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Copyrighted. 1891. by BEADLE AND Alums. December 16, 1891.

Published Every (5880,le  fldams, QULLZJIL‘SILeI’S, Ten CentsaCopy.
N0. 6 8 6. Wednesday. 98 WILLIAM STREET' NEW YORK $5.00 a Year.  

 

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Bully Blair’s Grind Exposition.

A Romance of Chicago and the Dep-
worlh Millions.

BY LEON LEWIS,
Atrium or “THE SCBMARINE DETECTIVE,”
 “THE SILENT DETECTIVE,” “DAREDEATE
 I \ - H DICK. KING OF THE COWBOYS,” E'rn.

/ 1/,

'I 1' ,

/ CHAPTER I.

THE BUMBOA’I‘ER'S STRANGE GUEST.

“ HAVE another drink, Mr. Slutterly." in-
vited Black Jack, shoving a. bottle nearer.

“ No, thank ou, Cap’n Yath,” returned the
policeman. “ ’m one of the few men who know
when they’ve got enough. You‘ll be in court at
ten n’vlor‘k ?"

Black Jack nodded.

“This is the eighth time I’ve arrested you,
cap’n," pursued Slatterly. lookin into the dark
striking face of the famous hum outer, “and i
THE ON~THE-\\'IN(L\' 1c}; CllARAL‘ThM. . must say it’s a pleasure to deal with such a gen-

 

 

 

 

 

 

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tleman. You’re the only man in the world | and bobtails who come of! here to drink, dance,

whose word I’d take for going into court alone
when he knows he’s wanted.”

“ That’s because 1’ui mnercent,” returned
Jack. dryly.

“ Then you didn’t hit the Eyetalian?”

“ Not a bit of it.”

“ It’s none the less a curious case. But of
conrse you’ll come Out all right, as you allers do,
and I hope you may.”

“ Thank you, officer. Drop
shall always be glad to see you.’

l
in any time. I ‘

and fight?”

“ I see you’re posted.”

“ You have music and mauling, fights and
festiv1ties,knock-downs and drag-outs, with all
sorts of deviltry?”

“ You speak, young man, as if you had been
one of my patrons." .

“Well, I haven’t, but my cousin was down
here last summer, and he told me all about it.”

Mrs. Yattaw here came to the front.

“ If you’ll step to yonder room, sir,” she said,

Nodding his thanks, Slatterly stepped briskly l indicating the spot, “ and get into this change
from the bumboat to the pier and in another | Oil clothes, your friends may be able to know

moment was losing himself to the view of his en-
tertainer.

“ Not a bad fellow,” muttered Black Jack,
turning to his wife. “ What a pity that more of
his kind are not like him !”

Jack had scarcely resumed the task of clear-
ing up his strange craft from the orgies of the
previous night when an exclamation from his
wife who was looking lakeward througha glass,
fixed his attention.

“ What now?” he inquired.

“Yonder comes a queer-looking scarecr0w in
a small boat I noticed when it rounded the outer
end of the breakwater a few minutes ago,” ex-~
claimed Mrs. Yattaw. "The man has been in
trouble.” '

“ Sure enough,” agreed Jack, after a glance
at the new-comer through his glass, “ and I
think he is coming here for repairs.”

“Or because we happen to be the first persons
within reach, Jack.”

The occupant of the boat had been rowing
with desperate energy ever since rounding the
breakwater, and in another minute he was
alongside the buniboat.

“ Come aboard, sir," invited Jack, lowering a
short flight of steps and lending a hand. a

“Thank you,” returned the stranger, and a
brief mutual effort landed him near the husband
and wife.

And what a picture he was!

Both eyes were discolored, and one of them so
much Swollen as to be nearly closed, while his
face war: a mass of scratches, many of them so
deep as to have bled freely, and there was a slit
half an inch long on the to of one of his ears.

“ You’ve been in a fight, ’ blurted Jack.

“ And with a woman, too,” declared Mrs.
Ynttaw, with intense curiosity.

The Stranger was visibly confused by the
glnnCe-s of the couple, 'as well as by their decla-
rations. .

He was about eight-and-twenty, and it was
easy to see that he would pass for good-looking
when in his proper semblance, despite the fact
tnat he was a little too large and coarse for a
model athlete.

He was without coat, yest,,or hat, and both
his pantaloons and shirt were much the Worse
for wear and tear. the latter evenhaving a long
slit down the back.

There was considerable bloo‘d too, upon his
garments, but there were ample reasons for
thinking that it might be his own.

“Yes, you’ve been in a considerable scrim-l

mage, young man,” pursued Jack, continuing
his survey of the new arrival. “Withugal,
too, as my wife was %uick to see by those
scra ,hes. Who are you ’

“ tell you later,” replied the upkndwn
looking around nervously. “ What I want firs
is a Change, of clothing, with a hat, and some~
thing to eat'and drink.” t

“ Have you any money i” asked Jack.

“ Plenty,.sm” ‘

“ Let me have some of it, and I can make you
quite at home here in a few minutes.”

The stranger handed out a/twenty-dollar,

greenback in silence.

“ Geod,” muttered Jack. “ Follow me.”

\He led the way to his private quarters, follow-
ed by Mrs. Y ttaw, after a few Words to an
employee in‘r ard to the work of renovation
which had been thus interrupted.

“ What sort of craft is this?” asked the un-
known, locking around in astonishment, as he
sees ited the chair offered him. ‘-

“ t’s the buniboat of Jack Yattaw,” answered
the proprietor.

“Ah. indeed!” cried the guest. “I’ve heard
of you i”

“ It would be a wonder if you hadn’t,” growl-
ed Jack. “ I’ve been cab of the big guns of
Scang more years than you’ve liVed, young
man.

“ You’re known as the ‘ King of the Pier’ and

has the" Pirate of the Lake ’i”

Jnck nodded contentedly.

“ You’re as much a feature of Chicago as the
Garden Mybill is of Paris?”

The bumboater bowed again, while his wife
proceeded to lay out a suit of his clothes, with a
shirt and other necessaries for the stranger.

“ Your craft is hitched to the Government
pier i believe?”

“ Yes, sir.” ‘

“ And this pier is a sort of neutral ground, or
No Man‘s Land, where the city'bas no jurisdic-
tion?” ‘ ’

“ That’s about the size of it.”

“ And so you have high old times here every

night in the Week, with the crowd of rage, tags,

 

you later. You’ll find soap and towels handy.
By the time you come back to us, I’ll have some-
thing ready in the shape of a breakfast.”

This programme having been duly carried out
on both sides, the stranger sat dowu 10 a repast
which spoke well for the resources of his enter-
tainers. '

“ What a singular craft you have here, cap-
tain!” he remarked, when he_ had appeased the
first demands of his hunger. “ It is neither
canal-boat nor barge, but very much like them.
Yonder is where your visitors dance, I supposa?
Does the business pay?”

“If it didn’t, I should soon be out of it,” an-
swered Jack. “ But, tell us now about yourself.
Where are you from i”

“ FrOm Miiskegon,” was the answer after a
barely perceptible hesitation.

“ You’ve been out on the lake all night, I see,”
said Jack, with an insinuating air. “In fact,

on can’t have left Muskegon in that row-

oat?”

“No, sir. I left home in a small sloop, but
was overtaken by a storm, and the sloop found-
ered, so that I was compelled to make my escape
in the boat."

Jack and his wife exchanged glances in silence
which showed that he didn’t believe a Word
their guest was saying.

His hesitancy and agitation, in fact, were W 1‘!

calculated to throw suspicion and doubt upon
him.
“ You had better offer the geiitleman a glass
of that fine old California port,” suggested Yat-
taw, giving his wife a look of secret intelligence.
“ It will do him good.”

The suggestiOn was acted upon, and the guest
drank the port, with thanks.

“ And now I’ll ask you again for your name,
sir,” said Jack.

“It’s Eaton,” returned the stranger.

He had scarcely made the statement, how.
ever, when he started‘violently, littering a cry of
distress which was also an ejaculation of amaze-
merit.

“ What was in that port?” he demanded, with
angr suspicion.

“ hy do you ask?”

“ Because I feel so strange, so dizzy! Mind
and hodv seem to be slipping away from me!”

Black Jack smiled.

“ Villain! I see it all,” cried Eaton tossing his
hands wildly. “ Youlve drugged me! But—”

His head sunk upon his breast, and he would
have tumbled headlong if Jack had not caught
him in his arms and eased him to a horizontal
posture, where he lay in that stupid slumber
which can be produced only by a powerful drug.

“ Good 1” muttered the bumboater. “ The man
must have some bill or letter on his person that’ll
tell us who be Is. I’ll go through his pockets.”

The search was soon ended, and much to Jack’s
dis ust.

' Not a line,” he growled, his dark face be-
coming still darker—“ not a single hint as to who
the man is or where he came fro l He must be
a wary dog, and have g reas s for being so,
to thus get rid of ev y clew to his identity!
Whew! what a pile of mo ey! Here must be
thousands of dollars! In a y case, I’ll take care
of it ill be comes out of this sudden illnessq
That ose will keep him asleep till‘ night, and:
another ’ll last him till morning. He won’t take
leave of us til! I’ve solved the mystery of his ad-
venture with the gal who gave him those
Scratches. Blast him! he may have killed her!
Help me move him to my bed."

The unconscious .man was duly conveyed to
the room where he had changed his clothes, and
the door was locked hpon him.

“ I’ll go to court now to get rid of that blasted
Eyetalian,” announced Jack, after giving his
wife a few instructions concerning the stranger,
and you needn’t be alarmed if I’m away two or
three hours.”

And, with this, he leaped nimbly to the pier
and vanished.

_ .

//
. CHAPTER 11.,
on rucx'or BIG (skim. !

A'r that same hour. Bolly Blair. chief of the
On-the—Wing Detectives, sat at his-desk in his
office in the Rookery, with a pile of letters and
other documents before ,hiin.

“ It’s a big thing,” he muttered, sweeping the
papers into a drawer. and turning a key up0n
them. “Something is sure to come of it. I
Wonder Swo p hasn’t come to America in
person to loo after it. If he were only here—”

His musings were interrupted by a firm,

)

 

l \

brisk tread outside his door, followed by a
knock.

“ Come in l" he called.

The visitor complied, closing the door behind
him, after a swift glance into the passage he had
traversed.

“ What! Gordon Swopp?” cried the chief,
springing to his feet and hastening to greet the
new-comer. “ When did you arrivei”

“ Late last night, Belly ” returned Swopp,
shaking hands heartily. “ ow do you do?” -

“ Never better, Gordon. And you?”

“ 0. K., Bolly,” assured Swopp, drop ing
into the nearest chair. “Have ou rece ved
my letters in regard to the visit 0 Sir Charles
Depworth to this country?”

“Yes, and I was just wishing you Were here
to clear up a few points of the affair,” returned
the chief, lowering his voice and drawing his
chair nearer. “ You are here on this busi-
ness?”

“Naturally, my boy,” assured the English
detective, who was a flnelooking, florid gen-
tleman of thirty-eight, whose sharp eyes and
clear-cut features indicated the shrewdest abili-
ties.
“ Good! When did you leave London?”

“ Only eight days ago.”

“ Before or after Sir Charles Depworth?”

“I was a train behind him to Liverpool, but
my steamer arrived at New York a few hours
ahead of him.”

“ Does Sir Charles know you i"

“ No more than he knows the mikada.”

“ You never spoke to him?”

“ Never.”

" And yet you take such an interest in his af-
fairs that you have traveled four thousand miles
on his account?” ,

The Englishman assented.

“ Then he’s quite in our line?”

“ Never was men more so.”

“ He’s booked foi‘trouble?”

“ Of a serious nature.”

“ And he don’t even suspect it?”

“ No more’n ii babe unborn.”

“ And we alone can straighten out the im-
pending complications?”

“ Just so, .my boy i”

The two men exchanged glances of the deepest
satisfaction.

They were the master minds of the On-the-
Wing Detectives, an international association,
with headquarters in the principal cities: and a
new and novel feature of their business was to
ferret out all sorts of rascals and rascalities on
theirown hook or without, waiting to be hired
or advised by the parties the most interested.

In other terms, the On-tbe—Wing Detectives
constitute a very powefful secret agency for the
protection of society.

Their method is to nip crookedness in the bud,
before even its victims are aware of the
machinations against them.

Bolly Blair. the American head of the as-
sociation, as also its general manager, is barely
seven-aniotwenty, but he has done work which
has made him known in both hemispheres, and his
London associate, Captain Gordon Swoop, is
well worthy of him. v

“Where is Sir Charles Depworth now, cap-
tain?” resumed Blair, after a pause.

“ Somewhere between here and New York. no
doubt, and probably within a few hours of
Chicago,” answered Swopp. ‘

“Then we may look for him in the course of
the day?”

The Englishman n ded.

“ There’s no tellin Just when,
rive at any moment. ’

“ Who’s with him?”

“ His wife, Lady Depworth, and his private
secretary, Fred Bullinger.”

“ You think this secretary is crooked?" pur-
sued Blair, handing out some fine Havanas, and
proceeding to light one.

Swopp nodded again. "

“ Have you posted younelf full in regard to
the business which as brought ir Charles to .
America?” . , x

“ Oh, yes,” answered Swopp. “ He'll be!” 85
the chairman of a great English syndr to
which proposes to invest large y in Anieripan
industries, such as breweries. manufactories,
stock-yards, mines and the like."

“ Then Sir Charles and his friends haVe plenty
of money!” '

“ Millions of it, my dear boy—millions! And
such being the'case, you'll not be surprised to
hear that the baronet is already the target of
some of the worst crooks in London‘ and one of
them—the notorious Hi Jenkins—is aking such
an interest in the matter that he's sure to turn
up here sooner or later.” .

“ Isn’t this Hi Jenkins the father of Mrs. Sally
Rimmer one of the queens of the demi-monde of
London ’ asked Blair. .

“ He is,” informed Swnpp, “and Mrs. Rimmer
has recently captivated Fred Bullinger, the
baronet's secretary. Out of this state of things,
asymi can see at a glance, is sure to Come a
game that’ll be interesting.”

“ That’s so,” declared Blair, “ especiallv as the
Chicago paper‘- have already said n-uch about
Sir Charles and his nfl’aii's. and so fix (I the at-

but he may ar-

tention of at least two of the most dangerous 4

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crooks in Chicago upon him. I refer (0 Bart
Wyser and Dan the Swatter. Is this the first
visit of Sir Charles to Chicago?”

“No, he was here sixteen years ago, with
Lady Depworth, and thereby hangs a tale of the
strangest description."

“ Please explain, Gordon.”

“ Well, at that time the only child of the
couple-their daughter and heiress—was stolen
from them by a deadly enemy and from that
hour to this they have never been able to get the
least trace of the girl or her abductor. ”

“ Horrible!” ejaculated Blair.

“Curiously enough, however,” continued
Swopp, “ the baronet and Lady Depworth have
conceived a hOpe—as wild as it is—that they
will get some trace of their missing daughter
through this new visit to Chicago, and I really
believe they are more interested in this hope
than in all the affairs of the syndicate repre-
Sented by the baronet. Be that a~ it may, they
have talked of the. missing heiress so freely

tduring their voyage from Liverpool that I’ve
easily gathered the whole story from third par-
ties, and a very keen Zest does it give to the sitr

‘ uatiqi’i, as you will see when I give you the de-
tails.

“Have you any idea where Sir Charles is
likely to stop in Chica o?” asked Blair, throw-
ing away his cigar, wit an air which meant ac-
tion.

“ Yes, at the Palmer.”

“ Then let us go and burrow there, in such a
way as to constitute ourselves a secret body-

. guard of the baronet without his knowing it,”
proposed Blair, arising. “ We cannot not too
soon, or too much.”

He aflixed a small card to his door, informing
possible clients that he would return in an hour,
and hen led the way from his office and
from he Rookery building.

CHAPTER Ill.
THE GREAT CROOK FROM LONDON.
ARRIVING at the Palmer House, Bolly Blair
conducted his associate to the office.
“ How‘s travel, N ail” he inquired of the clerk
\Jie found in charge.
“ Very lively, air,” was the answer. “ There's

 

,. hardly a desirable room remaining.”

“Please amign me one of the best you have,”
pursusd Blair, “and this gentleman will occupy
it with me till further advices.”

He wrote a couple of names rapidly on the
register, and the clerk placed against the same a
'number well up in the hundreds.

“ Which of you is Carl MOssbach?” he then
asked. “Is this distinguished SwitZer you, Mr.
Blairfl

The detective nodded.

“ Then your friend is Herr Zweikopf, of
coume," pursued the clerk, giving Smog? a smile
of welcome. “ see on hail from him. Is
this because you nten to ‘ do ' somebody before
you vacate the apartment?”

“ That’s our intention, Ned,” replied Blair,
“ but you’ll have to help us.” \

“ Tell me how, please.”

“ Why, you‘ll lodge near us, during the next
day or two, anybody who hails from London.

The clerk looked into the eyes of the detective,
lvivith a smile of comprohenpion playing about his

98- '
“ I comprehend, sir,” he then said. and in an-
other moment, seizing the key of the room as-
signed him, Blair was taking his way through
the intervening corridors.

“You seem to be at home here, Bolly,”rt~

marked Swopp. as they neared their destination.

" Oh, yes,’ replied the chief. “ The Palmer is
oneI of a dozen hotels in Chicago which pay me

to keep'the crooks out of them. 1 take a turn
through the house every day or two, and it’s
very rare that any undesirable 'guest gets in
here without soon gettin out again.”

Nothing more was sai until the two detec-
tives had taken issesslon of their room and
were enjoying a little refreshment suited to the
weather. . .I

“ Your idea is, I think,” then queried Bwopp,
“ to have Sir Charles under your eye from the
moment of his arrival!”

Blair assented.

“ The step is well taken,” pursued the English-
man. “ If half I see and suspect should be re-
alized, we shall have ample use for all our clever-
ness. '

“ There's no doubt of that,” avowed Blair.
“ Between the crooks of the Old World and
those of the New, Sir Charles is sure to have a
lively time before he has invested his millions.
Do on know Hi Jenkins and his daughter?”

“ es, Bolly, but they don’t know me. I’ve
often spotted theni—”

‘ Blair raised his finger warningly, and the two
men listened to sounds of footsteps which had
invaded the passage nearest them.

, " Can it be we’re to have neighbors so soon?”

whispered the Englishman.

“ Evidently," answered Blair.

The two men listened while a partv was shown
into a room adjoining them. and then a slip of
paper was thrust under their door containing
the following words in the handwriting of the
clerk they had just quitted:

“ Baron Blglaud and daughter, London, England."
\

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'the passage, which gave me an idea.

 

.The two On-the-l’Vings exchanged glances of
pleased excitement.

“ Is there any such baron in England?” asked
the chief.

“ There is,” replied Swopp, “ but I don’t be
lieve he’s just now in Chicago.”

“ Then who can this man he?” '

“ That remains to be seen, but I caught a few
words from the daughter, as they came along
Let me
verify it.”

Climbing upon a chair, Swopp peered over the
transom sill of a door of communication be-
tWeen the two apartments.

“ Begad l” he muttered, dropping back noise-
less! y to the floor. “ Here’s quick return for
our trouble!”

“ How so?”

“ They’re Hiflenkins and his Sally!”

“ Sure?” breathed Blair.

“ I saw them both full in the face.”

“ But how dare he—”

“Oh,,this conduct gives you the measure of
the man l” interrupted Swopp. “ He’s one of
the most daring scoundrels in existence. Ten
to one he knows where the real baron is, and
feels quite safe in the bold game he’s playing.”

" Caution l” whispered Blair.

Placing his ear at the keyhole, the detective
listened to the conversation which had begun to
reach his hearing.

“ Are you tired, Sally?” a masculine voice
was demanding.

“Not a bit, father,” was the answer. “ Did
you register as Bigland ?”

“I did, and this puts you under the necessity
of figuring as Lady-Chidder.”

“ I understand. Is it likely anybody will get
onto our racket?”

“ Of course not. The real baron is in India,
and I don’t believe half a dozen persons in
America are familiar with his face and person.”

“ Are you sure the real baron is unkn0wii to
Sir Charles?” pursued the feminine voice, which
the listening On-the-Wing had promptly recog-
nized as that of Mrs. Sally Rimmer.

“ Quite so,” replied Hi Jenkins. “ There's no
danger whatever that we will be smoked out of
our assumed characters during the few days we
shall remain here. The real baron is wealthy,
and it will not be diflicult for me to pry into
the baronet’s affairs by representing that I am
anxious to become one of his investors.” ‘

“ But, the baronet isn’t here, father, and
there’s no telling when he will be.”

“ Oh, he’ll be here to-day,” declared Jenkins,
“ and a few hours of delay will be no disadvan-
tage to us. We shall not only get rested from
our long journey, but can begin our acquaint-
ance with the city and lay out our work. Are
you sure the baronet’s secretary is still ignorant
of your real name and character?”

“ Perfectly sure of it.” .

“ He thinks you are Lady Chidderf”

“ What else can he think, since he accepted
me as such the evening before he left England?”
suggested Mrs. Rimmer. “Can he have made
any discoVery to my disadvantage while cross-
ing the Atlantic?”

“ Certainly not. Do
drive of an hour or twof’

“ I’d sooner stay here, father,” answered the
daughter. “ The baronet and his party may
arrive at any moment, and we ought to be here
to take prompt action.”

“That’s so,” acknowledged Jenkins. “We’ll
remain on the watch.”

“ And so will' you and I, Gordon,” whispered
Bolly Blair to his associate, helping himself to a
chair. “ The game’s getting interesting.”

It was indeed!

The arrival of the English baronet was now
the one thing uesdfull

CHAPTER IV.
A TRAGEDY or ran PAST.

11‘ seemed to Sir Charles Depworth, as he was
whirled into the lakeside metropolis by the train
in which he had left New York twenty-four
hours before. that he had nevsr made a more
comfortable journey,

Not even in the renowned “ Flying Scotch-
man,” which he had often had Occasion to use.

This, too, was the opinion of Led Depworth,
who sat beside him, with an air of pleased inter-

est.

Sir Charles hali just reached his forty-fifth
year, and was the beau ideal of an English gen-
tleman and business-man, courteous and uiet
of speech and demeanor, with a fathomless lue
eye, and that air of culture and refinement which
comes so natural to the best intellects and ca-
pacities when they have enjoyed the advantages
of wealth and social position.

His wife, who was some three yearshis junior,
was still remarkable for her beauty, which was
heightened by all those graces of department
and conversation which characterize theghigher
class of English matrons. '

Yet, despite all their wealth and culture, de-
spite their very eXceptional place in the world,
it would have beeneasy for even a stranger to
detect that the couple were a prey to the deepest
sorrow. .

There was a yearning in their glances. as alsb

you feel like taking a

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an unrest in their manner, which had haunted
them for many a long year, until it had become
a part of their very being.

In other terms, they were always mourning
for their stolen daughter , carried away by a re-
morseless enemy to Some unknown fate, as
Captain SWopp had stated to his associate.”

“ What a change from the Chicago of sixteen
years ago!” L-idy Depworth could not help say-
ing, as she looked out upon the kaleidoscopic
scene she was traversing. “I shouldn’t know
the place.”

The baronet responded in similar strain, and
the couple gave themselves up to the contempla-
tion of the views every moment brought to their
attention.

They were so absorbed, in fact, in the scenes
assing under their gaze, that they gave hard-
y a glance or a thou ht to the baronet’s pri-

vate secretary, Fred ullinger, who sat Just
behind them, on the opposite side of the coach.

About thirty, tall and angular, with aaface
and eyes indicative of dull, slow, but intensepas-
sions, the aspect of the secretary was ratherasm-
gular than prepossessing.

He wore his hair parted in the middle, and,
was almost constanty caressing an enormous

air of mutton—chop whiskers, of the sort the late

rd Dundreary made So famous.

His father had been a distinguished man and
a warm friend of the baronet, in the latter’s
youthful days, and it was more to this circum-
stance that the secretary owed his post than
to any especial personal quality or merit.

The silence which had fallen upon the twoprev
mained unbroken until the train reached the
station. the secretary thinking of the charmi
Lady Chidder, who had promised to See him in
America, and Sir Charles and his wife recall—
ing the terrible tragedy which had attended
their previOus \ isit to the great American city.

“ To the Palmer House,” ordered the baronet
to the first hackman he encountered, at the mo-
ment of leaving the station.

“ Any baggage, sir?” asked Jehu. ,

“ Only three ieces. Here are the checks.”

“ This way, 311'. Shall I take your grip?”

Sir Charles declined, his grasp tightening
upon the somewhat capacious he Was car-
rying, and Lady Depworth and ullinger fol-
lowed his example. .

The party had scarcely taken possession of the
elegant suite of :roonis assigned them at the
Palmer, when Bolly Blair presented himself in
the character of a reporter.

“ I come from the Tribune, Sir Charles,” he
said, producing the card of a real representative
of the neWSpaper who permitted him to take
these liberties, “ and I desire to know if there is
any truth in the repm't that you are here as the
chairman of a great En lish syndicate?”

“ Oh, yes, Mr. Stark, answered Sir Charles,
glancing at the card, and motioning :the sup

i reporter to a chair.

“ You intend to make large investments in
Chicago?” ‘

“ Here,
baronet.

“ Have you an thing especial in view?”

“ Yes, the izard Silver Mine of Lake
Superior, near Isle .Royale. We have been in
treaty for that pr rty several months. and
expect to purchase t same, man, if the owners
can see their way to the acceptance of our fig-
ures. Colonel Southman, who is the principal
proprietor, has already been notified of my in-
tended Visit to Chicago, and will doubtless call
upon me in the course of the day.” ‘

“ Have you ever been in Chicago before, Sir
Charles?" pursued Blair.

” Yes, sixteen years ago.”

“ Is it true, as stated by some of your late fel-
low-passengers, that your only daughter was
stolelr from you on the occaSion of that visit?”

,The baronet looked intensely astonished, as
did his wife.

“Has anything been printed to this effect?”
he demanded.

“ No, Sir Charles—”

“ Then I must beg of you not to let the matter
become public,” the baronet hastened to so ,
deeply agitated, “for it is possible that the a

ductor will soon be called to account, and it is '

even permitted us to he that we may recover
our missing daughter. ll this is a matter, how-
ever, about which we hope nothing will be said
at present."

" Nothing shall be, Sir Charles.” returned
Belly Blair “hut, pardon me for saying that I
desireto know something of your great loss, and
that this desire is not inspired by idle curiosity.
It is more than possible, Sir Charles, that I may
beof some assistance to you in this very mat-
m.” '

“Thanks. Mr. Stark.” said the baronet, seal-
ing carefully in his pocketbook the card which
had been handed him. “ You shall have the

facts, sir, but let me insist on your taking a I

chair.”

The detective sat down, and the baronet took
two or three turns across the room, with the air
of collecting hil thoughts.

“ During the first year after I graduated from
college," he then resumed, “ I was quite intimate.
I am sorry to say, with the worst .scamp I’ve
ever known. His name was Dawiing Cadab.

or helhabouts, sir,” acknowledged the. i  ,

 

   
  
    
  
 
 
  
  
 
  

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He not only made free with my purse, name,
signature, and so on, but finally crowned his
infamies by attempting to abduct the young
lady to whom I was engaged to be married.”

Bolly Blair bowed understandingly.

_ “ Of course I negatived the attempt in ques-

tion,” continued the baronet, “and within a
day or two thereafter I married the lady,” he
added, with a suggestive nod toward his wife.
“I even forgave my baseboarted rival for all
his rascalities, requiring of him only that he
should take himself oil’ to America or some
other country for distant from England.”

“The villainl” came from Lady Depworth,
the sad story stirring her soul deeply—“the
heartless, horrible villain!”

“ He went away in due course,” resumed Sir
Charles, “ and we heard of him afterward in
New York and other American cities, but had
dismissed him wholl from our thoughts by the
time we made our rst visit to Chicago. One
, onl daughter—the only child we have ever had,
‘ in act—was almost threeiyears old at that time,
and fair and sweet a child as evor existed.”

He was interrupted a few moments by the
sobs of Lady Depworth, who had broken down
completely under the terrible memories evoked
by her husband. but her ladyshi soon became
calmer, and Sir Charles continu :

“ In some way—we have never known how—
Dawling Caddie got trace of our presence in
Chicago, and gained admission to our apart—
merits when we were all asleep. The baby slept
near my wife and myself, in its little crib. Did
the villain use chloroform, or did he proceed
with such gentleness and caution that the child
was not disturbed in its deep slumborsl Heavon
only knows! At about two o’clock in the morn-
ing my wife awoke and went to the crib to find
it empty! Ah, my God! what a shriek aroused
me!” and the baronet carried his hands involun-
tarily to his ears. " I hear it stilll"

Headless of the presence of the supposed re-
porter, Lady Depworth threw herself upon her

usband’s breast with a cry of agony which at-
: tested how little the flight of years had softened

the sting of her sorrow.

“ Our little one’s bed was quite cold, although
'1 its coverin had been carefully replaced,” pro.

ceeded the ronet, after struggling a few mo-

ments with his emotions, “and hence we knew
that the despoiler of our home had long since
made good his escape. We hastened to give the
alarm, and we have employed specialdetectives
on the case for years but we had our labor for
our pains. Not the least hint has ever reached

us in regard to our daughter’s fate.” .

“ But, how do you know that Dawllng Caddie
abducted her?”

“Oh, he left a mocking, vengeful epistle be-
hind him.”

" What has given you the impression, Sir
Charles?” asked Blair after expnessing his deep

mpathy with the a icted couple, “ that some
lght will be thrown upon this subject in the
course of your present stay in Chicago?"

“A number of circumstances, Mr. Stark.”
answered the baronet, “And among them the
fact that my cousin, whok w Dawling Caddie,
encqi’iutered him in Chicag less than six weeks
a 0

8“Indeed?” cried Blair. “This is important
and rbmisingl”

“ he more sons in cousin traced him toa
little sloop i 'ng at t 0 Government pier, and
saw him sai away in it,” added Sir Charles.
“ We all believe the villain is located somewhere
along the shores of Lake Michi n, and we
Venture to hope that our lost one s still living
at the house of this man, ignorant alike of her
real name and history, and of the hearts, Which
have sorrowed so long and terribly for her.

' “You have formed some plan of action, I
presume?" '

“Oh, yes,” avowed the baronet. “We shall
search both shores of the lake, and especially the
Michigan side, for which Caddie seemed bound
in his alcop, and we shall also avail ourselves of
the great services the press is capable of render-
ing in this matter."

‘As this will be in my line, Sir Charles,”
suggested the pretended reporter, with a smile,
“ may I hope that you will advise with me be-
fore taking any steps to give this subject
further publicity l”

The baronet assented.

“Please also withhold from all other news-
paper men the facts concerning your missing
dau liter.” \

“ will do so.”

“ Further, Sir Charles, as I have several
points in reserve which it is not desirable toldis-
cuss» now, will you kindly see me whenever I
send my name to you?”

The manner of the detective was too impres-
sive to permit the baronet to deny a request so
natural and simple.

 

use. “ I shall be glad to see you at any time,
r. Stark. and in the mean time you wil lease
k of my visit to Chicago in a genera we
only, and will retain in your own breast all
have said about my stolen daughter.”
.“   “3°38. ’i'r‘i: 
mse prooun ygan t I etoo
hifgeparturo. .

~ \

“Certainly,” he answered, after a slight’

 

CHAPTER V.
THE BOGUS BARON.

SIR CHARLES and Lady Depworth had no
smmer'been left to themselves, than he stepped to
her side, his face expressmg the deepest sym-
pathy.

“Forgive me, Sylvia, for paining you with
them sad memories," he said, “ but i was drawn
to this reporter, and believe he will help us.
Remember, Dawling Caddie was seen in Chi-
cago six Weeks ago, and is likely to be near us
at this moment. A liberal use of men and
money will unearth him, and why shouldn’t we
hope our lost darling will be restored to us?”

“She may be dead—after all these years,”
faltered her ladyship.

“True, but We have good reasons for hoping
to the contrary,” returned Sir Charles. “ She
was almost three years old when we lost her,
and had passed most of the dangers peculiar to
infancy. Think what a great girl she is now.
Sylvia—almost nineteen. You wouldn’t know
her. ’

“Oh, yes, Charles—anywhere and at any
time,” declared the sorrowing mother, a glow of
yearning tenderness stealing over her sad
features. “ Yet what a world of questions
came crowding upon mel Where has she been
all these years! By what name has she been
known? Has she passed all her days with that
horrible Caddie, regarding him as her father!
Oh, Charles! when shall we begin our search
for her?"

“This very afternoon—or at the latest to-
morrow,” replied the baronet. “ The first task
in hand, you’ll remember, is to deposit the syn-
dicate's money. Fred and I will attend to this
matter as soon as our letters are ready, while
you rest and dress for dinner.”

Aesentiiig to this suggestion, Lady Depworth
hen ved a sigh of relief.

“ 1 shall be glad when those funds are out of
y0ur hands,” she said, with a glance at the
portly bag the baronet had retained in his grasp
from the train to the hotel. “ [have worried
ever since leaving London over the thought of
your having so much mone in your possession.

here are over six hund thousand pounds, I
think you said, in that bag, in securitiesand
certificates.

“ Yes, or about three million of dollars, which
is merely that portion of the syndicate’s money
I ex tto pay out during the next few days. I
shal draw half a million this afternoon. Col-
onel Southman, of the Wizard Mine may have
reached the city already, and the deal with him,
if consummated, will require a large cash pay-
ment.

A chambermaid tapped li htly at the doon
at this 'uncture, presenting t of cards of Baron
Biglan and Lady Chidder with an intimation
that the would like to call a few moments, if

agreeab e.

“ Biglandl” repeated Sir Charles, with an in-
quiring glance at; his wife. “ I thought the
hero’s was in India, or‘ somewhere in that direc-
tion

“ And so he has been,” returned her ladyship.
“It mustbe that he is going home from the
westward to the east, and that his daughter has
come from England to meet him. Are they
stopping at this hoteli"

“ On this same floor, it seems,” answered Sir
Charles, glancing at the number on the cards.

“‘ In fact, there is only one room between us

and them. We shall receive them, I suppose?”

“Oh, yes. All Englishmen are friends, you
know, when the meet in foreign countries.”

She nodded peasantly to the chambermaid,
who retraced her steps to the a rtments of the
noted crook from London and his daughter, soon
returning with the l{igecious pair in her wake.

Sir Charles and dy Depworth had left their
doors 0 en in anticipation of the call, and re-
ceived t e visitors at their threshold.

“You will .ardon our great liberty, Sir
Charles,” said‘ i Jenkins, who was ill at ease
under his assumed pompousness, “ but I’ve ven-
tured to remember once more that all English-
men are brothers.”

He wrung the hand offered him, presenting
his daughter, and the two were in turn pre-
sented to Lady Depworth, who invited them to
be seated.

Hi Jenkins was not only attired with elegance
and in the latest fashion, but his physique was
that of a polished epicure—so much so, in fact,
that no one ignorant of his identity would have

uspected him of living by his wits, and still
as of being one of the most daring and suc-
cessful crooks who have figured in our current
annals. 1

His daughter was a little too thin to be a
beauty, especially as her face and figure were
somewhat angular, but she had‘learned to ape
the manners of real ladies successfully, and
many were the bold mosquerades in which she
had figured to the detriment of her dupes and
admirers. ‘

The father had a youngish, look, although he
was fifty, but the daughter showed her years,
which touched close upon thirty.

“Thank you, we'll remain mere] a minute,”
said Jenkins, takin possession of t e chair of-
fered him. “Fin ing ourselves next door to

i you; we could do, no legs then call and exchange

I

 

 

 

greetings. Besides, I have been reading in the
Chicago papers about your great syndicate, Sn-
Charles, and I’d like to have a brief talk with
you this evening, with a view to becoming one
of your stockholders, if there is still a chance
for me.”

\ Sir Charles smiled his thanks. .

Such a proposition from a gentleman as weal-
thy and careful as the real Baron Blglmid was
known to he, could not have failed to be consid~
ered flattering.

“We shall be here several days at least,
baron,” replied Sir Charles, “ and my wife and
I will be glad to receive you and Lady Chidder
at an time which may suit your cdnvenienCe.
I sha 1 be pleased to explain to you the plans of
our syndicate, and it is needless to add that I
shall be proud of any co-operation your lord-
ship may decide to give us.” '

“ A thousand thanks, Sir Charles,” returned
Jenkins. “ Will it be agreeable to you if we
call about seven o’clock this evening?”

The baronet assented.

“Then We'll take that liberty,” pursued the
crook, arising, as did his daughter, who.had
been in casual converse with Lady Depworth.

“I would ask you to remain onger,” added
Sir Charles, as he and his wife also arose, " but
I am going out with my secretary as soon as he
has finished his correspondence.”

“ The first great step is taken, Sally—that of
getting on visiting terms with them," muttered
the bogus baron, on reaching his own apartment.
“ All the rest will come easy 1”

“ Or we’ll know why not,” appended Mrs.
Rimmer, her lips closing in a sinister smile.

CHAPTER VI. \
TEMPTRESS AND rsmrrnn.

WHEN Bolly Blair returned to his English as-
sociate, after figuring as Mr. Stark, the reporter,
he raised his eyebrows in a silent inquiry.

“ Yes,.l’ve overheard all, Bolly,” avowed Cap-
tain SwOpp. “A stran e story that about the
missin daughter and awling Caddie! The
ho 0 Sir Charles does not seem so wild as it.
di . That girl may be recovered.”

“ I believe so, Gordon,” declared Blair, “ and
we are the men to find her. Has ‘ Baron Big-
land ’ and his daughter made any movement?"

“ Not yet, but the are preparing to visit ir
Charles and Lady epworth. Ah! there they
go! Let’s hear what they have to say.”

This was no difficult matter, the room occuo
pied b the two detectives being between those
of Sir harles and Hi Jenkins, with doors com-
municatin in both directions.

All the n-the-Wings had to do to carry out
Swopp’s suggestion of listening was to cross
from one side of their room to. the other; and
they accordingly gave due attention to all that
was said and done durin the visit of the crock
and Sally Rimmer to lr Charles and Lady
De worth, as just related. .

hen, the crock and Sally returned the detec—
tives crossed their room again, and fidly Blair
proceeded tomake further use of the key-hole
which had already rendered him such good ser-
vice.

He was just in time' to hear the crock say to
his daughter: ‘

“ You saw that bag, Sally l”

“ Yes, father."

“That bag is awful tantalising,” pursued the
crook. “It contains millions, no doubt, and yet
there it stands in plain sight. I could rush into
the room an seize it and doubtless get out of
the house with it, butI should be run down be-
fore I could get out of Chicago, and the result
would he a new term in prison for a number of
years. Need I say, in view of these facts, how
utterly 1 am opposcd to Violence in this connec--
tion? What we must depend upon is cleverness,
secrecy, and deception—just such talent, in fact
as we are now displaying in passing ourselves of
on the baronet and» his wife as Baron Bigland
and his daughter.”

“ Yes, father,” returned Mrs. Rimmer. “ I
agree with you that an violence is out of the
question. unless indeed incite some such dupe
as Fred Bullinger to resort to it in my interest,
or some such ruflian as Dan the Swetter to make
use of it for mone . B the way, how does it
happeg that wedi ’t seeBullinger? Where can,
he be?

 

“ He’s in his room across the hall,” replied the
crook, “ and is bus ing himself with the baronet‘s
correspondence. ou’ll see him later, of course,

and must in some way make a cat’s~paw of him ‘

for getting hold at that bag or a portion of its
coutents.” '*
‘* I’ll see him now, father.”

“ But, he’s bus 1”
He’ll never be too busy,

"iv-

“ I don’t care or that.
to see me, I’m certain I”

“ Then he’s dead gone on you!” . ,

“ As if stuck to me with wax,” replied Sally,
with smiling complacency. “ He would have

.resigned his situation to remain with me in E

:1
land, it I hadn’t promised to see him in Ameg:

u m.
“Ohl I have him where he'll stayas long an:
wanted." declared the unscrupulous woman, in.

the hard, metallic tone which ever characterise! .    V
. , . ,ll‘ ‘ Shaw. V"

l

ea. 1 -
“ A fact: Then that speaks well for your hold

emits-Xv.
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her species. “ And l’m going to see him now be-
cause ‘ delays are dangerousi’ lVe are by no
means the Only parties who have got their eyes
1 on the baronet’s millions. What’s the number of
‘ Fred’s room?”

l The father mentioned it, and Sally opened her
I

l

l

l

door and looked it up.

“It’s almost in front of the baronet’s,” she
whispered.
keep an eye in that direction, to be sure that no
one listens to what I say to him. I shall strike

him for a few hun lreds at least.”
She glidei swiftly along the hall. making lit-
‘ tie noise, and knocked lightly at the door of the
room which had been assigned to the secretary,
“ Come in!” was called out. '
Sally complied, closing the door with quiet
celeriry.
“Ah, it’s you, Lady Chiulder?” the secretary
exclaimed, springing up from the table where
he had been writingr and hastening to meet her.

 

 

 

“I was never so pleased to see any one in my
life.’

He pressed very long and warmly the hand
She offered him, and imprinted a kiss upon it be-
fore releasing it.

“Please be seated,” he added, wheeling an
easy-chair toward her.

“ No, thank‘you, I shall stay only a moment,”
she replied. glancing at the table, which was lit-
erally loaded with his correspondence “I
came to ask two questions—yes, three. The first
concerns your health, which I can see at a glance
is excellent. The second is to ask you to call
this evening, if you have nothing better to do,
and the third—”

I She hesitated, hanging her head, and simulat—
‘ in& con fusion very prettily.
. 7. he deluded secretary looked pleased, where

a man better acquainted with the world Would

have displayed a manner wholly unresponsive.

“ It’s money again, of course?” he said, with
friendly familiarity. “ What a pity that the
fairies of olden time do not minister to their sis:
ters of to-dayl How much do you need, my
lady?”

“Whatever you can spare, more or less,” Mr.
Bullinger,” replied the adventuress. “ Our
trouble comes from our having so much money
in these wretched Argentine securities. We
left a whole block of them with a banker to be
closed out the day we sailed, with orders to
cable us the proceeds, and not a penny has
reached us.”

“Never mind, my lady,” returned Bullinger
with undisguised sympathy. “ Won’t fiva hun-
dred dollars keep the pot boiling lora day or
two, till the remittance in question is cabled i”

“ Certainly—if you could be so kind—”

The infatuated man cut short her hesitation
by handing her the amount he had named, with
the air of being very much her debtor for the

, opportunity to oblige her.,

i 11 good truth, his acquaintance with lords
g and ladies had not been very extensive, and he
felt greatly flattered at hating such intimate re-
lations with no less a personage than Lady
Chidder.

The adventuress, on the other hand, could not
; __ help appearing at her best under these circum-
stances, and she almost merited the name of
charming, so far as appearances were concerned,
as she stepped nearer and seized his hand with
seeming impressiveness, pressing it warmly.

“ You are as good as a brother, Fred—I mean,

 

I

’r , Mr. Bullinger—and you really seem to me like

one,” she murmured, recoiling toward the door,
as if surprised and scared at her own set.
“I only regret that my resources are not
geater, so that my acts could respond to my
ill,” said the secretary. “For instance, if I
were Sir Charles, I ‘could easily make this sum
ten times greater. He’s going to draw half a
million this morning from some of the banks
and bankers on whom we have large bills of ex-
change.”
“Haif‘a million? All at most to do as be
r pleases'with it?” returned Sally, in three separ—
ate ejaculations. “_I think I should go wild at
the thought of having for my own a tenth of
that sum 1” I '

“And yet, Baron Bigland is reputed very
wealthy.” .

“ True. but you’ve no idea how much popular
Enllliml' has exaggerated this matter,” said

a y.

I “ But your estates in Ireland, and your town.
house in London—”

“From some of our estate‘s we haven‘tre.
ceiVed a penny in years, and the expense on our
townohouse was so great that we rented it to a
suppOsed American millionaire, who turned out
to be a seamless adventurer, and :has now
abandons the place to us, after damaging it to
the extent of a thousand pounds. and doing us
outof more than that amount in reht. Buta
truce to this gloomy subject. Is ita promise

. , that you will see me this owning?”

“ Of courseit is, my lady.”

“That odious title always sticking to me and
gaging in the way,” exclaimed Sally, poutingly.

- “sugar. V, j, I
. Q :

)4 "1/

by can’t you call me by my maiden name

 

 

 

’ 1
"W --—~.qn,nm.t -' a.

dLanie—as you are the cal ' eutleman

A, ‘ invited to do so?” y g . "or
_ ,fi ‘ “ May I, Lallie—” -

‘ r , . ‘f‘ Of course you may, and I’ll call you Fred—

\

“ Please leave your door ujur, and .

i
l

 

it will be so much more home-like, or like broth-
er and sister. Don’t disappoint me! I want so
much to have you make the acquaintance of
poor papa, who is all alone in this great country,
and begins to regret already that he crossed the
ocean.”

“ 0h, I’ll come,” promised the dupe, intoxi-
cated by her condescension.

“ Thank you. You are too kind.”

Again she made a pretense of being carried
away by an impulsive nature,dnrting toward him

I  I'On-the-Wig Detectives.

and giving his linnda fervent pressure, and then 3

she fled in well-acted dismay, without a glance
behind her.

“ Oh, he’sa softy,” she exclaimed, a few mo 
lLSee ‘
I can do what I .

ments later, reporting to her father.
what he has ‘loaned’ me!
please with him. He’s coming to see me this
evening, and I want you to look every inch a
baron.”

The crook seated himself, with repeated nods
of assent to his daughter’s rapid sentences, and
enacted the money.

“Just five hundred,” he muttered, slipping
the money into his own pocket. “ Egadl it pays
to be beautiful, especially when beauty is backed
by brains I” ‘

_ “ And here’s a nice thing he told me, father,”
resumed Sally, her eyes glistening like those
of a serpent. “He says the baronet is going
to draw half a million in cash from the banks to-
day, and would it be so very strange if I were
to get hold of this money through the secre-
taryi”

, “Not at all, Sally, if the money should re-
main in the hands of Sir Charles over night,”
responded Hi Jenkins.‘ “ You must play boldly
furit when the time comes for action. In the
mean time, we cannot do better than make so-
quaintance with the city. Get ready, and I’ll
rin for a carriage.”

‘ Merely to see the town, father?”

“No, dear, we’llcomhine business with pleas—
are,” said Jenkins. “ To begin with, We want to
engage a driver of the right sort, who’d as soon
drive a 011pr as alive man, if he’s only well
paid for it. We may want such a one to take
us to a station or a boat in the harbor ina
hurryi”

Sally assented earnestly.

” We ought also to get into toucn with Dan
the Swatter,” added the pretended baron.
“ True, we have no acquaintance with him, be-
yond exchanging a few letters. but crookedn
like humanity, makes all the world akin, and
know We can work with him, or I wouldn’t
have given him full particulars of the great
syndicate, forwarding the baronet’s photograph.
If your fair means should fail at any time with
your pigeons, we must resort to foul, and such a
chap as Dan can’t too soon be at our service.
Get ready;
1 Much his regret Belly Blair had been un-
able to overhear what betwaen Sally and
the secretary, but her report to the crook covered
the principal points.

Bastening to communicate to Swopp the in-
tention of the couple to take a drive, the chief
of the On-the—Wings said:

“I will be their drivar, Gordon, and endeavor
toworm myself into their confidence, as some
lively work is sureto grow out of that secretary’s
infatuation for Sally. She’s unmistakably the

woman in the case!" .
“ I agree with you, Bolly.”
“ Keep an eye on Sir Charles till I return,”

gursed Blair, “and shadow him everywhere if
e gOes out to the banks with the secretary. I’ll
take care to get back here before you do, and
you’ll find me at the ladies, entrance, in the
character of ‘Nibbs the coachman,’ which I
plaved for you so successfully the last time I was
in London.”

“ All right, Belly," returned the Englishman.
" Good-luck, as usual."

_And the chief of the On-the-Wings hastened
to a little room up—stairs of which he was the
permanent occupant, and in which be kept all
the materials and clothing necessary for his
make-up in a great variety of characters.

CHAPTER VII.
, ‘ THE FIRST swoor.

LEFT again to themselves by the withdrawal
of Hi Jenkins. and Sally Rimmer, Sir Charles
and Lady Depworth exchanged significant
glances. ‘

“ Truly, it is distance that lends enchantment
tothe View in this case.” said the latter. “I
wouldn’t have believed Baron Bigland and Lady
Chiilder to be persons of this description.”

“ Nor would I,” avowed the barbnet. “ I am
almost tempted to regard them as impostors or
as crooks who have some design upon us. hot
enough of this. You still have safe the Bank
of England notes I handed you in London!”

H ladyship assented.

“ hen there’s a hundred thousand dollarsin
readiness for instant use,” pursued the baronet;
" butI may want three or four times as much
more before the day is ended. Upon the whole,
1 had better prepare to draw half a million,
when Fred ,and I go out.” ‘

Opening the bag to which attention has been

 

v directed, he took out‘a large package of bills of

exchange, from which he made a selectiom

 

5

“ They’re all to my order, of course,” he re-
marked, closing and locking the bag, “and I
mayas well sign now those I intend to cash to-
day.”

He suited his action to the word, and then
secured the bills in a leather wallet, which he re-
stored to (me of his breast pockets.

“ None of these documents can be cashed till
they hear my signature,” he added, “and hence
a thief wouldn’t is able to realiZe upon them.

w

" This is the advantage of paper over money.

Keep an eye on that bag, wide I get into that
new suit of clothes, and make myself presenta-

‘ ble.”

At the end of a few minutes he proceeded to
Bullinger’s room. just in time to miss an en-
counter with Sally.

The secretary was still busy with a number of
letters and reports it was desirable toforward
to London by the afternoon mail.

“ How long before you’ll have that correspond~
ence finished, Fred?” asked Sir Charles.

“About ten minutes, sir.”

“Then I shall have time to write a couple of
letters about matters which have sli ped my
attention. You are not forgetting utts &
Comlpauy?” a

u 0’ bit.”

“ Nor the Twinings'i”

“ I’ve just finished the letter to them.”

Seating himself at the table occupied by the
secretary, the baronet wrote a couple of short
letters, inclosing and addressing them.

“ Everything is now ready for your signa~
ture. Sir Charles,” then announced Bullinger,
arising. “ I’ll inclose and seal the letters as fast
as on sign them.”

hey worked a few moments in silence, and
then the baronet said:

“ To avoid losing time, we had better orders.
carriage. You may touch the bell.”

Bullinger complied.

“ Baron Bigland and his daughter have just
called upon us,” pursued the baronet. “I be-
lieve vou are acquainted with her lad ship!’ ’

“ Slightly, sir. Are they no ing ere?"

“ Almost next door to us. aven’t you seen
her yet?” ,

“ No, sir.”

“Let me warn you to beware of her,” said,
Sir Charles, banteringly. “She belongs to the
dangerous class known as widows.”

The secretary bent over his correspondence to
hide the flush which had invaded his saturnine
visage. .

9‘ Oh, I’ve no interest in her,” he remarde
carelessly. “ Merely a passing acquaintance.”

A bell-boy appeared at this moment, and Sir
Charles ordered a carriage.

“ There’s one in waiting, sir,” replied the boy.

“Then take us to it,” enjoined the baronet,
arising and retracing his steps to his own room.
“ I’ll be with you in a moment.”

The two gentlemen were soon seated in a cov-
ered carriage at the entrance of the hotel, the
baronet having on the seat beside him the stout
leather bag which had been such a source of
anxiety to Lady Depworth as well as himself.

C‘aptain Swopp saunteredparelessly in their
we we.

“ Where to first, Sir Charles?” asked Bullin-

ger. i 3
“To the Merchant’s Loan and Trust Com- '

ping,” replied the baronet, naming the corner
of esrborn and Washington streets tothe dri-
ver. “ Such men as Marshall Field and George
M. Pullman are directors in ,it, and I propose to
liave : good slice of our funds on depos t with
t em.

The carriage began moving at this momt,
and the two gentlemen gave their attention to
their surroundings. the hand of Sir Charles rest:-
iug carelessl y on the bag containing his funds.

“You’ve never been here before, Fred, I be-
lievei" remarked the baronet, aftera brief survey
of the scene before him. ’ ‘

" No, Sir Charles.” '

“ Well, I shouldn’t know that I bad. What I.
wonderful city I” ’

An ordinary top-buggy struck in behind them

at this moment, with the evident design on the ‘ '

part of its two occupants of keeping \near them.

To have looked at these new-comers, with their,
slim, undersized figures, dudish garbs, and slen-
der canes, a stranger would never have taken
them for what they were—two of the most dar-
ing and rascally crooks ever knewn to Chicago. V. '

They wei e, in fact, the Swatter and his .
particular chum, Bart yser. ' '

They had been watching for the advent of the
baronet from the hotel, and had readily - '
nized him by comparing him with a photong
they had in their possession.

“ Yes, that's Sir Charles,” whispered the Swat.
fer, “ and that bag he is handling so carefully is
the one which contains the s ndicate’s many.

“ Where are they bound, 0 yousuppose do-
manded Wyser. '

“ To deposit their funds. no doubt,” returned -
Dan. in a barely audible whisper, his-eyes glow-‘
ing like fire.

“ Them it‘s do or die before they reach their ¢ '29 '

destination?” , .
“ Yes, Bart.” ' . ., . ;

, “ There’s very little chance for us. Dan, in the . 
natural course of things, I’m thinking?” .  V 

\

 

   

  

 

 

 

6 It ' The On—the-Wing Detectives.

 

“ Hardly any, I’m frank enough to say, but I
was bound to avail myself of what there is. If
there should be a runaway, a breakdown, a

”

jam—

“ Ahl look therel”

The carriage of Sir Charles. which had reached
the corner of' Dearborn and Madison streets, had
suddenly been halted by several large wagons
coming from different directions.

“Turn to the left, Bart, and get a move on
you into Medison,” whispered Dan, concentrat-
ing his gaze on the haronet’s carriage, which was
still motionless. “ I’ll try for itl”

Slipping to the ground, with the agility of a
cat, he glided rapidly in and out among the
horses and vehicles between him and the object
of his greed, and at the end of a few moments
stood near the high hind wheel of the buronet’s
vehicle, which was just beginning to resume pro-
gress. a

At this moment, as fate would have it, a grip-
car struck a lady, who rent the air with a pierc-
ing scream, thus calling every eye upon her, ex-
ce t the eyes of the Swatter.

hat diversion was all he needed!

IVith a plunge that can be compared only to
that of a bird of prey, he reached into the car-
riage, which was now jammed anew, snatched
the bag from its resting-place, extricated him-
self from a dozen horses and vehicles by a series
of movements which kept him almost eclipsed
from observation, and in less time than it takes
to record the fact had resumed his seat beside
Bart Wyser and was being driven toward Clark
street at a furious gallop!

It was in vain that Captain Swopp, who had
followed the baronet, pursuant to orders, en-
deavored to intercept the Swatter. He was
knocked down by a horse and rolled in the mud,
and very narrowly escaped being kicked or
trampled to death before he could recover his
footing.

When at last he reached the corner of Clark
imad Madison streets, the daring robber had van-

s u-d.

Turning to the right, they had driven north-
ward at a pace which attracted no invidious at-
tention, as they made a pretense of trying to
stop their horse, and in less than a minute, they
had crossed the bridge. just in time to see it
swuii open behind them, thus cutting off all
pgruuit for the time being, if apy had threatened
t em.

And in another minute Dan the Swatter
was driving homeward as quietly as if he
had been merely taking an ordinary morning
recreation.

“We’ve done it,” he muttered, in a voice of
the wildest jubilance.

“And it’s a hundred to one,” returned Bart
Wyser, “that this feat of ours will knock out
everything we hays done heretofore in this line,
and be known as one of the neatest jobs ever
done in Chicago!”

And here silence fell between the couple, their
excitement holding them speechless.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
A arr or MUTUAL MASQUERADING.

BY the time Belly Blair had disguised himself
suitably and stationed himself at the ladies’ en-
trance of the hotel as the driver of a stylish
turnout, Hi Jenkins and Sally made their ap-
pearance, escorted by one of Blair’s employees,
to whom be ad given a hint to this effect.

“Where to, sir?” asked the On-the-Wing.

. after the couple had taken their seats, and
bicn duly kodaked in that position by his em~
p OVPQ'. \

Hi Jenkins hesitated a moment, with an un-
lelasy glance at various persons standing near

m.

Then his gaze came back to the face of his

, driver, which was a stud for the most versatile

comedian, being a mate less blending of hair,
paint, patchwork and discolorings, the effect
of which was to 'give th wearer a very hard
look with an especial aspeqfl-of having been in a
flgh . and of having a very black eye in conse-
quence.

“ Just drive in any direction you please that
will take us out of this crowd—to some quiet
place where my daughter and I can hear our-
selves talk,” the angst length ordered.

“ Suppose I takey first to Lincoln Park?”
insinuated the On-the-Wing. “ It’s not only a
beautiful place, which every stranger oughtto
visit, bl’l’t it’s very quiet there, at certain points
-very. '

The suggestion brought a look of relief to the
«Ook’s face.

“ Thanks for.the hint, driver,” he said. “ You
Jug act upon it.”

ouuting his box. the On-the—Wing drove
quietly along’Mnm-Oe street to Clark, into which
he turned northward, thus passing the Court
'House and City Hall, upon which he discoursed
with an ability w hich showed that he. was well
gotten up inside as outside, for the role he had
undertaken.

Thence, crossing the river by the Clark street
bridge he followed North Clark to the southwest
oorncr‘if the Park. v

Driviugslowly'past the Lincoln Monument,

 hoexpatiated upon it and its hero in a style

  ., . , .;. ', 7-. "

 

worthy of a guide—book, and then drew up in
the shade under a fine row of trees bordering the
parade ground.

“ From here, sir, we can drive in any direction
you’d like to go,” he announced, alighting and
presenting himself at the door of the carriage.
“ Shall I take you to the New Breakwater
Drive?”

“ VVhere’s that?” asked Sally.

“ It’s the new water front of the Park, ma’am,”
answered Blair, “ and affords very fine Views of
the lake and shipping.”

“ I’d see about that later,” observed the pre-
tended baron, endeavoring to read the unread—
able face before him. “ Let me have a few
words with you, driver. You seem to be a nice
sort of man.”

The On—the-VVing inclined himself profoundly.

“ Do you know who I an)?” pursued the crock.

The On~the-Wing nodded.

“ I was told I was to drive for Baron Bigland
and Lady Chidder,” he took the trouble of
saying.

“ May I ask your name?” put in Mrs. Rimmer,
with a glance which showed that she was some-
what puzzled by the strange appearance the
detective presented.

“You may call me Nibbs, ma’am,” replied
Blair after some heSItation.

It was a very common occurrence for him to
figure as the coachman of parties who had
fallen under suspicion, and Nible was the name
under which he always traveled on such oc—
casions. ’

As Nibbs he had done very wonderful things,
with the aid of his employees and allies.

“ Is Nibbs your real name, my man?” inquir-
ed Jenkins, whose flrst view of everybody was
that they were sailin under an alias.

The seeming hes tation of Blair became
marked.

“ No, sir,” he finally answered. “ The fact is
—C~in you keep a Secret?” ‘

“ Just try us,” invited the crock.

” Then I’ll tell you candidly that I’veabandon-
ed my real name because I’ve been in prison.”

“ A convict!” gasped Sally.

“ It’s my misfortune, ma’am.”

“ You don’t look it.” assured Mrs. Rimmer
em hatically. “ What on earth could take such
a c ever man as you are to prison?”

“ Your ladyship will eXcuse me, I’m sure,”
replied the On-the-Wing, with another profound
inclination.

“ Oh, tell us,” insisted Sally.

“ Well, I loved too much, ma’am,” avowed
the On-the—Wing with well-acted confusion.
“ In other words, I had a wife too many!”

“ That is no reason why you should keep your
real name from us," commented Sally, smiling
sweetly u on him. “ What is it?"

“ Sam urbish, ma’am.”

This name of Sam Furhish was not only a
real one, but it was widely known in Crookdom.

It was, in fact, the name of one of the most
noted pals of Dan the Bwutter. ‘

“ Furbishl” repeated JenkinS.
sounds familiar.”

“ You may have heard of it in connection
with Dan the Swatter,” pursued Blair, whose
purpose was to commend himself to the. London
crbok by pretending to be another of the same
species. “ Dan’s my rticular friend, and
manyfs the time he and have been arrested to-
gather.”

The crook and his daughter exchanged glances
of intense satisfaction.

Nothing could have leased them more than
to thus find unexpected y in the person of their
driver the very reprobafe they wanted.

“«I remember your case nOW, Furbish,” said
Jenkins. “ The particulars were given me by a
friend who returned from Chicagoto London.
But you were sent for two years. How does it
happen you have yourliberty f”

“ Oh, my friends had a ‘ pull,’ and the govern-
or sent me a pardon.”

This was merely a pretense, of course, of the
game Blair was playing.

The real Sam Furbish was still doing time in
the Penitentiary, with many a long day of con-
finement ahead of him.

" And so you are driving this fine turnout
under the assumed name of Nibbs?” pursued
Jenkins. “ I’m delighted to have made your
acquaintance. Can you reserve yourself and
your carriage entirely for our use, Furbish,
during our stay in Chicago?”

“ Certainly, sir if you are willing to pay me
my price, ten dol era a day.”

~“ Oh, that’s all right,” spoke up Sally, smiling
again. “ You may consider yourself engaged
to us. We want you to be constantly at our
dis 1. Where can we always find you?"

he pretended coachman informed her.

“ ‘ ,” commented Sally. “ Do you know
where Dan the Swatter lives?” '

_“ Do I know where he livins, ma’nm?” returan
.Nibbs. ‘ Why shouldn’t I, when I’ve been there
more times than you’ve got fingers and toes?
He Lives near Western avenue and West Jack-
son.

“ He Owns the house he lives in, I believe?"
queried Jenkins.

“Yes, sir, although the title is in his sister,

“ The name

 

Mrs. Hufl, who figures as his housekeeper.”

A, I n  _,;.3_31/'i';.,. , _ t

“ Why in her name, Furbish?”

“ So that she can bail him, which she always
dees when he’s in trouble. But don’t use my
real name, please. Call me Nibbs,”

“ All right, Mr. Nibbs,” said Sally.

“ And did Dan acquire the house in question
by his particular line of industry?” inquired
Jenkins, a little sarcastically.

“ He did, sir—by swatting people on the head
and going through their pockets while they
were insensible. That’s h0w he got his name,
too. Swatting’s his forte. He’d await you for
a dollar if he knew you had that amount on
you mpei'son, and he could get a good chance at
ytiu,

“ I am curious to see this wonderful man,”
said the crock. “ You may take me to his.
house.”

“ In the daytime?”

“ What’s that to do with it?”

“Why, some of those (iewctives who are al»
ways hanging around such crooks would get
onto you, and then the grand question would
arise as to what possible connection there can
be between Baron Bigland and Dan the Swat-
ter.”

“ Then what’s to be done?”

“ If you really wish to see Dan, you had bet-1
ter make an appointment through me to meet
him at some safe and suitable rendezvous.”

“ Not at the hotel?”

“ No. Dan wouldn’t dare be seen calling
there.”

“ Then where?”

“You might meet him on Black Jack Yat-
taw’s bumboat, at the Government pier, at nine
o’clock this evening,” suggested the On—the-
Wing. “You know something about Black
Jack, I presume?”

“Yes, all about him, and I like your sugges-
tion,” returned Jenkins. “ Will you undertake
to see Dan during the afternoon and arrange for
him to meet me at Black Jack’s at the hour
named?"

“I will, sir.
he know you?”

“I’ll write him a line, so that all you’ll have
to do is to agree with him upon the hour.”

Producing paper and envelopes from a capa-
cious side~pocket, the noted crook from London
proceeded to indite a few lines to his almost
equally noted conjrere of the Windy City.

“ Be sure to make it clear to Dan who the let-
ter is from, sir,” suggested Blair, “so that he
won’t think the police is trying to wool him. I
must tell you, sir, Dan is that suspicions that
he’d swatt his own shadow if he caught it fol-
lowing him.”

“Have no fear, my man,” returned Jenkins,
airily. continuing to write. “ Dan’ll know what
he’s getting.” /

The On-the Wing inclined himself again, with
the air of having nothing further to say.

“ Therel see that he has these lines promptly,
Nibbs,” enjoined the crock, passing the missive
tothe detective, after sealin the envelope con-
taining it. “And now d ve us through the
Park and the principal streets and boulevards,
getting us back to 'the hotel in half an hour.”

Bolly Blair complied with these instructions.
but had barely returned the’ couple to their hote
when his English associate Came running to him
in a state of the wildest excitement.

“ What is it, Gordon?” demanded the chief of
the On-the—Wings.

“The baronet’s cash has .been stolen!” whis-
pered the new-comer—“a big haul l”

But what shall I tell him? Does

 

CHAPTER IX.
ran caooxs AB'I'OUNDED.

Tn; particulars of the rowery were commu-
nicated to Blair in as few words as ible.

‘“ What sort of a man is the thief?” .was the
chief‘s first question.

Captain Swopp described him, and a smile of
comprehension wreathed Blair’s ll 3. ' ,

“ That man is Dan the Swatter, he declared,
with as much certainty as if he had been an eye

witness. “ Can you give me a hint of the party ‘

with him?”

Swopp hastened to do so.

“ I F66,” commented Bollv, his smile deepen-
ing. “'l‘hnt second man is Bart Wyser. While
‘ Baron Bigland’ has simply been scheming todo-
something, in the course of the day or evening,
these daring ‘twins’ have put in a sample of
their best work.”

He asked a few questions respecting the con-
veyauce used by the thieves and the route they
had taken, and then said:

“ The, onlv way to recover that money is to
drive like lightning to the house of Dan the
Swatter."

“But will he go home?”

“Yes. Where else could he go? Whereelse
could he even examine his booty? Tet), to one
we can get there ahead of him. Jump up."

The time‘ made between the hotel and the
abode of Dan Drindle, otherwise Dan the Swat-
ter, Was something marvelous, the horses which
had been furnished the chief in his character of’
Nibbs the coachman, being th of the most:
powerful and bestptrained animal's ever seen in
Chicago. x i .5 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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l

 

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Rx' .
‘r‘

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W “6...: who...” a... .. .



 

 

 

    

 

 

The On-the-Wing Detectives. 

 

They not only knew how to speed when the
road was open, but how to slow-up when it was
closed, and were able to calculate distances and
avoid obstructions almost as well as their driver.

Two or three times a policeman or a detective

in plain clothes made a dash toward the flying
pair, but at some mysterious sign from the on-
the-Wing or at a recognitiOn of the man or the
horses, or else at some muttered ejaculation,
hastened to get out of the Way, comprehending
that there was no occasion for their ii.tert'er-
ence.
“ That is the house yonder, Gordon,” atlength
announced Bolly Blair to his associate, drawing
rein and indicating the residence of the Swatter.
“ I see no sign of life about the premises, and
fancy we are ahead of him. I’ll get out here
and finish the journey on foot. ‘ You can drive
to the next corner, turning to the left out of
sight and waiting there for me. lf 1 find Dan’s
sister alone, I shall get her out of the way by
some process—threats, false representations, or
force—and quietly wait and watch for the ar-
rival of the Swatter.”

“ But can you handle him without me?”

Nodding an affirmative, the chief leaped light-
ly to the ground and walked off at a lively pace
toward the dwelling of the noted crook, order-
ing Swopp by a gesture to carry out his share
of the programme.

Only those who had resided along time in the
neighborhood were aware that the house in
question was inhabited.

The blinds were all am, the yard overrun
with Weeds, and the wooden sidewalk from the
street to the kitchen door was broken in seVerai
placas.

A host of a woman was occasionally seen flit-
ting into the house or from it after night had set
in, but she never Opened a window, or received
a visitor, or answered any of the calls of book-
agents, hucksters, and peddlers.

This woman was Mrs. Huff, the'sister of Dan,
and his housekeeper.

She was many ears older than Dan, and had
been a widow so ong that no one had any knowl-
edge of the time when she was a wife, or even of
her husband.

She was thin to gauntness, undersized and
morbidly skittish, with restless eyes, and that
hunted look which gradually invades the gaze of
those who live in apprehension.

Advancing to the kitchen door, the On-the—
Wing knocked in a light, careless way, and then
turned the knob and entered.

A cry of surprise came from Mrs. Huff, who
sat at a table, in the act of paring potatoes for
dinner. /

“ Don’t be alarmed, ma’am,” enjoined the call-
er. “ Your brother will be here in a few minutes
with the stolen money, but he sent me ahead to
be sure that no one has slipped in here in his ab-
sence to watch and wait for him.”

The words calmed the woman on the instant.

“ No one has been here,” she said. “ Please be
seated.” ’

“ Thanks,” returned the On-the-Wing, accept-
ing the chair offered him. “I believe you are
fully aware of your brother’s intentions? His
idea was to seize the bag of money, if he had any
chance of doing so, and hasten home with it.”

Mrs. Huff looked at him in such a blank and
unresponsive way that be readily saw the Swat-
ter had not taken her into his confidence, possi-
lgly because there ware so many chances against

me

“ Are vim: quite sure, ma’am,” resumed the
On-the— ing, ‘ that we are alone!”

“ How alone?"

“ I meanure you quite sure that none of those
rascally detectives who are always worrying

' your brother have crept into the house unseen to

i

arrest him

The woman itoked frightened.

“My brother warned me against that very
thing,” she declared, arising and dropping the
knife she had been using. “ But I’ve fastened
all the doors and windows.”

“Are you sure of that?" demanded Blair, as
he also arose. “I think some one is mbving in
the front part of the ho se-yes, in that closet
off the back rlor. Sullpose we use?”

Mrs. Huff ed the way in the direction indica-
ted, and was soon peering into the closet in ques-
tion the detective standing close behind her.

“l must tell you now, ma’nm, who I really
am,” said the On—the-Wing. touching her arm.

“ Who—you are?” she gasped, startled by the
chan in his manner.

“ es, ma’am,” he continued. " I’m the
famous detective, Captain Crocklodon—the most
terrible detactive the world has ever seen. I
can catch your men while you waitl Didn’t
you ever hear of me?”

“ Never, Mr. Crockleton.”

“ Then mark me well, ma’am,” enjoined Blair,
in a manner meant to be im resslve. “I am
here to arrest_ your brother. e has just robbed
a bank, shooting the cashier and has run over
two women and three children in making his
escape. His case is a bad one, and if it can be
shown that you are here waitin for him, you’ll
be carried OR to prison for theialauce of your

dag.” .
e woman’s teeth chattered her hands ' -
 thb  for support. ' ding

    
 

 
 

_ \
.4 . m

 
   

 

“What am I to do, Mr. Brottlebrown?” she
demanded.

“You are to shut yourself up in this closet,
Mrs. Huff,” replied the detective, “and not stir
or speak for at least half an hour. You’re not
to answer, even if you hear your brother calling
you, but are to remain just as still as if you
Were dead.”

“ How long, if you please—”

“Until your brother has left the house,” en-
joined the On-the—Wing. hurriedly, hi< ear just
then catching the rumble of a. swiftly moving
wagon. “There! Quiet!”

Pushing the woman into the closet, he closed
the door upon her, and hastened to secrete him—
self in the pantry off the kitchen.

Still another brief wait, and Dan the Swatter
came hurrying into the house, carrying in his
hand a wooden box in which he had concealed
the bag containing the syndicate’s money.

Not seeing his sister, be halted in an attitude
of surprise.

“ Where are you, Tibby 3" he called, after lis-
tening a moment. “ Upstairs or down cellar?”

Mrs. Huff heard him, but took good care not
to answer, having a lively fear of the “ terrible
Captain Crocklodonl” ‘

“Don’t you hear me Tibby?” resumed the
Swatter anxiously.‘ “ here are you? What
are on doing? Answer!

“ i‘ibbyi Tibbyi”he called, getting alarmed
and apprehensive. “ Surely, she’wouidn’t leave
the house at such a moment! Can it be that she
has had another of her fainting spells while mak-
ing the beds?”

Thrusting the box into the pantry in which
Blair had taken refuge, the crock turned the key
in the outer door and Went up-stairs two or
three steps at a time, continuing to call the name
of his sister.

He had barely cleared the kitchen when the
On-the-Wing took the bag from the box and
glided from the house, taking care to walk upon
the grass, and thus avoid producing a single
sound loud enough to reach the hearing of the
Swatter.

It did not take many of his rapid strides to
bring him to the spot where Captain Swopp was
awaiting ,him, and in a moment thereafter the
couple Were taking their way back to the
Palmer House—with what joyous excitement
need not be stated.

Amazed and alarmed at his failure to get any
response to his calls, the Swatter returned to the
kitchen, when he was instantly struck by the
fact that the outer door was ajar, as also by a
change in the position of the door leading into
the pantry, it being more widely open than he
had left it.

Starting violently with a thrill of a prehen-
sion, he darted to t e pantry—only to nd that
the bag he had left there had vanished!

With a yell and a curse. he ran out to the
gate, glaring in every direction,,but he was too
late to get even a glimpse of the On-the-Wing,
the sounds of whose wheels were covered by the
rumble of other vehicles. v

Gomg back to the kitchen as suddenly as he
had left it, he found that, Mrs. Hull? had put in
an appearance, and had resumed her task of
peelingilpotatoes.

“ W ere have you been, Tibby?” gasped the
Swatter, dropping into a chair. “Didn’t you
hear me‘ calling you?"

“ I did, Dan."

“ Then why didn’t you answer?”

“ Because Mr. ,Cockletown told me not to.”

“ And who’s Cockletowa, if you please?" pur-
sued the Swatter, with forced calmness.

\“The great detective. He told me you had
robbed a bank, shot the cashier, and run Over
two WO’I‘DGD and three children in making your

escape!

“ And you believed all this?"

,- "Yes, i thought it lust like you—too much
like you not to be true!

The Swatter looked at his sister a moment as
if tempted to strangle her, but his will was of
iron, and he was at length able to master his
emotion.

“You’re getting to be an awful fool, Tibb ,”
he said. “Do you know what you’ve done

“ No. Tell me.”

“well, I stole aband-bag containing several
millions—the money of that great English syn-
dicate that we were reading about—and you’ve
ai10wed some infernal detective to get in here
ahead of me and carry off the bag before I had
even opened iti Describe the man i”

Mrs. Huff endeavored to do so, but she was
too perturbed to give any definite idea of her
visitor.

“He’s Bully Flair no doubt.” muttered the
Swatter, “ but, if I don’t t a stinger on
him before many days I she! be greatly mis-

taken.”

He set as if pa lyzed until‘ aroused by the
entrance of Bart ser, who had restored to
the obliging pal who ad loaned it the convey-
ance they had media the robbery.

“I wish I was dead, Bart," wailed the Swat—
ter, looking up with the most haggard counte-
nance any 'one had ever seen h in exhibit.
“ The capture of that bag is one of the nearest
ghinig'snl ever did, and yet I didn’t get a cent
or . ,

 
 

“' i . . .,)'~ N .
  ."'~:.,‘r.

 
  

 

“ Why, how’s that?” gasped W 'scr, dropping
into a chair, as if annihilated. “ as the bag hi
dummy, with nothing in it but brown paper?”

“ I can’t say, Bart. I didn’t even geta chance
to open it.”

And with this he proceeded to tell his story,
which caused Wyser a surprise and pain at great
as his own.

“ Well, we’re out on that deal,” at length said
the latter, “ but we needn’t go out of busmess.
The owner of the Wizard Silver Mine, Colonel
South, is coming up the lake to see Sir Charles,
and will be here in the course of the day—so
the Herald says—and it is reported that he
will bring along a few tons of aichr bars with
him.’

“ Time enough, Bart,” returned the Swatter
arising, “and this is a matter about which I
have made a very curious discoVery. Come
into the parlor, and we’ll endeavor to hit upon
a plan for getting a new book into this syndi-
cate business before the day’s ended.”

 

CHAPTER X.
A PUZZLING I PERSONAGE.

“WELL, Charles?”

The greeting of Lady Depwrirth was almost a
cry of distress, a single glanceiuto her husband’s
face having told her that something terrible had

happened.
’ “ Well, Sylvia,” he responded, dropping de-
jectedly into the nearest chair, “ a very serious
misfortune has overtaken me. That bag has
been stolen, with all its contents.”

, “ Stolen i”

“ It was seized by some one who is eviden‘taliyr
pOStwd about my affairs,” Sir Charles continu .
“ Let me tell you just how it happened.”

He proceeded to do so.

“ And you didn’t see the face of the thief at
all?"

“ No, Sylvia. At the moment he reached into,
the carriage and seized the bag, his face was
turned down, so that I only saw the top of his
hat, and after that I caught only two or three
glimpses of his back as he dodged among horses
and vehicles, making his escape.”

“ So that you have no idea of his identity?”

“ Not the slightest."

“ And cannot describe him?”

“ Not to furnish in any sense an adequate
description. All I can say is that he seemed to
be rather small of stature, and to wear his hair
short, as also to be well-dressed, and that sort of
thing, which really offers no clew whatever.”

“ Then what did you do?”

“The little that could be done, which was to
drive to all our correspondents, one aft'r an—
other, and stop payment of our drafts and bills
of exchange. t has taken us some time to go

these rounds, as you will see, but it was the one_

thing to do.” I, .

“And what about the bi sof exchange you
SIgned before going out?”

“I cashed them, ’of course, and‘ have the
money in my pockets.”

“ About half a million?” i

The liaronet assented. ,

“But will the thieves be able to realize on
their booty?”

“Not to any great extent, and that will be
very risky business."

Footsteps resounded at this moment near the
door, which had been left ajar, and Bolly Blair
made his appearance-no longer as ‘Nibbs the
coachman, but as Mr. Stark, the newspaper
Np irtel'.

He had underhis arma parcel enveloped in
brown paper. which at once fixed the attention
of Sir Charles and Lady Depworth, although
neither of them could have very well told whg.

“You invited me to drop in an tine, ir
Charles, and here I am,” greeted e On-tbe-
Wing, with a face and voice that were models
of cheeriness. “I dare say you didn’t expect
me to return quite so promptly?”

"That may betrue,” returned the baronet,

.“ but I aim none the less pleased tease you. The

truth is—” ,

“Pardon me. Sir Charles,” interrupted the
On-the-Wing, closing the doorbehind him “if
I make an instant end of the wild suspense I see
in the eyes of her ladyship. Here’s your miss-
ing treasure.”

He whipped the be out of its envelope as he
spoke, and restored t e same to the table where
it‘ had stood scarcely an hour and a half pre-
v ous. ‘

“ What! it hasn’t evenQbeenopenedf" cried
Sir Charles after a long stare of surprise, in
which his wife joined himl” ,

“ No, Sir Charles—not even opened l”

“ And the contents—”

“ You’ll find everything just asWyou left it. no
doubt, sir,” assured the On-the- ing, his eyes

moistening at the wild delight displayed by the '

couple. , “ And now tell me, please, just what
measures you’ve taken for the recovery of this
bag and the capture of the thieves!"

“ None whateVer, Mr. Stark.” replied the
baronet, roceeding toopen the bag and verif
the fact t t its contents had notbeen .

“ I‘ve had no time to act in either of that; direce f. ‘

tions. Tbeflrst, thing to be donewas to stop
paymentof slithess  M

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been no small matter. But, do tell us how this
bag came into your hands, Mr. Stork.”

“ I took it from the thieves, sir."

“ And who are they?”

“Two of our most illustiious crooks, Sir
Charles—no less personage, in fact, thun Dan
the Swattcr and Bart Wywr. They l'ollOwed
you when you left the hotel, with your secre-
tary,und took advantage of the jam, and cs—
pccialiyof that grip-car acoldeut, to seize the
bag.”

“ In Heaven’s name, do you know all the de-
tails... M r. Stalk 1’”

“Just as well as if I had been present, as—
sured the ()n-theJVing, smiling. “ I could have
arrested the thieves, of course, but every good
reason in the case is against any Such measure.
In the first place, you don’t want any such no-
toriety.”

“No. no, Mr. Stark.” protested the baronet
earnestly. “ It would give me a bad look to my
stockholders.”

“ Then, too. you didn’t get a view of the thief,
in all probability, that would enable you to
identify him beyond all question?”

“ No, I didn’t.”

“ For these reasons, Sir Charles~anti for a
score of equally good onus—I have decided to
make no arrests, and to keep very still about
“[118 iévhole occurrence.” pursued the On-the—Wing
c is .

“But I’ve been advised by several of the
bankers I’ve just seen to put the case in the
hands of Belly Blair, who it seems, is a cele-
brated detectiVe,” runarked the buronet. “ Do
you know him?” \

“I’ve never met him Sir Charles,” replied
the On-the-Wing, “ but I’ve heard a great de 1
about him, and I reullv believe him to be a
decent sort of fellow. But. what do you want
of him! You’ve got your money, and have de-
cided to let the thieves alone.”

“True, and that’s all there is to be said,”
returned the baronet. “Don’t you think so,

‘Sylviat”

“ I certainly do,” replied her lad ship. “ex-
cept that we have to thank this kin gentleman
for his services, and make a suitable acknowl-

-edgment for them.”

“I was coming to that,” said Sir Charles,
wggh evident gratitude.” “ Will you accept, Mr.
S rk the five thousand dollars] was thinking
of offering for the recovery of the bag, and the
arrest of the thieves?”

.“Not a cent, sir,” replied the On-the-Wing.
“I’ve been at no expense. and haven’t gone out
of m legitimate path a single step to serve you.
All ask is the acceptance of the assurance that
I am your sincere friend and well-wisher, and
that I shall be glad to be of use to you again
whenever opportunity offers.”

The reader can easily imagine with what
heartiness and thankfulness the baronet and his

1 wife accepted the friendship thus placed at their

,disposal.
Champagne we? ordered, and a few minutes
were spent in further explanations.
“ I could warn you against other crooks and
rprises, Sir Charles,” added Blair; on arising
take his departure, “ but you’ll please remem-

' that even crooks cannot be arrested till

they’ve done something, and that even the de-
tectives can’t tell what crooks are going to do,

V in mostcases, until they’ve doneit. All you can

do, therefore. is to be on your guard. and not
take anybody into your confidence until you
know they deserve it. ’

1 “ What a strange man l” murmured Lady
Depworth, as she and the haronet stood at their
door looking after him. “Who and what can
he really be?”

' “ He talks and acts more like a detective than
like a reporter ” returned Sir Charles' “ but he
can’t be the armor, since he said he had never
met Belly Blair.”

_ “ You have his card, with his address, I be-
lieve!” murmured Lady Depworth. “ Let’s talk
with him about the measures to be taken for the
recovory of our last darling."

‘f We will Sylvia. And here a thought
strikes me. ay she not have been‘oid enough
to remember her name of Alphle?”

V_ “ Of course she was. And that may enable us
to find her. Oiil where can she be?”

Let us see!

2 CHAPTER XI.
A STARTLING REVELATION.
Nor far from that same hour on the previous

 

r  l" day. a small, yawn-rigged yacht. in mm mi“-

ing trim, with malnsai), mizzen-sail, and jib,
could have been'soen standing to the southWest
in Lake Michigan, midway between Grand
Haven and Chicago, With a good breeze from
north-by-west.

This craft was of sharpie model, with her sides

' amidshlps cut away sothat the angle of flare
' s was very pronounced.

I. She was running free, evidently bound for
Chicago, and the breeze had sent her down to
tho£inwale line, but. she was sturdy in her
boa gs, being assisted thereto by the sins and

ht' of her loaded centerboard, as also by

vmess of her keel and other timbers be-

low the waterline. ,

, \

iwei

 

 

She had high combings, and oon<equently a
deep, sheltering c<,-cl:pit, and a high, roomy
cabin for a boat of the kind, the roof Ming
rniswl nine. inches from tho lrvcl of the (lock,
with the forward half tracked, and the after
half grooved to run upon it.

Theoccupunts of this craft were two in num-
ber—a man of twenty-eight, of a course and
sinister type, and a girl of nineteen summers,
whose beauty was of the most dainty descrip-
tion.

There was a strange flush on the face of this
man, who sat at the tillcl', and his glances lin-
gered with singular persistency upon the charm-
ing picture the girl presented, {is she reclined
upon a bright Smyrna rug just within the en-
trance 0f the cabin.

“ Won’t you come and sit beside me, Alphie‘f” ;

he suddenly asked.

“Certainly, brother," replied the maiden,
springing up with the grace and agility of a
fawn and crossing the cockpit to the side of the
speaker. “ Do you want me to giveyou a spell
at the hcllii l”

“ No, thank you,” be answered, the intensity
of his gaze deepening, as he motioned her to a
seat near him. “ The wind is getting a little too
strong, I think, for you to handle the boat in it,
and it Seems to be getting fresher every mo
ment. Besides, I want to talk with you. In
fact, I’ve something very important to say.”

The girl looked at him with unconcealed as-
tonishment, as if the serious and thoughtful air
be displayed was quite a novelty in their re-
lotions.

They were reputed brother and sister. Alphie
and Florian Gilford, but the girl was as unlike
the man as day is unlike night.

Neither in appearance nor manner could there
have been detected the slightest resemblance be-
tween them. He was not only rough and awk-
ward. but ignorant and unprincipled, while she
was the very incarnation of gentleness, good-
ness and refinement.

They had come since breakfast from apoint
of the Michigan coast, just south of Muskegon,
where their father, Derby Gilford, had a large
farm, on which he had passed for many years a
hermit-like existence.

“ Important to you, you mean?” exclaimed
Alphio Gilford, with a smile of scornful bitter-
ncss, as if repudiating the idea of having any-
thing in common with him.

“ Important to us both, I hope. and most as-
suredly to me,” he declared, his features redden-
ing, while his gaze searched her face keenly.
“You must have noticed, Alphie, that I have
been hanging around you almost constantly for
the last month or two?”

The maiden assented, the smile leaving her
sweet face.

“ To be candid, Florian,” she remarked, “ you
have been something of a p zzle to me, ever
since my return from Detro , and especially
since I mentioned the offer of marriage I re-
ceived and rejected during my stay in that
city.

“ How a puzzle, Alphie?”

“ Why, from being the most indifferent of
brothers," exclaimed the girl. “you have sud-
denly grown as attentive as a lover. You
refused last month to take me to the Fourth of
July celebration at Muskegon, and now you
have insisted on taking me to Chicago for a
week’s visit.”

Florian Gilford forced a laugh.

” Have you noticed a similar change in
father’s conduct?” he asked. '

“ Sure enough l”

“ I’m glad such is the case,” he said, hauling
aft his main sheet a few points. “ The time has
come for a full explanation of the relations be-
tween us.”

“ Then there is a reason for the recent change
in your conduct and in father’s toward me?” do-
manded Alphie, her surprise and cutiesit in-
creasing. ‘ What on earth can it be? ‘ ave
you discovered that a vast fortune has been left
me by some mysterious relative of whom I have
no knowledge?” ,

“ Somethin better than that, Alpbie,” afiirm-
ed Gilford. ‘ I have learned quite recently that
you are the adopted daughter of my parents,
and not my own sister.”

“ Not—your owu sister?”

The girl stared at him with wild eyes, her fair
cheeks paling.

“ Not in any sense a relative, not even the
most distant.” assured Gilford, “as these lines
will tell you.”

He thrust a sealed letter under her gaze,
which had now become almost terrified.

“ From father?" she breathed, after a glance
at the address. ,

‘5 Yes, from father. ' Read it.”

The girl hastened to do so.

“ You are not my.own daughter, Alnhle." road
the few lines. “nor are you in any way of my family
and kindred. I shall leave to Florian the task of
explaining this matter further. and will close with
the hope that you will become nearer and dcnrcr to
me than you are by accepting the offer of marriage
my son proposes to make to you before this trip to
Chicago is ended. Dunn! Bitmap.”

The girl’s hand closed convulsiver upon the
mauve, crushing it. t ,

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Detectives.

 

l
i “Is this an attempt at a joke?" she demanded,
her eyes flushing.

“Certainly n.:t,” \ms the rcply. “It’s the
sinmlo stufoment of a fart."

“ Then your father is not mine?”

“ No, Alpliic."

“ And your mother wasn’t mine?”

“ No iclation whatever.” -

“Then why didn’t sho tcll me so, before she
died, seven years ago?"

“She talked of doing so, but fnthwr didn’t
want you to kn0w1he truth then, for fear you
would licti-nyit to some one in a moment of
girlish conii fence. “0 finally satislivd mother
with a promise to tellyon all labor, when you
should be old enough to appreciate the informa-
tion.”

Alphio scanned the face bcfore hcr keenly,
with tho air of finding something gTOtUquL‘ and
hideous in the situation.

“ If your father made such a promise to his
wife as you have indicated,” she then said,
“ why didn’t he keep it? Why didn’t he tell me
himself?”

“ He has—in that letter.”

“A more scrawl, which does not say a word
as to who or what I really am,” complained
Alphie bitterly.

“ He has left it to me. dear, to give you the
particulars,” ventured Gilford.

“Then why didn’t you acquit yourSelf of
your mission like a man?” demanded the girl
stormily. “Why did you wait to get me out
into the middle of Lake Michigan, alone ina.
boat with you? Surely, you must comprehend
that I never would have started on this trip
with you, if I had even had a hint of what you
have now told me. Was it on your father’s
wish or suggestion that you have delayed your
communication till now?"

Florian Gilford stirred uneasily, appearing at
a loss how to answar.

“’Wo talked up the matter,” he then said,
“ and we concluded it would be right and proper
for me to tell you the truth during the trip we
we are now taking. We realized,” he added,
with a forced smile. “that you would have a
great many questions to ask, and I wanted to be
quite at my leisure to answer them.”

. CHAPTER XII.
FROM BROTHER 'ro Burma.
Avnn'rmo her face, Alphie Gilt'ord gave her-
self up to the reflections crewding upon her, re-
maining silentso long that her companion be-
came uneasy and impatient.
“ Don’t you believe what I’ve told you?” he at
length demanded.
“ Of course I do,” answered Alphio, “and I’m
even frank enough to add that I’m not at all

 

again and again, ever since I knew any-
thin if Derby Gili’ord could be my real father?”

“ by was that?”

“ He has always acted in a most unfatherly
manner, and I’ve thought at times that he must
even hate me. Do you remem her the quarrel
Mrs. Cullerton had with him about me?”

“ Onl vagueP. What was the trouble?”

“ WelI, your other wanted to bring me up in
ignorance, and make me a drud e in the kitch-
cn,” explained Alphie, “ but rs. Cullerton
would not allow it. I never knew all she said
to him on this subject, but I know she threatened
him with very serious consequences if he persist-
ed in his purpose. I can see now that she must
have had some hold of him—possibly a hint that
I am not his daughter—for be allowed her to
have her own way, and that is why 1 have re-
ceived all the advantages of a thorough educa-
tion. To Mrs. Cullerton I owe all I am, and I
shall never cease tocherish her memory.”

“ I am glad she stood by you,” returned Gil-
ford, “for you would not now be the charming

oung lady you are if she had done otherwise.

id you ever have any other sdpicions of fath-

er?”

“Yes. I have even doubted that his name is
Derby Giiford.”

Her companion looked startled.

“Shot can have given you such an idea?” he
ask .

“A number of facts which I may choose to
mention later,” repliol Alpine. “ Don‘t the
name of Derby strike you as fanciful, and as
one likely to have been assumed?”

Gill’ord stirred again uneasily.

s m the irl hervoice and manner becoming
sgvef-g. “ Ig am very glad toknow that I am in
no wise related to on and your father, and I
shall avail myself 0; this knowledge in a _rncti—
cal way. in other terms, I shallbid ion to
both you and your father, Mr Gilford, and pro-
ceed to earn mv own living.”

Her companion looked as if he had received a.
Violent blow.

This formal address was something he had 1101?
‘ foreseen.
. " But. tell me what you know about me, Mr.
J Gilford,” she continued, her glances searching
' his face almost sternly. “Where did I come
; from? Vi’ho were my parents! hen did I
first appear in the family .of Der y ’Gilfordi
And how does
claimed moi”

 

i

.l I .,

surprised at these revelationS. I’ve asked my-’
sol

“With all that I have nothing to do,” re- ,

it happen that no one has. 

 

 

 

 

 

4(44

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Her bearer sat as if stunned.
“ Speak up, sir!” she added. “ Don’t you know
anything upon all these subjects?”

Florian Gilford stirred again, with the air of
being very ill—atl-euse.

" Yes, I know all about you,” he acknowl-
edged, “and I will give you the details when the
right sort of" relations have been established be-
twimn us.”

“ What sort of relations?”

“ Can you not guess? Not being your brother,
there in no reason why you should refuse to ace
cept me as a suitor for your hand.”

Alphie stared at him as if she could not credit
her hearing.

" There’s no barrier to your wooing, to be
sure,” she said, icily, “ except the simple fact
that you are the very last man in the world I
should choose in that capacity. But a truce to
this chatter. If you really know who and what
I am, have the goodness to tell me.”

Something very like a frown passed over Gil-
ford’s features. ..

“ I can be frank with you within certain
limits,” he said, “ but father’s orders are for me
to reserve the secret of your parentage until you
are my wife.”

“I‘ be afraid I wouldn’t marry you if you
gavelne the facts nOW’i”

“ Possibly.”

“Or is be afraid I would do him some harm
if the facts were now in my possession?”

“ That, too, is ible.”

“ Then he has wronged me in some way?"

“ I cannot as he hasn’t.”

“ Did he stea me from my real parents?”

“ I cannot answer questions of this nature,

\ Alphie, till you’ve given me your promise.”

 

“ W hat promise?”

“ T’o become my wife between now and Christ-
mas.

The maiden looked at him still more scornfully,
if possible.

“I’ve not been a model brother, it is true,”

ursucd Gilford, “ but I can be a. model lover.
ay I consider myself accepted as such?”

“ Not till I have taken leave of my senses,”
answered Alphie very decidedly, “ and must as-
suredly not until you’ve answe some of my
questions. I have often heard your father say
that he is an Englishman, and that he came to
America a long time ago, when I was a mere
child. Does this imply that I am English born,
Mr. Gilford, and that your father brought me to
this country with him?”

“Not at all, Alphie,” replied Gilford. “ My
parents had been settled near Muskegou a num-
ber of years before you came to us, and it is
hardly six weeks since the facts in your case
were first given me.” .

“A pretty state of things,” commented the
girl. with increasing bitterness.

“True. Alphie,” returned her wooer. “ but
the situation is almost as bad for me as for you.
For instance, I didn’t know until last month
that Derby Gilford was the second husband of
my mother, and that he is not my real fathel‘.”

“Then who is?”

“ My mother’s fiist husband, whose name
was Anthony Gilford.”

_ “ Indeed? Then the name of your step-father
is an assumed one, and one he must have bor-
rowed from his predecessor for some good and
sufficient reason.”

. “‘ I Won’t say that you are wrong, Alphie.
.lo the contrary, I’ll admit that my. reputed
father did change his name for some reason
about the time he married my mother."

A smile of scornful satisfaction gathered
slow? about the girl’s lips.

“. hat change of name is in some way as-
socmted with my history, that’s clear enough,"
she declared, “ and until further advices I will
believe that your father stole me from my real
parents, and that he was really forced to change
his name to avoid the search they made for

him.”

Florian Gilford smiled, as if in admiration of
her cleverness.

“That I’m right,” she resumed, " is shown by
the fact that Derby Gilford has made only three
visits to Chicago in sixteen years, and that he
came home very excited from the last of them,
some six weeks ago, and talked with you all the
following afternoon, and even later into the

, .n ht. ,Will you tell me what he talked about?”

‘ Yea—if you promise to become my wife be-
fore Christmas.”

“ You may as well save your breath, Florian
Gilford, as towaste it on that particular sub-'.

ject,” declared the girl, with a severit that was
almost solemn. “ begin to see that have been
a victim all these years of. some fiendish machin-
atiOn on the part of your father, and that I‘ have
been made } stranger to my rightful home and
relatives. ' Can you deny that such is the ease!”
Her disagreea le wooer flushed vividly under
this sudden question, but it did not enter into his
plans to answer it.. “
' “ I see that I am right,” continued Alphie,
“ and what a now world opens before me at the
thou htl At this very hour, there may be near
me t e dearest of relatives—my own father and
mother‘- who may be mourn ng for me. and
wonder if I! am dead or alive. and if I will
over he rpntored tothcm. Oh! if I couldlonly

. , l

.K phi, 1, i‘ 0,, ‘ -, . ' , .

‘th

 

     
   

[e On—the-Wing Detectives. 

know the truth! if I could only find them! what
a new life would be minel”

“ All that can be a reality, Alphie, if you will
only give me your promise to marry me,” re-
turned Gilford.

“ Then you know—"

“ EVerythingl”

“ Who my parents are?”

“ I do, Alphie.”

“ And where they are?”

“ I can at least find them. I will even go so
far as to say that they are expected in Chicago
from one day to another!”

“ My own father and mother?”

“ Yes, Alphie.”

“ And how do you know they are expected in
Chicago?”

“I read it in the Chicago papers.”

“ You did?” and the girl‘s lips quivered in
breathless eagerness, her eyes glowing like stars.
“ Then they must be very distinguished and
prominent?”

“ They are l"

“ And doubtless very wealthy?”

“ Yes, dear.”

“ Where are they coming from?”

“From the old country. They are English
by birth—as you are.”

“And you can give me their names at this
very moment?”

“ I can, Alphie.”

“ But will you?”
“I will—if on will promise to become my
wife before C ristmas. That’s all on have to
ill you say

say, dear—just one little word!
it ’

“ Never, Florian Gilford—neverf” answerpd
Alphie, with burning emphasis. “ A thousand
times never! I’d sooner die! I wouldn’t marry
you if you were the only man in the world! I
hate you—I hate you! I hate your father! I’ll
have nothing to do with either of you—never!
neVer! I Won’t even go to Chicago in your com a
pony. I Want you to go about on the instant
and return toMuskegon l”

CHAPTER XIII.
ABANDONED 'ro ansn.

FOR a moment Florian Gilford seemed para-
lyzed by the girl’s denunciations.

“ I can’t go about now,” he then said, casting
an uneasy glance into the loweriugsky. “While
we have been chattering ”— he spoke with deep
bitterness—“ the wind has increased almost to a
gale, and we‘ve nothing to do but reef and run
before it. Will on take the helm a moment?”

Bringing the sad of the sharpie up to the
wind, he relinquished the tiller to Alphie, trim-
ming in the mimn and jib sheets, and with the
main boom Well inboard the pennants were
lashed and the reef points tied dowu, when the
craft was let off again, and went bowling
along on her former course.

“ We’re evidently booked for music,” growled
Gill'ord with a glance at the equally clouds
behind him, as he resumed his place at the helm.
“ The only consolation 'I have is that the wind is
favorable to us, and that you are with me."

“ Then on won’t turn back?”

“I cou dn't think of it. We must go on to-
gether to Chicago.”

The girl paled at the thought.

‘fI see how things are, she said, her eyes
filling with tears. _“ You proposed this trip to
Chicago in order to have me at your mercy.
Your intention is to terrorize me into the ac-
ceptance of your odious suit.”

“ You may think so, if you choose,” returned
her admirer, with a .sullen and revengent
wrath. “The essential is that you are in m
hands, as you seem to realize, and that you w' 1
not get out of them. After the foolish frank-
ness of which I have been guilty in talkin up
your afiairsJ’ll take good care that you igon’t
getdopt of my clutches till you are Mrs. Gil-

or .

A crash succeeded which threatened to take
the masts out of the sharpie, and Gilford saw
that he had run into a group of floating logs,

 

smostly of large dimensions—a raft of logs, in

fact, only chained together—the bow of the
sham is striking one of them end on, and thus
M‘lVlllg a shock which caused her to tremble
to her keel. ,

“ What infernal luck!” heeejacnlated, lasing

color as be scanned the'logs which were rang-
ing alongside. the chain holding them together
rattling ominously. “ If, that encounter didn’t
knock a hole in her, I’m greatly mistaken. Try
the pump Alphie.” *
' The air complied in silence, and at the' very
first stroke the worst fears Of her persecutor
were realized, the pump drawing to its full
capacity.

At that moment, the centerboard was forced
violently up into its case bya mass of logs which
paved under it, but it was soon let back into its

lace,.thus holding the whole raft around and

math the aha ie.

“She leaks li a a sieve,” cried Gllford, his
pallor increasing. “ She may fill in a tow
minutes, and we’re at least twenty-five miles
from the nearest laud. Pump with all your
mi ht, Alphie.” .
boroughlylarouiled 23 his terror, the maiden
acted upon is instru bus. but she realized at

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takmoflhucmtandveshsoastohcruady

     

the end of half a minute that the water was
flowing: into the craft far faster than the pump
could remove it.

“ “'0 shall not be able to keep her afloat,”
muttered Gilford, who was already demoralized. _
“ The hole is evidently too far below the water
line, for me to be able to reach it and step ii.
Let me see.”

Stationing Alphie at the helm again, he ran
forward and investigated, leaning Dyer the Low
as far as p’issible, but a few swift glances sufii-ei
to tell him the terrible story.

The sharpie had a large hole in her port low
which was simply beyond all remedy.

“ Then we can do nothing to keep the water
on! i" cried Alphie.

“ Nothing whatever,” was her wooer’s answer,
as the sharpie staggered horribly under his feet
wizh the water which had already invaded it.
“ She’ll sink in less than a minute, certain i”

“ Then w hat shall We do?" asked Alphie, with
n calmness born of despair. “ Can we escape in
the boat?"

“ Ah, yes—the boat!”

It was with wild cries of joy and relief that
Florian Gilford sprung toward the boat in quesv
tion.

It lay athwart the deck, between the main-
mast and the cabin, where it had been secured
by a couple of lashings.

It was merely a row-boat, fit for one person,
and only in smooth water.

Cutting it clear of its fastenings, Gilford
shoved it overboard, makin a rope fast to its
bow, and trailing it along t e gunwaie toward
the stern.

“ It seems a small craft-to carry two of us,”
murmured Alphie, as the sharpie lurched again
violently.‘

“ It is. indeed,” answered her disagreeablel
suitor, in a hollow voice, his face as white as a
sheet. “ It would ueVer reach the shore with
both of us—never—in such a gale as is coming,”
and be cast another wild glance into the dark-
enin heavens above him.

“ Then what shall we do!” faltared Alphie
again, wringing her hands.

“One of us will have to remain here,"an-
swered Gilford, who had secured the row-boat
alongside, at the port quarter, to the leeward of
the shar ie. “ And that one,” he added, “ must
be you P,

" N o. no! Surely, you wouldn’t abandon me
to perish, after bringing me into‘ this peril?”
cried Alphie,‘ in horror-stricken tones.

“It’s inevitable!” was his anRWer, in a hard,
merciless tone. “ In such a situation as this
everyflone must think of himself, and of himsdf
only .

“ But you shall not leave me in this dastardly.
fashion 1" retested the maiden, rushing forward
and catch ng hold of him as he was about to go
over the side into the boat. “It’s worse than
murder!”

“Every one for himself, I say, at such a time
as this," yelled Gilford,asa shower of water
burst up through the flooring of the cockpit,
drenching both of them from head to foot.
“ Let go of me! Keep oil', I say!” 7

"No, no! You shall not leave me!" cried
Alphie, clinging to him with the strength of
terror and despair. “ Save me, tool” >

Turning upon her, with a curse, and even
striking her, he shoved her toward the cabin
with the evident intention of locking her in and
so ridding himself of her. .

\

But she fought him with all the fury of dean ‘ 

peratinn, ber sharp nails doi special execu-
tion upon his face, even when i was no longer
possible to prevent him from forcing her into
the cabin and locking her in.

“There! curse you i" was his farewell remark,
as be bounded across the cocka and took pos-
session of his boat. “ Since you won't be my
wife, it is something to be rid of you forever!”

And with this he pushed clear of the sharpie—
juat in time, he believed, to avoid being carried '
down with it.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
mum’s near ma ma.

Tm: brain of Alphie reeled at the awfd fate
to which she had been so baser and heartlast
abandoned.

She uttered what she believed to be her last
sigh, and took What she boiieved to has last ‘
look at her surroundings.

Yet the sharpie floated and floated, as if bear-
in a charmed existence.

uld it be possible, she soon ventured to ask
herself. if there was still a chance of lifefor heri‘

At any rate. she could get out of the cabin,

.i
l.

a

, .

,-

,i

and this assuredly was a step in the right diree- ‘-

tion. ‘ v
Like the ma ority of well nipped yarn .
the sharpie earlier! a kit of tegils designed 
meet all em nci and hmong these tools'
was an ax, a eavy miner, with saws, bits "
ani‘i hm and othtgrstioo numeroui stagnation. v
0 open 0 oors, mprison o si- x
was the work of a few seconds only. whgn ti);
thoughthad once occurred to her, and she step- {-
pod out into the cockpit. ‘ ' ' '
Her first glance was a

 

 

for Gilford, who  

,.

g‘i

       

 

A.”

n

10

put forth his best efforts in case of a capsize,
with which his frail craft was every moment §
threatened. '

He was wielding an car, and seemed perfectly
able to give the boat a forward movement, as ‘
also to steady it before the wind, for he was
already fifty rods to the leeward.

EVen in the face of the awful peril by which
she was menaced, Alphie could not help rejoicing
that she was rid of his unwelcome presence.

Might not fate, too, be kinder than she had 1
ventured to hope?”

Might there not still be a chance for her?

At any rate, she could and would put every-
thing shipshape, and this she hastened to do.

Lashiug the helm, she hauled aft the main-
sheet, and crutched and tied the boom snugly
amidships, then lowering the sail and stowingit,
despite all the perils and exertions by which the ,
task was attended.

A like effort resulted in the stowing of both
the mizzen and the jib, and by this time the
brave girl was fully entitled to think that Gil- ,
ford’s fear of the immediate foundering of the
shar is had been a mistake.

“ t must be,” she thought, “ that the log raft
beneath the sharpie is giving it positive sup-
port steadiness, and‘protection.

“ f otherwise, why did not some of the long,
staggering lunges of the craft carry it under
forever?”

The moment the reflections of Alphie had .
taken this turn, they led to practical action and
endeavor. '

The centerboard was sixteen feet in length by
four in depth at the forward end, and seven
feet at the other.

It was attached at the forward end to a
strong iron rod which ran upward above the '
deck, and was so keyed that a single blow with
a hammer would release the rivet, and allow the
whole board to go to the bottom without any
wrench or shock to the boat.

The iron attached to this centerboard in the
usual form and manner, weighed no less than
fifteen hundred pounds, or quite enough, it was

issible, to pull the sharpie under as soon as
it should be filled with water.

Be all that as it might, it seemed desirable to
get rid of the centerboard, and in another mo-
ment it had started for the bottom of the lake.

Waiting and watching, it did not take Alphie
long to realize that she had done well in suppres-
sing the centerboard, for the sharpie was unmis-
takably fifteen hundred pounds the lighter.

The girl could not only see that the water had
ceased to run in, but that it was actually run-
ning out.

In other terms, the sharpie was now buoyed
up by the logs beneath it to such an extent that
it was absolutely unsinkable.

As a realization of this fact entered her soul,
Alphie knelt upon the deck, a sweet and solemn
thanksgiving escaping her lips as naturally as
perfume radiates from a flower.

What a joyous relief it was to feel that the wild
waves surging around her could not harm her!

Making her way into the cabin with utter in-
difference to the water swashing to and fro in it,
as also the cockpit at every movement of the
sharpie, she secured the lunch basket she had
packed for the voyage across the lake, and pro-
ceeded to satisfy the keen hunger “ hich had as-
sailed her, as the result of her exertions.

Her thoughts coming back to Gill’ord, she
scanned the surface of the waters for another
glimpse of him, but was unable to secure it.

It seemed to her that his boat might have al-
ready been swamped, and she said to herself that
not for anythin in the world would she be will-
in: to change p aces with him.

Making herself a snug and secure nest in the
mainsail, near the foot of the mast, she ave her-
self up to the exciting thoughts crowd ng upon
ier.

Her eventual escape from all the furies of her
trip seemed now a foregone conclusion.

if the sharpie should fail to be blown into the
very harbor of Chicago, she c0uld safely count
upon being rescued by a assing vessel.

That was wholly out o the question.

What she now had to do was to provide har-
self a new home, and to enter u n a quiet but
earnest quest for the parents rem whom she
had been stolen.

The sun went down upon her musings, leaving
the lake shrouded in darkness, there being no
moon and little starlight, but note thought of
danger or solitude obtruded itself upon her.

In her gentle, trustfui way, she believed that
the loom and unrest of her recent years was to
be iftsd from her, and that theha iness and
love for which she was yearning, an to which
she was entitled, would very soon become her
permanent possession.

Li ter and lighter grew. the breeze, as the
even ng wore on, and at length it seemed to
her to be blowin from a new quarter, and to
even change its roction often; but even these
events did not seriously disturb the peace and
bogs which had descended upon her.

ow and then the scream of some wild bird of
the night fell upon her hearing and two or three
times her gaze encountered t alights of some

 

distant steamer or other passing Vessel, but she
scarcely gave them a thought, so completely

tions of her parentage and her future.

Hour after hour thus passed, but at length the
rippling and swushing of the waves around her
became a lullaby to her tired senses, and the
dusky little head sunk lower into the strange

" nest she had so artlessly improvised in the sail,

and she slept as sweetly beneath the endleSs
canopy of the stars as ever slept a weary child
upon its mother’s bosom.

And that pitying angels came and ministered

l unto her with sweet visions of the home and

loved ones from whom she had been so ruthlessly
torn, need not be doubted!

CHAPTER XV.
HOW HELP CAME T0 HER.

WHEN Alphie awoke, the sun was high in the
heavens, and the sharpie lay as motionless in its
setting of logs as it‘ aground, the fresh breeze of
the preceding day having almost died out.

The first glance of the girl was tosee where
she was, but she could not detect much change
from the scene on which the sun had gone down
the evening before.

She was still lost, as it were, in an immensity
of waters, not the least glimpse of land being
Visible.

She scanned the surface of the lake in every
direction for some sign of deliverance, but was
forced to realize that the prospect was by no
means insniriting. the three or four Sails that
were visible being low down on the horizon.

Nevertheless, she did not allow herSeif to be
cast down by this circumstance.

It was something that she had enjoyed such a
refreshing slumber, and was quite herself again.

It was something, too, that the Sharpie was
still afloat, and likely to remain so, it being en~
tangled with the raft of logs which had so
strangely prevented it from going to the bottom.

It occurred to the girl that she ought to set a
signal of distress. and she hastened to do so,
although quite aware that a single view of the
sharpie would be enough to tell any practical
eye that something was wrong.

Then, bathing her face in a basin of water, she
combed and braided her hair, arranging it with
the aid of a hand-glass suspended to the main-
mast, and placing her hat juuntily upon it.

“ I’m all right,” she ejaculated, gayly, when
she had completed her toilet. “ And now to
have break fast.”

Planting herself upon the boom, at the foot of
the mainmast, she made a hearty repast from
the supplies still left her, and then set herself to
watching her surroundings.

A breeze soon came to ruflle the water, and
Alphie hailed it as an excellent omen, the more
especially as it seemed to come from the north,
so far as she could judge from the sun‘s position
in the heavens.

“ It will help me on my way,” was her hopeful
reflection.

With the breeze came additional sails, some of
them passin nearer, and the fact quickened the
girl’s hope 0 an early rescue from her trying
situation.

Yet hour after hour went by and no one came
to her assistance.

She began to get impatient and anxious.

As certain as she was of being rid of Gilford,
she experienced a. thrill of apprehension every
time she saw a sail standing toward her.

W hat if he should come back?

At length, however, she saw a craft steering
taward her with an air indicative of business.

It proved to be a fore-and-aft schooner of
about a hundred tons, and the s at which it
neared her suggested to Alphie t at it was either
in ballast or very lightly loaded. ‘

After a long period of watching and waiting
she was able to make out a number of masculine
figures upon the forecastle, and to these was
eventually added the figure of a woman.

By this time Alphie was able to see that she
had become an object of keen interest and curi-
osity tothose aboard of the schooner and she
sprung upon the boom, steadying herself against
t e mast, and waved her handkerchief to them
with a violence that responded to her agitated
feelings.

An answer was immediately given her, not
merely by the lady, but by a couple of gentle-
men standing beside her.

“ The ’re coming, sure enough,” breathed
Alphie, er bright face flushing with delight, as
she noticed that the schooner was headed direct-
ly toward her. “ I am saved l”

Nearer and nearer came the schooner, friend-
ly si nals continuing, and ere long it was hove
to w thin a hundred yards of the sharpie.

A boat was lowered, and a young gentleman
took possession of it, rowing across the interven-
ing space With as much grace as vigor.

“ In heaven’s name,” came from this young
entlemau, as he was feeling his way alongside
n the midst of several outlying logs, “ is this a

reality or am I dreaming? Are you Alphie
Gilfor i”

“Just as certainly as you are Harry South-
man,” replied the girl, her rosy flush deepening,
as she sprung lightly from the boom. “ What a
strange meeting!”

“ It is indeed,” declared Harry Southman,
backing his boat against the port side of the

 

‘ i The On—the-Wing Detectives. '

I was she absorbed in the great, burning ques- . Alphie.

I
i

“Jump in here, with all your effects,
if you have any, as our time is very pressing.”
he maiden complied as promptly as possible,
seating herself in the stern of the boat, which
immediately started on its return to the

I schooner.

 

“ It’s wonderful that I should find you in such
a situation, Miss Gilford,” resumed her deliver-
er, his glances lingering upon the girl’s face with
an intense admiration, if not with a warmer
emotion.

“And equally wonderful that you should be
my rescuer,” returned Alphie, her voice vibrat-
ing with emotion.

“ It would seem to me—if I dared to hope so
much—that the Infinite Hand has brought us to
gether again, as a hint that our recent painful
separation was unnecessary,” continued the res-
cuer, plying his oars nervously. “ Is the thought
a rash one, Miss Gilfordi”

“By no means—or I could not confess that I
share it,” replied Alphie, her great, soulful eyes
fillm with tears.

“ ii any and every case,” declared Harry
Southman, “I am very glad to meet you
again.”

“ The pleasure is mutual, sir,” breathed
Alphie, looking up timidly into the handsome
face. “The memory of this day will always
bent). gladness because you are associated with
it.
“ Thank you !”

Nothing more was said until the boat had
reached the schooner, and the girl and her res—
cuer had been assisted to the deck.

Leaving two or three seamen to restore the
boat to its davits, while the schooner resumed
its course, Harry Southman drew the arm of
Alphie within his own and conducted her to a
fine-looking, middle-aged couple who Were ad-
vancing to meet them.

“ My dear parents,” said Harry, “you have
heard me speak of a young lady who rejected an
offer of marriage from me in Detroit some seven
weeks ago?” ,

His father and mother assented, their glances
alternating between his smiling countenance and
the rosy cheeks of Alphie. l

“Well, here she is,” resumed Harry—Misti.
Alphie Gilford, of Mnskegon. I didn't proposd
to her without telling her all about you, but
allow me to present her formally to you. Miss
Alphie, this gentlemen is Colonel Archy South-
man, my father, and this lady is my mother.”

“ We are very glad to know you personally,
Miss Gilford," said Mrs. Southman, almost
Benderly, drawing Alphie to her side and kissing

er.

“ Be sure that no one could find a warmer
welcome here than you do, my dear young lady,
after all the nice things our Harry has said
about you,” aured the colonel, pressing her
hand warmly. “ Come into the cabin.”

Drawing her arm within his own, with a
fatherly air, the colonel conducted her in the
direction indicated, Mrs. Southman and Harry
following them.

CHAPTER XVI.
ALPHIE AND HARRY.

THE very kind reception given her by the
Southmans put Alphie at her ease on the in—
stant.

In good truth, she couldn’t have been in bet-
ter company. .

The colonel and his wife were a model couple
in every respect—genial, thoughtful of others,
and always endeavorin to make every one
who came in contact wi h them a partaker of
their happiness, which had never been in any
way clouded.

s to Harry, he was as good of heart as
handsome of person, and was regarded with
intense affection and respect by his parents and
fiber relatives, and indeed by all who knew

mt

“Please be seated here, my dear child,” said
the colonel, conducting her to a luxurious sofa
occupying a Erominent place in the cabin,
“ and let us now the nature of the disaster
which has overtaken you. Your sloop is evi-
dent! a wreck.”

es, sir " replied Alphie, seating herself on
the sofa. ‘ We ran into a raft of logs, one
of which struck the sharpie end on, knocking
such a la ibole in her how below the water-
line that it lied in a few minutes.”

“Then why didn’t it sink!” inquired unions!
Southman.

“ I detached the centerboard, with the fifteen
hundred pounds of iron attached to it,” ex‘
plained the girl, “ and that sumced to save me,
the logs entangled under the sharpie having
buoyancy enoug to keep it afloat.” .

“And how long have on been in that situ-
ationf” asked Mrs. Sou man, seating herself
beside her.

“ Since earlv in the afternoon of yesterday.”

“Indeed! What a miracle!” cried Harry
with keen interest “But do you mean to tell
us that you started alone on this voyage?”

“No, sir. I was accom nied by a man I
supposed to be my brother.

“Ah, by Florian Gilfordi” exclaimed Harry
Southmsn. ,

“ Yes, by Florian Gilford,” pursued Alphie.

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“ We left our place at a reasonable hour of the
morning, with the intention of taking a week’s
trip to Chicago. On our w ay up the lake young
Gilford informed me that I’ll) not his sister, nor
in any wise related to him.”
“ How strange!” commented the colonel.
“Then who are you?” asked Mrs. Southman.
“I haven't the least idea who I am,” replied

Alphie, “ but it appears from the statements of ,
Filll‘lilll that I belong to a distinguished and i
wealthy family which is expected from one day 5

to another to arriVe in Chicago.”
“ I-Iow singular i” cried Harry.

“ Most extraordinary." murmured his mother, ;

“ Florian offered to tell me just who and what I
am if I would romise to marry him,” resumed
Alphie, “but frefused to entertain any such
proposition for even a moment. He proceeded
to conx and threaten, but just then the sharpie
struck the raft of logs, and in another minute

he was wild with terror, thinking only of es- '

ca .”

“ And how did he manage to get away?” de-
manded the colonel.

“ Why, he embarked in the little row-boat
which is used as a tender to the sharpie.”

“ And did not take you ?” breathed Harry.

“ He said the boat wasn’t big enough to carry
both of us,” continued Alphie. “I insisted, of
course, and even tried to get into the boat, but
he repulsed me, and at length locked me up in
the cabin and made his escape, saying that it
wasagood thing for me to go to the bottom,
seeing that I wouldn’t marry him!”

“The monster!” exclaimed Harry, while his
parents were loud in their expressions of indig—

nation and horror. “Tell us what you did
it

“ I simply broke out of the cabin with the ax
and hammer at my disposal,” explained Alphie,
with a serene smile, “ and proceeded to make
myself as comfortable as circumstances permit-
ted.

“ And you were alone on the sharpie all night?”
queried Harry.

The maiden assented.

“ Were you afraid?” asked the colonel.

“ No, sir. I had no occasion to be. I knew
the sharpie would remain afloat until sufficient
wind came to detach the logs from it.”

“ Did you sleep any?” asked Mrs. Southman.

“As well as if I had been in my own bed.”

“ Where, my dear child?”

“ In a snug little nest I made in the mainsai'l,

which I stowed alone after Florian Gilford left
me.”
“ What astute of things!” ejaculated Colonel
Sonthman, his eyes moistening. “ And what do
you pr0pose to do now, child? Will you go back
to the Gilfords’l”

“ Never, sir—never!”

“ What then?”

“ I shall remain in Chicago, earning my own
living, and making an effort to find my father
and mother.” .

“Good,” commented the colonel. “ In this
effort we will assist you. Have you any clew
to gouponjnrther than that your parents are
distinguished and wealthy and are daily ex-

"- pected in Chicago?”

“ No, sir, except that I am English born, and
parents are coming from England.”

“Bravol” cried the colonel. “ You have fallen
into just the right hands. are now on our
way to Chicago to meet a distinguished English-
man—l refer to Sir Charles Depworth, who is
expected to arrive there to-day or tomorrow-—
and we’ll take good care to press him into our
service in this matter. But tell us, my dear
-child,”why you rejected Harry’s ofler of mar-
ria e. '

‘ It was because Angie Gilford lied to me,”
answered ill hie.

“ How ii to you!" asked Mrs Southman.

“ She said that Harry had been wooing her at
"the same time he was waiting on me, and I was
fool enough to believe her.”

“Then you relectGd our boy because of her
falsehoods?" ventured the colonel.

“ I did, sir—I’m sorry 00 say,” confessed Al-
hie, in a barely audible voice. “ It was only a
ow days thereafter that the truth became mani-

fest, but —it was then too late.”

The colonel and Mrs. Southman arose with an
alacrity little short of surprising. , .

“I am sure you’ll both excuse usa few mo-
ments,” said the mother. “The truth is Alphle,
we have a million in bar silver abOa of this
schooner, and are compelled to watch several of
our sailors incessantly to prevent them from
making an attempt to capture our ship and our
treasure.

“ And it is because I am thus crip led and
wort-handed, my dear child,” remark the col-
onel, drawing his wife’s arm within his own and

\ movin taward the entrance, “ that I didn’t so.
a war about bringing your sharpie into po
Let us hope that somebody else more favorably
situated will render you that service.”

The couple ascended to the deck, with a little
nod of adieu to Alphic. who thus found herself
left alone with Harry.

“ How they are l” she murmured, her eye.
filling with tears, as she looked after them.

'. 46 They not kill me with kindness.”

“ In absence of your Own parents, or until

your own parents are found, Alphie—dear Al—
lphie—how would you like my parents to be
1 yours?" asked Harry, stepping nearer.

[ The fair girl turned to him, as the needle turns
to the magnet.

, “Do you mean, Harry,” she cried, springing

j to her fer-t, “that you can and will forgive me

; for the great wrong I have done both you and

myself by that wicked rejection of your hand

seven weeks ago in Detroit?”

“Yes, that’s what I mean, darling,” assured
| Harry. “ Will the prayer I then uttered be
| granted now ?”

Advancing- still nearer, he opened his arms to
, her, and in anotner moment she lay sobbing up«
' on big breast in unutterable gladness.

CHAPTER XVII.
BLACK JACk assumes HIS INQUIRY.

THE absence of Black Jack Yattaw from his
bumbont lasted longer than he had foreseen, it
being late in the afternoon when he returned.

In this time, however, he had got rid of his
“Eyetalian,” and had given due attention to
seVei-al other cases which were being pressed
against him.

His wife met him at the gangway, flushed and
excited.

“ Well, mother?” he demanded, halting.

“ Well, Jack,” she replied, “ you had hardly
got clear of the boat when that mysterious
stranger from the lake‘ began to recover his
senses.”

“ So that you had to give him another drink
of port?”

“ No. I compromised with him.”

“Com-pro—mised , with him?” echoed Black
Jack, slowly. “ How was that?”

“ Why, ,I first bound him hand and foot, and
made my preparations to gag him in case of
need.”

“Clever woman! Go on.”

“ Then I waited until he had recovered his
senses sufficiently to comprehend me, and pro-
ceeded to explain to him the situation.”

“ How explain it?”

“ I told him that another drink of that ‘ fine
old California port ’ would certainly put him to
sleep until the middle of the afternoon, and that
I’d turn another down his throat-or two of
them if necessary—if he dared to say boo.”

“ And he didn’t dare say it?”

“No, Jack,” continued Mrs. Yattaw. “He
said he had the best of reasons for wishing to re-
main in possession of his senses, and inquired if
we couldn’t compromise matters upon a better
basis than fighting and screeching and that sort
of thing.” '

“ And you assented i” .

“Certainly. I told him I’d give him a drink
of whisky every hour till your return if he’d
keep quiet, and he accepted. In fact, he rolled
over and went to sleep, and I haven’t heard a
word from him since.

“ You’re a daisy, mother,” commented Black
Jack. “ I couldn’t have done better myself.
Let’s take a look at him.”

They found the stranger staring in ahard and
angry fashion into the cabin of the bumboat,
from the sort of alcove in which he had been do-

i .

“Ah there you are, Mr. Yattawl" he ex-
claimed at sight of the couple. “ J ust in time!
I was about to break forth in sheet Englishl I
want to get out of this.”

“And I want you to get out,” replied the
bumboater, “seeing that you are in my bed,
and that I must take a nap myself, so as to be
readv for the evenin ’s festivities.”

“ Very good. Unt 9 me."
stranger,” enjoined Black Jack,
overing over his mysterious
guest. “I am willing to make on comforta-

le—so—leaving your hands an tongue free,
but you won't ski until ou’ve told me how
you appen to be u my ominions, and what
has become of the girl who scratched your face
so badl , and all the other facts in your case.
Talk, sat. young man, or I shall be tempted to
lowe you Overboard to the fishes.”

“ ou mustn’t address his in that style, Mr.
Yattaw,” protested the unknown, “or I shall
call the police.”

“ The olicel” echoed the bumhoater, flushing
scornful y. “And what do you suppose I care
for the police? N o policeman dare to come here
unless I invite him, or unless he comes to bring
me contributions from the city treasury. You
said y0ur name is Eaton, but that was before
you had uitc taken my measure, youu man.
You’l’i tel me the truth now, I’m pert y car-
"I
“ Yes, I will,” avowed the stranger with an
air suggestive of good faith. “I told you the
truth in sayingI that I came from Muskegon,
put! my name not Eaton. It is Florian Gil-
or .

The man who had arrived at Black Jack Yat-
taw’s under such singular circumstances was in-
deed the rejected wooer of Alphie.

He had narrowly missed perishin during the
night, after taking his flight from t e flounder-
ing shar ie in his row-boat as related, but

d wo and good luck had brought him safe-
ly to land.

"I’m the only son, or stepson—it’s all the

 

impressively,

 

 

same—0f Derby Gilford, who has a. large farm
near Muskegon,” pursued the rejected wooer.
“ I left home yesterday morning in a small
yacht, accinnpanied by a young lady to whom I
have been paying attention.”

Black Jack and his wife exchanged glances of
comprehension.

“ And on your way up the lake you quarrel-
ed with the young lady in question?” queried
Mrs. Yattaw.

“ I did, ma’am.”

“ A nd threw her overboard ?”

“Nothing of the sort, ma’am.
you what really happened.”

Moistening his lips with a drink of whisky
Mrs. Yattaw had handed him in silence, he.
proceeded to give a fairly correct account of
his dealings with Alphie, as they are known to
the reader.

He was surprised at the horror and disgust
his hearers exhibited.

“The idea of your leaving a nice young girl
like that to fish, and even shutting her up
in the cabin, ike a rat in a trap!” commented
Black Jack, his dark face rigid with indignation.
You‘re the meanest man, Florian Gilford, I’ve
seen in five-and-thirty years. You ought to be
made into soap!”

“ Why, it's ten times worse than a coldblood-
ed murder,” declared Mrs. Yattaw, in a tone of
the deepest wrath. “ The poor child must ha 70
died a thousand deaths while waiting for the
yacht to take its final plunge!”

“ One moment, mother,” suggested Black
Jack. “ There‘s no certainty that the yacht has
taken its final plunge, and if it has it’s by no
means certain that Miss Alphie has gone down
with it. She may have broken out of the cabin,
and saved herself on one of those logs the yacht
had encountered, or may have even been picked
up by some passing vessel.”

“ Yes, yes,” affirmed Gilford eagerly, anxious
to lessen the burden of guilt resting upon him.
“ She’s doubtless safe 1” i

“ But until we know that such is the case."
pursued the bumboater, “ there is a very serious
charge resting upon you. I’ll call the patrol
wagon, young man, and have you taken to the
lock-up.’

“ You—you don’t mean it,” stammered Gil-
ford turnin pale.

“l30n’t I sneered Jack, arising.
show you.”

“Wait, please,” pleaded Gilford, in a voice
husky with terror, ‘ the girl’s all right, I assure

ou. Besides, what right have you to mix in?
bat evidence have you against me?”

“ Your confession, sir—the facts—”

“ Oh, I can take back my confession and deny
every charge you can bring against me ” de-
clared Gilford, his natural impudence begi ning
to ,assert itself. “ Besides, you’ll find it more to
you: advantage to work with me than against

me.

“ That is indeed possible,” returned Black
Jack. “ Is your father wealthy!”

Gilford assented.

“ Could raise five thousand dollars at a
day’s notice

“ Yes, or at an hour’s notice.”

“'Give me his address.”

The order was obeyed.

“ What’s your father’s telegraphic addreml”
pursued Jac .

“ The same as his letter address—Muskegon,
Michi n.”

“ I’l telegraph him immediately,” announced
Black Jack, “ and let him kn0w that you are in
tre—men-di-ous trouble, so that he’ll be in Scang
very early in the morning. In the mean time, I
shall have to hold you to bail for your a r-

Let me tell

“ I’ll soon

lines when wanted, in the sum of five th d
dollars. How much money haVe you on your
pen-ion?"

“ About three thousand dollars.”
“ Indeed? Let me see it.”
Gilfond began feeling in his pockets, looking

surprised.

“ I’ve taken that wad for safe-keeping,” re-
marked Black Jack, “ and find that it amounts
to nine hundrednnd seventy dollars. Where’s
the rest!"

Ripping a few stitches in the watch pocket
of his ntaloons Gilford produced two thou-
sand do rs in bills of large denomination. .

“ Sure enough,” muttered Black Jack, his

vividly, as his hand closed u

e lighting ii poo .
thrmone . ‘Pl’ll put it in my safe with the

other. Its perfectly absurd for you to be car-
rgcng around such a large sum with you, in a’
p e like Sawgol”

Gilford looked annoyed at being stripped of

his cash in this fashion{ but he did notdare com- - ‘ ‘

plain, his treatment‘ 0

Alphie resting upon his
soul like an incubus.

“But why need my father come here? he I

vaginal ll time b ti ht
‘ mpytopu you n avery
place,” explained Black Jack. q‘ If Miss Al is
is rescued and comes on to Scawgo, she , of
course, have you arrested for atfem murdes
or what not, and I shall have to
you if bail should be taken.”

“‘ (judge from all this, Mr. Yattaw, that you
inten to befriend me!"

“Of course I do," declared Black Jack.

nd bail for - "

 

 

 

.. .’..

12

. I

The On-the-Wing Detectives.

 

 

“ Here’s twenty dollars of your money for any
necessary expenses, and you can have more
when you need it. You had better make your
home with us during your stay in Scnwgo, or at
least until this affair with Miss Alphie has been
settled, and Mrs. Yntruw will now proceed to
get you up an ere-client dinner.”

He hastened to remove the bonds in which his
1 wife had enwolped their guest, and it was with

an almost childish delight that Gilford found

5 himself again at liberty.

l “ Then I can go where I like?” he asked, aris-

, ing and stepping about, as if to recover the use

' of his limbs.

“ Of course, sir.”

“ Then I‘ll walk up the pier and look around
a little,” remarked Gilford, “ If that girl has
been picked up by s'mie ship, she may be coming
into port about this time, and I’m going to keep
an e e out for her.”

, “ at me see if she isn’t in sight new,” propos-
ed Mrs. Yattaw, seizing her marine glass.
“ She certainly ought to be.”

She led the way to a favorite post of observa-

. tion on the (inter side of the bumboat, the two
men following her, and proceeded to scan the
surface of the lake attentiVely.

i “Yonder comes a Goodrich steamer," she

' announced, “and any quantity of ships and
schooners, but I see nothing of any woman upon
them.”

“ Let me see, ma’am,” cried Gilford excitedly.

The glass was handed him, and he pretended
to look through it, his whole frame shaking with
his agitation.

“ Not a sign of her,” he muttered, his red face
losing color.

' “ That's because she went down with the

.I 3h“

 

is,” suggested Mrs. Yattaw.
at me see,” proposed Jack.

He looked through the instrument a few mo—
ments, his brow getting more and more corru-
gated and then handed the glass to his‘wife,

uchlng Gilford on the arm.

“ That gal’s dead,” he declared, with an air
l which struck his guest as sinister and menacing.
- “ Come into the cabin again, young man.

i must have a. few words further with you 1”

CHAPTER XVIII.
\ BLACK JACK‘S INQUIRY GETS HOTTER.

IT was not without some wonder and a great
deal of anxiety that Florian Gilford complied
with the bumboater’s request.

“ Sit down, please,” invited Black Jack.

Gilford did so in silence. ‘

Mrs. Yattaw was in the act of turning awa to
attend to some affair of her own when her us—
band detained her by a gesture.

“ You may sit down too, mother,” he said.
“ We’ve not yet done with this young gentle-

11.

Turning to Gilford, the bumboater resumed:

“I presume you comprehend now, young
man, that Miss Alphie went down with the
sha iel"

“ b, no,” protested the rejected wooer vehe-

mently.

“Its only too robable,” insisted the bum-
boater sternly. ‘ You look very much to me
like a devilish ’sassinl But suppose the gal’s
alive and comes safely into oorti Are you de-
termined to marry her?”

Gilford nodded.

“As much determined to marry her as you
are to live?”

The grim, hard look on Gilford’s face was even
more expressive than his audible declaration.

‘f Very good, sir. This is a matter in which I
cad'Pelp you,” said Black Jack, seating himself
ms the rejected wooer, “ but I‘ll do so only up-
on condition that you are perfectly candid with
me. Who is this young gal, who has always
supposed herself to be your sister, but to whom
you have suddenly resented yourself in the
character of a wooer ’

“ Who is she?” repeated Gilford, his face turn-
ing red again. '

‘ Yes, who is she?” » '

“ She’s an ,unkn :wn waif who came into our
family—I do not know when or how,” answered
Gilford, after a few moments of hesitation.

“And yet you are very anxious to marry
her,” commented Black Jack sneeringly—“this
‘unknown waif,’ of whom no one can give the
histor 9 Are v0u the sort of man to do this
sorta thing, Mr. Gilfordi”

The face of the rejected wooer became still
redder.

“ Why—certainly,” he stammered.

“No, you’re nothing of the kind,” assured
Black Jack, in a very decided tone. “Do, on
mean to tell me that your 5 father, Derby il-

fford does not know where th a young lady came
from?”
" Of course father knows all about her."
“ And has advised you to marry her!” .
Gilford nodded again.
“ And has even requested it?"
"I won’t deny that my father is very
anxious for this union to take p ace.”
“Exactly,” commented the bumbcator, with
an audible laugh, “and will you now be so rash
_ as to tell me that your father has advised on to
mar-rev. things] without telling you all be news

\

 

‘ abo her?

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Gilford sat as if stunned by the force of this
logic.

“You see, young man,” pursued Black Jack,
“ that you’ll have to be candid, and Own up to
me, new and here, before another word is said,
thi’lt: you know all about the young lady in ques-
tion, who and whut she is, who are. her parents,
and what you are to gain by this marriage.”

Gilford writhed a few moments in his chair
with the, air of a fox in a trap.

“ Well, yes,” be then snid—“ I’ll own that I
know all about the girl, or I wouldn’t be willing
to marry her.”

“Very geod, sir. Isn’t she an heiress?”

“It'll be nothing Very criminal. I think, if I
admit the fact.”

“ Then her parents are people of some conse-
quence, to say the least?”

“Naturally enough, sir.”

“Then you are marrying for money?”

“ Well, why not?" .

“ But isn’t there another thing you are marry-
ing for l" pursued the liumboater. “ Isn‘t it part
of the plot to put this young lady bet ween your
father and the wrath or vengeance of her pa-
rents?" .

Gilford stared at his questioner a few moments
in silence.

“You’re a wiry dog, I see,” he then muttered,
in a tone of sullen disgust. “But [’11 not hesi-
tatc on this question, after answerin so many.”

“Then the marriage in question is really de-
signed to make things smooth between the young
lady’s parents and your step-father?”

Gill'ord assented.

“ And possibly to prevent your step-father
from being the subject of a criminal prosecu-

tionl”

“ That ay be.”

“Very nod,” muttered Black Jack, once
more, in the most decided of tones. “ Will you
now tell me, young man. just who the lady is,
and who are her parents?”

The dissatisfied look of Florian Gilford deep-
ened to a frown.

“ I don’t know that you are my father confes-
sor, Mr. Yattaw,” he declared. “You’ll‘have
to excuse me from saying anything further on
these subjects.”

“ Tell me at least if her parents reside in
Scanol"

“ No, they do not.”

“ Are they foreigners, then?”

“ I’ll tell you nothing more whatever.”

“ Pshaw! you won’t be so short-sighted,”
muttered Black Jack, springing to his feet and
stepping behind his bar. “ I’ll mix a couple of
my favorite drinks, and we’ll sit down and en-
joy them, like good friends, while you give me
further particulars, in order that I may be use-
ful to you.”

He returned to his seat at the end of a few
moments, with two tumblers partly filled with
some high) colored liquid, one of which he
handed to ilford. '

“ Here’s success to your schemes, young
man,” resumed the bumboater, with a sly

us.”

“ I don’t think that’s likel , sir,” returned
Gilfprd, as Jack emptied his g ass, ‘ but I must
saylit’s good, and I can do no less than imitate
your example.” '

The deed followed the word.

“Oh, that’ll makxeeg'ou talk,” declared Black
Jack, with suppres jubilance, returning the
tumblers to‘ the bar. “And now let’s go and
see if that gal’s coming.”

He led the way, glass in hand, to his favor-
ite lookout, his wife and Gilford following him.

“ Ah, now it begins to look like it,” came from
him, as soon as he had placed the instrument to
his eye. “ Yonder comes a schooner, and there
are two men and two women on the forecastle
- who appear to be looking in this direction."

“ Give me a peep, please,” requested Gilford,
with wild impatience.

The bumboater compiled, and both he and
his wife started at the sudden pallor which in-

' vaded Gilford’s face at his first glance through
the ilngtrum'ent. ”
.' eras e 3! sure enough! he .

“ The youngest of the two womerfi‘igistand’s

near a young man?” demanded Black Jack, ex-

citedl .
“ ers, sir.”

“ Do you know who the oldest of the two gen-
tlemen is?” pursued the bum tar.

GilfOrdxlhook his head, 10wering the glass.

“ Well. I do,” avowed Black Jack. “ He’s
Colonel Archy Southman, who’s comin here to
see Sir Charles Depwortb, accordingto enews—

pagers. But come.”
e led the way back to the cabin, motioning
Gilford, who staggered and seemed weak, to be

seated.
“ Will you have another drink, sir?” he asked.
Gilford made an attempt to reply in the neg-

that this nice punch will loosen your tong

a tax for his wars.

He sat a ew moments calf paral zed, and
then his head sunk upon his breast, h 3 eyes re-
maining wide 0
coming out on h s features.

,“ Since he won’t tell me who the gal is,” mut-
tered Black Jack, advancing to his support,

 

\ r

   
 

.3",  3;» c « -,
5".)sr'rin‘3fi'a’sp « '«V‘W  " r

ative, but even this one short word was too great .

glance at his wife, “and here’s to the hope .

\

 

n, and a stony lock of horror .-
‘ Black Jack.

 

“I’ll keep him here till I’ve had a chance fr:-
communicate with her on the subject. Help me
get him back to the bed mother.” i

The transfer was made in silence, and a key
turned upon the sleeper, when the couple re-
traced their steps to the bur.

“ He’s a mass of the stupidest kind,” muttered
Black Jack, “or he wouldn’t have taken the
same dose twice.”

“ That’s because he is excite-l, Jack," returned
Mrs. Yatiaw. “ He’s really Wired.”

“ Well, he has reason to be,” commean the
bumbouter, grimly. “Since that gal has been
reskied, she, or some of her friends will my big
money for the capture of this reprobate, and
take him of.” out of our way, to jail or otherwise,
so that I can retain as my own the money he
now has on deposit with me. See?”

The smile of Mrs. Yattaw was a sufficient
answer.

“ On the other hand,” pursued Black Jack, “ if
the gal don’t wish to arrest him~and this is
likely enough. seeing that Women are so timid
about appearing in court—we’ll none the less tell,
him a mighty good story of his perils, and let.
him run, minus his cash, and he’ll run so fast,

2 r.

'no doubt, that we shall never see no more of him.

till about six weeks after the day of judgment.
Do you see this point, mother?”

” I should smile if I didn’t.”

“ But this isn't the only point I’m going to
play in this game,” continued Black Jack em-
phatically, stepping behind the bar and drawing
paper and Ink t0ward him. “ I’m going to send a
telegram to that old step—father in Muskegon I”

“ To Derby Gilford .3”

“ Yes, mother—a few awful lines that ’ll just
about shake the daylight out of himi"

“ But what will you tell him?” asked Mrs.
Yattaw, as her husband drew a blank under his
gaze and began filling it out.

" I’ll tell him that his step-son is just now the
icture of an animated sweat-box,” replied
lack Jack, “and that he’d better show up in

Scawgo about as quick as thunder, lightning,
bail and rain, with a dozen bad eggs thrown in,
can move him 1”

He wrote away acouple of minutes, tearing
up two or three unsatisfactbry beginnings, but
at length reached a conclusion that responded
to his thought, and read it for his wife’s ap—
proval.

“ Yes, tbat’ll fetch the old man here by the
fu’st train,” was her comment. “ Shall I take
it to the office?”

“ Yes, and for once please be quick about it.”

Takin some change from the drawer, Mrs.
Yattaw urriedly departed.

She had been goiie llsclarcely a migute when a
stranger tri ig t y across t e an We
and marchedpm g g y
an air suggestive of business.

“ Mr. attaw, I believe?” questioned the
new-comer afteraglance into the face of the
rcdoubtable captain.

“ The same, sir.”

“ Mr. Jack Yattaw l”

“ Yes, sir, the only Yattaw that ever existed.”

“ I want to have a little talk with you,” ura'r-

sued the stranger, throwing down a card. “ his
is my name, 3 r.” '
Black Jack glanced at the card, which read as
follows;
“ DERBY GILroan,
. “ Muskegon, Michigan.”

“The devil! This is quite quick returns!”
was Black Jack’s comment.

 

CHAPTER XIX.
ran: sumac ran scams caooxnesnss.

LEANING acr ‘ the bar, Derby Gilford looked
in uiringly into the imperturbahle countenance
of lack Jack Yattaw.

He was a man not far from fifty years of a s,
but he appeared much older being wrink ed
and emaciated, as if be h never eaten a
square meal, or lacked the digestion necessary to
get any utility from it.

He was not only rustic lookin , unkempt, and
unshaven, but his clothes fltt him no better
than if they had been borrowed from a scare-
crow.

“Excuse me, sir. I didn’t quite catch your
remark," he said. -
“I was mere) saying that the weather is

hot.” res nded lack Jack. “You seem warm
and fins ed, Mr. Gilford,” he added, securing
the visitor’s card in his vest pocket. “What ’
will on take, sir!”

" lemonade, if you please, with a mere dash
of whisky in it. '

The demand was duly honored, and the bum-
boator sat down near his guest, with the air of
placing himself wholly at is disposal.

“You are well planted here, Mr. Yattaw
for knowing what takes place on the lake and
along the waterfront," remarked Derby Gil~
ford, after tasting his lemonade. “No vessel
of any kind can come into port without your-
seeing it.”

“If I happen to be looking,”

“ Have you seen a neat little sharpie here—,5.
abouts at any time yesterday or tc-day!”

‘.\

    

Black Jack’s presence with n

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tectives.

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l ".—

1 sued Derby Gilford, going deeper into his bever-

a e.
g“ No, sir,” answered the bumboater. “The
fact is, the sharpie in question has met with a
very singular accident and has gone to the bot-
tom.”

Mr. Gilforri uttered a wild protest of in-
credulity, looking as if he had seen a ghost.

“it’s a fact,1 assure you,” continued Black
Jack, with a very successful attempt at appear-
ing supernaturally calm. “She ran into a raft
of logs, and one of the logs knocked a hole in the
sharpie about the size of your body, and she
went to the bottom in half a minute.”

“ And my son?” gasped Gilford.

“ Made his escape in the row-boat.”

” And my daughter?”

“Was picked up this morning, after being
afloat all night on a log, by Colonel Southman,
.ot' the Wizard Silver Mine, who has come up
the lake in his schooner to visit Sir Charles
Depworth, who is expected every minute from
England.”

The tumbler fell from Gilford’s hand to the
floor, and he sunk back in his chair so white and
inert that the bumboater thought he had faint-
ed

“ Cursed fatality !” he g’asped.

“ Explain yourself, sir.

“ The loss of the sharpie, I mean in such an
extraordinary fashion,” exclaimed Gilford, mak-
ing a desperate effort to recover and retain con-
trol of himself. “I never heard anything like
it.
“ When did you arrive in Scawgo, Mr. Gil-
ford?” asked Black Jack carelessly, as he set
about preparing another lemonade.

“ Just a few hours ago, sir.”

“Did your son know of your intention to take
this trip!”

" “ Well, no. He expected Iwould remain at
home until his return.”

“Then what started y0u off so suddenly? Did
you have a premonition that something was
wrong

“ I suppose that was it, sir.”

“ Or was it,” insinuated Black Jack, in his
quietest manner, “ that you were anxious about
the pro marriage between your step-son
and your reputed daughter?"

The visitor again started violently, his hand
trembling so that he was hardly able to take the
fresh glass of lemonade the bumboater now
handed him. .

“ Ah, you know—”

“All that tongue can tell, Mr. Gilford,”as-
shred Black Jack—“ all save one little point,
which I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“Certainly—if I can. What isit?”

“ I’d like; to kn0w just who are the gal’s real
parents.”

The old man started again, the last vestige of
color leaving his face.

His lips parted, and it was evident he wanted
'tosa something, but no sound came from him.
' “ me, come, sirl” enjoined the bumboater.
“I am too wall posted in regard to all your
affairs for on to attempt to deceive me in re-
,-gard to Miss Alphie’s parentage. Who and

what is she!” a

" 1—! don’t know Mr. Yathw," answered
Gilford. “ She was left at our house one night
by a band of Gypsies.”

“ What you say won’t agree at all with what
your son told me.”

“ Ah, Florian has been here?”

“Yes, very early this morning, after being
afloat all night in is row-boat. He arrived in

.his under-garments, wet, cold and hungry, and

asked me to feed and warm him, as also to lend
him a suxt of clothes and twenty dollars, which
I did with pleasure.”

“ Not seem him, or anything of the sharpie,
Mr. Yattsw, returned Gilford “ I could do no
less than come here and make nquiries. I am
very much obliged to you for your kindness,
sir,” he added, arising, after finishing his lemon-
ade, “ and shall be even more so if you can give
me a bed till morning.” '

“ Well, that’s not exactly in my line,” said
Black Jack, looking him over as if seeking an
explanation of the odd suggestion. “ Why
don’t you go to one of our popular hotels?”

“ And he laughed at In a ‘Gentleman from
Wayback,’ Mr. YattaW?” ‘ retortsd Gilford.
“No, no, sir; I’m no such man. But I have
a number of reasons for Making to quarter my-
self here, and will frankly mention them.”

“ Oh, that’s unnecessary—”

“ Nevertheless, sir I beg to take you into my
confidence, because I am in need of your assist-
ance. I am goln now to look for a small
sloop-to replace t a lost sharpie—and I want
to lodge with on in order to behand tome
shipping. ’Wil you accommodate me, r. Yat-

taw?

“ Certainly, if my doing so will oblige you."

“ Thanks. f my son should show up here
a ain, tell him torom‘aln till I return. Above
afi, sir, please not say a word to any one about
m presence in Chicago, unless to some one who
-¢aIls to inquire for me."

“All ri ht, Mr. G-ilford,” returned Black
Jack. “ epend upon my discretion. Must

on be going so soon!”
y The visitor assented.

' wished you success in your projects.

 

“ But I can’t let you go, Mr. Gilford, till we
have had a social glass together, and I have
I have
some fine old California port here which I never
bring out except for my best friends, and I
can’t let on go till you’ve tried it.”

“ Oh, am with you,” declared the visitor,
“ and only too glad to accept your kind ofler.”

“ In the mean time,” suggested Black Jack,
bustling around behind his bar, “ what do you
say to telling me who Miss Alphie really is!
Enough was said by your son on this subject to
make me intensely curious, and I shall really be
offended if you do not tell me.”

The lips of the old man closed like the jaws of
a trap.

“ I must decline to chatter, even to you, Mr.
Yattaw, at least for the present,” he declared,
in a voice which attested that all further ap-
peals would be wasted upon him.

“ On, in that case, excuse me.” said the bum-

boater. “ Some other time will answer.”
, He finished pouring the wine of which he had
spoken, and in another moment had touched
glasses with Gil ford, and gone through the farce
of wishing him good luck in all his enterprises.

The result can be foreseen.

Mr. Gilford had no sooner swallowed the wine
offered him, than he felt bad enough to resume
his seat, and he had scarcely resumed his seat,
when be displayed all the signs of being in a
sound slumber.

At this moment Mrs. Yattaw returned from
her errand, and started in surprise at the spec-
tacle she found under her gaze.

“ What have we here, Jack l" she asked.

“ The answer to the telegram you’ve just sent
to Muskegon.”

“ What do you mean, Jack?”

“This man is Derb Gilford, and he’s a chip
of the old blook in a i that concerns the parent-
age of Miss Alphie.”

“ Then he wouldn’t tell you who she really is?”

“No more’n his son would, and so I resolved
to give him just such a dose as his son has
taken. Keep an eye out for intruders while I go
through his kets and pa rs."

The searc was rompt y finished. but not
without many an e aculation of astonishment.

From at least ha f a dozen hiding-places were
brought forth wads of money. the whole footing
up to nearly five thousand dollars, all of which
the bumboater secured on his own person.

“ And that’s not the most sin ular thi about
him,” continued Black J ack, a ter report ng the
amount of money. “ Heres a letter from Dan
the Swatter, written day before yesterday, in-

viting Gilford to come to Chicago to consult'

with him as to the best ways and means of
cleaning out Sir Charles Depworth, who is about
to arrive here with untold millions!”

“ Then the man’s really onto a big game,
Jack?” returned Mrs. Yattaw, after expressing
her astonishment.

“ As you see, mother. He pretended to be
here on account of his anxiety about the propos-
ed marrizigu of his step-son and Miss Alphie, but
I saw that was gammou. Help me get him into
one of those stowawaya”

The unconscious man was duly removed to
one of several narrow bunks in which drunks
were allowed, under favoring circumstances, to
sleep of! their liquor, and the husband and wife
returned to the cabin to discuss further the sin-
gular turn their affairs had taken.

“ It seems from this that the man’s really here
for a big piece of crookednessl” observed Mrs.
Yattaw, proceeding to make herself a lemonade.

“ There can be no doubt about that, mother,”
replied the bumbonter. “Just what it is, is a
question we shall have to decide by waiting and
watching. I told him his son had been here for
food, clothes, and a loan of twenty dollars, but
[didn’t tell him the young man is sleeping the
sleep of the unjust within a few yards of him.”

“ And what is your idea, J ack'i ’

‘f To keep the father and son drugged till in-
quiry is made for them, or something else hap-
pens. The old man spoke about expecting
visitors.”

“ And if they come?”

“ We can give him the antidote and bring him
around, and let the drugging pass for a sudden
illness that We know nothing about. The money
I'Ve merely taken for safe-keeping. Of course
we'll get onto his racket. and that of any one
who calls for him. There's an ill-wind abroad
which is going to blow us great good, mother.
Our new bumboat seems to be just now the
center of a very considerable web, and we’ll take
good care to play the spider tcsome advantage.”

And With this he proceeded to get his strange
craft in order for the wanted nightly reception.

CHAPTER XX.
THE BOGUS DETECTIVE.

Tan afternoon was drawing to a close when
Dan the Swatter and Bart Wyser left the for-
mer’s house, and boarded a Van Buren street
car going eastward. ;

Transferring themselves by grip-car to the
southwest corner of Lincoln Park, they saunt-
ered past the Parade Ground toward the lake,
eventually taking possession of a rustic bench
overlooking the water from the extreme edge of
the New Breakwater Drive.

 

 

“ Well, as I thought,” muttered the Swatler,
“ all danger from our adventure of the morning
is over. Either the baronet is not inclined to
make any complaint, or the party who recov-
ermi his bag has serious doubt< about furnish-
ing the necessary legal proofs for our convic-
tinn,’

“ I fancy both of these considerations are
working in our favor,” returned IVySer, with
smiling equnnimity. “ Who saw you take the
hug from the carriage? And who, except ‘ Cap~
tain Crockletown ’——whoever he may l)?—SBW
you deposit the same in the pantry? They’re not
such fools as to arrest Us, Dan. “76 should slip
through their fingers, and our escape would be
another feather in our caps.”

“I agree with you, Bart,” declared the Swat—
ter, “ and hence We can enter on this new scheme
with perfect freedom.”

“ I do hope the boat ’ll come, Dan,” remarked
Bart W'yser, after a keen look up the coast and
immediately around him.

“ It’s sure to appear ” assured the Swatter.
“ Don’t get impatient. I see it now, I think.”

Drawing a small, but excellent field-glass from
his pocket, he clap it to his eye.

“ Sure enough,” e added.

Looking shar&ly through the glass a moment,
he assed it to ’yser.

he object of their scouting was a small sloop,
which, under jib and mainsail, was coming
swiftly toward them from the north, and we
already within half a mile of them, and not
more than fifty rods from the shore.

“ That’s the craft I was telling you about,”
declared Dan, restoring his glass to his pocket.
“ I know it by a patch on the sail. It has been
here almost every week for a month, and was
here just a week ago at this hour. There’s only
one man aboard, and he’s always the same. He
comes ashore with a bag under his arm which
contains some heavy substance.”

“ Who is be!" queried Wyser.

“That’s his secret, Bart, but I think he’s a
thief who’s robbing some miners who’ve struck
it rich up north’ard. Be that as it may, what
he brings in that bag is solid silver.”

“ How do you know!"

“ I followed him to a jeweler and pawubroker
on Clark street—to Old Mosher’s—and saw him
em ty his bag on the counter.”

he eyes of Bart Wyser'glistened.
_ “ Have you heard of any new discovery of
silver nort ’ard, Dan?” he asked.

“ Only that they’re findin a great deal of sil‘
ver in the famous Wizard ice, on an island
near the north shore of Lake Superior.”

“ But this man can’t come here every week
from Lake Superior,” objected Wyser.

“No, but he may come a short distance, and
have a connection by express with the thief or
thieves for whom he is selliu . Of course, we'll
squeeze his secret out of him, added Dan, lead-
ing the way t0ward the spot where the unknown
was in the habit of landing. “ Follow me, Bart,
keeping me and the boat in view, and be ready
to second me in any way u .”

Keeping his eye on the sloop, and conforming
his movements to it, the Swatter met the new-
comer at the very moment be lowered his sails
and the keel of his craft grated on the beach a
short distance north of the Water Works.

“I’m coming aboard to see you, stran r,”
announced Dan, with a nod intended as a sa uto-
tion, climbing on the bowsprit and moving aft
with the agility of the spider. “ The matter is
very important.”

Then, on reaching the movable deck, he added,
lowvring his voice to a whisper:

“ there’sa gang of thieves waiting to rub

on.

y The stranger did not seem to be surprised at
the declaration.

Dropping into an easy attitude on the seat en-
circling the cockpit. he gave his visitor a sharp,
uneasy look of inquiry.

He was a rough-looking man, evidently a day.
laborer, some forty years of age, with nothing
noticeable in his aspect and manners, if we ex~
cept a low cunning which gleamed from his eyes.

‘ It’s merely that they’ve got track of this
bag,” continued the Swatter, with an insinuat-
ing smile, indicating an object lying in the cook-
pit, and seating himself near it. “ They’ve
spotted your secret, with your many recent
trips‘to the city, and are anxious to share your
good fortune.”

The new-comer sat the picture of consterna-
tion.

“ What would you do?” he asked.

“Well, you've nothing to do except to place

ourself in my care,” answered Dan. ‘ I’m
lly Blair, the famous detective.”

The man lmked ever: more scared than before,
showing that he was familiar with the name.

“ Of course you must talk to e frankl ,” pur-
sued Dau, “just as a client tal s to his aw or,

or a patient to his doctor, or your case ’ll a I

had one! You’re on your way to Old Moshor.
I suppose?” .
A wondering assent was given him.
“ What have you in this bag?"
“ Silver, sir.” , y,
“ From the Wizard Mine, of course!" ‘
The man assented. , '

“ What’s your name!” - 

 

~y.-.-.....__" “ .. .. v.

we

  

  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
  

v Bluirl

14

 

The On-the-Wing Detectives.

 

“ Simon Gorkle.”

“ Where do you live?”

GOI'kle had answered Dan’s inquiries with evi-
dent reluctance, and he now hesitated.

“What’s the use of these questions?” be de-.

manded.

“ You’ll soon learn, if you don’t answer them,”
answered the Swatter menacingly. “I want
you to tell me who and what you are, and how
you came by this silver.”

“And if I refuse?” _

“ I’ll arrest you and take you to the lock-upl”

Gorkle paled at the threat.

“ What if I consent?”

“ You’ve nothing to fear,” declared Dan,
winkin knewingly. “ I’ll give you full protec-
tion a ter hearing the facts. Where do you
live, Mr. Gorkle?”

“ At Waukegan.”

“ How long have you lived there?”

“About six months.”

“ Or just about as long as you’ve been making
these trips with the silver?”

“ Precisely."

“Where did you live before you came to
Waukegan?” pursued Dan.

“ On an island in Lake Superor—Silver Island
in fact, which is just south of Isle Royale.”

“ Now tell me all about this silver,” insinuated
Dan, handing out cigars and offering a light.
“Give me all the facts in your own way, Mr.
Gorkle, without waiting tobequestioned.”

“ Well,” began Gorkle, with the air of resign-
ing himself to a dire necessity, “ the silver
comes from the Wizard Mine, which is owned
by Colonel Southman. My brother, Tom Gor-
kle, is one of the miners who has been em-
ployed there for years. He began stealing
silver last March. He sends it by boat to Ash-
land, where it is expressed to me at Wauke-

an. My business is to bring it here and sell
t, and return three-fouths of the cash to my
brother, retaining one-fourth for myself.”

“1 see,” commented the Swatter, with as-
sumed carelessness. “What’s the name of the
man who brings the silver from the island to
Ashlandi”

“ Goff Dotter.”

“Then there are three of you in the secret of
the stealing?"

Gorkle nodded.

“ And no more?"

H No, sir.”

“ Don’t Old Mosher suspect anything?”

" Yes, he suspects the silver is stolen, but, as
I sell it to him under its value, and he melts it
up as fast as he gets it, he has not asked me too
many questions, and has of course kept silent
about our dealings l”

Gorkle reflected a few moments, and then
added:

“ I ma as well say a word or two more, Mr.

Blair. shall have no more silver to sell at
present. My supplies have been cut 08 at their
source. My brother writes me that there is talk

of selling the Wizard Mine to a great English
syndicate of which Sir Charles Depworth is the
chairman. Haven’t you heard anything about
this reject?”

“ o be sure,” admitted the Swatter, his feat-
ures glowing with delight.

“ My brother writes me,” continued Gorkle,
“that Colonel Southman is coming to Chicago
immediately tosee the baronet, and will bring
with him, in a schooner, the output of the
‘ Wizard’ for the last ten months, which
amounts to more than a million. Ah, heav-
ens-”

“ What is it, maul"; . .

“ Why, there’s the schooner now, with Colo-
nel Southman himself, and also my brother,”
cried Gorkle, staring at the handsome craft
that was creeping along the shore under easy
sail less than fifty rods distant. “Look, Mr.
On that craft is over a million in bar
silver.”

. The Swatter clapped his glass to his eye, scru-
tinizing the schooner intently, as also those
aboard of it, including the colonel and his wife,
with Harry Southman and Alphie Gilford, who
were plainly visible, staudin in a group on
the forecastle, just as Black ack Yattaw had
seen them, busy with the contemplation of their
surroundings. .

“ They’ll have to go on to the harbor, as the

ier is full, unless they tie to Black Jack’s bum-

t,” muttered the Swatter, with suppressed
excitement. “ Who’s that young man with the
colonel?” ,

“ That’s his son, Harry Southman, who is also
the superintendent of the mine.”

“ And the girl i” ,

“Sim is either Her ’5 wife or his betrothed,
to judge from their att tudes.”

“That’s likely, Gorkln. You had better be

"OR for Old Mother’s now to sell your silver.”

' “ What! I’m free?” cried Gorkie, with a flush
of jov and relief. '

“ Of course you are,” returned Dan. “ I can‘t
beseen with on, either in the street or at the
jewelvr’s, an you mustn’t as a word about me
teeny human hoin , but I’ll. eep you under my
eye and no one she harm you.”

“ What'll be your charge, sir?”

“‘Oh, it won’t cant you a cent as I’m paid by

 

the city, replied Dan carelessly, arising and

r' ',_;?’.‘-,f-“1'a,‘-,_;kpl’

taking his way ashore over the 'vowsprit, carry-
ing the anchor with him. “ Fetch your bag,
and we’ll be moving.”

They were soon on the beach, the Swatter
carrying the anchor a couple of rods up the
bench and bedding one of its flukes in the sand.

“ Of course the sloop will be quite safe here in
your absence,” continued Dan. “Go quietly
aboard of it when you return, and wait here for
me. You can be off now, and you needn’t look
back, as I don’t want the thieves to catch on to
what we’re doing. I’ll follow near enough to
keep you covered.”

Gorkle hurried away with his bag under his
arm, taking care to keep his gaze fixed in the di-
rection he was going.

The Swatter made a pretense of following
him, but soon returned to Wyser.

“ Such a discovery as I’ve made throu h that
simpleton, Bart l” he ejaculated. “ ou see
that schooner, which is sweeping past the Gov-
ernment pier, bound for the harbor?”

ster assented.

“ Well, it’s that of Colonel Southman, of the
Wizard Silver Mine, wno has come here to com-
plete the proposed sale of the property to the
syndicate headed by Sir Charles Depworth, so
that we now have two gigantic piles to rake in,
if possible—that of Sir Charles and that of the
colonel.”

He hastened to reveal his discoveries to
Wyser, who full shared his excitement.

“ And this si ver scheme can of course be
worked in connection with the other,” com-
mented Wyser, “ so that we now have a chance
to make the crowning haul of our lives, and one
that will enable us to retire from business.
Shall we go at once for the colonel?”

“ Yes, on the instant.”

“ But how, Dan?”

“We must of coursebe guided by circum-
stances,” replied the Swatter, leading the way
in the direction the schooner had gone, “ but
I’ll call on Colonel Southman without a mo-
ment’s delay. Just watch from the nearest and
best point available, as before, and be ready to
second me in any way you can.”

CHAPTER XXI.
rm: Lovnas IN CHICAGO.

'rthe very moment when Florian Gilford,
loo ing from Black Jack Yattaw’s bumboat,
witnessed the arrival of Alphie in Chica o, the
fair girl was con ratulatiug her betrot ed on
his escape, and t at of his parents, from the
machinations of a portion of his crew.

“ Of course all danger from these men is now
past?” she concluded.

“Yes, Alphie,” replied Harry. “Now that
we have reached port wherea word ora turn
of the band would call the police toour aid,
our recent serious peril maybe regarded as
eliminated. What is still more to the point,”
he added, smiling a caress, “the menaces of
Florian Gilford have now vanished into nothing-
oess, or remain a mere shadow of your past.”

The girl sighed profoundly, a tremor travers-
ing her frame.

“ I wish I could think so,” she murmured, her
eyes scanning the scene Before her uneasily.
“But there can be little doubt that he has
reached Chicago safely, and that he has arrived
at least several hours ahead of us.”

“ But will he not think that you have gone to
the bottom with the sharpie?”

“Yes, unless he kept lookin back at her as
long as he remained within sight, and neticed
that she did not go to the bottom.” x,

“ Even in that case,” suggested Harry,
thoughtfully, “'he can have no certainty as to
who would pick you up,or when,or in what direc-
tion you would becarried. There is little likeli-
hood that be will watch for your arrival in
Chicago, or that any such watching would re-
sult in his getting track of you. You may con-
sider yourself rid of him forever.”

“Unless he turns up again, like the bad
penny he is,” returned Alphie, with cheerful
archness. “In an case, am not likely to
Worry about him ti 1 he gives me positive cause
for doing so.”

“I am glad to find you such a sensible girl,”
said Mrs. Southman, who, with her husband,
had approached the young couple in time to
hear Alphie’s concluding words. “ What shoul i
you care for the threats or ill-will of any such
party, after finding such good friends as we’ll
all he to you?” ,

“ Very little, I assure you, dear mamma,” re-
turned Alphie, as her arm stole around Mrs.
Southman’s waist. “i run too well protected
now for even Florian Gilford to harm me.”

“ And in a few days you will be even further
removed from that man’s persecutions than you
are new " continued Mrs. Southman, caressing
her. “'llo-mormw afternoon, or as soon as we
have landed our silver, 1 shall hope to win your
consent to an instant union with Harry, and
from that hour you will hays nothing to fear
from any source whatever. If, hOWever, you
wish to wait a week as talked, to see what mea-
sures can be takenvfor the disorivery of your
parents, and what the lawyers advise you to
do with Derby Gilford. we shall all consent to
your doing so, and.‘ will give you every assist-

' x- ,.
.' -.n::")..‘.~/.. .. ' - I i

.. N
' "r l .
.~. 5,233» A:

 

 

 

m-m, posslblf‘, taking good care to shield. you
from all harm.”

“ I Will Wait a week in the hope of solving
the great question of my parentage,” said Al-
pine. “in this time, with the aid of a good
lawyer, there may be found a way of bringing
Derny Giiford to a. confession of all he knows
on the subject, and I venture to hope and he-
lievc that he can restore me immediately to my
parents. Florian said, in so many words, that
they are expected in Chicago from one day to
another, and surely, when once we know who
they are, we shall be able, with or without the
aid of detectives, to place ourselves in com-
munication with them.

“All this is perfectly certain,” commented
the colonel, “and hence Alphie shall do us she
pleases.” '

“ Speaking of detectives, papa,” suggested
Mrs.‘ Southman, “had we not better send to
Bolly Blair, who is doing wonderful things in
that line, and have him send three or four of his
men here, as a special protection of the silver
until it is landed? He has an office in the Book—
ery, which is open at all hours of the day and
night, and he or some one who represents him
can be found in a few minutes.”

The colonel took the proposition into Serious
Consideration a moment, and then shook his
head.

“ It is unnecessary,” he decided. “About
half of our men, including the cook, are faith-
ful to us, and it is unlikely that the rest will un-
dertake to make us any trouble, new that we are
safe in port. If this trouble hadn’t arisen with
them, we should all land at once and go to the
Palmer House, where, it is understood, Sir
Charles Depworth will take lodgings on his ar.
rival.

“ But as it is, Archy?” demanded Mrs. South—

man. ,
“ Very naturally, as things are,” returned the
colonel, “We shall all make the schOoner our
headquarters until ’ after the silver has been
landed. There’s no question of our going to a
hotel till the treasure has been removed to a.
place of safety.”

This decision met with general approval.

“ But of worse you and Alphie can go ashore
for a few hours,” added the colonel, turning to
Harry, “ and I’ll give you an important errand
as an excuse for doing so.” ’

“Let us have it, sir,” said Harry, with smil-
ing frankness, “ for Alphie is very anxious to
take a look at the city, and I am equally anxious
to show it to her.”

“Well, I want you to call at the Palmer
House, and inquire if Sir Charles DepWorth has
already arriwd there,” declared the colonel.
“If he has, Harry, you’ll see him, and tell
him where I am, and perhaps he’ll come of! to-
the schooner at once, and talk up the propOSed
sale of the ‘ Wizard’ with me. Should be pre—
fer to wait until morning, you’ll advise with
him as to the hour when he may be e ted.”

“ We’ll attend to the matter, sir,” returned the
sou, with a fond glance at his betrothed. “ Is
there anything else I can do?”

“ Yes, you can take Al his to one of the the-
aters,”suggested Colonel uthman, “and bring
her back here after the performance. This com-
mission, as on will see at a glance,” he added,
with a genial smile, his eyes lingering upon the
handsome couple with admirin aflection, “ is
in the nature of a recompense, Harry, for the
safe execution of the other.”

“ I’ll attend to them both, sir,” assured
Hurry, while Alphie’s eyes glowed like stars in
anticipation of the treat offered her.

“ Thea speak to the mate, and let him have his
boat in readiness” said the colonel. “ You need.
not delay your departure for a moment."

 

CHAPTER XXII.
PLAYING A SINGULAR Gm.

IN accordance with his programme, Dan the
Swatter was aboard of the silver-laden schooner
almost as soon as it had rounded-to in the Outer
Harbor. -

He gave his first attention to Tom Gorkle, the
thieving miner, whom he recognized readily
through his marked resemblance to his brother.

Tom was busy on the deck, figuring_.as mate,
in the midst of a group of sailors, makiugevery-
thing shipshape, and he cast upon the Swatrer a
sharp and anxious glance, which the latter
noticed with keen satisfaction.

“ One moment. Gorkle,” said Dan, in a tone
of authority, beckoning the dishonest miner to-
ward him, after securing to the tafl’rail the
painter of the boat in which he had come off
from the nearest shore. “I wish to speak to

on.”
y Tom Gorkle responded to the summons with
an uneasiness that was quite visible to the eyes
of the Swatter, if to no one else. '

Dun readily saw, in fact, that the man’s whole
thought at the moment was of the silver he had
been stealin r from his employer.

“ I am glad to see you, Mr. Gorkle,” greeted
Dan, taking the miner by the hand “ Welcome
to Chicago! As a warm friend of your brother,
who has Just quitted me, I am pleasad to wit--
ness your 3 fe arrival, and hope you’ve had a.
pleasant voyage from your island."

A a ‘

 

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I

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.,

 

 

“Excellent, thank you,” replied Gorkle, with
a wonder he could not conceal, as he looked the

stranger over and mentally demanded who and f
“ Why is not Simon here .

what he could be.
with you?”

“ Caution!” and Dan sunk his voice to an im-

ressive whisper.

osher’s to sell that last batch d I'lver you sent
him, but he has deputed me to bring you to him
in due course.”

The minor paled at the words, and looked
around quickly to assure himself that none of
his comrades were within hearing.

“ Why did the colonel bring you to Chicago?”
pursued Dan. “ Certainly, not to help work the
schooner, as you’re no sailor.”

“ Oh, yes. I was formerly a sailor on all the
great lakes and both oceans. But I have also

come here as a practical minor, in order to an- r

swer any questions Sir Charles Depworth may
care to ask about the ‘ \Vizai‘d.’ Harin r worked
in the mine, you see, a couple of years, am fully

competent to tell the baronet just what he’s buy- '
1

"‘.Exactly,” commented Dan, surveying the .

man thoughtfully. “ As Simon isn’t here to in-
troduce me, allow me to introduce myself. I’m
Bolly Blair, the well-known detective, and my
business here is very important.”

Tom Gorkle became more uneasy at these de-
clarations than ever.

“ For the pr nt, and until further orders,
Mr. Gorkle,” pursued Dan, “ do not allow a man
to leave the schooner, or to come aboard. Where
is Colonel Southman?”

“ In the cabin, sir.”

“ Have the goodness to present me to him, and
then leave us ” ordered Dan, with an air of

authority which closed the door toany sort of ‘

hesitation. “ Could you handle the schooner, as
its commd‘nder?”

“ As well as it can be handled by any captain
who sails out of Chicago.”

“ Good,” commented Dan, in a guarded tone.
“I will see you later, and need only say now
that 1 shall expect you to co-operate with me in

a number of measures which relate to this cargo i

of silver.”

“Certainly sir—quite at your service,” re-

turned Tom Oorkle, with the air of being com— .

pletely dominated by his extraordinary visitor.
“This is all I have to sa till I’ve consulted

the colonel,” added Dun. “ 'IYake me to him.”
Inclining himself in silence, and making a res-

olute effort to conceal his trepidation, Tom ,

Gorkle led the way into the cabin, where Col-
onel S )utliman and his wife were seated.

“Detective Blair, sir,” announced the faith-
less mate, endeavoring to conceal his nervous-
ness under a bustling air. “ He has something
of importance to say to you."

The colonel and Mrs. Southman received the ‘

visitor politely, inviting him lo beseated, and
Tom Giirkle turned away.

“ See that the men remain quietly in the fore-
castle, Mr. Gorkle,” ordered the colonel, “and
remember that not a man of them is to go ashore
until he gets special permission.”

“I comprehend, sir,” replied the mate, and
with this he vanished.

“I’m glad you’ve given that order, colonel,”
said the Swatter, seating himself opposite the
husband and wife. “ The fact is, some of the

worst rogues in the city have learned of your i

proposed arrival, with the accumulated outputs
of the Wizard, and a number of them are n0w
plotting to seize your silvui'.”
His hearers exchanged significant glances.
“Did I not tell you so, Archy?” demanded
Mrs..8outhman with a smile. ” Did I not fore-

here, With these bars of silver, without at once
attracting many an evil eye to what we are
doing. as secret as we have tried to be?"

“ Well, no harm’s done, and nothing is liker
to come of it, seeing that Mr. Blair has hurried
so promptly to our assistance.

bank—”

“And until then, colonel. you needn't give 1

yourself the least trouble, as I am taking every
necessary measure,” interruptei the Swattpr.
“ With your permission, I’ll brin aboard a few
young men in due course, and w l guard both
you and your bulliOn carefully until our services
are no longer needed.”

He stepped lightly to the companionway,
closing the entrance, and came back to the hue-
band and wife with a nervous eagerness that was
readily accede as an interest in their situation,

“ To be frank with you, colonel,” he resumed,
inclining his.head nearer and speaking in a
whisper “this mate of yours is not: what you
think. he has been stealing your silvpr at the
rate of sixty or seventy pounds weaklv ever
since last March. A man named Goff 'Doiter
has been making constant trips between your
islaudgand Ashland, from which point the silver
has been expreswi to Waukegan to Simon
Gorkle, formerly in your employ, who has been
here every week ina sloop to dispose of the
plunder.”

The colonel was not a little startled by the”
revelations, which of course placed the pretend-
ed detective in a most famrable light, giving
him an air of thorough authenticity.

1

“Simon has gone to Old.

'see that it would be impossible for us Income i

I hope in the ;
course of to-morr0w to have our silver in some

i
l “ Go on, Mr. Blair,” begged Mrs. Southman,
5 With anxious eagerness.

“ There’s little more to be said,” continued the
Swatter. “The essential is that this brother,
i Simon Gorkle, has been arrested. and I’ve sent
, aman to Ashluiid to arrest Goff Doiter. Your
mate will be arrested at the right moment——
after I have questioned him—mid in the mean
i time you mustn’t give him the slightest hint of
: our discovories. There’s a conspiracy here which
‘ looks to nothing less than the seizure of all your
bullion.”

Mrs. Southman’s face blanched at these state-
ments, and her husband looked astounded.

“Can it be, Mr. Blair,” asked the latter,
“ that the conspirators you speak of have an
understanding with tiiOse aboard the schooner?”

“ How aboard the schooner, colonel?”

“ Why, a part of my crew has acted very
1 queerly ever since we sailed from Silver Island,

and only my watchfulness and that of my son
' has prevented them from making an attempt to
, seize the schooner and the silwr!”
l “ What have they done, sir?”
“ They’ve made two different attempts town
i the schooner ashore by steering in a different
3 direction than that laid down for them,” ex~
3 plained the colonel, “ and have been guilty of
all sorts of mutinous and suspicious conduct.
disobeying orders, gathering in groups and con-
sulting in whispers, and so on."

“I think there’s no connection between these
men and those I referred to,” siiid the Swatter.
“ The probability is that Tom Gorkle and some
of his associates have been tempted by the silver,
without the least reference to the Chicago crooks
to whom I’ve alluded.”

“ Do you know who these crooks are, sir?” in-
quired the colonel.

“ Oh, yes. One of them is the notorious Dan
Swatter. and another is Dan’s rticulnr chum,
Bart W yser. Probably you now something
about them?”

“ Very little, I confess,” returned Colonel

Southman, “ and the fact is not to be wondered
at, eonsirleriii that my wife an! i have been al-
most constant y absent from Chicago for several
1 years.”
I “ Fortunately, as I was saying," pursued Dan,
' “all the threads of this plot are now in my
5 hands, and all you have to do is to do nothing.
‘ I will not in due course, taking all the neCessary
' measures for the defeat of the plotters. What
is the value of your silver?”

“ A little more than half a million,” answered
: Colonel Southman.
| “The papers have given larger figures sir.”
i “‘ That was to be expected, but the facts are as
j I tell vou, and I am sorry to add that the so
, tual figures do not represent a great deal of
, profit. As you may be aware, the richest veins
of the V‘Viznrd are far below the level of the
i I'tkf’, and we have to pump a great deal of water
; to get at them.” '

,5 “ But half a million, colonel,” said Dan, with
; suppressed excitement, “ is a great deal of
i
!

 

l

money. In what shape is it?”
“In bars, of course.”
“And what measures have you taken for its
: safe-keeping?”

“ Oh, I’ve put the bars into stout plank boxes,
and have chained the boxes to the sides and bot-
tom of the hold," anewered the colonel—-“ verv
rude measures, I confess, but probably as cili-

; have been, 8\ not a blow can be struck for the
removal of the chains without sending an echo
* throughout the ship.”

“ Nevertheless, I think you are very fortunate
to haVe feached port in safety,” declared the
Swatter arising, “and we had better take in~
stant steps to paralyze any schemes which may
be undr foot for seizing the silvor or the schoon-
; er. I  hat measures have you taken for the
, mg i ,

“Not any, sir,” replied the colonel, “exwpt
to keep the whole crew in the forecastle, with
the idea of using those who are for us to Control
those who are against us. My wife suggested
that we send to you for three or four men. as a

i think it neCesssry.” .

“ Well, it is necessary,” assured the Swatter.
$ng y0ii expect any visitors during the even-
iiig

“ Not unless Sir Charles Depworth should call
upon me.”

“ Then he knews you are here?”

“I new sent my son to him with this informa~
tion,” explained the colonel, “and also to tell
him that I shall be pleased to see him here, to—
night, if he cares to call so promptly.”

“ He, too, has become an object of much un-
, pleasant attention,” remarked the Swattpr,
i averting his eyes to hide the villainous gleam
in them, “ and you must really allow me,
colonel, to take the necessary measures for the
protection of yourself and your visitors. Your
l crew seems to have been divided—some of them
' being for you, and some against you. Will you
I give ma the particulars?" '

“ With pleasure.”

Drawing a slip of paper from one of his vest

l pockets, the colonel unfolded it and called the

 attention of the bogus detective to \two short
columns of names upon it.

cient as any quantity of bolts and bars would'

The Qn-the-Wing Detectives.“

speciI-l protection for the night, but I didn’t .

 

15

“These,” he said, putting his thumb on th-
right hand column, “ are the names of the mm
who wanted to run the schooner ashore, so that
they could make their escape with the silver.”

“I see, sir.”

“ And these names on the left,” continued Col-
onel Southmaii, “are those of the men wuo re~
fused to have anything to do with the plot, all’l
who remained faithful to me.

“ You will see,” he added, “ that we have
been about cquallv divided, and that’s why noth-
ing very Serious has happened.”

The Swatter porcd over the list a few mo—
ments, and then said:

“ You had better get rid of the men in this
right hand list, or those who wanted to steal the
silver. I’ll o and bring off two or three of my,
men in a litt e sloop l have at my disp'vsal, and
will then take auay these reprobatcs with me.
Shall Igo ahead in my own fashion?” .

“ If you will be so kind, Mr. Blair.”

“ Then I will act at once, sir.”

Inclining himself politely to the couple, he hur-
ried from the cabin.

 

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
THE SWATTER AND TOM GonKLE.

As Dun the Swiitier reached the deck of the
silVer-laden schooner, he found Toni Gorkle
awaiting him, with an anxious countenance.

“I want t... are my brother, Mr. Blair,” said
the mate in:a low tone. “Can the thing be
managed?”

“Of course it can,” replied the bogus detec-
tive, stepping to the taffrail. “Jump into this
boat and take me ashore. We can talk of your
brother and other matters by the wa .”

The mate spoke to a subordinate, Feaving or-
ders to cover his absence, and then complied
with the visitor’s wishes.

The boat was soon clear of the schomier, with
Goi-kle at the oars and Dan in the stem facing
him.

“ I will steer,” resumed the Swatter, picking
up an our and trailing it behind him. “ You
need not row so fast. It’s enough to just keep
the oars moving gently.”

He waited until a glance assured him that he
was out of ear-shot of the colonel and his crew,
and then continued:

“ It’s about time for your brother to be back
from Old Mosher’s where he has gone to sell his
silver. He left his sloop in the usual place, near
the Water Works, and I’ve requested him to
wait there till he sees me. I shall return to him
in due course, or send for him, and he’ll meet
you in an hour or two at the schooner. I de-
pend upon you both to help me in :a certain
thing I’m doing. And now to more pressing
matters.”

He looked around keenly, assuring himself
that none of the few boats on the surface of the
harbor were within hailing, and then proaeeded:

“ It seems from what the colonel has just told
me that two attempts haVe been made to cast
away the schoiiner since you left Silver Island 3”

The mate admitted the fact in silence, mau-
ifesting great uneasiness.

“ W here was this, Tom?”

“ At Caribou Island, in Lake Superior, and
at Beaver Island, in Lake Michigan.” ,-
“ Was there any talk of harming the colonel
and his family?” '
“ It wasn’t believed that any violence would
be necessary, except to» restrain the colonel and

his son of their liberty.”

“ I didn’t see this son on the schooner, Tom.
W here is he?"

“He’s gone ashore on an errand. sir, and I
heard something said about his going to the
theater this evening.”

“So ihut he Won’t be back till late, in all,
probability ?”

“ No, sir.”

The Swutter looked gratified.

"Not quite so fast, Tom,” he said, changing
his course a few points “Who went ashore
with young Southmani”

“ The girl we picked up this morning.”

“ Ah. indeed? What’s her name!”

“ Miss Gili'ord.” ‘

“ Miss Gili’nrdi” echoed the Swattcr. “Not
Miss Alphie Gilford, of Muskegon ?“

“ Yrs, sir. 'l‘hai’s the very youiig woman in
question i”

I‘m Swatter l00k0d intensely surprised and in-
terestcd, continuiii :

“ But how was sis ‘ picked iip,’ Tom?”

“ Her sharpie had been wrecked in an encoun-
ter with ii raft of logs, such as occasionally is
lost in towing, or by breaking away from the
boom of some mill in a storm.”

“ Strange i” commented Dan.
“one?”

“ When we found her—yes; but not when the
sharpie struck the raft. Her brother had Owen
with her, it seems, and they had quarreled about
something, but I can give you no particulars.
All I know is the little I could pick up while. at-
tending to my duiies as mate.” ‘

“A ver strange affair,” said the Swstter,
with a sigh. “I wish you knew more about it.
And so Miss Alphie has gone ashore withoung

'

“ Was the girl

Southman?” . -

The mate ssnented.
“ But isn’t that very singular. too?!

 

 

16

 

“ No, sir, for the reason that the young people
have long been vauainted, and are engaged to
be married.”

“ Impossible!”

“ It’s perfectly true, sir,” assured Tom Gorkle.
“ You should have seen them billing and cooing
all the way up the lakel From what I hear,
they are to be married tomorrow.”

“ Astounding!”

The Swatrer was silent a moment, as if ab-
sorbed in some question growing out of this in—
formation.

Then he aroused himself, again giving his at-
tention to Gorkle.

“I see you are put down, Tom, as one of those

‘ faithful to the colonel,” he continued, “ but I’m

certain that such cannot be the case. I believe
you to be leader of the whole conspiracy. Will
you tell me candidly if I am right?”

The mate hesitated a few moments about re-
plying, and Dan again changed his course con-
siderably to avoid reaching the shore too soon.

“ What will happen, Mr. Blair,” the mate
then demanded, “if I tell the ex::ct truth?"

“Just what has happened to your brother for
making a full confession to me aboutfstealing the
silver. I not only forgave him, but have taken
hin’i’into m service.”

“Then I 1 not be punished?”

“Certainly not. You’ll simply be promoted
to the command of the schooner.”

“ To take a voyage in her, do you mean?”

“ Perfectly.”

“Then I will becandid, Mr. Blair. I am in-
deed the author of the plot for stealing the
schooner and the silver. l’ve egged the men on
in this direction while pretending to Colonel
Southman to be faithful to him.”

“ I comprehended as much, Tom,” said the
Swatter, now heading his boat shoreward, “ and
I’m very glad that such is the case, as it brings
you and me into line for for acting together.”

Gorkle looked pleased-and yet astonished.

“ Let me now give you a hint of the real situ-
ation of affairs, continued Dan and tell you
who I really am. I’m not Belly lilair, but Dan
the Swatteri”

“ Surely—you don’t mean it,” gasped the mate,
suspending his oars in breathless excitement as
few moments. '

“ I’m just what I tell you,” assured Dan, with
an insinuating smile, “and the plot I’m now en-
gineering is to run away with the schooner and
all the silver on it i” ‘

The mate realized the identity of the man he
was dealing with, and looked even more pleased
than startled at this bold avowal.

“ And of course I shall depend upon your as-
sistance, Tom, and that of your brother,” pur-
sued the Swatter. “ But tel me how you in-
tended to dispose of the silver, when you had
cast may the schooner?”

“ I intended to drop the bars into ten or twelve
feet of water, at some point known only to my.
self and my friends, sir,” replied the mate, “ and
fish them up at my leisure at some future time.”

“ A good idea sure enon h,” commented the
Swatter thoughtfully. “l’l bear it in mind in
case we have trouble in gettin out of the lakes.”

“ Out of the lakes, sir? To 0 that, you’d have
to steal the colonel as well as his silver, and so
prevent all hue and cry behind you."

“ That’s my intention, Tom, and here’s the
first thing I want you to do to assist me. When

' you get back to the schooner, you must call

around all you the men who were in the plot
with your, and tell them you’ve seen Dan the
Bwatter.

“ It shall be done, sir.”

“ You’ll tell them that we’re going to seize the
vessel and the bullion and that every man of
them can secure an mmense fortune—all the
money he can ever use, in fact—by coming to
our assistance.”

“ I’ll make ’em simply wild, sir!” ‘

3“ You’ll say that you are going to be the cap-
tain, and that we are all going off on a sort of
holiday excursion down the lakes, and may
even spend sevoral years together in takings.

' ‘ trip around the world.”

Tom Gorkle nodded understandingly, his eyes
,gleaming with the intense greed these prospects
awakened.

“ You’ll say that every man who joins us will
have a twentieth of the half million,” pursued

. ‘ Dan, “ and they can all figure out for themselves

what that will amount to.”
“ I’ll tell ’em, sir.”
“ In a word, Tom,” finished the Swatter,

“you’ll wake them all up in regard to this
a , scheme, so that they will be ready to obey our
:_ orders when I return to the schooner, which I
shall do as soon as I’ve attended to certain

necessary measures. Don’t for at that the colo-
no] believes me to be the realgBolly Blair, and

“But may not the real Bolly Blair turn up

. gavern yourself accordingly.”

: ‘ suddenly?” suggested the mate.

No, Tom. The colonel thought of sending
for him. but decided not to do so. I believe you

r " r Coin rehend Just what I want of you?”

" do, sir.

‘  ', I “Then wheel on your left car, so that I can

leave a,” ordered Dan, the boat having now
neural he beach. " and row back to the schooner

  and wait for me.”

i " ’.,v' . 't I ,‘ H. v

. «t, r, ,1 -‘ ,  _ - Av ‘ ; ow Wu f > a yr: >  V. . i, ,  mi
My.”  H. «   on... um 1:: 3 ~22  y‘ * a “

 

 

The Oh—theV-Win‘ggDetec’tives. ‘ J A ' i = _ I: a; 

CHAPTER XXIV.
THE SWATTER'S SCHEME DEVELOPING.

THE next step of the bogus detective was to
walk along the beach to the spot where he had
left his pal, Bart Wyser.

This rendezvous was on the Lake Park Front,
nearly abreast of the old Exposition Building,
but at that hour of the day the vicinity was by
no means cr0wded.

“ What luck, Dani” inquired Wyser, in a.
guarded tone.

“The best in the world, Bart,” answered the
Swutter, throwing himself upon the sward, and
motioning his pal to a place beside him.

“ Then you saw Colonel Southman?”

“ Yes, and humbugged him completely. He
thinks I’m the great On-the—ng himself—the
real Bolly Blair—and wants me to put three or
four of my best men on the schooner immediate-
l y to protect his silver from the crooks who are
after it.” ' '

“ Then the bullion is really there?”

“ Yes, fifteen tons of it, in bars, of the value
of half a million.”

“Tell me all you’ve said and done since, you
left me.”

She Swatter proceeded to do so, but the narra-
tive was often broken by the laughter or jubi-
lance of the plotters, as the rejoiced together.

“ And you are going to lecome the guardian
of this treasure?” inquired Wyser, when his pal
had finished.

“ Till to-morrow, as it is rather late in the day
to act now, the colonel having made no arrange-
ment with an bank to receive it.”

“And am to be one of the men, Dan, who
will help you guard it!" '

“ Ver naturally.”

“ An( who are to be the others?”

“ That’s a question we ought to be careful
about deciding,” answered Dan. “ Part of the
crew are with the colonel and they will have to
be seized and reduced to helplessness before we
can take sion.”

“ lgut the other half of the crew will assist

“ Without a doubt.”

“Then you really see your way to the cap-
ture of the schooner and the treasure?”

“I do, Bart,” assured Dan, his eyes gleaming

ily, “ and I also see my way to the posses-
sion of that English baronet’s millions!”

“ Im ible, Dan 1”

“ It’s just as I tell you,” avowed the Swatter,
firmly. “These two things can be worked to-
gether. The next step to be taken is to smug-
gle ourselves aboard as On-tho—Wings. Two or
three of us will do on a pinch—let’s say three in
addition to myself.”

“ But what three shall they be?” asked W ser,
thoughtfully. “ If Sam Furbish were only ere,
he’d do for one of the number, but Lill Rook-
stool is too uncertain and dangerous to be taken
into a game of this importance. The same may
be said 0‘ the whole crowd we used to run with
but who have n0w dropped out of sight behind
us. You wouldn’t dare trust ’I‘ony Piflen i”

” Dear me! no more’n I’d trust a rattlesnake,”
answered the Swatter. “ In fact, I’ve passed in
review all the helpers, old and now, who gradu-
ated when we did, and there’s not one of them
worth a nickel. Bill Cryer would do, if he
were not in prison, an the same may be said of
one or two others.”

“ Then what’s to be done?”

“I’ll tell you, Bart. Do you remember the
nice trip we enjoyed along the east shore of the
lake a year ago, when We were wanted so badly
for the Wentworth avenue burglary?”

W ser assented.

“ hen of course you remember the two weeks
of rest and hiding we enjoyed at a farm-house
near Muskegon?”

“At Derby Gilford’s, you mean?”

“Yes, at Derby Gilford’s. You’ll remember
that we arrived there in such a plight that we
had to take the old man into our confidence—
hatless, shoeless, hungry, devoured by mosqui-
toes sick, lame, and out of monev.”

“ on’t mention it,” protested yser. “ That
was one of the worst situations We were ever

“ Very well, Bart. The old man couldn’t
have treated us better if he had been a. ‘long-
lost brother ’1”

“ I remember all that,” avowed Wyser, “ and
I hope you also remember the daughter, a girl
named Alphie. She returned from a visit the
day we left, and I was sosmitten with her that
I’ve often tried to find time to run down there
tosee her. The only thing that kept me away
was the fact that she’s totally unlike her father
and brother.” .

“ How unlike them?”

"Why, they belong to one breed, Dan, and
are capable of any crookedness,” replied Wyser,
“ while she’s a born angel, if there ever was one,
and it was this fact that diacouraged me from
any attempt to win her.”

“ You did well to keep away, Bert, no doubt?

, commented the Swntter, “ but I’ve had no such

hesitation about renewing acquaintance with
the father and son. When Ht Jenkins wrote
me about the proposed visit of Sir Charles Dep-
worth, and suggested that hominid he plucked
by our united efforts, I felt the need—oh. so

 

 

 

keenly !—-of a new pal or two, who should be un-
known to the police, and even be strangers in
Chicago; who should be men of capacity and
standing; who should have something to lose, ,
and be capable of good work in a scheme of this

gorgeous nature; in a word, who should just fill

the bill for such a job as we now have on hand!” ,

“ And you wrote to the Gilfords’i” returned :
Wyser, in pleased surprise.  r

“ I did, old fellow!” avowed Dan. “ Recalling 3
the good time we had at their farm-house, and ‘
realizing what afine place we can have there i
for hiding ourselves when We’ve seized the *
baronet’s millions, or are holding a millionaire ;’
or two for ransom, I wrote the old man full t.
particulars of the Depworth affair, and request- if,
ed him to come to Chicago as soon as possible to 
Confer with me on the subject.” 

“ Will he come, do you think?”

“ Of course he will, and doubtless the son will i
come with him.” ’3,

He glanced at an elegant gold watch he car- 
ried, and added:

“ They should be at Black Jack Yattaw’s at
this very moment.” .

“But why at Black Jack’s?”

“ Because I didn’t want them to come to my
house,” explained the Swatter. “ As you’re ,,
aware, Bart, I haven’t had much faith in the r}
nerve of that sister of mine for several months 
past, and have said Very little to her about my f'
projects. The manner in which she allowed
that unknown detective to do us out of that
handbag is a proof that we must be very pru-
dent in our dealings with her from this time on-
ward.” ! ,,

“ I agree with you, Dan,” returned Wyser.  s;
“ But can you find the necessary quiet and re- a *'
tirement at Black Jack’s to come to a. good un-
derstanding wiih Derby Gilford and his son ?"

“ Yes, or I can take them elsewhere,” replied
the Swatter. “If already here, as tbpy ought
to be, they can come aboard the schooner with
you as On-the-Wings, thus making the required
number.” g 2

“Then you are now going to Black Jack’s to - '
look for t cm?” "i

" Yes, art.” ‘ f

The Swatter reflected a few moments, asking
himself if he should tell his 1 what Tom Gorkle
had told him about Alpine and the wrecked
shar is, and then he continued:

“ t’s possible, Bart, that there may be some
sort of a bitch in the expected arrival of the fit _
Gilfords. But the girl’s here already."

“ Not Alphie?”

“ Yes, Alphie. She came with the South-
mans." .

“ But how with the Bout'nmans?” ‘

“ They took her from the wreck of her
sharpie this morning,” explained Dan. “ Just a
where she was going, and who she was going ;.
with, remains to be seen. but mention is made of ‘- ‘
the presence of her brother, so that thewhole
thing is something of a mystery.”

“ But the girl’s here, you say! You didn’t see
her on the sch neri”

“ No, she h gone ashore with young South-
man, who has known her a long time, and to
whom she is engaged to be married.”

“You don’t mean it?” cried Wyser, with an
air of consternation. / ' ,
a “ I’m telling you what Tom Gorkle told me,
and will go at once to Yattaw’s to see if the Gil-
fords are there. In the mean time, I want you .-
to go and find Simon Gorkle. He must have 3
returned from Old Mosher’s by this time, with
the proceeds of his latest batch of stolen silver, 3,,
and you’ll find him aboard the sloop in which he 
came up the lake from Wankegan. , ;,

“And what am I to do with him when I’ve i,
found him i” '-

"Merely tell him.that I’ve seen his brother , ' ‘
and assist him in bringing the sloop alongside of ‘ L if
:3lack Ja’ck’s bumboat, where I shall be waiting ,

or you.

“ And is this all?” asked Wyser, as the couple
gained their feet. ‘

“All, till I see you at Black Jack’s,” replied
the Swatter, and with this they separated, to-
avoid attracting attention, although their routes
led for some time in nearly the same direction.

,‘ whim XXV.
AN IMPORTANT POINT 8 "LED. ‘

 

v‘ sag-gaunv ‘ *1

a,“ A _..  .

 w mums} «as  ~ v-

 

' HIS preparations for the nig t haviu been , ,5
completed to his liking, Back Jack attaw I > 3-";
lighted his pipe and began saunteriug to and fro  if.
on his favorite post of observation, with the air *‘ it
of being, like Selkirk on Juan Fernandez, the' I  

menarch of all be surveyed.

“ It’s mighty singular who that gal can be,”
he at length ejaculated. “ Why is it that the
Gilfords would sooner have their heads pulled
off than tell me who were her parents?”

“ It’s because they’re going to make a bi ile
out of the girl’s father. when young Gilfor as
become her husband,” answered Mrs. Yattaw, _ ,  if;
who had quietly sought her puzzled mate to tell ‘ ’3 Ti,“
him that his supper awaited him. 3, 3"“,

“ You’re right, mother," declared the bum- ‘ r:
boator, slapping his thigh emphatically. “ But 7 ‘ 
what is the great scheme that Dan the Swntter
is going to carry out against Sir Charles Dep-
vvnrth. with the aid of the Gilfordsi”

  
  

‘ “ Why, this can be nothing more or less than, .  ‘ .

 perv":

i;
gt,

 



 

 

 

 r 1 Cn-th-Wingi Detectives.

1'7

 

 

the scooping of all those millions the baronet
has brought to America,” suggested Mrs. Yat-
taw. “ Pussibly there may he 3 Mile connection
between the tow; schemes—that of marrying the
girl to young Gilford, and robbing ir Charles
——but if so it remains to be discoverei .”

The dark face of Black Jack corrugated like
a sea in :i storm, and his eyes gleamed with an-
;,i‘y \‘ividiiess.

“There’ll be a lively gale at this end of the
Like before the day’s ended, mother,” he niut-
“HTML “If I don’t pump the soul of these little
’qiiriitors, as dry as a. hornets’ nest, and teach
’em a lesson that ’ll last ’em till Adam and Eve
come back to start a. new tribe, you may have
me shut up in the Zoo as a lVild Man 0’ Borneo!
The idea of such crooks as Dan the Swntter and
the Gilfords making their appointments here,
just as if they owned me and the Government
pier, with the whole of Lake Michigan thrown
in, is enough to turn onc’s stoinnchl Blast
them! They’ll find that I’ve not lchd thirty
years in Scano to be chawed by such cattlel”

“ Of course you’ll fix ’cm,” suggested Mrs.
Yattaw, iii a voice of respect and confidence
that was infinitely placative. “ But won’t you
come to supper now, Jack, so as to be ready for
the expected visit of Dan the Swatter, us an-
nounced in his letter to the old man Gilford ?”

“I couldn’t eata thing, mother, till some 0’
these questions are settled. Isn’t it possible that
the young man we saw an the deck of the schoon-
er with Miss Alphie, and who can be no other
than the colonel’s son—isn’t it possible, I say.
that he will bring her to the dance this evening,
out of curiosity!”

“ Hardly, Jack,” replied Mrs. Yattaw. “If
he takes her ashore, as is likely, he’ll doubtless
take her to a theater.” .

" Then I must contrive to make her ac usin-
tance in some other fashion,” declared lack
Jack. “I want to know who are her parents.
Do you s’pose she was stolen from her home when
she was little?”

“ That’s probable.”

“ Then may she not be English born, and may
she not have been stolen from Sir Charles and
Lady Dopworth?” demanded Black Jack, with
the air of being willing tohazard almost any
conjecture for the sake of reaching a solution of
the great problems crowding upon him.

“ That may be,” returned Mrs. Yattaw, “ and
I must say that the questions and answers of the
father and son all point tosome such distinguish-

l’rd parentage. Have you seen the evening pa.-
)em 3‘)

l

“ . ot et, mother. I am too excited.”

“ Wel , I’ve just glanced them over, as usual,
to see what they say about you, and I notice
that Sir Charles has arrived and gone to the
Palmer. There’s a column about his syndicate,
with what he’s doing. and what he isn’t going to
do, denying vari )us rumors, and all that sort of
thing, but there’s a statement in one of the pa-
pers which may bear upon what we’re talking
about.”

“Quick, mother! What is it?”

“ Why, in speaking of Sir Charles and Lady
Depworth,” explained Mrs. Yattaw, “ the paper
says they have no family. and then goes on to
say that ‘ their only daughter and heiress was
taken from them many years ago in a strange
and unaccountable manner.’ "

“ It says that, mother?”

“ In so many words, J lick—just as I’ve given
them to you 1”

“ Bring me that paper, and show me where
those words are!”

Mrs. Yattaw hastened to comply.

“ Sure enough!” was Jack’s comment, after a
lo stare. “And now to actl”

e surveyed his wife up an.. down a. mo—
ment, assuring himself that she was presenta-
ble, and then hurriedly thrust his hand into
his pocket, bringin out a handful of money.

“Here, take this, he requested, “and go to
the Palmer as fast as you can. Jump into the
first carriage you encounter, and pay extra for
fast driving. See Lady Depworth in person, and
ask her two uestions.

“ Yes, J ac .

“ The first is: ‘ Did you ever have a den hmr
stolen from you’l’ And the second is: ‘ hat
was her name?’ If either of these questions are
answered, you’ll tell. her ladyship that you
have reasons for asking them, andgthat you’ll
see her again. You can also leave your name
and address.” ‘

“ And what then, Jack?"

“ Then you come back here just as fast as
horsefieah can bring you! I shall be right. here
every minute, exco t that I am going togive the
Gilfords a (1068 of he antidote. and so get them
in the way of coming to their senses, if they
should he wanted. ‘00, mother.” '

The deep excitement which had crept into his
face, blanching it, was reflected in that of Mrs.
Yattaw, as she turned away in silence and van-

ished.

I It did not take Black Jack long to visit both
of his guest or prisoners—whatever we ma
call the Gil ords—who were still under the
sleeping‘ ions he had so boldly given them.

1 Admin storing to each an antidote to the drug
they had taken, he sauntered back to his post of
observation, where he began to pace to and fro

' muttered the bum

 

again, with an uneasiness comparable to that of
some wild animal in its cage.

The minutes lengthened to hours, the hours to
days, and the days to years, “bile Black Jack
thus walked and waited, and he had taken his
head between his two hands, with some sort of
fear that it would explode with all his anxiety and
impatience, when he saw his wife returning.

NcVer before had he seen her so white—so
ghost-like!

She reeled asif intoxicated as she staggered
acrosa the gangway.

“Oh, Jack!” she gasped, tottering into his
arms. as he hastnned to meet her.

“ Well, mother?”

“ I’ve seen Lady Depworth—J’

She panted excitedly.

“And her only daughter was really stolen
from her, all these years ago, when she was on
her fil'rt visit to Chicago, by a man named
Dawling Ciiilillel”

“ Yes, mother 1”

“ And the name of the stolen daughter was
Alphie!”

And with a. wild scream of excitement which
seemed like the exhalation of her soul, Mrs.
Yattaw fainted dead away in the arms of her
husband.

“Ha, ha! Gloriousl” laughed Black Jack, as
he eamd the insensible form of his better half to
the floor and pirouetted around it. “ The devil
take the whole batch of long-cared and knock-
kueed schemers! We've got ’em!”

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
CURIOUS GATHERING AT THE BUHBOAT.

THANKS to the kindly and capable treatment
her husband gave her, Mrs. Yattaw was soon
herself again, and roceeded to give him the de-
tails of her visit to ady Depworth.

“ I never saw such a nice lady,” she con-
cluded. “ She treated me just as if I had been
a sister.”

“ You are sure the name of the lost daughter
is Alphie?”

“Oh, yes; and her ladyship explained how
her daughter happens to bear it. She was
named in honor of her grandmother on her
mother’s side and the name has been in the
family hundreds of years.”

“ It is Certainly a ver odd name,” commented
the bumboater, “and ’ve never known of its
being posseSsed by any one else. Isn’t it almost
certain that Miss Alphie is the missing heiress of
the haronet?”

“About that, Jack,” returned‘Mrs. Yattaw
emphatically, ‘ there can be no doubt what-
ever. . .

“Then it seems that we’ve got the inside track
on this very important matter?”

“ We certainly have, Jack.”

“ And isn’t it clear that we can turn an honest
Benny by getting hold of the gal and restoring

or to her parents?”

i “‘1’ was uncut to suggest that very proceed-
ng. ~

“ Of course we don't want to work with such
crooks as the Swatter and the Gilfords against
the baronetl”

“Never.”

“ But we do want to pump both the Swatter
and the Gilfords and get onto their little racket
as much as possible?”

“ To be sure, Jack.”

“ But who can be Dawling Caddie, the man
who carried ofi‘ Miss Al'phie in her infancy?
The name is sufficiently singular to be that of a
Gypsy. and you’ll remember that Derby Gllford
said the child was left at his house by a gang of
those people.”

 Yattiiv‘v‘ slhook her head.i D l

more i e y supposition s that aw in
Caddle is another name for Derby Gilford hims-
selfl" she declared earnestly.

“ That is indeed ssible, and even probable,”
, , tar. “ In any and every
case, it s a theory We’ll go upon until we learn
to the contrary. Did her ladyahip describe
Dawling Caddie?” ’

“ She did. and you’ll see that her description
applies to Derby Gilford.”

She gave the particulars, and Black Jack
nodded an excited assent to her suggestion.

“ Not a word more now,” he enjoined. “Get

your supper and be ready to assist me, if
wan .
Mrs. Yattaw having vanished, Black Jack
resumed his .walk to and ,fro, but it was not
long before his attentive gaze rested upon a well-
known figure that was coming along the
Government pier toward him. ~

The new-comer was Dan the Swatter.

“I want a drink. Mr. Yattaw,” said Dan, on
meeting the bumboater in his cabin-“oue of
those coolers you know so well how to make for
a man who is both hot- and thirsty.”

With a dignified nod of assent, Black. Jack
proceeded to mix the desired bevorage.

Without eyeu hinting.that his strange craft
was closed to anybody, the redoubtable captain
had a freeziugly polite manner for crooks of a
dangerous character, and he did not fail to now
exhibit it. ' ‘ .

“I also want ,to kn0w if there is a antle-
man stopping here who said that I mig t in—

 

quire for him,” pursued Dan, helping himself
to a chair. ' _
“Yes, there’s such a man here,” replied the

bumboater. “ You refer to—”

“A gentleman named Derby Gilford, from
Muskeg-on.” 4

“ Yes, Mr. Gilford is here,” responded Black

Jack, placing within Dan’s reach the beverage
prepared for him and pocketing its price. “ But
he spoke of having been awake all night, and of
buiug very tired and sleepy and I believe he’s
now having a quiet snooze in one of my bunks.”

“ Then you can call him.”

Black Jack shook his head, with a frown of
wonder at Dan’s audacity.

“ I’d hardly llkf.‘ to take that liberty,” be de-
clared, “unless you can make it plain to me
that the interview is just as important to him as
to you. What do you want of him?"

“ None of your business.”

Instead of showing any anger against his uest
for this declaration, Black ,Jack came out rom
behind his bar and sat down beside him. with
the air of being perfectly content with himself
and all his surroundings.

“It might not be any of my business,” he
said suavely, “if Sir Charles hadn’t just left
me, after joining me in a glass of my very
best port.”

" What Sir Charles?” grewled the Swatter.

“ Why, Sir Charles De worth, the English
baronet, who was my sch00 -mate for five years,
and who has just been here to see me.”

The Swatter stared at him as if taking leave
of his senses.

“ Tell me—what do on mean, Captain Yat-
taw?” he demanded, wit a sudden and extraorb
dinary increase of respect for his host.

“ Fmean thatl’m onto your scheme to rob my
friend, Sir Charles Depworth, with the aid of
Derby Gilfordl”

The manner of the Swatter underwent a fur-

ther modification.

“ Who has said anything about robbery!” he
demanded, hardly knowing whether to bluster
or surrender at discretion. ~

“ You did, in the letter you wrote to Dell)
Gilford day before yesterday.”

The blow was a hard one, and Dan made no
further attem t to assume the airs of a masts-r.

“ Does Sir harles know that I’ve written to
Gilford l” he asked.

“ Not yet,” replied Black Jack, “ but he will
know it, in about twenty minutes, unless you.
can see your way to being a little more civil l”

The Swatter reflected so rapidly that it didn’t
take him the sixteenth part of a second to real
ize that he had no occasion to quarrel with the
bumboater.

“I’ll tell on what I’ll do, Mr. Yattaw,” he
oflered. “ ’ve no idea what will be the out-
come of my propositions to Derby Gilfnrd, and
can’t have any, of course, until I’Ve had a good
talk with him. But I’ll make you an equal
partner with myself in anything that may grow
out of this
face with ilford without further delay.”

“Now you begin to talk a very proper lan-
gwidge,” commented the bumboater, with a
serene air “ but I must sound you alittle before
I can make any definite answer. You have to
me, air, all the earmarks of a back number.
Do on know the gal personally!”

“ hat girl!”

“ Alphie Gilford, or the girl known in Musko-
gon as such.”

“I’ve merelyaaen her,” replied the Swatter,
“ but am not entitled to say that I am acquaint
with her.” ,

“ Are you awaie that there is a great mystery
in her life,” pursued Black Jack, with an air of
importance, ‘ and that she is in no wise related
to the Gilfords?”

“ Dear me!” returned the visitor, unable to
conceal his intense interest, “ this is the first
word I’ve ever heard of any such history.”

“It must be, then, that you are still ignorant
of the old man 3 project of marrying Miss Alphio
to his step-son?” ’

“ Of. course 1 am,” admitted the Swatter,
wondering more and more at the bumboater’s
information.

_ “ Then you see that you are indeed a hack
number,” commented Black Jack, w th marked
jubilauce. “ Let me giva you a ew further
facts in the case. The youn people left home

esterday morning in the 0d man’s sharpie.-

y quarreled on their way up the lake over
the attempt of Florian Gilford to switch ofl
from brother to suitor, and the wrecking of the
sharpie by a raft of logs it encountered left them
both in a very’ recarious situation, with the de-
tails of which need not detain you.
to say that he has made his way to town safely
in a row-boat, and is now asleep in my bed.”

“ And the girl?” inqsired the Swatter, think-j

ing how much Bart yser would be interested
in these particulars.

“ Oh, she was picked up by. Colonel Archy
Southman. who has come up the lake» to see Sir
Charles, and I sup she’s now the guest of the

Colonel and his wi e abOard of their schooner.”

This confirmed what Tom Gorkle had told the I

Swatter, but it none the less gave the latter a
new idea of the resources of the bumboater.

“You literally take my breath away, Mr. _» .

rogct if you will bring me face to .
r.

Sufficeit . ,I '

 

 

 

 

 

_ for safe-Keeping, and he

5 I which had so long stood neglected.

 

18

The On-the-Wing Detectives.

 

 

Yattaw,” he declared. “How can these things
have come to your knowledge?"

“ None of your business 1” answered Black Jack,
smiling. .

The Swatter turned all sorts of colors at find-
ing his insolence of a few minutes before thus
returned to him.

“I see that I owe you an apology, Mr. Yat-
taw,” he said, “ and hasten to tender it. I'm
ashamed of my testiness of a few minutes ago,
and beg your pardon l”

“ I grant it of course.”

“Then let’s have a drink‘of that famous'old
port you were talking about,” proposed the Swat—
ter, “ as a pledge that we shall ever be the best
of friends.’

“ With pleasure,” returned the bumboater,
handin down a bottle from one of the highest
Shelves bind the bar.

He had filled a couple of wine glasses, when a
quiet step resounded on his hearing, and he turn-
ed his head to encounter the gaze of Derby Gil-
ford, who was in the act of emerging from the
seclusion to which he had been consigned an hour
or two earlier.

“ One moment, gentlemen.” said Gilford, with
a special salutation to the Swatter. “ I’ll take a
drink with you, if you have no objections.”

“ Certainly,” returned Dan.

“ With the greatest of leasure, Mr: D. 0.,”
var politely responded lack Jack Yattaw,
wit a_nod of smiling welcome tothe new-comer.

CHAPTER XXVII.
BLACK JACK READY FOR BUSINESS.

LEANING across the bar again, his fingers
clutching it tightly, Derby Gilford stared at
the imperturbable countenance of Black Jack as
he would have stared at a phantom.

“ What did on call me?” he demanded, in a
voice husky w th excitement.

“I called on ‘ Mr. D. C.,' as a little piece of
pleasantry,’ replied the bumboater, in the
suavest of tones. “Didn’t you ever hear of a
man who was popularly known by his initials?”

Derby Gilford changed his attitude a little,
still staring into the face of the man of mystery
before him, but he didn’t cease to clutch the
bar, and it wouldn’t have been difficult to see
that his knees were quite shaky.

His whole frame, in fact, seemed a prey to se-
rious agitation.

“ Then you mean to tell me—or insinuate,” he
faltered, in a low tone, “ that my initials are

“Or were sixteen years ago, Mr. Gilford,”
answerei Black Jack, his smile deepening.

The gesture with which the visitor received
this declaration was very much like that he
would“ have displayed at the view of a rattle-
snake.

From far down in his throat some sort of an
exclamation escaped him. _

“ Do those initials stand for anything in par-
ticu lari” he ventured. ‘

“ Oh, yes—for the name of the man who has
discarded them.”

“ And—and what was that name?" blurted out
Gilford, desperately.

“ It’s unnecessary
replied Black Jack blandly.
you and I known what it was.
other matters.”

“ But I want to know—”

“ We’ll talk of it some other time, Mr. Gil-
ford,” said the bumboater. “ Just now I must

ve my attention to your son. Perhaps he’d
ike to Join us. At any rate, I‘ll give him the
chance.”

Excusing himself, he stepped into the sun
retreat where he had left Florian Gilford. am
in a few moments thereafter, his voice was
heard in conversation u ith that personage.

“ M son, sure enough,” muttered Derby
Gilford, after listening a moment. “ That man
beats the devil l"

“ Who?“ asked Dan, for the first time address-
ing a remark to his pro ally.

', Why, Black Jack! Can it be that he has
discovered—”

He interrupted himself, as if realizing that he
was needlessly betraying secrets better left in
his own keeping.

‘ Oh, yes—he knows everything,” Dan was
prompt to declare. “He has not only told me

our history, and that of your step-son, but also

hat of your reputed daughter.”
" Ere another Word could be exchanged, the
bumboater made his appearance, followed by
Florian Gilford.

“ Ah, here you aref’éreeted the father, smil-
ing a welcome. “ Mr. attaw has given me an
inkling of your adventures since you left home.
Is ag‘ythiug wrong about you, Florian?”

“ ot particularly,” answered the son, “ex-
cept that Mr. Yattaw ha taken all my money
also given me some
“sort of a drug to put me to sleep. ’

“ It was done with the kindest intentions,
sir,” assured the bumboater, Seizing the bottle
“ The fact is,
sung man, you were talking to me in a style
hat wasn’t more than one remove from in-

to mention it here sir,”
“ It’s enough that
Let us turn to

V‘sanity”

' '“In'what way, Mr. Yattan”
f‘ Why, you were saying that you couldn’t or

 

' wouldn’t tell me who are the parents of Miss

Alphie.”

“ Well, was that insanity!”

“ It was certainly very great foolishness,” de-
clared Black Jack, with unequivocal vigor,
“since I am as well posted on her history as I
am on your father’s.”

“ On father’s?”

“Just so, young man,” assured the bum-
boater quietly. “If you think I don’t know
your father’s history, just ask him.”

Florian turned his gaze upon his step-father,
as was natural, but a single glance was enough.

“And now to drink to our better acquaint-
ance, gentlemen,” proposed Black Jack, handing
down a couple of additional glasses and filling
them.

The proposition was accepted and executed,
but without any unnecessary delay.

“ Have you any objections, gentlemen,” then
resumed the buniboater, “to taking me in as
a partner in the business which now occupies
your attention?”

“ What business?” asked Florian.

“ That which is mentioned in Dan’s letter of
recent date to your father.”

“I don’t understand 'you,” declared Florian,
fighting shy of the whole matter, and turning
a wondering glance upon his father and the
Swatter.

“ I refer,” exclaimed Black J ack, looking from
one to another, “ to the proposal Dan has made
concerning the millions of Sir Charles Dep-
worth.”

“Ah, then on have read that letter?” cried
Derby Gilfor , clapping his hands to his pock-
eta.

“ Naturally enough, since Dan was so foolish
as to write it.” ,

The wrath with which the Swatter glared
from one to the other can be imagined.

“ And did you drug me, J ackf” pursued Derby
Gilford. i_

“ I did, sir.”

“ What for?”

“ So that you wouldn’t go away, as you threat-
enod, and so miss seeing Dan.”

The excuse was acce ted.

“ And had you no of: er motive?”

“ Certainly not, sir.”

“ You didn’t drug me to rob me?”

“ Not at all, Mr. D. O. I simply took your
money for safe-keeping, and here it is, and I
may as well say the same to your son, and so be
rid of the whole matter.”

He handed out the two wads of greenbacks in
question, and the father and son bestowed them
anew on their persons, with long sighs of relief.

“ I must as you know how todo the hand-
some thing. r. Yattaw, even if you are bold
and abrupt in some of your methods,” declared
Derby Gilford. “ I suppose you have been
‘ King of the Pier ’ so long that you don’t care a
copper for anybody?”

“ No, nor for the ‘copper,’ either,” assured the
bumboater. “ But sit down, gentlemen, and
we’ll proceed to business. We’ve thered here
to take measures to transfer the ortune of Sir
Charles Depworth to our own pockets, and the
grand question before the meeting is, how is
this to be done?”

“ Let Dan tell us,” answered Florian Gilford.

Accepting the chair offered him, the Swattvr
sat down and scrutinized his companions, seem—
ing‘ill at his ease.

o be candid, he had serious doubts of Black
Jack. and was asking himself h0w the redoubt-
able captain had so suddenly turned up as the
vary center and turning point of the game he
himself had proposed and of which he had sup-
po~ed himself to be the rincipal actor.

“ Did you call Mr. attaw into this affair,
either of you?” asked the Swatter, his glances
alternating between the father and son.

‘ “ Not I,” said the old man.

“ Nor I,” declared Florian.

“ Then why is he in it?" continued the Swatter
impressivaly,

‘ Because some chance or accident has thrust
him into it, I suppose,” answered the father,
after some hesitation. .

“Or b mine he has thrust himsalf into it,”
amended lorian.

" In any case, I don’t want him to come into
it,” pursued Dan, with an air as grim as his
voice. ” He’s in no sense a crook, and in no
wise a safe associate for us. He’s audacious,
picturesque, independent, and aggressive: he’s
anything he cares to be; he defies the city police
and even the Federal Govarn ment ; he’s the ‘ King
of the Pler’ and the ‘ Pirate of the Lakes’; but
he’s not a man of our sort, Mr. Gilford, nor is
he a man who can be utilized in such an affair
as now claims our attention.”

He arose excitedly, taking two or three steps
town rd the gangway.

“ Then you don’t care to talk in my presence?”
demanded the bumboater, with latent lightning
in his eyes.

“ No,'sir,” replied Dan.

“ Then you can do the other thing,” returned
Black Jack,” and commence by getting out of
here as scones you lease. You may go too,
Mr. Gilford,‘but I’ll eep your card, and that
of your son, for future reference."

Ere Dan could reply, his eye rested upon a

. , ~v A 3.7,.
a a) . Li 3,9 ‘V  i ‘ .
‘ 5"}.54, 4' ’i H” H‘yisg’rfl: '7"  . a'." \ ~ ,-

 

sloop that was coming alongside the bumboat—
that in which Simon Gorkle had come up the
lake from Waukegan with the stolen silver.

Simon and Bart Wyser were on it.

“ Ah, just in time, Bart,” muttered Dan,
beckoning to the Gilfords, and in another mo-
ment all three of them had transferred them-
selves from the bumboat to the sloop, without a
single word of adieu to Black Jack, and ware
taking their departure.

“Good riddancel” muttered the latter, with
an ominous frown. “ But I’ll bet a thousand
dollars to a cent that you won’t sail so far as you
imagine you’re going to.”

“ You’lll come to supper now, won’t you,
Jacki” asked his wife, suddenly presenting her-
self again to him.

“Of course I will,” he replied, hastening to
follow her. “ I’m now ready for business! I’ll
see Sir Charles and tell him these reprobaies are
after him. “ I’ll visit every theater in Scawgo
on a still hunt for that missing heiress and the
young gentleman who’s paying her attention.
In a word, mother, I’ll smoke those crooks out
of their holes and get much cash and renown by
so doing l” __
CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE CROOKS IN POSSESSION.

AS the sloop containing the conspirators thus
floaled away on the surface of the harbor, the
Swatter turned to his associates almost angrily.

“ What has that man been doing to you?” he
demanded, looking back at Black Jack. “He
certainl seems to have taken great liberties.”

“An so he has,” returned Florian Gilford,
“ but there has been a reason for it. “ I arrived
here this morning in such a forlorn condition——
without coat or vest, andpo on—that he and his
wife leaped to the conclusion that I hail been in
Some terrible ad venture. Not being able to find
out from me what had happened, Black Jack
gave me a dose that put me fosleep, his idea be-
ing to keep me here until the mystery attending
my arrival had been cleared up.”

" And he treated me in the same manner, and
for much the same reasons,” declared Derby
Gilford. “ His idea has evidently been to dis-
cover what we were doing in Chicago.”

“ Well, he has found out, it seems,” comment-
ed the Swatter bitterly, “ by reading while you
were unconscious, the letter I wrote you. If it
had occurred to me that any human being other
than yourselves would ever read that letter, I
never would have sent it. It fair] paralyzvs
me to think that the project I ha in view is
known to this man i”

“ The case is not quite so bad as that, Dan,”
said Derby Gilford. in adeprecating voice. “ All
Black Jack can have learned from the letter is
what I,have learned from it, namely, that you
propose in some way to get hold of a portion of
the money the great English syndicate has sent
to this country.

“ That’s true,curse him i” admitted the Swatter,
still looking back at the bumboat. “And what
can he do to harm us? Possibly he may go and
warn Sir Charles that certain crooks are intend-
ing to rob him, but evon that measure will not
save the baronet from our clutches. The fact is,
I’ve got things in such shape already that no man

living can prevent me from getting hold of mil— '

lions 1”

An intense sigh of relief escaped the father and
son.
“ You don’t know what comfort this assurance
gives me, Dan,” said the former. “ I had begun
to fear that our carelessness, or the boldness of
Yattaw—or the two together—had made the
whole project precarious. But give us the pars
ticulars.”

“ In a moment.” I

Arising and bending a swift glance around, the
Swatter spoketo Simon Gorkle, who had been
engaged in getting the sloop clearof the Govern-
ment pier and the shipping beside it.

“ No, you needn't get up the sail, Simon,” be
said. “Just let her drift away before the wind,
which is in the right direction to take us to the
spot where the colonel’s schooner is lying.”

Then he came back to the Gilfords.

“ About a mile from here, my friends,” he“re-
sumed, “ we shall find the schooner of Colonel
Sonthman, which arrived about two hours ago.”

“ The ‘ Wizard ’ man, you meanl‘kjnterjected
Florian Gilford.

“ Exactly,” returned Dan.

“ We know all about him,” continued Florian.
“ Evan our Muskegon papers have talked of the
proposed big deal.

“ Well, here he is, and I’ve already had a
long interview with him, presenting myself to
him as Belly Blair, who’s the chief of the On-
tho-Wing Detectives. In this character I have
offered to furnish him three or four reliable
men to protect his silver till to-morrow. and
you two, with my friend here, Bart Wyser.
are the men I have selected for this business.”

“ But isn’t it risky for us to figure as detec-
tives?” asked Derh Gilford. with the readiness
of a man whose li e is full of apprehensions.

“ I won’t say that there is no risk,” replied
Dan, “ for there’s risk in everything—even in
eating your dinner, or there wouldn’t be so
many men choked with their beef. But the

game is worth the powder. The colonei,"iie '

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The Qn—the-Wing Detectives.

19

 

 

pursued, his eyes gleaming, “ has brought along
with him half a million in silver bullion, and
this treasure may be regarded as ours at this
moment.”

The father and son expressed their delight,
beginning to share the excitement of their
leader.

“And this half million is merely the begin-
ning of the pile this night is destined to bring to
us,” annnouiiced the Swatter. “We shall add
to it a good share of the funds Sir Charles Dep-
worth has brought from England. Just how
this is to be done will a pear later.”

Returning to Simon rkle, he took the bear-
ings of the sloo , and said;

“I ham to] Colonel Southman that you
have been arrested, and that is a very good rea-
son why you cannot present yourself to him in
the character of a deliverer. Isn’t there any
place on the sloop where you can hide?”

“ Certainly, sir. There’s a little bit of a hold
forward of the mast, and a hatchway by which
to enter it. And once in this retreat, I can
fasten the batch from below and thus prevent
any one from detecting my presence.”

“ Then please dispose of yourself in this fash-
ion for an hour or two,” requested the Swatter,
“ and by that time I shall be in complete pos-
session of the schooner, when you shall have
your proper place as one of its guardians. Bart

as told you, I suppose, that your brother is
to have command of the craft, and that we ex-
pect to take a long voyage in her?”

” Yes, sir.”

“ Then I’ve only to add that you shall be his
mate, and that you shall have your share of
every dollar that we can get away with between
now and mornin .”

“ Then I shall eave the sloop wholly to your
care, sir?”

The Swatter assented, and Simon Gorkle
hastened to vanish into the retreat of which he
had spoken.

Taking possession of the sloop, and getting
sail on her, the Swatter was soon alongside the
schooner, Tom Gorkle hastening to meet him
and whisper a few words of encouragement.

“ Your brother is there, where he will remain
till further advices,” returned the Swatter, with
a nod toward the . t where Simon was hidden.
“ No one has been ere since I went away?”

“ No, sir.”

Colonel Southman came out of the cabin at
this moment, followed by his wife, both of them
looking pleased and relieved.

“ You’va brought your men, I see?” said the
former glancmg them over, with his usual
genial manner. “ And very glad I am to see
them!" .

“ gou’ve bad no trouble, I hope, since I left
you.

“Oh, none, Mr. Blair, and I do not expect
any, but it nevertheless gives my wife great
comfort to feel that we are well guarded.”

“Since I left you, colonel,” remarked Dan,
“I have changed my mind about taking away
those men who have been conspiring to seize the
silVer.”

“Why is that?”

“ Because they might stir up a small arm of
scamps ashore to come here during the night
and make an attack upon you.” ‘

" There is something in that, sure enough,
Mr. Blair. Your present idea, then—”

“ Is to leave them just where they are—in the
foreca stle—till we get ready to land the silver to-
morrow.”

“ That’s better, sure enough,” decided Colonel
Southman instantly. “I had not reflected that
the scattering of several men ashore, With such
tales as these men can tell. would fix upon us at
least half a dozen eyes for every one that is now
upon us.”

“ Thanks for your approval, colonel,” said
Dan. “ And new, sir, with your permission,
I’m going ashore to see that everything i“ safe
at that end of the line. My men have already
receiVed their orders, in a general way, but you
can supplement them at any moment in any
way desired.” .

With a polite inclination, he returned to the
sloo ), exchanging a few words with Tom Gorkle,
ust e latter helped him 1push 03, and the next
instant, handling hlfi Cm t Wltb masterly skill.
he was rapidly leaving the schooner behind
him.

“ You can sneak out, SimOD,” he at length
called to his hidden ally.

The order was acted upon, Simon Gorkle soon
joining him in the cockpit.

‘ “I’ll leave on [waiting for me, Simon, near
the Illinois ntral shops.” said the Swatter,
“ Evm'ything being right yonder,” and be nod-
dad toward the schooner, “ I’ll see if there’s any
need of pipe-laying ashore, but I shall not be
gone very ong.”

CHAPTER XXIX.
THE ON-TflI-wmos AT WORK.
IN their room at the Palmer Hnuge Bat the
two Ou-the-Wing leaders, Ca tain Swopp in his
.own proper character, and Belly Blair in the

character of Nibbs the coachman,

.s You got on well, then, as the driver of Hi
Jenkins and Mrs. Rimuner?” the English chief
was saying, in a guarded ton», :

i hotel I”

 

“ Very finely indeed,” avowed Bolly, “thanks
to a special inspiration which came to me at the
right moment. ’

“ Of what nature?” 1

“The idea of passing myself off upon them as F;
a crook.” l

“ And you succeeded?" i

“ Perfectly." l

" Bravo! That’s a card I’ve played more
than once myself,” declared Swopp. “Did you
invent a character, or take onelready made?" i
d “ I” took a real personage, name and all, Gor- }

on. i

“ That’s rarely possible. Give me the partic- :
ulars.” ._

“Well, I confided to them that ‘Nibbs the I
coachman ’ is an assumed name,” explained ,
Blair, “ and informed them that I am really ;

l
l

'Sam Furbish, a rather noted crook, who was i

sent up for two years, not long ago, for big- i
amy.” I

“ And they accepted you as Furbish?” I

“Without hesitation,” pursued Blair. “As ,
fate would have it, they had heard of Furbish, l
bigamy, two years, and all, through some rogue
who had fled to London from Chicago, and the ,
daughter smiled almost tenderly at findin so '
good a man in such a bad situation. I told t em
I was out on a pardon, and they’ve hired me to I
devote myself and my carriage especially to
them.”

“ Excellentl” commented Swopp. “ They i
haven’t told you yet who they really are I sup« i
pose, nor avowed the nature of their bus ness in 9
America?” 

“ Not yet,” admitted Blair, “ but they’ll ,
doubtless get more and more confidential as we 1
get better acquainted. The father has already l
ntrusted me with a letter to Dan the Swatten i
and I’ve undertaken to arrange for an interview
between them at nine o’clock this evening at I
Black Jack Yattaw’s.” 

“ But, can you do it?” i

“I could but I won’t,” returned Bolly dew
cidedly. “I’ve no interest at all in bringin ;
two such reprobates together, but every sort 0 l
reason for keeping them separated.”

“ But the letter?”

“ Oh, I can lose it, or pretend that Dan can’t
be found, and so give it back to them, or I
can make some suggestion that will replace it.”

“Dan, it seems, has the first innings, be
having got away with that bug, but don’t you
regard Hi and his daughter as even more dan-
gerous than Dan?”

“Of course I do, and they would be still
more so if we were to leave them here, the more
especially as they have already placed them—
selves on visiting terms with the baronet.”

“ Then you propose to clear them out of this

“ Immediate] . captain.” answered the chief '
of the;On-the- ings. “ It wouldn’t do for me to
leave them here longer. Some of my reportorial
friends have already intimated to me that
‘Baron Bigland’ and ‘Lady Chidder’ are two
of the queerest specimens of British nobility they
have ever encountered.”

“ And no wondcrl If the couple were a little
wiSer, they would have hesitated about mas-
querading about in this fashion.”

“ The more especially,” supplemented Bolly
Blair, “ as we have ‘ Burke’s eerage’ and the
‘Upper Ten Thousand’ in almost every hotel
and newspaper 'ofiice.”

He reflected a moment, listening to the voices
and movements of Hi Jenkins and his daughter
in the adjoining apartment, and then resumed:

“Not only'must we get the pair out of the
house, but we must inform Sir Charles and Lady
Depworth of their real character, and so pre
vent them from scoring any further success in
that direction. We must also let .Sir Charles
know what sort of a hold Sally has secured upon
the private secretary. Don’t you think all these
measures are incumbent upon us?”

“Of course I do.” ,

“ To reveal what. we have discovered, at this
e‘anly stage of afl’au-s,” pursued Bolly Blair,

may not be to our financial advantage, and we
may even cut ourselvss out of a good job by this
very measure, but I have never allowed self-in-.
terest to stand a moment in the way of duty,
and II never will.”

t is needless to say that I am in rfect ac-
cord With you, Bolly,” said the Eiiglishman,
with hearty em basis. ” Shall I remain on the
watch here whi e you vi t our neighbors?”

“ 1 wish you would G rdon,” returned Blair.
“By doing so. you’ll be at hand in case Sir
Charles or Lady Depworth should require fur-
theerrotpction.” H .

“ hey vs put a that paper into mono and
the money has been banked, I believe, sg’tbat
only the check of Sir Charles can now touch

. l

“ That‘s the exact situation.”

“ And that secretary has now gone out to
make his first acquaintance with the city!” '

“ Exactly, Gordon. Speaking of Bullinger, I
wish you would watch for his return.”

“ And if I encounter him 1”

“ I want you to tell him who ‘ Baron Big.
land and Lady Chidder’ really are, and advise
him to send no more loans after the one he made

 

to Sally this morning: ‘ The poor devil may be

I,.

In W.-

 
 

 
 
 

  

, 
‘l, " ’

. A,» ,“:'\‘5

too infatuated with his ndventuress to thank us
for our information, but we can do no less than
post him in regard to his footing, for fear that
be may go swiftly down to destruction.”

“ I’ll endeavor to see him, Bolly, as soon as he
comes back. In the mean time, “but will you
do with Hi Jenkins and his daughter?”

“I’ll locate them in a house I have just vacat-

; ed—one of my own—where I shall have them

under my eye, with or without figuring as their
coachman, just as long as they may remain in
Chicago.”

“ Do you mean that you can look in upon
them at any time without their knowledge?”

“ Well that’s a rather strong way of putting
it, Gordon, but I have duplicate keys, and, even
a secret entrance which they are not likely to
discover—a little trick of the trade, you know—-
and I’ve an idea of delivering the letter to the
Swatter, and making Hi’s new abode a general
rendezvous of the crooks, so that I can get them
all into my web at once. Of this, however,
when I return.”

He took a preliminary glance from the door
as he ceased speaking and then glided from the
apartment.

 

CHAPTER XXX.

GIVING THEM THEIR PEDIGBIE.

BOTHERED by several reporters, who wanted
to interview him with t..at distinguished consid»
eration which is accorded the British nobleman
in the United States, the bogus Baron Bigland
at length retired to his bedroom, which gave
on an open court, and seated himself in his shirt—
sleeves by a window, with the intention of en-
joying his brierwood pipe in all its unsocial self-
sufficiency.

He had done ample justice to his first dinner
at the Palmer, (which was destined to be also his.
last,) and was in that contented mood which
comes from an excellent digestion, or which
gives rise to it—the best of doctors disagree-
but the attentions of his visitors had made him
tired and nervous, not to say anxious.

“ This intrusion of interviewers is an annoy-

ance we had not fully foreseen, Sally,” he re- .

marked. “ I had no idea ‘ his ludsbip’ would

rove such a drawing card, or I should have

n tempted to conceal myself among those

‘ colonels and ‘ generals’ who are always com-
ing and goin in hotels of this description.”

“ It’s one o the penalties we have to pay for
being such distinguished Britons,” returned Mrs.
Rimmer, with a sarcastic smile. “and I’m not
sure that I wholly dislike it. It’s really amus-
ing to see what charms these little worshipers
can find in ‘Lady Chidder,’ when lain Sally
Rimmer wouldn’t secure a second g ance from
them.”

A knock succeeded.

“There's another of them,” muttered the
bogus baron. “ Let’s pretend we’re asleep,
or dead—anything except visible.”

The knock was repeated, but the crook and
his daughter sat as motionless as a couple of
statues.

“ It’s only me,” at length camea voice through
the keyhole.

" It’s Nibbs,” exclaimed Sell , bounding to-
ward, the door. “ We must 0 course admit—
him.

The suggestion was acted upon, and the pre-
tended coachman made his appearance, inclining
himself to his employers politely, but having an

air of gloom and disappointment‘which at once! .,

fixed their attention.

“You have come to see if we’re going out
driving, I suppose?” questioned Salny

“ Not exactly. ma’am,” answered ibbs.

“Then what is it, man?” asked Jenkins.

“I’ve brought you very bad news, baron,”
responded Nibbs. “ You know Sir Charles Depo
worth, who is lodged near you?”

The couple bowed in concert.

“ You are aware, I presume, of the nature of
the business which has brought the baronetto
America?”

“Yes, to invest a large amount of British,
money,” replied Hi Jenkins. “I intend to take-
an interest of a million or two in his syndicate
myself. What of him?”

‘ Well, baron, Dan the Swatter and his par-
ticular pal, Bart Wyaer, have seized the

syndicate’s money. which the baronet bad in an

hand-bag, and have made their escape.” '
The crook uttered a suppressed yell of con--
sternation, while his daug

lyned. .
“ I feel this blow badly, sir,” pursued the On-

the-ng, with well-acted vexation. “because.

I’ve been scheming to get hold of that money
myself, with the ai of a
myself to live an honest‘and peaceful life hete-
after. , ' »
“Curse them!” gran led the crock, his face
blanching. “ How was it done?"
Blair briefly explained.

for sat as if paraw

\

 

' i

.a‘

‘3

 

riend, and thus qualify '

9' And to think that they should thus slip‘Ein 

of me, when it was I who sent 1. m

a
the baronet‘s photo and all the details about ’

him—” .

“Hush father ” broke in Sally seizingth

arm. “You're giving outsell awiiyl” 7
“But I won‘t bush,

 

eclared the crook volts-V I

 

i'iE-Ylpw-‘vaf%,‘~$-n'm‘ wwwfi’rfi-lwm ,. . M." UV'WIWI-J'J'

 
 
 
 
 

2O The:‘On-the-Wing Betectives.

 

 

 

 

mently. “Curse them! After I have taken
the trouble to cross the ocean, tool They knew
I was coming, and should have waited to advise
with me. How dare they-”

He paused at this point, restrained b the
pressure of Sally’s hand on his arm, whi e the
On~the-Wing looked significantly and knowingly
from one to the other.

“i can tell you something that will make
their conduct a orry you less, sir,” said Nibbs.
“The money was recovered by a detective be-
fore Dan had time to take a look at it.”

“ How?” breathed Sully.

The ()n-the-Wing gave her the facts, but

without saying anything that could point to his
agency in the affair.
’ I ‘ “Good! Gloriom!” muttered Hi Jenkins,
rubbing his hands together gleefully, the pallor
leaving his face. " This will teach them bet-
ter than to make any attempt to act without mel
Another time—” .

“Hush, father,” again enjoined Sully in a
whisper. “You forget the presence of Mr.
.Nibbs, as also the fact that every word you are

l

». ,q;  ,.

3;, ' saying gives you away!”
it ‘ I don’t Care, Sally, nor need you,” retorted

 the crook. “ Nibbs is one of us, and there’s no
‘7 occasion for us to be afraid of him—none what—
ever. To the contrary, we have every reason to
take him into our counsels and interest him in
the game we are playing.”

-_ He wiped his face vigorously, and conCentrat-
 ed upon the On-the—Wing a gaze little short of

 _‘ ' confidential, resuming:

"1:. “But tell us more, Nibbs. Has the robbery
 been made public?"

  ' “ Oh, that was inevitable.”

1?. “Then the baronet has been overrun by re-
_“. porters, of course?” ’

1" ‘. 5 “That was also inevitable. Some of them
“41y have also been here to interview you, I be-

}? have?”
 -' ' “ Yes, Nibbs, butI sent them away with very
scanty information about either my plans or my
, ideas I aesure you.”
' w “Very naturally," commented tho pretended
coachman, “ and Sir Charles has been even more
reticent than yourself. While admitting that
certain valuable papers had indeed gone astray
,for an hour, he was able to declare that he
‘ hadn’t lost a dollar, and that consequently he
didn’t care to say a word for publication on the
subject." '
“And isn’t the Swatter to be arrested?” do-
manded Sally.
‘ '. “ No, ma’am.”
The crook sighed softly as if he had reached
, a country where the manners and customs were
“’ '- just to his liking.
I ‘»‘ But the matter must have drawn a crowd
[of detectives to the hotel," pursued the bogus
 baron. “ Did you hear the name of the man
, V mirent to Dan’s house and took the bag from

" Ob, all. He was Bolly Blair.”
"on, deed!” i.
‘ I'Tho crook’s air attested that he was keenly
.aiive to the name.
Turnin toSally,he said: i
, “ Bully lair is the American associate of that
 Captain Gordon Swopp of whom we have heard
~ .' so much in London, but have never seen. They
are the chiefs of those On-the-Wing Detectives,
uyou know.”
 f Sail ’3 face brightened with due comprehen-
 ‘99: “m mitt“ .. .1. . . n
. ' hen per spa ey ge onto us, ather,
she said laughiugly.
.' I The words were not intended for the hearing
 of Blair, but they nevertheless reached him.
' “ Such is indeed the case, ma’amfi he said, in-
' , dining himself polite] . -
y"; ‘1, “In what way, ibbs?” asked Hi Jenkins,
 j-.'.alnddenly manifesting an intense interest in the
conversation. ‘
a “ It’s merely a w isper, sir, which h straversc
‘. 0d the hotel, as 0 ing from some mysterious
‘ ,, detective.” '
  “A whisper, Nibbs?” murmured Sally. -
1 "A rumor or suspicion—whatever we run
. [call it—which touches you both very closely,’
-  boutinued Blair.
v “ To what eflect. man?” demanded the crook,
 looking startled.
- g,  “l’m bound to tell you, of course, air, after
' " :"“,the very handsome manner in which you have
r;  me,” pursued Blair, “It is said that

 

  
 
 
  
 
  
    
 
   
   
    
    
   
 
 
   
    
  
  

  

 _ ,the rumor is conflrmei b adispatch from the
"  :ml Baron Bigland, who auded at Vancouver,
v" British Columbia, yesterday morningl”

r a - .' Gagping for breath, the impostor reeled ‘in his
» "-‘chair at this announcement.

 “Thou who can I be?” he asked, with an at-
“.‘tom at a sneer. '

'* ,' “ on are said to be a noted crook from Lon-
« --no less a personage, in fact, than Hi Jen-
 s,” answered the On-the-Wiug—“ if you will
' ' kindly exciira me for repeating what I hear said

I, “11(th asked the dang
newton-us.

,  “ They say that you are Mrs. Sally Jenkins
‘ ' .uflimmor,” replied Blair. “and that the real Lady
Wilder is in England 1”

shing and paling

V "yonvars not Baron Bigland—not at all, sir—and

. at you.
« “And what do they say about me, Mr._.
tor, fl'u

 

. ~ \ I. l' '. . ‘ ‘- ,
‘ I. I , - \4. Hi .‘ ,5 /, .
; " . l,“ v, v  “Hts”, H. (“‘1 A. fiver 1' t .1 ,__ I
a    ,.   

CHAPTER XXXI.
REMOVING THEM TO NEW QUARTsas.

Tch crook and his daughter stared at the sup-
posed couchmuu a moment in silent consterna-
tion.

“ And do these people pretend to any why we
have come to America?" then asked Sally, the
first it) reCOVer her voice.

“ Oh, yes,” replie ‘l Nibbs. “ Tili‘y any that
you have followed Sir Charles Deprth here
With a View to robbing him of at least a portion
of his millions.”

The crook made a despairing sort of gesture—
oue which announced as lainly as words could
have done that he won d make no attempt to
deny the “rumor” which had thus reached
him.

“ I t’s those cursed On-the-Wings!” he exclaim-
ed, wrathl’ully. “Satan take theinl They’re get-
ting to be everywhere!"

“ I only wish I could get hold of one of them!”
ejaculated Sally, gesticulating wildly. “ I’d
scratch his eyes out!”

“I suppose, Nibbs,” said Jenkins, with n
ghastly attempt at a smile, “ that the On-the-
Viugs have got onto usi”

“ That’s evident, air."

“ You think it will be in vain for us to do any-
thing?”

“ ()h, quite useless.”

“ And perfectly impossible for us to make any
attempt to fight them?”

“ I should say so!” ,

“ In this case,” said the crook, turning to
Sally, “ it’s merely a question of time when we
shall have some of the On-the-Wings here to
interView us or ask us for credentials, or what
not. Don’t you think so, Nibbs?"

“ I was about to suggest that some such mea-
sure is probable,” replied the pretended coach-
man.

“ Understand me, Nibbs,” resumed the crook,
bluntly. “ I neither admit nor deny anything.
But we are strangers in a stran a land, and we
realize how easily innocence itse f is hunted to
the death by reckless mendacity. Don’t you
think, Nibbs, it would be wise for us to beat a
retreat before the storm that is evidently gatherl
iug around us? In other terms, hadn’t we bet-
ter get out of here?”

“That’s my advice. sir,” returned the On-the-
Wing, with another inclination, “You will be
unable to figure here as Baron Bigland toany
further advantage.”

“ But where can we go, Mr. Nibbsi" demand-
ed Sully.

“Into a house of your own, ma’am, or at least
into private quarters.”

“ Can you help us in this matter, Nibbsi” in-
quired Jenkins.

“ Much more than you would have dared to
hog), sir,” replied the On-the-Wing. “ In fact,

vs at my disposal the ver place you want.
It is a neat, semi-detached vi a, in a fashionable
:iei lhporhogd, and one of the prettiest residences
n . '

“ I’m afraid it will be too expensive for’us,”
suggested the crook.

Not at all, air. The rent is merely eighty
dollars a mouth. Situated as you are, sir,”
added the On-the-Wing, significantly, " it’s ab-
solute] essential for you to have a house all to
yourse ves, where you can receive your friends
without any one’s being the wiser.”

“ But what excuse can we give for leaving the
hotel so sooni" asked Jenkins. .

“ None is needed, sir,” answered Blair.
“ Nothing is more common than for guests to
leave even the var best hotels for private lodg-
ings. Besides, I’l make everthing right by toil-
ing the hotel people that you have been invited
by a friend to make his house your home during
your stay in Chicago.”

“ How good of youl” said Sally.

“ Let me add another word in all frauknem,”
continued the On-the— Wing. “All these great
hotels have to be very particular about \their
guests. It’s out of the question for you tore-
main here a moment longer, unless you wish to
be arrested as frauds and dangerous characters.”

“ How awkward i” sighed Sally. “ What’s
to he done. fatheri”

The crook ran his fingers through his hair
1with an air of desperation, a curse escaping

im. ‘

How differently things were going from what
he had expected!

Only a few hours in Chicago, and yet his
whole scheme a mere puff—ball, on which the On-
theWings had placed their grasp!

“ You needn’t do or say anything,” ventured
Blair, his glances alternating from one to the
other. “You can walk down to my carriage,
which is where you found it before, and take
your seats in it. I’ll settle your bill, and see to
getting down your baggage.”

The crook and 'his daughter sighed in unison,
with the keenest relief.

“ G.) ahead then,” ordered the pretended
baron. “ We’ve nothing to do, Nibbs, except
to follow your suggestions, and be thankful for
them. Send up a porter for our luggage as
soon as 3",ou please, and we’ll, join you at the

ago. 3

The On-the-Wing bowed understandingly,
moving toward the door.

i
I

 

 

“By the way, Mr. Nibhz, what Will be our
new admin-Isa?” asked Silly.

Tue. detective wrote it on a card, which he
handed to her, and then bowed himself out of
the apartment.

“ 0.” course I must leave it line for Bullinger,”
said S ully, opening her writing-desk, “ and it
shall ho to the cil'ect Nibbs sugy’sted, namely
tout \\'(- huvo gone to the house of a friend.”

“ But how will he get it!” inqun'cd her father.
“ I believe he is out.”

“ 1 can pass it under his (1001‘ if he is absent.”

This was done in duo course, the secretary not
being in his room, and the couple then pro-
ceeded to the carriage awaiting them, neither
of them making the least allusion ton further
call upon Sir Charles and Ladv Dcpworth.

At the end of a pleasant drive which was not
Very lengthy, the On-theJVing drew up at the
villa he had promised them.

It was—as he had said—one he himself owned
and had recently vacated in order to move into
a beautiful cottage which stood in its own
grounds, and which thus afforded him that ab-
solute privacy he had begun to regard as the
first neci-seity of his residence.

“ Here we are,” he announced.

The villa was handsomely furnished, and a
single glance at it was enough to charm Hi
Jenkins and his daughter.

Bl“ls it not just the place you need?" asked
air.

“‘ The very thing,” answered the father.

“ Nothing could be better,” declared Sally.

Leading the way up the steps, the detective
gave himself admittance with a key, and showed
the new tenants into the parlors, leaving them
to congratulate each other on the elegance of
the same while be deposited their baggage in
the wide hall.

“Don’t you think you will be pleased here?”
he then inquired.

“Perfectly delighted,” replied Sally. “ Had
we better pu y a month’s rent in advance!”

“That will be as well, ma’am,” returned the
Omthe-Wing. “ You can hand me the money,-
aud I’ll bring you a receipt from the agents.”

The crook counted out eighty dollars, which
the detective placed in his pocket, with a smile
of double meaning.

Considering how many empty houses there
were in Chicago, it was gratifying to have even
a month’s rent for the one he had vacated; and
considering the daring and desperate character
of Hi Jenkins and Sally, it was a very nice
thing to have them where they could be found
if wanted and where he could visit them with—
out their knowledge.

“ You will, of course, require a cook and
chambermaid," suggested the On-the-Wing.
“ Shall I send them to you?”

The couple consulted a moment in silence.

“ We’ll see about that later," than replied
Jenkins—“ perhaps tomorrow or next day. Is
there a grocer neari”

“ In the next block, air, as also an excellent
baker,” replied Blair. “Do you wish to send
me on an errand to any of these people?”

“ Not at present, thank you.”

The On—the-Wing comprehended.

The couple were so upset by the sudden change
of status which had overtaken them that they
had no more pressing wish than to discuss it,
and for this reason were anxious to be alone.

“ I presume you can let me have the balance
of the afternoon to myself," pursued the On-the
Wing carelessly, “ and thus give me a chance to
drive out a party of rich gentlemen who will
pay me handsomely?”

“ Certainly,” replied Sally.

“Then when shall Icome again!”

“About nine this evening. We shall hardly
used you all to ourselves now that we have
moved into private quarters " added Sally, “ but
I shall be glad if you will look in upon us often
to see if anything is wanted.”

“ And about that letter to Dan the Swatter,”
suggested Blair. “ Don’t you need to make any
change in it? Wouldn’t it bebetter for you to
meet Dan here, in your own house, than in such
a pig’dic place as Black Jack Yattaw's bum-
boat

“ Of course it would,” returned Jenkins.
“ Give me the letter, and I’ll make the n
changes. I’ll tell him to call here immediately—
before he makes a fool of himself further.”

The desired correction was duly made and the
On—the-Wing then secured the utter anew on
his person and vanished. ’

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE ON-THE-WINGS. VISIT THE BARONM‘.

“ Is Phil Armour in it, Sir Charles?”

The baronet shook his head.

“Then you are not going toinvest in stock-
yards?”

“ Not at present, sir.”

“ But there’s nothing wrong in what. we’Vo
said to-day about a probable sale of the great
Wizard Silver Mine to your syndicate!”

“ No, sir,” returned t e haronet. “ While the
particulars of the sale have not been actually
arranged, there is every reason to believe that
they will be assoon as Colonel Southman reaches
the city.”

 

“ And what about the robbery of this mom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Stark could really beif’

The On-the-Wing Detectives.

21.

 

ing, Sir Charles?” inquired another reporter,
pressing nearer.

“That’s a matter, sir,” replied the baronet,
“ about which I do not care to say anything.”

“ Then the thieves have not been arrested?”

“ Once more—please excuse me!”

“ And will you be here for any length of time,
Sir Charles?”

“ if you reporters will not be too severe upon
me,” was the baronet’s genial answer. “ In any

and cvcry case, be assured, one and all, that I '

rim vnxry glad to see you, and that I will tell you
everything I‘m doing—just as fast as I do it.”

For an hour and a half this sort of thing had
)een continued, the baronet and Lady Depworth
having an improvised At Home for; the notabili—
ties of Chicago—not nicrely those of the finan-
cial and literary world, but also those of the
humbler and less important fields of society and
fashion.

But at length they had been leftafew min-
utes to themselves, and they found this change
Very welcome.

“It is really delightful, Sylvia,” said the
baronet, “to he thought so well of and treated
so kindly by the magnates of such a great
financial center.

“ Think, too, of all the generous hos italilies
to which we’ve already been invited, ‘herles,”'
returned her ladyship. “I didn’t even (i eam
that so many leading citizens of the city would
so soon call upon us.”

“These calls are the direct result of the im-
mense and kindly publicity which has been given
our presence in America,” continued Sir
Charles. “The newspapers see in me a man
who is likely to be of some use to the com-
munity and seem to regard it as a duty and a
pleasure to make us welcome.”

A knock which resounded lightly at the en-
trace of their room brought a smile to their
faces. r

“ Fortunately. the task of entertaining suc
visitors is too much a labor 6f love to ever be-
come tiresome,” whispered the baronet, with
grateful lightness of heart, and with this he
opened the door.

Captain Gordon Swopp. the chief of the
English On-the-Wings. stood on the threshold, in-
clining his handsome figure profoundly.

He was attired de rigueur, and presented a
very entlemanly and commanding appearance.

“ alk in, sir,” invited the baronet, with the
air, of being intently struck by the aspect of his
viSitol'. .

Captain Swopp complied, the baronet closing
the door behind him, and waving him to a chair
with quiet politeness.

“ I think it desirable for us to become person-
ally-a uainted, Sir Charles, ‘about this time,’
as the a menace say,” observed the English On—
the-Win , with another ceful inclination of
his ban some figure. “ ere is my home ad-
dress.”

The card which accompanied the remark read
as follows:

“CAPTAIN GORDON BWOPP,
Ohtef of the Orville- Wing Detectlua,

Empire Building. Lunaxrn Cracus,
Rooms 18 and 19, London, E. 0."

The baronet smiled in a perfectly respectful
manner, but nevertheless With the air of con-
tein lating a back number.

“ gfou are the sevanth detective who has called
upon me in the last two hours, Captain Swopp,”
he said, “and really there’s nothing to say in
this line, and still less to do. But please be
seated.”

The visitor sat down, with the air of being
quite at hia,ease, and of having very important
business which had not yet been even hinted at.

“ [am the first of my kind, Sir Charles. Who

. . has been here in his proper character,” remarked,

Swopp. “ and “is needless to say that I shouldn’t
be here at all unless I were in a position to give
you some valuable information, and render you
a service. In one of his assumed characters,
that of Mr. Stark, a newspaper re rter,‘ my
American partner has already had t e pleasure
of seeing you—”

He was interrupted by an ejaculation of sur-
prise from the baronet.

“ In Heaven’s name, Sylvia, come here,” said
Sir Charles, turningto his wife. “ It seems that
we have been figuring in a masquerade without
knowing it. Let me present to you Captain
Stwopp, who, as you fiasco“? a glance, is one
0 our oountr on. p n wo
De with." m » pp’ Lady

ntroduction was very cordially acknowl-
edged by her lad hip, who sees ted
he‘l; lfiusband advanyéd for hér use. p a chair
0 you mean as , a tain Swo ”
demzapded, “that Mr. gtarkpis really :paetzhfi
tive

“A partner of mine, in lad an

of our whole organization!” y, d the head

The baronet and his wife opened their eyes in '

"39%.:me ts than 1' gm

moon or the

he has rendered us’.” commented the nice
«was... puuied ourselves great] to form

some rational theory as to who an what Mr,

 

“ Good," commented Swopp. “ The ice being
thus broken,” he added, arising, “let me pre-
sent Mr. Stark to you in his true character.”

Stepping to the door, he drew it open, and
Bolly Blair came in, en grands tenue, smiling
and bowing to his host and hostess.

“ Mr. Stark, the re rter, to be sure,” greeted
Sir Charles, “ but 1\ r. Stark no longer! You
are born, of course, to give us your right name
and address.”

“ Certainly, and here it is, Sir Charles,” re-
plied the chief of the On—the-Wings, producing
a modest piece of pastehoard, at which the
baronet glanced with an excited shrug of the
shoulders, then passing it to his wife.

“ What! Boll Blair?” exclaimed her ladyship.

The On-the-l ing smilineg assented.

“But you told us you had never met Belly
Blair.”

“ Nor has be,” interrupted the baronet, with
a hearty laugh. “How can a man meet him-
self?”

He advanced another chair nearer, he and
her iadyship sitting down in front of the two
detectives.

“We’re very glad, I’m sure, to itnow you in
your own proper semblance, Mr. Blair,” he
declared, “ and we realize now that it wasn’t
exactly by accident or guess-work that you re-
covered our mohe from Dan the Swatter.”

“ No, Sir Char es,” returned Blair. “It was
simply by foreseeing what would happen, and
being (it the right place at the right time, that
Captain Swopp and I were able to restore the
missing beg to you.”

“ Ah’, Captain Swopp helped you?”

“Hes the center, Sir Charles,” responded
Bolly Blair, .“from which has come the whole
movemtnt. Would you think, to look at him,
that he has accompanied you from London
without asking you permission f”

“ And why, if you.please?” demanded her
ladyship, with .the air of being deeply lost, in
wonder.

“Because he foresaw that all these articles in
the newspapers uould call an arm of crooks
around you,” explained Blair, “an because he
believed that si» e of them would beable to ac-
complish about nhat has been done. Did on
ever hear ofn outed London crook name Hi
Jenkins, Sir Charles?" ~

“ Of course, Mr. Blair, and who hasn’t?”

“Are you aware that Hi Jenkins has ac—
companied you to America, in the same steamer
or otherwise?”

“ Certainly not, sir."

“But didn’t you and her lad shi have a
couple of visitors this morning w o c aimed to
belOn to the highest English aristocracyr’con-
tinu the On-the—Wing.

A new light broke upon Sir Charles and Lady
Depworth at this question.

“ I see what'you are coming to, Mr. Blair,"
said the baronet. “ In fact, my wife and I had
our sun icions. You mean to tell' us that
gaer igland and Lady Chidder are impos-

rs

“ Yes, Sir Charles—frauds of the worst de~
scription,” declared the On-the-Wing. “ Thgy
are, in fact, Hi Jenkins, and his equally now -
ous daughter, Mrs-Sally Rimmer.’

Sir Charles looked startled, while Lady Dep-
worth was too horrified to speak. The unsa-
zgry reputation of the couple being well known

er.

“ You haven’t the least doubt of their identity,
I so so, Mr. Blair?” she asked.

0“ ot the slightest, my lady,” replied the On-
the-Wing. f‘ The real Baron Bigland landed
at Vancouver yesterda , and has been heard
from, while the real La y Chidder is known to
be in En land.”

“ And ow annoying it is'to reflect,” complain-
ed the baronet, “that these frauds have had
the all to lod e themselves next door to us!”

“ o, that’s tie work of Ca tain Swopp and
myself,” explained Blair. “ 6 made our ar-
rangements to this efl'ect before either you or
they came. We had them lodged there so as to
have them under our eyes, and also,”he added,
smilingly, “ not a little under our ears.”

“ In other terms,” confirmed Captain Swopp,
“ we have been listening to their confidences,
andt age duly‘ enlightened in regard to their pro-
Jec 8. \

“Then your room is between us and them?”
asked her ladyship.

“ At our request,” acknowled ed Blair. “ We
are registered under a couple 0 German names,
Will.) the knowledge and assistance of the hotel,
m which I am regularly attached in the ca-
pacit of a detective.”

“ ut, do you mean to telllus that you took
rooms for us here, so to speak, before our arri-
val?” demanded the baronet in amazement.

Bolly Blair nodded.

“And also for Jenkins and his daughter be-
fore they put in an appearance?”

Blair nodded again.

“ In other to you made your. arrange-
ments to save us in those crooks before
we had even reached the hotel!” pursued Sir
Charles. ‘

“ Such is indeed the case, sir.”

“ Give us a the particulars of your action."

The Onotbe- lag proceeded to do so.

 

“ Good! But there is another favor we must
ask of you,” said her ladyship. “ Those frauds
are going to call upon us, by special invitation,
at» seven o’clock this evening, and I must beg of
you not to let them come near us!”

“They will not trouble you,” returned the
On-the-Wing, “for the simple reason that they
left the hotel not long after dinner, going into
private quarters. I had overheard enough of
their plans to know that they intendm toroh

you, and that fact made it obligatory uva an '

to rid the hotel of them.”

“ But, what was their plan, Mr. Blair!" asked
Sir ’Charles. “How did they expect to rob
me?’

“ One of their ideas was to reach you through
Mr. Bullinger,” explained the Onothe-Wing.
“ Are you aware, Sir Charles, that he gave the
Rimmer woman five hundred dollars a few min-
utes before you went to his room to look after
your correspondence?”

“No, sirl Did he do that?”

“ I overheard her boasting of the fact to her
father.”

“Why, he told me that he hadn’t seen her,”
declared Sir Charles, looking even more pained
than surprised.

“Then he lied to you,” assured Blair, “for
both Captain Swopp and myself saw her go to
his room a few minutes before you did."

“ The poor fool i” commented the baronet,
with a groan.
he is aware of the woman’s scandalous iden—
tity?”

“Not at all, sir. He believes her to be the
real Lady Chidder, and that accounts in part
for his infatuation.”

“Then you think he’s really smitten with
her, Mr. Blair?” asked Lady Depworth. .

“He surely is, m lady,” replied the On—th&

“Do you think, Mr. Blair. that .

Wing, “or he won dn’t have told her that Sir ,

Charles intended to draw half a million in cash
this morning, and so inspired her with a desper—

ate hope of getting her hands upon it, through. .

the secretary, or otherwise.”

“ What! he told her that!” cried the baronet, .

excitedly.

“ He certainly did, sir."

“ Then he can no longer be a secretary of
mine, as dear as his father was to me," declared
Sir Charles, sternly. “ I’ll call him to account
and dismiss him the moment he returns from the
brief outing I have given him.
to have such a man around.

“ We came here to make a suggestion, to this
eflect, as in duty bound, after all waive over-

It is dangerous '

heard,” said Blair, “and shall be very glad it , '~
you will take this and another necessary W .

cautions”

Belly Blair arose at this moment, as if Ltho- "

business for which he came had been duly W
acted, and his associate followed his exam

“ Need 1 protest, gentlemen,” said Sir I flies!
as he also arese, as did his wife, “that Ishal
insist upon paying you well for the services you,
have rendered me, as also for those I now ask.

..-—t

youtocontinuetorender? I begin to see how- of
Wu came by your name of On—tho-W' .

bile other detectives wait till the horns

stolen before oflering their services,-you lock' ' V

the stable—door upon your own account before
the animal is missing?”

“ That’s about a fair statement of our-system. '
Sir Charles,”admitted Blair, “and I think you '
will agree with us that it is the best system [sou ,,

sible.
“ I do indeed, gentlemen!“

And with this the two On-the—Wings took 

cordial leave, merely reminding Sir Charles that.
they couldbe found next door when wanted. ’ .

 

CHAPTER XXXIII.
rm: sscanunx’s ranrunon. '
Tm: shadow inseparable from the change in.
air status was not long in making its
anee on the faces of Hi Jenkins and his
‘mr‘

...:~' ?' r

“I wish we had staid in London," ejaculated ?
the crook, almost fiercely, as he came to a. halts-H

at one of the windows of the parlor, after a
thorough exploration of the remises. ‘ - ‘

“ Nevertheless, we’ve simp_y taken a chained
that was worth a trial,” returned Sally. with a.-

critical glance at her reflection in a long mirror.- l“
“But how are we to live in America, if we»  '

don’t et hold of some of the baronet’s moneyl"iT '

“ 0 don’t need tolive here, and have no call » .
Rimmer.‘ .r . "
go back to London in a few days,  ‘ ‘

in that direction,” returned Mrs.
“W'e’ll
whether the baronet eludes us or not.- In the
mean time there is no occasion to worry.

and if we hadn’t, I could doubt] get '
Fred Bullinger. It is even pumible
ask me to marry him.”

“ In that case, he’d soon lino
not the real Lady Chidder.”

“But by that time I’d have him in such a 

pocket that he wouldn’t claim to be any bettu‘
than I am," declared Sally, with a grim 

Wm of the hidden depths in horns“).

leave him to me, father—and
everything else.
about anything. I’ll pull you through.
Coastal-y gets my letter—" .
Her Ether interrupted he.

. \..

Wow" I
have sufficient cash on hand to take us home 

e".

themay~

in
You’ve no occasion to w .-

 

 

s;

 

‘22

" The Onethe-Wing Detectives.

 

 

“ Evidently he has got it,” he said, “ for here
he comes.”

Sally hastened to look from the window.

“Sure enouglt” she said. “ How fast he
walksi He loo s troubled, tool Slip in the
back parlor, father, and plant yourself in a good
position to listen.”

The crook acted upon the suggestion, closing
the folding-doors behind him, while Sally ha~t~
ened to meet Bullinger at the entrance and gave
him admittance.

He was troubled, as she had noticed, his fea-
tures displaying an anxiety she had never be-
fore seen upon them.

Greeting her politely, he accompanied her
into the parlor, taking a comprehensive glance
at his surroundings.

“ You are indeed well fixed here,” he re-
marked, accepting the chair offered him.
“ You’ve made a change for the better.”

He wiped his damp brow nervously, and con-
tinued: .

“I found the few lines you passed under the
door, my lady, and have come as soon as I
could to tell you the misfortune which has over-
taken me.”

His manner was so ominous that Sally hast-
ened to call her father and repeat what the
visitor had stated.

“The fact is, my friends,” continued Bullin-
ger, “ I returned from my outing just in time to
find Sir Charles and Lady Depworth engaged in
a conversation with a couple of detectives.”

“ But that may not have referred to you at
all,” suggested Sa ly.

“No, merely to the stolen bag,” confirmed
Jenkins.

Bullinger shook his head. \

“ I wish I could think so,” be responded, “but
I can’t. I arrived just in time to hear her lady-
ship ask: ‘Then you think he‘s really smitten
with her, Mr. Blair?‘ ‘ He surely is’ replied the
detective, and then he went on to repeat what I
told you about the baronet’s intention of draw-
ing. half a million in money.”

he father and daughter exchanged glances,
looking startled.

“ Then the detectives have been watching us
and listening to our conversations!” recognized

a . t.

“ Evidently enough,” returned Bullinger.

“ But how could they do this?" demanded Hi
Jenkins.

“ They were in the room between yours and
that of the baronet, and the went back to it
after the interview was end .”

“But how did you overhear what you have
reported, Fred i” asked Sally, reCoveriiig her
cquanimity at the thought that her admirer had
not discovered her identity.

“ In the most natural manner possible, my
lady,” answered the secretary—“ that is to say,
hearin strange voices within the baronet’s
room, paused at the door to listen, placing my
car at the keyhole.”

“And what else did you hear?”

“ The baronet went on to say that he’d call
me to account and dismiss me the moment I re-
returned from my outing.”

“ And he has done so? sighed Sall .

“ Not yet, for the reason, that refrained
from presenting myself to him. It occurred to
me to give his wrath a chance to cool, and to
also afi'ord myself an opportunity of la ing my
case before you, and possibly getting a int for
mv guidance.”

“That was wise,” commented Sally. “ Sir
Charles hasn’t discharged you from his service?”

» “ I haven’t given him the chance.”

“Perhaps he’ll think better of it,” suggested
Jenkinl.

“0h, :0. The blow is sure tofall when he

sees me.
“ How will on be situated in that case?” ask-
~cd Sally. “ ill you desire me toreturn the

- money you loaned me this morning?”

» .witc

“ Oh, no. I still have enough to take me back

to England.”
“But wh should you go back?” insinuai’cd
' Sail , bend ng nearer, and bringin all the
rise of her beauty to bear upon im. “ If
the baronot dismisses you, why shouldn't you
'.come here and make your home with us, at least

' v for the present!”

v .

. ’are EWIW Fred, they are dy pro

“ y I, my lad i”

“ Yes-if you w call me Lallle, as I suggest-
cd this morning.”

“ Then I wi l certainly come,” declared the
dupe his face flushing excitedly.

‘ deaiagsghmag thingsoaysqth know, that
we in o r con nu cal-earn
bu hand, in pretended a ion.” “ A: ygg
ring for

agreat ld’s Fair in this city, an splendid
' chances wl l soon be nod to everyone tomake

a fertuno suddenly. on needn’t be cast down

Even if Sir Charles turns against ou. Papa and
,i will .be your friends. But woul n't the haronet
button his dismissal by making you a present of
a few thousands, if you were to make a sugges-

u 1 fig}: to this effect?”

not. He wouldn’t give me a penny
under any rcuinstances.”
I“ Not after all your long gears of service?”
“‘ That doesn’t matter. 'r Charles ll rigor it-
 ;aolf, if he thinks he has been injured.”

 

“But you haven’t injured him. You have
served him faithfully for years. And why should i
he quarrel with a passing confidence you have i
made to alady of my standing which is of no i
account whatever?”

“it is certainly very hard, Lallie,” said the ‘
dupe. “But there is no way in which I can help
myself.”

“Isn’t there?” and she sunk her voice to a
whisper, making a gesture for her fatherto leave ‘
tno room. “Didn’t Sir Charles draw that half 1
million?" I

The secertary assented.

“ Do you know where it is?”

“ Yes, in a small grip which has been deposited
in a bureau drawer in his bedroom.”

“ Couldn’t you get hold of that money?”

Bullinger looked less shocked than pleased at g
the suggestion.

“ I know I surprise you,” she went on hurried-
ly, “but I’m thinking only of the wrong Sir
Charles propoeed to do you, and of your many
years of faithful and illy-requited services. If
papa and I could reach our resources, we’d do
anything in the world for you, but since that is
impossible, why shouldn’t you makea bold stroke
for your own benefit and protection?”

“ Are you serious Lallie?”

“ Never more 801’

“And wouldn’t you despise me if I were to
confess that I have been thinking of the very
thing you have suggested?”

“Never! To the contrary, I should respect
you as a man who knows when he' is well treat-
ed, and who is prepared to take his rights by
force when they are not given him peacefully."

“Ah, how good of you!” sighed the dupe, ‘
seizing her hand. “ Shall I confess to you why
this temptation comes over me with such resist- ‘
less wer?”

“ es, yes, Fred l”

“ It is because I realize how happ we could
be with each other, if we only h this half
million l”

“ We could indeed I” returned the temptress,
throwing her arms around him and kissing
him, with pretended impulsiveness. “ But can
you get hold of that money without being seen
and get away with it without being inter-
cepted?”

“I believe so, dear Lallie,” answered the
secretary. “ There is certainly a good chance
for me, the bedroom of the baronet being near
an angle of the court, and readily accessible
from the corresponding room around the cor-
ner. Without bothering you with details let
me say that I’ve thought the matter over t or- I
oughly, and haven’t a doubt of being able to get
awa with that half million.”

“ 3 your plan fully matured?”

“Yes, Lallie. Instead of presenting myself
to Sir Charles and taking my discharge, I’ll
keep out of sight.” 4

Sally drew a long sigh of relief.

If her‘dupe should indeed take this course, i
thus preventing the baronet fr0m telling him .
her secret, she would be safe. I

“What I shall do,” pursued Bullinger, “is l
to return to the hotel between daylight and‘
dark, and watch for a chance. If seen, noth— 
ing will be thought of it, as I’m still a guest as
also the baronet‘a secretary.”

He arose, drawing Sally's slight figure to his
breast, and added:

“Of course I may fail, and in that case our
dream is ended. But if I succeed, as is probable,
l’ll soon be with you again.”

And with this be pressed the adventuer
his hearta moment, snatching a kiss from her
lips, and took his departure. ‘ ‘

CHAPTER XXXIV.
nan? cams UPON sm cnaaLls.

Tu]: door bad scarcely closed upon the two do-
tectives when Lady Depworth dropped into a
chair, covering her face with her hands.

The haunting, all~absorbing thought which ,
their presence had interrupted came surging 1
back upon her soul—the thought of her missing ‘
dau hterl

“ hat a pity.” she sighed “ that we were so
bewildered b what they told us! Otherwise we 1
should have rought up the subject of recover. 1
ing Alphie.” i

“ Oh we shall see them again before the day’s
ended, returned the baronot, care-lug her ten-

derl .
“ {’ou still think we shall find her!”
“Why not, Sylvia! He who gave can re-

re.

“ But what if she should come back tous o- ‘
rant—even vicious—such a girl, in fact, as w-
ling Caddie would have gladly made her to in-
tensif his revenge upon us? I shudder at the
thou t.”

“ h and believe that such will not be the
case. By via,” declared Sir Charles. with unearn- ;
est conviction which could not have failed of ‘
communicating itself to his wife. “Until we!
actually, know to the coutrar , we are warrant- 2
ad in believing that she wil come back to usf
with all the charms and graces with which your
fond mother-heart has ever endowed her.”

“Oh! that it may be sol”

 

 

 

A flood of tears invaded the eyes of the beauti- 

ful woman, as she raised them pleadineg to

--l\

‘ ’5‘}!ng i:   111/,“ ‘, If -

heaven, and her form became tremulous with
unutterable emotion.

“ I thought of her repeatedly while the detec-
tives were here," resumed the baronet, after two
or three turns in the room, “ but I shrunk from
bringing in a matter of this importance at the
end of an interview. VVe’ll talk to these gentle-
men of Alphie when the crooks are not quite so
thick around us, and when our callers are not so
numerous. ’

Tue knock which resounded at the entrance at
this moment seemed to confirm this view of
things.

“You see how it w0uld have been, Sylvia,”
said Sir Charles with a smile, proceeding to open

= the door, while Lady Depworth retired to the
, adjoining bedroom to recover her wonted calm-

ness.

What a charming picture was that the baronet
had under his gazel

In the foreground stood Harry Southman, and
close behind him Alphie Gilford, with her hand
in ti'ustful touch with his arm—both of them as
radiant as freshly blown roses, proud and happy
in their new relations, and showing in every
glance that they were supremely indifferent to
everything in the world except each other.

“ Come in,” invited Sir Charles, without
waiting for the slightest query in regard to his
identity or the smallest announcement of their
owu.

He waved them into his sitting-room, a sym-
pathetic smile mantling his face.

“ Thank you. Sir Charles,” returned Hurry,
drawing Alphie’s arm within his own and strid-

f ing across the threshold with the air of a Roman

Emperor, making his triumphal entrance into
the Eternal City. 5‘ Permit me, darling.”

Depositing his betrothed in a large easy-chair,
he placed a fOotstool under her feet, and then
drew his handsome figure erect, with another
inclination to the baronet.

“ It shows how Well the newepapers are doing
their work to-day, Sir Charles,’ he continued.
“ When I can recognize you from an inch-and-a-
half out in yesterday’s Tribune. Allow me to
add that I am Harry Southman, the son of your
correspondent, Colonel Archy Southman, of the
Wizard SiIVer Mine.”

“ I am delighted to meet you personally, Mr.
Southman,” returned the baronet, in his most
genial tones, compressing the hand of his visitor
a moment within his own.

“ And this oung lady,” he added, turning
gracefully to lphie, “ is your sister, I presume,
if I may trust the family likeness?”

“ She is nearer to me than that, Sir Charles,”
corrected Harry, with joyous pride, as also with
a roguish smile, “ for she has agreed to take me
for better or for worse before I am a week older.
Darling, Sir Charles Depworth; Sir Charles, my
future wife, Miss Gilford.”

The baronet’s greeting was not the less hearty
on account of his palpable error respecting the
family likeness, nor was the girl’s manner in the
least embarrassed by this mistake.

To the contrary, her musical laugh filled the
room, as she extended her dainty hand to Sir
Charles, and proceeded to assure him in tones of
unmistakable sincerity how pleased she was to
make his acquaintance.

“ Sit down, my dear Mr. Southman,” invited
the baronet, advancing a chair. “ If you will
both kindly excuse me a moment, I will see if
Lady Depworth is visible.”

Passing into the room t1 which his wife had
retreated, he closed the door behind him, with
the air of having a (mum "cache to enjoy with

or.

“ It seems that Colonel Southman has arrived
safely, Sylvia,” he said, in a low tone, “ and has
sent his son to me to announce the fact. The
young gentleman has brought along his future
wife with him, and I must say that they are
about the haudsomest couple I ve ever encoun-
tered. I want you to see them.”

“ With pleasure, Charles. Return to them-
I’ll be with you in a moment.” ,

Sir Charles had barely reported to his visitors
when his wife made her appearance.

Introductions and greetings having been duly
exchanged, the baroth seated himself near
Herr , while Lady Depworth conducted Alphie
to a andsome satin-covered sofa, taking aaeat
beside her. .

“ I have the glmure of informin you, Sir
Charles,” laid arr . proceeding irectly to
business, “ that my ather has arrived, and is
very anxious to see ou as soon as an interview
can be arranged. a would have come to you
in person, but we have had a deadly peril on
hand ever since leaving Silver Island—the crew
threatening to seize the schooner and the silver-
and father dOes not dare me ashore till after
our bullion has been landed. ’ \

“ Indeed?” commented the baronet, with keen
interest. “You must have brought along with
you a large amount of it?”

“ The whole output of the last ten months,
air, of the value of half a million of dollars,” ex.
plained Ha . “ We not only thought it advis-
able to show it, to you, as a sample of what the
Wizard has done, but we are under the necessity
of digposing of this bullion to meet our obligac
tions. -

“ ut about the plot of the crew to seize it,”

"A11. W-r «w — w a... ., ~
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The Ori-the-Wing Detectives.

23

 

 

a.

inquired the baronet. “Are the rascals well
under control and duly watched i”

“ Oh, yes, and we do not expect to have any
further trouble with them, now that the schooner
has reached port safely.” 

“ The Colonel (ices-not expect to come ashore,
than. till morning?” i

“No, Sir Charles,” replied Harry, “ but he ;
thought you might be inclined to come off to l
him and discuss the proposed deal in all its bear— :
ings. If such is indeed your inclination, I shall
be glad to show you the way.”

“ \Vhere is the schooner lying?”

“ In the Outer Harbor, just abouheast-of Van
Buren street."

The baronet turned to his wife.

“Shall I go, now, Sylvia, or wait to see the
colonel here?” he asked. “ I mean can you
spare me!”

“Yes, Charles,” replied her ladyship, “since
business is the first thing to be considered, in
view of the colonel's precarious situation and his
many anxieties.”

“ Then I will g0,”.decided the baronet, “and
if Fred has returned he shall accompany me.”

Excusing himself to his visitors, he proceeded
to the door of the secretary’s apartment, but
came back with a movement of the head indica-
tiVe of displeasure.

“ Mr. Bullinger is making the most of his
brief leave of absence,” he reported. ” I’m sorry
he’s still absent.

“That may not matter, Sir Charles," sug-
gested Harry, “since Miss Gilford and I are
perfectly willing to accompany you to and from
the schooner. We both intend to go to the
theater this evening but there is ample time for
us to dispose of this business matter before doing
so )9

“ Let me make a suggestion,” interposed Lady
Depworth, who had hardly been able to remove
her gaze from Alp'nie’s face since the first'mo-
ment of their acquaintance. “ Sn pose you
leave your betrothed in my care, Mr. bouthman,
till you come back fromthe schooner with my
husband 1”

“ What do you say, darling?” asked the lover,
turning upon the maiden a glance that was ten-
derness itself. ,

“ I—l wouldn’t have believed such a thing
possible when we came here,” faltered Alphie,
her lustrous eyes lingering upon the face of
Lady Depworth, as if fascinated. “ But if you
are sure you can spare me for just a little while,

“ You shall, darling.”

He opened his arms to her, and she nestled on
his breast.

“ But I’ll soon be back,” he promised.

“ And I’ll have such a nice. nice visit with
this dear lady while you are gone, precious!”

Neither seemed to remember the presence of
their host and hostess, in whose eyes had gath-
ered a moisture suggestive of the deepest appre-
ciation and sympathy.

The baronet turned his attention to getting
ready, his Wife assisting him, and the bustle of
their united movements bmught the lovers back
to a consciousness of their surroundings.

- “ Of course they’ll be back in time for supper,
my dear child,” said Lady Depworth, with
thoughtful kindnem, when she again caught the
maiden’snye, “and we’ll all 0 to the theater
together, if business will perm t. ' Won’t that be
pleasant?”

“ Oh, ever so nice, thank you " returned AI‘
phie. “You understand, Hdrry’ ' g

“ Of course I do, sweetest.”

Another series of caresses were exchanged fly
the lovers, and Sir Charles then kissed his w e
and led the way from the apartment.

CHAPTER XXXV.
mm AND LADY DEPWOB'I'H.

Nor until Harry had passed around an a is
of the corridor leading to the elevator, id
Alphie retreat into the sitting-room, clasing the
door behind her.

“What do you think of him, my lady?” she
asked, coming to a halt in the center of the
a rtment, in such an attitude as to bring out
a 1 bar co and beauty.

“ 1 th nk he’s very nobly endowed, and very
fine-looking,” answered her lad ship, her glances
still lingering upon the bean ful form under

them.

“ It’s right to call you ‘ my lady,’ isn’t it?”

La‘gy Depworth smilineg assented.

“ acid it be wrong to call you madam?”

“Not at all Miss Gllford. Madam is afit
term with which to address any lady,on if
she’s a queen or an empress.”

“Thank you, madam. But I think it will
suit me better to call you {my lady) Do you
knogwhyl lnsistodoncommg up are to m

on
y “I suppose it’s because you didn’t wantto
remain away from  Southmnu,” answered
bur ladyship, her smile deepening as she mo-
tioned the maiden to resume her seat on the sofa.

“Yes, that’s one reason,” admitted Alphie,
whirling a chair around and planting herself in
1;, thug wing herself in front of her hostau,
“ But 1 another. I wanted to see what a
real lad was likei”

 

“ Au now that you have seen me!”

I

“I must say that I’m disappointed in you,”
avowed Alphie, gravely.

“Indeed? Tell me why.”

“I thought you’d be awfully stuck up and
distant, and give me barely one little nod of
recognition, without saying a word to me.”

“ Then you really think better of me than you
expected to!”

“Yes, indeed!
pleasant as you can be.

You seem just as kind and
I don’t see as you are

i the least bit proud of being the wife of a baro-

net. And Sir Charles, too—how nice he is!
Does he always kiss you in that fashion when he
leaves you i”

“ Always, my child.”

“ Even when he leaves you for only a few
minutes?"

Her ladyship assented.

“ He must think all the world of you i”

“ He does, I admit.”

“ HOW long have you been married?”

“ Just twrenty years!”

“ Oh, I wouldn’t think it!” protested Alphie, her
glances settling again upon the sweet, sad face.

‘ Does Sir Charles love you as much now as he
did twenty years ago?"

“ Yes, more.”

“Why is that, my lady!”

“ Because we know each other now better than
we did then; because every day brings some
new tie to draw us nearer to each other; be-
cause all our experiences cause us to appreciate
each other more and more.”

“ Oh, how nice that isl” sighed the ‘rl, her
lustrous eyes dancing with delight. “ wonder
it Harry will think as much of me twenty years
hence, as he does at this moment?”

“ I have no doubt he will. Have you known
him long?”

“ Oh, almost three years, although not very
constant] , as he has been up in his old mine,”
she adds poutiugly, “and I’ve been at school."

“How long have you been engaged to him?”
asked her lad yship. '

Alphie glanced at a clock on the mantel-piece,
and then at a beautifully ornamented gold
watch she carried.

“ Well, my lady, I’ve been engaged to Harry
just about four hours and a half, ’ she then an-

» swered.

Lady Depworth murmured her surprise at the
shortness of the period.

“ But I could have been engaged longer to him,
my lady, if 1 hadn’t been a fool,” continued
Alphie, with a grave smile. “ I wanted him,
and he wanted me, and he proposed to me seven
weeks ago, but there was another girl w' ho want-
ed him, and she told me the biggest pack of lies
about him that ever was invented, and I ,was
silly enough to be fretted and annoyed 1? them
to the ex tent of telling Harry ‘ No ’ when really
meant ‘ Yes.’ ”

“ But he thought enough of you to ask you
again!” ’

“ He did, my lady, and it’s not strange that
he did, considering the awful fix in which he
found me, just ready to go to the botton of the
lake! But there are tears in your eyes, my
lady, and yen look at me in such a sin ular
manner! Oh, can it be, Lady Depworth, t t I
have said or done anything to offend you? If so
for 've me! I did not mean it!”

B e darted up like a flash, clas ing her hands,
and stood in an almost tremb ing attitude be-
fore her ladyshi .

“ Forgive me, ’ she re ted. .

"‘ There there, childl There’s nothing to for-
give,” cried Lady Depworth, extending her
hand and drawing the bright young figure down
beside her. “ These tears came into my eyes be-
cause of a burning desire—a wild yearning—
which entered my soul when my eyes first rested
upon you, and which will probably never leave
me again l”

“ What sort of a yearning, my lady?” asked
Alphie, her arms stealing gently around the sor-
rowing mother.
yo“ !"wish that I could have had a daughter like
u I l
“ Then you have none?"

Lady De worth subbed a negative.
“ No chi ren whatever."
“ None, child.”

“ Oh, that’s too bad,” commented Alphie, her '

eyes brimming over sympathetically. “I am
very scrry for you. Ma —-may I kiss you!”

“ If you wish to, my c lid."

" I do, I do—oh, ever so much,” and Alphie
threw herself sobbineg upon the neck of her
new friend, kissing her again and again. “ It
is strange how your glance down into my
soul, and how your touch thrills me. Oh! that
you could have been my mother! What love
there would have been between usl What a
glad life would have been ours!”

“ Amen to ovary thing you have said, my dear
child,” murmured Lady Depworth, returning
the girl’s caresses, and making an oflort to re-
cover,her self-control and calmness. “But do
you mean to tell me that you are mothsrleui”

“ Yes, my lady—motherless.”

The answer startled Lady Depworth.

Dashing the tears from her eyes, she put the
girl at arm's-length from her, and benta long
gaze upon her face,” if upon an oracle. of fate,

or entire soul seeming focused in that scrutiny.

 

“I cannot tell you, MISS Gilford,” she com~
municated breathlessly, “ how deeply my heart
has been stirred by your presence. Your eyes,
your hair, your «very feature—your very form
even—everything about you is precxsely the rea-
lization of the idea] which has haunted me for
months of my lost daughter.”

“Your lost daughter!” echoed Alphie Wildly.
“Did you ever lose. a daughter, my lady?”

“ Yes, sixteen years ago—a girl who, if she
lives, is now about your age,” answered Lady
Depworth brokenly. “ She was stolen from us
by a cruel enemy when a mere child, and all
our effort: to find her have been fruitless.”

“ How strange!” ejaculated Alphie, her agi-
tation increasing. “ Your story seems the cpun-
terpart of mine. I never knew my parents. I
was stolen from them i”

“ Impossible 3”

“ It’s God’s truth!”

CHAPTER XXXVI.
HOW THE LIGHT CAME.

THE eyes of Alphie and Lady Depworth met
in along, wild glance of inquiry.

“Let us look into this matter a little, Miss
Gilford, proposed the latter. “It’s too much to
hope, of course, that you are my missing child,
or that you would come back to me in this man-
ner. But there may be further points of sim-
ilarity in our stories. W here do you live?”

“ Near Muskegon, on the east shore of the
lake,” answered Alphie.

“ Who do you live with?”

“ “'ith my reputed father, Derby Gilford, who
owns a large farm, and his step-son, Florian.
They have both acknowledged to me that I am
in no Wise related to them.’

“ And Mrs. Gilford?”

“ She died seven years ago.”

” Then how did you secure the accomplish-
ments you evidently possess?”

“ Through Mrs. Cullerton, a very kind neigh-
bor, who was always like an own mother to me.
Mr. Gilford wanted to bring me up in ignorance,
asa. drudge in the kitchen. but Mrs. Cullerton
wouldn’t let him.”

“ Ah, indeed!”

Lady Depworth stirred-with an interest like
that or a benighted traveler who sees a light in
the distance. .

“The step-son, Florian Gilford,” resumed Al-
phie, ” after figuring for years as the meanest
and most selfish of brothers, has lately been pos-
ing as a suitor for my hand, as the’result ofva
scare Derby Gilford recsived about six weeks
ago in Chicago.”

“ Is it possible?” breathed Lady Depworth,
with increased interest. “Did you learn the
nature of that scare?” .

“ Yes, my lady. He was seen by some one
who knew him."

“ Who—knew him?”

“Under his old name, I mean, my lady,” ex—
plained Alphie, “ for his name ul D. rhy Gilford,
it seems, is an assumed one.” \

The information was received With a violent
start of comprehension.

“ And that ‘ old name,’ my child?” ueried her
ladyship, with forced calmness. “ ave you
ever heard it?”

H Never.”

“ You've no idea what it is?”

” Not the slightest. But there’s a his
hind it, my lady, which has made both of the
Gilfords very anxious for my marriage with
Florian, and no longer ago than yesterday the
step-son threatened me with all sorts of venge-
ance if 1 dared to reject him.”

“ In tellin you that you are not a Gilford,"
said Lady‘ epworth, “these plotters must of
course have offered some explanation as to how
you came into their hands, and posstbly as to
who and what you are. Tell me all you know
on these points.”

“ I’m afraid I do not know a great deal, in »
lady,” replied Alphie. “Florian did indeed tel ‘
me yesterday that I am the only child of wealthy
and distinguished parents, who are expected to
"nine in Chicago within a day or two from
England, but I could get no particulars. Ho
\ dared to tell me who they are if I‘ would agree

to marry him, but I refused to give him any. V

such promise, and was soon afterward enabled
to make my escape from him, eventually befi
rescued from m foundering sharpie by
Southman and arty.”

“ What sortof a me: why Gflfoidefnlaskg
her lad in, who ha me very y
sowed??? Dshcribo him.” '

Al his did so.

“ on have no photoggph of him!"

“No, my lady. He 3 refused persistently
to sit for one.”

“ Has he been anything like a father to you?

" No, to the contrary. He has always seemed
cruel and venomous. I have always thought

that he hates meg

Lady Depwo h stifled n, the puller, ,
which had invaded her features ,\ pening ovary '
moment.

She seemed to find in every word of the mai-
den the confirmation of her own thoughts and
theories. ,

“ Did Florian admit,” she resumed, “ that you
were stolen from your parents?"

ml”. I". ‘

 

 

 

‘24

‘ them, but be t

The On—tlie-Wing Petectives.

 

“No, my lady, but he couldn’t contradict w it to reach the ear of a bystander who moved
me when I told him that such was certainly the ,

truth.”

“ How long has Derby Gilford lived on this
farm near Muskegon ?”

“ Just sixteen years.”

Her ladyship echoed the words, with another
violent start.

" And he took you there with him?"

The maiden assented.

“ This is indeed suggestive,” commented Lady
Depworth. “ Just Sixteen years have passed
since our daughter was stolen from us, and we
were then in this city. What would have been
more natural than for the abductor to make his
escape down the lake and bury himself in a rus-
tic wilderness.

She reflected a few moments intently, and
then continued: ‘

“ Do on know where your reputed father
lived be ore he settled near Muskegon?”

“ No, In lady, nor does any one else,” replied
Alphie. ‘ He has always been as dumb as an

- oyster respecting his past!”

" But don’t you remember anything about
your real parents, Miss Gilford‘i”

The maiden shook her head sadly.

“Onlya dream-like memory of a lady like
you bending over me and caressing me,” she
then murmured, with the air of exploring the
depths of her soul.

‘ None of the little clothes you wore have
been reserved ?”

u 0’ my lady."

“ Nor a tiny necklace or other article of orna-
ment?”

A in Alphie shook her head.

“ ut don’t you remember the name your real
parents gave you i”

‘° That is indeed possible," replied Alphie,
“ and yOur ladyship will not wonder at it, when
I mention it, it is so peculiar and unusual. It
seems that this name had become so firmly
rooted in my mind that my abductorh were un-

» able to make me forget it, and hence they were

forced to allow me to retain it.”

“ Yes—yes! And that name?”

“ It is Alphie."

“Alphie ?” repeated her lad ship, with a wild
scream. “ Oh. my God! At net! at last I”

Half starting up, with outstretched hands and
arms, Lady Depworth made an attempt to in-
close the girl in an embrace, but the joyful
shock which had come upon her was too much
for human endurance, and in another moment
she lag insensible in the arms of Alphie.

“ , merciful Heaven!” came from the star-

‘ tled girl. "‘ Can it be that she recognizes me as

her lost aughter? Yes, yes! Such is indeed
the case! She is my mother! Thank God 1"
And she too fainted, the couple lying as if
glean, just as til): door leaging from the ha.le was
rown open a ru t an a man a on
the threshold. p y pp“

CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE STOLEN HALF MILLION.
Tn new—comer was the unworthy secretary

 

‘ of the baronet, Fred Bullinger.’

He burst into the room with the air of having
a sufficient comprehension of the scene there
resented, and a single lance at the motionless
gures of Lad y Depwort and Alphle seemed to
confirm all his ideas and intentions.
“ It’s evpn sol” he muttered.
- A few rapid strides brought him into the rear

' apartment and to the bureau containing the

half million in money the baronet had drawn a
few hours previous.

The first intention of Sir Charles had been, as
We have indicated, to hand this money to
Colonel Southman on account of the purchase
of the Wizard Silver Mine.

Later, however, as time were on, he had de-

" ’ cided to hold it in reserve for any geod thing

that might be offered him, two of his most
prominent visitors having promised to call dur-

ng the evening with a proposition little short of
marvelous.

As he had foreseen, the secretary found the
money locked upshot the delay thus caused him
was trifling. ,_ ,

Laying the bureau on its face, he dashed his
heel through the rear of the thickest drawer
which he was sure contained the handbag, an
"in another moment he was in possession of the
money. v

Cutting the bag open, he transferred the money

A : rapidly to a paper box in which a hat had been

sent to him, and then replaced the bureau where
he had found it and gave his attention to getting
cut of the hotel as quickly as possible.

To say the least, fortune seemed to favor him.

Not only did Alphie and Lady Depworth con- .

tinne uncousciou while he was stealing past

versed the various corridors

to his esca without meeting any one
who knew him, as a without attracting any
invidious notice.

Very much to his grati cation a can-lags was
in the act of drawinggup a the entrance, and he
hastened to jump into it.

“W are to, siri” in uired the driver.

“ To lark street dge,” answered the score-

guardedly.
, , driver repeated the order loud enough for

 '

away so rapidly as to seem to precede the fugi-
thl‘.

The drive that succeeded was a slow one, on
account of the crowded state of the streets, but
the carriage at length came to a belt at the des-
tination named, just as the bridge was swung to
allow of the passage of a long line of grain-load-
ed propellers.

“ Here we are, sir.” announced the driver, de-
scending from his box and opening the door of
the vehicle.

Settling his fare, the fugitive made a pretense

, of waiting for the draw to clOse, while his driver
I remounted his box and drove quietly away in the

direction of the Palmer, but not without ex-
changing signals with the driver of a mrriage
which had reached the bridge just ahead of him.

The restless eye of Bullinger had been quick to
detect the presence of this second vehicle, and he
hastened to take possession of it, after an ex-
change of gestures with its driver, and to give a
new order.

Curioust enough, this second driver repeated
the address loud enough to reach the hearing of
at least one of the per~ons standing near, and
then wheeled slowly around and started for his
destination.

“ Evening paper, sir?” asked a newsboy at this
moment, thrusting it within reach.

The fugitive assented, for several res-sons,
passing out a nickel, and in another instant was
makin a retense of being absorbed in the
perusa of t 9 news.

Not only did he desire to give himself the ap-
pearance of an unconcerned traveler, but he
thought it pessible that he might find the news-
paper useful as a screen against the gaze of some
one he didn’t care to encounter.

As he thus went his way, with the paper
dancing under his eyes, at every mowment of
the carriage, he suddenly realized that he was
not moving as rapidly as was desirable.

“ Faster, driver—faster!” he ordered.

“It’ll cost you double fore it I comply, sir,”
was the answer.

“ That does not matter. Faster i”

The driver made a pretense of obeying, crack-
ing his whip and speaking again and again to
his horses, but very little came of it.

The first hindrance of a decided character
proved to be a jam of loaded wagons.

Then something was wrong with one of the
horses, necessitating a slow pace, and finally the
driver went three or four blocks out of his way
pretending that he was not well acquainted
with the neighborhood.

In due course of time, however, the. carria e
drew up at the vacant lot which had been in i-
cated as its destination, and Bullinger alighted.

A single lance around made him easy on the
subject of lug watched and followed, and he
assumed the air of a man who is at peace with
himself and all the world, as he deliberately
folded up his newspaper, in which he had not
read a line, and thrust it into his pocket.

“ I am going to visit my old grandmother
who hasn’t seen me in ten years,” he remarked
after settling his fare, “ and I didn't want to
fiurry her by rolling up to the door.”

Nodding understandingly, the driver took his
way into an adjacent saloon, from behind the
blinds of which be carefully noted the direction
taken b Bullinger to reach the abode of the
venerab e lady in question.

He did this so well, in fact, that he would
have been able to swear, a few minutes later,
that Fred Bullinger had disappeared into the
late residence of Belly Blair, and been received
at the very door by no less a personage than
Sal] Rimmer who was duly assisted and
flan ed by Hi .Ienkins.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
“ COUNTING THEIR onloxnns,” arc.
DESPITE all his efforts at self-control and
calmness, Fred Bullinger was quite pale and ex-
cited at the moment of his arrival.
Yet there was a grim jubilance about him
which could not have been mistaken.
He had brought the mono l
A single glance into his nee, as he closed the
door behind him, was enough to convey this fact
to the crook and his daughter.
“ You have made a success of it then?” cried
the latter, throwing herself into his arms.
"Even more of a success thanI could have
dared to hope; Lallie,” he answered, careming
her. I
“ You have the whole half million?”
“ Doubtless, although I've had no chance to
count it.”

“ Did any one see you take it i” pursued Sally,

leading the we into the rlor.

“Not a son ,” repli Bullinger. “ I was
never so favored in my life as I have been in
this business.” .

“ Perhaps that was on my account, darling.”

“ I can well believe it, Lallie.”

The couple seated themselves side by side on a
sofa. Bul lnger with his booty on his knees, and
Hi Jenkins hovering near them.

“ Did you go back to the hotel as soon as you
left us!” resumed Sell .

 

. , ., . .rr ~ in u- .'
 ,» z;  was»... at? a. .. 

“ No, I went to 100 for a craft of some sort
by which to make our escape from this ' blarst-

V l

    

{3" r
Missy Of

   

\

I. ' l ,l l.‘

 

 

1 ed country,’ with the fortune I’ve taken from.
3; the Yankees!”

“You did, Fred? What can have suggested
that idea to you?”

“ The Very natural reflection that every route
by land will have its dangers.”

“And did you find what you wanted?”

“ The very thing‘s. nice little sloop where we
can be as comfortable as, moths in a carpet. I’ve
left it in charge of the man who sold it to me, and
we shall find him waiting for us at any minute
between now and midnight.”

“ there is it?" asked Sally.

” I will show you.”

Producing a map of Chicago, the secretary
pointed out the precise spot where his sloop was
in waiting,

“ As you see,” he added, “ it’s off the extreme
and of the Government pier, near Black Jack
thtaw’s bumlioa t.”

“Excellent,” muttered Hi Jenkins, speaking
for the first time since the arrival of his new
ally. “ Your plan of leaving town by water
and by private conveyance, after su h a master-
ly stroke, shows that you are a geni 3. Give us
a few details of your wonderful performance.”

“ Well,” explained Bulliuger, “I hurried to
the hotel as soon as possible after buying the
l sloop, and was so fortunate as to reach my room
l unseen and unheard. Locking myself in, I kept
l perfectly silent, so as to convey the idea that
i l was still absent. The buronet came and
j knocked at my door, but 1 made no response,
and he soon went away with young Southman,
the latter’s betrothed remaining with Lady
Depworth. Then followed a scene I can’t quite
comprehend, but I believe it will turn out that
young Southman’s betrothed is her ladyship’s
long- missing daughter. Be that as it may, I
heard excited voices, f0110wed by a wild scream,
and I ran to the baronet’s room in time to find
his wife and the young lady in a deathlike
swoon. How promptly got hold of the cash
and vanished I need not tell you.”

“ You have indeed been favored,” commented
Jenkins. “ Here you are, in safety, and I sup-
pose we shall all remain here until after dark?”
1  Yes, baron—if you and Lallie think well of
t.

 

“ Of course we do,” declared Sally—“it’s so
much easier to act by night than in the glare
of day. We had better remain quiet here till
nine o’ clock, when our driver will call to see
if we have any use for him, and he can drive
us to the sloop. In the mean time We’ll have
sugper and discuss our plans for the future.”

and read their approbation of her suggestions in
their faces.

“ And now let’s sit down at the table and
count the money,” added Sally, “ to be sure that
the enemy is playing no brown paper tricks upon
I: ” ,

The proposal having been duly accepted and
acted upon the trio found themselves the posses-
ears of half a million of dollars, less a few hun-

dreds. .

It was in bills of large denomination, in the
wrappers in which it had been out from
the banks, so that it was not a difficult matter
to count it.

“ And now what’s to be done with it?” asked
Sally, her face flushing feverishly at sight of so
much money.

“ How done with it?” repeated her du .

“For its safekee ing, I mean,” expla ned the
adventuress. “Di any one see you coming to
this house?”

“No, Lallie,” returned Bullinger. “ I’d be
willing to‘ stake m life that I haven’t left the
smallest clew behin me. I took a carriage from
‘the hotel to the Clark street bridge, and another
from there to a vacant lot a couple of blocks
from’us which I noticed when I was here be-
fore.’

“Then you really think you have been too
much for those On-the-Wingsi” continued Mrs.
Rimmer.

“Those what?” asked the secretary, with un-
concealed wonder.

Hi Jenkins gave his daughter a keen look of
warning thus suggesting to her that their dupe
h'ad not'had um so much to do with the On—
the-Wings as hey had.

f‘ You really think you’ve been too much for
them?”

“ I have no doubt of it.” ,

“ If I were rfectly sure that such is (:39
case,” resumed rs. Rimmer, “I would divide
this money into three equal tions—as regards
bulk, at least—and we wen d stow it away on
our rsons.” , 

“ at we can’t be sure of any such thing,” de-
clared Hi Jettiklilnseo“and it would be :hpiece off
the greatest o roceed upon any ear 0
that description.y Vfint we are bound to believe
is that the pursuers are close behind us, and that
we’ve got to play a devilish smart game to keep
out of their c utchss. Let the recovery of the
baronet‘s bag this morning, serve as a warning
and example.”

 

impression upon Bullinger, and a single glance
at

that he was not talking in vain.

ne looked from her admirerto her father, ‘

“ Those detectives, I mean,” answered Sally.

These words were well calculated to make an .

 

is countenance was enough to more Jenkins

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‘Jenkins.

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The Oiisthe-Wing Detectives.-

25

 

 

“ And need I tell you what the first action will
be of any detective who follows Mr. Bullinger
here?” pursued Hi Jenkins. “ His first measure
will he to search us, and in case any such thing
happens, what becomes hi the money concealed
on our persnins?”

' There w as no necessity of saying another word
on this subject.

“Then whnt would you suggest, father?” in-
quired Mrs. Rimmer. “ You do not forget, of
course, that the money is Fred’s, and not ours?”

“Certainly not, but I realiZG that he will be
thankful to us for assisting him to get out of
town \\ ith it.”

“ The money is as much yours as mine,
Lallie,” protested the dupe, with the sincerity of
a deep infatuation, “and you ma be sure that
I wouldn’t have run such risks as have for any
less reward than you have promised me—a
future with you which Willhe made enjoyable
by this money. Let me ask you, therefore, to
dispose of it precisely as if it were all your
own.”

lSally consulted her father with a single swift
g uni-e. .

“ The best and surest thing todo—for the next
hour or two, at least, or until we see if any pur-
suit will be made—is to lock the money up in
your sole-leather trunk,” declared the crook,
after a few moments of reflection.' “ As to the
plans we shall adopt later to get it safely out of
the country, we may leave them for future dis—
cussion and settlement.”

“ Then come, Fred,” cried Sally, springing up
lightly and enterin the back parlor, where the
baggage of the fat er and daughter had been
left. “Here is the trunk in question. As you
will see, it is a large, stout one, and it wouldn’t
be quite as easy to get away with it as it was
with the baronct’s hand-bag. Shall we lock the
money up in it?"

Receiving an affirmative from.her father and
Bullinger, she carried out the suggestion, the
tiwo men looking on with the keenest satisfac-'
t on.

“And now let’s have supper,” proposed Hi
“You needn’t bother about cookin ,
Lallie, not even to make a pot of tea, as a bott e
of wine will answer every purpose, with these
go pliefis we brought in from the grocer and

a or.

 

CHAPTER XXXIX.

“ LEFT to themselves in the dining-room,

1 “ conrusmn woasa coxrounusn.”

. \ IV
came back from his errand, looking as if he had

while Sally busied herself in the kitchen,
Jenkins and his proposed son-in-law became
joyfully enthusiastic over the brilliant prospects
before them. .
“We’ll go up into the Dominion and get a
rest ranch,” suggested Jenkins. , "I’ve long
n thinkin of retiring forever from
fashionable soc ety, now’s an excellent time and
to do so.”

He was interrup'ed by Sally, who di tched
him to the grocery for something which had
been forgotten, then retiring to the kitchen,
after a pleasant remark or two to Bifllinger and
one of her impulsive embraces.

Thus left'lgto himself, the secretary drew from
his pocket the newspaper he had purchased, and
proceeded to look it over, thethought occurring
to him to see if the affair of the morning had
been reported.

It was not lon before his eyes encountered
the name of Big and, and it is needless to lay
that he instantly became absoer in the article
containing it.

He started violently, however, his face be-
coming deathly pale, before he had read half a
dozen ines. _

The article in question was a very complete if
not lengthy exposure of Hi Jenkins and his
daughter!

It told how the had arrived at a leading
hotel as Baron Big and nd Lady Chiddcr, and
been duly detected b? the omcials of the
house, andvforced to rot re to vats quarters.

it was such an account, in ct, as only Belly
Blair could have furnished. ‘,

And how Fred Bullienger stared at the details
willbereadilyimagin .

The sudden ‘hlssin of a deadil serpent in his
ear could not have led him‘wit more hideous
emotion. '

How he had been deceived!

Instead of dealing With a lady of title and

ualiiy,as he had supposed, hehad been the

age or an adventuress of the worst descriptiOn.‘
n

d now what should be his future action to-
ward the impastors?
0h! he would play’ the hypocrite, too!
He would remain with them during his con.
ve’nience, keeping his own counsels, and won”
give them quite as big a disappointment

’ eventually as they had given him.

He would make use of their house as a hiding.
lace until after dark, and would then give them
he slip, vanishing from their sight forever.

As he reached this conclusion, Hi Jenkins

host in his absence.

encountered a
e clutched a newspaper, and a

In his han

glance at it to d Fred Bullinger what had hap-

 

 

“ Come here, child i” called the crook, on reach-
ing the dining-room.

Sally responded with a celerity suited to her
father’s exoitement.

“ The jig’s up in one respect, Sally,” announced
Jenkins, extending the newspaper toward her.
” Here’s a complete exposure of us in the even-
ing paper. We shall have to take Mr. Bullinger
into our confidence.”

Sally glanced at the article, and a shriek es-
ca ell her.

She seemed ready to faint.

“ Take it easy, Sal,” enjoined Bullinger, bit-
terly, flourishing the paper he had been reading.
“There’s no occasion to say a word about the‘
article. I’ve read it."

Sally shi-ieked again, taking a step or two to-
ward her late admirer with outstretched arms.

“And can you forgive me, darling, for this
cruel deception?” she cried.

“ I can, but‘only on one condition,” answered
her dupe, with forced calmess; “ and that is that
we go our separate ways. Where’s the key of
that trunk? want my money!”

If anything had been needed to disenchaut
him with the couple, he got it now.

They hristled up in a menacing fashion on the
instant.

“ Your money?” sneered Sally.
say the baronet’si"

“Or why not say ours?” demanded Hi Jen-
kins, laying off his cost, as if getting ready for
battle. ' A

The secretary looked from one to the other,
and realized that his chances of emerging vic-
torious from a personal struggle were not very
promising. -

In other terms, a compromise was the only so—
lution open to him.

“ Very well,” he muttered. “ I’ll divide the
cash with you, but only on the same condition
as before—that we go our separate ways."

The father and daughter consulted in silence,
with a murderous gleam in their eyes.

They had already discussed—before Bullinger’s
arrival—the possibility of chloroforming him to
death and packing him into one' of their largest
trunks, and had even emptied the'receptacle, so
as to have it in readiness for carrying out the
diabolical suggestion.

But they, tea, were not long in realizing that
violence was out of the question, and that a di-
vision of the money was all that could be effects
ed with anything like safety.

The villa being only semi-detached. the people
next door woud be sure to overhear any conflict
so near them. ~

“Well, we’ll divide,” decided Sally, after a
marked hesitation, “ and you can get out of here.
as soon as you lease afterward.”

She turned er black eyes almost savagely
upon the perturbed countenance of her disen-
chanted admirer, and added: -

“ You’re not the first dupe I’ve made, Mr.
Fred Bullinger, and you c n safely bet your
1boisctlgp dollar that you are n t destined tobe the

8.8

“ Enough of this chatter,” enjoined Hi Jenk-
ins sharply. “ Let’s attend to business. Out
with that money E” ,

The trunk was duly opened, all eyes settling
on the spot where the stolen half million had
been (ln'poslted, but that spot was now indeed an
“ aching void!" '

The money had vanished!‘

The look had not been in the least tampered
with, and'still less broken, nor was there the
least sign of disorder about the trunk or its
contents. i

But the hilitltft ttélillion had none the less dis-
ap are! 3 w e paper-box containin it.

RGVHIEIDI This is your ’ work i” cri Sally,
starting up with the violeyce of a fury. " You
have done this thing while father was absent and
I was in the kitchen 1”

“ I, woman?”

The accusation needed no other answer n
the aspect dud manner of Ered Bulliuger, he
raised his empty hands despairingly, standing as
if paralyzed, his face ii. picture of indescribable
consternation. ’

Nor was there the least‘ occasion for him to
return in kind their charge against him, it be-
ing easy to see at ‘a glance that the couple were

“ Why not

'as ignorant as himself of the agency by which

the money had vanished.

“ I see it all!” gasped Sally. “'Thoso Ola-the-
Wings havo tricked us! They have entered the
house [moan—perhaps by'a secret entrance, or
with duplicate eys!’

“ But how could the o n the trunk and
lock it again so cicVer y, oing it no harm?”
asked Bullinger, . .

“ They may have had a key fitted to it by a
locksmith,” suggested Hi Jenkins. “ There has
been ample time for them, to take this measure
since We came to the house, if We may suppose
that the nave been here.” a

“ We! . if they haVen‘t been here, who has!”

snapped Sal! y. , “ The ' maney couldn’t go with-
0ut hands, could it? You can both see at a
glance that those On~the-\Vings have got onto

us again, in their usual silent and infernal fash-I

ion! , ‘ .
“In that case,” muttered Jenkinsgwith an

i

 

uneasy glance around, " we had better he look- ,,

   
 

ing to our personal safety, all of us, sinking our
quarrels and differences. Let’s catch a. bite of
supper and vanish l”

CHAPTER XL.
THE caooxs IN A PANIC.

ERE the suggestions of Hi Jenkins could be
acted upon, the secretary started violently and
bolted to the nearest wind0w, which gave on a.
side street.

“If there isn‘t Dan the Swatterl” he ejacu-
lated—“ the man who made such a daring raid
upon the baronet this morning! And I do be-
lieve he’s coming here!”

“ Nothing’s more likely,” returned Hi J en—
kins. “ I’ve written him to call as soon as pos-
siblel”

“Sure enough,” added Bullinger, as the latch
of the gate clicked and rapid footsteps on the
walk succeeded. “ I may as well be going!”

“ If you are wise,” returned the crook, “ you’ll
sim' ly beat a retreat inlo the back parlor, with
my daughter, and tie to her upon [a new basis.
At any rate, you had better remain to hear what
sort of news this man is bringing!”

The Couple hastened to act upon the sugges-
tion, while Jenkins took his way to the front
door just in time to open it at the appearance of
the visitor.

“ Mr. Jenkins, of London, I believe?” greeted
the American crook, giving his English con-
frere one of those smiles which mean so much ,
more than ihe words accompanying them.

Hi Jenkins nodded, inviting Dan by a gesture
to enter and close the door behind him.

“ I t your brief note, Mr. Jenkins,” contin-
ued Dan, “ and have lost no time in answering
it in person. You would doubtless know me
from the photograph I sent you, in exchange
for ours and the baronet’s?”

“I should, Mr. Driudle,” replied Jenkins.
“ although it hardly does you justice. Come into
the parlor." ,

“ One moment, please,”\ said the Swatter,
turning upon Jenkins an eye like that of a for-
ret. “ Didn’t I see Fred Bullinger-é-the baro-
uet’s secretary—at the window as I reached the

ate?”

“ You did, Mr. Drindle.”

“ What is he doing here, and in your com-
puny?"

The manner of the Swatter was imperative,
like that of a man who does not propose to re-
main in any uncertainty in regard to his rela-
tions and surroundings.

“To begin with,” answered Jenkins, after a
brief instant of reflection, “he’s here because
he’s smitten with my daughter. She made his
acquaintance when she was figuring as 9Lady
Chidder,’ and he still believes in her now that
he knows to the contrary.”

“ Put for what other reason is Mr. Bulliuger
here?” ursued the Swatter. “ Has he been dis.
missed y the baronet?” .

“ Substantially—yes.”

“ What do you mean by that long word!”

" I mean that he is to be dismissed as soon as
Sir Charles can get speech with him.” -

“ What is the trouble between them 9”

“ Sir Charles thinks he has been too confi-
denti'al with my daughter about business mat-
ure. .

“ Has be any more serious reason!”

“ Not to my knowledge.”

The couple entered the parlor and seated them- ‘
solves, the Swatter appearing a prey to a keen
preoccupation.
is your opinion of Bullinger!" ho
asked, in a confidential whisper. i‘ Is he had
enough to join us in a bold stroke for fortune
if we can make it appear that a b'i'g pile of
money will be his reward for doing so

“ Of course he is,” assured Jenkins. ,

“ Has he done anything yet to show what he‘s
made of i” ~

“I should say so! He has just taken half a
million in cash from the baronst’s bede,
without being seen or heard, and without loav-
ing the least clew behind him i” .

The Swatter leaped to his feet excitedly, stars

 

ing at his informant as he would havelstsred at '1':

a phantOm.
“You can’t be serious!” he gasped
“ I was never more serious,
declared Jenkins, with an involuntary sternness .
of voice and manner, as he remembered how the

 

Mr: Brindle,“ . it 

Swatter had interfered with his own plan} by 

his action of the morning.

“Then he has ruined me,” cried Dan, in wild : -'

dismay. “ He has raised a hue and cry that
will interfere with all I am doing!” _ ,
" “ Well, I don‘t care much if he has,” returned
Jenkins, as he also sprung to his feet.
cut me out of the best scheme of my life
morning.
bamnet‘s affair, even to his photo, and you knew
I was coming to Work with you—” ’ .
“ But i didn’t know you had arrived, Mr.

Jenkins!” v 

“You mightat least have reflected that I
wouldn’t be far behind the baronet.
no use. of our quarreling'. As to the ‘ hue and!“
cry‘ with whiohyou reproach Bullioger, let-me."

tell you that the money may not be missed for {

hours, or until morning!” .
1 “Ah! canitbe—” , , I: "

But there’s . ‘

 

“You_  ,

I had sent you full mniculam 052?: ii]. ,3

"i

t

J!

 

'c “by.

M -v¢r‘

mm'm”. & -~4 .

  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
    
    
   
  
    

' tune.

a:  {KEN .v “‘1‘

26

The On-the-Wing Detectives.

 

 

 

“ Of course it can!” assured Jenkins. “ It
had been locked up in the baronet’s bedroom,
and no one witnessed its departure, the baro-
net being out, his wife busy with company, and
all that sort of thing.”

The Swatter’s calmness came back to him
while he was listening to these plausible assur-
ances.

“ In this case,” he commented, “something
can be done. In fact, we can all work together.
Please call Mr. Bullinger here.”

“ Here I am, gentlemen,” announced the secre-
tary, advancing from the folding-doors, where
he and Sally had been listening, after making a
hurried peace with each other, both realizing that
they had all the more reasons for sticking to-
gether in their misfortune than before the loss
of the money. “ What can I do for you, Mr.
Drindle?”

“ You can at least answer a few questions,”
returned the Swatter, shaking the hand offered
him, and inclining himself to Sally. “ Didn’t

ou accompany Sir Charles today to all the
banks at which he had bnsmess?”

“ I did, sir.”

“ Then you know where his money is deposited
and in what quantity?”

“ Of course.”

“ Didn’t you become known in these banks as
the baronet’s secretary?”

“ In some of them, ut not in all.”

“ But couldn’t you cash the baronet’s check in
any or all of them?”

“ Without the least doubt—if I can get there
before any noise is made about the half-million
I’ve” stolen, or before any suspicion falls upon.
me.

“That’s to say, if everything remains quiet
until ten o’clock to-morrow. Do you think this
is Possible?”

" I certainly do,” replied Bullinger. “ The
haronet and his wife are giving the most of their
attention to a search for a lost daughter, and
may not even discover the loss of the half-mil-
lion till you have carried out all your projects.”

This was not said in good faith, but to en-
courage the Swatter to reveal his projects.

The mone having been already recoVered by
the On-the ings, it was almost certain to be
returned to the baronet within an hour or two,
and he would accordingly know all that had
hafipened.

at even in this case the baronet might not
denounce his ex-secretary, and this would leavol
him a chance to act successfully on the morrow.

“ Perhaps there is still a chance for me to ac-
complish what I wanted to do,” said the Swat—
ter, thoughtfully, after a pause. “ At any rate,
I’ll ask your opinions. Listen.” 1 »

He beckoned the trio nearer, lowering his
voice to a whisper, and resumed:

“ Colonel Southman has arrived on his
schooner, with half a million in silver bullion. I
a peered to him at once as Bolly Blair, and have
p aced Bart Wyserand two men named Gilford
on board as On-the-Wiugs to guard the silver.

.Half of the crew is'with me, including the mate,

Tom Gorkle, and so is Tom’s brother, Simon
Gorkle, who is waiting for me, with his sloop,
near the Illinois Central shops. Sir Charles is

expected to come 03 to the schooner to complete

his deal with Colonel Southman, and Will doubt-
less give him his che‘cks for a couple of millions
in exchan e for the deeds of the ‘ Wizard,’

which, as understand, are all ready for de-
livery.”
“ And you want me to cash those checks?" ask-

ed Bullinger, with a startled, hopeful air, all his
greed and energy coming back to him.

“Yes, that’s what I want of you in case the
thing’s possible,” replied Dan. “ What’s to pre-

' I rent you from coming of! to, the schooner im-

mediately?” - ,

“ Nothln whatever. Where’s the lying?”

“ In the titer 'l-Iarbor, of! Van Buren street.”

The Swatter glanced out into the street, which
had begun to darken with the approach of night,
and resumed: «

“ i’ll wait for you, or have Simon Gorkle do
a if you’ll arrive where the sloop is soon after

r .

“ Thank you, but I already have a sloo of my
own in waiting, and we’ll all come 0 to the
schooner in her.

'“ That will do as well,” said the Swatter,
arising, “as it leaves us more at liberty. By
the way Mr. Jenkins I want to ask you a ques-
“0%, By whom did you send your note to
me

“ By Sam Furbish.”

“ By Sam Furbishl” echoed Dan, with astart.
“ If you know any man by this name, Mr. Jen-
kins, he must be a consummate fraud. The real

j Sam is in prisoni".

“He was, to be sure,” returned Jenkins, “ but
he has been pardoned out, having a ‘ pull,’ as he
has explained to me.”

"Can it he? I hadn’t heard of his good for-
And how did you make his acquaintance
so promptly?” ,

‘ He is driving a carriage which was sent to

‘me in response to my d msnd for one,” explain‘

ed the English crook urther. HMy daughter

 and I have taken quite a liking to him, and
ge’vearranged to make use of. hlmrxclusively
“salons as we shallrsmalnin Chicago.” gt...”

\ ..
7.; (M. ‘5

.ul » v

The Swatter looked a little thoughtful and un-
easy, as if he didn’t cornprehend how or why
Sam had so suddenly taken upon himself the
duties of a public servant.

“ Has be reformed?” he asked.

“He would be shocked if he could hear you
ask the question,” said Hi. “ He’s figuring as a
driver because of the opportunities the business
affords him of doing something better. For in-
stance, if you had not got your hands on that
bag this morning, it is more than probable that
‘Sam would have done so.”

Dan looked his astonishment.

“This is all too much for me,” he declared,
“ but I suppose you know what you are talking
about, and will hope that everything is as it
should be. The letter, however, was delivered to
me in a very strange fashion, as I’m bound to
tell on.”

“ sally? Tell me about it.”

“ Why, it was handed me by a man I don’t
know from Adam, and at a moment when I
least expected to be recognized by a stranger.”

From the explanation he proceeded to give, it

appeared that the note had reached him near
the shops of the Illinois Central. just after he
had landed from the schooner, leaving Simon
Gorkle on the sloop to watch for him, as re
lated. \ '
“ Well, that’s all right,” said Jenkins. “ Sam
is deep enough to recognize you anywhere or
under any disguise, or he may have sent the let-
ter by some man who knows you well, but with
whom you have little acquaintance.”

“ That may all be, but I’m not without mis-
givings.” declared the Swatter. “ Is Sam driv-
ing under his own name, or has be taken an
alias f"

“ He has taken an alias,” replied Jenkins.
“He calls himself ‘ Nibbs.’ ”

The Swatter uttered a bowl like that of a wolf
in a trap.

“ Nibbsl” be repeated. “ NiLbs the coachman!
Well, you have put your foot in it, old fellow!
‘ Nibbs the coachman ’ is more! y one of the many
made- up characters of Belly Blair, the chief of
the On-the—Wings!”

The announcement seemed totake away the
breath of his hearers.

“Did Nibbs bring you here?” continued the
Swatter.

The father and daughter assented dumbly, un-
able to speak.

“ And doubtless has agreed to come here often
to drive you?”

Jenkins nodded.

An awful sneer escaped the Swatter.

“ You’re going straight to the bottomless pit,”
he lamented. “ The On-the-Wings have hitched
on to you, body and soul!”

He bolted for the door, with all the appear-
ance of having been struck by a veritable panic,

"There may still be a chance for you to get
away,” he added, “if you handle yourselves with
anything like sense. Should the road still be
open, you had better get to the schooner as soon
as you can. You can at least help me make a
good fight for the colonel's b llion, even if all
the On-the—Wings in the worl should drop in
upon us!”

And with this he vanished.

“ You understand, both of you, why I couldn’t
tell him we’ve lost our half million?” demanded
Jenkins, turning to his daughter and Bulhnger.
" He would have dropped us as dead weight, and
not allowed us to come near him. Have you
agreed to stick together?”

“ Naturally,” answered Bullin er. “ We need
each other now more than we d d when our for-
tunes were bri hter ”

“ That’s all r ght,”‘commented the crock hur-
riedly. “ And now to get out others-before
that devilish Nihbs can put in an appearancel
[$1015 both of you, or we shall othe same way
w ch has been taken by our ha! million!”

 

CHAPTER XLI.
COLONIL sourauas AND rm: BARONIT.

IN the cabin of their schooners, Colonel South-
man and his wife sat at supper, with the first
shadows of the approaching. night gathel'ing
around them. \

Three men only were visble on the deck—Bart
Wyser and the two Gilfords, who, it will be re-
niienibsred, were figuring as On-‘the-Wing Detec-
t ves. -

The crew had been consigned to the fore-
castle—not merely those who had stood by.the
colonel, but also those who had conspired to
seize his bullion.

The most active man on the craft was un-
doubtedly Tom Gorkle, who, in the capacity of
mate, was here, there, and everywhere, watch-
ing for the return of the Swatter, and taking
good care to inflame‘the zeal of the three men
who had been associated with him in the plot
far casting away the schooner and stealing the
s ver. '

“I am glad, Archy, to have the detectives

 

here,” remarked Mrs. Southman, breaking a
thoughtful silence. “ With the aid of Mr. Gor-
kle, and those'of theerew Who have remained
.fait‘lifuhlthey will prevent all trouble.”

, ..,'.
' 31w

 

iii; 1 1:51, hair’s . .

 

lvvmtrh slashes! of s 9““ A

who has made all necessary arrangements for
his security and safety.

“ But wasn’t it odd that Mr. Blair should come
tOIour aid so soon after our arrival?” pursued
Ml‘s. Southman, a little wonderingly.

“ Oh, not at all,” returned the colonel.
“ These On-the-Wings are ubiquitous.
method is to keep an eye on leading crooks and
meet and checkmate them at every step of their
plottings. They think more of preventing crime
than punishing it. How easily, for instance,
Mr. Blair is now paralyzing the crooks who have
been plotting against us!”

Nothing more was said until the steward had
lighted the lamps and cleared the table, then re-
treating to his own department.

“For Alphie’s sake, I would gladly have gone
ashore and taken apartments at the Palmer,”
then said Mrs. Southman, “ but she wouldn’t
hear of it.”

“ Neither would Harry, although I asked him
to take you and Alphie to our old quarters,” re-
turned the colonel. “Perllups we can prevail
upon them to act in this sense when they return
from the theater, and in that case you can go
With them.”

“As if I would do anythin of the kindi” ex-
claimed Mrs. Southman. “ should sleep very
little, I assure you, notwithstanding my faith in
Mr. Blair. Ah, an arrival!”

This was caused by a slight shock which
showed that a boat had come alongside.

“ Mr. Blair has returned, I presume,” remark-
ed the colonel. “ In any case, Mr. Gorkle will
tell me if the visit is for us.”

The couple listened a few moments.

“ I hear Harry’s voice,” then said the colonel,
arising. “ Perhaps he has brought the baronet
with him.”

“This way,‘Sir Charles,” the parents heard
their son saying, at the entrance of the cabin,
and the next instant the two gentlemen were in
their presence.

“ I have brought Sir Charles to you,” resumed
Harry, addressing his father and mother. “ Sir
Charles, Colonel and Mrs. Southman.”

Greetings having been dulg exchanged, the
baronet accepted the chair 0 ered him, at the
same time expressing the satisfaction be ex-
perienced at meetin the colonel personally,
after such a pleasant and extensive correspond

ence.

“And Alphiei where did you leave her,
Harry?” asked Mrs. Southman, With tender
solicitude. '

“With Lady Depworih, mother. She and
her ladyship seemed very illUl'll laken with each
other, and will have a nice visit, as Alphie ex-
pressed it, before Sir Charles and I get back,
and then we’re all going to the.theater to-
gether.”

A strange cry from the baronet fixed the at-

tention of the Southmans, and they saw that he '

had gained his feet, and was leaning on the
cabin table, with such a. changed countenance as
to suggest that he had been suddenly seized by
some terrible illness.

“ Why, Sir Charles!” cried the colonel, step-
ping, to is side solicitously. “ What is the mat—
ter? _

“ That name?” exclaimed the baronet. “ Did
I hear arightl Did you pronounce the name of
Alphie?”

"‘ Certainl , sir,” replied Harry, with a proud
and happy ! ght in his eyes.

,“ Who is she?”

“ She’s my future wife, Sir Charles—”

“ And her parentage?”

“ It is unknown!”

The baronet drop into his seat (an more
abruptly than he he arisen from it, his features
blanching to the hue of death.

“ How strange!” he ejaculated. “ I have
never knoiwn but one famil in which that name
existed. Have you, cdlone 1”

Colonel Southman shook his head.

“ I never heard the name till it was mentioned
by my son. a number of months ago,” be de-
clared.

“ It’s the name of our lost daughter—our only
child,” faltered the baronet, striving to recover
the mastery of his emotions. “ She was stolen
from us on the occasion of our first visit to
Chicago, sixteen years ago, when she was three
years of age, by a man named Dawling Caddie,
whose terrible work was so well done that he
has kept us in ignorance of flier fate from that
day to this.”

“ Ah my God!” came from Mrs. Southman,
with a urst of tears.

“How singular l” exclaimed the colonel.

“It certainly looks to me, Sir Charles, as if
fate, destiny, or Providence—call it what you
will—has been busy with us,” avowed Ha ,
with an emotion nearly as great as the baronet s.

“ How. so, Mr. Southman!”

“ Why, everything points to my betrothed as
being your missing daughter. Alfhie has told
us a] she knows of her histor , an it is strange
how closely it agrees with w at you have just
told us.” I '

The baronet clasped his hands, as if praying
that .the identity thus suggested might prove to
be the truth.

p

“Fortunatsl we have left in safe hands,‘  
y  :10" M I‘

and where we . ‘ . ,
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The .On-the-Wing Detectives.

27

 

 

thoughtfully. “ But a thought strikes me. What
particular business have you on hand for the
next hour, Mr. Southman?‘

“ Nothing whatever, Sir Charles, except to
wait here till you and father have dismiSSed the
proposed deal, and I will then take you back to
the hotel.”

“ I know a measure worth two of that, my
dear sir,” declared the baronet, as the Color be-
gan coming back to his face. “Will you kindly
hurry back to the hotel and tell my wife that
the name of her young guest is Alphie?”

“ With leasure, sir.”

“By doing,r this,” continued Sir Charles, “ you
will put them both in the way of making a
thorough mutual inquiry into each other’s history
and something important may come of it. How
long. colonel,” he aided, turning to his host,
“ shall I be detained here, do you think i”

“ I should say about an hour, Sir Charles,” an-
swered Colonel Southman, “ if you desire to
make a thorough examination of all our ab-
stracts, receipts, expenditures, and so on, but if
you are Willing to take my word for these de-
tails, our stay Will be greatly shortened.”

“Yhu have heard, Mr. Southnian?” said the
baronet, turning toHarrv again. “You may
tell Lady Depworth that I shall be scarcely half
an hour behind you.”

“ I will. sir,” replied Harry, and with this he
caressed his mother, nodded adieu to the colonel,
and hastened from the cabin, taking his way
ashore in the boat which had brought him off to
the schooner, and which he had retained in
waiting.

 

CHAPTER XLII.
A LITTLE TOO LATE.

THE shock which had bereft Lady Depworth
and Alphie of their senses was too joyous—too
life-giving—to retain them long its prisoners.

The maiden was the first to come back to a
knowledge of her surroundings, and she lost no
time in lowering her ladyship’sihead and shoul-
ders, which had been roofing on her own, and in
taking thOse quiet and simple measures which
she had seen employed occasionally in similar
cases.

She was busy with her ministrations when a
sigh of unutteruble gladness escaped the lips of
Lady DepWorth, whose eyes had opened upon her
with infinite tenderness.

“ My own darling daughter!” was the greeting
that came to the yearning heart of Alphie.

“ My own dear mother!” was the simple yet
e1 uent answer.

heir lips met in a long, long kiss, the arms of
each encircling the'other as if they would never
more be separated.

Then they sat up on the sofa again, the mother

ushing the hair back from the sweet face, and

wing upon it a look of the deepest affection
and admiration.

“How good it is of that Infinite Father to
send you back to me in this manner, Alphie!”
she exclaimed, with radiant features. “ I
shall never murmur again! All these years of
mrroging and yearning are as if they had never
been!

“ Then you do not have the least doubt that I
am your long-missing child. my dear motherf”
breathed Alphie, her tearful eyes lingering upon
the countenance before her as fondly as rever-
entlv.

“ Not the least shadow of doubt, my daugh-
tor," answered her ladyship, in a tone of perfect
conviction. “ And you, darling? Tell me if
your heart knows me?”

“ It does indeed, mother!”

“ I almost knew you at first sight,” continued
Lady Depworth caressing the hand she held,
“ but we are all creatures of doubt and dark-
ness, and are never willing to meet half-way
the mercies heaven is ever showering upon us.
Perhaps you noticed that I could hardly take my

eyes from you?”

"I did, momma, and oh! what a strange
thrill of peace and gladness they sent through
my whole being!" .

“ The truth is," explained her ladyship, “ you
‘date back’to my mother, and are the living
image of what she was forty years ago, as you
cannot fail to sea at a glance when i show you
her pictures. Did you notice how closely your
father looked at you as you entered?"

“ I did,” answered Alphie, her hand closing
so tightly upon her mother’s arm as to pain

her.

“ What is it, dear?"

“ It’s that word ‘ father.” exclaimed the girl,
with tender delight. “ What joy to know, af-

ter all these miserable years with the Gilfords, ‘

that I havo found my own dear papal And
that’s not all, mammal I shall have my own
dear Harry, and you and papa will have a dear
son as Well as a daughter! Oh! I believe I’m the
ba piest girl in the world!”

ootsteps wer heard coming along the hall at
this moment, in a slow and uncertain fashion,
as if the person producing them was looking up
some particular number, and at the end of a
few moments they came to a halt at her lady-
ship’s dOor and were succeeded by a knock. '

‘ Let me see who is there, darling,” pro

Lady Depworth, as both ladies started to their
fat. .

 

The door having been drawn open, the mother
and daughter found under their gaze, a man of
very striking appearance, whose manner at once
fixed their attention.

He was in fact, no less a personage than Black
Jack Yattaw.

The face of the redoubtable captain was in-
scrutable and full of mystery, but it could have
been readily seen that he was a prey to no or-

diuary excitement, as be inclined himself with
extreme politeness to the graceful figure in the
doorway.

“ Lady Depworth, no doubt?” be queried.

A nod answered him.

“ Thank you, my lady.
ta‘v-ii

“Walk in, sir,” invited Lady Depworth, ex-
tending her hand. “ 1 am glad to see you.
You are doubtless the husbadd of the lady who
was here a little while ago to ask me some ques‘
tions about my lost daughter?“

“ I am, my lady," said Black Jack, his face
flushing at his kinl reception.

“Sit down, please,” continued her ladyship.
“It may he that I am indebted toyou for a por-
tion”of, the great good fortune which has come to
me.

“I hope so, I’m sure,” returned the bum-
boater, a little bewildered by her ladyship's ob-
servations, as also by the lustrous eyes Alphie
had not ceased to turn upon him since his arri-
val. “Pardon me, my lady,” he added desper-
ately, “for blurting out in my own rude way-
what I have come .to tell you. I’ve found your
lost daughter!”

“’You have?” cried her ladyship. “ Where is
she ‘

“I cannot so. just where she is at this mo
ment,” av0wed he bumboater, “ but I have no
doubt I can find her in the course of the even-

in .”

E By what name is she kn0wn, Mr. Yattaw?"
asked her ladyship, becominga little suspicious
of her visitor.

“ By her own name, my lady—the name of
Alphie, Alphie Gilford!”

“ Ah, thank you, Mr. Ynttawl I see that you
are an honest man!” cried her ladyship. " Here
is the object of of your kindly attention, as also
of my long and weary nest. Alphie, darling,
this gentleman is Mr. attaw, a well-known
citizm of Chicago, who has interested himself in
you, as has his wife. Mr. Yattaw, my daughter,
Alphie Depworth, who has so long been known
as Alphie Gilford.”

The introduction came upon the bumboater as
a sort of disappointment, but he rallied prompt-
ly, and gave expresSiou to his congratulations

‘ It seems I am forestalled in Ihe measure I
had, so much at heart,” he concluded, “ that of
restoring your daughter to you, my lady, but I
can at least tell you where to find your terrible I
enem , Dawling Caddle?”

“ on can?” cried her ladyship.
will indeed do me a great favor.”

“Dawling Caddlei” exclaimed Alphie. “ I
was trying to think of that name a few mo-
ments ago!”

“ Then you have heard it before?” demanded
Lad Depworth. .

'“ ot exactly heard it, mamma,” replied
glphife, “ bit): ligve seen it lon ahpackage of let-

rs rom e o countr n t e possession of
Derb Gllford!” y .

“ on are surel"

“ Yes, mammal”

“ And when was that?”

“A few years. 0, when he was putting in
order the papers in is desk.” explained Alphie.
“The, fact did not come to my memory till
now.

With a smile of intense satisfaction, Lady
Degworth turned to her visitor, whose aspect
an manner had undergone a marked change
at‘tli; revelations.

‘ oer your info ation agree with what in
dapgehiter has toldrge, Mr. Yattawf” she in}:
qu.r .

‘ It does. my lady, I’m led to so "re lied
Black Jack, ining his cat. “ I yliavepdis-
covared that by Gilford is merely another
name for Dawling Caddie. His residence, your
ladyship will remember, is near Muskegon, so
that you can find im at any moment.”

“ I am greatly liged to‘ you. Mr. Yattaw, as
is my dun hter, for your kind emcee in this mat-
ter, said Lady Depworth, “as also for the in-
f0rmation you have 1given us, although it b
come a little late. will mention your call
Sir Charles, and if you should be passing this
way again he will be glad tosee you.”

Expressing his thanks for the invitation the
bumboater took his departure.

. ’ CHAPTER XLIII.
um ON-THE-WING 'ro ran auscun.

THE satisfaction experienced by Lady Dep-
worth at the visit of Black Jack Yattaw was
not unmlngled with regret.

“ He seems disappointed,”.she could not help
remarking.

“ Doubtless he is, mamma, it is so nice to do
any one a kindness," returned Alphie, “ and Mrs
Yattaw evidently intended to,render you and
papa of great favor.” , - I _

. ‘Another Magnesium}: -  7:

My name is Yat-

" Then you

 

  
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 

,worde that her magi drew

~ -. 

'ship. “he may have been at no little trouble

and expense to find out the facts he came here
to communicate. I didn’t think of this, or 1.
would have offered to recoup him.”

“Let us hope we shall see him again,”sziid
Alphie, “ and if he has really incurred any vx-x
peih'e in my behalf we'll do what is right in the
matter. In the mean time,’ iiiamma, I can‘t
help making up for lost time.”

Hovering about her mother, very much in
the style of a bee hovering over a flower, she
infolded her in her arms, kissing and caressing
her no end of times, and then conducting her
back to the sofa. .

It would be no easy task to narrate what
passed between the mother and dangnterdun
ing the. next half-hour. there was such a change
of subjects, such an awolding of their lives and
sentiments.

Anuthel‘ series of footsteps in the hall at
length announced a visitor, and he proved to be
Bolly Blair.

He came in with the air of a gentleman quite
at his leisure, in the most faultless of raiment,
with an imnieii~e bouquet of the rarest flowers
which had been gr uped and blended in almost
kaleidoscopic beau y.

“ Ah, Mr. Blair!” cried Lady Depworth, her
lovely face brightening. “ I was just wishing I
could see you again.”

“ Not because there is anything wrong, I
hope?” returned the On-the-Wing, handing her
ladyship the bouquet, with a polite and grace-
ful inclination.

“ No, sir, but because everything is right or
just as it should be.”

“ You have had no disagreeable visitors or in-
trusions?”

“ Of course not.” \ ‘.

“ You've seen nothing of that missing secre‘
tarv, Mr. Bulliugeri”

Her ladyship shook her head, with her face
half-buried in the flowers.

“ You’ve hnd no scare, no alarm of any kind?"

Still another he ation.

“ I’m glad to or it, I’m sure,” declared
Bolly Blair, with his sunniest smile. “ It must
really be, then, that you wanted to see me totell
me somalhing pleasant? This is such a depar-
ture from the usual situation that I must beg of
you to enlighten me with your good news as
Soon as possible.”

“ I will, sir. Alphie, my dear child. this no
tleman is Bolly Blair, a famous detective. r.
Blair, my only daughter and heiress, Alphie
Depworth, whose sad history Sir Charles gave
you on our arrival, when you presented yourself
to us as Mr. Stark, a newspaper reporter."

“ I am very delighted to meet you. Miss Dep-
worth, I assure you,” declared the Ou-the—
Wing, shaking hands with her, “and I must
also congratulate your ladyship,” he added,
turning to the mother, “ on having found your
missing child, almost before you had resumed
your search for her. Isn’t it strange that she
has literally dropped into your hands, like a ripe
pear from a tree?”

“ It is more than strange, sir—it is fateful and
rovidential," returned her ladyship. care--
ing her daughter anew, and handin to her. the
hon not she had been so ardently mlring.

“ t’s another proof, my lady, that the world
is reall made for honest and decent people;
after , whatever the crooks may think,” cou-
tinned the detective, with deep feeling. “ I’ve
never seen a better demonstration of this fact
than is shewn in your restoration .to each
other.” ‘

“ Such lovely flowers!” breathed Alphie,
buryin her nostrils in them again and again.
“And reare two initials woven into them—-
‘B‘.'I‘ndD.s,t;i,nd f So th " gated

‘hat sor ut aotasug
the On-the-Wing, with aiovial smile.

“ No, it don’t,” cried lphie, with an exqui-
site blush. “ It stands for Southman and
worth, and I see that you have brought
bouquet here to take the post of honor at my
marriage!”

“ Sure enough ” admitted Blair 
again the band Alphie offered him in grate
thankfulness. “ I must confess to the purpose
you ascribe to me, but I had my reasons for
Events are marching on so fast hereabouts, that
one must act promptly or be left out of the
swim.”

“Oh. that Be
it!” exclaimed Alp is.
i if to the schooner to them?”

“i was just thinking of that very thing,”
avowed Lady Depworth—f‘l am so eager or
pa to know that we have found you i" ‘ \

X: was natural, she turned an inquiring eye
upon the detectivo. .

“ I approve of the suggestion,” he hastened to
answer. “But I hear footste in the hall, and
they sound to me like those 0 Mr. Southman.”

The hint was enough for Alphie. .

She gained the door in a few rapid steps, and
in another instant was clasped in arry s arms.

“There! there! my child,” cried the happy
mother, approaching them. “ You mustn’theep
me from my boy so ong!"

It] was with a ladness almost at:

3514!?”  _.

and were here tonne
£8“?in shouldn’t we go

  
    
 


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28

The  Detectives.

 

 

it is needless to say that her joy was fully shared i
by Harry. 
“ Sir Charles suspected the truth the very mo-
ment my mother pronounced your name, dare
ling,” he declared, his arm again inclusing his ,
betrothed. “ Is everything cleared up and set-
tled between you and her ladyship already l”
“ Yes, dearestl”
“ She knows you are her daughter?”
“ Yes, she knows it!”
“ How glad father and mother will be!”
Again the young couple seemed lost to their
surroundings.
“My son,” said her ladyship, “let me intro-
duce you to Mr. Blair, the chief of the On-the-
Wing Detectives. Mr. Blair, my prospective
son-in-law, Harry Southman.”
 The two gentlemen shook hands cordially, and
' ' Harry said:

“ I am very glad to meet you, Mr. Blair, and
hope to see you later. The presence of your On-
the-W ings on the schooner is a great comfort to 5
“,5 ' my mother.”
fig. . “They’ll be moreso shortly,” returned Blair,
at f with a smile that puzzled the newcomer.
" “ You’ve arrived just in time to go back to the
, schooner with us.”

i” i , “ But Sir Charles told me to say that he’ll ar-

;y’;  , rive here scarcely half an hour behind me.”

u “ Nevertheless, he will not come ” declared the

If" . On-the—Wing his strange smile deepening.

 ., ' ' “Let’s be off." I

 .. “We’ll be ready in a moment, Mr. Blair,” said
Lady Depworth. “ But—”

She started violently, her face turning abrupt-
ly t0ward the baronet’s bedroom.

“ What am I thinking about?” she whispered
in the ear of the detective. “ I cannot leave the
hotel.”

“ Why not?" asked Blair.

“Because we have half a million in cash in

‘ that bedroom!”

“ You are mistaken, my lady,” returned Blair,
in a tone as guarded as her own. “ Fred Bollin-
,ger crept in here while you and Miss Depworth
were unconscious, and got away with that money
without being seen or heard.”

. The smile with Which be accompanied these

. _w0rds prevented her ladyship from taking them
7; v; at their literal value.

 ‘ - " But the cash is nevertheless perfectly safe,
. ,l . 4 my lady, in 9. Compartment of the big safe be—
‘/> low,” added the On-the—Wing, “and hence you
4, . are at iiberty to turn the key and go where you
‘ p ease. ‘
And in another minute the quartette were
leaving the hotel behind them.

CHAPTER XLIV.

7 THROWING OFF ms MASK.

g; 1-. SEATED at the cabin table, Sir Charles had
 ’ careful] examined the spare relatingto the fa-
; men's izard Silver ins, Colonel Southman
« . from time to time answering his questions and

giving him necessary explanations.

 

 

(a

, 3nd it to be,” at length remarked the baronet,
 ' * I roceeding to gather intoa bundle the documents
‘il 8 had been examinilgg. .
.  “It is even better, ir Charles,” returned the
a, I t colonel, “ for the reason that several large items
‘3 I which have entered into the working eXpenses of
‘, the last year will not have to be repeated for a
,, long time to come, if ever.”
,: - “And now to give me your lowest figures,
«5 / colonel,” pursued t e baronet.
.v “ They are precisely what I stated in my last
‘ letter sir,” said Colonel Southman.
“ T at is to say, one and three-quarter mil-

? ' " lions‘l”, ,

"Exactly Sir Charles. It was understood,
.too, you will remember, that the deal was to« be
.for cash, and the very low price I’ve named was
fixed with that understanding.”

The baronot assented.

“Of course I could have given time for the
bulk of my interest,” added the colonel, “ but
there are a number of small holders associated
with me who are anxious to have their money.”

“ That was all mentioned in one of your latest
letters, colonel,” confirmed Sir Charles, “ and of
course I have never talked of anything but pay-
 ing cash down for the property. The rice you

,1, , ,. have named covers everythin —the and, the

‘  plant, ore on the dumps-and n the levels, all

" * mgg’hinery, cars, railways, smelters, and what
' no ‘
“Everything, sir.” '

i  "in a word, for one-endothree-quarter mil-
lions you and your associates ste out of the
,  ' Wizard’ and allow us to step in’ ’ summed up

, , the baronet, with a smile.
6,, a “ That’s the case exactly, sir.”
‘ a v “‘Upon these papers then, and u n these

terms,” declared Sir Charles, “I m i take the V
heigoperiy. Have you made out the deeds and
‘ o

6‘

 

 

o ht them along with cu, as requested?”

’ I ere they' are, Sir harles,” answered the

V ., colonel, producing them. “They are dated ten

 days ago, ‘or at the time your call for them
‘ reached me.”

. , “They are duly witnessed and authenticated

’in every way required'hy your laws?” ,

l‘ . ‘fAs you will see by a glanceat them,” as-

,snred the colonel. “All you have to do now is

  place them on record.” , ‘

 

\ .

    

“ Oh, yes, I have to draw my checks for the
amount of the purchase money,” remarked Sir
Charles, with another smile, as he produced a
number of check-books. “ I shall make them to
your order, I supposeI. f I do that, nobody can
draw the money till yOur name is on the back,
and you are identified, personally or otherwise!”

The. colonel answered ailirmntively.

“ Our system in England is dilferent,” re—
marked the baronet, proceeding to iiill out a
check. “In my country, a check to orderis
always presumed to be in the hands of its legiti-
mate owner, and will be cashed Without any
verification of either your signature or iden-
tity.”

“Discoursing pleasantly of other differences
between the financial methods of the two
countries, Sir Charles filled out seven or eight
checks rapidly for large amounts, until the
aggregate sum they called for reached one and
three quarter millions. ,

“ There you are, colonel, he then said, shoving
the checks across the table.

“ And a good transaction I hope it will prove
for both of us, Sir Charles,” returned Colonel
Southman, pushing toward the baronet the
deeds and other papers relating to the Wizard.
“ I feel that l have kept my wife and son prisoners
too long in that wild region, and am fully re-
solved that they shall get more out of life hence-
forth than they have been getting.”

“ A good idea,” commented Sir Charles, pro-
ceeding to make a bundle of his papers.

“And one now all the more necessary becauSe
my son proposes to have a household of his own,”
added the colonel.

“ That reminds me of this mysterious Alphie,”
said the baronet, gaining his feet with alacrity.
” I must hurry back to the hotel, and see what’s
to he the outcome of the exciting problem her
name has so suddenly presented. What if she
should prove to be my lost daughter?”

“ I ho she may, Sir Charles,” returned
Colonel outhman, “but there is little likeli-
hood that such will prove to be the case. What
we have here is a mere coincidence—one of those
reminders or suggestions which thrust them-
selves upon us when least expected. Let her be
who or what she may, however, she is a very
charming. noble girl and we shall all cherish
and love her always for her splendid endow-
ments of mind and heart which no adverse fate
or fortune can take from her.”

“ May she proves blessing to you both, my
friends, as to your son,” implorel the baronet,
shaking hands with the colonel and Mrs. South-
man. " We shell of course seeyou during the
day at our hotel? Do not fail, and we’ll arrange
to have dinner together.” ,

A promise was giVen him, and, he was about
to proceed to the deck, escorted by Colonel
Southman, when quite a shock was given to the
port quarter of the schooner.

“ Ah, another arrival,” recognized the coltmel.
“Sit down a moment, Sir Charles, till we see

“ The property is certainly all you have claim~ *wbo it is."

The baronet complied, but a couple of minutes
passed away without further demonstrations,
although considerable movement seemed to be
manifested on deck and in the forecastle.

“ Evidently it’s no one to see us ” said the
baronet, arisin again, “ and I really must be
going. My wi 6—”

He was interrupted h
trance of the cabin, and
his appearance.

9‘ Ah, Mr. Blair!” greeted Colonel Southman,
with Visible relief, “ I was just wishing you
would get back to mi”

The barooet looked from the new-comer to the
colonel. and then back to the Swatter, while the
latter folded his arms in the most approved
style of his favorite stage villain, and glared tri-
umphantly from one to the other.

“What name was that you just pronounced,
colonel!” asked Sir Charles, turning to his

host. , _

“ That of the gentleman who has just entered
our presence, Sir Charles, but who seems to have
taken a drop too much, or something,” answered
the colonel. “He’s Bolly Blair, the noted chief
of the On-the-Wing Detectives—”

, “He’s more likely an imp of the bottomlem
pit,” interrupted Sir Charles, checking the
colonel’s remarks by a gesture. “ I know Bolly
Blair well, although only since my arrival in
Chicago, and this man is not he.”

“Not Belly Blair?” cried Colonel Southman,
with a surprise and alarm defying expression.

“N more than he’s Peter the Great! Bolly
Blair it a man of entirely different appearance
from this person!”

“ Then who can this person be?” inquired the
colonel, thorOughly startled. ' ,

,“That remains to be seen! You hear, sir?”
the baronet added, with involuntary sternness,
addressing the intruder. “ Who are you?”

“ My name is Dan Drindle,” was the answer,
as the speaker stepped nearer, his features and
eyes glowing with infernal malignit , “ but I am
more commonly known as Dan the watterl”

CHAPTER XLV.’
FROM daoox 'ro PIRATE.
Tn'statement of the aarin crook fell upon

footsteps at the en-
an the Swatter made

, his hearers like the explosion ,o a bombshell.

.
x

‘ 'gin with,”,explained

 

“ What! the man who carried off my three
millions this morning?” cried the baronet, re-
coiling to the chair from which he had just
arisen.

“The very same, Sir Charles,” answered the
Swatter, With mocking imliteness. “I am de-
lighted at making your personal acquaintance,
but I hope to retain you in my hands longer
than I did the three millions to which you have
just alluded.”

“ What do you mean, rascal?" retorted Sir
Charles, angrily.

“ Oh, you needn’t call any names here, sir,”
warned the intruder, his manner becoming more
peremptory and menacing with eVery word he
uttered. “ Rascal and baronet are terms which
have no place in this schooner. Master and
prisoner have replaced them. Permit me.”

He put a whistle to his lips, blowing a peculiar
call upon it, in a style he had often seen dis-
played in current inelodrainns, and a number of
armed men came hurrying into the cabin.

Foremost in the group were Tom Gorkle and
the three seamen he had corrupted before leav-
ing Silver island, and behind them came Bart
\Vvser and Simon Gorkle.

As to the two Gill'ords, they had remained on
the deck as watchmen and lookouts.

“ There are six of us, you see, Without count-
ing myself, and two on deck, with more coming
to our aSsistanCe,” resumed the Swatter, by way
of introducing his associates, “ and we‘re all
armed to the teeth, in perfect readiness for
anybody or anything that may offer.”

“ Villains] what are you doing?” cried Colonel
Southman, stepping toward the intruders, men-
acingly.

“ We’re taking pessession of this schooner
colonel, and likewise of the silver bullion aboar
of it,” answered the Swatter, as his men, in obe-
dience to a gesture, leveled their weapons at the
little group behind the cabin table.

“ But, don’t you know that this is piracy l” de-
manded Colonel Southman, with increasin
sternness. " Don’t you know that you will a
pay for this conduct with your lives!”

“ We don‘t care for that,” replied the Swat-
ter. “We shall havg to be caught before we
are hanged 3”

“And you, Tom Gorkle,” continued the col.
one], turning his gaze on the hypocritical matel
“ Is this a proper return for all my kindness to

on? .

“ Like all other men, colonel,” answered Tom
defiantly, “ I am bound to make my pile, and’l
shall never hare so good an opportunity as is
n0w afl'orde'l me.”

“But what has won you over so suddenly to
this villainy?”

“Oh, there’s nothin sudden about it,” re-
turned the mate. “ ’ve been thinking this
wa ever since We left the mine.”

‘ Then you’ve been deceiving me?”

“ I won t deny it.”

“And there’s your brother, too—the ras-
cal I had to discharge from my service for all
sorts of bad conduct,” pursued the colonel. “I
would havs expected such baseness from him,
Tom but not from you i” '

“ You had better keep a civil tongue in our
head, colonel,” grewled Simon Gorkle, w th a
threatening flourish of the rifle he carried.
“Mr. Drindle is here to take you down in his
own fashion, and we are here to help him.”

“And where’s the rest of the crew, Tom-
those who stood by me?" demanded the colonel.

“ The ’re forward, sir.”

“ An what are they doing there?” .

“As little as any man can do, being bound
hand and foot, and having age in their mouths.”

Colonel Southman tur
to ask his advice.

“ There are nine of them." said the latter,
“ and every one of them has either a rifle or a
revolver. A battle with them seems to me to is
out of the question. Is there any likelihood that
help will reach us from the shore?”

“ I’m afraid not,” re lied Colonel Southman.
“I was foolish enoug torejectm wife’s sug-
gestion, at the moment of our arr val, to send
for the real Belly Blair, or we should not now
be at the mercy of this desperate impostor.”

“ Unfortunately. too, I told your son I’d soon
follow him to the hotel, so that no one is likely
to come to our rescue at present.”

The desperate situation of the two men was re—
flected only too clearly in their faces.‘

As to
chair at the intrusion of the plotters, she had felt
quite unable to offer any suggestion, and had
contented herelf with watching the scene in
which she was figuring.

" You may talk and you may plot,” muttered
the Swatter, moving still nearer “but ou’ll

have to do as I tell you, and what I now to you

all to do is to surrender.

“ How surrender?" asked the baronet. . “

“Have I not said it?” returned the Swatter.‘

“ The schooner and the silver is ours, and you I

are our prisoners.”

net. ,
“ Why, we’re going to have the bullion; to be-
Dan, “ and then we re 30-.

ing to cash those checks for One and three- nar—

ter millions. And when I tell you that red   ‘

to Sir Charles, as if '

Mrs. Southman, who had resumed her‘

“ To what end or intent?” ggmanded the baro- j

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i
l
?
l
.
s
.
.

 

 

 

 

  
  

\

.men

Bullinger has stolen a half-million from your
hotel, Sir Charles, and that I expect him here
every moment with it, you will realize that we
are pretty well equipped to start out on a cruise
——as we propose doing—which will never bring
us back to Chicago.”

Another small craft was heard to come along-
side, at this moment, and a profound silence
reigned in the cabin until Florian Gilford ap-
peai‘ed at the entrance, with the announce-
ment. ,

“ Ir. Bullinger and his party.”

The amazement with which Sir Charles re-
cognized his unworthy secretary, as the latter
came stalking into his presence, followed by
Hi Jenkins and Sally Rimmer, was too great
at first for utterance. but he soon rallied.

“ Is it true, Fred,” he asked, “ that you have
stolen that half-million in money I drew to-
da .?”n

‘y‘ Quite true. sir,” answered Bullin er un-
blusliingly, feeling that the eyes of the watter
were upon him.

“ And do you know who that couple are be-
hind you?”

“ I couldn’t very well help getting that knowl-
edge, sir, since their history is in the evening

rs. ’

“ Then tell me.”

“:They’re Hi Jenkins and his daughter, Mrs.
Sally Rimmer!”

“And you are not ashamed to be seen in
their company?”

“ Not so long as they’re content to remain in
mine.”

“ It’s true, you’re now ‘ birds of a feather,’ ”
commented the baronet, with keen bitterness.

“And we’ve‘flocked together’to such good
advantage,” resumed the Swatter, with a grin
and insoleut smile, “that we now number a
dozen. You’ll see, therefore—both you and the
bai'onet, colonel—that we are masters here, and
that all you have to do is to surrender at discre-
tion. Let me add that if on make the least at-
tempt to fight us, either 0 your lives will not be
worth a nickel. Do you both understand me?”

The silence of an awful consternation succeed-
ed, neither of the two friends not Mrs. South-
mau seeing their way to an answer.

CHAPTER XLVI.
GETTING AWAY WITH THEIR BoorY.

NEEDLESS to say the Swatter meant every
word he had uttered. He believed that the one
chance of his life was now in his hands, and had
fully decided to come out of the struggle victo-
rious or die.

The bullion, the checks, the stolen half million,
and even the schooner itself, with the helpers
and allies who had sostrangely gathered about
him—all these considerations had made him as
callous to danger as if he had been in an opium-
eater’s delirium.

That he and those with him were not sufficient-
ly alive to the counter-moves of the enemy, is
only too apparent, but this is always and every-
where the case with men who get thoroughly
possessed with their schemes, and in this case
there were many circumstances which tended
to produce and lperpetuate their hallucination of
being successfu .

The schooner to run away in; the many thous-
and square miles of watery solitude afforded by
the great lakes; the vast Wilderness presented
along their shores; the sheltering night around
thr- plotters: the utter absence of the enemy—all
these things, with still others of the same char-

acter, had turned the heads of the conspirators?
0

under the pressure of their gorgeous dreams
booty, and made them little better than mad-
men.

The colonel and Sir Charles realized all these
things only two clearl , and were keenly alive
to the actual and awfu peril by which they had
so unexpectedly me menaced.

“ It would cost them little to murder all three
of us, and sink our bodies far out in the lake,”
whispered the baronet to Colonel Southman.
“ Let us be rodent.”

An audib e sneer came at this moment from
the Swatter, who had been consulting with Bull-
inger and others in law tones, although his eyes
had not ceased to rest upon his prisoners.

“ You don’t seemto have. anything to say,
either of you!” be mocked, his glances alternat-
ing between Sir Charles and the colonel.

‘ For the reason that we are too much in the
minority here to have anything to say,” return-
ed the latter. “ But you spoke of a voyage that
you ,propose to takel For what are you wait-
ing?‘ ' .

“ For the arrival of her ladyship and Miss
Alphie, with your son I” answered the Swatter.

“ Explain, sir,” requested the haronet.

“ I mean that I have sent a message in your
name, Sir Charles, asking them to come here,”
explained Dan. “ You wouldn’t have me leave
them at the hotel, and let them raise the whole
town about their ears, when they find that you
are missing, would you? Ah! here the come!”

Still another host had now arrived a ongside,
and in a few moments more Lady Depworth
came hurrying into the cabin, followed by Al-
phie both of them a prey to the wildest excite-g

 

 

The On—the-Wing Detectives.

The first embrace of the baronet was for his
wife, who threw herself into his arms, sobbing
violently.

“ Our daughter, Charles,” she was barely able
to articulate—“ our Alphie!”

As brief as was the introduction, it was all-
sufficient.

A single glance into the face upturned so elo-
quently, so pleadingly, and yet so joyfully to
his, and the res ponsive cries of the father’s heart
filled the whole cabin.

He knew her as his own without need of
words, or explanations! ‘

“ My daughter! my Alphie!” burst from him,
as be pressed her to his heart again and again.

“ The truth all came out soon after you and
Harry left us, papa l” communicated her lady-
ship hurriedly. ‘The evidence is beyond all
question or cavil. She’s our very own, Charles
—-come back to us after all these years, never
more to leave usl”

“All of which is very touching, no doubt,”
sneered the Swatter, who had rapidly exchang-
ed a few words with the Gilfords, the father and
son having followed Lady Depworth and Alphie
into the cabin. “ But Miss Alphie is not the only
one who has come back to you ‘ after all these
years!’ Here’s an old ac uaintancei”

At this announcement erby Gilford moved
toward the baronet.

Until now the villain had been more or less
disguised since the arrival of Sir Charles, hav-
ing slouched his hat over his eyes and turned up
the collar of his coat, and he had also kept we 1
in the background, busying himself on deck, as
has been seen. - ‘

But now he strode forward, with a jubilant
and sinister air, removing his hat with a jaunty
flourish and a mocking inclination of his person.

“ Iain happy to meet you again, Sir Charles,”
liedgrgeted. “Your Very obedient servant, my
a y!

“Dawling Caddie!” recognized the baronet
and his wife, in chorus.

“ Your old friend of other days,” resumed the
miscreant, his face glowing with gratified mal-
ice. “Here, too, is the daughter I stole from
you, and it is needless toladd that she is as much
in m{ power this moment as ever before, and
that am now the arbiter of your future and
that of her lailyship into the bargain!”

“And what do you propose to do with us,
Caddie?” asked Sir Charles, looking the rufllau
over with about the same interest he would have
taken in some new and undescribed species of
monster.

“The first thing I propose to do is to assist
Dan Drindle in stripping you of every pound
you have in the world.”

“.And how will you do this!”

“We shall take (you down the lakes,” ex-
plained Cuddle, “ an bring the necessary screws
to bear upon you.”

“ And what else are you going to do?” pur-
sued Sir Charles, with his ear inclined to his
wife, who had whispered to him a few words,
which seemed to have a Very bracing effect
upon him, while Alphie had rendered the same
service to the colonel and Mrs. Southman.

“ Well, I’m going to give you a nice son-in-
law,” replied Caddie, turning to Florian.
“Come here, my boy, and let ir Charles see
what sort of a' husband I have found ready
made for his charming daughter l”

Florian Gilford advanced more into view,
With an air of insolence and jubilance which
showed that he considered his step—father and
himself the masters of the situation, with the
aid of Dan the Swatter.

“So, this is the sou-in-law you’ve chosen for
me, is it?” commented the haronet, as he looked
the step-son over with the same scornful glance
he had bestowed upon Caddie. “I cant say
that I am charmed with his tXinearance. Has
he been a good brother to you phief”

“ No, papa—the worst possible. ’

“What are your sentiments toward him?”

_“ Scorn and contem t!”

Florian Gilford shook his clinched hand at the
first s ker, his face flushing angrily.

“ I’ ! see you later,” he said. -

“We’ll see you all later,” assured Dan the
swatter, with a jubilant nod of adieu to/his
prisoners. “ In the mean time, you must allow
us to attend to business.”

Turning to Tom Gorkle. he added: I

“ You may get under way Tom, going on the
starboard tac , and leav\ing the harbor by the
southeast passe e. Taketwo of your men with
you, and be as] veiy as possible.”

The mate hastened to obey.

“ As to you, Mr. Caddie,” added Dan, “ you
and Florian may take ion of the sloop

ou have been using, and follow in my wake.

n the course of a couple of hours we shall be
out of sight and hearing from the city, and I’ll
theapass Miss Alphie over to your keeping, and
with her a portion of the bullion.” »

Nodding understandingiy, the two Gilfords
hastened rom thc cabin. ‘
g“ As to you," Dan finished turning to Bul-
iinger, “you had better stick to your sloop,
since your bagga e is aboard of it, with your
halfmillion, and r. Jenkins and his daughter

ill go with you to‘assist you in” handlingit.

p as nearto usas you please; taking care
.1 l. .

 

 

29

not to lose sight of us, and come alongside as
soon as you soc nie heave to.”

“But what about cashingthose checks!” asked
Bullinger.

“Of course nothing can be done about that
till morning,” an5wered Dan, “and we shall
have ample time during the night to come to a
decision. The probabilit is that you will go
ashore in a boat with r. Jenkins to realize
on those checks, but I can’t say just what will
bedone till the return of my messenger, who
had orders to investigate what steps, if any,
have been taken in regard to the stolen half
million. 1 needn’t add that the checks can’t be
cashed at all if your name has been brought into
publicity in connection with that very clever
performance.”

With a nod of assent, Bullinger left the cabin,
followed by Hi Jenkins and Sally, and Bart
\Vyser and the Swatter, with Simon Gorkle and.
one sailor, were left to guard theifprisoners.

“My poor boy!” exclaimed rs. Southman,
at this moment bursting into tears. “Why
don’t he come?"

“ If he don’t appear soon, he’ll evidently get
left,” returned the Swatter, the schooner mak-
ing amovement which showed that it was get-
ting under way. “ If such should be the case,
however, he’ll have only himself tcthank. If
he had been a little sharper, or even more con-
siderate, he would have come off with the
ladies, instead of telling them he’d appear later.
Ha,hal here we go!” he added, as the schooner
madeasuddenlurch. “And now for a
tear around the world, with at least a million
to spend upon it 1”

CHAPTER XLVII.
THE ON-THE-WING TAKES A BAND.

NEVER until that hour had the Swatter ex-
perienced such a delicpus sense of triumph as
now thrilled him. ,

The long battle he had been waging against
Society seemed to be at last on the verge of a
splendid fruition. '\

Henceforth he could go where he pleased and
have anything he wanted. The whole world
had now become his oyster, and he could open it»
at his leisure!

No more prisons and stripes for him!

No more detectives and policemen to poison
his happiness! \

As to the Ou-the—Wings, he thought of them
now with supreme scorn and satisfaction.

At last he had got onto them! He had even
got onto them in a way and toan extent which
repaid him for all the trouble they had once
caused him. -

He had not been without anxieties and mis-

 

givings about themilto be sure, during the day \

and evening, but a his fears had now receded
into a dim distance, and he could not resist a.
conviction that his grand scheme was destined
to be a triumph.

As to just how far he would favor the desire
of Florian Gilford force Alphie Depworth in-

to a union with him, or the intention of Dawling '

Caddie to put the screws to the baronet, as
Dawling had threatened, that could all be left
for the future.

Busy with these matters, he remained almost
oblivious of his prisoners for a few minutes, but
he was at length corfifelled to notice that they
were not feeling at had over their situation
and that they seemed to be having a great deal
to say amon themselves.

The colone and Sir Charles had seated them-
selves comfortably at one side of the cabin table,
with Mrs. Southman and Lady Depworth on the
other, while Alphie, in all her young beauty and
radiance. had seated herself at his head, and
was dividin her attention about equal] tothe
right and t e left, or between her fa er and
mother.

And how bright, glowing, and ammated she
was!

Swatter quickened their beati s at the sighti

“I shall never consent to etting that fool
Gilford have her!” muttered Wyser, under his-
breath. “Never!” - v

“ No, that’s an idea that'll have to be rev’ped,"
returned Dan, with a snaky gleam in his eyes.
“ We’ll talk of this thing later." .

Another lurch of the schOOner, which was
much heavier than the receding one, showed
that she was getting out o the harbor. ,

“I’ll take a look at things, Bart and see how' -

we’re getting on," remarked the éwatter, turn-,-
ing toward the entrance. “Of course there is
no absolute necessitfiot guarding these ,
since the ’re not 1 el§ to throw them ves
over , are they!I e
1mg has an eye on them.”
e h scarcely withdrawn to the deck, when

three shots were fired in rapid succession.

“The deuce! what can that be!" exclaimed
[Bart Wysor,
it seemed as '

two or three bounds took can
from the cabin.

Thus left without a head, as without an!
the two sailors who had been left on
hastened to follow their leaders.

As they vanished upthe companionmym ~ 

Blair eme into view from the ste
pantry, in act of stirring a pitcher of lemmas

a

No wonder the hearts of Bart Wyser and the I

vertheless, Bart» . you i I '

ringing to his feet in alarm, and ‘ I

     

 

 

 

'_.\

.

' ‘ l l * v .

n I: "I" .I3:
« -

 

1

ads, which rested on a tray, and was flanked by
a. number of tumblers.

“ A warm night, Sir Charles, even out here on
the lake,” he said, with a pleasant nod which
took in the whole company. “ I don’t know
how you all feel about it, but it occurred to me
that a beverage of this order would be as accep-
table to you as to myself.” ‘

Placmg his tray on the table, he proceeded to
fill the tumblers and to pass them around, he
gsnniug with Lady Depworth and finishing with
himself.

- “ In heaven’s name, Sir Charles, who is this
gentleman?" demanded Colonel Southman, sus-
pending his tumbler of lemonade between the
table and his lips.

“ He’s the real Bolly Blair, colonel, as a single
glance ought to tell you i”

The delight and relief with which Colonel
Southman and his wife greeted the new-comer,
shaking hands with him, can be readily imagin.

“And Harry, Mr. Blair?” cried Alphie, her
eyes riveted on the detective. .

“Oh, he’s only waiting to see if he has been
missed at home,” answered the On-the—Wing.
Didn't I tell you, as we left the hotel, that he
should come safely back to you, if you would
allow him to give me a little assistance? And
here he comes!”

Harr was indeed seen emerging from the
stewar y’s pantry, at this moment, and Alphie
hastened to meet him as excitedly as if he had
just escaped from years of absence and peril.

“But, where is Captain Swopp, Mr. Blair?”
asked the baronet. -

“He’s on the sloop with the No Gilfords,”
was the answer. ‘

“ And who’s on the other?”

“Lieutenant Shea, the chief of detectives of
the City of Chicago.”

“ But, what were those three shots fired on the
deck for?”

“ That was a signal foo Shea and Swopp to
seize their prey, precisely as I’ve seized mine.”

“Then not a man of those ruflians will es-
cape?” ‘

“ Not one, Sir Charles!”

“And has it been an eas matter for you to
defeat all their schemes, r. Blair?” inquired
the haronet, With wondering admiration.

“ The easiest job of my life, Sir Charles,” re-
plied the On-the-Wing. “ The truth is. the
crOoks were handicapped from the start. It was
a first great calamity for them that Captain
.Swopp and I planted ourselves between you and
them at the’ hotel.”

“That’s easy to 586,” murmured Lady Dep-
worth.

“ Another great mistake they made was not
to get together and act in coucart "continued
the On—the-Wing. “Jenkins should have got
hold of the Swatter before any action was taken,
and vice versa. As to Bullinger, perhaps the
best thing we can do is to take a suggestion from
his name, and call him a bullhead.’

A general laugh succeeded this expression of
the On-the-Wing’s contempt.

“ However, as he didn’t know enough to be

- honest, it’s no wonder that he knew too little to

be a successful villain,” pursued the detective.
“ He was in his room, Sir Charles, when you
called there for him, and how he watched and
waited for a chanceto get his hands on that half-
million need not he stated. When at last he
succeeded, Swopp and I quietly followod him.
His first order Was to Clark street bridge, and I
preceded him thither. His second order was to
my late residence, and again I preceded him.
Thus, he took the carriage l discarded at the
bridge, and I took the one he discarded. Hence
the cash was constantly under cover, and I had
no difficulty, with my secret entrance, duplicate
keys, and all that, to recover possession of the
cash immediately, as also to overhear all the
plotters were doing.”

“ Then the cr00ks have had no show whatever
from the very beginning of their gamel" oom-
mented Colonel Southman.

“ Not the slightest,” assured Blair. “ But that
Swatter has long been a thorn in my side, and I
was bound to let himcommit himself in such a
Way in this business that he would tie himself up
for many along your to corne, and he has now
done it. Both Jenkins and Bullinger, too, are
men to be got out of the way.”

The schooner was hove to at this moment, and
begadu rising and failing with her head to the

u .

“ She’s in the hands of those three men who
stood by you so faithfully, colonel, and whom I
found gagged and boun in the forecastle,” an-
nounced the On-the-Wing, “ and so you need
have no further anxieties about the craft.”

A couple of jars in succession at this moment
showed that the two sloops had come alongside
the,schooner, and like her, were drifting away,
head to the wind.

“‘ We shall now have news,” remarked holly
Blair, as a hurried trampling of feet resounded
above him, accompanied by numerous orders.
’“ Yes, here comes the lieutenant.” :

The next instant Lieutenant Shea appeared in
the companionway, closely followed by Captain

.‘Bwop

p.
“ The victory is ours, Mr. Blair," announced

 

the lieutenant, “ but we’ve lost three of them,
and the very three we wanted the most—Jen-
kins, Bullinger and the Swatterl”

“ Why. how’s that?”

“Jenkins resisted, and was shot,” explained
the lieutenant, “but he had life enough to
throw himself overboard. As to the Swatter,
he threw himself into the lake the moment he
saw the schooner was falling into the hands of
the enemy, and the same may he said of Bull-
inger. I would it Were otherwise, but; we have
got rid of them, and that is the essential.”

 

We need not dwell upon the further events of
this narrative.

Placing the schooner in the hands of half a
dozen real On-the-VVings, at its old berth, Colonel
Southman and his family accompanied Sir
Charles and his family to their hotel, and that
the rejoicings of the whole party lasted until
late into the night need not be doubted.

As to Derby Gilford, otherwise Duwling Cad-
die he took his reverses and apprehensions so
much to heart that he sickened and died in
prison before he could be brought to trial. it
was reported that poison had something to do
with this occurrence, but no proof was offered.

Need we narrnte with what mutual delight
Alphie and Harry Were made one a few days
after the events we have related, or with what
happiness they made their bridal tour in Eu-
rope?

Sally Rimmer went back to En land alone in
one “ greyhound ” about the time aptain Swopp
went home in another, and it is presumed that
the captain will not fail to keep his eyes upon

er.

' We need not speak of the minor conspirators,
such as the Gorkles. Tom himself was sent to
prison, as were one or two others, but the rest
were leniently treated.

Sir Charles and his wife soon returned to their
beautiful home in London to fit it up anew for
the reception of their daughter and her husband.

Florian Gilford has returned to his farm,
where he lives in the mise*y and solitude he has
so well merited.

As to Bolly Blair and his On-the—Wings, they
are flourishing in such a way that good things
may always be expected of them.

THE END.

 

Beadle’s Half-Dime library.

BY BUCKSKIN 8AM (Miler Bun. 8. Hill.)

884 Did Rocky r “ Boyce" or, Benito, me Borne-Breaker
B40 Giant George; or, ring Anz'lortlm Range.

‘75 Arizona Jack 3 or, Giant George's Ford.

891 The Tarantula of Tao-i or, Giant George’s Revenge.
80? The Htrnnge Paul or, lttle Beu‘n Death Hunt.
818 Ker-whoop. Ker-w on or, The Tarantula ome.
82? Creeping hat. the Cad o; or,Ths Rod and White Yards.
882 l‘rlo Fred; or, The 'l‘onlmway’n Trust.

844 Tin: Flghtlnx Trlol or, Rattlesnake, the Tonhway.
849 Wild \\ oil; or. Big-Foot Wallace to the From.

3.17 The linnch Home": or. The Siege of Fort Pirgatory.
81H Snap-Shot, the Iloy (anger.

B75 (‘llloim the Creek: or The Three Thunderbolts.

Bfll llnmlern Bill: or. Frlo lirank lo the Front.

892 "on co and the lied-t or, The lleleaguared Ranch.
404 Liti. l‘ Lurlnt: or Pecan Pete's Big Rampage.

414 The Inn... from Denver.

48 'I he ’1 hree Trailers; or, Old Rocky on the lamps.
m Blul Bill; or, The Lynx oitho Leona.

456 Little Lone Star: or, The Belle of the Cibolo.

684 Cache Carl. the Chico Giant.

in scenes 0. JEN-Kl.

456 G". Thar Owney the Unknown. ‘

499 (Ht Thar 0wuey’a Pledge.

618 The Demon Doctor.

Mil Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective.

5008 Flute, the Singer Detective.

608 The Pitcher Detective’a Foil; or, Dan’s Double Play.
010 The ocean Detective: or. Tin- LutCrulae ofthe Black Bear.
8:] The Pitcher Detective’a Toughest Tunnel.

7 6 Larry. the Thoroughbred; or. Beaten on Enry Side.

 

BY DLL CCCMEI.

'3. bond ’00. the Young Wandering Jaw.
1‘he1lulnb Spy.

Antelo e Abe, the Boy Guide.

Iu-cn- nlfe, the Prince of the Prairies.

LIIID Jack. ill- Young Mustang".

The Border In"? or, The Secret Foo.
Delaware Dick. l. a 'oung Ranger Spy. .
Hawk-eye Harry i w Young Trapper Ranger.
llolloAt e lloyll an er. I
iiurc hot Bet , th« 0 Rifleman. .
flour-Fire Sgul. the Si out Hunter

140 Silver Star. the lloy Knight.

158 Roxie Kit. the May llelnon.

“£8 Little Texas, the Young Mustang"

17H Did flolltury, the Herlnll'l‘ra per.

fl-‘CQ a F‘
Sgaa'figfi—Suo

18. lttlo Ilurrloane. the Bo aptaln.
209 mu eet Pete: or, The ounl 0nd": Hunters.
son The 0 llerculeai or.'l'lu- Pralriu Tramps.

r

BIS Tlgcr om. the Texas Terror.
294 Ila-III“ Dick: or. Trapper Tom's Castle.
’88 Little Ildlrc, the Young Prairie Nomad.

as The‘l’ar-on Detective: or The Little Ranger.
848 The DIalul-ed (Bulldog or. “no Raven the Ranger.
“0 ligperevll Dan, the Young Prairie Ran or.
.7. Mink-kin Mike, tlm Boy Sharp-hoot".
990 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy.
800 The Sk Demon; or, Ralnbolt, Hunky-gar.
BS4 Whip- lug Joe. the Bov Ranchem.
409 Ill-realest nr, Dick. the Boy Ranger.
4]? Webfoot. Mona, the Tramp Drlecllvo.
480 Bale Sam. the liny Giant ol'tlm Yellowstone.
444 Lin 0 Buck-kin. the Young Prairie Centaur.
45? “'ingedl’oot Fred: M. (lid Polar Saul.
4C. Tamarac Tom. the Big Tra upon Boy.
478 Did Tum Rattler Ilia Raul lvsr Epidemic.
493 Stonewall Bah. l in Boy Trnmn.
508 Blunder-In: "nail. llw livrmlt Boy Trapper.
652 Don Barr. the Plains Frurlancn.
661 0” Klt Randy's Deliverance.

70 Norway Nola. the Elk Boy Mountaineer.
080 Dauntleaa Dan the Yrs-«lance. or Old Kit Bandy In Arcadia.

BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U. S. A.

I!" Buffalo Billy. the Bov Bullwhachv.
1&4 Buffalo Bill's Bet: of. The Gambler Culdc.

 

BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS.

646 Captnin Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. I

568 The Dandy of Dodge. J

576 The Silver Sport. .

553 Hiifl‘roll H01. the Man “'lth a Shadow

5H9 Tom-Cut and Paul; onThe Dead Set at Silver City.
601 lln p5 Ilnna, tin Dutch Vldor .

6| l “"31: Barnacle, the Detective arcules.

622 Texas Tom-(.‘nt’a Trlud

08] Tom (‘nt'n Terrible Tun-k.

«as Tom-(int’a Triumph; ur. lllnk Dan’s Great Combine.
040 (‘owlmy GM, tln- (‘nllle-Rnngt' Detective.

(i5? \Vnrbllnz “'illlnm, tln- Mountain Mountebank.

605', Jolly Jeremiah, 1hr l'lnins Detective.

6?“ Signal Kuln, the Lookout Scout.

0H9 Billy the Gypsy Spy.

till!) Simple him, the Prom-ho Buster.

712 The “(mini-riot Sport: or, The Myltlfled Detective.
738 Toltec Tom, the Mud Prospector.

BY J0 PIERCE.

80? Bob 0’ the Bowery; or, The Prince of Mulberry Street-
415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom.
452 Ilota ur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective.

460 The .nwyer’n Shadow; or, Luke’l Legacy.
472 Jnnnty Joe, the Young Horne-King.

494 Surly film, the Young Ferrynian Detective.

504 Flve Pointl- Pb“.

500 Jack Ju zero, the Butcher Boy Detective.

51“ Turner lm; or. Five Points Phil’s Menageried
526 North River Nut. tln- l‘it-r Dotrrllva‘

b: “'reatllnz Rex, the Prldeolthe Sixth Ward. A
5-“ Jeff Fllckcr. the Stable Boy Detective.

551 Nick Netilc. the Boy Shadow.

Ilnrlcm Jack, the one. my Deiertive.

569 Brooklyn Ben, th. On-liis-Own-llook Detective.)
577 l’nyclncnt Pete the Swirl. Sifter.

53B .lm-k-o’-I.unu-rn, the Under-Sm Prospector.

R08 “'ldo-Awnkc Bert. the Slrvet-Stwr‘l’.

614 “’lllntllnz Jacob, the Den-rtin Aid.

Buck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer. :

689 Sunrise Saul th. Express-Train Ferret.

649 Gnmin Bob. llh‘ n0“’t‘l’_\' “allng or, Scooping a Slippery 50‘s:
65" Sky-Rocket Rob, the Lilo-Saver.

6‘8 Halipctcr So], the New York Navigator.

694 Spicy JIIII, the Only 0m- oi Hia Kind.

706 Tom Thlatlo. the Rood-House Delectth

7|? Min-quit» Jack, the Hustler Gamin.

726 Dennis Dull’ the Brown Sport’s Kid.

BY CAPT. MARK “'ILTDN.

25“ Young Kentuc '3 or, The Red Laue.
370 llllnzard Bun ; or, The Riot at Keno Camp.
886 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot.

BY 00L. A. F. HOLT.

899 Black Buck-kin; or, The Masked Man ofDoatb Canyon. \
4I9 Kenneth, tln- Kalle-King.

48.") Little Llnhti'ooi. the Pilot of the Woods.

.28 The Dandy sport: or,1‘he King Pin Consplrntor.

678 Ralph llenwoml. tln- LIulutning Express Detective. .
691 llcudllzht llnrry‘a Ilnul.

722' Headlight Ilurry‘n Siren.

BY J. C. CDWDRICK.

3‘0 “Iver-Mask, the Man of Mystery.
860 Masai“, the Gold king; or, For Seven Years Dead.
430 The. IreLectlve’a A pprentleex or, A Boy Without a Name.
494 (‘Ibnta Jonnl "r. Rod-Hot. Times at Ante Bar.
489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout.
467 Ill-too Dull. the liais Dude
490 Broadway Bill '. t e Bootldack Bravo.
(606 Iledlaght Rnlp the Prlnn- oi'the Road.
514 Bron way "I ly’n Boodle.
524- 'l'hc Enulnecr Detective.
536 Broadway llllly'n ‘ Ilmkllty.”
5 l8 Mart, the Night Express Drtectlva.
557 Broadway Billy‘s Death Racket.
57l Air-Line Luke lb:- Yonng Engineer.
579 The (‘lllmnoy Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party.
592 The Boy l'lnkcrton.
605 “'Illlnm 0’ Broadway; or, The Boy Detective‘l Big hnhg.
015 Fizhllnr llnrrf' the Chief oi Chained Cyclone.
027i Broadvnly Bll y‘n Dead Act.
040 lhlrcbrc ' Both, the- (‘rntuur obthe Circle.
'1 your - itcr 'l‘lily, 1hr Mrrt'liani’a “find.
659 M'oonllzht Moi-gun, the " rim-nut ” Man of Ants B“.
069 Broadway “lily Abroad.
015 Broad wny Billy‘s Bent; Ul‘,BeM.lllz San Francisco'aFlnut.
65%? Broadway “lily In (‘IovelL
090 Broadway Billy In Texas.
708 Broad“ ny Billy’s Brnnd.
’31! Broadway Billy at Santa Fe.
720 Broadway Billy‘- Full "and.
785 Broadway Billy's But-Inc”.
788 Broadway Billy's Curious Cale.

MISCELLAN EDCR AUTHORS.

4 The Wild-Horse lluntera. By Capt. Mayne laid and
Frederick Whittaker.
9 Adventure:- of Baron Muncbauaen.
I. Gulliver’s Travel» B ' Dean Swift.
l4 Aladdin; or, The Wonder ul Lamp.
Robinson Crusoe. (91 Illustrations.)
Mndbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyagu.
The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe. By Juan

w
a

9'
5‘
t

 

win. .
BB The Ocean Bloodhoundt or. The Red Pirates of tb‘
Carrlbe-ea. B S. W. Pierce.
86 The Boy Iownr or, The Anna Queen. By I 3.11“.
M "ed Wylde. lb! Boy Scout. By Tax“ Int.
51 The Boy Dillon «.1130 Undomound Camp. By A. C.lroal.
95 The Blvol Rover" or. The Floobooura of the Mississippi.
By Lieul..-Col. Halaltlne. ‘
98 liobln "004. the Outlaw“ Earl: 01,11). Merry Man of Croon-
wood. B‘Proffiildonluvo.
105 (Md Ru e. the Hunter; or. The Crow Capri". By Capt-I.
Hamilton Holman.
119 The Mad Ila-tort 0'. 1 I" CO" of Duth. By Burial Ian.
I“ Tippy. the Ten- t or, The Young Champion. By George

Gleason.

1.8 The Young l’rlvaleel'l or,TIo Pirate's Stronghold. By
Harry Caron .

148 Sharp 8am: or, The Adventures or a l‘riondla- Boy. By J.
Alexander Patten.

n7 Ducky Darrell. pot: or.  Green Ranger of the [ol-

low-tone. By Edward arson.
20] Fe II Fearnau lit the New Y wk Boy. 35 a. L. A“...
.66 RH 'or. the (in do; wr.DavyCrochtt'a rook Tun.

By lull C. D. Warren.
.9. Red C aw. the Ono-lyed Trapper. or, The laid on]. cu,
By Captain Com-sock. .
81'! Peacock Pete. tho Lin-y Lad fun Leadvlllo. I, u...
tenant Alfred Thou". ,
8.8 The Sky “active: or, A Boy'- Mghl lov w. and Bones.
3 Maior lch I'm.
.50 ed Ralph. a River Rover: or. rt. India’s n.-
venue. By Ned Bnnllina.
up unamon n" the Bootblack Detective. s A. r Harri.
1'4 Gold-Dust To-l or. Ben's Dom-la Man-h. a II. In...
816 California Joe’s Flrat lTrall. By to cool The--

Hover Monetary.

413 Billy Bomb-hen, the our cum... By I. s. Winthrop.

75 The Black tibia. By John 8 anor-

Coman e Dlo and Illa Three laviufbloo. '7
Henry J. emu.

58! The Cowbo Duke. By Edwin Brooke torrent.

55. Arie-l the At lets. By David Druid

585 “'lll Watera, tla Bov Ferret. Br H.lnm.

082 The Dead ‘icteetlve’a Double. By Gerald Carlton. ‘

781 Maverick Mose, .Ia Anson Detective: w,‘l'be Wlurd ol\
Y rho. Pun. By Will Limp»

A New lune Every Tuesday.

The Half-Dime Library is let em by an nowadoalara. Iv:
untl per copy, or sent by mall on receipt of In «all each
,BEADLE AND ADAMS, Fulfill-horn.
9% William direct. New Y rk.

ny'gn“

pun-“em-

    
 

. reflwwm‘rmm amen.

 

 

 

5M rafts“ .

 

u 91;...
‘ In," x

 

   
  
   

.\ ' ‘ ,.1 I . ;

     

385 Wild Dick Turpin the Lion 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.)

387 Dark Dur'r. 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. Ingraham.

2199 Colonel Donhieedze. the Cattl- Baron‘s Pard'
or. The Marshal of Sandstone. By Major Dame
Boone Dumont. U. S. A.

390 The Giant Cupid; or. Cibuta John's Great
Jubilee. By J. C. Cowdrick.

391 Kate Scott the Deco Detective; or, Joe Phe-
nix's Still Hunt. By . W. Aiken.

392 The Lost Bonanza; or. The Boot of Silent

l i Hound. By Captain Howard Holmes.

393 The Convict Captain; or. The Battles of the
Buccaneers. By Colo el Prentiss lngraham.

394 White Beaver. the Exile oi’ the Platte; or, a
Wronged Man’s Red Trail. By Buffalo Bill.

895 Deadly Aim. the Duke of Derringers; or. a Fight

’ for Five Millions. By Jes. 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 Buffalo 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 Ca tain Col ri the S rt Detective' or, The
Ne‘w York (signifier in ‘olorado. By'Captain
.Howard Holmes.

401 The One'Arm Pard: or! Red Retribution in Bor-
derland. By Buifalo Bill.

402 Snapshot Sam. the Pistol Sharp; or, The Racket
at Angels‘ Flat. By Wm. R. Eyster.

408 The Nameless Sport; or. The Kilkenny Cats of
Way Up. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

404 Silver Rime Sid; or, A Daisy Bluff. By Philip S.
Warne.

405 Old Bald . the Brigadier of Buck Basin; or,
Hunted own by a Woman. By William H.
Manning.

406 Old Pop Hicks. Showman; or, Lion Charley‘s
Luck. By Capt. F. Whittaker.

407 Captain Coldgri ‘s Nerve; or. Injun Nick on
Deck.- By Capt. award Holmes.

4% Doc Gri . the Sporting Detective; or. the Ven-
detta of th. By Albert W. Aiken.

409 Rob Roy Ranch' or. The Imps of the Pan Han-
dle. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.‘

410 Sarah Brown, Detective; or, The Mystery of the
Pavilion. By K. F. Hill. ‘

411 The White Crook; or Old Hark‘s Fortress.
Major Daniel Boone Dumont.

412 Larry Locke. the Man of Iron; or. A Fight for
Fortune. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

413 Captain Coldgrip in New York; or, The Dragon
League. By Capt. H. Holmes.

414 Red Renard, the lndian Detective; or. The Gold
Buzzards of Colorado. By Buffalo Bill.

415 Hot Heart. the Detectiie  or The Red
Jaguar‘s Mission. 'By Wm: . aiming.

416 Monte Jim. the Black Sheep of Bismarck. By
Jos. E. Badger. Jr. ,

417 Tucson Tom. \he Bowie Brave; or, the Fire
Trailers. By George St. George. I

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 ‘F‘risco Shadow; or The Queen
of Bowie Notch. By Captain Howard Holmes.

422 Blue Grass Burt. the Gold S'ar Detective' or.
ToDutv Bound, to Vengeance Sworn. By J. C.
Cowdrick. ~

493 The Lone Hand; or The Recreants of the Red

* River. By Albert W’. Aiken.

494 Hawk Heron’s Deputy: or. Nixey’s Nip. By
Jackson Knox. (Old Hawk.)

425 The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals.
P. Ingraham. . ‘

496 The Ghost Detective: or. The Sprv of the Secret
Service. By Joseph E. Badger. r.

The Rivals of Mbntana Mills- or.’ Red rave the

‘27 Renegade. By Wm. H. Manning. 8 ’

48 The Flying Glim; or. The Island Lure. By Leon

‘ Lewis.

‘ i .

~s

‘ ‘~ .mi -L‘l¢""— UH

 

By

 

 

By 001.

 

 it's-13253.5 Wfik‘é’afl‘. w°°‘

 , “0 shat mantis?” we and War-

I e arrowhead: treat“  The
a e”  Erasmus?“ the Red
433 {)Agi‘lihhll‘gy float-YES reagerfiie Sam's Dandy

434 Lucifer nx. the Wondel Detective- or A C001
Hand [91%|ng Hot Heads. By Capt. ’H. Holmes.
- 435 The OneAimed Buccaneer; or. The Haveniegs
i.  Cruiser. By Col. Prentiss lngraham.
' 436 Kentucky Jean. the Sport From Yellow Pine
By J. C. Cowdrick.
,- Duke. the Silent. Sharp; or. The Man -of
437 ¥M$plliVBS By Wm. H. Manning.
" kl loma Nick; or, Boomer Bolt‘s Surprise
'x i 438 gal-2y). By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.
439 Salamander Sam: or. The Swamp Island Rene-
gades. By Major D. B. Dumont.

 

 

440 The High Horse of'the Pacific. By Albert W.
Aiken.

441 The California Sharp; or. The Trail of the Gold-
en Grandee. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

442 Wild West Walt the Mountain Veteran; or, The
Gunmakers of World‘s End. By W. H. Manning.

443 A Cool Hand: or, Pistol Joliimy‘s Picnic at Top
Notch. By Josr-ph E. Badger. Jr.

444 The Magic Detective; or, The Hidden Hand. By
Jackson Knox.

445 Journeyman John. the Cham ion; or. The Win-
ning Hand. By Capt. Fred. hittaker.

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.

I

By Major D. Burr. ' -

449 Bluff Burke, King of the Rockies: or. The Black
Stake Rivals. By Wm. H. Manning.

450 The Rustler Detective; or, The Bounding Buck
from Buil'alo Waliow. By J. E. Badger. r.

451 Griplock. the. Rocket Detective; or, The Han-
shaw Mystery. By Jackson Knox.

452 Rainbow Rob. the Tulip from Texas; or. The
Spot Saint’s Mission. By J. C. Cowdrick.

45‘} Captain Coldgrip‘s Long Trail' or. The Rivals of
Silver Deck. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

454 The Night Raider: or. The Mysterious Marauder. ‘
_ 508 Topnotch Tim. the Mad Parson: or. The Bad

By Major D. B. Dumont.

455. Yank Yellowbird. the Tall Hustler of the Hills;
or, The Conspirators of Medicine Springs. By
Will. H. Manning.

456 The Demon Steer; or. The Outlaws on the Abi-
lene Cattle Trail. By Leon Lewis.

457 The Sea Insurgent: or. The Conspirator‘s Son.
By Col. Prentiss Ingrahain.

458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim from Spitzenbe ;
The Rocky Racket at Rough Robin. By
E. Badger, Jr.

459 Major Sunshine. the Man of Three Lives; or. The
Waiting Waits at Git Thar. By Wm. B. Eyster.

460 Captain Coldgrip. the (‘ity Detective; or, The
Coolest Woman in New York. By Capt. Howard
Holmes. \

461 The Fresh on the Rio Grande: or. TheRedRiders
of Rayon. By Albert W. Aiken.

462 The Circus Detective; or. Griplock in a New
Role. By Jackson Knox.

463 Gold Gauntlet the Gulch Gladiator; or. Yank
Yellowhird‘s Hot Campaign. By Wm. H. Man-
hing.

464 Sundycraw. the Man of Grit; or, The River
Sport‘s Revenge. By Major 1). B. Dumont.

465 The Actor Detective. By Albert W. Aiken.

466 Old Rough and Readv, the Sakeof Sundown; or.
Not for Life but for Honor. By J. E. Badger, Jr.

467 Main wariilg the Salamander; or. The Detectives‘
Ordeal. By Jackson Knox.

or.
oseph

494 The Detective’s Spy; or. The Invisible Book.
By Jackson Knox.

495 Rattlepate Rob; or, The Roundhead‘s Reprisal.
By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

496 Richard Rediire. the Two Worlds Detective;
or. To the Bitter End. By Capt. ll. llolines.

497 The Fresh in Texas; or. The Esctrbedo Millions.
By A. w. Aiken.

498 Central Pacific Paul. The Mail-Train Spy: or.
Yank Yellowbird’s Iron Trail. By W. ti. Manning.

499 Twilight C arlie, 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 Stew. the Retired Detective; or,
The Relentless Shadower. By Jackson Knox.

502 Bareback Buck, the Centaur of the Plains; or,
The Trail of Six. Bv P. S. Warne.

503 The Dude from Di‘l‘th‘l‘; or, The Game at Ground
Hog By Wm. R. Eyster.

504 Solemn Saul the Sad Man from San Saba; or,
The Big Shell-Out. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

505 Pilil Fox, the Genteel Spotter; or the Private
Secretary‘s Oath. By Captain H. Holmes.

506 Uncle Honest. the Peacemaker of Hornet‘s
Nest; or. Yank Yellowhirll versus the Leather
Jackets. By Wm. H. Manning.

507 The Drummer Detective; or. The Dead Straight
Trail. By Geo. C. Jenks.

Men of the Basin. By Major D. B. Dumont.

509 Old Falcon. the Thunderbolt Detective, or. The

I 511 Paint Pete. the Praire Patrol°

Fatefui Legacy. By Jackson Knox.
510 El Moro. the Corsair Commodore: or, The Lion
of the Lagmn. By Col. P. Ingraham.

or, The Rival

ncheros. By Major S. S. Hall.

‘ 512 Ca tain Velvet‘s Bil: Stake; or, The Gold Goths

of o Man’s Ground. By Capt. H. Holmes.

513 Texas Tartar. the Man with Nine Lives: or.
Yank Yellowbird‘s Best Yank. By W.Ii.Manning.

514 Gabe Gunn. the. Grizzly from Gin~eng: or,
Solemn Saul‘s rempb. By Jos E. Badger, Jr.

515 Short Stop Maje. the Diamond Field Detective;
or. Old Ealcon 5 Master Game. By J. Knox.

516 Chatard. the DeadrShot Duelist; or. The Fate-
ful Heritage. By Col. P. Ingraham.

517 Buffalo Bill‘s First Trail; or. “’1” Cody. the
Pony Express Rider. By Ned Buntliue.

518 Royal Richard the Thorouglibrr d: or. Long
Pete Jenkins’s Convoy. By John W. Onlion.

519 Old Riddles. the Rocky Ranger; or. The Reser-
vation Castaways. By J. C. Cowdrick.

'520 The Lone H‘ll’ld on the Caddo; or. The Bad

468 Coldgrip in Deadwood; or. The Great Detective's

Double Trail. By Captain H. Holmes.
469 The Lieutenant Detective; or, The Fugitive Sail-
or. By Col. P. Ingraham.

470 The Duke of Dakota; or. Yank Yellowbird‘s
Fiery Gantlet. By Wm. H. Manning.

521 The Sea Chaser; or. The Pirate Noble.

471 The Heart of Oak Detective; or. Zigmg’s Full ‘

Hand. By E. A. St. Mox.
472 Six-Foot Si; or, The Man to " Tie To." By P. S.
Warns.

473 Gilbert of Gotham. the Steel Arm Detective; or.
Fighting the Pewers of Air. By J. C. Cowdrick,

474 Dadd Dead-Eye. the Despot of Dew-Drop' or.
The amsel from Deseret. By Jos. E.

475 Chin Chin. the Chinese Detectlvc' or The Dark
Work of the Black Hand. By A. ’w. Aiken.

Bob Brent. Buccaneer; or. The Red Sea-Raider.

By 091. .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.

476

479 Gladiator Gabe. the Samson of Sassa Jack; or. ',

Yank Yellowhird‘s Castle Crusade. By Wm. H.
Manning. . '
480 Hawks ar. the Man with a Secret- or. New
York ick’s Spirit Trail. By Capt. H. Holmes.
481 The Si ent Detectives' or. The Bogus Ne . .
By Le Lewis. ' New

482 OceanTram ; or.TheDes radoesof th .
By Col. P. lug/graham. De eDeep
483 Flush Fred. the River
Stakes. By Ed.Willett.
484 a tain Read . the Red Ransomer; or. N' k
gegdle‘s Wild West inheritance. By Leon 
485 Rewlock. the Harbor Detective:
Twins, By Jackson Knox.
486 Kansas Kitten. the Northwest Detective. r
fiankiYellowbird‘s Search-Brigade. By Wm.
ann as.

497 SunshineISam Chi of the Old Block“ or The
SilentTrailof eSie tSix. nyCapt.nIao es.
488 Th Thoroughbred S rt; or The Bracer’ .
Beguest. By Jos. E.kdlzer.’Jr his 8

489 The Pirate Hunter; or. The Ooeail Rivals. ' By‘
Col. P. lngraham. \

490 The Lone Hand in Texas: or. TheRed
Raiders of the Rio Grande. ' Bv A. W. Angrva

491 l ag and Catt. the Invincible Detectives; or.
igecious Set of Scoundrels. By E. A. St. Max.

492 Border Bullet. the Prairie Sharpshooter; or.
Yank Yellowhird’s Black Hills Colony. By Wm.
H. Manning. . .

498 The Scouts of the Sea; or.'The Avenging'Bi-i '
cancer. ‘By Col. P. Ingraham. v c.

Sharp; or, Hearts for

or The Terrible =

Man of the Big Bayou By A. W. Aiken.
521 Paradise Sam. the Nor‘West Pilot: or. Yank
Yellowbird’s Great Diskivery. By W. H. Manning.

5‘32 The Champion Three; or. Six-Foot Si‘s Clean
Sweep. By P. S. Warne.

523 Rev/ynard of Red Jack; or. The Lost Detective. »

Cap‘ ain H. Holmes.

By Col.
P. lngraham.

525 Fresh Frank.the Derringer Daisy; or. Millions
on the Turn. By Wm. B. Eyst r. ,

525 Death Grip. the Tenderfoot Detective“ or, A
Still Hunt for Old Secrecy. By Geo. (‘. enks. ,

i 527 Dandy Andy. the Diamond Detective; or, The

Badger. ,

l
i

i
l
l

i
.

Twins of Tiptop. By Jos. E Badger, Jr.
528 Huckleberry, the Foot-Hills Detective; or, The
- Rival Ranchmen. By Lieut. A. K. Sims.
529 The Fresh in New York; or. The vendetta of
Hate. By A. W. Aiken.
530 The Savages of the Sea; or, The Avenging
Cruiser. By Col. P. Ingraham.

531 Sad e'Chiei’ Kit. 'lie Pra’rie Centaur; or, The’

Bord r Blacksmith’s Terrible Temntation. By
Wm. H. Manning.

532 Javert, the independent Detective” or. Captain
Cinnabar in New York.‘ By Capt. H Holmes.

588 Oregon. the Sport with a Scar: or: The Bed
Man of Brace Box. By Wm. R. Eyster.

534 Greenmountain Joe; or. The Counterfeiter'l
Cave By Harm-iduke Dey.

535 Daudv Dutch. the Decora'or from Dead-Lift; or,
Saul Sunday‘s Search for Glory. By J. E. Badger.

538 Oltl Falcon‘s Foe; or. The Matchless Detective'l

S "ell Job. By Jackson Knox.

537 Blake. the Mo-lntain Lion; or. The Fresh mm
the Field. By Albert \V. Aiken.

I538 Rube Rocket. the 1‘th Detective; or, 

o

l
i
I
x
l

 

Treacherons Twa. By Geo. C. Jenks.

 Old Doubledarlc. the Wily Detective: or. The In-
visible Foe‘s Masquerade. By Wm. H. Manning.

540 The Fleet- Scource; or. The Sea Wing of Salem. -

By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

541 Ma or Magnet. the Man ofNerve' or The Muck-
a-‘.\ ucks of Animas By Joseph . Badger. Jr.

542 The Ocean Drift; or. The Fight for Two Lives.
B A. F. Holt.

548 e Magnate Detective; or. Major Million‘s

Joust with the Witch. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

544 The Bacth Back Pa ; or. The Right nan‘ in
the Wrong Place. By llip 8. Warm. ' ,

545 Hustler Harry. the Cowboy Sporthhr. Darin:
Dan Shark's General Delivery. By W. G. Patten.

545 The Dodmed Whaler;
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

547 The Buried Detective; or. Saul Sunday's Six
Sensations. By J 1 -s. E. Badger, Jr.

548 Falconhridge. the Siphinx Detective; or. 'ilie‘K
ye. '

Siren of the Baleful By Jackson ox. .
549 Belshazzar Brick. the Bailii!’ of Blue Blazes:
Four Horse Frank's Frolic at Bad L k

V By Wm. B. Eyster. /

or,
135:.

or. The LifeiWreck. By,

 

 

 

' BEADLE’SrDIMEarILBRARY. '

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Unifomn Price of Ten Cents. '0 Double Munbem.

 

 

550 Silk Hand, the Mohave Ferret: or. The Marked
Man of Arizona. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

551 Garry Kean, the Man with Backbone: or, The
Gladiators of Jack's Delight. By W. H. Manning.

552 Prince Primrose, the Flower of the Flock; or,

The Grand Camp at Paradise Gulch. By Lieut. ;

A. K. Sims.
553 Monte the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig.
By Co . P. Ingraham.

I 554 Mad Shar .the Rustler; or. The Drummer De-

nis ',
‘8'. -

1 . .
'r

I .
.in.
L1
-.

 

x 2/.

4\

tective’s B Lay-out. By Geo. C Jenks.

555 Gri Sack Sid. the Sam le Sport; or, the Rivals
'0! k-about Range. yJoseph E. Badger, Jr.

556 Fresh. the S rt-Chevalier; or, A Big Racket at
Slide Out. y A. W Aiken.

557 The Mountain Graybeards; or. Old Riddle's
Greatest Riddle. By J C. Cowdrick.

558 Hurrah Harry.th5 Hi hHorse from Halcyon: or,
High Old Times at ard Pan. By W. R. Evster.

659 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. t’. Ingraham.

561 The Thug King; or. The Falcon Detective's In
visible Foe. By Jackson Knox.

562 Lone Hand. the Shadow; or, The Master of the
Triangle Ranch. By Albert W. Aiken.

563 Wyomin Zeke the Hots ur of Honeysuckle;
or. Old umillty‘s Hard oad to Travel. By
Wm. H. Manning.

564 The Grip-Sack Sharp; or, The Seraphs of 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 Midni ht. the Man of Craft; or, The
Road-Knight‘s lot. By P. S. Warne.

568 The Dude Detective' or Phelin McGallagln‘s
Hard Luck Hustle. By Wm. R. Eyster.

569 Captain Cobra, the Hooded Mrvstery; or The
Quickened Dead. By Captain oward Holmes.

570 The Actress 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 Jaunty Joe.the Jockey Detective. By G. C. Jenks.

578 The Witch of Shasta; or, The Man of Cheek.
Ry Major Daniel Boone Dumont.

~‘74 Old Falcon's Double. By Jackson Knox.

575 Stead Hand the Na oleon of Detectives.
By Wfiliam H Manning. p

576 Silver-Tongued Sid- or; The Gri -Sack Sharp‘s
Clean Sweep. By. Joaeph E. ger. Jr.

577 Tom of California; or, the Actress Detective's
Shadow Act. By Albert W. Aiken.

578 Seven Shot Steve, the Sport with a Smile. By
William R. Eyster.

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 Gantlet Runner.
~ By Col. P. Ingraham. ‘

582 Joram, the Detective Expert. By Jackson Knox.
588 Captain Adair. the Cattle King; or, A Red

m. By P. S. Warne.
584 Fire Feather, the Buccaneer King.’ By Ned
Buntline.

585 Dan Dixons Double; or, The Deadlock of Danger
Divide. By Wm. H. Manning.
586 The Silver Sha Detective' or The Big Rustic
at KL Ranch. Albert w. Aiken
/587 Conrad; the Sailor Sriy: or. The True Hearts of
1 ‘76. By Col. Prentiss ngraham. I
588 Sandy Sands. the Sharp from Snap City' or.
Hoist by His Own Retard. By Joseph E. Ba ger.
5% Prince Hal, the Battling Detective; or, Pat Lyon.
the Master Locksmith By Charles Morris.
an Gentle Jack, the High Roller from Humbug: or,
The Dark Deal at Doubledeck. By W. R. Eyster.
591 Duke Daniels. the Society Detective or, Caging
the Uncanny Birds. By J. C. Cowdrick.
59! Captain Sid. the Shasta Ferret' or. the Rivals of
Sunset. By Captain Howard Holmes.
5118 The Sea Rebel; or. The Red Rovers of the Revo-
lution. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
594 Fire Face the Silver King‘s Foe :or,
terlous Highwaymen. By Albert w. a
596 Weliborn, the Upper-Crust Detective: or Play-
ing for the Challoner Millions. By Jackson ox
596 Rustler Rube. the RoundUp Detective. By
William H. Manning.
597 Big Band , the B gadier of Brimstone Butte.
, By Josep E. Badger, Jr.
598 The Dominic Detective: or. The Deedham Sen-
sation. By J. C. Cowdrick.
599 The Dead Shot Nine: or. M Pards of the Plains.
By Hon. Wm. F. Cody. ( , alo Bill).
660 The Silver Ship; or. The Sea Scouts of ’76. By
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

‘ 601 Joe Phenix’s Shadow; or. The Great Detective’s

Mysterious Monitor. By Albert W. Aiken.
60!! Captain N ameless.the Mountain Magma; or, The
in. .

Blue Coats of the Big Horn. By Patten.
606 Desert Alffthe Man With the Cougar; or.‘ The
Strange Pilgrimage of Gentle Jae . By Wm.
’ B. Enter.
_ i.
'3‘  15 ’ *" z-r v l '1. m .f

TheM -'
iken. y“

604 The Detective in Rags; 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.

i 607 Old Benzine. the “Hard Caso” Detective: or.

i Joe Bowers‘ Racket at Bicarec City. By Albert

W. Aiken.

I 608 Silent Sam. the Shadow Sphinx- or, Following

l the Invisible Trail. By Capt. H. Holmes.

1 609 The Texas Tramp; or, Solid Saul. the Yankee

' Hercules. By Capt. F. Whittaker.

. 610 The Red Flag Rover; 0:. White Wings of the

y Waves. By Col. Prentiss lngraham.

, 611 Alkali Abe, the Game Chicken from Texas; or.

I The Smash-Up in “No-World Kingdom.” By

1 Wm. H. Manning.

612 Sheriff Stillwood, the Regulator of Raspberry;
or, The “Suspects” from Frisco. By J. C.
Cowdrick.

Keen Bill . the Sport; or, The Circus at White
Gopher. y Albert W. Aiken.

i 614 The Showman Detective; or, The Mad Magician.
l By Capt. F. Whittaker.

; 615 The Three Buccaneers or, The Oman Outlaw‘s
i Nemesis. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

616 Magnus. the Weird Detective. By Jackson Knox.

I 617 The Grip-Sack Sharp’s Even-up: or, The Boss
Racket at Solid City. By Joseph E. Badger.

618 Kansas Karl, the Detective King; or. The Sphinx
of Leadville. By Lieut. A. K. Sims.

619 Kit Bandy & Co. . the Border Detectives. or, The
Big Wipe Out at Hermit Dome. By 011 Coomes.

6%) Joe Phenix‘s Silent Six; or. The Great Detec-
tive's Shadow Guard. By Albert W. Aiken.

621 The Red Privateer; or. The Midshipman ROver.
By Ned Buntliue.

622 The All Around Sports: or, The Keepers of the
Seals. By Wm. B. Eyster.

623 Dangerous Dave. the Never-Beaten Detective;

; 613

or, A Fight with Foes from the Grave. By Wm.
H. Manning.
.‘ 624 The Submarine Detectives; or,The Water Ghouls.
‘ By Leon Limp.

625 Red Wings; or, The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

626 Duca's Dion. the Nabob Sport Detective; or.
The Sealed Secret of the Copper Coffin. By
J. C. Cowdrick.

627 Mossback Mose. the Mountaineer or. The Bald
Hornet of the Ozark Hills. By Joseph E.
Badger, Jr.

628 Joe Phenix's Combine; or, The Dandy Conspira-
tor. By Albert W. Aiken.

629 Daredeath Dick, King of the Cowboys; or, In
the Wild West with Buffalo Bill. By Leon Lewis.

680 The Sea Thief; or. The Vailed Voyager‘s Mys-
terious Mission. By Col. Prentiss lngraham.

681 Colonel Cool, the Santa Fe Sha ; or The Lucky
Pards of Goodenough. By Will am . Patten.

632 Joe Phenlx’s Master Search; or. The Casket of
ill Omen. By Albert W. Aiken.

636 The Sea Spy; or, Mortimer Monk. the Hunch-
back Millionaire. By Ned Buntline.

‘634 Old Handcart‘ Bi Dump' or, The Rakestraw
! Ructionist. B w: ilam R. yster.

' 635 The Ex-Buccaneer: or, The Stigma of Sin. By
- Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

686 Dandy Darlin , Detective: or. The Boomer of
BigBuffalo. y Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

. 687 Joe Phenlx in Crazy (lamp or, The Great De-
tective’s Long Chase. By Albert W, Aiken.

. 688 Murdock, the Dread Detective‘ or. Northiand
Nick’s Guardianship. By Wm. H. Manning.

or. Montebello, the Magnificent.

 

l

i 689 The Gold Kin ;

1 By Buffalo Bi . i

640 The Rover's Retribution Or. The Evil Spirit of

i the Deep. By Col. Prentiss lngraham.

641 Aztec J tick, the Desert Nomad; or, The Vulture's
Swoop. By Wm. G. Patten. .

642 Red Pard and thlow; or. The Nabob’s of Centi-
pede. By Captain Howard Holmes.

648 Castlemaine. the Silent Sifter: or, The Great
llggtective‘s Wonderful Revelation. By Jackson

ox.

644 Buffalo Bill‘s Bonanza; or.'The Kni hts of the
Silver Circle. By Col. Prentiss Ingra m.

M5 Gopher Gabe. the Unseen Detective; or. The
Uncanny Ranch. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.

646 Dark John,‘ the Grim Guard- or. Hailstorm’s
North Plain s "Braves. By William H. Manning.

647 The Flesh of Frisco at Santa Fe; or. The
Stranger Sharp. By Albert W. Aiken.

648 Gold Glove Gid. the Man of Grlt' or. Desperate
Durg’s Desperate Scheme. By Wm. G. Patten.

649- Buck Taylor, the Saddle King; or. The La
:1

 

 

sso
Ra ers e. A Romance of Bufralo Bill’s
Obi of Cow ys. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. J

 

650 Lucky Lester’s Lone Hand; or. Uncle Bed Rock‘s
Queer Game at Ginger Flat. By Wm. B. Eysier.

651 Silvertip Steve. the Sky Scraper from Siskiyou.
By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.

652 Jackson Blake, the Bouncer Detective By A.
W. Aiken.

653 The Lasso King‘s League. A companion Story
to " Buck Taylor, the Saddle King." By Colonel.
Prentiss Ingrahum.

654 Sol Sphinx. the Ferret Detective; or, The Seven:
Secrets. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

655 Strawberry Sam. the Man with the Birthmarkz:
or, The War Clan of Lucifer Annex. By William
H. Manning.

656 Old Plug Ugl .the Rough and Read
Last Stroke 0 the Land Sharks. By
Patten,

657 Long Tom, the Privateer. By Ned Buntline.

658 The Cowboy Clan; or. The Tigress of Texas. By
Col. Prentiss Ingrahain.

659 Gilt-Edge Johnny; or Roldan and His Rovers.
By Wm. R. Eyster. \

660 The Fresh in Montana; or. Jackson Blake‘s Full
Hand at Hardtack. By Albeit W. Aiken.

661 The Get'There Sharo; or. Grip-sack Sid at Rocky
Comfort. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

662 The Jew Detective; or, The Beautiful Convict-
By Col. Prentiss Ingrahsm.

668 The Giant Sport; or. Sold to Satan. By Wm. G-
Patten.

664 Monk Morel. the Man-Hunter or, The Trail of
the Bandit Nabob. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

665 The Frisco Detective; or, The Golden Gate Find.
By Albert W. Aiken.

666 Old Adamant, the Man of Rock; or, The Hum~
mer from Hummingbird. By Lieut. A. K. Sims.

667 Buffalo Bill‘s Swoop; or. The King of the Mines.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

66i solemn Saul's Luck Streak; or. The Boomer
from Blissful Buttes. By J08. E. Badger, Jr.

669 Old True Blue, the Trusty; or. The Marauder of
the Mimbres. By Wm. G. Patten.

670 The Lightweight Detective; or. Old Blazes. the

' Sovareign of t e Rocks. By Albert W. Aiken.

671 Jason Clew. the Silk-Handed Ferret. By Capt,‘
Howard Holmes.

672 The Red Rapier; or. The Sea Rover‘s Bride. Py
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

673 Stuttering Sam, the Whitest Sport of Santa Fe;

or. How the Hummer from Hummingbird:
Feathered His Nest. By Lieut. A. K. Sims.

674 Uncle Sun Up. the Born Detective; or, Boodle.
vs. Bracelets. By Albert W. Aiken.

675 Steel Surry, the‘Sport from Sunrise; or. The
Blind Deal at Break-Neck. By Jos. E. Badger. J r-

676 Hurricane Hal. the Cowboy Ho ur; or, Old
True Blue's Pilgrimage in Satan‘s tion. By
Wm. G. Patten.

677 Mr. Jackson the Gent flom Jaybird° or. Til]:

: or, The-
illiam G.

Mystery of the Lower Drift. By William
Eyster. .
678 The Dude Desperador or, The Baleful Beauty of‘
Brimstone Bar. By Captain Howard Holmes.
679 Revello. the Pirate Cruiser; or, The Rival Rovers,
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
680 xx, the Fatal Clew; or. Detective Burt's Mass
ter Case. By Harold Payne.
68‘] Joe Phenix’s Specials: or, The Actress Deter-—
tive’s Double Victory. By Albert W. Aiken.
682 Buffalo Bill’s Secret Service Trail' or, The
' Mysterious Foe. By Maj Dangerfield Burr.
683 Bob Breeze, the Rounder Detective; or The
Eruption at Eureka. By Jos. E. Badger; r
684 Velvet Van. the Mystery-Shadower; or The Man
in the Satin Mask. By Captain Howard Holmes.
685 The Red-skin Sea Rover; or, The Destroyer
Destroyed. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
686 The On-the-Wing Detectives; or. Bolly Blair's-
Grand Exposition. By Leon Lewis.
687 Double Cinch Dan, the S rt'With a Charm; or,
The Saints 01' Sunrise. y Wm. R. Eyster. I
688 The River Bustiers; or. the Detective from Way
Back. By Lieut. A. K. Sims. ‘
689 The Sparkler Sha
Unknomi Foe. B; m. . .
Ready January .
690 The Matchless Detective; ' on Thad. Barr's
‘ Marvelous Case. lay Hamid Payne.
Ready January 1 .
A new issue every. Wednesday.

Beadle,- Dlmc Library is for sale by up.

Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or 'sant by mail 0.
receipt ‘of twelve cents each.
, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers.
a William stun. New var.
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