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COPYRIGHT. 1892, BY BEADIJC & ADAMS.

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Lightning Lew,
The King of the Secret Service;
Sam Sharp‘s 'Big Score.

The Romance of A Double Life.

 

BY EDWARD (iAlNlCS BURNES.
I“Brown ch,’ of the Secret Service Corps)
AUTHOR or ” rna LEAGUE or SEVEN,” arc,

CHAPTER I.
Tim DEFAULTING CASHIER.

WHEN the New York papers announced that
Edmond Abbot was a dcfaulter—a forger—as-
tonishinent, as well as consternation, was both
genuine and general.

“ If a man like Abbot—the cashier of a big
company—gives way to temptation, what are
we to expect from our clerks?” business men
asked each other.

Three days before the crash came, the direct-
ors of the company of which Mr. Abbot was
cashier, met to consider the making of a big loan,
and, at the same time, ascertain, exactly, the
financial condition of their concern.

When the Board Room clock struck ten every-
body was surprised, and many felt a trifle tri-
umphant, to find that that personification of
punctuality—the cashier—could be behind time.

When the clock struck eleven, Some little alarm
began to be manifested, and much relief was ex-
pressed, when a message was received from Mrs.
Abbot, saving her husband had been summoned
to the bedside of his dying father.

“A great relief, gentlemen, I must confess,”
remarked the preSident, as he returned Mrs. Ab-
bot’s letter to the envelope, after reading it.

“ I fe-ired,” he continued, “that some accident
had happened to delay our worthy cashier—a
man who, for years, has not been a day absent
or a minute late."

. The listeners smiled approvingly—as much at
the speaker, as the speech.

The cashier was as notoriously penurious and
exacting, as he was famous for his punctuality,
and correct habits, and words of praise from him
to a subordinate, were never uttered—or expect-

Mr. Wright, the president, on the other hand,
was generous with kind words, and cash. Every
charitable organization in the city knew him,
and where he kept his bank account.

To those present in the Board Room, it seemed
almost amusineg generous, to bear liberal Mr.
Wright praise close~listed, cranky Mr. Abbot.

Three days afterward, the president’s words of
praise were remembered—and by no means ap-
provingly, because an examination of the books
had revealed a series of false entries, and forged
securities, to support them.

Inquiry at the cashier’s residence, disclosed the
fact, that the letter explaining that Mr. Abbot
had been sent for by his dying father, was not
written, (as it purported to be,) by Mrs. Abbot.
She knew nothing of it, nor of her husband’s
Wheres bouts.

“ 1 how not seen him since Sunday,” she ex-
plained to the detective, who was searching for
the cashier.

“ Nor heard from him ?” questioned the officer,
looking rather skeptical.

. “ Oh, yes. I received a message Sunday

night, saying my husband wascalled away by
impgrtant business, and would not return for a
wee . I

“ It was business connected with the com~
pany, I understo .d,” continued Mrs. Abbot be-
ginning to look troubled. “ Is it not so?”

“ You read the papers, madame, I presume?"
counter—questioned the officer, doubtfully.

Mrs. Abbot blushed painfully, and looked em-
barrassed, as she answered:

“ My husband is a very careful, saving man.
He brings home the only paper we read.”

The detective stared in astonishment.

Could it be possible, that this robber of bur.-
dreds_ of thousands, carried his hypocritical
penurmusness into his home?

“ Then, madame, you are not aware that your
husband is supposed to have run away—to, in
fact, to have robbed the company and fled f”

Mrs. Abbot was a delicate, refined~looking
woman of about forty, and the officer pitied her,
when he saw the expression of agony called up
by his blunt statement of the case.

“I believe she is entirely innocent of any

“ She was 1' 1y over-

knowledge of her husbands rascalit ," here-
ported

to Mr. Wright.

Lightning

 

 

 

whelined, to learn that the man who made her
account for every penny she received, was at
the same time squandcring thousands—could
not believe it.”

” Well, it’s only too true, too true,” remarked
the president, Sighing, and adding:

“thre can he have gone to?"

“ That’s a tough question to answer, Mr.
\Vi‘ight. Had he. disappeared Saturday, 1 should
havo said to Europe, but he was here until long
after all the steamers had sailed, so, his flight
must have been confined to this country and the
police of every city are on the lookout."

“Yes. Well, it's a very said affair, but we
came off better than might have been expected.
The total loss will not exceed a quarter of a mil-
lion, and the misguided man could as well have
stolen double, ny, .,uadruple that sum.”

“Must huvequeer waysof doing business in
this concern,m thought the detectiVe, and aloud:

“I suppose you care more about the money
than the maul!” ‘

“ W by ?” asked Mr. Wright, sharply.

“Oh, well, that is the way with most heavy
losers. They nearly always compromise."

“ We will not interfere with the course of
justice, to regain what has been stolen," return-
ed the president, in an unusually stern tone.

“That certainly does not sound like letting
him down easy,” commented the detective, as he
passed out of the offices of the big banking and
trading company.

Alone, Mr. Wright was pacing the floor of
his private office, looking strangely agitated, and
muttering;

“ Strange, very strange! A week has elapsed,
and yet he has not been found. Where is the
body? Why has it not been diScovei-ed? Good
heavensl If it should become mutilated, that
would lead to an investigation and that would
lead to——-”

A tap on the office door interrupts Mr.
VVrigl-it’s agitated thoughts, and in an instant he
recovers hiinSclf.

“Two ladies to see you, sir!” announces the
clerk, who enters in response to the president’s
kindly spoken “ Come in.”

“ It’s some charity affair," adds the clerk.

“Don’t detain them,” returns the president.

 

CHAPTER II.
LIGHTNING LEW.

TWO weeks have elapsed since the robbery,
and flight of the cashier, of The Great American
Banking and Trading Company, has been made
public, but no trace of the missing man has been
discovered.

Business is going on as usual at the com-
pany’s offices, and the genial, big-hearted presi-
dent appears to be about the only person re-
taining any interest in the defaulter.

Mr. Wright, in fact, looks more and more
worried, as the days pass without any informa—
tion being received of Mr. Abbot, and finally he
calls on a famous man-hunter.

Lewis Pryce was a private detective, then,
but only reccntly released from Government
employment—after fifteen years’ work, as the
most trusted man in the Secret Service—a man
famous for his skill and undaunted courage.

The night before Mr. Wright called on the
detective, the latter received another visitor on
the same errand: the daughter of the missing
man, Lucy Abbot.

After announcing who she was, the visitor
continued:

“I have called, Mr. Pryce, to deliver this
letter, which appears to have escaped the notice
of those who have been searching among my
father’s papers, through being pushed behind a
drawer.”

The detective took the proffered letter, which
was unsealed, and read:

“Should I at any time. and under any circum-
stances, disappear, or be fatally injurcd, have a skill
ful detective makeathorough investigation of the
matter—rmardless r/‘(Ippem arias! The amount in.
closed, (8500,) should be sufficient to have this done.”

The letter, unsigned, was addressed simply:
“ To my family,” and had the appearanco of
being written a long time but bore no date.

“ Mr. Abbot evidently expected trouble,”
observed the detective, adding:

“Am I to understand that you wish me to
undertake the work ordered done by this letter,
and paid for by this money i” .

Miss Abbot bowed assent, and Pryce con-
tinned:

“ May I ask how you came to select me?”

“ I asked a friend who would best answer the
r uirements of the letter—who was the most
ski lful detective he knew of, and being informed,
came to you."

 

Lew, the King of the Secret

 

 

 

Service.

 

A slight blush accompanying the reply, caused
Pryce to refrain, for the moment, fi'Om inquir-
iiig who “ he" was, but as the young lady was
about to depart, she forestalled the question, by
saying:

“ The gentleman who advised calling on you
will call himSclf to-morrow. His name is
DrapI-r—William Draper.”

" You mean the young millionaire, I prc-~
sunic?” said the detective, as calmly as if he had
not With difficulty restiained a whistle, on hear--
mg the name. ‘-

Miss Abbot smiled faintly, as she, replied:

" N0, 1 do not think Mr. Draper is a million-
aire. He is a mrking man—a WI‘llt-l‘, or re-
porter, I understand.”

“ The very man; but. what the mischief is be
up to, now ?” muttered Pryce, when the door had
closed on his visitor.

“Well, he sent me the care, at all events——
and a deuce of a one it isl She can give me no
hint; the father’s papers are seized, or have bcen
Sifted of eveiyihing of value, and—well, 1 must
lU( k through lhem to-morrow.” '

With the morrow, came Mr. Wright—just as
the detective was about startingr for the suburb—
an residence of the Abbots.

“ I have ct me with reference to the dis-
appearance of Abbot—the defaulting cashier of
the Gieut American Banking Company,” ex—
plained Mr. Wright.

The police appear to be unable to find any
“ trace of tin», and I have (iH'ldHl to unploy
outside assietance—as representatives of the
company of course.”

“ Of course,” assented Pryce, “and you
arc—i"

he knew perfectly in ell, lint, then, Mr. Wright
had not. ini‘oriiied him. Possibly, the latter
thought the detective must know him. Still the
question see med to displease the bunker, who re-
plied, in a ieproving way:

“You bear tlie reputation of being a very
discreet nian, Mr. Pryce, and 1 tiust you will
deserve it in this matter.”

The detective bowed, and then watched, and
listencd, sharply, and carefully— much were so
than he appeared to he doing.

“ My interest in the affair is partly friendly.”
continued Mr. Wright, “and, for list rent-n,
you need go no further than lll-‘CPHBllIlbg! what
has become of the unfortunate man. I Ln: w
him for many years, and would lilxc, it possible,
to know where be is, and what doing.

“ When you have anything to con municate,
address Mr. Smith, (are of tlIPl-f' la uyi is.”

The lankei' Landed over tl e business card of
a w eil-knowu law firm, as he spoke, adding:

“You will ieci ive a check from flat firm
dlll‘int.’ the day. When more is Iletdt'd, apply to
them.”

The last words- were uttered, as the speaker
pick: (1 up his hat. and, with a nod, left the
(dice, before the detective could explain that be
was already engaged in the Abl 0i nzatier.

“W ell this 1's queer i” Price declared, as, re-
fraining from running after his late Visitor, he
resumed his chair. “ Is this concealment mere
ly his modi sty, or, is there son'eihiirg more tl-an
friendliness Lack if this anxiety to know the
fate of the cashiei l” 7 .

For a few minutes, the defective append to
be buried in thought, the result of which can
only be inferred from the words uttered, as he
started, for the second time, to visit the Abbots;

“Yes, it is well I did not inform him.”

Detective Pryce—or Lightning Lew as his
comrades had dubbed him, because of his quick-
ness, and loloness, in gettting into, and through
with, whatever he undertor k—was not fated to
get out of his (flice so easily that morning, for,
on opening the door, he found himself facing a
young man, evidently about entering, who salut-
ed him with:

“ Ah! Just in time to catch you eh!”

“Just in time, Mr. Draper. Will you come
in, or can we talk going along?”

“ To where?”

“ To call on MiSs Abbot,” replied the detec-
tive, glancing slyly at the young man.

“We’ll talk here,” decided Mr. Draper, add-
ing: “ And, remember, it’s all Confideniial, and
Miss Abbot is to know nothing more than that!
called to urge you to use every effort to discover
what has become of her father. ,

“ There is, however, another matter I Wish to
speak of, and which I wish you to look into.

“ On the day Abbot is supposed to have fled, I
put into his hands a draft for $100,000, for which

hold his personal receipt—and 1 am out Just
that amount!"

“ How came you to accept his receipt, instead
of the company’s!”

Except for the frank, good-natured expression

§

 

  

it ‘

 

 

 

 

" “Lightning Lew. the King of the Secret Service.

.- ..-—o. .m

y.-~~v~,—,..-.- —- . . r. _.

3i

 

of his countenance, Williuui Draper, notwith-
standing he was a millionaire, was a very or-
dinary-looking yovng man of twenty-five, or
six, although accounted rather clever in many
respects. Deception, apparently, was not one of
hi traits.

oloriug slightly, the young man explained.

“ A short time ago’, I met Miss Abbot at an
exhibition got up for the benefit of an artist. I
wished to, but did not, receive..an invitation to
call on her, although we became pretty 'w ell ac-
quainted, and taking the advice of a 'rieud,l
determined to call on business—on the father.

“My friend assured me that Abbot never
mentioned anything but household expenses to
his family, and making an excuse of this draft,
(which I had held over during the day,) I called
at his hmse, told him I Wished his company to
invest it, and, on his refusing to accept it as
cashier, took his personal receipt.

“Now, Pryce. if that man had any idea of
running off, why did he refuse my sight draft—
as cashier? And, even as it is, why has it not
been presented—or cashed elsawherel”

“Probably afraid it would furnish a clew to
his whereabouts," thoughtfully replied Pryce.

“Nonsense! He had three days, in which it
could be cashed without suspicion.”

“ You are well informed.”

“ No more than the newspaper accounts. But
that has nothing to do with it. I want to be
better informed—and you are the man to furnish
the information, if any man can.”

“You, of course, know I am already en-
gagedi”

“I expected you would be; but, again, that
has nothing to do with my part of it. “'hat
you do for me, must not be known—not at
present, if ever.” '

Mr. Draper arose as he finished, and accom-
panied the detective to the street, where they
parted.

“ There is no modesty about my third engage-
ment—it’s a clear case of love,” declared Light-
ning Law as he started, for the third time, to
call on the Abbots.

CHAPTER III.
A CLEW 'ro rm: CASHIER.

BOTH the president and the cashier of the
Great American Banking and Trading Company
resided out of the city—the former during the
summer only. and the latter continually.

Mr. Abbotfis neat cottage was about a mile
further away than Mr. Wright’s magnificent
reside-nee, and this fact Was brought to Pryce’s
knowledge by an article which he read while on
the way.

The article was headed: “ A Clew to Abbot,”
and went on to state that the hat and coat of
the defaulter had been found in an out-house,
near the river, on the grounds of Mr. Wright at
Brookvale-on-the-Hudson.

Commenting on the affair, the paper sug-
gested that the hat and coat were placed where
found, to give the impression of suicide, though
admitting the possibility of Abbot having, in a
moment of desperation, plunged into the river.

A full rehearsal of the case followed, and the
detectivo learned several interesting facts,
which his clients had either concealed from him,
or were not aware of.

First: Among Abbot’s private papers were a
number of receipts for expensive dresses, shawls,
hats, jewelry, etc., of which Mrs. Abbot knew
nothing. She and her daughter had made al-
most everything they wore.

Second: The officer who had found these
mysterious receipts had been unable to trace the
goods they called for, but the company had not
pushed inquiry in that direction. The reporter,
however, had, and found that, though de-
livered at vhrious addresses, all went to a Mrs.
Strange. -

Third: Mrs. Strange was a near relative of
Mr. Wright.

This last was given as a new discovery; it
ended the article, and occupied but a couple of
lines. It was a. startler, however.

“ Bv Jove! Wright’s sisterl” exclaimed the
detective, and turning the paper to make sure of
the name and date, continued:

“ I’d give something to know the fellow who
wrote that—and I’ll bet he knows more.”

“ Brookvalei” announced the brakeman, in-
terrupting Pryce’s reflections, and then the
train stopped. '

“I’ll walk the rest of the way, and have a
look at that out-house,” the detective suddenly
decided, and as the train started he jumped off.

“ Which way to Mr. Wright’s?” he inquired of
the ticket agent.

“ Right along the river road. It’s not over a

 

quarter mile, but you’d have had a free. ride, if
you’d got off quicker.”

“ How so!"

“ Mr. Wright’s just gone up in that carriage.”

“Thank you,” said Pryce, and then, the light-
ning brain seizing the possibilities of the case:

" Docs Mr. Wright spend the winter season
here?”

“ b, no! Never Comes here, except for a few
days ‘round Christmas. Must bc ‘ Something
up’ at the house.”

“ Didn’t spend this Christmas here,” con-
tinned the “gent, nnswming the Very question
Pryce was burning to ask, “ but he made up for
it 'round New Years, and everybody got their
presents when he came.”

“ That’s about the time one of your citizens
disappeared?" suggested I’iyce, placing a cigar
in the ticket window, and lighting another.

“ Oh, you mean that Abbot. Y‘s, it was
about that time—same. day, I guess, but he ain’t
much less t’ auybody—‘cept them he robbed.”

“Well, [ guess it’s time to be moving,” de-
cided the detective, consulting his watch, and as
he started:

“ See you coming back, I hope.
“ to look at Mr. Wright 8 place.”

“ You’ll find it worth while,” commended the
agent, adding:

“ It‘s a fine place—like the gentleman that
owns it.”

“ I’m not so dead sure of that, my friend,”
muttered Pryce, as he left the station.

It was only a quarter mile to the out-house,
referred to in the newspaper article, but, before
he had covered the distance, the detective bad

Just stopped

,managed to ask himself a number of unsatisfac-

tory questions regarding Mr. Wright.

“Lightning Leul” he exclaimed in disgust.
“There’s as much lightning about me, as there
is in the brains of a turtle—and turtles are
not—

“ Eh? What does that mean?”

“That,” which caused Pryce’s sudden inter-
ruption of himself, was the sight of Mr. Wright
coming out of the outhouse, and going toward
the river.

The banker walked slowly, looking right and
left, but always with his eyes bent on the
ground.

“ What the dickrns is be looking for?” mut-
tered the detective, and, after a moment’s
thought, walked quickly and quietly after the
banker, until clOse to the latter, when he asked:

“ Lost anything, sir?”

For a few moments Mr. Wright was unable to
speak. At the sound of Prycc’s deep voice, he
uttered an inarticulate, terror-stricken cry,
shrunk like one dreading a blow, and seemed
about to fall.

“ I hope you will forgive me—I fear I startled
you,” said the detective, catching his staggering
client by the arm.

“You hope—you fear!” cried the banker,
stammering with rage, and wrenching his arm
free. “ Confound you! What d’ye mean by
stealing upon people in their own—-”

Suddenly recognizing the object of his wrath,
Mr. Wright stopped short, and then sharply de-
inanded:

“ Why are you here, sir?”

“On the way to call on the Abbots, Icame
this road. to get a look at the beautiful residence
of Mr. Wright, and saw you apparently looking
for something. Being on your service, I deemed
it my duty to offer to assist.”

The :dctective’s calm, even explanation did
not seem to please the banker—nor was it in-
tended to. Pryce believed in nothing. He
wanted to see more of the real nature of his em-
ployer. ,

“ Have you learned—found anything?” asked
the latter, abruptly.

“ l havo found nothing,” quietly replied
Pryce, “ but, I have learned that Abbot’s hat
and coat were found here by a reporter.”

“ Oh, you heard of that. eh?” angrily retorted
the banker. “Well, you find the body I That's
more important than the clothes.”

“ Body 5’” repeated the detective.

“ Well, the man, if you like that better.

Suddenly changing his tone, Mr. Wright con-
tinued:

“By the way, do you happen toknow any
one connected with that paperl”

“Oh, ho! Then you have read it!” thought
Pryce, and aloud:

“ I am not certain, but think I do.”

“Very well; but, whether or not, you must
ascertain for me who wrote that article. Do
that immediately!”

The detective shook his head, and smiled.

“ You could not have set me a harder, more
impossible task,” he declared.

 

 

“Bah! A boy, backed by money,could per-
form it; but I do not choose to employ boys, so
you must do it. '

“And, remember, money is unlimitedl I
must have that name, and at once!”

“Better go straight to the City,” continued
the banker in a calmer tone; “ it will be useless to
seek the Abbots for information in the other
nil’nir. They have none to give, or I havo been
grosst deceived.”

“ l have never yet been deceived," quietly ob—
aerwd I’rycc.

“Well,” tcslily, “you cannot see them here,
anyhow. They have removed to the city, I sup-
pose, Lut don’t know. At allcients, acting for
the company, I loaned—gave them money to
clear out.”

 

CHAPTER lV. '
THE PRESIDENT'S FRIGIIT. -

MR. Wmon’r‘s announcement staggered th
detective, and, before he recovered from his sur-
prise, the former continued:

“There will he a train down in a few minutes,

so you had better start.”
This was an order, and Pryce obeyed, say:
mg: .
“ I will try, but warn you, it will be wonder-
ful if I am successful.

“And, even if I am," he continued to him-
self, as he hastened toward the station, “ it’s
not at all certain that you will know it.”

At the station the detective found the agent
quite as communicative as before, but busier,
and, in response to a remark regarding the like-
lihood of the Abbots being ashamed to remain
in Brookvale, he only said:

“Oh, they’re off, already. Went to the city,
about noon, and asked me to look after their
furniture, when it’s shipped. Hellol Here’s
your train 1”

“And, I may as n ell go,” returned Pryce,
thinking, as he took his seat, “ that fellow is too
evident] the friend—an admirer—of the other,
(Wright to attempt to make use of him. Too
much talk, or an LiIci‘ of money would result in
a warning.

“Why does he help those people to ‘clear out’
when he was Ion-most in prosecuting the search
for the father, and in seizing the father’s propr
erty

, 1
“ nd this job he has given me. Why so

anxious for that name? He forgot himself in
his eagerness—didn’t say that it was usrcpre-
sentative of the company.

“ But, I must trv and find that reporter, and,
through him, this Mrs. Strange.”

He look out. the paper, intending to read the
Abbot article again, but had scarcely begun,
when a bantering voice asked:

“ Is Lightning Lew interested —- about to
shedflsome eltCtl‘lCflI light on that mysterious afm
fair? r

Turning in surprise, Pryce saw, in the seat.
behind, a man who had once worked with him,
in the U. S. Secret Service—King by name,
but called The King, because of his imperious
manners. l

“ Hello, Kirgl Glad to meet you i” exclaimed
Pryce, getting up and shaking hands with hid
former comrade, beside whom he took a seat,
continuing: '

“Still in the old trade?"

“Yes and no. After you quit the service,

I grew sick of it—hadn’t a friend there.
Then I quarreled with the chief, and that set--
tled it. .

“A Week later, I secured a. position on the
New York force—police-detective, you know—
and was put on that Abbot affair (about which,
I notice, you have not answered me), and, now,
my resignation is in order.”

“ What do you mean? Surely, you are not
to be dismissed for failing to find out, as this
newsiiaper insinuates, more than that the man
robbed and fled.”

“i’m inclined to think it is because I found
out too much!” replied The King, with a signifi-
cant look. . _

“Yes, that’s just it,” he continued, and in re-
s use to Pryce’s doubting, surprised stare, ex-
plgined:

“Of course, a great deal more was learned
than was made public, and I was on the woman's
track—just started—when I received a hint to
drop it. I didn’t, and then came an order from
the chief to confine my efforts to the man.

“ The order was given three do 8 ago, and I
obeyed—but turned over what knew to I
friend,ra gentleman who is interested in theme, '
and to whom I owed my appointment.

“This morning I was called into the private
room. shown that article, and asked to explain
it. Could not—would not, the chief had it—and

: Virus-rats  as  ..

  
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
    
   
  

 
   
  
  
  
   
  
    
 

  

 

Ilightning Lew, the King of the Secret Service.

 

 

was told that the easiest way out of it, was to

resign, Which I will/do before night.”

“ Well, that’s a sweet story,” cmnmented
 “ What are you going to do now, my
lily.

"Keep right on with the Abbot affair,”
laughingly answered ’l‘h-i King, adding:

“ The st n'y that causml my dismissal Will also
keep me at work, pending my reinstatement.”

“ Then, you expect to get back?"

“Oh, yes. The man who piocurcd my up-
pnintincnt, is the same to uhom I gavo the
story, and who will cause my reinstatement
\x has (his affair is Cleared up.” '

. “Who is this powerful friend, King?” asked
. I’ryCc, after a few moments} thoughtful silence.
The King shook his head, and smilingly ob-

served:

“ You’re asking too much, Lew, and really it’s
not my secret. If you knew that you’d know,
probably, the author of that article.

“ By the way, you Seemed interested?”

“ Yes,” assented Pryce, so absently as to at-
tract The King’s attention.

He was thinking — the lightning brain had,

finally obtained something to work upon.

“ King,” he slid, after a few minutes‘ silence,
“I am interested in that Abbot affair, and
would give a trifle to know your friend. It
would be no‘ small favor, and I wish you
would obtain his consent to introducing me.

“ I will explain my reason for asking, as soon

'as you obtain me the introduction,” added
Pryce, and his earnestness caused the other to
repl v:

“ will do my best, Lew. Personally, I have
no objection to telling you who he is, but he’s
my employer, as well as friend, and I’ve no right
to tell you (since I know he wishes to remain
unknown in this matter), until he says the
word.” .7 1- '-

“That’s right enough, King: you ask him
and let me know the result. I’m going to find
out who wrote that article, for I am interested
'in the affair, and bound to know the man who
knows So much.”

It was lightning Lew, not friend Pryce, who
was talking, and King was quick in recognizing
the change. ,

“Then, my friend might as well consent,” he
said, with a grave smile, “for it’s a case of
Boone and the squirrel; but, let me ask, who are
you after. If I could tell him that, it might
make a big difference.”

“So there is more than Abbott—somebody
else worth looking after,” thought Pryce, and

lou :
“That will depend on your friend’s answer.
At present he‘s the game I’m hunting.”

CHAPTER V.
SUSPICIOUS FBIENDLINESS.
PRYCE'S declaration that King’s employer was
the man he was after, were his parting words to
his friend, for they were at the city depot when

he spoke.

“All ri ht, I’ll see you this night about it,”
returned ing, and they parted.

It was evening when the detectives returned
to the city, but Pryce went to his oflice,‘where
he found two letters-one from “Mr. Smith’s”
lawyers, containing a check for one hundred
dollars, and the other from Lucy Abbot, an-
nouncing that she was- about removing to the

cit .

The new address of the Abbots caused the de-
tective’s eyebrows to elevate.

“They must be very poor,” he muttered, as
he prepared to depart; “I ought to accept these
other people’s money and send it to them.”

It was Pryce’s intention not to accept " Mr.
Smith’s” check, for at precept he had some very
$16M suspicions regarding that gentleman:

paper. had not offered anY. money, but, in
lieu of it, an idea had occurred to the detective:
) . “ Why not get Will to help me with the news-

pa r peeple?”
illiam Draper was acquainted with every
actor, artist, and writer, worth knowing, in
A town” He was a millionaire and could afford
to be Just a “ clever amateur” actor, artist, and

 

' . writer himself, and had done some really fine

, work, Without revealing his identity until it had
 been declared better than the average.
. Pryce knew all this, and then Dra r was
: -$rticularly well known to, and friend y with,
 e editor of the paper containing the Abbot
 article, so when the idea occurred to him. be
"881 :
 .“ Now, if King’s man refuses to come to the
t, I still have a stringKto my bow.”
At sight that night, lug entered Pryce’s
 and with a depreciating smile, an-
nounced- /

  

 

“ It’s no go.”

“All right!” cheerfully returned the other,
“ I’ll find it out, but he could have saved me a
little time. .

“ Can you tell me who you are after?"

“l’ll risk that without asking, because you
told me that much-I’m looking up Mrs.
Strange.” ,

“Thank you.
find her?”

“ Well, I—yes, Lew, I will.”

“ Once more, thank you.”

A ring of the door—bell now announced another
Visitor, and King departed. ,

The next visitor proved to be Mr. Draper, who
saluted the detective in his usual cheery fashion,
and inquired:

“ Anything now?”

By way of reply, Pryce handed him the news-
paper, and pointing to the Abbot article, asked:

“ Have you read that?"

“Oh, yes," replied Draper, “but it’s about
my draft I inquired.”

Shooting a keen glance at his visitor, the de-
ctive said:

“Perhaps you are aware that the Abbots are
removing from Brookvale?”

" Yes, or rather, I knew that must come since
they gave up their home, and everything else
they possessed to Wright’s company.”

“ Gave up everything?" repeated Pryce.

“Well, yes, I suppose it was done willingly,
but Wright made a demand—attached every-
thing, and any thing. ‘ .

“Why, you are behind the age, old man,”
laughineg continued Draper.

“ I believe you are right, Will,” muttered the
detective, who was trying to harmonize the
young man’s statement with the banker’s words,
“ I gave them money to clear out.”

Suddenly he looked up, and exclaimed:

“ You don’t seem to be much behind the age l”

“ Oh, I manage to keep posted,” modestly
admitted Draper. I

“ And, possibly, know who wrote that article?”
suggested Pryce.

“Possibly. I believe I could lay my hand on
the man.”

“ Well, that’s just what I want to do!” ex-
claimed the detective, adding:

“ Make sure of your man, and let me know as
soon as possible, and you’ll do me a big service.”

H Ho“ :5”

“ In tracing your hundred thousand-dollar
man.”

D “ Sorry, but it’s impossible,” calmly replied

ra r.

“ ’hy, you are in the business to a. certian
exteptl” expostulated Pryce, amazed at the re-
fuse. . ' ,

“ at not to betray its secrets,” was the smil-
ins,r retort.

Lightning Lew had done Draper’s father a

Will you let me know when you

great service, while in the employ of the G‘OV'.

ernment, through tracing a large number of
stolen, and forgedv bonds which were nearly
foisted on the old gentleman. The latter never
forgot Pryce’s ratuitons service, a d the latter,
when in New ork, was always a he comeguest
of the Drapers. ' ‘ I .

In this way, he‘bad come to be very familiar
with young Draper, whom he seldom addressed
by any other title than “ Will.”

Now, however. the detective instinct was all
awake, and, believing implicitly in no person, or
thing, the thought flashed through his mind:

“ This young man is author of that article!”

In a careless tune, as if the matter was not of
much importance, he said:

“Very well, Mr. Draper, I suppose I must do
without the information, though it would have
helped me."

H How?”

Pryce did not like the smile that accompanied
the question, but in the same careless way re-

plied:

“ Oh, I hardly know; but the reporter appear-
ed to know a. great deal about the case—espe-
ciall the woman.”

“ ell, it’s that draft, and not Abbot’s con-
nection with the woman, that we are after,”
quietly observed the young man, adding:

“ Let me know when you strike anything.

“ Good-night.” »

When his visitor had departed, the detective
gavo vent to his thoughts:

“Well, young man, you came near fooling me,

4 but you went just a leetle too farl

“.Now, what in thunder did/he write that ar-
ticle for? And, why does he hit at Wright’s re-
lationship to the woman, and hers to Abbot,
and then want to hold me back?

“ Wri In. etc pod King in the same way—

“ By upiter . hit possible that there can be

.\,.

 

any connection between Wright and Draper in
this matter?” ,

He paused a few minutes; then began again:

“It looks like it—very. Ruth keep track of
Abbot’s family—both (lei-ply llllt’flh‘tml in them.
One wants to know where Abbot. is for old kiend-
ship’s sake, and the other merely to know why a
paltry one hundred thousand dollar draft hasn't
been cashed, lut neither wants him molested!”

The detective was pacing the Ill or uith a slow,
measuer stcp, when suddenly another idea oc-
curred to him, and he exclaimed: -

“ I must warn that girl of Abliot’sl

“Millionaires are not apt to lie-come so interest-
ed in girls in hersilualiou, for any good purpose,
and Mr. Draper is no better than any other.

“But, how shall I manage it—vrite?"

After a few moments thought, Pryce sat d0wn
at his desk, and picking up a pen, began a letter
to “ Miss Lucy Abbot,” but that wasus far as he
went.

“No, it “ill not do to write!” he decided, as
throwing down the yen, he resumed his march
up and do“ n the floor.

“If I write, she may/be so infatuated with the
rascal as to show him the letter. Then the fat
would be in the fire, in earnest: he would know
I distrusted him, both in this matter and the
other.

“No, I must see her, and judge of the effect
of my words as they’re uttered.”

Having decid'ed upon a course of action, Pryce
was seldom long in pursuing it, and'twenty min-
utes later was within a block of the new home of
the Abbots.

As he turned from the avenue into the cross—
street in which the house was situated, the keen-
eyed detective caught sight of a familiar figure
crossing from the opposite side, and a second
glance convinced him it was, as he had guessed,
William Draper! _

Stepping back into a doorway, the detective
watched the young millionaire pass, and saw
that the latter had changed his clothes.

“ Ha, ha! Now leis the wcrkiugmanl That
"accounts for his hurry in leaving me.”

Thus muttering, Piycc strppcd out of the
doorway, and fell in behind his client.

CHAPTER VI.
DRAPER, THE WORKINGMAN.

WE will follow William Draper, “the work-
ingman,” into the humble home of the Abbots,
which was on the upper story of a small tene-
inent.

This fact decided the course of the detective,
who had come up closs behind Draper, and had
heard the cordial greeting extended to the latter,
by both mother and daughter. He would try
to overhear what was said.

Draper was evidently talking of the news-
paper article—replying to some remark of meth-
er or daughter, and the first words the listener
caught were: '

“ This story cannot do any harm, and it may
do a great deal of good. It will give your de-
tective a hint of the relationship existing he-
twcen this woman, and Wright, but he probably
knows all about that already, for I have been in-
quiring, and find he is a famous man in his pro-
l‘ession.”

“ He‘s been inquiring!” commented the listen-

 

er.

“ And, you think Mr. Wright has had some
hand in this terrible matter?” asked a voice,
which Pryce recognized as Lucy’s.

“I feel sure of it. His explanations as to how
he passed and approved these forged securities
do not explain at all, in my opinion, although
accepted without hesitation by the directors. of
the company- because Mr. Wright 18 such a
generous, unsuspecting fellow.” _

’“ Oh, Mr. Draper, he is a generous man,” in-
ter osed another female- voice—Mrs. Abbot’s.
“ hile, as president of the company, be de-
manded everything we had, he forced me to ac-
cept enough money to buy these things we have,
and has promised to find work for us.”

“ Indeed! So it was not of your own free will
your house and,furniture Were surrendered?”
asked Draper, evidently surprised.

“ It was not until we arrived here that I knew
otherwise,” explained Lucy.

“ I see. ‘
for him, and make some objectio which would
bring the matter before the pub 1c. That ext

plains why he gives, or loans, money to get you, \ _: ,

out of Brookvale.
“ The miserable hypocrite! Well, he’ll "hear _

from that furniture, before he sleeps again. » '_

. “ Another article in the paper,” commented

Pryce, while Draper continued: . *’
“ There was some object in getti

He thought you would be too sharp , . i

you out of ' 4,
your home, Mrs. Abbot, and especi ' y in getting 7

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
   
  
    
  
  
     
     
   
  
  
        
     
            
        
     
 
      
      
      
      
   
       
     
    
     
       
    
       

  

       
    

       

 

-a'—‘h A A-

 

—~‘-.——-..-.. -v-v- '-

. _~..-~ um r- ~rr‘——.... .~ . _ ..  \

Lightning Lew, the King of the Secret Service. 5

 

hold of your furniture, which, I am pretty sure,
he had no legal right to touch.

. “ Was there any place, or piece of furniture,
in which papers might have been secreted?”

“ None that I can think of. All his papers
were in the desk that was searched, and they
Were carried off to the company.”

“Yes, but the company states that nothing
of any value—nhthing, in fact, but these blin-
dles of strange receipts—was found. Yet, Mr.
Abbot drew a large salary, and was supposed to
be a wealthy man.”

“ There was an old cabinet in the garret, but
I don’t—that is, I am not certain papa used it,"
said Lucy.

“ The furniture is yet in the house, I suppOSet”
asked Draper. ‘

“ I suppose So.”

“Then I’ni going to have a peep into that
cabinet, if I have to play burglar!" declared
Draper. ’

“ And I’ll be there with you, if not before
you!” muttered tho detective, hastening down-
stairs, as he heard Draper preparing to depart.
h'As he reached the street, the thought came to

im:

“ This may be a mere bluff—to find out what
the women kne Iv. I must wait for him."

It was now ten _o’cloek, but ten o’clock Satur-
day night, on the East side, is early. The streets
were full of people, and all the shops in full
blast.

Pryce did not have long to wait for his man,
but had time to reflect that there was no train
for Brookvale until midnight, when “the accom—
modation theater” would leave the Grand Cen-
tral Depot.

“ So, you need not have hurried yourself, my
friend," he muttered, as Draper appeared in the
dom way.

The latter however, did not start at once for
the depot. Instead, he turned into the avenue,
and entered a hardware store.

“ Hanged if he don’t mean business!” com-
ment the detective, as, peeping through the win-

, dow, he saw Draper examining a lot of tools.

After ten minutes’ waiting, he grew impatient,
and peeped in again. The pile of tools had been
removed, and, in their place, Draper was now
examining several revolvers.

few minutes later, the young millionaire
emerged from the store, and, though carrying

r nothing, the pockets of his heavy coat bulged

sus iciously.

‘ Now he’s fixed, and off for Brookvale!”
thought Pryce, but he was wrong. A block
further on, Draper entered a small grocery store.

Wondering what was wanted here, Pryce
looked in, and saw the grocer measuring off a
lot of clothes line. When the required length
was cut oil“, Draper doubled it and knotted it—
at intervals of a foot—from end to end. Then,
taking from one of his pockets a pair of large
iron hooks, he made something like a grapnel at
one end.

“For climbing!” exclaimed the detective, as
he watched his man wrapping the knotted rope
around the hooks.

“ By George! That fellow’s a horn burglar—
or.detectiVe—or a good combination of both,
which makes the best of either.

“And he has, certainly, reasoned and some
points which did not occur to me.”

Further reflection was cut short by the ap-
pearance of Draper, now carrying aneat parcel,
and apparently finished with his preparations,
for he boarded a cross- town car.

“Off, at last!” muttered Pryce, as he, too,
got aboard the car, and being undisguised re-
mained outside.

The detective’s rooms were near the depot,
and be determined, if he saw Draper enter, to go
home, and disguise himself.

_ At Fourth avenue, the young millionaire
Juhiped off the car, and boarded another, which
he left at the depot.

_ “ Now he is safe,” thought the detective, see-
ing his man at the ticket window, and then, for
the first time, noticed that Draper had grown
a mustache since leaving his (I’ryce’i) rooms.

“Part of his workingman masquerade cos-
tume,” muttered Pryce, with a grim smile, as he
hurried home.

Having _altered his appearance, SO that his
nearest friend would not have recognized him,
the detective returned to the depot, to accom-
pany the young millionaire on his contemplated
house-breaking expedition. Mr. Draper, how-
ever, was not there.

It took Pryce just ten minutes, to convince
himself of this fact. , .

Then, he looked at the big clock, and seeing
it lacked ten minutes of twelve. felt very much
relieved.

 

 

“He’s gone out to get a drink,” he decided,
but again he was mistaken, for, when the gen-
tleman who announces train departures, began
his Sing-Song: “ All ’board I’ Broo’v’le, Sco‘d’l,”
etc., Mr. Draper was still missing.

CHAPTER VII.
D: THE ABBOT COTTAGE AT MIDNIGHT.

LioiiTNiNt; LEW felt mad—not merely angry,
and, when the last moment came, scarcely knew
whether to board the train, or go home and
kick himself.

Just as the gate was closing, he decided in
faVor of the train, and dashed through—follow-
ed by some t‘errent remarks from the gatcman,
because of his delay.

The deter-tire was one of those who snatch
victory out of the jaws of defeat.

Before he was half—way to lh'ookvale, I’ryco
had decided that, as Draper ha I abandoned the
house-breaking plan, he would have to adopt it.
Instead of bring inert ly a witness, ho Would be
tho hiarse-breaker!

Ila» ing‘ arrived at this decision, he sought the
conhictor, to ascertain how he could return.

“ No train from Drookvale, until eight to-
morrow morning,” replied the knight of the
punch. “but thri'e’s trains up and down from
l’——--, constantly. It’s only two miles above
Droolivale—that’s why no trains stop there, ex-
cept morning, and evening.”

“ And, I‘ll bet my head, that’s why that
“sharp young raScel isn’t on this train,” mut-
tered the detective, walking back to his seat.

“ Sharper than lam, he took the Albany l‘lx-
press, and got off at I’—, a good half-hour
ago. Now, if I’m not pretty sharp, he’ll have
been there, and gone, before I get 011' this abom-
inatioli-accommodationl”

He did not give himself any credit for having
gone on, although, had he hesitated a moment
longer about doing 'so, reaching Brookvale in
time would have been hopeless. .

As the train slowed up, l’ry co jumped off, and
was tearing along the ltiver Road before the
majority of his fellow-passengers had buttoned
up their coats, preparatory to alighting.

Although a man of titty, the detective was as
lively and fleet-footed as many not half his age,
and his muscles were like steel.

He did not know the exact locatio of the
Abbot cottage, but had been informe that it
was about a mile above Wright’s residence, and
cirthe same l'Oad.

On, on, he ran, apparently tireless, until, just
as he was beginning to fear the house was not on
the road, a tin n brought it in View.

“He is there!” exclaimed the detective, as his
eye caught a light glimmering in one of the
u1iper-windows—the garret, undoubtedly.

As he approached the door, l’ryce looked for
the knotted rope, but it was not in sight.

“The cunning rascal has taken it in, but he
wasn’t cute enough to pull down the shades.”

As the detective muttered this comment, the
light of the bull’s-eye he was flashing up, and
down, and across, the front of the house, fen
upon the doorway.

" Impossible!” he exclaimed.

But, it wasn’t; for, on touching the door, it
swung back. As his kren eye had discovered,
the door had been slightly open.

Pryce’s shoes were not particularly light, but
he might have been shed in felt, for all the
noise he made on the carpeted stairs.

Up, up, one, two, stories. Now, another {light
of stairs, narrow and uncarpeted, faces him, and
Pryce pauses to remove his shoes.

As he does So, the noise of a man moving
about above reaches him quite plainly, and the
man-hunter smiles.

He has “got” his man!

Noiselessly the detective steals up the stairs,
until his head is level with the floor. Then, he
looks around, and, seeing his man in the front,
creeps behind an old lounge, from which he can
Watch the movements of the searcher.

Suddenly he hears a noise, very faint, on the
stairs, and, in an instant, the sharp-cared shad-
OWL‘I' I‘eullZcS that there is a third person in the
house.

Creeping noiselessly to the further end of the
lounge, Pryce awaits the appearance of the per-
son whom hc is certain is coming.

He has not long to wait, but it is too dark to
distinguish the features of the man who, creep-
ing aeross the floor, takes the position recently
occupied by the detective.

“ Who can he be?" wonders Pryce, but his at-
tention is quickly attracted by an exclamation
from the man in front.

The latter, carrying a long candle, has been
roving with his back to the watchers, but, as
the detective turns his head, the candle is placed

5” 1


 

on top of an old desk, and then, for the first
time, Pryce beholds the face of the searcher.

“ It is the genial, generous banker !”

A muttered exclamation from his unknown
companion suppresses a similar one on the part
of the detective, and causes him to wonder:
“\Vho the deuce is this other chap!” while he
watches Mr. Wright searching the old (It sk.

Eagerly, impatiently, the wealthy banker pulls
open the draWers, thrusts his hands into dusty
pigeon-holes, and finally lifts the cover of the
old-fashioned desk.

As he raises the lid an exclamation of joy
tseapes the banker, to be followed, an instant:
later, by one of horror, as from aboVe comes an
unearthly, nionrnful cry:

“ Lost, lost, lost!"

A man of iron nerve—one who had twice lis«
tened, smilingly, to hisdeath sentence asa Union
spy, I’ryce shuddered, and did not wonder at
the terror exhibited by the banker, who :diOok
like a leaf, but seemed rooted to where he Stilt d.

Then, in a solemn, i‘epi'oachfiil voice, came
the one u Hi‘il:

“ [Jobber f" '

And then, apparently out of the solid wall,
came the form of the missing cashier.

_ llatless, coatless, barefooted—‘almost naked- -
with a. blood-stained face, mid covered with
mad, he was a horrifying sight.

Wright had barely a glimpse of his former
friend and associate, when, with a shriek of
terror, he threw up his arms, and sprung to-
ward the stairs, down which he went tumbling
to the bottom.

In throwing out his arms, the terror-stricken
banker knocked over the candle, and it was ex-
tinguishcd, leaving the gnrret in darkness.

CHAPTER VIII.
A MYSTERIOUS Alumni.

FoR a full minute after the banker’s fall,
l’ryee remained motionless — from astonish-
ment, not fright. I’oor as his faith was in
things human, he had none at all in the super-
natural.

“ It’s a trick!” he muttered, starting up, and
rushing forward, a lantern in one hand, revolver
in the other. ,

]_/'it was a trick, he soon had to admit it was
a neat one, for having, by the light of the “ bull’s-
eye,”discovered the candle, he lighted it, and
looked first for Abbot, but the missing cashier
was not to be seen.

There was not much furniture in the garnet
—the cashier was not the kind of a man to
have much there—and search among the few
oh! chairs, and a couple of broken tables, proved
unavailing.

Then, the detective looked for the opening,
through which Abbot must have escaped, but
there was none, nor the sign of one.

A careful sounding of the wall, only served to
prove its solidity.

“ Oh, curse the luck!” he angrily exclaimed
as he turned away, Serely disappointed, an
then as his eye fell upon the desk, he added:

“ Well, I’ve got what they were after, any-
how.”

But, here, again, he was doomed to disap-
pointment, for, on raising the cover, one glance
showed there nothing underneath, cXCept a few
pieces of old wrapping paper.

"Then, Lightning Lew indulged in some bad
language ,(mentally), tor since he had lost the
“ghost,” and the papers—for there must have
been something in the desk to cause the bank-
er’s joyous cry—he was determined to have
an integview with his unknown fellow-watcher,
and the banker, and talking might disturb
them. .

“ Abbot got away with the papers,” he decid« ,
ed, (though how, was still a mystery.) “ but I’ve
still got the banker—if he hasn’t broken his
neck.”

Extinguishing the candle, and throwing open
theslide‘of the lantern, Pryce sought the un-
kiinwn, but he, too, had vanished.

“Scared out of his wits!” he commented; and,
with a grim smile:

“ Now, for my friend, Mr. Smith!”

He felt pr. tty certain that the watcher was
the young millionaire, and did care much about
losing him, for the present.

Flashing his lantern as he descended, the de-
tective looked for the banker at the foot of the
stairs, but no one was there.

The hall of the second story was carpeted, and.
moving about, flashing the light, Pryce’s stock-
inged foot touched a wet spot near the stairs.
Stoopiug, he pre8sed a finger on it.

“ Bleed!” he exclaimed, as he held the finger
to the light.

“ New, where’s the man?” he continued, and,

 

( A . .v._
'J‘  .~

 

 

6 Ligiitning Lew, the King of the Secret Service.

 

 

being satisfied the banker was not in the hall,
entered the room just off the foot of the garret
stairs.

No one was in the room, and, with a growing
conyiction that Wright had escaped, with a cut
of some kind, the house-searcher explored all the
rooms without finding any one.

; Then he went back, and cut the wet spot out

. of. the carpet, came down to the parlor, and sat

down to think. Also to watch.

At dawn, he arose from the chair, extinguish-
ed his lantern, and after carefully closing the
front door, started for the station at P——,
muttering:

“ It’s pretty near the toughest thing ever I’ve
falcnkled; but I’ll see the bottom, if I die for

t

One of the three passengers who got off the
eight o’clock train at Brookvale, Sunday morn-
ing, was Pryce. He had waited at P——— for
that particular train, in order to have a chat
with his friend, the ticket agent, and admirer
of Mr. Wright.

The waiting room was deserted, and the ticket
agent recognized Pryce instantly.

“ Ahl Back our way, again, eh i” he said.

“Yes; thought I might as well stop off here
for breakfast. Didn’t know anybody to ask to
keep me company, at P—. Will you join me?
I hate to eat alone.” i

“ Thaiiks—yes—if you can wait a few mo-
ments; my assistant is due now,” flut‘ei‘ed the
agent, delighted with the prOSpect of breakfast-
lng at the expense of this “ SWell traveling sales-
man ” who could not eat alone.

, “ Oh, certainly; I’m in no hurry,” assured
Pryce, but there was no necessity for_waiting,
gas the assistant entered while he was speak-

ng.

As soon as breakfast was ordered, the agent,
as the detective hoped and expected, asked:

“ What did you think of Mr. Wright’s place?”

“ Very fine indeed,” replied Pryco, adding:

“ I suppose you have the owner here with you,
ltill?”

“ No, he returned that night.”

“ Indeed? I’m sorry for that, because I meant
to take a walk around to-day, and, if he was at
home, ask permission to look around the prem-

so

“He hasn't returned, I suppose? You would
kn0w, of course.”

“ Oh, yes, I’d know if he had, but he has not,
forI was on all Saturday up to the last train,
and, if he had come back, I would know it.”

“He went up as far as P—— and walked
back,” thought the detective, and as that was a
“ ten-minutes-for-refreshment” station, there
would be little chance of tracing Wright among
the hundred who stopped there daily, so be de-
cided to go on to the City.

Accordingly, breakfast finished, he took leave
of the agent, and boarded the next train.

On arriving home, Pryce informed the janitor
that he was going on a long journey next day,
and, for that reason, did not wish to be dis—
turbed. '

“So, I am ‘not at liome’ to anybody, and
over body,” he concluded. .

“ understand, sir. The boys will be so no-
tified,” and, pocketing a half-dollar, the janitor
started off, but he was too late to prevent the

entrance of one caller, who caught the detective;

while the latter was waiting for the elevator.

The caller was William Draper— looking
bright, elegant and happy.

" Hello, old man i” he cried, in his usual style.
“ Saw on coming in, and thought I’d post you
on the atest about our banking company.”

Pryce looked sharply at the young million-
aire and asked:

“ Will you come up?”

“No; haven’t time. Good young man now,
you know, and must go to church. /

“ But, about the company: the president
slipped in front of his own house, about three
this morning, and smashed his skull!

“Nice stats of affairs, eh? First, the cashier
goes to smash, morally, and then the president

0110ws suit physically.”

“ Anything certain about the time and place
of the accident?”

Pryce was watching every expression of the
other’s countenance, but Draper only laughed as
he carelessly replied:

“It is a rather suspicious hour for such a
respectable old citizen to be knocking around, I
admit; but, time and place are as accurate as
thaljéoliceinan who found him reports it.

“ at, I must be ofl’. By-by l”

Pryce looked perplexed, as he watched the
young millionaire hurrying away, and muttered
somethin that made the colored boy stare, as he
entered t e elevator.

 

CHAPTER I X.
rm: HANDKERCHIEF—SAM SHARP.

“ LIGHTNING LEW! What fool first gave me
that name, and why? If ever I deserved it, the
time has passed! My brain must be softening.

“ Here I’ve been working a week on a case,
and the result is to he laughed at by a young rus-
cal, thwarted by an old one, while another old
scoundrel plays ghost with me, and steals papers
from under my very nose!”

Thus Pryce mutters, as he strides up and
down the floor, after reaching his rooms.

He looks savage, and feels so, and those who
were his comrades would declare him to be in an
exceedingly dangerous mood—dangerous to the
person or persons who caused it.

“Confound them 1” he ground out, after an-
other couple turns. “Confound themi They’re
rousing up the old tiger in me, and I’ll eat them
yet!

Another couple of turns up and down the
floor, and then, as if coming to a sudden deter-
mination, the veteran detective sits down, and
begins writing:

“FRIEND J ACK:—I want a man—young and sharp
-—,sharp asa needle. and quick as lig-gitiiingl Can
you send mo such a man? As you know, I am un-
acquaiiited here. and cannot wait to send out of
town. is» am compelled to ask your assistance in
this matter. Peron.“

The letter was sealed, and addrsssed to “ Mr.
John Austin,” and summoning a messenger the
detective instructed him to deliver it “at once,
d’ye understand l”

The tone was sufficient to have upset the boy,
but did not apparently. for a half hour later, a
bell-boy came to Mr. Pryce’s rooms, and an-
nounced:

“ Geinman downstairs t’ see yo’, ssh."

“ Didn‘t I leave orders—didn’t the janitor
tell you, I was ‘not at home’ to anybody?” de-
manded the detective, in an irritated tone.

“ Yes, sah, ’n’ ab said so, but he on’y laughed
at me. Den, ah tole ’im so ag’in, ’n’ he said ah
wuz foolish t’ tell sich stories. So, ah called de
janitor, ’n’ he said yo’ wa’n’t home, ’twa’n’t no
use—geininan said—”

Just then, the bell-boy was pushed away
from the door, and a youth of nineteen, or
twen , entered the apartment, saying:

“ on go down—I’ll explain the rest.”

The colored boy promptly dizappeared, while
the new-comer advanced and handed Pryce an
envelope.

“ Why did you not send this by one of the
boys?” sternly demanded the detective, without
looking at the letter.

“ Because it is unsealed,” calmly returned the
young man.

Pryce looked, saw this was so, then opened
and read the following letter;

“This serves to introduce to you, the very man
you describe, who, fortunately, happened to be with
me when your letter arrived.

"He. is Sharp by name, and sharp by nature.
Knowing your opinion of appearances, and recom<
mendations, I wi ! say no more.

" AUSTIN.”

Austin and Pryce had been comrades iii the
Secret Service, and the latter had a very good
opinion of the former, both as a man, and as a
d :tective, but he shook his head and looked
deubtl‘ul,on seeing how literally the “young
man ” requirement had been filled.

“I’m afraid you are too young,” he said, in a
kindl tone.

“ 0w old would you like to have had me?”
quietly asked the young man.

“Oh, Well, sometvhere between twenty-five,
and thirty.”

“ Very well, sir. You shall have some one
very soon. Good-morning!”

“Bright-looking chap!” commented the de-
tective. “ Sorry he was so young, for he looks
as if his name fitted him.”

A knock on the door, a few minutes later, in-
terrupted his reflections, and, supposing it was
another bell-boy, he bade him come in, without
turning or looking around.

“ I’ve come from Mr. Austin, sirl” announCed
a deep, baritone voice.

Pryce now came around with a jump, and
saw a handsome, dark-mustached man of about
twenty-eight, wearing gold eye-glasses, through
which gleamed a pair of piercing eyes.

“ You had Sam Sharp here a few minutes ago,
and, possibly, he suited you. If not, I am to
take his place,” continued the visitor.

“How did you get past the janitor?" asked
ILrycel, suspiciously, and inspecting the visitor
s arp y.

"Oh, I had no trouble with him." was the
careless reply.

I"

.y-érfi».i 

 

 

“ What is your name, sir?”

“Smith, sir—at present," calmly replied the
other, l)okiiig straight at the question“.

“ Humpli! \Vell, sit down, Mr. Smith, and
Ill tell you what is wanted of you. Upon how
you perform the work—and it should not take
you more than four or five hours to do it—~will
depend whether on or Sam Sharp shall serve
me in the uatter have on hand."

“ Here are the names of two people, and their
addresses, together With what I want to know
about them,” continued the elder detective,
handing Smith a sli of paper.

The latter glance at the paper, placed it in a
notebook, and picking up his hat, said:

“ Good-morning, Mr. Pryce.”

Pryce started, and muttered:

“ Well, you are cool enough, anyhow.”

After a minute’s reflection, be summoned the
janitor, and, when that autocratic gentleman
appeared, said, very severely:

“ Mr. Brown, I notified you that I wished to
be undisturbed to-day, and yet you have per-
mitted two callers to come here.”

“Two? I beg pardon, Mr. Pryce, only one,
and that one having entered the elevator, defied
any one to remove him. There Were ladies com-
ing, and I could not make a disturbance; so—”

“But, there was another—one who has just
left me?” and Pryce described Smith.

" Know nothing about him, sir, I assure you.
He certainly did not ask for you.”

“ Ah! That explains your apparent negli-
gence. Well, you will know that gentleman
when he calls again, of course?”

“ .ertainly, sir, Certainly.”

" Good. Here is a dollar to assist your mem-
ory, and be certain that he is not permitted to
call on me.”

“I’ll attend to it, sir. You may rest assured
if he tries to play any games—going to call on
somebody else, or anything of that sort, I’ll st0p
it.”

“ Now, Mr. Smith, we’ll see whether you’ll
have any trouble with the janitor!” chuckled
Pryce, and summoning a bell-boy, asked:

“ You will be on duty this afternoon?"

“ Yes, sir.”

“ Well, if you should see Mr. Brown about to
put out a man calling for me, tell him to wait
until you have inquired about him. Then, come
and inform me.”

“ Yes, sir.”

Throwing himself on a lounge, Pryce, tired
with his night’s work, soon fell asleep.

The clock on the mantel was just chiming
two, when he was awakened by a thundering
knock on his door, and, then, in marched Mr.
Brown, and Mr. Smith—in the order named.

“ I couldn't help it, Mr. Pryce! I couldn’t
help it! He said he’d blow the roof—" began
the janitor.

“ Shut up, and get down to your work!” or-
dered Smith, and the janitor skulked out.

“ What does this mean?" demanded the old
detective, apparently indignant.

“ Nothing of any account, sir, I assure you.

“ Let’s see! It was eleven when I left, and it’s
now two—I’m at least an hour ahead.

“ Now, for my report: '

“First: Mr. Wright was picked up“ at his
own door, or rather, on the lowest step of the
stoop, bleeding slightly from a wound in the
back of the head, but Conscious.

“That comes from Policeman Number 078,
who picked him up.

“ Mr. Wright is badly hurt, but Seems to be
suffering more from some shock or fright than
from the wound, although his doctor—Tayre—
says that that is had, even dangerous.

“ That comes from Doctor Tayre’s assistant.

“ Second: Mr. Draper was here about eight
last night, and went hence to the New York
Club, where he played billiards until ten—"

Here Pryce interrupted the report, by a nega-
tive shake of the head. .

“ Beg your pardon, sir, but that is—absolutely
—correct. I was there myself, and saw him.”

“You! How came you there} Are you a
member .3”

“No, but Mr. Austin is, and, knowing I was
interested in billiards, he brou ht me there to
see a match-game between Mr. raper and an-
other gentleman. ~

“ Mr. Draper won, and they—”

“ That will do, Smith,” interrupted the old
detective, with a sigh. “ If Draper was playing
billards at ten o’clock last night, I don’t care for
the rest, but are you sure of what you say—are
you sure it’s the same man?”

“ There is only one William Draper, who is a
millionaire, and who belongs to the New York
Club,” replied Smith, very quietly, "and, that
is the man who was there at ten last night. This

 

also means...» wok-he “0%... a

 

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____.__.._..-.. ,._~ ...‘~.-\‘. .e

—. whammy.“ k.§.~..._.~_. L 11.1»_‘ .

._--—'ha #1

Lightning Lew, the King of the Secret Service.

 

 

morning’s papers will inform you that he played,
and won, the match at that hour.”

Pryce remained silent for several minutes,
buried in thought, from which he was roused by
Smith, who said:

“ There is one thing I wish to say on my own
account, Mr. Pryce—Wright was not injured
Where he was found!”

“Eh? Why do you think so?” cried the old
detective, ea erly.

 " Because found this in the gutter, in front
of the house,” explained Smith, drawing a blood-
etained handkerchief, from his pocket.

“ As you see,” he continued, “ the corners have
been knotted to make a bandage, and in one of
those corners is the initial ‘W,’ while Wright
told the officer he had just fallen.”

“‘ Hurrah!” cried Pryce, starting up, “you’ve
upset one theory, but you’ve confirmed a more
important one! Smith, you’re a brick!”

“ No, sir, if you please, I’m Sam Sharp!”

 

CHAPTER X.
sam’s ORDERS—Law's PREPARATIONS.

SMITH‘S announcement that lie was 33m
Sharp, did not appear to surprise the old detec-
tive very much, for, laughing errily, he asked:

“ What did you think cause such opposition
to your second entrance?”

“Just what I thought when leaving: that you
suspected who I was.”

“ Right, my boy! And Jack did not exagger-v

ate your sharpness!

‘éNow, I’ve got work, and plenty of it, for you
to 0.

“First, and as soon as possible, find out if
the William Draper who calls on the Abbots—
I’ll give you the address—and the William
Draper yoa saw last night, are the same, and, if
not, who, and what, the other one is.

“ Next, try to ascertain whether Wright was
in the city Saturday night, at twelve o’clock.

“ Next, take this handkerchief, and a piece of
carpet, which I will give you, to a good chemist
and have him analyze the blOod-stains to deter-
mine whether it is the same blood.

“I will not return to these rooms, but will
Send you an address, where you can report.

“I am going to Brookvale—to Abbot’s house
—to—night, and don’t know how soon I may re-
turn."

“It wouldn’t do to report there in case of an
important discovery 2” suggested Sam.

“Possibly under cover of darkneSs, it might
be done," replied Pryce, thoughtfully, adding:

“ But, it must be of vital importance, my
boy, for I’m beginning to think that we are
going to work against desperate, and powerful,
odds. There is more in that Abbot affair
than appears on the surface, Sam — much
more.”

The veteran detective then gave his young as-
sistant, a full account of the case as far as he
had gone, together with his own ideas, and sus-
picions, concluding with:

“ So, should anything happen to me, you
will be able to take up the thread where I drop

it.

“ Be careful of yourself~and trust nobody.”

With this warning ringing in his ears—for
it was an earnest one, and typical of the man
—-Sam, no longer on probation, started to work
up his end of the mysterious disappearance of
Cashier Abbot.

The UN” detectives had been in conversation
about two hours, and, as soon as Sam was
gone, Pryce began his preparations for depart-
ure.

His clothing and disguises he packed in two
large trunks, to which be attached tags bearing
the address of his friend Austin.

One suit only was reserve l—of which, the old-
fashioned, long black frock coat, when donned,
made his already tall, bony frame, appear six
inches taller.

“ Just for luck,” he said, slipping it on, and,
then, placing a?) equally old slouch hat on his
head, surveyed imself in the glass.

“Looks like old times,” he smilingly com-
mented, as be affixed a long gray mustache, and
imperial. .

Pryce was now costumed, as he was when
known as Lighting Lew, though not even his
comrades suspected that mustache, and imperial,
were false.

After a. few moments, the disguise was re-
moved, and packed in a hand-bag, in which
he had already'placed a change of undercloth-

mg.

In this hand-bag, was next placed an extra
revolver, with a box of cartridges, a screw-
driver, a sectional jimmy, a small package of
giant powder, and two dynamite cartridges!”

 

It was Lightning Lew, now —and out for
blood! ' '

He had sworn that morning to solve the mys-
tery of Abbot’s appearance, and disappear-
ance in the garret of the cottage, if he had to
blow that structure and himSi-lf into atoms!

That was one reason—and the principal one—
Why he had confided 80 nnreservedly in Sum.

“ If I catch Abbot, I’ll find those papers, or
whatever it was, that made Wright so happy,”
he reasoned, “and, with the finding of those, I’ll
learn the secret of Wright’s terror.

“ Abbot is hiding in, or near, the cottage, and
is bound to come back—probably has supplies
there, and is waiting for the affair to die out,
and I’ll get him, if I have to lift the roof.

“ But, that Wright? He’s the dangerous man,
undoubtedly, and there’s no telling what he may
do. I wish.there was some one to keep an eye on
him, and his people. I‘ll write Sam to do it, as
soon as he’s through with Draper. .

“That fellow’s a puzzle, too. If he isn’t the
man, who is the ‘doublei’ Well, he’s not impor-
tant, and I can trust Sam with that.”

That ended Lightning Lew’s soliloquy, and,
after dinner at a near-by restaurant, he started
for BrookVale. ‘

Instead of getting off at that station, he went
on to P—-, bought a big parcel of supplies, and
walked back to the Abbot‘cottage.

The door yielded to his touch, but he was too
wary a bird to be deceived by that.

Standing on the side of the doorway furthest
from the knob, and leaving only his hand ex-
posed, the detective gently pressed back the

001'.

The necessarily slow moving of the heavy door,
caused the hinges to creak loudly, and, when it
was half-way open, the man hunter paused to
listen.

A slight noise—so slight that, at first, he
thought it imagination—had reached him, but,
now, listening in the silence, it came again, and
more distinctly.

It was the sound of a person walking back and
forth, very lightly—as if in slippers, or barefoot-
ed--and the listener’s mind instantly reverted to
Abbot. The sound came from a distance, just
where, or how far, Pryce could not determine,
until a sudden jar, caused by the walker’s knock-
ing against a piece of furniture, revealed his
presence on the floor above.

“Now, I’ve got him!” thought the detective,
as he slipped oil’ his shoes, and with a revolwr in
one hand, and lantern in the other, stepped soft-
ly into the hall.

The place was shrouded in darkness, and he
movad cautiously, flashing his light on every
side, but ’twas all of no avail. He had not gone
five yards, when one foot was caught in, or by,
itslomething, and be measured his length on the

001‘.

The revolver exploded, and flew in one direc-
tion, and the lantern in another.

The man lay still.

CHAPTER XI.
FIRING AT A GHOST.

FOR two or three minutes after falling, the
detective did not stir. He was not hurt, although
badly shaken up, but kept quiet, expecting some
move on the part of the person above.

With PryCe’s fall, the walking ceased, and,
finding it did not reciiinmence, he groped about
until he found the lantern. This, being relight-
ed, discovered to him a wire stretched across the
hall, close to the lloor.

The detectiVe smiled as he saw the cause of
his fall, but it was not a pleasant smile, and as
he picked up the revolver, and replaced the ex-
ploded cartridge, his eyes kept roving between
the point where the wire w‘as stretched and the
fout of the stairs.

Not a sound had come from above, and his
movements below had been noiseless.

“ More trap-door ghost business,” he murmur-
ed, contemptuously, and, as he stepped over the
wire, measured the distance between it and the
stairs, which he ascended as lightly us a cut.

Just around the turn on the next floor he felt
another wire, for he had shut off the light after
crossmg the first obstruction.

Lightning Lew was absolutely fearless, but he
was not fool enough to makea target of him-
self for an enemy sheltered by darkness by car-
rying an exposed light.

He felt half certain that the walker was no
longer on that floor, but half certainties “ don’t
go ” to the wary detective, so the hunter leaned
against the wall, and waited, and listened, for
some presence-betraying sound of the game.

For ten minutes nothing broke the silence, but
Pryce was as patient as he was courageous, and
a minute more brought his reward—some person

 

 

 

began moving about on the floor above, and not
cautiously, as before.

“ That fellow must think he owns this house,"
he commented, as the noise of furniture being
moved about reached him, and then came the
thought:

“ Isn’t this fellow just leading me on?”

It certainly looked that way, and concluding
he was being led into a trap, the detective de-
cided to make the would-be trapper seek him, so
descending as cautiously us he had come, the hall
wire was passed in safety.

The door was still 0 en, and, stepping outside,
he picked up his ban bag and package of sup.
plies, after which he re-entered, closing the door
uoiselesdy. ‘

Using his lantern now, to avoid the furniture
Pryce entered the parlor, placed his bag and
parcel on the mantel, and took a chair, uhich
happened to be in the middle of the floor, an
directly facing the door. '

Sitting in this position, his eyes having become
accustomed to the darkness, the detective could
just distinguish the outline of the stairs. _

“ SI), when my ghostly, wire-stretching friend

F ' ':""" ' ' ' ""h iture
EELS LIAM. :E1lu61':: llllnsell “I... the  I

and comes down to see what’s became of me, We
pretty certain to be ready to shed some light oii
liim~and through him, too, unless he’s down on
his marrowbones in a hurry i” V ,

Thus mused the angry man-hunter, as, with
o‘ne‘foreilnger ready to spring the slide of thelau-
torn, and the other to pull the trigger of his re-
volver, he sat awaiting the expected visitoro

For a short time, the noise above increased,
causing the watcher to smile—that same wicked
smile—and mutter:

“Getting impatient, eh?” .

Soon after, there was a grand crashes if some
large picture had fallen, then, the noises ceased
altogether.

“ Now, Lew, old man, keep your eye peeled l"
he muttered, after several minutes’ silence.

Bent slightly forward, with both eye and ear
on the alert, the detective awaited the appear-
ance of the “ghost.”

Five, ten minutes passed without sight, or
sound, of the expected visitor, and, then, it oc
curred to the watcher that there might be a rear
stairway, by which the parlor floor might be
reached,unheard and unseen. If so,and the rear
parlor door was open, he might be approached,
and stricken down, while watching through
the front doorl

He strained his eyes toward the rear door, but
it was impossible to make out whether it was
closed, or open, and he turned the lantern on it.

It was closed, and, with a feeling of relief,
Pryce turned again to the stairs—and there to
his amazement stOod Abbot! Bloodstained
smeared with mud, bareheaded, barel’ooted, and
almost naked, the ex-cashier was an appalling
eight!

It is all very good to laugh and ridicule such
things, but to meet them face to face, alone, in
a dark, deserted house, is quite another thing,
and iron-nerved as he was, the old detective
shuddered.

Was it the wanted cashier or his apparition?

Recovering himself in a moment, he ceded to
Abbot to “ stand 1" and raised his revolver.

The figure looked threatening, and seemed
about to leap over the rail. Less than ten feet
separated them, and Pryce cried:

“ Stand, or I fire!”

Another threatening movement was the re-
sponse, and bang! went the revolver.

The detective was an expert shot, but Abbot,
or his ghost. made no sign of being hurt.

The revolver was self-cocking; and, enraged
at his failure, Pryce fired again and again—five
times in succession—and “hen the last shot was
fired, the figure turned, and glided up-steirs.

 

CHAPTER XII.
LIGHTNING LEW'S TRAP.

FOR a few minutes, the detective sat unnerved
—nnable to move. He had faced almost ever -
thing, except the supernatural, Without flinc -
iiig, but, now, for the moment, he felt c0wed.

After a little while, he recovered himself, and
going to his package, took out a bottle of liquor.
He had not bought it for that purpose—would
have laughed at the idea—but, now, he was glad
to have it.

Unlike those who use it habitually, the effect
of the liquor on Pryce was magical, and pickin
up his lantern, he walked to the stairway, an
examined the wall for traces of his shots, as
caully as if it were a practice target.

“Abbot, (or the appearance of Abbot.) had
stood on the stairs, in a line with the center of

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the doorway, and in the wall exactly where his
breast Would, (or should.) be, were two holes
about an inch apart—one larger than the other.

Pryce knew what that u.eant, but, to make
sure, took out his penknil‘e, and dug five bullets,

flattened together, from the larger hole. He
did not bother With the other. ,

Then, he sat down to think it all o'Vei'.

There was no use hurrying tip-stairs. If

the thing was natural—a trick—the time for
that was past. If supernatural, it was useless.

Th:- detectivo (-chi't had always ridiculed
eVi-rything even approaching the superinitural,
and, How that In: llllll i'ci'chri-il control of his
nerw-a, was still inclined todo so, notwithstand-
ing; his past. and present (,‘chl‘ii'nt'e in that house.

I “ was a trickl” he explained, after going
ovor the whole affair. “ It “as a trick, just an
tln- other was, and I’ll find out how it’s donc, it'
it takcs all winter.”

Ho had several wax candles in his package,
and lighting om of tin-so, placed it on a table,‘
which he (Ira-3w near him.

“ I'll see no more of that gentleman to-uight,”
.li-cidcd Pryce, but, by way of precaution, laid
hi-: revolver, and lantern, on the tibia beside
him.

Feeling perfectly sure that the “ghost ” was
gone for the night, he lll‘lCPiI his elbow on the
table, ad with his hand under his jiw, and a
cigar between his teeth, started in for agood
“ think.”

Even had he been safe at home, sleep would
have been impossible. Now, that he was thor-
oughly arousal, there was no rest for him, until
the mystery was solved.

Daylight found him still at it, and with a half-
formed resolution to telegraph for Sam.

“ That boy is sharp,” thought the old detec-
tive, as the light came streaming in, “ and could
watch below, while I took care of that infernal
garret."

Getting up and closing the blinds, he sought
the kitchen to ascertain what hope th e was of
preparing coffee, and to his intense delight found
several dirty dishes on the table, as well as Coal
and ashes scattered about the floor in front of

. the Patti-e; , . ., , .

, f‘ Well," ho began in a comically solemn way,
“it’s just what I’ve always stuck to—chance
does more than brains! Columbus discovered
America looking for a shorter route to the East
Indies; Newton gravitation through seeing an
apple fall while loailng under the tree—elec-
tricity, steam—everything the same way—and,
now, after spending the whole night trying to
think how to trap my ‘ghost,’ I come in here,
looking for hot ccfl’ee, and here’s the trap all
ready!

“ My ‘ ghost’ must eat, and he can’t afford to

0 very far to do it. No woman ever lefta
kitchen in this shape. Ergo, my ‘ghost’ eats
here—and to-ni‘ght winds up his ghostly career.”
' Kindliugs Were plentiful, and soon water was
boiling for the coffee, of which the bundle con-
tained a bottle already prepared, and while go-
ing for this, and his other supplies, Pryce kept
chatting to himself in great good humor.

“Ah, Lew, old man, you are in luck! Now,
We will secure the key to the ‘ ghost’ business,
Wright’s joy over what he saw in the desk, and
his terror on beholding Abbot.

“And,” reflectively, “ what a queer affdir this
is, wherea fellow is trying to catch one client,
who is accused of being a thief, and, by doing so,
expme another client, whom he suspects is a
thief! Beats all! Durndest case I ever tackled 1”

While eating his breakfast, the detective’s eyes
roved all over the kitchen, and everywhere found
traces of its being used by a man—and a care-
less, dirty man at that.

“ I gue~s I’ll put in the day searching for the
secret door—no, I might scare him. 1’“ go and
take a snooz a, now that my mind’s easy.”

Removing all traces of his presence, he sought
One of the bedrooms, where, having locked and
bolted the door, he threw himself on the bed,
and soon was sound asleep, unconscious of the
danger he was then in. and of more fast ap-
proaching him from New York.

CHAPTER XIII.
ma. JUNIPER AND “THE BUTCHER.”

ABOUT the time the detective fell asleep, 9.
little man, wrapped up in a big coat, who had
‘ been shivering outside the door of the Abbot
cottage all night, got tired of waiting for Pryce,
and hastening to the railroad station, Sent the.
following despatch, addressed to Mr. Smith’s
lawyers:
" Stranger in house.
are orders?

“Send the answer there—that's my name,”

 

Pistol-shot last night. What
“ umraa.”

said the little ma , handing the clerk .a slip of
paper on which as written:

“ JAMES JUNIPER,
" Blumlell House.”

The Blundell House was the only hotel in
Brookvale, so, of course, the clerk knew where
the answer was to be sent, yet he stared at Mr.
Juniper, and repeated, in an absent sort of a
way, the names of both man and house.

“ Yes—can’t you read?” asked Mr. Juniper
Very sharply, adding;

The clerk turned away, uithout replying, and
sitting down sent oll’ the message. When he
was tini~hed, and the paper stuck on the book,
Mr. Juniper warned: .-

“ Sm that the answer is delivered iimnediatt-ly
al'tt-r you recs. it! ‘I shall trace the time of
sending to, and rem-ipt by, you.”

The operator nodded, and Mr. Juniper went
to the lllundell House, and havuig breakt’asted
Weill} ti) lull. ‘

At noon, the answer came over the wire:

“Rip rt io ilrli) train, and return."

“ ’l‘hat fellow’s a tly one,” muttered the oper-
ator, as he wrote out the message. “ Wanted
to give me the idea that it was something in
cipher. “ Why it’s as plain as day, e’s to re-
port to somebody coming up on the .40 train,
and then go back to New York.

“ But, where was’the pistol-shotlust night?” -

Still pondering over Mr._Juuiper’s message,
the operator sent a boy to the Bluiidell House
with the answer.

Three-thirty, found Mr. Juniper in the wait-
ing-room of the Brookvale Station, and when,
ten minutes later, the train stopped, be rushed
out on the platform—only to turn back with a
snort of disgust, on seeing that two ladies, and
a. gentleman, were the only passengers who
alighted.

“then does the next train from New York
stop here i" he rieiiiauded of the ticket agent.

“ Four-forty.” '

Lamina; val"; :,ngry, and displeased, the little
"3.3m sought consolation at the bar of the hotel
until 4:30, when he returned to the station.

It was growing dark, so Mr. Juniper was com.
polled—or felt that he was—to remain on the
platform until the 4:30 train arrived. which he
did, and, I regret to say, passed the time in
swearing at the man whom he had expected to
meet on the arrival of the 3:30 train.

During the ttn minutes waiting, the little
man worked himself into such a rage, that,
hardly waiting for the dozen, or more, passen-
gers to get off, he dashed into the waiting-
room, and dispatched to the private address
of each member of the firm, of which he was
managing clerk, the following message:

“Not on three forty, nor four forty. What are
orders?"

Had Mr. Juniper remained on the platform
ten seconds longer he would have seen a big,
rough-looking fell0w, who had evidently waited
for the others to get off, jump from the rear
car, just as the train started.

The big man looked around expectantly,
and seeing no one, pulled his hat down over his
eyes, and began marching up and down the plat-
form.

After ten minutes of this exercise, the big
man grew impatient, and pulling,r his hat down
still further, peeped into the waiting-room—just
halfa minute too late to see Mr. Juniper pass
through the door on the opposite side.

,Then the big man’s wrath exploded, and he
cursed the little man just as loug, and asfervent-
ly, as the latter had, a short time before, cursed
him, so they were even.

Having thus relieVed himself, the big man
stood for a few minutes on the end of the
platform, facing the main street, apparently
considering whether he should return to the
city, or go on with the business which had
brought him to Brookvale.

“ I’vea darn good mind t’ go straight back.”
he muttered, “ though, I don’t s’spose he could
tell me anythin’ more’n how t’ get t’ the crib,
an’ I reckon that ain’t no trouble t’ find out.”

Thus began the deliberations of the big fel-
low—whom his pals, and the Metropolitan
police, titled The Butcher, becaiiSe of his fero—
cious use of the knife. ,

He was a keen rascal, in his way, and in a
few minutes decided to go ahead with his work,
for, he muttered: ,

“I’ll git all the more out of it, for doin’ the
jo‘u, an’ findin’ the crib alone.”

A youth of sixteen, or seventeen, happened
to be assing at the moment, and the Butcher
, haile him with:

 

 

“ I’v-rhaps you’d like to have tlio'kcy to that?”

 

 

“ Say, young fellerl Kin ye tell me where a
party named Abbot lives?”

“Ican tell you where Abbot did live,”re-
plied the youth, looking curiously at the ques-
tioner.

Fully prepared for both answer and look. the -
Butcher asked:

“Where is it? A gent as I axed fura few
Poppers, said if I’d find Mr. Abbot’s redder-.0“.
I’d git plenty.”

The youth laughed heartily, and replied:

“I’m sorry to tell you that your Chilld‘t'h' of
getting anything from Abbot are mighty slim.
He did live in a cottage about a mile up that
road, but he’s probably in Canada now.”

“ \Vell, it’s a rough kind of a joke t‘ play on a.
poor tramp that ain’t liak nothin’ t’ eat since
_\'e~t’d’y, ain’t it, young feller!” whinctl tho
Butcher.

“ Yes, it is,” agreed the. youth, and taking a
nickel from his pocket, added;

“ llnrn‘s all I've got—ii" I had more—”

“ Thank ye, tliankyel” interrupted the Batch--
or, taking the proffered coin, and to avoid his
profuse thanks, the youth'hurricd away—justas
Iiulclierintendcd he should.

“ Now, I’ve got the crib located,” muttered
the big rufliau, as he started down the river
road.

He would have liked to do Several things—take
a. drink over the hotel bar, and a hot dinner over
the hotel table, forinstance, but his orders were
strict, and the pcnaltyot’ disobedience too great,
to admit of his risking either—not to speak of
what recognition might cost him in the future.

What the latter might be, may be judged
from part of the SOIIIt guy he indulged in while
refreshing himself with some bread and meat,
and a bottle of whisky, when half way to the
Abbot cottage.

“Ah, old boy,” he muttered, looking at the
knife with which he was cutting his food. “ Ah,
old boy. I‘ve saved a ‘ sixer’ for you already,
an’ this ’11 be a fortune, a liter, or the rope!”

CHAPTER XIV.-
in run salmon; or DEATH. . ‘

IT was about eight o’clock whrn Lightning
Lew fell asleep, and he slept on until two in the
afternoon, when he suddenly awoke With an in--
definable sense of danger.

“There is something wrong!” he niuttered,.
springing up, but everything was quiet, and,
apparently, the same as when he fell asleep, six.
hours before. . .

Still, he could not get rid of the feeling‘of
danger, and to occupy his mind, the detective
descended to the parlor floor, where it suddenly
occurred to him that he had forgotten his hand—
bag. One glance at the mantel showed him it.
was gone! .

" Ha! my friend has been around—I could
smell it in the air!” exclaimed Pryce.

“I misjudged his sleeping hours. He was
asleep, while I was Sitting here thinking, and,
probably, was watching me, when I Went up to

bed.

“Well, if he gets ‘ moukeying ’ with that
giant-powder or dynamite, this affair is mighty
apt to wind up in a cloud of smoke.”

The remainder of the provisions bought at
P—-— had been secreted in the cupboard in the
kitchen, and Pryce sought them—not to eat, but
to confirm his suspicion that he had been watched
during the morning;

With every sense on the alert, the old detec-
tive descended to the kitchen, without seeing or
hearing anything suspicious, and stooping, look-
ed into the bottom of the cupboard.

A glance sheived him that the provisions—
eggs, meat and bread—were untouched, but a.
slight noise caused him to start back and look
around, even as he stooped.

Against the opposite wall, facing the cup—
board, stood a large piece of furniture, like a
wardrobe, and, drawing his revolver, Pryce cu-
doa vored to open it, but found it has locked.

The bag contained all his keys and lock-picks,
and, although keenly alive to the danger of his
situation, the noise had been so slight that the
detective did not think it worth while to force
the lock.

“Bah! It was imagination!" he muttered,
after looking on either side, and in from, to s: e
that there were no air-holes, and went tip-stairs
to the parlor, forgetting that the top of the

' wardrobe did not reach the ceiling.

These little oversights generally are costly.

Alihough there were no houses near the cot-
tage, Pryce did not care to risk going our, and;
on reaching the parlor, looked about for a book,
with which to paSs the time until evening.

On a small marble-top table Were the only
books visible—two Bibles, and picking up the

 

 

 

A..—.,

r

Lightning Lew, the King of the

 

Secret Service.  9

 

much larger and older one, he opened it with a
feeling of curiosity.

The old detective was a man with a history
too queer and wonderful to be even hinted at
here, and this was the first time in his life that
he had ever opened a book of a religious nature.

That act saved him from paying with his life
for his oversight in the kitchen.

Always an iinbeliever in anything he could
not at least see and feel, he had simply laughed
at the idea of n hereafter—atthough too sensible

. to force his opinions Ll) any one, and never ex—

»): .

pressing them unless invited to do so.

Now, however, he became interested, and soon
took the cumbersome book from the table, and
placing it on his knees, continued his reading.

By and by it began to grow dark, and light-
ing the candle, which still renniiued on the
table, he continued reading the wonderful story,
until his eyes and back both pained him, and he
sti‘.-iiglitcned up.

As he did so a gaunt wild, horrible-look-
ing being who had beeul’stnntiing behind the
detective for some time, raised an iron window
bar and struck at the tired reader—struck to
kill, and certainly wolil(IlJ{1Vt‘,lI7Itl notthc book
slipped from Pryce‘s knees at that instant.

As the bar came down with crushing force,
the old detective plunged forward to save the
book, and instead of killing, the blow only
stunned him, although he bled quite freely from
alsuperflcial Wound, caused by the glancing

0W.

“ Ha, ha 1” laughed the wild man.
of Wright’s myrniidons!”

He raised the bar again, this time to finish
the career of Lightning Lew, but the blow was
arrested by a heavy fall, followed by cries of
pain, mingled with outrageous oaths and curses.

“Another!” cried Abbot, for it was the miss-
ing cashier, and, skipping lightly across the
floor, found the Butcher sitting up, and trying
to arise, but unable to do so, having sprained his
ankle in falling over the wire.

The Butcher greeted Ahbot’s appearance with
a roar—half—fear, half-rage—biit itrwas his last.

One terrible blow of the iron bar, and the
Butcher’s skull was crushed in, like an empty
egg—shell.

“ Now for the other—I must finish him!” ex-
claimed Abbot, laughing gleefully over his
deadly, murderous work.

CHAPTER XV.
SAM‘s DISCOVERY.
0N leavmg Lightning Lew, Sam Sharp went
directly to the vicinity of the address of the Ab»
b

“ Oue less

ots.

“ If he’s had] one," reasoned Sam, ” he’ll he
either coming omewith her or coming to see
her pretty soon.”

His reasoning, however, was incorrect—for he
was on the corner, commanding a view of the
entrance cf the house where the Abbots resided,
from half-past four until eight o’clock, before
his man appeared.

It was anything but pleasant work, this
watching and waiting.

To begin with it was January, and bitter cold,
so, to keep warm, he had to keep moving.
Then Sam’s natty appearance attracted atten-
tion, and it was fortunate for him that the snow
had been cleared away the day before.

As it was “de gang” made many personal,
and by no means pleasing, remarks regarding
him, and his reasons for being in the neighbor-
hood, but Sam had “ been there ” himself, and,
after a little while, his sharp retorts caused a re-
action in his favor, which was lucky, for other-
wise he could not have remained after dark.

Shortly after eight o’clock Sam saw his man
enter the residence of the Abbots.

“It’s him, and yet it isn’t,” muttered Sam,
but, unlike the old detective, he was there to
prove that this William Draper, and the young
millionaire, were not the same person.

So, Sam looked for points of difference, not
resemblance, but found none, that is, nothing
definite, save the mustache, and that amounted
to nothing. He was, himself, wearing a false
one.

“ \Vcll, no matter, I’m with him now, and be-
fore l’rii through the question will be settled,”
muttered Sam.

It was settled in a very short time, and an un-
expected manner.

William Draper, workingman, had been up-
stairs about ten minutes, when Sam noticed a
man, on the Opposite side of the street, walking
back and forth in a suspicious manner. Sus-
picious, because he kept in front of the Abbot
residence, (toward which he was constantly
turning his head,) and, avoided coming into the

light.

 

“That fellow’s been shadowing Draper, and
he’s waitln for him," decided S-iin.

He himscf was now leaning carelesst on the
railing at the entrance, as if he belonged to the
house, having determined to have acloso look at
his man, as the latter passed out.

“ Uoufound it i” muttered Sum, as he watched
the‘Shudow,’ moving back and forth, but al-
ways turning his head toward the house, “that
fellow doesn’t know his own business, and is
doubling the labor of mine.’

Just then, the man across the street stopped
fora few moments, and lighted a cigar.

“(';:-~ar’s ghost! It’s the original Jacobs—-
Draper himselfl” ejaculated Sum.

“ Sol The, girl was right—there, are hro Mr.
Drnpers, and the millionaire condescends to
shadow the uorkitigtnanl

“ Well, I guess I can take care of the two
l)roniios.”

Sim now heard some, one coming down the
bare stairs, and there being no longer any
necessity of seeing the “ \i'ei'kingniau,” ho walk-
ed up the street,

In less than a minute, the “workinginun”
passed, and Sam stopped, under pretrirc of
lighting a cigar, to allow the millionaire to re-
new his shadowing. .

As he stopped, Sam was astounded to see,
that, instead of shadowing his double the million-
airo was entering the house the former had just
left, and a light broke upon him:

“They are rivals!” ho exeluimed, hurrying
after the “ workingniaii.”

The latter Went direct to the oflice of the
newspaper in which the Abbot article had ap-
peared, where he‘reniained a half hour, which
Sam utilizN by getting into conversation with
the elevator man.

“ Was that Mr. Peck—just went up?” asked
Sam, when the elevator descended after car-
rying the “ workingmaii” to the editorial
rooms. '

“ Peck? No that was Mr. Draper.”

“()h, much obliged—looked like Peck. By
the way ——-alidn’t Mr. Draper work on The
Boomer, before coming here?” ,

Sam looked, and acted, as if he might be “ in
the business,” and for that reason the elevator
man unhesitatingly replied:

“No, not that I know of. I guess you’re
thinking of his cousin, the millionaire. He
does a little bit now and then, and thereby gets
credit for ten times as much matter, and a hun-
dred times better stuff.”

“ How"s that?”

“ Well, you sceuthey’re the same name, and
the swells all give the millionaire credit espe-
cially for the magazine articles, and the art and
dramatic criticisms in the newspapers, all of
which are our man’s Work—at any rate, all
that’s any good."

“That’s rather rough,” sympathized Sam,
taking his one from the other’s indignant tone.

“Rough! ~Say, that ain’t nothin’ to what
I’ve heard among the men, right in this here

car—

“ Helloi There goes the bell—must go up!
It would make a ‘good story,’ if somebody
would write it up.”

“Well, I’ll drop in another night, when
you‘re not busy, and see what’s in it,” returned
Sam, and handing the elevator man a Cigar,
hurried out of the hall, fearing it might be
Draper who was comingr down.

In a. few minutes the “ warkingman ” came
out, and started up-town on a horse car. _

Sam entered the car, and, taking'a seat in the
darkest corner, began studying his man, who
soon was buried in thought.

It was an Eighth avenue our, and by the
time Fifty-ninth street was reached, there were
but three passengers left: Draper, Sam, and
another who got on immediately after the
foi‘mei'——f0i' the young bloodhound knew too
much to scare his game before he was ready to

fire.

“ 110’s better—more nianly~looking than his
namesake,” decided Sum. ,

He was snuggled up in the corner, coat—collar
turned up, but pulled down, and with one band
under his juv, appeared to be half-asleep, but
was never more wide-awake, than half a min-
ute after coming to the conclusion‘just recorded
regarding “the workinginan.”

As the car was approaching 50th street, a
shrill whistle uttered by the third passenger, \\ ho
was on the rear platform, attracted Sam’s atten-
tion.

Glancing cautiously through the window, the
young detective, with u start of surprise, recog-
nized in the whistler, a notorious Italian crimin-
al-Pietro Vanucci.

The whistle which attracted Sam’s attention,

 

was evidently a signal, for it brought a roughly-
dresSed mun running to the car. He jumped
aboard the rear platt'Orni and entered into eon-
versation with Vanucci.

“ What the deuce are they jnbbering about!”
wondered Sam, who could neither hear nor un-
derstand what the Italians Were talking about.

Half a minute after, the conductor left the
Italians alone on the platform, and Sam, who
felt an unaceonntablo interest in them, shot un-
otliei‘ inui'ions glance through the window~ju5t
in time to catch Vanueei make a motion as if
striking, at the same time pointing toward
Drilla‘l‘.

“ Hy George! \tht’s going on against ‘the
workinginnnf’ rl‘hnt fellow int-ans mischief, but,
by the liord Harry! I’ll have a word or two to
say about. it.”

Having come to thi~ conclusion and determin-
ntion, Sam settled down 'to decide Vi hat course-
he should pursue.

“ if I speak to him," [Draper] argued the
young ,iniin—hunter, “ l’ietro will probublj. hold
off for a llt‘tlt‘l' oppoituinty, while lean hardly
say much without giving myself away.

“ No, I‘ll be on hand if they attempt to iurt
him, and even if it llOlS spoil my name for to-
night, I’ll spoil tlieii's,and get on friendly terms
with my ‘ man’ in the bargain.”

Having come to this decision, Sam kept w-tteh
on the Italian who kept “ jabberihg ” away until
it‘ll street was reached, where Draper left the
. ,3
Half a block further on, the Italians jumped
off, and at the next corner Sum followed suit.

As the young detective ulighted, he saw the
Italians turning down 9:3. street on a run.

“ I hope to goodness I haVen’t made a mi~take
in not warning him!" was Sam’s muttered ex-
clamation, as he. started after the aSsassins—for
such they Were—at full speed. ,

Cll‘Al‘Tlill‘t XVI.
sAM AN!) 'lllE “ WORKINGMAN."

ROUNDINU the corner, Sam was compelled to
slueken his speed, which was fortunate, for as he
turned into the street, there stood Pietro.

The young detective had drawn his revolver
as he ran, and a lightning glance down the
street caused him to use it at once.

Draper was close to a lamp-post about the
middle of the block, and stealthin approaching
him, with an upruised knife, was I’ietro’s coni-
panion. 4

Still running, Sam struck the “boss” assas-
sin a powerful blow, knocking him. into 'the
glitter. At the same instant, continuing on his
course down the street, he fired a shot to warn
Draper. I

The warning came in the nick of_timc.

Btartled by the shot, Draper jumped aside
as he turned, and the assassin’s stroke missed
its mark.

Disconcerted by his failure, the Italian turned
to fly, but Sam was new on him, and helm-e he
could use, the knife. had treated him like the
“boss,” except that he used the butt of his re—
volver this time.

“ Pretty close call l” puffed Sam, as the Italian
wé'nt down like a log. -

“Gad’i I should think it was!” returned
Draper. “ Can you add to my debt of gratitude
by eXplainiug what it all means?”

“It means that somebody wants you out of
the way i” was the bllllltreply.

“But there’s no time for talking,” added Sam.
“Slip these handcuffs on that fellow, w hile I get
the other.” '

But the other wusnot there. Pietro had seen
the failure of the attack, and, having no desire
to be locked up, hurried away, while Sam was
talking to Drape i'. .

“Stole away, eh?” said the latter, guessing
what had happened’ on seeing Sum returning
alone, adding: . _

“That was my fault—detaining- you
quostions." ‘

“ Well, we’ve. got one of the scounorels, any-
how,” returned Sam, and seeing that the Italian
was now feigning unsonscwusness, ordered him

r ). ,
t("“Jilirliiit’s the programme?” asked Draper.

“Oh, lock him up; that’s about all can be
done to-night.” _

“I’d like to ask him a few questions. Just
to find out who put him up to this, I’d be willing
to let him go.” .

“ Fire away; but you‘ll find be either can’t, or
Won’t, talk English."

Sam’s prediction proved correct—the would—
be assassin simply shook his head, in response to
the questions.

“ 1 see you were right,” remarked Draper. ad
ding, as Sam linked arms with the Italian;

/

 

with

 

 

 

10

“I’d give a year’s salary, to know his prin~
cipal in this little affair.”

“ Probably don’t know himself," returned the
young detective, and explained:

“ He is, without doubt, one of a hand of hired
assassins, and the only principal they ever know
is their chief.” '

“Phewl” whistle Draper, and went into a
brown study, until the station-house was reach-
ed, where he wakened up long enough to give a
name and address, and make a complaint
against his Would-be assassin.

Sam followed his companion’s example, and
it was as well they did not not give their real
names and addresses as the sequel proved.

Nothing was found on the prisoner, except a
stiletto, and a steel glove, to protect his hand
while using that deadly weapon.

“Well, I owe it to you, that that beautiful
specimen of Italian art, was not buried in my
heart,” observed Draper, as he and Sam walked
toward Eighth avenue.

He had heard the young detective explain to
the police sergeant, h0w he had accidentally
noticed the suspicious actions of Pietro, and the
prisoner, and thus came to be the means of pre-
venting the intended murder.

When Sam’s story was ended—and he made
it very brief—the sergeant looked significantly
at the prisoner’s handcuffs, and asked:

“ Any further use for those bracelets x"

“ Perhaps.” -

As Sam uttered the monosyllable, he switched
back his heavy coat, as if by accident, and
the sergeant immediately ordered the hand-
cuffs removed, and restored to the young de-
tective, remarking in a professional way:

“ May lead to some important revelations
when the headquarters screws are applied, eh?”

“ Yes,” assented Sam, but his tone said plain
enough:

“ on’t talk any more.”

The sergeant, (who imagined the young detec-
tive to be some important Headquarters man,)
uniterstood him, and bade both a cordial “ good-
nlg 7.

But Draper was as sharp as a steel-trap,
and the significant words, and actions, had not
escaped him.

After his remaek that he owed his life to
Sam, he remained silent until they arrived at
Eighth avenue. Then he asked:

“ Which way are you going?”

“ Down,” hazarded Sam.

“Good enough! This business has spoiled my
plans for to-night.”

“ Mine. too.”

They were standing on the corner, under the
light of a street lamp, waiting for a car.

Each could see the face of the other quite
plainly, and, by the expression of Draper’s coun-
tenance, Sam guessed the former was going to
ask a delicate question.

Nor was be mistaken. After a few seconds’
hesitation the workingman saidz.

“ I hope you will not be offended, Mr. Green,
(Sam’s station-house name) but, I am going to
ask you a plain, blunt question, whether or not:

“ Were you in the same car with me by acci-
deutf.

“ I assure you,” he added, “ I’ve good reason‘
«'—espcciallv after what you have seen to—night,
for asking.”

Sam had, (as the result of what he had learn-
ed, and of studying Draper, while in the car),
already decided that the “ workingman” was
the superior of the millionaire, and this good
opinion was further increased by saving his life.

This is always the case. The man whom you
begin by helping, with a feeling of indifference,
or even of suspicion, you soon grow to like. The
reverse is equally true.

Sewehow Sam, now felt that he could trust
Draper—at least, to the extent of being honest
with him, and he unhesitatingly replied:

“Nu, mv being in that car was not an acci-
dent, Mr. Robinson.”

“ As you probably know, my name is Dra-
per,” was the suggestive rejoinder.

Sam hesitated a moment, and said:

“ Well, hang it all! Mine is Sam Sharp."

“ Thank you for your confidence,” quietly re-
turned Draper, adding:

“ Here is our car coming. We will say noth-
ing more' about it at present, but when we get
down further—say at 59th street, we will, if you
Elease, go to some quiet place where we can

we a bite, and a chat.

“ To a certain extent, you have the advantage
of me—knowing, partly, who and what I am,
while I—though pretty sure you are a detective,
can only suspect who your employer is.”

The last word was uttered as the car reached
the corner, and boarding it they rode in silence

 

to 59th street, where they alighted and entered
a hotel.

Securing a private room, and ordering a sub-
stantial meal, to which both Were well prepared
to do justice, these strangely united friends re.
paired to the apartment assigned them.

While awaiting their food, nothing was said
touching the subject of their recent conversation,
but, as soon as it was disposed of, Draper lighted
a cigar, and said. rather than asked:

“ You are working on the Abbot matter, Mr.

“ So am I. Another question, and you shall
hear my story—and ask almost anything you
please.

“ Who are you working for—in whose in-
terest?”

Sum noted the exception, and answered:

“1 cannot tell you.”

“ You mean you will not?”

“Not exactly that. ' I must know more, be-
fore undertaking to tell what I am not authorized
to s *ak of to anybody.”

“ Vell—perhaps you can answer this:

“ Are you (directly or indirectly) employed
by or on account of, Mrs. Strange—or by any
woman?”

“ I am employed, partly on account of a
stoman, but positive] y not Mrs. Strange,” replied

am.

“ How do you know she is not Mrs. Strange?”
demanded theother, suspiciously.

“ Because she is not Mrs. Anything, yet—she
is a irl of nineteen or less, I should say.”

“ ell—yes, you have saved my life, and
I will trust you, but it’s a strange story.”

 

CHAPTER XVII.
THE “ WORKINGMAN’S” STORY.

“MY story,” began Draper, puffing reflectiver
at his cigar. “has quite something to do with
myself, but I’ll condense that part of it as much
as if I were editing ‘copy’ for The Luminary.

“ As you know, William Draper, th million—
aire, and myself, are supposed to be co sins.

“ As a matter of fact, we are not, although a
certain resenib ance between us helps to
strengthen this impression.

“ My supposed cousin was adopted by my
uncle, at the suggestion, and through the in-
fluence of Mr. Wright, the banker, in whom he
had great confidence.

“A quarrel with my father, over some busi-
ness matter, was the reason of his adopting any-
body. It would, he thought, he a fine way of
revenging himself for his defeat in their quarrel
—-but, enough of that, 1 was at school at the time
the stranger was adopted.

“ Except Mr. Wright, and, perhaps, my uncle,
nobody klch anything about him.

“ When my uncle died, it was found that a
will, made just after the quarrel with my father,
left everything to his adopted son.

“I have reason to believe there was another
will, more recent, and quite different—but that
has nothing to do with the matter.

“Several months ago—nearly a ear—I met
Miss Abbot at the house of a niutua friend, and
we became great friends—more than that, I
hope.

“ By degrees, as I became more intimate
with the family, and its affairs, I learned some-
thing of the penurious way Abbot treated them,
and having plenty of free tickets to concerts,
theaters, etc., I managed to give mother and
daughter some little amusement—recreation
which the father never Would have consented to,
had it Cost him anything.

“At the time of Abbot’s disappearance, I had
become very intimate with the family, and was,
of course, interested.

“ Being assigned to write up the matter, I
naturally started to inquire at the company’s
offices, but was referred to the president, and in
him met almost a dead vial].

“Aside from the amount of the defalcation,
he would say nothing—give no particulars, but
I set this down to business reserve, at the time.
“ Of course, I vi~ited Police Headquarters, and
through a detectiVe who was on the case, learned
of Mrs. Strange.

“ Again, I visited Mr. Wright, and, again,
was informed that there was nothing to be
learned—that the police had not found any trace
of the man, or the money.

“ This made me suspicious, because I knew it
was untrue, and, when I learned from King——
the detective—that he had received a hint to
drop Mrs. Strange, I became very much inter-
ested in that expensive, and mysterious, lady.

“ Starting out to trace, and locate, her, begin!

 

 

Lightning Lew, the King of the Secret Service.

ning where King had left off—and, l forgot to
mention that, he was quickly ordered to drop
Mrs. Strange—I finally discovered her. _

“ She is, or was until yesterday, living in a
handsome house, near the river, in the street
where l was attacked.

“ Ascribing the non-communicative policy of
the company to its president, I rehasth all that
had been written about Abbot, and, at a venture,
added that Mr. Wright and Mrs. Strange were
related,—for I felt pretty sure it was be who
was protecting the woman from policeinvestiga-
tion.

“No denial of this assertion came from him,
and representing myself as coming from another
paper, I called at the 9 -—street house to inter-
view her, and obtain a contradiction, so I put
it there, from her.

“A shrewd looking woman, who came to the
duor, quietly informed me that Mrs. Strange
was ill, but that if I would call again next day,
(yesterday,) some information might, possibly,
be furnished me.

“ Yesterday, an hour earlier than the previous
day, I came through 0 — street, intending to
call for the half-promised information, but when
near the house saw a man, whom I am certain
was Wright, standing in the doorway. '

“He was evidently watching for me, and

retreated into the house as I drew nearer.

“It didn’t require much thinking to decide,
that the invitation to make a second call, was
given, merely to gain time to prepare a trap of
some kind—not that I dreamt of anything like
to-night’s occurrence.

"Instead, therefore, of entering the trap, I
turned back, and ualked as fast I could to
Eighth avenue, where, stopping and looking
back, and finding I was not followed, came to
the conclusion that I had got away without be-
ing recognized.

“To-night’s attack proves I was mistaken,
and, also, that Wright is a desperate man, and
will stop at nothing to prevent the probing of
the Abbot mystery—for there is a mystery, and
the solution of it lies close to Mrs. Strange’s
house. and self.”

“ Then, you’ve changed your ideas about the
Brookvalo cottage?” said Sam, tentatively.

“ Eh? What do you know of that, and how
do you knew it?”

Draper’s intense surprise cauSed Sam to smile,
as he answered:

“I’ll tell you,—-in fact, be equally frank with
you, but should first like to know, if you carried
out your intention of entering the cottage, and
searching for the papers, or secuiities, you
thought were hidden there. ’

" Miss Abbot Could not—would not—have re.

eated—” began Draper, in wondering doubt.

“ She did not,” interrupted Sam adding:

“ Please tell me if you went ‘tli re that night,
and I’ll relieve your mind as to how I learned
it.

“No, I did not. Our city editor met me in
the depot. He was being taken home, very ill,
and begged me to return, and see that things
were run according to his ideas.” ’

“Very good! Now I’ll explain,” and Sam
told how Lightning Lew had come to overLear
Draper’s words.

Then, feeling that there was not only nothing
to fear, but much to gain, by doing so, the
young detective went, or rather went back to
the beginning, and detailed the whole story, as
told by Lightning Lew.

Sam went no further, for the moment, pausing
the note the effect of his story on Draper.

The latter appeared to be mast astonished at
the supposed cousin’s part in the affair, and the
fact that there was a second watcher. .

“I know,” he said, slowly and thoughtfully,
“that Will pitied Lucy—Miss Abbot, 1 mean—
and it is more than likely that the story he
told Pryce, was invented to cover his paying
more money to prosecute the search for Abbot.”

“ Possibly,” commented Sam, thinking of the
millionaire’s queer conduct, while the speaker
was with the Abbots.

“ But who could the other watcher be?” con-
tinued Draper. “I can understand Wright’s

i being there, for I’m inclined to think—in fact,

sure, that he’s as deep in the mire, as Abbot is in
the mud, if not more, but I can’t imagine who
the other eould be.

“ It was natural enough for Pryce to mistake
me for Will, for I’ve often taken his place—doing
things he never had an opportunity of knowing
how to do without being detected, but, as I’ve
told vou, I did not go to Brookvale that night.”

” Have you changed your mind regarding the
possibility of valuable papers being, having been,
concealed there?” asked Sam, who was consder-
ing whether it would be well to reveal to his

t.— -___._

4L -_.._..

 

 

... rm...‘ W- s....

I

.L.

‘\.;...‘.,..‘_.

 

Lightning Lew, the King of the Secret Service.

 

companion, what he had seen opposite the Abbot
residence.

The question was asked more to give himself
time to decide what to do, than anything else,
but Draper’s reply aroused him.

“ By no means," replied the “ workingman.”
“ Indeed, what you have told me, makes me
sure that Abbot, himself, now has those papers.

“He, (Abbot,) has been concealed there all
the time, while he has been looked for every-
where else.

“I don’t pretend to account for his horriifle
appearance, but I can amount for his, appir-
ently mysterious, and ghost-like, comings and
goings.

“The cottage, as it now is, appears to be a
frame structure, but, in reality, the framework
is merely a shell, covering an old stone house,
built nearly one hundred years ago, and full of
secret doors and passages.”

" How do you happen to know this valuable iii-
formation?" asked Sum, much interested, and
delighted at being able to explain the mystery to
Pryce.

“ Oh,I wrote up that section years ago—just
before Abbot bought the old stone house and put
the frame OVer it.”

“ Good, good!” exclaimed the young detective.
“ I must go there to-morrow night, and let Light-
ning Lew into the’secret.”

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
A FIENDISH PLAN.

LIGHTNING LEW had a dim consciousness of
the meaning of Abbot’s words, as the latter,
after slaughtering the Butcher, danced back to
the parlor swinging his murderous iron ‘Jar,
and laughing fiendishly over his deadly WOI‘K.

“ New for the other!” were the words.

“That must mean me," thought the detective,
and opening his eyes, saw Abbot dancing to-
ward him.

“ Danger which cows some men, .spurs others.

Lightning Law was one of the “ others” class,
and just as Abbot was about to strike, he sat up,
fairly roaring:

“ Stand backl’

I nvoluntaril y, Abbot obeyed the terrific-toned
order, and in an instant the detective was on his
feet, and, with a. leveled revolver, continued:

“ Drop that bar!”

Down went the bar, and deceived by this ap-
parent submission, the detective approached
with a pair of handcuffs, intending to make
Abbot prisoner until he had obtained some ex-
planation of the latter’s conduct, of \Vright’s
terror, and of his (Wri ght’s) share in the robbery
of the company; also p ussession of the securities
which he was certain were hidden in the house.

Hanging the revolver by the trigger—guard on
his thumb, Pryce extended the r.ther hand, at
the same time ordering:

“ Hold up your hands!"

Abbot obeyed by throwing out both fists,
striking the detective full in the face, and hurl-
ing his body with the blow, which was powerful
enough to cause the recipient to stagger.

Before he coui; recover himself, Abbot sprung
upon him likea tiger, uttering a snarling cry,
notunlike tha, beast when enraged, and the next
moment Lightning Lew was on the floor, fast
choking to death!

Although he had unconsciously retained his
grip on the revolver, it was useless—the terrible
clutch deprived him 0.- all his great strength,
and in a very short time he was unconscious, a.
few seconds more of that life-destroying pressure
on his windpipe, and he would be dead!

But Abbot had no intention of killing him—
yet, and when he saw the detectiVe’s eyes close,
and felt the musc-es relax, picked up the hand-

cuffs, and placed them on the wrists of the owner.

When the detective recovered consciousness,
his first feeling was one of intense chagrin at be-
ing out titted, followed by surprise at the great
strength of the old Cashier.

He had not opened his eyes, nor made any
other nice of life, on recovering consciomnes:.,
but feeling, rather than hearing, his captor
m0viug about, Pryce raised his eyelids a. trifle to
see what Was gomg on.

Abbot was on his hands and knees, pouring
a tiny stream of black powder, from out ofn
small package, which the detective instantly re-
cogniZed.

It was the giant powder!

Crawling s owly across the floor, Abbot con-
tinued laying the train from tht doorway to the
prisoner, chuckling gleefully all the while.

Lightning Lew’s eyes were now wide open——
literally and metaphorically—and when Abbot,
turning suddenly, looked at him. he saw his pris-
oner was conscious.

 

This fact appeared to both please and amuse
him greatly.

“He, he, he!” he giggled, “what a. grand
crash it will be! Ho, ho! Both together we go
to hell!”

Then stopping and regarding Pryce attentive-
ly, as if to make sure that the latter fully under-
stood him, he continued:

“But I’m going whole—you’ll go in scraps 1”

“Good God! He‘s mad I”

The detective’s agonized exclamation described
Abbot’s mental condition exactly; the ex-cashier
was a madman!

Knowing how liable insane persons are to
change, Pryce remained silent, hoping against
hope, that something would occur to cause the
madman to alter his fiendish plan.

Nothing occurred, however, and soon the train
was laid to the detective’s side.

“Now, the can, and the cartridge!” muttered
Abbot, and, leaving Pryce, went into the rear
parlor.

Why not roll over a couple times, at least, and
thus get away from the end of the train? Then,
when Abbot applied the match, and ran away,
there would be a flash—and that would be all.

Q do]: as the idea occurred to him, the pris-
oner endeavored to act on it, but, alas! he was
dealing with a madman, and with insane cun—
ning Abbot, in addition to binding his feet, had
driven long spikes into the floor on either side
of him!

He was powerless; could move neither hand,
nor foot, nor body, and could only await the
final moment. A few minutes more, and then
the earthly career of the once famous Light-
ning Lew would be ended!

“If they had hanged me under the first sen-
tence at Libby [Prison], or shot me‘under the
second sentence,” he grumbled, “some one
would have carried the news, and I would have
been remembered—perhaps have got some credit
—in the North.

“ But, to die here like a dog, at the hands of a
madman— Bah!”

Had the veteran detective‘s situation been
less terrible his disgust would have been laugh-
able—for disgust was actually the feeling he now
had regarding his approaching death.

Abbot’s return at this point changed the cur-
rent of his thoughts, and he looked on curiously
while the madman poured the remainder of the
powder into a small tin-can—such as is used for
holding baking’powder.

Having nearly filled the can with the deadly
giant powder, the madman next placed in it
the still more deadly dynamite cartridge—in
the center of the powder—and then put on the
cover.

“All very good, my boy, but how are you
going to touch her off?”

An old soldier, Pryce could not forboar smiling
at the apparent simpliCity of the madman, but
it was only apparent, for after putting on the
c . :r, Abbot rolled along fuse, insm'ti-d it in a
hole previously drilled in the top of the can,
placed the whole on the piisoncr’s chest and
beat the fuse over until the free end rested on
the floor.

After pausing a moment to contemplate his
terrible preparations, Abbot next cut off about
a half inch of the candle, lighted it, sprinkled a
pinch- of powder, (which he had reserved for tho
purplisg.‘ along Pryce’s clothing to the end of
the train.

‘ There!” he exclaimed, triumphantly. “If
thefuse fails to burn, that will make it,” and
taking the piece of candle, placed it on the other
end of the fatal train.

,“Wt Will be grand! Magnificent!” be con—
tinued, and placmga chair across the hapless
prisoner’s legs, sat down to watch the approach-
ing terrible explosion!

 

CHAPTER XIX.
A STRANGE STORY.

LIGHTNING LEW, with less than inch of
rapidl}, wasting candle between him and a
horrible death, retained his self-possession, and
his brain was busy recalling the stories he had
bean, and read, of the expc'licnts successfully
resorted to by persons dangerous situations
with inadmou.

In every instance, success appiared to he“
hinged upon suggesting another plan of carry-
ing out the same idea, but Pryce racked his brain
in vain for anothu- method of exiiloding the
deadly cm—-—withcut danger to himself.

Abandoning that Idea, entirely, he said:

r‘See here. Abbot! Von have a revolver, and
so have I. Now, instead of blowing us both to
kingdom come in one mo ,nt, why not stand,
one in each corner, and blaze away at each

 

11

 

other? Then, we’ll have some fun before
dyi"s(!)."

The madman seemed to be struck by the idea,
anld, for a moment, the prisoner breathed hope-
lu ly.

“No, he might come. It must be as it is,”
decided Abbot, after a few. moments’ thought.

“ Who might come?” demanded l’ryce, adding:

“ If you mean Wright—why all the better if
he does. We can shoot him first—or blow him
up, and shoot each other i”

“ No, you do not know him, or you would not
say that.

“ He is terrible! I would have killed him—
oh, so long ago that I can’t remember—if l
darctll

“ He ruined me! For him- at his bidding—I
stole—I forged—all to keep him qmet.

“ Ah, how I should like to kill him—twist
my lingers round his fat windpipel”

Calm a moment before, the madman now
looked a perfect demon. His teeth grated. and
his fingers Worked convulsively, as he spoke of
strangling Wright.

In a few moments, this sudden access of rage
passed away, and forgetful of his danger, the dc-
tective listened, with rapt attention. when, in
a mournful tone, Abbott began again:

“ Yet, he was not always so. When I mar-
ried his sister, in old England, long, long ago,
he was an honest, free, happy fellow, careless,
and liberal with his own money—as he has been
of late years with that of others.

“I was always careful, but somehow I didn’t
get along there, so, leaving my wife and child
behind me, I came to America.”

The madman paused in his story, and Pryce
glanced anxiously at the candle. It was grow-
ing i‘rightfully short, and he I " V e explo-
sion would come, before the story '

Strange as it may seem, 'hewas
the mystery of Abbot’s conduct c, up
though having no hope of ever repeating it.

“Bad luck followed me across the Atlantic,"
Abbot began again, after a little while, “and
when I lost all, I wrote and told him, asking
whether I should go,home.

“After some time he wrote, and sent some
money, telling me to remain—that he was com-
ing—and—ohl the cruel lie! he told me my wife
was dead.

“Then, I did not want to go back, as I did
before, and, then, some time after—I don’t re-
member—lie came, bringing my little girl—my
poor Lucy.

“ He had some money-only a little—but he
was lucky, and soon had more, and then he mar~
ried. Before he was married, he told me she was
rich, and had grand connections, but, for once,
he was (leccchd.

“ His wife had the grand connections, but
very little money, and supposing him to be
wealthy, married him.

“ He was lucky, you see, and had the reputa-
tion of being rich.

“Some time after he came to me—I was
Working in a bank, and having enough to keep
little Lucy and myself nicely, was hecomin
contented and happy—but he came and stirre
up the demon.

“ ‘We will le‘ln a banking and trading com-
pany,’ he said, but I had no money, nor had he,
so I did not see how it could be dLlK‘.

“ ‘ Bah, you’re a fool" he said. ‘ You have a
reputation for strict honcs'y. ’I‘hrce tiriws you
have failed, and each time paid pound for
pound, dollar for dollar.’

“It was true—that was why I was then as.
sistant cashier in a bank. Still, I did not under-
stand him.

“ He laughed at my simplicity, and explained
his plan.

“ My reputation for honesty, and his for
shrewd financiering—it was luck, all luck—Were
to be our capital.

“ ‘Let others furnish the money—there are
plenty who will jump at the chance,’ he said,
‘ and my wife’s friends will help us!’

“ I did not like the idea, but he urged, and—as
I always did—I yielded. .

“Then, one day, he inVited me to his house,
and 1 met there the lady whom I afterward
married and lived with, in torture, here.

“She was rich, I was not then displeasing
and he urged me to marry her—and, again, I
yielded. '

“ After that came a terrible day, when I was
to be called on to produce some securities, and
they were gone.

“I went to him and told him. He laughed at
me and said: ‘Confess you've been speculatin
and lost, and I’ll help you,’ but I could not, an
he told me to look out for myself—he would not
help me.

 
  
  

'

 

 

12

“ I begged and entreated, his aid—he was so
shrewd—and finally—curse'the hourl—he cu n-
sented, and asked what securities they were. I
told him—they were certificates cf our own
company, upon which we had loaned to a
stockholder—and he, bade me bring some
blanks.

“I brought the blanks, filled out duplicates
of the missnig certificates at his dictation—and
then he told mo to sign his name and the secre-
tary’s—commit fol geryl

“ I refused. lie been me angry—and he is ter-
rible when angry—and bade me leave his room.

“ ‘ You are wasting my time,’ he said, and

 

 warned lll~‘ to be, ri—ady to produce the ccrt iflcutes,

or equivalent, next morning. ,

“ What was I to do! I had not one thousand
dollar»--much less thirty tivet-housamb—ant l
hesitated—and was lost.

" After that day, everything he wished done,
I \Vus compelled to do. 11'" took up the cr-ru
tifli-ntes—uud I forged, and robbed, to supply the
money to do it with.

“ He held them over me, but i iii-red to give
them hp for double their value—and l, became o.
iniser. Every penny was watched, and ofti'n—
oh, 3 long time, I was. nearly able to purchase
liberty, but, ah! I did not, yet, know him.

“ When I told him how near I was. he looked
surprised, but said nothing, though I had accom-
plished a wonderful task.

“ Two weeks after in the afternoon, as he was
leaving, he bade me come with him, undI obeyed
my master. ‘

“He looked very grave, and I was fulf of
apprehension of some fresh misfortune, but he
said nothing untilwe left the car which had
1 snap-town.

, 3 ‘gl , I've had some strange
this!) ad it concerns you.’
in leave—of what I knew not, and

observing infil'tmntinuod:

“ ‘ Yes it is errible news. Instead of being
dead as I was informed—l was in France, at
the time—and as I informed you, my sister,
ynurwife, did not die in Italy, and is now in
Ne v York—at the foot of this street.’/

“ I thought I should die—I gasped-"for breath,
but he brought me to my senses. /

" ‘ Come, comet No nonsense!’ he said
roughly. ‘ Do you wish to see'her, or will you
provide for her without seeing’ her't’

“ I saw his game—I must remain in his er
still longer, with two houses to supportp—(faun‘d’
braving him, for once, said I would see her, for
I feared, or rather hoped, it was a trick.

“ ‘ Very well,’ he said, ‘hut I warn you, it
will not be pleasant. Your conduct, as she sees
it, has driven her almost crozy.’

“ I made no answer, and we went into a fine
house near the river—and I saw my first wife!

“As he said, she was almOst, if not quite,
crazy, and after one look at her staring yet
unset-ing eyes, I fled into the street.”

Lower and IOWer the candle was burning, dur-
ing the recital of this strange story, but so inter-
ested was the listener that he did not think of
his terrible danger, until now (when Abbot
paused, shaking with emotion), and, to hit hor-
ror, Pryce saw that it had dwindled down to the
thickness of a nickel!

“A lninute or two, and all will be over,” he
shuddered.

“ Then I became a slave in real earnest,” re-
sumed Abbot, but Pryce’s attention was now
riveted ongthe what remained of the candle.

He kept his gaze fastened on it, every moment
expecting to see the fatal, warning flash.

Soon, oh, so soon, the wick would topple over,
and then—-

It was just going, so it appeared to Pryce.
Then came a flush, a loud explosion, quickly fol—
loived by another —— and the detective’s over-
wrought nerves succumbed to the terrible strain,
just as the window was thrOwn up, an
S-im Sharp dashed into the room, followed by
Draper.

The first shot had snuffed the end of the candle
on the powder; the second had knocked the
other candle ofl.’ the table, and the room was in
darkness.

    

 

CHAPTER XX.
THE “WORKINGMAN'S” STORY.
THE young men were prepared for the (hoped-
for) result of their shots, and two dark lanterns
flashed over the unconscious forms of Pryce and
Abbot.

“ Don’t show that you’ve noticed it,” caution-
ed Sam, after making sure that Pryce had only
tainted, and turning to Abbot, continued:

“Jupiter! this fellow’s badly hurt.”

With the first shot the madman had sprung

. -..

 

—_——————

r -- -————~s—..—-a—-'.x|v‘... ..,..» 7h .

' up, and the next shot left him in darkness, just

as he attempted to jump to the door.

This caused him to trip over the prostrate
form of the detective, and he fell, striking his
head agaiu~t the corner of the table, receiving
an ugly-leoking wound on the forehead, from
which blood flowed in torrents.

Whipping out his handkerchief, Sam bound
up the wound, and turning to Draper, ordered:

“ Find a lamp, or a candle, if possiblei

" This man is seriously injured.”

i1‘llll,t‘l‘ll in hand, Draper started off, and,
taking advantage of his absence, Sam dashed
nearly half a pocket-flask of liquor in Pryco’s
fucc.

’ he effect was almost instantaneous, but
when the detective stit tip—his bonds had been
removed,—S:iui was bending over Abbot.

lh'nper returned with a lighted luind lamp, at
W arly the same moment, and l’ryce stared from
one to the other of his rescuers.

As the light appeared on the scene, the
young detective turned his head, and innocent-
lj. (.‘l remarked:

" l’iii afraid we interrupted uninteresting
story, Mr. Pryce,”

But, [lightning Lew wouldn’t have it.

“No, my boy,” he said, “you came just in
time to interrupt my departure for another
world—in l'ragmentsl How came you so
op; tortunely '5”

“ Thu t’s a long story,” answered Sam, adding:

“Perhaps it would be as well to let it go
until we. see what can he done for this mini.
He’s linrd hit."

“Shot!” questioned Pryce, springing to his

/ feet.

“ No; struck against the table.”

“ Get; a couple of those pillow slipsl'youlll find,

them on the next floor,” ordered Detective
Pryce, after examining the wound, and, as Sam
was supporting Abbot’s head on his knee,
Draper hastened away.

The latter had been so close to Lightning Lew,
that the keen» eyed detective had been able to
see that Draper’s mustache was not false, and
therefore, that he was not Draper—at all events,
h is Draper.

“ Who is he and where did you find him,
Sam?" came the puzzled question, when the
“ workingmun ” had left the room.

“ His name is Dray er, and he’s your would-be
burglar, but it’s too long to start to tell'you, yet,

' how and where I found him.

“As soon as Abbot’s fixed up, I’ll tellyou,
all that’s happened—and it will be interesting, I
can assure you.”

Draper now returned with a couple of pillow-
slips, which Pryce quickly transformed into
bandages, and having bound up the madman’s
head in a very workman-like style, had him
placed on a sofa. .

“ I’m afraid the skull is fractured, and we
must getadoctcr as early as possible in the
morning,” he said, and after seeing that the in—
jured man was in an easy position, continued:

“ And, n0w, for your story, Saml”

Just. then, the little man in the big coat came
softly into the hallway, barely avoiding stum-
bling over the Butcher’s body, and heard the
young detective’s reply:

“ Well, to set your mind at case at once, I
guess we’ve got Mr. Wri ht for inciting mur-
der, if nothing more. 0 paid to have Mr.
Draper, here, put out of the way, and we have
the man he paid the money to.”

It was quite cold, and at this point Sam arose
and shut the parlor door, saying:

“Since you have Mr. Abbot on friendly
terms, we may as well keep warm.”

He spoke jestingly, but Mr. Juniper took it in
dead earnest, and, now that the parlor door was
closed, lighted a match to see what he had
stumbled against.

He started back in horrified surprise, on be-
holding the corpse of the Butcher, and stole out
of the house, muttering:

“Good heavens! What may not the Butcher
have told them?”

Sam, meantime, was relating what had
taken place, since he started on the Draper
end of the matter—the beginning of which was
“as new to the “workingman,” as to the elder
d ctive. ,

he former, however, seemed more amused
than anything else on learning of his supposed
cousin’s mysterious actions, and in answer to
Pryce’s inquiringr glance, remarked:

“Oh, that’s Will to a dot! He’s nothing, if
not mysterious.”

Pryce was not so sure of this, but said
noth g, and taking up the story on the morn-
mg I llowing the atthpted assassination, Sam
continued:

.1 . "1 u ‘5:-..*.‘“ -
.211, . «s . 5:; f .f“ —v' - '  "
.- v‘H-Qsidi-Qm'vifi‘fl-‘Hv ‘3‘ i .

 

Q's—‘—

Lightning Lew, the King of the Secret Service.

“The fellow was remanded to the Tombs,
where we followed him with an interpreter;
but it was useless-he absolutely refused to say
anything. _

“ Shortly after we left him—Mr. Draper to
call on Mrs. Strange, and yours truly to hunt
up Vunucci—a basket of food was sent iii to the
prisoner—by whom, nobody has yet been able
to find out positiwly, but I think I know the
gentleman. An hour after the food arrived,
the prisoner was denil—Iwn'smtetl f” I

“ Well, I found Vunucci, (who had. no idea
that he had been recognized,) and got him \\ hero
I could hold him, if he showed his teeth. Then
I told my little tale, and showed how close he
was to Sing Sing—if he failed to see things my
Wu . ‘

“y'He wanted to show fight —- bad, but I ‘
stopped that by pointing out that, even if he
were able to finish inc—which 1 took the lib—
ertv ot’ doubting—there Were still two police
edict-rs outside the door, or a four-story jump to
be overcome, before he could call hunselt safe—
for a couple of hours.

“ Then Pietro came off his porch, and began
to talk business.

“If I would promise that he sliould'escape
punishment, he would tell who was his princi—
pal, and I promised. _

“With one of the ciliCcrs 8s a Witness, he
signed a statement declaring that Mr. Wright
had paid one thousand dollars to have Mr. Dra~
per put out of the way.

“ That ends my story,” added Sam,” and n0w
Mr. Draper willtell you his—the Strange story.”

“ On reaching Mrs. Strange’s residence,” be-
gan the “workingmun,” taking up the thread
where his savior dropped it, “ I found that lady
really ill. Originally, it was not intended that
{should see her at all, but VVi-ight’s accident
had frightened the shrewd-looking woman, (who
was his confederate), and I imagine my stern
appearance—assumed for the occa-ion—fright-
cued her still more. At any rate I was admit-
ted, and, in substance, this is what I leai ned:

“ Mrs. Strange was—for she died before I left
her—the first wife of that unfortunate inan—
Abbot.

“He left her to better his fortunes in this
country, but failed, and on learning this, her
brother, Mr. Wright, to whom fortune had,
also, been unkind, conceived the idea of making
her a widow, and marrying her to a wealthy
man, u ho had been Abbot’s rival for her hand.

“He accomplished his purpose, by first in'-_
forming his sister of her husband’s death, and, a.
little later, on seeing that his hopes Were about
to be realized, by informing Abbot that Mrs.
Abbot was dead.

“To iiiake,sure of keeping Abbot quiet, he
found some pretext for visiting America, and
as Lucy was rather delicate, offered to, take her
with him—the ocean voyage, he declared, would
greatly benefit her.

“But he had failed to take into consideration
a mother’s lovc-—-all villains make some mistake,
that finally ruins theniwand findinghe did not
return, Mrs. Abbot, (us she, still, really was),
instituted inquiries, and learned that her hus-
band and child were together in New York.

“The shcck turned her brain, and the bus-
band blew his out—instead of VVright’s.

“The latter brought her bus, with a child
born during the second marriage—the half-
brother of Lucy Abbot, and the preSent William
Draper, millionaire l" 1

CHAPlER XXI.
A STRANGE RECOVERY.

“ WILLIAM DRA PER — the millionaire — the
half-brother of Lucy Abbot?” slowly and inc
credulously questioned Pryce.

The “ workingman ” smiled at the dctective’s
astonishment.

“That is what his unfortunate mother told
me,” he replied, adding: '

” With the approach of death, her mind stems
to have cleared, and the vague, shadowy ideas
of wrong-doing on Wright’s part, became awful
certainties, but she devoted her last moments to-
undoing, as far as possible, the wrongs com-
mitted by her brother by telling me all she
knew.”

“But, if she was insane, how did she know
who adopted her son?” demanded Pryce.

“In this way. Wright had a great deal of
influence over my uncle, and when the latter
quarreled with my father, be consulted the
former about adopting a son who would displace
me as his heir. '

“Always scheming and looking ahead to-
feather his own nest, tho philanthropic tanker
immediately apprOVed of the idea, at the same
time offering to find a fit subject for my uncle’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

‘

Ligh

 

. . . I
benevolent designs, and this being gladly agreed

to, a few days afterward, presented his nephew,
as the son of an old friend, whose mother was
insan 3 and his father dead.

"Uncle John was pleased with the child’s ap-
pearance, but, notwithstanding “'right’s inllu-
enee, insisted on seeing the insane mother, and
in going through all the forms necessary to
inak? the adoption strictly legal and bind-
ing.’ '

“And how did all this come to light-and
when?” asked the veteran detective, adding:

“1 have known the family for yeais, and
nevir heard a breath of this. Your uncle toll
me that his son was adopted from an asylum.”

“ \Vhich was quite true, but that was one of
Mr. Wright’s ideas—to save Will the pain of
knowing that his mother was insane, he said,
when suggesting the idea to my uncle, but real-
ly tr) baffle all inquiries, should any attempt be
made to trace the child.

“ He knew my uncle had made him executor
of his will, and no doubt had formed Some
scheme to obtain control of the estate, but Will
was of age when Uncle John died, and, although
lVright was executor, he had little time and no
opportunity to rob him.”

“ All very straight and satisfactory—as far as
it goes,” commented the still doubtful detective,
“ but I should like to know who discovered all
this, and what proof there is of it.”

“ Well, to begin backward,” smiliuglv an-
swered “ workingman ” Draper, “ the papers of
adoption, which stated his name to be William
Strange, were found in my uncle’s desk by Will
himself, and the name Strange mentioned in
connection with the disappearance of Abbot—
cashier of Wright’s company—made him sus-
picious. Then he engaged you to hunt up the
cashier, while detective King and your humble
servant started to look up Mrs. Straugv— with
what; results you know."

“ ’es, I know—l know that this is the durnl-
est mixed-up case I’ve eVei‘ struck!" exi'iuiincd
Pryce, and turning to Sun, in a cmnicallypeiu
plcxed, irritated way, asked:

“Anything else?’

" Just a little,” laughed Sam.

“After seeing Vanucci safe in jiil, i met Mr.
Draper, and we arranged to come up here to-
night, as our discoveries seemed important.

“ Seeing a light shining through the windows,
we deemed it wise to try and get a glimpse of
who was inside and what was going on before
shearing oui'sreIVes—aud did so.”

“ Lucky thing you did!” commented l’ryce, as
Sam paused. “ What did ye think of it?"

.“ \Vell. at first, we didn’t know what to think
of it, but, fortunately, the carpet is light-color-
ed, an‘l, after a little while—seeing the small
piece of candle at the end of what looked like a
thick black thread leading up to you, and you
lying on the floor—we got an idea of what it
meant.

“ Luckily both are pretty good shots—and you
know the rest, but it was Abbot‘s Conduct that
puzzled us.”

“Oh, he’s crazy,” explained Pryce, and this
called attention to the fact that the fugitive
cashier was now conscious—and not only that,
but the light of reason shone in his eyes!

The shock occasioned by striking his head
against the corner of the table, had, perhaps, re-
stored Abbot’s reason—just as another shock had
upset it—and he had heard a great deal of what
passed between the trio, who now turned to 100k
at him.

As Sam turned toward Abbot, he caught sight
of some papers lying on the floor, near the fallen
Bible, and springing to his feet, went over and
picked them up.

“ Hello!" he exclaimed, looking at one. “ a cer—
tificate of The Great American Banking and
Tradi n g—”

\Vith a cry of delight that startled the others,
Abbot sprung up, and snatching the certificate,
glanced at it.

‘ers, yesl”he cried. “Thank God!
are the missing certificates! Now!
defy the scoundrel 1”

He was overcome with emotion, being weak
from loss of blood, and seeming to be about to
faint, Sam sprung forward and supported him
to the sofa.

“ Here, take some of this,” said Draper, and
having swallowed some of the proffered liquor,
Abbot recovered sufficiently to tell his story,
which, up to the point where he was interrupt-
ed, was substantially the same as that told
Pr ce.

he balance was as follows:

During his (Abbot’s) last day at the office,

.Wright had made his largest demand on the

They
Now, I can

 

cashier—a robbery of one hundred thousand dol- -

 

     

13

 

 

lars, in securities which could easily be convert-
ed into cash.

As usual, but with more vehemence, Abbot at
first refused, and then yielded.

Wright was going out of town that afternoon,
but would be near his Brookvale house, a..d bade
the unfortunate cashier bring the securities there
—fixing Sunday evening for the met-ting.

\Vhen they met, Abbot warned hismasier that
the“! robberies were growing ioo enormous; that
they would certainly be discovered, and that he
would no 1011er be the cat’s-paw—even if he
shared the bziivlit.

’l‘hisled to a quarrel—the president threaten~
ing, and the miserable cashier defying him to
do his worst, as he should have done in the be-
ginning.

At length the excitement grow too great for
Abbot's already over—wrought nerves, and he
fell—apparently dead.

They were out in the grounds surrounding
the Bi'ookvnle mansion, and very much alarm-
ed at what had happened, \Vright dragged the
body into an ()uiL-bol):~9.

Vi. hen Abbot recovered consciousness, or what
he did afterward, was a mystery to himself,
but he smiled faintly when Pryce related how
be had shot at him.

“It was the work of my magic lantern, un-
doubtedly,” he explained. “T: 0 house is Very
old, as you probably know, and full of secret
passages, one of which opens just opposite the
pii‘loi‘ door.

“ but it was an exact picture of yourself!”
objected the detective.

“ Well, I cannot account for having painted it,
but in my early days my ambition was to be-
come an artist, and I was considered a pretty
fair one when [ turned my attention to business.”

“And Wright—what do you suppose he was
searching for!”

“Probably, for what he. knew 1 had saved,
but I don’t understand—”

“ What’s this?” interrupted Sam, who had
been linking over the old Bible.

“ This” pi'oved to be one of a number of (lov-
ci‘n.ncut lion ls—tbc very ones which \Vriglit
had N) nearly Secured, and which Abbot had
ludlen in the same place where he Secret-ed tho
missingr ccri ilicates—u pocket inside of the cover
of the Bible, but on the opposite cover to the
first.

“(hol heavens! Can it be possible?” cried
Abbot, springing up, but, before reaching Sam,
tottered, and would have fallen but for Draper,
who caught and carried him back to the sofa.

’l‘lu- jo) l'ul surprise caused by this SM'UilIl
unexpected discovery had proved too great, and
this time the more sinned against than sinning‘
mun fainted.

“ I hope this won’t overturn his brain again,
but I fear it will,” said the veteran detective, as
they waited for Abbot’s return to consciousness,
but his foreboding was only too well founded.

When the cashier opened his eyes he was de-
lii'ious.

“ This must be attended to at once!” declared
PryCe. “ Sam and I will return to the city,
while you can stay and watch him. We will
send you a doctor from Brookvale, and a. nurse
from New York—Miss Abbot.”

CHAPTER XXLI.

A TRIP TO SPAIN—SUGGESTED T0 WRIGHT.

AFTER leaving Draper, the veteran and his
young assistant hurried to Brookvale, where
they caught and found a physician, and, by pay-
ing a stiff fee, persuaded him to proceed without
delay to the Abbot cottage.

Having started the doctor, they consulted as
to what was best to do: remain in Brookvale un-
til the “accommodation ” left there in the morn-
ing, or go on to the station above, and catch an
Express?

Experience had rendered the veteran detective
one of your “delays are dangerous ” men, and
he decided in favor of the latter course-Sam as-
senting, although he would have much preferred
remaining in Brookvale to walking to P-—-—,
from which point they started exactly four hours
after Mr. Juniper.

The little man, however, made no stops—not
even when passing his favorite haunts in the city
-- while the man-hunters, after leaving the Grand
Central Depot, put away a very early breakfast
in a very leisurely manner, feeling fully assured
that their “ game ”' was, and would be, safe abed
—and he was.

Mr. Juniper, meantime, had reached the resi-
dence of the senior member of the famous firm
_by whom he was employed, where, after a. vio-
lent ringing of the door-bell, he was admitted.

Without waiting for permission, the little man
dashed up the stairs to his employer’s bedroom,

 

ning Lew, the King of the Secret Service.

 

  

 

 

and rapped loudly on the door, until Mr. Rowe
made hisnppeerance looking very angry at being
ills ui‘beil.

“What in the name of—"ho began, but on
perceiving who his visitor was, stopped short,
and quickly demanded:

“ Vtht’s wrong, Juniper?”

“.lt‘s all wrong With Wright, sirl"

“ Come in, come in l” exclaimed Mr. Roma, and
regardless of the fact that Mrs. Rowe—Very
much awake—nus lying in the bed, Juniper en—
tered, and related u hat ho had seen, surmised,
and heard, at the. Abbot cottage.

For a few minutes after his clerk had finished,
Mr. Rowe paced the floor in troubled silence.

Then after muttering: “The man’s a fool! An
aasl e must not be know 11 in such an affair!”
turns tanniper.

“ (let Mr. ltummel here as quick as possible!”
he ordered.

“Don’t stand on ceremony—pull out the bell~
handle, and then kick down the door, if neces-
sary!” he added, as Juniper picked up his hat.
and started off.

Fully impressed. with the urgency of Mr.
Rummcl’s speedy appearance at the senior
partner’s house, Mr. Juniper did not stand on
ceremony, and within a half-hour the two
partners, and their confidential clerk, were in
consultation.

The conversation lasted until nearly midnight,
when, having determian on their course of ac-
tion the senior partner said: '

“ Very well, Mr. Itummcl, you had better go
to him at once, and say that, in view of what he
has done, we must decline to have any further
dealings with him.

“ Put it pretty sharp, (for be has overstepped
the mark,) and, then, if at all able to move, ad-
vise to get out of the way at once.

“ There is an early steamer for Spain this
morning,[ think,an though she only carries
freight as a rule, money will procure a passage
by her. Just hint that—and that extradition
from Spain is more than doubtful.”

Mr. Ruinincl, who was called the “pocket
ediiion ”—and who Was really the brains—of
the firm, nodded sieriliciintly. and departed.

The two lawyers and Mr. Wright lived close
together, and \\itbin a few minutes Mr. Ruin-
mel was at the banker’s residence, where he
urousml and alarmed the whole household by
his early appinrance, for Mr. Wright was
known far and wide as a kind-hearted, indul-
gent employer, and his servants slept late.

“Blawst ’is hiinpudencel" muttered Jeeins,
as Mr. Rumincl brushed by him. “Hits ha
houtrage to disturb ha geii’lcnian"-—lic meant
bimSelf—“ but such bun hour.”

Paying no attention to Jeems’s mutterings,and
asking nobody’s permission, the little lawyer——
as famous in his way as his big partner—went
straight to Mr. W right’s room.

“You can leave us for a few minutes,”he
said to the nurse, after bidding his client “good-
morning,” adding, as the attendant seemed in a
hurry to get away:

“Remain within call—I will ringwhen you
are wanted.” I ‘

“What does this mean?” asked Wright, who I
had been listening in astonishment.

‘ilgxcuso me for one moment—how do you
fee ?‘

- “Never mind—answer my question i” sharply
returned Mr. Wright.

“Very well, sir; it’s your affair, not ours,
and my visit means that the jig’s up. They’ve
found Abbot, and he has confessed everything
that he knew. Then, they found Mrs, Strange
—-smie, mind you! and she told everything she,
knew, as did your confederate, her nurse, or
rather keeper.”

‘9 Well?”

In his experience—long and varied as it was—
as a criminal lawyer, Mr. Rommel had met
many cool men, but never one, who standing in
the position of the man who uttered this
monosyllabic question, looked so entirely un-
concerned in private, and he looked his admira-
tion of the banker’s nerve, as he piled on the
agony by saying:

“ Well, they’ve got Vanucci, and he, too, gave
the name of his employer.”

“ Anything else?’ calmly inquired Wright.

“ Are you able to get around?” -

u Why?:'

“Well, there are some early steamers this
morning—one, a freighter for Spain.

“Extradition is almost out of the question
from Spain,” significantly added Rummel.

“ As bad as that?” asked Wright, in a strange-
ly calm tone, while a peculiar smile played for a
moment about his mouth.

“ Well, yes; it looks as it a trip to Europe

   

 

14

would benefit your health—greatly. In fact,
Mr. Wright, to come down to plain facts, it’s
Europe or Sing Sing!”

“ Ali, indeed!”

The banker remained silent for several min-
utes, and when he Spoke again, only said:

“ Well, good-by, Ruminell”

“ Then, you are going?"

“ Oh, yes—l am most certainly going.”

Runnnel was a good-natured, bigohearted little
fellow, and he did not like the way the banker,
(half sitting, half lying. in the bed, propped up
by pillows,) answered his question. There was a
deadly meaning in the tone, if not the words,
and as he reached the door, the lawyer turned
with a half frightened look, and almost pleaded:

“ Don‘t do it! I wouldn’t do it, MIHVright!”

The man in the bed laughed bitterly.

“ I can’t stand without assistance fcr one min—
ute,” he said, “ and you tell me it’s Sing Sing, or
Spain. Your early visit proves the urgency of
the case, and I thank you—but, I am unable to
move—or stand the agony of being carried down-
stairs, much less of going to Europe.

“ Good-by, Rummel.”

“ Good-by,” returned the lawyer, after a little
hesitation, and without looking at his client
passad out of the room.

Going down stairs, the lawyer met the nurse.

“ Look here, my good fellow!” said he, “ your
master is inclined to be a. little flighty, and if he
asks for anything dangerous—knives, razors,
pistols, poisons, or anything of that sort, refuse
to obey him—d’ye understand?”

“ Yes, sir.”

“Very good! I am his lawyer, and shall holil
you responsible if he injures himself. Should he
discharge you for having obeyed me, go to Mrs.
Wright and tell her what I’ve told you.”

And satisfied that he had thwarted the design
which his client appeared (to him) to threaten,
the bigohearted little man hastened away to
notify Wright’s physician of his suspicions.

Alarmed by Rummel’s warning, the nurse
hurriedly returned to his master’s room, where
he found his employer looking much as usual,
except for a grayish pallor that overspread his
countenance.

“ Johnscnl Be kind enough to bring me that
pad of note-pa per, and a pencil—no pen and
ink,” directed Mr. Wright.

As this was not against Rummel’s orders, the
nurse obeyed, and the banker having scribbled a
few lines, asked for an envelope, which being
furnished, he said:

“ I shall want some wax to seal this enVelope.
There is a sticd on the library table—please
bring it here.”

“ And, Johnson ”—as the nurse was about to
go—“ there is some money—a few dollars—in
my trawsers pocket, which you had better take
when you—I guess you had better take it now.”

“ Flighty, eh? I wish everybody was as level-
headed l” muttered Johnson, as he picked up
the desired sealing-wax from the library table.

At that moment the sharp crack of a pistol
rung through the house, and not a little alarmed
Johnson run back to his patient, but it was
too late. Mr. Wright the banker, had outwitted
both lawyer and nurse—and justice, too.

CHAPTER XXIII.
SAM MAKES A MESS OF IT. _

WE must now return to Lightning Lew Pryce,
and his youthful assistant, who aftera hearty
:nri leisurely eaten break fast, proceeded down-

mm.

Al: Fourteenth street they separated, Pryce
directing Sam to notify Mrs. Abbot and her
daughter of the finding of the fugitive cashier,
and under what circumstances.

“ But no more, Sam,” continued the veteran,
“ for although I think he’ll suffer little or noth-
ing, still he’s our prisoner, and you must go back
with them, to take turns with this Draper, in
watching him until he’s fit to be removed. ’

" All right, sir! Gond-inorningl”

" Hold out I wouldn’t trust too much to
this Draper, he’s in love with the daughter,
you, know, and there’s no telling what he might

0.

“Very good, sir! I’ll keep an eye on all of
them .until you come,” assured Sam, looking
very grave, but as he turned away toward the
humble residence of the Abbots, the young de-
tective smiled and muttered:

“He’s the most suspicious man I ever met.
It’s a wonder he trusts me.” _

It was still quite early when Sam knocked at
Mrs. Abbot’s door, and it was fortunate that it
was, for Lucy was about starting toperform her
first day’s work for a stranger.

The young detective introduced himSelf merely
a messenger from Mr. William Draper, “ the

 

Lightning Lew, the King of the Secret Service.

lnewspaper chap"—at which the young lady

looked very indignant, but smiled when Sam
went on to say that “the workingman ” and he
were great friends, and that it was because of
their intimacy, he had been asked to escort Mrs.
Abbot and her daughter to their former home
in Brook vale.

“ To Brookvale?” echoed Mrs. Abbot._ “Why,
what has happened—why should we go there?”

“ Well, I don’t know just how to explain it,
madam, but it seems Mr. Draper found a lot of
bonds, and certificates, that go a great way to
prove that Mr. Abbot was a great deal more
sinned against than sinniug.”

“Thank God l” fervently exclaimed Lucy,
while the mother seemed about to faint, but
quickly recovered herself, and at once prepared
to accompany Sam and her daughter.

As they were about to start, Mrs. Abbot, who
could not restrain her tears-joyful tears—ex-
claimed:

“ Oh, if my poor, unfortunate husband could
but know of this! If he could be found, I would
be a happy woman 1”

“ Well, madam,” said Sam, thinking this a
good opportunity to prepare mother and daugh-
ter for what was awaiting them at the Brook-
vale cottage, “ well, madam, I shouldn’t be sur-
prised if he knew all about it by this time.”

“What do you mean,sir? How could Mr.
Abbot know?” asked Mrs. Abbot, looking very
much astonished, while Lucy eyed the young de-
tective so suspiciously that he felt she partly
guessed the truth.

He did not wish to plump out the whole truth
at once—fearing Mrs. Abbot could not stand it.
Neither did he care to do any unnecessary lying,
so he answered:

“I’m quite sure Mr. Draper knows where
your husband is, and that Mr. Abbot knows all
about the bonds and certificates. Confidential—
ly, I can tell you that Mr. Abbot was never far
away from home, but he was a little out of his
head. He’s all right, now, though, I guess, and
Mr. Draper will he likely to have him waiting
for you.” ‘

“Gracious Heaven l” cried Mrs. Abbot, and
the next instant was being supported by Lucy.

“Confound it! I’ve, made a mess of it!” mut-
tered Sam.

“ Inleed you have, sir i” aflirmed Lucy, as,
having supported her mother to a lounge, she
turned to the young detective and Continued:

“ New, sir, will you please say plainly if my
father is, as I suspect, awaiting us at Brook-
vale?”

“ He is,” was the meek reply.

“Thank you.
kindly, but next time I hope you will not
have so poor an opinion of what a woman can
bear.”

“ But he is—is sick,” explained Sam, quite
upset by the attack of the angry beauty.

l. “ What else? Please don’t trifle with me,
at all events, Mr. Sharp—be as plain as you
please.”

Lucy spoke quietly, but firmly, and in very
few words Saul explained her father’s condi-
tion and its causes.

“Thank you! thank you! You Were right
not to have told it too quickly,” declared Lucy.
“ Poor mother is not very strong, and could not
have borne it. Leave the explanation to me. I
u ill break it to her while we are on the way.”

As may be imagined, Sam was only too happy
to relinquish this task to Lucy, and when Mrs.
Abbot had recovered a little, they started for
Brookvale.

At Brookvale a carriage was hired, and the
party were quickly in front of the Abbot cot-
tage, where the noise of their arrival brought
igrth Draper, “workingman,” and Detective

mg. ‘

Upon seeing the former, Lucy blushed faintly,
but another carriage which came tearing up
from the opposite direction, claimed the atten-
tion of all, and to the astonishment of at least
one (Sam), Lightning Lew Pryce leaped
from it.

CHAPTER XXIV.
ONE GENUINE GENEROUS ACT.

ON leaving Sam. the veteran detective pro-
ceeded to Police Headquarters, where he was
closeted with the superintendent for a full half-
hour, and when he departed, was accompanied
by that gentleman himself.

Their destination was the palatial residence of
Mr. Wright, and they lost no time in getting
there, although five minutes after Pryce’s arrival
at Headquarters, the best detectives within call
had been hurried away to various steamship
piers and railroad depots.

 

“ So, I think we’ve got him safe enough,” Oh-

I’ve no doubt you meant V

 

served the superintendent, as they left Head-
quarters. “ He cannot attempt to leave the city,
this morning, Without being nabbed, and I hap-
pen to know he was at home last night, for one
of our men—King—is keeping an eye on him.”

“King?” queried Pryce, in surprise, “why I
understood he had been dismissed, or suspended,
some time ago?”

“So he was—«but fora purpose. You see, he
was following up this Abbot affair through that
mysterious Mrs. Strange, and we soon found
there was pressure being brought to protect ht'l'.

“Tracing for the source of this pressure, We
found it to be Wright, the banker. This looked
queer, and King was suspended as a ‘ blind,’
but he has been working on the case all the
time.”

“ Confound himl He, too, has been play-
ing a double game with me,” was the listener‘s
mental comment, but then came the consolatory
thought:

“ But you are the man who found Abbot

There was little time for reflection, however,
for they were now at Wright’s residence, where
it was easily seen something unusual had hap-

I”

ned.

Notwithstanding the superintendent’s precau-
tions, the banker had left the city—left it never
to return. An hour previous to their arrival, he
had been found dead, with a revolver in his
hand, and a bullet in his brain.

The household was in a state of great excite—
ment; Mrs. Wright, prostrated by the ter-
rible shock, was in her room, and the callers.
pushed their way to the death-chamber.

“ Somebody warned him i” declared the super—
intendent. “ We must ascertain if he received
any letters, or callers, this morning."

“ Yes,” assented Pryce, and turning to a ser—
vant who had followed them to the room, asked
who took care of the dead man.

“ Mr. Johnson, sir,” replied the girl, and after-
a moment’s hesitation, added: .,

“But he’s gone, sir-run away. He was ter-
ribly frightened, and said Mr. Rummel told
him this morning that if anything happened
Mr. Wright he Would hold him responsible.”

The superintendent and detective exchanged
glances, and the former asked:

“ What time did Mr. Rummel call!”

“ Very early, sir; while most of us were still
asleep.”

“ Ah! Important business to warrant such
an early call, eh, Pryce!”

“Yes; that accounts for this,” returned the
detective, nodding toward the bed; and then to
the servant:

“ There were no other callers, I suppose!”

it NO‘ Sir.”

“Or letters ?”

“ N o, sir."

“ Thank you; that will do,” and taking this as
a hint to leave, the girl quitted the room.

“Well, there’s no doubt Rummel’s the man
who warned him and spoiled your triumph,
Lew,” asserted the superintendent, sympatheti-
cally, for they were old friends, and he could ap-
preciate Pryce’s disappointment.

“Yes; I Wish there was a way of reaching
him for il l" was the savage rejoinder.

“That, I fear, is impossible. There would l:e
no crime in warning his client of danger of ar-
rest, and whatever knowledge they have bad, or
advice given, regarding these other ufl’nll‘s, you
may rely upon it that Rowe & Rummel are too
smart to put themselves in our power.”

“ I’m afraid— Ahl What’s that?"

As Pryce thus suddenly interrupted himself,
he sprung toward the bed (with a I'i‘pii'llly ilmt
gave a physical reason for “ Lightning Leu 3‘)
and snatched a piece of paper from the pillow
above the dead man’s head.

“ What is it?” eagerly inquired the superinten-
dent. and in response, Pryce read it to him.

“By heavens!” cried Pryce, on finishing the
reading, “I can forgive him for disappi inting
me. That one genuine generous act, :quares
the account between us!"

What that act was, will be told in another
chapter.

 

CHAPTER XXV.
THE FINAL SURPRISE.

THERE is little more to be told, but that little
being of a happy nature it is as well to tell it.

With the death of Wright, and his assump-
tion of the forgeries and robberies which be had
caused, though not committed, Lightning Law’s
business in New York was ended, and hurrying
to the Grand Central Depot. he caught an Ex-
press train which stopped at P—, the first sta—
tion above Brookvale.

 

Hiring: buggy at P——, the detective having
been luc y enough to chance on a spirited horse,

‘W- m. _

  

 

 

 

 

   
   
  

   
  

2.... _.~s~._; __r..u

 
 
  
    

   

 

. _,y_ 3.1.. vy‘w

  

 

 

 

 
   
 

 

 

  
 

 
  

 

 

 
   
    
  
 

 

 

let the animal out on the road to the cottage,

"chuckling as he thought of Sam’s astonish-

ment, if he should beat the latter back to the
cottage.

As Sam’s party came by an “ accommodation ”
train—which we are informed by a suburban
friend means, that it is run to accommodate the
movements of the cows along the line—Pryce
came near accomplishing his purpose, and as it
was, arrived hardly a minute behind them. ,

With a significant “all right!” to Sam and
Draper, a rather; cool “ good-morningl” to King,
and a smiling bow to the ladies, the veteran de—
tective led the way into the cottage.

As the party entered the parlor, they were
met by millionaire Draper, and the doctor.

“ Mr. Abbot is sleeping back here,” explained
thoiattcr, “and I hope will be himSelf again
when he awakes.”

This pleasing intelligence caused the anxious
wife and daughter of the injured man to greet
millionaire Draper, who now approached, with
more friendliness than they otherwise would
have, but to the amazement of bpth, he caught
Lucy in his arms and kissed her.

“Release me, sir] HOW dare you i” cried
the indignant girl, and, finding her command un-
heeded, appealed to the “ workingman.”

“Mr. Draper! W ill you not protect me
from—”

“ From your brother, my dear Lucy l” inter-

,rupted the millionaire, releasing her, as he

s oke.

“Yes,” he continued, in answer to the won-
dering looks of mother and daughter, “ I am the
son of Mr. Abbot’s first wife, as you, my dear
Lucy, are her daughter, but it is a long story,
and it may be as well to await your father’s
awakening before—”

At that moment a call from the back parlor
announced that Mr. Abbot had awakened, and
after being cautioned by the physician against
exciting the patient, Mrs. Abbot and Lucy were
permitted to spend a few minutes with him, but

on joining them, to put a stop to the talking,,

Doctor Smailbones found his patient so won-
derfully improved, that he allowed the mother
and daughter to remain.

Not only that, but at Abbot’s request, the
others came to where he was lying, and then in
a. carefully guarded way the various members
of the party told their stories.

Lightning Lew, who preferred to speak last,
had apparently finished his story, when he an-
nounced the tragic death of Wright, but after a
few moments’ silence, and a few whispered
words With the doctor, he began again:

“And, now, Mr. Abbot, I must warn you
that there is a very pleasant surprise still in
store for you, and as the (iOCtll‘ thinks it safe,
I may as well complete the happiness which
seems pouring in on you. by reading a scrap of
pa er which I found on Wright’s pillow.”

‘ No man is altogether bad, Mr. Abbot,"
continued the veteran detective, “ and before he
died, Wright performed one genuine generous
act, by which be repaired as far as possible the
wrongs done you.”

This prelude presaged something extraordi-
nary, and all waited impatiently until Pryce,
having found the paper referred to, read:

“ Abbot is innocent of the forgeries and rob-
beries charged against him.(!) Why he should
run away I cannot imagine, for I alone am
guilty of them, and I, alone, received the benefit
of them.”

This very important scrap of‘ paper was
signed by the late President of the Great Ameri-
can Banking & Trading Co., and the sensation
produced by Pryce’s reading of it, is more easily
imagined than described.

Wright had ended his career by one genuine
generous act, as Pryce phrased it. The few
lines found on his pillOW, saved Abbot, and six
months later, (When the latter was restored to
health.) there was a quiet wedding in the once
I!) sterious cottage at Brookvale.

ucy Abbot. and “ workingman” Draper,
were the couple congratulated, while “million-
aire” Draper, was “best man,” and looked
almost as happy as the groom—and it may
safely be assumed that the latter looked any-
thing but gloonr y.

All the detectives engaged on the case attend-
ed the wedding, as did Austin—Sam Sharp’s
omplo er—and when returning King remarked:

“ ell, Lew, old boy, that’s the finishing touch
to your triumph.”

‘ It’s Sam’s triumph, not mine,” quietly re-
turned Pryce. “But for Sam, I would have
been in atoms—as would the man I was look-
ing for." '

_ “ Glad you were, and are, pleased with our

Lightning Lew, the King of the Score

protege,” said Austin, looking proudly at Sam,
and referring to the letter, added:
“ I knew when it was his inning, he’d put up a
big score.”
THE END.

Beadle’s Dinle library. V

BY LIEU'I‘. A. K. SIMS.

688 The Rivrr Rustlcrs; or. The Detective from Way
Back.

673 Stuttering Sam, the Whitest Sport of Santa Fe.

666 Old Adamant, the Man of Rock.

618 Kansas Karl. the Dctcctivc King.

55‘: Prince Primrose, the Flower of the Flock.

5:8 Huckleberry, the Foot-Hills Detective.

BY LEON LE‘VIS.

621 The Submarine Detective: or, The Water-Ghouls.
481 Captain Ready. the Red Ransolncr.

461 The Silent Detective: or, The Bogus Nephew.
456 The Demon Steel‘.

428 The Flying Clim; or, The Island Lure.

BY \VILLIAHI B. EYSTEII.

650 Gilt-Edge Johnny: or. Roldan and His Rovers.
650 Luckv Lcster’s Lone Hunt .

634 Old Handcart‘s Big Dump.

6;; The All Around Sports.

603 Dcsvri. Alf. the Man With the Cougar.

500 (icntchack, the High Roller from Humbug.
578 Seven Shot Steve. the Sport with a Smile.
568 i‘he Dude l.)ctoctivc.

656 Hurrah Harry. the High iiorso from Halcyon.
5i!) Beishazzar Brick. tlic Bailiff of Blue Blazes.
533 Oregon. the Sport Vi ithaScnr.

5:35 Frcsh Frank. the Derringer Daisy.

503 The Dude from Denver.

47 Pinnacle Pete; or. The Fool from Way Back.
450 Major Sunshine, the Man of Three Livcs.

42‘.) Hair ’l‘rigirer Toni ol" Rcd llcnd.

40;! Snapshot Sam; or. The Angels” Flat Racket. -
306 The Piper Delectiw; or. The Gilt E'lge Gang.
376 Royal (icorge, the Three in ()nc.

356 Time liuiids'ome Sports; or, The Combination.
311 Double. Shot Dave oi' the [.cl'l iinnd.

3:33 Derringer Dick. the Man with the Drop.

300 A Sport in Spectiivlns; or, Bad Time at Bunco.
268 Magic Mike. the Man of Frills.

2'26 Captain Cu'slccvc; or, The Liltlc Sport.

211 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gcriic of the Gulch.
102 The Lightning S lort.

16‘: Hands Up; or, he Knights of the Canyon.

160 Soft Hand. Sharp: or, Th - Man with the Sand.
145 Pistol Pards; or, The Silent Sport from Cinnabar

BY PIKOF. J. H. INGBAHAM.

316 Lafittc’s Lieutenant: or. .hiid of the Sea.
314 L'iiiftc; or. The Pirate of the Gulf.

116 The Burglar Captain; or. The Fallen Star
113 The Sea Slipper; or, The Ii‘rcclmotcl‘s.

o

 

 

y
u

a

1)

BY NED BUN'I‘LINE.
657 Long Tom. the Privateer.
633 The Sea Spy.
6.. The Red Privateer; or. The Midshipman Rover.
591 Fire Feather. thc Buccaneer King.
517 Buffalo Bill‘s First Trail.
361 Tombstone Dick. the Train Pilot.
270 Andros. the Rover; or. The Pirate’s Daughter.
'32 Saul Sabberday. the idiot Spy.
111 The Sinuggler Captain: or, The Skipper’s Crime.
61 Captain Seawaif. the i’i'ivat--i-r.
23 The Red Warrior; or. The Comanche Lover.
The Sca Bandit; or, The Queen of the isle.
The. White Wizard; or. The Seminole Prophet.
14 'l‘liaycndanegca,the Scourge;or. The War-Eagle.

BY ANTIIONY P. MORRIS.

357 Jack Simona. Detect've.
2% The Head Hunter; or, Mark Magic in the Mine.
334 The Cipher Detective.
313 Mark Magic. Defective.
306 The Roughs of Richmond.
288 Elecrro Pete, the Man of Fire.
260 The Masked Mystery; or, The Black Crescent.
2‘38 Hank Hound, the Crrscent City Detective.
185 Man Spider; or. The Beautiful Sphinx.
167 The Man of Steel. Talc of Love and Terror.
100 The French Spy; or. The Bride of Paris.
95 Azhort. the Axnian; or, The Palace Secrets.
5 The Fire Fiends; or, Hercules. Hunchback.

BY JACKSON ICNOX—“Old Hawk.”

643 Castlemainc, the Silent Sifter.

616 Magnus. the Weird Detective.

606 The Drop Detective.

595 Wellborn. the Upper Crust Detective.

582 Joram. the Detective Expert.

574 Old Falcon‘s Double.

561 The Time King; or. The Falcon Detective's Foe.
648 Falcoubridge. the Sphinx Detective.

536 Old Falcon’s Foe: or. The Detective‘s SWcii Job.
515 Short-Stop Maje, the Diamond Field Detective.
509 Old Falcon. the Thunderbolt Detective.

501 Springsteel Steve, the Retired Detective.

494 The Dctective’s Spy.

485 Rowlock. the Harbor Detective.

477 Dead-arm Brandt.

467 Mainwaring. the Salamander.

462 The Circus Detective.

451 Griplock. the. Rocket Detective.

444 The Magic Detective: or, The Hidden Hand.

424 Hawk Heron's Deputy.

886 Hawk Heron. the Falcon Detective.

in
p‘

“H
CECL

.6

 

 

     

' 1‘5

 

t Service.

1

BY (Ll PTAIN H0‘VAllD HOLMES.

61M Monk Morel, tln- Man-iiun‘er.

661 Sol Sphinx, Llli' Ferict Detective.

6 w Red Pard and Yellow

608 Silent Sam, thc Shadow Sphinx.

61 ~ Ca )tain Sid, the Shasta. Frl‘ret.

579 Oh C(ll‘lllOl'illlb. the Bowery Shadow.

5119 Capluin Cobra. the Hooded Mystery.

5'30 Danton. the. Shadow Sh rp.

r: Silk Hand, the Molnch i'crret.

513 The Magualc Detective.

542 Jack Javcrt, tho independent Detective.

5:23 Roynard of Red Jack: or, Th‘é Lost Detectiveu
512 Captain Velvet’s Big Stake. ‘ .
505 Phil Fox. tthenti-el Spotter.

4. Richard Rediirc, the Two Worlds' Detective.

487 Sunshine Sam. a Chip of the Old Block.

480 iiawkspcar. the Man with a Secret.

(joldgrip in DcadWood.

460 Captain Coldgrip. the Detective

453 Captain Coldgrip's Long Trail.

447 Volcano. the Frisco Spy.

411 The California Sharp.

434 lmcil‘cr Lynx, the n onder Detective.

421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow.

413 Captain Coldgrip in New York.

407 Captain Coldgrip’s Nerve; or. Injun Nick.

400 Captain (loldgrip: or. The New York Spotter.
392 The Lost llomlnzu: or, The Boot of Silent Hound.
-‘ 2 Tho Bonanza Band: or, Dread Don of Cool Clan.
. '-1 Major Blister, ihc Sport of Two Cities.

36! Keen Kcnnard. llic Shasta. Shadow.

352’ The Dcs )eratc Dozen.

317 llcnvcr hike, the Man will] “ Sand."

310 Cool Conrad. thi- Dakota Detective.

335') Flash Dan. the. Nabob: or, Blades of Bowie Bar.
321 California Claude. the Lone Bandit.

291 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy.

278 I'lcrcules Goldspur, the Man of the Velvet Hand.

BY ED‘VA RD \VILLETT.

4P3 Flush Fred, the River Shar .

366 The Canyon King; or. a Price on his Head.

348 Dan Dillon, King oi. Crosscut.

3; 01d (labc the Mountain Tram .

7‘. Terrapin Dick. the Wildwood Detective.

315 Flush Fred‘s Double; or. The Squuttcrs‘ League.
308 Hemlock iiank, Tough and True.

29S lrggcr Lem: or. Lifc in the Pine Woods.

26$) Flush Fred‘s Full lland.

0": Flush Fred. the. Mimissippi Sport.

2-16 Montana. Nat, the Lion of Last Chance Camp.
~.L Bill the Blizzard; or. Red Jack‘s Crime.

20!) Buck Farley. the Bonanza Prince.

129 Mississippi Mose; or, a Strong Man's Sacrifice.

BY fiEORGE C. JENICS.

572 Jaunty Joe, the Jockey Detective.
551 Mad Sharp, the Rustler.

536 Rube Rocket. the Tent Detective.

526 Dcalh-(lrip, lllc 'l‘cndcri'oot Detective.
507 The Drummer Detective.

432 The Giant Horseman.

898 Sleepless Eye. the Pacific Detective.

BY 0. DUNNING CLARK.

18‘} Gilbert the Guide.
164 The King’s F001.

‘4

v

v
,-
w

an

A
15

“‘5 .
w
\iq

(
.—

.
‘1
u
v

MISCELL ANEOUS.

566 The imuntless Detecgive: or, The Daughter
Avenger. By Tom W. King.
512 The Ocean Drift; or, The Fight for Two Lives.
By A. F. iiolt.
531 Gl‘eo-il Mountain Joe: or, The Counterfeiter‘s
Cave. By Marmaduke hey.
518 Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred. By J. W
shon.
410 Sarah Brown. Detective. By K. F. Hill.
366 The Telegraph Detcciivc. y George H. Morse.
353 Bart Brennan; or, The King 01’ Straight Flush.
Bv John Cuthbert.
350 Flash Falcon. Society Detective. By W. J. Cobb.
312 Kinkfoot Karl, the. Mountain Scourge. By Mor—
ris Redwing.
25'?) The Smugglcr Cutter. By J. D. Conroy.
261 Black Sam, the Prairie Thunderbolt. By Col.
Jo Yards.
190 The Three Guardsmen. B Alexander Dumas.
179 Conrad the Convict. By rof. Gildcrslecve.
166 Owlet. the Robber Prince. By S. R. Urban.
158 The Doomed Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell
152 Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeitcr Chief.
116 The Doctor Detective. By George Lemuel.
1:14 The Hunchback of Notre Dame. By Victor Hugo.
140 The. Three Spaniards. By Geo. Walker.
133 Body the Rayer. By William Carleton.
1‘25 The'Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainsworth.
110 The Silent Rifleman. By H. W. Herbert.
102 The Masked Band. By George L. Aiken.
78 The Mysterious S )y. By Arthur M. Grainger.
76 The Queen’s Mus 'eteers. Bv George Albany.
68 The Fighting Trapper. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
60 Wide Awake. the Robber King. By F. Dumont.
32 B’hoys of Yale: or, The Scrapes of Collegian».
11 Midshipman Easy. By Captain Marryatt. ,
10 Vidocq, the French Police Spy. By himself.
9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover.
6 Wildcat Dob. By Edward L. Wheeler.

Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all
Newsdeaiers. ten cents per cow. or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve cents each. ' . I (2..

 



  

 

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. . . 3 H ’ I . - . TUE IxNIGIITS or PYTIIIAS SHOWN LP. Br “BRICK-
Tlns story 15 not founded on fact. but there 15 so much comth human , /  j d I“ v _ ‘1 I" q ' H D , I I” I y - _
' nature in it that truth couldn't make. it any better. It should he read by every- '1 I ' ’ usual“ ' “per, ‘ ‘ 0‘ on t m“ “a ‘1”) mlf'
body Contemplating the great lottery of marriage. Laughubly illustrated by tzlkc. ’

Thomas Worth. l ' Y Y _

 ’ ' I JOII\ING ’l‘IlE GIiANGEllS; on, EXPERIENCE or SASSAFths -
FARMING FOR FUN; on, BACKYARD GnAxouns. Br "BRICK- DODGEIL By the “1mm of .. My Motherrmmw.» 64

TOP." Illustrated by Thounts \Vorth. Falter, largo SW). m,” 16mm ‘ ,

A laughable story. The experience of Timothy Budd and his wife at city ' w v '

gardening in brimful of fun pond thousands who read it will exelalm: “I‘ve DI“. GOODb DBLMMER. BY TOM- \VONDfiR. 88 131)., 161110.

been there 1" This is one of the funniest of all the Laughing Series. and its glimpsesof the
7 trials, scrnpes. and troubles of a Drummer on his travels are precisely the
I’ARSON BEECIIER AND HIS HORSE. Br H Bummer." media. 8- to cm the blue .
‘ A .s and make the reader ha p .
Illustrated by Thomas \Vorth 96 pp., Paper, large 12mo. ’, I p y
' ‘ ‘ 1‘ ‘ 1 l t ' v u ) .. n
This is a. thoroughly enjoyable book. brimful of fresh. brilliant humor and '1 RIP 01‘ ’1 HL SARIHLE C 1_‘L 8- BL I’mm‘TOP- 96 PP-o
laughable situations. the author claiming it to be the best of his many humor- 161110. I’I'Ofusely Illustrated by lllomtts “701111.

ous productions. This book is full of fun and sentiment, giving personal observations and. /
historical reminiscences of places on the Hudson between'New York and ’

'Iuncn' DOUGLAS AND HIS MULE. Companion to "Int-son “mm
' ’* l e ‘ and I'll“. None 2" 3 ' tl * sam: autl or. Illustrtted.
g’gjf’p‘ ’hu, ,0 10”") C 3 V'“ ‘ ‘ , ‘ SCRAPES or FARMER SKOOPENDYKE. Illustrated. Ho
A f';b 1‘: ~ .t'd 1 I.”  I .1 u . “an” dwu huysaBiIly Goat. Ho Gives \Vidow Snuggn Sleigh-ride.
“ISM-yo e a 8 war] 8‘89“ I peope“ ‘0 “ere ] L' an 1 His Experience with Dr. Bungle. Mrs. Maloney’s Goat,

: no doubly popular with the "Vets," many of whom enjoyed the very fun that .
L is be“, depicted. r ‘ etc., etc. Paper, 8v0. 80 pages.

1

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Any of the above books sent by mail on receipt of 12 cents. Post-age stamps taken.

 

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   NETS 8t   (Jaméé Sullivan,Proprietor»  I Street, New 

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