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Wednes‘iay‘ 98 WILLIAM STREET, N. Y.. August 13, 1890. 35m) “ Ye“

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Solving a Masteriflngue Mystery.

The Romance of the Kernon
Complication.

w”.

 

BY JACKSON KNOX,
(OLD HAWK,)

AUTHOR OF “HAWK HERON. THE FALCON DE-
TECTIVE,” “OLD GRIP,” “ DETECTIVE
WALDEN’s WEB,” ETC., ETC.

CHAPTER I.
THE BANKER’S GUEST.

MR. ISAAC GRANTBY was the president and
chef stoqkbOlder of the Mount Kernon Bank, I
the place Indicated being a thriving and rapidly I
growing. Westchester county t0wn within a. ' ,‘

ozen mxles of New York. i I:

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[am exPeCtan. 8. VlSltOI‘, Norah, a, strange —~ —~ «» m~ ‘ I I | ~ H ~ I I I ,

entiemap,” he sun! to toe neat and comely THE NEXT INSTANT THE DETECTIVE HAD THE DEAD-ALIVE’S HEAD 0N

“mama” Who admitted 111111- “Show him into ADMINISTERING SMALL PORTIONS OF THE BRANDY.

  
 
 
  
 

  

       

Dxrectly after business on a summer day Of
Dog many ear_s ago, Mr. Grantby entered his
res1dence, ookmg pale and disturbed, though
resolved and stern.

  

      
    
  

    

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2 ’ Magnus, the Weird Detective.

 

 

 

{he library at once, where I shall be awaiting
um.

“ What name, sir?” inquired the servant, with
somethin more than a conventional courtesy,
for Mr. rantby was an indul ent employer.

“ Mr. Magnus; but there wi l doubtless be no
one else. Show him right in.”

And as the girl disappeared, with a parting
obeisance, he threw after her a glance of what
seemed to be both doubt and commiseration.

Entering his library, however, the look of pre-
occupied trouble reappeared in his face, as be
seated himself in one of the cozy a artment‘s
comfortable arm-chairs, and crossed is legs re-
fiectively.

A widOwer with but one child, a beloved
daughter, Mr. Grantby was an amiable and suc-
cessful business man, of fifty, whose lines had
until very recently lain in pleasant places.

Then had suddenly come the trouble that was
now distressing him.

It was this: Early on the morning of that
very day a trusted young man, Randall May-
court by name. and the bookkeeper of his bank-
ing establishment, had been found lifeless on
the floor before the open doors of the bank-safe,
which he had evidently been in the act of rob-
bing at the moment of being suddenly and mys-
terioust stricken down by tho visitation of the
destroyer. Was it by lu-art—disease, a sudden
fear of detection, or by a fatal catalcptic or up-
Oplcctic stroke? However that might be deter-
mined, the saddest feature of the calamity was
that he had betrayed himself as a thief before
he died. There could be, no doubt about it. A
sachel, still clutched in the insensible hand, was
stuffed with the freshly-purloincd cash, to the
amount of sevoral thousand dollars, though there
was still a much larger amount remaining in the
safe, which time had doubtless not been given
him to secure. 0n the young man’s person were
likewise found newly-secured railroad tickets for
the Canadian border, together with a wig and
false whiskers with which he had evidently in-
tended to facilitate and secure his flight in dis-
guise.

Life and reputation to be snatched at one fell
stroke, and on the threshold of what had seemed
to be a promising and honorable business
career!

Nor was this all. The banker had known and
loved the young man almost from his infancy.
Moreover, his first, earliest love had been for
the misguided youth’s mother, whom he would
gladly have made his wife had not fate and cir-
cumstances step ed in between. Yes, for that
unhappy and wi owed mother, still in her at-
tractive middle-age, who, together with her
only daughter, Ada Maycourt, was now dis-
tracted with grief and shame in her cottage
home beside the lifeless remains of him who had
been her joy and pride—so abruptly, so unac-
countably, it would seem, lost not only to life,
but also to honor and respectful remembrance!

Nay, more: Randall had even won, the banker
feared, the heart of his child, his beloved Grace.
And though this had not prevented him in his
worldly wisdom to choose otherwise for her, and
much less to her satisfaction, in the person of
Mr. Catesby Bartlow, his brilliant and capable
cashier, not the less did his heart go out now to
the inconsolable widow and sister in their su-
preme distress, and to the unhappy youth thus
undone.

Mr. Grantby heaved a sigh, and than his lips
came together with a stern expression as be pro-
duced and re-perused a telegram received a few
hours previously, which ran as follows:

“ Omen Bmeaa'ron DETECTTVE BUREAU, }
“NEW YORK, August -, 188-.
“Isaac Gunner. ESQ..
" President 1m. Kernon Blink :——

“ Description of case receiVed and noted. Our
Mr. Magnus will place himself at your service at 4
P. M. to-day. Trust him implicitl .

“It. BLixxsa'roN.”

“Magnus!” repeated the banker to himself,
and perhaps not for the first time. “ The name
seems not altogether unknown to me. Where,
and in connection with what celebrated crimi-
nal case, have I seen it before? However, I
trust that the bureau has sent me an expert.”

Here there was a ring at the house—bell, and,
as Mr. Grantby rose expectautly, a pale, gen-
tlemanly-appearing yodng man was ushered in
by the girl Norah, with the words, “Mr. Mag-
nus, sir.” ‘

The banker was both surprised and puzzled,
for on advancing with extended hand toward
his visitor. the latter was observed to give a
Slight but significant start, suggestive of a
species of unpleasant thrill, as the girl inad-
vertently brushed against him in taking her do»
parture from the room.

Then, after the preliminary commonplaces,

I the detective composedly took the seat that was

rotfered him, and increased his host’s surprise
y saying, thoughtfully:

“ Pray pardon me, sir, for a slight irrelevance
before we proceed to the case in hand. But
that young servant girl—has she always proved
herself thoroughly honest and trustworthy?"

The banker looked at his strange questioner
searchingly, and even with a somewhat mysti—
fied look.

The detective might be younga man of thirty,

 

or less. In addition to his natural pallor of l judiciously applied. Judging from his passage

complexion and gentlemanly, unobtrusive ap-
pearance, he was singularly, but somewhat ef-
feminately handsome, with refined features, an
especially sensitive mouth, shaded by a well-
cared-for but not abundant mustache, wavy
dark hair, and dee «set, dreamy eyes that were
as black as sloes'. emight have been taken for
a. well-to-do poet, or student, but for a certain
indefinablc something in his face suggestive of
an iron will and lynx-like obserVation as the
characteristics of the inner man. And just in
the same way, his slight-built but perfectly pro-
portioned frame might be the abode of unex-
pectod athletic vigor and activity.

“ No, sir, she has not,” replied Mr. Grantby.
“ As a matter of confidence between us, the girl
has once‘been detected in a dishonest action.
But she has been forgiven, and is now on trial
again.”

“Ah, thank you!” indifferently. “ Now to
business, Mr. Grantby. My chief has placed
me in posscssion of such factsin connection with
the tragic case in hand as he obtained from your
messenger of this morning, and I am now at
your service.”

“Wait, if you please," said the banker. “ I
beg of you, Mr. Magnus, to first satisfy a flout-
ing curiosity of mine which you yourself are re-
sponsible for.” '

“\Vith pleasure, sir.”

“ “'hat promptel you, pray, to divine what
I h:ch hinted as to that young woman’s failing?
—for I am satisfied, that she is sincerely peni—
tcnt now. Or,” observing the other deliberate,
“perhaps you have seen or known of her be—
fore.”

“ Oh, no, never before, sir,” replied Mr. Mag-
nus, modestly. “You see, the young.r woman
chanced to touch me, or permit me to touch her,
in passing, and—I sort of felt it. That was
all.”

The banker’s interest was visibly increased.

“ Ah, now I recall a former acquaintance
with your name and services,” he said. “ You
furnished some extraordinary revelations in the
great forgery and emlwzzlement case of a few
veurs ago, and were frequently in request as
MagnUs‘, the Touch Detective?"

The visitor simplv bowed his acquiescence,
and then said, abruptly:

“ Let us proceed to business, sir, if you please.
In addition to the outlines of the case, which my
Chicf has imparted to me, I would like to
question you as to certain particulars.”

“Proceed. But in the first place, can I offer
you a glass of wine and a cigar?”

“ Neither, thank you. You are quite satisfied
that the young man who was found dead by the
bank safe was also the robber?”

“ Satisficdl I‘Vhy, he was dead before the
massive doors, whose combination lock he had
opened-his valise and even his pockets were
already packed with the stolen cash. It was
self-evident.”

“We shall see about that.
the alarm l”

“Our cashier, Mr. Bartlow, who chanced to
first enter the bank this morning at an early

Who first gave

our.

“Mr. Bartlow, the cashier, eh? An impor-
tant officer in your bank, I suppose?"

“ Next in importance to my own function, as
president of the concern, certainly.”

“And is it this gentleman’s custom to first
enter the bank in the morning at an early
hour?”

“Hardly, as a matter of course. He was tak-
ing his constitutional stroll before breakfast
when he noticed a gas-jet still burning in the
vault room, and that a side window giving in-
gress thereto had been forced—was, in fact, wide
open. Sohe clambered through it, and made
the astounding discovery. Mr. Bartlow, sir,”
impressively, “is a gentleman of the highest
character, possessing my utmost confidence.”

“Oh, doubtless, doubtless. Still, sir,I shall
assume the privilege of asking such questions as
I choose.”

“ Right, very right. Proceed, then, Mr.
Magnus.”

Before. however, the next question could be
asked, the girl, Norah, hurriedly re-entcred the
room, without knocking.

“ Sir,” she said to her master, with suppressed
excitement, “ Madame Renaud wishes me to
say that the young missus has swownded again,
and the doctor’s been sent for.” r

 

CHAPTER II.
A a n MAN’S HOUSEHOLD.

MR. GRANT; hastily excused himself, and
with an agitation that he made no attempt to
conceal, he hurried from the room with the
servant.

The detective, who was already forming his
thoughts as to these matters, quietly took in his
immediate surroundings with the swift, ana-
lytical observance that had become his second
nature, as you might say.

The library, furnished with heavy black-walnut

furniture, upholstered with dark red morocco,

and gothic, richly carved book-cases, was a pic-
ture of the solid and tasteful comfort which is
the product of wealth slewly acquired and

 

through the state] hall, the entire interior of
the spacious, doub 9 house was doubtless sim-
ilarly characterized by costly and substantial
contentedness, without the slightest suggestion
of ostentation or even sumptuousness in the out-
lay. And upon a preaching the house he h‘ad
been prepossessed )y its plain but tasteful exte-
rior, and the old -fashioned beauty of the large,
well-kept grounds.

“ Elegance without display —1uxnry with com-
mon sense—a house of contentment and plenty,
happiness and congenial tastes—or should be,”
was the detective’s mental comment. “ How I
should enjoy such a home as this, if even on a
fur grander scale! Who can this Madame Re-
naud be? Perhaps the housekeeper, since I un-
derstand the banker is a widower.”

Here the door opened; there was the accom-
panying rustle of a woman’s garments, and, as
he rightly divined, the subject of his concluding
meditations was before him.

A stately and attractive woman, still on the
right side of forty apparently, a blonde, and on
a very liberal scale, the new~comer was further-
more attractively dressed, though with n mat-
ronly suggestiveness that would have indicated
her housekeepcr’s position, even without the
bunch of keys that depended from her girdle in a
business-like way.

“1 hope monsieur will not be impatient,” she
said, in a very musical Voice, and with a slightly
foreign accent. “ Mr. Grantby sent me to say
that he will rejoin you almost immediately."

Carolus Magnus, the Touch Detective, had
taken instant stock of the woman in his silent,
imperceptible \\ ay, and to the following effect:
“Madame Remind. housekeeper; no one’s fool,
if not a deep and far- sighted schemer; her for-
eign accent altogether assumed; and more than
likely altogether other than she seems. It I can
only succeed in touching her.” ' .

“ Never mind me, nia’m,” was his audible
response, and with an engaging smile flickering
out of the gentle melancholy of his face. “ I
am wholly at Mr. Grantby’s service and can
await his convenience. But I do trust, ma’m,”
with quiet concern, “ that it was nothing very
serious that summoned him away so suddenly.”

The woman had seated herself by a little table
facing him, and deigned to appear somewhat
prepossessed, though she had at first examined
him with a criticalness which, however guarded
or feminine, did not escape his attention.

“ It was nothing serious at all,” she replied,
composedly. “ Young ladies are apt to faint
nowadays when excited or distressed—that is,
some of them are.”

“ It was Mr. Grantby’s daughter, ma’m, who
had fainted, then?” with increased concern.

“Yes. You are the New York detective Mr.
Grantby sent for, I presumel"

“ The same.”

“Little good you can do in this dreadful af-
fair, I opine.” And then, whether by design or
not,the comely housekeeper gradually waxed con-
fidential and communicative. “ But why should
it come into our household with its unpleasant
grisliness?” she said, somewhat impatiently. “All
the money will be recovered, and, apart frOm
that,the tragedy is wholly a Maycourt,altogether
an outside, affair. True, Miss Grace and the un-
happy young man were at one time very inti-
mate, perhaps in love with one another. But
that was understood to be over and done.
And if she had not exactly accepted as yet
the attentions of Mr. Bartlow, the cashier—a
superior and most magnificent gentleman—why,
at all events, this intense concern over the

oung man’s fate is Searcer proper, at least not
in the best taste, in a young lady of Miss Grant-
by’s social position and the strength of charac-
ter she has heretofore been credited with. Ah,”
regretfully, “ we manage better in Paris. But,
dear me, monsieur,” with a nervous little laugh,
“ what will you think of me, in my inferior po-
sition, being thus confidential and loquacious
with you, a perfect stranger? It is too badl I
must be more discreet. But then, candor com-
pels me to say that Mr. (irantby is somewhat
responsible for his daughter’s weakness—to ex‘
press it mildly—by the example he sets for her.
True, he liked the young fellow, and would
doubtless have willingly been the making of
him, if not defeated in the intention by the
hypocritical ingrate’s innate depmV‘tyi.” 1"
lustrated by this horrible affair. Bu}: lsfibat
any reason for his suddenly renewed kindliness
for the bereaved widow, whom he is said to have
have scarcely more than bowed  811108 flhe
jilted him, or he jilted her. m their early life?
Far more likely the latter, for just where her
vaunted remains of good-looks are to be found is
more than I could ever discowr, or any one else,
I fanc , But, pesfe.’ there I am running on
nguiul’ And Madame Renaud closed her hand-
some mouth with a sort of self-dismphning snap,
while looking somewhat flustered and smoothing
down her black silk apron. I

She had, nevertheless, been secretly observmg
the effect of her words on her auditor With the
keeuest interest, as he was perfectly well aware.
and doubtless with equal disappointment at the
seeming indifference with which they had been
received.

“ Oh, don't mention it, ma’m,” replied the de-

 

l
l
I

 

"pl‘xvi. _

Magnus, the Weird Detective.

3

 

 

r

tective, a little wearily.
its little history, I suppose.”

And then, as she chanced to brush amagazine
oil? the table. at which she was sitting, he politely
picked it up for her, and in domg so managed to
touch her shapely white hand with his own.

He controlled a slight start, which seemed
more or less instinctive or irresistible under cer-
‘tain of the ‘ touch’ conditions, gave her a swift,
'hard glance, which was, h0wever, unperceived,
and then quietly resumed his seat.

“Yet another,” said the odd expert to him-
self; “and a dangerous one at that! I won-
der how many of them I am destined to be
warned against in the ‘ case.”

Then the door opened, and Mr. Grantby ap-
peared, looking both disturbed and vexed.

Immediately behind him, attired for the
street, and leaning on the arm of an elderly,
professional-looking gentleman, doubtless the
family physician, stood a tall, graceful young
lady, of a singularly noble and characteristic
brunette type of beauty. She was just now
haggard and pale, however, though with a
strong, resolved look in her suffering eyes and
fine dark features.

The banker signed the detective to keep his
seat, and hastily approached his housekeeper,
who had instantly risep and turned, apparently
in unaffected surprise.

“ Grace insists on going to the Maycourts’,”
he said, in a low voice, which was just audible
to Magnus, sitting but a step or two apart,
“and Doctor Beecliam thinks it best not to
thwart her further. I wish you would accom-
pany them, Madame Renaud; and pray cut the
visit as short as possible.”

Madame Renaud bowed respectfully. and at
once,without a word, joined the young lady
and the physician at the door, which was forth-
with closci'l behind them.

The brief glimpse which the (letcctlve had
caught of that nohly beautiful and suffering
youthful face had been enough.

“And this,” he muttered to himself, “is the
young woman in whose heart they would un—
dertake to displace the image of her love for an
unwelcome suitor. They are fools."

The banker dropped rather we-irily into a
chair, but when he heard the front door open
and close, he looked up with a thorough resump-
tion of his composure.

“Now, my dear sir,” said he, in his business-
like way, “ if you can pardon my having quitted
vou so abruptly, though unavoidably, we will
, Iroceed where we left off.”

CHAPTER III.
STRICKEN HEARTS.

“THE interruption was nothing,” replied
Magnus, in the quiet, gentle way that seemed
most natural to him. “ I was abouttoask you,
when you were compelled to excuse yourself so
summarily, if the character and reputation of
the young man, Randall Maycourt, were he-
jond suspicion up to this lamentable discovery?”

“ Absolutely so!” exclaimed Mr. Grantby,
energetically. “ That is the wonder, the chief
misery of it!” he struck the arm of his chair
smartly with his open hand. “ His habits were
irreproachable, that I know—a model and af-
fectionate son no less than a chivalrous brother
to those dependent upon him, and now stricken
to the dust by this terrible exposure and tragedy
combined. And as for his probity, 'I would

 

. have indorsed it at any time with every dollar

I possess.”

“So! He was the chief bookkeeper in your
banking-house, I believe?” .

“ Yes; and my most trusted subordinate—

rliaps with the single exception of Mr. Bart-

OW, our gcashier,” this hastily, and as if by a
sudden afterthought. “ An invaluable young
man. sir, an exceptional young man—«until this
appalling exposure -—Could also perform either
of the tellers’ duties on occasion, and With
Signal ability. Ah; that is the misery of it, the
amazement of itl”

“ Quite unaccountable!”

“ Quites Sir. quite! Unaccountable? It is
simply amazing!’

“ A combination lock, you my?”

“ One of the latest patents.”

“And he was all along acquainted with the
Secret of the combination !”

“ Yes; it was known to but twoo thers besides
Inyself‘to Randall Maycourt and to Mr. Bart.
' ow.”

“ Still there must have been a key ?”

“ But one legitimate one, and that scarcely
out of my individual custody, with my
knowledge, for twenty minutes at a time—say
in opening the money vault in the morning and
closing it at night.”

“ And yet there was a duplicate?”

“Yes, the imitation key found on the robber’s
-—thc body of the misguided young man.”

“ How Could the imitation have been 88-
cured?”

. “ Doubtlcss from a wax impression surrep-
titiously obtained from the originalione in my
possession.” The banker mechanically produced
thatey, and held it in his hand. “ I can think
of no other way.”

“That was most prob bly the way. Soyou feel
morally sure that the lyloung man was engaged

 

“ Every family has . in robbing the vault at the time of being over-

taken by the Destroyer?”

“Good heavens!” in genuine surprise; “h0w
can I, or any one else With common sense, think
otherwise?”

“ Well,” composedly, “ perhaps those with
uncommon sense might admit the possibility of
a doubt.”

“But bless me, sir, you astonish me—you a
professional, too!”

‘6  I?”

“ Indeed, you do!" earnestly. “ Why, under
the circumstances, what loophole of escape is
there from a 'ma facie conclusion as to the
young man’s guild—nailed by death red-handed
to his own uninaski‘ng, as you might say!”

“ Well, he might have been on the watch and
detected another, for instance, and on death
suddenly overcoming him—heart disease may
result in death almost at any instant and with-
out warning, as you must know, presuming
such to have been the cause in this case-have
been thus utilized by the real and detected
criminal, as it were, for a secure cover of his
own guilt.”

“I never thought of that before,” admitted
the banker, slowly. “Still, isn’t such a hypo-
thesis Very far-fetched?”

“Yes; but not impossible, or even improba-
ble, for that matter.”

“Another criminal, in your supposed case,
would have thus been compelled to depart
empty-handed. No cash had been abstracted
save what was recovered from the person and
vulise of the dead body.”

“ But, in thus throwing his intendcrl guilt up-
on an innocent man beyond the [)chr of ever
speaking up in his own behalf, the real criminal
would thus havea freer field for his unsuspected
future designs in the same direction."

” Humph! Your ordinary safebreaker is not
apt torclinquish a present bird in hand fora
future bird in a very uncertain bush.”

“ In this supposition, it would have been no
ordinary, but, a decidedly extraordinary, safe-
breaker. Besides, he might have gratified a re-
venge, or a personal end, in addition, by hope-
lessly blackening the character of his forever-
speei'hless victim.”

“Good heavens! but this would argue him——
your suppostitious burglar—as one of young

Iaycourt’s business associates in the bank.”
“ Y-e-s,” slowly. “ In the bank, or elsewhere,
or both.”

“ But there is no remaining man in the bank
employment upon whom such a suspicion could
possibly fasten.”

‘i‘ None?”

“ Not one whatever I” And Mr. Grantby
slapped the arm of his chair energetically, as he
had done more than once before.

" Yet the dead clerk was equally beyond sus-
picion, as you are even eager to acknowledge.”

“But there is the subsequent exposure—the
indisputable evidence.”

“ No evidence—or rather testimony—is indis-

putable until proved as such, especially as '

against the voiceless dead."

“ Oh, come now!” impatiently. “ Who is there
that could have played such a trick upon the
dead youth?”

The detective looked at the banker with a
stead fast gaze in his melancholy eyes.

“ I don’t know,” he responded. “ You should
be better able to answer that question than I.”

“Perhaps—like enough. But, look here: what
revenge or personal end could have been wrought
at the same time, as you suggest?”

“ You ought also to know that better than I.
Had Randall Maycourt no enemy nor ill-
wisher?”

“ Not one. that I am aware of.”

“ Nor rival—say in love?”

The banker changed countenance.

“Perhaps so—how should I know?” he man-
aged to reply, with increased impatience. “ Look
here, Mrs. Magnus, all this hair-splitting seems
to me but a waste of breath and time. You
must agree with me that, on the face of it, there
can be no doubt of the unhappy young man’s
being stricken down in the commission of his
crime.”

“ On the faco of it, true. W'ell. say that I am
agreed. then. All the abstracted cash was re-
covered, I believe?”

“ Every dollar of it.”

“ What can you want with me, then, Mr.
Grantby '5”

The latter at once resumed his business-like
air and manner.

“United States bonds on deposit with us to a
large amount—twenty thousand dollars—are to-
day found to be missing, and may have been ab-
stracted days Or even Weeks ago. It is suggested
that they may be somewhere concealed in Mrs.
Maycourt’s cottage, as the fruits of'a prior
crime on the part of her son.”

“ Suggested by Mr. Bartlow, your cashier, I
presume?”

“ Yes,” in surprise.
kn0w that?”

“ Never mind—a mere guess, perhaps.”

“ Ah,” the banker smiled, “ I suppose ,I must
be prepared for even shrewder and more in-
tuitive divination on the part of so unidue a
pnofessional as the ‘ Touch Detective.’ "

“ How did you chance to

 g /

 

“ As you choose, sir,” graVely. “ As I under-
stand it, then, your relations with the unfor-
tunate young man’s family remain altogether
friendly?”

“More than that, sir!” emphatically. “The
widowed mother is—is—” checking his eagerness
—“ a refined and worthy lady whom I have
known long and most. favorably; ihe sister a
lovely and particularly fine young lady, my
daughter’s most intimate friend. I sympathize
with them from the very bottom of my heart.”

“ I think I understand. You would have me
discover if your Siispicions are correct as to the
concealment of the missing bonds on their prem-
ises, without further distressing the ladies with
a knpwledge that you entertain such suspicions
at al ?'

“ Exactly; or nearly so, for 1 fear that they
may already have guessed something of the
sort. But you might, with your experience, de-
vise means l'or prosecuting the search without
their knowing it. Even after the funeral would
do, for that matter.”

“ When is that to be?”

“ Probably the day after to-morrow. I have
already communicated with an undertaker on
my cwn responsibility.”

” Will there be an inquest ?”

“ It took place this morning—solely into the
manner of death, as a matter of course; I have
contrived to keep the associate attempt at rob-
bery comparatively quiet thus far.”

“ That was very considerate in you, sir, per-
mit me to say. What was the finding of the
coroner’s jury?”

“ Heart disease.”

The defective briskly rose.

“ I shall ask you to take me to the Maycourt
cottage now, sir,” he said. “ And, if con-
venient, I would like to make myself familiar
with the actual scene of the tragedy in the bank
before proceeding thither."

“ Good!” And seeming greatly satisfied with
the other’s promptitude of manner and action,
Mr. Grantby also rose. “ We shall go at once.
1n the mean time I have given orders for your
accommodatiop here in my house, and wish you
to consider yourself as m privileged guest
while you remain in Mount ernon.”

“ Thank you, sir: Ishall do so with pleasure.”

After a brief visit to the interior of the bank
they reached the Mayconrt cottage, which occu-
pied a pretty little garden site at but ashort
distance from the bunk president's fine resi-
dence, and were forthwith admitted into the
room in which the body was already laid out in
the habih'ments or the grave, for the undertaki r
had already made his initial visit.

Seated at the foot of the couch on which the
body lay, their faces profoundly, piteously ex-
pressive of bitter heart—anguish and speechless
woe, were the mother and sister of the dead
man. The first a ony of sobs and tears and
lamentations was past, giving place to the
dumb succeeding misery and desolateness, which
are perhaps even more heart- reading to witness.

Their heads were for the most part bowed,
their bosoms silently convulsed.

The pure blonde beauty of Miss Maycourt's
face at once impressed the detective profoundly,
in spite of its careworn haggardness and grief-
stricken air. Bending at her side, sympa-
thetically, sat Miss Grantby, the banker’s daugh-
ter, her arm thr0wn protectineg around the
graceful, bowed form, her dark beauty forming
a strong contrast to that of her friend, her face
expresswe of scarcely less misery and‘ emotion
as her eyes rested on the composed, sheeted
fi re resting on the couch.

ggut the first frenzy of the widowed mother’s
grief—a most refined appearing woman of mid-
dle age she, of a noble order of comeliness, singu-
larly well preserved—was not yet wholly sub-
sided.

“ Randall!” I she occasionally murmured,
through her dry. piteous sobs. ” Randall!
This, this, after all these years? Oh, my son,
my soul”

 

CHAPTER IV.
THE BANK CASHIER.

As the banker and his companion unobtru-
sivelv entered, however, two others, besides
this grief-stricken trio, were observed as being
present.

One was the physician, Dr. Beet-ham, who had
escorted Miss Grantby to the place.

The other was a tall, splendidly-appearing,
magnificently, even colossally proportioned
florid man, of thirty-eight or forty, who~e hand-
some fnce wore a secret air of annoyance over
the lugubrious affair, in spite of its external look
of deep concern.

“ Is that large gentleman Mr. Bartlow, your
cashier?” whispered Magnus to his corn nion.

The latter inclined his head in the affirmative,
adding in a similar guarded tone: “I hard]
expected finding him here at present, though
might well have done so. Trust big-headed,
whole-souled Catesby Bartlow to be on hand on
an occasion like this, own if poor Randall and
his women-folk never would exactly take to
him, somehow or other. Wait, and I will in-
tromice you—you’ll be glad to know Bartlow.”

“ Like enough, though perhaps not wholly for
the gentleman’s benefit!” was the detective'l

4 .

V Magnus, the Weird Detective.

 

 

mental comment, his solemn eyes still fixed on
the florid cashier, as the latter approached the
remote corner of the spacious room where they
had remained standing, in obedience to a sign
from Mr. Grantby. “So it seems that the un-
fortunate youth, even if leaving no enemy be-
hind him, as our bank president declared, was
not without his secret antipathies.”

The introduction was according! made in
whispered tones, the cashier’s face fighting up
with an expression of eager satisfaction as be
extended his hand.

“This is, indeed a pleasure." he murmured.
“ And I haven’t a doubt that Mr. M nus, with
his re utation for penetration, wil speedily
throw ight on what is still so mysterious in
this— But, my dear sir, what can be the mat-
ter?” in unaffected surprise.

The detective had suddenly withdrawn his
hand from the other’s clas , and was very pale,
with a pained, startled 100E in his weird 9 es.

“Don’t mention it, I beg, sir,” he quic 1y re:

plied, smiling, and instantly recovering his
composure. ‘A temporarily disabled finger—
that was all. Ah, yes, as you suggest: I really
hope to be of some service in the case.”

nd then, as a few commonplaces were ex-
changed, Mr. Bartlow seemed to forget the little
incident altogether.

Here there was a fresh outburst on the part of
the widow, and Mr. Grantby felt impelled to ad-
vance to where the body lay.

“ Madeleine—Mrs. Maycourt—my friend i” he
said, laying his hand gently on the disconsolate
woman’s shoulder; “ it can’t be helped now.
Summon up your resolution—try to bear it
more brave y.

“ My God, Isaac, but I cannot!" wailed the
widow. “ Oh, wh has he thus stricken my
mother’s heart! ndall, my true, my noble
boy, dead, and with this cruel, this false ac—
cusation hangin over his name, his honor, and
he incapable o vindicating himself, his lips
mute in death!" Then there was a passionate
outburst of tears.

The commiseratiou that remained in Mr.
Grantby‘s face was now mixed with a sterner
expression, as his eyes wandered somewhat re-
sentfully to the inanimate figure on the couch,
with its covered face and sheeted contour.

Herc two other men silently entered the room
and stood respectful! , observantly apart.

They were, as the ew York detective speed-
ily learned, Mr. Harker the lawyer to the bank,
an? Captain Vanderhoof, the chief of the local

ice.

Then, addressing himself to the hysician. Mr.
Grantby spoke, his voice dry, co (1 and hard, as
if by a forced effort.

“ You were present at the inquest, Dr.
Beecham,” he said. “ Did its result agree with
your private opinion as to the cause of this
wretch—this unfortunate young man‘s death?”

The physician assumed a “superior look, and
gave a ittle professional cough behind his hand.

“ Save On immaterial te:hnical points, yes,
without a doubt,” he replied.

While the sobs of the mother continued in a
muffled way, the banker again gazed on the mo
tionless figure of his whilom clerk in a curious,
doubtful manner.

It was a suggested feeling that was reflected
by others present. For, in spite of the apparent-
ly self<evident fact—the inotionlessness and rigid-
ity of the sheeted form, the distressing environ-
ments—it seemed that the ghastly sense or
actuality of death was somehow wanting or in-
complete. Even the detective, though a perfect
stranger there, experienced this dim sense, and

rhaps more pronouncedly than any one else,

y reason of his intense sensitiveness to emana-
tions and impressions.

“ Of course,” continued the banker, again
turning With his strange look to the physician,
“ I suppose there can be no do t, no sort of
doubt, as to the unfortunate young man being
really dead ?”

“ f course not!” Dr. Beecham was essential-
ly corporeal, or at least not one of the impres-
tginal, sort. “ Why, theinquest has passed upon

at.

“ But I have much confidence in you, person-
ally and profeaionally, doctor. That fact you
would also certify to, as the coroner’s jury have
done, w1thout_any autopsy whatever?”

The physiolan—a rotund man, with a big
head, a confident bearing and a high profes-
sional reputation in the populous community—
looked yet more surprised.

“ Randall . Maycourt is certainly dead,” he
said, sententiously, and yet with a lowered voice
as out of respect for the women’s feelings, “ an
his funeral is already arranged, as you must
know. He died from valvular disease of the
heart, complicated by an associate cerebral af-
fection. I was his family physician, as you are
aware. It wasa disease of w ose resence I had
long since warned him. Doubt ess his death
was accelerated at the last by some sudden and
violent nervous shock.” He added significantly,
though in a still more subdued voice: “ A sud-
den fright, or alarm, even if imaginary or
causeless, would have been enough.”

Here Magnus, the detective, noiselessly
almost unheededl , crossed the floor, and stood
near the head of e shrouded form, whence, his

 

own face being comparatively in the shadow, he
could see and note the expression of the cashier’s
features across the interval.

In spite of his accustomed self-control, the
contact of Bartlow’s hand clasp, in the touch-
test, had given him a thrill of warning so malig-
nant and so painful that he had dissembled its
effects only with the utmost exertion of his
strong will.

“ God’s will be done 1” continued Mr. Grantby,
with strong emotion. “ Lament as we may the
loss of our young friend and associate as we
formerly knew and believed in him—honest,
gallant and brave—let us, nevertheless, be not
unthankfu! that His providence saw fit to
efface him from existence before his criminal
attempt could be fullfilled, with all the misery
that it Would have entailed.”

CHAPTER V.
A SYMPATHETIC DETECTIVE.

THE bank president’s words, at such a time
and place, were both unfortunate and fortunate,
in that they could not but wound, however un-
intentionally, the alread overburdened sensi—
bilities of the stricken re atives of the dead and
yet precipitated the proposed secret search for
the missing bonds out of obscurity into the cold,
matter-of-fact light of day.

Here Mrs. Maycourt, who had thus far been
so broken-spirited and prostrated, looked up
with a sudden fierceness of resolution and ener y
that was an astonishment, no less than a reve -
tion, to every one.

“ Sir—Isaac Grantby !” she exclaimed, proudl ,
untremulously, and with a voice that fair y
rung through the room! “ whatever you, or
whatever that—that man," she pointed sternly
and Witheringly to Catesby Bartlow, the cashier
“ ma say or think, and however appearances
may ave witnessed against him, I shall never,
never believe that my dear son was a thief, even
in the remotest intention or temptation! Have
I not known him as only a mother can know
her child? I solemnly declare, I call Heaven as
my witness, that Randall Ma court was a true
man, a loving son, a. scrupu ously honorable,
God-fearing Christian to the end !”

She had risen, erect and firm, while speaking.
Now her daughter and Miss Grantby, as if
stimulated by her example, also rose, one on each
side of her, an arm of each gently encircling her
form, their lovely faces and eyes reflecting the
proud light, the vindicatin spirit for the
speechless dead, that seem to have trans-
figured an image of weakness and desolateness
into something heroic and grand.

Here there was a slight rustling sound apart,
and the keen-eyed but seemingly self-effacing
Touch Detective, upon whom not an iota or a.
suggestion of the strange scene was lost, glanced
to one of the deep-set, voluminous] curtained
window-spaces directly opposite to w ere he was
standing.

He had temporarily forgotten that Madame
Renaud, and the banker’s housekeeper, had ac-
companied Miss Grantby and the medical man
to the cottage.

There she now was, abru tly disclosed, erect
in the window-space, and su dcnly so interested-
ly observant of the aiuful scene that was pass-
ing, and especially, t would seem, of the effect of
the widow’s words and action upon Mr. Grantby,
as to be heedless of aught else.

No one except the detective particularly noted
the woman‘s presence now, ( r perhaps, which
was more probable, all but he had been already
indifferently aware of it.

Mrs. Maycourt’s defiant bitterness seemed to
rise rather than subside with the occasion, as if
stimulated and emboldened by the words which
had already been wrung from her.

“ Oh, you needn’t mind my feelings nor my
daughter’s, Isaac Grantby—you deedn’t further
disguise the motive of your present visit here,
together with these heartless or hypocritical
men l” she continued, with renewed vehemence.
“I have got wind of what you further suspect—
its whisper penetrated even through my misery
and heart-brea k—and I divined at a glance that
the oung man who entered with you was a de-
tect ve-officer. Little good may it do you, how-
ever, when there is nothing more to discover!
Cheating appearances, falsely incriminating cir-
cumstances—contrived by deadly and hateful
conspiracy for aught i know to the contrary,”
wild y and with a fleeting resentful glance ap-
parently for Mr. Bartlow’s special benefit, “ have
wrought their worst on the life and reputation
of my victimized son, who lies dead before you !”
She closed with a sob, which was, nevertheless,
heroically forced back.

The cashier’s face assumed a look of profound
amazement, and then, slightly elevating his
brows, he merely bowed his head.

As for Mr. Grantby, after a genuinely depre-
cating gesture, he seemed to steel his heart
afresh, as if more or less resenting what be con-
sidered the injustice or unreasonableness of the
widow’s ssionate implications.

" Wil words, ma‘m, wild words!” he replied,
with a cold sort of gentleness. “ But your suf-
ferings are naturall poignant; it is not strange,
pelif‘iipps, that you s ould somewhat forget your»

so .
Both the widow’s daughter and Miss Grantby

 

sought to draw her back into her seat, though
evidently sympathizing to the utmost in her
emotion, if not in the validity of her hinted
charges, but she was not quite ready to be re—
pressed as yet.

“ I do not forget myself, sir,” she cried,
“ when I speak the truth, the promptings of nw
mother’s heart! There belies, the victim of as
base and cunnin a plot as ever did manly truth
and honor to ruin and death. I would swear in
it before the Most High! Make no secret of
your proposed search for the missing property
that you pretend to believe to be concealed on
these premises—hypocrites!” with a des rately
disdainful glance, that included the ban er him-
self, the friend of her outh, no less than the
cashier. “ Oh,” raising er arms over the couch
with a despairing wail, “ my son, my son!”

She made a movement as if to throw herself
upon the inanimate form, but controlled herself
by an exceptional effort of the mind and will.

Then she quietly submitted to being reseated,
the hard, defiant look. h0wever, deepening in.
her grief-stricken, tear-stained face.

“ This is too much,” exclaimed Mr. Grantby,
himself losing patience at last. “Madeleine—
madam—you are cruelly unjust. I had to the
full as much confidence in your unhappy son as
you yourself could have had.”

Mrs. Maycourt managed to smile—a terribly
piteous and ghastly smile, to be sure, but with a
taunting disbelief in it that did not fail to harden
or exas rate him yet more.

" So is it, then,” he said. “If the entire mis—
erable affair must be informally reviewed
again, in justification of Mr. Bartlow and my-
self, before these persons, who are as yet igno—
rant or but superficially aware of the facts, you
have but ourself and your injurious words to
re roach or it, ma’m.”

is daughter made a gesture. '

“ Father," she murmured, appealingly, “ not
now again, please!"

“ Grace, my dear, I request your silence.
You are only here as against my advice,‘ please
to remember.”

Then the banker turned to the cashier in his
most remptory, business-like manner. ‘

“ r. Bartlow,” he said, “ pray repeat your
story of the astounding discovery as made by
you soon after daybreak this morning.”

Mr. Bartlow cast a sort of deprecating glance
in the direction of Miss Grantby, as it seemed to
the detective, and then still hesitated a little, as.
was perhaps but natural, before recounting his
stor in obedience to this injunction.

Mignus was yet standing, unheededly, close to
the head of the bed, and now, during the brief
expectant interest incidental to this momentary
hesitation on the part of the cashier, he gently
raised the sheet, and placed his hand against the
forehead concealed b it.

The touch-test again! not upon the living, but
on the dead! :

No matter. As he swiftly withdrew his hand,
and witha far different sort of thrill than he
had yet felt in that day’s experience, a. tinge of
color came into his pale cheeks, combined with
a startled look of wonder, perhaps of joy, in his
dark eyes.

As he looked cautiously around to see, if his
action had been perceived, he saw both Grace
Grantby and Ada Maycourt regarding him
curious y—thc latter, in addition, with a look of
yearning interest and solicitude, or might it be 8
suddenly conceived trustfulness in her beautiful
blue eyes that somehow set his heart to beating
with a sensation altogether new to him.

He cast down his own eyes and waited pa-
tiently, while thinking many new, strange
thoughts.

Mr. Bartlow still hesitated.

“ It is a simple enough story,” he said, look-
ing at the banker pleadingly, it seemed, “ and I
have already made it known. You deem it ab-
solutely necessary, sir, that I should repeat it?”

“ Yes,” re lied Mr. Grantby, with forced
harshness “ wish it. Especially,” he looked
at the widow, With a flashing return of his first
commiseratiou for her, “as there does not seem
to be any objection offered.”

Mrs. Maycourt steadied her attitude and
voice, while Madame Renaud leaned forward to
regard her with a hard look that struck the de-
tective as something even more significantly
malignant than a frown. .

“There is none whatever on my part,” said
Mrs. Maycourt, resignedly.

 

CHAPTER VI.
MAKING FRIENDS.

Tans prompted and urged, Mr. Bartlow, the
magnificent-appearing cashier of the Mount
Kernon Bat k, accordingly began the repetition
of his tale.

“I had retired rather late last night,” he
said, “ after .nding a rather agreeable evenin
at Father Ba! ’8.” [Father Ball was the jOVilfi
Episcopal clergyman of the town, ver high
church, a rich and childless widower, w c was
more than suspected of a taste for whist, ood-
living, and hours somewhat uncanoaical.) ‘ But,
nevertheless, I arose at my usual hour, a little
before broad day, and set out for my constitu—
tional before-breakfast stroll.

 

 

 

,V.,. ,..*  Ln..-
'-\. 3.“.
J

     

,,   >4
in). .i-wa'» .' a :' 

37"“ «a  i" Y ». if: . ."r. «“H 5'7.» . 7‘ , v‘ i

   ,  , ‘ ¥ ‘  Magnus,  Weird Detective.

 

 

“ When returning home, and on passing the
bank—by the merest chance, it would seem,
'though have since thought that there might
have been something fatalistic in the coincidence
~—I noticed that there seemed to be a light in the
office in which the safe is located. The window
at that side, as you know,” he turned to Mr.
Grantby, who gravel nodded, “is but a few
feet from the groun . In fact, I have more
than once pointed out how easy it would be fora
robber to effect an entrance in that way.”

“True. true!” interposed Mr. Grantby, nod-
ding again. “I know you have.”

The casliivr went on:

“To my surprise, I found the window un-
latched. i opened it. Whoever was within
was too much absorbed in his occupation to
notice what 1 did.

“ I looked through the open window, and saw
that some one was in the inner office, but who it
was I could 0t at first perceive. Using the
utmost preca ion against causing an alarm, I
climbed through the window and Went in.

“ For the instant, the disclosure that I made
all but took my breath away. I would almost
as soon have expectod to find myself in such an
incriminating position as the man before me. A
man was riiling the money-vault. Directly I
entered he looked up; it was Randall Maycourt.
When he saw me, he turned ashen pale, stag-
gering back and pressing his hand whis breast,
Without :1 sound. Then he gave the most awful,
the most terror-stricken scream I think I ever
heard, and fell down-deadl”

The narrator’s voice trembled, and, taking
out his handkerchief, he wiped his brow and
face, which had become slightly pallid, but per-
spiring.

“ Just so soon as I could recover my presence
of mind,” he then resumed, “ I rushed back to

'\ the window andcalled for help. I had felt in-
stinctively that the young man was dead, even
withOut venturing to examine his form where it
had fallen.

 , .V “A constable who heard came in response to

‘  my cries. Together we examjned the room.

' That is all I have to saw-in fact, Ipositively

"ref use to say more.” Mr. Bartlow wiped his

forehead again. “I only wish from the depths
 of my heart,” with a deeply cominiseruting look

' '7 at Mrs. Maycourt, which, however. struck the\

detective as being assumed, “ that I had not to
.sav so much.”

' The brief recital had been listened to in pro-
found silence and with the most intense in-
iterest.

“But there is more that must besaid,"oh-
served Mr. Grantby, determiiiedly. “lo the
grate were found the half consumed fragments

V of the cash accounts, which, if they had been
asuffeseVd to continue in existence, Would inevita-
bly h e betrayed the crime, even if the crim-
inal had lived to otherwise cover up his tracks
successfully. .The safe was wide open. The
duplicate or imitation key (whose original is

 i , scarcely ever out of m personalcustodyl with

' ’which the combination ock had been mastered,

was found sticking in the lock. The cash con-
tents of th Vault had been abstracted ' part.

.A valise an the dead man’s pockets wex found

"to be literally stuffed with greenbacks, to the
.‘ ' value of Over ten thousand dollars. his desk
, ,,_ was found a bag containing twenty-fl e hundred

\ dollars in gold. All this, as a meter of course,

was recovpred on the spot. 4,

“But United States bonds, on deposit for
"safe-keeping, to the amount of twenty-thousand
~-dollars, are found to e gone. They may have

missing days or weeks previously, and un-

. doubtedly, since not found together ’With the
'-stolen cash, they must have been purloined by

$119 Wrgtcheq young man upon some prior occa-

 

 

'°ailiil'bl ' posed

‘ ,ythat on man at all,” infer a

-:calm.soft voice.y n“

All looked at gmgnus, the detective, from
/Wb0m the Wild. had roceeded; but he merely
inclined his head.“ . With no change in his
’mOdest, unassuming demeanor, did not seem to
look anywhere in particular-awhile losing sight
- «of nothing. v

' To his secret gratification.. Ade Mayconrt
threw him a glance of swift. surmised grateful~
men, while both her mother and r youn lady
friend raised their eyes With a pleased looE. "

_ - Madame “Renaud‘s comely face assumed a yet,
harder look, while Bartlow both started and
from and Mr. Grantby looked far from
agreeably surprised. .

‘ Ah, yes, exactly, Mr. Magnus,” the lattthk

man ed to re ly. “But, surely, you Will
fecurcey deny t at, under the circumstances,

,_ we should naturally look to the one source of

- , criminality for our still missin property?”

“ Naturally, yes—prov'ded t 9 true source of
criminality s discov beyond a shadow of
«ioubtJ Even then it would not ,eertainlll f0]-
.iow. You will excuse my interruption. 1 hope»
W. but I have had too much experience in on-
a availing) the intricacies and motives of crime to
, aural-la ,y. accept hasty evidence; of howevsr
,- mrimap new a characte: in seeming, as conclu-
,‘ selver criminati've. But, ' sir," witha

i , vs at the hand, which the women, at

  

  

 
 

   

  
  
  

 

   
 

Few men, even the' best, like to have their
strong preconceptions upset or antagonized.

The geod president of the Mount Kernon Bank
began to fear that he might not be so well pleased
with his freshly-secured New York detective as
he had at first supposed. ‘

Howevnr, he went on, without more than
moderately betraying his impatience:

“’We have, then, strong reasons for suspect—
ing, and even inferring, that these miSsing bonds
were likewise taken by Randall Mayciiurt and
concealed. Where, we are still to find out, if

ossible; and I regret to inform you, Mad—Mrs.

aycourt, that your supposition was corrwt.
This professional gentleman, Mr. Magnus, is
here in the bank’s service, prepared to search
this house thoroughly to that end.”

“ Sir,” replied Mrs. Maycourt, with the sad
dignity and composure with which she had at
least succeeded in’ supplanl’ing the more pro-
nounced manifestations of her distress, “ you
need make no apology. The gentleman can pro-
ceed forthwith or at his leisure in scan-hing the
house from cellar to garret. He will find noth-
ing, I am most confident, that was not right-
eously my poor son’s own, or What now belongs
to my daughter and myself.”

As the Visitors for the most part began at once
to take' their departure, the banker drew Mag-
Due to one side. .

“It is late in the day, and dinner will be
awaiting us in an hour ” he said, with a com-
plete return to his original geniality. “ You
will not forget, in dear sir, that you are to con-
sider yourself my ease-guest while this business
lasoz.’

“ Thank you kindly, sir,” replied the detective,
“I shall not forget. In the mean time, pray
leave me here briefly to my own devices.”

“ Good!
beginning Without delay.
six. sharp.”

The banker then approached the ladies—now
all joined togetherin a group by the door—fear-
ing that his aughter would demur at even tem-
porarily deserting her friends as yet. But much
to his satisfaction Grace, after kissing both Ada
and her mother undemonstratively, at once took
Madame Renaud’s arm on seeing him approach.

“I am quite ready, papa,” she said. “ But
you must let me run Over here again for a short
\time this evening.”

Her father 'was sufilciently content as it was,
but if he had been a little quicker eyed while ex-
changing words with the detective, he would
have perceived a little episode that might have
somewhat moderated his satisfaction. .

It was that of Mr. Bartlow lingeringly'delay-
ing his departure in the hope of being Miss
Granthy’s escort back to her home. and being
summarily, if not altogether crushingly, dis-
missed by a frowning look of positive dislike and
aversion in the love] dark face, such as was a
decidedly uncomfortable revelation for him,
though, apart from possessing her father’s favor,
he had felt himself none too secure in the young
lady’s good graces theretofore.

A moment later Carolus Magnus was left
alone With Mrs. Maycourt and her daughter.

CHAPTER VII.
MAGNUS Is MORE on LESS HYSTERIOUS.
. Mas. MAYCOURT was the first to sink, her
daughter in the mean time lowering her eyes.
It was easy to see that, now that they were
comparatively alone with their dead once more,
the force of their crushing bereavement was

Remember, dinner at

 

up wi_ what courage and fortitude they might.
‘ “ Sir,” .said the widow, somewhat timidly,

‘ my poor house is at your difimud. Where
and. haw, permit me to ask, woul you prefer to
be in your search?” .

nstead of answering, the detective roused
:imsegflcliut of 13 iievigig into which belseemed to

ave en. an 00 .at her strange .

" Miriam," he said, altogether irreylevantly,
but with the profoundeet earnestness and re-
spect, ‘f I am going to take the great liberty of
preferring a trange request.”

“Request -in 8 man, the young lady also
looking up Minder-inf y. “To me?”

“Yes, ma’m. It 8 this: will you permit me
to look upon the face of the motionless occupant
of yonder couch? To whom else Could I! make
such a request than to the mother of him who
was, I am confident, it dutiful and affectionate
son, a faultless brother and a capital, honest
goodgfellowl”

The haggard faccs of both mother and daugh-
ter flgshed gratefully; and yet, what could it all
mean ‘

Accepting their silence as an assent to his, re-
quest, the detective reverently stepped to the
head of the couch and laid aside the cloth con~
cooling the countenance of its silent occupant.

. hey were handsome and honest-appearing
lineaments, the lineaineuts of, that white. up-
turned face upon which the detective gazed—at
first With. arslight start, whether of recognition
or otherwxse it would be hard tousay, and than
long and earnestly; the face that alumst an
one, at least any one not aware of the deplore!) e
cluslng event of its life-history. Would have. an-

 

   
 
 

 

filial:
. . mg" remarked, to he as white and delicate-
 nflne‘lndy’s.  I ' ._

nounced Mbavin been thsi . rota-minnow
manly DQtUrGQ'lfig g “g?  '  

4.

  

Nothing like making some sort of a

53810 tgathering them under its sable Wing, bear.

      
  
  

Yet the eyes were wide and staring, with a
strained, agonized look into the rigid features,
and as yet there was not the Mintest suggestion
of the expiration of that peaceful, uncorrupting
initial stage.

“The first dark day of nothingness,
The last of danger and (lisiress,
Before decay‘s effacing fingers
Have swept the lines where beauty lingers."

\Vhat a strange sort of man this Mr. Magnus,
the New York detective was! at leastso the two
forlom women could not help thinking.

Having touched the marble forehead lightly
with the back of his hand, he gently reached
down under the cerements and seemed to place
his hand over the heart of the body.

Then, reverently replacing the cloth ovor all,
be advanced to them again with the most un-
decipherable look on his face imaginable, and
not a funereal or lugubrious look, either—that
was about all they could tell of it.

" Have you masculine friends in abundance
and at need?” he asked, very gently. “ If not,
I should like to convenience you by sitting up
with the—the remains over night—that is, after
taking dinner with Mr. Grantby, according to
invitation.”

“ de are very, very good, sir,” replied the
still mystified widow, with another grateful
flush, which was more than reflected by her
daughter, “ but, there is really no_ need. We
have, fortunately, many old and kind friends,
some of them near neighbors. Hark!” there
was a slight noise in the passage without, and
she turned to Ada. “ Doubtless that is Mr.
Johnson and his two sons already at hand, in ac-
cordance with their kind promise.”

Miss Maycourt promptly stepped out the hall,
and quickly returned, with an inclination of her
head.

“ They will wait,” she said, in a low, sad
,voice.

It was the first time Magnus had heard her
voice, and he instantly thought it the sweetest
and gentlest he had ever heard.

‘* 1 shall hardly detain you another minute,”
he said, taking up his hat. ,

“ But you haven’t intimated, sir,” observed
the widow, “ where or how you would begin
your search of the premises.”

But the detective had managed to fall into
another momentary reverie, or fit of abstrac-
tion, out of which he only roused himself to

an :
xI have understood that the funeral is fixed

for day after to-morrow, ma’ml" . »

She signified an affirmative.

“ Pray don’t consider me officious in what I
am about to say,” with sudden and hurried
brn ueness. " You will at least, I hope, accept
my 0 er to conVenience you by watching here
to-morrow night?" {A puzzled nod of assent.
“ Thanks. In the mean time take my advice,
as i am not unfamiliar with such melancholy
matters, The undertaker or his assistants will
come again between now and then, as a matter
of course. Insist—nay, demand that no ice, or
cther preserviitive means, shall be used. This
exceptionally cool summer weather will doubts
less continue, so that there will be no need.
Ladies, I shall now wish you good-evening.
Condolences are rather empty forms, even when
offered with the best and most honest intent.
Still, I can't help sayingmthat I feel for you in,
your bereavement - smiled strangely—
“ deeply, earnestly.”

He was actually going, when Mrs. Maycourt
stop him.

‘ on will not begin your professionalpearoh
of the house until to-morrow, then, I presume?”

“Search?” absent-mindedly, whether real or
assumed. “ What search, ma‘m’!” _

“You seem oddly forgetful, sir.” said the ‘
widow, with a fluttering little smile. :‘Wh ,
for the stolen or missing bonds, which r.
Grantby is so confident—" ‘ '

“Oh! But, bless you, my dear madam. the
banker in a deal of a fool in this respect. I
have not the remotest intention of makin
any search .
strictly between comely-es. Will you allow me?"

He extended his hand somewhat diffldently.  V
pressed it, with ‘i

Mrs. Mayeourt impulsively
suffused eyes and 3 tr: mbling lip. , .

“Sir. may God bless you!” she said, alittle ‘
brokenl . “Your considerateness is no less
gratefn than unexpected ” »

“Don’t mention it,” .indifferently. “I am _ 

called the Touch Detectivo. and I seldom or never '
make any mistakes. You .must trust me, _
madam.”

. * , \
‘ Then as the younger women also placed her

m‘etty band unhesitatingly in his, be slightly};

flushed, looking into "her sweet, though
reddened eyes with. a world of sympathy and
gentleness. j .

With d’ simple, oldotfme courtesy, he raised is
to his lips in making his parting obeisanoe, and
Wes at the door. «

brightly.

' f‘ One more word of advice ” he laid, looking

at them both steadily, [avers
be too unhappy—Hope ,
Then he was gone.

“Don

s

    

 

  
  
  
 
 
 

“What a singulah'young maul” " f 1
' n laymen, for the one moment forgetful _ ‘

     
  

l.-

g

here, though, of course, this x.  

  
      
       
   
     
     
     
     
        
     
     
        
        
        
         
       
     
     
        
       
       
       
 
       
   
       
       
          
      
          
           
   
        
     
     
    
      
    
           
        
      
     
      
       
       
     
   
         
       
       
     
      
        
      
        
 

.4'

    
    
        
     
    
      
        
 
         
        
      
         
      
     
      
     
       
          
      
     
       
       
         
      
      
     
   
       
         
     
      
   
   
 
  

6 Magnus, the Weird Detective.

 

 

the stark figure on the couch. “I can’t make
anything out of him.”

“ Neither can I,” said her mother, with a
slight shiver, as the chill of the dread presence
in tlic semi—darkened room again came over her,
with all its unrelieved woefulness. “ Let us not
keep Mr. Johnson and his sons waiting.”

As lor the detective, he reached the banker’s
house just in time for dinner.

it was an c.\’(:clll‘llt, but not particularly live-
ly repast, Miss Grantby havmg excused herself
from coming down on the antiquated plea of
headache, and Madame Renaud taking her place
at the head of the table, where the banker and
his detective—guest were the only other oceu-

ants.

“ I asked Bartlow to join us,” said Mr. Grant-
by, a. little gruniblingly, while curving the
joint, “thinking it might enliven us up a bit.
But somehow he had fallen into the most unac—
countable surly humor, and could not find it in
his magnificence to accept.”

Mr. Magnus smiled gently.

He had almost nothing to say, and when he
spoke at all was apparently careful to avoid all
further reference to “ the case," for which his
host, already weary and tagged ovor the affair,
was not altogether unthankful, so that the meal
passed in comparative silence.

The handsome lionsckecpcr, on her part, was
no less reticent, scarcely opening her lips to
speak throughout the repast. She seemed to
have attained to a wholesome regard for the
New York detective’s penetration.

Nevertheless, there were many little intima-
tions, as ex1sting between the banker and her—
self, which did not escape his reflective notice.

“The housekeeper’s discontent with the re-
fined Mrs. Maycourt is not without cause,” he
thought. “ The spurious Frciichwomun is fully
determined to win the bunk president for her—
self. Perhaps that is why she is here.”

After dinner the-gentlemen took a stroll in
the gardens and grounds, Mr. Grantby being
especially proud of his conservatories, and fond
of exhibiting their treasures.

The gentlemanly detective dutifully listened

. and admired.

Then, having artfully changed the subject, so
asknot to appear impolitely abrupt, he suddenly
as ed:

“ Mr. Bartlow is a bachelor, I presume?”

“ Yes.”

“ Where does he live, pray i”

The banker had shrugged his shoulders a
little, and then remembering what was to be ex-
pected, had settled down to a good-natured in-
dulgence of his companion’s inquisitiveness.

“ Burtlow has handsome uarters over a shoe-
shop on an adjoining street, ’ he re lied.

“ A magnificently distinguished- ooking man !”

“ And just as fine a fellow as he looks,” said
the banker, warming up at once, as Seemed to
be his custom when the cashier was under dis-
cussion. “ Something of a sporting man, or
high-roller, as you might say, in his day, like
enough," smilingly, as if to disarm a possible
intimation to such effect in advance, “ but now
thoroughly settled down in his devotion to busi-

“ Ahl thorough business man, eh?”

“ I should say so, who ought to know!” cm-
phaticall y. “ In fact, Bartlow’s is about the
surest and most comprehensive business mind I
think I have ever encountered. He is a sort of
a wonder, and I am not the only one that thinks
so. Correct to a hair in his accounts, intuitively
unerring in his judgment of affairs, and light—
ning-like in his decisions as to an investment—
whetherjo take hold or hold off. Has already
saved the bank many a blunder. In fact," con-
lclusijyely, “ we are reasonably proud of Bart-

ow.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
PRELIMINARY PIPE—LAYING.

THE banker spoke sententiously, as if quite
certain that any further criticism or captions
inquiry would be summarily set to rest on the
subject of a paragon whom he could conscien-
tiously afford to extol so unsparingly.

But he knew little of Magnus, the mind-mas-
ter, and his methods, as yet.

“ Humphl quite a financial Bayard, ‘ without
fear and without reproach,’ no doubt,” com-
mented the latter, but so gently as to make it
doubtful whether he spoke sarcastically or not.
“He is—but of course my dear sir, you will
bear in mind my privilege to be inquisitive ad
libitum at will i”

“ Oh, of course.”

“ Mr. Bartlow is an Englishman?”

“By birth, yes; but by nature and attain-
ments 3 cosmopolitan—a man of the world.
However, I do not mind admitting that I know
comparatively little of his antecedents before
coming to us.”

“ How long has he been with your bank ?”

“Three years altogether; the last two as
cashier.”

“But doubtless with suitable recommenda-
tions from abroad?”

“ Oh, certainly; from both London and Liver-
pool, where he had had confidential relations
with various banking institutions. I’ll show you
some of the letters presently, if you wish. Noth-

 

ing could well be more highly commendatory, as
I think you will allow.”

“ Thanks; yes, they will doubtless prove inter—
esting. Nothing pleases me more than to see a
real sterling man deseiyedly vouched for. But
—did I not understand you to say that but little.
of Mr. Bartlow’s antecedents was known to you?”

“ ()h,”a little impatiently, “ I meant individu-
ally and as to his family; which, however, of
course they would attach more importance to in
the old country than we do.”

H Yps.”

“Still, we, know him to be a perfect gentleman
and a capital good fellow. Every one knows
that: which ought to sullice, I should say.”

“Certainly, certainly!” with much earnest-
ncss. “ Ali! A llll(‘-l(Kll\'lllg lady, that house-
keeper of yours, Mr. Grantby.”

“ You’re right,” with growing curtness.

“ Bccn with you long?”

“ Two years, or more.”

“ I don’t know when I have secn a woman of
statclier presence."

“ She gives satisfaction—in most things.”

“ Recommended for the position by Mr. Bart-
low? if 1 might hazard the guess.”

Darkness had fallen, and they wcrc seated in
a rustic path bench, just lllidcl‘olle of the lighted
house-windows, which served to sufficiently dis-
pel the gl0om, the summer air being agreeably
cool.

The banker felt himself becoming nettled, and
thrust his hands deep into his trowsers pockets
in his determination not to betray it.

“ (Md, but you’re not far from the mark, my
friend," he l‘cpllvil, slowly, “ though ' recom-
lnclldcd ’ isn’t i xactly the word. Burllow nirrely
heard of the lady as being (:(llllpetx‘lll’. and want,-
ing the place, and suggested the fact. Her re-
commendations were her own, chiefly from noble
or refined families formerly employing her in
Various responsible capacities in France, Mad-
ame Runnud’s native country.”

“ Ah! a gcnuine Frenchwoman, eh?”

“ She says she is, and I’ve no reason to doubt
her word.”

“ Doubtless a widow?”

“Hndn’t you better ask her? However, it is
generally understood that she is that.”

Under cover of the semi-darkness the detect-
ive smiled imperturbably.

“ A fine Woman !” be repeated. “ Should think
your daughter might find her no less congenial
as a companion and guide than as a house-
keeper.”

“ Hal “It‘ll, she docs help Grace fnrbish up
with her music and foreign languages. Now,”
sarcastically, “couldn’t you turn your inquisi-
torial batteries upon my daughter herSelf, by
we of a change?”

‘ Sir,” observe the detective, with velvety dig-
nity, as you might say, “ pray understand that
I never reSpond to sarcasm in kind.”

“ Oh, you don’t? Grace herself has doubtless
her little earthworks and rifle-pits of conceal-
ment in her past that might be worth surpris-
ing, if not storming. Odd if she hasn’t, being an
American girl of twenty, if a day.”

“The young lady will certainly retain most of
them intact, so far as 1 am concerned.”

“ What the devil, man 1” Mr. Grantby ve a
nervous laugh. “ Can you blame me for osing
patience somewhat? _
as to this, that and the other—ferresing here,
there and everywhere, save where the real game
is run to cover, and yet without a word as to the
actual case in hand! ’

“ Excuse me for saying it, but you are Obtuse.
I haven’t for an instant lost sight of the case in
hand, nor put a Single query that was not
prompted with a view to its final and successful
elucuiatlon.”

“Well, you have a devilish odd, roundabout
way of proving it.”

“It is my way, and if you don’t like it our

'connection may be severed on the spot."

The dctective’s manner was no more pro-
nounced, his speech no more excitable than be-
fore, and yet there was a distinctly implied sense
of something stern or unusual in both, as if ini-
pressive of the fact that “ the velvet scabbard
bid a sword of steel.”

Mr. Grantby moved a little uncomfortably in
his seat and reflected. While he honestly could
not understand or appreciate the detectiVe’s
methods, he was sufficiently impressed by the
man’s quiet intellectuality and slunibering force
in the abstract, as it were, to shrink from break-
ing with him so soon.

“ We oughtn't to quarrel, you and I,” he said,
with blunt earnestness. “ At all events, I don’t
want to. HaVe another cigar?”

“ With all my heart 2” with an easy laugh; and
the threatened breach was healed. or nearly so.

“ You see, my dear M‘lg‘llus',” resumed the
banker, still a little stubbornly. “ yod can hardly
blame mo for not seeing things with your eyes,
especially since you withhold your confidence
from me, in whole or in part.”

“ Of course, of course, my dear sirl The most
natural thing in the world. Say no more about
it.”
" Nor can you blame me for failing to under-
stand, you know, how the deuce my housekeep~
er’s or Mr. BarthW’s antecedents can have any-
thing to do with this case, When the criminality

Here you are pumping me -

 

of the dead bookkeeper seems so abSOlutely, I
may say so staringly, beyond all possibility of."
doubt.”

“ Nor at all. But you will understand all in
good season, trust me for that.”

“ Thanks, thanks i” still a little grumbliiigly.
“In the mean time, I shall strive to possess my'
soul in patience to the best of my ability, 1 sup»

)ose.”
I “An excellent resolution, my dear sir! A.
prime cigar, this, by the way. A Reina?”

“ No, a second Partaga. I prefer the brand,
as being the milder of the two. But look here,
Magnus, tell me this much. Am I to under-
Stand that you still entertain grave doubts of
young Maycourt’s guilt?”

“ Dcm'dcdly so I”

“Well, Well, well! And how soon do you'
suppose you can convince me of that.”

The detective reflected a moment, and then
replied:

“ I don’t suppose anything about it. Most as»
surcdly, I shal convince you within less than
thirty-six hours.”

“ What! you can really promise that?”

“ I can and do.” The detective rose. “ Now,
if you haVc no objcctiOn, suppose you show me
Solne of thOse lcttcl's that recommended Mr..
Bartlow so highly.”

(THAPI ER IX.
TUE LETri-Ias.

THEY went into the library, which had been.
lighted up for some time as if in expectancy
of being required for an evening chat sooner OI"
later.

Here Mr. Gruntby at once proceeded to un-
lock and open the loWer drawer of a Very mass—
ive black-walnut secretary that oCciipied a con»
spicuous place in a corner of the room.

A moment’s inspection, and then he looked up
with a blank face.

“ They’re gone!” he exclaimed.

“What! are you quite sure?” asked the de—
tective, though he did not seem to be particular—
ly surprised.

“ Yes, yes!” excitedly. “ The drawer is quite-
emptV—see! and I devoted it exclusively to the
letters of that correspondence, I was so proud of
them on Bartlow’s account.”

He rung the bell; Norah Walsh, the girl, ap--

peared.

She looked startled on being told of the miss~
ing property, as was but natural, no doubt?
in view of past charges that had been forgivcn
her.

“Och, sir!” she said, pitiably: “I never
knew, belayve me, even what was in the-1
drawer."

“Don’t be needlessly alarmed,” said Mr..
Grantby, kindly. “The letters‘were of no Ill"
trinsic value, though important. Who has been
in this room since dinner?"

“ It was I mesell’, sir, to light up, sir.”

“ No one else?”

“Not that I know of. But yes,,sir; now I.
think of it, I saw the housekeeper enter the
room and come out again soon afther you and.
the entleman stepped into the garden.”

“ nd her to me, please."

Mr. Grantby turned to the detective after the)
girl had hurried away.

“ Of course, I can’t help recalling Norah’s.
former fault,” he said, “though I can’t imagine
what temptation the letters could have offered:
her.‘

“ Set your mind to rest as to her,” replied the.-
detective, easily. “If the letters have been
stolen, it w as not the girl who stole them, and it.
was not through an idea that they might be
valuable.”

“ Why, then?” ‘

“Perhaps because they were valuelcss,” was
the mystifying rejoinder. “ But, we shall see.”
And here Madame Renaud enteied.

She seemed greatly surprised, on being ques-
tioned, Couldn’t imagine what had become of
the missing letters, and, in fact, had never
known of their existence.

“She had never even touched the secretary,.
she said. save to dust it off occasionally: and
had never seen the inside of it save when the
banker had chanced to let down the lid in he!"
presence. _

Had the lettch contained money, or anything.
of great value? Ami then she suddenly turned
on poor Norah, who had followed her, with a.
severely questioning, not to say accusatory,
look, which about completed the girl’s con—
fusion. _

Tm. banker now pretended to make light of
the affair. The letters had. perhaps been inaii-
vertently disturbed or mislaid. He merely
thought they might have come under the home-
keeper’s notice when she was in the room, as.
Norah had said, a short time previously.

No: Madame Renaud had merely taken the-
liberty to temporarily appropriate one of the
illustrated magazmes from the table yonder.
Here it was; she had even retained it in her'
hand when hurriedly obeying the summons as-
conveyed by Norah.

That was the end of it, Mr. Grantby said..
The letters would like enough turn up unex-
pectedly some time or other. And the womem
were accordingly dismissed the room. ,

 

 

 

 

 

...-_.

i,
’y 1

 

“ It’s very strange, the disappearance of those
letters,” said the banker, ponderingly. “ There
Were quite a. number—more than half-filling
that shallow drawer. \Vhat did you mean,
Magnus, by suggesting that they might have
been abstracted because of an impression that
they were of no value?”

“ 0h, pcrsons~wmiicn, especially—are so apt
tosnatch upaiiything about the house nowa-
days, you know, to kindle a fire, make into curl-
papors, or something of the sort. Still, the lock
would bare had to be forced, eh?”

“ Not necessarily. Almost any stray key of
the appropriate size would serve for that lock.

“ it is very strange,” repeated Mr. Hrantby, i

knitting his brows; and then he suddenly bright-
ened up. “Hold on I” he said: “ I may Very
likely have retained one or twoof the letters
among my other papers inside the desk here.”

He let down the lid, and, after a. careful
Search, was so fortunate as to discover two of
the letters, though of somewhat minor import-
ance, he Said.

Magnus read them with seeming carelessness,
but with a real criticalneas of examination as to
their chirography and composition which at
once confirmed a secret suspicion he had enters
tuined from the first.

In subject-matter the letters were highly com-
mendatory—in fact, overdone, and to the extent
of beinz.r panegyrical. In form, he speedily sat-
isfied himself that both letters, though dated
from different banking houses—the one in L ,n-
don, the other in Liverpool—were the work of
one mind and one hand, cleverly varied-—wcie,
in other words, cunning forgeries.

“ Th0<e are very flatterin: rec<immendations,"

said the detective, returning the letters to hip. ‘

Grantby, with a smile. “ (lnly an exceptionally
valuable man could deserve them. Mr; Bartlow
must be an exceedingly fortunate and—clever
man of business.”

“ Ha! what did I tell you!” cried the banker,
becomingly delighted. “ l knew you would say
so. And these letters are not a patching, in gist
aud”tone, to those that are so mysteriously miss-
mg.

He continued in the same vein, and then or-
dered in some wine and biscuits, soon aft/er the
discussion of which Magnus, on expressing a
wish to retire, was shown to his room, with a.
cheery good-night at parting from his boat.

The room assigned to the detective was a
commodious and agreeable one at a rear corner
of the house, overlooking almost the entire
gardens and grounds, which might have oom-

rised as much as half an acre, and extended far
ack to another street.

Instead of retiring, the detective extinguished
the light as soon as the servant escorting him
had gone, and then seated himself reflectiver at
the window best commanding the outlook.

The bank president’s was a sedate, well-or-
dered household, accustomed to keeping good
hours, it seemed.

Though but little past ten o’clock, the house
soon became hushed and restful, as if all the
regular inmates had sought their repose.

The streets adjoining were also retired ones,
fronted for the mosf part by residences with
more or less umple grounds attached, though
not far from the business center of the town, so
that but very little life seemed stirring.

The night was fine and cool and starry, with

the mellow light from a newly-risen moon,al-
most at the full, softly flooding the world with
its liquid, vitreous (1! WWW?-
I Magnus sat at the wiUdOW for some time, lost
In thoughts that. in spite of himself, were only
indirectly connected w1th his detective case in
hand, and altogether of a personal nature.

If the truth must be told, they were almost
Who‘ly occupied with the image of the sweet,
sorrow~bowed girl, Ada Maycourt, whom he
had met at her mother’s cottage that day for the
first time.

Had it been a case of love at first sight? He
almostconfessed as much to himself, and the
recognltlon. 01‘ semi—reconnition, of the prob-
ability was not an unpleasing one. Though past
thirty, and often, as a matter of course, smitten
with admiration for feminine beauty, he had
never till now been impressed, so far as he could
remember, with wth 9V6" approximated to the
tenderness of a master and perhaps enduring
passion.

He was, moreover, alone in the world, with
{scarcely a blood relative or family tie remain~
mg to him, with a snug sum of savings prudent«
1y invested, for he was literally devoid of profli-
gate or vicious tendencies, and his singular]
sensitive nature —a source of quite as muc
emotional suffering as of business profit in the
practice of his vocation—had often and often
vaguely longed for the spiritual twinship or
mated companionship which is the indispensable
complement of every well-disposed human life in
the pursuit of happiness, and which now pos—
sessed him more strongly than ever before as he
thought of the sweet grace and modest resigna—
tion that had been that day revealed to him in
this young girl’s winning personality.

But.“ his eyes wandered listlesst out over
the fair moonlight scene with the vision of Ada.
Maycourt constantly in his thoughts, it was sud-

denly and rudely displaced by an incident,

Magnus, the Weird Det

 

i
l

which, or something like it, he had, neverthe-
less, vaguely expected or desired at first.

CHAPTER X.
THE TOUCH-TEST CONFIRMED, IN PART.

Two female faces, whose heads and figures
Wcre concealed by light, inulllingr Shaw is or
niaiitels wrapped about their (-litil'c persons, had
suddenly drifted out into the moonlight from
under the house shadow directly beneath the
window at which the detective was seated.

Two figures, the one tall, stately and graceful,
which he at once rccognized as Madame
Renaud’s; the sligliter and more youthful,
which might possibly belong to the banker’s
daughter, though, on second thought, this did
not seem credible,

“I have it now!” exclaimed the detective to
himself, with a quick breath of positive I“ lit-l".
“ The girl Norah! Better, better—far better!”

The taller of the figures sped onward without
pause, till partly lost In the shadow of some
fruit and ornamental trees, while the other came
to a stop nearagrape-arbor midway between
these and the kitchens, as if placing herself on
watch under previously received instructions.

But the detective had already pcrccivcl a
d0or, or gate, far back in the rear garden wall,
toward which the housekeeper was obviously
hastening.

Almost before his keen glance had noted these
particulars, he was out of his room with the
swiftuess of thought, the noiselessnessot’ a phan-
tom.

He had already remarked the “lay” of the
passages and staircases in their rclaiioii to the
chamber to which he had been assigned.

Though not a light had been left burning and
the route was pitchcdark where not relieved by
a strong inoonbeam at an opening here or there,
be made his way to the front door, whose
niethodof fastenings had likewise been noted,
with the same flitting rapidity and by a species
of uncrring instinct.

Then to let himSclf out, dart through the gar-
den walk and gain the street, was the work of
but another breathless moment.

The house—grounds were a corner lot, running
back, as has been intimated, to a rear street,
probab] y to a depth of two hundred yards.

Fortunately, the streets Were absolutely de-
sex-ted.

Magnus, little as might have been guessed
from his dreamy, rather spiritualle appearance,
was in realityathorough-paced ‘sprinter’ on
occasion, besides being an all-round athlete
from away back.

In another instant, and without an audible
footfall, be rounded the corner, and was flitting
along the side street in the shadow of the gar-
den wall with the rapidity of the wind.

So swift and yet so light-footed was his flight,
that he might have been treading on eggs, or
slimming through the shadows on the Wings of
a at.

He reached the corner, still hugging the
shadow of the wall, just as the rear gate opened,
and the tall, graceful figure of Madame Renaud
ste ped into view.

his rear street was hardly more than a lane,
very narrow, With stable-fronts and other gar-
den-walls directly opposite.

But the housekeeper had stepped out into the
moonlighted side of this lane.

Hardly had she done so when there was a
cautious signal, and she at once joined a dimly-
outlined, powerful masculine figure, drawn
back in the shadowy door-space of one of the
stables opposite, but which the lynx-eyed detec-
tive, nevertheless, made [out as that of Mr.
Cutesby Bartlow, the cashier, in strict accord-
ance with his fullest expectations.

In sympathy with his extreme sensitivenesss
of organization, Mugnus’s faculty of hearing
was also exceptionally keen.

ntiill events, by straining it to the utmost at
this Juncture, he could more or less distinctly
overhear the initial words that passed between
thel conspirators, as they were quickly proved
to )6.

“ Have you got them 3” demanded the man‘s
voice. anxiouslv. »

“ Yes: here!” she paSSed something to him.
“\Ve may thank our stars, too. It was the in-
tention of our prime Chump to exhibit them to
the detective this very evening; but fortunately,
a little timely eavesdropping in the garden gave
me the cue, and I was beforehand with the
pair.”

_“The Fates be praised!” muttered the man.
“ The accursed detective would harm penetrated
in an instant what has been allssufficient to gull
Grantby and his primitive fellow lunkheads
thus far to a charm. What does this man,
Magnus, suspect, as yet?“

“Hard to answer that, I fancy. The man,
compared with ordinary detectives, is as a
Ewel-hilted Damasws blade to a boar-spear.

IS softest look strikes me with unaccountable
fear.” Then she said something in French,
which the detective failed to fol‘ow. adding:
“ Could anything be more unfortunate? Every-
thing was progressing swimmingly till this
velvety-Voiced marplot put in his accursed ap—
pearance." ,

“He must be disposed of somehow, and be-

 

 

ective. 7

 

 

fore it is too late," replied Bartlow, with some-
thing brOoding and dcadly in his low, vibrant
voice. " it is not alone my poSscssion of the
banker’s haughty young heiress, but my very
safety in: less, that dtmands it—a case of life
and death I"

“ What shall you dc?"

“ I am thinking and planning. (‘ome in here,
else we might be observed by some pl'OchI‘."

He drew her into ihe ]);!>Su;,;u at which they
were standing, partly closing the door of it be-
hind them.

As there was nothing more to be overheard,
the lll‘tH'thO chancl-tl the risk of Lanai discov-
ered, and scudth d lightly along the sid of the
rear wall, across the clear, moonlight space,
toward the gate at which the houSekccper had
emerged.

He slipped into the garden, satisfied that he
had not been obserVed.

Then, as swiftly and lightly, he threaded the
paths, stealthily approaching the giape—arbor,
at which the girl, Norah, was keeping watch.

She did not suspect his presence until his hand
suddenly closed upon her wrist—as of a grasp of
steel, incased in a silken glow: and eicn then
terror for the moment held herdumb.

“ Spy! Waitress.” there was an unsuspected
dcadliness in his low voice: “it is thus. then,
that you repay your indulgent employer’s for-
giveness? You do not cry out, it seems!" with
a coun‘mptuous sneer.

“ l—I cannot—dare not!” the young woman
managed to gasp. rather than speak, in answer.
“ Your look seems to frteze both the tongue and
the brain of me, sir."

“ (live me your hand!” She obeyed mechan-
ically, repressing an exclamation of anguish as
his clasp closed upon it. " Still freezing, eh!”

“No, no; burning, burning! Oh, but your
hand is red-hot, sir!”

“Come!” he drew her under the arbor, to
guard against a possible surprise; the moonlight
filtered fantastically through the vine-leaves,
the grapes hanging in profuse ripe and half—
ripc clusters over their heads and on either
hand-a bacchante suggestion, dashed with a
Mephistophelean diabolism. “NOw you must
make a Compact with hie—no fear but that you
will keep it—or you are lost.”

Perhaps the sensation of his clasp burning
her hand to the bone, while his glance was still
as ice in her brain, was real, perhaps imag-
inary. But, apart from this, the girl was little
better than beside herself with terror.

“ Och, sir,” she faltered, “ if you be, indade,
the divil, I’ll promise what ye will, if ye only
spare the sowl of me!”

“I want not your promise, but your obedi-
ence, which I will to have.” He glanced out of
the arbor; Madame Renaud was already visi-
ble, retracing her steps. “She comes, she re-
turns. . Mark you, girl, henceforth you act for
me, belong to me, are my creature, till I will it
otherwise. Do you fully recognizes this?”

“ Yes, yes!”

“Out, then, to meet that scheming woman,
and to dissemble as I will you to do! To-
morrow, at my whispered command out of
silence and emptiness, you will report to me, be-
traving her every coniideiiCe. Go!”

He forthwith thrust her out into the open
mOonlight.

Though somewhat automaton-like, the girl
was suddenly composed, apparently all but her-
self again, as she calmly resumed her position,
awaiting the housekeeper’s approach.

CHAPTER XI.
THE CONSPIRATORS AT BAY.
“ANY'rnixoZ” queried Madame Renaud, as
soon as she came up to where the girl awaited
h

 

er.
The latter shook her head.

“ Not anything suspicions whatever?”

“ Nothing at all, nia’m.”

The hOlisekeepcr scrutinized her critically.
“ “'hat has happened to you ?"

“ Me, ma’ni? Why, nothing!”

“ You are quite sure?” sharply.

“ Sure, and I am, ma’m!”

“ You look odd—not exactly changed, but as
if you might have been shocked—startled.”

“ Oh, ma’m !”

“ You are sure that you have seen nothing?
That there is nothing wrong with you?”

“ Not a bit of it, ma’ni! I was after getting
lonesome. besides finding the air a thrifle chill.
That is all.”

Madame Renaud took her off to the house with
her, apparently satisfied.

So was the. detective. At all events, he lost
no time in finding his way back to his room as
soon as he could do so with security.

“ I rather think I can manage that brace of
worthies,” he said to himself,while striking alight
and preparing for his night’s rest. “Humphl
very comfortable, very pleasant!”

These last words referred to his accommoda-
tions, which he now for the first time took occa-
sion to examine interestedly.

They were certainly suggestive of agreeable-
ness and home—comfort. The room was spacious
and well aired, the carpet prettin colored and
of rich tapestry woof. the furniture consisting
almost wholly of bedstead, lavatory and old.

/

, I.»
. ‘ ‘,~,I

,f I   -  .'  3‘  n,
/ ‘ ‘s .,,  

 

jun-

» n
.J,

 

'l‘ 1‘ IV V 31-.
 (113”. I' 1‘

 

1,  5'"),

 

  

fashioned, restful looking easy-chairs, substan-
tially upholstered, while the bed itself especially
excited his surprise and admiration. Not only
was it one of the veriest old-time four-posters,
richly carved, specimens of which are now-a-
days sought and paid highly for by collectors,
 p but it was even provided with the proverbial
" ' old-style chintz bed-curtains and hangings of
our grandfathers, who seemed so honest in their

belief that the circulation of fresh air about

their sleeping forms could belittle less than in-

oidiously fatal, or at least vastly deleterious.

53' . Maguus suddenly paused when half—undressed,
1 and produced from his valise a new‘looking
bolok,l whose index and pages he earnestly con-
h‘u tet .
“No, no, no!” he muttered, while thus en-

, gaged; “this villain Bartlow, of the hundred
  aliases, is doubtless one of the few that Inspec-
 tor Byrnes has missed recording in this last. su-
perb book of his on the World’s professional

\‘rogues. Perhaps it is because“ Hal but hereit
is.” His face lighted up. “ thy apologies for

the great inspector.—’I‘ho very man, by the dc-

scription, and even with Barturrll, instead of

Bartlow—a near enough approxim ition—ns one

of his later aliases. llumphl ‘ Cosmo Arms-

(lale, about forty, of ma. ,niticent [nu-sonal pres-

ence, a bloude, but with a real genius for dis-
\ guises and character-changes, English and cos-
, l iziopolitan advonturer, bank-thief, forgcr, etc.,
" etc.; has a with, also a magnificent English

blonde, and almost his equal asa criminal ex-
1::-rt,etc., etc.” He closed the book with a highly
satisfied air and returned it to the valise.

“ W'ell, well,” thought the detective, “ I won-
der what my host, our worthy bau'k president,
would say to that. ‘

He turned our the light, got into bed, and was
soon fast asleep.

’ But Magnus had made the single-minded mis—

take, so common with the very best detectives-—

or, at least, with those posSessing a positive

genius for their calling—of keeping his game

,/ , sulely in view, While taking little or no care of
his own personal safety.

He was suddenly and rudely awakened out of
a troubled dream at the first faint dawn of day,
uni with a scorching, suffocated feeling, to find
the curtains at one side of his bed in a blaze.

At the same instant he was aware of an all-but
overpowering odor of chloroform.

Then he was yet more effectually startled by a
drenching mass of cell water being dashed over
and around him, which caused .‘ im to shootout.

As he sprung from the bed, the flames having
been. thus heroically exdnguished, the girl,

- Norah, fully dressed, and with the empty water-
jug still in her hand from which she had cast the
saving torrent in such timely season, ran toward

, the open door, keeping her eyes modestly averted.

"‘Don't give me away to the housekeeper, sirl”
she faltered, in a guarded, fear-stricken voice.
“I was on my way down-stairs to me wur-rk,
when she slipped Oil: of this room. Then I saw

- the flicker under the doors, an’ was ist here in

time to save on. I But she would kil me if she
gueSSed it. ml iudade, indade. indade, sir, it’s
a odest gur-rl that I am, who wouldn't dr’ame
0 such a thing as entering a gintleman’s room,
, r like this, only for—” Here she dropped the
7 pitcher, and incontinently fled.
' .“Hum ! Who would have guessed the ser-
‘nt wou d lash out quite so soon, and in such
ndsome guise? Fool that I was, then h,'not
' remember that the Borgia herself was ovoly,
. and the Brinvilliers a beauty, with a face like 9
'- Madonna! My own fault, my own fault!"
 And, thus grumbling to himself, Magnus,
" while leisurely dressing himself by the growing
, dawn-llght——the flames having been wholly ex-
tiziguished—calmly took in the situation.

a was still a little giddy, too, though, for-
tunately, but little of the untestheticbad been
inhaled.

-v The pillow at one end, however, was fairl

drenched with chloroform, the fumes of whlc

. still lingered appreciably, while an empty four-
, ounce vial was lying on the floor. .
Magnns was fairly puzzled.

. What had deterred the honsekee rfrom com-
; rfieting the chloroforming process )efore setting

  

  

  
 

  

re to the bed, when she had had him complete-

at her mercy?

He at length came to the conclusion that she
had most. likelvspilled the entire contents of the
vial on the pillow through over-haste or nervous
excitement—though she was scarcely the sort
r’of Woman one would suspect of such Weakness
 had then frantically fired the hangin '3
before taking to flight, on the chance of his
_' ing smothered or being otherwise rendered

powerless, to his destruction.
. Heliugered in the room until it was broad
, and then saunter-ed out for a morning

'  Thedomestics of the establishment were b
thistims generally astir and in the lower ha i
was!“ came upon fiadame Renaud herself,

.34 

k w Although, since there had been no alarm, she
unit have surmised long are this that he had
her murderous ihtentions, she
visit} , turning very pale. '
-for an; instant, however, after

  

  

 
 

  
 

“Good-morning, monsieur,” she said, smil-
ingly, and with her French accent, which was
none the less pretty and coquettish, even if af-
fected. “I trust that monsieur has rested
well.”

“On the contrary, ma’m," Magnus replied,
with the most natural concern, “ some villainous
burglar must have entered my room.”

“ Burglars, monsienr?"

“Yes, yes; and they even made the attempt
to burn me up in my bed. Doubtless, crept in
by the open window. However, they could
have found nothing of my poor belongings
worth appropriating, and were most probably
frightened off before venturing to o throng
the house. Both odd and unfo nnate, eh,
ma'm? Robbing a police detective, the ideal
However, Mr. Grant >y mustn’t be allowed to
feel mortified over it. Such accidents mg? oc-
cur in the very best of families at times. orn-
ing, ma‘m!”

And he went on his way, leaving her looking
after him in no little mystitication as to the
genuineness of his unsuspicious indifference in
the matter.

“The deep one!” she muttered to herself;
“ he isn’t likely not to suspect the truth. And
yet how could he have éscapal unscathed?
However, I must be surer next time, and soon-—
soon. But how poetically handsome the rascal
is!" her eyes, which were still following his
leisurely retreatin r figure from the front door,
glinted significantly. “ Ahl if I were not fully
fixed upon booking the old banker, and step-
mot Ironing the supercilious Mademoiselle Grace
unti —-

“ What a lovely morning, madame!” said a
musical, but rather cold voice in French behind
her. “ No Wonder you arc taking a breath of
it here before the sun is up.”

It was Miss Grantby herself, prottily attired
for her accustomed early—morning ‘constitu-
tional,’ whose step behind had not been antic-ed.

Though taken somewhat by surprise, the ad-
venturess managed to answer with her accus-
tomed gayety.

“In love with a dead man!” she sneeringly
muttered, with a not too amiable glance after
the graceful, stylish figure going down the
broad, gravelod walk. “However, perhaps it
is all the better for my confrere, though we
must hurry, hurry, hurry!” And she went
back into the house with more nervous haste
than her accustomed stateliness of movement.

To follow the detective in his stroll, he made
the detour of the houwgrounds wall, thus re-
tracing his secret route of the precedin even-
ing, and, after a little patient search, ocated
the cashier’s apartments over the shoe-store in
an adjoining street, according to the informa-
tion received from the bank president.

Then, a few minutes later, he found himself
in the vicinity of the Maycourt cottage.

His )ulse quickeued, for, as he approached,
Miss ayeourt herself appeared at the gate,
with the kindly neighbors who had sat up with
the remains, and to whom she was doubtless
making her sorrowful acknowledgments on their
taking their departure.

The sweet, still profoundly saddened blonds
face was more composed and resigned now,
doubtless after a night of at least partial forget-
fnlaess under the reposeful wand of slumber,
which can both mesmerize and heal, both re-
cuperate and restore, howsoever slowly and im-
perceptibly. She stood there momentarily alone
after the men had gone, silently inhaling the
warm summer air and the scents of the labor-
nu ms partly OVerarching the gate, with a grate-
ful air- and Magnns w 3 sure he had never
seen so ovely and interes u an image, n one
whose tender beauty sec-2mm? to be positive in-
tensifled by its pathetic mournfulness of aspect.
It was of a naturally mirthful and yet'
splrituelle beauty, over w lch bereavement had
cast a sorrowful mist or glamour of sobering
enchantmont, but out of whose twilight it must
sooner or later sparkle and smile again, like a
fair statue in the sun.

Then his blood quickened yet more tumult-
uously, for, on perceiving and recognizing him
at the sound of his now lingering stop, there
was a gmat Welcome in her face, perhaps even a
delicate change of color in the pale checks, and
she man held out her hand.

CHAPTER XII.
WAITING. ‘
Sun gave him greeting in her low, soft voice,
and then seemed at a loss what to say, while the
young man felta certain awkwardnesh on his‘

art.

“ You are looking improved, miss,” he said,
after merely mentioning that he was out for an
aimless stroll. “ Let me hope that your good
mottjer has alw obtained something of a night’s
rest.

“ You infer, then.” she answered. with a faint
smile, “ that web at least has been my own good
fortune, sir?”

“ Yes; you look it."

“ It is true.” gravelyf “though momma, in
her own case, had to have recourse to an opiate
that Dr. Beecham had left for .her. ‘ Besides.

Weird Detective  4*  ‘ -'i- ‘ '

us company till bedtime—our neighbors of our
own sex, I mean.”

“ And here, doubtless, comes a yet more we]-
come one," said Magnus, indicating Miss
Grantby, who was approaching in the distance.
“ By the way," his voice and manner suddenly
becoming sharp, prompt and determined, “if
the young lady obtains the impression that I
have probably been watchm the house in
secret, as a preliminary, it Will well. Do you
understand me?” She nodded. “Good! In the
mean time, don’t forget that I am to keep watch
to—night alone, and I may also call during‘the
day to keep up appearances as to this search
business. I See you understand me. Good-
morning, Miss Maycourt!”

He lifted his hat with earnest respectfulness,
and in turning away was also in time to repeat
the courtesy for Grace, as the latter was sympa-
thetically quickening her pace to greet her
friend.

Before turning the adjacent street-Corner, the
detective throw back a last look toward the
gate, where both young women were still to-
gether, affording a striking and pleasing con-
trust by their diverse ty of beauty in the
fresh new sunshine, now Just slanting over the
tree and house-tops from the East.

“Blonds and brunette!” reflected the detec-
tive, scarce] slackening his pace, though with
his head stil turned for a. last greedy glimpse of
the charming picture; “ and, sup 9, from a
disinterested point of view, equal yattractive
one with another. Still, there is a certain
haughtiness, not to say ‘uppishness,’ in the
banker’s handsome heiress, which, thank
Ileaveul one w'ould look for in vain in the
sweet gentleness, the modest purity—J,

He had just turned the corner, and ran with
sombthihg of a colliding shock directly into a.
man whd—-—likewise in something of an absent-
minded reverie, no doubt—was advancmgyupnl-
ly from the opposite direction.

The-n they recognized each other on the instant,
the new-comer being none other than Mr.
Burtlow, the cashier, himself.

“ Hallo!” cried Magnus, good-naturally; “it
is you, sir? I beg pardon, if that is in order.”

The magnificent cashier was no less polite,
though a fleeting preliminary showl of intense
hatred, if not of actual ferocny, had not
escaped the detective’s masked penetration.

And was there not, also, a certain wonder in
Bartlow’s air, as if he might be discomiiteda
little at meeting him at all? ,r '

“Don’t mention it,” he replied, laughing.
" Fully as much my fault as yours, no doubt.

Seems?”

“Yes, yes; and, curious enough, I had for-
gotten your being given to them, too. However,
business is business, you know, and one might
as well familiarize onest with the scene of his
expected operations, first as last." lVith a
backward motion of the head in the direction of
the Maycourt house: and then, with a bpw, the
detective kept on his way, apparently as pre-
occu ied as before. »

“ wonder if he is really in earnest in this
search business,” meditated the cashier, also re-
suming his wa , though with a slower step.
“ And how con d C’lesw have failed in follow-
ing u her promise to make way with him forth.
with She wouldn’t be apt to lose nerve or
stamina at the trying moment. Confusion,
seize the marplot bound!” with a savagely mut-
tcred oath; “ if he should but snsmct the truth!
However, that is sheerly impossible, unless the
dead should speak out from his shroud, which is
not to be dreamed of; tho gh, somehow, I shall
feel safer when the bookk per’s corpse is under-
ground, if, indeed, a will pay the chances to
wait even that 10 z.” . I

Then, for the gut time perceiving the young
ladies at the gate,be_ nickened his race, ap-
proachin them with his abitual smile.

Ada aycourt, who always experienced an
unaccountable repulsion for the man, notwith— '
standing his exceptionally handsome presence

v

and fascination of address, and altogether apart

meat, abruptly made her escape imp the house
before he could come 11 . '

with a compluisance to which he was little acx
customed, and which encouraged him
ingly:

“ i was j list about returning home for break-
fast, Mr. Bartlow. You can accompany me
back to the house, if you like.” V .

Mr. Bartlow was only too happy for the privi-
lege, and as they moved along “0le together,
was forthwlt complimentary and agreeable to

he to of his bent. ‘ .

t Butphe was secretly dissatisfied. for all that,
being speedil aware through his intuitions,
which were of a bi h order, that something un-
derlay the' young ady’s unusual good-nature
with his advances, as though she might be play.
in a part.

owever, he let no more appear than the at.

part, and did not fail to take advantage of such
amiableness as she voucheafed, whether genuine

 

in addition to those gentleme who have just

 

" which she m thoroughly herself again. ,

1 I

  

gone,

   

our ficixhbmfswt‘rcyu kind in keeping

or assiimed. ; ,
Arriving at her own gate, he thankfully do-

I ,,
:’

 

So you are likewise giVen to early strolls, it \

from his association with her reCent bereave- ,.-'

Miss Grantby remained tomcat him,»soylux L

most nnsuspicion and contentment on his own .

   
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
 
    
 

 

 
          
        
    
        
           
       
         
     
        
       
    
     
        
         
        
         
           
       
      
       
           
 
 
       
    
           
             
          
      
     
     
      
       
       
        
       
   
         
     
 
        
       
        
    
     
 

     
          
       
         
 

    
    
   
    
 
 
        
    
   

    
      
     
      
    
 

 
   
   
           
      

  
 

 

 

the false imprchion, and tried to get rid of the

‘ “ But this sort of mysteriour, murderous attack,

'Idisturb yourselves any more over this little
~matter.” ‘

‘1‘. ‘ VbMRero

, may also turn out ”-—this was especially for we
(me up was altogether an accidenwm
, much of a surprise to the Intending burglar as

I V T steamed to settle the matter for the' time

:‘forms me that you-were having an eye do that

' morning." " x

dookin _ over and: elected ud_beti ou
. m ,5 cam “my

‘  " “mils. a. weird neté¢t1v6.~*r '  '

‘ V_ _ (pm, _,,,   , ‘5‘”. ”

 

 

clined an invitation to enter on the plea of being
engaged to breakfast with a friend, and then
said, with becoming seriousness:

“ Miss Granthy, I——I have much to say to you
on a subject thatis of the most important, 1
any say of the most vital interest to me.”

is manner was both impressive and signifi-
cantly nuivc, with just about the right degree of
deferential timillity, and he paused to give her
a chance to interpose something,r if so disposed,
but Grace only looked at him calmly, and said
nothing.

“May I ask—will you Consider it presump-
tuoUs,” ho continued, even with tench' earnest-
ness, “ in me to request an interview—may some
ti..1e to-dar, ifconvcnient—at which I can ex-
press myself more fully than at present, Miss
Grantby?”

“ There can be no impropriety in the inter-
viuw you propose, Mr. llartlow,” the young
lady answered, with cold pohtcucss. “ You can
call at any time this afternoon.”

“ Shall I say at hulf‘past tbrco, which will be
directly after banking hours?" he feverishly
asked; alniost clasping his hands in his eager-
ness.”

“ Just as you please, Mr. Bartlow.”

As shc turned up the walk, however, she did
not see what was pcrccivcd by the Touch—Detec-
tive, who was observing the situation from a
lounging position on the front piazza of tho
residence, where he was awaiting the announce-
ment for broaklast, partly concealed by clam-
bering trellis vines. And that was Madame
Renaud exchanging a swift, significant sign
With the cashier, as the latter was turning away
from the gate, nffcr lifting his hat to the heiress,
with his most elaborate DOW.

Then Mr. Grantby hintself appeared on the
piazza, as the housekeeper announced' that
breakfast was waiting, looking both mortified
and bewildered, for the burglarious and incen-
diary atthpt in his guest’s room had only just
Come to his Knowledge.

 

CHAPTER XlIl.
THROUGH Tm: DAY.
AT the breakfast table, Magnue still kept up

subject by making light of it.
“ My dear sir,” he said to the banker, in his
composed, easy way, “ thcrc. is real-nothing to
et excited over. A sneakfthieving attempt!
hat does it amount to 3” ,
“Sneak-thieving, yes!” cried Mr. Grantby.

together with the attempt to chloroform and
than burn you up in your bedl Outra eousl If
you weren’t yourself a detectiver 1’ 'send to
New Y::rk‘f0r another, andnot rest another
hour-"till the Scoundrel was safe behind iron
bars. ,

“ Au outrage, indeed!" mhsically echoed
Grace, who had been greatly shocked by the
news. “indeed, papa, it wouldn’t be no bad
to summon a whole corps of (lctmtives, as it is,n
Illr. Magnus bciug otherwise engaged.”

Mammy; burst into an amused laugh.

H Henx‘el‘lfilndjolm’d in Madame Renaud, from
behind the co ee-urn, and in her pretty bogus
French accent; “I should say so. And how
can mousicur laugh so carelessly over such a
terribly narrow escape?" She gave a little
shiver. » v, 

“Look here nmv. my good frienrlsiV’said the
detective, still smihngly, “do not, cntreat,

I '5‘ But it isn’t a little matter,” persisted the ’
_ “ It is a decidedly big matter.”
: slifli. well,” quietly, “ at least allow me .to
mfi‘l‘fi it'my private matter, my dear sir. Do
it)”. WI romise to at least ‘spot’ the felo—
DIWSUJUCI ned intruder~well, inside of three
days, at thefur est.”
“ What.‘ outfibnnse that?"
“Certain y.” -' 5’ v

.-

“Theh. apart {inmg'ylmortiflcation as our
host I shall rest satis ,” y

“ l3 l8 lmderi‘t‘md. “1911. And, moreover, it

further soothing of the housekeepers suspicions
~“ that what you deem was an attain t to burn
quite as

to m if."

being, and everyone went on with ther‘epost in

I Cheerful frame of mind. , U ‘

, ‘ y be way, Mr. Magnus,” the banker pres.

ently observed, with a satirfied air, “Grace in-

cbiet bovine- of ours at a. Very early hour this
Miss Gmtby at the some time gave the do-

bective a look which he understood.

..  '25,“!!(30urt cottage, you mean?”

, “Humphl Well,'iti§u’t .a bad thing to be

. yes! Here you  the factual
 > v \ 5 ‘ ' ‘

 

39:  

ii

    

     

, ncemore ‘ousl a
11mm"  _.

' ently with a reluctant frankness, “ I must admit

that I now agree with you as toadiscovery
awaiting us in that quarter.”

“Aha!” Mr. Grantby’s eyes glistcued. “I
felt you would share my impression as to those
missing bonds. Good 1”

“Just leave me to my own devices,” con—
tinued Magnus, cheerfully, if evasively. “By
this time to-morrow, if not considerably earlier,
the discovery shall be forthcoming.”

Pleased as he was, Mr. Grantby now for the
first time thought of his daughter’s feelings,
which this turn of the discussion might have
wOlinded most poignantly. But a sympathetic,
self—reproachful glance across the table at her
furnisned him with yet another agreeable sur-
prise.

Graco was compOscdly eating her breakfast
w1th hcr accustouaal appetite. Indeed, So far as
the display of any painful emotion was con—
ce'rned, she, might never have had more than the
most trivial uctpxaintdnco with the unfortunate
brother of Ada lllaycourt.

“ How splendidly she is getting over it!” ex-

 

; ly careless looks around him, as if to make sure
‘ that he was not being tracked or observed.

3 serving: his every movement.

0

claimed the happy and pur‘olind father to him- "

self. “ Gad! in spite of tlrcshook sho manifested
ovcr the nch at first; her former likng for
wretchedyoung llaycourt couldn have. born
morel than skin—docp, after all. ,A al Burtlow
has a chance for her still.”

Ho was almOst gleeful when he rose from the ,

table and wcht oil" to the bank, after shaking
hands with both his guest and daughter, besides
beamineg nodding,r to Madame Renaud, quite
exuberautlv.

As for Magnus himself, the calmness with
which Mis< Granibv had listened to the last dis-
cussion had likewise struck him as singular, if
nothcartlcss.

But she managed to intercept him in the front
ball when he was on his way out, saying:

“ Mr. Magnus, my dcarfriend, Ada Muycourt,
has been telling me of your very gentlcniauiy
considerateness at the cottage yesterday after-
noon.” ’ .

She was lookin at him/with peculiar intens—
ity. Hcrdark/gycs \“cfel like stars, and there
was such a mantling of holor in her beautiful
olive cheeks that he was no longer in doubt as
to the genuineness of the florid cashier‘s passion.

“ May I have afew words in p' ivate with you,
Mr. Magnus, a short time hence .9” she inquired,
very graciously.

“ Certainly, miss,” he replied.
110w and here, allow me to ask?”

“l-—-I do not feel exactly equal to it at this
moment. Besides ”—they were a the foot of the
broad staircase, with no one else view, but she
threw a quick glance around her-“ we might be
observed.” x

He smiled.

“Ah! you/have, then, already learned to dis-
trust—” '

“The housekeeper, yes,” in a low voice.

“ I am glad of that. At your pleasure, then,
Miss Granthy.” I \

He made his bow, and passed out, while the
young lady went on up tho stairs.

It was the detectiVe’s intention to pass on up
the street, as if for a 'long stroll, and then, if
possible, to gain the garch by that little rear
gate without being perceived; for it would not
be bank hours for some little time, and he felt
confident that the visual signal exchanged by
the conspirators from gate to piazza would be
followed by a secret meeting f or Conference and
ex lanations at their earlith convenience.

e therefore moved briskly up the street, so
as to in do: the dqtour of the entire block, or

‘ Sonora. and at the first turn chanced upon the l
8‘ ' - that he could exert it successfully.

rf Norah, on her return from some errand,
.which' he deemed to be fortunate. , -

“I have not fnljgotten,youl'SOrVice of this
morning,” he said. after Causin: berm stop.
“ It made me your friend and weh-wisher. Con-
tinue to verve me, and youxwill not regret it."

“Oh, thank you, sir!" replied the girl, with
much earnestness. “ Yes, sir, I will he pl’ascd to
follow your ordhers. indadc, I misdoubt if I
could help myself,“ I wanted to.”

u W1, .1" I ,

“ lndade, an’ Loan hardly any, sir: but there‘s
a quare lmlc in your eyes, sir, as if they were
just a fouchin’ me all over an’ would kill me in-
tirelv if I played youfalse. ’

“ , then; but; I mean yea nothing but
kindness.” ' . a ’

“ I belayve you, sir.” -; r ‘

“ You are an excellent pickpocket, as a matter
of course?” ~: ‘ . i
“ Sirl" flaring up. , I ‘ .. i ,

‘9 Stuifl‘ I know yourpast, girl. Are you an
expert. or not?” , .
' ‘I has considered a rare one. sir,” Norah
frankly admitted, “ hermit I reroomedm .

“That is better," more kindly. ‘

“ What Woull your Honor have modal", - 4

“ The housekeeper will doubtless reoeive a
comma iea‘tion from Mr. ,Bartlow, within an
hon; or, . ,You must obtain its purport for
 ,I, I z x  A

“ I’ll do my best; sir." v , ' ,
. o distrusted her, and resumhd hilstroll; '

   
     
 

 
  
  
  
  

“ But why not 1

 

, at the hack of the house more or less under h

 

   
  
  
  
    

his appearance, coming out of the street door
with a stern and preoccupied air.

“ Is he going direct to the bank or not Q’” mut-
tered the detcctivc, consulting his watch.

And, keeping well out of sight. be accordingly 
‘ shadowed his man, as the latter moved briskly v 
away.

 

     

CHAPTER XIV. v
A SCRAPOF PAPER.

MAGVK'S was accordingly not a little gratified
to see the cashicr presently turn into the narrow
strch at the rear of Mr. Gruutby’s grounds.

)lr. liartlow paused for some moments in the _, .
vicinity of the gate, throwiny,r kccn but. seemiug- * !

      
     
     
     
       
     
       
     
 

But, an adcpl’. at ‘ sliailowing,’ .the detective
had already slipped into hiding: in one. of the
stable passages on the opposite side, and was ob-

      
    
        
 

At length the cashier suddenly disappeared
through the door in tize “all, closing it behind
him.

Magnus smiled Complacently. . .

Bartlow rcapmarcd, however, almost instant- .
15', and walked away in the dircclion of the
bank, after glancing at his watch, and another
rapid survey of his surroundings. ‘ ‘

“ So!" thought the detective: and, flitting
across the street, he slipped into the garden in
his turn.

There could not have been time for Bartlow
to have bad word with the housekeeper, he,
thought.

No sooner had be effected his concealment in‘
a Convenient nook just inside the gate before be
perceived Madame {enaud approaching, with
an ale t and expectant uu'.

“ Ah 2" murmured the detective.

'Thc woman. after a cautious lmk around her,
sauntel‘cd up to a gnarlcd old apple tree, and
drew from somewhere in its crotch a folded slip '
of paper, which, al'tc!‘ yet another preliminar
surrey. she opened and seemed to peruse wit
sonic diiliculty. ‘ ‘

“ Such haste!” she muttcrcd thoughtfully, and}.
loud enough for the (.letective to overhear, for
he was crouching close at hand. "Hon’ever,: .,
perhaps it is better so; though it segms to me '
his apprehensions are premature." '

She thrust the paper in her bosom, and re-
traced her steps.

Magnus waited and reflected.

He must know the purport of that scrap of
“'riting~—Bartlow’s message to his f air confedersi
ate—without fail and Without delay. ’

But should he risk communicating with Norah I
to that end there in the rear grounds, or make .
his way back to the house for that purpose by
the front gate, the better to avoid the house:
keeper’s suspicions, should she chance to observe
his returnt

No: to return directly to the house would r-
lmps bring about the requested interview with»
Miss (irantby at once, which'he was notyet 5
quite prepared for; and besides, no especial sus- 
picion could attach to his having re-enterod the
iandsome grounds for a stroll while finishing his.
c1

    
      
     
        
              
      
   
 
        
    
        
       
     
       
         
     
   
        
    
        
       
    
        
      
    
 

  

 
     
        
       
        
   
           
             
       
   
 

e accordingly proceeded to the grape arbor
at which he had (‘llC‘Ulll'liill‘k’d the housemnid 
the preceding night. and put forth his Will to;
the utmost to bring her to him. , .F,

This was a species of mesmeric power which»,
Magnm ixmsed in a certain degree in connec- ,
tion with his phenomenalseusitiveneas to impremr
sinus through his sense of touch: though it was;
only upon particular subjects or temperamehti

Was the girl Norah one of these? He thought
and hoped so, but could only await the resultat
the test. ' ' ’~ ‘

Concealed by the lowering vine-leaves, 
with the path leading from the kitchen garden

         
     
      
       
     

  

      

   

     
      
     
   
   
  

  

   

     
     
 

 

   
 

 

 
   

   

observatimi, be concentrated his mind upon tho;
girl, streiched forth his hand, and willed her
him with all his might. ‘ , , '
It was long before there was a response, But at
last, much to his satisfaction and relief, tut
young woman appeared at the head of the path em
She looked about her hesitating'ly at first, 11%;"
then advanced speedily toward him, her come!
face lighting up, partly with surprise, partly
with pleasure, as she met his soft smile. ,_ w “ a '
“ Ob, sir.” said the girl, “ and you are r_ '
here. then?” . , ‘V ‘
“ Yes, Norah, and awaiting ou,”replied"
detective. “ But. how did you newt” ‘
“ I—-,I just somehow couldn’t help
was the reply. ‘ ,
, " Have you anything for me?" , , V; - .
She handed him a folded slip,  “:1  ;
sharp work to crib it air, for she. had  '
any in her bosom. ’But luckilyiser haer
down while we Were dustia’ the macaw ,  .
together. an’ it was white I has kmdlyfrqs‘
magin’ofihairfihck”  , ' ,»‘~
“ On have done capitaily, Norah. 
donqw. Whenyon you 'm M: x. .. '
a;th saw me in thegrounds wi  ,,
gait” might have mentored them‘by' ‘-

,' ff,aoodiucxc9yug;apgmi§ , ;

  

 

 

      
  
 
  

   
  
  
  

 
  

  

      

  

   
 

  

    

       

    

 
 

myself, Bi

  
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
  
  
 
  
   

 
    
  
  
  

 
 
 

 

     
    
  
  
  

 
 
 
  
   
  
 
 
 

 

 

  

   

  
 
 
   

. 12..., ..-..

 

y

After the girl had gone, Magnus lost no time
in examining the paper. "
’It contained writing in cipher, but which the
detective, being an adept in such matters, Boon
managed to resolve into the following communi-
cationg-without either address or signature:

“ Am to how an interview with (l. (i, this attor-
noon. Will do tln- lover act to thi- top of my bout.
(ll-pend on it. but am dubious as to l‘i‘SlllL. l'n cos:-
of non-success, will have to make a clean sweep of
Cash-vaults and effect my t-vanislunent to-night, or
say at two A.M. which will give me time to cut for
the Canadian border, as I have pre-an-dnged. At
all events, we mustn‘t risk speaking together again,

on and 1. Will signal you as to result at dinner
able this evening. if i dropmy napkin, considcrihat
the heiress is ohduralc. and that tho secop and flight
as just hinted are fixed upon. Tllvl‘t! IS no other
course; for, with both (i. (l., and the detective sus-
pflcting me, .to delay longer would be madness. lic-
sides, there is some mystery about that corpse at
the Maycourts that hot h puzzles and daunts me. I
' Can’t help dreading: and foreboling—l don‘t know
’ What. In the mean time, you have your own game
’ with regard to the, old one. ltis in your hands, il'you
play it with discretion and power; though don‘t nmk ~
the mistake of mum-rating the Maycourt widow
~ » as a possible rival. l shan’t quite broak tho. hank,
' ‘ I hope; so that there will be good pickings for you
 ' \to rake in with old (i. Good luck to both of us, until
we can be together once more in safety, and with
.. our future lee-cure!"

 
 

The detective folded up the paper and care—
fully put it away in his pocketbook, with a
smile. '

“ When will not the shrewdest scoundrelism
overreach or give itself away sooner or later?”
he cogitated. “But one Would really have ex-

acted something clevorcr 0f the acComplishcl
losmo Armsdulc, alias Bartlow, Hartwell, ct

crtrra, ct cetcra. The work goos bravely on.”
 '2/ Sauntering into the front grounds, he made
«  "‘ out axif haying recent entered from the main
' ‘5, street, when be, per civml Madame Renaud
moving restlessly over the gravcled approaches
to the house, hcr downcast eyes roving search-
lngly‘ here and there. ,

“ ine morning, ma’m!” was the detectiVe’s
polite greeting, as he tossed away his cigar-
stump. “ Lost anything, may 1 inquire!”

The woman eyed him with a swift suspicion,
but with an evident effort to hide a certain agi~
tation of manner.

_"Yes, onsieur, a bit of household memo-
~randa,” she replied. “But,” with assumed in-
ditference, “it was of no rent consequence.” v
_ ,,’i‘."A "memorandum? ght this be it, that I
 pickeyl up by the gate yonder a few minutes

a. o

  

  

.5

This was the truth‘, and he handed her a small
, list of groceries, which Norah had perhaps
. dr pad on her first errand of the mornin . ‘
. . adame Renaud eagerly snatched at the pa-
per, but tore it up an scattered the fra ments,
. with 3100]: it seemed of mingled disappo ntment

. and relief.

"“ No, that is not it,” she said. “ But I proba-
,\\ bly dropped the per somewhere within doors,
- .-and it was real y of no consequence. Yes, as
.monsieur says, the morning is lovely." And
,she continued her searching walk back in the
9 direction of the kitchens.”

When _she had assed out of night around the

, Mun Grant y, wearing her garden. hat,

1 red on the front piazza, looking some-
what expectant.
Q} "  de tive raised his hat, with a smile, and
jehe’torthwith joined him, when she indicated a
,comparatively secluded path lending oi! amon
the shrubberies to the right, which they acco -
in 1:1 pursued together.
‘, here was a flutter of nervousness in the
young lady’s manner, which Magnus noted, and
than said-

  

  

  

 

  
  
  
 

  

  

  
 

  

‘ "I amholly atyour service, Miss Grantbg.
I presume you Wish to Ipeak with me con -
,dentiallyl”

. ,“Yes, if you nave no objectiond," she replied,
. , ‘ laced more at her ease by his kindly
'-, respectfu ness, which seemed both to invite and
“cocaine 3 her confidence. “That is, if we can
Svation, or the possibility of being
,, , “Exactly. Then let me suggest a more
,nppt, with less chance of eavesdropping, than Just
here. That fen pretty little summer-house on
.y the bare knoll onder.

sod?”

'“ Isn’t it rat or ex .
.“And therefore t e se‘cnrer from espionage.
fit the place.” .

hey accordingly proceeded to the spot indi-

eatedmnd were no sooner seated than Magnus

so ., inhisreasy, engaging way:

, “ Let me help you enrol? our embarrassment

A bit; miss. You wish, i I mistake not, to

tséakto me flint about the sad aflalr at the

v

   
   

   
  
 

   
 

 
 

  
  

  

  

 
 

3* ‘ yco‘urts’, tpert:itpfilathefil to la!!! me that you
a consen give r. art on an e 'nt-
men: for thit afternoon”, ppm

 

, V, V , CHAPTER Xv.
. A. g . or run SUMMER-HOUSE.
Mme may looked up in unqualified sur-

  

I

  
  

 
 

,, . , «thrive you divined that, air?” she askhd.
- in. but title of importance,

   

the final enlightenment t

harm...“ the wand.  I _  ~

the smiling reply. “ Confess that such is the
case.”

“ It is so, in part,” and Grace also smiled,
whereupon there suddenly seemed established
quite a good understanding; between them. “I
will further confess, and frankly, Mr. Magnus,
that there are several things I wish to talk with
you about.”

“ Go right ahead, then, my dear young lady.
Nothing like making a beginning.”

“ ()h, sir!” exclaimed Grace, impulsively,
“ you told both Mrs. Maycourt and Ada to
hope.”

“ Y-e-s," slowly.

" What did you mean by it, sir?—-—to hope for
what?” She clasped her hands.

“ Well—:r—I merely meant for ’em to hope,
you know.”

“ lint to hope for what?” ,

“ 0h, morer in general, you know; not to
give way to dcspondency and despair.”

“ lint there is poor Randall dead in the house
—3ll this gliaszly disgrace and misery!"

“ Y-(ns; to he sure.”

“Anl that is their sole cause of misery and
mino. that can be hoped for for him?”

“ I can’t particularize, ma’m.”

“ But you must, Sir!” vohmnnntly.
myst il’ication is (fl'lll'l——W()l‘:<t‘. than cruel!”

“ No niystilication about it~or thi-rc needn’t
be for any great length of time,” said Magnus,
a little doggedly. “ If they don‘t choose to rake
hope thus vaguely and on general principles,
they needn’t to. That is nil.”

“ On, Mr. Magnus!" This was all that Grace
could say, but there was an agoniz-d sort of ap-
peal and entroaty in her words and manner.

“ Yea, miss.”

“ I—I am quite as much, quite as painfully,
interest/cl in this tragic nil‘iir as either Mrs.
Muyoourt or Ada can he, sir.”

“ So I have surmised, miss.”

“ Mr. hl'lgnlh‘, I~—l loved himl I loved Rem-
dall Mriycourt and he loved me. In fact, we-
Wo worn secretly betrothed to one another, sir.”

“ You honor me highly With such a confidence,
miss,” replied the detective, gravely.

“Do I so! Now, then, won’t you say what
there is to hope, and how we may hope?"

“No, miss, not now, at least. I can’t par-
ticularize just yet.”

“ But this is cruel, sir!"

“Indeed, I den’t mean it to be, miss.”

” When will you condescend to be more par-
ticular, then?"

“ Very shortly hence? Magnus looked at his
watch. “ Say considerably less than before an«
other day passes over our heads.”

She was looking at him with a wild and flut-
tering eagerness, that yet, for all its painful-
ness, served to increase er dark beauty.

“ What! and you bid me, also, to hope till
then?” I

“ I do, most assuredly, and with all heart!”
cried the detective. “ And now, Miss rantby,
pray proceed to something else. So you have
accorded Mn, Bartlow, and doubtless at his
urgent request, an appointment for this after-
noon?” ‘
“Yes_,sir,Ihuve.” Sheep roachedvthe change
of subject, as suggested, ‘re uctantly, but with
resolution. *

" And you do me the honor to wish to consult
me even on that poi t beforehand.”

“ yes; I am var; much troubled, Mr. Mag-
nus. \ I.

“ Suppose you speak out unreservedly, some-
thing as it I were your brother, you know. You
can rely on my sincerity and- disinterestedness.”
“Thank you. thank you. Mr. Magnus. Yes,
Iwill do so. Perhaps on have likewise sur-
mised something as to th s matter, sir?”

“ Yes; and, moreover our father has vouch-
safed to speak to me of r. Bartlew’s passion."
“Mr. Bartlow’s passion, indeed l” contemptu-

“ Tl] IS}

ously. “ And then papd’s infatuation for that
map! Mr. Magnus, I really can't understand
it.

“I can, in a measure, at least in Mr. Grant-
by’s casé. Mr. Bartlow is an exceptionally
showy and impressive man. But for all that, I
can also understand why he fails to impress
you, save disagreeablv, and to be glad for your
own sake that it is so.” i ' i
The young woman turned her bright (ayes
pptli‘n her companion with a pleased, true ng
00 .

7

" Thank you for saying that, air!” she said,
in her impressive way. “ Mr. Magnus, I inst hate
that man i” -
it Why pi .
" Because I do, and can’t help it,” she laugh-
ed. “ A nod enough woman’s reason, no? But
I can see ust how randly. handsome he is, and
even fascinating or most. Yet there is some-
thing, in fact everything, about him that in-
spires me with mistrust and dread.” .

“ This is well." ' '
~,“ Who and ,whatiis he in reality, Mr. Magnus?
—Lan adventurer or worse?” .

“ I would rather not say at once, miss,” the
detective answered, slowly. “ Pray, wait for

at I have indirectly
on. '

sad i
“‘I chul do’ 86.. But you havg doubtless form-

 

     

" ‘ - m hardly
 that I have‘divlned t correctly,» was
 _rl‘  _ (1 i V i ,

 

   

' I \

" As a mattér of course, and a decidedly un-
favorable one.” i

“ Well, I sha’n’t have any pity for him—not a.
bit, though perhaps it is in the worst taste for
me to say so,” said Miss Grantby. “ 1 know his
desire is to formally propose to me this after-
noon. lVell, let him do so, if he is so dull as not
to guess his answer, without receivmg it.”

"Allow me to commend your resolve, miss,”
observed the detective, with his smile. “ And I
can also hazard a shrewd guess or two as to
what may follow upon your refusal of this blei d-
ing heart which the susceptible cashier is so
ready to lay at your haughty feet, if you ( ar. to
kno\v it.”

“What do you predict, Mr. Mngnns?”

“ First that the gentleman will accept your
f nther’sinvitation to dinner, in spite of his rejeco
tion at your hands.”

“ W hat, you think so?”

“I am sure of it.”

“ What else do you predict?”

“ That in the course of his repnst he will drop
his napkin on the floor.”

“ Why will he do that?” wonderingly demand-
ed the young lady. -

“ As a signal to Madame Renaud that he has
played for his stake and lost, and that perhaps
something else can be looked for as the alter-
native.”

Miss (lrantby looked at him in unqualified
astonishment.

“ What!” she exclaimed; “ you engage all
this to happen 1’”

“ 'v ’ith a reasonable amount of certainty.”

“ \Vhy, you must be a magician.” ‘

“ No, only a detective export.”

“ But how can you foretell this?”

Mugnus laughed.

“ Don’t think me churlish: but that must re«
main my secret for the present.”

“ Very well. But, Mr. Mag‘nus!” with re-
newod eagerness.

“ Well, MISs Grantby.” ,

“ Is there really a secret understanding be- .
tween Madame Renaud and Mr. Burtlow i” i

“ Have you never suspected it!”

“ Only of lute—or at least the possibility of
such a thing has occurred to me. But, answer
my $uestion, if you Will.” .

“ es, then; though it should not be suspected
that we are aware of it.”

“ Trust my discretion for that. I have always,
from the very first,” Miss Grantby drew along
breath, and Set her pretty teethghard, “some-
how mistrusted that women. And‘ the idea of
her making up to pupa in the artful, insidious.
way that she does!”

“ You are on the right track. But don’t for,»
get to be thoroughly on your guard against the
woman. She has been secretly observing us
from behind the lattices of the little sidevpiazza,
by the way, ever since we first took our seats
here together.” - ,

Grace threw a quick, resentful look in the
direction of the house.

" I see no signs of that,” she said.-

“ But I do. . ., '
' “lee enough. I would be read to believe '
Mr. Magma,” with a laugh, “the. you could
almost use a thing before it hap nod.” And
here there was the ringing of a be] . l
“ I am hardly a rescientist,” replied the de-
tective, “ Is that t e summons fer luncheon?”
“ Yes; y0u will come?” '
“ Only as far as the piazza with you. We
mustn’t forget that I am sup to have the
Maycourt cottage under rigi watch.” .‘ l .

S 9 held out her hand confidingl , and Magnus,
gassed it gently, so that the no on might mot

perceived by the jealous eyes watching them
from the house. , , "
“Good-by ~till later on, then, Mr. Magnus,’
murmured the young luyy.‘ “ Lam ‘so glad that
I have confided in you. ,

“ Thank you, miss; but don’t neglect to keep
your head, as the my.”

“ Trust me for at.”

As the _
the house eeper put in a smiling appearance, '
and expr her regrets that Mr. Magma;

CHAPTER XVI.  -,‘
, BETWEEN cornea: AND unmox:  ,
. AMER a brief snack at a rested , t. the de- «
tective, who had good reasons ot'hill pwn “for a
riod of self-communion in the interim, leisure-
y took his way to the Muycourt cottage. .
Coming within sight of t, h0wever, he nick-
cued his pace, for a couple of men, Vrobnb y an
undertaker and his assistant, were net entering
the place. « _
Mrs. Mayconrtiand Ada Were m the hall .
assage, with a neighbor, as the detective made
Bis appearance by the door. which had been left

0 ,n. ' »

p’l‘he mutely piteous looks of the previous day
had ,- them, and they were listening
with cuped handsto the professional move-‘
ments that were audible from the chamber of'

death. "
“ Leave it all to me,”said
kindly voice, respectfully taking the hand

 

   
     

ed your , rate opinionof the gentleman?”

    

each. “I take “1313) my watch now,to be but. f‘
briefly interrup \ when} shall 30.; tom.

were separating at the piazza steps. 4‘

could not remain for lunch.  v f  , .1

Magnua, in his 10:3I __

        
   
      
   
   
   
       
            
        
        
     
     
     
       
     
   
        
 
     
      
      
       
      
      
       
       
   

      
 

     
   

    
    
      
 
    

      
  
    
 

     

      
      
      
 
 

" l
\ I V
. r"

“.

 
   
 

  
              
   
    
     
     
         
       
         
         
       
         
    
      
       
     
        
      
        

 

          
     
     

   
       
     
   
   
 

     

 

    
      
    
      
      

     

» «I, 9- n~a~9wlqyovup-ve.p:~o

 

       
     
 
    
    
    
      
     
       

     
 
  

     

    
     
 

    
  
   
    

a I, Q.
Magnus,

  

 

 

3- a  I, >  j  {'2'},   .9  i l. '1 l .~
the Weird Detectwe.

     

u...-
' l

_11 

 

 

 

   
 
 

Granth ‘s to' dine. Try to think of something

else, at east for a little while.”

They submissiver retired into an adjoining
room, while the detective entered the apartment
where tho men were at their undertaking work,
_ closing the door behind him.

3 y A I It was well that the stricken mother and sister

' ' ’ Were not present. ‘

The coflin had been brought, was already up-
on the trcstles, in fact, and as the men Were
placing the body in the box they were havingr
their little mutter-of fact talk, perhaps after the
cold-blooded manner of their kind.

But after all, should the undertaker’s man 'be
blamed, any more than the ruder graVc—diggcr,
{or the hardening of the sensibilities that comes
so naturally of his constant familiarization with
the inanimate forms that have wrung so many
an ugonized but fleeting sob and tear from the
handful few? .

“ It’s apretty tight fit, isn’t it?" said the as-
sistant.

“ I should sav so,” replied the undertaker;
“ but he’d have ,L'oi a Worse, fit if he had lived,
like enough—four strong walls for a good part
of his days.”

“ Who’d have thought ofit of Ran Mayconrt?”
wnilinuetl the first. “ The pink of propriety and
honesty, one would have sworn to!"

“ Well, you know,” chimed in the other, who
had doubtless i-nvieil the unfortunate youth his
high reputation, '” perhaps I wouldn’t, for one,

. Oi course, the widow and the pretty young miss
are to be greatly pitieil, and all that, but the.
young gentleman always struck me as some.
what ulti'a, a little too, too, you know, to last-fit
out.”

They had by this time disposed the shrouded
form within the casket, and partly drawn ovor

-. the cover. though without fastening it down.

“ They’ll be able to see the face through the
winder in the lid," said the subordinate. “ \Vhy

'not screw it down now, and be done with it?"

“ You’ll do nothing of the sort!” exclaimed
the detective, angrily advancing, and now dis-
covering his presence for the first time. “ If
your oiliccs are ilnished for the present, asthey
St'i‘lll to be, the faster you make yourselves
scarce the bet tar." v

‘ The assistant, who was a surly-looking fellow,

seemed disposed to resent the interference, but

his superior grasped his arm.

“ It is the fl y cop from New York,” he whis-
pered. “ Come along!” And he led him out of
the room.

“This is the way they managed to keep the
circumstances of this miserable affair secret!”
thought Magnus, bitterly. “ The oast Doubt-
less the entire gossiping, community is by this.
time familiar with the young man’s unmerited

disgrace, and I would be willing to bet my head
. that that specious hypocrite of a cashier is re/
sponsibie for it!”

He removed the coffin cover entirely, and,
seating himself, remained gazing long and earn-
estly on the strained, marble face, occasionally
allowing the back of his hand to rest upon the

/ brow, with a curious lingering touch.

“ Not yet,” he muttered; “ no, not yet.”

Asia the former instance, he passed his hand
an ier the shroud and over the heart, though

. now there was an unaffected eagerness in his

V, manner, and he Seemed to listen no less than/to

feel'with his touch. , ‘

“ No, not yet,” he re ated. after a long

1. pause. “ And perhaps It as well." -

,  . He waited, apparently absorbed in thought,

until latein the afternoon, when there a a

movement at the door, and he opened it .d-

margins widow and her daughter;- ' I a

e 9 once more com ra ive ycomposed, .
h“ lagging; but a short tits: to, Mr. Grantbv’s
dinner hour, sir,” said Mrs. Maycourt. " We
thought ferhaps you had forgotten.”

“ 0' had not forgotten. You will remain
here alone, then till my return, say within a
couple of hours!” i v-

“ Ob‘ yearn '

“ But, there was a
kind neighbor?" _

. ” YGS, Madame Marcbelite. the milliner. She-

/ will bear us company again presently, Madame

is very kind, considering that she is but recent-

ly aneighbor, and but a slight acquaintance.
' But Madame l’tennud and other! recommen

. her. and she certainly seems voryladylike and

sympathetic—” ,

“ She is a friend of Mr. Grantby’s house.
keeperg’fiheni” interrupted the detective, with
9w1ft suspiciousness. \

‘ Both ladies looked at him in surprise, while

. ' nodding an assent.

\ ” A spy. like enough!” exclaimed Magnus,
9‘ more abruptly. “ You have reason to fear
he Renaud woman no less than the cashier. No

time for explanation now. You are expecting

this milliuer to return, you my?”

“ Yes,” replied the widow. “to watch with us

 

lady with you, doubtless a

h v.'

s

  

during your brief almoe.
_, “Find some excuse to shorten her,stay. AD-
\ other of

. our neighbors would willingly watch
With on in her place, doubtless!"   i

‘ en, es.” .

' ‘t  then: let this woman find me on the

{,1 Search business. fora b was your
dopls‘bedroom, ma’m‘l": i l, , ’ ‘ .

   
   
 

  

 

“ The back room at the head of the stairs.”

“Good!” He forthwith darted out of the
apartment and u the stairs.

When the symguthetic Madame Marchette re-
appeared a few minutes later, there was an un-
ceremonious rummaging going on in that par-
ticular room up there.

“ What in the world is the matter 3” cried the.
visitor, with a French accent tha was as unaf-
fected as Madame Renand’s was the reverse.
“ Who is making all that racket?”

Miss Maycourt took it upon herself to reply,
with an air of mortitication and annoyance
that was sufficiently in accordance with her
general worry and sadness.

“It is that detective, I suppose,” she said,
bitterly. “ \Vell, let him search and rummage
as he may !” I

“011!” and t e milliner elevated her eyes;
“the missing roperty, eh? I had forgotten.
And yet the inonsieur seemed to me so amiable
and considerate.”

He can be anything to order, perhaps," ob.
served Mrs. Mnycourt, also taking up the role.
“ Doubtlcss it’s a part of his profession.”

Here the detective appeared on the landing
above, with his coat oil’, a small hammer in his
hand, his hat and knees dusty, as if fresh from
ransacking many an odd corner.

Excusing himself with a grui’f politeness, lie
descended, putting on his coat while doing so,
and, availing himself of a wisp-broom that was
lying on the hat-rack ledge, began to dust him-
self oil unceremoniously in the presence of the
three women.

“Better luck later on, I hope,” he muttered,
grumblingly. “ However, 1 have between now
and the funeral at my disposal, and can go
ahead, room by room, crnnny Ey cranny, at
leisure. I hope you won’t thin hard of me,
mn’m, nor you either, miss; but business is
business, as you ought to know.”

“It’s scandalous, under the circumstances,
and I should think you would be ashamed of
yoUi‘Sclfl” the Frenchwoman took it upon herself
to declare, indignantly. She was a thin, smart-
ly-drcssed little woman, w1th snapping black
eyes, and not withoiit some passce pretensions
to good looks. “ You might at least have
waited until—but one looks in vain for any
respect for the proprieties in this country. "

“ Indeed, ma m,”sneered the detective. “ And
yet you doubtless condescend to make a living
of it.” ' v

“ It’s a scandal, an outrage! And I don’t be-
lieve you have discovered a single thing to war-
rant your oificiousnefs.” ,

“ Don’t you wish you knew whether I had or
not?" And with this parting sneer, Magnus
abruptly took himself off.

As he had predicted to Miss Grantby, the
cashier was present as a guest at the bank
president’s dinnerwtable, appearing very com-
posed and at his very best, and the dessert was

,not more than well under way when the gentle-

man managed to exchange a covert glance with
the housekeeper, and to drop his napkin upon
the floor.

Then it was the turn of the detective and ,Miss
Grantb to likbwise exchange a glance, that
was no 653 secret than circumspect. , ’

> “ I have begun my search in earnest,” Magma
said to the banker a littlelater on when taking
his departure for the evening. “ on can safely
expect something both surprising and satisfac-
tor frOm .me between now and morning.”
r. Grantby seemed pleased, and rubbed his
hands softly.

“ Aha!” he said; “ you are discovering that

our su. iciogs were not altogether misplaced,

1' ch?
“We :there’s something ahead for us, any-

wa ~.

. ‘y’l‘hank Heaven for that! Then will come the
funeral, and after/that! trust this whole place
of misery and unhappiness will be laid away."

It was early dUsk when Maguus returned to
the cottage, to find that Madame‘Marchette had
been got rid of, and where he forthwith took up
his solitary watch over the dead.

, CHAPTER XVII.
A MEMORABLE NIGHT-WAT ‘. '

Tm: midnight boa . was approaching, an
Magnus was sitting by he coifined form.

He was at a small table, an open book before
him, on which the full glow of ashaded student’s
lamp was directed, but his eyes only occasional-
ly Bought the printed page. bejng for the most
part turned With many an anger and anxious
glance toward t e White, upturned face looking

up so hastllly y tpeaoefnlly from the bier to,

the c ling.

4%: a sound, save the ticking of a clock in an
adjoining room, disturbed the reponeful hush of
the, unhappy house, both mother and daughter
having retired at an early hour, in obedience to
the Watcher’s kindly insistence, either to wear
out the long hours in distracting thought, or to
briefly forget their sorrow in slumben .

For the dozenth time, perhaps, since taking
up his vigil, the detective arose, unshaded the
lamp, and. bonding orer the upturned face, time
brightly remind, in mil its 

 

 

  
 
  
 

 

' _ i m. V. htt'.’ ‘ I .
ghastliu mast] and; . ,i . ' .
shamanism: 7   we “’5” “as”

   
   
  
 

By way of explanation, which the reader may  '.
already have guessed, let it be said here that ’
Magnus had been impremed from the first, and
was still impressed, with the belief that death ,,,, ,
here was not real, but only apparent—a case of . r.
suspended animation, doubtless in acataleptic i ’7:
form, and brought about by an ovcrmastering ‘ -- 
emotional or nervous shock, operating upon an .‘
organization naturally not strong, or perhaps
unconsciously susceptible to such prostrations on
occasion.

“ Still no change?” muttered Magnus, yet
again placing his talismanic hand, so to speak,
on the cold brow without result. “Strange-—
and the time is rapidly shortening, too.”

With increased anxiety, be consulted his
watch.

Hal f-past-clevenl

he produced a flask of brandy and one of
liquidizcd ammonia, and applied their contents
alternately, as he had done i'rchently before, to
the brow, lips and nostrils of the unconscious ,
man. *‘

Still witliOut effect—not the faintest quiver or
hint of returning animation.

Knitting his brow s, as the criticalness of /
the hour increased, he thrust his hand under the .4.’
shroud, and pressed it almost fiercely over the V
heart. '

Hal what was that? A beat, a throb, a
pulsation, howsoever faint?

No; scarcely.

“ It lW‘llSl Away, thou dreamer! he is gone.
It once was Lara whom thou look‘st upon.“

 
       
       
     
       
   
   
       
     
     
     
         
     
     
     
     
       
     
     
       
     
       
 

Pale, and\with the perspiration stremnin:r
from his disappointed face, the detective u'ito—
drew his weird touch, for the most part so sensi~
tive and potent in its majestic test.

Then, seizing a flask with either hand. in his
exmteiiient or impatience be fairly drenched the
upturned face with some of the Cou1cn ts of each .
at the same instant. “ a

Success!

Instantly there was a convulsive twitching of
the theretoforo rigid facial muscles, and this was
followed by a faint but perceptible respiratory
movement. ’ r

“Hal at last!" and again the Watcher’s hand
was thrust in over the reluctant heart.

A pulsation, this time an unmistakable one,
though the merest flutter; and then a stronger,
healthier, more distinctive one!

The next instant the detective had the dead-
alive’s head on his arm, and was administering
small portions of the brandy, drop by drop, ‘
through the parched, colorless lips, and with a
hand that was now as steadfast as a rock.

“ Good! I knew I would fetch you to, sooner
or later. How do you feel?” ‘

Randall Maycourt was sitting up in the c< fliu, .
the face softening, the color slowly returning to ~‘~
lips and eyes. , r '

“ Take your time—don’t be shocked or alarm- .
ed. All is well,” cautioned the delighted dctec— '

               
       
       
       
       
     
       
       
       
     
     
   
     
     
       
     
       
       
   
     
     
       
     
     
         
       
        

tive, with his brave. encouraging smile. “ Col-
lect yourself as slowly as you please.” :
“ No need!” gasped the restored man. " Don’t

      
 

you suppose that I know you—have known
eve thing?” ‘

“ but from the very first?"

“ Yes, or nearly so. Good God, and the
agony of it all! My poor mother—my poor
sister—Grace, my betrothed—and that infernal
hypocrite, Bartiowi Then thoserascaliy under» ‘
takers who would so willingly hays screwed me
down!" He paused, faint, and with a gesture '
towaid the flask. _ , _,  ',

“ here you are!” And the detective mixéd
asti bumper, which the young man drained
almost at a'draught.

Then be stretched llimself vigorously, dud
gratified his companion yet more pro uncedly
by dragging himself out of his hatef conflue-
ment without assistance, though he trembled
when upon his feet, and had to grasp the side of
the bier for support. .

“ I never tasted liquor before to night,” said
he. “ But I suppose there is some virtue in" it,
after all." '

“ I should say sol” cheerfully. “ Better not ,
have an more just no however. Look here!” i

And t e detective l him to a little tbbieia
the corner, which he had supplied surreptitiously
betimes ‘with various ,dainty and dppetizlng~-_‘
dishes from the best hotel kitchen in the town. x; '3 ’k

“ Here you ,are, my boy!” continued Magma ,J ,
arranging a chair, and making the rector .3
young man sit up to the repeat. , “ Force your-
self to eat a little at a time—that is, it‘ you
haven’t much of an appetite—and there is-._
capital bottle of California red wineto we
down what you can get away with.". * '

Not much of mappetitel 1 \ ' ’
i The viands were at once attacked with famish- v 1
lug eagerness, and, his initial hunger be 
satisfied, Randall was even able to giva  2i; '-
eer-vei- an outline account of, the strange all
but fatal eaten ' lament that had overtgllfeu him.

“Just on, I ivined its-just“ I divmed 1m;
cemented the mind master. joyfully. “But,
patience. my young friend; your revenga’and ‘
windiest are Win fact. are‘at hand um ‘

        
           
       
       
       
     
     
         
     
   
           
     
               
   
   
  

      
   
  

 
 
      
       
     
   
 
      
       
     
     
      

   
    
     
   
 
      
        
 
       
    
   
 
  
 
 
  
 

  
  
 
 
 
  
 

ion
u y
'g strand _ much

 

  

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y. i
;.
ti

 

1.5»

‘g...

r

12

Magnus, the Weird Detective.

 

lose. What do you see yonder, by way of a be-
ginning?”

As the detective spoke, he pointed to one of
the young man’s complete suits of clothes, laid
in readiness over the side of the bed; and there
were also conveniences for a thorough toilet-
making near at hand; all of which had been
secretly provided from the apartment above by
his intelligent foresight after the ladies had been
persuaded to seek their retirement for the night.

“ Mr. Magnus, you are a most wonderful
man,” said Randall Maycourt, with much
simplicity, as he proceeded to avail himSt-lf' of
these welcome accommodations, without delay.
“ You see,” with a smile that was still not a lit-
tle wan, “I have made in self somewhat ac-
quainted with you even whi e in my trance.”

“Yes? it is all very odd but very fortunate.”

“ But for you, sir,” and the young man paused
to grasp his hand, with a sort of gasp, “ I might
have been buried alive!”

“ Nonsense! think of something more enliven-
ing. Hasten slowly now, and I will summon
your mother and sister as soon as you are pre-
sentable.”

“ Oh, but they must. be prepared.”

“Leave that to me.”

“You spoke of my being revengcd—vindica-
ted this very night?”

“ True; and there is amle time. Why, you
are lookinc' almost 'ourself a ain. Now I
a 3 K 7

shall risk bringing in the liltlivs. After that,
I must go for Mr. Grantby, so that you can tell
your strange story in detail, once for all.”

“ But the scoundrel Bartlowf"

“ He shall be attended to later on. Fear not;
he is busily and unconsciously weaving already
the net that is to snare him to his own undoing.”

Apparently invigorated afresh by this hope
held out to him, young Maycourt hurriedly
completed his toilet, while Magnus quitted the
room upon the delicate mission that was before
him.

As the latter closed the door behind him, a
light appeared at the head of the stairs, and he
perceived Mrs. Maycourt standing there, fully
dressed, her face Wearing a wondering, some-
what startled look.

Then Ada made her appearance at her side,
likewise lOoking alarmed.

“ It is you, Mr. Magnus?” queried the elderly
lady from above.

“ Yes, ma’m,” was thereply, and in a cheerier,
heartier tone than they had yet heard from him.

“ What is the matter, sir? I was sure I heard
you conversing with some one, and my daughter
was equally certain. And yet—”

“ So you did,” cheerier yet. “ Stop right
down here, both of you. Easily now, and don’t
be unnecessarily alarmed. Joy shouldn’t upset
you beyond mending.”

Joy? What could he mean? They both came
down in trembling haste and mystification, the
elder supported by the younger.

“ Remember that I have warned you to take
it easy,” continued the detective. Dim as the
light was, they could note the honest brightening
that was in his dark, handsome face. “ So, then,
flutter a bit, if you must, but don’t faint. You
recollect that I told you to hope?"

“ Yes, yes!” It was Miss Maycourt who man-
aged to reply this time.

“ And that your enlightenment should come
soon ?”

“ Yes, yes; oh, sir!” ,

“ It is come already. My friends, the dcar one
who was dead and seemingly disgrace] is alive
and vindicated!” '

Here the door was opened, and with a sup-
pressed cry, first the mother and then the sister
were in Randall Maycourt’s arms. '

Magnus only lingered long enough to caution
them to restrain their tranSports, and then, slip-
ping out of the house, he hurried away.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.

“HE BANK PRESIDENT RECEIVES
' PEC'I‘ED SURPRISE.

IT was half-an-hour after midnight when the
ietective entered Mr. Grantby’s grounds, and
debated with himself as to how he might best
communicate with the worthy bank president at
that unseemly hour, without arousing the house-
hold, and especially without affording the
housekeeper a suspicion as to what had occur-

AN UNIX-

Fortune, however, seemed to favor him, for
one of the second-story balconied windows at the
side of the house, doubtless belonging to a large
apartment that might be Mr. Grantby’s own,
showed a bright light, as if the occupant might
be still stirring or awake.

At all events, he chanced it by tossing a peb—
ble or two against the upper sash, the lower one
being wide open, affording entrance for the cool
summer air, which waved the rich lace curtains
back and forth.

Then a spasm of disappointment seized him,
for in response a statuesque female figure, the
head and shoulders partly concealed by a. black
lace mantle, looked wonderingly and a little lus-
picioualy. forth.

Iff’ it should prove to be Madame Renaud her-

But the next instant he was relieved by the

 

figure stepping out on the balcony and standing
revealed as that of Miss Grantby.

The detective stepped back into the moonlight
and coughed, at the same time making a gesture
of caution. ‘

“ What! it is you, Mr. Magnus?” the young
lady said softly, recognizing him at once.

“ Yes; I hope I didn’t alarm you.”

“ It is of no consequence if you did.”

“ Miss Grantby, it is imperative that I should
see your father out here at once, and without
apprising you can guess whom. 13 he long re-
tired?"

“No; and he may not yet be asleep. I will
see—that is—but what is it, Mr. Magnus?”

“ Something very important—a discovory.
He must accompany me to the cottage at once.”

“ But you were on watch there—you have
desprtcd your post .7" -

“ Never rmnd that,” with an impatience which
he strove to repress. “ ll'ill you let your father
know as quiet y as possible? I will await him
around the corner in the shadow of the wall.”

“ A great discovery at the cottage, you say?”
she was looking down at him with a wild eager-
ness and cui’iOsity.

” Yes, yes; time passes”

“ ()h, Mr. Magnus!” beseechingly; “mightn’t
I go too?”

“ Impossible?y half-angrily.

“ Please! I shall be so discreet; and papa
will in) sure to make a noise while blundering
through the halls, if not piloted properly.”

The detective hesitated, and then reflected.
“'hy, after all, might she not partake of the
mother’s and sister’s (Iron!) 3.0% Without the
delay, that was after all not indispensable?

“ Yes, then,” he replied; “provided you make
dispatch.”

She quickly w'thdrew, with a gratified little
sigh; and, as l\ agnus looked back while rc-
tracing his steps, she had already extinguished
the light in her room.

Neither could he complain of the secrecy and
dispatch with which his instructions were
obeyed.

Indeed, very shortly after he had ensconced
himself within the shadmv of the outer garden
wall he was joined by the young lady, with her
august parent somewhat bewililercdly in tow, as
you might say.

“Bless me! what is it, Magnus?” exclaimed
the banker, though in a guarded tone. “ Have
you come across the missing bonds already?”

“ You will hardly find fault with the dis-
covery I have made, sir,” replied the detective,
cvasively, while swiftly and silently leading the
way through the deserted streets. “ I’ll answer
for that.”

“ But man alive, this is good news surely!
though can scarcely see the necessity of rout-
ing a man out of his bed at this beastly hour
merely to tell him that you have lighted onto
the stolen property.” I -

“ I did not say anything about stolen pro-
pert , sir.” ’

“ Vhat mystery is this?"

“None whatever; a discovery, or revelation,
that you have had my promise for, that is all.”

is But’__”

“ Dear papa, can’t you let well enough alone?”
interposed Grace, who had succeeded in master-
ing her own mystification in a measure. “In
less than five minutes we will be there.”

“ Humph!” and the banker quickened his
pace, while thrusting his hands in his pockets
somewhat groutily. ‘

But,,when they arrived in front of the cot«
tage, the parlor-which had been the chamber
or death—was perceived to be brightly lighted
up, and there came the confused hum of voices
from within.

Then, as Mr. Grantby impatiently hurried
forward in the lead, (irracc suddenly seized the
detective by the arm with a trembling grasp
and drew him back.

“I know it all now,” she whispered the ex-
citement of a great joy and thanksgivihg lightJ
ing up the dark loveliness of her face and eyes.
“ Why did I not inspect your noble secret from
the first?”

“ flush .’”

“ Death was onl apparent—he is alive!”

“ Hushl I beg 0 you!”

But she darted ahead of her father as the door
was opened by Ada Maycourt.

There was an exclamation, an embrace, a ki,
the darting of one graceful figure past the other,

and then the closing of the street-door, as Mr.
Grantby and Magn s entered almost abreast.

Then the astounde bunker entered the parlor,
clutchin the edge of the door-frame for sup-
port, an could only stare and glare.

For there, in the midst of the confused room,
with the empty coffin and treaties thrust con.
spicuously to one side, was the dead-alive, Ran-
dall Maycourt himself; and, what was more to
the point, with Grace Grantby sobbing out her
joy upon his breast.

‘Stopl” stele exclaimed the detective, de-
taining the ban er, who, the first amazement
ended, would have rushed excitedly forward.
“ He is not only alive, but innocent, unstained—
do you hear?”

‘ What, sir!” cried the old gentleman; “you
answer for it?”

 

“ On my life!”

“ But how—what? Then t'iere—there are
none of the missing bonds recovered?”

“Not yet; though they will be presently—-
probably within an hour—and in possession of’
the real criminal, Catesby Bartlow.”

“Man, you rave!”

“ Do I? We shall see presently. But do sit:
d0wn, my dear sir. ,lVe have first to learn the.
story of our young friend here, so fortunately
brought back to life, honor—and a deserving
true-love, too, it would seem.”

The banker plunked down into the chair set
for him, alternately rul Ling his portly bald poll
and gazing at the young couple, now compara-
tively drawn apart, though by no means
ashamed of their momentary transports, and
with Grace still holding her lover’s hand» 3»
quieter, serener joy settling into her still blush-v-
ing face.

“ Maycourtl” stupidly gasped the old gentle-
man; “ Randall Maycourt!”

“Yes, sir; it is ll” exelaimed the young man,
fervently. “Not dead, but living—risen from
the death-in-likc camleptic trance which seems
to have chained mo in forced companion-
ship with thc grim destroyer—and with God-
given strength and faculties to declare my inno—
cence and expose another’s crime—the crime
that, but for this interposition, would doubtless“
have been fast/anal indelibly upon my name and.
fame!”

“ \Vonderful l” murmured Mr. Grantby, begin-~-
ning to feel decidedly small, no less than bewil-
dered. “Incredible!”

“No, sir; not incrc<liblc—wamderful, indeed,
but truel” continqu Maycourt. “And to
whom doI owe it that I am here before you
now, quick and living, torn from the living
tomb that was so surely preparing for iiie”-—he
shuddcred, while Grace drew yet again closer to
his side—“ thus enabled to declare my wrongs
and revenge myself upon my wrongcr.’ To that
man, and to him alone—de bless him l”—hc
pointed to Magnus with softening eyes.

Grace quickly crossed the floor, and before
the detectiVe—who was already being metau
)horically caressed, as ybu might say, by Mrs.
Iaycourt’s and Ada’s gratitude—could prevent
it, seized his hand and kissed it.

The latter snatched his hand away almost ‘

roughly, while coloring uncomfortably,

“ Nonsense!” he grumbled. “But why don‘t
we hear the story? Time is precious, and time-
is passing.”

 

CHAPTER XIX.
RANDALL MAYCOURT‘S REMARKABLE STORY.

THE dead-alive accordingly began his story
without any further delay.

“You will, perhaps, remember, sir,” he be»
gan, lmking respectfully at the banker, who had
by this time roused himself to listen, while the.
others disposed themselves with rapt attention
and expectancy, “that for some days I had
spoken of feeling queer and out of sorts—alto-
gether out of my ordinary healthful state, in.
fact.

“ My mother and sister, at all events, recollect
my complaining, though I (lid so only ol'i-
handedlyto them, not wishing to alarm them
unnecessarily. And, besides, I was not fully
aware of my own critical condition, or I Should,
have seen a physician at once.

“ I suppose it was the cataleptic seizure slmv»
ly preparing to grasp me in its death-in-life cm-
brace. Since then I have remembered that two
of my forerunners, my grandfather and a
grandunclo on my mother’s side,_ were thus
nillicted,‘so that it was doubtless inherited on
my part. At any rate, Dr. 'Bcecham was
either a fool or dishonest when he declared over
my tranced body, when lying yonder, that he
had long known mess liable to heart-failure.
How plainly was I conSCious of everything,
though unable to move so much asa mu5clci
But when Mr. Magnus placed his touch over
my heart there was a slight tantalizing sense of
reviving in my frame, though too weak to mani-
fest itself. However, let all this go.

“In spite of my novel feeling of illness and
incapacity, I had some complicated accounts to-
balance which I was unwilling to leave undone.
They had given me an infinite amount of trou-
ble, the longed-for balance being just the thing
I could not arrive at. .

“ It was on that memorable Tuesday evening
-such a short time, and yet seemingly so long
ago—that I had decided at the last moment to
remain at the bank after the rest had gone.
However, I had already told my mother and
sister not to look for me at_ ten, and not to be
alarmed if I should be detained.

“ It had been a hot day, as you Will all re-
member—an oppressiver hot day—and, in spite
of my determination to balance the books at
an cost, 1 had been conscious all day long not
onfy of 'a strange unwdhngness, but almost of
an absolute incapacity, to bestir myself.

“The insidious seizure was already stealing
over me with accelerated steps I suppose.

“ More than once I was conscious of a sudden
numbness of the limbs. And on two separate
occasions I had found myself momentarily inca-
pable of rising from my office-stool.

“ Having obtained a slight supper, I suppose;

 

 the Weird Detective.

  

13

 

 

 

 

. it was past six in the evening when I was again

‘\ diligently at work over my books, all alone in
the bank, the rest having quitted the place a
good hour previously. \

. , “ In some. extraordinary way, my limbs seem-
)“ ed suddenly to have passed in a measure from

my control, an irresistible lassitude or inertia

stole ow-r me, and, while not in actual pain, I

felt heavy. heavy, oh, so heavy!

“Still, I fought it off as well as I could, and
buckled down to my work.
“ I Was lumiing forward over the columns of

a figures. I'm-king and cudgeling my bruins with

 the eiiiloawir to think where the fugitivo error
in the zit-counts could be, when—oh. I shall never
forget itY—in a single instant—in a flashing
atom of time—I became aware of a yet more
singular and startling sensation that was steal-
ing over me.

“ It was as if I had been abruptly inimeshed
in the diabolical spell of some remorselessly
malignant power, Will(’ll was rapidly: implaca-
bly depriving me of all power of motion, as
indubitably as the insect helpless in the spider’s
'tunneled web.

“An instant later, I was nailed to my high
sentasininiovably as if fastened there by the
fell Destroyer llllllSl'lI.

“ And here was the oddest, most contradictory
part of it. While in the grip of this awful,

)aralyzing visitation, although I had utterly
lost the use of my limbs, of my every muscle, I
had preserved my faculties unimpaired. In-
.deed, they had even seemed sharpened and iii-
tensified for the time being in reportion as my
physical powers were deadene an benumbed.

“ I could see with admirable cle ness, for in-
stance—that is, straight in front of me; for not
only could [not turn my head a hair’s breadth
to either one side or the other, but I could not

even so much as shift the direction of my glance
in the slightest degree.

“Only straight in front of me could IIOok
and stare, with whatI felt instinctively must
be a fixed, glassy, corpse-like stare, just as if I
had really turned into a corpse, with a thorough
consciousness of the transformation, together
with every horrifying mental anguish which
:'ucli a state can suggest. And whatever fliers
was directly in front of hi“, in full line of my
intensified but restricted vision, that I could see
with singular distinctness and intelligence.

“My faculty of hearing had become no less
abnormally keen. I could distinguish by this
sense many things of which 1 coulih not have
had the slightest intimation in in natural state.

“ As an illustration of this, will mention
that, notwithstanding this comparative isolation

of the bank building, I could bear with marvel-
ous distinctness every footstep that passed even
on the further side of the street on which it
fronted—a Considerable distance for the sound
«of a footfnh to travel, as you all must all nv—
’nutlcould likewise hear the slight traffic on
the adjoining thoroughfare far in the rear even
to the extent of catching chance scrape 0 con-
verlation on the part of such street passers who

,exchanged greetings, or good-evenings, which

must have been uttered in tones the reverse of
loud or ringing. _

, “ Worse then, this, far worse—for Heaven

knows that in my then despairing mood I felt it

_. ' ‘as theworst of alll—I could thinkwith equal
clearness.

“ Instantly, therefore, I knew what had
seized e in its remorseless, inVisible clutch.

l “ It was the lringdoriiiaiit, but at last 'capri.
icionsly active, hereditary fee, catnlepsy. I was
‘1n n cataleptic trance state.

“ There was no physical pain whatever.
Physically, I was a dead man, whose mind and
5911’“? Were stiil painfully active and powerful. _

'» "And thus I sat riveted there, hour {after
hour.  dead, but with a mental agony

‘Hraduall sing tovsuch a pitch that I cannot

but thin 'or it now an infinitely surpassing any

"Purely Phydcal agony that the most morbid

. .‘lm motion can conceive,

 “ f 00m. it had rapidly grown dark; had
.at last become so dark that my eyes were useless
for any purposes of vision, and yet they would
not shut, but must still stare on into the black-
-,n ‘ of darkness that had closed around me,
.Si ence, too, had fallen, likewise as a matter of
course—the intense, hollow, empty silence of the
deepening ni ht. I ‘

“At last, owever, a peculiar sound came to
me out of that intense hollow Silence'of the
great, high, vacant banking room.

, i “It was a most peculiar sound, as of some
~one who walked with muffled, or dendened,

:éteps. ‘

" I listened, as I could not, indeed, help doing,
with all the unnatural acuteness of my sense of

-..hearing. .

“ And thEn—whatl Yes, the faint Sound of a

I... "~'

 

,-

5-71 . W‘,A$- .4.”
f" '73,? Y‘s-n  “3:”, ..“, ,
. ' , , hr ' I

 

3“

 
 

    
  
 

 

 

    
 

 
 

, ,* ‘wind0w being cautiously, stealthin opened close
, “at hand.
“Probably the on] thin that hadmved me
v i‘from falling from I 9 big stool to the floor
when the fit hailI first seized me, was theclr-
icnmstan'ce that I was’ leaning far forward at
’ K the time. With the ,grsaterpart of my weight
3 on the desk. And so, caught, ormtrified, in
"l" it ,zcurved;ieaning,dstaring attitude, I ro-l
‘ . ‘ Kickapoo-pot.  ‘ ~
A , ,.

f,,

,o,

  

“Directly in front of me was a glass parti-
tion, on the other side of which was the inner
office, in which the safe is kept.

It was the window of this inner office that
was being stealthin opened now.

“And, I) a strange fatality, since I could
not alter t 0 direction of my staring glance,
the safe was directly in the lino of my yision.

“ Thus it was, as you will readily understand,
that, though I could not at once see who it was
that entered, I could nevertheless instantly be-
hold the mystericus prowler the moment he
should come between me and the safe.

“Everything was dark at first; then a light
was struck, and some one, carrying a shaded
lantern in his hand, suddenly appeared across
my line of sight.

“That some one was Catesby Bartlow, the
lc)asl;i{ier, and the most trusted official in the

an .

“Probably you all know that I had never
liked the man; and there was reason to believe
on my part that my dislike and mistrust were
returned with interest.

“ But, for all that, my amazement was with-
out bounds'when I perceived that it was he.

“ I had never really doubted his personal hon-
esty; and now what, I asked myself, could have
brought him there at such an hour and in such a
way? ,

“ He wore a linen duster, dark brawn of color.
that was closely buttoned down the front, but I
could see that he was in full evening dress be-
neath, and the glitter of diamond studs in his
shirt front, as if he was just from some dinner
party, or fashionable gathering. He took a
large key from his pocket, which, to my further
astonishment, I recognized as the key of the
combination safe lock—Jot its duplicate; for I
know, Mr. Grantby, of course, that the one
original key was constantly in your custody, ,,

9

am indeed, seldom, if ever, out of your pos-
session.” '
The bank resident nodded and bowed his

forehead on is hand, with a'disconsolate sigh
that was very like a groan. Bartlow had thus
far been his beau ideal, little short of his busi—
ness idol, so to speak; and who is there among
us that doesn’t inwardly groan at having a
cherished idol rudely, abruptly and incon-
tineutly shattered, and thus proved to have
been but of worthless clay, an ignoble creation?

CHAPTER XX.
TIIE SPEECHLESS WITNESS—~RANDALL MAY-
Coua'r’s STORY CONCLUDED.

WHILE the rest of the young man’s auditois
had iemained completely absorbed in their at-
tention, Magnus, the Detective. had before this
made several impatient movements usif desir-
ing that the narration might be shortened or
hastened, so that Randall made haste to con-
clude his strange story in a somewhat less
leisurely strain.

“ Of course,” he went on, “ I could now per-
ccive indubitably that it was Mr. Bartlow’s in-
tention to rob the bank, and my former dislike
for him was transformed into unmitigated
hatred and contempt, accordingly. ‘

“ And yet I could not move a hair, nor ar-
ticulate a syllable, to prevent the crime!

“ He at once fitted the key into the safe, ar-
ranged the accompanying combination by the
light of the lantern, which he no longer took
the precaution to keep shaded, and speedily had
the great doors of the money-vault open.

“ From the interior he took a large quantity
of bank~notes-—[ could distinct] hear them
rustle—and several bags of 301 coin, which
jingled as he let them drop into the small valise
that he had carried in his disengaged hand. '

‘.‘ Then he turned slightly around toward me,
so that I could see him full in the face: though
he had not as yet the remotest suspicion of my
presence and speechless witnessing of his every
movement.

“.Secure, if: he imagined himself, in his crimi-
nalit , he even began to soliloquize in a low,
chuc ling tone, which struck me as having
something demoniac in it, or at all events alto-
gether foreign to his accustomed hearty and
pleasin manner of speech. '

“ ‘A a,’ he muttered, ‘lf-th'at prim, strait-
laced model of propriety, Young Maycourt,
could but see me now! Ha, ha, ha! Doubtless
he would quickly solve the mystery of his ac-
counts, which he finds such difficulty in balanc-
in . Well, I suppose it’s about time to close

 

. on my game with these suburban Amierican

chum , though I had hoped to take the hand-
some Egiresa with me on my travels. I couldn’t
have kept up the racket much longer, without
som one or another of ’em tumbling to my true
cha actor, after all. As it is, I flatter myself
that few men could have-kept up the game so
long as I have.’ "

“ Here he came a few steps forward, the lan-
tgrnt in his hand, and then suddenly stopped
s or .

“ His eyes Wf'l'e fixod on the ghis: _ partition,
while in his face there was an expression of the
most horrible panic.- - _ 2

“His lips seemed parched, he gasped for
breath,,an [thought be won going into a con-
vulston‘. .But heiiecovered  ,,.
,over‘hl’mgelt tow, 

 

  

   
  
 

  

 

 

  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
 
    
  
   
 
    
    
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
    
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
    
   
   

“ ‘Maycourt! Maycourt!’ he gasped at last, in
a husky, strangling sort of voice: ‘is it really
you, or your ghost, your supernatural double? ,
Good God! don’t 100k like that. Your face,  5.;
your eyes are simply horrible !’ ‘- w?

“ He shuddered, covering his own eyes with a. 
trembling hand, to shut out the aspect of my 
looks, which seemed to awe and uniierve him. '

“When he looked at me again, he was thor-
oughly self-mastered, and his mood had changed
absolutely.

“Good heavens! it was m ' turn to be awed
and liorror-sii‘ickenthen. is face, as he seem-
ed to comprehend the truth of the strange situ-
ation and my helplessness at last, was as that of
a fiend fresh from burning, seething hell.

“ Hatred, revenge, exultation, all were there,
and With a ferocity, a diabolism of expression
that is simply indescribable.

“ Even with my wits, senses and physical
powers suddenly restored to my command. I
doubt if I would have been able to thwart him
in opposition to that changed look, which would
have been blasting or petrifying in it elf.

“ With quick, firm steps, he advanced to the

artition-door and entered the inclosure where
was crouched, spellbound, over the desk.

“ ‘Onf! I suppose you imagine you’ve caught
and entrapped mel’ he cried, in a sort of hoarse,
muffled roar. ‘Oho! you are to be congratu-
lated on your peeping-Toni shrewdness. But
look out lest you may have found out too much
for your continued wall-being?

“ Then he seemed struck yet more by my un-
natural attitude and immobility. He came a
step nearer, his eyes snapping with mingled won-
der, curiosity and exnltance. .

“ ‘ Idiot, dolt, fool! Can’t you speak? he hiss-
ed between his set teeth. ‘ Maycourt, I say,
Maycoiirtl’

“ He laid his hand on my shoulder, the lantern-
gleam streaming full in my face.

“ Then he started back with a suppressed cry,
the brief return of the appalled look mingling
wildly with the diabolism 0 his contorted fea-
turos.

“ ‘ Dead 1’ he exclaimed.
Splendor of hell l’

“ The lantern fell from his hand with a glass-
and-metal crash. Then, with a violent push, he
sent me flying headlong to the floor. -

“ There where I fell lay, like the unconscious
dead; only recovering my mental faculties when
finding myself lying here at home, in my un-
broken physical trance.

“ Of course, then I was not long in being made
aware of the advantage the villain had taken of
my condition by his foisting his own crime upon .
my shoulders—by blasting my fair reputation as ,
nnresistingly as the strange, insidious disease 2 ‘
had laid hold of my body, to make it ready Ion 4 ‘
a living grave. That is all.” , i ‘

The strange, Searwa credible story being
finished, Mr. Grantby was one of the first to
rouse himself. '  «

“Horrible! appalling!” he exclaimed, clinch-. 
ing his hands bewilderedly. “ But I can’t be--
lieve it of Bartlow—I simply can’t do it!” ' ~ ~

But Magma had also risen, stern, active, alert;
and be consulted his 'watch, for perhaps the
ninth or tenth time since the narrative had been ..
be u. ,‘

Ellen minutes to two 1” he exclaimed. “ Come
with me, sir, and you shall have ocular proof .
of the fellow’s villainy. Quick nowl ot another _,
minute can be safely wasted. Come, Mr. Mey~ ‘
courtl”

Both these named seized their hats instantly.

“ What does it mean?” cried the banker.

“ Where would you take us, Magnusi” - A

“ To the bank, to surprise Bartlow in the corn- '
pletion of his whilom interrupted crime,” was ‘
the stern reaponse. “ The missing bomia, if‘I '
mistake not, will also be found on his person.
Bomel He has got it down fine. In lessthuui
human-hour the through train should be'due'
that he intends to convey him to the Canada.
border, with the proceeds of the plundered safe, ‘
in disguise.”

Mr. Grantby was all but stupefled afresh. ,

“ How on earth did you know all this?” be ex- _
claimed. - 2*

“ No matter, sir. Come!” .

But here Mrs. Maycourt hurried forward, and .
seized her son‘s arm. , '

“ Bu: there may be danger, new peril!” she . ,
fol . ‘ » '

“ one for him, madam, depend on it,” re- ,
turned the detective. “ Come, come l” And how
bore them away with him. \ ,, ‘ 

As has been already intimated, thebank build-’- ‘
ins: was not far away. i ’ "

Swiftly and stealthily the three men pursued 1
their way through the silent intervening m V.

The Touch Detective had made no miscalculag -
tion, as the event was to prove.  .

They entered the bank grounds, ind cautiomly
approached the side door and window. ' r

" He is already at work 9!: the safe—gutting
its contents!" excitedly whispered young Mays
court, as they all came to a momentary
just outside of the totally darkened bu mg,
anilhe bent hishead eagerly. “ Yes, yesl'tex
nltahrly, “ his retribution is upon himéglie.wil§,
whiteness”:  i .' if. “

'Gee ibylookedat him 
, v 4 r -.

 

‘Stone dead, by the

    
      
      
        

.‘i’

     
    
       
        
    
  

     
       
          
        
   
    
   
          
    
  

  
          
       
        

  
    
      
     
 

   
   
       
      
     
      
  

   
   

     
     
  
 
 
 
 

     
 
 
 

  

  
  
   
      

V

   

. ,' r! " ’m , ' "it '\

4

then pityingly; while the detective made no sign
pne way or the other.
“ Humph l” lgrunted the former, throwing
/ ack his coat, and looking up over the gloomy
' I edifice. “ Excuse me for saying it, gentlemen,
but I am sadly afraid that this Will prove the
wildest of Will-()’-tbe-V\'i5p chases.”

“‘ Can you not hear him?” continued the young
man, yet more excitedly and confidently.
“ There!” be bent his ear yet lower: “ he is rust-
ling bundles of crisp, new bankuiotes, and you
must bear that clink of the gold coin. Ila! that
lrustle again. By heaven! they are those illls‘s—
ing bonds that you Would have seurche! my
poor mother’s cottage so ruthlessly to find.”

Mr. Grantby looked at him yet more narrowly,
(Evidently doubting his sanity in the best of gOod

aith.

“ Hear him, indeed? Why, what are you rav-
ing about, Randall?” he said, impatiently. “ Are
you mad?” .

\ “ No more than you are, sir!”

“Hear him?” repeated the banker. “Whatl
when he is in the private office—if he is any—
where at all in the building--whilo we are out
here in the yard i”

, ‘,‘ Ah, but on forget that I am the dead-
aiive. I can gear him, if you can’t.”

“ He is doubtless right, sir " interposed the de-
tective, in his low voice. “ 'his is no abnormal
fancy, .I am sure.” ,

“ nick; givo me the key, or open the door

r, yourself,” continued Maycourt. “ You have
the key, Mr. Grantby. Every moment we waste
increases his c anco of escape.”

" Right aga ii" put in Magnus. “ Besides, it
is best that he hould take the lead in surprising

‘ the robber at his work. Give him the key, sir;
or open the door.”

The banker hesitated (how strong was his hope
and belief in the handsome cashier still!) and

 i

It turned without a. sound, and without a
sound the door swung open on its well-oiled
hinges.

They stealthin entered the interior.
 . pitch-black darkness.

,. “Hadn‘t we better have a light?” whispered

Mr. Grantb . “ I can’t see my hand before my

face. We'l surely be stumbling over some-

thing: '
5 “ ave it to young Maycourt,” replied the de-
tective.
, The young man had already slipped slightly
’ ahead in the lead.

" I need no light," said he. “ R :member, my
eyes have grown used to the dark. You have
only to keep close to me.” '

It was

 

CHAPTER XXI.
canon! IN ran ACT.
ON they groped, the dead-alive in the lead.
Suddenly there was a pause.
2336i” whispered some one; “yonder is a
t.

  

’" 1,igSure enough,a light there was. It was in
the inner room, that inner office in which the
I safe was kept.

As the banker came toa second use beside
; Magnus young Maycourt, slightly ulling back,

ht his arm.

i‘ irl” he exclaimed almost fiercely under his
“breath,” you would still doubt me—-would still
"doubt the good . Magnus? But my hour for

triumph is come. at you are on the threshold

of seeing it all— you shall see the black-hearted,

r ' "by tics! criminal in the midst of his crime !"

strange, suppressed fury seemed to possess

I the '~ youngnnan, standing thus in the vestibule
of the court of vengeance, so to k.

' 4 /Bi' the dim, ghOstly light Swami; out from

.fthe nner oiiice, he loosened his coat and waist-

coat, dropping them of! to one side, together

 
 

 
 

Thus. with the upper part of his form all in
white; and with his features still in a measure
wwn, haggard and chalk-like, as the lingerin
.5; effects of his recent experience, combined wit
3 the intense excitement of this moment, he might
. readily recall to a startled imagination the stark
figure in cerements that was so late an occu-
at of the, funereal couch. ,

n he stealthily led the way by the outer
door'into the compartment in which he had first
, n overtakeh by
' th which had: ode him both the silent wit-

'» has and the of the villain’s recent
_ brlminalatte t. I
j‘ ' ,There w a three silent witnesses lookin
f‘thflfih the glass partition now. ,_
,.. ,Th‘ero,’ in the allies be and, they all saw '
__ Catclby Burtlovi, lantern n hand, a traveli *
-  at his feet, at his nefarious work, busi
th the contents of the safe. -
y, Maycourt motioned his companions back and
down out of sight. ,
Then he silently seated himself on the hi h
stool. leaned forward in a fixed attitude over 9
.. , and lightly tapped against the glass.

- 0 bar can ht the sound at once, but for
“201 t did no note whence it came. ‘
when be‘approached the partition.

' i he did so the col

  

  

   

   
 
 

    
 

 

   

   

  

   
 

  
  

49%;”, .‘ V_

.. ' ' Magnus,‘th‘e Weird De

that mysterious semblance of '

 

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he i:

   

 

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1-5

 

{9er his florid fa , is
"lowly bristled up u  knew

h - ,,

 

 

When he was (Initc close to the partition,
trembling like a out, his knees knocking to-
gether, the dead-alive, seemingly still in 
grave-clothes, l‘oso straight up, staring him
straight in the face—his ashen, horror-distorted
face~raising his arms high above his head.

“ Thief—liypocritical h. fund!" he cried in a
strange, shrill voice: “caught in the act!”

A wild shriek rung through the building, as
the. criminal reeled back, clutching wildly at the
air.

When the three men sprung into the room,
which they did on the instant, they found him
lying ap arentiy in convulsions, the evidences of
his crinig—Lhe money-stuifed Valise, a great roll
of bills still in the grip of his frenzied band, the
open safe-doors, the lantern dropped aside—sur-
rounding him every where. . ’

“Quick!” cried the detective, and with a snap
he had the handcuffs over the fellow’s wrists in
an instant; “ the lantern—don’t let it go out.
Better light the gas. Ha! what is thutl”

The final exclamation was caused by a strange
lurid flash suddenly s ringing up somewhere far
in the roar, just as uycourt snatched up the
lantern, and while Mr. (irantby was reaching up
to light a gas-jet.

At the same time there was a smell of niwder,
while the light in the rear increan by brilliant,
fluctuating flashes that irregularly illuminated
the entire bank interior.

“ his running S('1 iundrel l” roared Mngnus~
yes, even he, the Ordinarily velvet-voiced, could
roar on occasion. and terribly at that. “ it’s a
mine—a prepared match—he has fired the build-
ing. Here, sir!” he tlirlist a (‘llt'kwl revolve:
into the banker’s hand; “ beware of his playing
’ iossum—keep that clapped against his head till

return. 1 must investigate and raise the
alarm.”

lle darted away in the direction of the rear

then, producing the key, inserted itin the lock. lH'OOIH from which the glare prucemlml, and even

as he did so the furious roaring of the flames
could be heard.

Tearing open the door, the interior of the
compartment was seen to be a mass of raging
fire.

A rope was perceived dangling down through
an open sort ol’ air-shaft near at hand—a rope
which Magnus at once divined to connect with
an alarm bell in u’bclt'ry far above, for the pur-
pose of meeting just such an emergency as this.

Seizing it, he at once rung out an alarm pea],
sonorous and loud. , ‘ .

Just then, however, and. while the entire vast
interior was lurid! lighted u by the kindling
glare, a wild,-snar ing sort 0 shout or cry, as
from a furious wild animal abruptly brought to
bay, caused him to turn and look back to the

spot where he had left the bafl‘ied robber under

par .
g Baffled? Ay, but no longer. ~

Bartlow had justs rung to his feet. freed him-
self- from the shac ling nippers by a single
wrenching twist of his hereulean wrists, and
was unex tedly confronting his amazed,
panic-strie en custodians with that apphlling,
that paralyzing aspect of diabolical fury that
young Maycourt had mentiined as one of the
master-scoundrel’s unique characteristics—-
probably his chief trump—cardin just such an
emergency as this.

Case-hardened as he was, even the Touch De-

tive could no longer remain incredulous of
t! e power of that awful change of aspect; even
from the mere glimpse of it that was now af-
forded - him.

It was, indeed, the living resentment of a
demoniao personality—a Moloc incarnate—ap-
parently fresh and hot from the hideous torture
Cl ts of hell itself.

owover, the recoil of the detective was but
for an instant, and that bun. an effect of supreme
surpgise. \ ' t
" hoot him down without mercy!” he shout-
ed to this banker, while springing to the rescue,
and u hip log out his own spare revolver as he
did so. ‘ Curse your sentiment! the fellow is a
veteran criminal of a hundred aliases, whose
record I have got dead to rights.”

But it wasn’t sentimentality, or, at least. not
that alone, that was withholdin the bank
president, who, even more a )palle than May-
court himself, had ghrunk heel: aghast, the point
of his weapnn lowered. -

In another instant Bartlow hadhurled him
back, snatched the‘pistol from his hand, leveled
it at the oncoming, detective, point-blank, and

Magnus felt the bullet/ cut the air'within a
hair’s breadth of his ear-drum, and involuntari-
1 used, faint and dizzy for the instant.

fore he could quite recover, the robber
burst into a fierce laugh, snatched up his plan-
der-packed venue. and dashed away toward the
sirleqioor, which had been leftonen.

“Ha. habhal” he howled. " Did you hope to

trap Cosmo Armsdale, the master-crook of

Europe, with your stupid graveyard trick?

Delta! The detectivevgenius doesn’t breathe

that can" track the king vulture to his secret

roost.

area-I have you caged—and roast, roast. sizzle,

and fry; while he wings his free way to the nu;
‘ u 9 i .p I , I . . .

MWdfltOIW

      
   
  

   
   

Trapped in your turn. stay where you,

 

opening. flins- ,

\

    

ing the heavy door to behind him with a re»
soundng crash. , ~

Unfortunately, the key had been left in the.
lock,they hen rd the turning of it, the swift shoot— ‘ . ,
ing of the bolt from without.  J

_ " Good Lord l” cried the banker, awakening to. ’
sudden energy when too late, ‘f there is some—
thing in the villain’s threat, after all! How
scorching hot it is getting in here already! , '
Close up those safe-doors, Randall. Thank God!
the vault is fireproof, any way, for what may be
left in it. And look, look! All the iron blinds
are down—that is Why no light was vistble from
the outside—and it is a tedious proqe55 to raise
even one of them by the crank.”

All this was true, as a single glance around
the interior, now lighted up to a tremendous
brilliancy by the roaring conflagration that had
by this time completely possessed the rear
rooms, speedily made apparent.

Moreover, one of the partitions had already
been burned through, and the heat was all but-
insupportable.

Mr. Grantby lest his head altogether for the
moment, and began to fume and beat upon the
door, without avail, as a matter of course: while
Maycourt, much more self-pinsesued, attended to
the rcclosing of the vault doors, which. however,
might prove a good deal like shutting the stable
d r behind a stolen horse. ‘

,ut Magnus was once more as cool as a cu--
cumber and active as an imp.

u ,9an aside. sir!" he said, addressing the ex‘
cited banker. “ Do you forget that l have rung.
the alarm i"

        
     
       
       
       
       
     
     
       
   
       
       
   
   
   
     
       
         
       
    

 

    
 

CHAPTER XXII.
GONE!

THRVSTING the bunker aside as he spoke, the
detective took a brief lOUk at the door~lock, and
then fortliwitheniptietl the chambers of his re«
volver into it in rapid succession.

“ Hark i” said be; “your fire department is.
already getting to work. I can hear the shouts.
of the mob outside." ' ‘

He Seiml the door at the knob and shook it
with a strength of which he would scarcely
have been suspected, but in vain. «

The fastenings had been somewhat damaged
by the shots, but still held firm.

But, not in the least discouraged. the detective!
coolly seMbout recharging his weapon,
.' “Mr. Maycourt,” he called out ‘ I noticed a
sort of la her-room back you: er. Be good \l I .
enough to es if you can obtain an a , or any  .. ,
other sort of heavy tool, thereabotitS.” I

Then he. turned to Mr. Grantby a little lmpa-~
tiently, as the young man darted away in obedi—
ence to his instructions, while shielding his face
from the (‘XtN—‘me'heflt.

“ Do calm yourself. sir!” he exclaimed. “ It’s
a tough snap, but We‘ll get out of it."

“On, a tough snap?" fairly whimpeer the.
banker. “ I should say so—and a roasting not.
one, tool” "- .

Literally helpless'with fear, he crouched down
behind the partition and the bolted door to-
shield himself from the fierce heat and blaze,
while Megan's reconl‘menced firing, this time at
t e barred fanlight above, causing a crash of
g ass at every shot, but nothing more eflectual.

Then Randall came running back from‘. his:
search to announce it as useless, the lumberd ‘
room being already a mass oflflames. 

Hewever, from encouraging shouts called one. l L- ‘
to them from outside, they became aware that. ' a.“
their predicament was either known or surmised _ ,
by the crowd. ' _ 1;.

Then there was a crash, splash, a ringing“. -'
chorus of shouts, and a stream of water from one
of the steam tire-engines came bursting its way
in through the fanlight, drenching the scorched
prisoners with its grateful-spray.

Then came the blows of axes, the door was. j, ..
speedily burst in, and they Were saved. \ ‘-

Leavinng. Granthy and Maycnurt to make _
Fuch hurried explanations as were demandedr , ' i
the detectiVe elbewcd his way through the mob ’
and hurried to‘ the local Police Headduartem- '
with notification of the robbery, and to, set ‘tho
telegraph wires to work in the hope of heading
of! the plunder-laden criminal. . , , , ‘

But. his face wore a discontentedlool when he
rejoined the pairl half an hour is on. at the
Maycmirt cottage, whither the! ill hurriedly
made their way, after camping from the crowd,
for the purpose of quieting the allbut frantic
alarm of the ladies awaiting them there.

" Too later was an he could say. “_Of course,

I talus“,th evg'rywbefe, and by this time the
wires are also reaching out after him from the
New York offloas.‘ But there Isn’t a particle of ‘
hope of heading oi! the sconndrel.” l .

“ Why nothried Mr. Gmntb , now thor- ‘ g
on My recovered from and not a little mortified:
at is recent loss of nerve. “You say it Was
certain that he would head for the Camdobor-
der.” “

“ No matter. With an ordinary profemional, .‘
there would be a good chance of overhadllng‘ v. , 4
him. But Bartlow is a veteran, with a geniusi'
for disguises and subteran Besides, thcstart. .,
begotwasagoodone.” , w ,V g,

‘ Heavens! how I was docsivod inflict manly].
exclaimed Mr. Grantby, woeful in his 

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 the” Weird Detective.

 

tion. “TVhat, Magnus! and you knew of his
criminal record from the outset?”

“ More. or less,” was the quiet reply.

“But, heavens and earth, man! why didn’t
you warn me against him?”

The detective made a slight gesture which
snfliciently comprehended their surroundings,
for they were still in the front parlor, so recent-
ly the “ chamber of death.” '

Tlio gesture, of course, included the funereal
trappings, Silll in full View, though thrust into
the most, inconspicuous corner, the widow and
her daughter, yet painfully bearing the disturb-
ing effects of the recent horror and excitement,
and laslly tho lovers, once more reunited side
by side, With a content that the banker doubt-
less would not again have the courage or incon-
sistency to gainSay, and yet both care-worn and
Suffering still.

“ Humphl” said the dctective’s gesture, quite
as eloquently as Words could havo done; “a

,vast amount of good that would have done in

your infatuated condition truly!”

Mr. Grantby rubbed his head vigorously, and,
starting up in his chair, thumped himself down
again hard.

“It is too bad—the worst experience of my
career!” he cried, desperately. “To think of
being taken in tothis extent!” with a groan.
“Isha’n’t be able to look people in the face
again. And then the bank both robbed—«loam-
less cleaned out—and burnt outl 0.), Lord l”

But Magiins, the detective. could be no less
encouraging than satirical on occasion.

“Nonsense, sir!” he cried, hopefully. “ You
were no more played upon by tho specious
scoundrel than the‘ rest 0 your directirs: the
bank, besides being fully insured against iiro
loss most probably, can stand the hundred thou-
sand or so that this fellow has perhaps got away
with; and there is still the chance of running,r
him down, and recovering. Besides. you must
have your private fortune intact, to an noth-
ing of this happiness in s re for you.” {Vith a
smiling gesture toward jlie lovers, still fast by
one another, though um Grace blushineg ran
over to her father’s side, and threw her arms
about him.

Then Mrs. Maycourt likewise took the banker’s
band, also murmuring her encouragement,
while both Randall and his sister managed .190
say something appropriately well timed, so that
Mr. Grantby, though still disconsolahe, began
to face the misfortune with something more of
his accustomed numbness and resolution.

“ Yes, yes. insured, of course i” he still

groaned. “ But a hundred thousand dollars!
Good Lord, us! you think, it possible that
the villain con, have got away with that
.much?” ~

0

“I can simply,” was the reply, “show his,
record as that of one of tho cleverest, most
accomplished all-round scoundrels in the world.
Such a One would not be likely to content him-
self with loss of a haul than that. There are the
missing bonds. for one item. I doubt not that
yet others willbe found missing when the books
can be examined. Then he most probably
grabbed all the cash there was in the safe, ex-
cept perhaps some of tho coin, which would
have roved too heavy for him.”

“T ere wasn’t much coin, as near as I c n
remember, but at least sixty thousand in ban -
notes. Wasn’t he the cashier, who could have

rfected his preliminaries accordingly? Oh,

0rd,» And Mr. Grautby struck the arm of

' _ his chair sharply with his clinched hand.

“Sti l, the wicked man will have left some
clew by which he can be traced," suggested Mrs.
Maycourt. “He lived sumptuOusly in those
room “his, I have been told, and would
scarcely have been able to carry 01! all his
pe l belongings.”

M as quickly shook his head.
~. “ otlun will be found there," he said, confi-
dently. “ lchblhds as Cosmo Armsdale, alias

\Oateshy Bartlow, never leave a tell-tale feather

behind them—saw b accident.”

“And/get YOU w ll undertake his pursuit?”
cried the tinker. eagerly. “ You are not with—
out hope of eventually running him down for
us, 33d recovering our property, at least in

"H . .

‘:I trust 903;! d a.

‘ And at 0W can YOU 0 if as ou
predict, h; left no clewi” u' ’ y

“.1 said that he might havo left one by accl-

Beoe it is.” ' ‘
Al the detective spoke, he produced a very

handsome bosom scarf, containing a small but

" valuable ruby and sapphire pin in a very unique

old-fold setting of fanciful deqzn.
“ t haunt have dropped onto! Bartlow’a bonom
‘in that wrenching struggle of his that freed him
of the hmdcufls,” he said, simply, as they 91-
amined the article with attention. “ At all
events. I picked it up just there where he had
last stood. - ' . ,
“ Bartlow had many such gewgaws,” said Mr.
Grantby, “ but I don‘t remember to have noticed
this particular one before. , It. in a very unusual
"design, this pin.”
“ So much the better.”

at“

 

, n.3,: . ,( i. 3523;;-

  

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»

“Bayou tug: mango-ed this trifle in v
masks». w ' ‘ -

 

«imam  manna opener. . .2  y
4 :~',, "I' ‘7" “Ed's ," 11.,

however, on just What brought this into my
possession, chance, or accident.”

Then the detectivo, securing the scarf and pin,
rose and held out his hand. ..

" Good-by, for the present.” he said.
almost broad day, and I’m oil.”

“ Whati” said Mr. Grantby; “ back t’) New
York l”

“ Yes; to make my report. It will take you
some litilo time to put your business house in
order. If you want me ’0 take up the trail later
on, telegraph, please. In the lllcan time, if your !
real thief is at last up and away into the nn- 2
known, at least,” smilingly and with a motion
of the delicate white hand toward Grace Grant-
by and Randall Maycourt, who had once lnm‘o
come in contact with the mlturalness of two
water-drops on the same gossamer strand, " I
may have accomplished something, though
scarcely altogether anticipalel, as perhaps you
will acknowled e."

For answer  Gi‘antby grasped his hand
with unwonted emotion.

“ Well, I should say so!" he exclaimed, heart-
ily. “GOod heavens! what would on have
done, what might have happened”—he gave a
little shiver—without you, Magnusl”

Then, going up to the lovnig pair, he shook
them both warmly by the hand, adding, With a
forced laugh:

“ Kismet. as tho Moslems say. \Viiat must be ‘
must he, and may you be, happy, my deni'sl"

“ It is

   

15

who had set to writing. handed him an official-
Iooking document. “ And good-luck to you!”

“ ()ii, 1’” fasten on to the fellow for keeps this
time, chief, provided there’s the least tangible , ,
(-Eeu',” said the Touch Detective, ’coniiiemly. g.
“I feel it in my fibers: and. moreovn‘, it’s a. ’
matter of professional pride uith me as you
must. know."

“Naturally enough. But hold on a minute,”
with a detaining sign, as Mucous was about hur-
rying away, with u p-culiar lmli of Sull>lu('l’,l(in
in his uni k, gelica'o face. "There. is a uoman
iii the original ens. f”

“ Yes, the banker’s housekeeper.”

“ B-ii'tlow's confederate and wife, too, eh?” : gm,

“Yes.” L. 7.:

“\Vh‘ut became. of her?” ‘ ‘ Fl

“ Can’t say: though my parting advice, by _ 
letter from here, was that she should be retained '- '
in her employment, Without suspecting that her
prior relations with the fellow had even been so
much as gueseHl at."

“ It might help you out if it should prove that
your advice had been followed out to the let'ero
Eli?”

” I think it might. But that is almost tho
much to cxpeCt. You see, there would arise
certain complications in the way (.f such a
course—but we shall See.”

“Well, take care of yourself among the
Frenchmen.” was Mr. Bliiikerlon’s parting in- ~ 
junction to his most valuable and trusted subor-

 

     
  
   
   
   
   
   
 
    
 
   
  
 
  
 

 

“ Nothing could be hotter—41 rainbow cut of

much nasty weather!" commented Magnum,
quietly. He nindo a. slight movement, signing !

back tnc. lovers, who were hurrying toward him 7
with their acknowledgments. “ Now, Mr.
Grantby,” turning to go, f‘ a last word of warn-
ing before I go.”

“ What is inn! i” cried the banker

“ Beware of Madame Renaud!”

“ Bless me! what of hcré" ‘

“ She has been Bartlow‘s secret confederate
from the start; and maybee-thougii she'should
have the benefit of the uncertainty on this point
—liis wife I" l

Mr. Urantby shrunk back, all but appalled;
and in the general confusion coiiscquentpn this
announcement, the detective skipped out of the
room. '

1

CHAPTER. XXIII.

THE TOUCH DETECTIVE AGAIN IN DEMAND.

IT was several months later that Carolus
Magnus, on entering the private office of Mr.
Blinkerton, his chief, directly after his return
from a protracted and difficult detective mission
in a far Southwestern city, was greeted by the
latter in the following words:

“You’re wanted on that Mount Komon case
again, Magnus. Here is a letter for you that
may explain things.”

“ Good 1” commented Maguus, after reading
the letter.

“ What is it, if I may ask?”

“ Certainly. The [2821th bank cashier again.”

“ But he got away ith that swag intact,
didn’t he?” ‘

“ Yes, without leaving a trace; though the
bank managed to stand the less, together with
its half-gutting out by the fire, and was soon
financially on its pins again, I believe."

“ Well, what n0w?”

“ The banker is about to take his daughter to
Paris, along with her afilanced—the dead-alive
young bookkeeper, you will remember, who, it
seems, has never wholly recovored from the
shock he underwent.”

“ Shouldn‘t think he would. What elSe'l”

“ Mr. Grantby has got an idea that track 'can
be got of Bart ow, alias Armsdnle, over there,
and p; as for me to accompany them in m y
professional capacity.”

“ Humphl and what do you think about it?"

“ I think} had better go.” ‘ ’ “

“ You think it likely that Armsdale is in
Paris?” , °

“ There or elsewhere on the Continent.”

“ W but gives you the impression l"

“You doubtless saw the’ recent account of
Antenna Bordon‘e, the king of the Parisian pick-
pockets, being nabbed at last?”

“ Yes; what has that got to do with it?”

“ The rascal is really an English crook, An.
thou};Y BardUno '13 You are doubtless aware. ,

“ es.

“ Well, here is something new for you. He iii/i
also Cosmo Armsdale’s brother-in-law and boson
chum.” \
on are sure?”

. “ Quite; have been taking a quiet and inquir-
iuginterest in the cashier ever since he lit out
with that big pile._ He Ought to have his nus-i
picions as to pursuit somewhat lulled to rest by

this time. And“ Bordon is in real trouble his

Pythias should be secretly on hand, to afford

him su h assistance as he can."

“ Th t’a reasonable. Go ahead then.”
“Punks, chief. Nothing could Suit rue-bet-
r. ‘-

“ All right. I’ll givveryou the necessary oflicial

   
   

     

crgdgitgzl udgucab “hen do start?”
my  6 mar ' ~
'“.i."li§|fo3’f. ' ’9' 'y ' ' " imm- Fm“;
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- for,” cried

dinate. “Though you are not Without expe-
rience among,r them, they may not prove to
susceptible,” with a smile, “ to your touch the-
liCs as others have been.”

“(iflll'hy, chief! I’ll simplv, as heretofore.
(lo‘iny best.” And then the detective hurried
away to ii’nsWer the letter and make his piepar- ‘. , '
ations. ' !

Arriving in Mount Kcrnon on the morning of
the day fixed for the departure. Magnus, instead
of going direct tnthe bank or Mr. Grautby‘s
residence, proceeded first to the Maymlurtcot. '1, ‘,
tagc, with a springing familiarity of step and
bearing that hinted of more than one unobtru-
sive visit thither since his rather-sensational
parting with the inmates thereof as reconledln. ..

    
    
    

our last chapter. ,_

In fact, this was the truth. and as Ada Ma -
court, who chanced to be alone on his present
arrival, opened the door for him, she not only
extended her band with a greeting and happy
blush, but even submitted to a chaste and lover-
like kiss upon her pure forehead in the most;
natural manner in the world.

Love at sight had developed ' to love indeed
and love in earnest. . , R

The handsome detective had not been so busy
professionally but that he had been enabled,1o_.,
press his suit- both by letter and more thana‘ , V,
few personal visits. and the pair were I but, .l
recently engaged, though with nothing do-
finitely fixed as yet with regard to the future.

“ My darling, how lovely you are looking!”
exrlaimed Magnus, tenderly embracing the fair

iri. “ What 2” as they entered the wellsknowu
’ittlo parlor, though now brightened up beyond
all recollection of its erst lugu brious associations: .
" and I am to have you all alone to myself here? I,
What magnificent luck!” ‘ '-

“ Don’tbe so sure of it, dearest," with a laugh,‘
as she submit-ted to yet another kiss, and then
made him sit down more at his distance. ‘
“Momma is only visiting a few doors away,
and may be back at any moment.” ,

"But what of that} or if Randall should also ‘ 
show up unox tedly, for that matter?” cried '
Magnus, his bid aglow with pleasure. “Just
one more, Ada, and then—-" 

“Not one i" still smiling, though with a mail» 
denly dignity that really did put him on his lie-5 "
havior With ri spect to the convennuces at once. I

“ But I am really very happy, Carolusl” MINI
Sparkling eyes. . ’ _ ~ 3

“ Cupid be [\rhised for that! But then aching .
I, y: u see. Odd that neither one of usvshould
appear particularly uncomfortable, isn’t it!"
And, then they both laughed together. 

“And you are rally to accom nv us to“
Earls!“ cried Ada, joyousl}. “ . . Grantb
all last evening to show us your letter.” ‘

“1 ith us i’" echoed the young man. ~“ What
and you are going too!" .

“Yes, yes! Mr. Grantby would have it so, ‘
yand you" can well believe that I was marathon
willing. , ‘ 

" Excuse my profanity, my dear, but by. i
J umber! this is more happinessthan l bargained ’
Magnus, fairly delectated. “I ‘
fact, it is altogether too much i” he was 
feel: again, fluttering about her where about“:
remained seated. “Think of my being 111$.
back from that odious Galveston trip, that kept
me six weeks from you!”   I

“ During which you wrote mea letter ovum.
dav.N and sometime: two."l st, i I -'

“ o matter; . simp mu , my ango ,;
whether you permit it ocyuot-l” An _ “
more caught her in his arms. and kissed “her;
spite of. her protesta, and this time to his heart ,
content. . - . v t  a... 

_“You see,” Adai explained, when her ‘51
 more'baen bronghttoo‘nler. ‘.‘ 
though mustantly imam, mafia lfiwm ‘ ‘

H n— 

I

    
     
       
           
     
       
       
     
     
     
  
 

  
  
    
     
       
       
       
  

  
        
     
  

   
  

   
       
  

   
 
     

          
     
       
   
  

        
   
        
 
   

  
     
   
   
     

       
      
      
    
  

   
     
  

     
    
     

      
     
   
       
    
  
  
   

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16

Magnus, the Weird Detective.

 

that he is now become a. partner in the bank,
and that our worldly affairs are greatly im-
proved generally.”

“That is splendid,” said Magnus, nodding.
“Yes, I heard of Randall’s good fortune.
\Vasn’t he made cashier also?”

“ Yes; though of course he, together with his
prospective father-in-la w, will throw up cvery~
thing for the time being now. But, you see,
Randall is still not strong. And, inasmuch as
Grace and he are not to be married until later
on~perhaps in Paris, or elsewhere abroad—it
was suggested that my sisterly companionship
would help along the proprieties,’ns you might
say. As if there Could be any real proprieties
consm'ved under the circumstmces!” She bit
her lip and colored.

“ What do you mean, Ada?”

“ That odious woman!”

“Ah, Madame Renaud, of course?”

“ W'houi else could I speak of thus’”

“True. But what! She has been kept In the
dark as to our knowledge of' her cVer since 5“

“You would think 5‘), if you could see how
Papa Grantby surrenders to her fascinations,
regardless of the pastnor seems to, at all events,
I am not Certain which.”

“ So! and she goes “ion-.5?”

“ Yes the idear‘, But for that mamma might
have consented to accompany us.”

“ Ah !" and the detective began to understand
the situation. “ Then your gocd- mother will
not be one of us?”

“ Indeed, no!"

“ How dues Miss (‘irantby relish the idea?”

“ Probably no better than I, though she
makes no protest, I believo, Of course, the
woman goes somewhat in the capacity of her
chaperon, or maid, or something of the sort.”

“Good, good! better than I had dared to
hope!” And Magnus rubbed his white hands
softly.

“ What! you can say that, Carolus?”

“ Of course. Don’t look vexed, sweetheart.
The Woman, all unawares, shall be my chief
bail in angling for that fugitive fish, Bartlow,
in the foreign waters. But you will presently
understand better.”

Here the return of Mrs. Maycourt interrupted
them, and her two hands were extended in their
unaffected welcoming of her daughter’s detec-
tive suitor. ____

CHAPTER XXIV.
OUTWARI) BOUND.

“YOU have heard, ma’in,” Magnus smilingly
said, after responding becomineg to Mrs. May-
court’s pleasant greeting, which was about all
that an idolized daughter’s fortunate lover could
desire, “that I am to be one of the voyagers?”

“ Yes, Mr. Magnus,” was the no less smiling
reply, “and glad enough to know it, I am sure.”

“ hanks! You see, it will give me an excel-
lent task to look after this young lady here,
while she is assisting Miss Grantby in looking
after‘our dear Randall.”

“ This young lady is duly grateful, as a mat-
ter of course,” laughingly interposed Ada,
“though perhaps she would be quite well able
to look after herself.”

“ No, no!” said her mother. “ It is most for-
tunate Mr. Magnus is going since I know you
will be lost without me to ook out for you, as
heretofore.”

Magnus was agreeably surprised at the im-
provement that had taken place in the widow
since his first making of her acquaintance under
the aiuful circumstances with which we are
fami im'.

In fact, Mrs. Maycourt, onco more her old
sweet, untroubled self, was a most agreeable
and pretty woman, whose forty-five years were
vastly discounted by her matronly plumpness,
nicely preserved comeliuess, and her still 5 ark-
ling gray eyes and abundant fair hair, the utter
as yet without a suspicion of the poetic but un-
desirable ‘ silver threads among the gold.’

“ But, my dear madam,” cried the detective,
“Ada is not to be deprived of your motherly
care at all.”

"I do not understand you,” said the widow.
“ How can that be ’

“ Because you are to accompany us.”

“ You are greatly mistaken, sir!” And she
looked at both him and her daughter in sur-
prise.

“ No, I am sure of it.” He took her hand.
“Just wait till Ican Confer elsewhere, and I an-
gage to convince you that it will be far best for
you to be. one of the tourist party, and without
any sacrifice of your dignity either.”

“It is not to be thought of,” protested Mrs.
Mayeourt, though not imperatively, since, to
tell the truth, she had only adhered to her
original refusal to make one of the party at no
little sacrifice to her secret inclinations. “ Be-
sides, in any event, it would be now too late for
me to get ready for the voyage.”

“Nonsense! where there. is a will there is a
way,” he cried, gayly. “ “What couldn’t a wo-
man of your energy and resources do in packing
up between n0w and this evening, when We are
to board the steamer? Besides,” gallantly kim-
lng her pretty hands, with a side smile at Ada,
“ there shall be two parties instead of one, if
you only say so—just e trio of us, pretty much

 

all to ourselves, with myself as traveling
courier and protector combined; while the
Grantby set, Randall and the objectionable
Renaud included, will doubtless make no demur
at the division of forces. Come now, dearest
Mamma Maycourt that is to be, you might as
well say yes on the spot as later on!"

Ada clapped her hands, havmg instantly fal-
len in with the idea.

“I will help her to get ready, Carolus,” she
exclaimed. “ Do on go and make the new ar-
rangement with llr. Grantby at once, and by
the time you are back mamma shall have deli.
nitely consented. No objections in order,
mamma. The house here can be looked after by
Mrs. Johnson, next door, just as we would have
arranged it had you consented to go at the out«
set.”

Magnus went to see Mr. Grantby and Randall
at the bank forthwith, and then went home with
the former to lunch, where the programme as
revised by him was ratified accordingly.

While both the banker and his daughter were
delighted to know that Mrs. Mayeourt was at
last to be one of the party, Madame Renaud
seemed also plwsod, though the expressions
which she ventured upon to that effect struck
the detective as more or less hypocritical, which
was perhaps no more than could be expected,
since, evon apart from the fact of Mrs. Maycourt
haying been the banker‘s earliest paSsion, with
the possibility of his still regarding her with a
lingering tenderness, the two women had never
made any disguise of their mutual dislike and
mistrust.

However, the handsome housekeeper had
changed considerably for the better, as Magnus
could not help ucknowlrnlging to himself, though
there was at the same time something that puz-
zled him in the change.

Handsomer, more stately and regal-looking
than ever, she was, nevertheless, more subdued,
and even not a little demure; or was it merely
the watchful and calculated discreetness, horn
of past warnings, and all the more intent upon
ultimately entrapping her prey?

“More circumslwet, therefore the moredan-
gerous,” was the dctectivo’s mental comment.
“ More suave, hence doubtless the more deadly."

However, he could not be socertain of his con-
(lemnatory criticism at first, and neither could
he make up his mind whether the banker was
really falling under the charm of the woman’s
undeniable powers of fascination, or was merely
making believe to that effect.

Magnus’s dissatisfaction gradually resolved
itself into such unanswered sclf—questionings as
these:

Does she suspect what We know of her, and
penetrate our waiting game for the chance of
her betraying both Bartlow and herself?

Can she really care for the banker, or is she
complacently agreeable to this foreign trip, for
the mere purpose of leading us all into new trou-
ble, blunders and mystiflcation, that she may
reap the fruits thereof at her leisure, and doubt-
less with the master-crook’s assistance?

Is the banker merely making a pretense of be«
ing fascinated, in accordance with my advised
plan for falling her into a sense of security?

If so, can he hope to play the game successful-
ly, With such a deep one as this woman holding
the opposing band?

May not Mrs. Maycourt and her daughter be
exposed to the constant secret resentment and
spite of this intriguanfe during the entire foreign
trip?

Answer to all queries, save the last: Conun-
drum—give it up for the resent.

Answer to last query: his is one of the main
things that I am especially to guard them
against.

Mrs. Maycourt gave her final consent to be-
Come one of the voyagers, and before the close of
the day all were snugly berthed on board the
Im rieuso, a fine steamer of the French line,
an at that time reckoned one of the greyhounds
of the seas.

It was Magnus’s third or fourth voyage
abroad, and, besides speaking French with the
fluency of a natiVe, he was an accomplished
linguist in several other foreign tongues, while
his general experience in Paris and elsewhere
could scarcely fail to be of great usefulness to
the rest of the party, not one of whom, with the
single exception of Madame Renaud, had ever
crossed the Atlantic before.

But the young ladies and Randall Maycourt
could also speak French fairly well, While both
Mrs. Maycourt and the banker were not with-
out a useful smattering of/the tongue.

Thus it chanced that the 'entire party wore
much better equipped imn is ordinarily the case
for the pleasurable success of a first trip abroad,
since it had been decided beforehand that the
major part of the Sojourn was to be confined to
La Belle France, chiefly in Paris.

It was the month of May, one of the most
agreeable for transatlantic voyaging.

0n the third or fourth evening out, everything
having thus far proceeded nuspiciously, our
tourists were enjoying themselves quietly on the
after-upper deck in a somewhat desultory chat,
when Mr. Grantbv managed to signal Magnus,
and the pair strolled forward, ostensibly for the
enjoyment of an extra. postprandial cigar, leav-

V
\

 

ing Randall to entertain the ladies without as-
sistancc.

“ Go with them, if you wish, Ran,” said
Grace, with her customary considerateness.
“ It isn’t fair for us to monopolize you so com-
pletely;and that story,” he had been reading
aloud from a. magazine, “ will easily keep till
later on.”

But the young man had divined what had cs-
caped her—that the truant pair were desirous of
conversing alone-and he was, moreover, con-
tent to remain where he was.

Still recuperating but slowly from his shock-
ing cataleptiform attack, though months had
intervened, Randall had, neVertheless, improved
much more rapidly since starting upon the
voyage, and the flash of returning health was
now much more pronounCed and constant in his
thoughtful, melancholy fuel),

“ What, you would get rid of me?” he replied,
smiling. “ But why not be more frank about it,
my dear, and Counsel me to jump overboard
forthwith? The Sea. is always Convenient for
self-eradication; or I might break my neck by a
misst into one of the stoke-holes, if more con-
venient.”

“Indeed!. or perhaps the captain might be
persuaded to yardarm you at a pinch,” returned
Irace, bursting into a laugh, in which she was
joined by Mrs. Maycourt and Ada.

“IIorrz'ble!” interposed Madame Renaud, in
French, and droppiner some elegant needlework
into her lap, she held up her hands in real or
mock consternation. “My dear madenioiselle,
howgtan you suggest such a barbarity even in
jest?

“Oh, it’s no difference,” observed Randall,
lazily, “ since I am quite content as I am, and
moreover, wouldn’t dare venture upon a second
cigar. By the way, though, where did they
drift to, those truant birds of passage ?”

“ Yonder they are!” And Miss Granthy
pointed to where her father and Maguus were
standing some distance forward, overlooking
the guard-rail just forward of the port daylts,
with their attention seemingly divided by some-
thing going on in the steerage fore—deck below.
“ And—dear me! what is that?”

Here she started up in no little alarm, her ex-
ample being followeu by her companions and
pretty much every other loungg- in sight, as a
significant cry rung out hoa \ly from some-
where below.

“ Man overboard!” that was the cry—always
a startling one at sea.

Almost at the same instant they saw Carolus
Magnus shed his hat, coat, waistcoat and shoes
with almost the expertness of a lightning-change
artist of the variety stage, and vault over the
rail into the sea. __

CHAPTER XXV.
A USEFUL WAIF.

IF the Touch Detective could have'doubted the
genuineness of Ada Maycourt’s reciprocation of
his passion, he would have been amply gratified
to have perceived her at that moment.

She had staggered back, clutching her moth-
er’s arm, her face wild and ghastly with unself~
ish panic and consternation.

“ Don‘t be alarmed» please look to her, Grace 1”
interposed Randall, authoritatively, while not
only Grace, but also Madame Renaud sympa-
thetically bestirred herself. “ Now wait just,
here till I can bring you word.” .

He ran to the spot whence the detective had
made his leap, and from which Mr. Granthy had
also by this time disappeared; and almost nume—
diately the ladies were relieved of their anxxety
by his waving his hand back to them encourag-
ingly, and even with a smiling face.

A few minutes later he rajomed them, saying

oomposedly: .
u pa on right, They’re both picked up by
a boat, and neither of them any the worse off
than for a ducking.”

“Bothl”quori both young ladies, breath-

lesslyf. . ‘

“ es. A poor devrl of a steerage passenger,
who either jumped or tumbled OverbOard, and
couldn’t swim, and Mugnus, who jum after
him. But the sea is like a mill-pen —though
the screw might have carried ’em under its
flakes, but for his superb address—and it must
have been just fun for Carolus. . That’s _all.
He’ll doubtless be along with his quiet little joke
about it when he can have had tune to change
his clothes.”

Here Mr. Grantby put in .a reappearance with
his version of the aflair, which was substantially
the same.

“ A generous and prompt rescue!” be com-
mented, in conclusion. “Everybody is talking
about it. One would hardly expect such 11“.
pulsiveness from so cool a card as Ma nus.”

“ Some would,” interposed Ada Iaycourt,
quietly the excitement now replaced by a proud,
happy 00k in her sweet face. “Who was the
man in rescued, sir?”

“ Doubtless a mere pauper—a swarthy, sallow-
faced Frenchman, willing enough for the obliv-
ion he perhaps courted, aud therefore less grateful
than vexed with his rescue.” was the indifferent
reply. “ The idea of' Magnus risking his life for
such a fellow! '1 here is the oddity of it.”

\

   

 

the:

weird oedema;

"'.§:4\.   .

 

17

 

 

 

 

“ The beauty of it, I should say,” said Ada.

I “ And
lover’s arm with a contented, roprietary air.
“ Indeed, yes,” murmured

sinned their seats.
l'i‘icnd—whnt is that?
friendless strangei'wwell, it’s a little Christlike,
to suythc least. You needn’t be ashamed of
that blush, sissy”—-to Ada. “ Bi'others-in—law
may not always be desirable ”—with a pleasant
lat gh—“ but you won’t be the only one glad to
bare Carolus Magnus in the family.

In the mean time the detective wns on tho
stcei'nge deck, bending over the form of the
stranger whom he had rescued from u watery
grave, thopair forming the center of a small
group, chiefly composed of deck-hands, swernge
passengers and otheis, curious, interested or in-
different.

A young man, this stranger, lintinisembly at-
tired, disconsolate-lioking, and at the same Lime
with something either in live or hung-dog in his
face; furthermore, lllliii‘l'>lzell and half starved-
looking, though perhups athletic and spry on
occasion, or if better fed and with a fairer
chance generally.

Pessibly a French artisan in the. hardest luck,
struggling buck us a bruised wuif to beloved
France from intolerable hard knocks in the New
World—possibly an obscure fugitive from juri-
tire; but at all events, and undeniably, as do-

great human undertow, or thrown up by ran-
«dom wind and wave for the curioue inspection
of such as go down to the sea in great ships.
Still bewildered, the fellow sat up after a sec-
ond prolonged pull ut the flask of brandy which
ins r uer had obtained from one of the stewards
in m r to place to his lips.
 Then he gave Magnus u half-resentful, half-
grateful look, hastily pulled down and rebut-
_ toned at the wrist one of his shirt-sleeves, which
had slipped up to the exposure of the greater
part of the loft arm—he wore no coat or jacket
——-nnd, with Some little assistance. rose to his
feet. v
“01' course, mdnsieur has my acknowledg-
ments!" he grOwled, in French, in a sullen un-
dertone. “ But why Couldn’t be let a. chap
drown, that’s nothing left to live for?” with a.
characteristic shrug of the shoulders, that had
something both desperate and pathetic about it.

“ Don't be too sure of there being nothing,r left
to live for, my man.” responded the detectiVe,

' cheerfully. “ You are yet young, and may find
.a friend in me. It happens,” with a peculiar
smile, “that I mu somewhat interested in you."

.The man gave a sudden. start, and threw his

‘ preserver a swift. suspicious look.

“ You were feeling in particular hard luck, I
suppose?” cont-inqu Maguus, yet more kindly.

“Monsieur, l was so hard beat as to no; care
whether I got buck to France or not," was the
reply; “and that is a good deal for a. French-
inian to say. _

“ I should think so.”

“ My last son went to paying my fare d0wn
here," desperately. "And monsieur ought to
see what we’llet,” he threw a cautious glance
about him, “ if We are unable to stake the stew-

' .ards. It isn’t fit to tbrOW'to a dog!”

“But that may be remedied. Did you ever
:serve as a gentleman’s valet or body-servant?”

“Yes,” eagerly. "In fact, it was in ‘sole
Vocation before’h-he paused abrudptly, ,-owar-
‘igg big e es—-—”l)€‘f0r8 fate was 68d 
me.” in a ow voice. '

‘ Magnus called the chief steward of the steer-

. gage, ordering him to give the man a bang-up

udhmer, including a bottle of good red Wine, at

his expense: and then, as the fellow was taken

’ in cha accordingly, left further word for him

‘5000 will. own cabin when the meal should
have been di of.

The dotsctivo waerlelsufely making his fresh
"toilette ,when- the man put in an appenrnni‘q,
less than half an hour later on, looking null-fed
and bright~aycdwth0ugh as shabby as before,

  

 
 

  

. 'to dry on his person.
“ What is your name

{him to be seated.
“ Achille Molli‘iel‘,
,“ The real one!" _ ‘
 “ Yes, monsiour,” Sh“ frankly: “though I
_ {6011133 to having sailed under a false Hagar
7‘ L‘WO. ’
,  “That is well. You shall be my valet forth-
- With at two hundred fraiiksninonth and found,

if a eeable." ‘
“Alfeeablol May the good God News you,
. “10ml”?! '138weur to serve monsieur faith-
- ,rtullyl" ‘
“Tush!” With a repeti'ion of the mum:
smile. “You will not dare to 'do otherwise.

a Give me your hand." ,

v Acmue Mom‘ier did so, though seemingly
with SONG “nastiness, and then started and
"mood We is the detective’c demon-p band

i” Andeng'nus signed
” promptly. ,-

  

, . glmd upon his coupler one.

z, ‘51 .‘hopo‘ moneieur is not the devil!" hemor-
., “M. w '

 
 
 

ith evident'si ity. ;  .
y than? smil ugh “again” .

t.’ t '2'

  
 
  

I, too, my dear," warnin seconded
Grace, with a bright look, her hand on her owu

undall, his arm
instinctively stealing around her as they re-
“To risk one’s life for it
But to risk it for the

('ll'lHlly unprepmscrzsing a specimen of unlimited 1
flotsam and jet<uni us is often dragged out of the i,

I
g

 

having merely permitted his miserable clothes ' l

 

 

l

  

“ A clairvoyant, then—a niaguetizer-L-a mes-
mr‘iste—a touchoman !”

“ That is better. Given kind treatment, then,
I don’t believe you could betray me if you
would?”

“ Monsieur is right,” with a little shiver, after
which he was permitted to withdraw his hand.
“ Nor Would I if lcould.”

Mugnus nodded, and qughed again, though
more naturally.

Then, presenting the man with a hnndqnirror,
he Signed him to survey his face in it.

Mourier started as he did so.

“The deuce!” he iiiuttorcd, with unconcealed
Vex-ition. “And yet I might lmvoexpected it.”

“ Ha, ha, bu!” laughed the Touch Detective,
gmid-naturedly. “ You went into the sea a
brown mun, and you came out of it a fair man—
a blondc'! Eh, Achille Moui'ierP’

The latter gave a gi'iinacc, but made the best
of his exposure. '

“ Monsieur, it is the truth,” he replied, with
mUch simplicity. “ But let nionsieur remember
that I did not expect or Wish to come out of it
at nil.”

“ True, true! So you found pocket-picking
hurdcr work in America than in Paris, and
were on your way back to rcenlist under the
fatherly regimental standard Antoine Bordone,
otherwise Anthony Bordon, the King of the Pick-
pockctsi Ha, ha, ha i”

“ Monsilmr,” stammei'ed the other, in no little
consternation,” really-wyou see—that is—"

“Pesto! look here.” The detective stripped
up the sleeve which the follow had so hastily
replaced on the steerage deck, and eluted to
to the upper arm thus disclosed. “ here you
are. Do you think I didn't catch a glimpse of
that even before you fell into thesea? HoWeVer,
be easy, Achille. I would have rescued you in
an event, though perhaps with a little less
nwdi than Idid.

Leginy pricked in India ink on the white
flesh thus exposed, were the words,“ Frere de la
Confren'e de A. 13.”

Tue detective laughingly translated it aloud,
thus: “Brother of the Antnoie. Bordone Bro-
therhood;” adding: “ But that will do, Achille.
It shall get you into no trouble, if you stick to
we.” I. .

K "I am monsieur’s faithful servant from this

moment,” replied the wait, replacing the sleeve.

once more. “ But surely, with renewed
earnestness, "‘ monsieur is the devil?"
 “No: only a detective.”

The man started again, turning pale, but
with a clase-lipped resolute expression.

CHAPTER XXVI.
ACHILIJE MOURIER.

“ DON’T be alarmed Achillo,” observed Mug-
nus, reassuringly. “ betective as I am, I ave
nothing against your whilom chief, nor wil you
be expected to betray him, or a single one of
your regularlyuiccrerlited confreres.”

“ Thanks, In usieur,” replied Mourier, already
much relieved. “ Monsieur is n real gentleman

 

. whom I shall be proud to serve.”

“Gondl I shall see to that. Here!" Magnus
opened one of his valises, and handed out there-
from a. spare gray suit of his own, but little
worn. “ Put these 'on, and then,” he gave him
some money “ run down to the barber. In the
mean time, I will arrange the difference of tare
with the purser, and have you installed within
call as my‘valet. When you are in good shape,
seek me where I will be with my fn'ends directly
after, or in the general saloon.”

Achillo had assumed the garments with the
dispatch of an expert in love with his task, and,
as he and his new master were very nearly of

pulse, they fitted him fairly.
He was not without his share of human vanity. ‘

He surveyed himself, piece by piecehin the
larger glass, fore and aft, now on this side, new
on that, now on tiptoe, how stoopingly, now

. with his head over his shoulder, until it seemed

that he would never be dbne with admiring his
transformation to his satisfaction.‘

Then, falling; upon his knees, he seized the de-
tective's hand, and raised it to his lips repeated-

.Y- ‘ "

“MY benefactor! mv reservcrl" he exclaim-
ed. “ But wait till I all have been to the
barber. Ah. monsieur will be proud of me
then! Imnafiuo fellow art my t. Was it
for nothing that I was known as ‘Gentleman
Mourier’ and ‘ Handsome Achillo’ among the
griaettes and shop girls of the Montuiartre?
Ah, I think not.”  3

“ That will do,”said Mngnus, l,
“ Get up and go now. But wait!

“ Shall I put the finishing touches on man-
siour’s toilette?”

“ No. But tell me, have you ever mat in the
past one, a brother-in law of the great Antoine,
calling himself Armsdalf‘. 0!" otherwise?” .

“ What! the iiirigiiificent hlnnde, as we called
him—~f-he Superb English Swell of the many dis-
guises?

“ very l kcly.” a.

“ Have met him? I should any  Still 11 t
frequentlv.‘ He wgi of different clay from, 3'
poor devils of the .cMifrrI‘inf-a grand" fellow“
who would look...“ 0 hing but; bunk snfeor a,“
Mel'pox.7”  , lg, £2 ;. I. . I,“ : i l- i I

    

Jighing ‘agalnf‘l

   

“Would he know you? that is what 1 want
to know." ,

“ I think not, monsieur; in Yact, it is quite
oer-min that he would not. I was nothing more
than the dirt under such a grand Swell’s feet—
quite beneath his notice.”

“ That is fortunate. He is my man.”

“ Monsieur can depend on his Achille. Le
Blonde Mugniflque, though a friend of the great
Antoine’s, was neVer of our brotherhood.”

“ Had you learnwl that Antoine is in the grip
of the police at last!” '

“Alm, yes, monsieur! But it will not be for
long. Ah! I cannot understand. A man of his
genius, his nobility, to soil his hands in practical
crookedness! The stupidity of it!” with a and
shake of the bend. “ Softening of tho brain,
pin-haps, or a love-affair. which is much the
same thing. He to be nabbed? How have the
mighty fallen!”

His sorrow seemed truly heartfelt. One would
have thought it the shattering of a lifetime
idol, or a prince of the blood being caught at
curd cheating. ,

“ One thing more,” cautioned the detective. , f ~'
“ Should it prove that you may have 8180 met  ~ .
one of the—aheinl—ladies of my party before,
you are to be duly on your guard."

“ I shall be discreet, monsieur.”

\Vhen Achillc had gone, Magnns hastened to
arrange for the change in the t‘ellow’s traveling '
status‘and acconiinmiations, and then rejoined
his friends on the after deck.

The daylight was still lingering, and the greet-
ing acetirded him was all that could be expect-
ed or desired.

Especially did Ada give him her hand with a ,
heightened color, and a proud tender look in 
her sweet eyes, that was particularly gratify- 
in .

g‘ It was not only good fun, but may be to my
profit,” he cried, gnyly, after their cangratula—
tions bad in some measure exhausted themselves.

“ I shall apply to be appointed official life-saver .
on board the mperieuse.”

“ How is it with the fellow you picked up?”
asked Mr. Granthy, indifferently. ‘

“Fairly well,” was the reply. “ He is to be
my alet, and will show up in that capacity
p tly." l
“ Your valet?”

“ To be sure! And why not?”
“ That ill-kempt, beggarly-looking rascal?”

“ Ah, but there are transformations, my
friend. Sce, he is here." ‘
In fact, Achille at this moment put in a soft-

footed and obsequious appearance, suggtsting
something of 1} Prig, it is true, but still so vastly ‘
improVed in almost every way that it is doubt-
ful if his motaer would have known him, though _
“ the grisettes and shop—girls or the Montmartre”
might have been delectated with the change that
had been wrought.

“ Achille, my light top-cont,” ordered the new ‘ ~ ;
muster. “You will find it on the second hack, ‘
from my cabin door. Here is the key.” , _

Achille respectfully vanished upon the errand,
but not before he had shot a lurtive, perba _ ‘
somewhat startled look at Madame Renaud, :_
whose eyelids there was noticeablea just per,- ‘ ‘
ce tible quiver in response, but nothing more. ,

II‘he toth being duly brought, Achille was ,
more permanently eliminated by being ordered
to lOok after the new accommodations that had
beeln secured for him, and then to remain within if
cal . V . -

“ You are to be complimented on your judg-l lg '
ment, Monsieur Magn‘us," Madame Renaud said,“
with the smiling gra oneness to which be was;
no, quite accustom from her. “ The ,.
man will most likely make an efficient and faith-P
ful valet.” « ‘

“ And what a change in the rascal l” obderved 
the bunker. ” However. I can‘t think whatyoue ~ 5
can want with a valet, Magnus. I am perhapngie
richer than
wouldn’t thin
tent.” _ y 

“ Or to any other extent. dear pa.” correct“- "
ed his dutiful daughter. “ But t self-ubnegnq ,
tion is becoming enough in your case, of course?»

“ Well.” explained the detective, “ the fellow
seems to know his Paris perfectly, you see, and
it struck me that he might be of some slight-ser- ._
vice in helping me to get on the track of that :
rascal Bartlow once again. That is all. Other».
wise I should have very little personal use for
him, most probably." 2 -

He. made it 9 point to be perfectly frank _
fore Madame Renaud, as well as with the rest
the party with regard to his individual mission 
abroad, as a matter of course. , ‘

“ Still, Mr.

    
       
           
       
     
     
     
     
       
     
     
     
     
       
     
     
       
     
       
         
   
          
       
       
             
       
   
   
     
     
       
       
   
 

        
       
     
       
     
   
     
   
       
  

   

    

      
       
     

      
         
   
 
 

  
    
      
 

on," with a laugh, ‘f‘and yet .
of putting on style to that ext:

     
      
       
     
 

  
    
  

   
  

   
    

'9 -,
V»

    

 

  
 

L

  
 
 
    
  

 
 

I, ,.
Magma,” observed the. home-
keeper, inwrestedly, “it is well that you will  I
on your guard as to trusting this strange-young -
man in any matter of importance, before thor-  4.
onghly testing him.” ' ' ,
“ Trust me Tor that. ma’m. and thanks to you.
Hogans answered, urbanelv.
ticularly to

    

 
  
   
   
     
   
      
    

just the. We,”
“ But what. promph you pai
warning, allow me to risk?”
“Er, wellzl also happen to know my
fairly wall. my friend. And, if I mistake.
Mucous to which your new acquisition

       
 

  
   

   
 

    
     

  
   

 

"fii apparent to inc-the unhemlaet eyei-
Hlimp”   t , ' ' ’ ‘ , ”

   

."

    
  

 

» M,“ ,r. w, .'
’r. H...’ s

' - “y mi ' ~ 3 (I: Y

' Magnu’s,'the [Weird Detentive. 7

gr“?!  ’A

   

 

 

  

 “ then?”
V “Oh, the genus home, of course.” with her

v ,4" r seductive lau h. “ But of the 8 moles r01 Lu: or
V , , 7‘ l J y

as » I am very much mistaken.

r- “ You’re to be congratulated on your penetra-

tion, ma’m,” earnestly. “ Yes, you have intui~
tively got Achillo Mouricr down pretty fine,
according to the admissions or semi-admissions
, that I managed to force out of him, as a prelimi-
zr , j. narvc”
“ I wouldn’t have anything to do with tho
.  fellow, though of course it is no affair of mine,”
’ ‘ interposed Mr. Grnntby, with his sometime
" bluntness. “ These haphazard chaps, that come
from nobody knows where, I have little confi—
deuce in them. It’s ten to one that you’ll pick
up an adventurer or rascal in fostering ’em.”
“ As on, rhaps, ought to know by experi-
ence, onsmur Profundity l” laughel tho

 

  
  
    
  
  
     
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
 
  
   
    
  
  
 
  
  
   
    
 
    
  
  
   
  

growing familiarity that was everyday more
pronounced] y apparent, to Grace Gl‘ilntby’s
secret resentment and disgust, though she man-
aged to conceal the feeling with more or less
success. “ Ah! your pcrspicacity was so vindi-
cated in the case of that fine man of affairs, the
magnificent Bartlow l”

CHAPTER. XXVII. '
A CONFERENCE.

Tm: banker pulled a rather rucful face at
this piece of banter, but managed to force a
laugh.

“Still,” he grumbled, “ you must allow for
that villain’s real fascinations, and that he did
not come to us without the highest recommenda—
tions.”

“ Forged ones, eh, monsieurl” with a yet
pleasanter laugh.

‘ “ Yes, yes, 1 an pose so,” pcttishly. “ And I
also suppose that am never to hear the last of
that. at don't forget, belle madame,” with a
smile at last in anSWcr to her fascinating glance,

- ' “that there were others who were no less do-

* r‘ céived in the man than I.”

r ‘ “Eh, well, I’ll acknowledge as much for my-

, self, if you will be real good,” and madame arose

p, ' « with a little shiver, and with a coqnettish sign

' to him that brought him tothe task of arranging

her wrap a little more snugly about her magni-

flcent shoulders. “ Still, my friend, (Thanks!) I

would assuredly have warned you against that

 specious man, but for the hopelessness of your

’ infatuation for him. However, we can still
~ hope that he is ultimately to be brought to
account for his villainy. Shall you try your
skill with me at piquet again this evening?"

“Not at once, belle madame, at all events,”
was Mr. Grantby’s response, with a gallant air.
“First, at leastrI shal try a parting cigar with

guns, since we ware so interrupted in our for

- mer essay.” And, linking his arm with the de-
~ tective’s, he strolled forward with him.

I Then, as the pi ht air was growing chill, the

" .. ladies and Ronda l retired from the deck in a.

body the Renaud leading the retreat with her

stately figure and truly superb walk, which was
we short of the melody of motion, and Grace

‘ ntby, for one, following on her lover’s arm,

with her_ pretty teeth set hard behind her com-

'\

she exclaimed to Randall, with
en , at the first opp irtunity,
." must licy compel us to at up uncomplain‘
’- ihgly w th this creature’s nsoleuce? I have
grown to hate her just immensely l” ,
.  f‘ Hush!” be cautioned. “ It will not be inter-
 minably, I trust; and meantime it is policy to
. _ dissemble as you must allow. Even Carolus re-
. , commends it, and he would not tolerate the
.‘ woman if he thought he could avoid it safely)”
‘ " But I sometimes doubt if papa is really play-
v- ing a part:~ while madame’s beauty-such as/it
’ie—makes me tremble lest he should really lose
his head, or in some way commit himself irre-
trievab .”
o 1. However, let us trust in Magnus,

IDS.
“ How long,”
ur

0mm the best.” 
.1110 her and the detective had once more
came to a pause a little forward of the port
long-boat, where it hung at its davits, and the
ion-mar had hurriedly taken up their conference
where it had been interrupted.
, “ hen you were beginning to fear,'Magnus,”
laid he, ‘ that I might be really-submitting to
the fascination: of the fair Renaud r’
a "-a“Unconscionc to yourself, perhaps, air,” was
the detectivels .reply. “ And I. am still not
without my apprehensions, I confess.”

‘ “ Dismiss t em, then, once for all," ohsarved
' , a banker, with sudden gravity, and yet not
:without a certain anxiety. “ I am hulwarked,
my dear sir, and perhaps morethoroughly than
,you can wholly conceive.” ‘
, “ Thank Heaven for that!” exclaimed Magnus,
“ ppgrsntly much relieved. “So much the bet-
ter. ’
.“And yet I want to explain myself,” contin-
-; nod Hr. Grantby. “ The case is just this way:
While I don’t attempt to don t at the beauty
.otthis woman is not without “fascination for
- Mien mel I'm flesh and blood, for all my
‘  principle and my desire to do the

.'\.»

   

 
 
 

     
 

    
 
   

 

      

    

o ,

 

Renaud, playfully tapping him with her fan; a ,

i

“ I shall be grateful for your judgment, ma’m. I ble thing-—the knowledge of her true character
Under what genus would you classify him, I mostly recurs to me with such force that I find

i the utmost diiliculty in treatingr her with com-
! mon doccncy. You understand?”

H es.”

“And yet again I feel that I am acting a con—
temptible part in even half-deceiving her, as I
do, by pretending to regard her as a worthy and

1 good woman, no less than an attractive one.”
i “ Well, try to carry it out, at all events. It
i may not be for much longer, 1 hope.”
i “ Yos,‘ycs; out that isn’t the worst of it,” and
i Mr. (iruntby’s tone became more and more ex-
‘ aspl-rated. “ There is Madeleine—Mrs. May-
‘ court—you know.”

“ So! and what of her?”

“Good Lord! but what must she think of me
‘ through it all, to say nothing of my own daugh-

‘ tor and Grace?”

I have done my share in trying,r to make them
understand it, at all events, and 1 think that

I
J
1 “Still, they understand the neCessity, Ithink.
l
l

' Randall has done or is doing the same.”

‘ the banker fairly groanm’l.

“ But women can never understand such a
thing properly, Madeleine, csi'x-ciallyl” Here
‘“ By Jupiter, Mag-
nusl notwithstanding how necessary it may he,
in the Way of assisting you in running,r down
Bartlow, and recovering the bank’s money, I
don’t See how I can carry the thing through." '

His distress was so genuine that Magnus
pitied him greatly, though he hesitated for the
appropriate reply with which to encourage him.

“ It’s just torture for me!” the banker blurted
out. “,You see—~hy Heaven, it is just this way
with me, Magnus! I—I love Madeleine, and
would gladly—more gladly than you can con-
ceive—make her my Second wife. That is the
misery of it. And yet how can I ask her to be-
come such, or,” wildly, “ earn anything but her
continued contempt by keeping up this unmanly
course with another Womanéoand such a WU-
munl It‘s jus killing me by inches, sir!”

“ Bear up, 8 r—bear up, and carry it out to
the end!” Magnus urged, earnestly and anxious-
ly. “ It will not be for long, now—I feel sure of
that. This chance of my falling in with this
young Frenchman to-duy may help us out me-
terially.” Pa... , .. .,:,

“W hatl he can really be of use to you in
Paris, you think i”

“ Yes; though I cannot Venture to explain
how, as yet.”

Here a figure a proached, which proved to be
that of Achille lilourier, and as he appeared to
wish to communicate somethng to the detec-
tivo in private, the latter parted with Mr.
Granthy with such f urther encouragement as he
Could ofl’er. ,

“ What is it, Achille?” demanded Magnus, as
soon as they were alone.

“The grand blonde lady, monsieur,” replied
the man.

“ Ahl. you recognized her, then?” ,

“Recognize the hi 'ter of the great Antoine
Bordone, monsieur? I should say so, indeed!
First, with monsieur’s traveling-party; and then
again just now.”

“ Just new?”

“ Yes, monsieur.” /

“ When again i” I

“ Spying here upon t you and monsieur, the
hankerasecretly picking up every word that
was dropped.” ,

" Ha! say you so?"

“ In Very truth, monsieur. Ah, a sly and
cat-footed one is the magnificent blonde! 3199.:
must speak, monsieur. It is not for nothing
that she is of our royal family—that is, a sister
of the great, the only King Antoine.”

“ Where was she l”

“ Crouched just yonder behind the boat, mon-
sienr; and not so much muffled but that I recog~
nlzed her as she skipped away. 1 am rather
good at seeing in the dark, monsirur.”

“ Achille, this is important, and you are mak-
ing a good beginning. It is necessary that you
should know more of this—lady.”

“ At monsieur’s pleasure.”

“ She is the wife of ‘ my man.’ ”

“ That. too? I shall track her like a cat,
watch her like a lynx!”

“ When had you seen her inst?” .

“ Years ago when, as a mere girl, she was vis-
iting his highneas the great Antoine.”

“ Doe: she recognize you in turn, think yo i"

“ I think not.” /

“ She is not one (if your sacred brother-hem , I
trustt" . ‘

“ Not she' no, no! If she is monsieur’s game,
she is henceforth mine.”

“That is Well. You cannot be too watchful
—-too much on your guard.”

“ Will monsieur permit a. question?”

H Ya.”

- “The great blonde, is it that she has her do-
signs upgn monsieur the banker?”

M 83

“The. situation is transparent, monsieur.
Trust in me.”

Nothing more was said, and there was little
more, worthy of particular note during the voy-

“iit. A

rty arrived at Paris four davs later,

 
 
 
 

 

and t
F,

  
   
 

up i ir'qnartsrsatthe Hotel des Deux
 .W . ' .. mentbut a'

a

 

  

  

step or two apart from the rear and glitter of
the great boulevards, and yet not of them—se— ’
lect, well-ordered, yet in the great swim.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
rams.

lxxxowx to any of his party, save perhaps
to AClllllt his valet, Magnus early paid his re—
spects to he Prefecture of Police, and after that
seemed to have no interva in anything but en-v
joying himself and assisting his companions to do
the same amid the whirling sizbts of the gay
Capital under his able and intelligent guidance.

In this agreeable manner there {flab slipped"
away the first fortnight, which was apparently
enjoyed to the full by every one with the single.
exception of the banker, who at last impatiently
sought out the detective.

“ You seem to be doing nothing in your
of the robber,” he exclaimed.

“ If I seem-that, it is Well,” was the cheerful
reply, “for I am really doing all that can he
done.” ,

“ You-are uncommonly secret about it,” sar—
castically.

“ Necessarily,” was the imperturhablc reply.
“ And you, my dear sir, are not happy I inter?”

“ Hap 1y! i am in purgatory! Madeleine.
will liar ly even speak to me now.” . «

“ A tribute to your geod acting of your part. .  ',
The fair Renaud is still lavish of her seductive '7 4:,
blandishments, I pert-visual2

H 1 should say so!” with a half-groan. “ That
is. the worst of it. I sometimes fear she may ,.
niake me her captive irrrtrievably, in Spite, of ,,  ~;
myself.” _ ‘ ~

“ No; you will escape hen, This for a heart— ’
ener for you: Look out that she doesn’t poison ‘_;. V
your coffee or your Wino.” , '  up

Mr. (lrnntby glared at him wildly; ' v

“ Good God! what can you mean?" he gasped.

“ Madame overheard all that passed lit-tween
us in thatlast little conversation of ours aboard
ship. And Achille caught her eye yesterday
when she was about to drpoait a pinch of while '
powder in your cafe on lait (coffee with milk.)
" Then she desisted. But don’t be unnecessarily
aim-med, Knowing that she is watched, she
isn‘t likely to try that particular dodge again."

But the poor gentleman was by this time
positively haggard. . I

“ Oh, Lord !” he exclaimed, rubbing up his
one bald spot energetically; “ the sorceress Will
make way with me before I know it. And
what else can be expected of her, now that she
knows all?”

“ Calm yourSelf. All Will be well. Achillo
and I are constantly on the watch, and not for'
nothing, you may be sure.”

“ Why did you not tell me of this before?”

“ It would not have been for the best, be--
lieve me. You are on! told now to relieVe you
of anxiety lest she shou d ultimate] y net you un--
awaree.” ~'

“ Ah, indeed!” ' »

H Y ‘

 

'quest

 

I"

 

assuredly,” with an encouraging smile. .
“ Take eartl She may murder you, but can no- L '
longer hope to entrap you into a proposal of 4:,
marriage, you may be sure.” 
f‘ Thanks! Ha. ha, ha! What an immense
sensation of relief you afford me!” and the wor-
thy man laughed a little hysterically. “ Well,
let the sword (la-crud, the secret dagger pierce,
the poison rmeale! Bt‘IIt'i' the shambles than
Hymon! a, ha! Truly, this is highly com. 
farting, not to say delectable.” ', ‘ - ’
Magnns took his arm, earnestness taking the '
place of his bantering air. I » . I  V.
“ Kiss your ‘chains— hang on tether chariot-— '- ,“
wheel—well, for yet another week!” he urged, ' 
impressively. “ Then—well, the outlook is
brightening." \
“ What l” and Mr. Grantby really braced
himSnu up; “ you are on the track?”
1‘ Yps; though I can tell you no more dt pres 7
out. Possess your soul Ill patience, that is all I

          
        
    
       
        
         
 
           
        
     

sk. ’ i *

‘ Well. I'll do my best. This is an improve:-

ent, an way. .“ And the banker went at!
to head a ndies’ sight-seeing expedition in bet» 
ter spirits than he had known for many a long
day. ‘ 

This was in Mngnus‘s hotel room. ' ,

“Poor old chap!” thedctectivo muttered. com—

misera tingly, as the door closedbchlnd the other.
“ A thmile-ss task, truly, and prett ‘ ‘dear pay-
ment for that fool infatuation 0 his for the
brilliant cashier. I only hope thft Inlay not
how givpn’out hopes prematurely3, ,

There. was'a trace of anxiety in his ton i,
which did not wholly disappear as tle do 4'
opened to meet, the now trusted and imiet’ui- .
gable Achille". * ~ ’

“ on have seen your royal master, Bordonr, . .
againl’the demanded. ’

“ Yes. monsieur,” replied the valet, animated-'

15,. it He was in improved spirits. too, was the
prince. The order was expected for his trune‘er
from Salpetriere to Mazes. a much more dignified . .
rison. A good sign, monsieur,” rubbing his.
ends with genuine satisfaction. “The great.
Antoine inlay receive his discharge under sur- -
veillance at almost any day. Ha!” ' ‘ I

Like many of his DYBdPCOW,Ahd 3- many , v
of his successors since, invested‘with the 1111-» 
crowned! purple or Parisian rogury -'

t

     
    
      
      
      
   

 
 
     
        
 
   
     
     

     
     
 
 
 
    

  
 
 
  
 

 
 
 

' "n3?
., ,

 

«We
»
l

/

   

Bordonc, King of the Paris I‘ickpockets, had, up
to the. unpardonahle, not to say unprincely,

stupidity of getting himself under vulgar ar-
t rest, enjoyed a reputation which, if not wholly
, I um-nviablc, was little short of national.

2" Just when he had quitted SeVen Dials, Lon-

? don, the spot of his nativity and earlier aspire:
tions, for Paris, as offering a under and more
seductive field for his surreptitious activity, was
never known.

It was rumored, however—~lhough this may
have been one of the plebeian calurnnies to which
unfortunate owners of the blood royal am so
persiswntly a prey—that he had originally llit-
ted to France to avoid serving a long term in an
English prison. It was only certain that the
careless Parisian world had awakened one fine
morning to find Monsieur Antoine Bordouc-—
therefore plain Tony Bordon—a part of it.

To a slender, graceful iiguro, always faultless-
ly attired, a pale face, with a sad or bored look,
small hands and shapely feet, he added the fin-
ishing gloss of perfect manners and a distin-
guished air.

Naturally a master of men, from the foot of
the rogue's ladder and individual light—fingered
work on an unpretentious scale, little by little
he rose to “ bossiSm 7’ in his vocation, resigning
the vulgar work to such pals, admirers and
“subjects "as his {wrsonal magnetism and su-
perior cleverness speedily won for him from the
great fraternity of picket-picking Parisian;

inally he became head of a coufrerie bearing
a his name, governed by secret refilllations‘, and
.2' ‘ , symbolized by a prescribed brand of brother-
‘ hood on the arm of each, which rapidly grew
into a solid and systemizcd power of nefarious
import., The king of this band of miscreants
was its’organizing head and executive soul. IL)
confined himslelf exclusively to the planning nnl
specific assignment of sneak-thefts and light-
fingered operations for the army of rascals who
came to owe him their SWorn allegiance.

Everywhere, finally, Antoine, the elegant and
irreproachable Antoine, was king of the pick-
pockets in fact no less than in name.

Not only did he frequent the best restaurants,
cafes and hotels (in fact, the Hotel des Trois
Freres among the latter, which had c 'efly

rompted Mugnus in the selection thereof 8 the
quarters of his traveling party). but his was

 :3? a constant and familiar figure at the race-
 courses, the baths, at every resort of wealth and
I.“ fashion, and always. we may be sure, with a
r 7‘ iercing and discriminating e e for promising
, ‘  aces, plump pocket-books an costly personal
 l7" 1- ornaments. I

‘ ‘ Too shrewd ever to be caught redchanded him-
self, and with a power that was notorious, he
enjoyed the respect of the police, the considera-
tion of the great keys, and even something
more, than the ng notice of the beau-mama,
With the darker but cquall seductive half-world,
or demi-monde, as it is ca led, he would limrully
have nothing,r to do, notwithstanding he was man.
urally its secret idol, and that it was the natural
source and home of nineteen twentieths of his
recruits and veteran Operators. '

“ My gloves soil so easily,” be was wont to ca

hiiosophically to his valet, in one of his bent -

z moods. “ Give me the bent of toilet soap, or
pure water—the creme de la creme” (highest
society) “or annihilation." ,\

However, Whether from an unfortunate love
afi‘air or otherwise, Antoine grew melancholy
" and Careless. Therefore his Waterlm and an en-

forced abdication was in store for him.

Perhaps his inamorata was capricious. busi-
ness dull, the world . temporarily dark. Never-
theless, he was collared, rel-handed, by an irate
American tourist, Whose fat wicket-book he was
in the very act of purloiuiuu at the race for the

prize of the Paris Jockey Club, and, un-
Ol‘t'mutel)’ {or fallen and misguided royalty. a
sergeant de ville was conveniently near at haul,
who forthwith hurried‘ him off to prison.

" Th9 fine-“t had caused a sensation. Paris
30”“ P0“ beli‘WO. “is em and cars at first. The
king himself to descend so low, the blood royal
thus t0 forget its cerulcan exclusivencss! It
i could scarcely be credited, but of course materi-
‘ ‘ alized with sufficient solidltyin the cold, crystal-
lizing light of fact, after which the careless 1.15.ch
hum was renewal, and the an world whim-
gigged on uninwrrupmdly as be on.

However, the American v ctlnk—perbaps a
/ snatuued “Mr. Barnes. 1 New York," or
v ‘ r. Potter, of Tcxas"-—-was not disposed to be
‘ * relentless; and there were, moreover, understood
to be friends and money at work in the interest
of the indiscreet monarch‘s fallen greatness.
The police still held on, to he surmbut with a
gigging perfunctorinecs that might at any time
. me conditional leniency, and so the matter
\ ‘ “The mysterious secret friend is still at work
for him in the background, 1 suppose?” queried
Ma nus. “ That is what I want to know.”
, “ ea, monsieur.” was Achille’s response.
- ‘ “And still a mystery!”
' “ Not Wholly so now', monsicur,” said the
' - valct, bri htly. “ His biglhncss is, of course, still
1 roticeut, ut—chare arct in that slip out.” .
' . r 7‘, hi, Has our Renaud v tored to cornmu-
' with him as yet?" . , ,

 

 

    
 
  

 
 
  

-- t   

 the

 
   

,g“,

 

   

" Veird'

“ No, no. She is doubtless too shrewd for
that, monsneur.” '

“ Doubtless. Well, as to his majesty’s chief
mysuu‘ious friend in needl”

“ Eh, well, monsieur, he is a magnificent florid
gentleman—in fact, our man ! That much slip—
pod out. There can be no question about it.
But he has only once called at the prison in per—
Son, and that was considerably before our ar-
rivnl in PM is. Smoe then he has irregularly
conmiuniiutcd with Monsieur Antoine. nlwm's
by a dill'orcnt messenger, but always from the
some point.”

“ What point is that!”

“ Soissons.”

“ Are you sure?”

“ Abmlutely.”

“ Is this all you have learned?”

“EVery iota. I really wish it was more, mon-
sieur, but-”

“ It will do at a pinch. Help mo toget ready
at once. And you must keep a redoubled watch
on tho Renaud in my absence.” ’

“ Monsieur is come: on a journey?”

“ Ot‘ course—to Soissons."

CHAPTER XXlX.
AN EvENTFUL JOURNEY.

THE city of Soismns is sixtydlve miles north-
east of Paris on the railroad to Luon.

It was an hour before noon when the Touch
Detective was in readiness, and twenty minutes
later he was in the train en route.

In suddenly determining upon this journey,
he was not so much prompml by a hope of
ulighting upon llnrtlow’s immediate trail—in
fact, no rather rl-alJzed that there was but a
small chance of this as yet—as by a certain pre-
monition, or vague magnetic intimation, to
which his paculiarlyscnsitivc organization was
susceptible at infrequent and irregular inter-
vals, ihat he was on the verge of some unusual
experience or discovery.

This might not have any relation whatever to
the quest in hand, but the feeling had made
itself manifest more than once during the morn-
ing with a persistence and urgency that were
unmistakable.

He hail, therefore, not attempted any disguise,
as he might otherwise haVe done, nor even stop-

to ca good-by to Ada and her mother,
though he had intrustcd Achille with a few re-
assuring words for the former, in the event of
his return being delayed later than the accus-
tomed table d’hote dinner hour of seven.

Arriving at Soissous, with the mysterious pre~
monitiou still stron upon him, he made a cer-
tain number of cautious and judicious inquiries,
but without a particle of avail.

A brief but exhaustive tour through the suspi-
cious quarters of the town, under the guidance
of an intelligent local detective, to whom he
made certain confidences as to the object of his
quest. met with no better success.

Greatly disappointed, and yet with his im-
pressionnl confidence, so to s ak, undimimshed,
he finally took the four oclock return train,
which would land him at his hotel in ample sea-
son to dress for dinner at all events.

At the X station, however, agentleman en-
tered the coach, of which the detective chanced
to be the sole occupant till then, and granted him-
self directly 0 posite. 1'

Instantly ngnus experienced a sort of thrill,
and, managing to touch the gentleman's hand as
the latter made himself comfortable,~- this was
felt in a more pronouan and significant form.

The forewarned happening was evidently on
the Verge of disclosing itself—materializing, as
“JOY would any nowadays,

Magnus smiled inwardly, kept his best wits
on edge, and waited expectantly. ,

It was not for long. '

. new-comer was in an affable humor. and
It was not long before he was engaged in con-
Vel‘fi'ltl'm with his prermsessing fellow-traveler.

“ You are not English, monsieurl” (.ibserved
the gentleman. " “ No. American, eh? But 'I
might have gnawed it, you Americans aresn
cosmopolitan, no agreeably non-exclusive, as I
might say, while 'ytur traveling Englishman,
what is be? An animated iceberg, a human-
ized machine, with « the ridiculous insularity
added. A fine day, monaieur?”

In less than ten minutes he had infer ed the
detective that he was the Baron dc Boisgomont:
and in twice that time Mngnus was more or less
uc uainted with the baron‘s opinions on the
)olitlcal situation, Sarah Bernhardt, Sardrvu’s’
ant play, the new conquests in the Sendai); Bis-
marck’s special bogglinhnessI from an "ultra
French point of view, auttthe stock variety of
Parisian topics. , ’

The baron was an elderly but well-preserved
man, elegantly dressed, and conspicuous in the
button-hole of his coat was the red ribbon of the

ion of Honor.

He was going to P
at A—, where he in (1 horse .in.trainini>,r

 

Iris. he said, but would stlnp
for

the forthcoming gig Went of e,French turf.
“But,” ‘obterv , M on, “I was not aware
that this Express stop at A——'—.”

“ it will stop for me,"/laughai Monsieur the
Baron, ccmplacently. “ When one happen- to
be a shareholder

tiom

  

  

 

 

":45: ,
" l

Detective.

boulevard on which the Celebrated cafe‘in lo-i

 

of, thanle one travels on,
‘ '  '

 
   

    

‘\ " ,. ~' Awake ' 1 .‘l

“ Perhaps  

(‘42,.-

  
  
    
   
  
 
   
   
 
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
 
   
   
    
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
 
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
 

asking. Eh, monsieuri” chuckling.

they manage the privileges Similarly in
America?”
“ Very similarly,” was the response. ‘ ‘

The detective. was then about to say some— 3
thing else in rejoinder, when he notiCed that his
companion’s expression had suddenly changed-
In fact, that he was now gapin: and staring at
him as it looking at a ghcst, or in a manner that
was little short of offensive, to say the least.

“ It is coming, whatev‘er it is,” thought Maz- ,
nus to himself, and he held himself in patient f
EXllt’Clalle! accordingly. ~

The baron’s eyes Were riveted sternly now,
even hlbplClOllSly, on the detective’s breast.

Suddenly be bent forward, and said, very
gra vel y : .

“ Excuse me, monsieur, but it strikes me that
it is a very odd >Cfll‘f—pln you are wearing.”

Magn us instinctively flushed—nu incident that
was not. lost upon his companion, as he looked at . ; '
and placed his hand upon his bosom. *

In choosing a scarf while preparing for his jour.
ney. with Achille‘s hsdstance, he had, unreflect-
ingly and with the most absolute inudvertence (or
was it fatality?) selected the one with the pecu-
liar pin attached which had been his unexpected
find or trophy following upon the safe-robbing
cashier’s extraordinary flight from the burning
bunk building. \

In fact, he had about forgdtten that it was in
his [)OSSl‘SSlOll, and, having: assumed it at his in
a fit of abstraction, was now not a little startled,
though at the same time not altogether dissatis-
fied, to find that it was the means of drawing his
com .ianion out. as you might say.

“ t is coming,” he thought, with no little Self-
complacency. " Good! and with my will-o‘-the-
wisp, Bartlow, comfortably JniXed up with it
into the bargain. Well, Well‘.”

“The pin is curious, monaieur,” he replied,
with studied coldness. “In fact, I don’t mind.
saying that I never saw its like before.”

The baron mumbled something that sounded.
very like, " Humph! I should say not, nor any
one else."

\Then, adding something, more audibly and
politely, about being a connoisseur of rare
tjouterie, or gew-gaws, he asked it he might
look at it more closely.

MagnUS willineg complied, taking the pip
out of the tie and handing it over, while oli- -,
serving the other with intense, though conceal»
ed, curiosity. “ ,

The baron examined the pin critically, hold- , ,,
ing it up in a variety of lights, and seemingly ' ‘
not a little agitated while doing so. ‘

“The same, the, same!” he indistiCIly mur-
mured, under his breath. “ The ruby and sap-
phire in the identical unique setting. Ah, there-_
can be no mistake!”

He at last handed it back, with a short:
“ Thanks, monsieur,” and abruptly changed his
place to the seat. in the furthermost corner of":
the compartment. his chin upon his breast, his."
eyes fixed upon Maguus steme and suspiciously. 

“ What. did you think of it. momieur'?” in- , ' ‘
quired the detedtlve, greatly puzzled, and yet.‘ ,,
more hopefully expectant of he knew not what- ’
than mystified. ‘ Rather a singular design, is.
it not?” -' ' ,

Not a word did the erst affable Baron do»
Boisgomont vouchsofe in reply, his eyes never"
for an instant losing their watchful gazoa. _

Maunus laughed a little contemptuous-W,
shrugged his shoulders, and, still new retly WatCh-- "
to] on his own part, settled down to the perusal
of a peri >dical.

A brief halt was made at A——-——, where the
guard came to the door to inform the baron. H
with much respectfulness, that his destination
was reached.

“ Never mind,” replied the baron, abruptly.
and in a very determinal way. “ l have changed
my plan, and shall go through toPu'ris. A—-—--
a pressing evening engagement, that has jumbo»,
curred to me.” , ' I

On dashed the train, and Paris was presently-
reached.

Magnus was met at the station by Achille,
who informed him that his entire traveling party
were gone on a‘ leasuricg to Versailles, where- 1
they hoped that e would meet them for dinner.
after which/itl was proposed to make up a‘box,
for the Grand Opera. ~ .

" I believe I shall not go,” said the detective. "
“ Take your way back to the hotel alone, Achille ’ “
and wait for me. The evening is so fine tho  r ‘
will stretch my legs a hit, and perhaps (1 ,.
alone at the Cafe Ancilais.” ,

It was a long walk from the station to the.

      
 

     
       
     
         
     
     
     
       
       
       
       
     
     
       
     
     
   
   
     
     
       
 

 
    

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catcd, and he was both tired and hungry when;
hcentered it. v , - 7
CHAPTER XXX.- ,
. m sonar Put. J
“ I woman what has become of my pramoni
ticn.” thought the detective. as be selected a.
habit and ordered his dinner. “ It would be:
sufficiently tantalizing to have it dwindle out ,
to nothingnessdn this unsatisfactory may;ng
But no; the and is not yet. or my premomm
experience of them is altogether at fault.” ’
He was right in retaining his con

      
       
   
      
 

  
        
       

 
  
        
 
   
  
   

Manuela

 

    

 
 

‘i

-

".fl'...‘  v"”*,;i‘!::'v .' .’ We, ',¢,"l‘ . "i

Megmis', "this we net

   

,‘s ,_

active.

 

Having no special engagement or attraction
for the evening, since he could not spend it in
Ada’s society after his agreeable custom, he iin-.

 
 
    
   
 
  
   
   
    
  
  
 
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

{W235 gored long over his dinner, which was a mest
 tempting one, and then wasted yet another hour
' l.  with the comic and satirical periodicals.

  He was passing out of the bureau of the cafe,
,3,“ after buying a cigar, when he unexpectedly

found himself face to face once more with the
, Baron de Boisgomont.

 The latter merely ’inclined his head Very

slightly, and then passed into the bureau, turn-

ing his head to stare not at the detective‘s face,
but at the bosom-pill, as if to assure himself bo-
yond a doubt that it was still being worn.

Magnus would, perhaps, have lost his temper

oVer the gentleman’s persistent rudeness (besides

hiuking it strange that he should liavo followed
,’,iiiii,) but for his inquisitiveness as to the out-
come of this strange behavior, which had by
this time become quite over-mastering.

HoweVer, he again contented himself with a
a shrug of the shoulders—a French characteris-
‘tic which had already fastened itself upon him—
and, stepping out of the cafe, strolled leisurely

up the boulevard.

\ One of the largest and gayest thoroughfares
y of the World’s gayest capital, it was brilliantly
1" lighted and thronged with animated crowds, all
seemingly care-free and on pleasure solely bent.
But, as Magnus was easily making his way

«among them, with a rovmg glance at a bright

interior on this side, a dashing cquipago on that,

he suddenly found his path purposely blocked,
zap arentl ', by a shabby, disreputable-looking
in ividua , who seemed to eye him interestedly.

He the out of the way, howuver, but only to

.e-appear just as obtrusiver at the corner of

the Rue de l’npera. and yet a third time, after a.
, “second evanishment, in the vicinity of the Place

Vendome.

, What could the fellow mean? for Magnus was
K: ,' v',  much preoccnp'ed with other thoughts to at-

 "tach the significan e to the incident that his pro-
fessional experience would otherwise have on-
:abled him to do on the instant. ,

‘ Finally, as he was turnin off into the Rue‘
Richelieu. in order to reach his hotel, the fellow
came boldly up to him, and, laying a particularly
dirty hand on his shoulder, thrust an open docu-
ment under his eyes. \_ ,

b w “ Ah, an aims-begging petition l” thougit the
r detective. “ This is rather a new dodge.’

And he was feeling in his pocket for a small
«coin. when the man said .gruflly—that is, gruflly
 for Paris, where men the loafers and footpads
3'" {are ore or less polite:

“’ hoot that, monsieur! It’s an order of ar-
rest. 1 am instructed to Secure your parson.
.Best come quietly. without attempting a scene.”

Magnus gavo an astonished start and then
linstantly his alert, watchful self, he glanced
«(war the paper. “

The man had spoken truly. It was a regu-
.,.. ,larly printed form, the blanks filled out in
:scrawling chirography, and bearing a decidedly
 “formidable. authoritative-looking signature, to

Who following effect:

"Bram! Dnmarmm or PUBL‘C Sum.
“PARIS, April -—. —.

V . .. “ We, duly accredited Juge d’inntru tion. com-
 m'iand the bearer of this order Pierre Fl'iubnrt. as

Noura at, to bring before its as Carolus Maznns.
v can, sojourning at the flute des l):-ux Frercs,
when and where found. upon ldentiflcatl in.
v i “A. B. Ransom.

 

  

  

 

i.
i

, q. , “JIth d'Instruct'Oa.”
lettre dc cachet—an order of arrest!

,  American detective shrugged his shoul-

ders and smiled.

,  as he had arrested others, this was the

, ‘ first time that ‘he had ever been placed under

 arrest himself. ?

 ' It was certainlya novel sensation in his ex-

rfence. but not altogether a disagreeable one

Wiel- the peculiar circumstances.

Besides affording him_a practical insight as to
how they conduct such things in France, was he
 about to recoive a final enlightenment as to
his premenition of the morning—tho Biron de
’Bojlgomont’s stran 8 action, and the mystery
the scarf-pin inc acted, to say nothing of the
. In five Bartlow’s indirect connection with the

. ’  nglement, and whatever else it might lead

  
 

   

  

  

  

 
 

1; fact, he did not even think of taking the
F , ’ w with him tothe hotel. of sending for his
“1%. or of blinking the matter in the least.

. ‘ he demos!” to thought. complacently.
‘FThey‘ye'loa no time in following me up and
spotti ,me, a. all events. Come, they are not
manna behind us as they might be herein
.‘xfi‘Frauoe, an- all.” ,

Then. filming a very innocent and some-

   
  

 
    
   
 

u
i

    
  
 
  

Whatalarmed‘air, he turned to the server of the

, if a
‘ ' What is a man to do who is quite ignorant
hair out French laws? 'I am sure I don’t know
if ,t‘this means.” ‘
if“ It is plain enough.” was the surly replv. .'
‘  .am not sosure of that. Are you thePierre
mentioned in this warrant!”

w, monsieur " a little more oourteously.
-- . ,h’tam I to 01”

unwind said:

  

  

   

“All right, Monsieur Pierre Flaubert," suave-
“ I am quite at your disposal.”
Still, if mousieur would like first to com-
municate with his friends—or speak to the pro-
printer of his hotel—or——that is—”
“Humpli! an accommodation, ell—and per-
haps for a consideration?”
For answer, the man merely scratched his
head with his grimy paw and grinned signifi-
cuiitly.

“ Ah, l shouldn’t wonder,” observed Magnus,
sarcasticallv; adding, however, at once and
sternly: " Lead on! You will perhaps lind that
li-iin command friends of sullicicnt influence,
and where least expected.”

Notwithstanding his curiosity, however, which
he felt sure was on the point of being giuiilicd,
and speedin at that, had be known i-x-ictly \\ hat
annoyances and Vexntions were in store lor lzim,
he Would have risked knocking the agent down
on the spot, and taking himself off until in readi-
ness to inVestigrito the affair at his leisure. -

As it was, his c insciizncc being perfectly easy,
his knowledge of what it was to be an llli’l‘lllil-
nated person in France was so superficial that
he did not doubt a tow llllll"l’.0$’ explanation
with the juge d’instruction (i-‘Xfllllllllllg magis-
triite they would call his Americana pri,»totyiw)
would serve him free of any mistaken charge
that might be brought against him.

The agent, in the first place, conducted him to
the nearest police station, where the supcriu-
tendcnt duly inspected the warrant, and then
had the prisoner searched, his valuables taken
from him, and then locked him up in a cell.

“ Not very agreeable as a starter,” comment-
ed Magnus to himself, with undiminislied chi-er-
fulness. “ But tiencc! “7e shall doubtless
soon reach the bottom of this mystery, and tho-ii,
Eurekal I suppose Bartlow must have robbed
the baron of this tell-tale scarf-pin at some period
in his past career, or something of the sort.
But mum’s the policy for me, at least for the
time being. Gad! if they really Wunt mystery,
they shall have it, rather than make my mission
here in Europe public property, and thus ruin
my only chance of capturing my man through

his relationship with King Antoine.”

But, in spite of his mild protests, the im-
inurod detective was kept in the station cell
during the entire night, though he, did manage
to obtain some sleep, such as it was, and was
permitted to have a pretty decent breakfast sent
a to him through the medium of the doorman
and a liberal douccur, or “ sweetener.”

At nine in the morning he was taken out and
rather summarily hustled into the “ Saint-
basket ” as the Parisians call their ominous of-
ilcial uipage whose counterpart in New York
is stym immemorially the “ Black Maria,” alto-
gether irrwpwmwo of the color, usually a
sepulchral white, it may chance to be painted.
He was then conveyed to the depot lock-up, and
reincarcerated, and all this time without a syl-
lable of explanation being vouchsafed him.
However. the experience still remained a
nimlty, though rapidly growing a good deal of
a re.

By French law, every person arrested - on sus-
picion is entitled to an official examination with-
in twenty-four hours.

At last, after a wearisome and unsavory de-
tention, the captive was taken before the jube
il’i'nstruction.

“ At last!" he si bed to himself, after drawing
a long breath of relief. “ Now we shall see
what we shall see, or at least let us hope so.”

0
H

 

CHAPTER XXXI.
FRENCH. Jos'rion.

Bur in this, as in the aprevious speculations of
our detective friend- nce the inception of this
mysterious aflair, hope was found tp have told
but a‘ flattering and i oceptive tale.

The examining magistrate was a‘ self-import-
ant, sharp—nosed little man, but intelligent in
his restricted sphere, and his clerk, who was
alone present with the prisoner and himself in
the course of the investigation, looked much
like a dry chip off the same hard-wood block.
After the magistrate had asked and had his
clerk take down the prisoner’s name, age ‘and
profession (receiving the mention of the latter
with a stare of incredulity, he impressiVely
produced from a small drawer in the table be-
iind which he was sitting, the inevitable scarf-
pin.

' “You recognize this trinketl”he demanded,
with a severe air.

“ Certainly. Monsieur J mice," was the bland
reply. “ It is the scarf-pin that 'was taken from
me. along with my other belongings, at the
police station last night.”

“Can you tell me when and how this pin
calms into your possession i"

“ Yes. I can,” rejoined the prisoner. must re—
spirtfiilly, “but I shall have to ,decline to do
so >

. i ,

“Eh, whntli’ with a suspicious,.half-exultaut
look. “ And why not. pray?"

“To do so might be to defeat the ends of
A very important detective cgmmission upon

 
     

 

    

‘follow meat once—Lil‘you will belo gra-
onnoinr." “ a .t , , ,

 

1;, ' \ g

whichl our tpmnt ‘ I

accompanied bya shrug and a grimace little
short of insulting.
“You are not the first,” continued the judge,

 

contcinptuously, “to make pretensions of this 2. ~

character, as an excuse for such rcticence as j

best suits one’s ideas of convenience or safety." ' ' j, .2’
“ I make no pretensions, but speak the truth!” :5?

exclaimed the entrapped detective, iiidignantly. 3%, .i

“ Here are my credentials,” and he produced :i
his chief's oiiicial certificate of his professional 7‘
standing, which, having been secured in a secret _ 
inside pocket, had escaped the Search to which
he had been subjected at the. police station.
“ If you can’t read the language in which it is
written, I cheerfully heiidi-r my services as
translator. And perhaps the signature affixed
to it is of sufficiently Worldwide reputation to "
have [Kinetrateil even to the Cognizance of a. "
ii‘roiii-njuge d'inslruction. if you still suspect
me of pl'efcnsions. Monsieur Judge,” scornfully.
“ suppose you rt‘quest the attendance here of
. your prefect of the police. I have the honor oft
his personal acquaintance, and he has already
examined these credentials of mine, to his entire
satisfaction.”

The magistrate had at first colored and
frowned at the prisoner’s independent words, ~. r ~
which were doubtless wholly unexpected, but  - r 
they were not without a certain effect as they fl;
proCeeded. ~  ‘ "

He glanced over the paper, raising his eye- . 
brows as he examined the Signature, agd then i;
peremptorily returned the document.

“ Your statements might be investigated later ,,
on,” he said, abruptly, though with an addi- ‘ i
tional considerateness in his tone that was
slight, but unmistakable. The prime failing
with your typical French examining magis-
trate, who may be a very earnest and worthy .
official according to his lights, is his exaggerat-
ed sense of self-importance, which is as prone as
not to mislead him into fancying hiiiisclf a
Peter the Great, or Shah of Peisia. as anything
else apart from his true and not particularly ex-
alted function—a misconception perhaps more
laughable than pernicious in the main, but still
not without its embarrassing consequences on
occasion. “At present, it is merely my duty,
monsieur,” loftily, “ to subject you to such in-
quisih'oii as comes within the province of my
office. You can. of course, anSWer or evade my
questions at your pleasure—and,” with a signifi-
cant smile, “at your own risk.” -

“ I s ll evade nothing. Monsieur J udge,” re- ‘
plied agnus, with quiet dignity, “but 'merely
maintain such rights of reservation as I think .
belong to me. . sir, when you please;” I

“You refuse to tell me how this ornament
came into your sion?” '

“ I will say this much. I found it.”

“Ah! perhaps you picked it up on the side-
walk?” with a touch of irony. 

“And perhaps I did not.”  . _, _

“ And how long since you found it?" ‘ -I ,1 " '

“ Not quite seven mo the.” ,v , 

“ Where?” 

“ In America: or, to he morqparticuhr, in a
suburban town of New York.”

“ Can’t you afford to particularizo a little less
generally l" -

“ No, sir.”

“ Not longer ago than seven months?”

“ Not quite so long. ” - , ‘
“Are you accustomed to wearing this jewel, ‘ .
monsieuri” _ ' l
“ Quite the contrary. I never were it in my " -
life before yesterday. ’ ‘ , , " V

“ Ab! and bow came you to wear it than. if
you please. monsieur?" still with fruity, light,
but rha meant to he irritating. - .

“ can iardly say, Monsieur Judge,” calmly.

“ My assuming it was a pure arc dent, or piece

of thoughtlessness." The detec ive recounted

the bare circumstance of the tonette preceding

his journey under Which he had put on the pin,

and then added. reflectivelv: “ Or perchance it'

was a fatality, were one disposed to believa in r
such a thing. ”. ,
' “ A fatality?" echoed the magistrate, catching ,
at the word.

“That is what I said, monsieur.” . i, ,. ,
“ Will you explain?” ‘_ l ‘
“ Unfortunater I am unableto do so Vlthout ‘ 
trespassing upon the reservation'that men~ ‘
tinned as having determined to maintain. r
“ Ah, indeed!” And. turning to his clerk, lio‘
added. with unmistakable impatience: “Have .
you written down all this—‘mystifleaiion, chi-
cane, or whatnot?" ’ ' o _. ‘:
The detective bit his lip, but kept his temper  ' ',
thoroughly in hand. ' ‘

“ All is down, Monsieur Judge." replied the.
clerk, with becoming act'VlllT-Y- “ Everything”.
“ I will say this much, though," continued
Magnus. “ All that morning i was more or left:
out of north—filled With a Vague, uimcigmmmble
premonition or foreshadowing of SCUM-thing an-
usual preparinii.r ‘70 happen to me. It was while‘
thus preoccupied that my chance selection must ‘
have fallen upon this searf and pin from among ‘ '
the accumulation of such articles connected
with my wardrobe.” .r
“ The near! too, eh?” with a keen glance attho
prisoner’s neck wear. , ’
, .

 

 

 

 
      
      
      
   
        
  
        
     
      
         
  
      
   

 
    
         
      
      
       
   

      
         
   
     
       
      
     
   
   
     
      
     
      
    
   
     
        
      
         
          
       
 
       
      
   
     
   

     
    

. i

     
         
    
      
     
    
 
 

 
 
  

      
      
    

4

 

    
  
  

{76.45" I   i

 iiylacrietlnlity,

0L,

 
 

  
 

   
 
  

Isnpposo?’ . ',

“ Fouhd. that liken rise,

 

21 ‘ r

 

 

 

“ Precisely—along with thepin. They Were
never separated, to the bestof my knowledge,
/ until last night at the police station.”

4 “ Ah: so you are something of a. mystic, it

_ . would seem, monsieuri”

, i, -l “Nothing of the sort, monsieur,”smilingly;
‘ “I; “though it might seem so to certain intelli-
i I j; genres.”

‘3 , The magistrate was evidently growing some-

! r what bearish—or, at all eventS, feeling more or

less badgcred, though he contented himself with

f; glaring reseiiti'iilly iit his pCUr devil of a clerk,

‘ ' “ho merely com-red, while scratching hjs head

_ . with an ink-stained forefinger, as if apprehen-

 , sive of a ceaseless explosion at almost any mo-

llli'llt.
‘ , “ A man of premonitions, their—of forewarn-

‘ -» iiigsi” continued the judge, cyiiig the prisoner

with growing discontent.

“That is better,” replied Magniis, still smil-
ing. "Yes, iiionSicuri and you might safely
add, a singularly organized man—u. magnetic
man. In fact, Monuour Judge,” with charming
unpretentiousness, “I am rather a peculiar fel-
low. if I say so lll'fRi‘Ii'.”

Monsieur Le Jug» d’liisti'uct'on frowned quite

I blackly, “hile the little clerk ked up with an

‘ uwml expression. '

What was this but audacity—positive audaci-
ty? And audacity to u juge (l‘i'nstructibn—the
nutocrat of til‘li, miniature star-chamber of one
of Paris’s sii ngest prisons, whose smile or
frown was so portentous of hope or despair, as
the case might be! A, monstrosity apparently
quite unlioard of before.

,“ By the way MonsieurJudge,” continued the
prisoner, with a courtes' that was now in?“
aistible, “ suppose you a low me to touch your

' hand!” extending his own most persuasively.

“ Just a moment—no trick is intended. on my

honor! Thank you!" ‘

Almost without intending it. the magistrate
placed his hand into the attractively white and
delicate palm that was extended to him so en-
gaglngsly, and which Softly but suddenly closed
upon I .

Then he abruptly stiffened up, as if perforated
from neck to pelvis joint by an invisible ram-
rod, his Wizen face contorted. his fishy eyes
bulging, his thin hair bristling and quivering
out electrically, his hand and arm endeavoring
to Withdraw from the magic clutch, but in
vain—a picture of fuming wrath and perhaps
terror, frozen into white speechlessncss at a
petrifying touch. .

Here the little clerk uttereda gasping little
exclamation, and, springing half out of his
chair, valiantly grasped a heavy ferulo, doubt-
less with the magammous intention of rushing
to his chief‘s assi nce.

But the still im

 

 

 

rturbable “ prisoner” merely
glanced careless to one side witha wave of
his disengaged and, and the doughty sub-
ordinate was e ually hors du combat. or hel ass,
with his formi able superior.

Then the detective considerater snapped the
spell, and judge and clerk fell back in their
seats breathless and amazed.

However, their excitement had disappeared,
apparently giving way to a gentle and even
agreeable lassitude. '

Ari urbane look oi! m' led wonder and con-

_ tent stole into the great ‘ttle man's face not-
withstanding an obvious but unsuccesst at
tempt to regain his! iron-like dignity and ae-
s‘ rtiveness; while little Master Scrivener lazily
sonatchcd his poll. with a far-away, lotus-oath)
look in his small eyes,” if absolute indi v
Ii'l‘i'llt whether school kept 01' not 101' a sand
years to come

1

, ‘ pHAPTER XXXI'L

a mum. LION I’NBXPECTEDLY Bi:me IN
‘ HIS VERY SMALL DEN.

“ AH. this is well!" softly smiled and observed

' the, demctlve‘you would almost have said
cooin 1y. both smile and speech. whilee ually
iirticu ate, were so harmonious and ve vety.
“ This agreeable atter-oflect cannot always be
counted on._ But you both ha pen to be special.
1y ‘subjective,’ as we call i do on seat I

. really hope. MQHSIBH_FJudzo.-you wi vouchsafe
to pardon the little liberty I ventured to take?”

‘» “ Monsieur J edge” here maria ed to bridle ii
a bit, apparently With a great 9 ort ot‘the wil .
the frown impotently regathering do his judicial
face, his lips compressing, or half-compressing.
themselves as if for a tnlmination. ‘ ' '

_. : But in vain; he sunk dreamily, if reluchuitl ,

‘ back, the desirous thunder dying away insuri-

, ‘ bly amid the vacuous nebula of his returning

2 v inertia. ~

"7 'i - “Don’t attempt anything ill-natured, I be
-‘ ; seechl” .imurmnred the detective, with a yet

pleasanter snide. " It id be doing violence

to your truer self—as you are out now—believe

me that it would, my dear 2‘“ There is one

   

  

-. thing, moreover. that I can use which is
greatly to your credit—a (ll-emery made at
the instant of touching hand. You are a

  

pertactlylhonest and we l-mean' ’ man—Io far
i as our (pardon! noofleme in whatever-ll
, _ “won” will permit you tube. -,

  um, mks expected,” complacency. “But

 

 

 
  
 
  

. \"
,c‘ "

now permit me to show how honest and forbear-
lng I can be in abstaining from taking advan-
tage of the prescnt state of affairs.
“You were about to summon a gendarme,
perhaps? Ah, well, do so. I permit it—nay,
more, will it. And furthermore I would suggest
that you direct him when he shall come- :1 an-
swer to your august summons, to expcd' the
appearance of my accuser in this tangled affair,
whom I presume to be none other than a certain
elderly nobleman, the Baron de Boisgomont.
There is the bell at your elbow, Monsieur Judge.
Now, then!”
Monsieur Judge straightened himself up, this
time indubitably, and apparently his thorough,
fr0wning, magisterial sell" again, and struck the
bell a resounding clam,r
A policeman came hurrying into the den by
one of the little doors communicating With the
adjacent prison, and looked at the magistrate
inquiringly, as if half expecting a command to
lead the prisoner out to execution on the spot.
But, apparently even to his own self-amaze-
ment, the judge returned the inquiring look
somewhat wonderingly.
“ Why are you here, officer?” he demanded.
“Ahem!” [.3133th the astounded gondarme,
while the clerk, also by this time quite himself
again, looked up surprised; “your Honor just
rung for me.”
The magistrate reddened, and then looked
oddly at his hand, which, in fact, was still rest-
ing on the bell.
“ So, I didl” he said, now in the most natural
tone in the world. “ Mr. Officer, you will see if
the Baron do Boisgomont is in attendance, and
report to me accm'dingly.”
The gondarmo saluted and disappeared.
Ho speedily reappeared, lookin puzzled, and
to say that not only was the iaron not in
attendance, but that neither was he expected
to be. ,
“True,” and the magistrate dismissed him
again with a gesture. He then turned to the
-[ detective-prisoner again, altogether rehabilita-
i ted, as you might say, or thoroughly reposseged
, of his original character, thou h not without a
. lingerin under-trace of ham derment, saying
- brusque y, just as if nothing extraordinary had
ginterrupted the examinatiow “Of course, the
i baron can’t be expected to be in attendance at
i this stage of the proceedin' 'We manage these
; things very systematically in France, indnsieur,
and perhaps som what differently from the
course pursued in merica.”
“ I should say 'Ou did,” observed Maguus,
xsarcastically. “ flowever, I am perfectly will-
ing to live and learn. In fact, otherwise I
should not be here at all.”
“ How, monsieur?” in surprise.
“Why, look here, Monsieur Judge,'- said
agnus, ’iinpatiently; “ do you suppose
couldn’t explain about that. searf- in toyour
~. thorough satisfaction it I wanted tolP’
ti “ I am not hero to suppose, but to obtain the
truth, if possibl's,” replied the magistrate, severe-
ly. “ But if you can explain about it, why
on’t on do so?” ,
“ I ave already ausweredthat by so doing I
might defeat another important and monal
i commission that I am lutrusted with. ' urther-
more, I‘ma be willing to test the preliminary
working 0 your criminal laws for my ofllclal
satisfaction. {I
“ Ah 1” grimly. " Let monsieur eitherbe per-
fectly frank in this matter, or he may carry his
test a little further than he foresees.”
“ Likely enough. However, you are doubtless
not so speedily oblivious of a certain demonstra
tion of my power, as I may term it, but a few
minutes ago?” ‘ ,
The Judge looked troubled, ‘while his clerk
began to corver ‘down over his notes with a
fiflghfened‘ look, but he stood by his resumed
dignity heroically, for all that.
“ Monsieur proclaimed himself an honest man
Falman of principle?” be said. half-interroga-
ive ,
“ got idly," was the reply. “ I am all that, I
rust.” . , .

" In that case,” earnestly, “ monsieuir will not
seek to escape—tom) rove‘his position, at the
expense of an honest uge d’instrwction. solely
i interested in the performance of his duty, and
by the employment of occult or mysterious, not
to say illegitimate and terrifying meansfl

The detective’s face at once cleared.

“ Well spoken l” he said, with a resumption of
his calmness. “I Shall do nothing more than

refer a reasonable r. nest later on. Proceed,

f you please, Monsieur udgo.” .
. ‘Eh, well. monsieur,”,continued the magis-
trate, a parently much relieved, “to proceed,
then. erhaps \ you can tell me new and when
you came inwsion of this book . I

Be, produ , as he spoke, and lai alongside

i5 scart’pin, a small, ancient-looking hook.
_ . agnus perceived it thus forthcomi in un—
feigned surprise. It wudan old Franc Vork.
“A History of Notable Crimes, and theirDe-
faction,” which had taken his fancy years be-
fore. on the occasion of his first visit abroad,
and which he bought from shook-stall in
the old’ rd ,fiw.M~Aixda£updlo, in
Rheu‘iah Proms  ‘1, ‘ I 3,,“ ,  I

 

1-9

     

 

  

  

 

-, s.‘ ,‘

   
    
    
 
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
 

troubling himself as to how it was now so unex—
pectedly in his inquisitor’s possession.

“ Was this about five years ago?” demanded
the magistrate, a new kceuness in his searching

32“.
g “ Just about,” replied the detective, with
fresh surprise. “ Five years and something
like two months ago,” he added. after reflection.

“\Vliere were you sojourning while in Aix-
la-Chapelle?” was the next question!

“ At a French house of entertainment, the
Hotel des Vosges.”

“ For long.”

“ No. only transiently. Scarcely more than
a couple of days. if I remember Correctly."

“ Monsieur seems to have a rather exact
memory.”

“I rather pride myself on that.”

“ You quitted Aix-la-Cliapelle for what des-
tination?”

“ For Paris dirt-ct: I was winding up my Ger-
man tour.”

" You had come to Aix-la-Chapelle from—
where?” i
“ From the picturesque little mountain resort

of St. V~——” ’

“ Where you had stopped over just one night ‘
at_”

“ Monsieur Judge is very well informed, it
would seem. Yes, over just one night at the
quaint little old auberge, or tavern, the Hotel
dos Etrangeres.”

Tho inagistriite’s eyes glistenel.

“ By the way.” be next said, with startling-
abriiptness, “ what has become of Jacques Ma-
linesf” , -

The detective looked at him wholly unmoved.

“ Jacques Malines?” he repeated.

“ Yes,” sharply.

“ I never heard the name before.”

“Think again!” almoxt sneeringly. “ Jacques-
Maliiies—the man who was in the quaint little
old Hotel des Etrangeres the same night that.
you were, and who is suspected to be your-
your accomplice, to say the least.”

“ My accoinplice in what?"

“ In the murder that was committed there!”

CHAPTER XXXIII.
A SERIOUS ENTANGLKMENT.

MAGNL‘S \gave a slight start, as was quite
natural under the circumstances,and then smiled
composedly. , ~ ‘

“At last we are getting at something, at alt .,
events,” said be. “But do you really think, ‘
Monsieur Judge. that if I had murder a man
for robbery-for such is the inference—thatI .
would be so idiotic as to carry about 0 my per- <'
son, and in full prominence, the very aiiiniug,
evidence against myself?"

“The crime is no new one, and you might ' ‘ '
have forgotten some of its details.” 
“ And yet you have just complimented me out ‘
the exactness of my memory, Monsieur J edge,”

smiling.

“Eh, well, we forget nothing here. By the
way,” ?’again abruptly, “ the person murdered; _
was— i r ,

“Suppose you inform me as to who he or,
she was. Perhaps the name maybe more famil- .
iar to me—though I doubt it—than is that of,
your mysterious Jacques Malines.”

“It was," impressively, “the Marqulsidee 
Boisgomont who was assassinated.” , 

“Ohol Another stray sunbeam? Perhaps. ,
some relative of the worthy baron of the same, '
name, to whose pigheadedness or otllciou'snesa':
(lit 9 difference which) I am «eidoubtless in'dehted.
for y . t m ~tif 'n pr icamentu ~

“ Emmi-Q eliiiarghrother.” , ,

" The poor baron! No wonder'he is keen updn
the scent. But look you, Monsieur Judge,
know nothing of this murder—never heard!) ' ‘
it until now. As nearly as I can recall mypusso ,'
ing sojourn at St. ‘7”,‘1 sleptpeacefnlly all
that night at the quaint little old Hotel for .
Strangers, leaving for Aix-la-Chapelle at short-
ly after daybreak thefollowing morning. I am
a respectable man, and in a reputable rates:
sion. as I think_ my credentials shoul have"
proved to you.” ‘ ._ , .  r

“ Your statements will he duly tested," comr-
tinued the magistrate. _“Meanwhile I will let-3
you understand the position in which you ’
yourself. .~ ~- - 

“If yoh persist in treating it With ihdifier-‘i‘r
ence, that a your afl’air, though I warn 
that it is a most grave and serious one. I," ’

“On the 12th of February. 18-, five yaaid
and more ago, the Marquis Philip do Bongo-L .
moot. a somewhat eccentric ,o noblemauot“;
an ' tastes. put 11 at the Hotel 
EunngeminSt. V—. i at the least of Elite,
eccentiicities was an unwise habitat 
with him pretty much all the money at his dick ,
nasal. hewasawealthymmthis.m,,
usuallya very considerable rum. _ As be M ‘
great collector of curios and antiquarian treat».
urns of all he doubtle- mado imam
tioeot carrying ‘
him for the pa of _
gain on the \for 

, hkhncyiu‘thoioouueot

“ On the day following the in

    
       
       
           
         
          
      
   
   
   
   
       
           
         
      
 
         
     
  
        
    
         
       
      
      
         
          
 
         
        
        
      
       
      
     
     
 
      
   
   
 
      
     
           
    
     
          
  

   
    
    
   

      
    
  

      
     
  

  
         

   
      
       
     
     
    
 

 

:amoallinghimeltheq


    
   
 
 
   

 
 
  

  
 

I .4,“ - 7

llvk‘»

L473

 

    
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
 
   
   
    
    
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
 
  
  
   
     
    

as that of Malines, or Mechlin, a city of Bel-
gium—came to the hotel and was assigned to
a room at the top of the house. On the 14th
you came, and, after inspectin various accom-

immediateiy adjoining the one occupied by the

Marquis de Boisgomont. You declincdeating

any supper, and retired at an unusually curly

hour.

“ The next morning you quitted the hotel hur-
riedly before it was broad day, at five o’clock,
havmg taken the precaution to pay your bill in
advance.”

The detective nodded. '

“ At eight o’clock,” continued the magis-
trate, “Jacques Malines came down to his
breakfast, disposed of it, paid his bill, and went
off, knapsack on back. He had given himself

out, by the way, as an athlete on a pedestrian
tour. '

“Two or three hours later, a housemmd went
to awake Monsieur the Marquis, who never rose
until late, but found herself unable to do so.
The door was locked, but without the key being
on the insidc. After a. brief delay, the woman
raised an alarm. The deer was broken down,

and the poor old gentleman found dead in his

bed, his throat cut from our to ear, his vulise
I rifled of its valuableswmoney, curios, every-

thin .

“ buspicion at once attached itself to the man
Malines and yourself. Search by the Prussian
authorities was made, but in vain. Tile mur-
dered gentleman having been a Frenchman of
both note and influence, and his relatives making
a great stir in the matter, our authorities also
took it up, but with no better Hucccss. The at-

'fair was at last reluctantly pigeon-holed and
temporarily forgotten.
.1" “ Finally, however, and by the mercst chance

' esterduy afternoon, the brother of the victim,

onsieur the Baron de lloisgomont, recogniZed
the pin in your bosom-scarf. He at once sus-

cted you to be the Iciigdnissing Aincrican of
ve years ago, followed you as you loitcred
homeward through the boulevards, and finally
locating you at tho Cafe Anglais, where, fortu-
nately for us, you lingered long ovor your din-

.m-r and the periodicals. .

. P The baron had lost no time in informing me

of the circumstancel. EVon before you were

placed under arrest your hotel. had been searched,
' , your valet warned to keep his mouth shut, and
this book, bearing the trade-mark of the Aix~la-
' Cuapelle (lealer, found in your possession. That
city is within easy communication with St.

. V~—-, the scene of the crime. By the way,

.how long did you remain in Paris tor coming
here from Aix?”

’ “ Only three or four days, my circumstances
. being straitened, as my last remaining letter of
' :credit could only be'caahed in London. In fact
, I found myself unexpectedly strapped, so that I

.lost very little time in gettin over the Channel.”
' , “Ab! and how did you 0 tnin money to get
" out of Paris and over to London l”

“I pawned my watch. It is the one I am
wearing now, or was wearing until relieved of it
cut the "police station, together with other valu-
ables.

’ “Ah! you pawned your watch?”
, ' “Yes, yesl'alittle wearily. “The Montrde-
fillets letmeha/ve three hundred francs on it,
- and I sent for its redemption several weeks later.
.My hotel bill amounted to about a hundred
Ifrancs, my fare to London forty or fifty more.
1 Anything else?" '
,. “ A very little more, monsieur. At what date
‘did on pawn your timepiece?”
2 “ our or five days after quitting Aix—oay,
.- , xtho 18th or 19th of February.
' “ You persist iii-denying all complicity in this
crime?”-
, “Most assuredlhl
. “That will do, then, for the present. Only I
lwould advise you to reconsider, in the mean
‘1ime,your. reticence with regard to this pin.
.A der'nm’n I"--until to—morrow. The last words
 a turnkey, or other prison official, who, in
response to a touch of th bell, had suddenly
presented himsclf signiflca tly at the prisoner’s

bow. , _
“Look here, Monsieur Judge!" exclaimed
(Hogans, with an unmistakable reminder of his
,Iecent e hibition of occult power in his voice
flack manner; “am I to understand that I
‘ ' uni remanded til! to-morrow?”

“ Yes, monsieur."

. V WA}! right, then!” with a smile; “ I choose
inmhmn. But I shall request that my valet,
chillo‘ Mourier, be sent for to communicate
th me in private, without delay. 0n reflec-
tion, I. forego my determination to communicate
.mith Monsieur the Prefect of Police, but my
Yaletl must see an personal matters at once.”
tThe magistrate hesitated, but retained still a
Very wholesome recollection of the touch

  

  

 

  

 
 
 
 

 
 

  

“ It’ls against the rules of Moms,” he said,
listing hisbrows. “But, one pecial rivile‘ga,
will manage it for you, mo our. he man
phall be sent for pram tly.” -. '
» g The detective had g van a start. I v
 ..“,Whnt!" heexclaimed. “ In this the Ma
arisen!” 0 had not taken ‘the trouble to think
«of  pine. >0f his incarceration uptothia point. I

  

  

     
 

      

modations, requested to be ussngned to the mom !

\‘our

“ It is.”

“ Thanks for your courtesy, Monsieur Judge.
I am then quite ready.”

But, as he was about to accompany the jailer,
Magnus came to a pause.

“ One question, if you will permit it, Monsieur
Judge.”

it Yes.”

“ You have doubtless had a personal descrip-
tion of this man J ucques Malines?"

H X'eg.”

“ What was he like, if you please?"

The magistrate shrugged his shoulders incred-
ulously, but applied himself to a memorandum
before him.

“A man of splendid, oven herculean propor—
tions; a pronounced blonde, with much florid
Color, and icrhaps thirty-four or dive years of
age; thong .l in all probability more or less dis—
guised.”

more than contcntcdiv.

“ Mazas Prison—King Antoine already con~
fined hero—my man King Antoinc’s brother-in—
law !” he said to himself. “ Come, now! my
forcwarning is dcvMoping most decidedly.”

He then nodded his ucqnicsccncv to the guard,
bewed politely to the jugc tl’instruction, and
was forthwith led back into the prison.

The judge kept his promise.

Achille Mouricr visited his master in the lat—
ter’s cell in less than an hour.

 

CHAPTER XXXIV.
IN MAZAS rmsox.

“ BUT what luck for you, iuonsicnr, to be. here
in Mazasi” was the valct’s iirst exclamation.
“ Of course I was mortally tcrriilwlat iirst when
the agent put in his appn-arance atyour roonlS.
Then I saw it all—-—how you musthnvc purposely
contrivcd the arrest, to be in Monsieur Antoine s
(time proximity without exciting his suspicions
——and of course there was nothing for it but to
await your message. Ah! a clever trick, my
master."

“ You mistake,” replied Magilus, by no means
ill-pleased, however, at the fcllow’s enthusiasm.-
“It was not contrived by inc—quite the con-
trary—but an accident, or perhaps a fatality,
and a most fortunate one at that. But first tell
me if Miss Maycourt_ is very anxious about me.”

“ No, monsienr; but I have taken the respon-
sibility of explaining your situation to her. The
others merely think that you are absent indefi-
nitely on an unexpected journey. Ah, the, ad-
mirable young lady! Knowing now, as I do,
that you have purposely contrived this scrape
for yourself, she is content to kqow that you
will step out of it in your own good time.”

“ Humph! this is well.” said the detective, at
once seeing the advantage of maintaining this
erroneous and cheerful conception of his quan-
dary so far as Ada’s peace of mind was con-
cerned. “Be sure to su port her in this impres-
sion, Achille; and by all) means let her abstain
from an attempt to visit me here, and from
commute eating what she knows to therest of
r y.

“ our’wishes shall be followed tothe letter,
my dear master.

“I am finding you to be a worthy fellow,
Achille. What, then! you deem me really for-
tunatg’ in managing my incarceration in this

lace
p “ Do I?--Wait, and listen !” And, lowering
his voice, Achille inclined his ear, while holding
up his finger.

They were conversing in the roomy Cell to
which Magnns had been consigned, probably as
a preliminary to granting him at stated hours
the exercising privileges of the adjoininng
rider, as being still a prisoner on more suspicion
to whom a certain degree of leniency might be
permitted.

It was, moreover, a secluded quarter of the
prison, and until the arrival of Achille a still.
ness, more or less profound, had reigned around.

But now fwtsteps were heard, as if of some one
measuring off monotonous pacings not far

awn .

“ fiark l” whispered the valet, signing his w
tor to the small gratbd wicket in the cell door,
through which a considerable stretch of the r-
ridor was visible. “ Listen, monsieurl” (1
his face and manner expressed the utmost inter-
est. , l

“ What is it?” i
“ His h‘ liness’fl cell cannot be far away.”

“ His h hness?" repeated the detective, for-
getful for t e moment.

“ Yes, yes, monsieur -- Monsieur Antoine!
And that is his step-«I would reco nize it among
a thousand. Ah, the quiet, the ill-contained,
the’ aristocratic step! Patience without show-
ing youmelf, and you may onto a A glimpse of
him presently. Of course, It'WOlJId never do for
him to see me here with you. ‘

“‘Of course, not!” And Maknus, new equally
interested, drew near the wicket and waited.

In a. few minutes the solitar stroller had ex-
tended his abstracted walk so or that they could
catch occasional glimpses of him.

Magnue smiled contentedly.

Opportunities for a, ntation had not of-

 

, j .

          

fared, themst on ' _, ion of his previous

‘ II
, \
'- \’.

 

Magnus’s eyes glistened, and he smiled oven 1

  .Ma; gn”  'us’, the Wendeetectiye.   ' f ! yr;-

‘ ridor while here.

, Y?—
visits to the gay capitaL—fOr the first timea
view of King Antoine, the antocrat of the pick-
pockets, ruvished his critical gaze.

He drew back from the wicket, as Achille
touched his shoulder warnin ly.

guarded tones, while the monotonous sounds of
the pacing ftX)tstcps went over the stone pave-
ment of the long secluded corridor.

“ I should really like to converse with the
great man,” said Magnus, smilingly. "' lint, of
course, that is out of the question.”

“Indeed, yes, my mastcrl” observed the pru-
dent Mouricr, “ especially as you are not in any
sort of disguise.”

“ I shall merely watch for the chance of over-
hearing some interview between him and a iresh
mosscngcr from my man.”

“ That is it. You will presently likewise
have the freedom of the corridor. your door re-
maining unlocked during the interim. Thus

while waiting.”

“ But if such an interview should take place
inside of his majesty’s cell?”

“ Lv-t monsieur make his mind easy. I have
clijoycd the hospitalities of Magnus before, if
mousieur has not. Such a privilege as is now
acconhxi to monsieur—of seeing a visitor in his
cell, without authorized witnesses—will scarcely
be extended to Monsieur Antoine, for all his
distinction. The deuce! he may thank his stars
for merely being transferred hither from the
Saliwtricre,”

“Good, then! I shall possess my soul with

. such patience as the fates may send.”

After receiving a last message for Ada, to-
ether with certain other instructions, Achille.

awn took his departure, choosing his time to'
slip away unobserved when King Antoine had.
temporarily disappeared from his solitary
promenade.

Then, the necessary expense having been pre-
viously arranged With the prism) authorities, an
excellent lunch was brought to Mnguus, includ—
ing a bottle of choice Sauterne, from a neigh-
boring crlfc. ."

The attendant left the door-unlocked, while
arranging the dishes on a little table—for the
Cell was not without certain luxuries in the way
of furniture—and then, while the captive began
leisurely to enjoy his repast, he said, respect-
full :

“)Idonsieur will have the privile of the cor-
The door wil remain un-
fastened while the hours of daylight last.”

“Humph! Much obliged, I am sure,” re-

lied the detective. “Ah!” noticing a second

amper, apparently containing even a more
elaborate luncheon than he himself had under
discussion, “some one else is evidently no less
intent than I on making the best of his enforced
seclusion from the vulgar herd. Eh, friend?”

A “tip,” and perhaps many a one, was in
gospect, and theman was consequently in the

st of humors. .

“Indeed, yes, monsieurl" hereplied, smiling.
“One is not necessarily starved in Mazu—
vided he has money.”

“ Eh I should say not! But yonder collation
might meant for a‘coquette or a king!” _

“A king, who is sufficiently coquettish in In.
tastes, wil. enjoy it,” with a. laugh. “Thisset
out is for none other than a distinguished nei h-
bor of monsieur’s—for Monsieur Antoine. ye
King of the Pickpockets.” "
in) foreigner, and but little familiar with your

am.

“ I should say so! Not to have  of Mon-
sieur Antoine! But I must be gomg, if I would
escape his anger and nor miss his pourbmre
(‘ tip’). at the same time.” And With that the
attendant hurried away. i

The detective was ,destined to have his
patience more sorely tried than he had antici-

ted.
paAll the remainder of that day he sedulously
kept himself close and on the alert, but without
avail.

Not only was there no messenger for Monsieur
Antoine, but that interesting individual onl ‘
made two or three reappearances in the co -
dor, and then but briefly; the cells being finally
occurrence to break the dull, dragging monotony
of the situation. . » ' ' . ‘ .

“ What if this rascal’s mysterious friend in
need should have already taken the alarm!”
thought Magnus while lying awake Withdlls
solitary reflections in the darkness of his prison

 

1
l

‘ of such a thing.”

cell. “Or perhaps the fallen inonnrch’s relief-
business is already dispatchml so far as outsi
influence could work. Which W011“ again give
Bartlow a free foot into the unknown. But no,
no! Achille would not have failed to get wind

I

And, driving away his deepondency with
pleasanter thoughts of a lovely and tender
maiden-ima
solution an encour
everything in the ob vion of slumber.

The next morning, at about the same hour as,
on the preceding day, he was again taken before

the examining magistrate. r , z
,1 “ You are determined. monliour,” laid the
~ ‘ i i ', .- ,.

 

 

 

After that, their conversation was resumed in '

you may set it partly ajar, the better to observe,

pro-

“ Eh? Is there such a person? You see, I am V

locked up for the night. without~ any further .

de\

such as are ever the lover’s con- .
enient, he at last forgot ',

 

   
     
     
      
 
     
     
    

 

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oliicial, with increased gravity and impressive-
ness, if that were possible, “to persist in your
l‘ctl'ccncc in regard to this scarf-pin 3”

Both pin and book were again lying before
him as he spoke.

“Quite so, Monsieur Judge," was the collected

reply.

“ Ah, that is bad for you.”

“Monsieur Jud e is already acquainted with
my reasons,” indi erently.

“ Eh, well, there is this much in your favor,
at all events,” continued the magistrate, rather
grudgingly. “ Most of your statements with
regard to your movements, your places of so-
journ, your pawning of your watch, and the
like. have been verified upon due inquiry.”

He here tenched his bell, and to tho usher who
answered the summons gave the order to intro-
duce the Baron da Boisgomont.

The old gentleman who had been Magnns’s
traveling companion two days previous, accord-
ingl y made his appearance.

Ho bowed very politely to the magistra to, and
even honored the clerk with a condescending
nod, but gave the detectiw what was meant for
a most terrible and crushing look.

Magnus, liowcvcl‘, smiled with charming
blaudness in response, and took on an air of
Connnendable cliwrfnlness. ‘

 

‘llAPTER XXXV.
STILL lN Till-2 TOILS.

“ YOI' i-cognizo this, Monsieur In. Baron?”
queried the lilagistl'atc, holding up the inevita-
ble scarf-pin.

“1 do, most assuredly,” was tho reply. “ It
is one that belonged to my lamented elder
brother, the Marquis Philippe de Boisgomont.”

“ It has something of a history?”

“ Yes. My brother brought the, stone back
with him from his trawls in Persia, and had it
thus fancifully mounted byth Rib. nu Brothers
in the Rue de Rivoli. I recognize it particular-
ly because the setting, which is a very singular
one, as you will perceive, was executed from a
design of my own, at his request.”

“ Now as to this book i"

The baron gave the volume a recognizing

look, without so much as taking it up for a
' closer examination.

“I also identify this as having belonged to my
brother,” he replied, not a little to the dismay of
the detectiVe, who had not counted upon the
book as being interwoven with the complication,

‘ or “fatality,” in any way whatever. "The
Boisgomont monogram is stamped on the cover.
On the fly leaf there is a dedication from the Due
d‘Chevrcuse to Monseigncur de Bulbonnais, our
ancestor, and minister of police under Louis

 V .

The magistrate glanced rather triumphantly
at Magnus, who could only nod in acquiescence.

“ This is quite satisfactory, monsieur. These
two articles were among the contents of the
valise stolen from the [nu-(Luis, your brother, at
the hotel in St. V7— on t 9 night he was mur-
dbred ?” ,

f~ They were,” continued the Baron de Boisgo-
,mont, “ But, for that matter, my declaration
to‘the police, made directly subsequent to the
'foul crime must .be still meristance. In that
statementl mentioned the entire content of the
.vaJise, which I was Well fitted to do from law.
inc packed it for my poor brother with my own
hands.” . t . . .

“ Your declaratian Is in my pomon; I only

3 asked you'y'vith reference to these two article;

Now, monsieur, look at the prisoner.”

’The baron did so with avengeancc, as you
mi‘glJJtosggii recognize him ?”

“I saw him ftp-,the first time in my life day

' ‘L ,' «before yesterday

i“. You are sure?”

“ Quite sum.”

“1‘3th then merely ask you to sign this
WP?!» 0" which my registrar has written my
Q“9’t‘°"3 “‘1 your answers. You can then
wivf‘hdraw.” , l

he pap" was “00",?! 1 Si ed and then
the Baron de Boisgomo dfi ynfi w'm, a part,
ingbow for the judge and: an] crushing glance
for the detective. ‘ ' '
' “Now,” continued the magistrate, but with a

' suggestion of leniency, or at leaatn mitigation of

severity, in his manner, “wa1: do you think,

monsieur, of the book here that was found in

’ your pmsession?”

‘71 hardly know what to think. Monsieur
Judge,” was the reply. “It is a most extrm

 

  

  
 

 
  
   

 

 

   
 

' pleated with by tel

I

"fly

complication that seems to connect it

' with/this crime. I have already told you the
.xtruth as to how I came by the book.”

“ Eh. Well.” still more pleasantly, “you can
make your mind easyon that some, at least.

’ Your statement has been verified‘ by the book-

dealer in Aix—la-Ghapelle, who has been commu-
ph, and who remembers
. to have made a ha in for it with a stranger a
fiyfi‘gr two before you. pure.th it from his

‘I I

r, Ali!” and Mega could not he] showin
that he felt relieved" “ the stranger,p then, wag
htlecs the Jacques when accomplice
 t’akomc for." , l

i... V

 
    

 

The magistrate made no reply to this.

“ If you would only he a little less stubborn
with regard to the scarf-pin!" he said.

“ Monsieur, my determination on that point is
unalterable.” '

“But one course is left to me, then. I shall
have to remand you hgain.”

And this was accordingly done, Magnus going
back to his cell, and to resume his watch upon
the distinguished Monsieur Antoine.

This task he resumed with renewed interest,
after satisfying himself, through a few words
exchanged with the attendant who brought him
his lunch, and the wheels of whose good-nature
had been judiciouslv oiled, that his majesty had
received no visitor during his absence.

But the day passed and also another night,
and still the fallen monarch was alone with his
darkened fortune, so fa r as any message from
the outside world was concerned.

Mugnus awoke, after an imperfect night’s
rest, with an impatient and half—desperate feel-
ing which all the philosophy he could muster
was not wholly sufficient to dissipate.

What! was his premonition destined to leave
him mockingly in the lurch at last. and all that
lie had so p itiently, hopefully undergone to
result in nothing but a. practical experience of
French prisons and examining magistrates?

However, Achille put in a second appearance
in the middle of the forenoon, bringing With
him enough news, of both a, gratifying and
alarming character, to enliven the'detective out
of his despondencyt, at all events.

“ Take heart, my dear master!” exclaimed the
faithful rogue. “A strange messenger is even
now waiting in the prison office for wrmission
to confer with Monsieur Antoine. e is being
Searched, besides being subjected to other
tediOis formalities, or I should not have been
able to obtain admission before him.”

“ (‘roodl good!" and Magnus rubbed his hands
expectaiitly. “ Do you think the messenger is
from my mysterious fugitive?” .

“ I haven’t a doubt of ,it, sir: At all events,
he is a perfect strmiger to me, just as Mouswur
Antoine’s mysterious friend’s previous messen-
gers have been.”

“Splendid! Heaven grant that I am not
again summoned before the magistrate w lie
the fellow is here!” Then, observing t at
Achilie did; not seem to share his new hopeful-
neas to the full, be add , : “ But what is the
matter with you, my in 7 Are you the bearer
of other and less gratifying news for me?”

“Alas, yes, nionsieurl” ’

“ Ada—Miss Maycourt—is not ill, or any-
thingr of that sorti‘l "

“ No, no, monsieur. The young lady is in her
usual good health, and so is her good mamma;
but the banker himself—well, he is not, mon-
sieur; and. moreover, I fear that there is the
very devil to pay.”

“ngat is the trouble? Be brief andtoth

int. ‘

“Monsieur the financier is sick—very sick—
waa taken very suddenly two days ago, imme-
diately on the return from the Versailles trip—-

at

and he will have no one to nurse him

madame the grande blonds—no, not even
mademolselle his daughter. That is the trouble,
my dear master.” ,
no set his teeth hard.

“ That she devil doubtless showing the clovon
foot in earnest at last!” he mut

“ Alasl I fear so, monsieur.”

"' Slow poisoning think you?”

“ Slew or swift, I know not which,” gloomily.
.“ Monsieur the financier is suddenly feeble both
in mind and body—absolutely under the ail-en‘s

control—no one else of the party permitted to

u surely therein a hysic i”

“ Yes, but a mere no y, 23d whose face
somehow seems familiar to me, though I‘can’t
placetit.“

"T0 you? Ha! might itbe a former accom-
plice of e woman’s?”

Achille struck his forehead.

“ I have it!” he e‘jaculated. “ Fool thatI was
to have forgotten l’

“ What! the strange physician?”
~ “ Yesg. I recollect now—an old-time associate
of Mohaieur Antoine’s. and more than once in
trouble With the authorities for malpractice—a
certain shady Dr. Jamberti”

“ This is Very. serious,” said the dctcctivs.
“ Look you, Achille, I shall have to get back
with Mr. Grantby and the rest Without further
delay. Therefore, if the examining magistrate
(ices not give me any discharge out of this scrape
today—if 1 am not with you all at the Hotel dea
Deux Freres for dinner this evening—you are to
go to Monsieur the Prefect of Police at once and
acquaint him with my situation here. You un-
derstand 3” '

“ Yes, monsieur,” bewildercdly. “ Butterfly
mousieur can step out of this sham trap of in
own making at pleasure?” ‘ .

“ ou mistake. It is not of my own making,
but a most embarrassing entanglement. Speak!
Will on follow my instructions to the letter?”

“ es. yes, thy/dear master.”

“ Hark! fonts ” " '
Achille loftly ran to the
returned. I 

wicket. _

r l I '

      

   

 

as loftly’,

“ The meSSenger to his majestyl” he whispered
“ He is come.”

CHAPTER XXXVI.

A SECRET OF ROYALTY.

A FEW minutes later, the official who had
ushered the messenger into the corridor having
departed, the latter was perceived to be in “at-
nest conversation with the King of the Pick~
pockets at the further end of the gallery.

But not a. breath of the conference could be
(Wei-heard; for the watchers to have revealed
thelnselves would be to sacrifice everything, and
there (lid not seem to be the slightest chance of
the whisper-era shifting their position.

“What is to be, done?” exclaimed Magnus, in
a low voice, really at his wits’ end for the time
being. “ The precious moments are flying like
lightning, and this may be my last chance of
getting on Bartlow’s track."

He ground his teeth.

“ Leave it to me, monsieur,” suggested
Achille, brightly. “I will approach Monmeur
Antoine forthwith, as if likewise just admitted
to have sperm-h with him.”

“ A gotxl idea!” eagerly. “ But wait. If you
can find out nothing, manage to divert An-
toine’s attention while this messenger is repassv
ing my cell door here on his way back.

Achille stared, and then, with these final in-
structions, seized his opportunity to slip out into
the corri-ldr unperceived. and to approach the
whispering pair at the further end.

Magnus anxiously watched the result as well
as he was able. by a slantwise observation
through the wicket and as much of the door as
he could prudently keep ajar.

Disappointment.

King Antoine was seen to give his crst-faith—l
ful and trusted liegeman a decidedly nope-roili-
ous, not to say suspicious reception, and then to
sternly motion him back while continuing his
conference with the messenger further along the
corridor.

However, Achillc was then seen to confident-
ly brush past them, and to disappear into the
last Cell on that side, presumably that of Mon~
sieur Antoine itself.

Almost immediately thereafter the messenger
was dismissed, while Antoine, with a parting
and significant wave of the hand, likevnse van-
ished, followingMourier into the cell.

W'ith a swift, comprehensive glance, Magnus
tetk the measure of the messenger as the latter
approached. 

” I think he is impressional,” he muttered.
“ At all events, the thing musn be risked.”

He accordingly threw open the deer, con~
fronted the man with a piercing but kindly look,
and held out his hand engagingly.

The man was a rude, uncultivated-looking
fellow, but with a cunning, secretive expresc
8101].

He paused, surprised. then suspicious, then
hesitating; and it is proverbial that who hesi-
tates is lost.

“ Take my hand, friend," murmured the dc—
tective, in a low, sweet, vibrant voice, such as
the fellow had doubtless never heard before.
“ And come in here a moment—it is well that ,
you should.”

Magnus smiled still. but no longer doubtfully,
as the man yielded, and their hands met.

"A cunning Villain, but my man!” was his
mental comment: “ He’ll do.” .

The next instant the man was drawn unresisté
ingl into the cell. the door closed behind him,
and was tuned starin ly with his back to
the wall, loo ing uneasy ut helpless, like one I
suddenly dared. ‘

The detective touched him lightly on the fan.
head. and the spell was complete.

“You will answer what I ask you,” be con-
tinued, purringly, “ and then be absolutely le-
cretive as to all this. Is it not so, friend?”

“Yes, yes,” answered the man. with the
mechanicalness of an automaton. “0b, of courao,“

es!

“From whom have you borne the messa'gc
that you have just delivered to Monsieur
Antoine?”

“ From Herr Grosaman.”

“ Ah! a large or a.small man, this G
man?” .

“ Large, very large.”

" Dark or light?” , V ,

“ A blonds naturally, though he makes himsell ‘_:'
as he wills.” . ‘

“ An evil, ugly-looking man?” ‘,

“ 0n thereontrary, a magnificently DObW' x _
lug man, when himself.” . x . *

“ He sent you hither from Soissonsii” . ' «

“ Yes, but I am not torcturd to him tbélu’h _ .

 

i ,

   

“\Where, then?” I
“growls.” ‘ _ ..
“ as Herr Gromman taken an alarm, their .
“It is likely. 'At all events there'r will bot! , I
no more moo-angers from him to Monsieur .;
Antoine.” . i v '
“Why?”
“ I know not.” " ' .
“ ut whatdo on suspect?” * .. ‘
“ fancyrhat his business is about dubbed“
or y no, and that Monsieur Antoine w
“M” » ‘

.\.

 

   
 

  

 

    
      

 

       

       
 
    
     

“ How long does Herr Grossman intend to dear Magnus,” said the prefect, with much and her son grasping his hand with earnest:

remain at Brill-38915?” gravity, when the detective had given him in warmth. .

“ I am to communicate with him at lodgings outline a history of his recent perplexity, to- The cause of their despondency would have

‘ there, which he has taken for one month from gethcr with the true story of the scarf~pin, the been quickly apparent, even if Magnus ‘had not
yesterday.” latter under pledge of secrecy. “ Such entangla- been apprised of it beforehand.

“ What is the address?” ments are always dangerous, even for the most By the open door communicating with the

“ Rue d’Artois, No. 97.” ' sophisticated of us.” private corridor connecting the ditl‘erent rooms

“ You are to return to him there?” “ Dangerous?” echoed the detective, incredu- of the suite, a hired nurse could be seen occasion-

“Yes; to—morrow.” v lcnsly. ally passing to and fro between the head of a r

“ You are Grossman’s servant?” , “ Yes-to one’s reputation, especially. “That! staircase and the chief bedroom. w hich was the

“ Not yet, but he has promised to take me in- you enjoin me to secrecy upon a ,matter that is third a ,artment back. and a general air of mys-
to his employ if I continue to prove worthy.” already in every month?” “fry. 1; 00m and dread 599111911 t0 pervade the

“ What is your own name?” “ Are you in earnest?” Place- _

“ Alphonse Gruner.” “ I should say sol Could you hope to keep Magnus at once. however, infused his personal

“French?” , such a choice bit of mystification from the energy and alertness into the dolorous group.

“ Swiss." ' knowledge of our vampires of the press?” “ Con9ider me in absolute command here forth-

“ What has been your vocation?” . “ Ahl that mischief is already done, then .7” With,” Said he. crOSSini‘I tho “"0? “11d 9105311 tho

“ I am a thief.” Magnus then learned that his entire connec- Passage 00013 “ Rimdfllb Ol'llgi‘ me by Ca ling

“ That will do, Alphonso.” Again touching tion with tho affair had been ventilated far and in Achille, W110 is doubtless ncnr at hand.”
the man’s forehead. “You will, I suggest, re— wide. The local press had pounced upon it as a T his “’38 (10119, aft/81‘ Which the V51th was sent-
maiu absolutely secretive.” most precious morsels of sensation. The Off again temporarily. With certain Whispered

“ I will not be able to be otherwise.” indefatigable American and English news. instructions.

A last stroke of the mesmerizing hand, and paper correspondents had been the first “ How is the patient by this time?” then

. the man started out of his automaton~like state. to get hold of the story, ant had done more queried the detective, addressing himself to all

The detective then opened the door, saw that to keep it alive, in every garbled and extrnva- prost‘nt. «'
the coast was clear, smilineg thrust him out in- gant form, than even the local Paris periodicals, “ More feeble and unreasonable than ever,”
to the passage, and the fellow silent] coatinuod which are less tenacious of a novelty in their Randall took it upon himself to reply. “ Doctor
on his way to the prison office, rubb ug his eyes craving for a fresh one with which to replace it. Jamhert says that there 13 but little hope.”
and shaking his head. The most sensational reports had been printed, “ Delirious?”

A moment later Achillo returned, slipping and there was even a )robnbility of the ap- “ No. but 5‘0 {I‘emfl aml excitable. the hired

' ‘ back into the cell, after a cautionary look bo- pearance of a portrait of agnus, the "rent sua- nurse says, as to amount to the same thing.”
hind him. , 77006 of the hour, in the London and lflw York “ Who is with the patient now '1”

“Ah. such devil’s luck. my master!” ho ex- illustrated journals at an early date. The fact ‘f His dear Madame Renaud. as a matter of
claimed. “ His majesty is no better than a of his having been at the St. V —— Hotel on tho P‘llll‘sel” It was Grace-Granthl‘ “‘130 responded
Sphinx to-day—a speechless image. 1 have dis— night of the murder, and of the scarp-pin and this time, her eyes blazmg and her lips quiverv
covered literallynothing.” book having been found in his possession, had ing. _ . I ’

“ Make yourself easy, Achille,” was the com- been already put into such prominence that in “ Now let me understand the situation from
. osed reply. “ I have mana red the affair. all probability hardl a doubt existed as to his the Start.” the detective COUUUHM- ‘ 8 am

ake yourself off now, and don t forgot my in~ criminal complimty in the mind of any Ameri- told, Mr. Grantby was first taken down with
structions.” can or English reader, apart from the narrow this extraordinary seizure three mornings a o, ,_

“ Trust in mo, dear monsieur.” circle of his personal acouaintance. Some on his return with the rest of you from the er» , ,

It was not until after the luncheon hour on “ specials ” had oven gone so far as to hint smiles Jannt. Mrs. Maycourt. let me request
this occasion, and, in View of what he had heard that he had confessed, while One had even assert- you to answer, as being perhaps more compoScd
of Mr. Grantby’s illness and Madame Renaud’s ed that self-destruction had been attempted. than some Others.” “
suspicious conduct, the detective was growing “Well, I suppose I shall have to stand it,” “You have been informed correctly in sub-
terribly impatient, when he was again sent for Magnns at last philosophizcd, when the worst ~Stfl1108.£'al'01119.” replied them‘l'yvtbfl‘spartlcmfll' '-
to appear before the cxaminin magistrate. had been told. izcd. “ But 1‘. Grailth had begun to manifesta

The latter received him w th yet more pro- It then occurred to him to mention to the transformaton on, the tram, a considerable time
nounced courtesy than at parting with him on. prefect the complication that had arisen among before we redched the hotel. We are quite sure
the preceding day. his traveling party during his absence, and the now thatMadame Renaud must .have managed
_ “ Nearly all of your statements, not verified official at once became doubly interested. . to givo him a first disturbing otion of some sort
before, have now been made satisfactory— mon- “ Deal with the wonmn on the spot, and as even before we quitted Versai les.” 1
sieur,” said the judge. “ You are also found to you see fit,” he said, promptly. “ Two police- “Ah, a bold game, a bold game! And—par~'

. k be honorably connected. In fact, I have com- men will be in waiting. with instructions to don me,all of you, but lean scarcely credit it.—
’ z municated with Monsieur the Prefect of Police obey your suggestions unquestioningly. Am I you at once permitted him to pass exclusively 
i with regard to you.” not equally interested in the case now with your- under the woman’s control Without retest."
“I trust he has vouchsafed to giye me agood 89 f, since there can hardly be'a doubt that your “ You Should have seen how 3 r. Grant!)

 

9 character,” observed the detective. . fl gitive hank-robber can be none other than our acted,” Randall made haste to interpose. “ t," i . ' “

i, “ Eh,\well, yes,” with a smile. “ In fa t, you long-missing Jacques Malines’l Ha! and as for was not only that he seemed suddenly benitched 1 " l

-' might have sent for him in the first pla c and this majestic housekeeper. the stately Renaud, in both mind and body, but he acted like a ver-
thus saved yourself much tedious embarrass— together with her little Doctor Jambert-eh, itable madman. The woman herself was hypm
meat.” “ " well, who would have thought of our police gill- critically passive enough—«that is, at the out-

v ‘_‘ So I had the honor of informing your judge- seine scooping:- them in, too?" . set.”
‘sln .” “What? V0n can place them, also, in your , i
1, ,_ _ “True; but than you were eager for an ex- retrospect: _ CHAPTER XXXVI I.
 'perience of our French mode of procedure, you “ Can I? There is no doubt, from what you IN A Slmn’s CLUTCH.» r V , a: 
’. will remember.” tell me, that the adventuress is Monsieur An- BEFORE the detective could speak again,an ‘ -'
r  “ I do not forget, Monsieur Judge. And then, toino’s sister, who. asLa Grands Celeste Flenrie” ‘Grantby once more broke out passionately,‘say- t“

Than hastening my dismiss]. from this absurd (the grand and florid Celeste), “made sucha ing: ,, - ‘ V n
c rge, I .migbt not have given you and your brief and unenviable boulevardescnsation tenor “Perhaps you haven’t heard. Mr. _Magnus, I

registering clerk an experience that you will a dozon years ago, though as for the husband, a, that papa first ma 6 his Will. before being taken '

"also be apt to remember—with nothing but the London adventurer, Armsdale. he must 'down, and rende comparatg'.'cly helpless?”
pleasure, let me hope.” have. kept very quiet, for I have no recollection Ma us looked up in astonisunwnt. /

2 The magistrate winced. 0f him at present! But the little Jumbert! Ha, .“ ade his will?” be repeated.

"Eh, well, with interest and curiosity, at all ha, ha! But go on. my friend. Y0 are in the “ Yea,” Crmtmued Miss Grautby. controllin
events,)’ he‘ replied, good-naturally. “ Mon- swim of the thing av last, I haven’t Aldoubt, and her cxcntement to the best of her ability, “ wit r ,
,sieur,you are a very,extrordinary man—one nothing shallKinterfere with 'our individual the assxstance of a legal adviserfhad it regu-
who might interth certain of our latter-day measures in the premises. ouldn't I have larly drawn up, signed and witnessed, t ongh'
scientists greatly.” ' given something to see Monsieur the Examining none of his own party, with the smgle exce tipn

: l, “Thanks, monsieur; but my profession is suf— Magistrate and his little serivencr ill the hyp- of Madame Renaud,” with Venomous sigma-
flciently exacting, as it is.” ' ‘ notlc-toils of Le Defective Americain do a canoe, pardonablo enough, under the circum‘
' ‘“ Ah, that pin, that pin! The only remaining Touche i)” (the American . Touch Detective). stances, “ was allowed to-he present. ’ . _
lcircumstan'Ce against you is the possession of “Yes, the mod judge could not abstalnfrom “But Achillelntixnaiied DOt’hmg of this sort to "
:thatpin, about whose history you are so obsti- letting me ate ‘the joke, even though it was me.”said M88033 " '7' ‘ . . ' "
Intel reticent.” ‘ against himself.” ’ ‘ “We took care not.“ let 111m know or it. It ,

“ git without which obstinacy,” smiling, “I And, with a parting shake of the hand, the was sufficieth GISKI‘ECerI for us to keep amongl ‘

 should not have had‘tho repeated pleasure of good-natured prefect permitted his American ourselves.” '1‘ v, ” A 
these udlcial interviews.” , . ' friend to go on his way. - , ‘~ Butte what efl‘cct? _ I 3  3:

_ “, on have my thanks in turn, monsieur.” Much to the detective’s satisfaction, Ada, “'Weua-e altogether uncertain whether'I was,
“J‘Am I to understand that I am now free, Mnycourt’s indivi nal manner of greetin him quite disinheri by the new will or not,” “n-
Monsieur Judge?” at the hotel, wbe he arrived late in the after- tinned the your": lady. “.The lawyer woul

“Yes; though not as you should wish to he— noon, Was to rush impulsively into his arms. Anus. nothing—ms in professional honor bop  ,

ithouta lingering suspicion attaching to you, “,Ah, we have been so unhappy!” she half— said-but elookedagood deal,1 cents]! I 
Jr rattosay. ‘ ‘ ‘ sobbed. “ But now that you are back once And you can draW’ our ownpdncluiom. 911379“

“a?! only you would explain that remaining more, my darling, all Wlll soon be wall again have been compelle to do.”  in“. l

obscure point. I could declare on innocent on With us, I know it will.” ' ' “ Since then.” here?“ i" Réndalh not 0'19
the ;s t, something which, n my judicial He kissed and fondled her most tenderly. .- of us has been permittedto enter the sick-room ’

cs?“ 3'» I am “Viable todo. “What. am beloved!” he murmured: “ you without being‘fub cted toa torrent of more or ,

, ‘ Donut be angry or impatient, I beg, mon- could read al these prepOsteroue newspaper ac— less Violent a )9 y the poo demented gentle-_
 You are to be set free phones in any counts, and still not lobe faith in me?" man, whose pnn pal deli! n seemS_to be that
 ' But, unfortunate] , it can only be under 3‘ Hush!” closing his mouth with, a kiss from we are all-th the single exception of no
on Order which is equiva. out to the exasperating her lovely lips. ' As if anything eculd make Renaud, as a matter of course—m a cmSpnj 9y ‘
i ,«Seotch‘ verdict 'Not proven.’ Good-day, Mon- me lose faith in you!" " . to person. him. She has even madeapretenso
We"? Maxims” , - I » He had already conferred again with Aolnlle, of quieting him—of even being-Shocked at his 
Professionally cowhardenedin such matters, who had re resented themystery or trouble on charges—~but, of course. It is nothing V morethan
“Hugo .,cared little at first for the nature of the theold ban or’s account as being at a decidedly pretense.” iv , ‘ ‘
fol-mu that released him permanently from the Critical stage. ' I ,' Magnuscturned his eyes sion'ly upon Mm.
mnth ,  Mr. Grantby's party was occupying the best Maycourt,.soylng’: _ -

But, meeting his friend. the prefect of police. suite of room in the hotel. comprising an entire 1‘ And you, .ma dun? Can it be ibis that "7

glossary out of the prison, he received lufo'r- floor.‘ ,_ ' . ‘ your reception!“ no better than t, 6 other? .  ..
~ tiou t,was more or less disquieting in this On enteringthe front drawingxroom of the “There has been no opportunity,” replied

> v suite with  dayathuefiatter’sflmotheg, Games “ M?del £23," "1%: (inlet dignity, a slightoolor
 , i. t r‘ Grantb‘un ana ayeou Were onus-Looming!) ercees.  Wye
, . ' CHAPTER XXXVII. , amblerith‘ere inavery‘mesomestateof mind, ‘J‘It is dlKerent with mammaf  
1  annsnn’s now can. .. notwithsta j , the theygroelied thede’tective (13.. “Indeed. Mr. Gnuth has 5 out
“You- , i have: sent for me at one» my ..  A r _ court qywkiginghlm. eard to beg  shqrnightrrbe‘ r

y'\

 

 

1

t
‘  .

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

.5 ,5 '
i" ‘ '-~ ‘him: but niamma has very sensibly not chosen
:1" r to he made such an unjust exception of.”
‘ ' ' \ “ Right, right!” muttered thedetective. “By
' v 4 ,I the way, Doctor J anibert is not in attendance at
.r Ii .’  this. moment, I presume?" I .
‘r .»  “No,” Randall made answer, consulting his
' ’. 'W’VtCil, “ but this is his time. He should be here
it ' \\ itliin a very few minutes nOW.”
If “ This man was installed in the case at Madame
  RHJBU‘YS suggestion, I understand?"
, , “And at papa’s own insistence, after the
J, 4 initial visit,” said Grace. I“He seemed to be
, T glaiiioured with regard to him hardly less than
. "s r to her."
,4 “ A disreputable and dangerous quack! Didn’t
 C .Achille give you a hint as to the fellow’s true
= Character?” '
“ Something more than a hint, but what could
1 '~ ’ we do under the circumstances?"
% ’ “ Humph l”
. Here Achille slipped back into the room,
,. giving his master a look, as much as to say,
‘~ ,- ‘ Your wishes have been carried out. monsieur.”
/ : “Coniel” said Magiius rising abruptly, and
, -' ,1 approaching the door to the private hall; “I
 9; :shall probably want all of you to be present.
. f This state of affairs has gone on about long
"  enough." '
.  “You surely will not intrude upon papa so
' .g“, abruptly?” cried Grace, running lli'bWL’i'll him
i, and the door in a sort of terror. fflllr. Blagnus,
at, it will be apt to make him ]>O~'lthl‘i_V iraiitic.
 You cannot imagine how he has raved against
, if my on esiwcially.”
v. 3’ “ Against me, especially, ch?” calmly. an 1 yet
w ,3; gently putting her to one Side from bls‘ pull).
,1" ‘M  “Ah! the dear Rcuuud ilias. doubtless, \\'lLll ‘
-. '  cliariuinp; inadvertence, let him lleVHlH' those
' ‘ ,2; ilitn-ring newspaper reports of my reCeiit ex‘ “
“ , ~  pcrieuce, I supposei'.‘
Ii 5  “Yea. yespbut you really must not, ought
I, '  not to, face him_ now, Sir. He has St:.‘,lllilliZ'3d
f 4;, 6. you, in his ravmgs, as a hypocrite, a villain,

  
 

 

a convicted murderer, one wli ) will doubtless

be guillotinei—it was dreadful i”

“Follow me, all, if you please,” calmly per-
sisted the detective. opening the door.
ineiiiher this, however,” in a lowered voice,-
“ you are none of mu to manifest any surprise
at whatever I may say or do. And you,
Achille, do not forget to lend me your on-
thusiastic support and affirmation of anything
that I may charge, howsoever circumstantially
and to your astonishment."

Achille responded with his favorite grimaco
and a twinkle of his keen little eyes, that were
suilicicntly expressive.

Magnus then silently led the way along the
passage. \

The hired professional nurse, uncut-appear.
’ing but rather stolid-leoking woman of middle-
age, was coming out of too sick—room as they
approached it. _ _

“ We can dispense With your serv1ces, ma‘in.”
said the detective, with sudden liars ness. " Ba
sure that you do not come back here, unless
sent for 1) me.‘ «

Then thi; Woman forthwith skulking away, he
abruptly led the advance into the room.

A large and handsome apartment; Mr. Grant.
' by, greatly wasted and changed, seemingly in a

half-doze on the couch;asmall table, covered

with vials, glasses, powders. and other con-

Ventional appurtenances, Within convenient

reach; Madame Renaud. confident, composed,

call but regal, in an easy-chair b the couch,
and facing the door, a Frenchnove in her lap.
But the detective’s harsh injuncmou to the
nurse had already aroused both patienthahd
nurse, the former looking up mmewhat Wildly
as the procession entered, the Renaud herself on
her feet in an instant, defiant and alert,her fine
nostrils quivering, the battle-light in her face
and eyes. ' \ . _
Then Mr. Grantby stru gled into a sitting

' Wm. With 3'80" of im tent, half—articulate

' 0W1. hisibfiggard eyes glaring resontfully at the

detective. ' ,,

i ‘ “ You here again, Ma nusr’he weakly raVed,
“ out or my 518“. "a 001‘. murderer, snake in
the grass! What! after this public exposure of
your past evil life, your past “cranes, you would
dare—’

,_ But Maguus had thrust thewoman violently
aside, as she sought to Mr his way tothe side
of the couch, where a few passes of bin mag-
netic hand over the form _of ‘the unfortunate

‘ gentleman caused him to smk gradually back,

 after which he gazed wearil y and wonderingly

i around upon the new faces about him,” it
slowly and still bewilderedly. struggling out
,‘of a long-enduring, most unhappy dream.

“Where am I?” murmured the old gentle-
man. “Ah, I remember—but no, I do not.

Hasn’t there been a great trouble, a conspiracy”

CHAPTER XXXIX.

'rnii: BEGINNING or THE END. _
, “PEACE. peace, my poor old friend!” said
Magnus, gently. “That is what I bring Vou
what we are all here for. A conspiracy? es,
' , ' you are right—a conspiracy of one; and there.
‘iointing sternl at the ,Renaud,“stauds its
. / incarnation in at cockatrice, that foul poison-
‘woiild have so mthluslv sapped you of
betanee and your life! But, take heart,

,/ ‘ .

a
.9.
" r

 

   

'er, w,
8.

 
   
  

   

“ Re- ,

l
,in; over your act-ursed head?
i
l
i
l

my friend! Whether thus far obsessed, or
slowly drugged, your deliverance from this
source is at hand. 1 am here again with you,
God be praised!”

Mr. Grantby shook his head feebly, as if at a
loss to wholly understand, and then closed his
eyes wearily, but only to open them again in
fresh bewilderment.

But the Renaud, who had at first been some-
what taken off her guard by the suddenness
and brutality of these charges hurled against
her, was almost instantly magnificent in her
wrath.

“Scoundrel of a detective!” she exclaimed,
her voice qiiiVering, her splendid blue eyes
fairly darting lire; " how dare you thus asperse
me? You, a murderer in the past, a scoundrel
by nature! Well. it might be expected of you.”

Without lieediiig her words, any more than if
they were unheard, Magiius calmly signed to
Achille, who f il‘thltb slipped out of the room.

When he returned, which wa's almost imme-
diately, Madame Renaud perceptiny changed
countenance, notwithstanding her iron still-con-
trol, for the valet’s return was accompanied by
: two policemen, who unobtrusiver ranged them-
St‘in‘S against the wall, and seemed to be un-
pleasaiitly expectant.

The banker had sunk into a sort of obServant
inpathy, as one might iliink, out of which he
i seemed to be staring and listening in a species
, of struggling iiiystification that was both
, curious and pathetic to witness.

T “ W'Jiiianl" exclniiiied the detective, in harsh,

 

‘1 metallic tones, that caused eyeii Ada to look up
i in semi-terror, they were so painfully different
, from any that she had ever heard him utter he—
i fore, and be confronted Madame R ‘llautl with a
, sudden and W'ltlleiillg‘ pitilessness of mien that
icaused her to momentarily bleach in spite of
i, herself; “heartless adventuress! D'lidinlel‘l you
i are near the c10se of your devil’s game at last,
l and you may thank the fates if you do not find
a halter at the end of it.”

“ Insulting scoundrel l” the adventuress speed.
ily found nerve to retort, “ do y u think to af-
fii'ght me with these absurd char es, this cheap
dramatic prearrangenienti—you. fresh as you
are from a felon’s cell, and with a charge of
midnight assassination only ‘ not proven ’ hang-
Hal ha! ha!”

mockingly, as she saw him giVe an inVoluutary
' start; “ you See I can obtain speedy information
of my own, on occasion.”

“ Doubtlo-ss from your brother, Monsieur An-
' thine, the King of the Pickpockets, who may by
' this time have likewise wriggled his way out of
, Muz is," coolly replied Maguus, with a shrug of
i in inference. .

I The shot toll, especially as being delivered in
i the presence of the gendarmes, both of whom
i grinned interestedly.

l “A brother of mine? Insulting liar!” cried
E the Renaud. “ But,peste! why should I heed
such absurdities: when it is well known that I
have no brother, and never had i”

“ Monsieur the Prefect of Police may be able
‘to revive your memory on that point, Madame
la Grande Celeste fleurie,” still calmly, though
withaslight smile as he saw her lose counte-
nance again. “ However, you may well have
other secret correspondents ‘t is true. as to
what is going on in the worl o ‘vprisons and of
crimes. Thereis your will-o’~the-Wisp husband
for instance, Cosmo Armsdale, the all-round
cosmopolitan crOok, otherwise Catesby Bartlow,
,the whilom cashie and robber of the Mount
Kernon Bank, otherw‘se—to :20 con siderably
turther back—Jacques Malines, the robber-as-

at the mention of Armsdale and Bartlow’s
11831108., her face slightl flushing, but at the
third and most criminal implication—at which
even the policemen had looked up with, renewed
interest and astonishment—she had manifested a
|fleeting but genuine wonder in her face and
eyes, which raised a doubt in the detective’s
,mind as to her (heretofore knowledge of her
; consort’s connection with the capital ofl'ense, as
, charged by him. \
’ “ Lies. lies lies!” she laughed, soornfully and
defiantly. “ But what a fool I am to let such
ridiculous abuse disturb me in the least!”

Here she broke oi? abruptly to turn' toward
the coach, upon Which the invalid banker had
again iisen, into a sitting posture.

Could she believe her eyed

Old Grantby himself, her heretofore wor-
shiper, old Giyantby the glamoured, the he-
witched, gazing at her suspiciously, resentfully,
a new light, something very like an awakening
horror in his haggard. all but accusing eyes!

“ Don’t, believe him, my love, my darling!”
she almost screamed, throwing up her beautiful
arms. “Lies, calumnies, falsehde Besides.
think of what I’ve been to you up to this mo-
ment— our beauty. your dream-bringer, your
‘ Own Ce este, your—” ‘ '
{‘ She inadea motion to tlirOW‘hprselfon her
V knees by the couch, but the detective tore her
, away, with a rude, all but brutal grasp that left
1 its marks on her white wrists and rounded fore-
. arms, where the loose-falling aleeyes of her
. luxurifius gown or wrapper permitted their bo-

traya i, i ' .r ’~;

 

 

 
 

    

.i
:

 

sassin ,ot the Marquis Phillippe do Boisgomontl"-
I She had started, as was. but natural enough,

i

  

“Enough of your theatricals!” he growled,
with that new and terrible harshness in eye,
voice and mien. “ Ay, his dream-bringer,
truly, with your slow poisons and Sorceress
spells, but from this hour he is to awake unto
his Laue self again. Back, woman, back, I tell

cu!

Though blanched and staggered, she was glar-
ing at him with the fury of an enraged python-
css, one hand wandering helplessly at her girdle,
the other at her bosom, as if in vain search of
some deadly weapon with which to spring'at his
throat.

“ That lying charge again!” she hoarsely fal-
tered, the breath coming and going audiny
through her parted lips, her superb bust rising
and falling like a lluctuant billow in its unrest.
“ Accursed lying detective, it is false—false as
hell! i have used no poisons.”

“Stop!” he had assumed asudden calmness
Which was even more tirrible than the harsh-
ness it replaced. “ Demonessl do you think you
have not been secretly watched, your most se-
cret movements noted, even some of the wrap-
pings and labels of your poisonous compounds
preserved? Step forward here, Achille Mourierl”

 

CHAPTER XL.
LIKE A nousn or CARDS.

HIS specifications, utterly random and reck-
less as they Were, hit the mark, even as the
chance or snap-shot bullet will so often pink the
bull’s-eye that its more elaborately aimed fellow
will fly so far and wide of.

The adventuress had retreated get another
step, and was glaring at him with suddenly di-
lated. terror-stricken eyes.

“ Lies, lies, lies!” she could only repeat. and
now in a species of growing panic.

Then when the valet, Achille Mourier, stepped
briskly and confidently forward, in ready sup-
port of his master’s cleVer fictioning, even these
feeble denials died away on her white lips.

“ Speak, Achille Mourier!” continued M agnus,
in his steriin calm, judicial tone. “ You have
been on the watch here more or less constant] y
from behind one or another of these heavy cur-
tains and porticres?” .\

“ Indeed, yes, my master,” replied Achille.
“ Ah,” with all but joyous niendacity, “ the
devil; what have 1 not seen, marked and noted
from my secret hiding, with a growing horror
curlling in my veins?" shaking his head.

“ \Vas it four or five times that you saw this
person painstakineg tamper With the sick man’s
draiights while he slept?" '

fact, Achille Mourier, rogue that he was, was in
imminent danger of overdoing the trick.
“And you have retained the wrappers and

suspiciously administered ?"

“ Not some, but all, monsieur. Even the
strings that tied the packages have been re-
ligiously treasured by me.”

“ The chemists’shops can thus be traced when
the. purchases were made?” ‘

“ Not shops, my master, but shop,” still criti—
Cisl‘ll the valet, his delight for elaborating a flo-
tion'carrying him deeper and deeper. “ But one
apothecary was” dealt with—that is, but one to
myimost certain kn0wied e.” ‘-

ere the detective eld up his hand—
Mourier’s support might become altogether too
enthusiastic. ’

But enough had already been vontured, and
successfully. ‘

Madame Renaud was grasping the back of a
chair for so port, trembling in every limb.

A momen ry hope, however, leaped into her
despairing face, for at this juncture Dr. Jum-
bertr—an owlish, professionalmppearing little
man in black, with a felonioust shaped, part]

cone at the top like a
l y entered the room. ,
I Noiselessly bustling and confident at first, but
with a startled air, as if more than willing to
retreat, when be perceived his unexpected sur-

pear on eud—unsuspicious-

uickl recovered his pro esaional air an
3am 'ng for the nonce.
“ Hal here is the good ph
the Renaud, rallying. “

peak out,

tampering with our dear patient's ni icines.
tation and superior knowledge, will surely—”

“ Arrest that man. officers 1” stern! y command-
ed the detective. “ A scoundrell quack! al-
ready once arrested and prosecu in the (but,
for criminal malpractice, and stripped o .m-
diploma, he is altogether unauthorized . to
practice.
cha !"

The little doctor, already th ly scared;
would gladly have takento his h s. butwu
partyinme in the grip of one of the sergeants do
in . e. '

Madame Renaud‘s plot for a name and a for-
tune, or for whatever else she may have had in
view. was tumbling around her 1i

' ‘ She cantons-‘1.“ desperate glance arm

 

her, canning; with a sort otgup, slut“

We _ \

“ Six, or niavbe seven !" almost in a shout-in I

label; of some of the ingrediints you thus saw

bald little head, coming up to a sort of prune .

roundings, especially thepolicemen, then h be   .
'cian,” cried outfit,»
.111le This inJurious man is accusin me of

>3 \s

Think of such a thing! But you, with yourrepu- .

Arrest him—I make a ‘ formal.

cayhouaei't‘

  
 
  
 
 
   
  
    
  
     
  
    
    
   
   
    
  
  
     
    
  
    
  
  

    
        
       
    
        

         
       
       
       
     
    
        
          
   
    
 
        
        
       
   
        
  
       
     
        
      
        
    
           
      
    
        
       
      

   
 

, .

 
     
       
          
      
 

    
     
      
      
    
     
     
       
        
        
   
  
 
   
   

 

26

from Mr. Grantby’s eyes, now filled with unde-
niable horror and loathing.

Then, with a low, hoarse cry, her fingers lock-
ed like the talons of a bird of prey, she sprung
revengefully at the detectives throat.

He laughed, evading her onslaught with a
swift, gliding movement, and then, snap! a pair
of handcuffs, which he had produced with a
dextrous sleightcfhand from somewhere, Were
upon her wrists.

Then the adventuress very becomineg fainted,
and, on being brought to, sensibly submitted to
her arrest, and accompanied ll( r cenfmlerate,
the little doctor with the odd-shaped little head,
in the custody of the gcnsd‘armes.

A few minutes later a reputable and capable
physician, who had been thoughtfully sent for
)y Magnus at the time that he had secured the
attendance of the gensd’armes, made his appear-
ance.

His presence was peculiarly seasonable, for at
this juncture tho bauch started up wildly in
his bed, a pitiable picture of humiliation,
remorse and returning reason.

“ Great God I” he sobbed bi'okenly: “ I have
been living in a mist, a cheating dream. Oh,
the witchery, the paralyzation, the hideous
glamour of it all.” Sinking back again, he
covered his eyes and Wept.

Magnus made a few soothing passes over him,
and he became more composed, though still with
weak tears stealing down his worn checks and
through his fingers.

Briefly as might be, the physician was placed
in possession of the facts and suruiises with
regard to the case, which he thereupon at once
took in hand with quiet energy and dispatch.

“ The gentleman is in no special danger as
yet,” was his subsequent verdict, after he had
eliminated the paraphernalia of the little table
and sent off Achille With a prescription.
“ Positive poisons have not been used, 1 fancy,
though there seems to how been a systematized

urpose to debilitato the patient down to the

ast notch in both body and mind. With my
treatment and careful nursing, he should he
himself again within a week.”

“Madeleine! Madeleine!” weakly called out
the banker, as the ladies Were quitting the
room; “and Grace, my daughter! Ah, pity,
forgiVel and do not forsake me!" And then he
re eated the first name, scarcely audibly.
“ iIadeleinel Madeleine!”

Mrs. Maycourt, very pale, had come to an ir-
regolute pause,with Grace sympathetically at her
81 e.

Magnus looked at her appealingly.

“A trustworthy professional nurse has been
sent for, ma’m,” he said, suggestively, “ and
should be in attendance very soon.”

“ Go on, then,” murmured the widow, after a
last hesitation. “ I shall remain.”

When the others were once more alone with
the detective in the drawing room, they looked
at him inquiringly.

“ How could you have learned those particu-
lars of Madame Renaud’s tampering with the
medicines?” exclaimed Randall.

“ There weren’t any, save what I supplied,”
was Magnus’s smiling reply.

“ Whatl” cried Grace; “and those proofs—
the wrapper: and labels—Achille’s secret watch
of her movements?" ,

The detective laughed.

“All guess-work at a venture! But, by the
way, didn’t the rascal support me capitally?
though, to be sure, he came precious near over-
doing it.”

Ada. clapped her hands together.

“It isn’t right to applaud roguery,” she said,
gayly. “ But I sha’n't be able to think other-
zzise, than admirineg of your Achille hereaf-

1'.

“But there’ll be no real charge on which to
hold the adventuress,” obserVed Randall.

“No, but she’ll be in safe-keeping for shine
time to come, and I rather think that the de-
liverance of monsieur her brother, the King of
the Pickpockets, can be conveniently’delnyed,
till we can get fairly on the track of our fugi-
tive bank-thief in Brussels.”

“What! are we going to Brussels?” they all
cried.

“I at least am, and without delay,” was the
reply, “ and you can accompany me, if you will.
Perhaps the more the merrier.’

CHAPTER XLI.
AGAIN ON THE TRAIL.

MR. GRANTBY being found to be great] im-
proved on the following day, it was decid that
the remainder of the touring party, with the
exception of Mrs. Mn court, who was willing to
remain with him as is chief nurse, should ac-
combpany the Touch Detective to Brussels forth-
wit .

Qrace Grantby would also have cheerfully re-
mained with her father, but the old gentleman,
still mortified and repentant over his recont
weakness—for which, however, he was found
to have been lea responsible than might have
been supposed—would not hear of his abridging
her pleasures for his sake, though he was less
cbary about accepting a like sacrifice upon the
part of Madeleine, the love of his early days.

I But then the comely widow herself seemed to

 

 

 

Magma, Fh¢__ _W9iI@;DetectiVeo

be quietly satisfied with her self-imposed duty
at last, and there was that observed between
the patient and his nurse which suggested that
an agreeable understanding, if nothing of a
tender nature, had been uiidemonstratively es-
tabli‘shed.

Then in the middle ofthe day,shortly before the
start for the, Belgian frontier was in order, Mr.
(irantby had the entire party summoned to his
bedside, for the public rendering on his part of
an act of justice, or reparation, as he called it.

The nature of the act was moroorlessap-
parent when the legal gentleman who was pres-
ent, at a sign, produced a. folded and rather
formiilable‘looking document, which he placed
in the banker’s hands.

Mr. Grantby merely glanced over its Contents,
somewhat wonderiiigly it would seem, and then,
crumpling the paper impatiently, said, with an
unmistakably shame-faced ilush:

“My friends, I leave it to you to merely
imagine the nature of the written and attested
matter, which I am unable to reconsider with
any degree of equaniinity, much less iitly char-
acteriz‘a as it dcserVes.

“Pray consider it as a last evidence of tem-
porary insanity on my part, which 1 herewith
destroy foreVer.”

He held the document, as he spoke, in the
flame of a lamp that was burning conveniently
near, until it fell from his hand completely con-
sumed.

Then he looked up, with the shame-flush still
lingering in his worn face, as be gratefully took
the hand that was extended to him by Mrs.
Maycourt from where she sat at the head of the
bed, saying, simply:

“ lVould to Ileavmi that the record of all one’s
follies and niadnesses could be as easily eradi-
cated foreVer! I wish you all a joyous and
succQszul expedition. Grace, my dear, come
and kiss me, if you are not ashamed of me?”

“ Father, how can you speak thus, and to me,
your own Grace?”

And then the noble girl was on her knees at
his side, his poor face on her breast, her arms
wreathed about his wasted form.

Monsieur, the lawyer, who for a wonder had
abstained from saying a word, then arose, shook
the invalid by the hand, and took his departure
with an elaborate and smiling bow for the ladies,
which seemed to offer them its congratulations
quite eloquently.

Apart from those two, the banker and his
lawyer, it was never exactly known what had
been the contents of the paper, but there was
little doubt that Madame Renaud might have
had keen came for chagrin had she been present,
and that it wasalast will and testament that
had been thus destroyed.

The party that set out for Brussels :1 little
later on was somewhat metamorphosed from its
original composition and intent.

It seemed tobecomposedof the two young
ladies, under the escort of Mr. Randall May-
court as head and front of the mild oil’endin ,
if such there were; the gentleman being atten -
ed by n dapper and spry little dark-coniplexioned,
black-haired and black—mustached Frenchman
as his valet, in whose new personalit few would
have detected the identity of Achi le Mourier,
whom, nevertheless, it was in clever disguise;
and the entire party being under the immediate
direction of a, grave, solemn and rather vupid-
looking valet du place, or special courier, in
half-livery and military cap, who would doubt-
1899. have been even more uanCognizalle as our
friend the Touch Detective in a new char-
acter.

Ada, especially, could with dilliculty abstain
from bursting out laughing at the Stl'lld and
Self-conscious dignity with which her lover en—
tered upon his new role, in the matter of looking
after the luggage at the station, wrangling with
the guards and porters over their charges or
pourboires (tips,) and in other preliminaries.

“ One would fancy you had been a hired
courier all your life,” she cried, when they were
all together in one coach-compartment of the
train. “ How do you manage it so well——Albert?”
giving him the new name that had been hit upon
for traveling use.

“ Ma’m’zelle is disposed to pleasantry,” gravely
but urbaner replied the pseudo-courier, in a.
guttural, half-German idiom which he had
adopted,and which seemed peculiar! in keep-
ing with his combined owlishness, ph efimatlsm
and alertnem. “Ve air couriers by do nnzes~
try,in der Bavvarian Albs v’ot I vas horned out
of.

“ 011. indeed!” And then both Grace and
Randall joined in the comicality of the occasion.

“ Yes, m’am’zelle,” continued “Albert,” self-
complacently. “ My fadder was a gourier pevore
me, nut 20 was my seventeen brudders. You
zeo, 1 vas der youngest ofl’ der vamilv, unt,
gaming afder zo many oder boys, zat is vy I
nigt zo pig unt sdoud as zome oder vellers, ain’t
it

“You must be very well educated," inter-
posed Miss Grantby. “ to be able to escort
parties of so many different nationalities upon
their travels.”

“Barty goot all der dime,” replied Albert,
unctuoualy. “ but nod much gomhared to main

 

...__~_.._»_....b‘. M, ,_ ,_ .., ._., ,

brudder. I only speak nineteen modern lang-
, \

 

uages, pesides Hebrew, Arabic unt Zanscrit. He
is vamiliar init vifty-sigx.”

“ Why, he is away ahead of you!” laughed
Ada. “ Which one of your SeVellLrPll brothers is.
that who is So highly accomplished?”

“ He is der very devil, m’am‘zelle. Howcii‘ei‘,
dat ain’d nuddinas in bardiculai‘ for us vellci's,
der gouriers. Ve vouldn’t pe [Jody-servants,
like (lat Vreiich chap, Zbonny Grapeau yonder.”

Achille pretended to be extremely indignant
at this asru-rsion upon his nationality, and illcl't‘,
was another explosion of laughter, in which the
detective vouchsafed to join in his natural tom;
of voice.

“ But do you really think this masquerading is.
necessary, Carolus?” asked Ada, when compara-
tive quiet had been once again restored.
“ “Certainly, my dear .girl,” replied Magnus,

orI would not essay it. I am no fender of
going outside of my own character than you
yourself could be.”

“ And yet you say,” observed Randall, “ that
Bartlow is himself famous for the successful a»
sum ition of disguises.”

“ c has that reputation.”

“ VVouldn’t such a. man, then, be more apt,
uncommonly keen, in fact, to see through dis-
guise iii another?"

"It doesn’t follow as a matter of course, by
any means,” Magnns answered, thoughtfully.
“ indeed, at times it would seem quite to the
contrary. Jackson, the best ‘ character man "
on our home staff, for instance, is notoriously
more readily taken in by a fugitivecrizniuul who
is an adept at his own game than any detective
1 know of."

“ That seems strange.”

“It does so; but it is, nevertheless, rather

frequently the case, and it would prrhaps be.» ‘

hard to account for it. However, with regard
to myself and Achillo in the present case, there,
was literally no other course for us to pursue,
with any hope of our getting track of our man.
And that, too, notwithstanding the temporary
caging of Madame Renaud and her medical
friend, together with Monsieur Antoine still
likely to remain in prison for at least a fortnight
yet; which greatly lessens the chance of out”
movements being communicated to Bartlow in.
secret.”

“ The great ‘Monsieur Antoine is still likely to
remain in prison, you think?”

The disguised detective nodded a. complacent
affirmative.

At this juncture, however, the train was.
making its first stop at S—-—.

Then there was a warning “ Hist l” and
Magnus felt his arm seized by tho disguised
Achille, who was pointing through the window.

“The devil!” muttered the valet. “Look,
my dear master! It is he!”

 

CHAPTER XLII.
ran INTERRUPTION.

ACHILLE had particularized one mun—a rntlier'
seedin aristocratic-looking individual—among a.
number of others who had momentarily stepped.
off the train to stretch their legs on the station
platform during the brief retention.

Magnus gave an inward groan.

“Monsieur Antoine himself, as I live!" be ex--
claimed, in a. low voice of the hitterest disap—
P0iutment. “ What miserablelnck! Tue fellow
must have made his escape from Mums, and is
doubtless even now on his way to the frontier.”

The young ladies and Randall had hurried to
the window for a glimpse of-ihe celebrated
rogue, while Achille, more prach-alhhad opened
the door, and hopped out Of the train, In order
to keep track of him.

“ What a really distiiiguished-looking man!”
observed Grace, before the subject ot her l‘E—'
mark had quite disappeared from view, “ And
yet he looks shabby, no less than careworn.”

“ Tue cares of state, perhaps, combined with
the ingratitude of the proletariat,” suggested.
Ada, laughing. “ It costs something to be a
dethroned monarch, I suppose.”

Here the warning cry of “ All on board!” or
its equivalent in French was heard, and Achille
came tumbling back into the compartment just
as the tram began to pull out.

He nodded to Magnus with a somewhat hope--
less air, and then seemed to tie himself up in a
knot of conflicting and decidedly gloomy reflec-
tions as he resumed his seat.

“ My dear monsieur!” he murmured; “ the
great man has proved too much for us. He is
likewise booked for Brassels, doubtless with the,
express purpose of putting his brother-in-law on
his guard.” . ,

Magnus kniflod his brows, but did not reply
at once; and now the young ladies also began to
appreciate the gravity of the occasion. .

“But look here. Magnnsl" suddenly exclaim-
ed Randall, his face brightening; ‘fniayii’t the
rascal’s interposition be turned into an ad-
vantage, after all? Be is on his way to confer
with Bartlow, you think?” ,

“ There can be little doubt of it,” was the re-

ly. .
p “Well, if shadowed discreetly, what is to pre-
vent his leading you and Achille right into Bart—

 

10w’s place of hiding?” '
The detective shook his head, while Achille

I

 

 

 

.x s _ 

Air. .

 

I':‘

 

    

, , shruc‘gcd his shoulders to the same dampening
.3 ,sj-. eii‘ect, and yet more unmistakably.
“Thoroughbreds like Monsieur Antoine, the
King of the l’ickpockets, do not admit of being
shadowed,” replied Maguus. “ Not to be thought

 of. Waitannnute, hoiwvcr.” ‘ .
After a few moment's reflection, his brow
cleared, and he said, somewhat hopefully:

“There is but one chance of circumventing

5; this warning which the fellow is evidently bent

 0n conveying, and it isn’t altogether a brilliant
one. But itmust be taken.”

“W'hat is it?” demanded Randall.

“ The one thing in our favor is that Antoine
seems to be strapped for the time being. He is
without a dozen francs in his pocket, or my
judgment is at fault.”

i “ Goodl and what then?”

 

 

chance to pick a pocket on the train, so as to re-
lieve his supposed immediate necessmes before

 

 

 i i  we reach the Brussels station E”

I  “ ‘Vhy this fervency, my friend?”

__ f; 5,, 1 ‘“ Because there he must pick yours, .or we are
I,  , ‘ lost—our best chance gone for surprismg Bart-
, iii, , low, at all chnts.”

5,3 {I ltzindall stared, and then, beginning to under-
g.  ‘ stand, he burst into a laugh.

 «3;, “ Ahl” he said; “ the fellow must be forth-
"'  With iusnared into the clutch of the authorities

afresh, you mean?”

‘* Exactly.”

“ Well, I shall do my best topresent the neces.
.sary temptation."

“ It is a slender chance,” continued Magnus,

l“ but none other is left us, that I can see. Au-

toinc is not used to the practical or dirty work

of his profession, you understand, and he will
be apt to be yet more sly and Circumspect after
his experience of Salpetriere a d Mazas. Still,
.we must rely on the urgency f his present ue-
cessities, and take our chance."

. a “ But stay!” suddenly interposed Grace, slight-
ly paling. “ Mightn’t there be some danger at-

tending such an experiment for Randall? ‘I

have heard of the desperation of criminals when

unexpectedly detected in their wron ‘ «icing—-
fierce accesses ot‘ murderous rage and—”

" But the detective was shaking his head smil-

in‘gly, while’ Achille, with his handkerchief
i stuflfed in his mouth, seemed to be in a state of

min led suffocation and convulsions.

“ here will be no violence, my dear young
lady,” said Magnus, reassuringly. “.Set your
mind at rest. Certain criminals are Violent oc.

\ casionally, I grant you, but pickpockets never,
not even the person of their royalty.”
“ My o’bjoction to the experiment is on other
’ l - grounds, observed Ada, quietly.
 " . ,, Her lover looked at her in surprise.

r’ “. Is it morally right to offer a temptation to

crime under any circumstances!" she continued.

“ That is the only consideration with me."

The detective‘s flue eyes softened, and he be.
gun to be additionally proud of hi betrothed, il’

Zthat were possible; though with no intention
'whatever of putting her Simple Christian pro-
. 'cept into practice. i

* ‘ ‘ N t moral! right, most assuredly, my dear
, girl,” he repliei , gently. “save as nemesity con-
’ stitutes a law unto iteelf, which is more or less
inexorable in this work-afday and heathen world.
It may not be morally right to tempt the game
into thexfowler’s net, nor to delude the re no to
his own undoing—but the satisfaction 0 one’s
hunger and the suppressmn of crime must be
pursued just the some.”

. Ado smiled _ _ _
to urge her rather Quixotic pomt of morality
‘ ; an Jurthcr. _ __ I ‘
 .. be plan for entrapping Monmeur Antome

’ 0!».va simple, and everything was prmr—

nRedlong before their destination was reached,

“blob Wills nonunm late at night.

. One mighthavo expected the faithful (ax-rogue.
M00119? “have declined to join in it out of a

 , lingering sentimont of fidelity for his old—time
v' ‘ro aluhiq,“ , ‘ v .

“ti quite the 00an on this occasion at
least» he seemed m think that to play success-
fully such a game on hlsbamp majenty—to
trick the trickster—would be too tgood a joke to
lose, and to enter into it with inaccusmmed
. cheeriness and enthusxasm accordingly.

n » Both his master and he had taken the precau.
tiou todraw quite apart from the rent of the
party as the train was being emptied of in p”.
D!)

 “‘1‘ o ladies were therefore escorted along the
 brightlii-lighted platform as if in charge of
' oung. a
n the direction of_ the cab-stand about which

was the usual hustle and confusion.
_ Randall the oung women nervously waiting

by his sl e, p

x.

 

  

trunks.

  
    
 

His' doctor] was h ‘ng over his arm, and
. _‘ I attor- satistvlng the gig”, with a lf-oye on
" -. Monsieur ntoino,w, wumo‘fing boutsomo-

 what rostlessly and disoonsol‘atsly but a. short
‘  away. he flurrlodly got away the w -
fist, into i

‘ Manuel-i

s

  
  
  
  
   
 

anal-m
OI"

“ Well, Heaven grant that he doesn’t have a I

a little sadly, but did not venture

yoourt alone, while being conducted.

out his well-filled wallet to,
pay. the porter who was in charge of their

the tail- hat of I cumin, coo‘
poo ouchothisci

 

std randomly chum its

 

 Magnus, the ‘Weird V'Deltective.

 

 

2'7

 

“ Huck, there, back!” he vociferated to the
mob of shouting, whip-brandishing jelius beyond
the line. “ Back for the Hotel Royall”

Maguus, who with Achille was secretly ob—
servant of all, frowned and bit his lip.

To secure the wallet in a tail-pocket! Randall
was plainly overdoing the trick.

llowever, Monsieur Antoine, for all that, had
suddenly fallen directly in the wake of the trio,
with an especially “ lean and hungry look.”

The keen Touch Detective had not miscalcu-
lated in judging him to be on the verge of tem—
porary bankruptcy, and what. incentive exists
like the one to relieve one’s immediate necessi-
tics?

Then success! The bait was taken and the
cunning fish hooked.

Miss Grantby suddenly gave a sensational lit-
tle scream of—“ Look out, Randal], here is a
thief!" and the next iustunt Randall had his
fallen majesty by the collar, and was calling
loudly upon the police.

Mngnus smiled and rubbed his hands.

A Ki‘ndarme already had Monsieur Antoine in
custody, red-handml, the fat wallet still in his
felonious grasp, and he was forthwith hustlexl
n way to prison, disconsolately protesting his ab-
.‘lflltt-‘lnindd‘fdlltfiSs amid the jccrs of the crowd.

CHAPTER XLIlI.
AT BRUSSELS.

TWENTY minutes luu-i- the entire party, more
or less jubilant over the siicCess of their little
scheme, Were reunited at their hotel, where a
delightful private supper was being indulged in,
with Achille in waiting in lieu of a public
waiter, that they might enjoy the more perfect
freedom among themselves.

“ it is rather a clean job,” said Randall, who
was just returned from the police station,
whither he had gone to prefer the criminal
charge. “ The superintendent could scarcely
believe his good fortune at first in having ac-
tually made such a prize as that of the King of
the Paris Pickpockets himself. The entire police
force there was in a state of enthusiasm border-
ing on delirium.” '

“ A, big capture for Brussels!” commented
Magnus, Who had also been to the station. “ And
the best of it i that Antoine will be kept in
solitary confinement, and be permitted to re-
ceive no visitors until you get ready to appear
against him in court. The superintendent as-
sured me to that effect. However, he must have
thought oddly of me when I paid fora good sup-

r for tho rascal, and had it sent into his cell

mm the nearest restaurant on thespot."

“I am real] glad, you did that. Carolus,”
cried Ada. “ t was only fair under the cir—
cumstances, and I doubt not that the poor man
was really hungry.”

“ Well, he’s safely bottled up for the time be-
ing,” assented the detective, with much com-
placency. “ That is the principal thing to be
considered. Achille, fill up our glasses. This
dry champagne strikes me as being particularly
exoellent.‘ .

Achille, who, in addition to his dis uise, was
looking somewhat out of sorts, obey with his
,vaccustomed alacrity, and then, clapping to his
eyes the napkin which he should have kept
hanging over his left arm, he created quite a
sensation by bursting into tears.

“Bless usl” cried both the kind-hearted youn
lldios in a breath; “ what is the matter wit
you. Achille, poor man?” ' '

Randall was scarcely less astonished than they,
though the detective, understanding the nifalr
better, merely smiled a little seriously to himself,
as you might
“ ‘ bl? sob ,Mourier, with genuine distress;

you Will pardon me, I hope, ladies and gentle-
men,_but I——I really couldn t help it. Monsieur
Antonie hunsghry! Ah, Ishould say so; and to
think that I ould have assisted at this crowu-

 

ing disgrace for the poor, unhappy antlemunl _

lugrate wretch, treacherous villain t at 1 am!”

:‘ It is too had!” said Miss Maycourt, sympa-
thizingly. W '.

“But vou should take heart“, Achilledl 0b-
servad , lilies Granthy. ‘ “ The man can’t be
hungry Just new, you know. Didn’t you hear
Mr. Magnus say'that he had sent in a. good sup
per to him?”

“ Ah, that is nothing, mn’m’zelle,” re lied the
valet, somewhat morelcomposedly by t is time,
though still disconsolately. “The hung-er was
nothing: and as for the mpperJ—poufl what is
that to the disgrace?

“Brace up, old fellow!” put in Randalli “you ‘

weren’t responsible for the rascal’s being trap-

ped,,;ind shouldn’t be so but in your conscience:

over the uflair.” .. ,~
‘ “ Ah, (but it isn’t that either, monsieur " the
"valet continued to complain. “(lonsciencel
Pout-a breath, a sentiment, a gowmer, nothing

more!” . , .,
“‘What, in the deuce ails you, than?” cried
of it for him. monsieurl"

Randall, la hing.

‘lllat’dsghliille, ' di tl h ‘
we c in an at with a 'n
sob. “. Monsieur Agatha  t, theatng

   
     
 
   
     
  
  

 

 

   

table to fur animal: It oi .mu  . .
'gamsq'tlgtipegmfir " 

 

   
  
   
  
    
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
    

Then they all laughed out unrestrainedly, and ii;
there was no further sympathy wasted over
the fresh misfortune of the King of the Pick—
pockets. .1;

Bright and early on the following morning, 
the detecnve, still in his courier disguise, as a
matter of course, made his appearance at No.

97 Rue d’Artois.

It was a close, ill-smelling, but doubtless in
its day a more than respectable street, in a
rather disreputable quarter of the city, made up
of a tangled network of lanes, alleys, cul—du-sncs ,
(blind alleys) and sinister courts, a little back of
the theaters, and in the malodorous vicinity of
the Mechliu Canal—just the sort of a locality,
in fact, that would be most likely chosen by a
rich fugitive from justice, desirous of keeping
himself shady amid the thl'OIlg‘cd dwellings of
humanity.

For this very reason, however, Magnus did
not regard the locality very hopefully.

It was rather too convenient for conceal-
meat, in fact, and on that account might be
given a wide berth by a man of Bartlow’s vete-
ran experience.

He, however, announced himSelf, of course.
fictitiously, at the entrance, and made Certain
guarded inquiries of the old concierge, or house-
porter, vi ho responded to his summons.

The man seemed to be rather honest, though
sufliciently guarded on his own part, doubtless
from long ass<x~iation with doubtful and more
or less “ scaly ” humanity.

“The gentleman you describe was here but
for a day and a night, monsxcur,” said the per-5
ter, in reply to the first inquiry, “but he then»
went away Without notification, and has not.
since appeared. Hem'as not, however, known
by the name you mention.”

“How did he call himself?" asked Magnus;
who had inquired for a Monsieur Brunier on a
hazard.

“The gentleman was a Monsieur Bartholo—r 
mew while here,” was the reply, with some

    
       
     
     
   
       
     
     
     
     
     
     
       
       
     

 

    
 

reluctance, which, however, was speedily elimo
inated by a judicious tip. “We saw almost.
nothing of him, but the gentleman was as you.
describe—large, gracious, florid and nobleolook-
in .”

g‘ I am greatly disappointed,” said the detec-
tive. “And so would the gentleman himself
be, if he should return and find that he had 2
missed a messenger from a certain Monsieur”
Antoine, of Paris, one of his most particular ,
friends.”

” Monsieur’s disappointment is to be regret—
ted,” returned the concierge, politely. “ I 3;
wish I could help him, but am nnahleto do so”?

“ Why did ‘I not obtain the fellows presmt.
alias from that messenger?” said Maguus to.
himself. “ Ab,I did everything in a hurry
during that last hour of mine in Mazes !” ‘ . t

Then a thought suddenly occurred tohiin,.-
and he once more addressed (the porter. ,

“ Stay!" said be. “This Monsieur Barthel» .
omew, did he not have a servant with him It.
happens that an old acquaintance of min ,an",
Alsatian .or Swiss, I think,” as the man begun "
to shake his head, “ serVed this gentleman 1 am.
seeking in the capacity of valet, or something: .«
of the sort.” »

“ There was some such person who came new.
first to secure the lodgings for the gentleman.”;‘

“ Ab, and he gave his name as Alphonsé—" . a

“ Alphonse Gruner, yes, monsieur.” '

“That. is it! And new think, lbegoi'y ,;
my friend: did not this man speak of his in r4
as Herr-Gri cannon?” . y,

The name, or alias. obtained from the 
merized messenger, had occurred to him at last,

“No, monsieur, but only as Monsieur Bar-v
tholomew. But monsieur can step. upstairs, if.
he will, and look at the rooms thus paidliforgf
briefly Occupied and strangely deserted.” 

        
       
       
     
       
         
   
       
     
       
       
     
           
    

a

 
     
     
       
     
       
     
    
 

   
 
 

      
 
     
 
  

   
           
 

 

’ l

    
 

\
CHAPTER XLIV.‘ \

“A ocssrnss‘s as a.”

Tim detective hesitated an ins at, suspecti
a possibletra ; then he politely thanked 
rter and ‘fol wed him up the stairs of the

Ed lug-house. . ‘ '
he rooms two in number, were 0n the fifth
floor, and lainly furnished, but a brief cute-n

nmination ailed toproduce the least trace
their recent occupant, who had mysteriouilly
deported, together with his personal luggage
which was scanty, the concierge d red,,n
about dusk of the previous evening. ' / V '
 .From this information, it seem thatBa,
law must ave uitted Scissous or 
much earli than had intended, according to-
music been extracted from his mom ‘ at;

s.

. , 1W » \
However it was sumciently evident 
nothing win. to, so made out of‘ the specified
house in the Rue d’ Artois, and Kaunas seconds
ingly took his departure, feeling greatly tallied
and dissatisfied. , I , x
He banned the quarter for the entire remain-
dot-of thesis .. Whigs his inquiries with
caution-and seas that he beat W

 
     
   
  

   
   
   

  
  
 
  
     

      
  

   
  

      
   
   

 
 
 
 

  
   
 
  
        
 
  

 
 
      
 
  
  
     
   

    
   
 
     
      

    

    

. a dare

how to exercise, but'with no better result.

7‘ , TQM dusk, mover. he met Annular
I .  pi

      
 
   

    
  
 

 

 

tmouf tiuiasmnll,“ ,  ling.

  

  
 

 

. Magnus

 .iiw‘ ’i'r“." "«i"

. .ehi .x, ....~ .3 _. "s-- ..a.... .' a.
* . , I’m-V"!  V .,

affidamwwbnt- .l
 ‘ ., w

 

 

     
     
    
  
   
    
  
   
   
  
  
      
    
  
  
 

fulness in the faithful fellow’s face that was

good to see.

“ Any luck?” demanded the detective, whose
own despondency sufficiently betrayed itself be—
yond the need of question.

“ Only half luck,” was the reply.

“ What do ou mean by that?”

“ Eh, well, ’ve found out some one, monsieur.”

“ Not our man, eh?”

. “ No, but perhaps his man.”
i , “ How?”

" “ That messenger to Monsieur Antoine in

Mums."

“ Huh! the fellow Alphonse Gruner?”

“ So he gave his name to you, I believe. Yes,
then; but it is a chance if we make anything out
of the rascal, monsieur. But come with me, if
you would have a glimpse of him.”

He conducted Magnus to a crowded little cafe,
or wine room, of the poorer class, where the
man Gruncr, sure enough, was found installed as
One of the waiters.
. '4,’ “Good!” commented the detective, as, secure

' ’ ‘in their disguise, they seated themselvos at one
of the tables. “ It is something, at all events—a
reen spot in 0. (insert. I am your guest for an
our, ‘ Jean.’ Catch the fellow’s eye and order
some wine.”

This was done, but with little effect toward
the great end in view; the wine being pnrticu~
.larly sour and detestable, and the waiter too
busy to be made much out of, without attract-
ing an undue share of attention.

‘I may have to mesmerize the chap again,
should the opportunity occur,” said Magnus, in
a. low voice, when Alphonse had hopped away to

'-other tables in the course of his duties. “ In the

~mean time, one or the other of us must keep him

‘ , under constant espionage. There is no other

.  chance of his leading us upon our lost clcw.”

 ' “ But you might come later, monsieur, when
the place is less crowded,” suggested Achille.
"‘ There may be an Opening for the exercise of
your black art by then. In the mean time I
shall make out to get some sort of a dinner here,
and keep the fellow thoroughly under my eye
generally.” "

i  Magnus assented to this, and accordingly re—

‘5. ' turned to the hotel, to report his ilbsuccess to his

 friends.

There was still no encouragement await-
ing him when he sought Achille at the little cafe
several hours later.

The valet had merely learned that the man
:Gru nor had been newly employed there as waiter
on the preceding day, and he had even struck
I upa certain acquaintance with the fellow, ap-
" , ’pal'ently Without exciting his suspicions, but
r‘equally without extracting anything from him
’"0f the slightest bearing upon his connection with
- “ Herr Grossman,” bras to the latter’s where.

outs.
“ What shall you do, monsieur?” inquired the
'yalet.

“Make an essay of my ‘black art,’ as you
call it. The place here seems conveniently dc-
sSerted, or nearly so, and yonder is a curtained
recess, or private sniper-room, but may an-
:s'wer my purpose. V hile I slip into it for a
‘ few moments, do you engage the man in con-
.yersation over a last bottle of this sour Bur-
:gundy, which be may find more to his taste than
we can.” '

This was accordingly done. but an insuperable
and wholl unexpected difficulty presented it-
:wa to the ulflllment of the detective’s purpose.
The exercise of the mesnieric gift, howsoever
,‘strongly and inherently possessed, is often at~
tended by the most capricious and contradictory
conditions.
on, this occasion, the man Gruner, who had
i raved sosnsceptibleor “ impressionable ” in the

armor instance, was now as recalcitrant and
rtespdnsivo as a man of' wood.

In vain Magnus put forth the exertion of his
will—power to the- utmost tension in order to
draw. the fellow to him and. under his influence,
.from' the little cabinet in which he had con-
weealed himself; the intended subject simply con-

‘iiued to uzzle his sour wine at the no ess dis.
_ dad v et’s expense, and when the detective
reap red, looking pale, haggard and baffled
he mply greeted h m with a stupid nod, and
Walked away in response to a summons from

he cafe roprietor who was about to close up
theplace or the nig t.

i» ‘- ‘ To make a long story shorter, it remains but
A say just here that the unavailing quest was
fill up seclulousl . for three more days and
. mgehouflt the least g immer 0f encouragemeht or
u ..

v At last the watch was even drawn of? from
be cafe waiter, and the detective: who‘was
showing the nervous‘strain and brooding disap
pointmeut to which he had been subjecting him-

, ,, at last yielded to Ada’s entreatiestodis-
so the entire matter, at least temporarily,
, in his mind, and share in the innocent sight.
magenta -

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

   
  

   

  
   

 
   

  

  

 
 
  

  

ymtggt fill: his friends. h

. pres ere was a a change,
 le'ast expected, and almost will”; 'piece of
ms or so, ing littlng and errant is the
«over ingot ‘ hence, Acci ant, Fate, or by what-‘
. vernsme we can best designate the potent forv

 
 

  
    

CHAPTER XLV.
- DENOUEMENT.

IT was in the Rue de Waterloo, one of the
busiest and liveliest thoroughfares of the Bel-
gian capital, and on as bright, liughing a sum-
mer morning as can well be conceived, when
half the work-a-day world seemed to be pick-
nickjng, and the other half meditating an imita-
tion of its example.
The young ladies of the party, under Randall’s
escort, and with the faithful Aclnlle in dutiful
attendance, were crossing the trottoir, or side—
walk, from the doors of a fashionable bazaar,
where they had been making some purchases, to
their hired Victoria in waiting for them at the
curb, when a sudden exclamation from Magnns
attracted their attention to win-re he had taken
up a rather listless post of random observation
a short distance away.

The latter had, in fact, just been passed by a
maii——ostonsibly a beggar or tramp, of powerful
but bowed and generally sorry-looking figurin—
whom he did not remember to have ever seen be-
fore.

Suddenly, however, the detective experienced
one of his rare premonitory thrills, or intima-
tions, like it vague flash or gleam, and by an
impulse or inspiration that was altogether un-
controllable, he started after the man, calling
out loudlyr‘z

“ llo there, Jacques! Jacques Manned"

Tho mun stopped as if suddenly stabbed in the
back, and then wheeled in his tracks, erect,
powerful, quivering, his eyes ablaze with
mingled astonishment and panic.

It was the robber-murderer, Burtlow or Arms--
dale, of the many alias-cs, at last!

Followml by Achille, as u j ickal in the lion’s
Wuke, Magnus precipitated himself headlong up-
on the villain, with a fierce, triumphant about.

But Bartlow’s pause of surprise had been for
a second’s duration onlv: then he was oil“, '(lai't-
ing across the wide cquipage—thi‘onged thorough-
fare like a madman. r

His pursuers, however, were hot upon his
track, there being a brief, furious chase, to the
imminent danger of lifi? and limb for one andull.

It was a terrible struggle in and out the tangle
of wheels and horses’ legs; amid the yells of Amb-
inen, hack-drivers, imtersuind amazwlpnlodlccrs;
both Ada and Grace having come to a sudden
and frightened stop midway between their car-
riage and tliesliop-(loors, while Randall, being
e ually iloth to leave them and-wildly interest-
ell in the chase, could only stare and wait
breathlessly. ' '
Suddenly Ada gave a sharp cry, and. graspin
Grace’s arm, pointed through the roaring whir
{if the arrested street traffic with a trembling

and.

“ Look 1" she faltered. “ Carolus~Achille—-—one
of them is down! Ah, the i‘ufilanly giant—they
will all be killed!”

The cause of her immediate excitement was
this: Bartlow had suddenly Confronted his
pursuei‘s in the middle of the highway. causing
them momentarily to blench before a resump-
tion of that ferocious, diabolical aspect which
had more than once stood him in good stead
when desperately cornered or brough to bay,
and it seemed as though half-a-dozen iously
driven or but partly restrained equipage-teams
were converging in an inextricable snarl on the
spot at the same instant.

But it was only for an instant: when Achille
darted forward. his bod half-bent and, halfJ
sprawling, clutched the g ant b the cg.
Magnus was after him like a it from a gun,
something glistening and jingling in his left
hand, and simultaneously out from the shoulder
and crash between the eyes flew his trained fist-
blow, nrrowy, piston-like and unerring to its
selected. mark. ‘

. There was a last desperate struggle, and when
the rugged giant was seen to throw his arms
aloft, they Were bound together’with gleaming
shackles at the wrist—«doubtless this time of such
strength and design as to resist evfn his hercu-
lean wrench to twist them apart. '

Then the horses’ heads were thrust back, the
crowd surged out through the plunging mass
there was a confused, billowy movement, as of
something bein torn from under beating boots
and grinding w eels, and for another moment
everything was hidden from the view of the two
pallid girls and their escort still standing by the
open carriage door.

Then, as there was a movement'of the mob
back to the sidewalk—suggestive of a life-saving
crew forcin their way back to shore after a
struggle wit the stormy sea—it was Randall
alone who shouldered his way through it, after
insisting upon the young women entering the
carriage out of harm’s way.

It was a memorable and tragic sight that was
revealed to him-the group of three that formed
the dramatic center of that our ing mob.

It consi of the co uer giant, stunned,
bleeding, his head bow on, his breast, the’
shackles on his wrists. and already with several
burly policemen pushing their way from differ-
‘ent quarters to take himinto formal custody;
and of Ms nus, the detective, standing over
him, pale, com , , and yet with s pitying
e pend pi

 

    

, i the 'Weird Detective.

agreeably. were residing in affluence and

his feet—which was nothing more nor less than
all that was left of hapless Achille Mourier
thief, rogue and faithful servant, quite dead, and
with both skull and breast-bone smashed in by
the cruel, pOunding iron-shod horses’ feet, from
under which his lifeless remains had been
dragged. '

The long chase was ended at last, with the
master-criminal in the law’s reuiorseless clutch,
and ploorAchiile in the more honorable embrace
of a sterner but more pitying power.

CHAPTER XLVI.
CONCLUSION.

017R intricate story-skein is at last wholly un-
raveled, and nothing remains but to bring the
flying and perhaps somewhat ragged ends har-
niouiousl y together in the conclusive wind-up
knot.

The criminal Bartlow, or Armsdale, of the
many aliases and numberless misdeeds. unexpect-
edly brought them all to an end by a graceful
act that might almost be viewed as in the nature
of a reparation, in small part.

He was so considerate and oblizing as not only

have hanged himself in his prison cell on the
third morning following his arrest—but also to
leav’e a written memorandum, whereby the
entire money which he had carried off from the
vault of the Mount Kernon Bank was recovered,
with the exception of about six thousand dollars.

The amount recovered was over ninety-three
thousand dollars, in American cash or the equiva-
lent, so that the Weird Detective had not been
far out of the We in his first rough estimate as
to the size of the lump-sum appropriated.

There was also, in the memorandum, a brief
confession as tq the writer’s identity with the
Jacques Maline of the heretofore Boisg‘omont
mystery, as it had been called, but with no
particulars of the crime vouchsafed, and not a
word with regard to his wife nor of his past
criminal career.

Poor Achillo Mourier received an honorable
burial in the Pore la Chaise cemetery of his be
loved Paris, and there were honest tears of
regret over his fate.

The King of the Pickpockets served a term in
a Brigian prison, and then quite unnccountably
disappeared; and as Madame Renaud, on living
releaScd from imprisonment at about the same
time, or somewhat earlier-rtliere being no for-
mal charge made against her—likewise per-
formed the vauishing act with perfectsucr-ess, it
was merely Supposed that she might hays joined
her brother in-some distant region.

The tourist party returned to Paris, after ‘a
fortnight’s absence, to find Mr. Gruntby almost
thoroughl y restored to his normal rugged hen lth,
so efficient had been the careful nursing by Mrs.
Maycourt, doubtless assisted not a little by the
good news from Brussels, respecting the capture
of‘ the fugitive cashier and the subsequent res
covery of the stolen bank funds.

The travelersthen made the grand tour of the
continent at their leisure” am, returning finally
to Paris, homeward bound, there was, shortly
before the ensuing Christmas, a triple wedding
at the American legation, which could not fall
of making a certain agreeable sensation in the
Social world.

Ada Maycourt and Carolus Mugnus were
united in the bonds of wedlock on the same day

heiress-beauty, Grace Grantby, for his wedded
“"9. and the Mount Kernon banker, “Monsieur
le financier,” as poor Achille had called him
was duly and happily made fast to a secon 1
wife in the person of the forgivmg and still at-
tractive Madeleine of his early love. . 0'
"Well, there certainly should be satisfaction
all round,” Grace observed gayly to her young
husband soon after the rather extraordinary
iving and taking in marriage on that memora-
Ele occasion “Papa should never complain of
the son-in-lawl have brought to him, when I am
so complacently content with the step-mother
that he has so considerater provided for me;
and if I have lost a mere friend, 1 have gained a.
sister-in-law, in‘ Ada, while all of us should be
equally proud of having included in our hymeneel
complications the great detective, without whose
shrewdness, and heroism, to say nothing of his
mysterious occult powers, our comb and
overflowing happiness would’scnrcely‘huve been
a possibility.” , ‘ '
Ma nus received such a good round sum as his
indiv dual reward for the recovery of ‘the ban}!
funds that, at the earnest solicitation of both his

6 lo nt in the New YorkClearing House”
fling? obtained for him chiefl y on the repu-
tation of his last great detective ex loit, the
history of which isembodied in the oregomg
narrative. \ -
At last accounts, Ada and he were most hap-
pily and comfortably domesticated in Harlem
with two beautiful little ones—a little Randall
ands little Madeleine, respectively—as the l ht.
of their hearthstone; wh lo the other con es,
whose union has served to round oi! our story: K

 

 

 

‘ Mfume hat is so inextricably interwoven.
3009s. our actions  cal-lives. i 

   

l

7 and fore poor. crushed, mo-

 

ready past help at» ,

 

 

tentment in Mount Kernon. , i
was: mm.‘ .

4

 

v_‘~1,:'

 

 

.q ,i

   

to take his own miserable life—being found to',

that Randall Maycourt took unto himself the ,

bride and his mother-in-law. be decided to give ,:~
up detective work 1'0? 3 much more pmflmble 

  

 fict.gq¢onw M1 saw  * A V'-

 

 
 

 

            
 

 

        
        
   
         
        
       
     
      
     
     
     
        
        
   
   
     
          
          
       
      
 
       
        
       
        
          
        
      
    
     
        
        
         
       
       
  
        
        
     

 

      
     
       
        
       
        
     
        
       
       
     
        
     
    
     
 
  
  
  

 
       
 

  

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“fin, .

‘Y’ 2‘... j"

 

 

._ .1;

 4.3m. '

5 5. ‘ Published Every Wednesday. Each Iawe Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

r

 

l A Hard Crowd; or, Gentleman Sam's Sister. By
Philip S. Warne.

s The Dare-Devil; or, The Winged Witch of the
’ - Sea. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

t Kit Carson J r., the Crack Shot of the West By
Buckskin m.

I in The Kidna r; or. The Great Shanghai of the
NonhwesthBy Philip S. Warne.

6 The Fire-fiends; or, Hercules the Hunchback.
By A. P. Morris.

0 Wildcat Bob, the Boss Bruiser- or, The Border
Bloedhounds. By Ed. L. Whee er.

7 Death-Natch the Destroyer; or, The Spirit Lake
Avengers. By 01! Coomes.

The Headless Horseman. A Stran 0 Sta of
Q Texas. By Capt. Mayne Reid.’ 8 r,

. 0 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover.
.' , lo moot}, the French Police Spy. Written by him-

 

 

11 Midshipman Easy. By Capt. Marryat.

12 The Death-Shot; or, Tracked/ to Death. By
Capt. Mayne Reid.

18 Pathaway: or, Nick Whimes, the Old Trapper
of the Northwest. By Robinson.

14 Thayendanegea, the Sea ; or. The War Eagle
01 the Mohawks. By Ned untllne.

. 15 The Tiger-Sis er; or, Eagle-Head to the Rescue.
By Gustave mard.

ill The White Wizard; or, The Great Prophet of the
Seminoles. By Ned Buntline.

17 Nl (shade, the Robber Prince of Hounslow
He‘ahth. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen 0!
Ned Buntline.

:9 Red Cedar, the Prairie Outlaw. By Gustave
Aimard.

elm, «Min, .1.

 

,- ., at"... .-....,. Mn..- N...
< . f"

the Isle. By

 

so The Bandit at Bay' or, The Pirates of the Prai-
ries. By Gustave ard.

21 The Trapper’s Da hter; or, The Outlaw’s Fate.
By Gustave Aim .

a Whitelew; or, Nattie of the Lake Shore. By Dr.
J. H. mm n.

88 The Red Wa 'or- or. Stella Delmore‘s Comanche
Lover. By Ned Buntline.

34 Prairie Flower. By Gustave Aimard. author of
f‘ Tiger-Slayer," etc.

a The Gold-Guide; or, Steel Arm the Regulator.
By Francis Johnson.

as The Death-Track; or, The Outlaws of the Moun-
tain. By Francis JohnSon.

"7 The Spotter-Detective' or, The Girls of New
York. By Albert W. en.

as T1 *e-Fin ered Jack. the Road-
Rrigkies- ogr, The Boy Miner 01
Joseph is. Badger, Jr.

19 Tiger Dick, the Faro King: or, The Cashier‘s
Crime. By Philip S. Warne. I

to Goa lGeorge; or, Fiery Fred the Outlaw.I By
Josng E. Badger, r. ’ .

31 T -e New York ‘ Sharp;' or. The Flash of Light-

! nlug. By Albert W. Aiken.

12 8'91!) s of little or, The Scrapes or a Hard so;
of Cgllegians. ’By John D. Vose.

5-1 Overland Kit; or, The Idol of White.Pine. By
C" Albert W. Aiken.

94 Rock Mountain Bob, the California. Outlaw' ‘or,
The igilantes ol'. Humbug Bar. By A. W. cm,

_ u . , l
_‘.i'  ~15 Kentuck the Sport; or, Dick Talbot at the:
u ~ ~ :3 « times. By A. W. Aiken. _
 38 1 Dick; or, The Death-Shot of Shasta By
A ert W. Aiken. I

.17 lel. the Hunchbaur- or, Th 8 ordmaker of
the Santos. By Dr. J.’ H. Boblet

_‘ 38 Velvet Hand; or. The n Grl Di k.
' v“ . By Albert W. Aiken/yo . p 0: mun c

g. 39 The Russian Spy' or, The Brothers of th Starry
om”. By Capt. ’Frrderlclr Whittaker. e

g "‘ .0 The Lon -Haired ‘ Pards;‘ or, The Tartar-i of the

nt of the
Luck. By

 

 

Plains. y Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

41 id Bar or, The White Savage
Salt me! By Albert w. Aiken.

‘a. n The California Detective; Or, The Witches of
' New York. ByAlbert W.Aiken.

‘13 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ranger; or, the Bee-
Hunten‘ Excursion. By 011 Coomes.

i4 Old Dan Baekback, the Great Exterminator;
or, The Trianglc’s Last Trail. By 011 Ooomes.

‘ to Old Bull‘s Eye. the hininngotoi'thePlains.
"’ By Joseph in. 3.4;?

of the Great

 

. r.

a?  as Beagle-Knife Ben  vHunter otthe Bar'-
.’ ‘. w ' or TheExlles o M

at Shadows.

Cm Pete. the
JetEWJr.

a  . X \

Prlneeetthelovoln. By

 

81 The Human

 

48 Idaho Tom, the YouélvglOutlaw of Silverland; or,
The Hunters or the d West. By Oil Uoomes.

49 The Wolf Demon; or The Queen of the Kanawo
ha. By Albert W. Aiken.

50 Jack Rabbit, the Prairie Sport; or The Wolf
Children of the Llano Estacado. By J08. E.
Badger, Jr.

51 Red Bob, the Boy Road-Agent. By Oil Coomes.
52 Death Trailer, the Chief of the Scouts; or, Life

and Love in a Frontier Fort. By Hon. Wm. F.
Cody (Buflalo Bill).

58 Silver Sam' or, the M sic of Deadwood Cl .
By 001. Belle Sara. y U W

54 Alwa s-on-Hand; or, The Sportive Sport of the
Foot ' ls. By Philip S. Warner .

55 The Scalp-Hunters. A Romance of the Plains-
By Capt. Mayne Reid.

56 The Indian Mazeppa' or The Mad Man of the
Plains. By Albert W. en.

57 The Silent Hunter- or, The Scowl Hall Myst .
By Percy B. St. John. or,

58 Silver Knife; or, Wicklliife, the Rocky Mountain
Ranger. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

59 The Man from Texas; or, The Outlaw of Ar-
kansas. By Albert W. Aiken.

60 Wide Awake, the Robber King; or, The Idiot of
the Black Hills. By Frank Dumont.

61 Saptain Seawaif, the Privateer. By Ned Bunt-
ne.

62 Loyal Heart; or, The Trappers of Arkansas.
By Gustave Aimard. 1

63 The Win ed Whale; or, Red Rupertof the Gulf.
By Albe W. Aiken. '

64 Double Sight the Death Shot; or, The Outlaw of
the Chaparra . By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

65 The Red Ra‘ah: or. The Scourge of the Indies.
By Captain rederick Whittaker.

66 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the Pacific. By
Captain Mayne Reid.

67 The Boy Jocke " or, House? versus Crooked.
ness. By step .Badger, r.
68 The Fightln Trap r; or. Kit Capon to the
cue. Bngapt. .F. C. Adams.

60 The Irish Captain. A Tale of Fontenoy. By
Captain Frederick Whittaker.

7Q H dmbad, the Strangler; or, Alethe, the Child
0 the Cord. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

71 Captain Cooerlade; or, The Man Shark of the
Mississippi. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

72 The Phantom Hand' or, The Heiress of Fifth
Avenue. A Story 0 New York Hearths and
Homes. By A. W. Aiken.

78 The Knights of the Red Cross- or. The Magician
of Granada. By Dr. J. H. R0 inson.

74 Caan of the Rifles; or. The Queen of the
La es. A Romance of the Mexican Valley. By
Captain Mayne Reid.

75 Gentleman George: or, Parlor Prison Stage and
Street. By Albert W. Aiken.‘ '

W The ueen‘s Musketeer' or,.Thisbe, the Princess
Palm st. By George Albany.

77 The Fresh of 'FriscO' or. The Heiress of Buena-
ventura. By Albert 'W. Aiken.

78.The Mysterious S ; or Golden Feather, the
Buccaneer’s Dang ter. By A. M. Grainger.

79 Joe" Phenix, . '.
Aiken. the Police Spy By Albert W

so A Man of

N : h D .
Philipsllw ogre or,Caliban,te wart By

Albert W. Ameinger: or,  Heart of Fire: By

82 Iron Wrist, the Swordmaster.
H. Monetery.

83 Gold Bullet 900‘.
Mud. By Bugalgmi’z' The Knllhtl 0f the Overs

84 Hunted Dawn' 0 Th Leas-n Three.
Albert w. Alke’n. r’ ° ° °t 3’

85 The Cretan ver; or, z lelk Beam
By Col. Prelfi‘fss lngrahal‘lll. ‘h’ the m

88 The B Hunter. or The f w
By theigauthor of l‘b ent Hanna)? the m

87 The Searlet Captain; or, The Page of c
Tower. By Col. Dent; Sara. a” h.

3 .’Bi Gnome, the Giant of the Gulch- or The Five
'Ou‘tlaw Brothers. By Joe. E. Badgér, Jr.

in The Pirate Prince' or. Pretty Nell the sen
otthe Isle. By Col. Prentfls  Q“

00 Wild Will, the Mad Ranchero; or, The Terrible
Texans. By Buckskin Sam.

91 The Winnin Oar' or. The lnn-keeper‘s De h-
ter. By Albge us

By Col. Thomas

rt W. Aiken.

03 Buflalo Bill. the Buckskin King: or TheAmalon
of the West. By Major Dangerfield Burr.

0 Captain Dick Talbot,
Black-hoods oi Shasta. y Albert W

\

 

of theBosdi owns

94 Freelance, the Buccaneer;
Wave. By Col. Prentiu

95 Azhort, the Axman; or, The Secrets of the Ducal
Palace. By Anthony P. Morris. 5

or, The Wall of the
Ingraham.

so Double-Death; or. The Spy Queen of Wyoming‘
Whl er. ‘

By Lapt. Fred. ttak

97 Bronze Jack, the California Thoroughbred: or,
The Lost City of the Basaltio Buttes. By A]
bert W. Aiken.

as The Rock Ride"? or. The Spirit at the Siam By-
Capt. Frederick Whittaker.

09 The Giant Rifleman; or, Wild Life in the Lumber
Regions. By 011 Coomes.

1(1) The French Spy; or, The Bride 0: Paris. By
Anthony P. Morris.

101 The Man from New York; or. The Romance”
a Rich Young Woman. By A. W. Aiken.

102 The Masked Band; or, The Man Without a Name.
By George L. Aiken.

1m Merle. the Mutineer: or. The Brand of theBeO
Anchor. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. '

104 Montezuma, the Merciless: or, The Eagle .116
the Serpent. By Col. P. lngraham.

105 Dan Brown of Denver, the Rocky Mountain De-
tective. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.

106 Shamus O’Brien. the Bould Boy of Glingal:
or, Irish Hearts and Irish Homes. By 001. Dell.

107 Richard Talbot of Cinni'bar; or. The Brothers d
the Red Hand. By A. W. Aiken.

MB The Duke of Diamonds; or, The Flewer of m
outta. By Captain Frederick Whittaker.

1m Ca tain Kyd, the King of the- Black ' or
'rbg Witch of Death Castle. By Col. 11:135....“

110 The Silent Rifieman. By H. W. Herbert.
111 The Smuggler Captain; or, The Skipper’s Crime-
By Ned Buntline.

112 Joe Phenix, Private Detective; or. The League
of the Skeleton Keys. By A. W. Aiken.

118 The Sea Sli r; or, The Amateur Freebootere.
By Prof. J. . Ingraham.

114 The Gentleman from Pike; or, The Ghost of the»
Canyon. By Philip S. Warne.

115 The Severed Head; ’or The Secret of Castle
Coucy. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

116 Black Plume. the Devil oi' the Sea; or, The
Sorceress of Hell Gate. By Col. P. Ingraham.

117 Dashing Dandy. the Hotspur of the Hills; or.
the Pony Prince’s Stlange Pard. By Major
Dangerfield Burr.

118 The Burglar Captain; or, The Fallen Star. By
Prof. J. H. Ingraham.

119 Alabama Joe; or, the Yazoo Man-Hunters. By
Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

120 The Texan Spy; or, The Prairie Guide.
Newton M. Cu iss.

121 The Sea Cadet;
By Col. Prentiss

122 San] Sabberday. the Idiot Spy; or, Luliona, the
Seminole. By Ned Buntline.

or, The Rover of the Rigolettl.
Lngraham.

3,.

123 Alapaha, the Squaw- or, The Renegades othhe
Bord .‘l -

er. By Francis ohnson.

124 Assewaum, the Avenger; or, The Doom
Destroyers. By Francis Johnson.

125 The Blacksmith Outlaw; or, >Merry England.
By on Alnsworth.

18The Demon Duelist; or.The league at Steel.
By Col. Thomas Boyc- lionstery. I

117 Sol Scott. the Masked mner- or, M Rowe's
Double. By Joe. E. Badger-“1’15 ,

18 The Chevalier Corsair; or, The Heritage 0!
Hatred. By the author of " Merle, the on.
near." -

129 Mississippi Mom; or. A Strong Man's Sacrifice.
By Edward Willett.

otthe

no Ca n VolcanO'
vergfuBy/A. w. Al

181 Buckskin Sam. the Texas Trailer; or. The Ban-
dits of the Bravo. By Col. P. Ingraham. ,

13 Nemo. King of the Trampe' or the Roman,
Girl’s Venzeenoe By Capt. N Whittaker.

, the Rover, the Ribbonman of Ireland. By
an Carleton.

184 Darkie Dan the Colored Detective-
Mishsippi Mystery. By 001. P. Ingraha

18 The Bush Ran or or, The Half-Breed Brigade}
By Francis Johgnsdn. ‘

188

no The Outlaw-Hunter; or, Red John. up Bun
 By FrancisJohnson. .

18'? Beard, the mint ‘ or. In Harm
the lvlld Boy otthe Woosy'ay on

18 TheBorderBandits; or,TheHorse-Th_lersm
Byl‘nncisJohnson.

.I‘lre-lye,‘ the See or he use. fl '-
Bueesness.  ’ {-

s.

or. The Man of the Red Bevol- "
ken. ‘

".
l

or, The i
m. _

eV

vi;

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I

 

  

MOTheThreeSpaniards. DyGeo.W

ll Equinox Tom. the Bully of Bed Rock; or, Dan
Brown’s Masterstroke. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

‘3 Captain Crimson, the Man of the Iron Face; or
The Nemesis or the Plains. By Maj. Dangerfield

148 The Czar’s S ' or The Nihilist League. B
Col. T. H. Moxifiéry.’ y
:44 Ehe Hunchback lot NotreLDsme. By Victor
neo-

445 Pistol Bards; or, Soft Hand. the Silent Sport
from Cinnabar. By Wm. R. Eyster.

“I The Doctor Detective; or, The Mystery of the
Golden Coma. By George Lemuel.

“I Go! Spur, the Gentleman from Texas; or. The

(1
Child of the:Reglment. B Colonel Prentiss
Ingraham. y

'56 One-Armed Alf, the Giant Hunter oi the Great
Lakes By Oil Coomes.

I49 The Border Rifles. By Gustave Aimard.

1.150 rill Rubio Bravo, King of the Swordsmen; or.
The Terrible Brothers of Tabasco. By Col.
Thomas Hoyer Monstery.

1151 The Freebooters. By Gustave Aimard.

are Captain Ironnerve the Counterfeiter Chief' or.
‘11;th Gypsy Queen 5 Legacy. By Mann uke
.ey.

, 153 The White Scalper. By Gustave Almard.
154 Joaquin, the Saddle King. By Joe. E. Badger.

I 855 The Corsair Queen; or. The Gypsies of the Sea.
_ By Col. Prentiss Ingraharn.

156 ’Velvet Face the Border Bravo; or Muriel, the
Danlte's Bride. By Maj. Dangerfleid Burr.

1W Mom-ad, the eluke; or. The Three Sword-
masters. By Co . Thomas H. Monstery.

‘168 The Doomed Dozen: or, Dolores, the Danite’s
Daughter. By Dr. Frank POWell.

959 Red Rudiger. the Archer or. The Lady Bertha’s
Treachery. By Capt. F. ’Whlttnker.

"I Soft Hand Sharp; or, The Man With the Sand.
By Wm. B. Eyster. '

M The Wolves of New York; or. Joe Phenix’s
Great Man-Hunt. By A. W. Aiken. '

l(62 The Mad Mariner; or, Dishonored and Disowned.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

I,  a 1.63 Ben Brion, the Trapper Cafigain: or, Redpath,
I the Avenger.» By Dr. J. H. binson.
. -. i' The King’s Fool; or The Kinghts of the Clasped
, Hands and Red Brailch. By C. D. Clark. .

. a: Joaquin, the Terrible. By J. E. Badger. Jr.

' ‘26“ Owlet, the Robber Prince; or The Unknown
. Highwaymen. By Septimus R.’Urban.

4167 The Man of‘Steel; or, The Masked Knight of the
. White Plume. By A. P. Morris.

 lies Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead ahot- or, bigger Don’s
’ Double. By Colonel Prentiss ingraham.

160 Corporal Cannon. the Man of Forty Duels. By
_ .‘ ‘ Colonel Thomas Boyer Monstery.

m Sweet William, the Trapper Detective; or The
a hie! of the Crimson Clan. By Joseph B.

. ' Badger, Jr. | l
-  Tiger Dick; the an of the Iron Heart' or, The
: m y Philip 8. Warns. ’

~ , Dumb Bandit.

u m The Black-Pirate' or. The M story of the Golden
 Fetter-s. By Colonel P. Ingribam.

m California John the Pacific Thor ’ hbred.
Albert .Aikeli. ‘ m By

‘.

; ; mm Phantom Knights. By copt. r. Whittaker.
,_ e .
V It Wild'nlll’e'l‘ru Card: or. Them-em
A, V.  0f “aphid m.
“is .l the Robber een. » Captain
,, Mn wfitonf Q“ B’ '
in Don Diablo, the Planter-Corsair; or, The Rivals
' '\ot, the Sea. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. _

Dar 'Dashwood. the Des rate- 0 ,Th Child ‘
“the un. By Major SampSe. He 1. r e 0‘
179 C0 the Cohvlct; or, Was He Guilty! By
,,  8 wart Gildersleeve, LL.D. ,

3'   Old ‘49' or, The Anne of Arizona. In E.
2  [856383, Jr. in By *

i? 31 The Scarlet Schooner; or, The Nemesis of the
. Sea. By 001. Prentiss Ingraham.

Bagged UzorTheKnightsottheCanon. B
IL" unit. ystei'. ; . ' ‘ y y

“femur: the Guide or, Lost in the Wilderness.
' ‘ By C. using Cla‘rk. ‘

. . u '
iflTheOeeanVam e; or.The Heiress of Castle‘

‘_ curse. . By Col. entiss Ingraham.
185‘ ThthnS ider; or TheBeautitul phinx’.

 W Anthony . Morris. ' 8 By

 .m‘ The Black Bravo: or, The Tonkiway‘s Triumph.

alByBuckskin 8am
TheDeath’s Head Cull-sealers
 Braves. By Capt. Fred." 

 ~ .Th ft of
Chapel-nit.  , m

 W’s Geld Trail; or, Then-sperms Posse.

or, Brave at All ,
er. ,

 

' 

. J . . l . >

191 The Terrible Tonkawa : or, Ohi Bockyand Bis
Pards. By Buckskin m.

192 The Lightnin Sport' or, The Bad Man at Slaugh-
ter Bar. By  R. Eyster.

198 The Man in Red; or The Ghost of the Old Guard.
By Capt. F. Whit er.

194 Don Sombrero, the California Road Gent' or,
The Three Men of Mount Tabor. By Capt. Mark
Wilton.

195 The Lone Star Gambler; or, The Maid of the
Magnolias. By Buckskin Sam.

196 La Marmoset the Detective Queen; or, The Lost
Heir of More . By Albert W. Aiken.

197 Revolver Bob. the Red-Handed; or, The Belle of
Nugget Camp. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

198 The Skeleton Schooner' or. The Skimmer of the
Sea By 001. Prentiss ingraham.

19' Diamond Dick, the Dandy from Denver. By
Buckskin Sam.

200 The Rifle Rangers' or, Adventures in Southern
Mexico. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

ml The Pirate of the Pincers: or Joaquin’s Death
Hunt. By Joaeph E. Badger, Jr.

202 Camus Jack. the Giant Guide: or, The Masked
Robbers of Black Bend. By Capt. Mark Wilton.

soil The Double Detective: or, The Midnight Mys-
tery. By Albert W. Aiken.

204 Big-Foot Wallace. the Kin of the Lariat: or,
Wild Wolf, the Waco. By uckskln Sam.

$6 The Gambler Pirate; or, Bessie, the Lady of the
Lagoon. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

206 One Eye, the Cannonevr; or. Marshal Ney's Last
Legacy. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

W? Old Hard Head; or.,Whirlwlnd and His Milk
White Mare. By Philip S. Warne.

208 The White Clh'ef. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

209 Buck Farley, the Bonanza Prince: or, The RO-
mance of Death Gulch. By Edward Willett.

210 Buccaneer Bess. the Lioness oi’ the Sea; or, The
Red Sea Trail. By Col. P. lngraham.

211 Colonel Plu er: or, The Unknown Sport. By
Capt. Frede ck Whittaker.

212 The Brazos Tigers; or, The Minute-Men of
Fort Belknap. By Buckskin Sam.

213 The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse.
By Capt. Mayne Reid. I

214 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch.
By Wm. B. Eyster.

215 Parson Jim. King of the Cowboys;
Gentle She herd‘s Big “Clean~0ut. ’
Frederick hittaker.

The Corsair Planter; or, Driven to Doom. By
Col. Prentiss Ingrallam.

217 The So at of El Paso; or Frontier Frank. the
Scout 0 the Rio Grande. By Buckskin Sam. :

218 The Wild Huutress; or, The Big Squatter’s Ven-
geance. By~Capt. Mayne Reid.

21!) The Scflion Brothers; or. Mad Tom’s Mission.
By Cap n Mark Wilton. .

M The S ter Yacht; or, A Brother's Crime. By
Col. . lngraham. \

221 D erate Duke. the Guadeloupe “ Ghloot.” By
Buc skin Sam. »

as: Bill. the Blizzard' or. Red Jacket’s Double
Crime. By Edward wmett. I

228 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain- or,
'{vhe Toughs of Silver Spur. By Captain Mark
n.
at Black Beard the Buccaneer; or, The Curse of
the Coast. By Col. P. ingraham.

3 Rock Mountain Al' or N t N the Walt
of th: Range. By Bucksklgmm. a],

2% The Mad fiussars' or. The 0’s and the Mac’s.
By Capt. F. Whittaker. I

227 Buckshot Ben. the Man-Hunter, of Idaho or,
The Cactus Creek Tragedy. By Capt. k
Wilton.

as The. Maroon. By Capt: Mayne Reid.

as Captain Cutsleeve; or._Touch-Me-Not, the Little
Sport. By Wm. R. Eyster.

no, The Fly
Vanderdec en. By Capt. Whittaker.

231 TheKld Glove Miner; or, The Magic Doctor of
1 Golden Gulch. By Col. P. Ingrahsm.

an Orson On, the Man of Iron: or, The River mi.
tery. By lease Hawks. ‘ '

383 The Old Boy of Tombstone' or, wit u a
'the on a Card. By J. E. Badger, Jr.. -‘ gfifl 8

984 The Hunters’ Feast. By Capt. M'ayne Reid.

stoned htninF, the Man or Ch ce: or Flush
Times 4 o den Gulch. By lone] n

Ingraham. .

mlChsm on Sam; or TheMonal-ohsof
By col? 1*. H. Monslery.

’87 Lo -Hsired Mar or. Th’eBlaek league of the
Cog-8t. By Capt. i1. Wilton. »

.388 Rank Hamid the-PC ' eat-Ci Detecti '
[The Owls of .ew’ arm. ByyA. P. 11026.0"

or, The
By Capt.

216

l

the Show.

an ’errihleTrio;  at ‘ .
irr°fi§nwnmfl  mm...

Dutchman of 1880: or, Who was.

 

MPEAICoolHead; or.0rson0nin Pele. Bylsass
aw s.

241 Spitfire Saul, Ki
Dixie's Grand “
Badger, Jr.

242 The F0 Devil' or, The Ski of the Flash.
By CaptgFred. Whittaker. DWI

248 The Pilgrim Sharp; or, The Soldier’s Sweetheart.
By Bulfalo Bill.

844 Merciless Mart the Man-Tiger of Missouri; orI
The Wall of the Flood. By “Buckskin Sam.’
Maj. Sam 8. Hall.

245 Barranca Bill. the Revolver Champion; or, The
Witch oi! the Weeping Willows. By Captain
Mark Wilton.

ueen Helen, the Amazon of the Overland; or,
he Ghouls of the Gold Mines. By CoL Prenti'
Ingraham.

247 Alligator lke; or The Secret of the Everglsde.
By Capt. Fred Whittaker.

9248 Montana Nat the Lion of Last Chance Camp.
B" T-lilwam Whiett

249 ElephantTom. of Durango; Or, for." Gold Dust
or Your Life. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr.

250 The Rough Riders; or. Sh E e the Seman
Seourge. By Buckskin Bagp- y ' I.

251 Tiger Dick vs. Iron Des rd: or, Every Man Bu
His Match. By P. S. arne.

262 The Wall Street Blood; or. Tick, Tick, the Tel.-
graph Glrl. By Albert W. Aiken.

253 A Yankee Cossack: or The Queen of the Nihile
lets. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.

254 Giant Jake the Patrol of the Mountain. By
Newton M. Curtis.

255 The Pirate Priest; or. The Planter Gambler’s
Daughter. By 001. P. Ingraham.

256 Double Dan. the Bastard; or, The Pirates of the
Pecos. By Buckskin Sam. ’

257 Death-Trap Diggings; or. A Hard Man from
’Way Back. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

258 Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo- or The Prim
(were of the Death Vault. By Captain Mark
iton.

of the Rustksu: or,

eels
und-Up. " By J osep ’

I}.

S46

259,0utlass and Cross; or, The Ghouls of the Sea.

By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.
260 The Masked Mystery; or, The Black Cresceus.
.By A. P. Morris.

261 Black Sam. the Prairie Thunderbolt; or, m>
Bandit-Hunters. By Col. Jo Yards.

262 Fighting Tom. the Terror of the To ha. .
Col. Thomas Hoyer Monstery.’  _ P,

268 Iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destwe : or.
The Black Riders’ Terror. Capt. Mar llto

264 The Crooked Three' or, The Black Hearts of
the Guadalupe. By Buckskin Sam.

265 Old Double-Sword; or. Pilots and Pirates. By
Captain Frederick Whittaker.

268 Leopard Luke. the King of Horse-Thieves- or
3%}: Swamp Sqnatter‘s Doom. By Caph‘ilar‘
on. .

967 The White Squaw. By Cap. Mayne Reid.

268 Ma cMike, the Man of Frills: or, Bad' son'-
B Brigade. By Wllliam R. Eyster.‘

d

839 The Bayou Bravo: or, The Terrible Trail. By / l " '1
B kin Sam. . ‘ ‘

ucks

270‘ Andros, the Free Rover; or.

The Pirate's
Daughter. By Ned Buntline. , ' .

271 Stoneflst of B Nu t Band or Old x... 
. chum’s Tug of War. figsCspt. Mirk‘Wilton; ,, a ’V. ,

m Seth Slocum Railrohd S eyor- or The Secret '
of Sitting Blill. By Golgi-remini’men *
278 Mountain Bifosefi'i

Horse Leon‘s
skin Sam.

I'M Flush Fred, the  1 Sport' or
Times in Tennessee. By figward Vl’illett.

the

ve Fights .tor Life. By Back

276 Texas Chick 'the Southwest
Tiger Lily. The Vulture Queen.
Mark Wilton.

I“

Outlaw; or, Light ' I

T ’. \
m The 8mu¥ler Cutter; or, The Cavern in  
 am, By . D. Conroy. - ‘

Detective or " ,'
By Gained  ,

m The Sauc Jane Privateer: or, The. Hunting} >

Old Iron 'des. By _
S78 Hemules Golds . ur, the Man of, the Velvet Band:

or, The Poker (Sue-en’s Drop Gama, 3’ Captai-

Howard Holmes.. . ‘ . > '”

am The Gold Drakes;
hound. By William

290 Black-Hoes Ben; 01'. new Dick‘s Lone m,

By Philips. Wane. : < Y , _
£81 The Sea Owl; or. The Lady Captain of the Gun .
' By Colonel Prentiss .Ingraham. ,. v

28:) Th M rciless Marauders: or, Chaparral 
Regeuge. By Buckskin Sam. .- i

Capt. Fred Whittaka

283 Sleek Sam. the Devil of the

ofthe‘B‘lery Cross. By Joe. I r, Jr. ,

884The'l‘hree Frigates; or,01d 
er. .  l- ‘

mwi

By Capt. Fred. Whittak

salt. htnin .Bol the on Terror 
MiguntalECat':G/rudge., Gapt. '

analoIJohnn :or,0ns ham 1 

l

. “California rm. 1 i
  '

llr‘.

lfiines- or, Thelma L 

 

 

 

Beadle’s Dime Library.

 

 

2‘37 Dandy Dave, and His Horse, White Stocking; l
1r, Ducats or Death. By Buckskin Sam. 1

1383 Electro Pete, the Man of Fire; or, 'The Wharf [
Rats of Locust Point. B A. P. Moms. 1

2S?) Flush Fred’s Full Han : or, Life and Strife in ,
Louisiana. By Edward Willett. |

290 The Lost Corvette; or, Blakelcy’s Last Cruise. l
By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. _

£291 Horseshoe Hank. the Man of Big Luck; or, The ‘
Gold Brick of Idaho. By Capt. Mark Wilton.

2:02 Moke Homer, the Boss Roustabout; or, The
Fresh-Water Sharks of the Overflow. By J. E.
Badger, Jr.

3'3 Stampede Steve; or, The Doom of the Double
Face. By Buckskin Sam.

$2294 Broadcloth Butt, the Denver Dandy-
Thirty Pards of Deadwood. _B Capt.  Holmes.

2295 Old Cross-Eye, the Maveric '-Huntcr; or, The .
Night Riders of Satanta County. By Capt. F.
Whittaker. .

296 Duncan. the Sea-Diver; or, The Coast‘Vultures.
By George St. George.

297 Colorado Rube; the Strong Arm of Hotspur
City- or, The Giant Brothers of Buzzard Roost.
By William H. Manning.

298 Logger Lem; or, Life and Peril in the Pine
Woods. B Edward Willctt.

299 Three of a nd. Tigsr Dick, lron Despard, and
the Sportive Sport. By P. S. Warne. ,

800 ASport in Sicctaclcs; or, The Bad Time at ‘
Bunco. By \ illiain R. E ster. ,

801 Bowldcr Bill; or. The an from Taos. By :
Buckskin Sam.

802 Faro Saul, llJP Handsome Hercmes; 01" '“39
Grip of Steel. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr. , ,

303 ’l‘op-Notcli Tom, the Cowboy Outlaw; or 'Iie 3
Satanslown Elnction. By Ca t. Whittaker.

301 Texas Jack. the Prairie Rutt er; or, The Queen
of the Wild Riders. By Buffalo Bill. .

305 SiIVei'-l’lntcd So], the Montana R0ver; or, Giant '
Dave‘s Fight with Himself. By Capt. Mark I
Wilton. l

806 The Ronghs of Richmond; or, The Mystery of
the Golden Beetle. By A. P. Morris. '

807 The Phantom Pirate; or, The Water \V Olves of
the Bahamas. By Col. P. Ingraham.

308 Hemlock Hank, Tough and True; or, The
Shadow of Mount Kathadin. By E. \Villvtt.

309 Raybold, the Rattling Ranger; or. Old Rocky‘s
Tough Cam sign. By Buckskin Sam.

310 The Marsha of Satanstown; or. The League of i
the Cattlc-Lifters. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

311 Heavy Hand, the Relentless; or. The Marked
Men of Paradise (liilch. By Capt. M. \Vilto .

312 Kiiikfoot Karl. the Mountain Scourge; or, 1 'ip-
in: out the Score. By Morris Rvdwing.

313 Mark Magic, Detective. By A. P. Morris.

I314 Lafitte; or. The Pirate of the Gulf. By Prof. J.
H. Ingraham. ,

315 Flush Fred‘s Double; or. The Squatters‘ League 1
of Six. B Edward \Villett.

316 Lafitie’s icutenant; or, Tht-odore,_the Child of
the Sea. By Prof. J. H. Ingraham.

317 Frank Lightfoot, the Miller Detective. By J. E.
Bad er. Jr.

318 The ndian Buccaneer, or, Red Rovers on Blue
\\ aters. B Col. Pruitiss Ingraham.

Ell!) Wild Bill, t e Whirlwind of the West. By Buf-
falo Bill.

320 The Genteel Spotter; or, the Night Hawks of
New York. By A. W. Aiken.

321 California Claude, the Lone Bandit. By Captain
Howard Holmvs.

322 The Crimson Coyotes; or, Nita, the Nemesis.
B Buckskin m.

1323 otspur Hugh; or, The Banded Brothers of the
Giant’s Arm. By Captain Mark Wilton.

3:34 Old Forked Lightning. the Solitary; or, Every
inch a Man. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. _

3'25 The Gentleman Pirate“ or, The Hermit of Casco
Buy. By Col. P. Iiigra m.

326 The Whiiest Man in the Mines. By Captain F.
Whittaker. _

327 Terrapin Dick. the Wild Woods Detective; or,
Trailing a Traitor. By Edward Willett.

328 Kin Kent; or, The Bandits ol' the Bason. By
Buc Skin Sam.

329 The League of Three; or. Buffalo Bill’s Pledge.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. .

3‘30 Cop Colt, The Quaker City Detective. By Chas.

JI‘l‘lS.

331 Chispa Charley, the Gold Nugget Sgort; or, The

ky Mountain Masks. By .E. adger. Jr.

or, The

 

332 Swing-H.er Jack; or The Masked Mystery of
the Tower. By Col. Monstery.
838 Derringer Deck, the Man with the Drop. By
te

Wm. R. Eys r.

334 The Cipher Detective; or, Mark Magic 0“ a N"
T . By . P. Morns. '

335 Hash Dan. the Nabob- or. The Blades of Bowie

‘ Bar. By Ca Lain H. Holmes.

.336 The Magic hip; or, The Freebooters of Sandy

” Hook. By Col. P. lngraham.

337 Old Gabe, the Mountain Tramp- or The Tragedy
of the Deserted Camp. By  Willett.

338 Jack Sand, the Boss of the Town- or The Fool
of Fiddler’s Folly. n Philip s. Warne

339 Spread Eagle Sam, t e Hercules Hide-Hunter.
By {0:91p}  ltlfrlulgfir,kJr;h D

340 000 ‘omm , c a o etective;
Lair to L'lll‘. By Captain H. Holmes. or. From

341 The Sm Desperado. By Colonel P. sham.

.342 Blanca Bill, the Mustang Monarch. y Buck-
skin Sam. _

343 The Iliad Hunter; on Mark Magic in the Mines.

By A. P. Morris.
344 Double Shot Dave of the Left Hand; or, A Cold
Wavc at Black Dam. By Wm. B. Eyster.
345 Masked Mark. the Mounted Detective. By Joe,
‘ ' E. Badger. Jr.
346 Ocean Guerrillas; or, The Planter Midshipman.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
347 Denver Duke the Man With Sand; or. Centi-
dle Sam‘s Lone Hand. By Captain Howard
0 mes.
848 Dan Dillon, Kin of Crosscut; or, A Woman’s
Wild Work. By ward Willett.
349 Lion-Hearted Dick, the Gentleman Road-Agent.
By Albert W. Aiken.

350 Flash Falcon, the Society Detective. By Weldon
J. Cobb.

S 369 The Coast Corsair: or, Madca

 

351 Nor'west Nick, the Border Detective; or, Dan
Brown’s Fight for Life. By Jon. E. Badger, Jr.

352 The Desperate Dozen; or. The Fair Fiend of the
Coeur ri’Alene. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

353 Barb Brennan. the Train Wrecker' or, The King
of Straight Flusn. By John Cuth ’11.

354 Red Richard; or, The Brand of the Crimson
Cross. By Albert Vt . Aiken.

355 The Mad Athlete; or, The Worst Pill in the Box.
By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

356 Three Handsome Slants; or, The Double Com- [

bination. By Wm. Eyster.

357 Jack Simons. Detective; or, The Wolves of
Washington. B A. P. Morris.

358 The Prince of an Out; or, The Beautiful Na-
vajo‘s Mission. By Buckskin Sam.

359 Yellow Jack. the Mestizo; or, Tiger Dick to the
Rescue. By Philip S. Warne.

860 Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock fro'n Sundown;
or, A Craw Full of Sand. By J. E. Badger, Jr.

 361 Tombstone Dick. the Train Pilot; or, The Trai-

tor’s Trail. By Ned Buntline.

362 Bufi'alo Bill’s Grip; or, Oath-Bound to Custer.
By Col. Prentiss ingrahain.

363 Crowningshield. the Detective; or, Pitiless as
Death. By Albert W. Aiken.

364 The Sea Fugitive; or, The Queen of the Coast.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

365 Keen Kennard, the Shasta Shadow; or, The
Branded l-‘ace. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

366 The Telegraph Detective; or, The Dynamite
League. By George Henry Morse.

367 A Royal Flush; or, Dan Brown’s Big Game of
Freeze-Out. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

368 The Canyon King; or, A Price on His Head. By
Edward Willett.

Madge, the Siren

of thr- Set. By Col. Prentiss ngraham.

. 370 The Dusky Detective; or, Pursued to the End.

By A. W. Aikon.

371 Gold Butt ms; or, The Up-Range Pards. By
Buckskin Sam.
372 Captain Crisp. the Man with a Record. By

Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

373 The Sailor of Fortune; or, The Buccaneers of
Barnegat Bay. By Col. Prentiss Ingrahain.

371 Major Blister. the Sport of Two Cities; or, The
Brondwa ' S otter in the Black Hills. By Capt.
Howard Ionics.

375 Royal George, the Three in One; or. The Cold
Deck on Blazers. By Wm. R. Eyster.

- 376 The Black Beards; or, The High Horse on the

Rio Grandc. By Albert W. Aikon.

g 377 Afloat and Ashore; or, The Corsair Conspirator.

By Col. Prentiss lngraham.

378 John Armstrong. Mechanic: or, From the Bottom
to the Top of the Ladder. By Capt. F. Whittaker.

379 Howling Jonathan; or, The Terror from Head-
waters. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

380 The Golden Serpent; or, Tiger Dick’s Pledge.
By P. S. Warnc.

881 The Gypsy Gentleman; or. Nick Fox. the Demon
Detective. By Albert W. Aiken.

382 The Bonanza Band; or, Dread Don, of the Cool
Clan. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

383 Silver Sam, the Dctcctiva; or The Rustlers of
Butte City. By Major Daniel Boone Dumont.

U. . .

384 Injun Dick, Detective; or. Tracked from the
Rockies to New York. B Albert W. Aiken.

385 Wild Dick Turpin, the ion of Leadville; or,
The Lone Hand. By Wm. H. Manning.

386 Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective; or, The
Gotham Flats Mystery. By Jackson Knox, (Old
Hawk.)

887 Dark Durz, the Ishmael of the Hills; or, The
Gold Phantom. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

388 The Giant Buccaneer; or, The Wrecker Witch
of Death Island. By Colonel P. Ingrahain.

389 Colonel Doubleedge, the Cattll Baron‘s Pard'
or. The Marshal of Sandstone. By Major Daniel
Boone Dumont. U. S. A.

390 The Giant Cupid; or. Cibuta John’s Great
Jubilee. By J. C. Cowdrick.

391 Kate Scott the Decoy Detective; or, Joe Phe-
nix's Still unt. By A. W. Aiken.

392 The Lost Bonanza; or, The Boot of Silent
Hound. By Captain Howard Holmes.

393 The Convict Captain; or. The Battles of the
Buccaneers. By Colo iel Prentiss Ingraham.

394 White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte; or, a
Wronged Man’s Red Trail. By Bufl‘alo Bill.

395 Deadly Aim. the Duke of Derringers; or, 9. Fight
for Five Millions. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

396 The Piper Detective; or, The Gilt Edge Gang.
By Wm. R. Eyster.

397 The Wizard Brothers; or, White Beaver‘s Red
Trail. By Buflalo Bill.

398 Sleepless Eye, the Pacific Detective; or, Run-
ning Down a Double. By Geo. C. Jenks.

399 The New Monte Cristo; or. The Wandering Jew
of the Sea. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

400 Captain Coldgrip, the S ort Detective; or, The
New York Spotter in olorado. By Captain
Howard Holmes.

401 The One-Arm Pard; or. Red Retribution in Bor-
derland. By Bufl‘alo Bill.

402 Snapshot Sam. the Pistol Sharp; or, The Racket.
at Angcls’ Flat. By Wm. B. Eyster.

!

 

403 The Nameless Sport; or, The Kilkcnny Cats of 

Way Up. Bv Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
404 Silver Ril’flc Sid; or, A Daisy Blufl. By Philip S.

Warne.
405 Old Baldy. the Brigadier of Buck Basin; or.

Hunted own by a Woman. By William H.
Manning.

406 Old Po Hicks. Showman: or, Lion Charley’s
Luck. y Capt. F. Whittaker.

407 Captain Coidgri ’s Nerve; or, Injun Nick on
Deck. By Capt. oward Holmes.

409 Doc Gri . the Sporting Detective; or, the Ven-
detta of ’Death. By Albert W. Aiken.
Rob Roy Ranch: or. The imps of the Pan Han-
die. 3 Joseph E. Badger, Jr. -.

410 Sarah grown, Detective; or, The Mystery of the
Pavilion. BV K. F. Hill.

411 The White Crook; or. Old Hark’s Fortress. By
Major Daniel Boone Dumont. .

412 Larry Locke, the Man of Iron; or. A Fight for
Fortune. By Capt. Fred. \Vhittaker.

413 Captain Coldgrip in New York; or, The Dragon
119321162. r1? Capt. H. Holmes.

414 Red Rena , the lndian Detective: or. The Gold
Buzzards of Colorado. By Buffalo Bill.

415 Hot Heart. the Detective ISip ;

Jaguar's Mission. By Wm. nlng.

 

or The Red

416 Monte Jim. the Black Sheep of Bismarck. By
J 05. E. Badger, Jr.

417 Tucson Tom. the Bowie Brave; or. the Fire
Trailers. By George St. George.

418 Sibyl, the Sea Siren: or, The Fugitive Privateer.
By Col. P. Ingraham.

419 The Bat of the Battery; or, Joe Phenix, King
of Detectives. By Albert W. Aiken.

420 The Old River Sport; or, A Man of Honor. By
Maj. Daniel Boone Dumont.

421 Father Ferret, the ’Frisco Shadow; or,Thc Queen
of Bowie Notch. By Ca tain Howard Holmes.

422 Blue Grass Burt, the old San Detective' or,
ToDuty Bound, to Vengeance Sworn. By  C.
Cowdrick.

423 The Lone Hand; or, The Recreants of the Red
Riwr. By Albert W. Aiken.

4.24 Hawk Heron’s Deputy: or, Nixey’s Nip. By
Jackson Knox. (Old Hawk.)

425 The Sea. Sword; or, The Ocean Rivals. By Col.

P. lngraham.
426 The Ghost Detective: or, The Sp of the Secret

Service. By Joseph E. Badger. r.

427 The Rivals of Montana Mills;.or, Redgrave, the
Renegade. By Wm. H. Manning.

4‘28 The Flying Glim; or, The Island Lure. By Leon
Lewis.

429 Hair Trig er Tom 01' Red Bend; or, All Wool
and 9. Yard Wide. By William R. Eyster.

430 The Fatal Frigate: or, Rivals in Love and War.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

431 California Kit. the Always on Hand; or, The
Mountain Rivals. By Philip S. Warne.

432 The Giant Horseman; or, Tracking the Red
Cross Ganc’. By George C. J enks.

433 LanghingQLeo; or, Spread Eagle Sam's Dandy
Pard. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.

434 Lucifer Lynx, the Wondei Detective; or. A Cool
Hand Among Hot Heads. By Ca .t. H. Holmes.

43') The One-Aimed Buccaneer; or. ' he Havenless
Cruiser. By Col. Prentiss Lngraham.

436 Kentucky Jean, the Sport From Yellow Pine
By J. C. Cowdrick.

437 Deep Duke. the Silent Sharp: or. The Man of
Two Lives. By Wm. H. Mannin§

4'36 Oklahoma Nick; or, Boomer olt’s Surprise
Party. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.

439 Salamander Sam: or, The Swamp Island Rene-

ades. By Major D. B. Dumont.
he High Horse of the Pacific. By Albert W.

Aiken.

The (‘alifornia Sharp; or. The Trail of the Gold-

en Grandce. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

Wild West Walt the Mountain Votci'an: or. The

Gunmakers of orld‘s End. By W. H. Manning.

A Cool Hand: or. Pistol Johnny’s Picnic at Top

Notch. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.

The Magic Detective; or, '1 ie Hidden Hand. By

Jackson Knox. _

Journeyman John. the Cham don; or. The Will-

ning Hand. By Capt. Fri-(l. hiitnker.

446 Ocean Ogre. the Outcast Corsair; or. The Good
Ship of Ill-Omen. By Col. P. Ingraham.

447 Volcano. the ’Frisco Spy: or. The Secret of the
Secret Seven. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

448 Hark Kenton. the Traitor; or, The Hunted Life.
Bv Major D. Burr.

449 Bluff Burke, King of the Rockies: or. The Black
Stake Rivals. By Wm. H. Manning.

450 The Rustler Detective; 0)‘, The Bounding Buck
from Buffalo Wallow. By J. E. Badger. Jr.

451 Griplock, the Rocket Detective; or, The Han-
shaw Mysterv. By Jackson Knox.

452 Rainbow Rob, the Tulip from Texas; or,’The
Spot Saint’s Mission. By J. (Y. Cowdrick.

453 Captain (.‘oldgrip's Long Trail or. The Rivals of

454

455

441
44;.
44:}
44»

n)

é»

Silver Deck. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

The Night Raider: or, The Mysterious Marauder.

By Ma' ir D. B. Dumont.

Yank ellowbird, the Tall Hustler of the Hills;

or. The Conspirators of Medicine Springs. By

Wm. H. Manning.

456 The Demon Steer; or. The Outlaws on the Ablo
lene Cattle Trail. By Leon Lewis.

457 The Sea Insurgent: or, The Conspirator‘s Son.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim from Spitzenberg: or,
The ROcky Racket at Rough Robin. By Joseph
E. ladgor, Jr.

459 Major Sunshine. the Man of Three Lives: or. The
Waiting Waits at Git Thar. By Wm. R. Eyster.

460 (‘nptnin Coldgi'ip. the (‘ity Detective; or, The

Coolest Woman in New York. ‘By Capt. Howard

Holmes. 2 .

The Fresh on the Rio Grandc: or, The Red Riders

of Rayon. By Albert W. Aiken.

The Circus Detective; or. Griplock in a New

Role. By Jackson Knox.

(loll ('l:iiiiit.lot,tlie Gulch Gladiatorz‘ or. Yank

Yellow-bird's Hot Campaign. By Wm. H. Man-

liirlL’.

H udvcmw. the Man of Grit; or. The River

Sum-1‘s Revenge. By Major D. B. Dumont.

' The Actor Detective. By Albert W. Aiken.

' (‘Iid Rough and Ready, the Sage of Sundown; 01',

Km tor Life but for Honor. By J. E. Badger. Jr.

“min i ariug the Salamander; or. The Detectives‘

(l"ilt‘:il. By Jackson Knox.

l' ll lgrip in Deadwood; or. The Great Detective’s

Iiuiwlc Trail. By Captain H. Holmes.

469 Th: Li autenant Detective; or, The Fugitive Sailo
or. By Co . Ingraham.

’l‘hr- Duke 0 Dakota; or. Yank Yellowbird’s

Fiery Gantlet. By “"m. H. Manning.

The Heart of Oak Detective; or, 21311th Full

Hand. 3V E. A. St. Mox.

7“ Six-Foot Si; or, The Man to “Tie To." By P. S.
Warne. _ v

473 Gilbert of Gotham. the Steel Arm Detective; or.
Fighting the Powers of Air. By J. C. Cowdrick.

74 Daddy Dead-Eye, the Despot of Dew-Drop; or,
The Damsel from Deseret. By Jos. E. Ba ger.

475 Chin Chin, the Chincse Detective; Ora The Dark

\Vork of the Black Hand. By A. W. Aiken.

-‘ 476 Bob Brent. Buccaneer; or, The Red Sea-Raider.

By Col. P. Ingraham.

477 Dead-Arm Brandt; or, The Long Vengeance.
By Jackson Knox.

478 Pinnacle Pete: or, The Fool From ’Way Back.
By W. R. Eyster. ‘\

479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of 59.888. Jack; or,
Yank Yellowb‘lrd‘s Castle Crusade. By Wm. H.

,; Manning.

 

   

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I ' 504 Solemn Saul

 

 

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Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

480 Hawks ar. the Man with a Secret; or, New
‘ York ick‘s Spirit Trail. By Captain Howard
Holmes.

481 The Silent Detectives; or, The Bogus Nephew.
By Leon Lewis.

482 Ocean Tramps; or. The Desperadoes of the Deep.
By Col. P. lngraham.

483 Flush Fred. the River Sharp; or, Hearts for
Stakes. By Ed. Willett. v

484 Caegtaln Ready. the Red Ransomer; or Nick
P die‘s Wild West Inheritance; By Leon Lewis.

485 Rowlock, the Harbor Detective; or The Terrible
Twins. By Jackson Knox.

486 Kansas Kitten. the Northwest Detective; or,
Yank Yellowbird‘s Search-Brigade. By Wm. H.
Manning.

487 Sunshine Sam Chip of the Old Block; or, The
Silent Trail of the Silent Six. By Capt. Howard

Holmes.
488 The Thoroughbred Sgort; or, The Big Bracer‘s
Bequest. By Jos. E. adger. Jr.

489 The Pirate Hunter; or, The Ocean Rivals. By
001. P. lngraham.

490 The Lone Hand in Texas; or, The Red-Gloved
Raiders of the Rio Grande. Bv A. W. Aiken.

491 Zi ag and Cutt, the Invincible Detectives; or,
A recions Set of Scoundrels. By E. A. St. Mox.

492 Border Bullet. the Prairie Sharpshooter; or.
Yank Yellowbird‘s Black Hills Colony. By Wm.
H. Manning.

493 The Scouts of the Sea; or. The Avenging Buc-
caneer. By Col. P. Ingraham.

‘ ‘ 494 The Detectivc‘s Spy; or, The Invisible Rook.‘

By Jackson Knox.

495 Rattlepate Rob; or The Ronndhead’s Reprisal.

By Jos. E. Badger, r.

496 Richard Redflre. the Two Worlds Detective;
or. To the Bitter End. By Capt. H. Holmes.

497 The Fresh. in Texas; or, The Escobedo Millions.
By A. W. Aiken.

498 Central Pacific Paul. The Mail-Train S y; or,
Yankl Yellowbird’s Iron Trail. By Will am H.

118 .

499 Twilight Charlie the Road Sport; or, Sulphur
Sam’s Double. By J. c. Cowdrick.

500 The True Heart Pards‘; or. The Gentleman
Vagabond. By Dr. N. Dunbar.

501 Springsteel Steve. the Retired Detective; or,
The Relentless Shadower. By Jackson Knox.

562 Bareback Buck, the Centaur of the Plains; or,
The Trail of Six. By P. S. Warne. I.

503 The Dude from Denver; or, The Game at Ground
Hog By Wm. R. Eyster.

the Sad Man from, San Saba; or,
The Big Shell-Out. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

105 Phil Fox. the Genteel Spotter or the Private
Secretary’s Oath. By Captain H. Holmes.

506 Uncle Honest, the Peacemaker ol' Hornet‘s
Nest; or. Yank Yellowblrd versus the Leather
Jackets. By Wm. H. Manning.

507 The Drummer Detective; ‘or. The Dead Straight
Trail. By Geo. C. Jenks. .

we Topnotch Tim. the Mad Parson: or. The Bad
Men of the Basin. By Major D. B. Dumont.

509 Old Falcon. the Thunderbolt Detective, or, The
Fatetul Legacy. By Jackson Knox.

510 El Moro. the Corsair Commodore: or, The Lion
of the Lagoon. By Col. P. Ingraham.

511 Paint Pete. the ‘Praire Patrol; or. The Rival
Raucheros. By Maior S. S. Hall. '

512 Ca tain Velvet‘s Big Stake; or, The Gold Goths

, of o Man’s Ground. By Capt. ll. Iiolmes.

518 Texas Tartar. the Man with Nine Lives; or.
You]: Yellowbird’s Best Yank. By W.H.Manning.

514 Gabe Gunn. the Grizzly from Ginseng' or,
Solemn Soul’s Seraph. By Jon E. Badger, r.

 » 515 Short Stop Ma e, the Diamond Field Detective;

or. Old Ealcon 3 Master Game. By J. Knox.
516 Chatard, the Dead-Shot Duelist; or. The Fate-
ful Heritage. By Col. P. Ingraham. '
. 517 Buffalo Bill‘s First Trail; or. Will Cody, the
' Pony Express Rider. By Ned Buntiine.
'518 Royal Richard the Thoroughbred: or. Long
Pete Jenkins‘s )onvoy. By John W. Osbon.
519 Old Riddles. the Rocky Ranger; or. The Reser-
vation Castaways. By J. C. Cowdrick.
520 The Lone Hand on the Caddo: or, The Bad
Man of the Big Bayou. By A. W. Aiken.
wyParadlae Sam, the Nor’m-st Pilot: or. Ynnk
‘ Yeuowbird’s Great Disklvery. By w. H. Manning.
522 The Champion Three; or. Six-Foot Si's Clean
Sweep. \By P. S. Warne.
, Reynard of Red Jack; or. The Lost Detective.
By Captain H. Holmes.
' 584 The Sea Chaser; or. The Pirate Noble. By Col.
P. ngraham. .
ass Fresh Frank. the Derringer Daisy; or. Millions
on the Turn. By Wm. Eystrr.
as Death Grip the Tendrrfoot Detectivc' or, A
Still Hunt or Old Secrecy. By Geo. C. Jenks.
5W Dandy Andy. the Diamond Detective: or. The
7 Twinsot Tiptop. By Jos. E Badger, Jr. '
» ’598 Hmklm, the Foot-Hills Detective: or, The
Rival man. By Lieut. A. K. Sims.
as The Fresh in New York; or. The Vendetta of
Hata. By A. W. Aiken.
[The So on of the Sea; or. The Avenging
 Cruiser. Col. P. Ingraham.
.581 Saddle-Chief- Kit. the Prairie Centaur; or, The

r Blacksmith’s Terrible Temptation. By

immunities.

l

 

532 Javert. the Independent Detective; or. Captain
Cinnabar in New York. By Capt. H. Holmes.

553 Oregon. the Sport with a Scar; or. The Best
‘ Man of Brace Box. By Wm. R. Eyster.

5'34 Greenmonntain Joe: or. The Counterfeiter’s
Cave. By Marmaduke Dey.

535 Dandy Dutch. the Decorator from Dead-Lift; or,
Saul Sunday‘s Search for Glory. By J. E. Badger.

5% Old Falcon‘s Fee; or. The Matchless Detective‘s
Swell Job. By Jackson Knox.

5‘37 Blake. the Mountain Lion; or. The Fresh Against
the Field. By Albert W. Aiken.

538 Rube Rocket. the Tent Detective; or,
Treacherous Two. By Geo. C. Jenks.

539 Old Doubledark. the Wily Detective' or. The In-
visible Foe's Masquerade. By Wm.  Manning.

510 The Fleet Scourge; or. The Sea Wing of Salem.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

541 Ma‘or Magnet. the Man of Nerve' or. The Muck-
a-h ucks of Animas. By Joseph  Badger, Jr.

542 The Ocean Drift; or, The Fight for Two Lives.
By A. F. Holt.

543 The Magnate Detective; or. Major Million’s
Joust with the Witch. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

544 The Back to Back Pards; or. The Right Man in
the Wrong Place. By Philip S. Warne.

5i5 Hustler Har . the Cowboy Sport; or. Daring
Dan Shark’s general Delivery. By W. G. Patten.

546 The Doomed Whaler; or, The Life Wreck. By
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

547 The Buried Detective; or. Saul Sunday’s Six
Sensations. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

548 Falconbridge. the hinx Detective; or, The
Siren of the Balei'ul ye. By Jackson Knox.

549 Belshazzar Brick. the Bailiff of Blue Blaze5' or,
Four Horse Frank’s Frolic at Bad Luck ar.
By Wm. R. Eyster.

550 Silk Hand. the Mohave Ferret: or. The Marked
Man of Arizona. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

551 Garr Kean the Man with Backbone: or, The
Glad tors 0t Jack‘s Delight. By W. H. Manning.

552 Prince Primrose, the Flower of the Flock; or,
Thistrand Camp at Paradise'Gulch. By Lieut.
A. . ims.

558 Monte, the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig.
By Col. P. Ingraham.

554 Mad Shar .the Rustler; or. The Drummer De-
tective’s Lay-out. By Geo. C Jenks.

555 Girl Sack Sid. the Sample Sport; or, the Rivals
0! ock-about Range. y Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

556 Fresh. the Sgort-Chevalier; or, A Big Racket at
Y

The

Slide Out. A. W Aiken.

557 The Mountain Graybeards: or. Old Riddle’s
Greatest Riddle. By J C. Cowdrick.

I558 Hurrah Harrythe High Horse from Halcyon: or.

High Old Times at Hard Pan. By W. R. Evster.

559 Danton. the Shadow Sharp: or. The Queen of the
Hidden Hands. By Capt. Howard holmes.

560 The Man from Mexico; or. The Idol of Last
Chance. By Col. P. ingraham.

561 The Thug King; or. The Falcon Detectivo‘s In
visible ll‘oc. By Jackson Knox. '

562 Lone Hand. the Shadow; 01'. The Master of the
Triangle Ranch. By Albert W. Aiki-n.

563 Wyoming Zeke, tho Hotspur of Honeysuckle;
or. Old Huinility’s Hard load to Travel. By
Wm. H. Manning-

. 564 The Grip-Sack Shar ; or. The Seraphsot Sodom.

By Jos. E. Badger. r.

565 Prince Paul. the Postman Detective; or. Crush-
ing a Serpent's Head. By J. C. Cowdrick.

566 The Dauntless Detective; or. The Daughter
Avenger. By Tom W.King.

567 Captain Midnight. the Man of Craft; or. The
Mad-Knight‘s Plot. By P. S. Warne.

568The Dude Detective' or, Phelin McGallagin's
Hard Luck Hustle. By Wm. R. Eyster.

569 Captain Cobra. the Hooded M story; or The
Quickened Dead. By Captain oward Ho mes.

570 The Actresa Detective; or, The Invisible Hand.
By Albert W. Aiken.

571 Old Dismal. the Range Detective: or. The Hid-
den Cabin of Wind Canyon. By Wm. G. Patten.

572 gaunty Joe, the Jockey Detective. By Geo. C.
enk . -

578 The Witch of Shasta; or. The Man of Cheek.
Ry Major Daniel Boone Dumont.

574 Old Falcon’s Double. By Jackson Knox.

575 Steadv Hand the Napoleon of Detectives.
By William H plug.

576 Silver-Tongued Sld° or. The on em: Sharp’s
Clean Sweep. By Joseph E. ger. Jr.

577 Tom of California; or, t e Actress Detective's
Shadow Aot.’ By Albert . Aiken.

578 en Shot Steve. the Sport withaSmile. By

._X‘ 37"

 

 

579 Old Cormorant. the Bowery Shadow. By Capt.
Howard Holmes.

580 Shadowing a Shadow; or. The Pacific Slope
Detective’s Triple Trail. By J . C. Cowdrick.

581 The Outlawed Skipper; or. The Gautlet Runner.
By Col. P. Ingraham.

582 J oram, the Detective Expert. By Jackson Knox.

583 Captain Adair. the Cattle King; or: A Red
Ransom. By P. S. Warne.

584 Fire Feather, the Buccaneer King. By Ned.
Buntline. ‘

585 Dan Dixons Deuble; or. The Deadlock of Danger
Divide. By Wm. H. Manning.

586 The Silver Sha Detective; or. The Big Rustle
at XL Ranch. y Albert W. Aiken.

587 Conrad, the Sailor S v; or. The True Hearts of
‘76. By Col. Prentiss ngrahani.

588 Sandy Sands; the Sharp from Snap City; or,
Hoist by His Own Petard. By J qseph E. Badger.

589 Prince Hal. the Battling Detective; or, Pet Lyon,
the Master Locksmith By Charles Morris.

590 Gentle Jack. the High Roller from Humbug: or,
'1 he Dark Deal at Doubledeck. By W. R. Eyster.

591 Duke Daniels. the Society Detective or, Cagmg
the Uncanny Birds. By J. C. Cowd ck.

592 Captain Sid. the Shasta Ferret; or. the Rivals of
Sunset. By Captain Howard Holmes.

598 The Sea Rebel; or. The Red Rovers of the Revoo
lution. By Col. Prentiss lngraham.

594 Fire Face. the Silver King‘s Foe: or. The Mya-
terious Highwaymen. By Albert W., Aiken.

595 Wellbom. the Upper-Crust Detective: or, Play~
ing for the Challoner Millions. By Jackson Knox.

596 Rustler Rube. the Bound-Up Detective. By
William H. Manning.

597 Big Bandy. the Brigadier of Brimstone Butte.
By Josep E. Badger. Jr.

598  Dominie Detective; or. The ‘Deedham sen-
ion. By J. C. Cowdrick.

599 The Dead Shot Nine: (r. My Pards ot the Plains.
By Hon. Wm. F. Cody, (Buffalo Bill).

600 The Silver Ship; or. The Sea Scouts of ’76. By
Col. Prentiss Ingrahagn.

601 Joe Phenix’s Shadow; or. The Great Detective‘s
M ysti-rious Monitor. By Albert W. Aiken.

602 Captain Namelessthe Mountain M story; or, The
Blue Coats of the Big Horn. By \ ’m. G. Patten.

603 Desert Alf. the Man With the Cougar; or. The
Strange Pilgrimage of Gentle Jack. By Vim.
R. Eyster.

604 The Detective in Regs; or, The Grim Shadower.
By Dr. Noel Dunbar.

605 The Shadow Silver Ship; or. The Red Rebel of
/ the Revolution. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
606 The Dro Detective; or. The Dreamthorpe Sen-
sation. y Jackson Knox.
609 Old Benzine. the “Hard Case" Detective; or.
JpeAB£W(»rs' Racket at Bicnrce City. By Alberta-
1'. i on.

608 Silent Sam. the Shadow Sphinx; or. Following
the Invisible Trail. By Capt. H. Holmes.

609 The Texas Tramp; or, Solid Saul. the Yankee

Hercules. By Capt. F. Whittaker. -

610 The Red Flag Rover; or. White Wings of the
Waves. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

| Abe. the Game Chicken fr‘m' Texas; (r,
611 IEaSmash-U in “No-World Kingdom." figy

Wm. H. Man g.
612 Sheriff Stillwo'od. the Regulalor (if Raspberry;
or, The “Suspects” from Frisco. By J. C.
\ Cowdrick. '

618 Keen Bill . the Sport; or. The Circus at White
Gopher. y Albert W. Aiken ‘

614 The Showman Detective; or. The Mad Magician.
By Capt. F. Whittaker.

615 The Three Buccaneers; or. The Ocean Outlaw'e V

Nemesis. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

616 Magnus. the Weird Detective. By Jackson:
Knox. Ready August 13. ,

617 The on Sack Slurp"- Even-up: or. The Bess
RMkebE-t Solid City. BY 5088911 E. Badger.
ady August so. .

618 Kansas Karl. the Detective King: or. The 8 him:
of Leadville. g; Lieut. A. K. Sims. p

Ready August .

Band & Co.. the Border Detectives. or, The
619 gilt Wipe’Out at Hermit Dome. By Oil Coomes.
gaudy September 8. ’
_A new issue every Wednuday.
Beadlo’o Dime Library is for sale by all
Nowadealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve cents each.
BEADLE AND ADAMS, Bubbling».
N  Street. Sew York.

 

. may; vi a

 

is.