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fllfl THREE.

BY CAPT. HOWARD HOLMES,

AUTHOR or “Human uwa. THE HARLEM
DETECTIVE," “ mum: BIilJJHN," ETC.

 

 

CHAPTER I.
Tm: ENDING OF A CONTRACT.

“ Ynl'u year's about up, isn’t. it, Joe?"

" It ends In morrow.”

“ I thought so, and a nice snap you've had
of it."

“ Yes. it's been an easy job; but if the 01d
- — v 7. - - ‘ gentleman's {vars bud lwl-n confirmed and the
HTARED wn'u A 3131;111:1131) FACE. wnr‘lY. had Como, I might have had my hands

 
 
  
  
 

 

 

   

 

 

(.9 ENTEEL J U)!

 

 

     

 

 

 

"full. We won’t rejoice tillQWe’re out of
' ‘ the woods, for there‘s no telling what
may take place between this hour and
noon to-morrow." .
“ When does your contract with him
expire?" . .

“ It expires exactly at twelve,“ and the ,
detective, known best as (lenteel .loe,;
leaned fortvard and took a cigar from?

' the open box on the table. ‘

His companion was one of his friends,
a man about his own age and keen-wit-3
ted, but not connected in any way with
the profession.

Still, for all this, Quincy Quick often
dropped in with suggestions which Joe
Nichols accepted, and which he found
useful in many ways.

"It’s been a strange watch for you,
Joe." observed the other after a pause.

, “Here you‘ve watched an old man for

~a year for five thousand dollars. Of
course, if he had vanished it would nave
been your duty to find him. or if. worse
still, he had been murdered, you would
have had to take the trail and run the
assassins down, no matter whither that
trail led." .

' “ You've stated the case in a sentence,

Quincy. And I'm free to say that l‘m

glad the end of the year finds Duke Dan—

iels in good health and in the city.”

For a little while the two smoked in

r silence, and the clock struck ten; then

- Quincy Quick picked up, his hat with a
start and [pushed back his chair.

, iAt that’same moment footsteps in the
hall outside approached the door, and
the detective watched the knob as if ex-
pecting a, messenger of importance. ' .

“ Come in! ” was called out, in response

, to'the rap, and the door opened to admit,
‘ a young man who looked from the de-
tective to the visitor. .

“Which is Mr. Nichols?" he asked.
“I’m the man," and Genteel Joe held

j out his hand for the bit of folded paper

' l which the visitor carried.
' The detective quickly mastered the
1 message, and, throwing it upon the table,

' asked the mesenger:

"‘There’s no clew?”

“None .at all. ,It’s simply dreadful,
and Miss Lotty is almost in hysterics.”

"‘Teli her I‘m coming."

The youth vanished, and the eyes of
Quincy Quick, now filled with excite“
ment, were riveted lipon the detective’s
face. .
. “It conies at the last moment. You're
going to earn your five thousand," was
his Mark. . _

“ It looks that way." ‘

“You’re going to the house, I see?-
,There's nothing to tell whether it’s van-
,7‘ ishment or murder. The messenger only

said it was ‘dreadful,’ but his sentence
is susceptible of two meanings."

Genteel Joe did not speak, but put on

 
   
 
  
  
  
 
  
   
  
 
  
 
  
   
  
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
 
   
  
  
   
  
 
  
  
  
 
    
 
  
   
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
   
  
     
   
 
  
  
 
   
 
  
  
 
   
 
  
   
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
   
 
  

“' down the stairs together.
 let me know lathe morning

what’s up, ' Won't ' you? masses quick. ‘on

. nuns,
'7-u"’Yos, before that, perhaps," was the
Janswer, and they separated.
Nichols took a car and settled back in
“one corner while it bore him up town. .
‘« - use agreement with
,,   eihe Vim! terbnmeit’éto
‘ .’~' e ,anie s."   e-
'  grfied to  

H.
O
’1

lithat he had enemies who would not hes-
jitste tortake his life, but the identity of

even to his paid, guardian.

Genteel Joe had carried out his part
of the contract with circumspection. ,
 More than once, when Daniels knew it
not, he had s. friendly shadow, and the
 detective hadkept ward over him in town
and out. . , '

[Joe had not had occasion to shadow
; ' ny one for, and on one occasion only did
he suspect that the man who had en-

‘ his light overcoat; and the; friends went Ia

hose-Ample he that! refused to divulge ~

daughter had brought it back fresh to
his mind. ,

It did not take the detective long to
reach the house on the avenue.

As he approached he noticed how still
everything was about the residence, as
if its inmates were all asleep.

Genteel Joe mounted the steps and
rang.

Almost immediately the door was
opened by a middle-aged person. with a
professional face, who smiled as he re-
marked : ‘ Q

“You are Mr. Nichols? l'm glad you‘ve
come. Your coming will help to quiet
my patient; she's a. little nervous yet,
and no wonder.”

The speaker was the family physician
~~Doctor Baker. He at once led the way
to the parlor, where be shut the door
carefully and turned upon the detective,
with his thin face and piercing black
eyes. -

“I was the first one sent for by Miss
Lotty. She seemed to think of me first,
because I have been his physician for
twenty years, and it was at my sugges-
tion that she sent for you without noti-
fying the police. We can do that later
on, you know."

Genteel Joe bowed.

“ It is Quite mysterious. I came in re-
sponse to her summons, and found things
pretty much as the murderer left them."

“ The murderer, doctor? "

“It’s nothing less than murder, Mr.
Nichols. It's a cold—blooded affair, and
one that will startle New York, owing
both to the nature or the crime and the
victim's prominence.” \ i

As the doctor finished he led the way,
in a stately manner, toward the hall-
way, but the moment he opened the door
there was a cry, and the figure of a wo-
man rhshed forward.

"SO you’ve come!" cried the young
girl. who bounded from the lower steps of
the broad stairs and paused before the
detective. “You’re the gentleman_who
made the contract with him: but the
deed has been done, and just at the end
of the year! ” , -,

Doctor Baker laid his hand restrain-
inst on Lotty's arm, but she drew baCk
indignantly: ,. 

".I’m all right, dothor,” she exclaimed.
“1 am goingtc the.room with you. My
nerves are 'ammuea-unstrung, but Mr.’
Nighols will want to hear all, I know,
an w’! . I 

She did not'flnish, butturned- hurried-
ly and oriented a ‘door' across the, hall.

"It happened. in there. You can see
him from here, Mr. Nichols. ,I found
him mYself in the chaisjjust as he sits
HOW. aid, I wouldn’t let Dootor Baker
disturb him." -  V

Genteel Joe had pushed his way into

2 the library, furnished in luxurious style,

nd was looking at a man who reclined
in a large velvet padded arm-chair. under
the drop-light near thegm’shogany <1an

This was Duke Daniel‘s. the retfi'fid‘

banker, the mantel-wealth and learn?

ing, the'genfleman-yho‘m he had sheds
owed for almost swarm» order to keep
from him thazenem‘
plotting against

Joe Nich‘fiitie'lt
he stood’thfithti
ized that 'ths‘tdeed
very last idem

  

   
      
   
   
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 

  

Hauler thrill while
(library, and real-
ibeen done at the

“It’s very plain,” said he 

 

"be imagined were.

the work of a novice. A trained hand
sir—”

“If you will let Mr. Nichols take a
look at him, doctor, you will be doing
Justice a favor,” put in Lotty Daniels,
and the man of medicine flushed and
stepped back.

Genteel Joe scrutinized the white face
before him”

There were no marks of violence there,
and the expression was calm and pain—
less.

“ It‘s in the neck," whispered the doc-
tor, with a glance at the girl. “ It’s the
stab of a dagger. It looks to me like the
stab of a needle-like stiletto—you’ve seen
them, no doubt—but all the same it was
a death stroke.”

Doctor Baker pulled down the dead
man‘s collar and laid one finger softly
upon a. certain spot on the white skin,

Joe Nichols looked a little closer, and
made out a small mark there; just, a lit.
tle red spot, it seemed, not a cut.

The hand of the victim's daughter fell
upon Joe's arm.

“I didn’t send for the police,” she
spoke. " He told me to send direct for
you in case anything happened. You
see what has happened. Isn’t the year
up to-morrow? ”

“ To-morrow, miss.”

“He was talking about it to-day, He
said he hoped he would be five thousand
dollars poorer at noon toemormw. He
looked ferward with a good deal of aux-
iety to the last hour. I’m sure he feared
to-night,'for when I Went up to my room
to read awhile he gave me a/look fun
of doubt and fear." ‘ '.

“What (lid you hear, Miss Lotty?”

“Nothing but the closing of the door."

“ When was that? ” a

‘(An hour ago, perhaps. I went at
once to~‘the window, from which I can
see the sidewalk in front of the house.
The “mini fifths corner always covers
the sidewa h liming, of the door with
its light, and it  ‘jmbgusltmked, I

..the walk, and

 
   

saw a man standl ’ 
while I looked he away,"

“ You did nothear the-door 0 en
the assassin entered the housefgt, .. hen
I "" 1' heard nothing. _ I o" t
closing of ~the door when its. man well):
out.” - ’ I u If
~“It’s very strange," said Doctor Ba-
ker. “ Here’s a wiring lady Whose face
ulties are fully developed, but who heaps
the shutting. not the opening. of a door
and that when the portal must have be“;
“softly closed."

  
   

With a start sanguine mm
“1 am telli: sittings just as I fieard
them," she "'with some asmritn “I

heard the door shut. ..I did not hear it
open. The murderer might hue been,
concealed in the house.” . -,
 Gould, he have hid himself thus, n
_“Possibly. .Thic'is‘ a house, ‘
rooms, some/of which FWe ‘

    
      
 
 
  
   

once in si‘ximonths. 
room. the“ door behind may
bookcase, which I , hhve never 'f

The. detective folliiiyved with, z -
the pointing finger. The girl ‘th . ,
forward, touched a, button not“; in,” 8
wall, and the casein! books swung 3‘5»
1 “crétttoom.” She stated.
1193113 in there. You
, *1? the assassin, who
in the secret. made: it his

t’. and

 tie

a man in‘a niazelr

 

1‘ V an: 61' been pushed

 

2 h . e
which

 tive, and he stood
3‘, "

world 1 could 'bon'vihéé- "me that this is

and a trained eye working together, ‘

  

.M V- w... «._

5....‘A

immediately st‘epiieii!‘ into 
*stood inthh‘mid‘dle

ward glance. " Any one can see thstt e

man was killed by a hand that under-

stood its terrible trade. Nothing in the
i\ ’_ ' L i ‘

, \

fined himhad an enemy.
"Refined, nearly forgotten the discovery,
“he message from the old man’s

   
  
   

  
  

place ” bit-drew from Joe Nichols, the I
Home-rah Detective, the cry which  '

 

    

  
 

 
 

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ill-

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vas

 

a, who
git his V,_
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‘Emiddle ‘
8!?

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pushed 3

ie stood

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act the"

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quite different.

On the table lay a piece of paper which
was held down by a knife, the point of
which was buried in the wood.

The detective, horrified, ‘ approached
and saw that the top of the sheet was
embellished with the outlines of a coffin,
on which was traced the name of the
dead man in the library—Duke Daniels.

There was a smattering of sentences
across the paper, but the knife had torn
through these on its way to the wood,
.and he saw that they were nearly oblit-
erated.

Genteel Joe stared at all this with a
mystified face, but with eyes that took
in everything in sight.

He seemed to see at once that the person
who had committed the murder had
entered the little chamber, if, indeed, he
had not made it his ambush.

He leaned over the table and was look-
‘ing at the dagger, which he finally pulled
(out, when the door behind him opened,
and he turned to confront Doctor Baker.

“You‘ve found something?” said the
doctor. “ I see that you’ve already found
.a clew.”

“I can‘t say. There’s" a dagger in the
table and a paper pierced by the blade.”

“I see—~11? left this as a reminder of
his vengeance, or to give you added mys-
t y.”

Doctor Baker stepped forward, and his
gaze rested on the knife and paper for
a moment.

Joe Nichols folded his arms and calmly
looked on. V

“Why, it’s a coffin!” cried the doc-
tor. “ It’s a coffin with his name on it,
and the knife has been driven through
the sheet into the table.”

“ Exactly." '

“ Did you ever see anything like this? ”

“But once, and that was years ago."

“I don’t recall it.”

' "‘ Perhaps not: it.was the murder of a
young man by the hands of a lot of re-
vengeful fellows, who wanted to mysti-
.fy the police, and tried it with a knife-
pierced paper left in the room of the
crime.”

“ But this assassin varies the game.
you see. He leaves the knife in another
room.”

Joe had picked up the paper and was
looking at it carefully.

“Can you make out the sentences?”
:askeld ithe‘doctol'r‘. .

“ s a men as!  wl. Yo
see for yourself.” r; " ,  can

He handed the document to his com-
panion, who looked at it.

“‘ I see. The name on the cofiin‘sguitd
plain, but the rest seems to be in a. lan.
guage with which I am not acquainted."

“If it is a language at all, doctor,” was
the reply.’ “ Where did you leave Miss
Lotty? "

“ She took my advice and went up to
her room.f’

Doctor Baker had picked up the dagger
and was looking at its handle of black,
twisted ivory, handling it with caution
agd drawing his fingers softly along its
e ge. .

Genteel Joe called him from this task
by his voice.

f‘I’lI take that, if you please, doctor;"
and the man of medicine, starting a lit-
tle, handed it over with a smile.

The detective folded the pierced paper,
and put, both it and the blade away.

‘ It's not the same mode that did the
ldeed.” laid the doctor. ‘ r ' 
1 “Why not?" ‘I ‘ , 

“ The work was done with a narrow-
er dagger. nothing .at all like the one

i

that was buried" in‘the table}?
This was good logio_..jand the. detective
nodded approvingW- ” ._ ’ '
, Five minutes later Joe Nichols stood
alone in the parlor. to the right of the
hall, and “in another minute he. was
joined by a man’ who came in, had, after
looking all a'rOund, shut the door. , .
This was Savage, the coachman. the
man who probably knew more about
Duke Daniels's stairs than any living
.V person. ‘ ’

 

 

 

"welled to his lips. It was something.

said Joe. “You’re

“ Come over here,”
Savage?”

“ Yes, Sam Savage; you're the detective
in the case, aren’t you? ”

“ I am Joe Nichols.”

“ Yes, yes, the man Lotty sent for.
You‘re all right, I know, and you've got
a dark case.’

“You think so, Savage?"

“1 know it. It would knock me out 0’
time in three seconds, but it's your busi—
ness—~it’s your trade."

“That’s right, Savage.
know? ”

“Ask me what I don’t know and you’ll
get more information."

“ You've' been with
haven‘t you?"

“Five years, come next March."

“ And you know something about
him? ” ,

“What a coachman could pick up.”

What do you

him some time,

“ Your master must have had a dam -

gerous foe, Savage.” ~' .

Instantly there came to the servant's
face a pallor which rivaled the snow in
whiteness.

“He had—a great enemy," he said,
(lropwng his voice almost to a whisper.

‘ Did he know that you shared his se-
cret of the existenco of this bitter foe? "

“ He knew it."

“Did you ever see this enemy, Sav-
age? 9;

“No; but I felt him once.”

“ You felt him? How?"

“ It was like the touch. of a ghost, for
that matter, only I know ghosts don’t
flit about, pressing people against the
wall and driving their blood cold through
their veins.”

“ Tell me. Now, take it coolly, Sav-
age. Ithave some time, and you needn’t
go fast.” .

“ It’s a short story—about my encoun-
ter with Duke Daniels’s foe. It was
right in this house, and the time was a
month ago. I was in the hall out there,
and somehow or other the gas had been
turned out. I don’t know how it came
about, for no one ever turns it out, but
it burns all night, not very high, but
still it burns. Well, I heard some one
in- the library, and I knew that my mas—
ter was there, and that Miss Lotty had
not come back from the opera.

“I wanted to drive her to the opera

that night, but she insisted on my re-
maining at home, for she said her father
would be alone, and he did not feel very
well. Every now and then I. would go
into the hall, after instructions from
Miss Lotty, to see if he was still in the
library. It was on one of these trips that
I found the hall dark, with the gas
turned out.
‘ “ It was queer, devilish queer. I re-
member stopping in the hall and wonder-
ing what could have turned out; the gas
just then. I concluded I would relight
it, and went forward with my hand, feel-
ing for my match-box, when the door of
the library opened. The. room beyond
was almost dark. too. .

“I thought I saw Duke Daniels in the
chair at the desk, but the next moment
the door shut and I was brushed by the
person who came out. It was a personal
contact, so perceptible that I was thrown
back a step. I was brushed by the man
who emerged from the library, with a
single word 0n.his lips. It was. ‘Ven-

eance! ' In another moment the key

urned in the lock of the front door, it
openedand shut, and I was alone in the
hall once more. . : ~. la : I

I“ My first thought wast-of- Duke Dan-
iels, and; I sprang to: the: library door
and jerked it open.- He was=.-there,‘ sit—
ting in his chair «tithe-desk, with his
face as white as thermos ofza corpse and
a pen in his r>~lnnd..But I noticed that he
had; not traced» a singleword on the
sheet before him, and that he was trying
tales rol his'nerves. I touched his sham-
deft. and he lookedrrup into: my I. face with
,a. wan smile. I never saw/his face so
terribly agitated before. It was some
time before he could breathe. ,.' Did you

I

 

see him-'1' he asked, searching. my. race
with an eagle's glance. L ~ , . _

 

 

 

said Savage.

   
  
   
   
   
 
    
 
  
   
  
   
  
 
 
  
   
   
  
   
 
 
  
   
  
  
 
 
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
 
   
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
   
  
   

“ I did not know what to say, and be- i
fore I could answer him his hand was 
at my wrist, and it had a clutch like iron "
manacles. ‘Never mind,’ he said, ‘it’s 
all right, Savage. You didn’t see the _, .f
only enemy Duke Daniels has. Well, I
wish you had, though, and—killed him! ’

“ That was all. "The man, whoever he
was, left the house. I have not encoun-
tered him since. Idid not hear his voice ’.
beyond the utterance of the one word.
‘Vengeance ’; but some day I may hear
it again. Then I can identify the man,
for that peculiar voice may hang him. ‘
one of these days.”

Sam Savage looked at the detective,
and once more across the room. ‘

“ How came you to find the secret door
which leads to this place?" asked Joe ,-
Nichols. - s

,“ Lotty pointed it out to me, and said
you were here.”

“The girl has retired, has she?”

“ She is up—stairs, but she hasn't re—
tired. She won't do that till she sees
you again."

“ And the doctor? ”

“ Oh, he‘s gone. What do you think of,
him?" , _

“I have seen but little of the man.
He’s the family physician, isn’t he?” .-

“ Yes, the—family doctor,” smiled Sav—
age. “He's not on very good terms
with Miss Letty. The girl hasn’t the,
best of opinions of Jared Baker, for one ‘
thing, because he has somestrange sorts»;
of pets, a cageful of which he once
fetched to the house."

“To show them to Daniels?” .

“I suppose so. They were snakes of“
all kinds and colors. You never saw the,
like. Why, sir, they kept up such a
infernal hissing and writhing that when
Mr. Daniels called Lotty into the room
to look at the doctor’s pets she nearly
fainted, and ordered the man and his.
reptiles away.” . ‘

“ Is that the real cause of her dislike
for Doctor Baker?" ,

“It may be more than that; but I,
know that she hasn’t liked the doctbr»
ever since the episode of the snakes.‘ It.“
was thought at the time that one or two:-
of the smaller reptiles got looseand.
made off, but the doctor assured Mr. Darn
iels that itcould not be so.” . 

When Savage finished the detective;
opened the door leading back into th "
library, and they stepped into the death?
chamber. ' ‘ , -'

“The enemy must have come back
said the coachman, looking at the silo
figure in the arm-chair. “ If I had been{
in the house to—night I might _ 
caught him in time, and—I would hay
killed the brute! I am man enough to
that." r Y .

Joe Nichols did not reply, but.step
across the room and stopped beside 1;
dead man. Y *

Savage looked on a moment, and then
darted away, to stoop in one corner a
strike at something on the floor.

“ It's one of them infernal snakes
he cried. “ One of those which. escaped
from Doctor Baker's box." . ,. ,3

, CHAPTER III. . ,
Grammar. JOE'S N FRIEND.” spunrgns. ;
Gentoel Joe sprang toward the man.

who had dropped upon his knees in to
corner of the library. and was ‘.
to get .at an object which persist
keeping-"out of sight. '   "
“I saw the'littlei‘devil’s" eye's!
Savage. ‘ “ They had a greenish" lix’h '
I knew atonce what it was, for’olgwy
had a whole cage of Indian set-pen ’
get loose oh shipboard, an‘d'lhad‘éth’
We own time getting rid ,of‘the'“
“on shipboard? You’ve been” ,
thenf", ' ’ ‘ ‘ " 
" Where haven’t I been? ” iau ed ,- 
coachman. “ I’m ag‘reguiar J" ~o‘f u
trades.” ' ' “ " " 
The detective looked for'ithe“
but’withOut success. ' - ,g . ,-
The two men together went "
the hunt, and turned up the  .-

. ,

 

 

 

 

 

their search, but  ,.,
“It maybe I I as a" sewn
  .v

 

   

4

Genteel J oe‘s Lone Hand.

 

 

snake we found in the ship that time,
which fastened its fangs in the second
mate, so that the next day we tied a
cannon ball to his body and let the
sharks have him. Just think of Miss
Lotty living in a house infested with
such a deadly thing! The doctor ought
to be choked for his folly. He knew
the snake got away.”

“He knew it, Savage?
charge.”

“Maybe I'd better modify it. I’ll do it
for the doctor’s sake, but the way he
acted that night—his boldness and his
manners—told me that he wouldn‘t have
cared much if he had emptied the en-
tire whole cargo of creepers in the room.
It’s out of the way now, probably behind
one of the bookcases, but I don’t intend
to give his serpentship any rest till I’ve
rooted him out, I owe it to Miss Lotty,
for there's death in the house while the
snake makes it his home.”

“You must be careful, Savage. Don't
let the reptile make a victim of you.
I may have need of you in the future.”

“As a witness against the murderer
whom I didn't get to see, but whom I
felt and heard? ”

“ Perhaps.”

“ All right. I’ll be on time when
wanted. You can bank on me—Sam Sav—
age. There’s Lotty, now—in the hall,
and she wants to see you before you go
back.”

The coachman slipped away and the
detective went into the hall where he
met Lotty Daniels.

She had not retired, and now she stood
against the bannister, with a shawl
thrown ever her shoulders.

Joe Nichols saw that her face was
pale and almost bloodless, and that her
hand shook a little where it rested on
the newel.

“Is Doctor Baker gone?” asked the
young girl.

“He has gone away.”

“ Good! I don’t fancy the man—I never
liked him, and since the night he brought
the serpents here to show father, I have
detested him. What did you find in the
little room beyond the bookcase, Mr.
'Nichols?”

The Home-run ferret replied with the
story of his find—the pierced paper with
its startling embellishment and the
buried dagger, and Lotty listened with-
out a. word.

“Good night. Remember! You are in
duty bound to find the hand that struck
him down,” said the girl. “That was
your solemn bargain with father. To—
morrow your espionage would have
ended. To-morrow the hunt begins.”

She paused a little while at the door
and seemed to collect her thoughts.

“ I wonder if the assassin knew any-
thing of the contract,” she went on. “ It
looks so, for didn’t he wait till the last
moment, and then struck the blow as if
to show you, Mr. Nichols, that he defies
your cunning. This must go to the po-
lice. You can report the crime, but
you are to be the detective on the trail.”

Genteel Joe left the Muse with these
words of the girl’s ringing in his ears.

He went back to the room where he
had been found by the messenger and
sat down. .

It was past midnight now.

The lights on the streets below flick-
ered in the brisk wind that came up
over the rippling waters of the bay and
fanned the cheeks of belated pedestrians.

Joe Nichols, the human ferret, was
aloneqn his cosy little quarters.

He 00k from his pockets the pierced
paper and the dagger.

He bent over the former and looked
at it with more scrutiny than he had
yet bestowed upon it.

The scrawl took shape at last.

What had appeared a lot of jumbled
sentences, twisted enough to worry the
best expert, now came out in startling
characters, and his keen vision swept
a good deal of mystery from them.

The minutes flitted by, and the nearest
clock on the street told the vanishment
of another hour.

That‘s a bold

 

Joe Nichols was still bent over the
paper.

Word by word he had wrested the
writing from the realms of the mys—
terious, and now he leaned back and
breathed free again.

“It was the work of a hand of venge-
ance. I see the motive, but can it be
true? Can it be—“

ile did not finish the sentence, for
there stopped at his door that moment
footsteps whose sound riveted his gaze
in that direction.

Joe Nichols stepped across the room
and stopped at the door.
“Are you in, Joseph? ”
voice beyond the portal.

lenteel Joe answered by opening the
door.

“It’s me,“ said the same voice as the
figure of a strange creature dodged into
the room. “Shut the door, Josey—~there!
It‘s chilly out, and I've not got much
blood in my veins to-night."

The speaker hopped across the room
and bounded up into an arm-chair at the
table, where he turned upon the city
ferret a queer-looking face. I

It was the face of a boy, but with
wrinkles over it. and old in aspect.

The eyes were small, cunning and
deep-set, the hands long and skeleton—
like, and the shoulders narrow and
pointed.

It was a smooth face, much too old for
the shoulders over which it lifted itself
like a mountain peak, and the nose, thin
and bloodless, looked like a hawk‘s beak
between the eyes.

“Look here, Josey; where have you
been?" cried the detectives caller.
“This is my fourth trip here to-night.”

“I have been out, Splinters—up town
on business.”

"UP town?” was the exclamation.

“Isn’t there work for you down here
where the streets are narrow and.the
shadows many? What takes you up
town in the land of the Four Hundred.
Where all people are good, and where
they only need wings to fly away and
be at rest? See here, Josey; why don‘t

piped a shrill

you look over in Hell’s Kitchen for
your next case? What’s up town for
on?”

The little face seemed to lose some of
its age, and the eyes no longer snapped.

“ What’s in the Kitchen for me,
Splinters? ” asked the ferret.

“ Nothing yet, but there’s no telling—
no telling, I say, Josey,” was the an-
swer. “But the fright I had a while
ago! Why, it scared me out of a
year’s growth, and the queer part of it
is that it was right out yonder."

“In my hallway?”

“ No place else. I came back the sec-
ond time to look in on you, when what
should I see but something in the corner
of the corridor crouched like a big ani-
mal."

“ And you ran away? ”

“Gods! what else had I to do? ” cried
Splinters. “Do you think I ought to
have staid and let it take me?”

“But it may have been harmless.”

“ It wasn‘t harmless. See here. You’ve
got a match, Josey?”

(6 Yes-9’

The detective rose and struck a match
on the door as he opened it.

Splinters dropped from his chair and
followed him.

They went into the dark corridor to-
gether, and the detective led the way to
the corner designated by his visitor. ‘

“He was right there," said Splinters,
pointing toward the spot.

Joe Nichols held. his burning match to
the floor and bent forward, watched with-
out a. sound by his companion.

“ The corner's empty,” said the ferret.

“ It is now, but it wasn’t a while go."

“ That may be, Splinters, but yo see
there’s no one‘ here now." .

" But look at the marks of nails on th
floor! That proves that some one was
here.” ,

Joe swept the match back along the
floor and held it close to the greasy
boards.

 

 

 

“ It‘s a heel mark.”
“Yes, and did you ever see nails in a
heel just like that one makes?"

“What‘s queer about them, Splint—
ers?”

“Why, they make a cross on the
floor.’

“ I see that, but—"

“And there’s where he rested his hand
against the wall while he watched and
waited."

The Home-run Detective turned and
gave the shrewd little man a searching
look.

“ You‘ve investigated this spot before,
Splinters.”

“ As I live, I haven’t, but there‘s where
he rested his hand all the same. See
the long fingers like mine, Joseph. Look
how they touched the wall, leaving II
mark, just like the boot heel on the
floor. I say, Joe, that man was waiting
for you to come back, but, seeing me,
maybe he concluded to go away.”

“When was he here? ”

The little man with the thin face
thought a moment.

“Maybe an hour ago.”

“I was up town then.
gating a new case.”

“P’raps he knew it, and was waiting
for you to come back."

“We can't tell, Splinters.”

Once more the detective and his friend
were back in the former’s quarters.

“ It‘s a new case, is it, Josey? "

» “Yes, new and strange."

“Would you mind giving me a hint
of what it is?"

“ No. It is a murder case—a mysteri-
ous death in one of the mansions on the
avenues.”

“A gilt-edged affair!" smiled Splin-
ters, leaning over the table with his
pointed chin resting on the edge of the
cloth. “ How did they do it, Joe? "

“ With a dagger.”

“In the heart? ”

I was invest]L

 

.‘

 

 

“Yes, downward, through the neck.” 'fi

“What’s his name, Josey?”

“You don’t know him, Splinters; but
his name is Duke Daniels.”

The little man fell back with a cry,
almost dragging the tablecloth after him.

“That man? ” he cried, pausing in the
midst of his astonishment a few feet
from the table. “ That’s the very man I
wanted some one to finish."

“You, Splinters? In the name of
heaven, what was Duke Daniels to you ?I”

The little man came forward, his
hands shut, and his face white and
tensely drawn.

“ And they’ve found him at last? They
reached the heart with the dagger, which
could not be reached any other way?
Dead! and the case in your hands, Joe?
Well, well, this is news. And what will
become of the girl now ?—what will she
do in the big house all by herself?”

“ Do you know her? ”

“ I know the whole kit of them,”
snapped Splinters. “I know the story
of the family, and I could give you a
clew, but I won’t. Not for the millions
of Fifth Avenue would I put you, friends
though we are, upon the trail. W,hy,
Josey, it makes my blood run like fire.
through my veins to hear that Duke
Daniels got it at last, and that the beauty
of the mansion is fatherless. Go out and
look for the clew! go and hunt for the
hand. But you won't find them; no,
no! If Splinters can come between you
and success, Joe Nichols, he’u do it.
Remember that l”

The little man threw wide the door,
and .wlth the last word on his lips
bounded into the hall, leaving the detect-
ive in a maze of wonder.

 

CHAPTER IV.
ON THE TRACK or A SECRET.
In the ten years during which Joe
Nichols and Splinters had been friends

nothing had come between them.

The detectve had saved the life of the
little man, and thus secured his good
will and friendship, and on more than
one occasion Splinters had returned the
compliment.

 

 

 

 

4.

 

 

 

  
 
 

drop of, blood to save yourst

 

Genteel Joe’s Lone Hand.

 

lie lived in one of the dark districts
of New York, some discance from Gen-
teel Joe’s quarters, and he knew the
whole of it like a. book, the narrow,
tortuous alleys, the winding passages in
and out; the shadows, the sewers, the
dingy corridors, where evil and poverty
stopped and consulted, and, in short, all
the corners of squalor and filth.

And now, to be told that he (Splin-
‘ters) would do all in his power to baffle
him on the new trail, that he would
throw in his way every obstacle possible,
was like a thunderclap from a clear sky
at noonday.

What did Splinters know about Duke
Daniels, the victim of the dagger?

What did the poor wretch mean when
he said he had long hoped some one
would invade the nabob’s mansion and
orphan Miss Lotty?

Why did he hate Duke Daniels?

It was Splinters’s secret, and the de-
tective determined to wrest it from him.

Already Joe had reported the crime to
the proper authorities, and the second
editions of the morning newspapers
would startle the city with the story of
the death stab.

The Home-run Detective knew this.

He waited a short time after Splinters’s
departure.

The little man had doubtless gone back
to the nest he inhabited, and thither
Joe Nichols bent his footsteps.

He drew up in front of a door at the
foot of a few stone steps leading below
the sidewalk, and rapped.

The door opened with a squeak.

The person who confronted Joe was not
Splinters.

The light of the lamp fell upon the
dwarflsh figure of a man older than the
detective’s friend, and he looked at Joe
with a half shudder.

“ Well. Carl?" said Joe. ‘

The old man showed two rows of yel~
low teeth, but did not reply.

“ Where’s your lodger? "

Carl shook his head.

“ He came in a while ago, didn’t he? ”

“ N0.,!

“Will you let me look, Carl?”

For a. moment the man with the lamp
hesitated, and then he led Joe across
the room and opened a door.

“In there’s his nest.”

The detective leaned forward while the
light revealed the interior of the foul
smelling place.

The couch against the wall had not
been tumbled that night. '

“Splinters hasn‘t come in yet,” said
Carl.

The detective leaned against the wall
and bade the old man set the lamp
down.

“How long have you
Carl? ”

“ Twenty years.”

“ You‘re ten ahead of me.”

“Yes, he said so once."

“ 0h, he has talked of me here? ”

“ He has told me of his friend Joe, the
thief-taker, and you’re Joe, eh? ”

“Perhaps, Carl. Splinters is a queer
genius."

“There‘s only one Splinters, Joe.”

“ And one of the kind’s enough, I
guess.”

“The world couldn’t afford two—I’ve
101d him that to his face, ha, ha.”

It was a villainous grin, which did
not enhance the speaker’s looks in the
flare of the lamp.

“Why don’t you get at. his secrets?"

“ That wouldn't do me any good, for
he keeps them too well.” "

“He's got them, has he? ”

" Like you and me,” and Carl, with an-
other laugh, ventured to lay one of hls
fingers upon the ferret’s sleeve.

“Of course, Carl. Now this secret of
Splinters—the little one about his one
hatred—LI never knew him to have but
the one—is somewhat interesting, and
I would like to get at it.”

“Ask him,” broke in the man listening
to Joe. “ You saved his life once, and
Splinters told me that he’d give his last

known him,

  
   

  

   
 
 

.i"l-3‘.

 

“I believe he would, Carl, but when
it comes to getting a secret from him—
that’s quite another matter. Splinters
knows a thing or two—"

“ Who knows it better than he? Won’t
tell you, eh?”

“Not a word will he let out."

“And it’s about a hate? "

“Yes. He holds a grudge against a
certain man—an old grudge, one that
has festered in his heart.”

“It’s funny,” said Carl, in a reflective
mood. “I didn’t know he ever had a
real Simon-pure secret. It may be bosh,
after all, Mr. Joe, mere bosh."

“ It‘s the truth; Splinters has a secret
which just now might make light that
which is dark."

A sudden inspiration seemed to flash
across Carl’s mind.

His weazened features seemed to light
up with a gleam of triumph, and he
caught the ferret’s arm.

“I know where his strong box is,” he
exclaimed.

“ He has a treasury, then?" '

“ Yes—a place where he must keep
some things very precious to him and to
no one else."

“ Let me see it, Carl.”

The old fellow picked up the lamp and
led the way across the apartment. ,

In one corner he dropped upon his
knees and lifted a dirty curtain hanging
along the wall.

At the same time he turned upon the
detective a face seamed with victory.

" Here's the place. See, he set the old
iron safe in the wall himself ten years
ago. It's not hard for a burglar to open
for it’s a key safe, but mebbe you—”

Joe Nichols was bending over the
strange treasure house, an old second-
hand safe roughly set into the wall and
showing signs of age.

Its door had once been ornamented
with flowers, but time and dirt had oblit-
erated them, and nothing now remained
but the blackened iron and .the greasy
brass knob.

“One could almost 'put the treasure
house in his pocket." continued old Carl.

“It wouldn't tire a gamin to carry it
off.”

In another minute the detective had
succeeded in picking the simple lock and
had swung the door open.

“You’re not going to
Joe?"

“ No.” . -

“ All right. I‘ll go out and watch. and
if Splinters comes back I'll hold him off
till you’re through."

“ That’s it, Carl. You'll earn my ever-
lasting gratitude if you succeed.”

The old man stepped back and van-
ished, leaving the detective alone in
Splinters' room with the lamp on the
floor beside him.

He found a mass of stuff in the little
safe.

Here and there were old-fashioned
watches and other trinkets collected by
Splinters during a singular life which
never had seen him beyond the pale of
poverty.

“ Why, Splinters is a veritable miser,“
said the detective with a smile. “He
treasures these worthless old things as
the miser keeps his hordes of gold. I'll
have to get the secret elsewhere. It’s
not here.”

As he spoke the detective pulled out a
little package not longer than his hand,
and he gave it more than a passing look.

It was securely tied, and not intending
to let Splinters know that he had visited
the place, he worked till he had mas—
tered the knots, when the covering of
the contents fell back.

Joe bent over the light with. the pack-
age in his hands.

He opened it slowly and shook the dust
of years from it as he did so.

“It must be his keepsake. Perhaps
I have unearthed the story of Splinters’
.one love affair.”

The following instant he was looking
at two objects that riveted his gaze.

rob the safe,

 

1“. p

In his hand, but on th cloth which

Iv

,. v ,1
Wu.) .

   

  

,s q :
...aa 1 mm.

2 “ v, i
r «455.: "k

  

through a gold ring, which had been
forced along the steel to the hilt of the
blade.

Joe tried to loosen the ring, but could
not.

“It’s a queer thing for Splinters to

have. It’s the last thing I would have
looked for in this safe. But what's
this?”

He held the dagger closer to the light.

lie saw a tracery of letters on it, and
on the ring he saw a crest and the let-
ters, “V. V.," and the date, “1.580.”

All this was Greek to the detective,
but still it interested him.

He looked from the daggered ring to
the yellowish paper which had enclosed
it.

There was writing on the discolored
surface, and he held the paper near the
light.

“Splinters may have done this,” he
said. “It looks a little like his scrawl.
But, Gods! he wouldn’t have penned
such words as these; ” and then he read:

“The ring belonged to her; the dag-
ger is consecrated to vengeance. Unless
its mate finds his heart within ten years
from this date, then this blade shall."

The date appeared beneath the threat.

Genteel Joe looked at it and gave a
quick start.

The next day would complete the ten.
years! a

With a thrill which he could not mas-

startling find.

on the steel of the dagger.

It was a scrawl no longer, as if the dis-
covery of the writing on the paper had
disclosed all.

He felt the full importance of the find,
and in another minute he had mastcred
the motto on the blade:

“I find, I slay, I keep my secret! "

The ferret wrapped the dagger and
ring in its covering, tied the whole as
before, dusted the package, and slipped
it back into its place in the safe.

After this he returned the other things
to their places, shut the door, and locked
the treasure once more.

The face of Carl appeared as he turned
away.

“Not yet,” said the old man. “ Maybe
Splinters won’t nest here to-nght! "

“Does he often remain out till morn—
ing?”

“A good deal of late.”

“ You don’t know where he goes."

“ No. He has a friend, for he mysteri-
ously talks about him now and then, a
word or two—nothing more.”

“ It is like Splinteer Is his friend a
woman ’.’ "’

“No; a man. I have discovered this
much, for I once found his torn card on.
the floor of the nest.”

“Where is it? ”

Carl went back to the front of the den
and set the lamp on a table.

He rummaged in a box which contained
a thousand and one things, and finally
fished up a piece of card which, he ex-
tended, with a grin.

“You see, it is not much,"
apologetically. “It’s but the end of a
name—”

“And an address," finished Joe.

The defective had taken in all there
was on the torn card at a glance, and
it was merely: “ ...umps.
St.”

“You don’t want this, Carl? ”

“ Heavens, no! Don‘t tell Splinters
that I helped you to—night." .

“ Secret for secret, Carl. I wasn’t here
, at all to-night, remember. I didn’t open
I the safe, and I didn’t ask for Splinters.”

The old man bowed. while his little
, eyes glittered.

 

 

CHAPTER V.
THREE or A KIND.

While these events were occurring in
and about the home of the detective’s
friend, in another part of the city other
scenes were taking place which we must.

3 S ; '
“M ‘e. . A < u «L.

 

Once more he returned to the lettering‘

said he, ‘

ter, the detective looked up after his_ 

1 .

No.99 P— w j

    
     
 
 
    
  
  
   
 
  
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
   
    
     
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
 
 
  
  
    
  
  
   
  
   
   
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
    
   
  
   
 
  
  
    
   
  
    
   
   
  
  
    
   
    
  
  

\

    
 

1 3
a u

 

v '  gm?  

  
    

-- "4’?  5‘ fetid” wit}

*7 ,

Genteel Joe’s Lone Hand.

 

 

   
  
  
  
    
   
 
  
  
   
  
    
    
 
   
   
   
    
  
  
   
  
   
  
    
  
   
  
     
   
  
    
    
     
   
   
   
 
   
    
  
    
  
  
  
    
    
  
   
   
   
  
 
  
     
       
      
       
         
     
      
  
    

It was past the hour of midnight, and
a shadow which had been thrown against
more than one building by the street
lamps flitted up a tall and handsome
house and stopped at the door.

There was a light beyond the door, but
the crimson curtain which was down did
3 not let the most prying eye look beyond

- , the portal.

I On the glass was the name, “Jared
 Baker, M. D.,” and below it the lettering
which told at what hours he might be
found at home for service.

The shadow rang the night bell, al-
though the doctor was not a night one,
and the sound swept through the house
' in silvery tones.

' . In a moment easy feet came to the door,
which was opened, and Doctor Baker, car-
,rying in his hands the strangest of ob-
jects, answered the ring in person.
-' “You? Come in."
This was all he said, when into the
house popped the late caller, and the doc-
tor led the way to a large room, still
‘.'toying with the living object in his hands.
5 His visitor was younger than himself,
but was a handsome man, with a strik-
g‘ing physique and well dressed.
" He took a chair without an invitation,
and looked at the doctor.
 There was a good deal of resemblance
between these two men.
 was not only facial, but physical,
_d their eyes were of the same color.
’Doctor Baker threw his pet on the
“bio, where it coiled itself around the
intern of the lamp, and looked at the men
_ With little eyes that seemed to blaze.
' ."‘ You've heard, I suppose, that the
steamer has‘ arrived?” said the caller,
looking at the doctor.
“ I knew she was due.”
“ She is here, but he did not come."
A little smile, barely perceptible, came
the corners of Baker’s mouth, and
frosted there.
“ _“ You mean you haven’t seen him yet? ”
7 No, I mean that he didn’t come on the
Paris. I have looked at the list 'of pas—
gers." .
tgrind you didn’t see his name on the

I did not. - Iknow his writing, and it
not possible for him, even if he took
“the freak, to deceive me.”

Then it’s a disappointment,” quietly
umed Doctor Baker. casting a look at
e/yellow-spotted reptile straightening
on the table cloth.

It’s a brutal delay,” snapped the
, er. “I would give a thousand dollars
, see him to-night.”

ngth a chuckle Baker held out his

 

.22“ Count out the coin! ” he exclaimed. '-
e'other looked at him with aston—

ishment, and then threw a quick glance

. and the room.

You’ve been fooling me. He is here,"

said. .

t that moment a door behind the doc-

r'scl‘iiair new open, and a man stepped

» ar ..

 sector’s visitor rose and started

mar .

He held out his hands with a cry, and
"ped those which were extended to
at him. r
The new comer was-s tall and elegantly

I

'36 ad clear blue eyes, and his beard
t ick find as white as snow. ‘
Mere than this: he - was superny
used, and about him lurked an air of
tuna. -
“.1 didn’t think you would disappoint
thawsaid Doctor Baker's visitor.
, )Not for the world would I have done
is > You didn’t see my name in the pas-
: gs! list simply because I came over
tier another’s." - I ‘
“‘c'A,'good idea!” . ‘
"ll three laughed at this.
Well, major, how goes it?" .he sud-v
it; asked, turning again to Baker’s.



  

  

  

 

   
 

“ Yes. yes, but wait. The doctor tells
me that~" .

A glance from Baker seemed to check
the speaker, for he did not complete his
sentence.

“Hang it all,“ cried the major—Major
Trumps, as many called him—“ Hang it
all, I say, am I never to get hold of the
prize? Don't you gentlemen know that
while 9 lives 1 can‘t do a thing?”

“ Yes, but I‘m here." laughed the steam—
ship‘s passenger.
major, that I'm a host.”

“ I do. I never can forget that—never;
but there‘s the danger, I say.’ Just think
of it—a royal fortune almost within our
grasp, and poly one life between us and
it.” .
“This little fellow would end that,”
and Whitebeard held the reptile above his
head.

“Hang your snakes!” cried Major
Trumps. “ I don‘t believe in such agents.
I can find better, but you must do some-
thing.”

“ It shall be done, major; only have a
little patience.” .

“ I'm growing old.”

“I am old, and my friend, the doctor
here, isn’t far from it.”

Major Trumps nervously ran one of
his hands through his heard, but he did
not speak.

“ She’s devilishly pretty, but if she isn't
in our! hands, what’s the difference if she
has all the beauty of Venus? " he sudden-

} iy growled. «

“ The doctor has just told me that she
is a beauty,” said the passenger.

“She is. She has his ways, and she’s
cool in danger. Don't you remember the
night of the hurricane, Octave? Don’t
you recall how he issued his commands
with the coolness of a veteran, and saved
our precious necks? ”

“ I guess we'll never forget that night.”

“ I’ve dreamed of it a hundred times,
but that is not to hold us back.”

H No."

The snake was tossed across Doctor
Baker’s wrist, and the white-bearded man
rose and stretched himself.

Major Trumps seemed to look up and
measure him with envy,‘but he said noth-
ing.

“ I haven’t quite got my land legs
back," said Whiteboard.

He walked across the room as he
spoke, and then began to pace it rest-
lessly and like one glad to find himself
on land again.

“Tell ‘me," he suddenly exclaimed,
halting in front of Major Trumps and
the doctor, “What ever became of the
little man with the shiny eyes?” .

Doctor and major exchanged glances
full of meaning.

“Why do you ask? ” queried the latter.

“I just happened to think of him.
You remember him, don’t you? I do.
What’s become of him, I ask?"

" Do you want to see him?”

“I do and I do not.”

“ Well, then, you needn't to,”
Major Trumps.

“ Which means that he’s in the city.”

“He is here," said Doctor Baker.
“ They call him Splinters now for want of
a better name; but you needn’t run
across him while you’re here. We'll
arrange that, wo ’t we, major? "

“Certainly. O tave needn’t see him
at all, and Splinters won't stand inany-
body’s road.” a

" That’s'good: but. if he gives me any
trouble-«if this little specimen of nerves
and muscle gets between me and my
plans I'll fix him in a jiffy."

“ And we’ll help,” said both the doctor
and the major in a breath. “ Don't let
Splinters give you a moment’s bather.
Now, when shall the stroke fall? "

“ Don’t be in a hurry.”

“ We may put it 01’! till too
Life's uncertain.”

“Death'is certain,” answered-Doctor

said

late.

    
   

to

 

    
 

“You must remember, ‘

Bakeri'rhisifaoe ‘ stung a title white; 3
v "  ’  ‘ * ’ .943th

“Another experiment in death," said

passenger.

The cage was placed on the cloth, and
in an instant the little serpent that had
dropped to the floor was lifted up and
thrown forward.

The light penetrating the cage showed
a group of guinea pigs, and Doctor
Baker, thrusting in his hand, pulled out,
one which blinked its eyes in the light.

“I didn’t come here to see a pig die,”
said Major Trumps, with some impa-
tience. “I came on weightier business
an ___l!

“ Sit down, major.
rrent.”

“ It’s as old as the law. -I know what
it is. A reptile bites a guinea pig and
the little creature dies. The bite of that
little devil is death, and the scientific
world has never found an antidote for
its venom."

“ What would one be worth, major?”

“ All you could name, doctor.”

“:Then I'll name a big pile. See?"

The little animal, crouching under the
lamp, watched its enemy gliding over-
the green cloth toward it with sparkling
eyes.

Suddenly the reptile darted forward,

It’s a new experi-

and the animal was in its grasp.

“Bravo!” cried the steamer’s passen-
ger.

Doctor Baker merely smiled, 'and Ma-
jor Trumps dropped his head.

The guinea pig received the fangs of
the serpent in its neck.

All at once the pig, fell back and lay
like a dead animal on the cloth.

“ It's ’all over," said the major.
“There was nothing remarkable in
tililat. The labarri has conquered—that’s,
a '9, I
“Now wait and see what man does,"
replied Jared Baker, picking up the ani-
mal and whisking a phial of reddish
liquid from beneath his coat.

“ You don't claim to have found what
the scientific men of the tropics have
hunted in vain for for centuries? "
cried Major Trumps, almost quitting his
chair.

There was no reply.

Doctor Baker drew the animal toward
him and placed the phial between its lips.

In a moment the guinea pig revived:
its eyes, glassy a moment before, got a.
natural look, and in a minute it ran back
to its mates seemingly none the worse.

“Wonderful!” cried Major Trumps;

“ You have found a fortune. Now go
out and sweep it in." "

“ No. It’s merely pastime. Let the
serpent kill its thousands. I don’t care
to save. It’s simply a triumph of
science.”

“But perhaps your antidote would. not
save a human life."
“ I’ll show you.”

and caught the major’s hand.

“ Gods! don’t try it on me,” exclaimed
that worthy, breaking loose. “I’ll take
it for granted that you have found the
antidote for that terrible bite. But
'hang your serpents! they can’t help us
out of the present hole——”

" They am. They kill, and what is
more,,.without me there is no coming:
back to life." "

“Then why don't you make ,him a
present of one of them.” " ~ ‘ .

Jared Baker’s face did no} change
color when he answered: .

. “I turned, two of them loose in his
house not long ago." '

“ Gods! what if they should bite the
girl? ” cried Major Trumps.

CHAPTER VI.

\VHICH THE MAJOR' MAKES AN” AP-
\ POINTMENT

It was another day when Genteefl‘ Joe‘

 

IN

crime. , - .
Long befo e the murde

      
 

 

Major Trumps, looking at the steamer’s.

almost quitting the table with its coils, ‘

Doctor Baker picked up the reptile

went back to the scene of the mysterious.‘

r had be lnzheard L

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i
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r. Jae

 “Mary Wm»; ML.

 

 

          
 

said
ier’s.

and
had
and

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ie,”
pa-
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...~.. 15.7.6“...

 

 

Genteel Joe’s Lone Hand.

 

 

7,!

 

 

him with a face that told- that he had
something of importance to communicate.

" I’ve killed it,” said he.

“The snake?”

“Yes. It’s in my room. Come up and
see it."

Joe followed Savage tip—stairs into a

room, the door of which the coachman
shut carefully before he spoke again.
.. “It was in the library. I watched for
his snake-ship, and caught him as he
poked his head out from under one of the,
cases. The moment I saw it I went for'
the shiny thing, and landed my game in
great shape. I pinned him to the carpet,
and didn’t let up till I had him dead.”

“ Where is it? ”

Sam Savage took a box from the mantel
and opened it.

Genteel Joe leaned over the little box
and looked at the reptile, half coiled in
the bottom.

“I’ll look for more,” said Sam, “and if
that demon doctor fetches another cage
of these things here, why, he'll take him-
self and his serpents off in a jiffy.”

“ See that he does, Savage."

0n the staircase, midway down, the de-
tective saw a man emerge from the
library, and he stopped at once.

This person looked up at him, and
seemed to show his teeth in a smile.

In the hallway the stranger waited for
Joe, and when the ferret had descended
he said: '

“You don’t know me, but you'are the
detective who is to take charge of this
case? My name is Trumps."

“ Yes, sir.", . '

“I am‘ a friend of the family, knew

‘the deceased very well, and am here in

any capacity in which I can be used.”

“I don’t know that I can use you, sir,”
said Joe. “'l‘ime may come whe you
can be of service to me, and if yo will
give me your address I will communicate
with you when I think best."

“With pleasure,” and the other drew
from his pocket a card case, from which
he drew a card the exact counterpart of
the torn one Joe had received from
“Carl.”

‘A glance showed the'detective the name
of .f‘Maior Jackson Trumps, No. 99 P—
Stl‘emi 'City"-the same address which
adhered to the bit of card-board then in
his bosom. _

“At any time, sir," said the major. as‘
he handed the card over. “ I am ever at
your service. Bad thing, this sudden
death, and, what is more, it’s murder."

Genteel Joe at this moment heard the
voice of some one in the parlor, and he
opened the door, to come face to face
with Doctor Baker.

The face of the doctor was calm and
expressionlcss, but the moment he saw
Joe he looked away.

Genteel Joe crossed the room, and
stopped at the window, and not far from
a silent figure that did not stir, but looked
at him with meaning glance.

Miss Lotty, with white face and hands,

.had just come down from her room, and

.nW- stood at the window, looking out

unani‘the street through a rift in the
In.

cunai

Joel“! that she wanted to speak to

him: “6‘ he came closer, addressing her
in low tones. a

“ I am has once more, miss,” said he.
“ Savage tel“ me that he killed a serpent
in the library." .~

“'Yes.”  -

The girl started and lookedat the de-
tective, her face seeming to light up for
a moment, when the oldpalior came back

. once more. I

“ It was not the last one he left with
us that night. Doctor Baker is not the
friend I want in this hour of dark trial.
A man who toys with death in the shape
of serpents cannot secure my esteem."

If the doctor heard these words he
made no sign, but in another moment he

( ., had quietly withdrawn.

 

flgitiyon heel}? " cried Letty. '

If .

 

“I saw it, too. It looks like a death
agent, though it is not thicker than one‘s
finger. He let these reptiles escape that
night. That’s what he fetched them here
for.”

“Would he do this, Miss Lotty? Why
should Doctor Baker turn loose a lot of
snakes in this house?”

“He knows and I can guess. Did you
see the man who calls himself Major
Trumps? You may have seen him, for
he came shortly after Doctor Baker ar—
rived this morning, and may be here
still.”

“I met him as I came down from
Savage’s room.” '

“These men are close friends. I never
heard father mention the name of Jack—
son Trumps, though this man told me
that years ago they used to be well ac—
quainted. It may be, though. Father
never told me about himself; there
seemed to be one or two hidden chapters
in his life, and I never pressed him for
them.”

“You never saw this Major Trumps
here before to-night? ”

1‘ No.1!

There came to the door a footstep that
stopped there, but no one came in.

- “Did you hear that?” cried the girl,
her ear catching' the sound, light as it
was. .

The detective nodded.

“It may have been Major Trumps, the
bane of my life. 'He walks like a panther
in his cage, rind his voice sounds evil in
my ears. That man is to be mixed up in
my life. I feel it.”

Joe walked over to the door, taking
care not to make a noise on the soft car—
pet, but the moment he opened it he
smiled.

No one was in sight.

He heard voices in the library just
across the hall, but not a human being
could he see. .

He came back to the waiting girl and
reported. a

“It was a {botstep,” said Lotty. “We
heard it, Mr. Nichols. The house isn't
haunted. Major Trumps is here for no
good. But wait. I want to show‘you
the papers.” .

She left the room, and came back with
a package of papers in her hands.

“What shall I do with these? They
were found in the desk in the library. I

foundi them there this morning, and he.

must have been looking at them lately.
for papers of this sort/he would naturally
keep under lock and key."

“You may hold your father’s will in
your hands.”

“ That is true, and that is whytI want
to know what I shall do with them."

“ You might lock them in the safe till
after all ’is over." '

“ Thanks. I had thought of that, Mr.
Nichols. I will do it, but, as the library
is Occupied now, I will take them to my
jewel safe and secure them there."

Once more the detective was left alone
in the parlor, and for a moment he heard

the sound of Lotty Daniels’s footsteps on1

the stairs. .

The moment she left him some one
came to the door, and it opened softly, to
admit Major Trumps.

“Alone, are you, Nichols?" said this
worthy, slipping forward in a manner
which recalled Lotty’s comparison. “ I’m
glad of it. I would like to see you in
private, but not here. Could you drop
around to my house, say to-night? Set
your own hour.” -

“I can come at seven.”

“ That will do. I will expect you. I

want to get to the bottom of this affair

as soon as possible, and I may be able
to give you a little clew.”

Half an hour afterward the detective
stood on a corner not far from his own
quarters, With the whirr of the busy city
round him. -

He was watching the movements of a.
when it I

figure which he ~wsil}knew~,. and
turned a bi t.  rose
 ‘.‘ ,3‘g’ ’s: '

 

  
  
   
  
  
    
   
  
 
   
  
   
 
  
 
  
    
  
 
  
  
   
  
 
  
   
   
   
   
  
 
    
   
   
 
  

along, keeping out of the crowds, and at ’
last stepping up to a house, the bell of
which he rang.
As the figure of Splinters whisked itself
out of sight a smile passed over the fer-
ret’s face, and he waited thirty minutes
for his reappearance.
Not far away rolled the river, with its
countless craft, and beyond in the sun-
light glistened 'the waters of the bay.
Splinters seemed to give the detective
a long and useless vigil, but at last he
came out and put off.
He looked cautiously about as he came
down the steps and started away, swing-
mg his thin body in a peculiar movement,
and carrying Genteel Joe from one street
to another.
“ Splinters! ”
The little man stopped. ,_
As he turned he caught sight of the.
detective, and a cold light danced up in
his eyes.
Perhaps he recalled their last meeting
and his threat. ¢
“ This way, Splinters,” continued Joe..
"I don‘t intend to take you to my den,,
but we'll talk' a moment in another place.
‘Tommy’s’ will do.” I
" All right, go to ‘ Tommy’s.’ ”
Splinters turned of his own accord, and ..
in another minute the pair were seated in " ‘
the back roomof a small wine-shop, with‘
a. table between them. ; I ' ,
The place known as “Tommy’s” Was
not very well lighted, and the face of
Splinters looked darker than usual in]
the shades of the chamber. ‘ 
“ What is it, Joe? ” demanded the little '
man. ' j
“ It’s not much, Splinters; I merely
brought you here to look at you 'andto
see if you really meant what you said in
my den.” '
Splinters winced a little and drew back.-
“ You threatened me—me—Joe.”
“ I know I did.”
“ But you didn’t mean it, Splinters? "
“ Why didn‘t I? ” > a
“ Why should you try to keep my hands
from aveuging a foul murder? You don ’
want to link your name with a crime»
like theone which took place in Duke”
Daniels's mansion? ” ' ~.
The iips‘of Splinters met, but he d d
not speak.  " '
“ It would almost make you an acces-
sory," said the detective. _
_ “I’m not that. Have a care how yes
accuse me, Joe." I  -

and if you stand between me, remem \
that you will be swept from my path 
chaff.” .
The face of Splinters dropped ad
gree, and his eyes sought the floor. ‘ 
All the time Genteel Joe was watchinf
him like a hawk. . ’ _
Would Splinters retract and disc
the secret which he kept so well,
would he show his teeth like a bye
and growl? ‘ ’
“ Have you found a cle’w
suddenly asked. . . ~
“ I will have one before morning”:
"A true one, Joe—a real good' bun
ciew? ” ' ' ~
“ Undoubtedly.” , 
“I’m glad. of that—really, I hope M
will prove a good clew, but let me ”
you one thing. Keep your eyes apes.
‘don’t sleep on this trail. I kno'fl'f
I’m talking about. and if you tail?
bilame Splinters for not warning.
tme." ' ’
That was all; the lips of Splintersoa
together again, and he was asdumb
an oyster. ‘ . . ' ‘

yet? '

,, ,. - . CHAPTER v11. I
GENTEEL  AND MAJOR; I
teal. oef‘ ed

 

 
   

8

l

Gent

 

borhood, ard he had investigated it a lit-
tle.

Major Trumps was an exclusive 3ndi~
vidual, who was not known outside the
house he occupied, and wno, as a neigh—
bor, did not enjoy the confidence or his
fellow—beings.

The house was a two-story brick, with
tight shutters which, from their appear-
ance, did not open very often to let the
sunlight in, and the buJ snchd but iew
signs of having been recently rung.

The hour set apart for the interview
was quite early, and at the very minute
the City Shadow presented himself on
tne steps.

His hand had barely touched the bell
ere the door was opened, and Major
Trumps, w':h eager countenance, stood
just beyond.

He ushered Genteel Joe into a room to
one side of the little corridor, where he
turned the gas a trifle higher, letting it
flood the place with light, and showing
the detective a room plainly furnished
alter the manner of a man of the world.

“ It’s my nest—not a very fine one, but
good enough for the bird that occupies
it,” smiled the Major, as he waved his
visitor to a seat, which was taken at
once.

Genteel Joe waited for his host' to pro-
ceed, which Major Trumps did, as he
pushed a box of Havanas toward his
guest.

“It is about the affair on the avenue
that I wish to see you," he said. “i
happen to know a little about the early
life of Duke Daniels, and I thought that
a chapter from it might throw some
light upon his death.”

“It might. Clews are what we want
just now.”

“ Exactly. Clews, and then the closing
in. That’s it. We want first the trail,
and the rest follows as a natural se-
quence.”

Major Trumps blew a wreath of smoke
ceilingward, and rested his elbow on the
table.

“ I first met Duke Daniels twenty years
ago. We were fellow-travelers on the
continent, and spent some time together
in Paris. At that time he was not the
wealthy man he afterward became, but
he had a fair share of this world's goods,
and was contemplating marriages

“We visited the sights of gay Paris,
and became fast friends, to part after-
ward in Rome, and not to meet again till
this morning, when I saw my friend dead
in his own mansion. I would never have
dreamed of such a meeting twenty years
ago.

“During our rambles through Paris
we came across all sorts and conditions
of men. Daniels was a passionate man.
a man full of the spirit of liberty. so
’much so that one night we nearly got
into trouble by his declaration of rights
in a cafe. .

“It came about in a flash. A dark-
faced little man, whom we afterward
'learned was one of the most noted duel-
lists of Paris—the Count Something-or—
other—made a remark which inflamed
my friend, and in an instant he had
broken a bottle over the Frenchman's
head. It was all I could do to keep the
count from running Daniels through with
his sword, but I managed to get between
the two and to get my friend out of the
cafe, though a howling mob thundered
at our heels.

“I don't suppose Daniels forgot that
incident to the day of his death. He
used to insist that I saved his life on
that occasion, though I would have done
the same for any other American under
like circumstances. It was the last I
saw of the count, though I understood
that he hunted the cafes for Daniels, and
at last swore vengeance. saying that he
would have his blood if he had to wait
fifty years for the chance.

“I left him in Rome, as I have said.
and we did not r.eet again. I knew that
he was a multimillionaire in this city.
but our paths are not the same, so I
failed to call on him. Now he has been
struck down by the hand of 'an assassin,

 

  

...a_~,.

eel   Hand.

and I have but just left him in his little  came back to me in the dash of an eye,

chamber."

Major Trumps replaced his cigar, held
during the narrative between thumb and
finger, and looked at the man who had
waited for the end of the story.

“By the way, you never inquired the
count’s name? ” asked Genteel Joe.

“ Never did. i might have found out,
but he was so contemptible that I did
not think of it at the time. He was one
of those small, wiry fellows, who are all
nerves and coolness, for in all my life I
never saw ~uch a face as that which
leered over our table that night in the
cafe, while a naked sword wanted to
sheathe itself in Daniels's heart. I would
have called the count out and shot him.
but, as he was a swordsman and would
have chosen rapiers, I would have been
left on the grass for my pains.”

“It cannot be, major, that the old
quarrel in the Parisian cafe has any-
thing to do with last night’s crime? "

“ There’s no telling. The oath of the
count may have entered into the dark
matter, and I thought I would mention it
to you.”

Joe Nichols saw the flaw half concealed
behind a whiff of smoke, and noticed that
the eyes were sparkling wth eagerness.

“Dr. Baker tells me that the death of
Daniels was caused .by a stab in the
neck."

“ It was."

“The blade“of the dagger reached the
heart? ”

“ Yes."

“Now. if the assassin only had left
anything behind that would give you a
clew—"

“He left something behind," broke in
the detective.

“Indeed? In the house? "

Genteel Joe drew from his pocket a
sheet of paper, which he proceeded to
open before the major.

“ He left this,” said he, looking up and
catching the cold gray eyes watching not
him, but the document. “ This was found
on a table in the house, but not in the

library.”
“But, see! It has been pierced. with
something.”

“It was pierced with a dagger."

“Good! With the blade that did the
work at the desk?”

“I think not. You see the outlines of
the coffin on the sheet and the name of
the victim written across it.”

“It is true—the villain! ” cried.- Major
Trumps, leaning forward and trying to
read the writing on the sheet before him.

“ It looks like a vendetta."

“Just what the count would have made
in his passion. ,Great Caesar. Nichols,
do you think he had a hand in it?”

“That lies in the future. We will
find out the motive and then nail the
man.”

“ Do it! You’ll be doing me a favor it’
you do."

“ It shall be done,” cried Joe, with
positiveness. “This is a dark affair, no
doubt of that, but light will come. and
your friend will be avenged, major.”

“And if you find the count at the
end of the trail, don‘t let. him go. Let
me have a look at him. I'll identify him,
for time cannot erase his looks from my
mind.”

“ Is‘ this the chapter from Duke Dan-
iels‘s life which you wished to impart? ”

“It is one of them. I have another,
but I‘fear that will throw no light what-
ever upon the trail."

“We cannot tell."

“Five years ago I came across a wo-
man in one of the parks of this city. She
was quite alone. and was habiterl in deep
black. There was something about her
which drew my attention, and I ap-
proached her to relieve her distress, if
possible. At sound of my voice she
started and looked up, throwing back her
vail with a light cry.

“In an instant there came back to me

'the scene in the cafe, for on that night

the French count was not alone, for he
had with him a beautiful Parisian, whom
I now saw for the second time.

 

".I " w >;,   .1...
J" 'T. "‘"Y ‘Z'- n :.'.>

 

It all

I say. The beauty in the park was the
beauty of the cafe, and her face flushed
deeply as she ins.anuy seemed to recog—
nize me.

“I did not offer to relieve her wants,
for her face told me that she was not
in distress, but in a few seconds I with—
drew, with an apology, to be followed,
1 am sure, by her deep black eyes.

“ You may put this and that together
and make out of it whatever you can,"
smiled the major, resuming his cigar.
“ The meeting in the park told me that
the fair companion of the count, a good
deal older, but still fair, had nOt forgotten
me, and I thought at the time of the
count’s oath. That is the second chapter
of the story I want you to hear, Mr. Nich-
ols. It belongs to you now, and I am only
too glad to recall these incidents, in
hopes that they may lead to the right
trail, and enable justice, through you, to
score a success."

The ferret looked away, and his face
assrmed a strange hue.

“ You see, it was a dagger thrust. The
count was a swordsman, and the woman
—I heard afterward that she had Italian
blood in her veins—you know the rest.”

Major Trumps threw down his cigar
and leaned back in his chair.

Genteel Joe heard a footstep beyond the
door across the room, but he made no
Sign.

lie was not alone in the house with the
major.

“I thank you,” said the detective.
will see about this. There may be more
in your story than you think. We often
find a starting point far back of the deed.”

“ I thought so.”

“ Success to you. If you don‘t find the
hand it won’t be your fault. I've heard
of you-—-a keen, cool-headed ferret, and
Just the man to undertake this mission.”

Joe pretended to be flattered by the
majors praise, and admitted it.

In another minute he stood near the
door, hat in hand, with his face turned
toward the portal beyond which he had
heard the velvety step.

“You’re always to be
major?" said he.

“ Always, or nearly so.”

“ You know Doctor Baker? "

“ Yes, and a nice gentleman he is, too.
one of those men you can trust and ad—
mlre. He will give you all the assistance
he can in this matter." ‘

“ Yes—a man with a cool head on his
shoulders,” said the detective, and then
he bowed his way out, and stood once
more under the lights of New York.

He looked back at the house behind
him, and saw between the slats of one.
of the windows a face outlined, and a
pair of keen, flashing eyes.

It vanished almost the moment
looked, and he walked away.

If he had looked into the room he had
just vacated he would have seen Major
Trumps standing at the table. with a
glass of wine poised in his effeminate
hand.

All at once he laughed, and set the
goblet down.

“Count on me for a good play.“ said
he to himself, but aloud. “I haven’t, lost
any of my old cunning, and I‘m just as
cool headed as I was ten years ago, By
Jove! I‘m rightly named. I‘m Trumps
by name and trumps by nature! ”

Then,he threw himself into a, chair at
the table, and drew toward him a sheet
of paper, which he began to cover with
writing at a rapid rate,

Ten minutes afterward Genteel .lce
Nichols climbed the stairs to his little
quarters near Broadway. and llnlOCked
the door.

As he turned on the gas he heard a
springy footlall in the hall beyond, and
the door, rs it was thrust open, gave him
a glimpse of a face.

A i-aper fell at his feet, and the foot-
steps went back.

Joe sprang forward and picked up the
paper, opening it at the same time.

The next moment he uttered a start-
ling exclamation.

\
4

(II

found here,

he

,1,

 

.9

2
l
.3

    

 

I
i

Genteel Joe’s Lone Hand.

9

 

CHAPTER VIII.
DII’I’S.

The detective held in his hand a bit
of paper on which had been scrawled
a startling message.

He read it at a glance, and then,
looking toward the door, he sprang
across the room, and in another mo—
ment was looking into the hall.

No one was in sight.

Still gripping the paper, Genteel Joe
ran down the steps to the sidewalk and
looked right and left,

The lights showed him the sidewalk
to the nearest corner, and he saw fully
twenty people.

But from among them he did not dare
try to single out the person he had not
even seem—the bearer of the letter.

“A little too late,” said Joe, as he
went slowly back, and in his quarters
he dropped into his arm-chair.

Once more his gaze fell upon the lines
before him.

Once more he read:

“ Major Trumps is a liar from ‘way
back. Not one word of truth in the
yarn he spun to-night. There is no
French count and no veiled woman in
the park. Watch the major.

A. FRIEND.”

More than once the detective read
these lines, and as often reflected.

Truth to tell. he had doubted the story
told by Major Trumps.

He believed that he had been invited
to the place to .be stuffed with a narra-
tive invented for the purpose.

Genteel Joe folded the paper at last
and put it away.

He had scrutinized the writing. but
had failed to recognize it.

If “A Friend” had really brought it
to his door, why conceal himself by
sneaking off in the light and shadows
'and not let him confirm the story of the
paper?

Joe Nichols had received a good many
surprises in his time, but this was one
of the mysterious sort.

He bolted from the room at last, as
if for want of a better plan, and ap-
peared on the street.

This time he was not looking partic-
ularly for the bearer of the message.

A few minutes later he turned up in
another part of the city and looked
across a small room into the face of a
man about his own age.

“Here. Judson.” said he. taking the
letter from his pocket and tossing it
into the man’s lap. ” Here's something
for you. I don't come to see You Veri‘
often, but when I do come I have some
work for you."

Judson, the expert in chirography,
smiled and slowly opened the letter.
which he spread on the green baize
table before him.

Genteel Joe leaned back and waited.

“It’s a plain case,” said the expert.
“ It’s almost too plain to talk over.”

“What is?”

“Why, the identity of the writer of
these lines."

“ He tells it all in his writing. does
he?”

“Couldn’t have done it better if he
had Pinned his photograph to the sheet.”

"Very Well; go on, Judson."

“Here’s a nervous, eager man who
writes with his left hand and who
would not do anything by day that he
could do by night. Why, look at the
formation of these t’s and the queer
dots over the 1’s. It’s character per-
sonified. Nothing plainer ever came to
my workshop, Joe. Don’t you know a
left-handed man, nervous, and of the
character I have mapped out? ”

Joe reflected.

“I know a little fellow who some-
times uses his left hand—”

“ Ambidextrous, is he? Well, that de-
scription might fit in this case. I
should say he could write with his right
hand, but this is left-handed work.”

“ I used to know a person of this sort,
but he hasn’t been in the city in six
months; that is, not that I’ve seen.”

i, I .
P1.” . -, nu

 

“He may have come back. He was a
friend of yours, eh?”

“Yes, yes. I fished him out of the
river one night just before I did Splint-
crs a like turn, but Dipps isn‘t about
now."

“He may have come back.”

“If he did there’s one place he'd
break for—the old nest in Doyers
Street."

“ You might try it. But what’s up?
What about this story which one Major
Trumps has ,spun you? ”

Genteel Joe looked across the table
and smiled.

“ You don‘t read the newspapers very
carefully, Judson.”

“Not very. I‘m stupid, I know.”

“It‘s a dark case——a bit of crime, a
murder in upper tendom.”

“And I missed it? Too bad! ”

“You may have heard of Duke Dan-
iels—”

“Why, I know the man. Not three
months ago he came to me with some
work. He wanted a letter read in my
way wanted to know if I could tell him
about an anonymous writer by the writ—
ing. And my reply so pleased him that
he left a double fee on the table.“

,“He wasralways liberal,” said Joe.
“ Well, you’ve had him for a patron for
the last time.”

“' You don’t tell me—”

“ He’s the victim.”

“ Murdered? ”

“Just so.”

“Tell me, or do you want to go right
out and see if Dipps has come back? ”

Genteel Joe looked at his watch. and
concluded he had plenty of time, and
settled back in the chair for the story
of Duke Daniels’ tragic end.

In Judson, the expert, he had an at-
tentive auditor, and not until the story
was ended was he interrupted.

“ You ought to get at the motive for
this crime, I believe that you will.”

“I shall go straight to it when I once
get started. I shall spend a little time
in picking tip the threads and then—-
then for the end of the game. Judson."

“If your strange letter writer tells the
truth, you must look out for this Major
Trumps.”

“ Leave that to me. Trumps may not
hold the best hand at the end of the
play. despite his name. It was a well-
told tale, and the mysterious count of
the cafe was as distinguished a looking
hero as one would wish to encounter
anywhere."

" And the veiled beauty of the park?
“hat a vivid imagination your friend,
the major has to be sure.”

Judson broke into a little laugh, dur-
ing which Genteel Joe rose to go.

“ Try Doyers Street. I bank my repu—
tation on the correct reading of your
correspondents character. Left-handed,
eager. and nervous. You say that fits
Dipps. Well, try Doyers, Joe.”

“I will.”

The detective, with the letter burning
his pocket, walked rapidly from the
house of the expert.

He had used Judson before, and knew
the wonderful correctness of his read-
ings of characters.

Turning into the street to be searched
for a myth or a living person, he dodged
up a flight of steps and ran into a tall
tenement and almost against a man in
the shadows of the hall.

Dipps had had a nest in that place,
but had not been in the city for months.

Still there was the expert’s story, the
left-handed man, and the nervous writ-
ing.

Joe paused on the fourth floor of the
dingy place. '

It was one of those human bee-hives
that dot the city from Harlem to the
Battery.

At one end of the long corridor where
he had halted was a dark shadow which
his keen eye could not penetrate.

There was also a door there, and the
detective, pausing before it, saw over the
transom a light. '

In another moment he

 

; “.3 J! '_ ...
3.1.. :1 r....

 

had turned the

knob and pushed the unlocked portal
open.

A cry greeted him.

As he went forward some one
from a chair and stood before him.

The figure of a man holding a pair of
scissors in his left hand threw a shadow
on the wall behind him, but the detect-
ive uttered a name that was repeated in
echo.

“ It is Dipps! ”

The man with the scissors
and clutched the table.

His face at first became livid and then
white.

He stared at Genteel Joe. and his skin
seemed to draw itself tight ox er his
cheek bones.

“Who told you where I was? " he dc-
manded.

“ NeVer mind, Dipps.
you."

“You tracked me hcie."

“Did you expect to get away item me?
Why did you' throw the letter into the
room and then slink off like a coward? ”

“The letter?—-the writing? I can‘t
write.”

The little man—lie was thin and wiry
like Splinters——held out his right hand
and showed a withered member with
great scars running down to the wrist.

The detective did not look long at it,
but glanced at the other mcniber and
then into the man’s face.

“ It was a' left hand's work," said he.
“ Sit down there, Dipps, and try the
pen.”

“ No. Don‘t force me to betray myself.
I thought you wouldn‘t find me, but when
one gets away from you, Joe, they out—
wit fate, that's all.”

“Now, Dipps, before I listen to the
story of your wanderings, I want to know
what you know about my friend and yarn
spinner the major.”

“ You know that he lied to you
night.”

“ So your note said. But how did you
know he told any such a story? ”

Once more the color fled from Dipps
face, and he winced.

“You don’t intend to deny the note,
Dipps? ”

“No. I can’t do that.
with my left hand."

“I know it.”

“It was done to warn you. I can't go
back on the man who fished me, wretch
though I am, from the Hudson. But I
dare not tell how I know the falsity of
Major Trumps’ tale.”

“ You don‘t fear him, Dipps.”

“ I make confession. I fear that man,
Joe. I cannot tell you how during the
last six months my fortunes have become
linked to his. I dare not repeat the story
of my fall. I belong to the man I haxe
betrayed, but i could not help warning
you. It was the old love, Joe; but I
never thought of being found by you
here—in the old nest.”

“ You have been found, Dipps. And
yet, after all, knowing that this story of
the count and the veiled beauty of the
park is a myth, you keep back the‘truth.
Who is Major Trumps? ”

“You have his name—Major Jackson
Trumps.”

“ But his real identity? There is some-
thing back, Dipps, something in the
career of this man whose slave you are,
and you are the very person to give me
the right clew, for the mystery of the
avenue shall be cleared up, in spite cf
fate.”

Dipps breathed hard, and turned his
face from the light.

“When I penned that note for you,
Joe, it was on the spur of the moment,
with the scene on the river rushing over
me. When I found myself down on the
street, after throwing the note into your
room, I felt a demon chill at my heart,
and I cut through half a dozen alleys to
the old nest. Tell you what I know
about Major Trumps? If I do I will be
‘tIhe suspected traitor, and 1—1 dare nor,

0e."

The hand of the detectives crossed the
space between them, and his eyes became

1'0556

fell back

I'm glad to see

i (2-

y

It was done

 

vane

‘10..

.'

Gent-eel Jo’e’sggone Hand.

 

 

 

fastened upon Dipps' face, as the fingers
closed round his wrist.
I “ You want me to fall into the hands
' of the slayer, do you? You have the
secret, the one Splinters pretends to
know. Now, Dipps, out with it. Who is
Major Trumps? “
Cold sweat came out on the little man‘s
forehead. .
, “I can’t! I can‘t!” he cried.
‘ the infernal reptiles!"

 
 
  
 
  
    
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
   
  
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
  
 
   
  
   
  
 
  
   
     
   
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
   
  
  
   
 
 
    
   
  
 
  
    
  
  
  
 
   
    
   
  
 
  
   
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
   
 
 
 
  
  
    
 
   
   
 
  

“ I fear

CHAPTER IX.
THE BRANDED “05031.
“The reptiles?" queried the detective.
“Come, Dipps. don‘t joke with me."
“It's no joke. You don‘t know the
cunning of Major Trumps.”

"‘ But the idea of a man of your clever-
: ness being frightened by a lot of snakes,
and in New York, at that!"

“ It's true," and .Dipps relapsed into
silence. “ I would have broken away
rfrom him long ago if I could, but I can-
' not." 0
. “ Very well; then you can serve me."

I i f‘ By betraying. him? Why, my head
" wouldn‘t be worth trying to keep on my
shoulders.”

“ But I want the truth, no matter what

it costs. You don't want to stand between
Justice and her own."
“No, but you ask too much, Joe—too
much from Dipps. Let me be! Go out
and work out the mystery with the clew
I have given you. Keep eye and ear
open, and, above all things. don’t let
Major Trumps stuff you with stories
about imaginary counts and mythical
yelled women in city parks.”

The little man with the withered hand
rose, and walked the room with nervous
strides. 4 .

. The gaze of Genteel Joe followed him
back and forth, as he walked from wall
' ,wall, with lowered head and silent.

“ You won’t tell me more, eh, Dipps? "
said Joe at last.

 “ Don’t. tempt me.”

«“ You said once that you would do any-
 Aing.for me—anything in the world——
,y‘ourput it that strong, you remember—~"
.“I forget nothing," interrupted Dipps,
ausing, and looking over at Joe.

“ You said, too, that if ever you could
,clear up a mysterious c'ase for me you
did betray your best friend to do it."

I did, I did! "

“ Now, Dipps, What about that pledge? ”
’ ,The man came back to his chair, and
sank into it, his face white and ghastly.
“But there’s the envenomed death,"
0 cried. “That is‘ the horror that con~
nts me."
,, Yen mean the serpents? " ,
“The serpents—the pets of the demo
' tor and the death agents well known
Major Trumps."
,Genteel Joe leaned toward the speaker
 looked him fairly in the face for
, its minute.
' ‘Dipps, you needn't tell me; I‘ll go to
"e trail, and if my hand strikes you
‘ ,with the others. why don’t blame

I I won‘t blame you, sir. I
loan it justice. But I can’t open my
 th'now. Only, keep an eye on Major
"ps'and his friends." v

 His friends? " - I
Yes. There! let me' alone now, Joe.
3' may come When ‘I can speak, but
" it what I know'might not do you
" d. It might not give you one
be "on the crimson skein. It’s avdark
e; the papers say; the old man ’was
bad in his own house and'no one
I essed the deed but the murderer."
it?! teal Joe went to the door and
k ‘fiback’ upon Dipps in the chair, still
ts 'and silent:  ‘ . ' ‘

,Goodi-by, Joe,” said he of thd,_with-
 "hand; ' ' ' ‘
' he spoke he moved
“into the light and the detective’s

 
 

  

     
    
  
   
   

  

hadn't this when we met last " said
i ‘. With a smile. “ I had a'good. hand
' infernal

9..
w
c:
'8
:3
F:

   
  

       
    

 

the maimed ~

mind, Joe. It was my fault and foolish-
ness. Good—by! ‘ .

The door closed and the detective stood
on the landing with a flight of steps be-
fore him.

Dipps was a queer character.

The visit had not netted Joe very
much, but- still enough to tell him that
the man with the withered hand knew
something about Major Trumps and that
worthy's friends.

Dipps was the person who had thrown
the warning note into his room; Dipps
had followed him, probably from the
major's house, and, intent on giving him
a bit of valuable information even at the
risk of his life, had penned the note
which had betrayed him, thanks to Jud-
son, the expert.

As for Dipps, he remained in the chair
for at least ten minutes like a man in
a trance.

The ferret went down to the sidewalk
and thence toward his own quarters.

But Dipps sat still.

Presently there came to the little man's
door a light, shuffling footstep, which
stopped there.

Dipps turned his eyes wearily toward
the portal and fell to watching it.

A rap sounded and the little tenant of
the dirty room said: “Come in."

As the portal slid open he caught sight
of a face which seemed to startle him into
new life, for he not only sat bolt upright
in the chair, but his eyes snapped, and
the one good hand slipped over the edge
of the table spasmodically.

“Who was he, Dipps?” inquired the
new comer, as he shufiied forward, a
short, thick man with a face of iron and
grey eyes that emitted a cool, reptilian
light.

Dipps looked courageous.

“What is it to you, Goldstein? What
do you want? .

“ Much, perhaps. \Who was he———your
caller?"

“ Not the man you care‘ to meet, per-
haps.” ,

“ Come, no insinuations. You’re not
of much force, Dipps, nothing more than
the major’s slave and helper.”

“ Gods! The major! What do you
know about him? "

“Never mind! Answer my question.

Wasn't that. man a human blood-
hound?"

“What if he.was?”, .
“ Wasn’t it Joe Nichols—Genteel
Joe?" '

“Yes.” ‘

“I thought so. Why didn’t you save
breath and say so at first? So it was
Joe Nichols—the man I have been look-
ing for these many weeks.” . I

“ It’s all 'right if he isn‘t looking for
you, Goldstein.” ‘

“ Silence! ” thundered the other. “ No
insinuations, I say. When he looksifor
a man be generally finds him, but he’s
not so easy to find himself."

'Dipps looked across the table at the
little eyes regarding" him, but his lips
did not part.

.“Yes,” continued Goldstein, "-l’ve
been'wanting to see Joe Nichols for
weeks, but/I was a little afraid to ven-'
ture .out"

n  n I

The man suddenly bared 'his breast.

Upon the not very light skin Was a
mark at which Dipps stared with ibuig-
ing eyes. ' ' r ,

Loo'k well'at‘ it,” smiled Goldstein,
his eyes glittering. ".It's a mark I’m not
very proud of. but It can’t help it."

"It’s a‘brand," sald'Dipps. V ,

“ No matter what it is. It’s there, and
will remain till Goldstein passes in his
checks at' death's counter. - It's not very
pretty, and I’m not [at all proud of, it,
I say. But, Dipps. if you had such a
keepsake, would you venture on the
street with thousands of eyes looking
at you and ask for Joe Nichols, the best
known and' keenest ferret in Gotham?”
"‘ I, don't think I would,“ confessed
Dig s ' ‘ ’ . -

 

 

d

 

 

. i '
a mark, too—the little hand on the .edge
of the table.”

Dipps withdrew the withered hand,
but not too quick for Goldstein.

“ it isn‘t a burned hand. It don’t look
like that. It looks like a bitten mem-

er."

A sudden cry parted Dipps’ lips, and
he flinched.

" I’ve seen a hand just like it. It was
a right hand, too. There was the drawn
fingers and the scars, like cuts, running
to the wrist, as it‘ some blade had cut
deep to take out the poison of fangs."

“Great heavens! man, you’re a won-
der! " '

“ I‘m only Lukey Goldstein. Don‘t put
me down in the catalogue of seers or
Witches. Just call me Goldstein, but, as
I was saying, the other hand I saw once
was scarred just like yours."

“ Whose was it? ”

.“ The owner of that hand was beau-
t1ful! She would have shone anywhere
but her hand was terrible.” ,

“ It was a shame,” cried Dipps.

“It was her fault, just like that hand-
was yours.‘ She looked into matters that
did not concern her, and got the scars.“

“ Did the reptiles bite her?"

“ There! I’m not saying anything
about snakes. Did I mention them
Dipps? ” ’

“ No, but you s ok
insinuated_” p e of fangs, and you

“ What a mind you have! You must
be a mind reader, Dipps. But since you
have suggested serpents, suppose we talk
about them.” ;

“ Not for the world, Goldstein! Talk on
any other subject but that one. You
can’t draw me out. You should not try.”
f Ggldlstein ileaned back in his chair, and
or a a m nute fixed his e '
the maimed. yes on Dipps’

“ I see. Unpleasant subject. Very well.
We don‘t talk about reptiles. Your hand
is proof that the subject would not be a.
congenial one. ‘By the‘ way, how is the
major? " ‘

Dipps said'nothing. \

“ Another tabooed subject, eh?”

" You are trying to irritate me. I halt
believe you took quarters in this house
for the purpose of watching me."

“ As though you were worth watching!
you, a man with a withered hand.”

“Yes, even that.” ‘

" See here, Dipps, my boy. Let's come
to an understanding. Would you mind
taking a note from me to Major
Trumps? ” , »

“I would. I am not a letter carrier.
There’s the Post-\Ofiice, and the mail box
is on, the corner. You can write, Gold-
stein, and, what is more, I believe you:
know where the major lives.” .'

“I know, but I don’t care to go out,”
and the speaker significantly touched his
breast. “ I will send him a letter by you,
Dipps."

A, “No, sir!"

“ I will, fool!
hand that may not be a pleasant one for
you. Don‘t think that because I‘m in
hiding in this old beehive that I‘m power-
ess.
now and you can wait for it."

Goldstein shufiied from the" room, and

Dipps heard his door close upon his rig-K

ure.

Five minutes later, during which time, .
Dipps had not stirred from the chair, .

Goldstein came back holding/in his‘hand
a. letter which was sealed
danb of red wa‘x. ' . , .,

“ Take it to‘the major,".sa_id he,.‘throw-’
ing the letter on‘the table. : ‘ ‘ ‘
-Dlpp_s‘did‘ not move. ‘ ‘

“ Come, fool and ass! ” roared; Gold-
stein, bending over'the table.
at once. to Major Jackson Trumps and

.»
r J .

deliver it with the seal intact or—or—- 

I’ll flay you alive! "

The rounded face before Dippswui'the I

incarnation of a‘ storm,» and the, 'eyes
‘ seemed to bulge from his head.
Dippsrpicked 'up the missive and found
it heavier, than an ordinary letter.
 ".’-req1r ‘l,

  

If you refused‘ll play a'

Come, Dipps,“ I’ll pen the mlSsive'

with), great. ,

‘3 Take it '

 

 

 

 «

 

    

.- A5”

   

  

 

 

your hands." said Goldstein, who, despite
his name, had nothing of the Jew about
him.  You can carry it in your bosom.
You needn‘t wait for an answer. There
won't be any."

Still looking him in the facehDipps
put the letter in his pocket and pushed
back his chair.

“Now, sir, straight to the major! You
know where to find him. Hand it to
him, no matter Where he be, and see that
he looks underneath the waxen seal.”

"‘ What are you, Goldstein—man or
devil? " cried Dipps.

“Both!” grinned the other,
‘ the table with his chubby hand.

u A}.

striking

 

CHAPTER X.
e "mi: LIVING PACKAGE.
Dolliver Dipps departed at once on his
‘ mission. , '
It was a task he did not like, but the
terrible threat of Goldstein drove him on.
“If I find him at home and deliver
the message I‘ll hear an outburst of pas-
sion and maybe get my foot into it, be
sides,” be reflected. “ I know Major

Trumps. I know but little about Gold-
stein, but the man with the mark on his
breast is not as honest as he should be,
for he would not be afraid to go out and

i post a letter a few steps from the door.”
i r It did not take Dipps long to find the
 little brick house inhabited by the major.
" But that worthy was not at home, for

Dipps, with a familiarity which told that

he was a frequent visitorlat the house,
' entered by a latchkey and made his way
to the parlor. only to find it empty.

For halt a minute he stood in the room,

* the sole tenant, and then he left.
‘ " There‘s another place to look for
him,” said he.

Not long thereafter he ran up the steps
ofDoctor Baker‘s residence and jerked
the bell. \

,, Dims held the withered right hand
underneath his garment, as he did so,
and heard footsteps in the hall.

He stood face to face with the doctor
himself, and the man of medicine eyed
him for a second curiously.

. “ Come in. He's here,” said Jared Bakv
er, and Dipps was ushered into the house
and thence to a room alongside the hall.

In this apartment he‘found not only
Major Trumps. but a handsome white-
bearded man occupying chairs, while
another chair drawn close'to/ the table

 

called from a {ctr-414011".

,“ The devil! you here?" cried Major
Trumps, at sight of Dipps. “ What's
u ?”

p” I’ve got a letter for you.”

“ For me. Let’s have it.”

Dipps hesitated even as his hand moved
toward his pocket, and am three Watched
him with eagerness mingled with curi-
osity.

, “It‘s well sealed, Major,” cried the

g white-bearded man, as he caught sight
I of the letter.

‘ , “It must be a precious document,”
 «cried Doctor Baker.

Major Trumps, all seriousness, took the

letter and turned it slowly in his hands.

He inspected the clumsy seal, but did

not seem to: recognize it at all, and then

;  he slipped a keen. blade in one end of
-  ’ the envelope.

" 1 . Perfect silence filled the room while the

_ major worked athis task, and. when. the.

knife was put downin'order to extract
- _ thecontonts of the envelope, whiteboard
and the doctor leaned: forward breath-

lusty. H . 

Inside the envelope was a net package
wrapped with silk thread.rand.this-the
major laid on thetable. ..

At the same time he turned upon Dipps.

“ Who sent, this? ” he asked. v v

" Goldstein," .

'."-Gl’ft8,« from Jewryi" cried ,white

 

<5! -;

ta

 

 
 
       
   
    

beard," ,, ,
z"Pile/major looked mapluseed.

‘3‘ id n I! knowno such man.”
iniéifvyou were to
 t deli: ‘

  
    
 

 

Genteel J oe’s Lone Han

showed that the doctor had just been \

 

 

d.

 

 


hand: , , . , , . NH,“ H
. “ From that demon," he cried, sending
a swift glanCe at his companions. “ From
that wretch? " , K

“Goldstein is the name 1 know him
by.”

“ But 1 know him by another. Where
is he? "

“ In the same nest I occupy."

“On Doyers Street?”

“Yes, in the tall beehive, as they call
the old shell.’.~' . .

“Lives with you and you have never
posted me? ”

Dipps flushed.

" How should I know that he was any-
thing in your life? " he stammered. “ it”
you had told me to look out for a man
branded on the bosom~if you had inti-
mated that Goldstein was your enemy——
I would have posted you long ago.“

“ True! I don‘t blame you, Dipps. But
he made you his messenger to-night, did
he? "

H Yes.”

Once more Major Trumps’s gaze fell up-
on the package on the cloth, and his
hand waved Dipps toward the hall.

“Come in when I call,” said he, and
Dipps. with a long glance at the package,
withdrew.

In the hall he sat down on the lowest
step of the elegantly carpeted stairs and
waited.

For a moment the eyes of the three
men were riveted upon the package, and
then the hand of Major Trumps lifted
it.

“I can guess. what it contains," he
said. in a. husky voice. "‘ This man is
still the bane of my life, and if he is not
silenced, the game is up."

“Silence him," said Doctor Balier.
" There is to be nothing left between us
and success, you know."

“Open the package,” put. in White-
beart." He has been very careful, for
he has wrapped it with gold thread, and
the knots are many and well placed.”

Major Trumps said nothing, but his
face, pallid and drawn, told of fear and
mental anguish. .

He took up the knife again and ran
the, keen blade beneath some ‘of the
threads, cutting them by the slightest
movement, o .

The broken ends fell apart and the
package slipped open. -

Slowly the hands of the major undid it.~
and a cry rose from the doctor’s lips.

“A hoax!” he cried. “One of Gold—
stein’s jokes, whoever he is. ,The thing
contains nothing." ' ’,

But Major Trumps did not look up,
only bent again to his task, carefully uni
wrapping the last folds and shaking the
paper over the table cloth.‘

“Nothing?” said he, looking up and
catching his companions’ eye. “ Nothing}
Where are your eyes, gentlemen? There
lies the gift from demon land."

Doctor Baker adjusted his monocle
and. bent over the table, while White-
beard, with a half. sneer on his face.
looked quietly on. ‘ ‘

“Why, it’s a knife point," cried Baker.

Major Trumps had fallen hack. and his
gaze was fastened open the glittering
object lying in the light, triangular 'in
shape, and quit minute.

“Why shoul “that little thing blanch
i-ydur cheeks, my dear Trumps?“ ex-
ic’laimed the man with the’ white beard.
“ You don’t fear it, I hope?” " f j '

“ It’s not half as deadly" as'one of, the
snakes,” put in "the demon doctor. “ A

fan =“disconnts that7'knife’ point “and is _

dea her
‘tJ!  I . , I
“.You-say thatiwitii cane,” responded
Major Trumps,"
point. But it comes from a friend'—~a cool
man, capable? of destroying everything."
“Then thowzseader dies!” ‘   
“ At‘once.”'cried Whiteboard. * ' '~ ”

" memoirs easy to say," ataxiniered
" “ , 5  i . ~

by: an hundred per cent: than
3', ,4 a<f-'-.‘ *\x '

  
  
  

 
 
   
 

 

    

 

15m the package fell from his'

“ It's only a" dagger .

 

 
  
   
     
   
   
   
 
  
   
   
   
    
   
  
  
   
 
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
      
  
    
 
    
       
  
    
   
   
   
   
  
     
 
    
   
 
     
   
  
 
 
  

w 1.1
“I know that, but here is a man cap-
able of breaking down every rampart and ‘
storming our castle." ', .. .

“Pishf’ exam?“ the White-bearded: .:
man, and his hand crossed the space and 
picked up the knife point. “ Is this all
he sent? No message. What’s this? Ah,
here‘s your letter, major."

He pushed the package toward Major xi;
Trumps, and all saw some letters on the .5“
inner paper.

“ That's the message,” said Baker.

Major Trumps grasped the paper and
looked at it searchingly for a moment.

“I didn’t know you had such a foe,”
remarked VVhitebeard.

“I knew it, but I thought—I thought
he was no longer within reach.”

“ Reckoned without your host, eh? We
all ado that sometimes. What does he
say. "

“ Read! ”

Trumps pushed the paper toward his
friends, and both of them leaned for-
Ward.

They read in silence.

“ Here’s the proof, but I have the key-
of life and death. You know it; You
play fair with me, Major Trumps, or I
strike."

“ It’s a threat," said Doctor Baker,
looking up ,at the major, whose face,‘
showed his trepidation.

“You won’t be blackmailed, will you,
by this wretch? ” asked Whiteboard. "

“ I won't, yet—yet, what can I do?”

Major Trumps’ hand fell lifeless like;
upon the table, and his eyes seemed tor.
grow listless. _ 

“You’re a coward! ” exclaimed Doctorj
Baker. “ 0n the threshold of success are
you going to let an old enemy step in?
and dash to earth the house of fortune!
Is this to be the end of our little ,game? .
Will you make peace with this fool—for;
fool he is to disclose his plans by such“
a message? Is this the play you want
him to make and then refuse to strllt
him back?” I "

“No! I would strike him bac'kybu
he is so terrible an enemy that I shflnk.".‘

“Where is he. Call in your servant. 1

The major turned toward the door,  -'
he did not call for Dipps, for 
Baker spoke again. » 
. “ Wait! Dipps knows where thigma,
hides. He says he occupies the can),
nest with him. 2 , .

" He does."

" We can strike to-night.”

' The sooner the better,"
beard. ., 
, " Yes, the sooner we deal with the-ma
jor’s enemy, thesooner we are free. fro,
such a foe. The other man can 
wait’ for his doom," and the 
grinned. looking across the chamber, ’ I»

Doctor Baker slipped from the 
and a few minutes later returned wit
a little package in his hand, i 

He finished tying it at the tamarind.
laid it underneath the lamp as he did

1' Now. call in Dipps." said‘he,

Major Trumps did so, and Dipps' 

k. ' ‘

 

 

said 

" What did he say about thezansnwer‘,
asked the major.. "   I
" He said there, was to be none.’,’, --
"i should think ,not."  ‘*  ‘
“How did he look?" ,askfid’ i,
beard. ‘ A "V  at
" He seemed'to mean all, 
been. in that package-3’ i    ‘
",A, good answer, Thenhé Enlist he
demon. major.” ' " J ".Q’f, ’»
“Hen” lain. ’ ‘y‘..:.\‘\«;.-
‘f Now, Dipps. you will go 
Doctor Baker; laying hisjiahd, ‘
package he had fetched,”th til ,
* “ You are ready, are‘n’t‘you?"  1 f7
gages, sir.” <’   
onservcm r’ ,the'mado‘fird
rod. Dims?" ,y 7' (‘1   
That’s mydtity." , “ '
“Then put this little

    
       

   
   

  
 

package in“ " r s
. 11. 

 
 

 

 
 

 Dione 
s' .4 '

we
5°!  s s r

    

    

 
   

12

Genteel Joe’s Lone ‘Hand.

 

package. You will tell him that Major
Trumps will probably accede to his de-
mands. You need nor mention that you
found him otherwise than alone.”

The listening Dipps bowed.

“ Here‘s the package, Dipps. Be care-
ful that you are neither robbed nor that
you lose the message."

“ Who is it for?” ventured Dipps.

“ After you have reported to Goldstein
you will wait till his room is silent—in
other words, till you are quite sure he
is asleep. Then you will slip this little
package underneath his door, or, failing
in that, you will drop it over the transom.
But you are to slip it into his room.”

“That’s my command, Dipps,“
Major Trumps.

Dipps, with the mysterious package,
was let out of the house, and he started
off.

Suddenly he let out a sharp cry.

“Merciful heavens! there‘s a snake in
the package!” he exclaimed, and every
vestige of color fled from his face.

CHAPTER XI.
THE 'rrmn. 1N 'rmc DI'ST.

Early the next day Genteel Joe might
have been seen seated in the parlor of
the Daniels mansion.

The detective was alone, waiting for
Miss Lotty, the daughter of the mill-
ionaire. ’

In a little while the door opened to ad-

~ mit the fair girl, dressed in the deepest
mourning, and the moment she saw the
detective she started forward and stopped
before him.

“ You got my message, did you? ” she
exclaimed. “I was afraid perhaps you
would not be in when Savage called,
but, thank Heaven, you were found.

She had shut the door behind her, and
her face indicated great excitement and
breathless interest in something as yet
undisclosed.

“Perhaps I should not have done it,
but you know the circumstances, and I
could not break the force of my curiosi-
ty. Besides this, something told me.
that my welfare was concealed in the
package we found in the desk, and it is.
It contained his last will. It is a start—
ling document.”

Her face was quite white, and the eyes
seemed to have a wild look while she
spoke.

Joe Nichols watched her closely and
noticed that she seemed on the point of
falling to the floor, but when she dropped
into a chair her courage appeared to
come back.

“I read the will. It is in his famil-
iar hand, but the import of it is what
drove all color from my face and sent
me in a lengthy swoon to the floor,
where Savage found me."

“But it makes you his
doesn’t it?”

"Yes; that is not the fearful point.
“i care not for wealth, for I have seen so
much of the abuse of it. It makes me
the wife of a certain man."

“ What! Is that in the will?”

“ Yes, it gives me away, leaving me
no choice in the matter, and l have
made up my mind to obey."

“In other words, you are ready to
wreck your --appiness at the demand of
your father."

" You may call it so. It will be a
union against which the better part of
me will revolt, but I intend to obey!"

The ferret did not speak.

She stood before him, white-faced, and
with her hands clinched, her lips blood-
less, and her figure swaying, for she had
left the chair.

“ It gives me away to Major Trumps."

" To that man? There must be a mis-
take about all this.” ‘

“ Would to Heaven it was a dream, a
nightmare or a farce. It is only too
true. The will is genuine; it was wit-
nessed by Doctor Baker and another
gentleman, who sometimes called upon
father. It is in his own hand, and there
can be no mistake.”

“ But you don’t know this man."

“I never saw him till yesterday.”-

said

sole heir,

 

“And your father? \Vhat could have
induced him to sacrifice his child’s hap-
piness in this manner?”

“An old debt. He owed his life in
a measure to Major Trumps. The will
but partially tells the story. It was an
incident in his foreign travels. He
traveled, you know, on the continent
and all over the world."

Joe thought of the story spun for him
by Major Trumps in the latter’s house,
but he did not mention it.

“Some-how-or—other, that man saved
my father’s life, and in order to repay
him he gives. me to him by will."

“We must break this will, then!”

“No, it is the hand of the dead. it
is my father’s last work. I worshipped
him, you know."

“But this terrible union, Miss Lot-
ty—"

“Let that pass. The will gives the
property to me on, no conditions. i
could not surrender it and escape this
marriage. I am willed to this Major
Trumps, who may be a demon, doubly—
dyed, but a gentleman outwardly.”

“There may have been undue influ—
ences."

“I think not. Father was always a
man of strange ideas and impulses. He
was the very pink of honor, and would
not do anything that he thought i
would refuse to sanction after his death."

“But this is too much."

“I submit, but you shall see the will."

Lotty withdrew a moment, and came
back with the document in her hands.

“It is not a lengthy document. You
can get through it in a few minutes. i
should not have opened it, but, as l
have said, something seemed to tell me,
that my fate was linked within its heart,
and I fell.“

Joe read the will through.

The terrible bequest to Major ’l‘rumps
was there!

“It gives you no alternative," said
hie,I looking into the face of the silent
g r .

“That is true. I must become the
wife of this man with the repellant face
and keen eyes—Doctor Baker’s friend.”

The detective handed the paper back
and thought a moment.

“ He mentions an affair in Paris, and
the intervention of his friend, Major
Trumps, in a cafe."

“ Yes; father must have been in peril
of his life then.”

“ Or the major may have magnified the
danger.”

“We cannot help it if he did so. I
shall carry out the provision of this
will even though my action wrecks my
whole future, as I fear it will do.”

Genteel Joe let his eye wander over
the will again.

“It stipulates that you shall become
his wife within three days after he pre-
sents himself formally with the knowl-
edge of the bequest before him.”

“He may come to-day.”

“ He will not come till after the will
has been read." ,

Lottie Daniels seemed to take hope.

“We could stave off the evil day some
time, miss. There need be no haste in
the probation of your father’s last will,
or the document may not be found for
some time.”

“But it has been found. Savage knows
of it, and so does Doctor Baker.”

“Ah!” exclaimed Joe, “the doctor
knows, does he? "

“ Yes; he was here last night."

“ And saw the will? ”

" I am sure he did, for when Sam car-
ried me to-my room, after my terrible
discovery. he found me, and seemed to
tell me by his look that he knew all.”

“It is too late, then; Doctor Baker, one
of the witnesses to the will, knows all."

“ It must be so.”

Lotty Daniels carried the will away,
and the man-trailer was again alone in
the parlor.

“ Did Duke Daniels write that docu-
ment?" ran through his mind.

“Is that a genwinc paper, or is it the.

 

 

 

work of the plotters? The affair in the
cafe is hinted at in the will—the same
one Major 'l‘rumps spun for me, and
which is called a hoax by Dipps. There
is a deep plot for booty and beauty here,
and if I fail to ferret out the guilty, may
the city no longer hear of Joe Nichols,
ferret."

By this time the footsteps of Lotty3

sounded again in the hall. and she came
back.

Her face looked calmer now. and she
breathed freer.

There was even a little smile at the
corners of her mouth.

“I have fully determined to obey the
will,“ she said. “ No matter what mis-
ery it brings me, it is to be carried out

_to the letter, and I will become the wife

of Major Trumps, whoever he be.”

Joe looked at her, and from the depths
of his heart pitied the beautiful victim.

A few minutes later he stood alone in
the library, the scene of the tragedy,
and crossed it to the secret door be—
hind the bookcase.

The button in the wall was pressed.
and Joe Nichols stepped into the little
apartment, where he had found the
pierced paper embellished with the cot—
fin, and the dagger in the table.

The detective shut the door carefully
behind him and slid the brass bolt.

He had not examined the place on his
previous visit, and now he would do so.

It was a room without a window, a
secret place the existence of which was
known to but few persons.

He leaned over the table and found
papers there which told that at times
Duke Daniels had come to the chamber
and remained some time writing.

But the detective after a long search
found what he looked for—an exit—not.
the one which led into the library.

A door was deftly set in the wall
nearly opposite the secret entrance.

He found that he could open this door
by means of a little screw almost hidden
in the wall, and when he had turned
the steel the portal moved enough to let
him out.

Genteel Joe stepped into a narrow
place barely wide enough to admit him,
and there he stood for half a second
noting his surroundings.

A flight of steps was before him, and
he descended.

At the seventh one he was stopped by
a door, which he opened, and entered a
dark underground corridor, which, in
turn, moving upward, gradually led him
to a door which led to the open air in
the rear of the house. ' .

The detective stood there drinking in
the sights before him a moment when he
went back.

The secret trail of the assassin was
quite plain to him now.

He could conceive how the murderer
could have stolen upon his victim in the
library and committed the deed.

But who had pointed out the way to
this murderer?

Was there a traitor in the millionaires
mansion?

Was Savage playing a double game?
Or the maid?

Joe went back over the ground, look-
ing along the dark little corridor with a.
match in his hand.

He reached the secret chamber and
stopped there.

His feet had disturbed the dust, and in
some places covered himself with it,

i

\

But once had he been more than mo- ’

mentarlly attracted by any one thing on
the trail, and that was a footprint in the
dust near the last door.

He bent over the mark with
matches.

It was the mark of a boot, and the
heel had left its traces in the dust.

Joe Nichols recalled the mark of the
boot heel in the corner of the corri-
dor where Splinters had seen a man
crouched, tiger-like, in his house.

There was a cross formed of nails in
that heel, and they had been printed in
the dust. of the two corridors. v

his

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I “I am going to try to save you,” said

I.  nukter'rible discovery [that the pack-
‘. age contained life seemed to age him

” 9;..pr09fsaof’his own unmanliness.

., .slipped up to his nest.

j'wish yon .- good-night.”
- i on

\

i he heard Goldstcinprewiag-to retire.

‘I .. ,and he knew it.

 «devil like Doctor Baker, ‘and a demon
‘ “like Major Trumps? ”_ he exclaimed. M
_ ,. nether res-l h

{and then put off for the other room.

“llama, medal for your promptness.”

it all night in his room. .

 
 
    
   

may. . a,

* ,v _

,. ~ . .. ms .5:

slit, ‘5"...

‘ééfiteei 'Jee’s‘mfi‘e‘ Hand. 3

  
 
 

“.‘uka - .-  as w mew-"ahwfllu v'

 

 

 

Joe felt that he had made a startling
discovery, but he did not show it to
Lotty when he emerged from the li-
brary a few moments later. ,

It was his find and his secret.

He met the girl with a calm unrui'iied
countenance. held her outstretched hand
a few seconds, and looked into her eyes,
which told of the terrible struggle forced
upon her by the will.

Joe.

“ You cannot. There is nothing to do
but to obey the dead."

“We shall, see.”

“Don't do anything but your duty.
Find the hand that struck him down.
That is all I ask."

“I am going to do that and more,
too, miss.”

" More, too, Mr. Nichols? ”

“ Yes, but wait—wait,” and he turned
away without giving her a chance to
push her query.

In the sunlight of that morning, Joe,
the ferret, stood on the.sidewalk and
looked back at the mansion.

He saw the curtains come together in
one of the windows and a face vanished.

“I have found the trail of the slayer,”
said he. “1 have seen the print of his
foot, but his hand—never mind. I’ll
find that, too! ”

At the same hour, in another part of
the city, a little man, connected with our
.story, was gazing horror-struck upon a.
placard on a certain door.

 

CHAPTER XII.
‘ 'rim EDGE OF THE TERRIBLE TRUTH.
Armed with the living package, Dipps
flitted from street, to street, with fear
at his heart.

a

ten years in a minute, and he wanted to
,get rid of the thing as soon as possible.

-Why had he ever become Major
Trumps" slave?

Why had he linked his fortunes to '

those of that cool-headed and merciless
scamp?

Poor Dipps! He was in the toils, and
his scarred and helpless hand told him
that.ho would carry to his grave the

He'stosnsd'oace ,andfelt for the pack-
age in his bosom.“  

What if the deadly" contents at [that
package should escape?" 4’  a

He shivered at the thought, but he
dared not draw it forth and cast‘it
hence. ’

At last he reached the tenement and

He cast a side-long glance toward
Goldstein’s apartment, but went first
tohis own den.

_He laid the package in one corner,

Goldstein admitted him.
"Did you find hl‘in?" queried Gold-
:stein. , '
“ Yes."
“And delivered the package?"
Q“ He got it."
.l.~",You're a trump, Dipps. You ought to
4‘ 0",thanks. It's all over now, and I

l

B” . , n insisted that he remain
1”“va :he did so, not wishing to
go back “lathe companion he had left
in his 0W“ (member, wrapped; up, 'tis
true, but deadly 3,1; the same. ‘

It was late when Dipps went back to
his nest. ‘ '1 ‘ i ‘

He listened at the door, and. thought

He was eager to 88¢ rid of the pack-
aglsiot for'the world wouldhe have kept
There was death under 'the wrapper,
“Dash it sill, Was‘ I born to serve a;

“I!

 

mo'qdouht. “was

would Joe, the ferret, say if he knew
what has taken place tonight? It
would be nuts for Nichols, but my lips
are sealed. I have told him all I dare
let out. It isdeath to tell more."

Once more Dipps listened at the door,
his ear being remarkably acute, but he
heard nothing. ‘

All was silence in Goldstein’s room.

By and by Dipps slipped into the hall
and investigated.

The light had been turned out, and the
time for action had come.

With a devilish leer in his eyes, Dipps
charily drew the package from where
he had placed it, and went to the door.

It was not thicker than his hand, and
he could slip it underneath the victim's
doon

Dipps crept forward in his bare feet
and accomplished his purpose.

He thrust the package as far beneath
the door as possible, and took a long
breath when he rose.

It was done!

Whatever was in that little package,
Goldstein would find out, but only when
it was too late.

And what would he get for his wild
villainy? Nothing. t

Major Trumps would have a fresh hold
on him, and he would be still the slave
of the scoundrei and the ally of Doctor
Baker and his white-bearded friend.

Dipps crept shudderingly to bed that
night, but not until he had thrown a
lot of rags against the foot of his door
and pressed them into the crevice with
his feet.

If the death dealer in the package
should escape from Goldstein’s room it
should not come back to him. .

Dipps fell into a deep slumber, and
did not awake till daylight flooded his
shabby room. ‘

" I wonder if it got out? " was his ejac-
ulation as he sprang from his couch and
bounded to the door.

He listened, but heard nothing.

Dipps leaned into the hall and craned
his neck to get a view of -Goldstein’s
door. |

“ What’s that? " welled from his throat
as he leaped forward. “A lift of paper
0111 Goldy’s door? As I live, it is nothing
e se.” ,

He landed in front of the portal, for-
getting all about the package he had car-
ried to the spot, and the next moment he
was staring at a square piece of paste-
board upon which same hand had

scrawled in, large, ungainly letters:

1}? Out of Town,”

.No wonder Dipps stared at the legend
on the paper, ‘for. he had heard Gold-
1stein's deep breathings the night he-
ore. l - j ‘

Had the intended victim of the cabal
escaped? v ,, ‘

The man with the withered handdid
not know Just what to do next.

If Goidstein had gone outta the dark
before discovering the package, then it
was his duty to find the serpent, and
either kill it in its wrappings or'return

it to Doctor Baker, with a story made

up for the occasion.

Dipps went back to his own room and
put on his boots.

Once more he glided back' to Gold-
stein's. apartment and opened the door.-

A glance told him all.

The man with the branded bosom was
gone.

In.- vain did Dipps lookiabout for the
snake. T .

The package lay on the floor" with a
little opening, which’told that the seal
which would last so many hours. had
parted of its own accord and let the de-
stroyerput. ‘ ,

But what has become of the iabarri?

Dipps in his distress shut the door and

began a courageous hunt for the deadly ,

reptile. , ,
He x ransacked the. place with eager
eyes and n‘imblé lingers. He let nothing

that be a: hiding} place! forgthe
fl , , t be” . .

   
 
 
  

 

 
 
 

  

. looked into my room and

 

was; 

  
   
   
   
    
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
 
  
   
   
   
    
 
  
  
   
  
  
   
 
   
   
  
    
  
   
    
  
  
    
   
 
 
    
    
    
   
   
   
  

it will bite some one else—in the tall
beehive. What if I am suspected?”

At last Dipps shut the door and went
out.

He leaned against the wall, and felt
the blood desert his heart as he con-
fronted the situation.

“Well, I'm not responsible, anyhow,”
he said to himself. “ I’ll leave the place.
They shan’t find Dipps and drag him
before the courts to make him tell the
story of the deadly reptile. A thousand
curses on your head, Doctor Baker, and ‘
on yours, too. Major Trumps. If I find
Genteel Joe I'll tell him the whole story. , g
No, no. I dare not do that. I am too 2“
deep in the shadows myself. I’ll just '5 
keep my secret and let him unravel the ‘.
mystery."

Dipps put out from the old house and
went down on the street.

There seemed to be an avenging shark
ow at his heels, and he felt the terror of
his last situation chilling his heart.

Dipps turned into the Battery and sat
down. ,

All at once some one dropped down
upon the bench beside him. -

Dipps started and looked round to and
himself face to face with one whom he
did not recognize at first. ' ,f

“ You’re an early bird, Dipps," said a
voice, and the following moment he felt _
back and nearly off the bench, for it was
Goldstein’s tone. I ‘

“How’s the‘reptile, eh, Dipps?" eon- 
tinued the man with the branded breast.

Dipps could not reply; his tongue ‘2
seemed to cleave to the roof of hi:

mouth.

“It’s all right. Don’t blame you one
particle. It was a clever Job—just the
sort I half looked for." '

“ Did you find it? " stammered Dipps.

“Find it? why, of course. That w
your intention, wasn’t it?”

“I didn't want to do it, Goldy, but}! ,
you could know how I-—-" * 7'

“I know. You are in the coils‘andff
the toils. You can’t escape. You are
Major,Trumps' slave, and he is the De-
mon Doctor’s friend. But, Dipps, I have-
another message for my old frknd,‘ the?
major.” I _j
_ “ Don't send me back there," he plead
ed. ' - - "

“Back you go, but not with a direct
message from me. Tell him thisevthwi’g
you placed the little man-killer right
that you looked into my room this mouse
ing and found me lying stiff on the hedl‘?

U But~I1 ‘ i; ‘ .‘

“ Never mind the truth, Dipps. That
the message you are to carry to ,
Trumps. You carry it or I’ll show
a. trick to which the carrying of a 
pent in a sealed package is not to 
compared. Will you go?" y g
. Dipps laid his hand on Goldstein’ssatmzj'

“Tell me, Goldstein, what beamed!
the snake." " ' 

“ \Vhat, did
ing? "

“I did." g  _,..' i

“ And failed to find‘ itnof course?” ‘

“ I beg pardon, but I ransacked your
room, and without the Ileast successflg

" It wasn't the e, Dipps." I ,  '

“ Did it get awa toldil some little
man dove ,in . the tenement?  

“ Some little human dove? How,
and considerate you are, :tozbe sure '
ter carrying a deadly snake lip’my;
you manifest some compassion '1'.- for
child. Why,,Dipps, your gall ism;
mental. Tile snake wasn’t in thefrm
when you looked for it."   ‘ ' 

“ You killed it, then, thank hear

“ Never mind. Now tethe basin
the. hem. Go, to Major Trumps",
the ‘ message I hare I indicatedifl‘
found, use ‘d
. i 4 ,3 ’

  
  

  
  
 
   
   
    
 
  
 

     
   
  

   
  

  

 

You look for it this mam»

      
    

  

   
   

 
 

 

 

 

  
 
 
  

    
 

 
 
  
   
  
  

   

 

   

 
 
    
 
 

 
 

  
  

1‘

  
       
    
  
 

 
  

     
  

this morning.” , .
‘i But he may investigate”, _ , .,
“'That man? He’ll take your. 

it. Dipps." ‘ ,  , :-
The‘manfilithdhe withered hind '

and looked down'at the  I

Stein.    

. ,Bgo

 
 

 

  
      
      
  
  
   
  

  
  
  
 

    
 

ff:   5-0
.n “l

vi

     

       

  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  

 

.Iittle bench in the park, but already it
' . was empty.
l-Ie flitted away with his heart in his
throat, and When, an hour later, he crept
back to his room in the Tall Beehive,
he found it occupied by a man, at sight of
.whom he fell back to the door.
“ Good morning, Dipps,” said the vis-
itor. “ I thought I would drop in a mo-
ment.” »
, Dipps went over to the bed and sat
J'down.
Here was his opportunity, for his call-
, er was Genteel Joe.
_ He could tell everything now, and
I (clear his conscience, but he id not.
“Anything more to tell?” asked Joe.
- “You haven’t written any more mis-
~ sives with the left hand, Dipps? ”
 “ I have nothing more to add, Joe. Only
' ,be careful and keep your eyes open."
._ “The major is dangerous, is he, Dol-
, "‘liver? ”
“ Dangerous? He’s more than that; he’s
deadly.”
.  And very cunning. When he marries
~.I suppose you will be inst lied in his
palatial mansion as genera secretary
and messenger."
“ When the major marries, Joe? That’s
«aboutthe last thing he will do.” ‘
_ “ Don’t be too positive. He’s not an
. old man yet, and beauty can enslave him,
,despite his distrust of womankind.”
“-;Why, there's his wife—there’s Flor-
ence—4" , -
"mums caught himself, but \a trifle too
te. r
 “Oh, yes, there's Florence,” said the
cunning detective. “I know that, but
xFlorence won’t stand in the way when
fthle major wants to marry Lotty Dan-
.e 8.!) ,
u “,Lotty Daniels? ” cried Dipps, starting
hp, his eyes ablaze. “ He don’t think of
 oing that, does be? Why, Joe, she’s
3.00 good and pure for a wretch like Ma-
:jor Trumps. You must stop that match.
t must not take place. I’ll betray him
rst; I'll tell all I know.” -
-"‘ It’s that or the marriage, Dipps. Now
on.” ‘ .
. . But Dipgs sat silent on the edge of the
 and is lips were welded, while the
Vetective waited for the confession that
.idid not come.

 

CHAPTER x111.

, srnmrsns FINDS AN ALLY. _.

Dipps looked like a guilty person as

sat on the bed with the gaze of Gen-

‘eO‘i Joe IIVeted upon him.

“ Why dbn’t you go on, Dipps?"

The man started, but did not reply.

’1‘va know something; you can show

e the trail. You should do so. Dipps,

.Major Trumps will become the hus-
d of Miss Lotty."

;”He must not, I say!”

{“It lies with you. You know that.

ouhave been this man's slave, most

' sly willingly."

,’ co'No, no.” .

-,'»“§Very well, go on, then." .
Dipps crossed the room and stopped
,the wall with one hand resting on

efpapering there.

H‘Ldare not tell you. I am 'oath
Yet you don't .Want the girl to sacri-
 herself to this cool 'scoundrel—your
“Uh—Dipps.” . ‘

‘r-Thatis true. Good-by, Joe. In the
titre may we meet under more pleas-

°‘ t circumstances.” _

pps was out in the hall almost be

0 his last words were spoken. '

, ' teel Joe heard him on the stairs,
' "the following moment he lost the

J ' d of ,» his flying feet.

The ferret did not remain long, for
I  ere was nothing in the room to keep
H : back, and in a little while, he had
flowed Dipps to the street.

t’ was no use looking for the fleeing

n and Joe did not lose any time in

ibis way.

senate... edge of a ‘ confession which

‘-:have u'nraveied a mystery, Joe, had

theclsw, by Dipps’ flights .

,llfla'r Qippa, he recalled his orders
""  ‘ seek“ out Major

t. *1.”

  '

 

Trumps and make a false report of the
work of the serpent. -

He was between two fires; he feared
both Goldstein and Major Trumps, and
for a moment he ‘did not know which
master to cling to, . "

At this juncture a hand fell upon his
arm, and he looked into the striking
face of Splinters.

Dipps knew the little man more than
by sight, and Splinters smiled as he
gazed into the startled face of he of the
withered hand. ~

“ What is it? ” asked Dipps.

“ I’ll tell you if you'll come with me."

Dipps followed passively, and in a
short time they were seated in a small
room to which Splinters had led him.

For a moment the face of Dipps took
courage by the kindly look in hiscom-
panion’s eyes, and then it as suddenly
paled again. .

“You still serve the major, eh,
Dipps? ” asked Splinters.

“I am still in his employ."

“I thought so. You can’t get away.
You are bound to your task master as
with bonds of iron. He's a good one,
Dipps.” _

“You know him as well as I do. You
know Major Trumps and the doctor. Do
you know the other? ”

“Which other?”

“The fine-looking man with the white
beard.” '

“ Is he with them again.”

“ Yes.” .

“Where was be?”

“At Doctor Baker’s house.”

“ When? ”

“ Last night.”

“ What were they talking about? ”

“ That’s private.”

“ Private, Dipps? Don’t you know,
man, that I have a right to know some
things?”

“Perhaps you have, but this matter is
too private for me to talk about.”

Splinters left his seat and bent over
the silent Dipps. .

“ Look here, man. You've got one bit-
ten hand, and you're liable to get an-
other. I understand the whole situation.
You serve Major Trumps and the others,
and you don’t want to cross them by he-
traying them. Isn’t that it? ”

“ I dare not tell you, Splinters.”

“ hen go out and let the police get
sight of you. Go out there, if you can af-
ford it, and let some of the ferrets of
New York become your shadow, tracking
you day and night, and not giving you
a moment’s peace of mind, sleeping or
waking. How does that suit you, Dipps?
How do you like the outlook?"

" You don’t intend to hand me over
to espionage just because Lrefuse to be-
tray them?”

“I do. I am a man without mercy.
I was born under a merciless star, and
I have no warm blood in my. veins."

“ Why do you want to know all this? ”
, “ That's for me to know."

" You are allied with the ferret-with
Genteel Joe.”

" Allied with Joe, the ferret; for what,
Dipps? ”

\

“Yon'know what his mission is—to‘

find the murderer of Duke Daniels.”

“That is his mission now, and if this
mystery is ever unraveled it will be by
Genteel Joe.”

“ Yes, by the ferret of Broadway.”

f‘ Then, Dipps, don’t you realize that it
puts you in a very uncomfortable posi-
tion? " .

u  n

“ By your silence. You are Major
Trumps’ slave. The major is a cool,
sleek rascal of the first water“ He is
hand in glove With Doctor Baker and
the white—bearded gentleman. who seems
to, have projected himself into the
,drama.” - . .
' “I think from words I overheard last
night he must just have come across the

x“ Whydidn’t you-say so before? That’s
a bit of news about Whitebeard. A late
passenger? Are you,sure you never saw

em: won; m but  , ,,

 

“ Quite sure.”

“ He didn’t recognize you, eh?”

“He did not.”

A smile chased the serious look from
the face of Splinters.

"Let’s make a bargain—let’s form an.
alliance, Dipps.”

“I hardly understand you.”

“ I’ll make it a little plainer. It’s this
way: We’re not millionaires. We can’t
draw our check for a dollar and have it
honored at any bank in the city.”

“I should say we can’t."

“ You don't know how nice it is to be
able to get all the money you want by
merely putting your name to a bit of
paper.”

“I never had the experience.”

“ It’s delightful. It’s one of the ex-
quisite pleasures of life.”

“I don’t doubt it, if the money's there
for you."

"-Oh, in the first place you must know
that it is there."

“ That's it——get itvflrst, eh?"

“ Just so; and I have a plan by which
we can get it.”

Dipps took hope, and his countenance
brightened.

“ It will require a little stretching of
our consciences,” pursued Splinters,
dropping into the confidential. “ But you
and I, Dipps, needn’t care for that. It’s.
an every-day affair now, and we mus'n’t.
be behind our neighbors.”

“Go on. Tell me the plan.”

“ There’s money in this mystery.”

“ In the Avenue mystery?" cried
Dipps. '
“ That’s it. You see, Dipps, the police

are in the dark while you and I are in
a position to mike a good bargain.”

“ Not with the police?”

“ Not at present—with the murderer.”

Dipps seemed to lose his breath, and
fell back in his chair and stared aghast
at his companion.

“That would be dangerous, wouldn’t I

it? ”

“ We could avoid the danger. We
could play a hand worthy of the old mas-
ters, and could feather our nests in a
manner lovely to behold.” '

“I would want a sure thing."

“ We’ll have it thus before we strike.”

“ In the first place, if we made a mis-
take in regard to our man—if we at-
tempted to blackmail the wrong man,
why-9! . ‘

“ We won't do that,” broke in Splint-
ers, confidentially. “I will agree to find
the hand that killed Duke Daniels, and
then we’ll play our cards.”

“What if he refuses to be bled?"

“ He wont—he can’t. We’ll pull the
ropes on him in the most approved style.
Is it a‘ bargain, Dipps?”

“‘I don’t know what to say.”

" But, man, you can’t afford to do any-
thing else." ' ‘

“ I can’t? ” .

“I say you can’t, and you shall go into
the game with me now that I’ve gone as
far as I have.” I

“ But you might make a mistake in
taking Doliiver Dipps for a fool."

“I do not. I know what I'm doing.
See' here. You will assist me, for two
heads are better .than one. You will
help me through this affair. I 'didn’t like
Duke Daniels, and I have cause for not
caring who killed him, but the chance
to feather your nest and mine is too
tempting to be overlooked.”

" If I was only sure we could make
the stakes-if I could only be assured
that we would not fail—”

“ Heavens, man! I’ll assure you. I tell
you I know something about this mat-
tar.”

ll  9.

“ Yes. Splinters is no fool.” .
“ But you are often seen with Joe, th
detective. What security have I that you

are not playing a hidden hand? "2 '

‘.‘ My word! my oath! But, Dipps—
Dolliver of the withered hand—there is.
to be no backing out of this.”

" You’re not my master.”

(“I don't pretend to be.
you a salary like Major

TM.

 

 

   

 

 

I‘ don’t pay, ~
Trumps. I I;

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

:1 el Joe’s Lone

’1‘ .

   

 

 

haven’t the bank account that gentle-
man rejoices in. I am no nabob, no
millionaire. I am simply Splinters, the
little cool head. I am seen often with
Genteel Joe, but he needn’t know our
secrets. I am his friend. He saved my
life, as he once saved yours, Dipps; but
that mus’n‘t stand between us and a for-
tune.”

“ That‘s true.
self first."

“ That’s wisdom. Now, then.”

Splinters hitched his chair a little
closer to the expectant Dipps, and laid
his hand on his shoulder.

“ You will begin this very day. You will
open the ball in one quarter of the city
and I will operate in another. You un-
derstand?"

"‘ Not exactly.”

“ You will go out and tackle the situa-
tion. You will find out where this white-
bearded gentleman lives and report to
me. .After that we play card number
one.”

One must look t6 one's

first time in thirty minutes.
.Spltnters looked up with triumph in his
0388.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
THE TEN O’CLOCK APPOINTMENT.

Genteel Joe, after his futile interview
with Dipps, went back to his quarters
near Broadway. '

In the corner of the hall where he had
seen the marks of the boot heel he
stooped and examined them once more.

The cross of nails, as he had seen it
before, was there, and resembled the
marks seen in the dust of the secret cor-
ridor in Duke Daniels‘ mansion.

Some time later the ferret of New York
stood under an arched roof some distance
from his quarters and his face had a
puzzled look.

He was back in the old corridor, near
the library in the millionaire's mansion.

lie stood alone in the place with the
light of the bull‘s-eye lantern falling

Cupon the dust, which he had not dis-

turbed, and he was bending over the
floor.

Once more his eyes were fastened on
the nailmarks in the dust, and, with deft
fingers and a bit of tape line, he meas-
ured the print of the heel.

Sam Savage, the coachman, was the
only person connected with the house
who knew of his presence, for he had
entered the place via the stables, where
he had found the cunning Jehu.

Joe at last turned back toward the
library and reached the little chamber
just behind it, when he heard voices in
the room beyond.

He slipped over to the door and, after

a moment’s listening there, flitted back.

into the corridor.

He wasjust in time, for he heard the
secret doo'r across the room swing open,
and some one came in.

‘ The keen eyes of the hidden detective
found the merest streak of light, which
enabled him to look into the hidden
room, and be glued his peepers to it:

In another moment he saw Doctor Ba-
ker step into the room and calmly ad-
vance to the table with steady step. Joe
watched him as he leaned over, and
seemed to regard with a half smile the
indenture made by the dagger which
had been found sticking in the wood.

After awhile Jared Baker drew from

I his pockets little case, which he pro-

ceeded to open. , A
He took from ,the case a phial contain-
ing a reddish ,liquid, which he admired

 its he held it between him and the arti-
, ficial light, and then he found in the
‘ ’mme case a syringe, with which be pro-
ceeded to inject some of the fluid into

arm.
~ All; this was witneSSed by the secreted
ferret who did not let a single, move-
ment of the doctor; escape him.

.tOl‘ Baker restored the case and its ‘

.rcontonto to his pocket, and began ,to
Written a sheet of paper Wthh he tot”!
'  the table drawer.

"7"" « stained nudism

~.‘ ‘3

Dipps rose and breathed free for the

 

drawer, which he locked, and wiped the
pen. *

Having done this, he looked careful—
ly around the apartment and pushed back
his chair.

Joe saw him quit the room, and waited
till the door had been shut before he
moved.

No sooner had the portal of the li—
brary leading into the main hall been
closed than he turned to the table and
tried the little drawer.

Of course the doctor’s key had secured
it, but the detective was not to be balked
thus. .

From among a bunch of curious keys
be selected one which opened the
drawer, and in another minute he held
in his hand the message the doctor had

‘ deposited there.

It was brief, and the ferret mastered
it in a glance. .

With a singular smile at his lips, Joe
replaced the paper and looked up.

“We'll see about that, doctor,” was
all he said, .and then he sat down and
waited.

Hearing the front door _open and shut,

. he slipped back intoéthe narrow corri-
. dor and sprang down ihlike a ghost.

He came out in another part of the
house, from which it was but a step to
the stables, where he found Savage
waiting for him in the cosy coachman’s
room.

“Did you see the doctor?”
Sam.

“I saw him.”

"‘ Was he talking to Miss Letty?”

“ They were in the library.”

“ That man is a living mystery. He
is a man of mysteries and a man of
power. He is cool-headed, and always
ready for an emergency. His friend
Major Trumps is not quite so cool.
he’s but the doctor’s tool and emis—
sary."

“ You don’t rate the major very high,
Savage."

" I give the devil his due, but that‘s
a fact. Major Trumps is somehow under

queried

the demon doctor's thumb, and he can‘t'

call his soul his own." ,

“ Then you don't think that the major
could have left the knife in the table
and ’driven it through the coffin-marked
paper which was found in the secret
room?”

“I don’t say he wouldn't commit a

crime as dastardly as thatrone, but he I

never killed Duke Daniels.”

,“That would please the major, no
doubt. He would be under obligations
to you if he could only hear your ex-

,oneratlon of him.”

“I don't want his obligations, curse
him! If I ever run across him I’m liable
to throttle him, night or day.”

“ I'm coming back here to-night. You
will keep guard while I am in the house.
We’re likely to have a visitor."

“ Who will it be? " v

“ The night will determine that. The
secret room Will be visited.”

“By one of the plotters?-”

“I can’t say.”

“ I see. You know just enough,_and no
more.”

“I know thatif 'no plans fail, some
one will be in the secret ‘room'this very
night.”

“ At what hour?”

“ At ten."

" That person can't get there without
my knowledge.”

“I know that, but you will let him
get there.” '

" I understand. You want to catch
him in the room.”

“ Perhaps. I will come to the house to-
night. It will be quiet after the funeral,
and Miss Lotty will 'not want to be dis-

. turbed.”

“ She has already given orders to that
eflect."

Genteel Joe bade the coachman good-
bi'. and once more appeared on the
street. . >

a; . am‘xfiaoing

in F,
‘ > m1

tones the person for
ex;  , ,.

Why.

ft $310 train the ‘

._.

I face of the youth, and told him to lead '
t on ‘-

 

. “Andi

   
    
   
  
    
   
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
    
   
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
  
  
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
    
  
 
 
  
   

table,” said he to himself. “This may be ' g}.-
a new link in the chain, and—" ‘ 4'
A light footstep sounded at his side, .
and he glanced down into a face which
was that of a boy.
“Zara would like to see you, sir,” said
the little fellow.
“ Zara? ”
“Don't you remember Zara? He told
me to say to you that he was nearer
than you think, and that if you‘d come
with me, I would show you where he
lives.“
Joe looked once more at the honest

This the boy did,'gladly, and after a-
few steps he was led to a door which the
boy ‘opened. .

“ Zara’s changed a good deal since you
saw him, I guess," said the "ferret's‘7
guide. “Here he is.” ' ‘

At the same moment the boy opened
a door and ushered Genteel Joe into a.
darkened apartment. ‘

“ Here he is, Zara. I watched for him».
till he came out.” .

At the same time a voice in one con-f
ner of the room was heard,‘and,out of
the semi-gloo‘m a figure bounded to they
detective’s side.

“It's Joe, sure enough, Blazer,” the
strange one said. “ Don’t you know me,"
Nichols? ” a , m

Joe drew the speaker toward the.
opened dodr, where the light was, 
lopked down into a thin face with high
cheek bones and deep-set eyes of dar ’
gm?-

“1 do. You are Zara of—” -

“ There! that’ll ,Joe. I’m zeta, _
son of Mother . angleworm, the, old‘.
fence whom you hunted down years ago;
But you did me a favor. You kept my",
secret, and never let the world kngw my}
lineage. 'I’m still under obligations t
you for that favor, and now I want i
return it.” “' 4

“ Which you needn’t do, Zara. You
repaid me before this, but I had quits?
lost sight of you.” A i 

“No wonder. I only came back i
other day. I’ve been across the pond.’

“ You have? ” ‘ 

“Yes. I came back to the old town
but the other day. I came on the Perl
We had a passenger who is as cool '-
wretch as ever escaped the hangma.
noose. i want to tell you about him
Joe.” , '  V'

“ Wherefore, Zara? ”

“ It may let some light in upon 3th
last crime—~the crime ‘of the even
which stirs_the city.‘ I‘ve heard she
it. you see; and Blazer has brought me
newspapers that tell about it. use pa
senger of ours must have known 80m
thing about it.” i  a

“The passenger of the Paris, Zara,

“Yes. He, is a distinguished personage
with a full white beard. When I say t
General Capulet—that's the name,
came over under—«knows somethi .
about this crime—that he knew it 
to be committed—I believe I am 
log you the solemn truth, Joe." " A .

The detective did not reply. . 

" He wrote a good deal on shipboa
when he was not observed. He we
write and tear up. He would 801119,)
and burn, "and despite his Frenéhj
manner, he is an American. I 
ered that much.” - e_ J 

“ You kept your eyes open, 
' “ That’s what they’re for. This’
I say, wrote only to destroy, it :-4
He Was at it nearly all the time. Bu]
had a spy at his heels: A little inclem-
a pair of keen eyes stand one in in. ‘
good deal, Joe.” fl , ., '

“That’s right, Zara—especially
like yours.’k » ' U

The boy smiled, and his look 0:
excited. ;  ,, ~

“I made a little rogue of myselfiiy
the ship. This much writing by Gen
Capulet excited my suspicions.”

“Well?” ,  *
robbed his cabin.” '
m. - g»

.i.

 

    

16

Gent

 

 

 

“ No risk, no fortunes.”

“That is true. Well, what did you get
for your pains? ” g

“ A lot of scraps. He had scribbled on
the paper and thrown the torn bits over
the floor. I didn't get them all, but I
made myself master of the heft of them."

As Zara finished he pulled a lot of
crumpled papers from his pocket and
handed them to Genteel Joe.

“ You’ll find the name of Duke Daniels
on several of the pieces. And there’s a
clause or two like the clauses of a will.
It is all the general’s work and, my word
for it, he's a great rogue, if nothing
less. Capulet must have known Duke
Daniels, if he did not know that he was
to be killed in cold blood! ”

CHAPTER XV.
THE STING OF MADNESS.

A few minutes before ten o’clock that
night Genteel Joe, the detective, presented
himself to Sam Savage in the coach-
man’s stable box at the Daniels’ Mansion,
and forthwith entered the little door
which would lead him to the corridor
where he had seen the marks of the boot
heeL

At one part of the narrow way there
was an indenture in the wall large
enough to conceal a human figure, and
into this space the eager ferret thrust
himself.

The house was still, for it was the
night after the burial of Duke Daniels,
and Lotty had given orders that she was
not to be disturbed.

Genteel Joe had the passage all to him—
self, and felt that he was to witness a
meeting of some sort.

The paper found in the table drawer,
the one placed there by Doctor Baker,
was‘to be found by some one, and the
ferret's curiosity was on the alert to see
who would call for it.

All at once there came to his ears a
sound he could not misinterpret.

It was the shutting of a door at one
end of the passage, and he waited on.

Suddenly footsteps, light ones to be
sure, but footfalls all the same, came
toward him, and the detective hugged the
walls of the niche a little more.

Something brushed past him
darkness.

He slipped forward and glued his eyes
to the crevice through which he had ob-
served Doctor Baker.

The light of a match for a moment
illuminated the room, and he saw a fig-
ure move toward the table and open the
drawer.

The next instant the message was in
the hands of the intruder.

The eyes of the detective opened to
their fullest capacity. watched these pro-
ceedings with eagerness, for the new
comer was a woman.

He had never seen her before.

Her half-hidden face bore traces of
beauty, but he could not see it well
enough to enable him to identify it under
circumstances which made him eye it
all the closer.

The match went out as the woman
turned from the table with the message
in her possessmn.

She had accomplished her purpose, for
had she not got Doctor Baker‘s letter
which bore his commands?

Genteel Joe slipped down the corridor
after the woman.

He left the place of darkness and found
himself under the roof of a little porch
from which it \ as but a step into the'
starlight.-

His quarry vanished.

The detective was nonplussed, and
while he stood on the porch undecided
as'to what to do, his wrist was encir~
cled by a human hand . .

“Did she vanish? ’ asked a voice at his
ear. " She is the ghost lady of the housc.
It’s the second time I've seen her. She
must have dissolved."

It was the voice of Sam. the coach—
man, and his lips almost touched Genteel
Joe’s face.

“ I tracked her to this spot, Sam."

“ Yes; I saw her come out of the house.

in the

  

.,
«Lt

 

 

She was the person who came to the
secret room? "

“ The same.”

“And you saw her?”

“But poorly; for she did her work in
the light of a match, and it was a brief
one.”

“ Of course. Didn’t light the gas, eh?
Came and went like a ghost; but ghosts
don’t strike matches.”

 That is true. She may have re-ent-
ered the house.”

The coachman was more than puzzled.

“We must find that creature!" said
he, with resolution. “She is so crafty
in her movements.”

“When did you see her last?”

“The night of the crime.”

“ That night?” cried Genteel Joe.

“Yes, and she vanished right where we
stand, just as she did to—night.”

“It’s queer.”

“I never said anything about it, be-
cause I’m superstitious. I have a dread
of ghosts, and this creature was so like
a spirit in her movements that I felt
a chill run over me whenever I thought
of her."

“ We’ll see. These doors are l'ocked? ”

“ All of them. She was on the ‘porch
right here, for she came out that door in
advance of you.”

They sounded the doors. All were
locked; but, all at once, the ferret caught
the coachman’s arm.

“ Come back into the house."

They opened a door which admitted
them to the house proper, and slipped
toward the front rooms.

" In the library!” said the ferret.
“ Stand at the door here."

The slight noise heard in the room of
the murder had caught the alert detect-
ive’s ear, and he had spoken hastily to
his companion.

Savage planted himself at the door, as
with a sudden twist of the knob, Genteel
Joe opened it.

“ Gone! ” cried Savage.

The ferret stopped on the threshold.

He threw a hasty look at the coach-
man.

“ Back to the porch, quick! If any one
comes out of the secret door there, hold
him.” -

Savage, with a nod, bounded down the
hall, and the detective sprang across the
library carpet and pressed the button in
the wall.

But for once the book-case did not
swing outward, and he seized it, but could
not move it an inch.

Baflled by some unseen agency, Joe
Nichols threw all his strength into the
trial, only to be baflled as before.

No one was in the library but him—
self.

The person he had expected to surprise
there had vanished like a spirit, and
was not to be seen.

The drop light over the millionaire’s
desk showed him the room and its fur-
nishings, but that was all.

Genteel Joe had to smile in spite of
himself.

The situation was startling, and not
altogether without a phase of humor, but
he could no: fathom it.

At once he heard a sharp and sudden
cry from overhead, and a bound took
him into the hall.

In another instant he was midway up
the stairs leading to the second story
when again that appalling scream—it was
a scream now—filled his ears.

“Did you hear that? ” cried the
coachman, as iris burly figure appeared
at the foot of the steps. “ It came from
Miss Lotty’s room.”

It did not need this to semi the de-
tective like an arrow up the flight and
land him on the floor above.

Savage was at his heels, and the two
men rushed down the upper hall, the
coachman pointing toward a door, over
the transom of which was a light.

"There! that is her room.
what if it's another tragedy?”

Already Genteel Joe‘s hand was on
the knob, but it would not turn.

“ Burst it in!" shouted Sam.

 

 

M y God! 1

 

 

The next minute Genteel Joe launched
himself against the portal, and it fell
in.

The two men paused on the threshold,
and stared at the sight that met their
gaze.

They beheld Lotty Daniels lying in an
arm chair, with a deathly pallor on her
face, and her eyes staring at the floor
some feet away.

She neither spoke nor seemed to notice
them, and the two men gazed spellbound
at the sight.

“ She's dead!”
other tragedy.”

Genteel Joe did not speak, but sprang
to the girl’s side and raised one of her
hands. '

“ There’s life here yet,” said he.
Hg‘It’s true. There’s a spark of life
e t.”

He seized a pitcher of water on the
dresser and moistened Lotty's face, and
in a few moments the eyes opened and
a natural look came to them.

“ What was it? Who was here? ”
asked Sam, excitedly.

Again the gaze of the girl wandered
across the carpet at her feet and seemed
to rest on a certain spot at the foot of a
walnut dresser.

She could not speak.

“Who frightened you, miss—the wo—
man?” queried the detective.

One hand slowly lifted and remained
in a certain position while the finger
seemed to cover the dresser.

" It is there," cried the coachman. ” It
may have been one of the demon doc-
tor’s snakes.”

The girl’s gaze settled upon Savage's
face for a moment, and she nodded
slightly.

“It was the serpent—the little death
agent, let loose in the house by that cool
villain!” exclaimed Sam, catching up a
poker and springing toward the stand.

“It—came from under—the—dresser,"
she said in husky tones. "It—was—~a
snake—one of his-—It was yellow—"

_“ The color of the one I killed in the
library!” cried Sam. “It is it’s mate.”

“It must be found, for it is death!"
said the detective.

“We will find it,” returned Sam, but
the search was without avail.

“It may have gone underneath the
door and down stairs!” suddenly cried
the coachman, and he bolted out, leaving
,enteel Joe and the white-faced girl in
the little room.

In another moment there came from
below a cry that rang through the entire
house, and the detective was instantlv in
the hallway. :

He bounded down the stairs two steps
at a time, and in the light of the Jet
on the first floor he saw a man tossuig
like mad against the wall and trying to
tear from about his wrist something that
glittered like a bracelet of polished gold.

It did not take Joe 3. second to reach
the struggling and tortured coachman.

Sam Savage stood in the light with the
whitest of faces and his wrist still on-
circled by a living bracelet, which seemed
to have fastened itself there in the twink-
ling of an eye.

He was beyond the power of speech.

Genteel Joe caught at the writhing
reptile, and it slipped, eel—like, through
his fingers.

Suddenly, with a desperate effort, the
coachman pulled it away, and flinging it
to the floor, he planted his broad heel .
upon the wriggling mass, crushing it into
pu p.

With a half-suppressed cry he looked
at Joe and dashed into the library.

. The detective saw him throw himself
into the dead man's chair and catch up a
pen.

cried Sam. “It’s an-

 

CHAPTER XVI.
GENTEEL JOE’S TRAIL AFTER DARK.

In all his life Genteel Joe had never
seen a face like the one under the drop
light.

Sam Savage was surely in the throes
of death, for his hand clutched the pen—
holder, as if it would crush it. while he

,, .,i . " ' '

w, :H-I‘V Ry ,; . 9.,
r.» ,r‘. ‘=Ii.'.'~r",-l‘t, +4“ A"

 

    

 

._...~-

 

:mon and—like Doctor Baker.

Genteel Joe’s 'Lo

7 "-4- «N ._..._........- .-. mW~V—~..v--.- __ “ruin-er —-»»v-

ne Hand. H

 

'1‘7

 

 

tried to collect his thoughts to put upon
paper the story of his doom.

The pen snapped at the end of a sen~
tence, and the coachman fell back with
a strange cry.

The horrified detective bent over the
scrawl on the sheet and read:

“‘ She threw the snake at me—lt curled
round my wrist—she—looked like a de-
You———
must—avenge me—too.”

Genteel Joe stole a look at Sam Sav-
age in the chair.

The eyes were already fixed in the
stare of death.

And where the snake had been a living
bracelet, there was a livid ring, that
grew darker as the ferret watched it.

Genteel Joe caught up the paper with
the dead man’s scrawl thereon, and se-
creted it in his bosom.

So the woman had not left the house
if Savage's story was true.

Once more the detective sprang to the
bookcase, which opened into the secret
room, but it was as solid as before, and
would not move for him.

In another moment he rushed from the
library, and saw on the stair the white,
speechless face of Lotty Daniels.

“ Savage? " she cried. ,

“ Savage is dead down there!" said
the ferret. “The reptile is dead, as well.
He crushed it before he gave up his life.”

“Is there another?”

“ There must be. I have seen two since
Savage killed the first one in the libra-
.ry-n

She clutched the detective’s wrist and
led him away.

“ Try the secret room,’ whispered she.

“I can’t open it; the bookcase refuses
to move.”

“ Then some one has‘ shot the bolt be-
hind the door.”

The detective thought of the secret
passage, and the sliding door which
opened upon the porch.

“The other door, miss. You remem-
ber there’s one on the porch.”

“ I never knew it. But find it. We must
get into the room behind the library.”

Genteel Joe darted away and opened
the door, which he found without diffi-
culty.

He did not look back, but knew from
certain sounds that the millionaire‘s
heiress was close behind him.

He flashed the bull's eye of his lan-
tern as he led the way down the nar-
row corridor, and in a jiffy both entered
the room of the green baize table.

“See, the door is bolted from the in-
side,” cried Lotty, pointing at the door.

In another instant the detective was at
the table and had forced the one drawer
it contained. '

This time there was no message to re-
ward his hunt, and he looked again at
his companion, whose gaze seemed to be
riveted on the opposite wall.

“You cannot see it from where you
stand, perhaps; but there‘s writing over
yonder. It looks luminous and—Ah!
can’t you see it now?”

“I see some letters not very plain.
'There! they vanish.”

“ “ It is true,” cried Lotty. “I was just
'11] the act of making them out.”

The ferret approached the wall, but
what he had barely seen was entirely
gone. ‘

They stood together for a moment, look-
ing at What Seemed the agency of the
unreal, when a sound came from beyond
the nearest wall.

“ Savage has come back to life," cried
Lotty Daniels.

Genteel Joe slid back the bolt that $9.
cured the secret and bounded into the
library.

But everything was still and un-
changed there; the body of the coachman

,sat in the armchair, with one of his arms

resting on the edge of it and the “red
bracelet" still on his wrist.

An hour later Genteel Joe was looking
:at a house, the front of which was rath-
er imposing and interesting.

 

As he stepped back a door opened and
a man came out to stop on the step an
instant and light a cigar.

There was a startling coolness about
this individual, who wore a white beard
and was handsome.

“ The passenger of the Paris," said the
ferret, under his breath, as the man
moved from the house and walked away.

It was easy enough to keep White-
beard in sight, but at last he began to
double like a fox, and vanished down a
street not very well lighted.

The ferret of New York was not to
be frustrated by such movements, and
when he saw the steamship’s passenger
take a key from his pocket and let him—
self into the house before which he had
stopped he smiled and knew he had
tracked his quarry down.

Joe Nichols approached the premises
and made a careful survey of the place.

It was not a very stylish abode for a
distinguished-looking person like “Gen-
eral Capulet.”

Genteel Joe had not seen quite enough
of the man he had tracked from Doctor
Baker’s office at the dead hour of night;
he wanted to see the general at home.

He was almost past the house when he
caught the sound of voices beyond the
shuttered window, and in another in-
stant the ear of the man of trails was
pressed against the slats.

“Been waiting here long for me?"
said a sonorous voice.

" ’Bout half an hour. I thought you
would get in by and by."

“Well, I‘m here. Hang it all, he won’t
do just what’s right."

“ Make him.”

“ I’ve tried to. I’ve argued the subject
from every point. I’ve exerted all my
arts.” ‘

“I’ve tried mine. He insists.”

“Yes,” said Whitebeard. “It’s got to
be done whether he says so or not. See
here. There's millions at stake, and un-
less we can‘t brush this obstacle from our
paths and do it at once~—”

“Hush! I want to listen a minute.
Some one stepped in front of the house
just then. You may have been followed.”

“Followed? I would like to see the
person who would follow me. I didn’t
cross the sea for this purpose."

“That’s all right. We have men right
here in New York who can give your
other-side detectives a mile and distance
them.”

“Listen, then. I forget nothing.”

Genteel Joe slid from the window and
dropped into a hiding place afforded by
the edge of the house which stood a lit-
tle out from its neighbor.

He heard the door open cautiously, and
then caught sight of a shadow thrown
across the narrow pave by the light in-
51 e.

Joe held his breath in his ambush and
waited till the person in the doorway had
made his observation.

Once more the door closed, and again
the keen car was at the window.

“ It was nothing at the door, eh? ” said
the \Vhitebeard’s voice.

“No. but there's nothing like oeing
careful."

“ That‘s right; I applaud your caution,
but you can be too suspicious.”

“Well, now about the game. He
wouldn’t listento your line of argument
to-night? "

“No. He is headstrong, but at the

same time cautious. He holds the key
of death and life in his hands and he
knows it. He is rightly called the Demon
Doctor. There's not another like him in
the world. The man is poison proof."

“ He must be."

“ Aye, he is. I’ve seen him apply the
antidote."

 llas he really found it, then?"

“You saw what he (lid for the bitten
guinea pig? Well, he can save man just
as well."

“How long after the bite? ”

“ That depends on the state of the vic-
tim‘s blood. Some men can be saved
days after burial; others would be dead
within half a minute.”

 

 

‘4

“ It is marvelous.”

“Marvelous or not, it is true. He is
the only possessor of the antidote in the
world. It belongs to him, does the secret
of its construction and the supply."

“ Why, it he should take a notion to
sweep us from his path?—"

“We are powerless."

“We are not safe with that man, un-
less we have some of the antidote.”

VVhitebeard laughed dryly.

“Get it~get a jewel from the bottom
of the sea!” he cried.

There was no reply, and the detective
waited half a minute without hearing the
silence broken.

He knew who were beyond that win-
dow—the steamer’s passenger and Major
Trumps.

 

CHAPTER XVII.
THE DEMON DOCTOR'S TRAP AND rrs
CATCH.

The bargain between Dolliver Dipps and
Splinters, though not entered into with
much spirit by the former, was binding.

The man with the scarred hand was to
find out where the steamer’s passenger
lodged, with a view of making the first
play, and he reluctantly set out to per-
form that duty.

Dipps had misgivings.

He knew that Goldstein, the intended
victim of the Demon Doctor and his
friends, had escaped the fangs of the
serpent, and that he was expected to tell
Major Trumps that he had seen Gold—
stein dead in his little room.

It caught in a falsehood, would not
the band turn against him, and would
he not some time feel the deadly sting
of the destroyer?

A short time after the departure of
Splinters, Dipps might have been seen
sliding through the shadows of a certain
part of the city on an errand of some
kind. ,

He had made up his mind to tell the
major the truth and take the chances.

The three were more powerful than
either Splinters or Goldstein.

He rang the bell of the major‘s resi—
dence and failed to get a response.

“Not at home? I must see him,” said
Dipps. “I may find him at the doctor’s,
but I don't like to cross that man’s
steps. However, I can get into the
house by the rear window and wait for
him.”

Dipps, who knew all the entrances and
exits of Major Trumps' house, effected
an entrance through the rear door, and
sat down in a darkened room to wait for
his master.

It was not far from midnight.

For some time he was in the midst of
deathly stillness, and. then a key turned
in the lock.

Dipps waited as footsteps approached
the room where he was, and the door
opened to admit some one.

The name of his master was on his
lips when he heard the swish of a gar-
ment, and he hesitated.

The unseen person crossed the room
to the table in the middle and paused
there.

Dipps dropped behind the settee with-
out noise and held his breath.

Presently a light flashed up and the
little man saw a face half hidden by a
veil, and he knew that he looked upon a.
woman he had seen before.

“It is Florence, the major’s wife!”
ejaculated Dipps. ».

The woman, who was clothed in dee
and close-fitting. black, leaned over the
table and began to write.

Her work went on for some minutes,
after which she rose and' pushed the
sheet of paper under the blotter that
nearly covered the top of the table.

Then she put out the light, whisked
from the room and out of the house.

S‘Deucedly narrow call," said Dipps,
crawling from his cramped hiding place.
“ Florence is a half spirit, anyhow, and I
don’t care about falling into her
clutches.”

He went over to the table and pulled
the paper from beneath the blotter.

. ,7- -; m—v—wfla rvvv.

 

 

 

» r : ~  -. *     Jae

 

 

‘ His eyes seemed to dilate while he
read what the woman had written.
“It’s for the major exclusively, and
he knows where to find it," he muttered.
“What would Genteel Joe say if. he could
read this letter, and what would Splint—
ers or Goldstein give for a copy ‘of it?
But I must leave it where it is, and carry
the contents in my head. I’m good
enough for that, I guess,” and he restored
the letter to its hiding place and smiled.
Ten minutes later the door opened
again and the figure of Major Trumps,
just back from his interview with Gen—
eral Capulet, came forward.

He saw Dipps the moment he turned
on the light. -

“Well, how goes it, Dipps, my boy? ”
he asked, dropping into his chair. “ Been
here long?”

If No.”

“How did the doctor‘s plan work? ”

“ Fairly well.”

“The little thing found its victim?”

It Yes."

“ Now, Dipps, I have another bit of

work for you.”

Dipps held his breath.

“ In the name of fortune, when am I

to cease getting these infernal commis-

sions?” he thought. “I would give my

very life if a desert or an ocean lay be-

tween: me and Majdr Trumps, but here I

am, still his slave and tool, and—3’

“ It’s something of this kind," broke

in Major Trumps. “You know a good

deal about Doctor Baker‘s house.”

“I’ve been there."

,. “You know the way up to it by the
' narrow stairs. Of course you do, Dipps.

You're just the man for the little scheme

1 have in view.

I “ If it’s a trip back to that house where

the reptiles are—"

“That’s nothing; you won’t 'be ex-
pected to take one of them from the
cages. All you are expected to do is to
find your way to the laboratory and
‘ 'brin’g away certain phial.”

, ' “ From amo g the hundreds on the
’ shelves there?” cried Dipps. aghast.

' “ It’s nothing~merely child’s play.”

‘ “It’s more like a task of- Hercules,
strikes me,” said Dipps.

“'The house can be entered without

difficulty. I have a key to the doors.”
u Yes.” 4
l “ You can go right away, for just now
. Doctor Baker isn’t at home, and the
* chances are that he won’t show up till
'daylight. ‘You’ll have plain sailing."
Dipps said nothing.
. “It’s a little phial, not thicker than
your finger, Dipps. It contains a red-
dish fluid that gets darker when you tip
,the phial. You will find it at the end
$91 the third shelf from the ceiling—~at
.the right end as you enter the labora-
tory. You can’t miss it, Dipps."

There was no response, and Major
1.'.I!rumps looked Over at the breathless lis—
tener and frowned. ‘ .
“ You heard me, D ps? ”

The little man no ded.
. . “ Well, I’ll wait for you here. It won’t
take you over an hour to go and come
(back with the phial.”
. -Dlpps rose, scarcely knowing what he
mm. ‘
".Be at now. Don't forget the shelf
ethe third from the cdiling. Here’s the
might key. The laboratory is'opened by
 ing a button alongside the door
t two feet above the floor.. It’s not
it'd to find, Dipps.”
With. the key in his pocket, Dipps
cited »up his hat and started oil! on the
' lous~ mission. He reached the house
,of the Demon Doctor, and saw the dim
light beyond the colored transom.
,gDipps looked up and down the stréet,
‘ nd at last opened the door with the
latch key. . _ ‘

* send the stairway which led to
e doctd'r's laboratory, and in a little
he he gained the locked door, 32nd
 searching for the button. ,

 he found it he gave it a q'uick
 ing, and the iron door of the doc-
-‘ secret room opened slowly. ;

   
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  

'33
0
F.

 

 

1,

 

~ ":1 told him nothing

“I‘m all right,” thought Dipps, “ but
if I get out of this safely, may I be
hanged i‘ ever I cross this threshold
again! "

He knew where to find the electric
light, and in a moment he had turned
it on.

His eager eyes roved round the room
for the article he had been sent to pur-
loin.

The little phial was there.

Dipps sprang forward and caught it
up, turning it upside down to test the
fluid which grew darker as the phial was

inverted, and placed it in an inner
pocket.
“It's better than carrying a living

snake into one‘s bosom," he thought.
“This thing can't bite, and I believe it
is a cure for the poison. If I was sure
it was—9'

He did not complete the sentence, but
turned toward the door and passed out
of the laboratory. t

“ I’m all right now,” said Dipps.

In another minute he felt a thrill of
pain in every nerve. and found himself
standing in the centre of a wire mat in
front of the door, his feet held down
by a powerful electrical current.

The iron door had shut behind him,
but still he could not step from the sen-
sitized mat!

He knew what had happened. He had
been caught in one of Doctor Baker’s
cunning traps!

He tried to fall against the door, but-
the current held him from it, and his
face‘ grew white.

What if he was to be kept there till
Doctor Baker came back? and was not
that to be his doom?

He gave himself up to the fate that
threatened him, and submitted with the
best grace he could assume.

Minutes seemed hours, but at last the
change came. A door below opened and
shut, and some one came up stairs. _

"What?" cried Doctor Baker, with a
fiendish leer. “A rat in the trap, eh?
I half expected it! ”

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
lN WHICH AN onu caliper: HOLDS GOOD.

Genteel Joe at the blinds of the little
house to which he had tracked General
Capulet, slipped away when he could
hear no more. -

Zara had told about the general’s'do-
ings on shipboard, and h d-furnished
him with the bits of paper p cked up from
the floor, and these he wanted to put to-
gether in some hape.

In the solitude of his den he began this
work, and the night wore away while
he toiled; ,

Genteel Joe did not accomplish his
task till near morning, for the pieces re-
minded him of the blocks of a crazy
quilt, and more than once he was on the
eve of giving up in despair.

The next day, after a nap in his den,
the detective presented himself at the
door of the Daniels mansion and was.
admitted. I '

Miss Lotty, calmer than ‘when he saw
her last, escorted him into the library,
and pointed at the empty chair at the
desk. ' _

The body of Sam, the coachman, was
no longer' there. ,

“ They came and took it,away,” said
she with a shiver. “I could not keep it
in the house. The police took it off, and
it is now in their hands. The red brace-
let vanished with the coming of day-

light. There was no mark on the wrist
at all, and they seemed puzzled. I don’t
know what will be the result. Doctor

Baker, who has just been here—"
"YOu- sent for him then?"
“No, he came of his ownaccord—

dropped in, he said, to see how I came

on. Of course he heard of the death, and
he went away, saying that he w0uld look
at the body and determine if possible
what finished Savage."

“You. were silent as to the events in
the. house last night?!" _ '

t

 

In another moment the detective laid
one hand on the girL’s arm, saying:

“Would you let me see the will, Miss
Lotty?” ‘

She went out with a nod,
came back with the
ment.

Joe Nichols carried it across the hall
into the parlor and sat down.

The girl drew off a Iittle distance and
watched him eagerly. She saw him open
the paper and spread it on the table
before him.

Meantime Genteel Joe was examining
the paper, and the millionaire’s daugh-
ter saw that he had taken a queer—look—
ing paper from his pocket and had laid
it beside the will.

At last Joe handed back the will and
folded the other paper.

Lotty did not speak.

(1 ‘;You remember what I promised to

o. I)

" To save me from the results of that
terrible bequest?"

“ Yes. I intend to do it.”

“ But you must first find the hand that
struck my father down in you room."

“ That shall be done also.”

“After that the other intervention.”

“What if both trails run into one?”

“Will they do that?’f

“Perhaps, Miss Letty. My mission is
to punish the guilty, and I shall do it,
no matter what the crime has been. It
may be murder or forgery.”

The young lady started at this. .

“ Is there a sign of forgery? ”

“ There may be two crimes. The dark-
er one was enacted beneath this roof,
the other may have been committed
across the sea.”

She did not appear to fathom the
depths of his answer, but she did not
press him for information.

“ Now for the other man!" said the
ferret to himself when he trod the city’s
stones again. " I begin to see the mo—
tive for the murder. It had to be don
to carry out the plot. -I owe you some;
thing for your keen eyes and your
thoughtfulness, Zara. I will not forget
you when it comes to distributing the
spoils of the game}?

With the fall of,the-. night Joe Niehé
ols opened a door some distance from
his own den and leaned across a step,
saying: »

“Are you in, Splinters?"

and soon
important doc-u-

There was no answer, and he shut the

door and glided off.

In half an hour he came back and re-
peated the query, but with the same re-
sult.

This time, however. he closed the door-

and remained in the room.
In ten minutes a fontfall came to the,
portal and stopped or the outside.
Splinters came in, and ,the lighting of"
the gas let him see his visitor.

The little man let out a cry of aston—- '

ishmenr, but the detective put him some~
what at his case.  ,

“ I’ve been waiting for you.
shabbing out now, Splinters.”

“But you know what I've said, Joe?’
I can't help you much because I didn't
friy when .the dagger killed Dake Dan-
e 8.” ~

Don’t be.

“Of course you didn’t, and you’ve not ‘

shed any tears since. I want to tell you
something, Splinters." ' ’

“-Go on.” ‘

"You’re in danger," said Joe.

The little man started. '

“ You're [in deadly peril, Splinters.
There’s a shadow in your path, and un-
less you take the offensive you're apt to
feel the hand of the silencer.” .

The little man leaned toward Joe and
looked him searchingly in the face.

“ In danger, am I? Let them try to
get me out of‘the way, and they‘may.r
discover that a‘ little snake kills just-
like a, big one, but in a different man».
ner.” . "

“ That’s nice talk. But, Splinters,
without an ally you’re in the net.” i.'- '

“ From whence does the Newcomer

Whole my enemy? " _ . .w

 

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“ Go over all the foes you have. Cata-
logue them. It won’t take you very long.
We‘ll admit that one of them is dead in
the person of Duke Daniels.”

” Yes, not so much my foe as one whom
1 hated. Let me see.”

Splinters leaned forward, and for half
a minute buried his face in his hands.

“ Is he a large man? " he asked.

“ Perhaps. A large man is the foe you
select from among them all, is it, Splint-
ers? ”

“ Has he a white beard? ”

Joe’s head inclined forward a little
and Splinters eagerly caught at the an-
swer. .

“That man wants me, does he?” he
cried, his hands shutting as he shot them
into the ’air, only to bring them down
upon the table with emphasis. “ This is
the shadow I have to fear. I knew he
had come back.”

“ He is here looking for you.”

“ But I've sent a spy after him. I
have put a spy on his track. We will
find him, and then I may strike first."

“Splinters, this man has you almost
in his grasp now.”

The little man threw a quick glance
toward the door, and stood in the middle

.of the room in a tremor of fear.

“Where is he? You know, for you
have found him, Joe.”

“ That may be my secret. I may want
him to play out his little hand—” -

“Heavens! that won’t save me.”

“Why can’t you save yourself? You
seek no alliance with any one. You
ought to be able to meet and defeat this
enemy.” ,

Splinters seemed speechless in the face
of this danger; his eyes dilated and crept
back into his head, and within the same
minute he lost courage.

‘,‘ You must help me! You don‘t know

‘this cool head who has come back.”

“From where, Splinters? ”

“From France. He is not a French—
man, butran American; but he is as cool
as Satan, and as merciless."

“ You’ve met him before? ”

“.Yes, yes. Th nly man I really fear
in the world is n in this city.”

“And he is Major Trumps’ friend?”

I‘ Yes.’)

,“And Doctor Baker’s ally?”

“ More than that.”

The detective drew from his pocket a
long, slender package, which he opened
in the little man’s presence.

From it fell upon the table, a dagger,
with a black handle, and the eye of
Splinters seemed to quit his head as he
leaned forward with his gaze upon .it.

“Did you ever see that dagger be-
fore? "

“ I have.”

"Where?" . ,

Splinters answered first by picking it
up and turning it over in his hands.

“It is not the blade that killed Duke
Daniels.”

1‘ N0.”

” It is the other dagger," cried Splint-
ers. “ It is the larger one, the sign of
the plot. Didn’t you find it buried in a
paper of some kind? ”

“ I did.”

“,And you- carried it away?" \

“"Yea, I brought it from the little room
behind the library. It was there in the
paper embellished with the gruesome
coffin.” -

Splinters shrugged his shoulders and
turned his face from the light.

“Now, Splinters, you must give me
the motive for that terrible crime. You
hold, in part, the secret of the murder
on the avenue. You almost know who
killed Duke Daniels. You know why he
fe l.’.’

The face of Splinters was a study as
Genteel Joe looked at it in the light. ,

” Come, the time for the unraveling of
the plot has arrived. You must put aside
your hatred of the dead, Splinters. You
must think only of justice and of the
fair girl orphaned by the stroke." A

“ She is his child! I can't tell you any-
thing." , '
“ Miserablewretch! You shall! "

if C

 
  

 
 

 

CHAPTER XIX.
THE DETECTIVE'S VICTORY.

Splinters did not know the character

of the man he was defying. else he would
not have spoken with such resolution.
' “Miserable wretch, you shall!” and
with this sentence on his lips Genteel
Joe seized the other‘s wrist, and held it
in a grip of iron.

Splinters drew back the length of the
merciless hand, and looked across the
narrow space into the face of the de-
tective.

“ Beware,” he said, still defiant. “ Don't
turn me against you, Joe."

“ You are next door to an enemy now,
and you can go the other step if it pleases
you.”

“But I don’t care to.”

“The truth or the exposure! Tell me
why Duke Daniels fell beneath the dag-
ger of the assassin, and you can walk
from this room unmolested.”

“ If I refuse, what?"

“The future will tell."

Once more across the space shot the
defiant glance of Splinters.

Joe, the detective, did not relinquish
his hold; indeed, his hand seemed to
sink deeper into the man’s flesh, and to
drive by its vise—like grip every vestige
of 'color from his face.

Splinters reflected a moment, and
seemed to back down. It would not do
for him to make an enemy of this keen
ferret, and lose the friendship that had
existed between them for years.

, “‘ Let up, and I’ll tell you," he said.

Genteel Joe pulled Splinters into the
chair, and sat opposite him.

“I don’t care about harming you,
Splinters, but this is a matter of desper-
ate remedies. You know why Duke Dan,
iels was murdered. You know some-
thing about the pierced paper, with the
embellished head. Now, go on."

The little man evidently thought of
his bargain with Dipps.

If he unbosdmed himself to Genteel
Joe would he not miss the spoils of the
game he had planned with Dipps, the
maimed? ’ .

Dipps was to discover where General
Capulet lived, and after that they were
to bleed the passenger (ofrthe Paris.

But to tell the truth to Joe Nichols
would be to balk himself, and be best-
tated.

“Go on,” repeated the detective.
can’t wait till the day’of judgment."

Splinters took a long breath, and, in
the taking of it, decided on his line of
action.

“ He was killed for vengeance."

“ By whom? ” '

“By the avenger."

“Come. 110 humor, Splinters. This is
a matter of seriousness. It is a case of
life and‘ death. The dagger that killed
millionaire Daniels was not the one "I
found in the table in the secret room.”

“ Perhaps not.” I , ‘

“You know it was not the same. The
stab in the neck was» made by a narrow
blade with a needle point, and the steel
found the heart of the victim. The other
dagger was left in the secret room for a
purpose. Was ,it left there by the mur-
derer? ” -

“ Why not? They tell me that a secret
door leads from the library to the other
chamber.” v -

“And a hidden stairway to a lower
passage, which in turn lets one out upon
the porch in the rear of the mansion.”

“ You know these things, I see,‘ You
have hunted the house over.”

“ That was my duty. 'I wanted a clew.”

“ Yes, yes. NOW, what else! did“ you
find in the little passage. Joe? " '

(II

a  do you  WOUId be found,

in the dark passage? ” «
Splinters shook his head. \
“ You remember the boot‘ mark You

discovered in the corner of the corridor

leading to my den, Splinters? ”

«I do.” = ;

“Well, I found its counterpart in the
narrow passage in the mansion.” ,

“ The boot-heel With the cross of nails
in it.» I recall it distinctly." ; I ;

   

l

i

 

= home.” 

  
   

“ It was there in the dust in the dark.-
It was very plain when I threw the light
of my lantern on it.”

" That‘s a clew, Joe.”

“Who wears a boot-heel like that? ”

The little man solemnly shook his
head.

“ You don‘t know? "

“I don’t, Joe.”

“Maybe 7011 never paid much attenw
tion to boot-heels."

“ I never do. Why should I? ”

“True; but wouldn't a heel of that
kind affect you, if seen? "

“It might." ‘

“And you tell me that you don't
know who makes such a print? ”

“I tell you that, Joe.”

Splinters spoke with positiveness, and
his voice was calm and steady; his eye,
too, rested upon the detective and fol~
lowed his look across the room.

“ You are a good actor, Splinters,”
said the ferret, with a smile, at which.
the little man started some.

“ You don’t believe me."

“I don’t."

I‘ Joe—7!

“ You are a monumental liar.”

“This is too much!”

“Make the most of it.
Thug."

“In wliat way?”

" You have seen a boot-heel just like
that one."

H  ’0 o

“No one else but yourself.”

“ This is too bad.”

“I turn you over to the hunter. I
wash my hands of all he does with you."

“ You won’t protect me, Joe?”

“Protect you? Why should I?"

“I have tried to be as concise as pos+
sible.” ' '

“.You have spun a specious story for
the purpose of keeping me from the,
quarry.” '

“ Prove it.”

“I will.” .
Genteel Joe dived one hand intovhis-
pocket and pulled forth a tom’sheet of",
paper, which be spread out on the table. -
Splinters leaned, forward and let his:
gaze feast upon it a second, when he.

 

          
     
  
   
 
   
   
    
  
  
  
  
   
   
 
  
 
    
     
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
    
   
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
  
  
  
  
    
 
  
   
  
   
  
    
 
  
   
  
   
  
  
     
   
   
    
 
 
   
   
    
   
   
    
   
    
    
 
  
   
  
     
   
   
  
   
   

You lie like 8.

 

lifted his yes to the cool detective. '
“Heave ! where did you get that?”'
“ Never mind. Is it genuine, Splin- “’
ters?” "
“ It is.” / . l ,
“You don’t deny the charges written ‘- '
here? ” . '

" I’dare not." Q:
“ This paper came from the desk or ‘
the dea‘d! It was left behind by Duke
Daniels and probably the murderer over- ,
looked it.” ‘ ‘  
“ Doubtless. It is a terrible paper to.-
be lying around loose in the way ot‘the
roving eye." ‘
““Terrible to the man whose

name ap.»
pears on. the sheet.” ‘ ‘ 
" That’s what I mean." ,
“ This paper, undoubtedly penned by.
Duke Daniels, accuses you of a crime.
which you do not deny.“ ' ,
'Splinters 'recoiled with one finger div”
rested at the torn sheet. and his lips“:
white and bloodless. . \ I
"I hold this in my keeping. It is the!
terrible truth: that can crush you with“
out a moment's inotice. It reveals the;
source of your hatred; it tells the
of your hate for the murdered mitiiotté
are.” ‘ i 
There was no reply. Splinters :-
like a man struck dumb by some terrie-
ble accusation, and his eyes rolled in his.
head. , ' ”
“ Iwould not have; dreamed this."
"his true. ‘ ‘~ ' - ‘
“He never recognized you? "‘
“Never”, " ‘ . 
“Did you ever go to him for ree’ognl-‘
tion? ” » ‘
“ More than once.” ‘
“ It would seem so from the language-
on this sheet. You threatened him. You;
went thither with the intention of bleed ’
ing him 'or driving Miss Letty from

        
       
       
   
 

   
    

  

.20

 

Genteel Joe’s Lone Hand.

 

 

“ I wanted my rights."

“You wanted to blackmail him; you
went thither ready for any foul deed.
You tried to make him pay over to you
.a million, and why? Answer me, Splin-
ters? ”

“The paper
answer enough?

“The sentences are a little disjointed,
.showing that the document was written
under a great strain. probably just after
your last visit. You knew the secret of
the passageway to the library.”

Splinters did not speak, but his gaze
.sought the floor at his feet.

“You went thither the last time armed,
:and nothing but his coolness and
.strength prevented a tragedy.”

“I went after my rightswrecognition
or a million.” snapped the little man,
:showing his teeth like a hyena. “I see
that you have the written proof of what
has been a secret between me and the
.dead. I dare not face you and deny it.”

“ You may if you wish, Splinters, but
the denial won‘t go.“

Genteel Joe rested one hand on the
paper and lopked over .it into the face
-of the little man.

“Stand over there against the door,
please,” he said, and Splinters backed
.away.' “ There, that will do. Now, sir,
lift your hand to heaven and sWear that
you don’t know why Duke Daniels was
killed in the library. Swear it, Splin-
.ters."

“I can’t do that, Joe. I won't."

“Very well. Now, if you will, an-
;swer but one question: Weren’t you
in the house that night? "

“You don’t suspect me, Joe?”

“I have said nothing in that direc-
tion. You were under the millionaire’s
.roof the night of the murder."

Splinters looked away and swallowed
.hard. ,

“ Come," said Genteel
"‘ tell me the truth.
house that night!”

Splinters's hands seemed to drop list-
less at his sides. He tottered forward
.and dropped into a chair, his face livid,
his eyes almost set.

“God pardon me!
:night—in the house!"

The implacable detective had con-
aquered.

tells

you. Isn’t that

Joe, rising,
You were in the

I was there that

CHAPTER XX.
DIl’l’s Tl’lth A NEW LEAF.
Poor Dipps had been terribly caught in
.the doctor's trap.
The electric mat held him beyond all

attempts to get away, and the mad eyes,
of the Demon Doctor glared at him over'

the top of the stairs.

Dipps seemed to have lost the power of
.speech, for he looked at the doctor and
did not articulate.

For some time Doctor Baker continued
to look at his victim, and then he came
«on and stood just beyond the mat.

Dipps could only eye him, and wonder
"what would follow his discovery.

“ You were about to rob me?”
Doctor Baker.

About to rob him! Then he did not
suspect that the crime had been con-
:Summated. -

“ You came to the laboratory to plunder
it. You were going to make me a poor
man.”

At the same time the hand of the
Demon Doctor reached toward the wall,
.and the next moment Dipps fell aside, re-
leased from the mat, but pain-struck in
every nerve.

The hand of Doctor Baker clutched
him and pulled him forward. The doc-
‘tor’s face almost touched Dipps’s. '

He conducted his prisoner down stairs,
and shut the door of a little room behind
them.

“ Sit down.”

Dipps obeyed.

said

He would not have

done otherwise for the world.

“Did your own brain devise this bit
of cunning?“ asked the doctor.

“Pardon me. it did.
‘fernal curiosity."

It was my in—

 

 

“ You wanted to behold the secrets of
the laboratory, did you? ”

“ Yes."

“ Wait.”

Doctor Baker threw out one foot, and
Dipps saw him press it to the floor, while
at the same time he was held fast in the
chair by an unseen power.

“You’re safe now for a spell. I'll be
back in a little while.”

Dipps was left alone. He saw the doc~
tor depart, and heard him on the stair-
way leading to the laboratory.

He was going up to investigate if any-
thing had been taken.

A fire burned before Dipps, and he
looked at the grate, and thought of the
Stolen phial.

Here was his chance, and he could
throw it into the fire and get rid of it.

But when he pulled it out and looked
at it another thought flitted through his
mind.

After all he might get away with it,
and it was the antidote for the poison
of the labarri.

He put it back just as footsteps sounded
once more on the staircase, and then he
watched the door.

Jared Baker came back, his imperturba-
ble face telling nothing and his nerves
calm.

“It's all right up there. I guess you
didn’t get beyond the door, Dipps. But
your intentions were not just as honest
as they should have been. 80 no one
sent you.”

“ No one.
curiosity.
you—n

“ I have a reputation beyond this house,
have I? I am known away from home? "

Dipps nodded.

“That’s good. Where I am known I
am feared. Understand that, Dipps. You
can go.”

The man with the maimed hand stood
erect and looked at his tormentor.

“You’re free, I say. I am not the
merciless man they call me. I have a
heart like other people, and am as much
man as monster.”

Dolliver Dipps did not stand on the
order of his going, but sprang from the
room, and thence to the sidewalk.

He had been more than an hour from
Major Trumps, and that master was
waiting for his report.

Dipps hastened toward the house.

He did not stop to ring the bell. but
opened the door with a latch key, and
bounded toward the parlor door.

“ Back at last?” cried a voice as Dipps
entered. “I thought the snakes had
caught you."

“I have passed through an experience
worse than meeting the serpents of
death,” cried Dipps, as he sank into a
chair. “He came home."

“And found you in the house?” ex-
claimed the Major. “That was bad.”

“ Yes, but you see I couldn’t help it."

“Why didn’t you hide and remain hid-
den till he retired? ” ,

“ The mat caught me.”

Major Trumps broke into a laugh which
brought no merriment to Dipps‘s pale
countenance.

“I had forgotten the little contrivance,
or 1 would have posted you. It is at the
door of the laboratory. I dare say it
holds one securely.”

“That’s what it was put there for.”
cried poor Dipps, shuddering. “But for
all that I came off with a whole skin."

“Then you didn't get the phial? ”

, A grin suffused Dipps's face, and he
handed over the little bottle.

“That is it. You found it at the end
of the third shelf?”

“There's where it was."

Major Trumps held the phial between
him and the light and smiled as the
liquid grew darker as he tipped it a lit-
tle.

“This is life—~life, Dipps,” he cried.
“This kills the venom of the yellow de-
stroyers."

“I guessed at that.”

“Did you? Well, you were right. It
is life, I say!”

I could not beat down this
I have heard so much about

 

,r ', I / .‘ z . , .
v .,‘,--".‘1.i{-"~.~~. x. mm ‘ h   . .. _ ,. ,.

 

The major placed the phial on the ta-
ble and grew confidential.

“Did he suspect me, Dipps? Of course
he questioned you ere he let you go.”

“He did——tried to pump me, but it
did no good."

“ You‘re a trump."

“I tried to be, for you see I had my
own interests at stake as well as yours.”

“Of course. I realize the terrible sit-
uation in which you were placed. It
must have been a trying one."

“Don’t send me back,” cried Dipps,
putting out his hands. “I won't go."

“You shall not be sent, for you’ve
done your duty nobly. Now, Dipps, my
boy, you shall be rewarded.”

Major Trumps drew his pocketbook
and threw some bills upon the table.

These were eagerly caught up by
Dipps and stowed away, and the next
moment the little man was gone.

Major Trumps remained at the table
feasting his eyes on the phial on the
cloth.

“ It's a ten strike,” said he, in his glee.
“ It arms me as never have I been armed
before. I am as powerful as the doctor
from this time on, and the fangs of the
death reptiles have no fears for me. I
stand on an equality with you, Jared
Baker, and you cannot drive me from
the game till I’ve won.”

He did not put the phial away for
some time, and then he slipped it into
a secret cupboard in the wall, the door
of which was ingeniously concealed.

As for Dipps, he made his way back
to his own quarters, where he ran across
Splinters, who sat in‘his only chair with
a white face and staring eyes.

“Did you find where he lives? ” asked
Splinters.

“I got into other work.”

The face of Splinters grew dark in a
frown.

“But that was the bargain—you were
to find out Whitebeard's hiding place.
After that we would try our little hand
and reap the rich harvest."

“But listen to me, Splinters. There‘s
something of more importance than that
just now."

“What is it? ”

“ I’ve another secret.”

“ Go on. What makes you stop? "

“I have found the antidote."

“The—what? You don‘t tell me that
you've penetrated Doctor Baker's great
secret?"

“I found the life bottle to-night."

“Let me see it, then."

Splinters held out his hand, but Dipps
looked at it and shook his head.

“I haven’t got it.” , .

“Oh, you hadn’t the nerve to carry oi!
the bottle. You let it remain where it
was, and it is as harmless there as if
it were at the end of the world."

“I gave it away.”

“You turned it over to your master,
you mean?”

“I gave it to the major. I had to.”

“Yes, ever the major! What will you
do, Dlpps, when he is dead or when the
hand of this detective called Genteel
Joe lands his flsh? ” -

Dipps started and looked up.

“I don‘t blame you for handing the
life phial over to the major, but you
might have abstracted some of its con-
tents.” ,

“I dared not. I did not know how to
handle the accursed thing.”

“ If you had brought it to me—”

“I never thought of that.”

“Never mind, Dipps. We’ll get an-
other play. Now for Whitebeard. 1
know where he hides.”

“ You discovered, then? ”

“I found out accidentally. I know
where he is. Now for the first play. T0-
morrow a thunderbolt will fall at his
feet. I know too much for him. This
man has just crossed the sea and landed
in New York, but his hand was felt here
before he landed. He sent some of his
work in advance.”

“But he may be dangerous."

~“ What if he is? ”

V”! v .u.‘

  
 

 

.su.

  

 

Genteel J oe’s Lone Hand.

 

 

 

“ That should make us cautious.”

“ Of course. Now, here‘s a play, Dipps.
To—morrow you will present yourself at
the home of Miss Lotty Daniels and ask
her what she will pay us for a decided
clew t0 the mystery.”

Dipps did not speak.

“ You will repeat the story I have
marked out, which is a very plausible
one—-"

“ But have you the clew'.’ "

“ Haven't I, though! "

“Why not take it to Genteel Joe?"

“ Never! " the eyes of Splinters
flashed. “Take it to that sleuthhound?
I guess not! We will either sell out to
Miss Lotty or to Doctor Baker."

“Will the doctor buy?”

“Time will tell. Now, good-night,
Dipps."
Splinters slipped away and Dipps

listened to his footsteps on the stairs till
they died away.

“I want to get out of this infernal
tangle,“ he muttered. “I’m in too deep
now. 1 know what I’ll do. l‘ll take the
whole story to Genteel Joe, and take it
now."

He sprang up and caught his hat from
the bed, and the next moment Dipps was
going toward the street, reson'ed to
find the man of many trails.

CHAPTER XXI.
AN BN'i‘itAl'l’lCll planner.

The next morning, after his interview
with Splinters, Genteel Joe received an
invitation to call on the Demon Doctor.

The invitation came a little ahead
of the hour he had set for such a call
and he went at once.

Doctor Baker'lived in luxurious quar-
ters.

The house was a three-story stone
affair, and the office door was to the left
of the main entrance.

When the detective rang the bell at
this door it was nearly ten o‘clock, and
the door opening at once let him into
Doctor Baker's well carpeted office.

The surroundings betokened wealth,
and the carpet gave forth no sound as
the feet of doctor and patient pressed it.

Doctor Baker, with a smile on his
handsome face, greeted the ferret, and
they adjourned at once .to another room
just off from the little one, where Gen-
teel Joe was invited to be seated.

“I have summoned you here," said
the Demon Doctor, “to make a few ob-
servations in the line of your duty.”

“And I will be glad to hear them."

“Poor Daniels must have had a ter-
rible foe. The knife point reached the
heart. and it took but one blow to send
it there.”

“That is true. It was a death stroke,
and it seemed to paralyze every nerve
and muscle.”

“That is correct, .as the autopsy
showed. The person who came to take
life carried away the dagger and left
in its stead nothing to give you a clew."

“You forget the other dagger in the
room off from the library, doctor.”

“ No, I recall it distinctly. It was not
the blade that killed. It was a dagger of
a different size and shape. The deadly
one with its fine blade and sharp point
did the deed instantly. It was made to
kl“; NOW, '11 You could only find the
motive for the crime—if this enemy
c0uld be unmasked and his grievance
discovered—3'0“ might not find the trail
so dark and clewless.”

“That seems to be the sticking point.
Miss Lotty says she was wide awake an
the time that night, and would have
heard the murderer come in if he came
by the front door.”

“ The young lady is inclined a little to
nervousness. She may not have been
on the alert, as she says she was."

” Or the enemy might have been con-
cealed in the house.”

“ I have thought of that, but after due
consideration I have dismissed that sus-
picion.”

Doctor Baker moved his chair closer

to the table and opened a drawer.

‘ IX“

 

He drew forth a diagram of the in-
terior of the dead man's house and ran
his finger over it.

He pointed out certain rooms and pas-
sages, and all the while suggested that
such and such a passage might have
carried the unseen enemy to his victim.

Genteel Joe looked on and kept silent.

“ It‘s mysterious, to say the least,” he
said at last.

“The more we discuss it the darker it
becomes. I thought I would be enabled
to enlighten you with my diagram and
suggestions, but I see you have gone
carefully over the ground before this."

"I think you will find me ahead of
you in every trail,” smiled Joe.

“ Now the sudden death of Savage, the
coachman, is startling, but not very
strange. The man‘s heart was diseased;
he was liable to go at any time."

“ You are sure, doctor, he did not die
from a bite of some kind?”
“ Bless you no, Nichols.
have bitten the coachman

house? "

“ Really. I cannot say. but Miss Lotty
said that there was a red mark on the
man‘s wrist: that it did not last long—"

“He may have struck the wrist on
falling. He was found dead in his chair.
Why, you were in the house at the time.”

“Yes, and I thought I, too, saw the
crimson mark."

“Natural, perfectly so. Savage was
overwrought about the death of his mas—
ter, and it hastened the end. I will
vouch for this."

Joe Nichols did not mention the rep-
tile which he had seen clinging to Sav—
age’s wrist that night of adventure in
the millionaire’s mansion.

He merely looked across the space that
separated them and kept his counsel.

“ Miss Lotty,” said he. adroitly chang.
ing the subject, “tells me that there is
a startling clause in her father’s will."

“She regards it as startling, does
she? Why, it seems but the payment of
an old debt.”

“ She had never
Trumps.”

“That may be, but her father had.”

“ And he thought of the debt when he
came to make his last will and testa-
merit.”

“Was it not natural that he should.
That man saved his life in Paris once.”

“I thought there might be something
of the kind involved in the secret when
I heard of the clause.”

“ She will carry out the will, will she
not?”

“Yes, much as it tries her, she is de-
termined to do so.”

“ The girl is sensible. Her father would
not have made the bequest if he did not
have the utmost confidence in his child.
She will not lose by her action, for Major
Trumps is a man who can make her
happy.”

“ You know him?”

“He is a friend of mine, and I think
is to be congratulated.”

“ But the strange part of it all to me
is the fact that Major Trumps did not
seek the society of Duke Daniels before
this, and let Lotty see something of her
future husband."

“He is modest, the major is. She will
learn this as their married life flits on.
I am glad to know that she will carry
out the provisions of the will.”

Half an hour later, as the detective
rose to go, Doctor Baker invited him up
stairs.

“I want to show you my laboratory.
I happen to have a den on the third
floor, and you may have a fancy for the
mysterious in chemicals.”

Genteel Joe followed at the doctor's
heels, and was ushered into the labora-
tory.

It was the first visit to it. and he stood
looking at the different things which the
voluble doctor explained.

“I spend much of my time here. I
come up often and stay long. They say
I neglect my practice by so doing, but
really I don’t have to practice any more.”

What would
in that

heard of Major

I
I

 

 

“ You will abandon medicine altogether
some day for the laboratory '? "’

“Yes, that‘s the idea. There is so
much undiscovered. This little phial con-
tains the results of years of toll. i could
hold the fluid in a teaspoon, and yet I
have lost sleep over the little particles
of green—sleep and flesh."

“ It must be a wonderful potion, doc-
tor.”

“ It is.
reply.

He talked volubly while he experiment-
ed with his chemicals, and the detective
seemed to forget where he was.

The laboratory was filled with light
from a pair of electric globes overhead,
but all at once they went out.

Genteel Joe found himself alone in the
laborators, for no one replied to his call,
and he fel. his way around the room
without touching his companion.

Back to the place where he started
from came the detective, and the room
still remained in darkness.

His hand found the door. and he turned
the knob, but the portal did not open.

“ Is this a trap—an experiment of
Doctor Baker’s? " he asked himself. “ Is
this a trick of his to show me that he is.
a master of the secret sciences?”

Again he found the door, but still it
would not yield.

At last Joe struck a match.

The flame leaped up, but as suddenly
died away, and the darkness became
doubly intense.

The detective struck the door with his
fists, and then listened, as the sound.
seemed to find an echo beyond.

“There must be a way to bring light
into tl.is room," he thought. “If I am
a prisoner in the Demon Doctor's labora-
tory I must find a way out. He shall not
play 011' his game now. I see all now-
I was called thither to be played against
With the cards in his hand."

He found the brass handles of the-
globes, but they would not flood the room
with light.

“It is true! I am in the trap!” he
cried, falling back.

Genteel Joe leaned against the bench
and thought rapidly.

Not a sound came to his ears now.

He felt back, but the shelves which he
had seen a few moments before were
gone, and a blank wall was all he
touched. ‘

He was in a house of mystery, in a
den of death.

The detective went to the end of the
laboratory and stopped.

He heard at last a noise. but it came
from beyond the wall, and he heard it but
indistinctly.

In another moment, however, he heard
a louder sound, and then the door opened
suddenly. .

Doctor Baker stood on the threshold.

“I beg your pardon. I was forced to
leave you, and I dared not take you along,.
so I just locked‘ you in. The light went
out through a fault of mine, but it's:
all right now."

Once more the laboratory was flooded
with light, and the detective looked into.
the doctor’s face.

It was not the same face he had seen
before.

The eyes had a snap they had not hith-
erto known, and the skin was almost
yellow.

“ We'll go down: now,”
Baker.

Genteel Joe plhced his hand on his re-
volver as he stepped. from the apartment.

The Demon Dootor was dangerous; he
was the man he had to dread above all
others, and he now watched him like a.
hawk.

Joe was midway down the stairs when
he felt the steps falling.

In an instant he reached out after the
doctor's collar, but missed it by a hair,
and the next instant there rang out on.
the air a laugh filled with diabolism.

The city detective leaped back, but
too late. '

There was nothing beneath his feet;
the whole stairs seemed to hava vanished.

' t ' : . ._

It is life and death," was the

said Doctor

2 ‘u -- w !  '. 1.: v. . u» 
,”s!‘.I‘-.l' 9 ».,~ x 2:35.“ ;,.-. ‘. i , ! ,-.-. . ‘ .. *'

 

 
 
   

i223

 

_ Genteel Joe’s Lone Hand.

 

 

  

blackness.

Genteel Joe had no time for thought
in the terrible descent, but before his
eyes danced a wild light and in it all
he saw the leering face of Jared Baker,
~the Demon Doctor of Gotham.

The man monster was his deadliest foe.

 

-‘-. . "CHAPTER xxn.
it} \Vl’il’l‘lledARlVS FATE.
At almost the same hour of the Spring-
ing of Doctor Baker’s trap on the de—
tective, but in a different part of the city,
stood a man who seemed to be watching
another.
This person had pulled his collar
around his throat, but for all this he
could not entirely hide the white heard
«that clothed his face.
When the persion watched so closely
came along the watcher fell in behind
him, and the two tramped onward under
the gaslights.

At the end of ten minutes the tracked

person turned into a side street and en-
' tered a small house. .

.Immediately the tracker followed to the
door, and pushed the door open.

As the watched one turned in the hall
with the light of the match he had struck
in his face, he uttered a cry, and stag—
.:gered against the wall.

“Not a word! Your life depends on
.your silence," hissed the white-bearded
man, appfoaehing and bending forward,
I the collar falling from his face, revealing
Kit in full. “ Ypu know me, and I’ve found
“you at last. This is your house? Good!
You are at home here, and I can tell you
_ what I want done.”

‘;“,Come into this room, then,” and the
speaker opened a door at his right.
> " How have you fared? " asked General
“Capulet, or Whitebeard. “I see you’re
looking as if life agreed with you. You’re
.Goldstein now.”
_ 3“ Yes. Isn’t it a name that fits me
, well? ” ., -
“Oh, as to that, any name will do.
, You’veAdropped the old dress and wear
“another.” .
' . “ I wear another.”
_ “ Well, Goldstein—I call YOII by the
"last name, you see—you are trying to
, .beat' me again." ’V . , -
‘ There was no reply t?) this, the face
:0! Goldstein getting white While he eyed
.‘the manaover against the wall, where he
 *sat in a chair and glared at him.
, Capulet's hands were gloved, and rest-
 aed lightly on the arms of the seat.
 "‘ Did you know I had come over?” he
.asked.
(I Yes."
"‘ Who t‘old you? ”
"Never mind that. I don’t care to give
.my friend away." '
 “Some spy told you, no doubt.
may" have been looking for me."
 “ Don't you really think I had a right
to look out for you? "
3 “ You had, for I have as many lives
:as abet, and you should have been on
g-Ttl’ie lookout. But, ':0mlng down to busi—
' noes, Sandy—I go back to the old name,
he, hale-you are going to quit this
World.” , ‘

There was a quick start, on .doldstein‘s
'partb‘and he looked beyond the other’s
.daée;'- ' '  ,

’ '“ Lam merciless, and, with you in the
way, ’I mu‘st‘be so," continued White-
board; “‘I cannot restfwhile you live to
tth aft" -' '

You

obsmls In my'nat  ' 
or from; thet'lj‘stener. . .

 
 

capulet ros'e' andwalked the
floorgjlbgkih M askance but searchingly
r a entertain.“ ' ~ ' I. _,
‘ “ You have, goodyallies. v-You make
allies out 'of a good many, queer.people.

ordnance. you strike a bargain with
mp?! and With the ferret.” A

“ snevyerrtormed an alliance‘with Gen-

7 - qe'. - ‘ ,_ I
fi“Th‘9gt’sfhls name .ie it? You didwt,

 
   
 

     

'and he was falling, falling through utter

' not,save him, but the very thought as it

' Goldstein.

Dom

    

“ I'll admit that I do.”
“That's the next door to telling him.
I say that I am not safe while you live.
The old grudge still sticks in your craw,
and you will turn on me at the first
opportunity. I wouldn't believe to the
contrary if you swore to ‘lt on a mountain
of oaths.“
“You haVe known for years that We

didn’t want to see you again. 1 had
hoped that we would never come togeth—
el_.9) ‘

“But all the same as Goldstein you

have been watching for me. The old
brand is on your bosom."
Goldstein seemed to recoil with a

start. .

“ There! that settles it. You haven’t
been able to get rid of the little marks.
You will wear them to the grave. By
Jove! I don't think you are going to be
so lucky as to have a grave."

Goldstein measured the distance be
tween him and the cool head across the
chamber. ,

The distance'was not great, but it was
too much for him to cover, agile as he
was.

“ Where’s the kid?” asked Capulet.

“Dead.”

“Liar! He is liVing, and you will de-
ceive me to the end.’

Goldstein looked at his enemy and
tried to tone down his own excitement.

“I must be cool headed if I escape
this old foe,” thought he. “I must play
a cold deck on this enemy if I would
walk from this place alive. He has
tracked me like a tiger; he is here to kill
~if I let him.”

General Capulet took a long breath
and slipped one of his gloves off his long,
dangerous looking hand.

Goldstein saw the movement
glanced toWard the door. .

He was like a cornered rat.

Whitebeard sat between him and the
portal, and that ungloved hand had a
touch of the horrors to him.

Suddenly Whitebeard sprang back to
the wall and faced him.

Goldstein wondered if a spring would

and

formed in his mind appeared to be (in-
tercepted by the foe. .,

“ Time is up,” said Whitebeard.
“ There's but one way to clear the path,
and that is~to clear it. I can't give you
another minute, Sandy Black.’

In that moment of agony Goldstein
heard a footstep on the sidewalk, but
it passed the house, and with it went the
last hope he had treasured.

General Capulet drew a revolver and
wrapped his long fingers about the butt.

- “ One thing first, Sandy." he said.
“You won’t refuse to tell the truth ere
you enter the Beyond. You can’t afford
to go into the future silent or with a
lie on your lips.”

Goldstein looked at him, but did not
speak. '

“I use noiseless powder. There will be
no report when I press the trigger—noth—
ing but the fall of a dead body to the
floor. There will be no smoke, and the
police may not find you for days.”

“ Why don’t you finish‘it?” broke out
V ‘ I "A man is in torturewhile
you‘talk. I' would better be dead than
face death as you hold it,before me. I
tell you "nothing." _ 

" You mean that you won’t disclose the
secret of the kid? ”  =

“lumen that.f’,. , .  . 
"Consider-v’ , U _, A, . '
“ I consider. You kill mi! and the se-
cret dies." . , . - ‘
".If I spare, what?
" It lives.” .
" And you will disclbse it? ”

" I make no promises. I tell you noth-
i g definite. You came back as General
puiet. You will soon be unmasked.

vi,

 

   

 

 

 

“33 that I might be "mixed up. in.

  

 

cannot agree on the same subject. I]

“You will become the tool or the vic—
tim of the doctor of the avenue. They
call him ‘a man of medicine, but they
don‘t know this keen rascal. They don‘t
suspect the game he is playing, unless
the detective has picked up the claw.”

“He is too keen for the keenest

tracker. Sandy, I will spare you on one
condition. I break my oath if you will
act white.”

“ How? ”

“Tell me what became of the kid—of
.his real. heir. You surely know. The
girl is the child by the last marriage.
The first marriage of Duke Daniels is a
secret the thousands of this city neVer
dreamed of. Where is the issue of the
first marriage?

“If I tell you you will kill.
we had better part enemies.”

,The man with the branded breast
leaned back in his chair and shut his
lips hard.

Come,

er than accept life at your hands I prefer
to die at your feet as your implacable:
foe.” °

lips, and the revolver suddenly leaped
into the air.

“ You won’t disrlose the secret? ”

“Not to you! ”

In another moment the ungloved hand
would have sent the death messenger on
its errand, but the hand of Goldstein
came out from his bosom.

It clutched a little box, almost flat; the
fingers seemed to sink into the lid, and
the man eyed it wildly as he looked.

All at once he tore the box in two, and
the next moment he threw something
from it like a shaft from a boomerang.

A wild cry pealed from Capulet’s lips
as the object hurled from the box hissed
through the air, and the pistol dropped.

An arrow never went straighter to its
target than did Goldstein’s shaft.

General Capulet fell to the floor with
a white face. ' ‘

There was a wriggling object, yellow-
ish and tiny, at his right wrist; it glit-
tered in‘the light, and its eyes sparkled
like gems. ,

“That’s the reserve force I hold for
my foes!" cried Goldstein, “You don’t
want the secret now? " , ' .

General Capulet did not reply; he mere-
ly gazed at the monster and groaned.
covered an antidote. He may hays done
forever. We are foes no longer, for the
man who will inhabit this house with the
labarri for company will never hate nor
.hunt" V ‘

The doomed man threw his arms above
his head, and then, in thetury of his
madness, tried to uncoil the yellow death.

“ You can’t undo the deed,” coolly said
Goldsteim “As Sandy Black, I am the
victor. I can now go out there and walk
the streets without you to throw your ac-
chrsed shadow across my way. The
game is being played by the cool heads
of Doctor Baker and Major Trumps.
The tracker is after the clew, and he will
find it. There‘will come a day when this
demon .spirit will not rule serpentd'om
and when his antidotes will notksave
him. Goodmy. General capuleti This
is not your triumph, but Gdldstein’s! ” ' ,
The answer that came from’the white-
faced 'wretch at the (loot-«was a Wall of
unutterable agony. "9'1" " ’
" Save you?" cried'Goldstein. “Save
you and still be hunted'by you? Never!
It is death." ‘ ' " ‘_ ‘ ’ ‘ '
I The next moment'Goldstein 'coolly left
the house, locking the'door behind him.

 

CHAPTER XXIII: ’
THE nunonon’s DEP'I‘HS.
Major Trumps came too late to wit-
ness the fall of Genteel Joexhenea

  

 

 

 

3’61! know“ that, you will become
1",, i rations who 0

    

st ifs-"and too mete/m the ducts

“Fool!” roared General Capulet. “1
offer you life, and you refuse to ac- .
cept it.” i

“ I don‘t want it at your hands. Rath-

A roar of rage came from the bearded '

“ They tell me that the doctor has dis— \

so, but it can do you no good. We part ~

th the ..

 

 

 

 

 
         
       
   
 

  

  
    

     
 
        
  
   
     

 
     
   
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
   
 
  
   
  
   
 
    
   
  
 
   
  
   
  
   
  
 
  
    
  
  
 
 
 
 
     
   
  
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
   
  
 
  
  
  
  
   
 
  
  
    
   

‘4”?fl‘l-IIW-Wrmuv

 

 

 

  
 
 

 

 

,4»...

 

1"",

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
   

A

In the rooms below the two men met,
the major smiling, but anxious, and Doc-
tor Baker as cool as a desperado.

“It’s all arranged, major," said the
doctor. " The will is all 0. K.. and all
you have to do is to claim your bride."

The features of the major did not re-
lax, but a look of fear seemed to rest
upon them.

“You have seen her. haven‘t you?"

“Yes. She is quite submissive. The
will fixes everything. You kIIOW."

“And she is perfectly willing to be-
come Mrs. Trumps according to its
terms? "

“ Perfectly so.”

“ It’s luck.” '

“It’s more than that. Nothing better
could have played in our hands.”

“ The detective—"

“Come, now, don‘t inject that disa-
greeable person into the victory of the
hour," broke in Doctor Jared. “1 don't
care to hear of him at all. The game is
yours, and the last card is on the table,
a trump."

Major Trumps held out his hand,
which the long white fingers of Doctor
Baker caught eagerly.

“ Shall I rind her at once?” queried
Major Trumps.

“Yes, and I’ll go with you. You will
need no introduction—of course not, but
it’s best for me to accompany you
thither.”

“ Let's be off, then. I’m eager to see
if this is not all a dream."

In a few minutes these two worthies

'might have. been seen on the steps of
Duke Daniels’ mansion, and the bell
caused their instant admission.

, Lotty awaited them in the hall, and

conducted them to the parlor.

She was calm, but almost colorless.

Doctor Baker was cool, and the major,
taking advice from him. was likewise.

“ My. friend the major, here, has been
informed of the contents of your father’s

' will and testament," said the former,
addressing the girl. “ I have come with
him for the purpose of seeing that all is
satisfactory. He is pleased, of course,
at the mark of esteem shown by his un-
‘ fortunate friend, your father, and—~"
The impatient girl made a sudden
:gesture. which cut the sentence in
twain. _ x

“I fully realize
she, ‘
provisions of the will. I cannot assure
Major Trumps a happy existence with
me, for I scarcely know him, and 1am
free to confess that but for the will 1
never would fora moment have encour-
aged his suit."

“ We will trust that the more you be-
come acquainted with each other the less
‘ you will have to regret your step, miss,"

said Doctor Baker.
I Lotty said nothing. and Major Trumps

put in to say that he would remember
the friendship of the murdered man and
live to protect his daughter as his wife.
V " How did I come out?" eagerly que-
Aried- Major Trumps when he found him-
selfibackin the doctor—chemist’s ofiice.
half at} ,hour' later? Did I come up to

your eRilectations? "
' " Admirably so.
bettered in
It's a" Fish . major. We‘re on the high
road to fortune now. After the wedding,
WhiCh Wm tat“! place within five days,
there will be division, number one."
,i “ If,we are fortunate enough to reach
- that day un'nolested.” , 

“.What! don't you think we will?"

“There’s the detective—9 ,_ .

" The devil!” roared the doctor. " If
yout must have proof that he won't

I trouble us let me produce it”, V

‘ Springing up, Doctor Baker led his
’guest from the\ room, and thence into
.a small place beyond.

Here he turnedon thh lights by touch-
;ing’a button in the wall, and, turning to
ithe madqr, he jerked him forward.

In " other .iii'stant he had opened a

‘ .' " ‘,  ,ll..'and-;lmoaf~rrumw.

You could not have

  
 

 

 

the situation,” aaidl
‘and I am ready to carry out the ‘

item if you had been coached. '

‘You shan't touch ‘
.miluensire’ .

  
  
 

 

       

Genteel Joe’s Lene Hand.

5‘ Look down there," cried Doctor
Baker.

“ It’s as dark as Egypt.”

“1 know that. But look, man; look!"

Major Trumps did so, and all at once
the darkness became light and a blind-
ing flash seemed to sweep his eyes from
his head. ,

“ What do youwsee? ” asked the doctor—
chemist.

“ Nothing.”

“ Keep looking. I‘ll turn on more light.
I‘ll put the searchlight at work.”

For a moment there was no answer,

and then a cry came ever the major's lips.’

“You see it now; don‘t you? ”

“ I do."

.“ What is it like? "

“ A man lying on his face at the bot—
tom of a well."

“Look well.. He is dead.”

“ He must be."

“ Now think you that the detective will
longer haunt your dreams? Can‘t you
sleep well after this? ”

Major Trumps felt a thrill run through
his blood, and his face was turned sud-
denly toward the dloctor. "

“Is that the ferret? Is Genteel Joe
Nichols down there? "

“ Do you want to go down and look? ”

“Gods! no. I am satisfied with what
I have seen, but how did you catch the
fox. ”

“ No questions, no fibs. my dear major.
The coast is clear. The hand that is to
beat down my arms does not exist, save
in the realm of the underground dun-
geon. Come back to the office now. We’ll
finish the business of the hour."

In the doctor's cosy office the two men
sat down, and Jared Baker coolly pushed
toward his guest 3. sheet of paper cov-
ered with bold letters.

‘The little eyes of Major Trumps
snapped while he read in silence, and
his face changed color.

“That's all right. isn’t it?” queried
the‘doctor. _

“ I—don’t—know,"
major.

“ What’s wrong about it?”

“It’s giving you the lion’s share.”

“Who else should have it?"

“True, but what am I to do—carry
the load and let another stand off and
laugh at my chains? ”

" Not at all. If you wish to withdraw
from‘the battle, now you can do so. But
You lose all." ‘ -

:‘ I want justice.”

'.' You shall have it. Look here, major,
its not all your fight. I have taken a
hand in the game.”

“I see you‘have."

"Without me what Wauld you get?"

The major's lower jaw seemed to drop.
and for a moment his gaze rested on the
carpet at his feet.

“It’s sign that or get nothing.
can take your choice."

Once more the major's eyes came down

stammered the

You

the sheet on the table, and a sudden im-_

pulse seemed to hurl him back.

In anlother instant" he was on his feet.

“I can’t give you everything!” he
cried. “ I must have something. My wife
must not be robbed." '

“ Your wife? When she is your wife
we will talk abOut the other thing.
There’s the paper, sirr ,There are pens
and ink. and you know how to write
your name. To" the needs of the hour.
To the signature, sir.'.' '

The quivering finger of Doctor Baker
covered the document on the table.

He was calm, but his expression was

that of a lion aroused, and this figure

towered in the ight like a giant's.

" To the signi gil Major Trumps, your
life is worth nothing if hurname is not
attached to that agreement." ‘

The major did not reply.

“It is not to be presented for- six
months.” f
‘ “I can’t sign that."

“Then to the winds with the: contract!
doll, ‘ he :1

 
  
  

l

’~.e.
,, .

 

 

 

   

“ I can step out.”

“But you shall not.
chair! "

The stubborn major did not move a
step; he looked across the space that sep—
arated them, but did not speak. \

“Time was when you dared not com-
mand me thus."

“Time is now when you dare not dis-
obey Doctor Jared. You must sign.”

The eyes of the major wandered toward
the paper, and rested upon it.

He seemed to reflect. and the tall doc-
tor did not speak. '

Suddenly the major walked over to
the table and caught up the pen.

“There!” he cried, as he dashed his
name to the document. “I sign, but not
through fear. I sign because you have
robbed me, and I want to recruit my
shattered fortunes.”

The lips of the doctor-chemist curled
with a biting sneer, but he made no an-
swer to this.

He coolly reached out and pulled the-
document toward him, and tossed it into
the drawer.

“ That’s signed now. You can go and
prepare for your wedding. Remember,
there is to be no backward step from
this time on. When Letty Daniels. is
Mrs. Trumps, Florence gets her pay.”

“ Florence! ”

The name seemed to come unbidden
from the major’s tongue, and he looked
toward the door.

“Come whenever you care todrop in,"
continued Doctor Baker. “ I am master
of the situation.”

“ No need to tell me that. I know you. 7
Doctor Jared, and I curse the day I
crossed your path or you crossed mine." .

“ Good day, major.”

On the threshold the major hesitated.
and he looked back across the carpet at
the demon who had beaten him.

“ Don‘t think that because the detect-
ive has left the trail you are out of dan-
ger," smiled Doctor Baker. “There are
others. There is Octave, and. yes, and
the yellow wrigglers.”.

Back to your

Major Trumps’ hands clinched, but he . 

kept back the words which almost bub-
bled from his lips. ..

On the side-walk he took in a full
breath. -

“ I‘m serpent-proof, thanks to Dipps,” \-
said he aloud. “Before long, Doctor ,
Jared, I will not be your tool and slave. ‘ ~
for Major Trumps‘wlll arm himself for
the final battle, and if the detective never
unravels this skein of crime, these bands
of mine, if they're not very white, will.
strike a blow for_ personal freedom."

He heard a bitter laugh behind the
shutters. and, looking back, thought he
caught sight of the grinning face rot—the ,
doctor-chemist. .'

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
THE rites IN THE TRUNK.» '

Genteel Joe, so cleverly caught in the
trap set by Doctor Baker, had but little
time to collect his thoughts as he felt. the .
stairs giving way under his feet and a.
terrible doom waiting for him.

He heard the stairs swing back as he .
alighted in adense darkness, and, with~,
out many bruises from the swift de—
scent, he raised himself and  stood 
against the sidoof the" dungeon. ' g». ’

-To him it was a circular structure. and
hercouid not see his handxbetore his use;

For some time he remained silent; and ’
at last made. a trip around the place:
feeling the walls in thewdarkund‘try- .
ing to find some way out. .  - 

But the Demon Doctor had prepared
for-«ail such attempts; and at lastethe' ,
captive of the call came back to, the -

 

place where he alighted. - . .

He was the sole occupant of the pit. 

Joe did not despair, for he had-not 
been placed in such a position tor. my ,
purpose of driving hope from his heart; _V
and after awhile he succeeded in reach; 1
ing a niche in the wall. ’ . ' t. '
It wss'iike finding a  in‘the dark-g
ss.  . '3

  
 

 

  

..

    
  
 

   
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
    
  
  
  
 
 
   
  

  
  
 
 
    
  
  
  
  
   
   
  

  

   
 
 

 

24

Genteel J oe’s Lone Hand.

 

 

he wondered if the niche would not turn
out a delusion.

Overhead all was still.

He heard nothing of Doctor Baker,
but he guessed that the cool villain was
seated in his office, perhaps quietly
smoking over the success of his trick.

Genteel Joe found above the niche an-
other of like shape and depth.

stand that I am not Joe Nichols just
now.”

“I see," cried the woman, as a light
seemed to break in upon her mind.
“You‘re playing a game against some
one. Yes, you’re dead-as dead as 21 her—
ring, Joe Nichols; but you'll not be bur-
ied just yet."

I “I hope not,

Mother Redbird. lt's

Perhaps some former victim of the  only a little game with one or two gen—

doctor’s had been in the pit before him,
and had found his way out.
If so, he could follow, and he would
not let the place hold him long.
Somewhere overhead must exist a

trap door, perhaps in the stairs them-v

selves, and by that passage he might re-
gain his liberty. It was worth trying,
even if he was doomed to be dashed back
on the threshhold of freedom and left
to perish in the gloom of the abyss.

He found niche succeeding niche until
he could reach up and touch the floor
overhead.

Not only this, but he found there a
little board which moved, and by push-
ing it to one side, he saw that he could
wriggle through the opening.

While this opening would lead him to
another passage apparently underneath
the house itself, it was worth trying, and
Genteel Joe divested himself of his coat
and threw it to the bottom of the pit.

His hat had already fallen there, and
now in his shirt sleeves, he was ready
for the venture.

Once in the narrow way, he moved
slowly forward, and reached another

door, which seemed to let him out into

the rear yard of the house.

At the end of thirty minutes Genteel
Joe. the detective, stood beneath the
starlit heavens above the city.

Free!

tlemen, and you can help me."

“ Name the way, Joe."

I “I want -this nest to be my home till
I go back to the old one, or quit the
trail by another method.”

“ it's yours! ”

The detective thanked the woman for
her kindness, and in a few moments
stood once more on the sidewalk looking
quite unlike Genteel Joe, the spotter.

He had been in the pit longer than he
thought, for the day
had given way for another night.

Joe made his way back to the narrow
street to which on a former occasion he
had tracked General Capulet.

There was no light beyond the shut-
ters now.

The little brick house was dark and si-
lent enough, and while the hour was not
late, Genteel Joe felt that beyond the
door was a mystery he wanted to solve.

His disguise was so perfect that he did
not fear detection, and in a moment he
was on the step knocking for admit-
tance.

No one responded to his raps, and at
last he tried the knob, but it would not
turn.

Clearly, the house was not inhabited
just then, and he resolved to see more of

- it.

The rear of the premises afforded him

 

means of getting inside, and the detect—

It thrilled him to think of  flight, I ive stood in a small room, with his lit—
and of the blissful ignorance of the De‘ 1 tie lantern showms him the apartment-

mon Doctor in his office.

Genteel Joe paused a moment, and
looked at the house, seeing a light be
yond the shutters.

A man in his shirt sleeves at that hour
in that portion of the city was not a
commou sight: but the ferret managed to
elude suspicion, and not long afterward
found himself in his little den, where he
could sit down and reflect over his adven-
ture.

He had escaped from the death pit of
the doctor-chemist, and was still on the
trail. '

He opened a drawer in the table and

,found writing materials there.

In a few moments he had written a few
lines and folded the sheet.

The letter was addressed to Miss Lotty.

Posting it, Genteel Joe came back to
the den, and began to make some strange
preparations.

In the morning the girl would get the
letter, and would know how to account
for his absence.

He was in the act of quitting the room
when there came up the steps a foot-
fall that he recognized.

Joe drew back and secreted himself
behind a curtain, which was stretched
across one corner of the room.

It was Splinters who came toward the
door, and in answer to his knocks silence
told him that the detective was not about.

Splinters withdrew, and the ferret fol-
lowed him. '

Joe went down upon the street, and
flitted underneath the lamps to a house,
which he entered. after a knock.

The woman who greeted him was tall
and thin.

She started at sight of the detective,
whom she did not seem to recognize
and for half a minute a gleam of fear
lit up her eyes.

“Why, it’s Joe!" she suddenly ex-
claimed, drawing back and then spring—
ing toward the spotter. “ In the name
of heaven, what brings you here in such
feathers?”

“ I’m dead, Mother Redbird." '

"Dead? Why, to me you’re the live
liest corpse I ever saw."

“ Nevertheless, I’m dead. You under-

. hi
' ,1. ',.r..-; (7":4’

He was the sole tenant of General
Capulet’s place.

It was not very Well furnished, but
well enough for a man of his habits, and
as Joe sent the beams of his light into
the various corners, he looked search-
ingly around.

Suddenly he opened a door which led
to the upper floor, and there stopped a
moment.

The staircase that invited did not
look like a trap of the pattern he had
tested to his sorrow in Doctor Baker’s
house, and he ascended cautiously.

The chamber overhead was the Gen-
eral’s bed-room, and the low bedstead
that greeted Genteel Joe was not occu-
pied.

[ It had not been tumbled for some time,
land he leanded over it and threw the

lantern light across the counterpane.

General Capulet, or Whitebeard, must
have taken the place already furnished,
for everything indicated this, and Joe
did not inquire into the secret of things.

A trunk on one side of the room at—
tracted him, and he opened it with a key
which he fished from his pocket.

The lock was very ordinary, and he
was enabled to peep into the trunk with-
out much ado.

The hand of the detective was soon ex—
ploring the contents of the trunk, and
was just drawing up a lot of things when
he heard a footstep behind him, and he
turned to look into the face of a strange
man. ’

This individual stopped and then fell
back with a light cry of astonishment.

“It is the man called Goldstein,”
thought Joe. “ This must be the person
Dipps has met.”

The detective straightened and stood
face to face with the other, who was
Goldstein, and vgho looked at him with a
puzzled expression.

Joe advanced a step and Goldstein
threw up his hands to ward him off.

“ Stand wnere you are,” said Genteel
Joe. “A step or a movement on your
part may not result in good for you. You
came thither to plunder this house."

“I? In heaven‘s name, what fetches

 

you here? ” he cried.

a .i_ .  _, ,
i as 1.4.» fl“ 

a .y v.3 

   

"  -‘.-.~, ‘U

.l 

   

     

 9.4‘

of his adventure'

 

   

v‘~ if

“ Perhaps the same errand. He is not
at home, and you knew it.”

A singular expression came to Gold-
stein’s face, and his eyes seemed to flash-

“ He is not at home?” he echoed. “ You
are right. He may never come back.”

“You know where he is?”

“ I left him not long ago, but where, 
another question. You need not know
my secret.’

“I don‘t seek to know it. But come,
you are Lukey Goldstein. You are his
enemy.”

“I have a right to be his foe, but all
debts between us have been canceled, and
we’re square.

“What brought you to this house?
What do you want to find? ”

Goldstein did not stir, but his gaze
wandered to the old trunk, but half—
searched by the ferret.

“ Is it there?” asked Joe, following his
look.

“You have searched it, haven’t you? "

“Not fully. You can do that.”

Goldstein advanced and stopped in
front of the trunk.

“ It may not be there,” he said, look-
ing up at Genteel Joe.

“ Look.”

Aided by the disguised detective's light,
Goldstein began to ransack the trunk,
diving his hands into it and fishing up
anything they touched.

All at once he pulled out a little pack-
age, which he held up with delight.

“This must be it! ” he exclaimed.

He stood erect as he spoke and held the
package toward the detective.

“Open it,” said Joe.

The packet was tied with a black
string, and the knots did not bother
Goldstein long.

His nimble hands undid them, and
there fell out into his hand an oval pict—
ure of a woman’s face.

“Who is it? ” asked Genteel Joe.

“ You don’t know, eh? Why should
you? That’s Florence, his sister, and
the wife of Major Trumps.”

“Well, what of it?"

“By Jove! man, if you knew what I
did, you could stop a marriage and save
a young girl, for a man can’t have tw0
wives at once in New York.

 

CHAPTER XXV.
mron'r IN THE At‘T.

Goldstein’s gaze fell upon the picture,
and for a little while he seemed to be liv—
ing over the past. ,

Genteel Joe watched him narrowly,
and when he looked up he said, quietly:

“ You came hither to find that'picture.
You expected it would be in the trunk
over there? ”

“I wasn’t very sure of it. I felt that
he might have Florence's face somewhere

about the house, but I really came after .

something of more importance to me.”

He looked back at the opened trunk,
andt without another word stepped over
.0 . '

Joe followed, and stood over him while
he searched it.

“Maybe,” said Goldstein, with an arch
smile, “ maybe you are the sort of person
I’m looking for.”

“I may be.”

Goldstein’s hands stopped, and he
asked:

“ Who are you? ”

“Dick—Dick Darrell, or Diamond

Dick."

“A crook?"

” You may call me that if you wish."

“ I've heard of Diamond Dick. I ought
to shake hands with you.”

Joe held out his hand, and the fingers
of Goldstein covered it.

“ There's a dead sure play in this for
us, Dick," Goldstein said.

“ That’s good. Go on.”

“We won’t be bothered any more by
the Gener l, as he is called, though he
has anothe name. We need not fear that
he will return to haunt us. But there's
a deeper play than merely searching a.
man’s luggage.”

“ This is only a side issue, eh? " .

.- 5’ ";,,|.;‘:t«'!y>.1“._

 

 

 

l

 

   
    
  

45.»

 

 

 

“That‘s all.
nests.”
“ That‘s what I want to do, Goldstein."

We can

“Tell me—tell
know me?”
Joe was equal to the emergency.

me,

“We don’t forget anybody. You have 1
a little reputation yourself, you know,.

and I never forget men.”
“ You‘re all right.

’ called, though you won't find me much on
the crook order,

that's worth something, and I have the
hands and the secret."
“ The secret? ”

“Yes, yes. Wait till I have gone
through this trunk. It may yield sonic-
thing else."

Joe held the light while he waited.

Goldstein went back to his task, and
at last rose without finding anything else
to tempt him.

He had placed the picture on a table,
and now went over to it and picked it
up.

" You don’t know Florence," said he.
“ She is a cool woman, like her brother
was. Major Trumps can play her for a
hidden card whenever the case demands
it, and just now she is in the back—
ground, while the hand is being played.
Where there’s money in it for Florence.
she isn’t particular, but just convince
her that they intend to rob her of one
dollar of her share, and the jig is up.”

‘ Will they do that?”

“Bless you, if you knew the men en-
gaged in the game you wouldn’t ask me
that. They‘re the most accomplished
"rogues in the world, but the major isn't
the equal of the other.”

“ General Capulet? ”

“No. the doctor.”

.Joe professed astonishment.

“So there's a doctor in the case, is
there? "

“ Yes, and a coolsheaded disciple of the
.Borgias.
poisons, as many people do, but all the
:same he carries death wherever he goes.”

Goldstein took a quick turn about the
:room, and then came back to his com-
panion. '

“ Let’s get out of this, Dick. Perhaps
fit I had dreamed that I would find you
.here to—night I would have taken another
time for my little hunt, but, now that
'we’ve met, wefll make the best of the
encounter.“

“ That‘s right, but this game of yours?
How shall we proceed? ”

“I am going to strike it rich, and 1
.don’t mind sharing with you, Dick, for
the help you may give."

“You'll 'find me ready at all
Diamond Dick knows a thing or two in
his line, and—-”

“ That’s it, exactly. I may want to play
two hands at once, and there‘s a fair di-
vide in it. But there’s danger."

“There ought to be, to give zest to the
game."

“You don’t know the men we have to
meet. You have never heard of the doc-
.tor and his pets.”

“He has pets, then, this doctor? "

"‘ Deadly pets! He is the keeper of the
deadliest living things in the world, and
he does not hesitate to use them."

“There’s danger in the game, sure
enough, and that interests me. But why
not come out and post me, Goldstein.
since I am to help in this game for a
fortune.”

“ I'm going to Post you," and Goldstein

leaned against the table, the light of the ;
sharp lantern falling full upon his dark ‘

face. ~
“It‘s Doctor Baker we've got to deal

with—the doctor and the major; General ‘

Capulet, or Whiteboard, as I sometimes
call him, is out of the play—where, never
mind.”
“He won’t come back,
“ Come back? He can't! ”
“That’s good. Now for the others."

‘roldstein‘.’ ”

husband of as fair a girl as
:this city. He has played for her hand

Gent

feather our

Dick, how you:

I’m proud of your help, ‘;
for, as Diamond Dick, you have a head 1'

 

I don't mean that he deals in ‘

 

times. ‘

e

 

25

 

e1 Joe’s LoneI-Iand.

 

under the surface, and the game planned ‘

by that prince of cool heads, Doctor
Baker, is sure to win, unless we block
it."

“ Why not let it win, and then play our
hand? "

“ There‘s something in that, but there’s
the girl. I‘m not tender-hearted, but I

: don’t. like to see this man blight her life.
We‘re crooks, so 3

You see, General Capulet did the clerical
work for the plot. His fine Italian hand
is deep in the game. and he drew up the
false will. That’s the plan they've taken
to get the girl and the fortune which falls
to her."

“ Oh, there‘s a false will in the scheme,
is there?"

“ Yes, and the hand of Capulet drew it
up. Maybe he didn't do the work in this
country; maybe he did it across the
water, but it was done all the same, and
the play is going on swimmingly. One
can hardly believe the cunning of these
three men, but the great head of the
scheme sits serenely on Jared Baker's
shoulders.”

Goldstein rested a moment, and looked
again at- the open trunk.

” Here it is in a nutshell," he went on.
“ Some time ago a man named Duke
Daniels was found dead in his library.
He lived like a king, did this man, and
had all the money he wanted. He lived
with his only child by his last marriage,
for he contracted another marriage, but
it was a failure, and death relieved him
of a disagreeable partner soon afterward.

“The city at large is not aware that
Duke Daniels had a past not very pleas-
ant to contemplate, but it is true. He had
one or two chapters in his life which he
didn‘t parade in public, and Lotty, his
daughter, did not know of them. She
was horrified when her father was found
dead in the chair with a dagger stab in
the neck, which found the heart. I heard
a good deal about this by a friend who
stood in with the detective who entered
the case. It was a death stab and no
clew. In another room, just off from

‘ the library, the ferret found another dag-

ger, which pinned a paper to a table, and
on this paper was a pictured coffin, em-
bellished with the murdered man’s name.

“That all looks like the work of a
vendetta or a secret enemy, at least. It
was given that color by the person who
did the deed, and the detective seems to
have taken that view of the mystery.
What was more natural, Dick? A dead
man in one room, and in the next one
a dagger in the table, and pierced paper
filled with words of vengeance."

“ It was quite enough to give the de-
tective a cleW,” said Joe Nichols.

“It was an adroit game. It was a
part of the plot to deceive this tracker,
who is one of the best on any trail. But
don‘t you see the hand of the plotter in
it all? Here is Major Trumps going to
marry the heiress of the dead, and here’s
a will giving her to him. What's more

I‘ monumental than that in the way of vil-
.‘ lainy?

“General Capulet sends the will back

‘ from France or some other part of the

world, and it is placed in the million-
aire‘s safe or desk. The real will, perhaps,
is filched by some one on the ground,
and at the right time there's a death in
the house, and the game is on. What's
cooler, Dick? "

Goldstein stopped for half a second to
note the effects of his last observation,
but as his auditor did not reply, he pro-
ceeded:

“The detective has no clew yet. He
is groping ill the dark, with the plotters

_ ready at the right time to brush him

from their path. He may be shrewd and
cool-headed. but while he plays against
an unseen enemy, you and 1, Diamond
Dick, can be reaping the results of our
play. It's a great future, eh? It‘s the
best thing I‘ve struck in a year. I can
play a‘ hand against them all, for all i

1 have to do is to post Florence.”
“ Major Trumps is about to become the ;
lives in T:

“ General Capulet’s sister and Major
Trumns’ wife?”
“Yes. She knows of the plot, but she

' . ».(".‘.

. ,. , iv. ,. .
1H >~ 1» ~* ‘  - 4-... 5,

 

does not know that Doctor Baker is ready
to sacrifice her when it becomes neces-
sary. Florence is jealous and nervy.
She won't brook any interference with
her plans, and while she is willing to
see the marriage take place, she will
never let the plotters take the lion's
share to themselves. I know Florence.
I can play her for a great card against
the pair.”

“But the detective might step in and
find the hand that slew Duke Daniels? "
suggested Genteel Joe.

“He won’t do that, for they have cov-
ered their tracks so well. Genteel Joe, as
this detective is called, is shrewd, but not
quite shrewd enough for the plot. The
crime is known, and the victim is under
the ground, but the hand that killed is
hidden. It is one of three hands, as I
believe the ferret thinks, and while he
hesitates, we can step in and reap the
golden harvest."

" It’s a nice plan, Goldstein, and i
trust in your ability to carry it out, but
tell me whom you suspect of the mur-
der.”

A singular expression crossed Gold-
stein's face, and rendered it dark for a
moment. He seemed to recoil from the
table, and for a little time did not speak.

“I don't see that that enters into our
game at all," he said evasiver.

“I do. We might want to turn a card
on the assassin some time. It may be to
our interest to do so, and we might turn
it on the wrong man, which would never
do.”

“No, of course it wouldn’t. But let
the detective grope in the dark. Why,
man, I can make it darker still for him,
and we can throw him off the trail if
necessary.”

“ If we play only for ourselves, and
have no care for the rights of justice."

“ I don’t give that for such rights! I’m
for the feathered nest, and I don't care
how many times justice is balked. It’s '
every fellow for himself in this world."

Joe broke Goldstein’s sentence by lay-
ing a hand on his wrist.

“That’s right, but if we would save
this girl we must be prepared to tell
what we know or believe about the death
of her father and the forged will.”

Goldstein’s eyes suddenly dilated, and
he uttered a cry of astonishment.

“ Why, you’re getting uncommon good
for a man of your kind. Tell the police,
eh? Is that wnat you mean? Tell them
who killed Duke Daniels and get nothing
for all our pains? You don’t seem to
take in the situation. I guess you‘re not -
the man you’re cracked up to be. Tell
them nothing! Let the detective fail. but
save the girl and feather our nests.
That’s it! ”

The disguised detective looked on and
kept silent.

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
llll’l'S MAKES A POUR PLAY.

The little light Dipps had let in upon
Goldstein’s character did not show Gen—
teel Joe the true depths of the man’s
depravity.

He now saw before him an unconscion-
able rascal, a man ready to do the bid-
ding of his baser nature. and the only
streak of good in it was his willingness
to snatch Lotty Daniels from the snare,
and to save her from becoming Major
Trumps’ bride.

The detective waited a little while after
Goldstein's last sentence before he again
addressed him.

“ You want to save the girl, but you
don’t want to run the risk of not feath-
ering your nest.” .

“By Jove; if I can’t succeed in any
other way, why, I‘m willing to let the
wedding occur, and strike them after-
ward.”

“I see. You don’t care for anything "
but your own aims.”

“That’s about it. Men of our kind
don’t take care of other people‘s inter-
ests. That’s the way of the world. It’s
hawk and buzzard, isn’t it? See here. We
must quit this place. You can have the
picture. General Capulet won’t

. .- _ . , u
.. 'i’ ,‘ .I‘ 3:: ..-.«‘ 5- 

9':

I

.come‘ for  ,,

 

  
   

2.6

 

Genteel Joe’s

   

 

it, and besides, you may want to make
Florence's acquaintance one of these
days.”

Genteel Joe pocketed the photograph
and went toward the door, curiously
watched by Goldsteln.

All at once the man with the branded
breast called a bait, and the detective
looked back.

“You don‘t look much like the Dick
I used to know. You haven't got his
step.”

The crisis had come, but Genteel Joe
did not lose his nerve. .

“Prove that I’m not Dick. You can
accuse without proof, but when it comes
down to business you are at fault. Not
Diamond Dick ? ”

“I didn’t say that—”

“ Who am I, then? ”

A stride carried him to where Gold-
stein was, but the marked man seemed
to recoil.

“I guess you’re all right," he said,
extending his hand. “I’ll risk 'it, any-

  
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
    
  
   
   
  
 
 
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
 

how. It’s a game between us. ain't it?
 n
“ Yes. Keep your eye open. Gold-

. 3 stein. Don’t let them steal a march on
us.
why, the jig’s up."

“ We won’t lose if you play fair.”

“ Then we win, Goldy.”

The detective passed from the house
and flitted away. ' He went back to Moth-
er Redbird’s, and the old woman set her
keen eyes upon him. I

“ Did you see the fellow outside? ” she
asked. r

“ A man outside? ”

“ Yes; he was sneaking about the house
not twenty minutes ago. He may be
out there yet.”

“‘I did not see him "

Had he been followed already? Was
a spy on his track, and had his escape
from the pit beneath Doctor Baker’s
stairs been discovered? .

Genteel Joe went out cautiously and
stood in the shadows of the house.

' For five minutes he heard nothing.

1 saw no foe. but all at once a silken foot-
step came to his ears, and he saw a little
figure emerge from between tw° houses.
.Joe watched it, and stood still.

' It slipped up to the window of Moth-
er Redbird’s nest, and seemed to press its
face to the shutter.

V It did not remain long, but fell back.
and then, with a farewell glance at the

’hquse, slipped away, to vanish around

I the first corner. ’

“ Splinters! " said Joe, under
breath. " The little fellow suspects.“
= .The man who had glided from the
house soon vanished, and in a little time
was some. squares from the spot.

.Genteel Joe looked in upon Mother
 }1Redbird. a moment, and then took the

~ trail. ‘

: Splinters might have recognized him.
ywhich was not what the detective want-
” ed'at the time, and he would adjust mat-
ters with the little man. -
 Splinters hastened to Dipps' den, and

found that worthy in.

 . “ Come." cried he. “ it’s time Dipps."

w‘ The owner of the maimed hand sprang

from the couch and looked,into the face

of his friend.

 L“ You must see Miss Lotty—vatonce."
, "‘ Why at once, ,Splinters? "

“ Ask .her what she'll give for \the se-

.cmt.n 1 _  .o

’ " Do, you know it? " _ ‘ v

. .. “,Find out first what she is willing to

' Payiafter that we play our hand.”

\" Will I find her at home?"

. “ Yes. yes. ' Be quick about it.”

 

  

   

 
  

  

13ers "sat down 0 wait for him.

It did not ta e Dipps long to reach the
avicinity of the Daniels mansion, and the
hellannounced his 'coming. -

v altwas late, but what of that? It was
' is case [of emergency. ’ '
1.0mm, in“ the parlor ithe pretty Dipps,
a} a ‘ Otto yids

 

  
  
 

   
 

It's a great game, and it we lose it. .

his_

- Dipps was gone in aflash, and Splint?

 

When it opened and the striking figure
of Lotty Daniels appeared. he uttered a
cry of astonishment.

She did not recognize Dipps.

As she stopped in the middle of the
room the eyes of Dipps got a cold twin-
kle, and he bent his body forward.

“I’ve called on business," said he.
“What will you pay responsible parties
for a clew to the tragedy in the libra-
ry? ”

The girl started. and her gaze remained
fastened upon Dipps for a moment.

‘Can ‘you furnish the clew? " she
asked.

“My question first. please. I must in-
sist, miss."

' You must see the detective."

'But we prefer to deal with you,
miss." .

‘ We? ' echoed Lofty.

“ Yes, me and my partner."

‘Oh you are not alone in this mat—
ter? ' ' \

“ lam not. We ‘can find the clew.”

The face of. the girl underwent a
change. '

“ You must first give me some proof of
your ability to give me the clew."

Dipps drew within himself and looked
at her

" You must not think hard of me for
asking for proof. It is a terrible case.
I want to find the hand that struck him
down. and I am willing to pay for the
clew.”

" But how much, miss? ’

" I can state no definite figures.”

“ Which is just what I’m here for. I
want it made definite."

Lotty looked once more at the man and
caught sight of the scarred hand he was
hiding.

Dipps triedlto draw the hand away,
but her gaze followed it.

He flushed and then lost color.

" There‘ look at it: ’ he cried, thrust—
ing the member intothe light hnd look-
ing at her ‘I‘m not proud of it,
course, but i can’t help it now.”

The face of Lofty changed color, but
she could not remove her eyes from the
maimed hand. ‘ 1

"It’s not a burn," continued Dipps,
through shut/lips. “ It’s a bite."

“i did not know what it was."

" It's a snake bite”

The young girliuttered a slight cry.

“ You may have heard of the reptiles
sinCe-—”

Dipps caught himself and stopped.

" Serpents?" eXClaimed the million-
aire's daughter. “Let me show you
one.”

“No!” and a hiver shook the little
man’s frame. “ haven‘t the antidote

I

with me. I haven’t the red fluid in my
possession. I turned it over to the ma-
jor.” i

“ To Major Trumps? ”

“I beg pardon, miss. I hardly know
what I’ve been ‘saying.‘ Was I talking
about the reward? ” ‘

“You. Just said: that you had turned
the antidote over to Major Trumps."

“I must be mad. I don’t sleep 0'
nights. I am in a stew all the time—in
actual torture, miss."

“But you know this man—~you are
acquainted with Major Jackson Trumps?"

Dipps didnot speak. He felt that the

gaze of the young girl was riveted upon
him, that he was being looked at with
her penetrating eyes, and that his very
heart was to her as an open book.
, He wished he had not set foot in that
house. Why had he bargained with the
wily Splinters to extort money from Lot-
ty, Daniels?

“I’ll call again,” he said, picking up
his hat. “I’m in no condition to talk
business now.” 5 ‘ ‘

But the next moment Lofty stepped

‘between him and the door, and faced

him calmly. ,
' 5“ Not a step! " she said firmly. “Some
adhere Who’ is this partner?

  

 

9939,, Head.

of«

 

 

“And you fell into the plan? You
agreed to come to me with this story of
the clew, which neither of you possess.”

Dipps’ nervousness increased.

“You can’t cross this step till you
name the man and tell me the truth. You
mentioned Major Trumps. You turned
the antidote over to him?”

“ Yes, yes.”

“Did he send you after it?
steal it for him? ”

Dipps did not speak.

“You obey him, don't you? You are
the man I have heard spoken of, his fac-
totum, slave, tool. You are his shadow,
and you purloin for your master. Now,
sir, where did you get the antidote? ”'

Dipps had no color about his mouth.

“ You would not betray him, I see.
You want to be true to him, but you
shall tell me the truth. From whom did
you take the red fluid—the antidote for
the labarri’s bite?”

‘ I dare not disclose that."

“ Very well.”’

The hand of Lotty Daniels slipped
among the folds of her dress. and when
it came into view again. it clutched the
butt of a revolver. ~’ a

One must arm in self-defense, even
in one’s own house,” she said. coolly. “ i
am forced to do so in mine since the night
of the great crime. Now, sir, you shall
out with the truth. Whom have you
plundered? Tell me.”

From the revolver into the eyes of the
fair girl was but a glance, and Dipps,
never caught in that situation before, did
not relish it. '

“ Come! 1 give you a second!” said
the girl.

“ But at the end of that time. it‘ I re—
fused to tell you, you "would not press the
trigger? ” - /

" It is for you to say."

Dipps looked once more over the
gleaming barrel of the weapon and took
another breath. .

“ I took it from the doctor," said he.

“The e, that will do. Now the door
is you r. You can go.”

. But he hesitated. ‘

“ Go!" cried Lotty. “No reward will
be oflered for the hand that slew in this
house if you are likely to claim it.”

Did you

 

CHAPTER XXVII.
THE LITTLE HERCULES.

The night passing..left Genteel Joe.
the detective, hot on the trail.

He was still “ Diamond Dick " to Gold-

tein, and‘that worthy was busy laying
t e plan he had but partly mapped out.

He. wondered if his escape had been
discovered by the Demon Doctor, but he
was not disposed to return to the house
and make sure of it

-He passed the place the next day, and
saw about it the usual signs of life.

Indeed. he caught sightof the doctor at
the office window, and thought he saw
in the eyes a look of triumph.

Goldstein had told him that General
Capulet, who, according to his story, had
forged the will by which Major Trumps
expected to capture a wife. would not
come back to play out his cunning hand,
but'he was anxious to know why. I

It was only by catching sight of Gold-
stein himself during the afternoon of the
succeeding day that be tracked him to a
certain part of the city, and saw him eye
a house there with the keenness of a
ferret.

" It may be the general’s home," said
the detective. “ Genera} Capulet may
have taken up other quarters, and in
that house he may be laying plans cal—
culated to beat the wary Goldstein.”

It was soon after dark that the figure
of the detective might have been seen be-
yond the threshold of this house, really
the last abode of Goldstein.

» It was still and dark. i

In one of the - rooms the detective
struck an object with his foot, and in
angt

 

  
  

 
   
        

 

 

   

 

    
 

 
           
       
     
     
     
     
   
    
 
 
     
 
        
  
   
        
     
       
     
     
   
 

     
       
     
      
    
         
      
        
     
 

     
     
     
       
 
       
    
   
      
   
    
     
         
 
  
    
   

     
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
   
  
   
 
  
   
   
    
   
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
    
    
  
    
   
   
  
 
   
     
     
 
  
  
    
 
   

   

 

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General Capulet was there

The detective took up one of the hands
and immediately dropped it With a cry

It wore the red bracelet he had seen
on the coachmans wrist:

General Capulet with his ‘ bracelet,
lay on the floor. as he must have fallen
after the labarri’s bite. and his distorted
face told how terribly the fangs had done
their work.

The detective searched the house. it
was not the dead man’s refuge. as he
could readily see

It was not like the house where Gold
stein had found the picture of Major
Trumps’ wife in the trunk

There was found on the floor a bit of
paper with the name of Goldstein torn in
two.

It had been Goldstein‘s abode '

Then Goldstein knew why General Cap-
ulet would not take another hand in the
game of mystery

Genteel Joe glided from the place_and
disappeared down the street.

Half an hour later he entered a little
room and cast his eye over a lot of din-
ers at some tables ranged along a not

' very clean wall

The White Swan Restaurant was not a
tony place. but it was good enough for a
certain class, and Genteel Joe watched
a man who sat at one of the last tables
Sipping his black coffee and munching
his dark bread.

This person seldomllooked up, but kept
his chin near the edge of the table. He
seemed to be eating against time; but at
last, when there was nothing in the cup
but grounds, he pushed back his chair
and rose.

Joe sat still and waited for him as he
came down the aisle. _l

In another instant, when the fellow
came opposite the‘ detective, his gaze
dropped and he seemed to recognize Joe.

It was Goldstein.

At once Goldstein dropped upon a chair
across the table and smiled. .

“ Been thinking of you, Dick,” he said.
with a smirk. “ Got it all studied out.”
eh‘;'ljhat’s good. Can’t be any failure,

“.It'3 simply Wssmle. The wedding
won’t \be delayeda“week," .

“Then if we want to save the girl—4’

“I don’t want to save her," broke in
Goldstein. “What is she. to me? You
see, there's the heir by the first mar-
riage.”

“Oh, he had one, then?”

. “ Yes, I know him.”

“You, Goldstein?”

“'Don’t I? What if we foist this heir
on them? Wouldn’t that paralyze the
whole gang? "

“ But one would have to be sure of his
man.”

“ I am sure. There's no mlstake;-there
can be none. He won't deny it. I'll find
him within an hour if you say so."

“Come. then. find him. Show me this
man-this son of Duke Daniels—and. I'll
help you play out the hand, whatever it
is"

'Ftu' a mbment the face of Goldstein
hovered' over the detective's like .a hawk,

‘. ‘and then he drew back.

“ I’ve been thinking about the whole
thing,” he went on. -‘ I don't care to run
the risk unless we can silence a certain
person; the only one liable to spoil our

- plans."

“We can do that. Who is this per-
son? "

" It's the detective."

“ Genteel Joe? ”

“ Yes." I’ve been to his den. I've looked
into the room, but he wasn’t in."

“ What would you have done? "

“I went there for business. I don't

‘ .. intend that this ferret shall cheat me out
_ of my play.”

“ No. But you didn’t find him in? ” 7

“I did not."

= e .can't waste

r." all.
‘ " ain'this 

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“fiat. '. 11% it

3

i
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l

.Home-run Detective

Genteel Joe’s Lone Hand

 

“i do.‘

Goldstein quitted the restaurant, fol-
lowed by the man supposed to be Dia-
mond Dick. it was a bold game for the
and the branded
man’s confession that he had gone to his
den like a thug was enough to tell him
that he was dealing with a cool head

0n the street beyond the door of the
White Swan, Genteel Joe was hurried
away, and in a short time Goldstein
paused in front of a dwelling and looked
up at one of the front windows on the
second floor.

Shall we play out the hand boldly?
He may be inclined to show his teeth. for
he is keeping back the secret.

‘ Play it out.’ said the ferret.

In another moment the twain dodged
into the hallway. but stopped there

Some one was on the landing overhead
and the following instant a man ap-
peared on the stairs

That's the man.“ whispered Golds
stein. ‘They call him Splinters. but
he is Carl Daniels.’

The figure descended and stopped in
the hall within arm’s reach of the two
men. , ,

“ Splinters! ” said Goldstein.

There was a sharp little cry, and
the little man turned and faced the pair.

“Carl Daniels!" continued Goldstein.
"Come, boy, you see we know all. Come
back with us! Up-stairs? Of course! "

The hand of Splinters reached for his
weapon, but the fingers of Goldstein
closed about his wrist, and he was pushed
toward the steps.

The little man went up sullenly enough
and into the room he had just left.

Goldstein pushed him toward a chair,
but Splinters did not sit down, preferring
to stand up with folded arms.

He looked, first at Goldstein and then
at the disguised detective.

His gaze rested the longest upon Gen-
teel Joe‘s make—up, but he did‘not betray
his thoughts.

“This is my friend," said Goldstein,
with a wave of his thin hand. “ You can
call him Mr Dick, if you wish, Splint—
ers, or.Carl. We want you to confess.
You are the son of Duke Daniels? "

The lips watched by the two men were
seen to come together, and the face lost
a bit of color.

“You say so,” he said.

“ It is true. You are Carl Daniels, the
child by the first marriage. You haven't
had the courage to play the hand that
might have netted youla million during
your father's lifetime, but now we can
play it for you.” . ‘

"You two men? "

“ Yes.”

“When I want the fortune I’ll play
the hand myself.”

" No defiance!" cried Goldstein. “ We
are here to play it for you. We can play
it out and enrich you.” ,

" But what if I should refuse to go
out and proclaim my identity? I dont
have to."

" You will when I say the word!"
hissed-Goldstein. “It shall be a fair di-
v e.ll g» .

n “ l rob no one,” said Splinters, haught-

y. .

"No; you are the king of honor. You
wouldn't rob a pirate. You live by plun-
der."

‘ u I__n

“ Silence!" thundered Geld‘stein. ‘5 Not
a word._ Confess! You are Carl Daniels
——Lotty’s half br ther." - '

“ If I am you s all never profit by it.
You shall never reap a golden harvest by
the confession.” - . '

“Hear him! ” c‘ried Goldstein, turning
to the detective. “ Isn't this the 'cheek-
last thing of the day, Dick? This little
bundle of humanity defies us. Wait! ”

The figure of Goldstein walked over
to where Splinters stood, and faced him
madly.  .i'  ‘ .
"l’givsv oni'ha
,taki "

 
  
 

. 1

mm here .

 
    

 

 

A glance passed between Splinters and
the detective

it seemed to tell the little man that he
had one friend in that chamber, and as
the gaze of Goldstein fell upon the dial
of the old timekeeper he suddenly sprang
forward and landed a blow full in the
branded man‘s face.

Goldstein. taken aback by this assault,
staggered off with a shriek .

He dropped over against the wall in a.
heap for Splinters had thrown his whole
strength into the stroke and had given
his enemy a blow he would not soon for-
get

' That much for him: ’ cried the little
man turning to where the detective
stood ' Let him keep out of my way.
Carl Daniels? I‘m more than that, but
not now Some other time."

He reached the door and jerked
open.

1’“ see you later on‘ he said to the
ferret. and as he looked his eyes got
another light. and he was gone.

“He knew me,” thought Joe. the de-
tective. “Splinters remembers having
tracked me to Mother Redbird’s. but the
secret of my escape from the trap and
the pit is safe with him."

There was a sound of footsteps on
the stairs, the lower door opened and
shut, and Goldstein and Genteel Joe were
alone. "

“ Why,_ he strikes like a sledge ham— _
mer!" said the former as he recovered 'r *
and came forward. “He has the quick- ' .
ness of a cat and the power of a lion,
like his father. Duke Daniels was thus
gifted. But wait, Diamond Dick. l'm
not done with this young Hercules. I
shall let him know that it is death to H
fool with Goldstein the hater.”

Genteel Joe made no reply, but he re-
solved while he looked a't the speaker
that the hand of Goldstein should never
terminate the career of his friend, Splint-
ers. '

it

 

CHAPTER XXVIII-
rm: Vi'HlRLJNG MATCH.
“ There was one thing made clear by the '
meeting with Goldstein and the 'subse—
quent encounter with Splinters. and that
was the dagger and the ring fbund in .
Splinters’ quarters by the detective when ’
he searched the little safe there. .
If Splinters “was the son of Duke Dan-é" 
iels,.then the dagger was an emblemw~
of vengeance. and the ring which it
held on its steel the ring which at one , 
time belonged to his mother, the dead _.
millionaires wifei. P
Jge Nichols recalled his visit to the "
safe when he got rid of Goldstein, after
Splinters’ encounter with him, and once.
more on the street, he went back, to
Mother Redbird‘s. . - I
The trail was shortening, not only‘
this, but it was all the time getting plain-
er. and' when he found himself in the
cramped room to which the old woman
had assigned him, he went Over a lot of
paper bits pasted on a sheet. ;
These were the bits which Zara hadz
picked up in the stateroom occupied by I
General Capulet on his. passage over on ,
the Paris and now they. possessed a ,
startling meaning. , . . f
The story told by Goldstein that 
will which gave Lotty Daniels to 
Trumps was a forged document and the
work of Oapulet was coniirm‘ed‘by the
papers. and at last the detective looked
up with a gleam of victory in his eyes. '
The next day he might have been seen
watching a woman heavily veiled who;

alighted from a cab near a park, and had. '-

drawn her-yell a little closer. . 
The woman was Florence; the reputed.- 
wife of Major Trumps.‘and the detective
tracked her to the house tenan‘ted by the
major. ‘
She was permitted to go away unmo—r
lested. while the major closed the door
and then came out himself a'fe‘w minutes

  

  

 

 
 
  
 
  
  

    
  

 

later. ‘
l ,

 

28

Genteel Joe’s Lone Hand.

 

 

Jackson Trumps wanted to see an-
-other person, and in a short time the
detective saw him enter a house where
he knew a surprise awaited him.

Major Trumps, in blissful ignorance
of his espionage, opened the door with a
key, which he took from an inner pocket
and locked it behind him.

He passed into a room alongside the
hall and rapped on a table there.

The only reply was an echo, which
«caused him to look round and smile.

“ He ought to be here at this hour,”
said the major above his breath. “He
is not exactly safe on the streets, and
'won’t be till after we’ve played out the
’hand. But I'll wait awhile for him.”

He sat down and waited five, ten, twen-
zty minutes.

“ I want to tell him about the infamous
paper I was compelled to sign at the
«doctor’s office. It was simply insulting.
He wants the lion’s share, and I had to
yield it. We must put our heads to-
gether, and, if we can, we must beat this
.man. In his power? Of course I am to
a certain extent, but I have the antidote,
thanks to Dipps, and I don’t fear his
reptiles as I used to.”

He laughed at the end of his last sen-
tence and then waited another half hour.

“ Octave does not come," he said, ris-
ing. “ I’ll leave a note for him, and he
will know that I’ve been here."

He found a sheet of paper in the
drawer and wrote thereon a brief mes-
sage for General Capulet.

This be replaced in the drawer and
Iquitted the house.

Outside the hunter was waiting for his
quarry, and the moment Major Trumps
started off he was followed by Genteel
.Joe.

Suddenly the major started and then
stopped, his face becoming nearly white
and his eyes dilating.

The person who had crossed his path
was a little man whom he seemed at
once to recognize.

It was the inevitable Dipps.

At the same time Dipps saw the major
.and came sidling up to him.

“Could I claim a moment of your
time?” said Dipps. “I don’t want to

 

take up another bit of it—just a mo-.

ment.”

The two adjourned to a resort near by,
and in a back room, with a table between
them, they sat face to face.

“You’re going to marry, aren't'you? "
said Dipps.

Major Trumps did not reply.

“ It’s none of my business, perhaps,
but, you see, it's a case of importance,
and if you want to have a happy time
you’ve got to make things hot for the
doctor.”

“What’s that? For the doctor?"

“ Don’t you know the doctor?” cried
Dipps. “ Come,‘you know him quite well,
major. Doctor Baker, the man with the
reptiles, is just now too dangerous to be
discussed in loud tones.”

“You know something, Dipps? "

The little eyes across the table fairly
snapped.

“Wait till the detective gets all the
threads in his hands. He’s picking them
up one by o'ne——"

“ What detective? ” -

“This one [called Genteel Joe."

“ Did you call me in here to tell me
this?” the major cried. “Why, man, 1
don’t fear the detective.”

“ When did you cease fearing him?’

“ I don’t fear him, I say.”

“Then you’ve compromised with him."

“ No.”

“You must think that the doctor will
.sweep him from your path and that you’ll
ride to fortune and love without trouble.”

“Never mind that, Dipp's. We're al—
most there."

“ Do you think that because I carried
off a little phial from the doctor's lab-
oratory you are safe? Why, I wouldn't
build on anything of that kind. The rep-
tiles are bad enough, but the detective'is
just as dangerous.”

“ I’ll take care of serpents and ferret,”
laughed the major. “But, Dipps, what

/

 
   

 

makes you think the detective is on the
trail now? ”

“ In the first place, Mother Redbird has
taken in a lodger.”

“ Who's Mother Redbird? "

" She’s an old lady in Dark Alley, for
where she lives is hardly a street. She
has taken in a lodger, I say, and I would
bet my head that he's the ferret.”

“ He can’t be, Dipps. It’s simply impos—
sible.”

“ Glad you think so, major. I thought
I would warn you, but if you know, why,
that settles it.”

“ When did you see this lodger? "

“ Last night."

“ At what hour? "

“ It was nearly midnight."

“ Where was he? "

“ In Mother Redbird’s house.” .

“ He can’t be the detective, I say. I
have seen him elsewhere. I would bet
my head—"

“Don’t do that. You might lose it,
major, and it’s a head that can’t be
spared just yet."

“ Never mind. I’ll risk it anyhow. Gen—
teel Joe, the man who has given me a
little worry, won't do it again. He's
safe.”

“But wait. 'The man who is Mother
Redbird's lodger looks just like Genteel
Joe. Didn’t I see him retire last night,
and didn't I witness a little business
which tells me that he is still on the
scent? "

Major Trumps’ face seemed to lose col-
or.
“And he was watching Florence to-
day.”

“ The same man was?”

“ Yes, the same man—Mother Redbird’s
lodger.”

For half a second the major did not
seem to breathe. He looked across the
table, and his face lost a little more red-
ness.

“ I can settle this whole business in a
few minutes.”

“ Perhaps you would better do so—the
sooner the better, of course.”

“ I'll do it, Dolliver.”

Major Trumps turned back and walked
rapidly for twenty minutes.

When he stopped he was at Doctor
Baker's door, and rang with some ner-
vousness.

But as there was no reply to his ring,
he opened the office with a key which he
carried, and went in.

Doctor Baker did not greet him, and
after a minute‘s silence the major slipped
away to turn up in the room where he

had been permitted to examine the pit

beneath the stairs. .

He went about his business with a good
deal of coolness, but at the same time it
was evident that he was beating down
some excitement which came up in spite
of him.

He found the button which opened the
trap, and he soon leaned over the brink
of the chasm, and tried to pierce the
darkness below.

Major T-rumps struck a match and sent
it whirling into the pit, the little flame
lighting up the place as it descended and
showing him the walls and their ooze.

At last the match, burning out in an
expiring effort, rested on the floor far
beneath him, and he saw what he had
seen before—the human—like figure on
the flags.

But all at once the eager eye of Major
Trumps saw more than this.

He noticed that instead of a human
figure, it was but a coat, and then he saw
that the battered hat lay on the other
side of the dungeon.

“He isn’t there,” he said as the match
flickered out and left the place in dark-
ness once more. The detective is gone! "

Major Trumps seemed to be overcome
with a sudden weakness as he retreated
from the spot.

The door of the pit shut of its own ac-
cord, and he went back to the office.

“If he is out, Dipps was right.
saw him at Mother Redbird’s.
found the ferret for us, but—”

He
He has

Some one‘was on the stairway leading.
’ .' ‘ , ,' ~ .

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to the laboratory, and the major looked
toward the door leading to the flight.

But the noise ceased even while he
gazed, and he waited a while for it, but
was disappointed.

“I won’t go up. There’s the electric
mat which caught Dipps, and there’s the
stairs that captured the detective. None
of your infe"nal pits for me, Jared Ba—
ker.”

He moved toward the door and let
rimself out of the office.

As he closed the door he heard a sound
that blanched his cheeks, and looking up
he caught sight of a face at the window
of the laboratory which looked out upon
the street.

The eyes were looking down at him,
and they seemed to have in their depths
the gleam of a fiend, and the major
clenched his teeth and said, as he moved '1
away:

“In his power, am I? Wait and see!
With the antidote I am not afraid of his
reptiles, and some time I’ll Show him
that Major Trumps can break the bands
of iron and stand forth master of the
situation—when we have outwitted this
sleek trailer of the streets.

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
W'ARNICD TOO LATE.

Major Trumps went home.

Throwing himself into a chair at the
table, he went over his experience with
Dipps and in the doctor’s house, but did
not speak his thoughts.

He was thus engaged when he heard
a key turn in the outer lock, and the
swish of garments greeted his ears for
a moment before the opening of the door
admitted a woman.

She came in with her face turned to-
ward him, and stopped at the table with-
out a word.

It was Florence. .

“ I'm being watched,” she said at last.

“By whom?"

“I don't know. I was followed last
night by a man who had nimble steps
and keen eyes. He positively made me
shudder with his orbs. I was to be pro-
tected all through the game, and was not
to have any trouble at all.”

"‘ But you could avoid some of this
trouble by remaining indoors,” said the
major.

“I can‘t be cooped up. I won’t remain
in. I have a right to the streets. When
will the ceremony take place? ”

“Within a week.”

“Why, that means a year for me."

“I can't help it. We can‘t do every-
thing at once.”

“ I don't expect that, but the longer the
game goes on the more apt the police are
to balk it.”

“ The police? You fear them, woman? ”

“Don’t you? "

“Is the doctor cool?” asked Florence.

“ You know what he always is.”

“Yes, but does he fear anything?"

“He never did.”

“ I know that, but the coolest men are
sometimes caught up by others just as
clever, and if this detective—this man
who is said to be very clever at trailing a
mystery—if he comes out ahead, why,
what will your cleverness avail you? ”

“Nothing, but we don‘t dream of fail-
ure.”

“What does she say?” eagerly asked
Florence. “ Did she object? Is she ready
to obey the will? “

“She gave in without a murmur.”

“Better than we thought, isn‘t it?
Now, when the general gets his share,
you'll let me of‘.”

“Of course. I’ll be glad to get shut
of you,” and the man laughed. “Of
course, you understand that it won’t last
long—only long enough for me to get
my hand on the golden egg,”

“ 3‘. Lat is she worth?”

“ Three millions.”

“It will make us rich.”

“But there’s the doctor”

“Yes, the Demon Doctor, the man
without whom we could not have won.
I don’t forget him. I. couldn’t if I wanted

. :,,.,‘V 5'“-

‘ 12%;} .J.‘~rf§2: “f: 2;?“ "

       
  

    

 

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Genteel Joe’s Lone Hand.

 

29*

 

 

to. The night he showed me the reptiles
he made my blood run cold, and I
thought if he should strike for the whole
fortune what a weapon he would have in
those deadly things.’

“ Not so great a one as you suspect. ‘ back to her.

You know that he has discovered the an—
tidote to the bite of the labarris: but
there may be some of it in other hands."

Florence caught eagerly at the mean-
ing of the last sentence.

“Is it in our hands? Can you boast
of having the antidote? If we only had
1t—"

Major Trumps left his chair and opened
a door in the wall near by. Taking out
a phial wrapped in black paper. he car-
ied it to the table and set it down in the

ht. 4
That is worth its weight in gold, and

re. It is the essence of life prepared

5 the master chemist of his day.”

“ Doctor Jared? ”

“ Yes.”

Florence's eyes gazed at the liquid a
little while and her gaze became fastened
on his face.

“He gave it to you, did he?”

“ Heavens, no! Doctor Baker would not
Dart with his secret for a world. I had
‘0 take it.”

“By foul means, Jackson?”

'My agent found it.”

‘ The cunning Dipps! I see now. He is
capable of doing anything. What a man
he is, despite his scarred hand.”

“When we are fixed I shall reward
Dipps. He has been faithful. He gave
me a valuable pointer to—night, and I
must change my tactics a little.”

She fell back and watched him close-
137, all the while seeming to wonder if
he was actually playing a safe hand.

“ It will take place perhaps next Thurs-

day. She is willing, and the sooner the
better. After that date, Florence, you

can retire. Indeed, I will have but one
Wife, you understand; but the last love
Will not prove an obstacle to our future
happiness.” ‘

“If it lasts—if you become infatuated
\ ith this girl, even after she has be-
('-me your wife—remember, your happi-
1 ass is likely to be cut short! I am in the
f ld for the dead millionaire’s wealth.
i on must not let this girl fasten herself
( your heart.”

“ I will not.”

“ Swear it! ”

‘ What's the use? You know what has
passed between us. It is all in the game,
and you have retired long enough to let
me get my hands on a million.”

“But you must swear it. Here’s the
dagger. Swear it on this ebony hilt."

“ You’re terribly exacting, woman,”
cried the major. “My word has been
given.”

‘f But she’s pretty.”

“ You’ve seen her, then? ”

“ _Yes, I watched her like a hawk'at the
burial. 1 couldn’t take my eyes off her.
Lotty Daniels is very beautiful, and she
may try to capture you. I want the
oath.” - .

She pushed the dagger with the black
hilt across the table and cried out:

“ Place your hand on the hilt and swear
that you will hate the girl you are about
to wed—that you will throw her off at
my signal, and that you will not let her
fasten herself on your heart. Swear, I
say.”

The major’s hand touched the hilt, and
Florence’s eyes seemed to snap while she
repeated an oath, terrible in its language
and import.

“There! that settles it. It makes me
feel easier. I am dangerous, and I will
not let this girl play a hand of love
against me.”

" Now, when you quit the house he on
Your guard.”

“For whom shall I watCh—the de-
tective or the man who followed me to-
night? ~

“ For both.”

“ And you ?—you must take care of this
spotter. It is on the eve of victory. It is
almost in our grasp, the fortune of the
millionaire. With the girl your wife and

l

 

the money at our commandewith the
doctor’s antidote in your hands, what
need we fear.”

There was no reply as the major looked i
away a moment, but his eyes soon came

 

Florence drew toward the door, but
on the threshold she stopped and looked ‘
at him.

“ You’re going to flinch at the supreme
moment. I can see it in your face.”

“I flinch? Never! I have nerves oil‘

 

iron, and am ready to finish the game."

“ The shadow of the shadower fright~
ens you. Where is he? Where does this
fox of the city trail kennel? ”

“I don’t know."

“Does the doctor know about him?”

“I cannot tell.”

“ Good-night.”

Major Trumps was alone.

His eyes had followed his wife to the
door and he heard it shut in her face.

“ he is jealous,” he said, with a faint
smile. “She doesn‘t like to see Lotty
Daniels become my wife, and, by Jove!
at times I pity the pretty victim myself.
Its a bold game against her, and it may
blight her life, but—Don’t give way, ma—
jor. There’s a million in it.”

He smoked, but not at his ease. He
watched the door, as. if he expected to
see it open and admit a foe.

It did open, but not for an hour.

The figure of Dipps crossed the carpet,
and his eyes had a strange light.

“Did you investigate? ” asked Dipps.

“I did.”

“ Well? ”

“You may have been right.”

“I was right; no doubts about it. I
know now. Genteel Joe is on the trail,
and he has picked up another clew with-
in the last hour.” ‘

“What sort of clew? ”

“He knows who Splinters is. He
knows whose foot makes a mark like a
cross.”

“ Whose? ”

Dipps lowered his voice and bent his
body across the table, looking the ma—
jor squarely in the face.

“Don’t you know?” he asked.

“I never made it a business of look—
ing at foot-tracks.”

“You would be wiser if you had.
It I had looked at a certain foot-track
one time I might not have this scarred
hand. I might not have felt the bite of
the little reptile from Brazil. But, never
mind. It’s not a question of snakes now.
It’s a question of life and death. The de-
tective will draw in his net before day.”

Major Trumps bounded to his feet and
caught up the phial.

“ I don't think you’ll need that," said
Dipps, pointing at the red liquid. “ It
saves only after the flesh feels the fangs
of the labarri. Genteel Joe holds about
all the threads in his hands. What are
you going to do—warn the doctor?”

“Why not?” ‘

“I wouldn’t. Let that villian die in his
luxurious den!”

The outer door opened and Major
Trumps and Dipps exchanged glances.

“ It is he! It is too late!” cried the man
with the withered hand. ‘.‘ The master
of the secret has come! ”

Major Trumps flashed a revolver, and
as he turned toward the door he came
face to face with Genteel Joe.

 

CHAPTER XXX. ‘
THE CAST or DEALH.

Major Trumps, with the half-lifted re-
volver in his hand, gazed at the shadower
like one struck dumb in the presence of
impending doom.

Dippsseemed to get a malicious grin,
and then his strange face whitened.

A sudden thought came like an in~
spiration to the little man, :and he looked
hastily at his master.

Genteel Joe advanced, his gaze riveted
upon the major, and his name on his

tongue.

But before that name could be uttered
there came up over Dipps’ hip, with a

sudden gleam in the’light, a six-shooter,

 

which looked the ferret in the face.
a 1‘, :1! v.

“It is death to touch the major,” said
Dipps, as he showed his teeth. “1 can‘t.
serve two masters, and, though I owe
you a life. Genteel Joe, I can‘t see you!
take the major without giving him an-
other chance. The hand that killed the
nabcb is not in this house. You must,
look elsewhere for it; but you must let
the major here have a breathing spell."

Nichols saw the eyes that scintillatedf
behind thc trigger, and for half a second
he forgot the man watching all at the

. other end of the table.

“ Go! ” spoke Dipps to his master. “ Go;
out and break this man‘s grip if you can.
I give you that chance."

It needed no second command, for the"
following moment the detective and
Dipps stood face to face, the ,sole tenants:
of the room.

The major was gone! -

“ You saved him at last,” said Joe. '

“ And why not? Give the man one more
chance. He will make battle, but what.
of that? It won't last long."

“He will warn the guilty. I do not.
intend to take Major Trumps for mur—
der.”

“ But you would have netted him. You'
came hither for that purpose. You can
take me, Joe. Time was when I would
have turned Major Trumps over to you 2',
but 1 can’t do it now.”

“Why not?”

Dipps came forward and held out his‘
withered and scarred hand.

“He saved my life_when the serpent
bit me. It is the scar that reminds me
of his sacrifice. He sucked the poison
from the wound, and I slit the hand with
my knife to give him the chance. Give.
him half an hour.”

“ He shall have no time at all.”

Dipps leaned his head on the table,.
and the detective watched him some time
in silence.

“ He has gone to warn the magic doc--
tor," said Joe.

“ Perhaps. , Wait.
together.
live? ”

“You saved Major Trumps because he‘
is something to 'you. You are in some
manner bound to him by the ties of
blood.”

Dipps leaped up with a cry and stood
erect in the middle of the room.

You will find them:
You know where the reptiles.

“I am. We are brothers.” ~ ‘
“ Brothers?
“Yes, and stranger brothers never

lived. The same mother gave us life,
but our paths ran apart early in life.
Little did I know when the serpent clung
to my hand years ago that the man who:
put his lips to the wound was my own‘
brother. The discovery came but the
other day, through" his confession. Now,.
if you hunt him down, remember that
he is the brother of Dolliver Dipps.”

Joe Nichols stood for a moment before;
the little man, and saw his face grow;
hard and stern again.

.f‘ Why not?" cried Dipps. “Why?
should I shield him, after all? It is; a.
plot against a girl’s happiness. He. has. a
wife- Florence, the cool one, has stepped
from the plot long enough to let.it suc—
ceed. She is to let him become the bus—-
band of Lotty Daniels, and when they
have the fortune in their hands the gin
is to be flung aside, and the spoils di--
vided. But you know this, for. you have‘
picked up thread after thread,. Joe, and.
I need not tell you more.”

Meantime, Major Trumps, on' the sheet,
had put more than one almost deserted
square behind him.

He took no note of shadows, and did.
not brush many people in his night.

But one idea seemed to agitate the"
man; he wanted to escape from the iron;
grip of the detective.

Presently he ran up a flight of stone
steps and bolted into a hOuse, the bell.
of which he did not ring.

“ What is it? What have you seen—-
the dead? ” ”

He stopped short at the words and
Igazed into the calm face of Doctor Bar

er.

Clad in a smoking jacket, the tall figure?-
of the doctor-chemist was a marvel 01*-

 

  

 

v
y
’i
‘.

 

 

strength in the electric light, and Major
Trumps looked into the cold gray eyes
with a shudder.

He had never seen the man so cool
and self-possessed.

“Sit down," continued Baker. “You
come in like a whirlwind. There’s white—
ness at your lips. \Vait; I‘ll give you a
sip of Burgundy."

The major waited and drained the
goblet with eagerness. It brought the
blood back to lips and temples, and in
his eyes beamed a light they had not be—
fore had.

“You‘re getting cool now. You will
be able to tell me what has happened,
in a few moments. Take your time.
We’ve got the night before us.”

“The night, man? Gods! you don't
know what has taken place.”

“ That‘s for you to tell me.”

Major Trumps looked around the room.

He felt at the same time the impress
of the stolen phial against his heart, and
threw a rapid glance toward the room
where the doctor kept his pets.

“He will be here. He will follow me,”
he averred.

“Who, major? What apparition have
you seen? "

“ He isn‘t in the pit.
escaped! "

“ You want another draught. Your
nerves have been badly shattered. You
must get over this before your wedding
day."

“ But, look for yourself! ”

“ I let you look; that was satisfactory.
You saw the body in the bottom of the
trap. You drew back and went off with
cool nerves. He is there yet.”

“ Go and look! Throw your light into
the bottom of the pit. Look for your-
self.”

Doctor Jared arose and crossed the
room, followed by his visitor.

The door of the pit opened and the
light went! searching down to the last
stones in the walls.

The doctor peered into the chasm, and
the major saw him change color.

All at once Trumps seemed animated
with a fiendish desire, for his face
flushed and his body bent suddenly for-
ward.

“ Why not? I can sweep this man into
eternity, in an instant,” his thoughts
took shape. “He has been the bane of
my life. I can push him into the pit and
_ make terms with the trailer."

His blood tingled at the thought, but
all at once the doctor turned and faced
him.

“Why didn’t you? ” he asked. “ You
had an excellent opportunity. It was the
masterful chance of your life, coward!
Now, sir, stand over there against the
wall.”

The hand of Baker seemed to cover a
certain place on the wall, but the major
did not move.

“ Stand over there! ” the order was re-
peated. “You would have pushed me
headlong into the pit. but your courage
forsook you. You have given up the
battle. You will make terms with the
detective, who has escaped.’

The two men were now close together.

“You once doubted the power of my
pets; the time has come to convince
you.”

Instead of falling back at the threat
implied, the major seemed to laugh.

He had the antidote He was repti/le
proof, thanks to Dipps and his own
thoughtfulness; he could defy the doctor
and his diabolical pets'

Baker tore open a door set in the wall
near his head, and lifted out a little
cage, from which he whipped a yellow-
ish thing with glittering eyes.

“It kills. But you know this, major.
A red bracelet it makes for its victims.
and after the sting there is oblivion, and
immunity from the hand of the street
trailer.'-’

He twisted the serpent round his head.

The majos fell back and looked with di-
lated eyes despite his faith in the red
phial .

It was but a second of fear and doubt;

The ferret has

 

for the serpent suddenly left the doctor’s
hands and landed like a whiplash on the
other‘s wrist.

A cry of horror burst from the ma-
jor’s throat, but Doctor Jared's face
seemed to take on a fiendish gleam.

“Work it out between yourselves!”
jecred the doctor-chemist. “I won’t in-
terfere. Good-bye, major! You would
have sold out at the last moment. But,
Doctor Jared never falls into the hands
of the minions of the law! ”

The victim could not shake the serpent
loose, for it coiled itself about his wrist.
and already the red bracelet was form-
ing!

He heard the door open and shut, and
through the mist that swam before his
eyes he saw the figure of the Demon
Doctor vanish.

A wild effort he then made to get away,
and, as he left the wall, a door seemed
to open in his face.

Hands seized and pulled him forward;
he was lifted from the floor, and the
room was a place of dazzling flame!

“Where is he?” asked a voice ,at his

' ear.

The major could not speak; his tongue
clove to the roof of his mouth.

The next moment a terrible crash
seemed to shake the house, and he fell
from the hands of Genteel Joe, who
rushed into a room whose door had been
thrown open by the explosion.

 

CHAPTER XXXI.
THE I‘N’I‘ANGLICD skrzix.

“The demon staircase! ” exclaimed
some one who accompanied the detective,
and Genteel Joe stopped at the foot of a
flight of steps.

The light overhead increased, but he
could not see from whence it came.

“There‘s another way to the labora-
tory,“ announced the person at his side.
“Come! I found it once, and can find
it now. '

The pair rushed from the room, into
another apartment. It was small, and
did not seem to have more than one
door. '

1t was Goldstein who spoke to Joe. He
had joined the detective on the street,
still mistaking him .for Diamond Dick.
He now sounded one of the walls with
his fist, and a door at last opened.

“See the dark passageway! " he cried.
looking at Genteel Joe. “It is seldom
used, for the dust is thick.”

Joe threw the light of his bull’e-eye
on the steps and uttered a cry.

There was the mark of a heel in the
dust, and the imprint of a cross 'of nails
was plainly visible!

He did not stop to look long, but
bounded up the steps, with Goldstein at
his heels.

The door at the top of the flight was
shut, but the now—excited Nichols threw
himself against it. ‘

A dazzling light greeted him and forced
him back.

“The current is on," explained Gold-
stein. " I used to know something about
this business."

He pushed past the detective, and
found the secret of the glare. At once
he shut off the light and tempered it for
his companion's eyes

“ Look! Yonder he is' ”

Joe paused and recoiled

An iron chair tipped with steel stood
over against one of the walls

It was occupied by the doctor, and his
face turned toward Genteel Joe. seemed
to hold the concentrated light of years of
triumph'

Don’t! ‘ and Goldstein pulled the de
tective back “ It is death to touch him,
now! Look at the wires at his wrist He
has simply turned on the current of death
and revenge It kills quicker than his
snakes It has! done its work already?

The two men stood aloof and looked at
the man in the electrical chair. and even
as they looked a shelf toppled behind
them and among the things upset upon
the floor was a little cage. the door of
which flew open and something wriggled
toward Goldstein’s feet.

 

The strange man sprang away with a
cry of horror, while the snake fiitted
across the floor and out the door to
tumble, fold over fold, down the stairs.

Then the house of mystery was searched
by Genteel Joe and Goldstein.

In a secret room, the existence of which
neither had surmised, they discovered a.
strange workshop~as strange, in fact, as
the laboratory.

In a table drawer there they found a
lot of papers, and one fully revealed the
story of the crime on the avenue!

In the heart of a package, which the
detective opened, was found a little dag-
ger with an ebony hilt, and the width of
the blade corresponded with the wound
found on Duke Daniels' body!

What more was needed?

As Joe Nichols turned away, with the
documents in his possession, Goldstein
faced him, saying:

“You are Detective Joe Nichols. You
no longer stand before me as Dick, the
crook. I had you in my power once, but

if I had known—"

“ You can try it now,‘ suggested 'Joe.

“No! It is all over. The game has
been played out. You know it all.”

“ Yes——more than you think.”

“You have found the general in his
little room? ”

“ I have seen the man who died by the
bite of the serpent.”

“And before you stands the man who

threw the reptile at his wrist! ”

They went down stairs together, as
friends.

“Whenever you want Goldstein, you
shall have him and his story,” said the
man, as his hand fell upon the detective’s
shoulder in the office. “ Go out and draw
in the net. It holds but little beyond
the dead; but it is your triumph. You
are at the end of the trail. You have
but to find Florence and tell Lotty that
she is out of the power of the doctor
and his friends.”

Joe saw Goldstein depart, while he
turned to the white-faced man in a chair.

Major Trumps had freed himself from
the red bracelet, and held out his hand
to show the detective what a trace it
had left on his skin.

“ I owe my miserable existence to Dipps
—the maimed," he said with a grim smile,
“ But for him I would be in yon room as
dead as the master demon overhead. You
found him. Joe? You found the docu-
ments, for I see papers in your hands."

The detective nodded.

" It was his hand. I thought so all
the time. i was dumb, for I dared not
speak or hardly think against that man.
The little dagger

" It is here,” interruptedl the detect-
ive.

"It convicts the dead, but the living
is saved. After all. I‘m glad of it. I
would have carried out the plot, but the
girl will not now have a blighted life.’
It was a game of the doctor's planning.
and it really meant millions. When he
turned the reptiles loose in the million—
aires house he intended thatone of
them should find the nabob‘s blood; but
the reptiles were too slow for him. He
accomplished what they failed to do.”

4: at at It at a:

In a short time the whole cityeknew
of the startling outcome of the detect—
lve‘s trail.

New York Was shocked, to say the
least for no one had dreamed that the
suave doctor-chemist, the man of skill
and success. was the secret murderer of
the millionaire. but. not only did the doc-
uments and the dagger convict the dead,
but the hoot-marks in the dust, the silent
witnesses of crime, told the story of the
midnight deed,

Florence. when found, clung to her
evil-minded husband, and for a time she
drew sympathy toward him, but the
courts refused to be hoodwinked by the
woman’s devotion, and Major Trumps,
with his branded wrist and his evil heart,
got the full extent of the merciless law.

Splinters came in for a share of the
millionaire's estate, which Lotty was
willing to divide; yet he soon afterward
betook himself from the scene of his last ,

 

 

‘..u.;_._.‘9...._n_........_—.. . ... ,_

 

 

 

V4C'H

TN“

3

 

 

ram

 

 

acts, as also did Dipps; but Goldstelnl

told the story of how he had killed Gen— ‘
eral Capulet with the reptile sent for‘

his own destruction by the doctor-chem— f 544 The Back whack Paras.

ist. and the law leaned toward him with
tempering mercy.

l
Joe Nichols received more than fame}

and financial reward for unraveling the

after, he quietly withdrew from the serv-
ice and took up his abode in the same
mansion where he started out to combat
the magic doctor and his (to-partners m
diabolism.

It was Joe’s last trail, but it was his
greatest achievement, and in time, when
little faces came to fill the old house with
sunshine, the remembered terrors of the
man—hunt passed away. and he seldom
recalled them.

The house of the Demon-Doctor was

the point of attraction for thousands;'

but, at last. some one pulled it” down.
and upon its site arose another mansion,
which was not devoted to the mysteries
of man-traps and serpent-charming.

The old house disappeared, but from
the minds of hundreds nothing could blot
the deeds of Doctor Jared and the ter-
rible doom brought about by his treach~
erous hands.

THE END. .

 

xnx'r DIME LIBRARY.
No. 913

Dakota. George, the Uracil-Shut.

BY CAPT. FRED. WHITTAKER.

Beadle’s [line Librarv.

BY \VILLIAIVI R. EYSTER.

902 Soft Velvet, the Man from Sandrock.

891 Gcilteel Jim. Sport-at Large.

881 The Clublnan—L‘rliok‘s Cat‘s-paw.

867 The FrisCo Sport.

852 The Stranger Sport’s Shake~up.

828 Kirk King. the llan from Kirby.

818 Gentleman Dave. the Dead Game Sport.

783 The Kilig~l’ill Tramp.

767 The Sport of Silver Bend.

718 Unc'e Bedrock‘s Big Bounce.

707 The Rival Rovers.

687 Double Cinch Dan, the Sport With a Charm.
677 Mr. Jackson. the Gent from Jaybird.

659 Gilt-Edge Johml : or. Roldan and His Rovers.
650 Lucky Lester‘s one Hand.

634 Old llandcart‘s Big Dump.

622 Til - All Around Sports.

60:; Do. ‘I‘ .xlt‘. the Man With the Cougar.

590 Gentle Jack, the High Roller from Humbug.
578 Sewn Soot Steve. the Sport with a Smile.
568 The Dude Delectth

558 Hurrah Harry. the High Home from Halcyon.
549 Belsuazzar Brick, the Bailiff of Blue Blazes.
533 Oregon. the Sport \VithaSear. .

525 Fresh Frank. the Derringer Daisy.

503 The Dude from Denver.

478 Pinnacle Pete; 01'. Tile Fool from Way Back.
459 Maiior Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives.
429 Ha r Trigger Tom of Red Bend.

402 Snapshot Sam: or. The Angels‘ mat Racket.
396 The Piper Defective; or, The Gilt Edge Gang.
375 Royal George. the Three in One.

356 Tllr e Hands nne S orts; or,’1‘he Combination.
344 Double'Shot Dave 0 the Left Hand.

3‘33 Derringer Dick. the Man with the Drop.

300 A Sport in Spectacles; or, Bad Time at Bunco.
268 Magic Mike ‘he Man of Frills.

229 Captain (“ll'sleeve: or. The Little Sport.

214 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch.
192 The Lightning S )Ort.

182 Hands Up; or, e Knights of the Canyon.

160 Soft Hand. Sharp: or. Tile Man with the Sand.
145 Pistol Pards; or, The Silent Sport from Cinnabar

BY “WM. G. PATTEN.
810 Fire-E e. the Thug’s Terror.
795 Old fight-Hawk, the Crook Shadower.
768 The Prlnee of New York Crooks.
756 Old Burke. the Madison Square Detective.
747 poilble-VOlce Dan‘s Double Disguise.
715 Double-Voice. Dan on Deck,
702 Double‘VOlCt‘ Dan. the Always-on-Dcck Detective
696 Double-V0109 Dan. the Go-it Alone Detective.
639 The sparkler Sharp.
676 Hurricane Hal. the Cowboy Hotspur.
669 Old True Blue. the Trusty.
068 The Giant S ort: or, Sold to Satan,
656 Old Plug gly. the Rough and Ready.
648 Gold Glove Gid. the Men 01' Gris.
641 Aztec Jack. the DPS?” 1‘0de-
631 Colonel 0001. the Santa Fe Sharp.
602 Ca tain Nameless. the Mountain Mysteri-
571 01 Dismal. the Range DetectiVP.
545 Hustler Harry. the Cos'bOY SP0”-

BY K. F. BILL.

721 Sam Saunders. the Go-As-You-Please Detective.
410 Sarah Brown. Detective.

 

 

BY PHILIP S. WARNE.

802 Dan Dirk, King of No Man’s Land.
5% Captain Adair. the Cattle King.
567 Captain Midnight. the Man of Craft.

52.! The (‘llalnpion Three.

502 Bareback Buck, the Centaur of the Plains.
472 Six Foot Si: 01‘, The Man to “ Tic To,“

431 California Kit. til“ Always )1) Hand.

. I 401 Silver Sid; or. A “ Daisy " Blutf.
mystery of the library, for. some. tlmc‘

 

 

 

391) Tiger Dick’s Pied e' or, The Golden Serpent.
359 Yellow Jack. the Iestiyo.
333 Jack Sands. the lioss of the Town.

299 Three of a Kind; or. Dick. Despard and the Sport. '

280 Tiger Dick‘s Lone lland.
2.31 Tiger Dick vs. Iron Despard.
202' Old Hard Head: or. Whirlwind and his Mare.
171 Tiger Dick. the Man of the Iron Heart.
11! The Gentleman from Pike.
80 A Man of Nerve; or. Caliban the Dwarf.
51 Always on Hand: or. The FoobHills Sport.
29 Tiger Dir-k. Faro King: or. The Cashier‘s Crime.
4 The Kidnapper; or, The Northwest Shanghai.
1 A Hard Crowd: or. Ger tleman Sam’s Sister.

BY CAPTAIN NIARK \VILTON.

Hotspur Hugh: or. The Banded Brothers.
Heavy Hand: or, The Marked Men.
Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover.

291 Horseshoe Hank. the. Man of Big Luck.

2S5 Lightning Bolt. the Canyon Terror.

276 Texa: Chick. the Southwest Detective.

271 Stoneflst. of Big Nugget Bend.

266 Leopard Luke the King of Home-Thieves.
263 Iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer
238 Bullet Head. the Colorado Bravo.

245 llarranca Bill the Revolver Cham ion

237 Long-Haired Max: or, The Black ague.
227 Buckshot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Ida lo.
226 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

219 The Scorpion Brothers: or. Mad Tom’s Mission
202 Cactus Jack. the Giant Guide.

194 Don Sombrero. the California Road Gent.

176 Ladv Jaguar. the Robber Queen.

BY OLL COOMES.

619 Kit Bandy & Co . the Border Detectives
148 One-Armed Alf. the Giant Hunter.
137 Long Beard. the Giant Spy.
399 The Giant Rifleman: or. Wild Camp Life.
51 Red Rob. the Boy Road-Agent.
{48 idabo Tom. the Young Outlaw of Silverland.
46 Bowie-Knife Ben, the Nor‘west Hunter.
44 Old Dan Rackhack. the Great Extarminator
43 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ranger.
7 Death-Notch. the Destroyer.

323
311
305

BY J. (I. CO‘VDRICK.

752 The Sus ect S ort of Daisy Drift.

626 Ducats )ion, t 1e Nabob Sport Detective.

612 Sheriff Stillwood. the Regulator of Raspberry.
598 The Dominie Detective.

591 Duke Daniels, the Society Detective.

.580 Shadowing a Shadow.

565 PrinCe Paul. the Postman Detective.

557 The Mountain Graybeards: or. Riddles” Riddle.
519 Old Riddles. the Rockly nger
499 Twilight Charlie. the oad Sport.
473 Gilbert of Gotham. the Steel-arm Detective.
452 Rainbow Rob. the Tulip from Texas. ‘
436 Kentucky Jean. the Sport from Yellow Pine.
422 Blue Grass Burt. the Gold Star Detective.
390 The Giant Cupid: or Cibuta John’s Jubilee.

BY CHARLES MORRIS 0

Prime.» Hal. the Rattling Detective.
Cop Colt, the Quaker City Detective.

BY COLONEL BELLE SARA.

106 Shamus O’Brien, the Bould Boy of Glingal.
87 The Scarlet Captain: or. Prisoner’ of the Tower.
[53 Silver Sam: or. The Mvstery of Deadwood City.

589
330

BY ED‘VARD \VILLETT.

. Flush Fred. the River Sharp.

. The Canyon King; or. a Price on his Head.
Dan Dillon. King of Crosscut.

Old Gabe. the Mountain Tram .

Terrapin Dick. the Wild wood etective.

' Flush Fred's Double: or, The Squatters‘ League
Hemlock Hank. Tough and True.

Logger Lem: or. Life in the Pine Woods.

. Flush Fred's Full Hand.

Flush Fred. the Mississippi Sport.

Montana Nat. the Lion of Last Chance Camp.
222 Bill the Blizzard; or. Red Jack’s Crime.

209 Buck Farley. the Bonanza Prince.

1'29 MissiSSippi Mose: or, a Strong Man 's Sacrifice.

BY LEON LE‘VIS.

797 Pistol Tommy. the Miner Sharp.

785 The Down East Detective ill Nevada.

773 Buffalo Bill s Ban: or, Cody to the Rescue.“
699 The Cowboy Couriers- ' . ‘
686 The On-the-Wing Detectives. .

624 The Submarine Detective: or, The Water Ghouls."

484 Captain Ready. the Red Ransomer.

481 The Silent Detective; or, The Bogus Nephew.
456 The Demon Steer.

428 The Flying Glim: or. The Island Lure.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.

894 Silver Sam. the Shasta Sport.

880 The Silver Sport’s Double.

868 The Race-Course Detective.

856 The Hayseed Detective.

7’72 Ca tain Corden, the Twister Detective.
755 Wi d Pete the Broncho-Buster Detective.
726 Fearless Sam. the Grand Combination Detective.
719 Boston Bob. the S rt Detective.

572 Jaunty Joe. the ockey Detective.

554 Mad Sharp. the Rustler

538 Rube Rocket. the Tent Detective.

526 Death-Grip, the Tenderfoot Detective.

507 The Drummer Detective.

432 The Giant Horseman.

898 Sleepless Eye. the Pacific Detective.

‘ 688

 

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.

907 Maverick Mark. the Man from Nowhere.
898 Silky Steele, the Stay-in Sport.
881 The S otter-Sport's Nrck-Tie Party.
870 High- ater Mark; or. Silver-Tip Sid.
862 Riata Bob. the Range Chain )iotl.
855 The C Mhov ('hief’s Sure-S 0t.
84.8 The Riyal Reddillt Sports.
8‘37 Curly Kid. the Clleyl nne Sport.
8% The Soft Hand Dl‘tt ctive.
813 The Soft Hand's Clutch.
809 Dan Dunn. the Soft-Hand Sport.
796 The Frisco lie-tectlve’s Thug-Tangle. i
789 Sam Cary. the River Sport.
78!! Tie Dead Sport‘s Double.
771 Prince John. Detective S ecial.
763 Dandy Don. the Denver etective.
7.31 ’lhe Mall flolll Texas; or. Dangerfield, the
Doctor Deteclivc.
7“ Sweepstakes Sam, the Silver Sport.
720 The Secret Six: or, Old Halcyon.
712 The Man of Silk.
705 Bantam Bob. the Beaut from Butte.
693 Kent Kasson, the l’ri-ac ler Sport.
Bob Breeze, the Rounder Detective.
Steel Surry, the Sport fri n1 Sunrise.
Solemn Saul’s Luck Strtak
The Get-There Sharp.
Silvertip Steve, the Sky Scraper from Siskiyou.
Gopher Gabe, the Unseen Detective.
Dandy Darling, Detective.
Mossback Mose, the Mountaineer.
The Grip Sack Sharp‘s Even u ).
Big Bandy, the Brigadier of Brimstone Butte.
Sandy Sands. the Sharp from Snap City.
Silver-Tongued Sid: or. Grip Sack Sharp‘s Sweep.
The Grip-Sack Sharp; or. The Seraphs of Sodom.
Grivaack Sid. the Sample Sport.
7 The Buried Detective; 0r. Saul’s Six Sensations.
Major Magnet. the Man of Nerve.
Dandy Dutch. the Decorator from Dead-Lift.
Dandy Andy, the Diamond Detective.
514 Gabe Gunn. the Grizzly from Ginseng.
504 Solemn Saul. the Sad Ian from San Saba.
495 Rattlepate Rob; or. The Roundhead's Reprisal.
488 The Thorou hbred Sport.
474 Daddy Dea -Eye, the Desnot of Dew Drop.
466 Old Rough and Ready, the Sage of Sundown.
458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim from Spitzehberg.
450 The Rustler Detective.
443 A Cool Hand: or. Pistol Johnny's Picnic.
438 Oklahoma Nick.
433 Laughing Leo; or. Sam‘s Dandy Pard.
426 The Ghost Detective: or. The Secret Service Spy.
416 Monte Jim. the Billet: Sheep of Bismarck.
409 Rob Roy Ranch: or. The Imps of Pan Handle.
40': The NameIeSs Sport.
395 Deadly Aim. the Duke of Derringers.
387 Dark Durg. the Ishmael of the Hills.
379 Howlng Jonathan, the Terror from Headwaters.
372 Captain Crisp. the Man with a Record. .
307 A Royal Flush: or, Dan Brown’s Big Game.
360 Jumping Jerry. the Gamecock from Sundown.
35.") Stormy Steve. the Mad Athlete.
351 Nor‘ West Nick. the Border Detective.
345 Masked Mark. the Mounted Detective.
3‘39 Spread Eagle Sam. the Hercules Hide Hunter.
331 Chispa Charley. the Gold Nugget Sport.
324 Old Forked Lightning. the Solitary.
317 Frank Ligbtfoot. the Miner Detective.
302 Faro Saul. the Handsome Hercules.
292 Mokc Homer. the Boss Roustabout.
286 Pistol Johnny; 01'. One Man in a Thousand.
283 Sleek Sam. the Devrl of the Mines.
257 Death Trap Diggings: or. A Man 'Way Back.
219 Elephant, Tom. of Dill-ango.
Spitfire Saul. King of the Bustiers.
233 The Old l‘oy of Tombstone. .
Pirate of the Placers: or. Joaquin‘s Death Hunt.
Revolver Rob: or. The Belle of Nugget Camp.
Old ‘49; or. The Amazon of Arizona.
Sweet William. the Trapper Detective.
165 Joaquin. the Terrible
Joaquin. the Saddle King.
141 E uinox Tom. the Bully of Red Rock.
127 SET Scott. the Masked Miner.
119 Alabama Joe: or. The Yazoo Man-Hunters.
103 Dan Brown of DenVer: or. The Detective.

88 Big George; or. The Five Outlaw Brothers.

71 Captain Cool Blade: or. Mississippi Man Shark.
7 The Boy J ockey: or, Honesty vs. Crookedness.
Double-Sight, the Death Shot.

Jack Rabbit, the Prairie Sport.

47 Pacific Pete. the Prince of the Revolver.

45 Old Bllll s-Eye, the Lightning Shot,

40 Long-Haired Pards; or. The Tarters of the Plains.
30 Gospel George: or, Fiery Fred. the Outlaw.

28 Three-Fingered J ack, the Road-Agent.

BY DIAJOR DANIEL BOONE DUMONT.

573 The Witch of Shasta: or. The Man of Cheek. ’
508 Topnotch Ton}. the Mad P9 rson.

464 Sandvcraw. the Mall of Grit.

454 The Night Raider.

439 Salamander Sam.

420 The Old River S )ort: or. A Man of Honor.

411 The White Croo ‘: or, Old Hark’s Fortress.

389 Colonel Double-Edge, the Cattle Baron's Pard.

675
668
661
651
645
636
6‘27
617
597

see

383 Silver Sam. the Detective ~ ' ‘

in?" BURKE BRENTFORD.

889 The Sea Wraith; or, The Privateer Prince.
878 Dauntless‘Dick,’ Knight of the Deck. ‘
866 S ray Sprite. the Sea Witch.

816 The Sea Sweeper

BY DR. NOEL DIINBAR.

886 The King of Crooks.

858 Number One. the Dead-set Detective.

850 The Planter Detective.

730 Duke Despard. the Gambler Duelist.

604 The Detective in Rags: or. The Grim Shadower.
500 The True‘Heart Pards.

a new issue every Wednesday
Beudle’s Dime Library is for sale by all
Newsdealers, ten cents per copy. or sent by mail on» a
receipt of twelve cents each. '
BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS. \
98 WILLIAM Sr" NEW Yong.”
v r

 

 

BEADLE’S*DIME*I;BRARY.

 

 

4 Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

BUFFALO BILL NOVELS.
By Colonel Prentiss lngruham.

904 Buffalo Bill’s Tangled Trail.

900 Buffalo Bill‘s Rough Riders.

895 Buffan Bill's Secret Ally.

890 Buffalo Bill‘s Litesmke.

882 The Three Bills: Bull"an l‘i'l Wild Bill and Band-
box Bill: or. The Bravo in Broadcloth.

874 Buffalo » ill‘s Buckskin Braves.

869 Buffalo Bill’s Road-Agent. Roundup.

863 Buffalo Bill‘s Dea li Charm.

857 Buffalo Bill‘s Royal Flush.

851 Buffalo Bill‘s l ouh'e Dilemma.

845 Buffalo Bill‘s Redskin Ruse.

830 Buffalo Bill's Boi sin Blue.

826 Buffalo Bi-l‘s Shar iShooters.

822 Buffalo Bill’s Best owel‘.

816 Buffalo Bi 1‘s R4 d Trail.

812 Buffalo Bill's Deatli-Knell. '

794 Buffill‘) Bill‘s Winning Hand.

787 Buffalo Bill’s Dead Shot.

781 Buffalo Bill s Brand.

777 Buffal) Bill‘s Spy Shadower.

769 Buffalo Bill‘s Sweepstake.

765 Biffalo Bi !l‘s Dozen: or, Silk Ribbon Sam.

761 Buffalo Bill's Mascot.

757‘ Bufl'alo Bill‘s Double.

750 Buffalo Bill‘s Bil! Four;or. (,‘ustcr's Shadow.

743 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand.

739 But!an Bill‘s Blind: or, The Masked Driver.

735 Buflalo Bill and His Merry Men.

731 Buffalo Bill's Beagles: or, Silk Lasso Sum.

727 Buffalo Bill‘s liodv Guard.

722 Buffalo Bill on the War-path.

716 Buffalo Bill‘s Scout Shadowers.

710 Buffalo Bill Baffled; or. The IieserterDe-‘iperado.

697 Buffalo Bill‘s Buckskin Brotherhood.

691 Hut‘fslo Bill’s Blind Trail; or. Mustang Madge.

667 Buffalo Bill‘s Swoop; or. The King of the Mines.

658 The Cowh v Clan: or. The Tigress of Texas.

653 Lasso King‘s League; or, Buck Taylor in Texas.

649 Buffalo Bill’s Chief of Cowboys: or. Buck Taylor

644 Buffalo Bill’s lloranza; or. Si verf‘ircleKnights.

362 Buffalo Bill's Gri : or. (lath Bound to Custer.

329 Buffalo Bill‘s Pier ge: or. The League of Three.

189 V\ ild Bill‘s Gold Trail; or. The Desperate Dozen.

175 Wild Bill’s Trump (lard: or, The lndian Heiress.

168 Wild Bill. the Pistol Dead Shot.

By llu ll'ulo Bill.

839 The Ranch King Dead-Shot.

820 White Beaver‘s Still Hunt.

807 Wild Bill. the Wild West. Duelist.

800 Wild Bill. the Dead ('enter Shot.

639 But‘l'al ) Bill‘s Gold King.

599 The Dead Shot Nine: or. My Paras of the Plains.

414 Red Renard. the lndian Detective.

401 One-Arzned Pam; or. Borderland Retribution.

397 The Wizard Brothers: or. White Beaver‘s Trail.

394 White Beaver, the Exile of the Platte.

319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West.

304 Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler.

243 The Pilgrim Sharp: or. The Soldier‘s Sweetheart.
8‘3 Gold Bullet Snort: or, Knights of the Overland.

[52 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

By Leon Lewis, Ned Buntllne, etc

773 Buffalo B ll’s Ban; or. Cody to the Rescue.

682 Buffalo Bill's Secr t Service Trail.

629 Buffalo Bill‘s Darin Role; or. Daredeath Dick.

517 Buffalo Bi l‘s First ‘rail; or. The Express Rider.
158 Buffalo Bill, (inlet 1 f Scouts.

117 Buffalo Bill is Strange Ford: or, Dashing Dandy.
92 Buflalo Bill. the Buckskin King.

BY H‘IIOLD PAYNE.

883 The Man from Mexico in New York.

872 The King-Pin Shark; or. Thad Burr’s Ten Strike.
861 The Tenderloin Big Four '
853 The Quaker Pity Crook.

844 Tracked to Chicago.

836 The Policy Broker’s Blind.

829 The Frisco Sharper‘s Cont Band.

821 The Tramp SliadOWer’s Backer.

813 The Sham S otter's Shrewd Scheme.

806 The Grand Street Gold-Dust Sharpers.

798 Detective Barr’s Luua ic Witness

792 The Wall Street Shnrtcr‘s Snap.

784 Thad Barr’s Death Drop.

742 Detective Burr Among the New York Thugs.
734 Detective Burr's Foil; or, A \\ oman‘s Strategy.
728 Detective Burr. the Headquarters Special.
713 Detective Burr‘s Spirit Chase.

706 Detective Burt‘s Seven Clues.

698 Tha‘d Burr, the Invincible: or, The “L " Clue.
690 The Matchless Detective.

680 XX. the Fatal Clew: or, Burr’s Muster Case.

BY LIEU’I‘. A. K. SIMI.

$7 The Six-Shot Spotter.

887 The Stranger SpOrt from Spokane.

873 The Sport Detectivc‘s Colorado Glow.

in) The Spangled Siport Shadower.

843 the Crescent L ty Sport.

832 Gil Gale‘s Block Game.

804 Too King Pin of the Leodville Lions.

786 Chicano Charlie’s Diamond Haul.

776 Chica 0 Charlie. the (‘olumblnn Detective.

758 The izarl King Detective.

725 Tumster Tom. the Boomer Detective.

m Lodeswne Lem, the Chain ion of Chestnut Burr.
695 Singer Sam, the Pilgrim tective.

6% River Bustiers; or. the Detective from 'Way Back
673 Stuttering Sam, the Whitest Sport ot-Santa Fe.
666 Old Adamant, the. Man of Rock.

618 Kansas Karl, the Detective King.

502 Prince ‘Primrose, the Flower of the Flock.
1528 Huckleberry, the Foot-Hills Detective.

'B'Y J W. OSHON.

V 905' sums Sam, the Sparkier.

-877 Cool (hoods, the Dead-Shot.

759 The S rt from‘S'..-'Louls.

518 Boys Richard, the Thoroughbred.

 

BY CA P'I‘AIN IIO‘VARD HOLMES.
903 The Train Detective.
896 Kent Keen, the (‘roolcCrushen
888 Nightshade in New York.
879 Falcon Flynn, the Flash Detective.
871 The Crook Cashier.
859 (flew-Hawk Keene‘s Right Bower.
817 iliratn Hawk, the Harlem Detective.
8-10 Major Bullion. Boss of the Tigers.
831 Shadowing: the London Detective.
817 Plush Velvet. the Prince of rpottei's.
803 The. “0ng Broker‘s Right. Bower.
788 The Niulit-H Mk 1.)! lec ive
779 Silk Ribbons (‘r sli-out.
766 Detec'ive Zach. the l‘rondway Spotter.
751 The Dark Lantern Ilet- ctive.
736 The Never-Fad D tective.
"24 Captain Hercuh s. the Strong Arm Detective.
711 Dan Damon. the (lilt—Edee Detective.
701 Silver Stu-v». theBrnnded Spoit.
694 Gideon Grip, the Seciet ShadoWer.
684 V-lvet Van. the Mystery SliutloWer.
678 ’l‘lielhide Desperado
'71 Jason (.‘lew, the Silk-Wanded Firret.
664 Monk Morel, the Man-Hun cr.
651 So] S hinx. the Feriet Detective.
612 Red ard and Yellow.
608 Silent Sam, the Shadow Sphinx.
592 Captain Sirl. the Shasta Ferret.
579 Old Cormorant. if e Bowery Shadow.
569 Captain Cobra. the Hooded Mystery.
559 Danton. the Shadow Sharp.
5.30 Silk Hand. t"e Mohave Ferret.
513 The Magiiate Detective.
532 Jac : Javert. the Independent Detective.
523 Reynard of Red Jack: or. The Lost Detective
512 Captain Velvet‘s Bit: Stake.
505 Phil Fox. the Genteel Spotter.
496 Richard Rednre. the Two Worlds’ Detective.
487 Sunshine Sam, 0. (‘liip of' the Old Block.
490 Hawk-pear. the Man with a Secret.
4 ‘8 Coldizrip iii Deadwood.
460 Captain (foldcrip. the Detective
453 (,‘aptain Coldgrip‘s Long Trail.
447 Volcano. the Frisco Spy.
441 The California SLarp.
434 Lucifer Lynx. the “'Olltier Detective.
421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow.
413 Captain Coldcr‘p in New York.
407 Captain Coldgrip’s Nerve: er. injun Nick.
400 Captain Coldki‘ip: or. The New ork Spotter.
392 The Lost l‘onanza: or. Th" Boot of Silent Hound.
382 The. Bonanza Band: or, Dread Don of Cool Clan.
374 Major Blister. the. Sport ref ’l‘wr- Cities.
365 Keen Kennard. the Sh: sia Shadow.
352 The Desperate D z: n.
317 Denv -r Duke. the Man With “ find.”
340 Cool C 1nrad. the Dakota Detmc’tive.
3‘35 Flash Dan. the Naboli: or. Blades of Bowie Bar.
321 California Claude, the Lone Bandit.
294 Broadcloth Burt. the mer Dandy.
278 Hercules Goidspur. the Man of the Velvet Hand.

B" NED BUNTLINB.

657 Long Tom. the Privateer.
6‘33 The Sea Spy,
621 The Red Privateer; or. The Midshipman Rover.
581 Fire Feather. the Buccaneer King.
517 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail.
361 Tombstone Dick. the Train Pilot.
270 Andros, the Rover; or. The Pira‘e's Daughter.
122 Saul Sabberday. the Idiot S y.
111 The Smugg‘er Captain: 01'. he Skipper’s Crime.
61 Captain Seawall. the l‘rivat er.
23 The Red Warrior; or. The Comanche Lover.
18 The Sea Bandit; or. The. Queen of the Isle.
16 The White Wizard; 0". The Seminole Prophet.
ll Thavwdanegeadhe Scourge : or. The War-Eagle.

BY ‘VILLIAIVI ll. NIANNING.

909 The Doomsday-Den Detective.
899 The Double-Quick De'ective.
893 Yellow Gid. of Dark Divide.

885 The Expert Detectiw’s Shake-up.
875 Tripp in: the Race-Track Judge.
864 The Police Speciul’s Dilemma.
8“ The Genteel Sharper’s Combine
841 Graydon‘s Diiihle Deal.
838 The Sport Detective‘s Giipf
823 The Athlete SpOrt About own.
808 TheCrook-Detective‘s Pull.
790 Plunfier Pete, the Race Track Detective.

782 Rova Rock, the Round-up DetectiVe.

774 Steve Starr. the Dock Detective.

764 The New York Sharp‘s Bhadower.

738 Detective Cluxton, t e Record Breaker.

714 Gabe Gall. the Gnmbolier from Great Hump,
703 Spokane Saul. the Samaritan Suspect

692 Dead Shot Paul. the DeepRange Ex lorer.

655 Strawberry Sam. the Man with the irthmark.
646 Dark John, the Grim Guard.

638 Murdock. the Dread Detective.

623 Dan arous Dave. the Never-Beaten Detective.
611 Alkai Abe the Game Click-en from Texas.

596 Rustler Ruhe: the Round-Up Detective.

585 Dan Dixon's Double.

7?) Bloody Hand. the Napoleon
563 Wyominz Zeke, the Hotspur of Bone; sucklo.
551 Garry Kean the Man with Backbone.

539 Old Doubledark. the Wily Detective.

581 Saddle~Chief Kit. the Prairie Centaur.

521 Paradise Sam. the Nor-West Pilot.

513 T-xns Tartar, the Man With Nine Lives.

506 Uncle Honest. the Peacemaker of Hornets’ Nest.
498 Central Pacific Phul. the Mail Train Spy.

492 Border Bullet. the Prairie Sbnrpshooter.

486 Kansas Kitten. the NonhwestDetectlve.

479 Gladiator Gabe, the‘Samson ( f Sassajsck.

470 The Duke of Dakotn._ , '~

468 Gold Gauntlet. ‘tbe Gulch'Glndin‘tor.

455 Yank Yellowhird. the Tall Hustler ol’the Hills.
449 Bluff Burke. King oft-he ,kies.

442 Wild West Walt. ‘thejMounfaln Veteran.

487 Deep Duke: or, The Mount Two Lives.

487 The Rivals of Montana Mill

415 Hot Heart, the Detective 82w. ‘

405 Old Bold the ‘Brln'adler'o' Buck‘Ba’sln.

885 Will Ilic ' I‘urpin, the LeadVille Lion.
297 Colorado Rube. the StronalArm of ,Hotspur.
879 The Gold Dragoon. or. California Bloodhound.

cf Detectives -

 

l ALBERT ‘V. AIKEN'S NOVELS.

i

l
l
1

Dick Talbot Series.

‘ m Dick Tall'ot's Close Call.

7337' Diet Talbot in Apache I and.

l 733 Dick Talbot. the Ranch King.

729 Dick Talbot‘s l‘leaii Out.
723 Dick Ta'hot in No M n‘s Camp. '
381 Dick 'l‘alliot in the Rockies: or. lnjun Dick.
354 Dick T 11 pt: ()1. The Brand of Crimson Cross.
349 Dick. the (1t‘lll’l('lllflll Road-Agent.
107 Dick Taliiot. of t‘ii llflllul.
. Dick Talbot. King.r cf' the Road.
41 liick'l‘alliot in Utah: or. Gold Dan.
' Dick Talhoti’s iron Grip; or, 'i lieV'elvet Hand.
36 Dick Talbot; or. The l)(‘:vtl| Shot of Shasta.
 Dick i‘alhot at the Mines: or. Keiituck the Sport.
31 Dick T--lliot’s Foe; 01‘. Rocky Mountain Rob.
33 Dick Tal'oot; at Whiie. Pine; or. Ow rland Kit.
Allten’s Fresh of Frisco Series.
825 Fresh, the Race-Track Sport.
660 The Fresh in Montana: t r. Blake's Full Hand.
652 ’l‘ e Frcsh‘s Riistle at Painted City.
647 The Fresh at Santa Fe: I 1‘. 'l 11 Strange" Sharp.
:' Fresh, the, Sport: or. The liitr Racket atS ide Out.
I337 Fre<n Against. the Fie d: er Blake. the Lion.
529 The Fresh of Fri»co in Nuv York.
497 The Fresh in Texas: ( r 'i'li Escobedo Millions.
461 The Fresh 01’ Frisco on the Rio G i'ande.
173 " he Fresh in Arizona; or. California John.
130 The Fr sh in M- xico: or. (‘aptain Volcano.
97 I‘lie Fresh in Big Walnut Camp; or. Bronze Jack
77 The Fresh of Frisco.
Alken’s Joc Plieulx Scrleu.

865 The Female Barber Di u-cliv ; or, Joe Phenix in
Silver City.

799 Joe Pheoix’s Great Blue Diamr nil Case; or, The
New York Sport at Long Branch.

793 Joe Pheiiix’s Decliy; or, The Man of Three. i

760 Joe Phenix‘s Lone Hand.

749 Joe Phi nix‘s Big Bulge.

745 .1 we Phenix‘s Mad Case.

708 Joe Phenix‘s Siren; or, The Woman Hawksl aw.

700 Joe Phenix’s Unknown; or. Crushing the Crooks

681 Joe Plienix's Specials: or. The Actress Deteciive

637 Joe Poenix in Cram Camp.

632 Joe l‘lienix’s Master Search.

628 Joe. Phenix‘s (‘Ollll‘lll ; r,tl.e iraiidy (Ionsp rator

6'20 Joe Plieiiix’s Silei t Six.

601 Joe Phenix's t hrdow ; or.” e Detective‘s Monitor

419 Joe i‘henix., ilie King ( f Df‘ltCIin s

391 Joe l‘henix‘s Still Hunt.

161 Joe, Phenix‘s Great Man Hunt.

‘2;

p.
I

or
E»

‘ 112 Joe Pnenix, l'rn‘ate Delective. or, The League.

79 Joe Phenix, the Police Spy.
Alken‘u l‘llm-clluncons Novels.

901 The Hot -l Swell—Si arp; I r. The Siren Shadowi-r.
89: Th - (foiintrvrinn Delective.
876 Gold Bii'tou Sport; or, Th~ Miner Sharps.

812 'l‘eton Tom the Half-l 1. od.
835 The King: Pin Detective.
814 'l‘he New Yorker Anionv Texas Sports.

775 Kim: Dandy. the Silver Sport.

75*} Gide ui’s Grip‘ at l ahylon l ar.

717 Captain Pat IcGowen, tl e Greencort Detective.
674 Uncle Sun Up. the, Born Detective.

670 The Lightweight Detective.

' 665 Tue Frisco Detectiw; or, The Golden Gate Find.

613 Keen Billy, the Sport.
607 Old Benzine, the “ Hard (‘aSe " Detective.
594 Fire Face, the Silver King’s Foe.
586 The Silver Sharp Detective.
577 Tom, of Calif« min; or, Detective‘s Shadow Act-
570 The Actress Detective: or, The invisible Hand..
562 Lone Hand. the Shadow.
520 The Lone Hand on the CaCdo.
490 The Lone Hand in Texas. '
475 Chin Chin. the Chinese Detective.
465 The Actor Detective.
440 The High Her e of the Pacific. _
421 The Lone Hand; or. The Red River Recreamts.
408 Doc Grip, the Vendetta of Death,
381 The Gygfiy Gen tleinnn: (r. hick Fox. Detective
376 Black ards: (:1. The Rio GI‘U‘de High Horse
370 The Dusky Detective: or. I‘iirsued to the E110.
363 Crowningshield. Ihn Detective
320 The Genteel Spotter: or The N. Y Night Hawk.
252 The Wall Street 1 lood; (r. The Teirzrsl 11 Girl.
203 The Double Detective: ('r.'l he Mit' night Mysterv.
196 La Marmoset, ihe Leueilve Quien.
101 The Man from New York.
91 The Winning Oar: or. 'l he Innkeeper’s Daughter.
84 Hunted Down: or. The League 0 Three.
81 The Human Tiger: or. A-Heart of Fire. ‘
75 Gentleman George: or. Parlor. Prison and blreet.
7'.’ The Phantom Hand: or. The 5th Avenue Heiress.
63 The Winged Whale: or. The Red Rupert Of Gulf.
59 The Man from Texas; or. Tl'e Arkansas Outlaw.
56 The Indian Mazeppa: or. Madman of the Plains.
49 Thu Wolf Demon: or. The Kanawhs een.
42 The California Detective: or, The Witc es of NY,

27 The Spotter Detect ve: or. Girls of New York.
' NEW ISSUES.

B Three. By Cant. How-rd Holmes.

918D at. George. the Dead-shot - or. Riel. the Hall'—
breed of the Hills. By Capt. Whittaker.

914 Snowflake Sam’s Double; or, The Ranch Rope
Kink. Bv Lieut. A. K. Sims.

915 Buflolo Bllland the Surgeon-Scout: 0r. Gowamvo
the Redskin Rider. A Story of Red Butterfly‘s
Bald. By Col P. Ingrohnm.

 

JUST ISSUES.

' 900 Buffalo Bill‘s League; or. Red Butterfly. By

1. P. ingmham. _
910 The Arizona Detective: or, Wiping Out the Black
7 Oath Gene. By George C. Jenks. _
. 911 The Blue Blockader; or. The Coast Gray/hound.
By 001. Prentiss lngrubam.
A new issue every Wednesday.

Bendlo’l “low Library is for lsale 1 all
Newsdealers. ten cents per copv. or sent y ma on
receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & ADAMS.
Publishers 98 William street, New York.

81 The New York Sher : or. The Flash of Lizhtning.

91309an Joe‘s Lone Hand; or. Shadowing the