sierra. flum’n Purd. By Edward L. Wheeler.

254 The llulf-lilood.‘ By Edward 3. Ellis.

255 Captain Apollo. By T. C. iinrluluuh.

256 Young Kentuek. By Cuptsin Murk Wilton.

257 The Lost Hunters. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.

258 Sierra Sam's Seven. By Edward L. Wheeler.

259 The Golden llurpoon. By linger Surbuck-

260 Dare-Devil Dun. By Oil Comm.

261 Fergus Fear-nought. By George L. Aiken.

262 The Young Sleuths. By Charles Morris.

263 Deadwood Dick’s Divide. By Edward L. Wheeler.

264 The Floating Feather. By Col. P. Ingmhnm.

265 The Tiger Tamer. By Cnptnin Fred, Whittaker. ‘
266 Kilib’nr, the Guide. By Ensign Warren.

267 The Buckskin Detective. By T. C. Harhnugs.

268 Deudwood’Dic-k’s Death Trail. By E. L. Wind‘s.

269 The Gold Ship. By Col. Prentiss lng-rnhsln.

270 Blizzard Ben. By Captain Mark Wilton.

271 The "use llunter. By Edward S. Ellis.

272 Minkskiu Mike. By Oil Coomel.

278 Jumbo Joe. By Edward L. Wheeler.

274 Jolly Jim. By Charles Morris.

275 Arizona Jnck. By Buckskin Sam.

276 Merle Monte’e Cruise. By Colonel Prentiss lngrshsns.

277 Denver Doll. By Edward L. Wheeler.

278 The Three Trappern. By Major Lewis W. Csrson.

239 Old “'iuch, the Riile King. By T. C. Harhnugh.

280 Merle Monte’s Fate. By Col. Prentiss lngrshsm.

281 Denver Doll’s Victory. By Edward L. Wheeler.

282 The Typo Detective. By Edwsrd Willstt.

283 Indian Joe. By 'M'lgjui‘ Lewis W Carson.

284 The Ben Marauder. By Colonel Prentiss lngrahsn.

285 Denver Doll’s Decoy. By Edwer L. W'heeler.

286 Josh, the Boy Tender-foot. By Capt. Mark Wilton.

287 llllly Blue-Eyes. By Colonel Prentiss lngruhun.

288 The Scalp King. By Cuptsin J. F. 0. Adams.

289 Jolly Jim’s Job. By Charles Morris.

290 Little Foxfire. By Oil Coomes.

291 Turk, the Ferret. By Edward L. Wheeler.

292 Sancho Pedro. By Mitjor E. L. St. Vrsin. ‘
298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trspper. By Csptsln M

By Col. lngrshnm.
By 011 Coomos.

"294 Dynamite Don. By '1‘. C. llarhuugh.

295 Fens-less Phil. By Edward Willett.

296 Denver Doll‘s Drift. I By Edward Ltheslet.
297 The Tarantula of Tons. By Bnckskin Sun.
298 The Water-llound. By Charles Morris. .
299 A No. 1, the Dashing le-Taksr. By Edwsrd l. M

800 The Sky Demon. By Oil Gnomes. I ' ' 
301 Lt-ndville Nick. By hldor E. L. St. Vrsin. i l
802 The Mountain Detective. By T. C. lurth '
808 'leo Jane, the Girl Miner. By E. L. Wheeler.

804 The Dead Shot Dandy. ByColonel Pratt-inpu-

805 Duhuwny. of Dskots. By Chsrlss Morris.

806 Neck-Tie Ned. 8';- Major B. B. stoddsrd.

807'Tile Strand-e Pll'll. By Buckskin Sun.

808 Keno Hit, the Boy Bugler’s’l‘urd. By Col. P. lngrslisl.

800 Desdwood Dick’s Big Deal. By E. L. Wheeler.

810 The Burning: Wolf. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

811 The Roving Sport. By Edwsrd Willstt.

812 11¢de Rube, the Vigilsnts Prince. By Mel. B. L. St. Vlli{

By Frederick Dewey.

814 The Mysterious Msrsuder. By 001- ?- inn-hm.

815 Ned, the Cnbin Boy. By Jack him

816 Old Eclipse, Trump Curd o! Arisons. By T. C. w

817 Peacock Pete. By Lieutensnt Alfred Thorns. i
818 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoa! By Buckskin Sun.

819 The Black Rider. By Joseph E. Bsdgsr,Jr.

820 The Sea Sort-ore“. 3! Jul! Farragut. ‘
821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen. By Edwsrd 1. Wbssisa.

822 Nome, the Detective. By Edwsrd Willsts.

828 Arkansow Jack. By Hsrry Heard.

824 Ralph Rudy, the Hotel Boy Detective. 1110s.. Hersh,

825 gyelley, lllolte do Company, the Sluthsofml ‘

Ellwsrd L. W selsr.
826 Bill Bloke, the Slayer. By T. C. W
A New. Issue Eva: Week.

The Half-Dine Library is for ssls bysll Item u
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BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pnbll‘eu.
08 William Street, New York.