7 r ' ..l :..ammx.n 5: "mum, «1

~ Copyrighted. 1895. by BEADLE AND ADAMS. September 11. 1895. I

No. 881. “mam?” ’* 7 " ;5.m.y..§. if. vafi

._ W5“

'lvg"

 

NE  SEVEN
BY WM. R. EYSTER,

AUTHOR 01:- “mn 1mm: DETECTIVE.” “m
ALL-AROUND SPORT," ETC., ITO.

CHAPTER I.
HARD HIT.

“ HARD hit, eh ?”
7' ' - +'- ~=-‘-‘--‘*'='~_'*"'"='=-'--; "  “You ought to know, since you warm
HEATHCOTE LOOKED UP Hum “HEM. H11. .' a CROUCHED. MAKES YER RATHER hand I meant to play.”
TIRED, DON '1‘ 11‘, mun," s > THE MASKEI) MAN, “But did you phi}; it?"

 

1.;
.‘ p

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
  

 no Tits.

’ " one right. -

.2' The Clubman—Crook’s Cat’s-paw.

 

 

“ For all it was worth."

“Then you stand to lose twenty thou-
sand?"

" More! than that."

The tone of Harry Heathoote grew
gloonlier, and he seemed to shrink with-
in himself.

He was a handsome young man, and a
cashier in the Nail and Lumber Bank.

When he came to the city he started life
in that institution and gradually ad-
vanced until he reached his present re-
sponsible position.

He was well known in society circles.
where it was understood he was a young
man who would rise higher. He was a
protege of Peter Havel-camp, the presi-
dent of the bank, and it was an open so-
cret he had made seVeral successful deals
in. stocks. '

His companion was a tall, superbly
formed man. considerably his senior in
years, though not yet at the turning
point in life.

He was sometimes called the Deadly
Dandy on account of several duels in
which he was known to have taken part,
and was a man about town, well known
in the clubs. The name, however, by
which he was known in society was
Roger Vauderlyn.

He was supposed to be a member of
the well-known Vanderlyn family, who
had‘ drifted out from under the parental
roof-tree at an early date in his history,
returning with a. fortune made by his
own bands, which he was now enjoying
in elegant leisure.

The two were both members of the
Chrysanthemum Club. and for some time
had been on what apparently were terms
of close friendship.

They had met in what seemed a. casual
fashion, but already the conversation 'had
grown wonderfully interesting.

The “more than that" of Heathcote ap-
peared to give the elder man a shock,

“ By Jove!” he exclaimed. “You don’t
say so? Then it takes your pile. It:
couldn't well be worse." .

“No, for it takes my honor along with
the rest." .

“Brace up. old man! I don’t believe
you know what you are saying.”

,5“ Only too well.”

f'Oh, you know I am standing ,by you

through thick and thin, but I suspect you

‘ all? ill it up a little too high.” .

o. seemed raid settles me. I wil

I be short  twenty thousand. besides

every '01 my own. I’ve my
fling, {orgthe‘balance of my days: can
rot in Sin  ' Do you believejme?’ ‘
“Good- _ carom, man! this is notvtthe'
sort of thing to talk about on thefstreet.
Gmnejp, somewhere and let me the
obs.ny I can sauenyou." 
 tejxt midfield sullenly,   p
 , am: be drawn avtay to a:
‘  In a few moments
'  lat-a table in a.  on"
 ' firm}: a bottle of wine‘and/

     

    
 

 
   
    
  
 
   
    
  
   
    
  
 

longing. to  us. .1 am’ lost. and you

.me,’
A'anderlyn gave a groan.
“ So far ‘ ising that amount goes you
A . tact is. I amen then
myself, as you alone of all New :York are

beware. But".my credit may beajwm-th
., something. and what is the matter with as
'xitrying to borrow. with me as your back-

or? Straighten up your accounts. play
goody—goody. and wait for the next
chance. When you can make it worth
le, play for all that is in theme; then.

A. e will bolt together. What do you say?
on know the old lines, ‘Whene’er your

-‘ page can be no worse, the desperate is
 .{the wiser course’?" , .
,» The‘extraordinary proposition dropped

 'bgnt in an ordinary, everyda

y sort of tone,
rid it did not cause Heathcote even to

' ’start, though he remained silent for some

{minutes revolving it in his mind.

-, ‘ .. a.“
. .1 .

   

' nty thousand be j'
knownulwdl”  irritants can“ help“ {W1

When he spoke it was with an air of
regret.

" Sorry to say it, old man, but I‘m afraid
that plan will not Work. I have until
next Monday to get myself over the line,
or be decorated for the sacrifice. It is
just as well you and l are not seen too
much together, meantime."

“Then why not strike between now
and then? The vault ought to be worth
a quarter of a million, and we’ll go out
on the Sunbeam with the boodle between
us. I‘ll take her out in the offing to-mor-
row and wait for you. if you say so. It’s
blamed sudden, but I‘ve been at my wits‘
end, and you know it."

Heathecote stared sullenly at the speak-
er, but without any symptom of surprise
or disgust at the proposition. He was
apparently revolving- what would be the
results of such a course.

“ You can take it or leave it, just as
you choose, but it’s the best I can do. If
you have anything better to suggest, spit
it out.”

“No. I have nothing better. I was
only wondering whether the reward in
sight would pay for the risks. I might
slip away now, and it‘s doubtful if they
would trouble themselves to chase very
hard; if I touch them any deeper they‘ll
never stop until they run me down, and
see me housed in Sing Sing."

“ Oh, well, I can help you to a hundred
or two, and you can slide out at once, and
if luck comes my way again I‘ll send you
more until you can get on your feet
again.” V
- “Thanks. You are a friend indeed."

“on, I wasn't a soldier of fortune for
all those years to drop a friend when he
gets into a little snarl—though I do hate
terribly to have him found out."

“Too late to think of that last. The
explosion is bound to come if to-morrow
goes like today—and I believe it will be
worse." -

“ Then you are oi! to-night?"

“ No.” V

The decision seemed to be suddenly
made.

“Tl1‘en—”

“I’ll fput everything on the cast of the
die. I the market sets me' straight to-
morrow. well and good. If not, I’ll have
a hundred thousand dollars of good
money in my grip to-morrow night, and
be ready for a, trip in the Sunbeam to the
Chinese seas, provided you meant what
you said." ‘ i , v ,
.- “ Of course Imeant it; though, come to
think or it, we may as well postpone the
sailing until they have had tune to tone
down a little. Better to lay by for a.
.W, and then the yacht can, sailiwith~
'io‘ut suspicion. ’1. have heenytalklng. of 3
33115910? some time. you know." 1 1

hands, There :will be fifty thousand for
each 011.119, but say, Vanderlyn. it’s what.

i

am deep in the‘mh'e._" ' ,
~’ “wright.- :I’ll_be with you.”

’ v ‘5': The‘rtwo men‘extended handsan'd rati-‘
(:finedcthe bargainby a shake thnt‘wps _ .
. :it notioordial. Then Vanderlynfiskedr:

.hé‘vghekn will you'work. the dink, and
W .’ ‘ a ., " . 
, "t'Toumorrow ‘evening,f Just step in and
 on! without any one help; any the
_  a clean sweeper ‘the assets,
9 v . . ‘ '
- “.No. Just 01 ‘thevcasha They. won't
get after me before Monday evening at
the saddest, for :it will take them until,

u ‘-‘-“3ut_;the watchman? He will haven
our . on. You can’t 'get around him "

Trust motor that. Now 1’
around; 'I‘iierejare plenty of things! to 0
before the grand explosion. Hat. ha!
How they wiil‘staro!" . ‘

Heathooteupoke in a horrible matters
of-fact way, and his companion ’watched
him curiously. Neither spoke as 119' na-
ually spoke, and the very anticipation of
 seemed to have changed. their on-
tiresnatnren., .r- '_" " '

_. ,eyisaid little more togeach other, but

v

 

“Yes; yes. I will put mysel'fin your

jthie world calls: a; dirtypiece of business,
and I ‘want you as far in the mud as I- , , ,

 > I.  went on: up—town the next
rimmingmthout more. th sword or

firm.

 time to make up theirminds‘What '/ ,  , . .
' " t ' i ’ “than'cofliee dwh’ls'cun. He will‘probabiy

~ ‘,‘., iiwtniné sound asiee and snoring. ;
have to ski -

went out together. separating at the side-
walk. Nor was either aware that a wom-
an was leaning out of an upper WiHGOW,
Watching them with thoughtful eyes.

When they were out of sight this wom-
an turned away.

“ You heard, Delphine?” 

“Yes, madam.” '

“Remember, then; but be silent unle‘s
I give the cue."

“ But who are they. madam? Do you
know them—though of course you hardly
do, stnce we have been here so short a.
time. This seems just such an adventtu-e
as you Were praying for. I trust it will
be a profitable one."

“ It will be. without a doubt. But we
have no child to deal with this time. A
hint to him and it might be the worse for
us to have gained this knowledge.”

“Then madam knows—but, of course!
Who is it she does not know? Was it not
a strange chance they should be in that
room and we in this?”

“Very strange, Delphine; but it is the
strange which always happens. It is a
fortune for us, since, if each divides with
us, we will have a full half. A hundred
thousand dollars! It is a good sum, and
if we had known it in time we. might
have had it all. Bah! The thought sick-
ens one. I must find the other man. The
timonis short, but perhaps I can win, as
1 1s.

Delphine made no answer, for her mis—
tress turned away with her‘hand to her
brow. ,

She was a beautiful woman, and richly
dressed, yet there was a savage gleam in
her eyes as she murmured: ‘

“ Gold in sight—and, perhaps, revenge!"

 

 

CHAPTER II.
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND.

The Nail and Lumber Bank was some,-
.thing of an old—fashioned institution, .
which plodded on in a. ponderousv way,
making its legitimate profits, and always _
held to be as sound as the heart of the '1
Andes.

There was not: an employe who had
not been in the service of the corporation
for years, and who was not considered
to be above suspicion, from the president,
Peter Havercamp, worth ten millions
himself, down to the watchman, who
owned his own residence, and received a.
salary which. for a man in his position,
seemed almost princely. , =

The latter, in fact, had a couple of
shares of stock, and was considered to
be as. reliable in his sphere as Haver-
' camp himself, He understood his duties,
was proud of them, and so far as was
known had always performed them in a
perfectly conscientious"and competent
manner. - -' ‘ ' . . v . .

He came onward at precisely the same.
minute eve‘zieevening, made his rounds in
precisely; t " Jame; manner, took his
lunch at about the some hour, night after

‘two' to metal-st men thy . Up to‘the
(present 'flmewgnothing had , ere;- gone
_._ wrong. and he would have laughedat the
'j’vthomt of being found azimuth” post. . é ‘
A Nevertheless” asleep, he, myths ;.two I ,V
.xmenfiooked over-willing; Manush. vi.  I
an” hadqutentered, Winchell! floor. . i
with an airot‘ownenjhmtflnd seemed not- ~ "- '
'at all uneasyovter-qttta peculiarities of
their  ,   ' _ V
“ Poor mick?! marked one or these,
men, 1131;th  V 'f", ,‘ ’ '
22%....owm"

 

 

We was mmething more

 

 
 
    
  
   
   
 
  
  
   
  
  

geepgmtfiifmomlns. it he Opens his eyes I.  »' -
. en. ' . . ' g  g ~
“ Sure you didn't get-in an, overdose?" '
“ As sure as one can berwho's'not up in
Lsucltz things. ,I‘donlt profess to be an ex-
“ But. ifdyou-did?" . " ‘ , ..
“It I di . what‘- diflemnoe’? I don’t in- v "
tend to be. caught. It I 'am I would as ,
soon'have the oh as twenty years in
prison; Say no more." ‘. ,  ‘r ,

' ‘ He turned afflict-coll, schwling so he
. stopped; If John Ovens, .the'wgatchmami

 

  

    
   
 

    
 

could have heard 1:8,!!de have no

 

 

 

 

 

,, The

V .

Clubman-Crook’s Cat’s-pawh V ‘ 3

 

doubt been thunderstruck at the change
in his very good friend. the cashier.

It, required no assortment of tools, nor
special knowledge of the burglar’s trade
to accomplish the work that was to be
(late in that place that evening.

Harry Heathcotc knew every turn and
climbination. and know, too. that up to
the moment when he departed with his
booty be was absolutely safe. Should he
meet Peter Ilavercnmp coming in as he
was going out there would be no imme-
diate danger, and the presence of his
companion would hardly be awkward.

Of course, that companion was Van-
derlyn, and he showed little nervouc-
ness.

“How much is the sum total?" he
asked. a little later. “is it enough to
pay for the infernal risk?"

“About what I figured on. With a
little more titne I could have had a larg-
er sum, but it will not be far oil from a
hundred thousand."

“ How far. though?"

“Oh, rest easy! I will compromise on
an even fifty thousand for your share,
and count it now, if you say so.”

“Humbug! Of course. I didn’t mean
that. Let us get out of this as soon as
we can. I think myself, now it is too
late, that it would have been as well to
have'had the yacht all ready to cut and
run for it to-night. but the other arrange-
ments Will work.”

“ They must work. I have trusted to
you to make them. and I know you would
have told me if you had failed.”

“Never fear; as far as they are com
cerned you will be safe enough, and I
will go about my business until the time
comes I can call for you.”

“And be sure you don’t forget to come.
If you fail me in this, after having gone
so far, you will hear from me in a. way
you will despise.”

W Don‘t get nagg'l'. old follow. You will

have a lead-pipe cinch on me, to sp '
after the fashion of the vicious. on
will have the ‘swag.’ and it in not likely
I would forget that, after all this risk
and trouble to get it.”

Heathcote returned no answer. He
made everything as secure as when he
entered, and even arranged the sleeping
Owens so that he would test more com-
fortably.

Then the two left the bank, and togeth-
er went down the street, unconscious of
the fact that a pair of keen eyes was on
them, or that they were followed by
what seemed to be a. brisk young man, of
slight figure and light frame. ‘

The two walked canelessly, yeti‘with
swiftness. After a time they entered a
saloon and stood at the bar. -

The young man halted, but did not e -‘

ter. Hegave a. swift glance around .him.
thought a. few seconds, and then hurried
away. It was something of a risk to run.
but when two men came out on the op-
posite side of the block, by a path which
led from the rear of the saloon, the same
young man was on their trail, though a
person less keen on the scent would hard-
ly have recognized them as the two‘ who
had entered the drinking place on the
other street. ‘ ,

They had made certain changes in their
ap earance as they came along, had dis~
gu sed their walk, and looked altogether
like a different pair. '

" Now, you will have to lead, the way,
and be sure that you know where you
are going. It will not be many days be-
fore there will be twenty thousand dol-
lars for the man'who takes us." .

“I doubt it. They will keep it, to them-
selves at the bank as long as they can,
and it'it don’t get into the papers until
after‘you are out ofhiding everything
wingo right enough. If it does, we
must take the chances." , i .

“Twenty thousand would buy, the big-

gest rogue in all lower New York.”
V “ Yes. When it comes to that they can
outbid us, every time. If we began by
offeringytwenty thousand dollars, the ras-
cals would want. fifty. , I have thought of
all that. There is; only one thing they
won’t sell out and betray}?

.“And that?” = ' 3  ”
, -“"1‘he Golden,1lula You mint join the

  

circle. Once a member of that and you
are safe enough."

“What is it? I never heard of it."

“A secret order. whose members look
after the interests of one another as
though they were their own."

“But how is that going to aid you and
me ‘

“Because if it. is known you belong to
it there is not a man in all criminal New
York who will dare betray you. The
thing has been tried in the past, and it
has been found the circle has a long
arm.”

They leaned toward each other as they
converscd, and talked in a low tone, but
their actions were. not suspicious. One
could hardly have imagined simply from
their appearance what it was they were
plotting.

“About how much is this membership
going to cost me?“ asked Heathcote,
after a little.

“ It will depend a good deal upon how
much it happens to be ‘worth. What-
ever it may be I will share it. and they
know me well enough not. to baggie over
the terms I ofi'er them. Rest easy. I
shall see that you are not plucked. A.
friend of mine is entitled to the best of
treatment, and never fear but what he
will receive it.”

They were getting into a quarter of the
city where Harry Heatbcote was little
acquainted, and what he knew of it was
not at all to its credit. He was not
afraid, but he was ready for almost any
adventure, confidently as his friend
scented to walk. .

He tried to keep mental track of the
course taken, and when they halted at a.
vile-looking building he took a keen look
around to mark the place thoroughly in
his mind. I Then the two entered.

It was a long room, with low ceiling
and a crowded floor. If they wanted to
drop out of sight it was a strange place
for Vanderlyn to lead his friend.

Nevertheless, it was not likely any one
here would recognize them.
Heathcote looked into the face of his
companion he hardly could recognize it
himself; while he knew the changes in
his own appearance had been almost as
great.

“Game running to-night?“ asked Van-
derlyn of one of the men behind the bar.

“ Wide open,” was he answer; “Up
the stairs. and the first door. You know
the way.” '

Vanderlyn nodded, and made his way
toward a door on. the opposite side of t e
room, which opened into a little hall fro
which a pair of stairs ran upward.

The young man who had been on the
trail saw the door close behind them:

“Up or down ?” he asked of himself.

' “They will pluck him in the One room,
or murder him in the other. There is
little hope‘ for the man who is in the
clutches of the Golden Rule.”

CHAPTER III; .
. ‘TREACH'ERY. '

Vanderlyn did not ascend the stairs,
but assed around their base and halted
in a ittle alcove. I . ' '

Here he pressed upon a. nail which pro-
jected slightly from the wall at a he ght
. a little above his head.

, It was done carelessly,\ yet after a.
method, and, droppin his hand to Heath-
cote’s shoulder, he 5
length of time he could slowly count, thir-
‘ty. Then be pressed the heel of his boot
upon one corner of the matting upon
which they were standing. and instantly,
a: it seemed, the floor began to sink with
em. . t
, Harry had been cautioned to keep at.
lent, and he never uttered a word” while
the hand on his shoulder could feel no
tremor, though what happened had been
totally unexpected.‘ . '

The trap door slowly descended to the
level of the cellar below, and when the
«two men had stopped from it, arose

again to its place, leaving the companions
in erfect darkness. \ «.

ey advanced boldly. however, Vander~
lyn counting as he stepped. . At ten paces

 

   

 

which he knew was torrent of: him: , . .

When.

waiting for the

he halted, and rapped thrice on thodoor-

 

 

The door flew open, but at the same
time came a challenge from beyond:

“ Halt! Who steps there?"

‘f A friend."

“Why is he a friend?"

“ Because he is a brother of the Rule.“ -

“ What, rule?"

. “Number One." '

“ Are you alone?"

“ No. Tbete is one with me who seeks
to enter the council."

‘f Who vouehes for him?"

“ l. a brother of the Supreme Council,
vouch for him."

"Advanee, brother,
word."

The voice seemed to come from directly
in front. but. Villldill’lyn, after taking one
step forward, turned sharply to the right,
and, moving on a certain distance. leaned
to the side and whispered. the password.

After a brief period of waiting the same
voice already heard called out from its
old location:

“ Correct, brother! Take the candl-
datc to the ante-room, and let me warn
you both to tell the truth. the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth. Other-
wise, your fate is sealed.”

The mummery appeared to have been.
carefully rehearsed, and it struck Heath-
cote, that preparations for his reception
had been made long enough before his'
coming. For the first time be begun to
doubt the good faith of the Deadly
Dandy.

It was too late now to draw back, and
he was by no means alarmed. He was
something of an athlete himself, and bad
a 1revolver on which he knew he could
re y.

The ante-room did not appear to be far
distant, for in a moment Vanderlyn had
drawn him through a door and once more
halted, whispering: .

“You will have to stop here, while I .

complete the arrangements, There will
be nothing to fear.”
, Left alone by his companion, Heath»
cote did not feel altogether comfortable. -
He listened intently, and the voice. of
Vanderlyn came to him, though but
faintly.

,Heatthte put‘ on a bold front when

and give the

- he felt a firm hand clasped on either

shoulder, as occurred after a few mo-
ments’ waiting. He had heard enough of
the conversation to alarm, but not to -

. intimidate him. ‘

And it was too late, now, to draw back.
In the semi-darkness he could not pos- ‘
sibly fight his way through the closed

doors, if he should attempt escape, and 

the desperate men, who knew exactly

where‘to find hlm, would, even if he did" ~l

get away. have him in their grip.

So he submitted in silence, and was - -

led forward. From the murmur and

buzz it was certain there were not less 
than a dozen of these men. and he had: 

his doubts whether Vanderlyn could save;

him if he would, provided harm. was: ‘

meant by the members of the circle. a t
For a! moment there was a glimmer of

light, showing a wall of dark formssur- .. A

rounding him.

“Is the candidate properly guardedl", /'

asked a stern voice in the distance.’

“Then let him answer trul for .
life depends upon it.” y" m"

A nearer voice took up the theme.

“ Candidate, are you tired of life?"_

. “I. am, but not enough to throw it. ',
away. I am willing to die, but when I ‘,
go I mean to die fighting." 3 ~

“Braver said! Such men are the ‘
brothers .we would have in our circle;
What offering have you to bring?" '

“ You have heard. It is more than I '
w0u1
trlen makes I stand to.
side, I must have safety." . ,

“By yourown words, and that of your
friend, will you be judged. Bind him!”

There was a flash and a roar in the f?
darkness, for. without hesitation, Heath;

“He is!" responded a dozen voices. " 

But, on my, _'

cote had fired through his pocket therc- .’ ’

volver on which his hand rested. aiming

voice. , , . ,
The action was instinctive. but it' did

 no good Instead, he was vu‘enched.

 

have given, but what bargain my » -'

as well as he could in the direction of the ~ v

   

    

 4

The ClubmanA-Crook’s Cat’s-paw.

 

 

» from his feet and flung on the floor,
7; Lvherg he was disarmed and his hands
:in oun .

and ceased to struggie the moment his
case seemed hopeless.

While he lay there the vault was sud-
denly illuminated, and he could see a
 throng of masked men surrounding him.
in, " Let him be searched!" spoke the lead-
er.
There was an interval of silence while

busy hands went into his pockets to draw

out their contents, which, uuexamined,

Were handed over to the man acting as

leader, who tore open the packages.

Then he went over the satchel which

Harry had carried in his hand.

This done, Harry Heathcote
marched off between two guards.

The cell to which he was conveyed was
simply a small stone closet, in one corner
of which hung a lighted lantern.

Into this he was thrust, and the stout
door closed behind him. A bolt was shot,
and with his hands still bound, he sank

, down to the ground, since there was no
other seat, and, closing his eyes, began to
consider how much of this was farce, and
how much stern reality. ,,

Even if Vanderlyn’was true to him,
seventy-five thousand dollars was an
enormous stake to play for; and if the
circle deprived him of that amount it
was not. likely the gang would ever trust
him while living. -

The men without were still on guard,
and under the door there wasvcrevice
enough to hear their voices greeting a
new arrival. *

“‘It’s you, is it? No use to ask what’s
the game. When Bob Knocker goes to
the front somebody always disappears."

V, “t 7. V ..

 

WES

   
   
    
    
   
    
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
  

CHAPTER IV.
. A MAN 01“ NERVE.

There was a low answer which did not
reach the ears of the prisoner, but he
heard the same voice again - ‘
' .“All right, if you think it’s safe. We
don’t care to have a hand in, and itfs
what you’re paid for.”

Immediately afterward departing foot-
steps were heard shuttling away, and the

‘ door was thrown open. .
I s Heathcote looked up from where he
y'rwas crouched. ' _
» On the threshold stood a man about his
’ . own size and build, roughly dressed, and
with a mask on 'his race. I H .,
“ Makes yer rather tired, don’t it, para?"
“ Very. What is to come may, make
me weaker yet. How is it td' be?"
: ,"Can’t tell the orders’ of-the council,
‘but reckon you’ll know them when you
get through,” and the masked man
scratched his head as he npoke,*andvgazed
_at Heathcote in what seemed rather a
perplexed manner. . 7
"You look as though they did not alto-
‘~ gather agree with you.” I '1
" “Banged it they do, no more than
{they will with you, either.” ‘
 The prisoner had been raising him-self,

nucleation and strength that were sur-
‘ 2 prising).e His hands were no longer bound,
and t y shot out. and closed upon the
fellow with an awful grip.
' Before the man could struggle or cry
 .0111: he was twisted over Heathcote’s hip,
v was framed upon the floor with a chok-
ing clutch on his throat. ‘ ‘
“Now, then, young man, you can. live
or die, Just as you choose to have it.
'fiwear to me you will be silent, or not
raise your voice, above a Whisper, while I
question you. If you are not Willing to
do. that you must die, right here and
now.” 1 . / ' ,
.There was no nonsense about this, for
,Harry meant every word'he' said.
 It did not take Knockcr’a minute to
intake up his mind. ‘ '
f _' “ It's your deal, pard. Throw the cards
and I’ll ante up when my turn comes.”
29‘ In few words, then; what were your
orders abontpme?" " ' g
. LflTo get rid of you; toshnt of: your
, tenth.” , -
 “And, you would have done;it?"~ , ;,
“FEW-.Wi help it: 3.50110 me

 
 
 

 
   
  

 

   

 

lie uttered no word of remonstrance,;

pup languidly. At this he acted with a,

had to be, and we all look out for num-

ber one.”

i " How were you to do it?"

“Drops, if you would take ’em.
the choke",

“ And then what?”

“Put ye‘r stiff in a bag and tote it out,
same way it has been done before."

Harry had no time to shiver, but the
manner of the fellow was cool enough to
send a chill to the bone.

“You are a hardened villain. and I am
glad to know it. I won’t. feel half the
Compunctious I would have had in car-
tying out my plan."

“What‘s that, pard?"

“ I am going to stuff your body into the
sack and walk out, just as you were go-
ing to do."

“ It—it won’t work, pard," protested
Knocker, as he began to realize the se-
riousness of the situation; “they'll be on
to you before you have struck the second
door. I’m only tellin‘ you for ye‘r own
good. I‘ve been badgered by ’eni till I
don't keer myself much if I lives or dies."

“You could pass, could you not?"

“ Of course."

“ Then what do you say to a little bar-
gain? Give me the points. We‘ll change
clothes, I‘ll put, you alive in the sack, and
when we are safely out of this infernal
den we’ll go to your hiding place anti
both of us lie low. The minute. I am in
safety I’ll give you five thousand dollars,
and if you serve me after that. and I
need you, I’ll pay as well in the future.”

“ Sounds good; but‘how’ll you pay?"

“ In good, honest money. They weren't
sharp enough to clean me out. quite.
Look at these!” and Heathcote drew from
a. secret pocket 3 roll of notes which he
held up to the face of the other.»

“You are a keen one! If you swear
never to betray me I’ll go into the thing
as far as I can.”

“I will swear."

“Then let me up. You can trust me,
now."

The sudden decision may have been a
surprise to Heathcote, but he was quick
to take advantage of it.

Watching keenly, he removed his grip
.once more, and allowed Knocker to riso
to a sitting posture. .

Bob understood that, for the pres-
ent, “he was thoroughly in the poWer
of the intended victim, and he had an eye
to earning the five thousand, which could
only be done by helping him to get away.

“It’s a. big risk, pard, but it will give
yer a chance to fight, and mebbe to run
away. I can post you, but can you re’
member?” . '

“.I never forget. Tell me how to pass
out ot'this‘ enamel house and I’ll make

It’ not,

first, andthen to business. There is no
time to be lost." ~ '

Briefly, but completely, Knocker de-
scribed "the manner of making the exit.
and when he was done Harry repeated it
after him. .

“About how soon would they expect
your work to be done?” he asked, finally,
of the’ executioner. .

“They're looking for me about this
time; If you mean sport we had better
be up and a doing." , ' ‘

.“Very well. Off with'your clothes."

The exchange was soon made, and with
the mask of Bob Knocker over his face,

desperado.

Knocker looked at the counterpart of
his late self with a grin. . ,v »
- “You'll pass in the crowd if you can
keep your heart up and carry the weight.
But the load won’t be-a light one, and if
you give as .much' as a stumble we’re
both lost” ' v ' ' «'

“ If that is all, you can count on safety.
.I could corry'tvm of you. one in'each
«hand. YOut havo‘felt my grip, you ought
'to believe ' ”' '-

Which was not an idle boast. Heath-
cote was on who mind athlete, cashier
though ’he was, on had taken a course of
training in the , , iumslwhichnow
would-fit him for 'the'unexpeotcd work
he: ustperform.‘ ‘2 " ' “

 

 

   
  
 

 

whether toilet you so

‘ them the man with the sack strode for—
,ward to the altar in the center of the

my way without missing a turn. Tell me,

' quest remained; ,
Heatheote made a Very picture. of .that.

 

fines ypnfawmg "the sock. Af- »

ahead, or to give a howl. I may as well
die right off as wait. a few minutes and
get it in worse shape still."

The sack was there and all ready. -

“ You have carried it before?" he asked.
as he held it up, and noted that it was
both large and strong.

"1 have; but that is not telling what.
sort of a.=lo:id i had in it. i never ex-
pected to go out in the same way."

“ Here you go, though, and if the worst
comes to the worst, say what you ‘like
and 1 will back you in it. though your
best scheme would be to put up as good
a tight as you know how."

“I'll light when I can do no better.
(let me into the bag. Some one will come
to see what is the matter if we lose much
more time.”

“Just what I would want.” exclaimed;
Heathcote. cheerfully, at the same time,
however. drawing up the mouth of the
sack. ' »

" Get yourself done. up as much in a ball
as you can, and then stay there. I must.
get you out before the rigor of death is
supposed to have fairly been established.
They may want to examine the body.”

“For Heaven’s sake, take care! Five
thousand is a mighty bribe, but what ’

 

good would it do if the corpse couldn’t
enjoy it?" .
The decisive moment was at hand. 1
Heathcote swun<y the suck on his shoul-
der and made his exit from the cell.
If he was to trust his ally at all he had
to trust him thoroughly, so he made his
way forward without hesitation, and
found everything as Knockcr had told
him it would be.
Finally he pushed open a door and I ,
strode into the midst of the council. , ,1‘
The light in'the room was low, and as i
he entered the circle fell somewhat apart.
for the dozen men present had been gath—
ered close together, and‘were discussing
some matter in a low tone. '
-Without paying.r the least attention to

        
         
       
    

 

   

room.

There he turned, and casting his burden
down. turned, with his right hand up- _
raised, the open palm outward. .

For a: moment‘- there was silence. ,
Then from the end of the room came a.
voice: .

“'Is it done?"

“ It; is done.” .

“ It is well! Bear the body hence, and
at the next conclave ask for the reward
of the worker. It will be yours.”

The man with the sack brought up his
other hand and struck the two Itogether
sharply. '

“ Thanks, worthy king; I go."

With these parting words he swung-
the load once more over his shoulder and
directly passed from the room.

 
       
     
       
     
       
       
       
   
       
    
   

   
     
     
    

 

       

CHAPTER V. 
8T. PATRICK‘S PET. ’
0n the Monday evening following, the

chief of one of the best known of the 
private detective agencies of the city to i
ceived a call from Peter Havel-camp, :7
president of the Nail and Lumber Bank. j:
One otwthe ofl‘lcer’s «tam was present_ 
when Havercampentered, and at his re.

 
       
     
     
     
     
        
     
       

The chief was ioliing easiiy‘in his chair
when the ‘story began. » r

In five minutes he was sitting bolt up-
right;~in ten he was fairly puzzled. When
vaercamp wentaway he turned to his
assistant, Bruce'Adams. by name.

He was still unable to determine ex- :
actly‘ what was wanted, and was nut'
above taking counsel. " I

f‘il‘hen you think?” * ‘-

They had talked the matter ‘over for
some time. , - >

“ I suspect it’s a Canada case, and he's'
across the border already,- with a little
more of the ifunds of the bank than they
care to own up to losing!”- . a ‘ . »

“Must be~something more in “Even,
than that.“ How is old .Haverbamphim- ,
self? Any chance; tenths reside "
have a- sleepinsfiparmership ,. _

“ scarcely. 7 e is} 
mess, and-n "

      
       
       
     
       
     
       
     
     
 

         
     

   
    
   

 

      
    
     

 
 

     

c ‘30"! r. -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, heihad no connection '3”

The Clubman-Crook’s Catis4paw.

5

 

 

is good enough for him. After a man has
a. start he knows it always wins.”

" Then why does he want to keep the
whole thing so quiet? He must suspect
foul play of some kind; what is he try-
ing to save him for?"

“ That's a question we can’t ansWer un-
til we get at the woman in the case. To
go at the thing in such a ridiculous fash-
ion, with one’s hands all tied up, makes
iae tired.“

The chief pulled thoughtfully at his
c'gar, and Adams. who was considered
one of the brightest detectives on his
staff, gave himself over to meditation
also.

So far there was nothing more than a
hint at a big case in the background;
but anything connected with the Nail and
Lumber Bank was apt to turn out a cele-
brated affair.

iefore either of them cared to speak
again the boy brought in a card from the
reception room.

The chief looked at it carelessly, and
then gave a low whistle and read aloud:

“ Helen Havorcampi An immediate i11-
terview desired!"

“ The daughter of the president,” he
added, looking up at. his assistant, who
nodded in a dogmatic way as he an-
swered:

“We were speaking of the woman in
the case. I thing she is here now.”

“ Show her in!" the chief ordered, and
elmost immediately a young lady en-
tered.

Adams had taken a chair at some little
distance anti looked keenly at Miss Hav-
«.‘i't'nlllp, whose face was brought under
the glare of the electric light as she
halted in front of the table. ,

Evidently she was under the influence
of strong excitement, which she was 1a-
boring to suppress. ‘

“ You will pardon my_ intrusion when I
tell you that it is on a matter of impor-
tance. If I am not mistaken you have
been asked to search for one, Harry
Heathcote, a young man connected with
the Nail and Lumber Bank?"

“ It is not om' habit to give information
in regard to matters intrusted to us, yet.
under the circumstances, I feel justified

in admitting that we have, though the in-/

vestigation is to be made quietly, and
without the least publicity.” '

“ Oh, thank you for the assurance: but
I am afraid you may be prejudiced in
the outset, and so start wrong. You will
believe he has gone away, and look for
him accordingly," while you may miss
some trail which is close at home. He
has not absconded—I will stake my life
on it. He has been captured, if, not
killed. He, or his body, if they are found
at all. will be found within the limits of
the city." .

“' You speak so confidently I must be-
‘lievc you have a reason for believing
what you say. If you have, and will con-
fide it to me, the, mystery is as good as
solved. With a ole-w at one end of the

I trail. Mr. Heathcote will be found at. the

other. and there will bezno difllculty in
following straight to him."

“ You yourself speak confidently."

“I have the right to, in view of our
past experiences in such matters. Tell
me what you know and I will doubtless
be able to suggest to you what has hap-
'pened. You appear to have the motive
in the case. and that is just What your
father has been unable to suggest."

“Pardon me, but I know as little‘of
the motive as yourself. He would not
have left the city without apprising some
one of the fact that he was going, and;
somehow, I do not believe it is accident
which. causes his absence. They have
"been going ovor his accounts with ex-
:perts all this‘ afternoon. More fools they!”

“ Very naturally. Your father said
nothing of it, however,- so I judge noth-
111g has been found which reflects on the
business capacity of the young man."

“I believe. at one time they thought
they had found an apparent shortage of
a hundred "thousand dollars,”_, was the.
cool answer. ' -  ' ,

“With- which, I suppose, you believe

~ “.1 am not so sure of that.

  

He may

  

 

have taken it for some purpose of his
own. it would be a small matter."

“ indeed?“

The chief was inclined to be sarcastic.

“ Certainly! You must, understand that
at any time and all the time the bank is
secured for more than he can get away
with; and that he knows it would be
easier for him to get any sum he might
want by asking than by stealing.”

“Then he has no temptation to ab-
sound?"

“ None whatever."

“This inquiry is to be instituted with
strict secrecy. lest he be mistaken for a
thief on account, of some possible irregu-
larity."

"Not at all. sir. If he disappeared on
his own account, he no doubt had rea—
sons. which might be defeated it‘ pub.
licity were given. But if he is found i
desire an immediate interview with him."

The chiel‘ hardly knew what to say.

He was not ready to give up the idea
that Harry IIeatln-ote was on his way to
Canada with a hundred thousand dollars
belonging to the bank in his gripsack.

Something of the kind no doubt ex-
pressed itself on his face. The young
lady continued:

“ You can think what you choose so
that you do not overlook the true trail,
or noise abroad the fact that he is miss-
ing. In that case you might not only in-
sure his death, but defeat the purpose for
which you are employml.”

“But. really. miss. if you cannot, or will
not, enlighten us in regard to the reasons
for this strange opinion of yours, I do not
see how you can expect us to make any
headway in the case.“

“ We are not paying you for my knowl-
edge, but for your own skill. All I have
said has been for the sake of facilitating
matters, and to make sure you will look
over the ground at home. If we really
thought Heathcote was off with the booty
you now imagine he has'taken, my father
and I Would say, ‘Let him go!’ He would
not be worth another, thought. Remem-
ber! Every word of this is confidential.
If it is breathed outside it will be the
worse for you.”

There was a sudden change in the man-
ner of the young lady. At last she had
conquered every symptom of nervous-
ness. and had regained what appeared to
be her imperious self. r ,

As she, drew up under the glare of the
electric light and shot a. piercing glance
at the chief. she showed a face that was
divinely beautiful, yet with a trace of
hidden savagery which made the two
men quail, in spite of themselves.
I The chief answered quietly: -

“A threat is hardly necessary. I con-

fess you have puzzled me; but, so has
your father. Practically. you a e in
your instructions, and shall have no cause
to complain, even though I lose my man.
Would you allow me to ask you a few
questions?” ‘
‘ “ No, 11-. I have found out all I wanted
to know—supposing you have told me the
truth—and have told you all that I care
to say. I am much obliged for your
courtesy. I would like to speak to the in-
dividual who is to be put especially on
the case, but that is no great miter.
Good evening!" .

“If he has time he will call on you.
Good evening!” ’

Miss Havercamp took her departure.

and the two men looked at each other,

fairly puzzled over their visitor.

“Rather a delicate case: and. perha
the best way to reach a solution won (t
be to investigate the lady herself," was
the first spoken thought of the chief
when she had retired. . ‘ x , . _

“ What is.her interest in Heathcote? I
suspect, Adams, that I will have to detail
you for the work. In fact, there is no
one else available.” .

“Excuse me. I am not sure there will

be either honor or profit in it, and any

‘other man may do as well; A blunder

would be bad enough. anyhow, but when.

it may bring on you the wrath of ten mil~
lions, the affair becomes one I would not
take for choice.” - , ‘ x ‘
“But. confound tin-there is no choice.-
There is“ no one else to take hold-offit ”

  
 

  

r

 

looked his patron over.  v
 And a fine-looking, well-preserved man

P

' Q

' y t‘Ard 'how about the hundred"

“‘Thoro is the Irishman.”

“ The blundering fool! He would make
a mess of it inside of twenty-four
hours."

" Perhaps yes, and perhaps no. He does
make some qtm-r breaks. but he always
brings home the money. He has never
had anything very important; but what
chalice he has had has always seen him
come out right in the end. And it would
be a revelation in the scorni’ul beauty to
have St. Patrick’s I‘et call upon her in
the morning to take his instructions and
report progress.”

“ All right! l'll put you both on it. He
will do for the iigurehead as well as an-
other. and when you run Heatheote down.
it will be an easy matter to arrange for
the credit to go where it belongs."

Adams shrugged his shoulders, but
made no refusal. When the chief said
"go!" he always \vent, and this was to be
no exception to the rule. Meantime. the
boy appeared in response to a summons.

“ Has Burns been in this evening?"

“Yis. sor. He is in now."

“Send him in at once."

Burns quickly put in an appearance.
and the chief was as prompt to give him
his instructions.

1 t took some time to go over the ground,
and the Irishman heard all and asked no
questions. When everything was ex-
plained as far as was practicable, the
chief looked him over and asked. “Do
you think you can find him?"

t “ilt's doubtful, but, sure, au’ Oi can
re .

 

CHAPTER VI.
ONRTHE TRAIL.
,Mr. Patrick Burns was a young man of

/

Irish parentage. and a decided brogue. 7.

He was athletic in build, courageous in
spirit, and endowed with alvigorous im-
agination. '

He was not exactly the man for a dell—
cate investigation, but Bruce Adams had
decided in his own mind that he would
do well enough for a lay figure in the at- .
tempted solution of the mystery which'
surrounded the disappearance of the
cashier, while he himself Would take a.
hand in the matter in a quiet way. and;
see where the trail might lead to.
ever, Mr. Havcrcamp might want to bush»
the aifalr up. There would be some one
wanting the truth made manifest, and he
would be ready for him or her. '

Of course, Burns knew nothing of this.

.

I

t

HOW? ‘: ,-

but believed that he was thcvmau of i ‘

what appeared to be an important case.
He received directions from' his chief.
and they were largely in the form of re—
iterated cautlons to move quietly and '
keep results for his employe .

Then he was sent to the residence of
Mr. Havercamp to interview that gentle-
man, and late though the hour was to”
accomplish anything, it was not long un-
til he was seeking entrance at the
geous mansion on Fifth Avenue. ' ;

His card would have told nothing had
it not been for “From C. B." panelled iu‘ '

t
t

\
t

801' ~.

the corner, which proved tallsmanic. He 

was admitted without delay.

“Have you found out anything?” was. ,

the eager question of Mr.

Havercamp,
Burns said nothing for

a moment as he._

did he see, who was scarcely more than
the middle age.

 

“ Not as much as Ol moight av Oi was  
sure av the ground. '~ Sure, an' for fear av '

a misthake Oi thought it would be bist tot
haVe ycz go over it with me. Av Oi
foinde the missing gent what am 0) to do
wi’d him? Av 01 don’t have a warrant
he will be moighty lolkely to get away."

“‘ Stick 11‘ pin right there and mark the ,

spot,” answrred Havercamp. , -

“ If you have a sure spot of departure".
there willbe little trouble in finding him;
again. Under no circumstances will you
attract attention to the gentleman unless?
you .are ordered so-to do. This is one of! ‘
increases which require delicate handling; '
What we want to do is to find the man,
without a living soul outside of a certain.
circle knowing he is‘ sought 'for.’ The
rest 'I will attend to.” ,  ‘ ‘

   

 

    

6

Clubman-CroOk’s ' Cat’s-paw.

 

"The

 

.__._.\

 

sand supposed to be missin’? Wa’d ye
sooner thrust it wi'd him than me?"

The question appeared to be a facer,
which staggered the president like an un-
expected blow.

" How—how did you find out about
that?”

. “011, information dhrifts in in various
ways, an’ we have to kape our eyes open.
But ye answer wan question wi’d an-
other. Mebbe ye wants me to fraze onto
’ ~ that.”

 ‘ "Not at all. Not at all. The man and
 . the money go together if they left in com—
pany.”
V“ An’ av they did, whin did they start?”
’,“ The last that is known of Heathcotc
is that he started from his boarding
house Saturday evening. He has not
been heard of since, though, of course,
no systematic search has been made, such
as we expect from you.”

. Patrick Burns asked other questions,

some of them not without shrewdness,

and was answered with apparent frank-

V ness. The interview was by no means a

lengthy one, and the instructions re

ceived were simple. The detective finally

.bowcd himself away, and was escorted

toward the street door by a servant. In

the hall he was stopped by a young lady,

‘ who came tripping down the stairs.

r The hall was brightly lighted, and

,Burns had every opportunity for a. good

view. In fact, he had already noted that

the bank president was an extensive
patronizer of the electric light system.
, Something or other seemed. to hit the
. young Irishman hard; and that something

r he knew was the face of he young lady
 Who’addressed him. Sue a jolly, hand-
‘some, frank, kissable face it seemed to
himhe had never Seen. ‘As she raised
‘ her little white hand he halted without
I, waiting for the word, and, bowing low,
A V stood waiting respectfully. - i ‘

. “My mistress, Miss Havercamp, wishes
,to speak with you,” was the quiet re-
mark made by the new-comer, as she
looked him over in a cool, scrutinizing
Away. . : ‘

' “‘I am at her service.” answered Burns,
as coolly, though taken somewhat aback
at the intelligence which had been vouchn
hated him. ‘V l .

1,? If this wa the maid, what would the
M mistress be like? '

u _, He'had, to be sure, seen. Miss Haver-
. camp several times at a distance; and,
“though he had noticed she was a hand-

   
     
   
 
    
    
 

  

  

Q

‘at :hernppearance. , . r
. However, with a, father worth ten mills
Jens, an only child ought tobe able to
command what service she chose. v If.
Miss VI-Ielen preferred Such a foil‘as this
1: Was her own“ affair. He followed with-
out another word, and was ushered into
a reception room. '
‘:~ ‘Be seated. Miss
our-inn moment.” _ , V , r _
' With thispromise Burns‘was left alone;
,and’ho had time to look around. V ,2 ,‘

V .were, certain evidences of female,
oocnpnnoy:whichshowed the room’ was
I ‘peeialiy devoted to the {uses of a young
‘ dry, and lie-was making'u histind'as
I 0 or peculiar traits .whenfi e was'awm‘e
flow Voices not far away.“  ' '

 

  

 

  
  

  

      
  

“ in the midst of a conversation, and lit.
was «the 111an who was‘speakingqot the

» “ Not very brilliant ,in intellect,- butI
:can vouch'for this honesty. He is an
"Iri'shmnnfl a . ‘r 'r 2 - u v i

- That should also be a‘vomher for his

montage,” responded therether voice, ,with‘

I

 

  

   
 
  
 
 
 
 

 

   
 
 
 

ti?” An instant later a mum. lifted,"

Helen “win he with

When they fell upon the ear théijere]

some lady, had not beeniat all charmed

: something to say.”

ctons V ‘wiliibe kept on the house. Good-night."

 Miss. :Havmamo  ,‘ "intm the

 
  

E, chewastqutte numeral new
V  the halt-disguised , young" Woman
,  called.“ the detective anew .
V {flex-“magnificent figurerawaspset ~o
lithe, best advantageubyntho perfectly,
sin, dress ,  17

6‘70?

 

ii

 

could have sworn was amusement. He
had not seen her at the office. and there—
fore was not qualified to judge in regard
to the change, but certainly this young
lady did not look as though she was be-
ing consumed by any terrible emotion.

The chief had more than hinted, Miss
I—Iavercamp must have a strong personal
interest in the missing man; but at first
glance Burns was puzzled to make out
why she should have troubled herself
about the matter at all, when she could
so coldly ask:

“ You are the gentleman detailed to
look up the whereabouts of Harry Heath—
eote, I believe.”

“I have resa’vcd the assignment,” he
answered, making a. not altogether suc-
cessful attempt to hide his brogue.

“ And have you any idea how the work
is to be done?”

“None at all, at all!
till I foinde him.”

“Perhaps his friends might give you
some. valuable information ?"

“It’s not his friends to go to; it’s his
inemies. av he has any. I thought av
droppin’ in at the Chrysanthemims to-
night an’ lookin' for some av thim."

“You have the address of his board-
ing house?"

“ To be sure.” ,

“ You will keep an eye on every case
of a man found dead, and see that‘none
such is buried without making sure the
body is not that of Mr. Heathcote?“

“ Av course.”

“One especial warning. Allow no one
to knew of the search on which you are
engaged. I suspect it is more dangerous
work than you dream of. Be on your
guard or the same kind of a search may
soon have to be made for you.”

“Niver fear; I will do the work and
foinde my man.”

“Without letting the world know?”

“ Sure, an’ Oi have said it.”

“ Do so, and whatever the agency may
charge, rest assured your own pay will be‘
double. Good evening. Miss Norah will
show you out.” '

Norah and the detective went out of the
room together. r - r a

“ Sure, and that Mister Heathcote is a
lucky man, with two such friends to look
afther him, \an’ me to do their bidding.
If it’s 'throubl-e‘he‘s dropped into it's not
long will it be till we have, him out."

Patrick Burns alWays had a soft tongue
forthe ladies, and he had no objections
to trying its effect on Miss Norah. '

In fact, herdesired nothing better than

I'll look for him

..the opportunity to open a conversation

with this handsome young maid. .
_ Norah did not seem .to take altogether
kindly, to the eflort.» She looked at him
soberly; I V V ‘

.“VHush, youngV.-man. _ The liss you
know and? the lies you say. about his.

behere soon'again, and‘if you don’t want
to know 'what 'it‘ is to feel .the' wrath ofv
ten millions against ye you'll kape quoiet
until yez are. It’s a dilicatle matther alto-
gether.”‘ V V V, i - ' : i ‘ _,
I “An’ta , icate mon to handle it. But
av OI want to report progriss'?’.’* ‘
. “Time enough for that'whin youihave

V ,- “Lit me ,'al’0ne for, that. "I'll have the
Vcléw to-night, an’ something intherestin",
by tomorrow. 01» don’t wantlto Vgive
thmubie, but/av yet. Would allow mete
'call at the‘ door Oi “might 51nd, up some
thin‘ that would be intherestin‘.” T '

,importance or course you  comefihut
'-the lens i'you 'areseen .here the betterwitg
may better the, success of; your mission.
I am not‘sum it was well for you, to be,
here tonight, since it maybe 'a'iwa‘tch,

 

 

, ‘ .The‘"conversotion didnot :seemito have
been particularly profitable, ‘ but : the; dew

 

' start, and moved. with wonderful celerity.

its members, and, being a young man who

nowhere. until he. was finally greeted by a

friends the betther. ‘ It’s not likely you'll '

the objection ought to come from my

L wealth it is time for him to stop."

- ‘, “ Nothin’ would suit me betther Vav there
'was "a; certainty V
.swhin some win» others. must lose, and

it . hen. younhave something real ' of”! 8- ' a A v . ' '
W 137 V. 4“ 0b,,well, sit’down,’ Vand hays no more ‘

the [game go on!” .r I

tectivo .would hare been wining- tolinge‘r ,hls

 

His keen eye caught sight ot‘ the figure
of a woman on the opposite side of the
street.

it seemed to his trained thought that.
she had been watching the house.

"The little witch may not, have been
so far wrong. Is there another woman
in the case?”

It seemed like folly to take up the pur-
suit, but that was just What Burns did.
though in a quiet way which resembled
more chance.

Unfortunately, the woman had a fair

    

Though he followed for some blocks, he
did not overtake her, and as she turned
several corners it was not always possi-
ble to keep her in sight.

Finally she disappeared altogether, and.
whether she had taken a car and gone up-
town or down, or had slipped into one of
the residences along the street, was more
than Pat could guess.” '

“Let her go,” he muttered.

“Oi‘ll know her av Oi see her again,
and, afther all, my bist hold is at the
Chrysanthemims." .

5‘4"»‘21‘ xivrar-sah’dmzzzfihflxe muss“
.. m‘u. , .  .,

CHAPTER /VII.
AT THE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. ‘
The Chrysanthemums flourished in
style, and Patrick Burns had the entree of
their rooms, at least after a fashion.
He was well acquainted with some of

 
     
     
 

made a good companion, not at all de—
ficient in funds, as well as being occa—
sionally seen in fashionable circles, he
was a recognized visitor, who always
met with a cordial welcome.

Especially was he at home in the gym-
nasium, Where he had frequently set a,
copy for their most promising athletes,
and where he had on more than one oc-
casion met Harry Heathcote, though
there had been no particularly close re—
lations with him.

He came drifting in this evening as
anxious to kill time as the best of them,
though looking around With well~dis~
guised ,keenne‘ss to see who was there
from whom he might obtain a pointer. If
any one in the city could give him‘in—
formation as to the goings and comings
of the young cashier he would find him,

ere. ',

He strolled about'for sometime, giving
a few words here and there; but Settling

    
 

 

       
          
        
       
       
       
       
    
     
     
    
         
       
      
      
      
 

littleyknot, mostly of young fellows, who
were Just taking their seats in one corner
at a card table. V‘

“Here you are,‘ Burns. Oasimir has
backed out, and wewant another man.
You play a stout-hand, ondiwe needxheip
Vagainst'the mighty; Yanderiyn is on, the
"waitpathmisevening with blood in his
eye. .V , 
v “Thanks, awfully; but Vanderlyn is so
soundly-intelligint that Oi am not sure
it’s safe to thry conclusions ,with him.” ’ V

Vanderlyn did not seem .altogethet ,, ,’
pleased. I , ‘ .v   V.  r

‘fll‘romithe way things went the last
evening you dropped in I should think

     
     
      
          
    
        
    
     
        
     
       
     
    

direction. It you are going to. empty our ‘
pocketbooks again I for oneshail speak i
for a limit. 1, When aiman,.doubles his -

   
   
    
   

   
   
  
   

for'jayohe ov us. But 

  
  

  
   
   

.that’last. isms/sluicorm most jinerally do—fl; '

words about it.‘ You're as  as a. ‘ 9
xboardingjchool missatjhe piano,g‘ond_ _

 
     

just an anxious to begin. - . , _ V
“You’ve towldthe- truth for  V Let

   
  
  
  

   
   
 
 
 

Burns dropped an“ 'uf‘ohair' facing the’
.Deaglyfianandy, who held "the cards in:
la, . -, 'r ' r .

 

v.

  

    

. .i "i . “may;

 

inland-um: L... . u.

 

 

 

        
     
  
      
  
      
       
  
   
   
   
  
      

 

 

' his shoulders I‘would know anywher

. momen

The

ClubmanQ-Crook’s Cat’s-paw.

 

 

 

ting and dealing, during which the out-
side talk went on, but when the hands
were dealt strict attention to the game be-
gan.

Several hands had been played when
.Vanderlyn carelessly asked:

“By the way, who knows what has be-
come of Heathcote'! Bryan, the broker,
told me to—day that he had been a little
hard hit."

“ Haven't seen him, and this is his
night on. Hope he‘s not bolted. I have
the pleasure of owing: him a hundred,
and I came prepared to pay."

“Bolted! Good Heavens! You don’t
think there is any danger of his doing
that?"

Young Lyman asked the question in a
tone of so much horror that it brought a
laugh from the rest.

“Come, now, Beechy, don’t take a
thing like that seriously or you may wind
yourself into a ball of trouble. Of course
he hasn’t bolted. He’s not that kind;
but you must remember that the repu-
tation of a cashier is too sacred to trifle
with. If there is a reporter in sight you’ll
be apt to see the benefit of your remark
in the morning papers.” '

“ Oh, I didn’t mean anything, of course;
but what the deuce has- become of him?”

“Can’t prove it by me. Probably at
Mrs. Marchmont’s. She gives a party to-
night."

“That may be, but if it is he started
from a fresh headquarters. I was around
looking for him this evening, and he had
not been home today.”

“That is queer,” remarked Vanderlyn,
in a thoughtful manner. “ Wonder if he
is sick, [or if something has happened to

1m.

:" Scarcely, or we would have heard of
it.

" I believe I‘ll roust him out at his quar-
ters as I go home. He’s on the commit-
tee, and we ought to get up that report.
That was what I dropped \in for to-nighu
It will be clean forgotten if we don't at-
tend to it soon.” .

" Who is that you are talking about?"
rasped a harsh voice behind Burns’s
chair.

" Heathcote;
about him?"

“Wish I did!” snapped back the in—

do you know anything

‘ truder.

» Blilirns knew who the speaker was very
we .

It was Thomas Grimsby, one of the di-
rectors ot the. Nail and Lumber. The
Chrysanthemums was entirely, too young
a set for him, and not at all his style, but
he sometimes made his appearance
among them. i .

“He seems to be a very much wanted
young man just new. If'I find him. I’ll
let him know you are inquiring for him.”

“ Do so; but if I was a betting man I.
h_ould.wager two to one you do not find

1m"! ’ _ y .
“‘ Make that enough times over to be in-

. terestlng, and perhaps I will.”

“ Not tonight. or “ in'NeW York.”

“Hello! What do youhno'w?”‘~ , ‘

“Nothing. That is whattroubles me.
I want to know a. good deal about him. .I
have a right to. When a young man
who is cashier in your ~bank',disappears
it sets” one to thinking.” I . ‘ i t

‘f Disappears?” '  *‘ ‘. ‘

,“ Yes. That’s the word for it. He.

, walked out of the bank: Saturday 91th

nocmrand no one has seen or heard any-

‘ thing or him since.”

One‘ of the,,Chrysanthemums, hitherto
silent. spoke up:. . ' ‘

“You’re wrong there, u Grimsby. I
think I; saw him that night myself. :He
wars-ion the lower part of Broadway with
41 en ..’ l .« i v .

“ I’d like to know who the friend was,
then. Maybe we could find h .'T

“ Can’t prove it by me. :About the size
of Vanderlyn'there. but with a Stoopuili
e

  
   
 

saw it again. A. patent-Stranger}? ,

W’

Burns {tricked up his ears-when this
 conversation began. He detected in a»
t that Grimshy was not friendly»
v _,o‘Heathcote, egg

He was looking straight at Vanderlyn
when his name was mentioned, and it,
seemed that he gave just the least per-
ceptible start, while Grimsby went on,

saying: ~ .
“Well. the young man had better be

turningr up if he don’t want to be tindinar
himself in trouble. Business is business.
and though Havcrcamp says it will be all
l‘itht. I don’t approve of that way of
doing things.”

“Good glory. man! Suppose they have
him cooped? You ought to be lookng for
him.”

“Humbug!” laughed one of the, young
men.

“ Who would coop him? He is of age,
and able to take‘ care of himself. Like
as not he has told old I~Iavereamp all
about it. Wouldn‘t wonder if he was ly-
ing up with a. black eye.”

“And where would he get a. black eye.
unless he had been in something too dis-
graceful to speak of? The Nail and Lum-
ber don‘t want assistants who get black
eyes.” ,

“ Probably that is what he is aware of:
but such little things happen to the best
of us. Have not there myself, and
through no fault. of my own. Heathcotc is
as straight as a string, and you mustn‘t
be too hard on him it he sees a little non-
sense once in a. time.”

.“Ail right. I! he gets backto—morrow
morning Havercamp can have his own
way. If he don’t, I’ll have the detec-
tives looking tor him on my own ac-
count.” .

Grimsby’s manner was even more of-
fensive than his words, and Burns had
an idea. that unless he found his man
Very soon there would be no keeping the
.thing out of the papers. The wonder
was it had not been there already, with
the due amount of scare-heads, and all
the rest that follows, when a cashier
’ takes a jaunt Canadaward.

But it was plain Havercamp had been
doing his best so far; and just as plain
Grimsby was not a friend to either the
president or the cashier.

“Oi can't kape him' off. the thrail.”
thought; Burns. as he listened: “and all 0i
can do is to hurry it up and foinde him be-
fore the row starts. Av 0i don’t. the Nail
and Lumber will have a new cashier, an’
make it warm for the owld wanif

There was more of the conversation, in
which the detective was careful to take
no decided part. He was notsure the,
hour spent in the game was altogether
thrown away, for he, learneda good deal
about Heathcote, and in addition found.
himself. a few dollars ahead. '

He would, perhaps, have drawn out of
it sooner, but he had made something of a
study of Vanderlyn, and decided that. the

toward finding his missing friend. audit
struck him he could do no bettcrthan
follow his trail and see what could be
picked up.‘ - V |

This was a case in which, it 'he re-

to make promiscuous inquiries, while he
had no warrant for trying to prevent
others. ' ' i - k ’

When Vanderlyn strolled out' Burns
was not far behind him. ‘- , , ' '

Butl as he was in the habit of trying to
notice everything. "he noticed a young
‘man went,out‘ just in front of him, who
‘also appeared to be following Winder;

He had casually glanced at this same.
young man while the conversation at the
card table with Grimaby was going on.
and had seen'that he appeared much in-
.terested, though taking no part. He won'-
dered if this stranger had any thought of
interviewing Vanderlyn ‘in the matter,
and When he saw him touch the'iatter on
the shoulder and draw himto one side.

stepped behind a triendlybiliboard. ' ,
Distinctly he heard the youngjfitl'flnger
say: . a . i '   ,
I “If ’gyou » are/looking 101* Harry Heath'-
r cote I believe; can put you On his; trail.
I saw him and a. friend gointo
downtown j about ngni'zht ' Saturday

  

  
   

 

a I havedoubts‘it came as
viii»...  . 

.case Burns thought he

- would deal direct with me. Make it.“ We

,man intended to at least make an effort
garded his instructions, it would not do -

‘ about him is a. different matter: butvi’ll
‘ pay you the moment he assures me. you

his ears were wide open as he, himself
~ passed the Saturday evening heroin.”

a place I

    
   
  
   
     
   
     
  
    
   
  
      
    
 
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
  
  
     
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
    
  
     
  
    
  
  
    
   

CHAPTER Vlll.
INTO THE LAIR.

It. was just a i'ililili't' this bit of in-
formaflon came to the detective, and yet,
after a fashion he had earned it.

Had he not been keeping his eyes and
ears open he never would have got on to
the fact that this young man wanted to
speak with Vanderlyn.

Of course he did not. expect to be able
to overhear the Whole of the conversation.
but. the moment those words reached him
he. began to run over the whole possibil—
ities of the ease. - ‘

He had heard enough. because Vander-
1yn would either come to terms or would
not. It did not. seem likely he would
long stand haggling on the street. and the
young man did not talk as thoi gh he was
going to demand the earth.

If they came to not bargain the two
would doubtless separate; and in that:
would have a.
hitch at; the young man himself. . '

On the contrary. if they went. away to-
gether. all he had to do was to follow,
and that would no doubt take him right
to the spot. Where the missing man was
seen to disappear. ,

For this reason Burns did not attempt
to spy farther on the pair, but immc- ,
diately got away from the. spot. and so
well did he execute his retreat that he
did not attract their attention. I

At a safe distance he watched them: -
keenly during: their short conference, and
of course wished he could hear what was
being said.

Neither of the two. howevor. shOwed‘ ,
any great excitement, for Vanderlyn took”
the statement in the most matter-of—Iact 
way possible. . ,

“ If you know that much it is certainly
worth money, and if you will point out
the place I will give you twenty-five dolo .
lars, which will be a very profitable hour's.
work.” . ' . *

“Twenty-five hundred, you mean," re— -
torted the young man. contomptuously.

“ Scarcely, my dear boy. I‘manage
get along in life after a fashion, but If
have no money to burn. I’m not a Gould
nor a Vanderbilt.”  ._

“Can’t. help that. I heard what old-
man Grimsby was saying, and by tomor-
row there’ll' be a reward out for the miss-
ing cashier.” ' .

"'I‘can’t help that." *

fund I don’t want to. The bigger t
reward the more I will make out or
That‘s all." ' ,» .

“I guess I can wait. then, and. letrthe
others folkspay it for me", ‘ ‘ '

“ All right, but if you were w,

no-
G

you
thousand, then, and I’ll guarantee it shall
[hegexclusive information. You’re a. friend
of‘his, and I begin to think you want
‘him to get away." ' , 
“ You know who I am ‘3’?

“ Of course.” , ~ ‘ 
‘I‘I’ll make you an offer, and'you'cm

 

 

take it or leave it.” ‘ ‘
“I’m open.” ’  
“ I‘ll give you twenty-five to take, me to
the spot, right or wrong. And-it‘I find
you have-told the truth, and that Heath-
-cote has gone» in and not come‘Out, Til
make it a thousand. What I want. to'do

      
           

   

  

   

 
 

have been- telling a straight story." “ .
“Done! It’s straight goods. Fork‘ore‘r

.and,we’ll start now.“ I ’ ‘ ‘ ‘
Vanderlyn’ hesitated no longer. ‘ .‘b

drawing out his wallet handed the your:

man some bills and the two wentdorm

. the street together, with, Patrick Burnt

mincing along ‘in- the dista‘nc’e‘behlnd

. . , \ _ ‘

  

  

 

  

  

  

   

  

them. .

.. At first thecourse taken was some
deceptive, but in the end hisguide show '
Vanderlyn he knew ' whereof beam
. speaking. for he1 turned directly 'towar
thestrcet on which was located the butt-d-
ing into which» Heathcote and he, '

  

  

  

   
   
   
  
   

, As they advanced. Vanderiyn began I
look with more and more huspicion ‘
his games: ’ "

He evidently knew the true objectix

    
 

   

  

 

nt but for what reason was he  ,7 ,
£3 ‘ . ' thither? 1th ‘

 

    

 

1

 

 

 

nized the one man who entered the por-
tals of the Golden Rule, why not the
other?

Meantime Burns was keeping Well he-
hind, but never suffering himself to be
thrown off the trail for a moment. lie
felt that the clew to the solution of the
mystery was here, and he was not sure

N that it’ he lost it now Vanderlyn would
be willing to place it. again in his hands.

However. if such a catastrophe did
happen, he would be able at least to

  
  
 
 
 
  
   
  
  
   
 
   
  
 
  
   
 
 
 
  
  
   
  
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
  
 
  
  
 
   
   
  
  
  
  

w.”  .,.  ‘23; z ‘

know the neighborhood in which future,

 Work would have to be done.

i"? Steadily he kept on the trail. and no-
ticed he was plunging deeper into the

, heart of an uncomfortable district, where

“i- a bank cashier would have a hard time of

-' it if he fell into the hands of its denizens,

and where it might not be altogether

pleasant to be recognizel as a detective
if the opportunity was ripe to make an
attack upon him.
I Finally he saw the tWo stop, confer a
‘ few moments, and then enter what looked
to be a low groggery.
Had they reached the end of their
journey, and was this the house into
, which Heathcote passed when he van-
ished?

‘ Burns was inclined to think it was, but

how was he to Iind out?

; 'It would not do to allow Vanderlyn to
.’ know he was on the trail, nor .was it
a safe thing for him to enter there him-
self in his present garb. He wished heart-
ily he was in disguise, but it was too late
for that. Any moment the two might
come out and start again on their jour—
 ney. '

He went on until he came near to the
building, when he halted and scanned it
narrowly. ,

While he stood there, fixing the locality
of the place in his mind, and taking in all
its surroundings, he heard a piping voice
at his side, which caused him to turn
with a start. An instant before he had
been strangely alone, and the speaker had
come like‘a ghost.” , -

1‘5 Say, pard, be youse pipin’ der culls?"
The speaker was a small boy, of per-
haps a dozen years of age.

He was clad in some cast-off clothing a

3",

over and over until they ridged around
hisiankles, while the waist was‘piaited in
with a broad belt.
The shirt that he wore was built after
, 9 ‘same extensive pattern. and the
I sleeves were rolled up in like fashibn.

' -. On his head he wore an ancient Derby
that, with part of the rim missing, and, an
3 mm dingo knocked in its crown. _
Burns sized him up at once .as a sharp,
shrewd, street gamin, who could not eas-
ilyvbc bluffed or beaten. -

 lad knew he was following the two
monqwould he be friend or foe? I

There-was nothing better .to do than to
feel him cautiously. Under the circum-
stances a boy was not at all to be de-

arm

 
 

  

  

  

  

demtha yez at all, at all. Pipin’r—pip-

mi?) Sure, an' phat do oz mane?” ,

v 1 Oh, stow that, , .‘ I.'- dropped to

mascara. fly cop’wny  an‘
tagin’ ye’r nibs to-see youse. knocked

   
  

  

dusty on this pad.” . , I

Burns's, eyes twinkled, there was a
smile on his lip, and he looked overthe
Ind with’a comically puzzled glance.

“Is it Gmke you’re spakin’?’? -, , .
““ Xoase must be flat ter kim’ down here
u not patter der than... .Whatis it
1 ' givin' me? Better hike it out of
‘16 if youse be (l’at kind." ’

The boy seemed to speak

 
 

    

in earnest,

 
 

meant.” . . .
Ol‘m not'su-re it’s good to be thrustin’
.L but Oidolke ye'r face.” replied Burns;
 changin  j 
“’lt's cfther thlm two 0i mm“. but joust
‘ where they wor' goin’, on? to hear
th wor’ sayin', .av. the chance
ebbe you 'cotdd ‘do that same

  
  

  

   
   
 
  
 

 
 
  
  
  

tin ye’r head. Av ye don't give me‘ away

.a word, and Burns, changing his gait to

as perfect as he would have liked‘to have

. . ‘ . ' ,1 care of himself. 3
‘3 Faith, an’ 0i’m1afoared 0i don’t on- . . ——-‘

’i r
I h n . tious beyond his hopes in finding a place

and Better ho'of it, pard. It’s mighty.

Ind' as though his advice wasvkindly ',

 

txeltet in re'rkikqies av. ye, 

anions-saw '

“New youse are a shontiu’. Put it
d'ere, part1. I’d help youse it‘ I could,
but lied John has me spotted."

" lied John?"

“Yep. D’o duck d’at runs the mill.
D’e queer bluffer.”

“Do yez live near here?" ~

“Youse kin put up on d‘at. Got a
berth in Lannigan's cellar all by meself,
alone. Ef youse ever wants ter call. dub
the areay jigger. an' kim in wi‘dout
knockin'."

" Sure, an’ 0i wouldn’t moinde to call
now: an‘ av ye can take me there wi‘dout
bein’ sane, it‘s the rint for the, whole
month Oi‘ll be pa’in' for a minnit in the
darruk.”

Burns accentuated his brogue for a
purpose, and waited eagerly for an an-
swer.

“D'at’s a go. Foller ye‘r leader, an’
I’ll take youse right dere."

From the detective's manner the boy
made up his mind there was n'o time to
spare, and led the way with a readiness
rather unexpected. It might, be a trap.
of course, but Burns follotved promptly.
if on guard.

Not very faraway, though, they divcd
down a. rickety stairway which led from
the sidewalk, and passed through a door
to which the boy evidently had the key.

“ Here yousc‘ be. Git yo’r small change
ready while I show a glim. It’s two
cases a month, an‘ liberal ter be moved
’thout noti-ss.”

By the time the lad had lit. a smoky

lamp the detective had ready a couple of
dollars in small change, and, having
handed that over, began a lightning
change act which was both instructive
and amusing to the youth who was look-r
ing on.
Burns had been prepared. for some such ’
emergency as this, and by throwing off
some pieces of clothing, and turning
others, in an incredibly short time had
worked a Wonderful change in his ap-
pearance. ,

“Holy gee! Youse a sport from ’way
back! Youse goin’ inter Red John’s?”

“That’s the olden, an’ ye must be. af-
ther seein’ Oi am thrustin’ ye wi’d me
loifc.” ‘

“Couldn't find a boy who could take
better keer ov it. But if d’ey drop to yer
what shall I be doin’? Jest as well ter
have a friend on der outside.”

“ They mustn’t drop to me," was his»
answer as they hurried along; for after
the change was made in his costume
Burns wasted no time in the basement.

"‘Joost moinde an’ kape a quiet mouth

02’“ be all roight. Drap back a bit, it
Won’t do to be sane ‘togither.”
The lad slunk into the. shadow without

correspond with his clothing, stepped in—
side of Red John’s. His disguise was not

it, but he fancied he would be able to
pass for a sport from the,West. ’
If not, he hoped he was able to take

/ CHAPTER IX.
‘__ psuasxnp. . . ;
Though the ' etective had been expedi-

in which to make his‘cha’nge of costume,
there was still a good dealtof' time lost;
and .’he hardly hoped to gain much di-
rectly from the vtwozhe had followed ,to »
Red John’s. \ > r .
‘ He did think helmight be able in some
way to light upon traces of the missing
man, for he believed this was the place ;
where he had disappeared. ' r I ‘
In this he, was mistaken, but for all
that his move to investigate was not a ?
bad one. ‘ ~ . t r
It might have been better still if he
could have entered immediately in the
wake of his quarry». ; - -
When the two» came in theyoung man
led the way like one well acquainted with
the. place. ; ‘2, p ,‘ p I
In; the front room. were a number of
menafloungingraround,’ but hogave no
' d glance at them. A. {gestureof his.
“tilt ‘ "of c'bartendcr but he

   
  
   

 

1

  

w

passed on into a rear room where there
were several stalls with curtains, all of
them happening to be vacant. '

In one of these the two took their
seats, and Vandorlyn, looking squarely
into the face of the other. leaned forward
on the table between them.

“ Well?"

“ Well yourself. The question is,
whether I haven‘t got you dead to
rights?”

“ I am afraid I do not understand you.
So far you have. not pointed out the place
as agreet ."

“I have brought. you near enough to
Show you I can do the rest; but it might
not be healthy if I went all the way.
Eh?"

"I see one thing. young man. You
a I v ' ~ ‘ .7. 7 U
ate “hat is called on the cross.

“I am on the make."

“You want to blackmail me. You

think you know me. but you (-ertainly do
not, or you would never undertake such
an operation."

“Vl'ith what I know you must see you
will either come down or go up."

“You are trifling with your own life;
while I defy you to harm me."

“Not if‘it is proved that you were the
last person seen with the missing cashier.
and that, on Friday afternoon, you were
conspiring with him to rob the bank of
fifty thousand dollars?"

“ Can you prove it?”

“It can be proved,”
young man, evasively.

“I think not. You imagine you can
frighten me out of a good pile. Let me
tell you I never was frightened in my
life, and I never throw up my hands.”

“You are mad.”

“Not a bit of it. Before you can start
your machinery to working I will know
all about you, and can render useless
any statements you might make.”

“My statements are one thing; my
proofs will be another.”

Without heedlng the interruption Van-
derlyn went on: -

“Besides that, I have strong doubts if
you will ever live to make the revelation.
You would hardly attempt it unless you
were a fool and a madman.” I I

“You threaten ,mei” exclaimed the.
young man, who had his hand hidden in
his breast.

“No. Only tell you what will happen
if you have made no mistake in this mat-
ter." ' '
Vnnderlyn Was perfectly cool, and gave
no sign- of being either angered or sur-
prised. He stopped speaking long enough
to light a cigar, and then Went on:

“If I am that 'sort you would never
reach a police station alive. In fact, it is
very doubtful 'whether you would go
out of this house living.” 1 ,

“Indeed! You seem to think you-are
in. one of the dens where you reign su-
preme. You will find yourself badly mis-
taken. I have half a dozen friends with-
in call, even if I am not ablez to take care
of myself.” . ~ ' a
V “Humphi’ I could kill you before your
friends could get‘half way here, in spite
of that pistol your hand is resting on.
You don’t suppose I could come in here
wi out any one being the wiser? Hark!”

cm the noise that came in. from the
front room it seemed as though a body
of men~had just entered.” , ~

Vanderlyn gave a low whistle, and ,then
clapped his hands t ether sharply. \

Thatthis was 3 3311111 went without
saying. reply. the first, muttering of a.
'risingup oar came from the outer room,
while Vanderlyn suddenly leaned over
the tableand made a grasp at the shout-
der of the young man. -. i

The movement was quick,cbut the act:
of the other was quicker. -

" He slipped‘from his seat, and out of the

answered the

stall, drawing the revolver whose exist-’ "

ence Vanderlyn had already suspected,
and, aiming the weapon, back over his

Ih'oulder as he went,‘darted for the door, .

If Vanderlyn had made a second often:
cive-mOvemen't a shot: would have i
lowed. ., : . ’ V ‘-

. To the patrons of Re Jo
. ngcthing-wmysteifi s. ah

   

 

 

 

A gngw~wewwwh .

 

 

    

 

     
 
    
   
    
    
  

 
  
     
     
          
   
      
       
      
      
     
    
     
         
        
    
      
    
   
   
 
   
     
   
 
 
      
   
 

 

 

. W...“ ewe. Mi,

 
   

  
     

 

       
    
    

  
  

 

   
      

        
   

'clear of the corral.”

I The

Chisinau-Crook’s Cat’s-paw.

9

 

 

 

which followed, for
came surging in started a riot. before
they well knew it was arising. As, how-
ever, they were nothing loth, the matter
proceeded so much the more rapidly.

First there was some brawling, and
then came a blow. After that therewas
a general mixture, and it: was not likely
attention would be distracted from what
was going on there.

There were ‘two men who were not in it
at all.

They entered quietly at. the tail end _of
the procession, and stood waiting just .111-
side until the signal given by Vander»
1 n.
yThen, paying no attention to the affray
around the bar, they made their way
straight toward the other room.

So swift were their movements that as
the door was thrown open from the other
side they were on the threshold, and sud-
denly lthrOWng their arms around the
young man bore him back and closed the
door behind them.

Another door led still further back,
and at this they dashed, while 'Vander-
lyn retained his seat, looking on in what
seemed quiet amusement. No attention
was paid to him, though he appeared to
neither court nor shun observation.

It. was just at this moment that, a. man
came stumbling into the saloon through
the front, door and gave an interested
glance at. the brawling. lighting crowd.

He seemed to be a wellbuilt young fel-
low, with a flavor of the West abouthun:
I'le was carelessly dressod in a stat of
common material, and his long hair flowed
down from under a broad-brinimed soni-
brero.

“Hello!” he exclaimed, as he sprang
into the room. “What’s goin’ on hyar‘f’

He pushed up his sleeves as he spoke,
and was making his Way directly toward
the thick of the melee when. a sharp cry
from the room beyond caused him to
turn suddenly and dash in that direc-
tion. \ . , I
So far Patrick Burns had seen nothing
of the two he had shadowed there, but
that voice made him think he had not al-
together lost the trail. ‘

It was an urgent cry, which seemed to
mean the person who uttered it was in
deadly danger. I

The detective lost no time fumbling
with the latch, but flung himself with
his whole weight against the door, which
gave way before him, and with a half
stumble, half leap, he covered half the
distance across the room.

The young man ,he had seen speak to

this party which

Vanderlyn was there, struggling in the,

grasp of two men, who were trying to
drag him still farther to the rear. . \

Burns waited for no explanation, and
lost no chances by giving a warning. He
was a hard hitter when it came to strik»
ing from the shoulder, and steadying
himself as he advanced he got within
reaching distanbe. and then let go, left

and right. "’

His left sent the one fellow reeling
back, but his right came hard enough to
drive a spike, and the tough who received
it dropped without a sound and layme-
tionless.

“Git out of'this, youngster; this ain’t
no place for you hyari Stampede lively.
an’ I’ll hold the wolves back tell you git.

He looked as he spoke, and met with a

, shock.

The hat had fallen from the head of the
Supposed young man, and he saw, in that
one quick glance, that he had come to the
rescue of a woman. ,

More than that he had no time to make
out. His advice was not thrown away.

“Thanks! I'll do that same, and you
had better come along. It’s too hot for
us here.” , t ' _

The answer was still in the masculine-

voice already familiar, and without walt-

ing for a response the woman darted,~

through the very dear out of which they
had been trying to force her, and was
one. ‘

,Of the “two men' the detective had

_ struck the one would not be apt to have

anything to say for a few minutes, but

and was not. inclined to let the matter rest
at, this. Burns stood between him and
door, anyhow, and he put his head down
and rushed in for a close.

The detective had a hard hand, but.
did not care about bruising it upon the
bullet head which offered itself for a
mark. He slipped to one side a stop.
caught the fellow by the collar, and with
a sudden trip and wrench twisting his
feet from under him, dragged the unfor-
tunate rough out into the front room.

Tler he stood him up on his feet, and
then  suddenly knocked him down.

His entrance did not pass unobserved.

The intruders had been having it pretty
much their own way. and were taking
things cooly. When the two came surg—
ing into the room together, and then sep-
arated after this fashion, there was an
angry shout, and at him came what
seemed to be at. least half of the mob.

The fighting blood of the Irishman was
up, and he forgot more or less about the
mystery. ‘

Ilo shifted to one side and back a little.
so that his rear was protected by the
wall. Then he began. to hit out with
vigor, taking the men as they came, and
dodging his head from side to side with
wonderful swiftncss to evade the blows
rained toward it.

He was one man against a dozen, and
that, too, in one of the most dangerous
quarters of the city, but. so far he had no
idea of retreat, at least until he should
have given the woman ample time to get
away.

Who she was or even what she looked
like, he had no idea; but he was certain
that in” saving her he saved [the clew to
the Heathcoto mystery, with which, no
doubt, this gang attacking him had some
connection.

For the moment he had forgotten all
about Vanderlyn, and was thinking if he
could capture one of the leaders in this
alfair he would have a chance to learn
something important.

Eortunately, perhaps, there was a (li-
version in his favor. .

A shrill whistle sounded at the door,
and then a voice piped out:

“ Hi, there, the cops are coming!”

The fight might still have gone on, but
for another signal, given from somewhere
within the room—ha low, peculiar hiss.

At the samcinstant a glass was thrown,
which, striking Burns on the side of the
head, staggered him so far that, he al-
most fell, and for the moment all was
abroad. _ ,

By the time he recovered the attacking
party had vanished, while the original
loungers were either nursing their hurts
,or, looking curiously at the stranger who
was within the gates.

“Hello, pard, what’s the matter with

. you '3” exClaimed a young man, who‘looked

something like a sport, and who was the

best dressed ’man in theroom. ' k

hiIt was the first time Burns had noticed
an.

“ Ion all right, sport, up to ther present
time.‘ They double banked me, but"1
reckon they didn’t make much of! the
Black Dog fromBitter Creek. I’m out
fer fun, an’ war’ jest gettin' dead loads ov
it when they jumped the game."

“Here’s the place to find «that sort of
thing, but you want to he sure it's fun
,you’re after and not business." .

~“ Fun or business, I’m goin’: er. 1 please
and if yer don't like it, keep out by ther
racket. I'm dead game and a sport on
wheels.”

“If you're a sport, that’s all»rlght,but
the way those rounders went'for you it

looked as though you might be something.

else that, we’ve. no use for down. here.”

“ on, say; what you giving me? I‘m a.
bad man from ’way bat-k. Just. out to
paint the town; When'l saw a chance

going in on your side." i

you were going in on your own. What
do you want here, anyhow?" , x. :

The stranger bristled up to Burns, and
the men left in the room looked on with
curious and not altogether friendly eyes.
They were a rough‘set. though some of,

  

 

other had, "straightened himself 9 up,

      
 

, the most vicious of the fighters seemed to

' He hit me hard, an’ that’s a fact.”

for fun I chipped, and Irreekoned I was-
“Looked too mighty much as though,

  
  
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
   
     
  
 
 
     
    
  
 
  
 
 
 
    
   
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
    
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
      
     
 

have followed in pursuit of the retreat-
ing invaders.

“ Don't know that‘s any of your outfit.
i‘m taking all I get, without a squeal or a.
kick. and if you don’t like it you better
jump the layout, or put ye‘r hands up.
Say. pards, 1 take the straight bug-juice;
what’ll you all have in your'n‘!"

He pointed toward the bar. and then
stepped off in that direction, the crowd
following the invitation with commend-
able promptness.

“Thought. I’d hit yer all whar' ycr
liwd. Set ’em up, bat-keep. an’ roll up
gents, an' drink with thcr man from ther
West vez hez two chances ter talk."

As he spoke, Burns flung down. a couple
of dollars in silver, and looked triumph-
antly at the men who were tiling up.

He was not done with the young man
who had undertaken his examination, and
had trusted too much on the surface pop-
ularity his generosity was giving him.

With a sudden spring the inquisitor-
lt-apcd forward, knocked off the hat. of
the detective. and made a snatch at his
long hair. again springing back like a cat.

in his hand he waved a heavy shock of p
hair.

“ i knew it!" he exclaimed.

“Drinks with him it! you want to, culls,
but. he’s only a blamed detective, down
here to pipe off some good man for the
rope."

 

CHAPTER X.
IN DEADLY DANGER.

The right hand of the detective parriccl. .,
or tried to parry, the clutch, while his
left dropped into the pocket of his sack .
coat, though the movement was entirely
mechanical l. ,,

Though his fingers closed around a der-
ringer, he had no intention Just then of
shooting. i ‘

The fact was, the sudden movement
had disconcertml him.

He had not a particle of fear of the re,-
sult, but did not know exactly What to
do. These men were all perfect strangers,
and there was no reason why he should
have a battle with them if he could pos-
sibly avoid it. .

As for the young man, the moment he 7
had spoken he dodged back and Without.
a word more hurried from the room.

Burns didnct follow him. , a

He glanced doggedly around at the
mugh faces, ,

On some of them he read fear; on other:
hatred, while a few appeared to be en-t
tirely unmoved by the revelation. _ _ _

“Who was his nibs, pards? He’s "
brisk leetle liar, an’ don't you furgit it.
I‘d like ter git one more chance at. him,
fur ther dirt he war’ tryin’ ter play on me

“ Party nigh knocked yer out, ch 3’"
sneered one of the men who had not yet
filled his glass. , ”

“ You‘re blamed right. A straight racer
wouldn‘t ‘a’ put me so all abroad.”  

“ Say, now, culle , who be you spottin'?
We ain‘t keerln’ as long ‘ez it ain‘t, one 0v
us. See?” , ‘* I

“Spottinj be ’hanged» I‘m square on
they make. ’em, an’ of he hedn‘t knocked
me all abroad ther fu’st clip I'd ’a" told
him out. Me a marshal! It makes me
smile. Why, pards, I’m Jest layin’ low

myself.” I ,' '

Several of the men looked askance.

“What was the game, old man?” ,

For answer he lifted the skirt of. his
coat by the hand which was in the pocket
and they could distinctly hear the'click -
, of the hammer of the hidden denjiger ’

as he forced it back. ' ‘  '

“S'uthin’ with that. But say, paras,

  

 

      

  
  
  

    
  

  

who wus‘the sport?”
,“Youse tell." “
“He don't b'long here." . .. -
“ Can‘t prove it by me.” i J
“ Reckon he was on dhe same lay wi'di
youse.” . - _ ’vi .
Such answers as these told nothing, and:
they Were not given in» .very friendly
_tones. ‘It was" plain he was looked-on,
with more than suspicion. and that
presence there was simply tolerated; ', ' ,-
Unless there was some amniotith
salty, the crowd did not-(me to attack ‘

  

   
     
 

  

  

 

{detective who seemed not only

 

 

armed, but a man of nerve. But it would
take little to precipitate a row; and as
for intelligence-it was certain no one
would openly give him any.

The best plan was to get out of this as
, ' soon as possible and attack it from a
:3 . different standrpoint.

5., He withdrew as gracefully as he could,

 , having first satisfied himself that Van-

 ' derlyn was not to be seen, and that it
was probable he had withdrawn when
the row began.

He swaggered out somewhat cresttallen,
and uncertain as to the next thing to do.
since he was under orders to keep the
subject of his investigations to himself.

No one followed him. and there were
few passers on the street. He made his
way to the next corner without appearing
to attract any attention.

Then a small figure dodged out of the
shadow.

“Youse didn‘t pipe der culls, after all.”

. It was the small boy whohad attached
‘ ‘ himself to his fortunes, and who had his
‘ lair in Lannigan’s cellar.

“ Sure,‘ and I couldn't ’a‘ done worse:
, but Oi found out it Wet" n moighty hard

dive." ‘

' " " Did yer hear me tip ’em der beef?
D'ey took der first train, t’rough express,
; when dey heared me whissel.”

. The lad chuckled to himself as he

“thought how he had broken up the riot,
and looked up sharply to see What the de-
tective thought about it.

‘gAn’ that wor’ you? Good boy; Oi’ll
owe ye another case. An‘ mebbe ye saw
the young man that wanted to have a
t: av *interview wi’d me—an’, be the
same token, he got it.” ~
n ‘t'D'e cove d'at tumbled to youse? Yep."
, “And who was he?" '

I “Dlat was one ov d’e oddergang, d’at
hangs out at We Gem. Bob Knocker,

"oycall him; am when it comes to der
muscle, he’s just great.”

* “ An’ did yez see anything av the byes
I follyed 't" ‘

1 “Day must "a’ skipped byd‘e odder
waifet took d’e jump. D’ey didn’t'come
out as d'ey went in. D’e 'Knocker cov-

r‘e‘d ’em, I reckon.” , w
‘f‘Knocker! Did you ever see him with
her of them?” ’ f I j
‘W’id d’e tall cove. . D'at’s right.”

If the boy was telling the truth there
Might be something of importance in

Katine said. 1 . '
Thetall’ man has been in this neigh-
hood hetero, has he?" , j'  - 
" . D’at'sright. .I .took a tumble"to his
mthsisoon asl twigged him, bathe didn’t
es rt ' such a bang-up [Benjamin’ d‘en.-
sin wi’d Knockers gang, ani shows
‘ when .d'ere'sna‘full meetinifl '
hin'did'ye'zsee him there last?”
thought suddenly suggested itself .to
,rtheatetective, though it seemed too wild,
‘tio'hint'at‘it. ,' V " ' 1
Saturday night.~ He ,'come down d’ere
(in bone lookin" ‘cull, ;an’ d'ey' wont.

derGeintogedder." ,/ _' v x ' a , '
'eand’Kuoeker?“ ‘ '   a j .
 ope. D’at Was anodde’r sport, alterk
drier.” W A '  I ‘    ‘~  v
Where does Bob‘c'ome in, then?” f

o’dldn’t come in. “He.an out."_  -
“’Withthe tallman‘?" '1 _  :‘ ., r ‘ 
. Pat‘s right. Wi’d" d'eltall manhavfols
W ‘ pipin’ him on!» seoi’f‘ . V. . . “

    
 
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
    
  
    
   
   
  
    
   

  

   

  

 

   

  

  

  

       

  

    
 

  

  
   
  
 

 
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
   

§"The'.saekt What sack'rzw :  It
'“D’e'sackhetwasa kerryinh”  i ‘

x

 

 

‘ n,.¢Knoeker, hetkim’ha‘e Van’ go I
’ i’ ' “bier-,3."
" .1-1 '

 
  

 

 

his knee as he passed.

vdodge’ them all. m

  

 
  

 

boy told his remarkable story was abso-
lutely stunning. Burns did not know
whether to believe in it. at all.

“Has that sort av thing been goin’ on
long?" he ventured to ask, when he had
got over his first. surprise a little.

" D’at‘s der way d’ey b’in a runnin’ it,
but l‘m onto ’em, close. When d'e gang
at d'e Gem meets, Fly Billy are d'ere, er
d‘ereabouts."

“And you have. kept this all to your-
self?” ,

“Bet y’er sweet life. I wouldn’t ’a’
blowed der gab now it‘ (1’0 tall cull hadn‘t
trun me down, hard. He. gimme d’e cold
hand when I wanted ter let him in on
der racket d’ey was runnin’. He choked
me, pard: an’ of I hedn’t turned me tog
an’ give him der slip, he'd ’a’ todged me
pate, an’ sent me out to the dump me.-
self. D’at’s why I’m whidliu’ do snap.”

It might be, after all, that this gamin
was telling something near the truth.

Such kids get more or less near to the
confidence of the men of the dangerous
classes. What staggered Burns was the
fact that Vanderlyn was mixed up in it.

He had known of the Deadly Dandy
for some years, and never would have im—
agined he had anything to do with the
birds of the slum.

And, it seemed, he had not y'et heard all

of the story.
r What was it the boy was trying to ex-
plain to the tall man when he was as-
saulted? He asked the question as
promptly as it occurred to him. ‘

Fly Billy would probably have an—
SWered it if the time to do so had been
grantpd. , r, . » "

Unfortunately, the. conference was so
interesting that they had only kept a care-

less sort of a lookout, to see they were not

followed from Red John’s.

The attack came from a different di-
rection. As they reached a corner, three
mentsuddenly sprang out at them, the
foremost flourishing a life preserver.
which he brought down with terrific force
upon the head of, the detective. . .

Burn-s ‘dropped to the stroke, and the

fellow Who gave it sprang forward after

Billy, who, was, fortunately for him, on
the other side of the prostrate Irishman.
Perhaps the boy ‘had that been more
alert; but he lost no time now that the
enemy was unmasked. ‘ '
He , dodged swiftly, bolted headlong
past the man, giving a sly thrust under
With an oath the man stumbled for-
Ward against the brick'wall of the" ad-

‘hard a. rap’ as he had just 'given the de-
tectiye. The boy slid around-the 'eorner

'wandwasgone. -; I. - , . ,W,
‘ .His very lack of importance saved him?

for/if the other tWo men had‘ made‘a
dash he would “hardly have been‘able to

_-.Ft)rtunately,' they had flung, themselves
upon Burns; 'who‘ did not seem tobe alto-

" fgether‘ insensible. - More fortunately still,

they had not overheard. the conversation

passing‘betweenthe/ two, and so” did not "

“realize the importance of the lad. I

i» The'mn,with- the billy recovered him-'

self, ' the .three' took- holdyof Burns, and

‘ janitong them‘ rheswas‘dra’gged iv to a tiara
TOW alley. between two or the a, ghboring.
houses. .If any’one‘saw‘ the performance .~
, the was one'of the night birdsopfthatxbarg.
. baronseoashfito whom it Inadegno differ-
.em."l_  - . z: _

.- t . A. _ .
1., H ,1 1......4 1 , |
v. t .

‘two went 'dwalrtm     ';‘ ' OHM, IER  '  .
,   v   v . tandem“ n.   ‘ ’ ‘. ”
".D‘ey- bofe Wehtoff‘odderflvays' ..  -- I. " V  I}, .i  A 3, t

1 Thomas Grimsby i was; just. about start.

ing out .in’ the ,

morningwhen he received
ancient-dot angearlyl'caller. fl  ' . 

"ad henna-idea
in); miles ‘ she“
i her-1

‘ 1i. nor
causation“

qfidéivcharlti
1.5 Maureen!

. fixtures.
make short work of her.”

‘ the “pariah”

any more such nonsense. . The

' ~~.way..am1theumade.h .
“QQ‘X 7] ‘ , m

 

.. glubmanCrOOIi’s oars-paw, ' v  g .,

x it

“Done got nuflin’, sah, onless it’s a
riddycule," answered the colored gentle-
man who attended to the door.

“ That‘s it! That’s it! Sackful of in-
fernal trash. to swindle me with out of
time and money. “'hat did you let her
in for, Jefferson? I say, what in Hades
did you let her in for?”

“ ‘Deed, sah, I couldn’t keep her out. I
opened d‘e doah, sah, wi‘dout d’e least
ideah dah‘ was a shemale woman dah‘,
ob d’e femiline sex. She jest wen’ freW
me, sah, I dun gone dun’no’ how, sah,
but d‘ere she war‘ standin', inside, sah;
an‘ d'ar‘ were 1 outside. D’en she gub'
me d’e keyard, sah, an’ d’at‘s all I know
about it." ‘

Jefferson appeared to be in a state of
mental bewilderment, and between that
and his dread of Grimsby, he did not
make a very lucid explanation, though
it seemed tolerably certain Christine Far—
rand was not less porsevtaint,r or cheeky
than the average of her kind.

“Did you tell her I could not see her?"

“ ’Deed, sah, I tole her eberyt’ing; d'at
you wa‘n’t to: home, an‘ d‘at you wouldn’t
see her nohow; au’ d’at d’e doctor wa’n’t
despectin’ you to lib’; an‘ d'at you wa’n’t
back yit frum Europ‘, but it. didn't make
a diffabitterence, an’ d’ar’ she am."

As Jefferson made a sweeping gesture ‘

with his hand, G-rimsby jumped. He im-
agined the lady was right in sight.
“Where, where? Keep her out, Jefier—
son. Knock her down, and I’ll give you a
quarter. I won't b‘uy another Encyclope-
dia; I’ve got four now. And I’ve no use
for anything to sharpen scissors or clean
glassware." '
“Make it a dollar, boss, an’ gimme a
club. I'll try it, anyhow, but it may muss
d’e pariah carpet.”
“ Confound you!
down and see she don’t carry off the gas
I’ll be there in a moment, and

Grimsby finished his-dressing, gathered
up his cane, and went down stairs with a
heavy step, determined to be energetic
with the hock-agent, who, for at least
five minutes, hadbeen under the sur-
veillance of Jefferson.

“What in Hades-" . . ,

Grimsby halted in the hall and stared

aghast. , - . ‘ .,
Therowas a piano in the room called
by Jefferson; and without a.
doubt that piano was going. i .
So, also, were Jeflerson's heels—keep-

. ing admirable time to a brisk breakdown;
his feet patting steadily on a. piece of oilg‘
ja’eent house. hitting himself almost as l010th " * " “  ‘ "

Grimsby advanced softly ‘to‘ the door,

which was not altogether closed, and .
‘ pooped in. "

That‘s worse yet. Go ,

The visitor was at the piano, as he, had ‘

and down 'overthe keys, 8. =‘diamond‘or

two on them“winking,oyer her'shoulder

at theiworthy director.

' supposed, and her fingers were dancing up ,

, A glaneershowed-the lady was'richly ‘3 '
and fashionably dressed;,_-and, somehow, ,

And oat-the piano, just torrent of the
musicrack,‘ day an ivory-handled revolver.
While'he 'looked e- lady, who was

watching Jefferson Over her shoulder,

broke into a" mellow little laugh. _
v. ,‘fThere‘, that I
opian. 5' Better to, get stride of fun even
out of an insult.‘ Butdon’t let‘me‘have
next time
I may shoot flrst.~ Tell'ymu' master—"

 . ‘il‘herewas no useto go further ,Withthe ,

message: :The door/openedwider, [andj ‘
p, ,(3,1-n~,;tspb_,~ ‘ " .' I n.3,» f.
‘ t. aphriatine {certainly Was not disf " /

   
 

  
 
  

,concertedlbyt the app
ten of therdomiclle.‘ I h
 Shel-rarest? from, the 'p
gentleman Wet .«in 9.17006}; ‘
ow

earanoe. of 1th

 
  

ti 1


_ a

«(more 'the'

ill do, my men-5r Ethi-z ‘ 

' she did‘ not look at all like a bookyagenth  ‘ \ "

 

 

  
 

 

 

    
 
     
    

       
   
   
      
 

 

 
    
     
       
      
          
     
    
    
  
     
     
    
     
      
     
  
  
    
   
   
   
    
   
    
  
    
       
 
  
   
     
   

  H ‘ M The

 

cabal-mime. cosine. "

t



 

 

demiss d’is darky, he‘s gwine right now.

Le'me frow d'ar now. I’se it comin‘.”
He seemed to think some warning was

necessary, for he was sidling away until
the pistol went out of sight in a way that
never suggested the movement he made
an instant afterward when. with his
woolly head down, and his eyes held tight
 shut. he made a break for the door.

' He came with force enough to split a
cast iron panel, but luckily tirimsby hail
stepped out of the way, and he shot out

I into the hall. across it, and came with a
crash against the stairway beyond.

" Madam, if he has broken his neck, I
shall hold you personally responsible."

g , Grimsby's fear was not altogether with-
 out reason: but. fortunately. .let't’erson

i ‘ landed end on, and a dent in the oak
\vainscoting was the, only evil result.
The darky sprang up, examined the
i . (liege, hastily rubbed it with his hand-
5{ kerchiet’. felt the top of his head. and
; then, remembering the lady in the parlor.
shot off down the hall in spite of his

 

% master. who was vigorously calling after
‘, ‘him to come. back.
; Mrs. Fcrrand clapped her hands to-

gether and laughed heartily. She was as
' much at home as though she was the mis-

tress and Grimsby was the visitor.

The latter was in a towering rage, and
as he turned toward her his thoughts
were too deep for utterance. He stam-
mered and stuttered. shook his cane once
or twice with vicious energy. which,
however, subsided into a. feeble quiver.
In spite of everything the engaging
beauty of the woman asserted itself. V

“ There, there, Mr. Grlmsby. you needn't
look at me and my card. That is my true
name, and you never saw me before,
so I’m not here to claim old acquaintance.
It is business, pure and simple, that

‘ brings me here at such an unearthly hour,
r“ and you really must givelme a few min-
’ lites of your valuable time.” I

; The idea of the book agency returned to
i 'him, but, somehow, the‘ notion of buying a
fifth set of Encyclopedias did not seem
as repugnant as it: had done a short time
before. ‘

He was not altogether conquered,
though. ‘ ‘

“Always glad to oblige a lady. but I
have a place downtown, where I expect
to ’be called on for business purposes. I
must ask you to excuse me for the pres-
ent, for I am due there now.”

“That is lt,.exactly. I wished to see
you beforetyou got there, as no doubt
you would take measures to defeat the
end I have in view beforevI‘eould hin-
der it.”  _  .

i“ I do not understand you. What are
you speaking of?” ‘   ~. _\_I ,

‘.‘ Be seated a moment“ if you please,
and allow me to explain. It may bethat
I'will only detain you a moment.” " w . n

Grhns-by dropped into a chair 'with a
sigh. He had heard a good deal about
hypnotism, and wondered if he was to be
made a. subject. v ‘ . ‘

It looked something.,like it." The lady

  

 
 

  

‘ “I came, in the first. place, to assure
' myself that you intended to carry "out a
declaration made by you at the Chrysan-
themums’lnst night.
‘ endeavor to induce you to forego, your,
determinatioh, for the present, at, least,”
~‘TA declaration, eh? Really, I‘don’t
: Winders-tandyou.” ‘ _-
“-‘ 0hr I don't mean that kind: etc (180-.
laration," said the lady, archly, With the.
most charminéé’of smiles. ~ ' " ‘

 

' i .5 .'

"f I refer to; but you said in regard to
t-a ywng‘man ydhe name of Heathoo’te."
‘_‘ Pardon me, madam; but that is a mat-

. ter whloh’co’noerns the, bank," 5.
.“ And its depositorshavc an interest in
the affair.’ .‘Xou‘. will admit that; 0!:
course} myl'ownylittle’ deposit is )not
enough! I to carry. muqhi‘tveight, but still.
, you understand :thatwnftier-a'dashion 'it.’
.v makesime one ofwthednterested parties”,
“Your deposit! 1 cannot say that Ire.-

   

T rimemher. yonz," ii,“ .  , _ , ‘ I .
f‘ BosSibly. not; as? I have ot long been
‘ . I nlv .ng the city Vietn-
‘- , It built “for,

 

 
    
 

henna (-

took a seat, also, immediately timing him) *-

In case you, did, to ‘

at first. but I have probably drawn a
thousand or so since."

“Ah, I think I remember—not your
name, nor your face, which I would not
have been apt to forget, but something
that was said about an- account which
was opened. Yes, yes! Rest assured.
madam, that the disappearance of the
clerk cannot in' the least affect the sta-
bility of the bank, and as for the young
man. he will be hunted up if it takes the
whole detective force of the city to do it."

“ And that: is just what I do not want.
Mr. Grimsby. It may turn out very, Very
embarrassing for me."

“ You don't mean that—excuse me, but
you’ hardly had an eye on him as your
second '1" "

Grimsby stammered somewhat over his
suggestion. for he was afraid he. was on
delicate ground, but the lady laughed
again, and more merrily than ever.

“No, indeed. It is simply a business
matter altogether. and I wish to be saved
the mortitication of having to pose be-
fore the public as having been financially
his victim.”

“But, good Heavens! We cannot stop
for even that if the bank has been
robbed."

“But I do not believe that it has,
though 'I am sure something has hap—
pened to him. It is giving publicity to the
affair that. I object to. Give my men at
least a little time to find him.”

“ Then you are having him looked for?”

“Oh, yes. And if I am not mistaken,
Mr. Havel-camp has not been altogether

idle. We will find him if he is above
ground, only, my dear Mr: Grimsby, give
us time.” ‘ - ‘ -

The way she called him. her “dear Mr.
Grimsby" made her appear more charm-
ing than ever, and holmmediately showed
signs of weakening. \

“ I would like to oblige you if’ Icould,
and I hope that I can. Tomorrow morn-

ing we will know to a certainty whether ‘

the bank has been a sufferer or not. If
it has not, I, for one. will allow youto
pursue your investigations provided you
keep me apprised of your progress from
time to time.” .

.“ A thousand thanks. That is all I
could dare to ask. Now. do not let me
keep you from business a moment longer.”

“ But, Grimsby was not in as much of a
hurry as he had been, and several min-
utes, if not more, had passed before the
lady tOOk her departure. I. . ‘ 1

“ Ah, a. lovely woman,’j thought‘Grims-

by. , . . ,
“ A lady of wealth and refinement. and

- of course a. widow. Very cordial... and in»

vited me to call. Blast yOuDgLH'eathcote’.
He's done. me something of, a good turn,
after all. I shall certainly go: undul‘al-

[most hope the young man isat his desk ‘

'- again." . ' ~ - »
Heathcote was not at his desk. but Hay:
ercamp had been in for some time when
he arrived, 1and met him frankly, though
he was aware the worthy director was
not his warmest friend» . . '
"No word ofHeatheote, but Ifhope to
hear from, him Some time‘during‘ the day.”
‘ “Humphl I don’t worry about.- him—5‘
how‘s the site?" x . 
“ All right. There was some little con-

‘aocounts' ceme out to the very dollar.w

, "‘ Glad to ,hear it; ‘bnt’l’d like to know,
then,’ what the Hades is keeping him
away?“ 9 l n 1

 

r ' ’ .

JV" oHAr'rnan. " 

ran «LADY AT mun nUssmnnoRr. " ‘1

.At headquarters nothing was; heand
from urns this morning, but: that did not
causea yuneasinessu _, - ' ” . ,

The detective might have takeutthe
trail, and ttouud thatitled toward-Cana-
ada, as Adams had {hinted in  first
place. '\ vf - ‘   

In that case, probablygthe‘ first thing
heard from him.wou1d berm Mentneal,
01- Windsor. ‘Even then. all cbmmunlca-
tioa. under the circumstances, would be‘
.apt to‘be guarded; :‘  «t  g e

Toward ' noon, however, ,gtheyi heard from,
:him in I a way'whlch though indirect,

     

  
 

 

1 , was _~ startling

tusion at first. but'I am happy to say 

r tthey didn't“: might put» him outlier

 

   
   
  
    
    
   
  
 
 
  
   
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
  
   
   
    
    
  
   
  
   
     
     
      
       
     
    
  
 
  
   

Roger Vanderlyu strolled in.

He. was as nattin dressed and as
debonair in his deportment as usual,
and, being Well known to the chief, was
cordially received.

“Beastly weather," he said. as he sank
into a chair.

“Ilsually is," smiled the chief.

“That is so. It's always hot or cold,
wet or dry. still or windy. at precisely the
wrong time. It: don’t seem to make any
difference how the weather goes, it's
wrong all the time.”

“ I have obServed that. but as I discovo
cred I couldn't fix it. I gave up trying to
do so some time ago."

"Wish old Prob would say the same,
and let as poor mortals rest in. peace. If
it were not for him. I would have been
sliding out on the. Sunbeam .to-day." ‘.

“Looks fair overhead. and there‘s time
enough yet to get under way. Why don’t
you start?"  '

“ Oh, he says there's an area of low ba- v ’-
ronieter on the Alaska coast, the trough»
trending in the dirmtion of the lakes. "
The storm center has developed some.-
where in the Atlantic Ocean, and Hicks’s
weather table. shows a possible location =
for a cyclone ofl‘. Hatteras. There are -
spots on the sun, blood on the moon. and L
I had better not venture out until day
after to-morrow. The storm signal is I
up_ i . . ,. 1
He reeled all off in an aggravated tone,
but rather spoiled the. eifcct by laughing-
immediately afterward. ‘ ‘

“ Don’t go, then," said the chief. , 5
~ “I won’t; not. till the latter part of the
week, or some time next. By the way,.
have you got Burns on the Heathcote
case?" x i

The question was a surprise. There. », .
were few who knew «that Burns was a den.
tectivc, and he ‘had hoped there wen
fewer still who knew anything about
the Heathcote matter.” , _ , .5“.

“ What case is that? Haven't seen luv
thing of it in the morning papers." ‘

“ Oh, come now. You understand.
Heatheote. cashier at the Nail and Lum—
ber, hasn’t been seen since last week;
andpthere is a deal of i rivateln uiry
to what hasbeoome 0 him. v ‘ end
mine, don’t you see; and I'm anxious to"
know what has become comm." ‘

and I suspect you are laboring under‘sev
eral mistakes. What possessed you to'»
believe Burns has anything to do With
us, or that he was looking after the,is
ingl’man?’ , . v v

“ Well, I have known. for some tape:
that he belonged to your agency—stint};
didn’t think any‘lthe less of him tor
For the rest, it was his 'own action gave
me the idea." , .  g I

“How was that?" a v r  n

“He was at the Chrysanthemums’l
nigh-t, taking a hand with several onus
'and something was said: abont‘Harr
enough to make me anxious."W : i

       

   
  
    
     
  

  
  
 

=. “Burns said lt?”~ .  1
“ No; he put: in his time listenln
we broke uptaiyoung chap met [In
sort or rain-y tale about 'hav-lng,m
.Hearthcote going into a. saloonand 'Ineye‘
coming out, and led me ofr‘to take afloat»
atthe.place."j - ' ‘-~  1,.
 “Alli Who was, thereuowi” ’ "
‘ “Can’t prove it by map but new
~thevclub,‘rand_ hadkepthls cars a
You know there areLchaps that. come.”
‘go there without question, Ought’go. i
stopped. gNobody oeemn'lto know 
. "Well?" " ‘ . V t, mi 1
i "It wasn’t: well'at allsr'llheres. it
gang on the lookout, and I,Jsad...,
.tendimytnuscle to‘gei: away, 0!. 11's 4*
don’t twant‘to get the thing before.
reptile, but. it you- stroll through that s
then I suspect you .will newsman duals
aged heads'this morning." . .. g ‘
_ “fBut where‘doesBums comet _
""It’sall guesswork._but 1‘ am. '
sure'I 3. saw- him {allowing iii-“thei-w
tance. If they gaveg'mo lots» 1
perhaps they got :1an with. him an

     
 
  

 

 
  
  

    
    

        
     
   

  
  
    
  

  
 
  
     

   
  

   
  
    
   
   

  
  
   
    
 

  
    
  
    
   
   
  

 
  
 
 
 
  

       
   
 
  
    

where, I . - glumrt want-to. p

  

left off

 
 

‘  “T115 commends; Cat’s-paw.

 

 

why I’m not so deeply troubled after all
at seeing the danger signal up.”

“ You are sure you saw Burns last
night?"

“ Very sure: and, by the same token, I
am certain that he saw me."

The chief was thoughtful. He did not
care to confide the facts to his visitor,
yet he was not averse to taking ad-
vantage of his information. ,

“I admire your discretion, and for the
present have nothing to say. I don‘t
want to start a scare. But when 1 see
Burns I will send him to you. There may

 be,more in this than you and l are aware
 of. ’

“ Don’t put it off too long. if he don't
turn up soon, better put a man on the
trail." i

The chief might have asked more ques-
tions, but some one came in on business,
and Vanderlyn took'the opportunity to
leave. When the business at hand was
completed, the chief turned to Adams,
who had just reported.

“See. here. Vanderlyn, the high _mag—
r mate of the Chrysanthemums, has been in
w, I - here, and dropped a hint. From What he
 says I wouldn’t be surprised, too, if
Burns had been getting into some sort of
a mess. I suppose, now, We will have to
hunt him.”

“ All right. I appear to be responsible.
Where was be last heard from?”

“ Have to get it from Vanderlyn though
it may be as well to wait a few hours
,, yet before beginning serious work. The

Dandy claims to have been in some sort

of a row last night, and that Burns was

.» not far away about that time.”
, “Do you think Patrick was following
him?” ,
5 f‘Ot course. That’s what he claims.
I Perhaps I didn’t gush enough over his
{$0131 He seemed willing to give me full
’ particulars, but when I turned away he
- took the opportunity and went. You
. may as well find out if he is in a bad
humor over what he may think disre-
spect. He is a man whohas to be
handled with some care.”

‘ :"GiVe me what he did say, then, and
fi‘Tll find out the rest."

The chief went over the ground once
[ more, and‘Adams listened closely.

‘ The young man in the case was an in-
teresting feature, and might furnish a
, ciew; but, to proceed, it seemed necessary
. to see ,Vanderlyn, and to a certain extent
make a confidant of him.

’ ,After what he had said it was certain
his suspicions were not far wrong, and
that not much harm could be done by
admitting their correctness.

Without waiting to see whether Burns
as gbing to turn up, Adams set catch a
search for Vanderlyn. ‘ I

~ ; By what 'seemed a strange chance, he
~ found plenty of traces of .him, but'no-
wherecame upon the man himself.

" A man about town, with no osyenslble,

55:1

 

   
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
     
  
   
  
    
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  

 

   
  

\

; himelf out of the way. , '
Yet that was just what? Vanderlyn was
I ; and so successful was he that he
“ in ' y. vanished altogether without
Adams thinking for a moment there was
n [thing strange about it. , i A

r V _ calling at the detective omce was
“rather a. bold stroke, but the result» satin
fled him that the agency was after Heath-

 
   
  

   
  
  

anlso explained matters for himself in case
:Burns haddeft any word along the route.
, there was a chance the de-

  

can of the ,young‘mnn’who; had pro-
, so much knowledge in regard to
c fate/of the missing cashier; but of
I at he had to take his chances. The fel—
g w—if fellow he was, and about that he
‘ ' p _ some doubts.

 

  

 
    

pse Blunts had done—.
y a blackmailer
fight shynof detectives. until. ’at/least, it
was, certain there was no showing for
 a. private stake. And, meantime,
«there would be hounds onthe -m, .0! a;
m,whnhmverfailed¢ :12: ' 1

    
   
    
   
 

    

  
   

 

. soul.”

cote, and that Burns was its agent. ;It.

actives would: in this way be put upon‘nher‘m)

though he had not by
, who would .

 

It was about noon when he received a
letter. ,

There was a faint mark on the back of
it which told him it was one of import-
ance. and he retired to look it over.

Inside there was no date. but some solid
writing in a fairly legible hand.

“Traced up the party, and it turned out
to be a woman. She is stopping at the
Dusseldorf with a. maid, and goes by the
name of Ferrand. Don‘t know her. but
she’s not a stranger to New York.”

This was all the letter said, but it
seemed to be enough to strongly agitate
the reader.

“Ferrand! Christine li‘erranid! Good
Heavens! What is she doing here? I’d
sooner have that detective on my trail, a
thousand times over. It is dollars to cents
she knows the inside workings of the
whole affair. She is Satan let loose.
Gold might silence her, but perhaps she
may find we will use something else even
more effectual.”

Muttering thus to himself he turned in
the direction of the Dusseldorf, and as he
went. along it came to him like a dash
that it was there he and Heatheot) had
talked matters over. ‘

“And she overheard it!” be mentally

. cxcla imed.

“I must see her, and if she is as per-
sistent as of yore she must—~rctirc."

At the Dusseldorf he found on inquiry
that Mrs. Ferrand was in her room, and
sent in his card, which shortly afterward
he followed upon invitation. '

“Ah, Captain Vanderlyn. You have
not changed much since I s1w you last.
Believe me, I am glad to see you.”

She arose as she spoke, and held out her
hand, which he took with a certain
amount of hesitation.

“Be seated; pray. I have been yearn-
ing to se you since my return, and will
have much to say to you, of old times,
and other things.” i
‘ “ The pleasure will no doubt be mutual,
but you forget We are not alone.”

“Delphine, you mean. She does not
count, as I make her my confidant in all
things, and she knows as well as myself
what it is you have come here to talk
about.” ' ' ,

“ I remember her. She was a faithful

“ Yes, to the death, as you once tested.
I can t her, even with my life, so that
there is no reason why we should not
speak frankly before her. I should tell
her everything. said, at any rate, audit
might be as well to spare, me the neces-
sary breath." , ‘ A

“ It is not of myself I was thinking. It
was her interest I had in view. We were

,not very cordial in Our relations in the

past; and I am not sure how it will be in
the present." ‘r ‘ ‘
, “ It is like you to speak of the past.
Why, air, in that past you ran up a score
which can only be settled [in one of two
ways}?
‘f And ,those ways-'1”
“Gold or blood.”

1

w..—

cm'rnn XIII.
ROGER VANDERLYN IS PUZZL’ED.
For Just one moment Mrs. Ferrand al-
lowed her true self to flame out through
her eyes, as she-stared at her visitor. He
saw. the look she cast at him, and if he«

had not been a man or cool Icourage, and ,

of full faith in. his, resources, he might
have shuddered. \ ‘

Before he had timcto answer, howover,‘
once changed a’gain, and she
waved er white, shapely hand as though
brushing away the score between them of
which they had spoken.

“ Let that" go," she said, with the same
menus laugh which had charmed Grimsg

“ I understand the position to a nlcety,
and there is, no need ofmock heroics.
There is no man who can own to being
beaten more gracefully than Roger ,Van-
derlyn‘whe’n he knowsviit: Yout- under-
stand m? d ‘ ‘ ' w 4

   
  

       
  

. L , f‘ 4.36 so on  the supposedyoung

L . .‘

 

 

man who led me on that pretty dance
last night. I understood what he wanted
plainly enough; but why he expected to
olfiain it was something elso. Can you
to 1'”

" Have done with that nonsense. You
must see i know every move in the game
you have played."

“ I know of no gaiilegou my part."

" Fudge! It is the old scheme. which
you worked on Pierre It‘arrand. You re—
member?”

"I remember nothing.”

“Then I will refresh your memory. He
was a man who held a position of honor
and trust; but you ruined him.”

“If you are bent on mentioning family
reminiscences you had better be careful
how you raise your voice. There may be
listeners—in the next room.”

She understood the hint, but went on as
before, her voice pitched at a hissing
whisper.

“ Let them hear—as Delphine and I
heard. It cannot harm me. It is your
life I am speaking of.”

“ Ah, I thought it was that of your late
husband. who defaulted first, and suicided
afterward. And they did say the dis-
covery of the antecedents of the wife
for whom he had ruined himself had
something to do with the latter.”

“Villain! He placed 'in your hands
the proceeds of his robbery, and then was
murdered. It took me a long,r time to
find it all out, but .gn'adually, and one by
one, I collected the proofs, so that now I
know you as you are. You have played
the same game once more, but this time
I mean to check-mate you—or have a. sub-
stantial reason why I do not. You have
my offer. Take it or leave it; but if you
leave it you will have war."

“I defy you to prove your statements,
however fair 9, field you may have. And
I doubt if you are in condition to light.”

“ And I tell you you had better give me
twice the‘sum I have named than have
me start in on your trail; I, myself, have
nothing to fear. You are vulnerable at a
dozen different points.”

“ Beware!” v.
“ Beware of what?”
1 ‘:’You are showing your hand too plain-
y.
“ It is the, time 'for plain speaking.

Threaten me‘it you choose. You must .

either come to any terms, 0r kill me, to be
safe; and knowing you as I do, you may
be sure I will [be on my guard, both
against you and your gang. It is just
the same old story. The minute I reveal
your character in‘ the post, people will
recognize it in the present.” ’

“And when I speak, there is little
doubt but that you will go to the wall.
A dozen adventuresaes could not affect
my position. Your past is a book which I
can open any day without my hands a’p-
pearing to touch the leaves.”

“ If I was poor your threat might make
me tremble. If I was hideous, I would.
be sure you, could accomplish my ruin.
As I urn/neither, I defy you.” .

“ You are frank, and I will take my

measures accordingly. When next you
hear from me it will be in an uncomforta-
ble way." , _
r It began to look like a drawn game be.
tween the two.
consider the demands of  Fernand,
while she seemed but little moved by his,
threats. ,,

Yet he knew there was danger behind
them, and that if her story ever ‘came to:
the ears of those to whom she threatened
to disclose it,» it might be hard for him to
esca . -

pe . , _ 
It might havebeen betteriif he had not ,

put her on her guard.

Through ,it.»all Delphine sat with a smile
on- her face. listening as though she had
no tyeoncern for either,- as, perhaps, she had
no . , - ' I ‘ _ .

But, for the present, she was committed

'to the interests oters. Fer-rand. and Van;

derlyn saw that her eyes never left him.

‘Under thenmask ~01 amused indifference

not a’move could he make which escaped
her-notice.  r  i  x

If they: thought it likely he Would. pm-
,ceed to desperate  '

,. i. J

     
 

   

;

 

Vanderlyn' would not .‘

 

 

     
     
    
        
  
    
     
      
      
     
      
        
  

m: ,

   
 
 

  
  

  
  
 

  
   
 
    
       
     
 
    
     
 
 

 

 
      
       
  
  
   
  
  
  

i
i

  

   
  

 

 

. happened to him.

The Clubman—Crook’s cat’s-paw.

 

13’ 

 

 

 

doomed to dis-appointment.
neither crestfallen nor confused.

satisfied. 1 know, for your own sake, you
will be slow to attempt any such revenge
as you have hinted at because I refuse to

edge you are a dangerous Woman; and

henceforth you will be watched.

comprehend wilxat l‘ll'dlt means!
day.”

“I have the honor to wish you a very
good afternoon," smiled Mrs. Eem'and,
with a, sweeping curtsey.

" You have made the mistake of your
life. but such a thing has to come some
time.”

Vanderlyn made no answer. He had
desired to ‘sec what might be the game of
this woman, and thought he had dis-
covered it. He bowed himself out, and
the conference was at an end.

As he went away, however, another
‘visitor came, and to his surprise he saw it
was Thomas Grimsby, whom he knew
'Well enough as one of the directors of
the bank. \Vhat was he doing there?“

He was the one man above all others
whom he would have wished to keep
away.

Havcreamp was so evidently the friend
471' the cashier, and so assured of his inno—
(race, that there was little to fear from
him for the present; but Grimsby was
certain to take hold of the least clew.

Unfortunately, there was no way in
which he could get at the conversation.
.llc dared not stop and try to listen, while
he was sure Delphine would prove incor-
.ruptible.

The best course seemed to be to see
Grimsby himself, and run the chances.

ldler that he was, it did not require
much ingenuity to fill in the time, without
attracting observation, though the half
hour was a wearing one. ‘

When Grimsby came out it did not
.seem that he had been very greatly
shocked by any revelations the madam
had made.‘

intact, he appeared to be in high good
humor, and chuckled to himself at the re-
membrance of something Mrs. li‘errand
had said. When he saw Vandcrlyn he
held out his hand with all the cordiality
of a man who is in extremely good humor.

“That you, Vanderlyn? Been looking
out for you all morning. Wanted to ask
how you made it last night. Any signs
of our missing man?” .

“Not a trace that I could learn of.”

“ Ah, that“ is bad. Heard you say you
Were going to look for him, and was in
hopes you had struck some sign.”

" Was in hopes so myself, and once I
really thought I had found a clew.” ‘

“ But you hadn’t?” * .

- “ X0; or at least it’didn’t look so much
like one after I had followed it a bit. It
begins to look serious.” ‘ -

"Yes: so serious that Havercamp has
put the detectives on the matter, and no
doubt they will clear up the mystery in a
Jiffy. _

“ An awkward sort of thing for him if
he comes back and finds himself brought
up all- standing.” ‘. '

“ Oh. don’t make any mistake about it.
It is pure loving kindness on our part.
Of course, we are short a man; but we
would give him his time, with the idea
some letter of his had missed connection.

Good

if we weren’t afraid something had hapy

pcncd to him.” 5

‘f Glad to hear you talk that way, for
Harry was a personal friend of mine, and
I could vouch for it he would never go
wrong!" ‘ ,
‘ “No, sir; his books are straight as a
string. He is no favorite of mine. but I
must tell the truth; and, of course, I would
feel very badly. if anything should have
By the way! Very
:flne woman, that Mrs. .Ferrand. I see you
were calling on her. LOId friend. ch?”

“Say acquaintance, rather.’ Have met
her, but not quenth enough to be on
more than civil terms."

“Gadg'sir! If I was as young as you,
I’d'see if it couldn’t be a little oftener

_ , than that. Magnificent woman. sir. Un- ‘
 demands business, with a big B, and has 1

He rwas?
( should hear her play the piano.”
“i understand your platform, and am i

 

1 non-professional.
be blackmailed. Nevertheless, I acknowl- t has nerve for anything.
1 her late husband?
Youl been a happy man."

 

all the accomplishments thrown in. You

“ I have heard her, and she is certainly
hard to beat.”

“Beat. sir! She cannot be beaten by :1
And nerve, sir. She
Did you know
Gad! He must have

"Their married life was  happy as
the average, I believe. I knew him after
a fashion, though not enough to hear
much about his domestic life; and I had
not seen him for some time before his
death."

“Left the sorrowing widow Well oft‘,
did be?"

“That. is more than I can say. At one
time. he had the reputation of beng rich,
and abroad there are not as many ups
and downs as in this country."

“That‘s true. That's true. And'she is
not a pauper. by any means, for she has
quite a decent little account at the bank.”

“ Indeed!"

“Yes, yes! But, you understand, that
is between us. Shouldn’t have mentioned
it. My mistake. She‘s a fine woman,
cgad! A fine woman."

And, chucklng to himself, Mr. Grimsby
went away, leaving Vanderlyn puzzled.

Was this acting, or had Mrs. Ferrand al~
ready captured Grimsby? There was an
unexpected element of danger in this
which he scarcely knew how to meet.

CHAPTER XIV.
BAD FOR BURNS.

The attack on Detective Burns. had
been both savage and successful.

Stricken down from behind, he had
been spirited away from the street in a
deep unconsciousness, which lasted so
long his captors began to suspect it was a
corpse they were carrying.

All the same, they silently pursued their
way in the ‘darkness, and without meet-
ing a living soul. The alleys and courts,
the holes-in-the—walls and "the secret routes
made by crime, were well known to them,
and they had little fear of interference.

Had Burns recovered his senses and
escaped, he would have been more than
puzzled to know which way to lice; and
any other man he might meet would be
as dangerous as these who now held him.

When he did gather [together his scut-
tercd wits he found himselflying’ln a
huddle on the cold ground, in a darkness
so thick that, after the‘ fashion of the
table, it might be felt.

His hands were tied behind him, and it
seemed to him his head must be swelled
to twice its natural size. . p ‘

For a little it was impossible to collect
his thoughts suflicicntly to make even a
decent guess as to where he'was, and how
he got there. . '

All he could remember was that what

' seemed to have been but a minute ago he

wa walking along, talking with a boy. 1

Whether the lad had played him false
was the least of his thoughts. Where he
was concerned, him more.

Was this a prison, or was he simply
thrown into a cellar somewhere under the
idea that he was dead?! , .

The first thing to do was to see if he

could remove the cords. -
, They were not heavy, and that warm
much the worse. ‘
' They were biting into his flesh, and he
knew that before long they would cause
him, unutterable agony unless they Were
loosened. Already he could feel his wrists ,
swelling under the pressure, and the
longer be put off the effort the less would
be the chance of success. A

The trouble was there seemed no way
10 get at them, after the first eflort bad
convinced him they were too “tightly
drawn to allow of his slipping the knots
over his hands. ‘

He considered the situation, and was
satisfied that under the circumstances an
ordinary man would be lost. , .

Was he more than an ordinary man?

‘If he was, he wanted, to put hiswits
at work in a hurry. There was no telling

how long he wouldbe allow-ed.

 

There was a knife in his pocket—hot,

 

 

 
  
    
   
  
    
   
    
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
    
     
 
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
 
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
 
    
   
  
  
    
   
  
  
  
    
   
    
   
  
  
    
   
  
   
   
  
 

knew that because he could feel its pres~
sure against his leg as he lay on his side
on the ground.

it might as well have been a hundred
miles away for all the good it could do
him.

Perhaps he might find a nail project-
ing somewhere. or a sharp edge of rock.
If he could only see.

He got up slowly and began. to feel his
way around with his foot.

lie was very staggery. and it was slow
work. It seemed to take ages. but iiually
he came against. a stone wall with a mod-
erate bump, and with that as a guide, be-
gan to Work his way around the cellar.

He turned the four corners, and nearly
broke his neck over a barrel which he
came across in the course of his travels;
but he did not iind anything to help him.
There happened to be a rounded piece of
hoop—pole inside the chimes ot' the barrel,
so that he could not rub the ropes on.
them. :

Finally he sat down to consider the sitv
nation as calmly as he could. ‘
So far he had found no-ouilet, nor evon.

a stairway. it. seemed more likely to do
harm than good to attempt to attract at;
tention by an outcry. r,
Besides, he was not the sort of man to
beg so early in the uune. He decided he
would remain silent until he was certain ’ r
his forbearance had ceased to be a vir-

me.

About the time he had made up his
mind to this he heard a sound that
brought him to his feet. :

Not far from where he had been sitting
some one had attacked the woodwork
which he had been unable to locate him-
self, since it was higher than his head.

There was a splintering, tearing sound
as a shutter was wrenched- loose, and
then he heard a voice cautiouslycalling to
him in the darkness: ‘ y , .

“ Say, pard, be youse d’ere?” 1 _

The voice belonged to Fly Billy. .He
had not deserted the detective, and had,
followed ’the trail so well that here he
was. ‘ a;

“ Sure,»an‘ av Oi’m not here, it w‘a'd be
a thing to say where Oi am. Is that you,

" Betcher sweet life it-am. Where are»;
youse at?" ‘

“ In a cellar, if 01 know myself, which
0! think Oi docs.” '

“I sh’ld snicker. Kin yer git ydr peep-
ers onto me? ‘ Take a stiddy
’Pears ter me youse ought to see where:
I’d: at.” ' " _.

Burns was not certain, but it seemed. as
he looked, he could see a. patch less dark,
than the rest of the darkness. but he cer-
tainly could not distinguish the outlines
of his young companion.

“Well, youse "better git a more 011,;
whether er not." ~ 2 ' ‘

“ That’s just what I would loike to do,
av Oi could.” ’ ' '

“D’ere’s a. hole here or moderate big-
ness. ’ ~

Burns was making his wn toward the
voice of his young friend. ow, lie-stood
right below it, and could speak in a lower
tone. . ' \ .

“ They have me hands told, an" Oi can’t
rowl up hill. Av yez would drop down an”
cut thim loose it‘s the ‘ quick m‘ove.y0£
would be gittin' on me." - ’ , .

“Nixcy! Not fur Billy. Not dis day”
De trap’s too thin, an' I’m onto do
chances.” - ‘ . . - ‘ .
’ “ The chances are all might. There‘s ii 
knife in me pocket. Give wan dab at tho
ropes, an' thin, out ye goes, ag‘ln." 1 ‘

‘fDat’s fine, but, s‘poin’ dey‘ ‘kim', an"
ketch me on de fly? ‘D‘en, we’s all in dei
soup. " Got a slicker mcself, but w’ot’sda
use " .

“Open it thin, an’ sloide it down. Mob-n
be I'kin wurrnk the. plant." . 

“Stick, it in do ground an" roll all 0v,
it. D’at's plumby. Here she kim's." _‘ 1

Burns did‘ not blame the be for not
wanting to descend into the ca an The
chances of being surprised from the res ‘
Were very good. Perhaps the scheme s’
gested”would work, though it took _ \
He ’heard a soft thud as the knife 8t 61:;
the grannd almost at his feet. 7*

E

  
   
   
   
    
  
   
     
  
  
  
  
     
     
          
     

     
       
 

  

  
     
       
   

 

 
 
  
 

  

 
  

 

    
 

    

       

 

   
 

 

1 Tie calmness. chasm.

 

   
 
  
 
 
 
 
     
  
    
  
 
   
   
 
   
  
  
    
  
 

But, almost at the same time, he heard
the voice of the boy once. more, new low-
ered to a dull whisper:

“ Warchawk, pat-d! i tink d‘ey‘s kim'in’
now. Lay low, an' Fly Billy‘ll be ‘round
when do clouds roll by.”

The shutter Billy had pried open was
hastily and softly replaced, and though he
co’uld hear no sound, Burns felt sure the
boy had glided away.

, In a few minutes he heard a tramp on

the floor over his head.

It was a muffled, cautious tramp, and

‘. the detective dropped down with his back

'to the wall. He touched the knife with his
hand, but it was too late to use it now if
these men were going to visit him. When

v ‘ a streak of light shone down from a trap
»' which was Opened above he sat silentand

. blinked at it. ,

, There was no stairway under the trap,

’- but immediately a substitute for one ap-

' poured in the shape of a long plank with

cleats nailed across its face, which was

let down from above, and then, lantern in

hand, a. man came cautiously down a

short distance and peered about him.

The visitor wore a garment that was a
cross between the gown of a monk and a
horseman’s cloak, while his eyes shone
through two holes in a black cowl which
covered his face.

*He scanned narrowly the ground below
the trap, as if expecting to see the pris—
ner, there. Seeing the spot vacant he

{covered Burns crouching on the opposite
side, his hands behind him, and a dogged
look omhis face. .,
i “ Stand up!" ordered the intruder,
harshly, as he came slowly stepping down
the plank. ‘. ,
' f‘Up she goes,” answered Burns, without
seeming to take note that he was covered
by n'revol‘ver in the: hand of hishooded
visitor.  ‘
‘f Now, turn once around.”
The detective obeyed. ' .
Estimateth the object of the order,
and was, glad hehad not begun work on
theeords at his whists. Unless he was out
«o: it altogether, or unless this party meant
instant death, it was all the better that his
hinds‘showcd no signs of having been
,,peredwith; _ s V
The intruder appeared satisfied. .
“You have come back to your senses,
Ve‘ you? There should have, been a
no around your legs, but it makes no
flex: nce now”, ' - 7 ‘ '
S e,"an’ it ma-kes'a hape'av differens’.
«A? yowa’d take on: the wristletsjlt‘ wa’d
“make a hope more.” , ,  , ‘
.Nodoubt. "Come forward and give an
count, ot'yourselt. And‘no nonsense. mi

  

  
 

 
 
  

 

     
    
  

‘ re you doing here?" 7 r. _, , g ,
I’roundgn the dart-aka, Phat 

joke that this. "as, did

  
  
   
 
  
   
   

em get here?’

     
 
  
  
 
      

Av, .1. knew-Om. teiifyéz. fast enough: I

in a bit avva1rucshun at Red John's;
—0i_ ‘fwor’. thinkin’ " Oi got“ out,
,- but mebho' Olin! vmishtakem  ‘
thing‘Oiknew 0i ‘wor’-,.here.’_’,* ' 1 ,
we’re too deadly cool about? it to be. at

   
  
     
  
  
  
  

kn ,‘ an" . ,.' W '  ' a .
Sure, an’ ‘Oi henred ,t'he racket, 'an’,
mt tonne a hand in.,.,1t war! fun while
ted, an 0.1 did kim out “wl’d «score
.t Av,- yen 'wor' white ye‘d be ,Mther
‘ hands Maegan", ,tnikin', after-

..,, . “,1:
Martino enough when we g‘e ;to the 
' “of this. Whoare you? ,1; tie your

 an out: Mmmlnanintuercnék;

 

  

 

    

them . .
, iyou' wiretaps
only ‘toonen, you,
25' born“ the Bea

a searched around the vault, and at last dis-r

are yon-covered, and I meanrbusinessr

an. What! ’t‘ook :Y‘you, intOJBed .
. _ _. , . ,

    
   

lit-1 throubie wi‘d‘. the rmnrshnls'fioi I
' .enelor 31mm had been silently waiti‘ngtor
_ him'r‘at‘the‘dwr.  ' v - l v

\with a shrug of his shoulders, and not at
all discomtited.

“ Perhaps; but. it might certainly be
worth your while. In case your' mission
should not interfere. with us there will be
no reason why we'cannot turn you loose."

“An’ av it does?"

“The ground here digs easy, and this
place is never visitcd. in one corner you
would rest well."

“Av that’s your game Oi'll say nothin',
an’ you kin foind out the truth. Sure, an’
wa‘d ye convict me out av me own
mouth?"

“ You are convicted already, It’s a ques-
tion now of pardon."

“ Sm‘e, an‘ we had a bit av discoourse
wanst befoore, an’ how wor' that?”

In the cowled man before him Burns felt
sure he recognized the fellow who had un—
masked him at the saloon, and who Fly
Billy had told him was known as Bob
Knockcr.

To tell him his business meant his own
condemnation, and he took a sudden, des-
perate resolve. ‘

The man stood on the plank, a foot or
more from the ground, and the. pistol no
longer looked him squarely in the face.

With a sudden bound Burns sprang for-
ward, lowering his head like a battering
ram as he came, and caught his inquisitor-
squarely in the stomach, sending him. to
the floor with a crash.

Then he ran hastily up the. plank, thrust
away the temporary stairway, and pushed
the trap into place with his foot.

CHAPTER XV.
THE , “KNOCK~0UT DROPS.”
Had his hands been loose Burns would
have“ asked no better chance for escape.

 

was alone, and eyen if he had a. companion
or two the Irishman would have hoped;
though barethanded, to have held his own.
But, handicapped as he was, it was only
a desperate, chance he Was taking. 'i‘h'e
room was thoroughly dark, and he could
only guess from the remembrance of the
gootsteps above in which direction lay the
cor. i , u
There was a muffled shout from the col~
lar, showing that“ at least he had not
broken the neck ofthis‘visitor, and'then,
as he stood and listened, he heard ‘a foot—
step in the room. , " ' , , '
The man had not been alone, after all.

those he had' tried in the cellar. He si—
lently-stepped to one side in search of the

‘ wall; When he had found it he followed

“ m the WWW in‘which he hoped'to‘
findithe door. ' . r - 

avoid the obstacles which he could not

’ see, andbeftire long’lie stumbled against a r

bench, and came near wgoing run , length
on the. floor. , ' ’ "

. t

been noticed; and decided that it had.
Some one else had taken up the same

"the. wallat a much: faster rate than he.

“ ,eouldl‘risk. .' Meantime the man, in‘ theicel-

,‘lhrjwas thumping against theirap with?
the end orjihlsvplank, and .it Would only'be
'a. short time until there would, no doubt,
be‘a'light ‘on the scene. opposing, even,
that he cmndtireach the car, and, 811

  

defy him now, with his hands helpless ’
’fl‘he- steps behind came tting'cwser,
tbutgthegd r was nearer; , ,e'telt themes?
’ingvfwith”: shoulder, andka he would
 his ‘i'atein amoment. ~ 1   u 
"He to, is: another step forward, andithen
www.more stars   ever; been in
view. on  most-cloudleu of. nights": I
:v Ellen. were two men in"tho room? and

I

 

J ,. wharhiaf
Wealth ,
knocked _ e ‘-

shouider 7w

 

He had'a strong hope that his visitor r

 The best,tacticsfor him topursue were ,

_'Carefu1 though he was, [he could not 

, Helistenfed to learn‘if theznccideht .hnd.‘

same, and was advancing on‘ him along

mild ,
’flnd itgclpsed? Evenja simple’bolt could.

a gamma: gate v

, “s—s

 

As it happened, he got out of the way of
the two men, and the fellow who had been
behind iomi his place. He imagined he
had the detective boifore him, and tell for-
ward tooth and nail upon his companion,
jabbing him viciously with his fist. and
then clutching him by throat and collar.

Silence was at a discount.

"be two locked in and had a lively tus-
sle in the dark. If the damage done had
been equal to their intentions there would
have been a couple of corpses on the floor.
As it was, they managed to‘get in mutual
work after a very fair fashion. ~

In the midst of it all the trap flew up
and the cowled and cloaked man came»
bounding up from the cellar, his pistol in
one hand, the lantern in the other.

One of the fellows had the other down,
and by the first gleam of light managed
to get in a thump which started a stream
of claret flowing from his nose, and then
banged his head down on the floor with a.
crash which made one’s skull ache to hear.

“You infernal fools, what are you do-
ing?" shouted the. man with the lantern,
springing forward, and giving the top man
a rousing kick which actually hoisted him
clear of the other, and sent him end over
end out of the way, while at the same time
he promptly covered Burns, who was fum-
bling at the door.

' “ Is this the way you keep a watch out?
Get up here and attend to business.”

“Youse bloody right, boss. It’s a boss
on us,” said the fellow he had kicked, ris-
ing without a semblance of anger.

“What shall we do wi’d him ‘3”

“Take him back, and see that he don't
get away again. If the door had been
open he would have been where the wood—
bine twineth.” > '

“ How shell We take him, boss? Stiff or
limber?” -‘ .

The other fellow was up by this time,
and had produced a knife, while. he looked.
tigerishly at the prisoner, upon whom the
full light bf the lantern 'was turned. Any
anger he might feel Over the late unplezts~,
vant mistake would cheerfully have been
taken out of him. " ‘ _

“ Steady, there! You’ve made too’much

clean it up afterward. If he won’t go
Elcaoeabiy, knock him down'and carry
in. ’ ‘ i

_. “Ochl' Oi’m p’aceable enough”, inter»
posed Burns. “Av 'yez, won’t lit the lade
O’im willin’ to folly." I
“Lead then, and see that ; you try no
moretricks.” , '
lar‘, "and'wasthinking a greatd-eal as he
,went‘alon‘g. ' . ‘

him as he hadat'flrst reared; w 1 , i V .

If they were interested partiesto the
murder: ctr Harry Heathcote it might be
they .Only' Wanted whimfcooped until they
could either remove all traceslof the mur-
der or else get themselves out otthe way.

 
 

no r he would'like nothing‘better than to
be 20ft alone in the! cellar. " '

’stuck‘ in the dirt under .» the window,’ and

  

boy he, might, make {as escape. Alt-was a

 
 
     
 
 

rollowedhim down. i ‘ '

L

 

propped himselt‘up ‘on' 11.; waiting for what
-«wasqt:0‘certre,next..g  " ‘

1

   
 

    

Un“Yon area'me fishidzthe man
lengths, peering-‘atrhim fromwbeh d;

“mask with what seemed to be evil. ‘e’s

      
 
    

  
 

ity‘s’the‘ way'Oi: 'wor'bornJ-fl _ , y ,
 “You are lookins'for‘bne Hematite. at
child muiaahavevt id ‘ ‘ ‘

 

.muss on the floor already. ‘ See that you ‘

       

Burns Went quietly down into theicei- >

These men werenot as anxious to kill,

"gl—Ie rather wished :now that he had‘ :
spoken fair, and; not tried to .pull wool‘
over, their eyes. :With' Fly Billy scouting j
HeYalso~ remembered the" knife ‘which , l, 
thought that even without the help or the 
disappointment when the min the mask: 3‘ J
"{Cllhebnrrel offered a sort of. seat, a‘nd he: :‘v‘ '

A! Ol've Ebiinw towid that jsame-fbetour, (but. I a

 

 

 

 

 

    
 
      
   
        
        
      
  

         
       
      
    
    

       
 
     
   
   
 
   
     
    
   
  

   
  

 

     
     
  
    
   
  
   
  
    
     
     
 
   

  

 

l
i
.t-
l

 

 

    
      
   
   
     
 
    
  

 
 

      

    
 
      
     
       
    
   
    
    
  

   

 

  
 
  
  
 
  

_"-that he was disappointed.

 flexing-{r t 

W

Clubm’an-CrOOky’s’ L‘Cat’s-‘baw. '

"15‘

 

The

 

without killing. Contound it, man! You
can‘t do any good in the case you are on.
and you are. going to make us lots of
trouble if we dont stifle you."

" An‘ a hape more av ye do."

Burns was not a man to be bluffed,
though perhaps he might have acted dit-
ferently if he had been approached in this
way at first. _

“ Then there is nothing for you to do
but remain here till the tide goes out."

"‘ Sure, un’ ye betther siml me out now.
By that toime me hands will be dhroppin‘
from me wrists. ’i‘he blood's thrieklin'
down now.“

" Uncomfortable, is it"? Fast bind, fast
find: but that might be helped. ’l‘here's no
use to torture you."

From under his robe the man produced
a pair of handcuffs and snapped them over
the wrists of the dctwtivo, below the
cords, which .he then removml.

Burns had ‘gained little by calling at—
tention to his hands. Tile knife on the
floor would do him little good now.

“There is no use to make a noise. The
two men will be above, and 'if you raise
your voice they will club you senseless.
Remain here till 1 return again."

The man in the mask went away. leav~
ing Patrick Burns sitting on the end of his

barrel, with the darkness thick around
him.
"Av me mither‘s darlint could have

miXed it worrse I wa'd loike to know.”

The detective tried to laugh as he thought
over his predicament, but it was not. :1
laughing matter. The careless t'ront he
had put on had only made things worse.

He was evidently in the hands of des-
pemte manhunt], the hint about thetide
had not been lost on him.

More than one man had been found float-
ing in the bay who had doubtless been
cast adriftjn the sewers. ,He was not
so sure'thc words of the man in the mask
were only an idle threat. ‘ I

Fly Billy could help him but little now,
,even if he came again. Theboy might
call on the police for aid, but it was very
doubtful if he would. '

The gamin Seemed to have a sympathy
for the cut-throats, and probably a variance
with the police. The chances were he had

attracted their attention more than 01100,,

and if he came bothering the patrolman on
that beat he would be told to move on,
and the order emphasized with a club.

He had listened eagerly, and aswell as
he could makeout the .two men were still
on guard, and it would be. no use to shout.

There was nothing for him to’do but sit
there and wait.’ . ‘  gt  -

As the hours went by it really, seemed
as though he would go mad with'the/blacku

’ ness and the silence and the loneliness of

the cellar. He could not sleep“ 'Wa‘keful-

.ness had come to him.

” Hunger and tliirsit.‘ also came Kill him,

and his imagination 'outran their present.

effect, and fancytold him he (was‘left
there to starve.
time he had of‘it, and it is hard to tell
whether he was 'more‘ surprised, or de-

lighted‘when the trap door opened and his .

jailers appeared, bringing him a rough din-
nerof bread and meat, and a ingot cold
cofiee. ‘ ~ » T _'

He was in hopes they would release his
hands so that he coma feed himself, but‘in

l

I“ Sorry, boss, but couldn’t‘think'of it.

[Wight .we could, but youse got ter take ,
.‘ it dis way er not at all. ' ‘

19

While one. or them held theilantcrn the

1 other began to,‘teed,the prisoner. :

2‘ Burns was _;ént.irely too much gnawed by
his appetite to 'seri'ouslybbject.
ravenouslya and when the jug was put to

hislips gulrped“'down‘ the contents in‘ great
= draughts, though it: was not by any 11183118.

tit-sweet tasted 'as under other circum-

stances her would have wished for: t.

,In fact, itehadn. singular taste. or“ else

     
      
     
   
 

l

a gclcuhar'flavorin his mouth. » r

I t; he had been testing sincegearly the,
nightheforep and itwas noWlongWafter‘ w
noon, Ina-did n‘Ot‘ato

 

to consider. .thc

meant» otit. .. v.
 ‘ mmwith'a’cov t

allow ‘.

It was a .very wretched,

He  ; . 4 , .
' seen- hlm before, andwknew him in taming Hfifli‘Wfil'l‘eiurn by that time?”‘i,.., . .yh
’ I V‘ _

there was something inithe food which left

  

“ Better lie down and take a snooze," he
said, not altogether roughly. ’

“ Der boss won't be. here. More night,
an’ it‘s der best way tor put in d'e time.
We’ll leave yet‘ do lantern dis time. We
got anmlder." '

Burns somehow felt like taking the ad-
vice when he was once more left alone.

He let himself down on the ground,
curled himself up into as comfortable :1
position as he could, and \veariiy closed his
eyes.

in a, minute he seemed to be asleep, in
perhaps live more. the trap opened again
and the face of one of the guards could
be seen peering down at the rtarhinbent
man.

“ Stiff as a poker," he said. after a close
survey, and came slowly down the plank
followed by his companion. ‘-

Burns never moved, though one of the
men took his arm and shook it gently.

“ Git a move on, cully; he’s ready for do
trip."

He looked at his companion, who moved
to one side of the cellar. I

"he wall there did not seem different
from the‘wali at any other pointhbut he
reached down and pressed what must have
been a concealed spring.

Then he, pushed, and a section: swung
back, revealing a narrow passage.

Between them the two men caught up
the insensible detective and bore him into
the passage. When they had gone
through the door swung slowly back.

CHAPTER XVI.
NORAH‘S NEWS.

Several days had gone by since Patrick
Burns called at the Havel-camp mansion,
and meantime nothing had been heard
from him there. *

Havcrcamp himself seemed to take the
silence without being worried, but after a

 

day of unconcern. his daughter began to

show signs of trouble. ' ;

“ There is something strange about it,
Norah]? , ’ ‘

She spoke to her maid after the manner
of a, friend and confidant, and the blue
eyes of Miss Norah turned on lhel‘ full of
sympathy as she answvered:

“‘They say it is better to be’ born lucky
than rich, and I am almost certain it is
so.” - , \ .

“Well?” . . ‘

The expression of opinion seemed irrele-
vant, but Norah seldom' spoke without
a meaning.  ‘ - f ‘ r‘,

“ Since“ the gentleman called, finding he
was to be more or less mixed up with us,

inr‘regard to him."
“And, pray, Where
quiry?” 3 . , I
“ Do you think I have no friends ofimy'
own?" asked the young: lady, ~with a
saucy toss of her head. , I x . .
“You must remember that if I 'am not
the rose, I live very near it, and when 1
cast my eyes in any direction there is ab.
wayssome one willing to be influenced:
by. the glance.” , v I  ‘v
Miss I-Icien'was willing “to smile herself.
She had every confidence in Sorahfibut’
she knew} her thoroughly, and that she"
was not‘exaggerating. : i ' '

mystery, are you? _ Never mind.

, “ Indeed, it is no. mystery. and I don’t‘
’want to deceive you. The truth :is, I
have been interviewed myself, though cau-
tiously, and I supect I. gained. marchin-
iormation than I gave." V  , _  
“ I hope'so. Who was the interviewer?"
“One or hisbrotherv detecflvw‘ I had

,ute, thougnrtot' coursed never ‘letonfl.
“ And he?" . 1 ‘ ‘ ' ’

non?" = ‘

  

ago and asked :me the lines tench

 

posed; I‘aslied‘hlmi‘ may braille W
_ Neither of mum“ _ stir

guarded in your talk, for a pair of
stra tigers."

“That's the privilege of my place. 'i
maimged him just.,too nicely, and it wasn't ,
long before he was off the wheel and had '
lost, his tire. He told me all about Mr.
llurns. and so i know what i was saying
when i remarked that it, was better «to be,
born lucky than rich. Mr. Burns was born
lucky."

“Then, you think?”

“That he will ferret out the mystery, ‘
and that, it will all have a good ending.”

“It is a consolation to hear a good re-
port of the detective. for I own I was not

particulmiy t‘aVorably impressed.”

- of Harry.

. more competent man is really investigat-

l
i

l
l

l

I took the trouble to make. some inquiries-

‘did‘ you: make in- .

; Havercamp when she spoke in'th same

“ So you are. going to have a ham. lime 
Exnlnin '
' What you meant bYfiS‘fllt‘i’cmitrk.” ' v -

it" 011, 'he was just as “reserved: " If. you; V
Could have seen us you would have sworn u

there was the grandest flirtation =0; the  “Who knows? If Mr. Heathth should,
season going on between us." * i U ‘ ‘turn u What more likely than maths

“ How; then; didyou get“ your moi-mas

"‘ Made the deaf boy jealous by praising you are right. I Would hardly: care tn‘ieml
a lad whohad. called at the housenot long ., my ,

 

v‘v and that is a long way I, 011'. Trust t
Providence and our friend the detectiv

[of his'words,‘ or he might have given 

"When it comes to that, 'i. don‘t know
that the reportovas so favorable. I should
judge the gentlemen do not admire each
other any too much, but from what. i made

out my gallant countryman has always 3‘
had the luck to be successful, whether ho . '

showed judgment or not.“ , ,

“ 0h!“ »

“ And his blundering luck has made him
the. envy. it' not the admiration of his use
sociates.”

“And that is the sort of man to whom

we are entrusting: perhaps the life itself ‘
I begin to believe they have *

sent us a figurehead to look at while 2

ing the case." =

“ So much the bettcr——if they have him. i

As for me, 'I will trust to my handsome
Irishman, and if you are wise. you will do
the same. Youwill hear from him before
long. I feel it in my nerves." , p
“ I hope so, for, really, i cannot stand the
suspense much longer. I feel as though I
must do something myself. And yet, What
can I do but. wait for some development
at hOme? ’ ‘he suspense is awful. Norah,
it is killing me.” - , , 
“ Sure, and if you put a bold front on it
won’t kill you a bit faster than 016.182,),

to :tlde us over the present trouble. and
yog‘ll see it will all come right in “the,
en ." '
_  I wish I was as certain as you seem to
feel. I wish, even, that I knew what
might be the worst. It I was read-{for it
I would feel that ’I was able to‘ face it
when it came.” . A _

“ Why not ask your father what
thinks of it?"

“ I dare not. There is a mystery behind
it all that I cannot fathom, and which he?
will not reveal, though he! has hinted it" ‘
lfsutfin ,' Strange he does not trustme‘mo

y.’ ‘ t g ,.
“ And it is connected‘with'llart'y B: an-
eote?” ‘ " ' ‘ :

 It must be, though how closely“
not guess. This I Will'do.. ’I will'stak m '
life on the honor of my father and th '
nocence. from any ‘ crime of my young
friend.” . '- - - ‘

At the word ‘fric‘nd Norah’s eyes E'tx‘v’i
kled. a smile came to her lips. s .

She knew What friend meant, to‘Helen‘

 
  
  

breath or the missing cashier.
* "tThut goes without saying. 

strikes me] Master Harry was very c

then that would have relieved your, thin.
now)” ' .  ‘ ‘”

“How could he know that'lt wtmld ,
needed? it has all been so unexpe ‘
Why, we had an engagement togeth
this we evening.“  ' r‘ _
! “Then, ifI wor’ you, I would Roe it."
' Helen'look’ed at her confidant in; lino“

‘a‘dazed manner. , - , 
" You do not mean to say youexh'eo

, 110’.”
“Then, howcan I?” ‘  “w ,
“ You can keep year side or it."
5‘ But, ' what good will. that do

 

V.

  

.would Rick) for you; at: Mrs. .Broadalhln‘u
“ You. are entirely‘too hopeful. .1 ’And, yet,

excuses at this late hour. and I
modeauaqtte faithfully min more. _
‘ "an entirely until itemize

   

   

 

 
  
  
 
  
    
   
 
   
   
   
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
   
 
  
 
 
  
    
   
  
   
  
 
 
   
   
  
 
  
  
  
   
 
  
 
   
   
    
 
  
  
    

       
      

  
 
 
 
 

     
      
      
         

 
       
   
  
 
 
  

    
   

 

'16

 

 

“At any rate. it would never do to
.mope at home just now. Your father
will be good for escort duty, and who
knows what may happen? You will be
ready for it, now, and whatever it may be
kanow you will not be thrown off your
dignity. Fortunately you did not forget to
speak of it last week, and everything will
., be ready."
‘ "i will go, though there are reasons
why l wouldncver have. given my word
ii" i had not expected to have Harry with

me as an escort."
"As a guard, more likely. You are
afraid to meet a certain gentleman who
 I will have a fair field—and very little
 favor—while Heathcote is out of the way."
The guess was a shrewd one, and Helen
flushed under it. but waved her hand and
said nothing. That was a matter which
‘ _. just now she did not care to discuss, even
 with Norah. At. any unpleasant risk. she
“ had decided Mrs. Broadalbin was to have

her as a guest that evening.

’Mr. Havcrcamp most likely had some
‘other arrangements of his own. for though
he ‘lldd been included in the invitation, it
was not likely he had any intention of ac-
cepting. It was important that Helen

. should see him in time, for she. knew that
While even at the last moment she could
induce him to go, yet it might be at some
sacriiice which she could spare him.

A word or two into the telephone or-
dered the carriage for her, and by the time
it arrived she was ready for the street.
rAs she came out she saw there were
several passers, and one or two persons
ignoring near. .

Of the latter, one was a ridiculous look-

, in; boy, who seemed to be on very good
. terms with himself. V '

‘ ‘ lie was dressed in cast-9E clothing

which was still in a fair state of preserva-
tion, though originally designed for a full

.‘ grown man.

In his hand he held a small bundle of

‘ pencils, 'and over his arm was a roll of
cheap- suspenders.

:_ He touched his hat with some grace,

is: and his little, brown eyes twinkled as be

t . stepped back a pace, so that he .did not

directly block her path.
“ Only a nickel, mum," he chirruped, as

1 enough, holding up the btmdle, Duo in a

‘ lower voice he swiftly added: ‘

“Be yonse Miss Havercamp?"

_ It was‘a new experience to the young

“lady, but being surrounded with trouble

fund a mystery she had been learning fast.

:She nodded slightly as an answer to the

.. last guestion, and smiled as she answered

alou : «

_, “How ridiculous! And yet, I certainly

» m!) . ‘

' “Only a nickle, mum," he chirruped. as

.saw the young lady searching for some

gbmall change, and in lower tones he added:

“Keep d’e paper, miss, d'ere‘s writin’ on

Eli." .  / ,

'Wrapped. around the pencil which he ex-

~tended was a bit of paper, and Helen‘s
 cloned in n it and pencil as she

" ‘ tended the hi e1 with the‘ other hand.

.“ Sold ag’in, an' anodder soul made
pyi" laughed the boy, with a parting

_ve ot- the hand, while Helen tripped

’ Wu and into [the carnage in ,a tremor of

 

 
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
    
   
  
  
   
        
 
   
      
     
       
   
   
 
 
  
  
   
   

  

, paper. no doubt, meant news of
some kind. What would it: purport be?
Leaning back on the cushions, ' she
sited until out of sight of any spectator
who might have seen the transaction.
‘Then the little paper was furtively un-
rolicd. and its contents read. , .
' ‘Itfiwns’very brief as a letter, but, it there
m no mistake about it, very explicit.

, “Be on your guard. and if you see‘ me
noon. do not recognize, me under any‘clr-
l Hinges,” ,

‘ 'u.

:The writing was unfamiliar, and ima-
d scrawled with a lead pencil, but Helen
' ’ note there was but one person from
hem it could come. ‘ '
Steven: down to see her father‘in a
  He hardly recognized her
the. dismal-faced young lady from
Q2111;ch silently.- partedat the break-
a‘ 9-7. p . , ’ _

  

 
 

  

  

  

  
   

  

 

i

 ClubmanQOrook’s Cat’s-paw.«

 

“ Consider yourself on duty, sir, for to-
night. I shall need you as an escort to
Mrs. Broadalbin’s.”

“If it must be, it must," he answered,
with something like a sigh.

“ I am rather old for such frivolity, but
if you are not ashamed of your old father
I will try and take the post 1 ought to be
leaving to a younger man.”

“The younger man is not on the carpet,
but if he comes, and is the right one be—
sides, I shall relieve you. Who knows?“

Havercamp looked at his daughter sharp-
ly, but she only smiled and waved her
hand airin as she floated away. She
meant to give no reasons for her request.
or even hint at what might be on the
cards to happen. As she went home she,
had time to think it all over, and she
~wished now that she could have inter-
rogutcd the boy. ‘ 2

she even looked around to see it by any
chance he might still be in sight.

But Fly Billy had disappeared as soon as
his errand had been performed, though on
his way he had been accosting every one
he met with a request to purchase. his
wares.

She showed the note to Norah, rand of
course talked over what. its meaning
might be.

“ It must be from Harry. and it tells me
he is still alive.”

“So you think,” retorted Norah; “but
supposing it was from 0M Irish friend?
That seems a good deal more likely."

“I do not see why. He would hardly
expect me to recognize him it he came in
questionable shape.“

“ Dear knows what a woman would do.
All I can see to do is to wait till he
comes, and if it should turn out to be “nay-
tiller ’av us,’ it will probably be some one
e se.’

“Youlcannot discourage me. I shall ex-
pect to see him soon, and if I happen to be
at Mrs. Broadalbjn’s when he comes, re—
member his request, but send for me
there.”

 

CHAPTER XVII.
THE CRUSH AT THE BROADAILBIN’S.

The gathering at Mrs. Broadalbin’s was
a. regular crush, and surpassed even the
wildest hopes of that eminently fashion-
able lady. . ' ,

She had formulated a plan for any amal-
gamation of social shades, and the end
justified her wishes.

_ She had numerous representations from
the exclusive Four Hundred, who found
themselves there somewhat to their own
surprise. though enjoying themselves
hugely.
beautiful and witty,
strictly of their set. .. . 7

Then, there were strong representatives
from the world of letters, men and women
of Celebrity, and even chiefs in newspa-
perdom. I '

Back of them all were the peers of s-
nanCe, like Peter Havercamp, who rep-
resented wealth and- the self-made Amer-
ican. ' .

_Yet. somehciw, the hostess moulded her
elements into a homogeneous mass, and
her'party was a decided “go.”

Miss Helen enjoyed herself. She was

not only an. heiress. but a belle; and
though rather of the queenly sort, was
capable of a. good. deal of condescension
in an affair like this. ' ‘ I
. In making other people happy she did a
like service to herself, and for the mo-
ment almost forgot the hidden trouble
which had been eating her heart out.
‘ Mr. Havercamp also appeared at his
best. .He found' some congenial spirits
who seconded his efforts, and there was a
great deal of laughter'from the corner of
(the room which they occupied. ’

In the' course of the evening a. strange
face: attracted Helen’s attention. v

Mr. Grimsby went by, listeningdo-
lightedly 'to a lady whoseemed to be very
amusing. She‘ was tall, and of a style of
beauty much resembling Helen’s, though
more matured. Though fully “filming
,the attention of the worthy director, she
found time to shoot glances outin various

but she was" not

 
 

 

 

 
   

  

l '.
», ,_. ,4

a ,

 
 
 

Hayes of » o‘met.‘ ,r

4‘

=shortly after to return home.

Mrs. Broadalbiu was wealthy. r

Helen was conscious of a peculiar feel-
ing, which she mentally traced to the
stranger. Without knowing why. she,
asked some one about her.

The some one happened to be a news-
pal ~r man, and was happy to give her all
the information in his power.

The lady was a Mrs. li‘errand. wealthy,
and a widow. She was also, without a
doubt. the author of the novel "Etfetc
Ethics," which was exciting so much at-
tention, though published anonymously.
Only a few of them were in the secret,
and he hoped )Iiss Havercamp would not
betray the confidence until the name was
oflicially announced. as it would be on the '
twenty—iifth edition.

Helen had heard of “Effete Ethics,“
which was a novel somewhat on the
“Yellow Book" lines, a style she did not
admire; but it was up to date. and hav-
ing a tremendous run.

The author of such a work must be a
mental curiosity, and probably a moral
one. Miss l-Iavercamp had some desire
to know more about her. since she had
come under her observation; and won—
dered how she came to be a guest of
Mrs. Broadalbin. .

The literary gentleman‘s stock of in-
formation, however, was exhausted, and
she was not sufficiently interested to ask
questions of her hostess. Had it not been
for what seemed a. chance she would
probably have dropped the stranger alto.
gether from her thoughts.

So far nothing had been seen of Harry
Heathcote, and she had not: even heard
his name mentioned. It wasthe wildest
nonsense, she admitted to herself, to ever
think he would be here. At rather an
early hour she gave a Govern signal to her
father.

She wished to speak‘ with". him, and
Dropping
into a corner she waited; and instead of
Peter Haveroamp, Mrs. Ferrand‘r came.

In spite of all the modern resourcean
ventilation. the rooms were a. trifle warm
for comfort, and the widow dropped into
a. seat near to Helen in; a. semi-exhausted
gogd-ition and began to fan herself grace-
u y. ,

The two looked at each other, then .
spoke, and then glided into a conversa-
tion. Each knew the name of the other
and there was nothing awkward about
the situation, though the younger lady
was not yearning for a. tete-a-tete.

She was conscious of a keen inspection,
though it was made in a guarded way,
and at once gave Mrs. Ferrand the credit
of being a' more than'ordinary woman,
though in what direction she could not as
yet say.

“ You are tired?” .

Apropos of nothing Mrs. Ferrand made
the remark, \andHelen admitted that she
was. I

“ So am I;,‘but then, I am older. and of
late‘ not used to this sort of thing. I
hardly know why I came.”

“Probably as a religious observance '2”

“Probably because it was so foreor—-
dained. I know of no other reason which:
could have operated under the circum-
stances”. ,. , V v , ' .

“Then' you must be weary, ' or you
Emulr’l not be throwing the blame on.

ate.

Nothing veyy'brllllant about this, but
it opened the conversation. After a little ’
Mrs. Ferrand remarked:

“There seems to have been quite a
tnysteriou disappearance at the bank. I ~
wonder it has not been more talked of.”

, ‘f I suppose I know to what you allude,
but I assure it is not considered a case of ‘
disappearance at allby those of us who
are acquainted with the absent gentle
man." ‘ '

“ Indeed! From what Mr’. Grimsby
told me I supposed it was known as an
open Secret." ' I .

r.“ If you allude to Mr. Heathcote. I must.
say I was not aware there was any kind 5
of secret concernan hint.",,'” ' a '

Mrs. Ferrand raised her eyebrows. an -
'looked synipathizhigiy at her, visa-via.
‘ “I hardly know what'to
Possibly the yOung man,‘ was

A a;
[acquaintance [of yours; _ ‘

 

directions. and; it so happened that the"
‘ ' t r  .  . .‘ ,j,youhaven heard

‘ v

callirthen.‘ "
sonoi '

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7

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,, Grimsby spoke of it, and he only heard it The intelligence came from Mr. Grims- The greatest danger would probably be
t a. short time ago.” by; but it, reached me through a eompara- when.theyzeame to the bankers house.

i “i knew the gentleman; and 1 have tive stranger, a Mrs. l«‘errand." Until then they “"mltl 1’0 nlit 10 k(‘i‘D the

T heard nothing in regard to him for some " Mrs. It‘erraud! Who is she?" straight road; but. there they might be

time.” “I know little of her except. that she expected to turn the corner. and keep on

There was question in her eyes. and the
voice of Mrs. Ferrand sank lower yet.

“ Can you stand a shock?"

“ As Well as the most. Speak."

" it is only a theory, and there has been
no time to demonstrate whether it is cor-
root or not. That will have to be left un-
til tomorrow."

" \Vell'!"

“ The body of a young anti unknown
man was found in a load of refuse matter
in a scow, where it. seemed to have been
pl.;.~ed Saturday night. As yet, it has
llol. been identified, and it seems there
may be some trouble about doing that,
but Mr. Grimsby intends to look at the
clothing to-morrow."

" For HeaVen's sake!" ,

Helen grew white to her lips, and it
Seemed as though she must faint. The
question she \vouldhave asked remained
unspoken.

it was only for a moment. I

’i hen, by a mighty et'l'ort, she recovered
her self-Imssession, and something of the
Color came back to her face.

"Do not think i have told you this to
hurt you. 1 had reason to believe it
Would be told you this evening. and per-
haps even more brutally than 1 have done
it. it was better you should have your
shock where the world could not see it."

And furtively Mrs.l<‘err.~1nd passed over
a smelling bottle, at the same time draw-
ing more in front of Helen.

“ But you do not believe the story; or,
at least, that by any possibility it can be
the body of Mr. Heathcote?” _

“I cannot say that I believe anything
in the matter, since I have not seen it
with my own eyes; but I feel sure it
would be better for you to believe him
dead. My intuitions are telling me‘ he is;

I and they seldom go wrong."

" And mine convince me
alive.”

" lietain that hope, then; and so flrmly

 that. nothing can shake it before all these
people. Believe me,’ I am more interested
in you than you dream of, and I Wish I
could be more explicit."

“ You have said enough, Heaven knows!
Now, if you will “only forget that we
cvor discussed this subject I will feel my-
self your debtor still more,’ since I ac-
knowledge :that it I was to hear of it at
all it was better the knowledge came to

. me in the way it (11 -.” _ i
. 5 “ Rest assured that I will not reOpen the
.2 subject; and, for my last‘words,‘ allow me
to say that, in all human probability,

Harry Heathcote is dead. -I have reasons

tor saying so, which, it needed, I may

give to you at another time. Good even-
’ ing." ‘ ‘ 1
Mrs. Ferrand arose and moved away.
Helen sat dumny watching her. ,
In spite of the hopes raised by the note
I given her by the boy, and which had not
entirely left her, she could not help but
be impressed by the tone of conviction in

those parting words. i,

She recovered rapidly from the shock,

e is still

.5 rather came up, with a troubled look on
, I; ' his face,rshe was not slow to catch its
\ meaning, ’nor was she oyerwhlelmed‘by

“ I know, but I do not believe.
anotlicrword about it.” t ,
1 “It is a shock, nevertheless, whether
true or‘ false. If you are willing to 1.91!ve
“ I believe I would prefer to go home.”

‘ “ I am ready.”

She t00k her father’s arm. As they
went along he asked a question. on the
very subject they had Just agreed to
drop! , ‘

“ How did. you come to hear? I was in
hopes you would be- spared until. I could
break it ,to you. I know your interest.

t » and blame myself.” . ,

. ‘ There was something strange in What
the banker said. but his daughter did not
allow herself to show she noted it, and
only answered the parts-Which was "the
‘ crew” , t v "

say not

however, and when, a. little later, her.

 

seems to be a friendet' Mr. (irimsby, and
is SlippoSed to be one of the new school of
writers. 'A brilliant woman, if 1 am not
mistaken—and yonder she is."

The lady under discussion was on the
other side ot‘ the room. but. standing so
that a fair view could be obtained of her
face.

llavercmnp looked, turned away, and
then looked again.

His arm closed like a vise upon the hand
of his daughter. and glancing into his
face she saw that he had suddenly be-
come paler even than she had felt herself
a short time before. . '

in his eyes, too. there was a look of
what might. \veli be interpreted as horror.
Without a Word he drew her away. The
\vitlulrawal became, not a retreat, but. a.
panic.

It. is extremely doubtful if Mrs. Broad-
albin ever knew when the I'llIVi‘l'miulDS
left, for they never halted—save to don
hats and wraps—until they found them-
selves in the carriage.

Even then there was no conversation.
for Mr. Havel-camp, leaning back. mut-
'leretl:

“ Do not speak.
think.” »

Here was another mystery. Helen for-
got, or almost forgot, Harry Heatheoto
for the moment, while wondering what
was the meaning of this.

What was this woman to her father?
“'hat was she to Helen herself?

There had not seemed anything strange
in the conversation with her, at the time;
but now it took on another aspect, and
she began to fancy that perhaps Mrs. Fer-
rand knew more of the alfairs of the
Havel-camp family than ,had been sus:
peeted.

Her parting words came back .with
more and more force. There was a him;
in them of revelations to come, and at
promise the two were to meet again.

It seemed the Wildest nonsense tobelieve
that this stranger had information which
the rest of the world had failed to obtain.
J'L‘t Helen was beginning to believe it.
and in spite 01; his, command she would
have spoken to her father had there not
come a startling occurrence,,which for the
time drove tall thoughts of Harry Heath-
cote and Madame Ferrand out of her

head.' _____...

v ‘ CHAPTER XVIII.

, “WHAT nous rr» MEAN?”

‘The speed of the horses had suddenly
become accelerated to an alarming de-
gree, and there was little doubt but what
they were running away. I

There had been no apparent cause' for
any such catastrophe, and either the driv-r
or had been guilty of~gross carelessness
or something had happened to him.

, This was ,thelfirst thought of Helen Hay-
ereamp when she came to realize the situ-
ation. though, in fact. the horses had been
for some little time going at a fasterpace
than the coachinan usually allowed in a
night drive."  ' "

Havercamp would nodoubt have failed,
to notice what was happening, had. not
his daughter called him to himself by a
clutch on his arm., I ‘ v ’,

“ See!" she said. “Thomas is either
drunk ’or crazy. The horses are away
\with him". ' , -

Thomas was neither drunk nor crazy;
but the lines had' dropped from'his hands,
and he was huddled ,up in one corner.
senseless and inert, like a mangth had
been struck with apoplexy. I r _.

l The banker came, to himseltvwlth, a
start, and, leaning forward, called to
Th mas. ’ ‘

i must have time to

the horses went tasterthan before.

Fortunately, at that hour of the night“

the streets were comparatively deserted,

and unless they came in'contact with

some desaltory cab 01'. some carriage re-r

turning troiuthe theaters or social aflai r
occlusion

 
       
  

 

‘had no opportuncly come toth aid,

; {g'That‘was not so easy

shifting his head about to dodge the .

\ .‘ gering back from. the strokes he landed; ~ '
T era was no answer. and if anything

,and when they crawled to their feet'lgain-

reader ,or the khtyercamps off his feet;

    
   
   
   
   
   
    
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
 
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
    
  
    
   
    
   
   
   
 
  
  
 
  
   
 
    
    
   
  
 
    
     
    
      
    
   
    
       
      
     
      
       
         
     
  

to the stables. It’ the carriage was not
wrecked against the hnup-post it would
be a mercy.

Several pedestrians saw them at the
moment. they rolled by, and called after
'them, but had no time to try to stop the
swiftly running steeds; and as they
neared the l-lavercamp mansion the pace
became wilder and wilder.

Helen remained seated, with her hands
nervously clasped. She was too wise to
throw herselt‘ from the vehicle; and if she
screamed ever so loud it. would do no
good. ,

Ntwertheless. she was cool enough to
watch the street as it slipped by her. and
she saw a man suddenly spring out from
the sidewalk at. a point. a little in advance,-
and dash toward the coming eonveyunce.‘

He made no outcry, nor did he seem to
try to cheek the horses; but as it reached
him he sprang forwart. with a mighty
bound and landed fairly on the seat of
the carriage.

Fill'i’lllltlit‘ly, the lines had never been
drawn over the dash, and to catch them
up was the work of but a second.

Then, throwing himself back, the man.
Wrapped them hastily around his wrists,
and, speaking in a low. even tone, he
gave a strong pull, and began sawing
steadily on the months on the excited ani—
mals. ’

He could not expect to check their
speed with any great suddenness, nor
did he. try; but the work he was doing
was gradually bringing them under con-
trol. ' As they neared 'the turning point
they swept away from it rather than
toward the dangerous post, and a little
farther on, came from a fast trot ‘to a. sud-
den , standstill. . . '

At the shock, comparativer mild.
though it was, Thomas slipped off the seat
and lay in a huddled heap on the‘floor, ‘
while the stranger, without hesitation.”
leaped down and stood respectfully by 5].. L
the side of the carriage. ‘ ‘ ' . /

“ Here you are, sir; all right; up to ther
present time. Let me help the lady out!"

It happened that the banker was the
nearer to the pavement, and he did not .
wait for Helen, but got out hastily, turn-
mg then, to assist his daughter.

All of them seemed unconscious of a‘
little knot of men lurking in the shadowy

“It didn't connect, but down ’em-anyt'
way,” growled a. hoarse voice, which
scarcely reached their ears, and im'medi— '
ately afterward there came a rush. , '

It was an attack—of that there could he *
no doubt—and was so totally unexpected >
that there would have been no blame .to
Peter Havercamp it‘he had been altogeth-
or taken of! his » , He heard the? '
voice; however, and wheeled at: once, even -'
thought he had not thoroughly disum‘
guished the words. ' *

At the some instant the stranger who ,

\

wheeled abound with hands well." up.
darted tor-ward, hitting as*he-weint..~ “ *

The movement was so sudden. that he.
was in the midst of the gang, Working
away right and left, before they had time
to recognize that thiawns not the respect-
able nonentity who officiated as Hatter-‘-
camp's coachman. ' -‘ * ’  t

The hard knocks he gaveopened their
Eyes, and they started in to in,
'- n . ‘ ‘ ~ L. I

a

to do. / t ‘
The man danced this- way and. that.
blows aimed at him. and meantime;
though the assailants were gluttona for
punishment,‘ kept one after another stagé

  

One or two were fairly stretchedont. ‘

they were decidedly groggy, and‘hardly »
able to take further partln the riot: . -

But with one manonly against: half
dozen. this thing could not EQ'GD' for-cm;
- A, chance blow knocked the'gailan Ila-z

   
  

   
    
  
 

  
  
  

  

 
     
    
   
   
  
    
    
  
   
    
   
 

g up, .
. ‘ ,

1'8

 

But at the same time Peter Havorcamp
faced them with a pistol in his hand.

"Away, there!" he exclaimed, stcrnly.

“Ifinger here a minute longer and I
fire.‘

The threat ot‘ itself might not have
proved effectual had it not been sup-
plemented by the approach of a police-
man, who fortunately had been attracted
thither by the whirling carriage.

He had been sure there was something
Wrong, and fancied,“ might be money in
his pocket it he could furnish any assistr
ance to the millionaire banker. When he
got to the lamp-pest he saw there was
something more in the adventure than he
had counted on, and giving a signal hast-
ened in the direction of the fray.‘

“Howld on there, yc spalpeensl Oi'll
run ye all in av yez stroikes anither
blow."

The warning had the effect for which it

was probably intended. Policeman Mc-
Guire was none too anxious to tackle a
« crowd like this all by himself. ,
a f‘D’e game’s up, scuttle yc’r nibs!" ex-
"claimed one of the gang; and without de~
.lay' they broke away, dragging one of
their number among them.

As the officer came up the champion of
the banker was just regaining his feet,
and his head made a fair—looking mark.
gPdlioeman McGuire swung his club, and
‘had it not been for Peter Havercamp
‘ would have let drive. ,

“Stop, stop, ofliccr! You arenfter the
.‘wrong man. There go the villains. This

is 'a friend." , ' ,

‘ He was barely in time to save trouble.
KM’cGui‘re appeared to be in doubt, but a
second order, more peremptory than ever,
caused. him-to put away his club, though
he looked hesitatingly at the man who
scrambled up‘ and ‘ threw himsélf on
guard. ' t
“Ya wor’ shure this wor’ not wait, av
he sandbaggin’ poirntes '3". he asked, eye—
ing the stranger with what seemed grow-
ing suspicion.

  

 

  

  
  

  

block away by this time. See if you can
find out anything more about. them. It
will be money in your pocket if you can
ocate them.” . , r v
fAv Oi had been here "a momint soon—
a‘ "it’s in the station Oi'wa’d have been
titer. locatin’ thim. Thanks, sor. Oi
Will do my 'bist.’.' , . ‘ i ' . 1

.He broke 0min his. speech'beca‘us'c Hav-
rcamp, had 'in'terruptedby. tipping him
hat'in police parlance was ,“the glad

,,, . . V I .

 

  
 

  

“The/cordiality of-the shake 'was greatly
enhanced by the size of the coin which

 

_' 3 off in pursuit of the men, though
without'the least idea of ever seeing'them.

3151‘

  

ad retained hericom'posnre.‘ v

,When. the banker turned to herhe round.
an 'was staring curiously .at «natures»
' ‘, but notvsayingia Word-1‘   ’1 v
, e' thought nothiugvofl-that,’ however;

 u‘gh‘ he was not‘iong silent ;himSelf."‘
.' , driend, you hayedon'e us a double
I which. 1 .‘do, notgintendf to forget. ‘.
, v 0, not cxyress mythanksusuflioiently
‘, «PI-night f1 willtry to do’it tomorrow,
an shall “expect to see-you again."
’38")? minors- nbout. lt-  .12 Wis,  a?
reliance."  r . :"  '   v
*1; wnschonsiderahly- more; than a
1109.; I;th .one madam ten thousand
_ dg‘haye served me. as, well. '..!-tgis‘:thev
trims teverghadrs complaints. ; e?
,, _ 6 Thomas; but lt‘wiilgbe the; I _
 twigs  our Ines
th '  " ,  .' 2

    

 
  
 
 

    

  
   
  
   

   
   
   

 

The pirates are around. the- corner and '

, e.banker left in, his palm, and he ciao»

m I _ _
enough, the whole affair. Miss 1191?“?

' “me ’Wemfi'ht‘it, mad’.‘.notf;‘altoglether§,‘
 I 3. 5.7"   ', . _  r I

' tugnbyhep tasted,

H w .vaw-

lid‘lubma;

a drunken man, but at a glance aver—
eamp saw there was truth in the strang-
er's supposition.

"What shall we do with him?" asked
the banker, more abroad at this discovery
than he had yet been.

“That. depends. If you want. to keep
this thing quiet—for there seems to be
something of a mystery about it—wc had
. better carry him in, and then send one of
.your servants quietly for a doctor, if you
can‘t telephone. i can then put away the
horses if you will show or tell me where."

“Thanks. I ought. not. to impose on
you, but I will make it. worth your
while."

“No imposition. I’m on the streets
this time of night because I’ve no better
place to go. I was looking for a job for a
week. but they’re hard tortind. Last boss.
bu'sted and left me in the cold. See?”

“Then I can offer you work. For to-
night you can take care of Thomas, and
to-morrow we will see where to place-you.
Now take hold.” ‘

Havereamp was still a vigorous man,
and abundantly able to carry his end of
the unfortunate coachman. Between
them the two bore him in and up the
stairway leading to his room above the
stables, while Helen watched the horses. ‘

Then the stranger took the team to its
stalls, the doctor was summoned, and to
the outside world quiet settled on the
Havel-camp residence.

Only in her own room Helen was say-
ing to herself, "l was to recognize him
under no circumstances. ,Whnt does it
mean?” '____.
, CHAPTER XIX.

FLY 'BILLY. COMES ON DECK.

When the two rufllans picked up the
insensible detective there was no one
watching: them directly, but there was
somebody who was listening a great deal.
' tFly Billy had vamoosed the ranch when
he heard footsteps approaching, and had
not beenlsure he had done it without be-
ing seen. ' ‘

This made him doubly cautious, and
when in discovered 'there was a man in
sight shortly afterward. 'who appeared
to,bc posted as a'sentinel ‘ to watch the
rear of the building, he gave it up. for the
time being." . H

He had other things to attend to, more-
over, and though he thought over the sit-
uation a good deal, a number, of hours
passed before; he returned to the charge.

But, finally, the‘ man in the cellar
troubled him more and more. the'coast
appeared tobe clear, and he slunk around
[undercover of the house until he reached
the shutterpried loose the previous night.

He was juso in time to. hear one of the
,men; below say the detective was ready
monthe' trim After that, at_.any risk he‘
felt he. must‘have‘av...peep;' and bee-softly
removed one corneruot the'shutter‘and
peered down-f, . g ‘  , 
’ The'view ‘hehad‘Was none of. the best,‘
but he; caught a glimpse of the two men
carrying aw‘gfi a‘body' between them, r and
he leaneds' ‘ farther forward, his‘lltltle‘

‘ eyes dilating as hefsawdhein passing

through what; seemed to the solid wall: ,
.Efi‘ I got terseefmore ov this ef,it. takes
,ttte to therboneyardfi’ he,thought,u as he
"into the tremolo! thecwindcwv.   n ,,

‘ He“ listened while be carefully adjusted

silently to} the’bottmn of ~’the, cellar. -j‘ a ,

, The enters. which had been is“ with
the p: senor still burned on the. licorynnd;
amount: it was in poor.lsubstltu§e:1or.'the
skylight he had just ten, Billy 'tound' no;
trouble , in [hitting , the ‘hidden‘ door; a, h 

.i
i. .

 

 

[60
to so 1% _

at, at 'hitnse
r. .

 

'FcrOOk’s Cat’s-paw._

his, strength it would have been tilted up,

: against it in great shape. . ~ "

_ lay behind“.
removed fh'o‘ashutter 'sufiicient’ly to‘erawi- »

thevboard behind'him,".and then slipped,

At fit
was

\, , ' Bitt’yfam not-bailey his man
’.’ :bnt ltjhs“

 

 

\

and there was little time for retreat. He
closed the door hastily, and his eyes lit
on the barrel.

A swift examination show-ed there was
only one head to it, and under he went
like a flash. It was running a decided
risk, but it was as Well to be caught
there. as climbing out of the window.

The men came into the. cellar and.
closed the secret door behind them.

“Heap or use in d‘at," said one of
them. “Do word come straight, but of
d’e Knockcr didn‘t want ter t’row ott‘ on
d’e orders, 5' ’elp me."

“ D'e Knocker better watch out or dey‘ll
give d'e word on him. He's gittin‘ too
high tone( ."

“He's gittin‘
skinned."

“ More like he wants to t’row off on d’e
gang. Ef d‘e cop lied b'in on d‘c make
he‘d ’a’ sold him (101' ’hull plant."

“Better stow d‘at, sort 0' patter. You
t’ink so ’causc he give yer a h‘iste w'id
his beater. Et he’d ‘a' loaned ye a case
you‘d b‘in a swearin’ by him." .

“ D’at’s right; but d’is way I‘m free ter
patter. D'ey said,‘ put him in d’e drain;
an’ he lef’ him in do cellar. An’ you kin
bet d’ere’s goin‘ ter be a riot of he kicks
when he finds out how d’e land lays."

“D’at’s right; an” he'll h’iste ye ag’in.
D’at’s what youse here for.” .

The two men did not‘ appear to be in a.
good humor, and so were near the quar-
reling point with each other. One of
them gave a casual kick at'the barrel un-
der which Fly Billy was hiding. and it; ’
wobblcd about as though it wouZ-l topple
over. If the boy had not put forth all

 

too blamed tender

 

 
        
      
     
        
  
     
    
    
   
    

and he would have been disclosed.

The danger went by, however. The two
men left the cellar and the boy heard
their steps overhead. He waited a few
minutes until hefelt sure they would not: .
soon return. and then crawled out from
his place of concealment; v >
‘The conversation he had heard made
him feel very serious. ‘ It was not hard A
to understand. ' ' v
The original intention had been to mur-
der the detectiveuand though a little re-
spite‘ had been given him, it was now
most likely, the plan had been taken up
again and carried out. If he wanted to
find ,the Irishman, the would probably
have to look for him “in the, drain.”

Was it 'worth while town the risk?

Blily’ scratched his head, cocked his ear .
to one side, to listen, for sounds from
above, and then approached the wall. ’A.
great deal would depend on whether he ,
succeeded in mastering the mechanism of
'the hiddeni door. - 1 _ . ,r I
. One' point 'in . liis' favor was that he
knew right where to find it. ' He pushed
and felt ,’by turns. Finally the, way . 
opened. and with hesitating steps he be- ~
gun, to adVance,  , . > . I 
.. Finally‘he reached what seemed to~ be, '
the end 1‘01 the’ phséog‘e. 'He bumped up‘

     
     
  
 
      
     
    
      
    
   

 
     
      
     
      
  
 

 

 
      
      
    
        
      
   

A little investigatmn showed"that it
was'a‘door fastened with a'bolt.‘ I ~ ~

He got‘i't. open Without. much? trouble, ,1 '
and then lit a match to make Sure what ‘

   

 
     
    

‘ .~ , r ,t '-‘ ,’ .
First on, he thought.,'it Was an'ope'n.  ..
grave. buts second, look'~showed. him a‘ ,;
pita’andvinthe bottom of it. asdt '
had fallen. was the body of the detective.
fl Theillace was a trap, and nomlstake.’
e Wte and "was va‘gratlng, mag-there
a'*'to’tflyandgmusty“smelh   y ,,
.1“,It’s,jd’e\;wnt yawn/he buy, an? I}
wouldn’t-*wond e; d’e’ tide wos trisi-n’z
right, mwa I'll hev, ~»ter."yau,k him‘ out of, ,
d'a‘tghut' it‘s ohmntrackt" ‘ “ _

  
  
      
      
  

 
 
   

  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   

 
 
 
 
  
  

 
     
   
 

 m:
cl thoughtefeizor‘fio much. that
,‘  ,uld obabiy have

~

       
   

 

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l

.. . ,i. :33.
‘ “Wan.

igufgi‘sivgmssmwwlfieuoétwmwvww w

, u-.. «a...

 

. n.

 

 

 

 

v mm- ,   Lew W;-

‘. I

Clubman-Crookis‘ Cat;

 

  

 

The body was warm yet. at any rate.
l‘nless he was badly mistaken, the man
was still living.

The boy wasted no time. lie was in a
nervous tremor, in spite of his courage.
and knew that in the darkness of the pit
he could do this senseless being no good.

He got. a hold around the body, and
tugged and lifted. .

The body showed a disgusting tendency
to flop over and squirm out of his grasp.
He never realized what a job he, had be-
fore him until he had tried his hand at it
for several minutes without success.

But he got his knee under the body,
worked it up a little higher, until he could
use his shoulder, and finally, after several
failures, succeeded in fairly rolling the
body out of the ditch.

Then he scrambled out himself. '

There was one blessing Billy had to be
ithankful for Without knowing it.

The men had so thoroughly relied upon
the effects of the drug that they had re—
moved the handcuffs from the wrists of
their prisoner.

“Kin I or can’t I?" queried the lad, as,
,ending down with a lighted match once

acre in his lingers, he inspected the
senseless man. .

“They must ’a’ run short on their dope,
lwl' he ain’t more nor. half hocussed. Shoot
me livers, but I believe he‘s comin’ ’round
now.”

The boy had a sensitive nose. and a quick
eye. He distinguished the seent of the
drug, and detected a slight movement, as
though his harsh handling had disturbed
the man somewhat in his sleep.

This was no place for him. to linger,
however, and hardthough it was to do, he
managed to drag Burns back again into
the cellar. . ,

There, with the window right above his
head, so that he. could retreat the moment
there was a sign of intrusion, Fly Billy
began‘a com-Se of treatment which fortu—_
nately seemed able to reach the case.

He had no antidotes, and dared not use
his voice, but there remained .to him 'fists
and feet, and these he used after a. fashion
he thought would help the case

He kicked, he beat, he pounded.

Now and then he whispered into the car
of the detective, but for the most'part he

' trusted to his muscle.

ored’ them. i _: .

" 1n the neighborhood. when: rain and.
' ' was stumbling'alon'g‘the's

‘ crept out into the night'Which

So.effectually did his attentions operate
that before long there were actually symp'
toms of revival. v

After. that thogqod Work went on with
out cessation, though much to the disgust
of the half—awakened man. ‘. ._ I .

In- the en Billy triumphed. ,gPstrick
Burns sat up' and stared Wearilyaround
him in the blackness of the cellar, and the
‘boy prudently dodged back out of reach 7t

“Hewly Moses! Where am 01f?”  .

“Stow er whist, pard., Youse in d'ej
wit, but ‘ly Billy's fround ter rub youse
out, soon ez youse gits O. K.” . I

The voice of the boy sounded .familiar,
and Burns made a strong effort to,control
his, thoughts, which had evidently gone
W001~gatnerlng. , . . t , t -

Hesently he .v remembered every ng,

and also discovered that his hands were. '

free. .

How thatlast came about he was not

V, able to explain, but gave the credit oflt

to, the boy, and let it go at.that. It was.
ore important to know how to get 'out of

31c“an where‘he had ,been caged for

the best, part'of a day., ' ,,  ’
Billy'w'as in mortal terror lest the: cellar

‘would,:have Visitors before Bums would

be in condition to mbve, but [fortune tav-

were ten uninitiated; until such

I ' time as the detectivte,’stretching his'limbs. 
' declared he was ready

for. an effort). the.
“W”. on . Y;
41? midi again

Then the ’ boy ‘4 led

    

    

‘ "settleddown'upon the Earp . , O, '

Burns had no desire; tor'i‘ni I edit!

   
    
 

more out offhim thm‘iho ‘ ew,“-un'til he-

teeming; land

 

 

   

rmt'm“sa1ety was -theg,.onc, thing 
yearned 191':  ‘-.'/  . . 
He gave, the lad the location o‘thiif quot.
'  toga; guidance: ~

   

«no ?”\,  . .'~ w
"H‘ n'believedfthat he was, it th'e‘flllng

How he got there he hardly knew, but he
arrived in safety and threw himself on
his bed.

When he awoke again, the morning sun
was shining brightly, and Fly Billywas
lying sound asleep on the floor.

CHAPTER XX.
ON THE ROUNDS.

The presence oi‘ the boy was at iirst a
mystery, but Billy had a glib tongue, and
when once awakened explained matters
in a hurry.

What had seemed a nightmare. resolved
itself into a remembrance, and the detec-
tive was once more himself.

The boy interested him on his own ac-
count.

Seen by daylight, he had a. bright. face.
and a sturdy figure. which only needed the
better clothes the grateful detective men-
tally promised to make him decidedly pre-
sentable.

Until this case was over, gratitude or no
gratitude, it was hardly advisable to take
him out of the lair in Iiannigan‘s cellars
His assistance among the slums would be
invaluable if his good faith could be re-
lied upon. They had some talk together
on various subjects, and then Billy de-
parted.

Burns certainly had received important

 

whether to report first at headquarters or

'all at the Ihivercainps‘.

After a little consideration he chose the
latter. He took breakfast on the way,
and reached the residence, of the banker,
as he supposed in time to meet Haver—
camp before he should start out for the,
bank.

In this he was barely successful, as he
met the banker at the steps, just on the
point of leaving home. 

He recognized the detective at once,
since Barns wore the same suit he had on
at his previous call, and Very willingly re-
turned to the room where the two had
once beforeheld an interview.

" Well, sir, what news?”
banker, as the two took chairs.

“ Have. you succeeded in finding out any-
thing as ‘to where Heathcote Went?”

“I believe I have, though it is at sec-
ond hand.” ‘

"Do' you
paper?” ‘

“Cannot say, since I have seen no paper
for several mornings. Perhaps, that, is
later intelligence than I havo‘ to give you."

“ Perhaps; and yet it is just as uncertain
whether it is intelligence at all.‘ It is only
a suspicion on my part, and, _I may add,
on the part of others]? ‘ ' ; ‘ ‘

" From what?” '

asked the

allude to the matter; in? the

dared man among rubbish 011,8.
scowf’v I f H ,. . , 
“ Have you seen the body?" ' t ‘ V
"Not. as yet, but I expwt to visit it
in the course of the day." > ’ . ' ,

“The paper does not say, then; that it
is supposed to». be‘ thelcorpse ,of your
cashier." ‘ r I ‘ 1

“ No, sir.” '. ‘

anything about the finding of the may,
clined‘ to believe it is really. Heathcote‘u"

“ In Heaven's name.‘ Why '1‘" ‘

would fit in and prove. the” proper cul-
mination." ' ' ‘ '

“ Heathcoto was . connecte’cbt with’ ‘ the

Was entitled to any credence. at all.“ .' 

man in it", ‘

.‘de‘ntally stumbled n in- the‘

\

the cri’mhtals‘ or whom “he spoke; andrhis

   
 
 
  

 " ms "t.  We 2”“

 

s—paw.

intelligence, and debated within himself, ’

‘ 'p ' him.
“ From thefindin'g of the body of a mitt»
dumping,
V ‘ named Norah, and hoped he might see 

‘, ‘ a . regard to the. man at the Mbrguc
“ Then. rma that,’withoutknowi settled. c v ' ’ ' ' ' . .' v

y say “3 u‘He had just passed from in front '
since I have heani of it. I" should helm“

:‘f Because I have, heard a hot-y; so.
strange I hesitated to believe it, but this

. -' .He wasalmost afraid to taken“-

fv‘ It ‘ seems strange i you shmfld' speak: so: i
_- doubtfully, yet. appear to put po-unuch

*wa informant as at bay whom iii-ach
, , dangerous re-‘
glans or theicity. He, wash “veritable:
" vagabond, I more or. lead connected with,

conversation wash mange 'miXture or;
thieXGS' 5111;; and   9111133 303?- *

 

   
    
 
   
 
   
 
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
    
    
  
  
   
 
  
   
    
    
  
    
   
  
   
   
   
   
     
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
      
  
     
 
 
   
       
    
      
   
   
     
     
 
  
  
     
  
 
 
  

.. ..

 

 

" He did his work without. any need of
trusting him. I \‘critably believe he saved
my life twice over. and I am not going to
forget it."

“ Your life?“ ’

“ From the determined way in ‘
which it was assaulted i know I am on the .
brink of a mystery of murder and crime.
I struck upon what seemed a clew in the V
matter of Ileathcote‘s disappearance, and
followed it up,”

“And the result: '3” t

" l‘ was assurmi by this boy that one of
the men I was following entered a crimin~
al resort. a. dive, in company with a.
young man who answered the description»
of your cashier. If I can believe. the lad
a body was subsequently brought out by a
private entrance, and taken awayin 8.
cart, "l‘aken to the dump,‘ as he ex-
plained it. 11’ the body at; the Morgue
shotth prove to be that of your employc.
it will not be hard to had the men who: . ,
did the work." 1 v ' '

il'eter .Ilavercamp's florid face grew ulh‘
naturally white as he listened. The Irish~- '
man had almost entirely discarded his.
brogue and spoke in a straightforward,
earnest way which carried conviction.

, He was silent for a moment, and then ,
murmured : ' ..

,“l'oor lienthcote!" ' . . 

“Yes; he seemed to have tallen imam
hard lines, but all the same, I Would-like? , -‘
to know what he was doing in that den, -»
and if it was his lirst visit to the lace.”

" I suppose we will never know. 'ould '
that he had never gone." .:

" Yes. it would have been better. But".
it seems to me it the man at the Morgue
turns out to‘ be your cashier I have not ,
been in it at all. I suppose that will close-r
the. case." . \

"Oh, no. . That. will but just,open it”,
After that therolwlll be work to do, and as.
you seem to have been" very successful so?
far, and have the inside view, I will have
you continue on the trail."

" ’l‘o innit the murderers down?" ,_

“ Something of that kind, but I cannot
be explicit until 1 am assured beyond
doubt of the fate of the young man, 
body may not have yet been found”, 4 ‘ A

“We will soon know. You can‘callyon.’ “
me at any time for furthe’r instructions,
and .I am glad to know you are so well.» I
satisfied with what I have. done.” ,

Havel-camp was not willing he shoul
take his departure, however, but had him:
‘go over his story more in detail. ,‘ " .
' There were some things which, as "
Burns did not care to confide to theth
,er, and it was evident there were any:
.things’ the banker Would not confld

. "Finally he said goodamorumg‘and started. I y
to leave. ‘    ..  ‘
j He rememberedn certain young lady“

again, but she did not make her up

once? in {the hall, mid considering the , in-
iigence he had to ,coniniunieate, 1101911; 
though he‘would as soon deter ‘his’iinterv
.view with Miss Helen'until'r' he that ‘ in

 
  
 
 

‘ .

 
 

 
 

house, but was still where he.c‘ould 7 '
mam a good view or. it, when honourabes
hind him the smooth roll'ot wheels. 

Gianningback over his shoulder

  

  

 
 
 

 
 

camp 'swept'down'flte steps, and stood:
a moment by the side ofthe Vehicl'i ,.

  

   
 

160k lest shejsh‘ould seehlm and
back,‘but in spite of the feeling he
again, not. to look at the younwlady,
the driver of the vehicle. , r . r 

A strange fancy had swept throng
brain, and: he laughed as ha‘fatho'zn
Mtge" out "i 
 erewussome ng. m ' v _
coachman‘, but, arbour-32h mac-not... .
he looked again-anauw the taco den. 

If there gwas  thing on ' which
prided; himself it was his aptitude for .
 the M

 

  

 
 
 
 

  
 

  
    
  

  
 
    

 
 
 
  

    
     
   
 
 
 
   

 

    

l

20"

 i The 'ClubmanJCrook’s Cat’s-paw.

 

 

masked him down at Red John‘s, and who
was afterward named to him by Fly Bil-
ly as Bob Knocker.

There was no use to try to reason him-
self out of the. idea, for no sooner had it
come into his head than other thoughts
came with it. .

Of course he had all along understood
there was a story behind the absence of
the missing man, which had not been given
him, and at once he had an inkling of what
it might be, though he was far away
~enough from fathoming the whole truth.

He walked on without another back—
ward look, until he heard the wheels glid-

' ing near, and then took a side glance,
though he did not need it to make himself
absolutely sure. When the conveyance
had turned the next corner he wheeled
and \vent back to the house. '

The. banker appeared surprised by his
unexpected return, but granted him the
five minutes farther he. asked for.

" If i am not mistaken, you have a new
.coachnizin. Could you tell me how you
happened to make the change?"

“I have not made a change precisely,
but have a new man on temporarily."

“Ah! What has become of the old
one?"

" Sick; and thereby hangs a tale, which
I may as well tell you."

For reasons best known to Havercamp,
the latter had kept to himself the story of
the adventures of the preceding night, but
now he made a clean breast of them.

1 “Looks sort av quare," reflected Burns,

returning slightly to his broguc.

, "‘Not half as queer as it felt," retorted
the banker, with an eflort to make light or
ahe matter. ,

r “ You ought to know. They hardly put

, r up such a job on ye—for job it was—with-

' out‘somc object. Can ye guess what it

wor'?"

,7 , .“ I think I can, but for the present pre-
fer ‘to say nothing about it." ’ i

" Ye must have had something on your
body they wor’ wantin’ to get.” v

“Perhaps.” I ‘ ’

V “Thin, av ye don't run thim in they

,will be tryin' it again. Mebbe the whole
' thing wor’ a plant.”

‘» " How do you mean?”

- “To get that: same coachmun in the
v  house., I wouldn’t trust him too much he-
“ four I found out who be wor’.” ' .

“ I am not trusting any one more than

'I can help; but I know well enough that

{Zhe‘saved our limbs, if not our lives. Noth-

. Ling can Wipe that out. and I feel in‘tluty

bound to provide for him until I am sure

'Zhe will play me false.” '

Burns might have told something to put

"therbanker more on his guard than ever.

but he was not sure it would be advisa-
ble. He considered a little over the sit-
uation; and then contented himself 'witha

.‘blt of‘advice. and'a warning; ‘
‘9 Better keep a, watch. There is some

sort of a game on foot, and if you don’t

find t more abbut it it wouldn‘t be a

madman to have me in the house. ’ On
my): I can 'watch it, from the other

.He'took his departuré in a thoughtful

  

  

  

  
 
 

"telephone told the bunkerwhat had been
discovered at the\ Morgue: “ Body not
'IIcathcotc’s at all." , V

‘  batsman xxx. » . 

, v THE MEN AT THE‘MOBGUE. ‘

f had expected to go straight from
mvercamp’s to the ,agency',,but what he
dd beard changed his intentions. ‘
‘He thought he was as well able to iden-
flfy’the bedy at the' Morgue as the banker.
himself, and, in addition, he  another
idea: . . ,,_‘ ./ r A ,,

He disguised'himsclf and went; off to
, oak up my Billy, with whom he had a
'Mdittlonal‘ appointment. ' -
Glad in a baggy old suit.»that

tchcd and darned it was hard- to
mimosa, had been its. original appear-
..mrwith‘ gray hair. wrinkled face, and
Mamas stoop to  vsho‘
,Liiooked’dike an old man from-
grammars, ’~ I" “ 
Billy staredup'at the.

  

 

  

  

  

    

 

   
   

        
 

 

-\

mood. and hardly had be gone when at

had been; V

, had,
a tower '

 

he seemed to be, who addressed him in a.
squeaky voice.

“ My boy, do you know the place where
they, put the people who are found
drowned?"

“ In d'e ground. Gimme anudder one.”

“ No, no! I do not mean that, but there
is a place where they take them, so if
they have friends to look for them they
can he found?”

“ Yep. D'ey roost ’em on do slab."

“ Eh?"
b1“l)‘cy put ’em ter snooze on d‘e mar-

e. ’

“Yes, yes; I understand. That is the
place. Do you know where it can be
found?"

“ Kin. l strike yc‘r nibs fur expenses an’
a quarter?"

“Yes, yes, my boy. I will gZVe you a
quarter it you will, guide me to the spot.
1 can illy spare it, but the laborer is
“’ol'lhy of his hire.”

The old man spoke with :1 Shuttle, but
whether it was sanctimony or personal

«emotion was not so evident.

,“ltats! Don’t turn on do waterworks,
but of you've got d'e spelter, whack it
up. I‘ll tout youse to der Morgue fur
d'at altemal an’ t’row in d’e croakus."

With trembling lingers the old- man
fumbled in his pocket and drew out a
silver piece.

“D‘at‘s d’e pigeon!
youse there in a flip.”

Burns had thought it best to approach
the lad in this way since there were sev-
eral parties in sight, and he did not want
to give Billy away, both for his own sake
and because it might destroy his usefuh
ness. The two walked away together.

When they were fairly out of sight of
the spot the detective gave a private sig—
nal which had been agreed on, and

D’is way. Have

watched amusedly to see what the result '

would be. r
To his surprise the boy never moved a
feature. v
‘ “Oh, I’se Fly Billy; did youse t’ink I
didn’t tumble?”
“To tell the truth, I did.
one else dropped to the game."
“D’at’s right. I ain’t fallin’ all over
mesclf ter show I know d’e beans when
do bug's open. Youse a runnin’ d'is
trolley. Keep on to d’e wire lan’ I’ll stay
on d’e platform." . '
“All right. I’m. an old man, going to
the Morgue to look fer my nephew. I

I hope no

,want you to takers. look at the corpses

'there and see if you recognize one .of
them.” . _

“ Old man .goes. D'e Morgue, moreover.
His way, daddy, an' youse don’t want
ter whindle ef yer finds d’e cull. It’s d’e
honest plant fur (To most 0v us.”

From that time on, until they entered

the Morgue, Billy kept up the illusion.
, If he was to‘ continue, to‘ occupy his
quarters in Lannignn’scellar, he knew
even better than the detective the im-
portance of so doing, or the dangers'in be
ing seen assisting anoflicer.

They reached the place, finally, without

seeing any .one‘on the way who appeared
"to be watch them. '
' .They look
on the slabs, but there, was no famlll
face to attract 'their attention. ', '
“Don t 'pear ter be‘here, undo,”- chir-
ruped the boy, with
Itive’s coat tall. ,/ ~
' “ Hev"ter kim' ag’in, er go furder.”v
Burns heaved. ‘a sigh, nodded solemnly,

81‘

rand turned away; Had it not been for

another warning tug .he might have

missed a thing which perhaps'was' worth

the’ ,trip here. i , ' 2
In disguise though he was. the.

over the ghastly objects \

a1 tug at the detcc-p

\

who came gliding ‘forward to looklat the~

bodieswas recognized by both Burns and
the boy.‘ ‘  _ . t
It was medorlyn. , r
At once, it struck Burns that‘he had
seen the newspaperxltem, and had come
.to’make‘sure. 'Or, it ‘might be, he had
some thoughts of preventing. identifica-
tion. or ofxturning suspicion invthe [wrong
direction-x " ' ‘ ‘
-- .M-an'orem 1
WWW» his. .
l‘i

 

  
  
 
  

    
 

  

.325 when, at talking

here wash look of idisap‘?

in everybody, he made sure they Were all
strangers to him.

He never seemed to give even a glance
at the old man and his guide; but Billy
was not tooled.

Once outside, he wanted to be off,
after the fashion of a boy who has earned
his money.

Burns was satisfied to see him go, hav-
ing hastily made an appointment for a.
later hour. He was in something of a.
hurry himself.

The chief looked up when he came into
the, office, but seeing a smile through the
wrinkles, recognized him.

"Great Scott! Have you turned up?
We. thought you 'had taken a ride down
the bay without waiting for a boat.
They are dredging for the corpse now elf
Sandy Hook."

“Not as big fools as they look. thin. If
wor‘ where ()i started for. but. luck wor’
more in the favor than judgmjnt.”

“ Blundered into trouble, then,
usual?”

" Somethin’ loike it; but there wor‘ ither
faytures."

" And meantime it is reported that
Heathcote is at the Morgue. Adams
went over a while ago to see if it is so."

“He moight save the ‘throuble. 0i have
been there mcsilf, and it’s anither man
altogither.”

“ Then it’s an internal mystery where
he went to. There’s no trace of him here,
and he hasn’t passed the Canada line.”

" 0i know where he went in at, but the
bother is to foinde ave he came out. Oi
am attending to that now, and Oi want a.
men to look after some wan it won’t be
so hard to come at.”

“ No foolishness about it, I suppose.”

“Never wanst; it’s cowld business.”

“ And the man?—”

1 “ Is the Deadly Dandy—Roger Vander-
yn. - ‘ ’

“ Whew! We were trying to pipe him
already. Is he mixed in the matter?”

“ Up to the elbow, but it will have to be
careful work, an’ Oi’m not riddy to say
what you’ll foind'e at the ind av it."

“ This begins to get interesting. Van-
derlyn was a supposed friend of Heath-
cote’s, ,and there may be something in
what you think you .have discovered.
Give me the,whole story.”

Burns rattled off his yarn in few words,
and with as little reference to Vanderlyn
as possible.

“It is a strange story,” commented the
head of the bureau. thoughtfully.

“We must find out if there was any-
thing behind the acquaintance 'of those
two men. You. have never heard of bad
blood between them. or a cause for it?”

as

niver asked.”

ier was decoyed down there and is still
a prisoner, but my own idea is that he
is dead. ‘It is too late or too soon: to pull
the house, but it ma come to that.”

“ But where does vercamp come in?
There’s somethin’ wrong there.” r’

“ We’ll have a man to look after them,
’and you can follow up the clews you
have, and keep an eye out for Vanderlyn.".l

“Oi’ll do that last, for Oi have my
sushplcion ; but he’s at man ye wants to
touch tlnd my." ,

“ It Won’t do to lose much time about
it. He Was in here yesterday. and said
something about being 01! «on a yacht
cruise as soon as the weather settled.”

“ In here?” ,. . .

is Yes; ’ '

.“ The gall av him; an’ me/lyln’ d'ld in
the ditch l" ‘ y . '

i“ It don't seem probable you are on a
true lead." , , '

“Be the powers. but it don’t." . a ,.

about this yarn?’
‘f-Wh-at Oi aw Oi

. 0i ‘. nit owe r'to.,'" 3 

;’ “ t looks like crisis. mm.

    
   

 

m o aromas-crotedgw * a

“Niver a wordu—be the same token, 0i ’

“‘Find out. It may be the young cash- I

‘f And yet that is the strong reason why .'
the matter-is worth investigating. You _ '
are a daisy to find Inmate's nests—bun".
somehow,‘ thereis always something in. ,
them. ,‘Areflyou sure there is no‘mistake,

saw'vmhe’riet avl’. I

 

     
  
  
  
  
     
      
     
       
      
     
      
        
       
       
       
       
     
       
        
         
     
     
       
   
      
        
    
     
      
     
            
 
      
         
     
   
       
   
      
     
     
        
   

 

 
     
    
      
   
    
   
  
  
  
 
 
   

,gmgggfwfiflh gas-«wars; 127w .v_ < .v  #4

 

 

 

   



~ “the missing cashier. If you are certain it

 

 The Clubmaln-Qorook’s; ;Ca.t’s?pa.w.  i "i 7 7

721‘

 

 

 

haVe stumbled into a, big thing. We‘ll
see wh .' is in it. anyhow. What help do

you \\':t:ti. and what else are you thinking I

of doing yourself?"

” Sure, an‘ Oi'll stick to the pursuit av
Heatheote, an' ye can do 'what ye loikes
in the matter beyam ."

“ You want. a freehand. All right. Go
it alone. We‘ll attack from the other
side.”

 

CHAPTER XXII.
"WEIGIIED AND l-‘oifxli WANTING."

There had been something about Mrs.
Fer-rand which iiiipl'essetl llelen Haver-
Camp more than she knew. and she re-
membered the promise of the :l(l\'t'lillll‘-
ess. That washow it came she was on
her "way to the Iinssehlorf when Burns
saw her and the new Coachman.

There was no thought of an interview
with the driver, because when she came
to look at him carefully that-morning she
came to the conclusion that whatever she
had been hoping and suspecting, this man
was a perfect stranger.

There could not be a doubt about that.

She knew Harry Heatheote too well
to be‘deceived by any disguise he might
assume; and though there were some
slight resemblances, they Were principally
in the matters of size and weight. -

Mrs. Ferrand received her cordially,
and without any surprise. though it was
certainly a singular thing the daughter of
Havel-camp should make this early morn—
ing call.

The lady was alone.

She looked somewhat older than she
had done the previous evening, ‘but‘. if
anything, more handsome. There was
something in her eyes as they rested ou’
the young lady that glorified her whole
appearance.”

"1 hinted last night we would meet
again; but I did not suppose it would be
so soon."

“ You must pardon me if I seem to in-
trude; but you seemed to have informa—
tion in reserve, and I could not rest until
I obtained it,”

“ Do not apologize, my dear. I am only
too glad to have you come. I have few
friends in this city where I am compara-

, itively a stranger, and I appreciate your I

visit, no'matter what its object."
‘ “Its object, of course, is atselfish one.
In speaking of Harry Heathcote last night
you intimated that you had more in-
formation you might give me. I have
come for it."

“First, let me ask, has the man at the
Morgue been identified?" "

“ Not to my knowledge, but I am cer-
tain he is not my friend.” ‘

“ You still call Heathcote your friend?”

it I do.” 1

Helen drew herself up .proudly, and
looked with unwavering orbs into the
eyes of her questioner.

“And I suppose nothing could, shake
your confidence in him?” ‘ - .

“Nothing.” ‘ »

The face of Mrs". Fen-and took on an ex-
pression of pity. v '

“ My poor child, if that is the case, it is
\hardly worth your while to come to, me.
What I might: say you wonld only dist»

,lieve, and I would be doing more harm

than good.”

“ Harm—to whom?”

‘.‘ To myself.”

“I do ndt understand, Unless you im-
agine I might repeat what you said. Do.
you think I must give you an assurance
that anything you confide to me will be
confidential?" ’

“ No. Indeed, no. It is the feorrmost of
all that I might alienate you entirely

r from me.”

“Nothing you could say would be as
apt to do that as the knowledge you had
withheld the truth when I asked for it."

“ Then the truth you shall have.”

“When?”

“Nowl’, \

“Proceed. I can bear it."

“I believe you can, since you did not
break down last night. I then had rea-
son to believe‘therbody found» was that of

 

is not. I will ask no questions as to how
you know, but, belieVe me, it. might be as
‘\\'e11 if it was. Both for you and for
him."

“ Not so. “’hilc there is life. they say.
there is hope. He may be in danger,
probably he is; but eventually he will
come through it all, safe and with honor.“

"His safety is one thing; his honor is
another. He may escape with life and
even Wealth; but his honor—if you meas-
ure it as most girls do—is gone already.
If you are wise, you will forget him. now
and forever."

“It is false! You do not know him.
You speak as the world speaks, and as a
stranger. My life is staked on his hon-
esty."

“ I speak only of what I know. Swear
to me not. to repeat it until I give. permis-
sion, nor to hint that I have the knowl-
edge, and I will tell you the whole truth."

"I give you my promise, so far as it
does not interfere with knowledge gained
in other directions."

“ You may know that I am one of the
up-to—date writers; and view the different
phases of life :lt'fll‘st hand, handling the
truth without gloves."

Helen bowed.

“It is not strange that I ferret out
queer mysteries. I am looking for them,
and I do not fear to follow them to the
fountain heads."

“Yes.”

“This is the whole story.

“ I-Ieathcote dabbled in stocks, and was
hard hit. He lost. not only his own sav—
lugs, but sunk some twenty thousand be-
longing to the bank."

Mrs. Fort-and paused to see how her
story was received, but Helen only looked
straight over her shoulder with a. stony
stare. ‘

“ Unless there was a sudden turn in the.
tide he was ruined. ,ln that case, he
planned with a friend 'to rob the bank of
whatever cash was in the safe. The turn
of the tide did not come; the watchman
was drugged; the safe was robbed; and
the two tog xther went to a refuge of crim-
inals. No one would ever suspect he
could be found there, and no place could
have been safer, if—”

N If?" ,

The word dropped breathlessly-from the
lips of the young lady.

There was a vralsemblancefof truth in
this story which made her shudder in
spite of her trust inI-‘Inrry Hearthcote.

“ If he did not receive foul play while
there. My child. he went in there, but he
has never been seen to come out of the
place alive, and he is not there ,now. If
his body was not found on that scow,
there is an awful chance' that it lies some-
where else, in as obscure a resting place.
The question is, would you have his con-
fedemte punished for the crime your
lover committed? Might it .not be better
for you if both “were permitted to drop
out of remembrance, now and forevor‘!"

Coldly and pitilessly the story went on
to its bitter end.

“ Why do you say his confederate? If
one be dead what reason is there that the
other should be living?”

“ Because, beyond a doubt, that con-
federate betrayed him."

“ What reason have you to believe all
this?”

“The reason of absolute truth. Not a

word of it is guesswork, but every sylla-.

ble absolute knowledge.
get this man!
who will never truly solve the riddle; and
let him drop forever out of your memory.
It is your own happiness I am playing
for. Whatpis Heathcote, or his confed-
erate, to me?" ‘ .

“Or what am I, for that matter?”

For the first time Mrs. Fermnd was'dio-
concerted. ' ~l
. She paled a trifle. and stammered.

There was no ready answer on. her
tongue. ‘ 

Girl, girl! for»

'“ That staggers you. does it? One ques»
,tion more.

Who was the confederate?"
“That I cannot tell.”
“You will not, rather.”

 

Call off your detective,‘

 

“Have it as you please. I have not re- .

  

vealed this for any reason but to make
you understand the unworthiness ot' the
man for whom you an eating your heart
out. i am not a private de.eet Ve. how-
eVer mueh i may garner up of mystery
for the sake of my art. 1 hold you to your
promise. and, if my Words cannot eon-
vince, you, will leave it to time, which re-
veals all things."

"i do not. know whether to thank you;
or to say I hate you. You are wildly
mistaken on every point, as i am well
aware; and yet, below it all, there is a.
certain bit of truth, no doubt. if you are
wise you will not: repeat the story you
have told me, and you may be sure the
secret will be kept by me."

“ You begin to see that it cannot be told
without injuring the memory of the man
you would shield. If it can be done, I,
too, would be silent. Do not go. Cannot
we speak of something chum”

“Not at present. Perhaps at another
time. You seem to guess how deeply‘
this story can Wound me; and though I
cannot doubt your honesty of purpose, I
must remember that you have told it.”

There were a few more words of leave-
taking, and then Helen departed. She
had heard the truth as another Woman
knew it, and out of it believed she, could
patch a story which would be nearer to
the truth. I ‘

How much of it. though, would she
dare to give to the detwtive without,
breaking her promise?

On her way home she learned several
points, and one of them was that the
body at the death-house was not. that of
the young cashier. I

At the door she dismissed the coach-
nlan, and after laying aside her hat, went
straight to her father’s room, intending
to use the telephone. ’

There. glancing at the table. she saw
something which drove other matters out.
of her head. ‘

In the center of the table, pinned down;
by a dagger thrust through its center,
was a broad sheet of pape .

“Heavens!” she muttered.
come at last!"

She stole forward as though the thing
might be alive, and, bending over, stared

“ It has

"at the sheet.

On it was printed, in heavy Germain
script:
“WElGHED AND FOUND WANTING; THE
END IS NEAR.
BEWARE THE IDES OF JUNE."

“And they are here now! Can father 

have seen this? I must let him know at.
once.
cape.”

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHdDOWS. ?

“Come home at once!”

That was the message Helen sent to her
(father; and it brought him without much‘.

e - y. ' "

He found his‘ daughter in his room, and
as he entered she pointed at the table.

His eyes rested at once on the dagger '
and.paper, and his face paled slightly; '

while he had the air or a man who had

There may, there must be some es- ,

been bracing himSelf for a shock. and so v H

guild not own to the real weight of the
ow. ‘ , ’ »
“ I found it there!” the young lady exvf

claimed,’ “and .knew it was no idle hour?

You have received your warning; what is.

. to be done?”
it Nothing.” - ‘. ‘s

“ But what does it mean?" ‘ y 

“Death. most likely. I have been liv—
ing under its shadow so long I .
hardly four to race the substance now. If-

you will believe me, it is actually a  ~

lief.”
“How will it come?" 3 "  
3‘ Who knows? That dagger you 309.;
there may be the i trument, .wlelded‘my
the hands of one om we w
suspect. Or it maybe by poison. by-flre.‘ ,
by a seemingly natural accident—4f an,

\

'accident can be called natural. The only ,
: r

known thing is that it is certain."

ofild least. “

 

He spoke steadily, Without a (mover in: 7,- ,

 

     
 

at

:22

The Clubman—Crook’s Cat’s-paw.

 

 

his voice; but it was as a man who had
done with hope.

“ Can it be possible there is no protec-
'tlon?"

“ Temporarily, perhaps; but; of what ac-
count area few hours saved by timid con-
cealment ? Sooner or later it must come."

"But cannot you get at the source?
‘Surely the law could reach such crimin-
als in prospective."

“Half the time the law cannot find a
victim when the deeds have been com-
mitted; and then it only reaches the poor
tools.” ~

“ Yet there must be a reason for so foul
a crime. Remember. I ask for no conti-
denees. You have told me a hidden dan-
ger menaced you, and to be prepared for
a. Shock .Beyond that. you have never
gone. How have you merited this venge-
ance—it can be nothing else—or. how
have you drawn the lightnings in your
direction?"

“That is the In this tri-
bunal no man fat" ' 't-r, and if he
is conscious of no guilt, he can only
guess."

“Were—Were you ever a member?"

f" “Never.”

“Can it be, then, simply a murder be-
cause you are a man of Wealth '1”

“I think not; but who can tell? All I
know is, a demand was made on me for a
large sum of money, which I refused to
consider. Afterward. I received a warn-
ing, and then a notice. This is the final
communication."

“ If you know so little in the matter.
'how then can you be sure it is not all a
ghastly jest? Why are you so certain
that at the worst there is no escape?"

“ Because I know such a society exists,
with ramifications all over the world:
and have heard of work that was done
by it beyond a. doubt. When you band
together thousands of irresponsible luna-
‘tics, crazy on a false principle, and have
a head center sufficiently powerful to di-
rect them as he wills, you have a power
for evil which cannot be combatted at a
moment‘s notice.”

“Who is at the head of it?”

“ I know not."

“ Then there is no chance for an ap-
peal.“

“ None."

“ What had Harry Heathcotc to do with
all this?" _

The question was asked abruptly. and
was apparently the last thing expected.

“ I have been afraid you would ask me
this. and yet, for the moment, had for-
gotten. Poor fellow! He undertook to
fathom the mystery. To a certain ex-
tent I had made him my confidant, and
he. believed he could unravel the clew I
fancied I could give him."

“A clew! But I thought you had
none."

“ I was not sure, but believed if I had
it was connected with a single individual
.who was apparently above suspicion. He
may even succeed—for I cannot believe
the is dead.”

“And I know he is not.
‘ithe shadow of a hope."

“ A faint one, indeed."

“ But if you know where to look for the
stroke, half the battle will be won.
Have courage."

“I hope I have courage to meet what-
ever the end may be. I did not think it
right for my fate to come upon me with-
out having given you warning. Other-
wise I would not have had you know
anything about it.”

“ One question; and I ask you for noth-
ing you do not freely tell. ’Whatever
Harry may have done was with your
knowledge and consent?”

“It was,"

“Thank Heaven for that. I knew it
must be so. And if he, never returns,
there will be no cloud upon his name?”

“ None. Of that I have taken care."

Helen gave a sigh of relief. Whatever
Mrs. It‘errand might know there was at
least one thing in which she was mis-
taken.

She Would have liked to ask her father
who it was Heathcote had attempted to

mystery.

There is then

 

investigate, since, no doubt, it was the
same man who the widow supposed
was his oonfcderatc, but the time did not
seem propitious, and their conference was
broken in upon by a call from the tele-
phone.

Even at such a time Peter Havercamp
had to attend to business, and rather
welcomed the diversion.

After that. for the rest of the day,
things moved along in the I-Iavercamp
mansion about as usual, and had it. not
been fora certain strained look about. :‘he.
eyes of the young lady, there would have,
been no sign whatever of what was
smoldering underneath the surface.

In her own room, however, Helen
heard from Norah a few items which sup-
plied the latest intelligence.

“The detective was here
ing,” greeted Norah.

“He was in the house before you
started, and how he got in I cannot make
out, but we missed him. altogether.“

“ Are you sure it was the detective?“

A momentary suspicion. darted through
her mind, though it was immediately
dismissed on hearing the answer.

“Just as sure as your father was. I
think Mr. II:1V01‘C:1IH‘D must have let him
in the first time."

“ The first time?”

“ Yes. That was when we missed him,
but. right after you left he came back. I
think he must: have seen you in the car-
riage, for he was asking questions about
the new coachman.”

“ Ah! And you heard what he said?"

“ Of course. That was what I was here
£0117!

“ And he has intelligence of Harry?"

“I think he has, but they must have
talked that over before, since they didn‘t
say much about him this last time. It
appeared to be about the new man that
he came."

“Had he
I—Ielcn. eagerly.

“ He didn't say. but if I know anything
about it he wasn‘t charmed with the sight
of him, and put your father on his guard.”

“ Tell me what he said.”

As well as she could. Norah repeated
the conversation in regard to the new
coachman.

Miss Havercamp felt somewhat disap-
pointed. In some way she had been about
willing to disbelieve the evidence of her
own senses, and connected Harry Heath-
cotc with the rescue on the return from
Mrs. Broadalbin’s.

this morn-

recognized him '3” asked

At first she had barely suspected the.

visitor might have come in her father’s
absence, and left the warning which had
so disconcerted them both.

Then she imagined that in the coach-
man the detective .had either rmognized
Harry or some one connected with him.

For this thought the mysterious note
was responsible.

And yet she, had taken a drive with him
that very morning without being able to
pierce the mask which covered his iden-
tity—if mask there was.

“Then he believes the man is danger-
ous and a fraud?”

“ From what we heard it’s not what he.
believes. but what he does that counts. I
told you that it was his blunders that
brought him his good luck. and, someway,
I fancy this is one of them. The best
that we can do 'is to keep quiet, and
watch. He can do no great harm in the
stables.”

“But as a friend, he might do a great
deal of good in the house.”

“Any way at all. He is a good-looking
fellow, but he «has the face of a. devil, for
all that.”

“One thing more. After father left,
did you keep an eye on the room?’

“Almost every minute.”

“ Who entered it?”

“Not a soul.”

“ Are you sure?"

“If there did, he or they must have
been quieter than a mouse. It was
scarce a minute at a. time that my eye
was not on the door or the room, and I
was never too far away to, hear. the
slightest sound." '

 

“Strange. Think again. You must
have been absent from your post longer
than that at some time."

“Not until you came.
know when I met you?”

“In that time it might be possible,”
said Helen, niusingly.

“ Possible for what?"

“ For a man to leave the stables through
the covered. private way, reach the room,
and get away again before I entered it.”

“ You don‘t imagine the new Robert to
have done. such a thing?"

“Hardly; yet it is worth while to take
it into consideration. Some one was in
the. room during my absence; and I be-
lieve. it was some one connected with the
house.”

Norah made no mistake. She did not
for a moment. believe. any blame rested
on her; and she asked no questions as to
why her mistress believed some intruder
had been there.

Time enough for her to know the story
when Helen desired. .

One thii g she . the new
man would hear watching, and she had
received a hint. ‘

The conference ended there, for Miss
Havercamp was called away; and she
was left to ponder over the fact that
wealth did not insure. peace of mind. and
that it had secrets which it could not con-
fide even to one as trusted as herself.

All the. same, she intended to keep a.
sharp lookout. over what was going on;
and before long her vigilance was grat-
ified, though what she saw was through
mere chance.

Robert was in front of the stable. when
she looked out of a rear window, and she
saw that he had a visitor.

There was something familiar about the
figure of the man, who appeared to pause
for but an instant, and- she gave a start
as she saw him slip something into the
hand of the coachman.

CHAPTER XXIV.
MISS NORAH'S FRIEND.

“ By the way, what has become of Van-
derlyn?”

“Somewhere about, getting ready, old
man.”

“ Getting ready for what—a. wedding
or a funeral?”

“ Don’t be too sharp, chappie; I thought
you knew. A lot of the boys are on his
good books, and he is going to take them
down the\ coast on a. cruise. Be gone a.
week or two, and have no end of a good
time.”

Burns was in his fashionable suit, and
had come across Bcechy Lyman, of the
Chrysanthemums, apparently by chance.

“ Are you on the list?”

“So reported, though I had half a mind
to send in my regrets. As it was put off
a day or so on account of the weather, I
suppose I will go with the gang.”

“And when are you going?"

After that-you

 

“To-morrow night, if the signs stay .

right. It was to have been yesterday,
but he’s in with the Signal Service, and
got a special forecast from Old Prob.”

“ Much obliged to him all the same as if
he had bid me to the frolic, but it‘s news
to me.”

“ You must come around oftener. "It
was all settled. last Week; and we were
talking about it just before you came in
the other evening.”

“The Sunbeam is all ready, is she?”

“Yes. A couple of us were down to
look at her yesterday afternoon. She’s a.

daisy, and with a man like Vanderiyn to ‘

handle her could go all over the world.”

Burns wanted to know something more
about the yachting trip his chief had
mentioned, and it turned out that Lyman
was the very man to give it to him.

One thing was sure.

The Deadly Dandy had his preparations
made for a leave-taking, and had made
them with an openness bewildering if it
was actually a flight he was thinking of.

Burns pursued the subject a. little far<
ther.

“ Any ladies to be of the party?"

“ Not any in ours. It’s to be a stag pars '

ty straight.”

15 .vnsrrnfi- o;- A .

 

 

“Thin ye may have it an’ wilcome.
What‘s moonlight an’ the wavther without
the leddies—Heaven bliss ’onl.”

The subject of gallantry brought back
his brogue with it. He asked the conun~
drum with a heartiness which made
lieeelly laugh.

"\"anderlyn doesn’t seem to be built
after that fashion—now. He has a pleas-
ant Word for the sex, but. never a soft
one. I suspect he has never got over his
affair with the Havercamps. Some said
it was the millions, but I always thought
it was the lady herselt' he was after."

" The Havercatmps! What was that? I
never heard a word av it."

“ iei‘ore your time. it must have been
a year ago. He was in the swell, then,
and made the fiercest. kind of running for
a while. but the lady wouldn’t have him
at any price, and he dirw out. That was
' the time Heathcote got the chance to
come in. Funny thing about him, by the
3 way. People say there must be some-
thing wrong.”

Er " He wor' too owld for her," said Burns.
shaking his head, solemnly.

“ But thin‘the poor boy didn‘t know it.”

“ Well. he backed out gracefully
enough, stood a little joking without the
turn of a hair; and I guess is none the
Worse for it now, though I don‘t doubt it
hurt him hard." '

“ Yes. When he wants a thing he
wants it dreadful bad. He never seemed
to bear ill will to Heathcote, anyhow."

"No. That's so. They were as thick
as thieves at times. I guess Harry knew;
but then it oughtn’t to make any differ-
ence. No one could say she ever cared
for him, and Harry, besides being a lucky
dog. is above jealousy of a. man that
played and lost.” ‘ L

Here was an item of Which the detec-
tive had no suspicion. and an important
one, too. Y

He had been puzzled to discover the
motive for :the making away of the
cashier. in the face of the declaration
that his accounts were straight, and his
attains at the bank above reproach.

But revenge would lead some men as
far as gold; and Vanderlyn might be one
of those men.‘ I

What was there behind this trip on the

acht? '
y If it meant flight, why had it not been
taken at once ?. ,

Perhaps the work the man about\toWn
had set himself to do was not yet fin-
ished; it was a' consolation to know he
was-not expected ‘tovh‘andle the~Dead1y
, . Dandy all by himself.,  , ~
.  f. One thing was plainw =

 

 

 

\NH. 1‘ .< u; -.

 

If Vanderlyn was the desperate man
the detective thought he was,th had
any game in view to be yet worked, Bob
Knocker had something to do within _

He was a member of the ,gangyvhich
had its headquarters at the Gem; and had,
been placed in the house for some _spe-

'fic u ose. ' »  '1

' ClIf ngpms Was on the'trail of Vander-
' lyn he might be able ~Ito thwart the
scheme, whatever it was, though it.would
have been more satisfactory to \know:he
had received more pointers on the sub

ject.

 

 

.lOnger. ‘and the two separated, without
the pmnp, and operated on in a," most
. scientific manner. ’ i » - i
-' " If I was only dead sure, I'- would have
the Gem pulled, and drop the _Dnndy
into irons mySel ,‘K‘mused the Irishman
.tohimself.“ ,w. y w
. "‘But though» the boy seems to ‘be‘
strait:th zoom. ‘vyetgntere is "too much
" danger. he has colored things: up to reach
- the to? 01 hisflWni'imagination, and it

  

 

,n.

  

‘ ‘ , until something ‘morerha's been learned.
 Faith' I believeIfill'pipej‘Vanderlyna bit
., ‘ 1:1st rim, Oi" camonlypfomd him.” . x t
. 3 . Helanghed and set‘out on a. search. in'
which? he waS‘figditiiébY' good: luck; There

   

   

  

  
   
  

  

 
 

The conversation did/not last ‘much .
Lyman ever guessing he had been ’under.

t or.

will not idorto, take chances of, a. mistake,

‘ ' She was .laugliing‘a‘t

 

He searched around in the haunts
where Vanderlyn would most likely be
found while posing as the man about
town. ‘

While doing this he was himselt" with-
out a suspicion of "cover" about him,

When he could neither see ‘nor bear any-
thing of the man he wanted, he dropped
in at his own room a few minutes. and
came out an entirely different-looking per-
son. '

Then he strolled up to l'lavercamp‘s
from the nearest ear line.

It was quite likely something was to be
seen there. and he had a slight: hope that,
he might see something of the Dewitt-hing
Norah.

He hit it exactly.

That. young lady was in sight. yet ap-
peared to be secretly watching a man
vanishing in the distance. There was no
one else immediately in view but a boy.
who almost immediately disappearml in
the same direction. ‘

A momentary spasm of something like
jealousy shot through Patrick Burns.
The fellow she was observing was stoutiy
built, tall, able bodied, carelessly but by
no means shabbin dressed.

Patrick had not exactly lost his heart
in a singlelinterview, but he had been
smitten a little deeper than the outside.

“ The top av the mornin‘ to yez, an’ av
ye would allow me a worrud it's gladness
Oi moight bring to yer dainty sowi."

I-Ie tipped his hat gracefully, and used
his softest tones.

Miss Norah gave a start, and then made
the first movement toward a hasty re—

treat. Ordinarily, she had courage
enough, but being caught watching she

did not stop to consider who might be ac.
costing her, or the meaning of his ad-
dress. ’ ‘

Her retreat did not suit Burns at all.

“Howly thither!” he exclaimed.

“ Sure, it’s no sthranger Oi am to yez,
av ye would only shtop long enough to
obsarve." , _ .

The voice grew more familiar, and the
young lady took a keen look to See it the
face might not be more so. .

Then she was puzzled. .

“ 01 don't want to, be shoutin’ me name
overthe town, an’ we bein' inthrojuiced
to yez, so to spake, in the darruk, it’s not
sthrange ye did not at Wanst remlmber
me. Oi called on ye’rryonng 'leddy the
other height.” . ‘ ‘ 1 I ‘

The detective had managed to draw
nearer, so that he‘ could communicate this
in a lower tone, and Norah‘began to, un-
derstand, though she was still honbtful

,whether this could be the man’ himself.
it Was ione ot'yhisi,

It was more likely

agents. , , 'v'   . I
.“It ma be so”, she said,» doubtfully,
"butiyou on’t seem to, me the same man‘

"at all. He was rather. good looking.”- '

“An’. Oi won’t altogether strike ye
blind wi'd me ooglynis’s. t Av Oi had the
tohne Oivwa’d lolke .to have a;talk wi’d
ye onekthraneous subjicts‘, but‘joost new
Oi am on dhe trail an’ it’s kiss an’ go the
honey." , ‘ « ' g 3, .

“Better go first; then. It. you‘vrhttve'
nothing to tell aftertall‘these days we
have need of a better man."  '  t' '
, ,“ There nrolmpgs to till, but. thevtoime“
isnot vyit roipe. ~0l~ ownly sthopped, to;
warn ye that ye' have a bad man, au’fia
thraitor, in the house. ,It’s,the newidriv-

Thrust himmot.” , \ - 5.. - : .
“ Then you are good forgsoniething. after
all. How did you, comejio find Rout?“

“Theré’s plenty more Oi’tngood for,
as’Oi’l’l convince ye' W'hin ttho “war is

over. .,An" I'wiant to till. you..- 101‘ rye’r.

misthrlss, to hope an eye ontar‘ man
named. vanderlyn.‘ There's a game. and.

by Oi’m .not‘ misthookhe‘sdn ‘it‘to the

llbow.” ; .~.' I» we“, _:

“Why this \gets better and bettep.‘ flour
tell mevnlmosthss much as. Ik'now my-
self. I. was doing that? “very. thing when
youinterrupted me.‘." , t 2 IN ,
him now. "yet- the
truth was she was ' getting interested.
Burns did not seem to mayo altogether
thrown aw 1histhno,even the 
Io df‘flamf Heather _  .t -' ‘
er. word bone or. Wmi’mqqu

 

 

I make considerable trouble for him.

\

‘tthe‘ gesture’idi‘d not pass unnoticeda v

   
   

 

 
 
 

d?
- work, 'and when he’fmight‘itwas aiwa

_ n,’ non'other’shrms. and suugcli r; '

surprise ‘to Burns, and he did not stop
to consider her sarcasm.

“Sure, Oi’m not fit to ontie ye’r shoes
that Oi did not ricognoine hitu. It's wanst
befour ()i saw him to-day. But, thin, Oi
Wor’ owuly seeiu’ the buck av llillli,"

Burns really could have, beaten him-
self for not rememiwring the man he
had seen at. the morgue. He would have
wasted no time here if he had recognized
him at once. ,

Now it, was too late to follow. _

“Yes, and the had a communication for ’ i
the DOW'dllilli at, the stable. if we knew '
what it. was about it would be more to
the point."

“We‘d be doin’ that same ownly too
quick av 01 wet" sure he had it yit.”

“ He has. 01’ that I am sure."

“An’ he‘s at the stables?"

“ Unless he has flown away."

“Thin l‘ll go there an' take it away
trim him. Is there any way ()i can sur—
phroise him '3" ‘

Norah looked at. him a little tloubti’uliy.

“ You’ll have to have two or three sur-
prises to get: away with him. From
what the miss says, he’s a holy terror
with his fists. She saw him fight last
night.”

“An’ how was that? But, sure, Oi ,
guess Oi know all about it, an‘ the ,
story’ll kape for anlther toime. Joost '
new Oi‘ll go troy me luck wl'd him."

01’ course,' Burns might have arrested
the man; but he. was not ready for that“
as yet; and being a private detective he?

'as to a certain extent handicapped. So
far he. hatl only the word of Fly Billy for.
evidence, anti at second hand that might'
not go very far. ‘

These goings sometimes had “pulls”,
with the courts, and a prisoner he brought ; ..
in might not only get a. discharge, but i "i

c

  
     
     
    
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
    
    
  
  
   
    
   
  
   
  
  
    
    
    
   
     
  
     
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
    
   
 
    
  
  
 
   
   
   
 
  

 

He preferred to' go about this in hi
own way. especially with ,a. guide and
backer like Miss Norah. ‘ , " ‘:

The two slipped quietly down the prim
vate way from the house, and entered
the stables without giving an alarm. .t g

The new coachmanwas there.  v
. His back was toward the. detective,
who looked at him keenly. ’ ‘ t 

A slight noise attracted the attention of
the. man. He. turned slowly around. and ‘ .
as he did so Burns sprang at him like an
tiger. .___ ‘
CHAPTER XXV.

9. The coachman was the lighter in «v

the two, and was takens oft-his guard,

but he-did not quail. ,3 j.   "'
He had been accustomed to this:

        
 
  

 
 

as though it was 3* matter ‘of‘, life and.
math—wwhich, more than half “the time, t
was. r . . . ‘ > . ' .
He threw uphis hands. and then sh
out a blow, though. hardly balancedfo
the effort, 2 -. ‘ . ‘ '

At the same .time h-lsother .hand’dart
to his hip in Quest of «his knife.» . ' ~
. 'Burns, was watching him. all over. and;

 
    
 

  
      
   
   
   
   
  

          
 

golf hei‘could have done so. without-hoe
rious, hut-the would have boonfsatlm
to OVerpoWer the fellow, and twrest his
letter‘away from him.  - "
, That movement assured-him it W.
not be stiletto take any chances. ’
_ gHe guardedfor the blow at his  . .
and with the samohand madea telntthu‘h'

power"iuth

 
  

   
 
  

       
 
 

   
 
      
     
 
   

asecond later threw all‘his
straight rlghthnnderu .,
"The detective ‘felt, sure. it
Jamie, and prove a settler; but \’
Wasmlst'aken. \ " t ‘ ‘J
The, tellow, ducked his head Just. ti
.todetihe. iron knuckle. grazcéalong 
top 0t his skull. - 'lven then nexus; "
gered a bit; but. before the strokecoul
repeated; hehad recov'ér .himsclfta
dashed-in tor a close, striking as he clinic
one had not yet: recognized the (let .
five. and if he had «fiancee it, would, he
made little difference, ', C , " ‘
In a ,moment-‘xthefttwo, men-intern loo

      
  
  
   
 
    
  

     
   
  

  
 
    
 
  
    
  
  
 
 

   
   
   
  
 

 

  

24:

 

knowledge of the wrestler's art, but Burns
was a master.

There was a tugging and twisting. that
did 1101 last long. and with tremendous
force the detective tiung his man and
added his weight to the fall.

The coachinan lay perfectly Mill. His
head had struck against a joist. and for
the moment he appeared like one dead.

Dead or not. Burns wasted no time.

He was after the letter, and that he
would have. After that he could pay
some attention to the condition of the

.. man.
“i - ' There was only one bit of paper about
.. him which filled the bill. In fact, his
.3 ‘ pockets Were remarkably empty.
' There was a dollar or so in small
,’ change, a knife, a handkerchief. and this
er I doubled bit of paper, on which were
 scrawled a few words in pencil.
That was all.
I From behind the ‘ door Miss Norah
‘Watched «the struggle, and looked curious—
, ly at the detective as with rapid fingers
hesearched‘ the pockets of the fallen
man. When he returned everything save
the paper she gave a sigh of relief, and
glided forward. ‘

“ Be “ready for tonight. If you can get
away between three and five come for
‘, orders. If not, look out for hints.”

‘ There was no address orsignature, and
this was all the letter said. Burns read
it orertwice, to make sure of every word,
and then returned it to the pocket in
which he had found“;

Robert was beginning to recover his
senses, and a hasty examination showed
, there had been no great harm done. If
left toyhlmself he would doubtless be all
right in five minutes. K . I
, Burns moved away, and, leaving the
stables, closed the door after him.

“Oi must git out av thisnow wi’dout
jhis .seein’ me, an’ he’ll think it. wot" a
nightmare kicked him.” ,

- “This way. You may as well'Vgo as
you came. You do Swing an awful fist'
.When you get down to business.” ' .

“Oi have to. I-t’s part, av the trade.
~Manny thanks for the tip on that same
letter, though it wor’ not as important as
:V'Oi wor’ hopin'.” , ‘

‘ “ Indeed, I thought it was worth all the
13k!" ‘ ’ -‘ ' ‘

 

  
   
   
  
   
  
 
   
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
    
  
   
 
    
   
     
  

I

. ' “And how did ye know that same?”

,' I,“ It isa good pair of eyes I have in my
I had.” I
' ' “Thrue for ‘ye. They’re as ‘bright as
diamonds an' sharp as aygle’s." . '
_ Norah laughed lightly. 'She had taken
.a‘xlook- over his shoulder Without coming
Very near.  - ' '
1.”?- What are your going to do about it?"
she added, becoming serious again.

  
   
         
   
     
  
    

 

’ n

he wants tobe ofl a bit this afternoonfio
excuse him, Oi. think Oi’ll be [at the inter-
, , . It's those same orders 0i would
loike to be hearin'.” . v ; ‘
' “Never-Tent but what he will have a
 rein. But iw-hdt'has at! this to do
with Harry Heatheote? I thought you
were engaged tofind wtyabouti him?” ‘
, f‘ Wu all-part (w the same job. ,Oi have
modem an’ by vto-morry Oi'll’till yezr all
M than" , i  '

They spoke as they [went’ along, and
there was noytlme for‘Cextended conversa-
ttion.‘ eBumwanted to get out o‘tlthe im-
mediate neighborhood as soon, as possi-
‘r bio, much “the Would have enjoyed tar-

thor converse with theyoung‘ lady. ‘ . .

’ He had some hours before, him,‘sinoe it
was not likely Bobcat; would leave the
place before the-hour appoint gandithen

  

  

        
    
      
    
      
    
    
     
     
     
    
      

  

 
 

  

  

 
 

  

Vestigwtfions elsewhere.- ‘
Mtiufinloot «while he was a prisoner
Wad ‘

It was rather late to tak up the-trail"

  
  
    
    
 
  
    
  

    

  
 
 
  
  
   
  

 child on the plnoowould bring any

6&0  I . ' 1 . . , t
he left the ‘oflce-thev'ohlef 

neng, with

    
 

  

‘ ., ‘.‘-‘.Av»ye'li drop a hint to your teddy. av ‘

would liaad the 'degteotivegs'trol t to Van- ‘
derive: .; . ‘ ‘ ' . " . - ‘-
Moanflme he could be.ng his int:

 and it was don mlwhether.

 

" ‘  f  I  alumni-Tomes? oars-paw.

 

He had plenty to think of.

if a coup was to be made it was pretty
surely coming off this night, and he sus—
pected it was the intention of Vanderlyn
to he ofi' on .the Sunbeam before morn-
mg.

if he could come across the Dandy
while in disguise it would be possible to
have him arrested without any other pOsi-
tive. proof of his crookedness; but until he
knew his plans Btu'ns was not ready for
that. The absence of the man about town
might only seal the doom of the missing
cashier, in case he was still a captive.

About Knocker he would have no, great
trouble, he believed, but the time was not
ripe for taking him, either. .

So long as no more was known he
would serve a useful purpose'whcre he
was. After the afternoon's conference
had taken place it might be worth while
to attempt to obtain information from
him byva strong pressure; but up to that
time he served as a connecting link that
could hardly be dispensed with.

He was hurrying across to the elevated,
intending to go down-town and seek the
neighborhood of the Gem, whcn‘he heard
a piping voice close behind himr;

“ Git onto d’e fiy cop. My! but ain’t he
a toppy Sifter?” ,

The tones were beginning to be ,famil-
iar. and casting a glance behindhim he
had a glimpse of Fly Billy., I

“ What are you doin’ here, me bye? It's
down at the Jim Oi towld ye to be wait-
1n'."

“ D‘at’s right. I were down at the (The
Gem; an’ now I‘m a-waitin’. Git round
d’e corner an’ I’ll open d’e gabs.”

Burns was just turning the corner on to
the avenue, and there were entirely too
many observers to hold any private con-
versation. ' ,

The. words of the boy told him there
was something he ought to hear, and
without further notice he kept on in the
lead until they had reached a spot where
they would not be apt to be noticed or
overheard. ‘

A “ Got a stifl fur d’e mort on do avenue.
Mebbe'you’d like ter twig der scratch."
“ Which?"

- r
‘,‘ Oh, don’t look like a doody. Youse-

fly to der place. I seen youse dere me-
selt.” r

Burns at once ‘connected this with the
Havercampaflairs, and held out hishand.

“ Tetch it lightly, pal, 'fur it’sgot ter go
.t’rough.”

With this for a warningtlie lad placed
in. his fingers the note, which was in the
same handwriting as the one already re-
ceived by Helen Ha'vercamp.1

As it was‘ not sealed, the detective had
no ,trouble’in making himself acquainted
with its brief contents. v

“ The house  doublywatched, and the
crisis is at hand. Have confidence.”

“Where did ye git iti,” asked Patrick,
handing it back with a puzzled air.

“ From a cull.” . ‘

“ Whatcull?”

" “VD'e same cull d’at gi’me d’e odder.”" I

“ What ithe'r wor’v that?”

liill’y explained. ' - -

During module the detective was a
prisoner the boy " had executed a com-
mission for the same man who had given
him." this note. He had delivered a letter
for in to Miss Havercamp. ,

"‘ ’ who wor’ he? .I-t's twoice 0i have.
ashked ye tlte question”, ,J v .

“Dfat’s d’e'gammon ov. it. ‘ Knocker
\Bob, Sure 513 I'm a fly kidd’ant travels on
his.shape..,  y ' a; " '

[The detective was more puzzled than

ev  . _‘ g , . V
i ' he‘zr what earthly reason would Knocker

 

\plot or some kind -’bohind it, but what
Was it? ,, mom the wording‘of, the note

the twolseemed to have an understand

   
  
      
    
   

 
 
  
   
  
 

s  bein deceived. ‘ 
(1., fi'vfid'getedg hile‘uhie‘detedtive was
[$9701 :8. .1 » mi, Renato

be sending“ notes to .Miss Hump,-
when only that morning he had been in
her company? 01' course, there was a.

,ing; but he reltsure that behind it there.
mauvdungerfor {the young lady, who evi- _

   

 

"Say, d'ere, youse don‘t want ter keep
it. Gimme d’e stiff an‘ let me go. An’
say. D‘e tall man's down at d‘e Gem.
An‘ d’e culls—d'ere’s lots ov ’em a callin’
d'ere, too. Somet'in‘s in do wind."

“All roight. Take it an’ go; an’ Oi’ll
have a hack at the Gem.”

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
TROLLY TUCKER'S BLUFF.

To the casual eye there was nothing
suspicious about the visitors who dropped
in at the Gem that afternoon.

Men came and went every day, and a
few callers more or less made no great
showing.

Nevertheless, Fly Billy had dropped on.
to the fact that there was something
more than ordinary going on. He knew
the patrons of the place and their stated
times, so that when he saw Vanderlyn,
and had recognized him in spite of his
disguise, he at once was on guard.

He loitercd around after the innocent
style of a boy of his class until he had
made sure that something was on the car-
pet, and then hurried around the corner,
so as to be on time for a report to the de-
tective.

Lt was then that he met the young man
who intrusted to him the note.

There was money in this young man.
He paid like a prince, and Billy was sad
at times that he had not got acquainted
with the better side of. Bob Knocker
sooner. A

In addition to that, the lad was getting
an inside view of something which was
going on. ~

If he did not as yet understand it, he
had hopes for the future, and that made
it all the more. interesting for the present.

or course, he was supposed to be in
haste; but a boy of his size always con-
siders himself as enteredfor a go—as-you—
please so long as there is not a club
immediately behind him. It was only
chance that he decided to run the risks of
meeting his-friend, the detective, on the
way.

The- elevated took him up-town in a.
hurry, so there had not been much time
lost. Burns hurried down in the same
way. ‘ i

In the intervening minutes, however,
there was
tered without being seen by either of
them. I y I '

if Burns had caught a glimpse or him
he might possibly, have recognized the

‘ overgrown boy, or the undersized young

man, whom he had seen following on the
trail of Vanderlyn. ‘

The youth strolled into the saloon .and
made his way to the bar. There were
half a dozen loungers in the room, but at

present the bartender was at leisure. He.

‘ looked upat the youth after a grimfash—
. tony but caught a queer wink which

caused him to hesitate. .

As a stranger the lad might have re-
ceived a warning that his room was better
than his company.

“I ‘wantfto see Mace," said the boy,

leaning over the bar and speaking in a.

tone scarcely above a. whis er.
I“ Who in blazes is Mace? ' ,
“ He knows, and I know. It you don’t,

;I’ll never tell. He’s! in the back room. ,

though, and you just let him know

' Trolly Tucker Wants to see him-bad.”

,“ The bartender gave an almost imper-
ceptible signal ,to one of the lonngers,~

who,dreW’near and listened to a few

Words whispered into his ear.

He nodded ‘and disappeared by the door e Z I

through which Vandenyn - and Harry

- ‘Heathcoteonad  the Saturday night.

before. \

.He was labséntlbut‘;a.,mmute’ or .two, L ‘
and when he returned, nodded and turned . A
away. 'U  " ~,

“ right, kid. Beokon titer cull you 

’mean we there. You kin. look an’ ace."
“'l‘hankce turnot‘hin’.

w , t r, i . 
-With’ a careless laugh he flung ' a
__  iythe

  

a visitor at the Gem. who en- .

_ If I don’t find 
him you’ll be‘apt Iterhmrmthettreoisou '

 

__‘.....V H- “mm”; ;

 

 

' The

   

ammunition;catalogs.

 

 

a little slide in the wall. There was an

arrangement there, with reflectors. which

gave him a view of the hall in which the
stranger found himself.

,. “ Don’t remember his nibs, but he

. knows the ropes," the man muttered, as
he saw that the lad was moving along

y t without a second of hesitation.

 "Guess it‘s a square deal he \vere giv-

i ‘in’ me. If it. weren‘t, Mace kuoWs enough

- :. ' to take care of himself."

' The lad moved straight on up the stair-
way. and at the head of the steps gave a
knock of a peculiar nature.

, There was the sound of the shooting of

a bolt. and the door at which he had
halted flew open.

; Half a (l0Zl'll men were lolling around

E in much the same careless way as those
below, and in one corner of the large
room. which was evidently, at times,
used for a gambling hell. two men \vere
talking in a low. earnest tone.

The lad caught sight of the pair at the
“PSI eompreheiisire giant-e he gave, and
strolled across without another look at
the other occupants.

“ )Iace it is." he said. coolly. halting in
front of the couple, aml looking straight,
into the face of the tall man, who glared
up at him.

“ i‘ve been waiting to hear from you.
and now the time's about up. I want to
have a little private talk, and see what
we are going to do."

“Mace. goes. but who the Hades are
you?"

“ 'l‘rolly Tucker'll do Well enough to be-
gin with, and you‘ll know the rest when
you get through.”

The lad spoke with a careless shake of
the head, and did not seem at all troubled
by the unfriendly reception with which
he had been met.

“ If I dropped you out of the window
and broke a few bones it would serve you
about right."

“ It would be mighty bad for both of us,
then. Is yotn- friend listening?”

“ That‘s just as you say, my lord.
There’ll be some howling done soon if you
don’t open out. I’ve no time to waste
with chaff. and this isn’t a healthy place
to come and try it on.”

“I’m aware of that last. Mebbe you’d
[like to take a. walk. I can talk to you as
we go along." . .

It was plain that the lad did not in-
tend to speak. before the other man, and
the latter quietly arose from his seat
and left the room, leaving the two to
themselves. K

“Now, then, Vanderlyn. let’s get down
to our mutton. You know who I am and
what I am here for..an-d it is no useto
put off the evil day. What do you pro-
pose?” x '

“You are either mad. or willing .to
court death, or you never would have
thrust yourself into thelion’s den. It is
not what I propose that is the question
now; but what security you can give -to'
justify us in letting you go. If you know
as much as you profess. you must be

‘ sure the chances are strong against. your
ever going out of here alive.” . -
' “Excuse me, if you please. I am not
as big a fool as I look. 1101‘ are you as
immense an idiot as you want to make

90 1e believe you are. .

p “I'llhen why do you put yourself into 'a

. corner where you must be'killed to make

‘ the rest of ‘us safe? 1011 know, too
muc .“ ‘ ‘ '

, “ Entirely too much to walk'into a
trapnthe door ofitwhich I Could not open
when I was ready to go out.”

The. disguised Vanderlyn laughed short-
1y. and the otherc‘ontinned: .

“You see, I am giving you credit for
looking‘before you'ieap; and that you are
in no hurry -to precipitate a crisis.”

“But you know I will protect myself

. at any cost; and- if *I did not the rest

..‘ would." I ‘y Y I “
“There are, ways of doing that, and

there are other'ways. The only one of

them which issue is- to, come to terms.
1" mean to blackmail you; and I. don’t,

_’ make any bones about, It. I. twomdnt
- towed that.  In den. it .1 did
go Whats fo. -  

 

 

 

 

 

   
 

 
   

  

  
  

 

 

Vanderlyn’s eyes glowed like fire. but he
kept control of his tongue.

“ For a woman you have wonderful
nerve; but if there is any way for you to
escape when we have. you here by your-
self. and i. can break your neck with a
Single twist of my 'wrist, I would like to
know what it is."

" Your own fears. man. Your own
fears. You have recognized me at last—-
if you did not front the first. 1 have
been giving you time to think the matter
over. but now you have made up your
mind to bolt I canwait no longer."

“ if I refuse to be stripped."

“ Then I turn the clew over to the men
who are hunting for Henry IIeathoote."

“ And with such a purpose you im-
agine We would let you’go out of here
alive?"

“ if you will look across to yonder cor-
ner you will see a man -watehing the
house. lie belongs to me."

" \Veli'!"

" if I do not. give him the assurance
within an hour that all is right there. will
be a. platoon of poliota in the house within
the next half hour after that."

“ Ah. Glad you told me. We will look
after him."

“ So I supposed you‘would say: and so
I have another man backsetting him. At—
tempt any game on the one and the other
acts. You are aware I have some very
peculiar friends. Those men are two of
them."

Vanderlyn gritted his teeth. IIe knew
Mrs. it‘errand as an adventuress who was
not only wily. but full of nerve, and did
not doubt she ‘was speaking the truth in
regard to the watch on the house. She
knew .i great deal—how much could she
prove?" ‘

He hesitated, and the woman‘ saw it.

'f No use, Roger; you will have .to come
to terms. You cannot afford to be
brought before a judge-dust: now least of
all. Why, a glance through the lockers
of the Sunbeam would be your ruin."

“Stop! I know you believe in honor
among thieves, and I can trust in your
word if it is once given. How much, do
you demand? ' Remember. I have no great
sum in my hands. and if you are not reas-
onable I will have to break your neck and
run the chances." ,

Vanderiyn came to a sudden conclu-
sion. He had too much at stake to run
any chances that were unnecessary. Bet-
ter to pay a price for it, and have this
woman for an ally. even though he did
not trust. her. , .

“ In a game like this has been. I ought
to say halves. and insist on nothing less.”

 You are mad. [You do pot even know
what the game is, and thatI am a dol-
lar the richer for its playing." ‘

“ Oh, I can guess pretty shrewdly what
it was worth to you. And yet I do not
want to crowd you too hard. Ten thou-
sand dollars. will insure silence on my
part as to what the missing cashier did,
and where he .went to." ' . «

“Ten thousand thunder-s! I have not
that much in the worl‘ .”

lie." .,-
- She stood with her two 'h min in the
side pockets of the coat'she- orepwthile
she looked him steadily in the eyes. ,
There was not a shadow of flinchan on
her part, and he heard the warning clicks
of the hammers of the derringers which,
res-ted under her thumbs. v, Whatever he

might decide to do. at that moment she ‘

had his life under her-command, and he

was Well aware she had the courage .to.

use her advantages. . ,
For a moment Madame .Ferrand had
victory within her grasp.’ ‘ I i V t
Then the scales turned as suddenly:
The floor Opened as a. trap-door dropped

from under her feet. and she went down-

Ward, the report of her derringers echoing:

through the room as shc‘felh

- CHAPTER-XXVII. '
rnn swoonns mom can noowx use.

For a moment nothing could beqheord ,
hint: of‘
"Sudden: '

in the room except the hard hreat
{the men who had with ssed th
disappearance.

  
  

“ Excuse me, Roger vanderlyn, but you-

, like that is worth her price. I reckon-it's,

      
  
  

  
    
    
   
    
   
  
  
     
   
  
  
    
    
      
    
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
    
    
 
  
   
   
    
  
  
   
    
   
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
    
   
    
 
  
   
    
  
    
   
  
  
 
  

The smoke drifted away, showing Van-
derlyn apparently uuhurt, and the trap
once more securely back in its place.

“ Who touched off the spring?"

The man about town looked sharply at
the little group of men at the other end
of the room. They could hardly have
heard the conversation. and yet, since he
had not opened the.t1'ap, he knew no one
else to blame. ‘

"Not any of us," answered the man
with whom he had been conversing at:
the time Mrs. ll‘errand entered.

“ We couldn’t reach it. and you ought to
know it."

“i did.” interposed a new-comer, who
entered through a side door.

He was the man with whom V anderlyn
was talking a few moments before.

“ I heard her talk, and I saw that Maori
was \veakening. so there was nothing
else to do if I wanted to save the outfit." ‘

“That‘s line talk, Spider. but you’ll be"
more apt to ruin it. You heard what‘sh'e
said about the parties waiting on the out-
side." ‘

"I heard. but that sort of stuff don’t
count. l’m surprised at man of your ex-
perience and years could be bluffed after »
that Schoolboy fashion.”

Vanderlyn seowled.

He was not in the habit of being treated ‘
this way. Had it not been for the cone
inou danger he would have answered in
(ind. , _

“Bluff or no bluff. it’s safe .to say We '
can look out for breakers. There is half
an hour yet to spare; and I don't know
but what the best plan would be to lm- *
prove the opportunity and bolt."

" Bolt, nothing. There’s your man,
down there; what’s the matter with pick-
ing him up and running him in there to see
if he will tell the same story.” . 1

“ But while we’re doing that the other -.
one will get away.” ’ ., t,

“ There is. no other one. I’ve‘ been ~
watching the game. He‘i's all there is of
'Egllll; and he‘s not so very much to look at,

e t ier." ;

“ I half believe you are right, and that
you have hit the game to play. Work ,it,‘ -
if you can, and I’ll go down to the botth
of the drop and see whether the woman
is-‘alive. It's a nasty fall, and it’s two to
one she’s not.” ‘

“That’s all, right; but before we go ‘
we’d like to know who this party is, and t
what sort of a racket it is she is trying to
work. There is something about this'w
ought to have known.” ' ,  ‘_  1

"Didn’t you hear her sayshe wash
biackmailer, pure and simple? She 69‘,
mandod ten thousand dollars as Itherplrlce':
.of my safety.” ‘ ‘

“ And how‘about ours?” v . g V ‘

“She knows nothing about you,‘ and :
cares less. It is an old grudge between; "
us. that started on the other side of the
water. If it wasn’t for revenge she,
wouldn’t run the risk of having‘her name ‘ '
mixed up with us for twice the money.” r

“But what does she know? How did, .
she come to get on the trail?” * t -v
_ “Unfortunately. she heard a conversa-
tion betWeen that 1001 of a. cashier and
myself.” , y ' " 3i:I

" And after that?“ ‘ ‘ 

“Kept her eyes open and saw a good-fl
deal," replied Yanderlyn, snlkiiy. 

He was angry to see this Spider coins to
.the front, who had heretofore been 78,.
simpledieutenant; but he dared 'tnotrox’s
press his resentment as yet. ‘ ,

“ It might have been worth while to.
have nnteed up .the amount, antitank ' 
her in on the ground floor; Aiwomam

3

  

   
        
  
     
   

    
   
    

too latenow. Go look after her, ,and‘weilb
attend to her pard outside", . > .,
There was a move to go, Vanderlyn 1117,
coding the rest. ‘ .' . - ~.-- :"
Ashe passed out at the door’by ~-w~hioh
Spider had entered, the latter gave a).
wink to tone of the nearest ofthe little-
crowd. ' ' ' - . -
- “ It won’t hurt to keep an eye on‘ him,"
he said. in a low tone. -  
“ Follow him up. and if he needs help:
you canto on hand: but if, there’san

    
  
 
     

 
 
  

   
  
   

  
 
   

 

  
   
 

at ageing. better hear what it may ‘
‘ v net at the lasr moment thedd

    

26 * The

 

{7 ' comes in. The pull will be to get over the
' next twenty-four hours.”

The party addressed nodded, and sl-
lently left in the wake of the man about
town, while the individual who had come
to the front as the leading spirit took a

 cautions view from the window.

1? ” A little exclamation attracted the at-
. tention of the rest.

 , “G01 blame me it We ‘haven’t got ’em.
, They’re both there." \

An ordinary, every-day sort of individ-
uai might not have been able to make the
discovery, but eyes that have been sharp-
ened by crime and have been accustomed
to look behind every bush to see an of-
ficer are very keen.

“ The mort told no lie. There’s her
man watching the house; and there’s his
backstop. watching him. It will take the
mob of us, but we’ll get them both.”

‘ The crowd took a look, cautiously, and
one at a time. 
' It was not hard to make out the two
who were supposed to be the senutinels. ‘

One of them was lounging (in front of
Red John‘s as though he belonged there,

i and Vanderlyn knew that Madame Fer—
g. ' rand, in one garb or another, had some
' sort of a footing at that saloon, though he
had said nothing of it.

The other man. who looked on from a
distance, had only lately appeared upon
the scene, and it seemed almost an in:
tuition that told he was a Spy; but up to
_the present time no one had recognized
" him as Patrick Burns, or imagined that
.he was a special detective.

g ' There was little time to waste, and
‘ :there seemed only one way to get at the
' men. They had to be slugged right
where they were. .
.s _ “ No croakin', you know,” continued the
leading spirit.
'--“ We want to do 'em up ,so they can't
whindle, but tomorrow they can get up
and say what they choose." 
“ V" What’s (To use 0v us a doin’ ther job
t-we kin git d’e boys out from d'e Brown
Jug ter lay him cold fur a quid. Black
im’s d’ere on d’e boose, an’ die gang d’ot
'tralns'wi’d ’em.” ‘ '
’The; suggestion was not a. bad one.
i The Brown Jug was around the corner, ’
and was a tougher resort, even, than Red
,{John’s and the Gem, while Black Jim was
a notorious thug. who had been up half
a dozen times for laying out his man}?
1,“,D7at’s right," chimed in another. I
“Jim's jest itchin' .ter take d'e street.
1’: .a bad time ov day fur a. celebration,
ut'r d’at don’t count wi‘d him. We’ll
sendhim ahead ter make'd’e clean up at,
ohn’s', an’ We’ll look after dfe adder
bloke.” A f . v ‘ ,_ '
i When Burns came down into the neigh-
‘ 00d, and turned his attention to; the
H ,[he was ‘shrewd enough? to take a’
vie'w‘ot its surroundings. , .
Almomt the first thing that attractedhis

 
     
 
   
   
      
     
    
   
   
   
    
    
   
   
   
   
   
         
      
   
   
    
     
    
        
    
   
     
     
     
      
   
   
    
     
     
      
       
 
     
       
    
    
 
  
      
     
     
    
   
     
     
    
    
     
      
    
  
   
   
   
   
      

  

  

 
 

 

 

  

 
   

 

  

  

  

  

  

:30 be practically in the same‘bnsiness. 
He wondered if ‘it could be a man from
e ofl‘lee; and. though ,he thought he,

could pierce any disguise which Adams

  
  

‘ ] could be that astute indiyiduai or'

 
 

It? and} matter of some‘importance to

‘1! it as ~shimmer detective,- there was
ttle‘nse incisor): wasting» their tune on
the battle spot. and 'he would have ’been'
fin to give a; pointer or two and then'be

_ to men an? eye on. 
Havel-camp household:  i ,
Vanadium. haweiveréfiéor  go
m into the totem : Wfl '8
 there came i‘n;,cloudf over 

     

 
 
  

     

   
  

 
 

 loud, and covering  sidewalk
that
yo

'tentiorn‘ Was this man,‘ who appeared -‘

mi: assume, he was in doubt whether .

A" m " at so went: staggering by; ‘

sleeves of his dirty blue flannel shirt
rolled up past his elbows, showing the
great muscles of his brawny. arms, while
he flourished his ponderous fists and
talked viciously to his friends.

The crowd just missed running against
the detective, but as they passed him
Without apparent notice he kept his place,
and gazed after them curiously.

As yet he had no suspicion of their
purpose.

Neither had the man in front of Red
John's, until suddenly the crowd halted.
and before he knew what was on foot the
was hustled out into its midst.

There was a chorus of profane talk;
harsh words, as though a quarrel was go-
ing on, aswaying of figures, and a sound
of hard thumps. I

It was all over in a'minute, so far as
the spy was concerned. If there was any
life left in him it was because he had a
tough head and an obstinate intention
not to die until [the last minute. '

Black Jim and his gang had no mod~
esty, and went up to the front without a
bit of hesitation.

They might have gone eVen farther than
wastinteuded had there not been an in-
terruption; and it came from the Gem.

From the saloon across the street a
small crowd rushed out, as though at~
tractted by the aflray, and made for the
spo .

"G0 slow, Jimmy—d’ere's d’e ' cops.
You done him out d‘is time sure enough.“

Under most circumstances J immy would
have just as soon the, cops come as not,
but he was sober enough at least to re:
member that this was not an ordinary
carnival, gotten up for his especial amuse-
ment, but that there was coin behind it,
which heneeded badly.

His pockets had'been empty for an hour
or more, and he was not ready to tie up
on the booze. ‘
v He made some sort of a protest, but his
gang closed around him, and laughing,
shouting. and without a backward glance
at the thing left on the sidewalk, they
hurried away.

Burns viewed the performance with in-

‘ 'terest. . r

He thought it was an ordinary brawl,
but when theparty came out from the
Gem it appeared that it was 'a special in-
terp0sition in his favor, and he_ moved
closer. ' r ’ ’ .

As. he did so, several men who had
been viewing the some from his neigh-
berhood, moved- on With him.

He‘ had been sotaken up with ‘what
‘Iwas going on that he had not noticed
their approach;'and now was rather glad
' of their company. ,

They had remarks to make about Black
Jimmy and his gang ,which, he overheard.

thing about their victim.

The victim ,, as in a, baduway.’

He was blee lug freely. and. lay without
sense or motion. . '
. “He's sl‘ugged forugoodfi’ Burns heard
one :man say,who.. was bending over'him.

“ Y’er ofl'ond'at.‘ He’s on’y had a‘ stiff
'un on d'e ‘Jatw.
Gem‘ an" put him, in d,’e back room wi'd.a

‘ ' snort ov hardware an’ he‘ll herightside‘

up wi’d" cafe: ,VKetch hold an’ we'll take
him 111.;
d’ere.'?..

'fhelpin'g‘ hand, and between them the-man
’ n0?- altogether looking like a, dead .man.

crowd went Patrick Burns. .

getting into  Gem without attracting
stientiouz;‘.;  ' v' ,. a  . .

 
    
  
   

 

Clubman—Crook’s cat’s-paw.

. harm.

and‘ he fancied, they might know sonic- '

Kerry him over to (1’2 4

It won’t do for him ter.;liev
;ScVera1"-othersp were willing ‘ to I lend. a'
>was‘ borne away, limp and helpless, but .-
 The crowd Went along, and withflthe‘,

. He was potent-lesson the average, or,
.more sol-antlethis solved «the problemot “

Ens 9:7th
,‘ . tax-nodded” , , ,
, he i never; do itaxalfi.

 

without the least warning, one of the
men on The stairway wheeled and struck
a heavy bio-\v at the dctective’s face,
while three threw themselves upon him
from behind.

He dodged the blow, but that was only
to lay himself more thoroughly open.
One of the men at his back secured the
garroter’s hug on his neck, while the
others caught his arms. He was in a vise.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
MARCO.

Fortunately for Patrick Burns, no one
had recognized him.

He was in a different garb, and no one
dreamed he was the man who had been
unmasked at Red John’s, and who had
subsequently escaped the dangers of the
drains by the unsuspected assistance of
Fly Billy.

Had they dreamed of such a thing it
would have gone much worse with him
in the attack so unexpectedly made upon.
him in the back hall-way at the Gem.

There were few better men in a rough~
and-tumble or a stand-up fight; but in
this affair .the detective had positively
no chance whatever.

That crushing pressure on his throat
would alone have mastered him, for. at
the disadvantage he was under, it was im-
possible to shake it oflf. In addition, how-
ever, were the two men who wrenched
his arms back, and the fourth man who
dodged behind him the! moment he saw
the others 'had fastened their grips.

He was much too wise to run the
chances of a hoist from the foot of the
still struggling man. He reached over
from the rear, and pressed a moist cloth
against his face.

That ended the struggle in short order.

Burns felt his senses gliding away from
him, and after a short but furious strug-
gle with the drug he collapsed.

He had not time fairly to think what
had happened to him, and it was doubt-

 

his senses.
Spider was the man who had struck
from the stairway and applied the drug.
They carried the detective away be
tween them, leaving the disoussiou of his
final disposition to the future. ,
For the present it was enough for him
to vanish beyond the chance of doing

Meantime, the man who“th been
slugged by the crowd from' the Brown
Jug had disappeared, but had been han-

dled with more care.

There was a little room on the second
story which». was occasionally used as a
bedroom by the man who was here known
as Mace, though in sweller circles he was
known as Vanderlyn. _ _

His belongings, such as he had kept here,
were tor the most part removed, but the

71901: on, the door. ‘ . 1
For a crippled manit would serve as a
good enough prison. so long as he made

that it would not behind to provide.
r bed. '
later, as he looked the fellow over; “what

luck? It Won‘t do to let him die here;
‘fMacev is surgeon enOugh to; plaster him up,-
and, Mace will have to look at him.’.’, 3 ,

», “ Let him _ hoprit 'ain’t’ our funeral."

me it he don’t look as th'
a
it

3‘ fest walnuts all, use  “about

'. r , h _ \
.j, “. es. That’s the curse of it. He never
di it be! resend it he dealt 

  

  

 

The. Spider left the   a whilé
00mins  1 nd' Vanda-bu  with

 

ful if he would know when he returned to |

bed still remained, and there was a stout.

no great amount of ranket, and against ,
He was carried thereand laid on the I.
i  'es ion in" said ‘Spider, a nine

internal use was there for this bit of 1 '

WYesfhut it’s, our plant“ Stay. here.
.whlie‘I go" look for Mace. ‘v ‘Gol. blhmej
211 he carried '
,white feat-her  was going, to show

 

 

   

 

 

    
  
  

 

 

 

rifle did not know which way to look for it.‘

‘ had determined “to but the hang out or

.’ awa’s thetslfiyge

 

The

 

 

He did not get. at his work with any
particular tenderness. but he had a rough
skill and some experience in desperate
cases.

He was in search of broken bones, and
the, first thing he looked at was the skull.

“Looks like concussion of the brain," he,
muttered, more to himself than to the
Spider, as he began his ministrations.

“In that case I cannot ansWer for him,
but the rest I can plaster up well enoughf’

It was a little awkward. looking after
the ribs of the man without being able
to receive any assistance from him, and
with the broken arm in the way; but he
passed a broad band around the body to
somewhat hohl the ends in place, and as
there was no depression, this was all that
for the present was necessary.

Then he got to work on the arm. ‘

The Spider watched him, and aided
now and then, when his services could be
of use. A regular surgeon could not have
finished the job much sooner or better.

With the broken bones out of the road
the amateur surgeon began on the head
of the injured man, who seemed at last
to be recovering something of his senses.

He softly spunged out the cuts, and
washed away the blood from the battered
face. The tenderness seemed instinctive.

“There, my friend, you'll do.
ever ask you who was the good Samar-
itan who sponged you off, and tied you
up, tell ’0in he was a. doctor 'who hap—
pened along that way, and that he didn t
leave his name.”

He spoke with a laugh, and yet there
was a troubled look in his eyes as he
stared at his patient, who had just given
a groan.

It. scarcely seemed likely there could be
any recognition of the man who lay there,
yetthere was something familiar, some-
thing which took Vanderlyn back to the
years which had passed.

He fell back a pace from the bed and
stared at the face in which he'could- de-
tect. a trace of returning life and color.

While he looked the eyes opened and
glared full into his own.

" Great Heavens!" he muttered, as he
met. that look. “ It is Marco.” -

Spider was watching, and he saw the
hand of the Quill about town go back to
his hip. ‘

“ Steady, cap; it's too late for that now,
and here.” . .

The words recalled Vanderlyn to inm-
self, and he turned (hastily away, passing
out of sight of the man on the bed, and
beckoning, to the Spider as he went.

“ See if he knows 'me. It he does, he
must die. 11' he does not, beware how
you put him on the scent.” 1

He hissed out these words in a: tone too
low to reach therinjured man, and left
the room withoutanother'glance, ‘

———-—

‘ 'OHAPTERXXIX. \

THE HIGH COUNCIL OF THESEVEN.
Peter Havercamp had no uoubts of the
genuineness of the letter whichhad apr
peared. so mysteriously in his home ,ofllce.
He had received warning before tr m
the same institution, which had kin y
given him time totset his house in order,
. Now the blow Was about to fall; though

'It is true he had at one time hoped to
make )gomethin'g of a / fight. but that
thouxht had almost vanished. ,

He had lover-a1 men in his house. ’WhO
acted more. or. legs as ‘.guards,‘.but he
could not haye‘4them’trotting around after
himwhwever lie-Went. 3
' The only thing horoould do was to keep ’
a r bright alookoxrt, and when p the attack
came, defendhimselt upwell as! possible.
~When'he left the house'he managed to
recover his com-again a great extent, and

m mind an much “my simple. . " .

» There were rev other things he

mum! think ambient; could once forget

the» order-,0: the. One or. them
3141. teen t'Mrs. Broad.

'Wi’ed warm the

 

rust-lat.

 
 
   

If they ~

_ ten socially.

thought 01" the other thing, and as for
business—the bank would have broken if r

‘ a sort, of fascination which 6qu him. . /

'woman'come out, who looked. anxiously

Eben w

 

' 0163’ m8?

 

about her, and discovered that she
boarded at. the Dusseldorf.

His own daughter could have told him
just. as well, but he did not know that.

Besides, he would not, for any money,
have allowed Helen to know he was in-
terested in the fair adven-turess sufficient-
ly to think seriously about, calling; on her.

No doubt he would have drifted into the
Dusseldorf that afternmn had it, not
been for a communication he received.
The letter was so remarkable that he
read it over several times; and then was
not sure whether he understood what it
meant, though it seemed simple enough
on the face of it.

“ Dusseldorf Hotel.

“ My Dear Sin—1t is important that I
have an interview with you this evening,
and as it must be a private one, I do not.
care to have you call on me at the hotel.
Delphine is with me yet, and she, might
claim a place in the family circle. Of
course you will keep this matter from
our daughter, whose interests are the
principal cause of the conference. I will
send a carriage for you. which will take
you to the house of a friend, where we
can consider the situation without fear of
interruption. It is needless to say that I
have revealed nothing about our matters
to any one as yet; but there are contin-
gencies which are probable, and .I must
know how they are to be met. Fail at.
your peril. CHRISTINE.

“‘P. S.——lt isyas important to rule as to
you that all knowledge of our former re-
lations should remain a secret. No an-
swer required.”

“She has some grace about her,” mur-
mured the banker. ,

“It is evident she does not care that
Helen should know, and if I can keep her
in that frame of mind I Shall be only too
glad.

“I would offer her a million to take
herself the other side of the‘ ocean but
she would take it, spend it, and .come
back. '

. “I must make some terms with her,
but not too easily. (She would want to
absorb the bank. Of course I must go.”

As far as keeping the appointment
went he was as sure that he must go as
he was of anything. ,‘

So far, Helen never suspected, and for
the future it might'be possible to keep
them apart. . . .

It mustbe done, in fact. ’ r ' "
If the lady remained here on eXplosio
would come‘someday without a- doubt,
and by that time who could tell what
complications might have been invented
by a woman as ingenious of: Christine.
If she did not. ruin him financially, she
would at least destroy .father and daugh-

The more he thought ot it, the less be

it had depended on his skill to sustain it
that long June afternoon. » ' 7 - ,
Later on, when the doors were closed,
he made a little excursion. = ‘ '. .
He had no plan laid out when the
started, but as it by i duct. his Ieet
turned toward the Duane out;  ,1
He had no intention of calling on the
lady who now bore the name of Ferrand.
'He wciuld have been only «too glad it he
could have safely avoided theyimerview
appointed for that evening: but there was

He was still a stout. active mamand‘he
stepped firmly along the sidewalk, wonder-
ing what would happen Who came' faceto
race with Christine, but showing no lizn
on'his face of the turmoil withan . *' ~’

‘As he drew near the'hotel hej saw ‘a

about her, without-recognizing him. It
had been years since he had seen her. but
he'wa's sure she was Del hino.» , ,

As she passed him he oked‘intoher
face. and in spite of the light, roll which,
partially covered I it, he saw she was‘,
troubled' ‘ ' > "  V

ClubmanQ-Crook’s Cat’s-paw.

her face that shefeared his absencehad 16*

. more than likely that her father’w “

 

~w He had an- idea that. the-whine nos“ '
. stud tiered .

worse than. her fmis
'  ’WE

ing which in some way she had got wind
of.

Liiklkillixvnvm‘ his shoulder a moment , . .
later .he saw she had halted and was ‘1
speaking: to a gentleman who had come
face to face with her.

The gentleman was lrimsby, who was
on his way to the hotel. There was to be
a. social gathering at Mrs. Baker‘s that.
evening. at which Mrs. li‘erraml- was due;
and the director wished to .make arrange.-
lnents with the fascinating widow. She
was to read :1 dramatic chapter from
“Modern Ethics," and Grimsby desired to.‘
carry her- book. ‘

He had known the lady but a short'x
time, yet, as she had a bank ac 'ouut, and
was fascinating: for herself, and had sud»
denly made some little furore in the so-
ciety in which he moved. he was making“
the running from the very start.

Havercamp shrugged his shoulders and.
went on. It. was impossible for him to
give the director a warning, but he was
sure that sortie day there would be a.
pretty row when the, truth came out. ’
dThe banker did not enter the Dussel~ ‘

orf.

Had he done. so he would have found
that Mrs. Ferrand was not in. . _ _

He did make a. call, though, at the de- -'
tectivc agency, where there was no news,
of Heathcote. and nothing had been board‘s
of Burns since morning. He thought. ‘
of unburdening.r himself to the chief; i
but restrained his eonfidences and asked. 5
that the investigation should be widened.
somewhat. and something of a watch kept. .'
on his house. K

It was a delicate matter for him to ex-
plain, at least until ‘the fate of Heath~
cote was better assured.

When .he returned home, Helen had re:
ceived her second letter, though Fly-Billy
had been put to‘his stumps to meet her,,'
and it was only by chance that hothad"
been able to slip it into her hand. _ ,' 7

When, with his wares fully displayed,
he had sought an interview, he had been
put of! by a servant with the statement_
that the gentlemen were out and the lady"
of the house did not wear suspenders.

It was Norah, finally. who saved him. ‘. I

" Have we any enaagements for-this;
evening?" asked Ilavercamp, as father
and daughter sat down to the table to»
gether.

“ I suppose so," answered» Helen, w
weary smile. ,

“Until we get out of town We 1
have about four evenings in fh‘ef w it
when we ought to be away from; he ‘9‘
though it wouldpot be hard to any
of the gatherings. They are rath twin»
formal; 'l‘o-night we should attend ,
gathering at Mrs. .‘Bake,,r’s.’,i ~ '

“You will have "to‘do duty to:- both
us, I am afraid, unless I caucall later .i
the evening? ‘ ' ‘ ' "

   
   
  
  
 
  
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
   
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
   
  
 
 
   
     
   
    
       
    
  
  
  
    
   
 
  
 
   
 
  
      
 
     
    
      
      
    
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
  
 
  
    
 
   
        
 
   

and}

  

“ A‘businesa engagement, that, info
He now by ‘the shade that passed eve

something to ‘do with the mystery 9
were confronting. - ,.  A a ,
" You are sure you will be in home
danger-'3”. - ' , .». ‘  -.
“ Very sure; and with Robert: to dni
believed will be more comfortable .1:
'ing younre there than if you'wer'
home. it anything is tom—to happe
will probably be here, and in spite o:
vigilance." ‘ p . v _‘ '

“Have it as you wish,” said the":
.ladyfresignedly. . ' , i»  ‘ ‘
i v From the tenor of the last. note; _,
received from the correspondent‘she' 
pected .to be Harry Heathooteg N

  

 
 

  

 
 
 

  

  

  

 
  

    
   
  
 

rect. I « t, , .
. “I think I can take you thorogaudr “iii
least call for you before, the await 
up. It I do not apear when youturo our
to come home.donotywait‘.’v - ; ‘ .
' It was not likely the carriage which w

to convey him to the rendezvous Would
can at‘an’enrly hour. and he hoped
could do  duty and. yet meet b

 

  
  

  

    

 
 

      
   
  
   

nuagemenn‘   i . .
makeusu‘re, however. he oft.
momentum .

  

  
 

 1 l 28 

l V 2 lidlubman-drook’s Cat’s-paw.

 

 

.and that if any one came for him the indi-
vidual should call again.
; In one way or another matters were so
 ., accurately timed that when his own car-
riage set him down at his door another
was Just driving up.

He had just time for a word with his
Coachman.

‘ “It may be, Robert. I will be unable to
return to Mrs. Baker’s this evening. Can
I trust you?“

“You’ve done it already, sir; and you
'sha'n‘t be sorry for it, sir." -

"I hope not. Your credentials, such as
they were. seemed all right, but it is tale
ing a risk, as you must know. After
your Work last ’night. however, I am in-

  
  
  
    
   
  
  

‘age, and hope I can secure your devo-
tion.” _

"Don’t worry about that, sir.
there."

“ There is no telling what will happen,
and you must keep on guard. For var-
ious reasons I do not care to have the po-
lice attempt to protect me. Ifwould
sooner ~trust to you. See that nothing
happens to my daughter, and your serv-
ices will be better rewarded even than
. you hope. for."
' “‘I‘m seeing with my life. No harm
‘ shall come to her, and perhaps the sooner
«this thing is over the better.”

Havercamp nodded, but said no mpre.
In another minute he was rolling away in
a carriage he had never seen before, but

which looked like a private' concern.

' .The driver wore a uniform, and sat
{bolt upright, as stiff as an old soldier on
parade. He said nothing, after he had
made sure the gentleman was Peter Hav-
vercamp. but he handled his horses ‘after
‘fthe manner of a man Who knew his bus—
iness,

' The banker was busy with his own
'fit‘houghts.

It had been fifteen years since he spoke
‘to Christine, and at that time if words
child have killed he would certainly
have committed awmurder.

,‘ He. was a little surprised to note how
{differently he felt just now; yet he had
mo‘regrets for the course he took then. '

' ,There had been no other coursepossible.
; .‘.The carriage was close, the side streets
dark. He was so absorbed with his own
boughts that it was with a start he no-
mad the carriage had halted. V

The building looked like the private

It’s all

  

  

  
  

 

  

  

   

men standing on the steps beckoned to
int and then entered. ? ,

’He was not certain, but thought it
 like Christine.

, _ "Thisway, sir,” said a servant, as he
ic'ni'ered the carpeted hall. ‘ 1
Re entered a darkened reception hall,
as he stepped forward heard the door
hind" him close, and then the click of
fin look, while the low glimmer of gas
Jun-st into a full flame, revealing through
the folding doors the room beyond, with
hair-a dozen men sitting at a heavy ma-
' y, table. - v '

  
  

  

  

  

 handldartéd to, his pistol pocket; 'but‘
Agrip closed. onghim
his weapons were

  

' that he made no great struggle; and
 toward the table. , V -
faced-evening, sir,” said one of the
on, looking" up, and speaking‘r'with 'a
ht foreign accent. .

  
 

  

  

 

int: for. the Grand Gounod oil-the North

  

 Urbaosy. We have about con»
«divided our labors, and ask why sentence
 should not beupronoun/ced on

 

gcrtkr'rnnfxmfic   7'
. DOOMED: ' v "

  

   

Winn-tattemried no farther, 1.8818?

  

,. vrcllned to put full confidence in your eeur- '

inesidence of a person of means, and a ‘

,was such a complete cleaning up that

e. knew there'wa‘s'treachery, then. and

We are the High Council of the Seven, 7
Athenians. to inquire into the“ death of one *

ling tannins , though .then'lit'was' "solely

the: zthat’fifst instinctive movement,“ ,
.follow hie?" , ,  . .
',“ He may :havsbeen‘. Among the many . i
" thensands Ileannot be' expected to remem-

 

 

ond before the speaker addressed him,
and it seemed to him that if he was
brought there to be killed, they would not :
hesitate to blow his brains out rather
than allow him a chance for successful
resistance.

To anticipate a few moments the time
for his taking off would be rather a pleas- !
are, if it could be pleaded as a sort of ,
self-defense.

He listened with calmness to the arbi- ;
trary speech of the court, and for a mo-
ment was as much in the dark as ever.

He remained silent. t

“You have no answer. You- acknowl— 3
edge your treachery, and that the death
sentence is only your just reward ‘3"

“ I acknowledge nothing, for I deny that
I know anything' concerning the matter
of which you speak. I deny, also. that

’you have any jurisdiction, or that I am

at all accountable to you for anything I
have ever done. If you are allies of the
discarded woman who lured me to this
place, I will say that. 'while I was willing
to treat with her. I shall refuse to ac-
knowledge any go—betweens, and that
ism-Ir mummery as this will be to her own
oss. ’ i

“You may as well dismiss all thought ‘
of the lady as connected with the affair.
She knows nothing of it, and her name
was simply used as a means."

“ I do not believe you. It stands to rea-
son that none save she could know suf- ‘
ficient of my affairs to write thr, letter."
' “Under the circumstances we will par-
don your lack of courtesy. We know a
great deal. It is part of our religion to be
able to deal with all men, each after his
own peculiar conditions. The lady has
come under our observation before."

“ What of that? She may have slaugh-
tered. :a score of Urbassies since she left
my roof and I none the wiser.”

“ You wrong her, my dear sir. It is she
who had nothing to do with the murder.”

“Ah, a murder, was it? Then why
have”not the courtstaken hold of the af-
fair? I am ,willing to answer there—as
I never to my recollection saw the man.”

“Unfortunately, this is one of the. at-
fairs the law does not meet. In fact, the
law itself was answerable for the killing,
which only we who are above the law can i
avenge. It occurred some years ago.
and some thousand miles away, so that it
is possible we will have to refresh your .
mind as to the circumstances.” '

“Ah! Before I became an American!
citizen?" , l '

“Precisely. ‘The mills grind slow, but ;
they grind cxcocdin'gly flue.’ 'Punish-
ment has. been unavoidably delayed, but
it was certain to come some day.‘ There

there was no. one left to immediately
avenge, and by the time our aflairs had
reorganized, you were beyond our juris-
diction and reach." I '
Havercnmp began to look thoughtful.
He knew, at, last to ,whnt this suavely
speaking gentleman was alluding, though
up to this time he‘ had never dreamed that
he could be personally connected with it.
,“I see by your countena'ncethnt you
understand me. What have you to say?
Again I ask.” , .
“Nothing, ,I know no reason‘why I
should be connected with the matter. It
is possible I remember now something of
triflenl‘ing out of Nihilists, or men of that
' , , which took place years ago." “ - ‘
“And perhaps you remember Ur-
bassy?"  r  v ‘ ~
f“ I certainly do not."- ’ r , .
He spoke with such assurance that the
speakerat the table appearedqotnggered,
-“-Allow me to‘refresh your memory,

hen. - , , . .v
“ 'At the time, which was} a number" of
years ago, you wereuas now,in the bank-

on your own account. ‘ This'Victor Uri)
bassy was one of yourydepositors. You

 

b the» , fl; whohapbeenvd
‘ _, " .witfnwh

 “ Ah, that. brother.

' seemed to him he began to remember who

this Urbassy was. '

“He placed in your hands a large
amount of money, to be drawn on de-
mand. Also, he intrusted you with a
package of papers, which he wished you
to believe related to certain landed pos—
sessions. Do you know What the con-
tents of those papers were?"

“ I know nothing about them at all.”

“They were the only available records
of the ramifications of our order, and
they Were papers any crowned rulfian in
Europe would have freely given a million
to possess. How much did you receive
for betraying them into the hands of the
police?” ‘

Peter Havercamp was irreprmichably
dressed. but naturally the lines of his face
inclined too greatly to jollity to allow him
much of the celnniandin;.r in his appear-
ance. He came as near to absolute dig-
nity of deportanent just now as he had
ever done. V

He drew himself up and folded his
ill'lllS.

" I absolutely refuse to discuss this sub-
ject farther, after such an. insult as that."

“Then we will discuss it for you. It
grew warm for our sacred council, and
the day came when it seemed best that
Urbassy should transfer himself and his
belongings to a. safer spot. He began
his arrangements, and them—he trusted
you.“

Havcrcamp compressed his lips and
was silent. '

All the scorn that was compressed in
the final word could not make him open
his mouth.

“ Had he waited, until the last moment

. all' might have been well, but he gave you

notice in’nd-vance that he would with-
draw his account, and you sold him out.

“He called at your bank at the.ap1
pointed‘time, received the funds_of the
council and the papers to which I have
alluded, but scarcely had he turned away
when the minions of the law were upon
him, and he was slain, sir, almost on
your own threshold. And this was the
man you say you do not remember.”

“I remember something of this now,
but I knew nothing more about it than did
the outside world. If he belonged to your-
order the secret was certainly well kept.
I knew nothing of it then. He received
every dollar entrusted to my hands and
his papers intact. To crown all, the man
who was killed near to my bank was
named Van Behm.” \ . '.

“ By his papers you must have seen his
true name wasUrbassy."

“If I had seen the papers I might

"have remembered. At the time the mat-

ter must have been hushed up. I was
never called on to identify the man, nor
was it known why he had been killed.”
“The policy of the tyrants. You had
bargained as you thought for immunity.
Perhaps the mouey he would have drawn
remained with you. No doubt the re-
vva'rd received was more. It and the pa-
pers disappeared, but, one after another,
men who were named in the latter were
hunted down, both there and ' abroad.

The brother who was with Urbassy that

day was hurried away to ‘a dungeon,
without even the, form of a. trial. Perv
hops he was secretly executed. From
that day to this there has been no trace of

him.” i .
> Who Was he?"

Havercmnp spoke with u start. Mem-
cry. of, these ‘- things, almost outlawed by
time,;began to come back to him, and he
had a reason‘forr the question. , _

“It is no' difference: yet itcan do no
harm to tell..’ ‘Delancy was his home.
Hemms English, young and'nn enthusi-
ast; We might better have lost an older
man.” i » /‘- ; .

“Perhaps. But all this thing'is nothing
to me. Van Behm: took his: measures and

 
  

l-weut away, With what folldwed, I had 

 

    
 

 

 
         
   
 
   

 

 
 
      
   
   
       
   
 
       
        
       
   
    

 

  
      
    
   
 

 
 
  

 
   
   
      
    
   

   
 
           
      
     
       
     
      
      
      
     
      
    
        
        
     
    
       

 

 

 

 

'Prx—J-fi  

' he on thim.” '

a... "can... 

29

 

 

“ I know nothing about it, beyond what
I have stud."

“Urbassy and his brother Were be-
trayed, and there was no one on earth
save yourself through whom the betrayal
could Come. If it was through inadvert-
ence, the sin might be pardoned."

It was a question. A bid for some sort
of a plea.

Havel-camp shook his head.

“The papers. if they could be recov-
ered they would be of some service now.
Are you sure they cannot be found?”

“ i know noth’ng‘."

“Urbassy was a chief in our order. and
he fell by treachery. Since the council
was formed, no su~h crime has passed un-
punished. Think you to escape?"

“ I think nothing exeept that it was an
evil day when I had dealings with any
man who belonged to your infernal or-
der.— Do your worst."

His lips closed firmly, and he glared at
the presiding officer of this mysterious

court without a sign of weakness or
cowardice, though death seemed very
near.

“Brothers. the execution of this man
uvas decided on, but he was given his
chance. Has he said anything which
might throw a doubt on the justice of
his sentence?”

The speaker looked from one member
to another, and as he looked each an-
swered in turn:

"Nothingi‘?

"Murder me as you choose; but, as
there is a ruler in the heavens, some
day it shall be reunited!" .

Havel-camp‘s voice sounded a trifle,
thready. but he did not quail as the pres—
ident clapped his hands and exclaimed:

“ Let the executioner come forward."

 

CHAPTER XXXI.
THE VAULTS BELOW THE GEM.

“ 'Pon me sowl to glory, but ye'r’ doin‘
‘well, I'athrick! Av Oi'm not back in the
cellar, an’ riddy wanst. more for the
drain, 0i hope Oi’m a liar from‘ Limer-
i k!"
cThe detective gave a ruefui twist of
his mouth as he spoke, and felt as though
he would really enjoy seeing his reflection
in a glass, just to note how big a feel he
looked.

- He felt as weak as a cat, to use the
common expression, and as though, this
time, there was no escape for him; yet he
could not help laughing to think how he
had once more blundered into the hands
of this gang to whom taking a life was :1
ke. ' v ‘.
0“An’ be the powers, the fun av it is
that it’s tin to wan they niver knew me,
an’ =they’ll kill me ag'in. Whin they
count up their tally it’s a big mistake
they’ll be afther makin’, an’ the ,1ch will

Nevertheless, he felt sure he was not
confined in the cellar which had been his
[prison the previous night. vi

There was nothing particularly familiar
inbout the ground on which he was lying;
and unless the und rground connection
*was unexpectedly ex- ensive, he could not
have been conveyed thither.

As a. general thing, the more cause
Burns had for exeltement the more pro-
nounced became his brogue; it obtruded
on his thoughts, even, .and brought to
mind strange expressions which he ‘had
tum thoughtof since he left the sod.

“Av Oighad o'wnly gone out to the
Sunbeam Oi igh-t have done somethin
av account, but Oi had to put me hi 6 in
the 3mm av the :toiger, an’ now Oi may
expict to fnle thltm snap." 1

His lbeliel' Was natural enough, know—
jng‘, as he believed he did, the desperate
nature of thegang he had undertaken to

1 shadowzund knowing, too, how powerlem

the was fordefensc.

'He could not suspect that the'circle had,
for the present, a surfeit of blood, and
were now only fighting for time“ As he
was Supposed to be only an assistant to
a blackmailer. he was IDOIKQJ‘ upon as
quite like themselves. and only on the

I . side. a, ,' 3 ,
vafffiir a while he felt blamed was clean“

 

 

lantern full in the deiective’s face.

’ int; and pressing a. spring in the paneling

  
 

 

ing. but to a certain extent the weakness
which had almost frightened him was
wearing away.

That made him suspect he had received
no great physical hurt, but. that once
more he had been drugged as the easiest,
way to overpower him, and save making
a racket. in the Gem.

Wherever he was, it was in silence and
darkness, he was bound and gagged, and
unless some one came to his aid there
was danger that before long he would die
like a poisoned rat in a hole.

His courage continued to rise, however,
in spite of circumstances.

He had been in as desperate a stra’t
before. and some. one had come. Perhaps
Fly Billy would find him again.

But. after a While, there came another
reaction.

There was danger in all this, and :1 dan-
ger that he knew and fought, against.

His nerves had hardly recovered from
the awful strain of the day before, and
they might give way altogether.

At times he felt his flesh creep and his
brain swell. Tingling flames seemed to
shoot through him. How long would it
be before madness came? Once. if he
could have done so, he Would have
howled aloud in frantic terror. He felt
some horrible thing was moving toward
him in the darkness, which slowly as-
sumed the shape of a fiery demon, stealth-
ily gliding toward him with open jaws.

it was nothing of the kind; though. if
he could have known the exact truth, he
might have thought it was something
just as bad. '

it was Bob Knocker, with a dark lan-
tern.

He came silently, but with the certain-
ty of one who knew where he was going.
li‘inally halting. he threw the glare of the

The countenance it revealed was one to
frighten a man with weaker nerves: but
Bob Knocker was not. much given to
nerves, and had a high respect for the
man whose fist had left the lump he
could feel on the. top of his head.‘

‘ “ Steady, pat-d," he whispered.

“The boy posted me on your being
down here, and when I heard they had a.
bloke in quod I knew who it was to a
fraction. If you can take a good turn
without making a blank fool of yourself
I'm going to help you out.”

Burns was not too far gone to under-
stand. and he bobbed his head, as the
only intelligible, signal he was capable of
making.

“Not a whi-mper, now, my bob cull.
We’re both in a heap of danger here.”

With this warning he removed the gag
from the mouth of the detective, and be-
fore going farther touched his lips with
the mouth of a flask.

The liquor gave Burns strength to
stand the reaction, which came when he
was once more entirely freed.

“Now, follow me as soonns you’re able
to turn the trick. Give' the word when
you‘re ready.” ’ t

Burns stretched himself, rubbed his an-
kles and arms, took another drink. and
gave the signal. Together they stole off,
Bob Knocker showing the way. .
. On the first floor. of the building ad-
joining the' Gem, was a narrow shop,
reached by a hidden stairway. ‘

Through this Bob was guiding the way.
The room was void of any tenant- Just
now. and almost empty of portables. s ,

“ A moment i". whispered Knocker, halt-

of the wall. ‘ I

. The not revealed a hidden door, which
‘opened a trifle, and the crook listened,
while a hum of voices drifted through
the little hall in,the rear of the Gem. _

. .I-Ie'would have turned aWay, but Burns
touched him on the shoulder. \

“ You’ve done-a big thing for me, my
friend, an’ Oi won’t forget it, but Oi‘m all
right now. an‘ not in a hurry.”

“ You better be if you know what’s
sirene fur your wholesome.” .

“ Oi followed in here afther a man who
had been sluggeds It was a plant av

~ clutching in his hand the

  
 

 

some kind, an’ it 'will payune to look;

afther him. Can ye tlll :me what they did
with him?"

“ Coopered him up and put him to (loss
in the room up the dancers. Ile‘s there
now. and he‘ll stay there till morning."

“ “'ho wor' he?"

" Can‘t prove it by me.’

“,Then I must, try and see him before l
140 ‘

"Don‘t be a fool; and don’t be ’ a
blanked fool. You hoop it out of this,
and letive the bloke to take care of him-
self. He's all right."

“But. 0i can't l'nve till 0i know av he's
a pal ov mine.”

“Then track it out. of this. It‘s the best:
you can do. If they don’t drop to us on
the way, I can show you where you can
frisk the cull without stirring the dust.
Stow it, blame you, or I‘ll give you the
shake,"

Knocker began to grow savage.
could talk as mild as a May morning, or‘.
as rough as a bludgeoner from the slums.
‘ I-lis conversation was beginning to
verge toward that of the latter, and
Burns followed without a word.

They reached the street without intcrs
ruption, and after going a. slight distance,
Rob turned into a narrow alleyway.

The window of the room lip-stairs in.
which lay the slugged man. looked out on . ~
the rear, and almost below it was the,
shed roof of a little porch.

\Vithln the room a dim light Seemed to '
be burning; and to this Knocker pointed:

“There's your ('ove.- I'll give you a leg-
up and you can deek his mug through the
jump. l’ll go ‘round to the alley and
keep my peepers peeled. if you hear
me. bike it. If ‘they meet. you now they’ll
down you for good."

Burns had lost a good deal of his nat—
ural strength, but he'was able to climb up
on the shed without much trouble, and
while Knocke'r glided away, he stoir.r '
along the narrow, sloping roof toward the
window. -.

By leaning over he found he could ob-
tain a fairly good view of the little apart-
meat; and first of all his glance 'was di-
rected to the bed. ‘

To his surprise he found it vacant: and
he almost believed its tenant had been.
spirited away. I
‘ But he still remained very silent an
very cautious.

A slight noise in one corner of the room
caused him to lean forward, and lhe saw
the man for whom he was searching.

His head bound up, his arm in aslinz,
and his whole frame trembling with
weakness and excitement,‘he\w s bend-

. iu-g over a’ packet of papers w ich had

without a doubt come from an open va- '
lise at his feet. .. '
“Ah, sovit must be,” Burns heard him
mutter. “ The seven-fold traitoi'i My ,
eyes knew him, and it was as I o‘niy sum.
pected. Yet, this night. another man-
shall die for his crime. How shall I save .
him if I getnot there in time? They will,
wait not for Marco". _
With shaking hands he ran over the pa- .

r pers, groaning fee-bly to himself. ’

“And the traitor knew me,” he co an...
ued, “though well did I preserve my ace.
‘It is Marco; he said to himself, ‘aud Mars;
co must die.’ The other man was honest;
but he—he will come back toist'ab the hit
my sleep. ‘ And the council willvnev‘erv
know.” ~ I v '

He tried to move toward the bed, stint,

a era, but;
lurched heavily. and had he ngt gmggered!
against the wall“ would :have fallen.  

‘Histi‘ My friend!” exclaimed Burug,
in a sharp whisper. A ‘  5

“ Oi will save yez av it’s in the wood.
This way. Oi don’t want to get in, but
sure an’ Oi can hilp yen out." ' 

Marco looked toward the window and
saw the face of .the detectiVein its'cor-t
ner. With rare courage he restrained all'
exclamation, and leaning against- the
wall,‘s‘taggered‘ the few paces needed to
bring him to this strangely found friend.

He made some sort of a" motion with hid
sound handand arm, and a moment la;th
groaned: , - ‘ ~

-“ One of us you are not; but you will.

 

He" 

 
 
 
  

. [.30 a

: " ‘7 The Clubman-Gro'ok’s Cat’s-paw.

 

 

2 save a life all the same. It is not a thing
in which I can send. 1 must go myself."

“Kape your chatter till you get out av
this. Ui‘ll be. ’azy as 0i can, but av it
hurts grin and bear it."

it was hardly possible that. a man so
battered as this Marco could be taken
down over the route they had to follow
without receiving more or less of shock
and pain.

When they reached the ground Marco

was lyingsenseless in the. arms of the (le-
tectivc, who carried him away as though
he was a child, though a few minutes be-
fore he would have thought himself t‘ar
' , - enough away from being able to perform
; ,3 such a feat.
2": Up to the. presenttime Burns had not
" recognized the Kuocker, and did not now,
or he would hardly have expected him to
help in the dangerous task of getting
away this load.

Yet the man who was waiting, as he had
promised, did assist, and between them
'they got the senseless Marco out of that
neighborhood, though they might not havct
succeeded in (icing it unmolestcd had it
not been for the coat which Bob threw
over his shoulders.

‘ g A hack was what the detective wanted,
. and it was not so easy to get one, but
fortune favored them; They caught an
_ empty vehicle returning from'one of the
ferrie by a, Course that was slightly do
; 1v vious, and Knocker saw the two deposited
inside. . , .
’ ' Then he turned away. He had his own
'afl'alrs to look after now.
' It was the intention of Burns to take the
" Injured man tohis own room and there
' revive him.» He was too precious to be
 {publicly exhibited until he obtained the
information he. wanted.

But the motion of the carriage seemed to
restore the man’s consciousness to a great
-extent, and the flask Knocker had left
with them completed the work. He'was
weak, but wide awake.

_’ ‘.‘Ask me. nothing now, but swear to me
.toleverlastingly be "silent, and we save a
life. After that I will answer all you
would know. Quick! Oh. we may be too
late.‘ It'is near the hour!” ~

‘ There was surely no delusion about this,
but Burns hesitated.’  ,

_  “He is worth millions—a. banker, and
"twill pay youwel ." , ‘~

; ‘At that the detective hesitated no longer.

 
     
  
    
  
   
  
    
   
  
    
    
   
   
    
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
  

 

 

CHAPTER XXXII.
,. ' rorn‘np. ‘
fi-Helen 'was not withbut suspicion of com-
ing evil when her father lefther at Mrs.
Baker's and» returned to meet his engage-

 
  
   
 
 
 

Hegtoid her nothing about itsxnature,
‘she hoped only that it had something

 do with providing for his. safety, or
hiding the cashier, ,who, she felt Certain,
wasdmt‘dedd. . ' , ' * ,
thefivo there had not been the
,achence‘which she would have liked,
 under the circumstances that ,could
not be helped- She tried. to throw it all
other mind for the present, and, wondered
333 5,115de meet Mrs. Fart-and again.
and what that strange woman might yet
ve'totenher.’. .,’I ' ,
u; The evening wore on. and Peter Haver-
gnu) didnot make» his appmrance. ' I
" mien/met her friends, :vof'who‘m,she,
had plenty. “but: who raciner no' notice
here. After n‘certain. fashion she en.
herself, butthe time arrived whom,
mews: réady to go home, antithet- father

Whats ,ar. , . ,
, Dre mvnflemtdfi

    
  
   
  
  
  
    
    
 
     
   
  
  
  

:Ehefcarriage was there,
dedgnoittolinger.‘ w ., , .i A
megmhmsn ‘was to her something of
New.  she  confidence in

Home.” she saidsimply, and the vehi-q
rolledawayuf, ', .  . ,

it had been noticed. perhapsshewonld

abi‘have‘béen allowed to depart alone, for

   
     
  
 
 

fissuronth

riage slipped along without care on her
part of how it went or of knowledge.
where.

Surely, in the heart of New York. there
should. be safety for a woman. She had
even forgotten for the moment the ad-
venture returning from Mrs. Broadalbin's.

The. driver held his team Well in hand,
but. went along smartly. He was on the
alert, and one might almost have suspected
that he expected something to happen.

Yet, in spite of the vigilant-e with which
he scanned the shadows on either side of
the street in which a fee might be lurking,
the something happened without his
knowledge and without a sound.

Just in the dimmest part of the street
a man who had been pressing so close to a
wall that his figure missed the scrutiny of
the. searching eyes, darted swiftly and
silently out as the vehicle had fairly
passed and sprang lightly up behind.

Everything was done without a smutd
and with the precision of first—class mech—
anism.

Before Helen Havercamp realized there
was danger, a hand was resting on her
face and she was powerless to move

It was the same game that had been
played on Patrick Burns at the Gem, a
few hours before, and it was just as suc-
Cessful.

She succumbed without a sound, and al-
most without a struggle. .

The strangest thing was that theydriver
had noticed nothing of what was going
on.

From his seat in front he was peering
anxiously at street, gutter and sidewalk,
and the first intimation he had of what
had occurred was hearing a hissing whis-
per almost at his shoulder ,and the voice
was the voice of Vanderlyn:

“ All right up to the present time. Keep
moving, and look out for the boys. We,
start at once. The trail begins to show
dusty, and the sooner we are on blue
water the better."

“ All right. ‘But if the cove ain’t there
to take the drag we’ll never get beyond
the H00 .” '

“ Stow that.

’ A

He will be there, and if

'we once get out of sight we’ll be out

of reach and dividing the spoils.” '

“ That’s the best part of it, find there‘s
some of the boys now. They’d put up a
good fight—”

He broke oif. suddenly. ‘ -

on one side half a dozen or more figures
were in sight. One man game from the
pavement on the other side with a bound
and seized the horses by the head. ’

. At the same time the driver dropped the
lines, swung his hands around to clutch
at the throat of the man on the seat be-
hind-him, while a sharp whistle rang out
anthe‘night air. ' v I -

The struggle in the carriage’was brief
but frightful. - . ’

The two were not in appearance fairly
matched, but training had done much for

the younger and smaller man. ‘

. Hismuscles were of steel, and his cour-
age and skill-of the highest. ‘ ‘

In. addition. he had the benefit of a
momentary. rise. ' ;

One handvclutched tightly on Vanders
lyn’s throat, while the other caught him
,by the arm which had mechanically
reached back for a. weapon.

The grip of the “driver on his throat ‘

gave an advantage over the other man-
which quickly began to tell. A few, m‘o-
ments more '«of it, and Vanderlyn must,

have succuiimed altogether.

He seemed to feel this, for suddenly and
without warning. he flung himself out of
the‘carriage. ‘ . ' v .

‘ The action, succeeded] in breakln ,the
grip, at all events, but, it‘ also draggeg him
no r forward that the: driver, overbalanc-
lug" mnemrpitchedout “the vehicle. '

T ' Both "Were agile as leopards, and lit: upon

[their feet“, ready to continue the fight, but
thiii tune. Vunderlyn “dashed desperately
forward, excialming: ‘ , ‘ a ,' '4 '

1‘ 12001! ‘. Would youiseilms out?” ,‘
"The men fiwho a mom‘entbefom had been

 

     
   

 

 

., like, hand-infithdmflrgy,
7," ho 

~ us.”

‘ . “ Sunbeam,

heads,
away.

The action unmasked a squad of men
who had followed him from the other
side. They threw themselves in between
the vehicle and the crowd that was charg
ing upon it. ,

“ Surrender!" cried the leader of this re-
inforcement, and at the same time, with
the stout locust club in his hand, he
aimed a powerful blow at the arm of Van-
derlyn.

His followers did not hesitate, but in
the same way assaulted the gang, which
had not yet had time to produce weapons.

The bone in Vanderlyn’s arm cracked uu-
(ler the stroke received, and he staggered
back, while his allies of the Golden Rule
fared no better. The police were upon
them and had settled down to work.

“ It's the cops!" shouted Vandcrlyn, dis-
guising his voice, and quick to take nodes
of the desperate condition of affairs.

“ The Jig is up! Break for the timber!"

Suiting the action to the word, he sprang
backward in time to evade a second blow
which was aimed at his head, and darted. .
away in swift retreat.

His men attempted to follow.

Some of them did escape, but several
were overpowered or beaten down, and re-
mained as prisoners. ’In the midst of it
all‘ the coachman regained the carriage
and the vehicle rolled away in the direc-
tion of the Havercamp mansion.

The pursuit of the fugitive rascals was
vigorous. but rather unsuccessful. There
was some shooting, several more were cap-
tured, but the leader and the rest of his
men, having scattered, finally vanished.

Patrick‘ Burns might have given them a.
pointer had he been there, but as he was
not, no one guessed at the point where
they might be expected to reassemble.

it was an hour later when a small boat
shot out from the shadow of a dock and
headed for 'tho Sunbeam.

. Vanderlyn 'was in the bow, his arm in a
sling, while the men who pulled at the
oars were allies of the Golden Rule. -

As they neared the yacht, he spoke:

“ With the men on board we will have
hands enough to manager the craft and not
enough to attract attention. It's bad for
the boys who were taken, but it will be all
the better for us." ‘ ‘ ’

“If dey don’t give d'e snap away, an’
put d’e coppers on d'e mark.” '

One of the rougher of the circle an-
swered, while he looked suspiciously be‘

speaking to the team, urged in

hind him, as if expecting to see danger in

the rear. , .

Vanderlyn was not overwhelmed by the
disaster, and showed more courage than he
had done at the Gem. '

“Never fear for them. They’re. all
staunch, and know the dodge for them is
to keep their mouths closed. Nothing can
be proved against them, and they know
they can trust us.”

“ Mebbe they kin, but blue. water washes
out everything." ‘ '

9‘ What do they know about blue water?
Spider was the only one who knew the
real plan, up to the time we struck the
dock, and Spider is dn 'board waiting for ,

Fortune appeared to have favored their
plans, and they. had not even met amid-
night prowler on the Water; '

They were: drifting straight, for the
yacht, with oars speak, ready to take the
water if the ,headway threatened to bring
them too 8 , ly against the'vessel’s side.

’Severai’ me looked over the side, and ,
vanderlyn recognized the. Spider through 1‘

thesloomw .  g , ,
ahoyl" “claimed Vanderlyn '
in a low tone. . - , , .
“ There's Deena break in the circle,_but;.
what’s left of it are here at last." ' ~
3‘.“ Ay. ay. sir!" innovated the Spider,
with a ‘llttie,more' deference than no it ‘
lately been paying, but Yonder-lam didnot .
notice. In‘spite‘df his broken arm he man“ 

   

  

   
    
    

iide to s‘wlngf himself oniboord.

       

' = And then,’up frombehind the bulwark

   1m“ 

 

sidev'valk ‘caine running “rots; ’

 

ad, .3. h

4.
if
p.
t.

 

» gm:wa  A

wrath gag. e , ,

 

I...

   

H; as he, passed his room. and with a revolver.

 

u ubman-Crook Cat’s-paw.

 

 

CHAPTER XXXIIT.
THE ELEVENTH HOUR.

Peter Havereamp was a man of courage,
but he. understood his danger.

All this with which he was charged had
happened years ago, but. that made no dif-
ference. He, had been condemned by
this tribunal. and he knew what that
meant.

Every individual member of it had be-
come a monster without, mercy when the
affairs of the order were concerned, and
having long ago decided to saeritiee their
lives when called on, Were absolutely with-
out four.

Doubtless this executioner of whom the
president spoke, had been Selected by lot,
but any of his brethren were ready to fill
his place if he should fail.

A single man stepped forward and stood
by the side of the banker.

“Escape is impossible," said the presi-
dent, coldly. _

“ Murder me if you will." was the firm
response. _

As he spoke the. banker folded his arms
and set his lips tightly together.

it was then that the clangor of a bell
pealed through the house.

It was a peculiar pea], and could have
been sounded only by one who was in-
structed beforehand.

The president held 11p his hand.

“ It is Marco. Wait!"

Marco it was, and he came staggering in
breathless, almost fainting, but determ-
ned.

i “Thank Heaven that in tlmel am! .1
have learned much, and that man I believe
is innocent!”

The announcement was a blow., The
president stared from Marco to the pris-
oner and back again.

“ I have seen Delaney. He is living. I
took from him this. He was the traitor
and the thief.”

“ It cannot be.”

Yet the packet which Marco threw upon
the. table was proof such as was hard to
gainsay.

“It is true. He was a thief; he is‘yot.
I was set to watch a woman, ‘and 1 be—
came hcr agent for the good of the order.
She knew this man. with whom she
brought me face to face. More than that.
He. knew me. If I had not found a friend
who aided me to escape he would have
slain me, though be tied up my wounds
which his friends had made, in a fair
manner.” «

" It looks like proof,” admitted the leader

of the council, nshe recognized the papers
in his hands. ' ~ '

" It is the proof. He sold the copies and
kept the originals. This man knew noth-
ing.” , l I

“Then it is Delaney that must diet”, H

“ Vanderlyn is his name here—and. some
men call him Mace. if you would punish
you must strike quick. To-nlght he would
flee—he, and his gang with him; They
have their booty on his yacht, the Sun-
beam, and they start for the other end of
the earth. If you miss him now he.may
be lost forever, and vengeance not done.
Quick! There is no time to lose.” , ‘

A murmur of assent went around the
The president addressed Haver-

council.
“finp'e have made a. mistake, and we do
not want to cover it up with your death.
Swear to us that nothing of what: has
happened toyou this night shall be told
{or twenty—four hours, and we turn you
(“6.1!

“If I haveyour assurance that your, r'

order has done with me forever I will
swear.” replied Havercmnp, without hes-
itation. _ ‘ ,
“An’ Ol’ll take the same oath. an show
yez where the Sunbeam lobes]! said a
strange voice, and Patrick Burns stepped
forward. I .
“Yez can‘t be too hart-11d on the scamp,
Vanderlynt an’ av ye won’t trate. be the
post, we’ll‘foight. Oi’mownly wan,
but mm a lion." .
The detective had armed himself again

in each band, now faced the. council, ready

  

it chief, the Clubman Crook, and its‘mene
hers were scattered. I

 

to be friend or foe, as they might choose
to elect. ,

Ills coming might have complicated mat:
ters had Mar’co not: had the strength to
tell what Burns had done for him.

He. had not known or thought; that the
detective had slipped °in behind him, but
he was loyal to the man who had saved
him from the join.

The oath was taken, and Ilavercamp.
escorted to the hack that was waiting'
around a nelghlmriu'g corner, Went. home
like a man in a maze.

l'atrick Burns was not required to act
as guide, but he told where the Sunbeam
lay. and assured them that without doubt
Vanderlyn was anticipating an early re.-
treat, and that all suspielmi had been al—
laycd by preparing for a trip to be taken
:1 day later with his friends of the Ohrys<
anthemums.

What they might think when they found
him gone he no doubt neither knew nor
cared.

As usual, Burnsliad hlundered onto his
feet, and if he had not found Heatlr
cote he was the means of rescuing the
banker.

Meantime he. did not care to look too
closely at the masked faces of these» men,
and was only too well satisfied when he
and Havercamp were Well out or! their
clutches. , ‘

He made his way to the residence of
the banker, for he had some things to
tell him which he thought should .no longer
be deferred, and foundhim just about. to
start in search of his daughter.

Neither she nor the. carriage had re-
turned, as yet, from Mrs. Baker's soiree.

“An‘ you trusted her with that thate ov
the worruld? Be the powers! it‘s a mur-
derin’ divil he is, from the slums, an’ his
name is Bob Knocker! What the game is
()i'm not onto, as yit, but this thing has
gone beyont the, specials. You betthcr go
to the chafe' of pollss, an’ tourn in. a.
jineral alarm.”

And, even while he. spoke the door
opened, and Helen came. in, leaning on the
arm of the pseudo Bob Knockcr. whose
right name was Harry Heathcotel

 

CHAPTER XXXIV.
FINAL STITCHES.

“Horrible Mystery.——A Tragedy on the.
Yacht Sunbeam—Was it Suicide or a Mur-
der?—Thc Well-Known Clubman, Roger.
Vanderlyn, the. Victim.” . t , r

These were the scarcdlnes or the papers
the next afternoon, with variations and
emendations and improvements. The
story told in all of them was substantially
the some. r

The yacht was found deserted of every.
living occupant, and Roger Vanderlyn, the
Clubman-Crook, was hanging from the
bowsprlt dead. ' v

Something was said about the Chrysan-
themums, and a projected trip that some
of its members had been invited'tol make
with the Owner, but for once Beechy Ly‘,
man understood the dignity of silence.
and the balance of the club did not
cure to make statements for the new-
papers. ' . = ‘, ‘

The Spider and the, rest of the Circle had
vanished and left no sign. Outside of the
Council or the. Seven there Were just two
men living who knew what: the ghastly
spectacle at the Sunbeam meant, but those
two,.~belng bound by an oath, held their.
peace. , ‘ . '

There was also *a minor item sin the
same papers in regard to tho raiding or a
give, or low- ‘gambilng house, called the

em. . . -

Some arrests were made, but“ nothing,
farther was heard about maths proba-
bilities were there was  evidence
against the men who. were taken, and
theguwcre eventually turned loosen .

mt the/Circle of the. Golden Rule
passed out of existence with Ithe death of

For reasons of his own Harry, and;

 

 

cote kept silent. and it was Mun-

31

 

 

til long after that: the true story leaked
out.

Some days afterward llaver sunp re-
ceived a package by express sent from a
distant. city.

It. contained one hundred thousand dol-
Izu's.

With it was a brief note. which stated
that the amount. had fallen into the send-
cr's hands, along with the information
that it was taken from the Nail and laun-
ber Bank by a party since deceased. and
was accordingly forwarded.

The money was undoubtedly sent by
the Supreme louncil of the Seven. Prob~
ably the treasure of the. Golden Rule fell
into their hands when they captured the
Sunbeam: and it. may have been, they re-
ceived their information from the Spider,
or some other member of the Circle; but
llavercamp never knew for certain. who
it came from.

Some. time afterward a. partially dot
composed body was found floating, in the
bay. The features were obliterntml. and
it passed through the Morgue without at-
tracting attention, though it was discow
cred that. the seeming you'ng man was of
the feminine sex.

Some little time previous Delphine had
received a telegram from New Orleans, or~
dering her to Join her :mistress there.
and to bring all her belongings pwlth
hill'. ‘ .

This, perhaps, 'as the reason why the
body on the slab was never identified as
'the mortal remains of the dashing ad-
ven‘turess, whom. Mr. Grimsby for a long
time llnnlenxted. and concerning whom
Havercamp forever held his peace. '

Bob Knocker disappeared. ,
Heathcote had bought hi1n,-lx)dy and soul,
that night, as much by reason of the fact
Knockcr had learned that at thc'last mo-
ment the Circle intended to get 'rid of
him; and he thought it was well to take
time by’ the forelock. .

Owing to the extraordinary resemblance
of the. two men, it had not been hard for

Heatbcote to act. as his double in the -.H

scheme of Vandcrlyn to get Knocker in-
troduced at Havercamp‘s to aid in the ..
abduction of Helen, in case the(~oppor-
tunity should occur.

During the day the original Knocker ‘

was on duty, but in the evening the two
changed places again.

It was Heathcote'who arranged to have
the police on hand to defeat the. attack I
on the carriage. which he did by the use
of the banker’s name, and a note 0t in~' -
‘troduct'ion with which he had been “pre- 
viously provided. ' ',  ~ 

Robert certainly earned his money, and'
it is to be hoped that he turned. utter a >
new leaf on the, Pacific slope, to which he
do rneyed. ' . ’ I

he reader need hardly be told that the
robbery of the bank was a. “plant.” ‘ ,

In spite. of his seeming position, Hover: ,r
camp had his suspicion of the mogul‘ of
tho Chiyuuu-themums. i. He could not be. V
‘surc, but believed he had been idcn'tl- '
fled abroad with the secret order which, ‘
had notified the banker it: was on his ,
it‘raek. * ‘ . ' ‘

The bank president: had confided his w
danger to the young cashier, who had un-
ggttiiken at all hazards to ferret out the,
y I. ’ ’ ‘ ,

An ’apparent hitch in the arrangements.
had induced Havel-camp to have a search:
made for him, though the was oaretulio
cover up all tracks of
at the bank.

The result

get at all; while blunder-lug Pat. Burns
did the‘samc for ‘
“consideration”
fortliconung.

Detective" Pat'still‘ drops in occhsi’onally

at the Chrysanthemums—which has not 7

been disorganized~and his brogue, in s- ’
spot-ted as ever. . l - ‘ ‘
I He calls oftener, however. on Miss .
Norah, and to this day has not finishedf
telling her why he is educating Fly Billy”
and the history or his strange adventures;
with the Circle of the Golden Rule; ‘ '

 , warming 9

Harry ' "

anything  ., ,

. was: Heathcote saved‘Hélén. / 1
«who was not supposed to be in' any dam”:

Havel-camp} and the- », ‘
for the blunder was'duly =

 

     

BEADLE’SrDIMEr IBRARY.

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

BUFFALO BILL NOVELS.

By Colonel Prentiss lngrullam.

874 Buffalo Bill‘s Buckskin Braves.

869 Buffalo Bill’s Road-Agent Round-up.

863 Buffalo Bill's Death Charm.

857 Buflalo Bill’s Royal Flush.

851 Buffalo Bill's Double Dilemma

845 Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Ruse.

830 Buffalo Bill's Boys in Blue.

826 Buffalo Bill's Lasso Throwers.

822 Buil'alo Bill's Best Bower.

816 Buflalo Bill‘s Red Trail.

812 Buffalo Bill’s Death-Knell.

794 Buffalo Bill‘s Winning Hand.

767 Buflalo Bill’s Dead Shot.

781 Buffalo Bill‘s Brand.

777 Buffalo Bill‘s Spy Shadower.

769 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepstake.

765 Biii'aio Bill‘s Dozen; or, Silk Ribbon Sam.

761 Buffalo Bill's Mascot.

757 Buffalo Bill’s Double.

750 Buffalo Bill‘s Big Four.

748 Buflalo Bill‘s Flush Hand.

739 Buffalo Bill’s Blind; or, The Masked Driver.
735 Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men.

761 Buffalo Bill‘s Beagles; or, Silk Lasso Sam.

727 Buffalo Bill’s Body Guard.

722 Buffalo Bill on the “'nr- ath.

716 Buffalo Bill‘s Scout Slim owers.

710 Buffalo Bill Baffled; or, The lleserter Desperado.
697 Buffalo llill's Buckskin Brotherhood.

691 Hull’le Bill’s illind Trail; or, Mustang Mad e.
667 Buffalo Bill‘s Swoop;or, The King of the M nes.
649 Buffalo Bill‘s Chief of Cowboys; or, Buck Taylor
644 Buffalo Bill's Bonanza; or. Si ver (‘ircle Knights.
362 Buffalo Bill’s Gri J; or. Oath Bound to Custer.
829 Buffalo Bill’s Pier. ge: or. The League of Three.
189 Wild Bill‘s Gold Trail; or, The Desperate Dozen.
175 Wild Bill’s Trump Card: or, The lndian Heiress.
168 Wild Bill. the Pistol Dead Shot.

By Bull‘an Bill.
889 gm Ranch King Dead-Shot; or, Texas Jack‘s

roxy.
820 White Beaver’s Still Hunt.
607 Wild Bill, the Wild West Duelist.
800 Wild Bill. the Dead-Center Shot.
639 Buffalo Bill's Gold King.

V 599 The Dead Shot Nine; or, My Pards of the Plains.
414 Red Renard. the Indian Detective.
401 One-Armed Pard; or, Borderland Retribution.
897 The Wizard Brothers: or, White Beaver’s Trail.
894 White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte.
319 Wild Bill. the Whirlwind of the West.
304 Texas Jack, the Prairie Rattler.
245-3 The Pilgrim Sharp: or. The Soldier‘s Sweetheart.

83 Gold Bullet Sport: or, Kni hts of the Overland.

‘ 52 Death-Trailer. the Chief o Scouts.

By Leon Lewis, Ned Buntllne, etc.

778 Buffalo Bill's Ban; or. Cody to the Rescue.

682 Buffalo Bill's Secret Service Trail.

629 Buffalo Bill’s Darin Role: or. Daredeath Dick.
517 Buffalo Bill's First rail; or. The Express Rider.
158 Buflalo Bill, Chief of Scouts.

117 Buffalo Bill 3 Strange Pard- or, Dashing Dandy. ‘

skinKing

BY LlEU'l‘. A. K. SIMI.

878 The Sport Detective‘s Colorado Ciew.
860 The Spangled Sport Shadower.
849 The Crescent City Sport.
882 Gid Gale‘s Block Game.
The Kin Pin of the Lesdville Lions.
786 Chicago harlie's Diamond Haul.
776 Chicago Charlie, the Columbisn Detective.
the \\ izarl King Detective.
fesmster Tom, the Boomer Detective.
mdestone Lem, the Chain ion of Chestnut Burr.
Singer Sam, the Pi rim etectlve.
688 River Bustiers; or t e Detective from ‘Way Back
673 Stuttering Sam tile Whitest Sport of Santa Fe.
665 Old Adamant, the Man of Rock.
618 kanm Kari. the Detective King.
552 Prince Primrose. the Flower of the Flock.
ass Huckleberry. the Footaflills Detective.

BY GEORGE 0. JENKI.

858 The Race-Course Detective.

855 he Hayseed Detective.

stain Cordon, the Twister Detective.
755 W (1 Pete the Bromine-Buster Detective.
796 Fearless Sun the Grand Combination Detective.
719 Boston Bob, the S rt Detective. '
572 Jauntv Joe, the ockey Detective.

554 Mad harp. the Rustler

588 Rube Rocket. the Tent Detective.

526 Desthflrip, the Tenderfoot Detective.

am The Drummer Detective. '

489 The Giant Horseman. ,

898 Sleepless Eye. the Pacific Detective.

BY HA BOLD PAYNE.

872 The King-Pin Shark: or. Thad Burt's Ton Strike.
861 The Tenderloin 8mm
853 The Quaker City
644 Tracked to Chicago.
886 The Policy Broker's Blind.

829 The Frisco Sharper‘s Cool Band.

621 The Tramp Shadower‘s Backer.

813 The Sham S tter‘s Shrewd Scheme.

806 The Grand treat Gold-Dust Sharpen.

798 Detective Burr's Lunatic Witness

792 The Wall Street Sharper‘s Snap.

784 Thad Burr‘s Death Drop.

742 Detective Burr Among the New York Thugs.
734 Detective Burr's Foil- or. A Woman's Strategy.
728 Detective Burr. the eadqunrtsrs Special.
Detective Bun-'3 Spirit Chase.

Detective Burr's Seven Clues.

i'hui Burr, the Invincible; on The “I. " Club.
690 The Matchless Demetive.

680 xx. the Fatal Clew: or. Burt's lute: use.

92 Buffalo Bill. the Buck

 

 

 

BY \VILLIAIVI ll. MANNING

875 Trap ing the Race-Track Judge.
864 The olice Special‘s Dilemma.
849 The Genteel Sharper's Combine
841 Graydon's Double Deal.
838 The Sport Delective's Grip:
828 The Athlete Sport About own.
808 TheCrook-Detective’s Pull.
790 Plunger Pete, the Race Track Detective.
782 Roya Rock, the Round-up Detective.
774 Steve Starr. the Dock Detective.
764 The New York Sharp’s Shadower.
788 Detective Claxton. the Record Breaker.
714 Gabe Gall, the Gambolier from Great Hump.
709 Spokane Saul, the Samaritan Sus :lect.
692 DeadShot Paul, the Deep—Range X lorer.
555 Strawberry Sam. the Man with the irthmark.
646 Dark John, the Grim Guard.
688 Murdock. the Dread Detective.
623 Dan erous Dave, the Never-Beaten Detective.
611 Alkai Abe the Game Chicken from Texas.
596 Rustler Rube; the Round-Up Detective.
Dan Dixon’s Double.
575 Steady Hand. the Napoleon of Detectives.
563 Wyoming Zeke, the Hots ur of Honeysuckle.
551 Garry Kean. the Man wit Backbone.
539 Old Doubleiiark. the Wily Detective.
531 Saddle-Chief Kit, the Prairie Cenl or.
521 Paradise Sam. the Non-West Pilot.
5133 Texas Tartar. the Man With Nine Lives.
506 Uncle Honk-st, the Peacemaker of Homets‘ Nest.
498 Central Pacific Paul. the Mail Train Spy.
49:! Border Bullet, the Prairie sharpshooter.
486 Kansas Kitten. the Northwest Detective.
479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Sassajack.
470 The Duke of Dakota.
463 Gold Gauntlet the Gulch Gladiator.
4.15 Yank Yelloubird. the Tall Hustler of the Hills.
449 Bluff Burke. King of the Rockies.
442 Wild West Walt. the Mountain Veteran.
437 Dec Duke: or, The Man of Two Lives.
427 The ivals of Montana Hill
415 Hot Heart, the Detective Slpv.
405 Old Bandy7 the Brigadier 0 Buck Basin.
385 Will Dick Turpin, tne Leadville Lion.
297 Colorado Rube, the Strong Arm of Hots 111'.
279 The Gold Dragoon. or. California Bloo hound

BY CAPTAIN H0‘VABD HOLlVlES.

71 The Crook Cashier.
859 Clew~Hawk Keene-‘6 Right Bower.
847 Hiram Hawk, the Harlem Detective.
840 Major Bullion, Boss of the Tigers.
831 Shadowing th London Detective.

v 817 Plush Velwt. he Prince of Spotters.

803 The Bogus Broker's Right Bower.

788 The Night-Hawk Detective.

779 Silk Rlbbon‘s Crush-out.

766 Detective Zach, the Broadway Spotter.
751 The Dark Lantern Detective.

786 The Never-Fall Detective.

724 Captain Hercules. the Strong Arm Detective.
711 Dan Damon. the Gilt-Edge Detective.

701 Silver Steve, the Branded Sport.

694 Gideon Grip, the Secret Shadowor.

684 Velvet Van, the Mystery Shadowor.

676 The Dude Desperado

671 Jason Clew the Silk-Handed Ferret.

664 Monk More , the Man-Humor.

654 Sol Sghinx. the Ferret Detective.

642 Red ard and Yellow.

608 Silent Sam the Shadow Sphinx.

592 Cagtain Si , the Shasta Ferret.

579 01 Cormorant. the Bowery Shadow.

569 Captain Cobra, the Hooded Mystery.

559 Danton. the Shadow Sharp. '

550 Silk Hand. the Mohave Ferret.

548‘ The Magnum Detective.

599 Jack Javert. the Independent Detective.
528 Reynard of Red Jack: or, The Lost Detective
512 Cu in Velvet’s Bis Stake.

505 Ph l Fox the Genteel Spotter.

406 Richard hednre. the Two Worlds‘ Detective.
487 Sunshine Sam. 9. Chip of the Old Block.

480 Hawkspear. the Man with a Secret.

468 Coldgrlp in Deadwood.

460 Captain Coldgrip. the Detective

453 Captain Coldfiri ‘s Long Trail.

447 Volcano. the Spy.

441 The Califurnia Sharp.

'484 Lucifer Lynx. the Vl onder Detective.

421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow.

413 Captain Coldgrip in New York.

40! Captain Coldgrlp‘s Nerve; or. In un Nick.

400 Captain Coldsrip: or. The New ork Spotter.
892 The Lost Bonanza: or. The Boot of Silent Hound.
882 The Bonanza Band: or. Dread Don of Cool Clan.
874 Major Blister. the S rt of Two Cities.

865 Keen Kennard. the hasta Shadow.

852 The Des rate Dozen.

847 Denver uke. the Man with “ Sand."

840 Cool Conrad. the Dakota. Detective.

885 Flush Dan. the Nshob; or, Blades of Bowie Bar.
891 California Claude. the Lone Bandit.

994 Broadcloth Burt. the D nver Dandy.

978 Heroines Goldspur. the

BY J . We 030K.

rt from St. Louis.
Richard, the Thoroughbred.

atrium nnu'ruun.
657 Doug Tom. the Privateer.

588 The Sea S 
621 The Red vsteor- or, The Midshipman Rover.

584 Fire Feather, tie uccaneer King.
517 Bufluio Bill’s t Trail.
561 Tombstone Dick. the Train Pilot.
270 Andros the Rover; or The Pirate's Daughter.
is: Saul Sabberday, the I lot egg.
111 The Smuggler Captain; or, e Skipper‘s Crime.
151 Captain Seawall, the Privat-er.
98 The Bed Warrior; or. The Comanche Lover.
.18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle.
16 The White Wizard; 01-, The Seminole Prophet.
14 Thsyendaneges, the scourge ; or, The War—Eagle.

759 The s
518 Boy

of the Velvet Hand.

 

ALBERT W. AIKEN’S NOVELI.

Dick Talbot Series.

741 Dick Talbot‘s Close Call.
737 Dick Talbot in A ache Land.
733 Dick Talbot. the nch King.
729 Dick Talbot‘s Clean-Out. \
725 Dick Talbot in No Man's Camp.
884 Dick Talbot in the Rockies: or. Injuu Dial.
354 Dick Talbot: 01, The Brand of Crimson M
349 Dick. the Gentleman Road-Agent.
107 Dick Talbot, of Cinnabar.
93 Dick Talbot. King of the Road.
41 Dick Talbot in Utah: or. Gold Dan.
38 Dick Talbot’s lrou Grip: or. The Velvet Hand.
36 Dick Talbot; or. The Death-Shot of Shasta.
85 Dick Talbot at the Mines: or, Kentuck. the Sport.
34 Dick Tnlbot’s Foe; or. Rocky Mountain Rob.
33 Dick Talbot at White Pine: or, Overland Kit.

Alken’~ Fresh or Frisco Series.

825 Fresh, the Race-Track Sport.
660 The Fresh in Montana' or. Blake’s Full Band.
652 The Fresh’s Rustle at Painted City.
647 The Fresh at Santa F9: or The Stranger Sharp.
556 Fresh, the Sport: or. The B 2 Racket at Slide Out.
587 Fresh Against the Field: or. Blake, the Lion.
529 The Fres of Frisco in New York.
497 The Fresh in Texas; or. The Escobedo Millions.
461 The Fresh of Frisco on the Rio Grande.
173 The Fresh in Arizona; or, California John.
130 The Fr~ sh in Mo-xivn' or, Captain Volcano.
97 The Fresh in Big Wa nut Camp; 01-. Bronze Jack
77 The Fresh of Frisco.

Aiken’u Joe Phenix Series.

865 The Female Barber Detectiva; or, Joe Phenix in
Silver City.

799 Joe Phenix’s Great Blue Diamond Case; or, The
New York Sport at Long Branch.

793 Joe Phenix’s Decoy: or The Man of Three.

760 Joe Phenix’s Lone Han .

749 Joe Phcnix's Big Bulge.

745 Joe Phenix’s Mad Case.

708 Joe Phenix's Siren; or, The Woman Hawksliaw.

700 Joe Phenix‘s Unknown; or. Crushing the Crooks

681 Joe Phenix‘s Sgecials; or. The Actress Detective

637 Joe Phenix in ‘rnzy Cam .

632 Joe Phenix's Master Search.

628 Joe Phenix‘s Combin» ; unthe Dandy Conspirator

620 J oc Pheuix's Silent Six.

601 Joe Phenix‘s Shadow ; or.the Detective’s Monitor

419 Joe Phenix., the King of Detectives.

391 Joe Phenix’s Still Hunt.

161 Joe Phenix‘s Great Man Hunt.

112 Joe Phenix, Private Detective; or. The League.

79 Joe Phenix. the Police Spy.

A lken’s Misc ellaneoul Novels.

875 Gold Buttons art; or The Miner Sharps.

842 Teton Tom. t e Half-Blood.

835 The King Pin Detective.

814 The New Yorker Among_Texus Sports.

775 King Dandy. the Silver Sport.

758 Gideon’s Grigiat Babylon Bar.

717 Captain Pat cGowen, the Greencoat Detective.

674 Uncle Sun Up, the Born Detective.

670 The Li htwelght Detective.

665 The sec Detective; or, The Golden Gate Find.

613 Keen Billy, the Sport.

607 Old Benzine the " Hard Case " Detective.

594 Fire Face, e Silver King’s Foe.

586 The Silver Sharp Detective.

577 Tom, of Calif arms; or, Detective'l Shudowlct.

570 The Actress Detective: or. The invisible Band.

569 Lone Hand. the Shadow.

520 The Lone Hand on the Csddo.

490 The Lone Band in Texas.

475 Chin Chin. the Chinese Detective.

465 The Actor Detective. .

440 The High Horse of the Pacific.

425 The Lone Band; or. The Red River Recreate.

408 Doc Grin. the Vendetta of Death.

881 The Gygzy Gentleman: or. Nick Fox. Detective

876 Black srds: ox. The Rio Grsnde High Horse

870 The Dusky Detective: or. Put-med to the End.

863 Crowaingshield. the Detective

s30 The Genteel Spotter: or The N. Y. Night Hawk.

252 The Wall Street Blood: or. The Telegrs in Girl.

203 The Double Detective: or,The Midnight ystery.

196 La Msrmoset. the Le teclive Queen.

13: 3? 3‘7?" $0"wa Y'i'iik'! keeper’sme

e an 113 If: 01'. e I!!! l‘.
Hunted Down: or, The league 0 Three.

81 The Human Tiger: or. A Heart of Fire.
75 Gentleman George: or. P 102‘. Prison and Street.
7:! The Phantom Band: or, e 5th'Avenue Heiress.
68 The Winged Whale: or. The Red Rupert otGulf.
59 The Man from Texas; or. Will w.
56 The Indian Mazeppa: or. Madmen of the sins.
49 The Wolf Demon; or. The Kanawhn sen.
42 The California Detective: or. The Witc esof KY.
81 The New York Shs ; or. e Flash of htning.
97 The Spotter Dete ve: or; iris of New ork.

NEW ISSUES.

I77 Cool Crude, the Dead-Shot: or. The White
at Prickly Pear Camp. John W. Osbon.
878*Dauntlcss Dick. Knight of the k; or The
Cruise of the Sea Witch. By Bur e Stamford.
S79 Falcon an the Detective- or Deuce
O'Diamon ‘3 Dead Lock. By Cs t. B. Balm“
$0 The Silver Sport‘s Double; or, ld Deck’s Col-
orado . By George 0. Jeth.

LATEST ISSUES.

881 The Clubmsn-Crook's Cat‘vpsw: or, Onejsgsinst
Seven. By Wm. B. Eys r.
889 The Three Bills: Bunnie Bill.Wlid Bill and Band-
box Bill: or. The Bravo in Broadcloth. I cm
888 The Man from Hexioo inlNew York; or. ing
Down the Shylock Pswnbrbker. By B. Payne.
884 The S tter Sport's Neck—Tl. Part ; or. The
Man 0 Muscle. By Jon. E. Badger, r.
A now {am ovary Wednesday.

Beadle’s Dime Library is for
Newsdealers. ten cents per cop or sent
receipt of twelve cents each. BAD“
Puhl shark. 98 William street, New York

fill 32
kxtDAMS

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