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N ‘ ' Joe‘Phenix’s Dorible‘Deal.”

 

 

 

h—Jte Phtnix’s Double Deal;

OR,

THE DIAKO ND DAGGER.

A STORY OF THE QUEEN CI l‘Y OF THE OHIO.

 

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN,

AUTHOR on THE “JOE PIIENIX " Norrzm,
“THE FRESH on Fiasco” TALES, “DICK
TALBOT" snares, AND “’rnn LONE
HAND" nouaxcas.

CHAPTER I.
A LEGACY or nmc.

ON a pleasant night in the latter part of
the month of May, in the year—well, the
year is not material, but the time of which
We write was not long ago—the full round
moon shone, bright and beautiful. upon that
delightfulsuburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, known
as Walnut Hills.

In the distance gleamed the lights of the
Queen City, and from the chimneys of its
great inanufaetories the flame-colored smoke
Was pouring.

In this pleasant suburb there are many
elegant mansions, surrounded by handsome
gardens, the residences of the wealthy citi-
‘zens of Cincinnati.

One place in particular always command-
ed the admiration of strangers, although,
from the peculiar way in which it was
arranged, it was not possible for the passer-
by to get much of a view.

The mansion was a superb graystone
structure, built after the fashion of one of
the old-time feudal castles.

A couple of acres of grounds surrounded
the house, replete with flowers, shrubbery,
ornamental trees, statues and fountains.

But the remarkable thing about the prop-
frty was the wall which entirely surrounded
t.

This wall was of brick, a good eight feet
high, and at the t0p was surmounted bv a
triple line of iron spikes, curiously curved,
and resembling gigantic fish-hooks. -

And it is safe to say that, if any one at-
tempted to climb over the wall, these fish-
hook-like spikes would be certain to inflict
severe damage.

The entrance to the grounds was through
massive iron gates, also surmounted by
curved spikes. .

By the gates was a porter’s lodge, and a
gigantic dog, a thoroughbred mastiff, chained

 

to an ornamental dog-house, held watch and .

ward.

These gates were always kept closed, and
it was evident that the occupant of the
property did not intend that any one should
gain entrance without undergoing inspec-

ion.

The city clocks had ust chimed eleven as
tw0 men came along t e street in front of
this princely place.

One was short and stockily built, a bullet-

head fellow, with a face which bore a resem- ‘

blance to the countenance of a bull-dog.

Clad in a rough, ill-fitting suit, any ex-
perienced police officer, at the first glance,
would have prenounccd him tobe an English
crook. ‘

Ilis companion was tall and thin, an older
man, with a peaked face; not a bad-looking
person. although to a good judge of char-
acter, the retreating chin, and the shifting,
uncertain eyes, Would imply that he was a
person who would hear watching

Two well-known characters the twain

were, to the police of Chicago and New { kind.

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“ crack a crib” on any and every occasion
that was fixed on by his pals.

His associate was known as Jeremiah Dal-
ston—also an Englishman, who, although
both suspected and aeeused of erooked work,
yet had managed to escape punishment, be—
ing very shrewd and very sly.

Few of the “ crooked fraternity are with-
out a nick-name, so Dalston was known to his
confederates as Slim Jerry.

Usually crooks Confine themselves par-
ticular lines. The pickpocket seldo at-
tempts to do anything but pick pockets, the
burglar devotes himself to house-breaking,
the bunco man to the contidcnce business,
but Slim Jerry was an all-around “operator ”
—ready to go into any game which promised
a thievcs’ success.

He had a soft, whecdling, insinuating way,
and with his smooth face, and wily manners,
often succeeded in producing a good impres-
sion even upon old and experienced men of
the world.

The two had just arrived from Chicago.

In the “ Windy (Jity ” they had succeeded
in doing a little house-breaking jt h which
nettul the pair an even thousand dollars, but
crooks of this kind never keep their money;
it is “ill got, ill gone.”

Not one rascal out of a hundred but is an
inveterate gambler; therefore, in a couple of
weeks the pair did not have fifty dollars

left.

Then Slim Jerry suggested a trip to Cin-
cinnati, saying that he knew a crib there
which would pay richly for the cracking, if
the scheme could be worked.

then the pair came to the gates they
halted and looked in at the room'y residence.

There were lights in a dozen different win
(lows, showing that the inmates had not yet
retired for the night.

“ Is this the crib?" Tommy asked, in a can-
tious tone.

“ Yes, it is; a fine place, eh?”

“Ay, ay, but it doesn’t seem to be a bloom-
ing easy one to get at,” the crook averred, as
he surveyed the spikes on the top of both
gates and wall.

And just as he uttered the words, the huge
mastifi made his appearance. -

The do came out of aiclump of bushes,
about ha f way between the ate and the
mansion, proceeded to the carriage-way and
then walked with slow, majestic steps to-
ward the house.

“ My hcycsl” exclaimed the I‘lnglishman,
who had a fashion of misplacing his h’s once
in a while. .“ Just look at that bleeding
dorg, will you? Why, if he ain‘t as big as a
cow I wish I may be blowed!"

“Yes; he is a fine brute," the other ad-
mitted; “ but let us walk on, for in ease the
dog gets his eyes on us he might kick up a
row.”

‘ ' You can bet your blooming life on that!"
the Englishman (flaculated, emphatically, as
the two proceede up the street.

“ And I say, old pal, what chance do you
think two duffers like you and me stand to
get at a crib when a dorg like this ’ere one
is a-promcnading like a lord around the
’onse?"

“ Oh, I have taken the dog into considera-
tion. I knew the brute was here.”

“ You did, hey?"

“Yes, and so I am not surprised by his
appearance.” ,

“And you
him?"

“Yes, of course."

“ A little p'isoned meat, I s’pose?" -

“ Oh, no; this dog is too well fed, and too
highly educated to fall into a trap of that
You might throw a dozen pieces of

have got some plan to fix

York. for they had been before the courts in i the finest steak a butcher ever cut, into the

both cities.

Thomas Powland, the short fellow was
named. Tommy, the Rat, his associates called
him. He

1

grounds, and you wouldn't catch that beast
touching ’em ”
“He has been edicated not to, hey, the

retended to be a pugilist, and l blooming brute?" the Rat exclaimed in ad-

had figured) in a dozen or so of contests, but 3 miration. '

he was not up to the work of sportsmen of
his weight, who had made a " recor ."

l
I

“ Yes; in the first place he has all he wants
to eat, and. in the second, when a puppy, he

Then, [00, he was well a tricky, unprinci- I was trained not to touch meat which he found
pled rasepl that he could not be depended‘ lying around. You see, I know all about
“Don ‘0 ' PUt “P a square fight." to use the l the canine, for I was the butler here when he

rin

ma 0 a trade with his opponent and set

tight if he could get mone enough.
The police, repudiattng 18 claim of an hon.

he

in-the-woo crook—a house-breaker, re

vernacular; he was always readytto t came},

“ You don‘t mean it!" the Englishman ex.
claimed in wonder. ’
“ Yes, it is a fact.

, and had some good places,

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_ That was only about .
est flghtin -man, declared him to be a ghee your]; afig, dYou see, I was a butler at |
y ome, in ng n

was r is.

 

‘ too, so I understand my business; but I got
to drinking, and then very naturally slipped
into crooked work.

“ And that wound you hup, hey ‘2"

“ Just so. I got into trouble and was
obliged to get out betWecn two days, as the
saying is, so I came to this tramping-ground
for foreign sports; but I didn’t dare to stay
in New York, for fear I might be spotted and
nabbed, so I came to this city

“And here, in an hour a ter I got oil? the
cars, I'met an old friend who had known me
when I was in good circumstances. at home.

“ This man was butler in this very house,
but was goin back to England, so he offered
to recommen me, not knowing, you know,
that I had been in any trouble.”

“ Yes, yes; I see."

“ I got the place, all right. The owner is
a man named Stephen Carmanage, a retired
distiller, ,who has made two or three millions
of dollars out of whisky, and lives like a.
prince, keeps an elegant cstablislnnent, has
a lot of silver, too—good solid stuff, you
know."

“ .lest what we want, hey?" suggested the
Rat, with a grin.

“ I was only in the house three months, for
I was foot enough to get drunk one day, and
when I am in liquor I’m inclined to have an
ugly tongue, so I sasscd the boss—he had
just come in from riding, and, as he is a mus-
cular old chap, he wore out a whip on my
back and then kicked me off the place.”

“ Iiard lines, old pal!" the other exclaimed,
with a sympathetic shake of the head. “I
don’t know how you feel about such a thing,
but if a man laced my back with a whip I
would have blooming good satisfaction out
of him—something more‘n silver and jewels.”

“()h, I hear him a legacy of hate, and
shall get square by making off with his sil-
ver. 1 would like to stick a knife in him.
you understand, but the game is too risky,"
Slim Jerry declared.

 

CHAPTER II.
A CUNNING TRICK.

BY this time the pair had reached the
street which ran in the rear of the German-
age estate. .
There were only a few small houses tn the
neighborhood, and as they were all dark, it
was apparent that the occupants kept good
hours.

The two turned the corner, following the
line of the brick wall. ‘

“Of course I have a plan in my hea-l,’
Slim Jerry remarked, "for I made up my
mind as soon as I was kicked Out to go for
the old curmudgeon‘s silver just as soon as I
could arrange the matter.

" if you notice, there are no houses in the
middle ‘of the block—only an old, deserted
stable, and Opposite to the stable is a door in
the wall." Slim Jerry continued.

“ I don‘t know why it was ever put there,
for it is never used. It is fastened by a good
lock, but an ordinary skeleton key will open
it all right. I tried the experiment one day,
thinking, you see, that I might want to use
that very door, some time. .

“ A wise move, old pal!“ With an approv-
ing nod.

“ ow the little game which I propose to
play is a simple one. There is the old
stable, in the right spot for cover. We can
climb tothe loft, and so get a view of the
house, and when the lights are out, showing
that the people have gone to bed, l w ill cross
the street, unlock the door and open it wide
——itopensinward—then attach to the knob
astrong cord, which I have in my pocket,
and carry the end up to the loft. .

“After this is done, and I am 1“ the 1.0“
“gain, we will commence and bark like
dogs.”

“ Ah, yes,
that line, too!

grll‘jwy idea is am the mastiff will be at-

he noise. and the chances are big
ihfiniiiatgiltl come through the door to find
out who is making the disturbance.

“I see, I see! and as soon as the beast ets
on the outside, you pull the string, the oor
shuts and mister dorg is on the street.”

“ Yes, and the chances are that he will
then wander off, to enioy a little liberty.”

" You are right! 1: Is dollars to cents
‘ that the beast will be glad to take a stroll.

and I can do a neat trick n
” the Rat assented, “ith a

 

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Joe. Phenix’s Double Deal. ‘ 3

 

“ Old Carmanage generally goes to bed l
about elcw ii. and by lllltinlgili all in the
house ottglit to be iii bed," Slim Jerry re-i
marked.

“Th! n we inu~l allow an hour or two for
them to get sound aslet p.”

‘ 0f ('ullI‘SC, but we will begin on the dog .
about twelve.”

By this time the pair had arrived at the
old stable, which they entered.

It was a small building, about twenty feet
square, and in a very bad condition.

On one side the boards had been ripped off,
thus allowing the rays of the moon to flood
the interior of the structure Willi light so the
pair were able to look around them.

There was a lot of rubbish, old boards and
boxes, stuck in one corner, with the remains
of some wagons.

“ \Ve can get tip into the left without any
trouble," Slim Jerry remarked after they had
examined the surroundings

“ Oh, yes, that is dead easy!” the English-
man exclaimed.

Up into the loft then the two went, and
proceeded to make themselves as comfort-
able as possible.

As Slim Jerry had said, from the elevated
position they got a good view of the Car-
manage mansion, and Watched the liglils dis-
appcar one by one.

At half-past eleven only one light was
visible.

“ That is in the front entry and is always
kept burning all night, " Slim Jerry ex-
plained.

This is a nice quiet street for a little game
of our kind,” the Rat remarked, as the mid
night hour approached. “Not a soul has
passed since we have been here, and I don’t
suppose there’s a blooming policeman within
a mile.”

“The beats are long ones; so the police ser-
vice does not amount to much.”

Soon the strokes of the midnight bells
sounded on the air; whereupon Slim Jerry
descended to the ground, stole across the
street, unlocked the door, fastened the cord
to the knob, opened the door, and then re-
treated to the old shed again.

“ Now then we will try the blooming dog
act,” the Rat announced with a grin.

B this time the moon had risen so high in
the eavens that the rays no longer came in
through the broken side of the shed, but
there were holes enough in the roof to let the
li ht in so the pair could have a clear view
ogthe interior.

The Englishman had not boasted unduly
when he declared that he could give a good
imitation of a dog’s barking.

The trick succeeded, for the Rat had not
yelped like an angry cur for more than half
a minute when the big mastiff came bound-
ing through the doorway into the road, the
hair on his back upraised, evidently anxious
for a skirmish.

With a tug at the cord, Slim Jerry shut and
latched the door behind the brute.

The dog had halted in the center of the
road and was looking around for the animal
Who had made the disturbance.

The bru e was clearly puzzled, for the im-
itation of the bark had been so good that the
beast was completely deceived.

A few moments he devoted to looking
around, then sniffed the air for a moment,
uttered a low growl which plainly indicated
that he was extremely dissatisfied, and came
toward the shed.

“The beast has smelt us out,” the Briton
whispered in the ear of his companion.

“ It does not matter; he can’t possibly get
at us," Slim Jerry assured.

But when the dog reached the middle of
the shed he halted for a moment, threw up
his head, sniffed the air, then went to the
rubbish pile in the corner and growled in an
ugly way.

“There's a rat, or something in the ver-
min line, in the corner, but the dog will
not be able to get at it," Slim Jerry re-
marked.

“There's a rat up ’ere, t0u, and you can
bet your blooming life that he won’t Eetia
chance to put them beastly teeth of his’n in
this ’ere precious carcass,” whispered his
pal, grinning with delight at his joke.

The dog growled half a dozen times,
pawed at the rubbish heap as though he had

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a mind to di into it, but the heavy boards
resisted his e arts.

53.»; I I q. . A, 3,. ._ an ..

Then he gave a parting growland marched
out of the shed into the street.

Another d ig barked, not a great distance
away. ,

The mastiff regarded this as a challenge,
so he immediately barked in return and then
set off at a gallop up the street.

“It is all right, my tulip!" the Rat ex-
claimed. “The plooming beast is bout of
the way, and we can get into the crib with-
out any trouble.”

The pair at once descended from the loft,
crossed the street and went through the
door. '

Then there was a movement in the rubbish
heap.

 

CHAPTER III.
Tm: sronv on Tim FEITl).

AT the time when the tWo crooks peered
in at the gates at the Carmanage mansion,
the curtains of the lower windows, through
which the light came, were tightly drawn,
but had the shades of the sitting-room bten
up, the pair could have seen that Stephen
Carmanagc, the retired whisky -king. and
owner of this magnificent estate, sat in the
apartment.

After the English fashion, he was in the
habit of taking a luncheon, with a generous
supply of wine, before going to bed.

_Jiist after the servant placed the tray
upon the table, Miss Blanche Carnianage,
the whisky-king’s niece, and supposed heir,
entered the room to bid her uncle good—
night.

Uncle and niece bore a great resemblance
to each other.

Carmanage was a man of sixty, of massive
build and muscular form.

He had a good face, with bold and ex-
pressive features, wav , iron - gray hair,
which he wore rather mg, and a heavy
beard of the same hue, giving him the ap-
pearance of one of the grand old Roman
fathers.

The niece was, also, large in stature, a
buxom, well-developed girl, who, if she could
not exactly be called a beauty, yet was good-
looking, and, if the expression upon her face
did not belie her character, possessed an ex-
ceedingly amiable disposition.

“ Sit down and have a glass of wine,
Blanche. I want to have a little talk with
you,” the uncle said, filling out. a couple of
glasses of wine as he spoke.

“ Certainly, uncle,” the girl replied, taking
a seat on the other side of the table.

“ Blanche, you are getting to be a woman
now, I see," the old gentleman remarked, in
a peculiar, abrupt way; “ but I have been so
accustomed to considering you only as a child
that I have not really taken note of the flight
of time.” "

“Oh, yes; I am eighteen now,” the girl re-
sponded.

“ Yes, I suppose you will soon be thinking
of getting married," the uncle continued, in
a careless way, yet his keen eyes rested
searchingly upon his niece's face.

The girl laughed, then blushed a little, and
appeared to be slightly confused. '

“Well, uncle, 1 will get married one of
these days," she remarked. “It is the des-
tiiiyof a woaian, you know, but; I can assure
you lam not at all in a hurry to leave you."

“I am glad to hear you say that, my child,
for ever since you came under my protection,
a little, wee tot, too young to know the differ-
ence between a father and an uncle. ‘I have
striven to do all in my power to make your
life happy.”

“ And you have, uncle!" the girl ex-
claimed, impulsively. “As far as you are
concerned, you have not left undone a single
thing which could add to my happiness.
You could not have treated me better if you
had been my own father, and I have never
known what it is to miss him.”

p“ Well, there is one thing which must be
said, and that is—you have always been a
good girl,” the old gentleman confessed; “so
it has really been a pleasure for me to do all
in my power for you, and I can truthfully
say I at you have alwa 8 been as dear to
me as if you were my aughter instead of
my niece.”

“Oh, yes, I do not doubt about that, for
you have always acted in that way."

“As I said, a moment ago. it was not an-
til recently that I got my eyes open to the
fact that my little girl had arrived at a mar-

 

 

riageable age; btit when I saw half a dozen
yriitng gentlemen all eager to gain )our
smile-x, I Sll’itit‘ld)’ came t.) the conclusion
that it was likely I might have to make up
my mind to be content without my niece in
the near future."

The girl laughed, blushed again and cast
down her eyes.

“Of course, it is only reasonable such a
thing should happen, it is the course of na»
ture, and I am not unreasonable cnou h to
wish to keep you; but at the same time I
hope you will have confidence enough in
your old uncle to tell me frankly if you have
any thoughts of getting married, so that I
may have an opportunity to pass an opinion
upon the gentleman of your choice.”

“Oh, yes, uncle; you can depend upon
my telling you just as soon as I have any
serious thoughts on the subject," the girl
assured.

“Iain a pretty good judge of mankind,
for I have seen a great deal of the world.
and I think I will be able to give you good
advice.”

“ No doubt of that, and I will gladly con-
fide in you.”

“ You are placed in a position which ren-
ders you particularly attractive to the aver-
age man,” the old gentleman added; “the
world knows that l atn a man of large
wealth, and, as is usually the case, my estate
is overestimated, but 1 am well above the
million line.

“It is generally supposed that the bulk of
my property will descend to you. and I
don't mind saying to you, Bi'tDChO, that
these guesses are not far out of the way,
but I shall take care to arrange the matter
in such a manner that, if my little girl should
make a mistake in choosing a husband, and
happen to be unlucky enough to become
the wife of a man who does not know how
to take care of money, her estate cannot be
squandered.”

“A very good idea indeed, it seems to me,
uncle.”

“And you will not feel hurt if I arrange
the matter in that way?”

“ Oh, no; I would greatly prefer it,” the
girl declared, “ You see, I know that I am
nit a bright and shining li ht as a financier,
and it would take a deal 0 weight from my
mint ,” she continued with a laugh.

“And now, my dear Blanche, it is my
duty to reveal to you something of our fam-
ily history, for there is adark page in our
record, and the time has come for you to learn
the particulars."

The girl was surprised by the unexpected
disclosure and looked inquiringly at her
uncle.

“ I have kept the matter from you as long

as I could, but as you have arrived at a mar-
riageable age,,it is fit you should know the
facts.

" The story goes back a great many years,”
Mr. Carmanage continued—"back to the
first settlement of Texas. After the close of
the war with Mexico, when Texas became
one of the United States. my father, with his
family, emigrated from Georgia and took up
a plantation on the Colorado River in
Texas.

“ In the neighborhood resided a family
nam'd Roxaire. My father and the head of
the Rosalie family quarreled in regard toa
cattle transaction.

“ The trouble led to a hostile meeting, and
Rosaire was killed in the encounter.”

“ It was dreadful, wasn’t it?’ the girl exé ‘

claimed with feeling.

“ Oh, yes; but Texas was on the frontier,
in those days, and when trouble occurred be
tween two men, they usually settled it by an
appeal to arms.

" Rosaire fell in‘a fair fight, and' mv father
thought that settled the matter; but the man
was of French-Italian descent, a Corsican.
and had thtee sons, ranging from the boy of
twelve to ayouth of eighteen, so my father
was soon informed that he must be on his
guard, for these boys intended to kill him at
the first convenient opportunit without iv-
ing him a chance for his lie. They
resolved to introduce the Corsican vendetta
into America, you see.”

“I have read of that dreadful custom!"
Blanche exclaimed, now full of interest.

“M father was disposed to believe that it
was t e vain boosting of boys.’ smarting
over the loss which they had sustained; but,

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anxious to get at the truth of the matter, he
Sent word to the liosaires that it was hardly
fit for him, a man grown, to encounter ,
children.

' “ He had three sons, though, of about the
same a c as the Roairc boys, and they would
be willing ,to meet them in mortal combat.

“But, this was not the Corsican way; they
“ . did not want a. fair fight. The offer was de-
’ clined; so the three Rosaire boys bided their

time; and finally they ambushed my father
one night and mortally wounded him.”

“ Oh, wasn't that horrible! and so coward-
ly, tool Blanche exclaimed.

“ The Rosaires thought it was all right,
for it was the custom of their country.

“On his death-bed my father told us that,
since the vendetta. had begun, there was no
doubt in his mind it Could only end with the
extinction of our family or of the Rosaircs;
and although he thought it was a barbarous
custom, yet, under theclrcumstances, there
was naught for us to do but to kill or be
‘. killed." .

"Oh, yes; I suppose that was necessary,
in self-defense!

“ So, to use the Westernism, we Carman-
-, age boys went ‘gunning’ for the Rosaires,
and we let them/too,” the old man remarked,
w'itha ee ncd voice. “My older brother,
Althougthe l in the tight, so that your father.

"John Carmanage, and myself, were all that
were left of our race, for there were no girls
' inthc family, and our mother had died before
7 we left Geor ia.
V ‘f Of the Iiosaire family the wife of the
man who fell by my father's hand alone re-
mains r '

  
  
  
   
 
 
 
   
  
    
  
 
 
 
     
   
   
   
   
  
    
  
 
    
    
   
   
  
        
   
  
   
  
  
 
     
 
    
    
  
  
  
     
   
     
   
  
     
  
    
   
  
  

$339111," woman!” Blanche remarked,
with a mournful shake of the head; “how
_' dreadfully she must have suffered!”

“Yes; she was a feeble creature, and the
shock proved too much for her reason; she
~bécam‘e insane.”

_'” Oh, wasn’t that awful!" the girl ejacu-
 in a tone full of compassion.

“ es, both our father and myself were
cry much cctcd by the circumstance,
because we felt that, in a certain measure,
he'sad‘oecurrence was due to our acts."

{gags that is true, of course, (yet I do
 w you could have acted ifl'erent-
13‘, “lth either kill or be killed. It was

dry dreadful, of course; But neither you
. nor my father was to blame. It was the
‘ rRusaii-cswho'forced the quarrel," the girl

” 3:!

f  is the way we regarded the mat-
!CY, and about everybody in the neighbor-
,‘held the same view; but there was
  sympathy for the unfortunate
.when she was carried to the asy-

( yes, of course.”

.fifter this tragedy, the lantation be
came distasteful both to your ather and my-
mesa we disposed of it. Your father went
. tosbusiuess in New Orleans, while I came
XMhto-Cincinnall. ' ~

' ,j'f‘line passed; your father and myself
prospered; he married, and you were

rites, when you were about four years
loin/father was struck down by the
affirm ease-almond the murderer left
 him a card on which was Written:

This is thework of the last of [the

I iresl'” ‘ t

5"? Oh", wasn‘t that dreadful!” cried Blanche,

excitedly, with teamiimmed eyes.

  5"ch; I set on foot an investigation, em~
" " -- the best detectives to be had, and

that the elder Rosaire had been se-

 rrled in New Orleans to a Creole

he had not dared to bring home,

father had picked out a wife for

. ,“ He had confided the secret to his mother,
11, Who,aftcr some ten years had come
the asylum. cured, but she had disap-
~' ' knew where." . '
idea that she sou ht out h'ér
whom the dot ves could
 no trace. and the two womentold the
’  the vendetta to the'chitd as it grew
" ur ed him to kill the men whohad
slat er." ’ '

  
 
 

 
   

the alert, but they could not discover the
assassin!

“I waited in New Orleans for a couple
of months, taking care to have my presence
in the city announced in all the newspapers,
and making a point of being seen in the pub-
lic places, for I wanted to give the ‘Last of
the Rosaires ' a chance to attack me," the old
gentleman declared, with sparkling eyes.

“ I went armed, and I had no doubt but
what I could settle the cowardly murderer
if he would only pluck up courage enough
to attack me.

“I was not troubled, though, so I finally
had to return to my home here, bringing
you with me.

“It was my idea that, in time, the assas-
sin might attack me, but I have never been
troubled, and so I suppose I will die in my
bed, after all."

“It is a. dreadful story, but, of course, it
was only right for me to know it,” Blanche
remarked, much affected.

“ Yes, but now run off to bed, for I have
kept you up after your usual hour for re-
tiring."

The girl kissed the old man and departed.

Carmanage finished his lunch, drinking
freely of the wine.

Deeply engaged in thoughts of the past,
sleep came upon him as he sat in his cozy
chair.

The minutes slipped swiftly away, and the
millionaire dozed on, unconscious that a.
stranger had come with noiseless steps into
the room!

 

CHAPTER 1V. '
A DESPERATE YOU'l‘lI.

ABOUT nine o’clock on the same evening
that the two cracksmen were “prospecting”
in the nei hborhood of the Carmanage man-
sion, on alnut Hills, a tall, well-built,
resolute-lookin man, well dressed, and with
that indiscriba le air about him which be-
tokens one used to command, was promenad-
in slowl down Fifth street.

rom t e way he was gazing in the shop-
windows, and'surve lag the surroundings,
the guess might be azarded that he was a
stranger; an this guess was correct.

The personage was the famous New York
detective, about the most marvelous man.
hunter of the great metropolis. lie been
summoned to Cincinnati by one of the promi-
nent bankers of the city.

Arriving about seven that evening, he had
secured his hotel accommodations, got, his
supper, and then took awalk to note the
changes which had taken place since his last
visit to the “Paris of America,” ten years
before. , -

When he arrived at Central avenue he
paused to watch the motley throng passing
along that thoroughfare.

The veteran thief-taker had eyes like a
hawk, and had hardly halted, and cast a
glance around, when he noticed a person on
the other side of the street who was acting
in a suspicious manner.

It Was a ybung man, scarcely more than a
outh in appearance, and who looked like a
oreigner, for he had an olive complexion,.

rather small, but clearly cut features, with a
diminutive mustache, black as. jet, and
cris y, curlinghair of the same hue.

e was dressed in a fOrei 1: fashion, too,
wearing to boots, and a b tic-flannel suit
with-an od little cap. ‘ ‘ '

The coat was out after a peculiar style,
and was belted ti any in at the waist.

In his hand e carried a light switch
which, ever and anon, he tapped impatient-
ly against his leg.

This young fellow had partially concealed
himself in a doorway, and every now and
then emerged from it, casting a glance down
the street as though on the watch for some
one.

"‘Now, then, what game is that young
man up to?” Joe Phenix asked himself, as
he made his way up Central avenue to a con-
venient doorway so as to be able‘ to keep a
watch upon the fellow. ' ~

For a good five minutes the veteran kept
,his eyes on the youth, and than he mur-

 

 

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1

“ I don’t think it will do any harm for me
to keep my eyes on him, so as to see just
what he is going to do.”

The young man was so intent upon watch-
ing the people coming up the street that he
never cast his 0 es across the way; so Joe
Phenix was not in any danger of being dis-
covered.

Suddenly the young foreigner darted back i
into the doorway. , ,

“ Aha! something has either alarmed him,
or he has caught sight of the parties he is
after,” the man-hunter decided, taking a new
interest in the matter.

Soon he saw that the supposition was cor,
rect, for up the street came a couple, a lady
On a gentleman’s arm—a prttty. delicate-
.fcatured girl, who bore a. strong resemblanec
to the young man concealed in the door-
way. . ,

“I should not be surprised if they were
brother and sister, " Joe Phenix inferred,
quick to detect the resemblance.

The gentleman with the girl was a good
looking young man with regular features,
dark hair and side whiskers.

He was Well dressed, swung a light um-
brella in his hand, and was chatting with his
companion. as they proceeded.

“ From the affectionate way in which they
look at afich Olht‘l' I should udge they are
lovers," e detective inferre ; “and now I
Conclude that it is the old story: the girl
likes a man whom the brother does not ap-
prove of, and he is lying in wait to kick up
a row."

But, the Young man did not spring out,
as Joe Phenix anticipated he would. when
the pair approached the doorway, where he
had concealed himself; on the contrar ', he
shrunk into the gloom of the entry within;
but, after the couple passed on he came out,
and, in a stealthy way, followed in their foot»
steps.

Phenix got a ood view of his countenance
as he perform this movement.

“ Hello! There is murder written on-that

man’s face!” the veteran had to decide. “I ,

must follow him!" - ' ..

With
so he crossed the ‘stmet and tracked the
young man juSt as he was tracking the
pair.
Up Central avenue the “procession” pro-
ceeded; first the young couple, chatting
blissful] , unconscious of danger, then the
spy, an then the detective.

ialf a dozen blocks up the street the
couple walked; then the entered an old-
fashioncd tenement build ng.

On the a per story they~ unlocked a door
and enter a room. I

The Spy, following closely, watched at the
keyhole, and, as soon as a light was lit, he
dashed into the Croom, drawing a heavy re-
volver.

The amazed and frightened girl fell upon
her knees, while the young gentleman start-
ed in alarm, and half raised his Umbrella.-
as if to defend himself from the'threat'ened
deadly attack. 5‘ , - r '

“ 0h, lexander, my brother, do not com-
mit murder l’f‘the young woman cried, rais-
in her hands in supplication.

enix, now in the entry wiihout, hidden
from view, was an attentive listener.

 

CHAPTER V.
THE EXPLANATION.

.“ALEX.\NI)Eil—y0ur brother?" exclaimed
the yloung man, evidently very much sur-
pl‘lset . f -

“ Yes, I am her brother, ' you villain!
and now Iwizl have your life!” the youth
cried. .

But, as he was about fospring upon the
other, Joe Phenix suddenly made his appear-
ance, pad the young man’s arm, and,
with a sudden twist. took the revolver from
him. “ v ' '

The youth turned. wild with rage, and was
about wprecifiitate himself 11 n the new-
comer when P enix held up h hand, and,
with that stem gesture of command which
many a time had checked the onset of dea-

. fl?“

; .Tsk

Phenix” to decid‘ ’ e was  "j . . .

‘ esseiafémeg’... .

perote and determined criminals said com.
ndinlr ' 

  
      
   

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Joe Phenix’s Double Deal.

5

 

 

The youth hesitated.

in that kind of life that I was foolish enough

“I don‘t know who you are," the detective to fear you might be prejudiced against me if

continued, in his impressive way. “In fact,
you are all strangers to me, but when I saw
your face in the street a few minutes ago, it

I told you all about my brother.
“I know it was wicked in me not to tell,

 

“But you are satisfied now that it is not
the truth ?" the sister queried.

“ Yes, and I am glad to discover that my
fears are unfounded, although I must say I

' but, at the time, to withhold the truth did do not like this secrecy, ’ the youth declared.

struck me that you were in that state of not seem to beas bad as tellingalie,although
I suppose there isn’t much difference be- ! be well for me just now to openly introduce
ttween the two,” the girl declared, with a : your sister as my wife to the world,” the

mind which does not hesitate to commit
murder, so I followd you, and, luckily,
arrived in time to save you from the com-
mission of an act which, had you committed,

sudden outburst.
“ You were foolish, indeed, not to tell the

l

“Under the circumstances it would not

husband explained. “I would surely incur
my uncle’s anger, and then I could not hope

you would have regretted for many a long , truth,” the brother asserted; “and, as to my ; to inherit any of his money.”
i being a 371020111011, there is no call for you to ‘

day. "
‘ You do not understand the circumstances

be ashamed of that.

“ Well, I don’t suppose it would be wise,

It is a good, honest. , from that standpoint,” confessed the young

or you would not speak in that way,” the t business; we work hard for and earn every  man, thoughtfully.

young man replied.
whom this villain has lured awn from her
home, and I would have killed him outright
without mercy had I not been fool enough to
take an unloaded revolver from m trunk in-
stead of a loaded one.
mistake until a few moments ago, and then
it was too late to repair the error.

“But, it does not matter," the youth con-
tinued, turning to the gentleman, and gazing
upon him with acountenance full of rage;
“ the next time I meet you I will take care
that my revolver is loaded, and I will kill
you like a dog for the wrong that you have
done to this foolish girl!”

The maiden rose to her feet, at this point.

“Oh, Alexander, my brother, do not say
such fearful things!" she exclaimed. “ You
do not know what you are talking about;
this gentleman is my own husband!"

“ Your husband?” echoed the brother in
astonishment.

“Yes, that is the truth,” the gentleman
assented, in rather a sulky way.

“It is so; I can show you my marriage-
certificate!” and the girl hurried to asmall
trunk, which was in a corner of the. room,
unlocked it and produced a legal-looking
document, which she handed to-th’: youth.

He examined it carefully, and a look of
surprise appeared on his features.

“ Yes, this is really a marriage-certificate,”
he admitted.

' “Certainly! I am really married to this
gentleman. Oh, my brother, how would you
think that I would do anything wrong?" the
girl exclaimed in a reproachful voice.

“ How could I think in any different way
under the circumstances?“ he asked. “ When
I went to the island of Cuba I left you here
in Cincinnati ata comfortable boarding-house,
and knew that you had a good place in a
dressmaking establishment, so that you would
he sure of getting enough to support you in
comfort while I was away.”

“Yes, that is true,” the girl assented.

“\Vhen I returned I found that you had
left both your boardinghouse and the place
where you worked without giving any ex-
planation, or saying where you were gomg.”

“ I did not think it was necessary. It was
my business, and no one else’s,” the sister
replied.

"Besides, I intended in time to write to
you and givp a full explanation," she con-
tinued. “I did not expect that you would
return for two or three months.

“ Don‘t you remember that you said when
you went away that, after you got thrOugh
with Cuba you were going to Mexico, anti
you would not be likely to return until Sep-
temher?"

“Yes, that was my intention, but the busi-
ness in Cuba was not good, and so the party
concluded to return to New York, giving up
the trip to Mexico; then I got an engagement
here in Cincinnati; I commence next week,”
the young man explained.

The husband appeared surprised by this
information and looked inquiringly at the
girl. She blushed and seemed to be a little
confused.

“ I suppose I will have to explain now,”
she said. “I did not really deceive you,
Robert, but I will admit that I did not tell
you I had a brother.

“ If you remember, I said I was an orphan
with only a single living relatlvc; but 1 8UP-
pose, from the way in which I spoke, you
got the idea that this relative was a distant
one.”

“Yes, I certainly did,” the husband ad
mitted. “And that is why Idid not make
any inquiries in regard to the matter "

“ It was a little bit of foolish ride on my

art,” the girl explained. “ y brother is
in the show business, and so many people
have such queer ideas about those who are

I did not discover the r

I

 

“ This is my sister l penny that we get!"

And as he spoke, the youth threw back his l

head with the air of a man who was not at
all afraid to face the World.

“ Well, I have no particular prejudice
against people in your line of business," the
gentleman admitted.

“Of course, I know a great many people
do have such a prejudice," he continued.
“ In fact, the members of my own family,
being strict church members, do not think
that those who earn their bread by amusing
the public are fit to livesand I have no doubt
they would lift up their hands in holy horror
if they knew I had married the sister of a

stage-performer. "

“ Yes, that is probably true,” the showman
assented; “but, I can tell you, sir, that, as
far asI am concerned, I am sorry you have
wedded my sister, for I think it would be a
great deal better for her if she had not mar-
ried a member of afamily who hold such
:(i‘tlzoted views,” the youth declared, spirit-

y.

"I will admit it is unfortunate, and I
would be glad if my people held different
opinions; but there is an old saying that the
course of true love Seldom runs smooth, and
it certainly was so in our case," the gentle-
man explained in a conciliatory tone; “ but,
as your sister and I loved each other, we
did not stop to think whether our relatives
would approve of the match or not.

“ That is, I did not, for I knew if I allowed
my people to know the facts of the case,thcy
Would do all in their power to stop the mar-
riage, for my uncle, Robert Elliott, one of
the richest men in Chicago, after whom I
am named and from whom I have great ex-
pectations, has set his heart on my marrying
some rich girl.

“ And you can readily understand that, if
he discovered I had gone contrary to his
Wishes, and married a girl without money,
there would be an awful row.”

“I presume so,” the brother remarked,

with an assenting nod.

“I explained all this to your sister, and
told her that I thought it was wise for us to be
married quietly, and keep the fact secret for
awhile.

“ You see, I am in a measure dependent
upon this uncle. He has large investments
in different parts of the country, andI act
as his agent it looking after them.

“He pays me a handsome salary, and it
would be very unwise in me to break with
him just now. Then, too, In uncle is an
old man, in poor health, and liable to die at
any moment.”

“There is an old adage about it not being
wise to wait for dead men’s shoes,” Joe Phe-
nix observed, at this point, for the first time
taking part in the conversation.

“Yes, and I have no doubt it. is very true,
too, but in the present case it is certain thit
my uncle cannot live more than a few
months longer, a year at the most, and at his
death I will be sure to come in forehand-
some sum.”

"Well, under such circumstances I sup-
pose it was wise for you to conceal the mar-
ria e,” the youth acquiesced, evidently satis-
fie with the explanation.

“But on will understand that it was not
strange should jump to the conclusion that
something was wrong when ‘I found you,
Marguerite, missing, and no one knew any-
thing about you.

“The only clue I could get to your where-
abouts was that one of the girls in the board-
ing house said she had seen vou twice on
Central aVenue, between Fifth and Sixth
streets, accompanied by a young man.

“Of course, I suspected that you had been
led awa , and immediately determined to find
you, if t was possible.”

 

“The marriage will not have to be kept
secret very long—a year at the most, proba-
bly; and, really, as long as we all know there
isn't anything wrong, what harm is there in
keeping the matter quiet?" the husband
urged with an appearance of great frank-
ness.

“ That is true,” the youth assented; “and

t I don‘t suppose I ought to object, so I will

say no more about it.

“ I presume that you don’t mind if I come
to see my sister when I have time ?"

“Certainly not! On the contrary, I will
be glad to have you call whenever it is con-
venient.” the husband assured.

“I am compelled by business to be away
all day,” he continued, “so that Marguerite
is here alone, and when you come you can
converse with her to your heart s content.”

“ Oh, I will be so glad to have you come!”
the girl protested. “I get fearfully lonesome
here all alone, and if I hadn‘t secured work
at scarf-making I don’t know what I would
do with myself, for I hate to be idle.”

“ I will be able to come to morrow after-
noon. I think,” the youth announced. “I
shall have to be at the Summer Garden dur-
ing the morning, but in the afternoon there
will not be anything for me to do.”

“ Allow me to return you your pistol,” re-
marked Joe Phenix at this point, presenting
the revolver to the young man; “and you
will have to pardon me for interfering in this
matter, an entire stranger as I am to you all,
but my excuse must be that I thought this
gentleman was going to do something des-
perate.”

“ You were right, and it is a lucky thing
you did interfere!” the brother averred.

“ All is well that ends well.” and the vet-
eran detective turned to depart.

“ Hold on a moment! I will go with you t"
the youth urged.

Then he kissed his sister, shook hands
with the husband and followed Phenix down
the stairs.

CHAeTER VI.
hNTRAPPED.

“Do you ever drink anything?" young
Delmay asked, after he and the veteran de-
tective reached the street.

“ Oh, yes; a glass of beer now and then.”

“I will be very happy indeed, to have
you join me in one,” the youth declared.
“ I consider that you have one me a great
service to-night, and I want to thank you for
the same.”

“ Oh, that is all right,” Joe Phenix replied,
carelessly.

“ I am inclined to be rather hasty, and I
was so angry on this occasion that, if it had
not been for the f0rtunate accident of taking
an unloaded revolver instead of a loaded one,
I most assuredly would have shot my sister’s
husband without giving him a chance to ex-
plain, and, of course, after I had discovered
the truth I never would have been able to
forgive myself "

“That is undoubtedly correct. and in mat-
ters of this kind it Would always be well to
act on the old motto, ‘Be sure are right, then
go ahead” "

“ Yes, yes!” the yoang man assented ; '
“but, let us go in here," he added.

They were opposite the door of one of the
handsome saloons of which Cincinnati boasts.

The pair entered, seated themselves at a
table an'l called for beer.

“By the way, I have not introduced my-
self.” the young man remarked. “My name
is Alexander Delmay, and I am in the show
business. being the proprietor of a troupe of
performing dogs, really wonderfully well.
trained animals.

I

g» ‘ 3., ~  ‘ .Ux ‘30:_~V‘ ;- an.“ - : .5“ .1.

LUZ}.  'l a," L'Z'J if":

6

Joe Phenix’s Double Deal.

 

“On the programmes I figure as Signor
Delmay, the renowned Spanish trainer,” the
professional continued, with a laugh.

“The American public is composed of a
queer lot of jays." he explained, “who run
after anything foreign with the idea that it
must be a deal better than the natiVe-born
article.”

“ Yes, that is true, I believe.”

“ I commence an engagement on Monday
at Jake Jammerstein‘s Summer Garden on
Vine street. W'ith Jake I remain tWo weeks,
and then [go to a new garden, which has
just been started over in (fovington, for two
weeks more.

“You must come and see my dogs, for, as
I said, they are extremely well«tra1ned ani-
mals, and do sotne Wonderful tr icks."

“ I shall be pleased to see them.”

The waiter brought the beer, and the pair
drank to their better acquaintance.

“ You will pardon me sir, I hope, if I
speak to you frankly," the young man now
obserVed in a peculiar, abrupt way.

“ Certainly! go ahead I”

“You are a stranger to me, and I know
absolutely nothing about you, yet I have got
the impression that you are a man who has
seen a great deal of the world, therefore pos-
sess a fund of experience and are well-calcu-
lated to advise in a difficulty."

“I resume that I am tolerably well-in-
forme , and I think I may say, without reu-
dering myself liable to be considered egotist-
ical, that I am capable of givrng good ad-
vice," Joe Phenix returned in his calm,
judicial way.

“Well, now then, my dear sir, will you
tell me frankly what you think about this
secret marriage?”

“Yes, I will, provided you will promise
me you will not allow yourself to become ex-
cited, but will talk the matter over with calm
deliberation. "

“Yes, yes!” the dog-trainer exclaimed.
quickly. “ I will give you my word that I
will be patient and reasonable.

“I judge from the way in which you
speak that you are inclined to think every-
thing is not all right,” the youth con-
tinued, a grave expression appearing on his
face.

“ Well, I must admit that I do not like the
appearance of things,” the veteran replied.
"Of course, you understand that I haven’t
anything to go on but general supposi-
tion.”

“ Ah, yes, I comprehend,"and the dog-
trainer shook his head in a sober way.

“I am young, have not had a great deal of
experience, and do not pretend to be worldly
wise, but I must say I have a vague feeling
that there is something wrong about this
matter, or the man himself.

“I do not think there isa question in re-
gard to the marriage. That is all right.”

“ Yes, the certificate would seem to show
that she was legally married.”

“But, there is something about the indi-
vidual which makes me distrust the story he
tells about his wealthy uncle; yet, of course,
it may be true," the dog-trainer admitted in
a reflective way; “but, true or not, I hate
all underhand work of this kind!"

“It may be all right, and then again all
wrong; but, I think I can ascertain the truth
for you,” Joe Phenix assumed. “An inves-
tigation of this kind is right in my line, as I
am in the detective business.”

“ Oh, is that so?” asked the youth, evincing
great interest.

“Yes, my office is in New York, and my

_ name is Phenix—Joseph Phenix.”

“You are not a stranger to me by reputa-
tion, Mr. Phenrx, for I have read of your
exploits in the newspapers."

“ Yes, the reps rters do their best to write
up anything in the detectiVe line when the

-o portunity comes in their way, and some-

t mes in their zeal for news, they give crimi-
nals such important information. that the
rascals are able to get away before the detec-
tives get ready to nab them.”

“I don’t doubt that is the truth. These
newspaper men are great hustlers. But, Mr.
Phenlx. I will be glad indeed if you will
investigate this mater and find out if this
man has been telling the truth or not, and
you need not allow expense to stand in the
way. for I can well afford to spend a few
dollars. ~

‘ “You see, I have always been a prudent,
v savmg fellow. and as I get a good salary l
, have managed to put away quite a little sum
' of money.”

“I do not think the expenses will amount
l to anything," the detective replied; “and as
I have come from New York to this city to
attend to a little business in the detective
line, it will not be much extra trouble to
look after your allair, at the same time."

The dog-trainer expressed his thanks; the
tWo exchanged addresses, finished their beer,
and departed.

They proceeded along Fifth street to Vine,
and there separated, Delmay going up Vine,
while Joe I’henix kept on.

As the detective crossed the street. he came
face to face with a young and good-looking
WOIIHIU.

She was small in stature, neatly dressed,
and started in surprise when she caught sight
of the veteran detective.

“Mr. Phenix!” she exclaimed, coming to
a halt in front of the detective as he stepped
from the street to the curbstone.

“ That is my name, and you are Mrs.
Hacker. Ibelieve,” said the detective, bow-
ing with as much politeness as though the
woman was one of the first ladies in the land
instead of being the wife of one of the most
daring confidence-men who had ever oper-
ated in the United States—William Hacker,
the crook was named, but amon his pals he
was usually termed “Cheeky Iacker,” on
account of the unusual abilities which he dis-
played in his peculiar profession.

“ Yes, and I am glad that I met you, Mr.
Phenix, for I have been desirous of having
a talk vith you about certain matters,” the
woman said.

“ I am at your service, madam,” the vete-
ran assured.

“ I am on the square now, you know,” the
woman continued.

“That is good, and I am sure you will be
much better off,” was the answer. “Al-
though crooked work may seem to pay for
awhile, yet in the long run the man or wo~
man who is unwise enou h to believe that
rascality pays better than onesty is sure to
come to grief." _

“I think so, too, and after Billy was con-
victed and sent up the river I came here to
Cincinnati. This was my home before I was
married, you see, but as I hav’n‘t been here
for years I know that if I took my maiden
name no one would recognize me as the wife
of a convict.”

“That is true.”

“I am a tailoress by trade, and I was cer-
tain I could get plenty of work. I have a
room on Plum street. It is not far, and if
you will have the kindness to come with me
we can talk there without danger of being
disturbed. ”

“ Ver well; I will go with you if you so
wish," . oe I’henix replied.

“ I will be very much obliged indeed, if
you will.”

“ Don’t mention it.”

Then the pair proceeded up Vine to Sixth
street, and then down Sixth until Plum street
was reached, into which they turned.

After going a few blocks the woman en-
tered the door of a rather mean-looking
house. .

She led the way to a back room on the
third story.

It was meanly furnished.

She took the detective’s hat, and bade him
be seated while she removed her cloak and
hat.

Joe Phenix took a chair.

On the wall opposite was a glass, and in a
few moments, by the aid of this glass, the
detective was able to see the eonvict‘s wife
advancing toward him with a dagger in her
hand.

“ Oho! does she mean to murder'me?” the
great man-hunter queried to himself, at the
sight in the looking-glass.

 

CHAPTER VII.
A rmarm. mscovszmr.

' To return to the cracksmen:

“There is a side door which has only an
ordinary lock on it and I can easily open it
with a skeleton key,” Slim Jerry explained

 

«me w. "9"? , Vt. "'
 .- 1v. . A :. "aw .12: e")

[:10 his companion as they proceeded to the
ouse.

This proved to be the truth, and the pair
had no difficulty in gaining admission to the
millionaires man-ion.

“The silverware is all kept in a closet,
which is guarded by an extra good lock, and
one which we can't pick, but by the aid of a
girnlet and a saw We can saw the lock out,
for the old chap was not up to the dodge of
having the door lllltti with iron so as to put
a stop to a saw and gimlet job."

“ Oh, well, (‘Vt'll the biggest nobs ain’t hup
to all the tricks, you know,” the list re-
marked.

It did not take these expert thieves long to
get at the silver.

“ ()ho! this ere is a tidy bit of swag!’y
Powland exclaimed in delight as he surveyed
the treasures of the silver closet.

“ Yes. and it is all good solid stufl’, too,
mind you!” Slim Jerry asserted; “ no plated
trash, but the genuine article.”

“ That is what We want!”

The crooks Were provided with a Couple of
peculiar bags in which to transport their
plunder. They were made of black chaise
cloth, resembling leather, and so arranged
that they could be folded into a small com-
pass, in order that the crooks might conceal
them about their clothes, yet when filled with
plunder they presented the appearance of
common travelin bags.

The idea of this was to prevent anybody
whom they might encounter, after cracking
a crib, from suspecting from the appearance
of their parcels that they had been engaged
in robbery.

Soon the property was stored away in the
bags.

“Now, then, my tulip, is this hall that we
can pick imp?” the Rat inquired—“ no
chance for any cash or 'ewelry? A few
Sparklers in the shape of diamonds wouldn't
go bad, you know."

The other shook his head.

" No show, hey?” with a disappointed
look.

“ Naryi The old man isn’t in the habit of
keeping any money in the house, and al-
though his niece lras some elegant diamonds,
yet we couldn‘t get at them for she keeps
them in her room, and there’s a little beast
of a pug dog there which would be. certain
to r Use the house if we should attempt to get
into the room."

“ Ah, yes, I hates these blarsted little
dorgs!" the Rat averred, with a vicir us shake
of the head; “many a good job has been
spoilt all on account of a yelping cur.”

“That is true," Slim Jerry assented; “and
if it wasn't for that infernal dog we would
stand a chance to pick up five or six thousand
dollars’ worth of sparklers.”

“Oh, my!” exclaimed the English crook,
withadoleful shake of the head. "Don‘t
that fairly make your mouth water? And,
just to think that we can’t collar the boodle
all on account of a little beast of a dorgl
Isn‘t it a burning shame?" _

“Yes, but the thing is that way, and there
is no getting over it. So we will get hout
with what we.’avc got, and thank our lucky
stars that we are ab 0 to make as good a raise
as we ‘ave.”

“I tell you what we can do," suggested
Slim Jerry, as a sudden thou ht struck him.
“There is a closet in the sitt ng-room where
the old man used to keep a goodly supply of
wines and liquors, for the old fellow is fond
of his gIaSs, and we might go and take a
drink before we get out.”

“A helcgant idea!" the Rat assrrrtcd,
promptly; “and now that you speak of the
tipple, it l.as suddenly come to me that my
throat is about as dry as an ash-heap.”

“Come along then i”

Slim Jerry conducted his companion into
the sitting-room. '

“ Hello! the light has been left!" Slim
Jerry muttered to his companion as the two
entered the room.

“So much the better, for it will save us
the trouble of turning on the glint," the Rat.
observed.

Then the two made the unexpected discov-
ery that the millionaire sat in his high backed
easy-chair; but. at the second glance, they
saw by the pale face and drooping jaw that
tihere was no danger of the old man awaken-
.DK' '

S ephen Carmanage was dead!

 

 

 v

 

,. new: ,1'. -

 

 

Joe Phenix’s Double Deal. 1 '7

 

CHAPTER VI I I.

THE IN VESTIGATI ON.

 

l

“MY hcyes! will you look at that?" the '

Rat exclaimed. “ He has kicked the bucket,
and is sitting right in his chair, too!

“ I never will have a chance to get square
with him for that horse-whipping now,” Slim
Jerr remarked in a regretful way. “but
we’l take a drink of wine, in the first place,
and then we will go through him for his valu-
ables.” '

Slim Jerry proceeded to fi‘l a. couple of
glasses to the very brim from the decanter
on the table.

“Here‘s looking at you, old chap,” the
crook continued, as he raised his glass and
nodded to his companion.

“ The same to you, my tulip!” the Rat re-
sponded.

The two tossed off the wine at a single
swallow and smacked their lips gleefully.

“ I s’pose this ’ere is what they call prime
stuff, eh?" the Rat remarked, putting his
head-on one side and gazing at his glass in
a critical way.

“ Oh, yes; the old man always made it a
point to have the best that money could
bu .”

X Well, now, I tell you w’ot it is! I don‘t
go much on this wishy-washy stuff! I would
rather have a bottle of good gin, titan a gal-
lon of wine, any time!”

“I agree with you; wine is no good!” Slim
Jerry assented. ‘

Then he happened to glance at the clock
on the mantel.

“ Hello! it’s near two, and we had better
be going, so I’ll strip the old man."

“ Is 0 in the habit of carrying much
wealth around with him?” the Itth asked.

“He usually had a well-filled ‘leather’,
Slim Jerry replied.

“ Then his chain and ticker are worth a
couple of hundred,” he continued, as he re-
moved the watch and chain from the person
of the dead man,

“Oh, yes; it is a helegant establishment,”
the English crook declared with a chuckle.

Carmanage’s pocketbook contained about
a hundred dollars, and after the examination
was made and the amount announced, the
Rat queried:

“ I say, pal, doesn’t it strike you as being
hawful that the old 'oufl'er should have kicked
the bucket, a-setting ’ere in his chair all
alone?"

“ Well, he is a tolerably old man, and a
high liver; a fellow who was fond of all
sorts of fancy dishes, and drank no end of
wine and different kinds of liquors, and
when the time comes for one of his kind of
men to go, their candle of life is apt to be
snuffed out mighty quick."

“Yes, I s’pose that you are right about
that.”

“But let us be off.” Slim Jerry now
urged. “We have made a tidy haul, and
got a nice amount of swag, which I_ know
just where to ‘plant’so as to melt it into
money.” _

“ You know a blooming ‘fence’ ’cre in
Cincinnati who will put up the cold cash for
the swag, and is willing to give us a square
deal?”

“ Yes. My man is a pre'ty decent fellow.
He runs a paunbroker’s shop and does a
good jewelry trade besides; supplies ped-
dlers who travel through the country, and so
has a chance to get rid of an enormous lot of
swag. And besides. he is a countryman of
ours, an English Jew, and as sharp as a
steel-trap—always has his melting-pot ready,
you understand, and is so quick at a bargain
that in ten minutes after we get the swag
before his eyes it will be in the pot, and all
the fly cops in the world wouldn’t be able to
identify the stuflf'."

“That is the game to play!” the Rat
assented, gleefully. _ ,

Then the two departed, being particular to
proceed with the utmost caution. '

Both being old hands at this sort of
thing, they were not likely to make any mis-
takes.

They succeeded in getting into the street
without any trouble.

By this time the moon was quite low in
the sky, and some heavy banks of clouds,
which had come up from the eastward,
dimmed the rays, so that it was only at in-
tervals that light flooded the earth.

4..

,. VJ.  _  ,
“” - -..,..:.' . ~,. .1 . ,

H

w

. v»-

-...4:...-

 

i

 

“ This just suits us to death!” Slim Jerry l
averrcd, with a grim smile.

“ Oh, yes, the darker the betterl"the other
assented.

Fortune favored the two rogues. They
gained the city withcut meeting any police
men, and reached the pawnbroker's cstab .
lishment without encountering anybody dis-
posvd to quest ion them.

The old English .lcw who kept the fence,
was always ready to receive customers, no .
matter at what hour they came. ‘

There was a small passage by the side of
the store which led to the back yard. The
gate which gave entrance to this passage was t
operated by a spring, and a titan who knew
how to press the latch in a certain way Could ;
Open the gate.

As Slim Jerry was an old customer he
found no (liiliculty in gaining admittance,

As he had told his pal, the old fence was
prompt at business; so it did not take longto ,
arrange their bargain.

Within fifteen minutes from the time they
entered the house the two burglars departet , E
with a goodly sum of money in their posses-
Sion.

“ Now then, don't let us make such fools
of ourselves as we did in Chicago, and go,
and blow our wealth in at some faro-bank,” 2
Slim Jerry advised; “let us salt d0wn the '
greater part of it——stick it in some back, you ,
know, and while we are enjoying ourselves ‘
on the rest of the boodle, we can be keeping
our eyes Opt-n for another job.” i

The Rat thought this was a good idea, and
expressed himself to that efiect.

“And we will play it on any crooks whom
we may meet in the town,” Slim Jerry sug-
gested.

“ We will make out that we have just ar-
rived in Cincinnati, and are not over and
above flush with cash. so we are anxious to
get a chance to pull off a good job, and the
odds are big that nobody will suspect we
had "anything to do with cracking this
on ).

The Rat agreed that this would be the
proper course to pursue, and the couple pro-
Ceeded to one of the European hotels, where
they secured rooms for the night.

 

It was about half-past six when one of
the housemaids in the Carmanage mansion
guide the discovery that the millionaire was

ea .

Great was the commotion.

The family physician was summoned. and
after he made an examination of the body he
immediately caused a telephone message to
be sent to the chief of police. As soon as
this was done, he made every person leave
the room where the body had been discov-
cred, for, as he explained to Miss Blanche,
who was almost prOstratedby the sudden
death of the uncle to whom she was so great-
ly attached, this was a case where nrithing
must be touched or altered until the proper
:truthorities had had time to make an eXnmina-
rlfln.

The young lady accepted the explanai ion,
as a matter of course, but the butler, who
was a keen-witth man, wondered at the pre-
caution.

“I don’t see why the doctor wanted to
call in the police,” he confided to a couple of
the other servants. “ It is a case (if sudden
death, I know, but the police hav’n't any-
thing to do with a matter of that kind."

But it was more than this, as the doctor
proved conclusively to the chief of police
when that gentleman arrived.

Step/zen Uarnmnage had been frmlly mur-
deredl—struck to the heart as he slept in his
chairl _

CHAPTER IX.
'rnE TRAMP PRINTER.

HR was a rather odd and peculiar-looking
man, not quite badly enou h clothed to be
set down for a tramp, an yet he had the
shufiling gait and the hangedog look common
to these sons of freedom who “spin not,
neither do they toil,” although they are cer-
tainly not “clad in purple and fine linen."

This individual of whom we write came
up Broadway, from the direction of the levee,
at just about the same moment, on the same
morning that the doctor was sending his hur~
ried call over the telephone to the chief of
police.

 

 'r i i‘ "  ...- ,. . , i i»
- - ~..~r _-..... '-‘  . -  , ,‘

1‘ gan.

As the man passed by the door of a saloon,
now thrown wide open on account of a
general clearing up which was going on, so

A that a full vie w of the interior could be had,
' he looked in at the goodly display of bottles

behind the bar, and heaved a deep sigh.

“ ‘Thou are so near and yet so farl’ ” he
murmured. “ My threat is as dry as an ash-
heap, and as parched as the great Arabian

desert, yet I have not the wherewithal to

purchase a single drink!
“ No, sir, not even the price of a solitary

‘ beer, and yet I hold within my knowledge a

3)

secret which ought to bring me thousands.

Then he shook his head in a regretful
way.

" Ah, it was ever thus since the world be-
» ‘ To him that hath shall be given.” and
the man who hasn’t got anything sha’n't get:
a smell.

The idea that a man of genius, like my
self, should be walking the streets of (,‘iu-

. cinnati, without being able to raise the price

of a beer i

“If palaces could be bought for a nickel
apiece, I couldn‘t buy chn a door-knob. and
yet I am in possession of information which
ought to bring me wealth galore.

“I have been here three days, now, and.
hav'n’t struck a job, nor been greeted by the
sight of a friendly face, an the circum-
stances are such that, though I possess the
key which ought to unlock a treasure-box
full of golden coins yet I am not the man to
do the trick.

“Ah, is it possmte that I am ever to be
the football of fate, a true fortune’s fool?"

At this point the melancholy individual
came to Fifth street, and as he turned the
corner he came face to face with a man who
was about as peculiar-looking in his appear-
ance as he was himself.

The other was evidently a low‘grade sport
——a gambler, to judge from his looks, or a
horseman who picked no a living by fellow-
in g the races.

lie was not dressed snabbily, although his
clothes were well worn and decidedly out of
style, and the broad - brimmed silk hat
which he wore, although in good condi-
tion, was far removed from the present
style. '

There was a mutual recognition.

“ Why, why! old times rocks! you don‘t
mean to say that it is you, for sure!’ the
Sport exclaimed, speaking with the peculiar
intonation common to the men of the 3011‘ h-
west.

“Oh, yes; 1 am here all right, Seet'yl"
the seedy-looking man acknowledgtd— ‘21s,

the port says, ‘as large as life and twice as‘

naturall‘ ” _

“Well, well, I hav’n’t seen you ft r a good
ten years—not since the time I met you in
New Orleans, and you were working in
some newspaper office there, if I remember
rightly.”

“Yes, the Picayune. But I say, Seotty,‘
how are you fixed? Have you got the pricei
of a drink in your pocket? I am just dying
for a ball!"

“Say, you ought to go and hire yourself
out to some museum as a curiosity—‘the
man who is always dry !’ ” the sport averred,
with a laugh.

“ I reckon that wouldn’t be a bad idea,”
the seedy fellow admitted, “and there
wouldn't be any fake about the thing,
either. It would be a sure-enough fact.
But, hontstly, Scotty, I have got a thirst on
me that many a man would be willing to
give five dollars to possess."

“ Well, as Ihave been playing in good luck
lately, I feel like playing the good Eatiiaritan
act." the sport declared. “What do you want
to drink?" .

“ Anything you like!” the other replied, in
a tragic way. “ Beggars shouldn’t be choos-
ers, you know, and lwill be glad to take
anything I can get, from beer to Mumm."

"How would a little gord brandy suit
your constitution?”

“Brandy!” exclaimed the seedy chap,
clasping his hands together and rolling his
eyes upward; “don’t mention i ! Brandy?
Why old pard, it has been so long since I
have had a swallow of brandy tlztt I don't
believe I remember how the. liquor tastes.”

“ Come along with me, and 1 will give you
a chance to sample some. My room is right
around the corner in Broadway. Ihavea
snug lit‘le crib, although it isn‘t it markable

, .

1:»-

m

   

     

 

_ for ,its elegance, but it is mighty comfort-
able. I have some good brandy there. and
on are welcome to get away with some of

t.D,

"Scotty, our heart is as big as a bul-
Jock’s. and 3 though you are extending your
hospitality to me on general principles, with-
out a thought of making anythin out of the
transaction, just going in to bal me off on
account of in being an old friend, yet,
mebbc. I can t row something good in your
we. .” the seedy man announced in a mys-
tel‘ us manner..

“All right. I will be glad to take any-
thing that Comes along!" the sport dc-
elated.

Then he led the way to his apartment.

I It was a plainly furnished room on the
h second floor of one of the old-fashioned
' houses which are so common‘ in that quar-
ter.

That the‘occupnnt of the room was a man
‘ of sporting tastes was evident from the

.vchea engravings of noted horses, famous
pugi lots and theatrical celebrities which hung
0n the u alls.

On the table in the center of the room was
a decanter of brandy and a smulLbook.

’ “ Take a chairl” exclaimed the sport as be
‘ - lutdownby the table, and waved his hand
 toward the decanter.

 ' “i” There is the brundy~hclp yourself, but
. you will have to excuse me from joining you,
, vforit is rather early in the. morning for me
, . to go in for that sort of thing; then, 1 have

hat, to morning cocktail. too. and I don‘t
"  third“ at it is wise for a man to commence
’Hmix'ing his liquor so early in the day.
 heady man did not take a chair, but
'_ “'fiémc'diatelg helped himself to a glass of

brandy; an as he raised the glass be ex.
claimed:
 -‘ “I am the man, sport, who can give you
' the chance to makea big stake!"
 "‘“All right! I will be glad if you can, but
 hearty, old man!’ the gambler in-
t

 

   
  
  
   
  
   
    
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
    
    
  
   
      

 other disposed of the liquor at a
gle swallow, then smacked his lips with
Std" '
i .

    

.By'Gebrge, Scotty, that is about as good
7m.zns‘1'ever tasted!” he confessed.

Yes, it, is pretty [fair tipplc. I ain't no
_. iiion‘aire, but when l have liquor around
-* * always make it a point to see that it is

  

 

 try, my boy. I‘ will come right
' to business," he declared.
"I have. a scheme, sport, which a man
yourself can make big money out of if
, want to go into it,” the rounder said.
' olLI am always ready for a specula
‘y‘t-hero is a chance to gather in some
" .” said the art. . _
 in is a la chance'in this thing, as
.i'willsee when I explain, A man like
self can make money out of it, but I
‘_ 't, for I can’t handle the matter. I am
ool,}ou know, and I understand just
-.rr~b’:a can do, and what I can’t.
i, be honest with you and say right
4'1! ’I could work lhc trick myself I
finite you in, nor anybody else; but,
id, 1‘ can’t do it. It is out of my line,
 tried to engineer the thing I would
she a botch of it.” 
_ §tyes,I see”. , 7 " ' '_
 But vou are just the man to put it
'foougtr,” the other asserted.
‘ ’“Goahead and explain."
*Wname is McMorro w—-Levi,'McMorrow.
' airliner by trade, and from a peculiar
«mine 0 never stayiu long in one
. have got the name of t e Wandering

' ~ (adoring .1er That’s good 2"

  

  

3

  

  

    
  
 

  

  
  

  

  

_ x  you know, although I
named; L015; ' seedy man explained.
is an old Biblical  you understand,
. - I figat’her bad a  for; names of

i

  
 
 

, ""9

  

 19‘s,)“. lime.” ‘  .' , . .

(ohm -.- but Embed a tramp'prlntar l
‘  in“ u to town,    iUn,t
. m in a place, the boys rains 0mm

 
 
   
  
  
  
  

“Miningraklnd bf

 

,, have been a
Joe. Plantar

hip in to help me on .td’ithfiiiqfi I'd

“about the same idea as the sports staking
the man who has gone broke through a run
of ill-luck.”

“That is the idea. I am an extra good
workman. but I can’t let liquor alone, and so
it is not possible for any one to place any de—
pendence on me.

“ You see, I know my failing, and I don’t
at'cmpt to lie out of it."

“ That’s right,” lhcsport assented. “ When
a man knows his own weakness he can gener-
ally manage to get along; but, if he believes
he is strong where he is weak, then he is in
a mighty bad way, and is sure to come to
grief."

“ But this sort of thing only dates back
about ten years. Before that time I was
tolcrabl steady, and ten years ago, in this
city of ‘incinuati, I married about as nice :1
looking girl as any r Inn would wish to see.”

“ Ah, now the story is getting interesting,”
the sport exclaimed. “ lint, take acigur, old
man," Scolty urged. “ You’ll find them in
that thing vi hicli looks like a book, but it is
only a dummy.”

The other took the odd cigar-case in his
hands, and examined it Willi curiosity.

“it is a rather strange, little article; a
German sport gaVe it to me.

“But go on. old paid, and tell me all
about this wife of yours!’ Scotty or:-
claimed.

“ Well, there isn't a great deal to tell,” the
printer replied.

“ She was an orphan girl who worked in a
millinery shop, and as she was a capital

ood hand. very clever with ribbons and
eathcrs, and such flummciy.‘ she. got a
good salary and had saved up a few hundred
dollars.

“ Ily the way, I will not smoke just now,"
he, remarked, abruptly, replacing the box on
the table.

“Well, to go on: after we were married,
I did n't do a stroke of work while her
money lasted. but in three months it was
gone, and then I lit out, too. But my wife
is here in this city today, and——she has mar-
ried again'” I

-——<.———

‘CHAPTER X. _‘
A Dncnivnn WOMAN.

BY the aid of the glass, Joe Plienix was
able to see what the woman was doing just
as well as though he was facing her.

So he waited unlillic was certain that she
meant to attack him, for inc could plainly de-
tect by the glitlcr of llCl' eyes that slrc was
bent upon doing something desperate, and
then suddenly .whcclcd around. ~

“ Don‘t try any game of that kind. Mrs:
Hacker!" ho exclaimed, springing to his
feet, grasping the woman by the wrist, and
with a sudden twist forcing her to drop the
dagger.

“Oh, you are a demon!" the woman
cried. '

“No, no, nothing of the kind; but sit
dowu and let us talk quietly,"lhc veteran
detective replied, forcing the woman into a
chair. ,

“Yes, you are. a .crfcct demon, and it
doesn‘tseem possible or anyone to rct the
best of you!” the woman exclaimed: in a
despairing tone. , ,

" Well, as far as that goes, I‘ certainly,

‘t remarked, as he resumed his
sea». :    -  - ‘ ,
“ But lony thinking; the true ex lanation
is that when it came "to a contest was on
the right side and my note onists on the
wrong, and it wasonly nature that I should
wm.

” And now let me put the direct question
to you, why do you want to injure me?"

“Wasn’t you the man who sent my bus-
band to prison 1’” the woman exclaimed,
showing signs of breaking down.

“Yes, to a certain extent I m ,re-
sponsible, forI am the man who arrested
‘him. but on must take into consideration
the fact t tif your husband had not= broken.
,the laws. neither I nor any one else could
havetroubled him., -   r o .
A“ To blame me for his arrest and‘oonvlc.

Mllkd’  ‘ ‘

amm'hlamt the'fiie‘intowhich
 ’ to." and»;

  
 
  
 
 

  
  
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

When he was torn from me and sent to
prison.” '

” Yes, that was natural. I can understand
justthow you felt about the matter, but you
oug t not to blame me,” the detective re-
plied.

“It was your husband's ownact which
brought him to the prisoner’s dock, and
finally landed him in Sing Sing prison.”

“ lle blamed you for it all, and at our last
meeting he made me swear that I would kill
you if I ever got the chance."

“ Ah, yes, that is just like the man,” Joe'

Phonix exclaimed, in a tone full of con-
tem t. '

“ Ie Was anxious that you, a weak, fool-
ish woman, should undertake the scheme of
Vengeance which he would not dare to per-
form himself.”

“ Oh, but he swore to me that if I did not
get an opportunity to kill on he would do
so as soon as he was release from prison.”

“That was only an idle boast, and one
which the man would new-‘1‘ attempt to make
good,” Joe I’henix declared.

“ And to prove that what I say is correct,
let me tell you that your husband was re-

leased from jail over a 'car ago, and yet he .

has never made the slig
vengeance upon me.” .

The woman was astounded and looked at
the detective in utter surprise.

“Why, my husband is dead. I received
a letter from one of his old pals, who wrote
that he had died in prison, and he had at-
tended to having him buried t” she ex-
claimed. .

“That was only a trick to get rid of you
——I am going to tell you the truth about this
matter, forI see that you liav’n’t any idea
how big a rascal this husband of yours is.”

test attempt to take

“I do not understand it at all, for I thought

he was devoted to me."

“ Yes, so he was. as long as you were use-
ful to him; but I‘will tell on the story,
and then you will understand, all about the
matter. '

,“Your, husband, was sent up for, ten

“’9‘ and inst as sonaas' {he 

in‘ hebc to lot and lan‘tofcs'c‘a' .

" e limo den of Iforcibly brggking
his prison bars; he was too smart for that,
for he felt Certain that, if he did succeed in
escaping, he was sure to be recaptured.

/ 

“ llcing thin and consuInptive-looking, he‘ "

plule the sick dodge, and contrivrd to get a
benevolent middle-aged widow interested in
him.

“ She Was a member of a society for the
reformation of convicts.

“ He played his game so well that he not
only made the prison doctors believe that he
hadn‘t a great while to live. but persuaded

the widow that he was a thoroughlyre‘ ‘

formed man, and the woman fairly moved
heaven and earth to secure his release.”

“ Is it possible ?"the wife exclaimed, hard-
ly knowing what to say. ,

"And in his litters he never said a word
to me about the matter." . . \

“He did not want on to know, for he
had a scheme which 9 desirtd to carry
out if he succeeded in gaining his release.

“This benevolent widow had money, and

as he had succeeded in making a complete
fool of her, he thought he would be

“‘Oh,;'t,hls is catamaran“ the woman ex-
claimed. her eyes beginning to sparkle with
angr fires.

“ knew that he was mean and deceitful.
to other people, but I did not believe that he
would attempt to deceive mel” ._ fl  .

“ I am tellino‘ you the exactltruthi” the do.
tective declare . ' ” '

“ The widow succeeded in procuring your

husband’s release, and it was his dodge to A'

get a pal to write you that he was dead, so as
to keep you quiet...

“ Three months after his releasehe mar-l

tomarry horif hg  »
pretty lucky man all my life," Jail " " "  ‘-~  ‘ ’ '

ried the widow. and in another‘month man- -
aged urges hold of the greater part of he: .

money, and skipped to parts unknown with
it.” ' . .’ - \
“ I had no idea that he wag
the woman declared.
“ Thiojis the man V V
10min”; to ooth m‘u‘rdeitt the detect!
. ‘ia;  "

   
 
  

.
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such a. villain!” 
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“ And now to give you a little bit more of

the history of this unmitigated rascal, let me
tell you some things which ldiscovm-ed when
I went to investigate his record. -

“ You are not his first wife "

“ is that possible?" the woman exclaimed,
in astonishment.

“ Nor his second, nor third, for Idiscov-
cred that he had three wives before he mar-
ried you, and as far as I could find out he
new-r trrouhled himself to get a divorCc from
any one of them.”

“ The scoundrelt" cried the wife, now at a
white heat of indignation

“ His game was to marry any woman who
had mOney, that he could induce to have him,

. and then clear out. " ,

“Yes, I had a little money when we were
married, and 1 gave it to llllll. then you ar-
rested him, an i the morey went to pay the
lawyer \\ ho defended him ”

“ When I encountered you in New York 1
got an idea that you were one of his victims,
but I never had a chance to say anything to

on about the matter, and now 1 have gone
ate this fullexplanntion for a particular pur-
se.

“Your husband is supposed to have gone
to England, but it is my impression that he
will one day return to this country. and as
he is one of the men who deserves to be pun-

.ishcd for his misdeeds, i should like to prose-
cute him for higamy, and send him back to
the priSon from which he managed to escape
by trick and device."

“I will aid dyou!" the wronged wife re.
sponded, imtne iatel y.

“ nd I am so glad that you saved me

V from the commission of a crime,” she contin-
ued ratefully.

" hat is all right,” said Joe Phenix. ris»
ing. “ As soon as I locate my man I will
let on know.”

hen the detective took his departure.

Nothing of moment in connection with
the man-hunter occurred until the next morn.
ing; then, when on his way to the post office,
he encountered one of the most prominent of
the Cincinnati detectives, who happened to

I“be an old ac uaintancc.

“ Hello, henixl” the Cincinnatian ex
chimed- “I had no idea that you were in
town, but on have arrived ust in time to go
to work, i you are anxious or a job.”

“ Always ready for worm",

“One of the wealthiest men in the‘clty
has just been mysteriously murdered!" 1

CHAPTER XI.
A muons.

~TKE gambler. Scotty. surveyed his com-
panion, the tramp printer, withan expression
of wonder.

“Oh, I mean what I my!" McMorrow ex-
claimed. “I knew it is ml ty strange, but

, "it is a“ sure enough fact, you are safe in
gambling on it

“My wife is in this town ofCincinnati,
and she has married again!"

“ Well, there really isn't anything wonder»
ful about that. when you come to examine
the. circumstances.“ the sport intimated.
" You were away for years~you didn‘t sup
port the woman, and what is more natural
than that she should marry again so as to
get some man to take care of her "

“Oh, that is all right, of course," the
tramp ‘printer observed

 . - I ‘71 out blame the woman for trying to
' her condition, seeing that I didn't do
 t... l.
‘. ‘”   . l‘ was as m
leftldher 10 set mentioned any, 
con  r  i‘ ‘_  ' ‘ ’
"Oh. I am not finding an fault about
that, but here is where the kill ng partcomea

V  ~3’ln.’.'.=the other replied.

“I, was about as poora husband as any
woman could pick up, and my Wife had to
work hard. to ‘cnablc us to st. along at all,
but she has married a ban er—one of the
richest men in the city!”

I “You don't mean it?" the gambler ex
” claimed -
f‘Honestl It is the amid truth I am telling

you!
~' Well, that is a mighty stran e fact. andl
Mitwonder that you are surpgsed. '

KNOW then, just keep your eyes on me
. hileldevelop the little V l" the tramp
. , , grill}; tossing smile, full of

game,” the gambler reasoned.

 

“ In my opinion the odds are about a hun- l
dred to one that the woman never took the
trouble to get adivorce from me,“ McMor-
row continued. _

“ Some women are mighty careless about '
legal matters, and their carelessness is only I
equaled by their ignorance.” :

" Well. likely you hav'n't made any mis‘
take about the matter." Scotty inferred. “ If
she knew but little about the law she Would
be apt to conclude that, as you did not sup i
port her. and had disappeared, she was at
liberty to marry again—that long absence t
and non’support were the same as a divorce, .
you know." i

“ lint it isn't!" the tramp printer insnsted, f
Willi a prolonged chuckle, ‘and if she mar ;
ried again without geiting a court and legal .'
divorce from me then she has got herself
into a pretty bad box See?"

" 1 See that is true '

“ And, i think it. gives the (-hauce for me
to collar a good bit of money!" Mehiorrow
now advised. literally “ showing the hand
he held.”

“I htv’n't got anything against the wo-
man. you know." thc tramp continued. “I
do not hear her the least hit of ill-will because
she went oil and got SpllCt'tl to another man,
for it was only natural to get another follow
to support hergsccing that I did not; but, as
long as she has plenty of money, and lhav'n’t
any. I don't think I am guilty of any great
crime if I try to get a little of her Cash "

"It looks to me as if that wasn't an unfair
She has made
a mistake, and she ought not to complain if
youtake ad vantage of the fact to get a stake,"
Scotiy continued ‘

_ “- articularly when she has plenty of
money,~tand can spare some of it just as we .1
as not."

“ You are rightl" the gambler assented
“ A fact like that ought to be taken into con-
sideration. ,

“ Now then, it is just as I told you in the
beginning, a scheme of this kind is too much
for me to carry out.

“ I can plan the thing all right, but I can’t
execute it "

“ Yes, I understand."

‘ But you are just the man to play a game
of this kind ”

” You are right! It is just in my line.”

"I would only make a bungle of it,” Me-
Morrow admitted.
 ~‘.‘ I never. did have any head for business,
81151 I know. that I‘can't. manage an affair of
this kind, but" it .QIJQRIII takehold of it I
will give you hal «whatever stake can be
got for your trouble.” ,, v, V: ' ‘ ‘ “

“That is a bargain!” the gambler ex-
claimed. “ I will agree to manage the affair,
and will do all I can to make a good stake."

“ My wife, who was named Katherine
Smith when I married her, is now Mrs.
Horace Latchi'ord.” ‘

“Oh, yes, I know all about him!” Scotty
exclaimed. '

" Why, he is one of the richest menin Cin-
cinnati." the sport continued.

_"By George, old man, if we don't make a
big stake it will be a wondert" ,g ‘

CHAPTER XII.
ow its) was KILLED.

“ l town just had a telephone message
from the chief to come out and make an in-
vestigation, andl should be very la'd indeed
to have you accompany me, for I now what
a keen nose you have or smelling out amys-
ter ,," the Cincmnati sleuth-hound remarked.

‘ You are pleased to be complimentary,“

' the ve‘eran detective returned.

‘But I shall be pleased to go with you,
. I can. be of any assistance you can
command me.” . - . , _ ..
The two set out at once, and in du me
reached the Carumnag‘e Mansion, where t ey
we‘re received by the superintendent of
po ice. I v '* . ’
He was also an intimate acquaintance of

 

Joe Phenix. for the latter's long experience
in the New York detective service had
brought him in personal contact with about
all of the superintendents‘of police of the
leading cities.

“This is a very mysterious affair, Phenix,
and I fancy that it will puzzle you, old and
experienced detective as you are.” the police

 

glue! remarked on he led they way 10 Willi“.

room.

+4

Then, after they gotinto the'apartment
where the body had been placed upon the
table, covered by a sheet, the chief of police

- began his explanation.

“ When the doctor arrived and made the dis-
covery that the old gentleman had been mur—
dered, he knew enough to turn everybody
out of the room, so that nothingshould be
dismrbed, and we could have a clear field to
go ahead on.

“ Now, as far as I can ascertain, the facts
in the case seem to be as followa:

“ Mr. Carmanage, probably, fell asleep in ‘L
his e'mir, after taking the light lunch which
he was accustomed to eat nightly before go-
ing tobcd. ,

“ The person who killed him took advan~
tage of his sleep to drive a long, slender dag-

' gcr, the blade of which was apparently not

much bigger than a knittingnecdic, straight
to his heart. ‘ . t .-

“ There was evidently no struggle. for the
old man Sat in his chair just as if he was
asleep. ~

“ llobberv was apparently the motive, for
Mr. Carmanage’s watch and chain were
taken. and all the money from his wallet.

“ lie had quite a large sum, for the butler
saw the money in his possession early in the. ‘ .
evening. . "

 An investigation reveals that the silver
closet has been robbed, the lockbeing sawed
out in a manner which indicates that some
expert cracksmen did the job, for it is plain
that it is not the work of an amateur, but, .
there were no signs to show that a forcible _
entry of the house was made.” ' ' ' -' - ' .

Then the chief explained about-the dog.
which always roame loose at night, and
told how the animal had been found outside
or the front gates, waiting to gain'admittan‘ce“
in the morning ‘ _7  -- 

The gates were securely locked; though,»
and there were no signs that they had been-
tampered “‘llhw 7,

The superintendent, being an able ofllcer. ,
had not failed to examine the back deer in
the wall, and explained , that it was also
looked. ' “v _‘ t,

“ So you see," the chief said in conclusion,
“ from all appearance one would cometothe;
opinion that the cracksmen who robbed the.-
mansion also killed the master of it." ,  ,

Jen I’henix shook his head. , r‘  '

“ You don‘t believe that, chrthexsnpei
intendent asked, with a smile. " 2, '"

“ No, I do not.” i

“ Neither do I!” exclaimed the chief. .

“ Nor It" declared the detective. who .
swered to the name of Philip-Bhutan”?

“It would be an act of foil  which
experienced cracksmen can be '
Joe Phcnix declared.

“Very true!” the superintendent assented
“ It looks more like an act of private. "
geancc." V, » s f

“ Yes. yes, that is just exactly‘what ‘ 
pears to be!” Slauter declared. :  '

“ 0! course, a desperate man caught
handed in the act of robbing choose

reciving that his capture was certain, it
h: struck down the man who stood‘in;
way, tmight, and probably would,
fight.” Joe Phenlx argued. . 
- "But as far as can bediseovered-ia
case, the man was murdered inhissleép, 4
there wasn't any struggle.” ~  ‘ ' I

“Your reasoning is correct, Ithink," 

chief assented. . u ..
p

“ As faras I can see the most
misc in this case is that somebod.
ed to, at the old man cutof-
cover in some monolith“?
thieves in the and  , _ ,,
their rescues Milli-the old  ', a
the i es thatwhsn the murder-was ‘ a ,.
 everybody would immediaiel 1', ‘ '

the conclusion that the houseb :4.‘ a,
 the deed,” Joe Phenix

, “ Yes, you are right!"thes a
assented " That is just the g:
The detecdve nodded his ' .
“I am going for the use
just the same," the supefiW
“Although I don‘t believe!”
anything to do with the molds; ~.
them for the robbers; " ‘ - ' I
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10

 

 

 

 

 

Joe Phenix’s Double Deal:

 

“There are only a few, I am pleased to
say, and if a prompt search is made we may
be able to get on the track of the vain-
ables.”

“ The watch and chain will be hard articles
for the rascals to get rid of,” Joe Phenix re-
marked in a reflective way.

“But as for the silver, if the fence knows
his business, it will go into the melting-pot
as soon as he gets his hands on it,” the vete-
ran detective continued.

“Yes, I warned the officers in regard to
that, and instructed them to put in their best
licks on the watch and chain.

“ This looks as if this was a house affair,
eh, Phenix ?” the chief asked.

“ The murder committed by one of the in-
mates?” the veteran man-hunter observed,
thoughtfully.

“ Yes, it certainly seems to me to have all
the ear-marks of a case of that kind,” the
superintendent assented.

“ Supposing that it is a house case, doesn't
the old game come in here—look for the per-
son who will profit most by the death of the
murdered man ‘2” Slauter asked.

“ That is always in order, ch, Phenix?”
said the chief. .

“ Oh.'yes; and how about the family?” the
veteran man-hunter asked.

“I questioned the doctor about the mat‘
ter,” the superintendent replied.

“And as he is the family physician of
course he is posted."

“He is an able man, Phenix, one of the
best doctors in the city,” the police chief con-
'tinued.

“And it would have been an act of folly
for me to attempt to pull the wool OVer the
eyes of such an old hand.

“He knew what I was after just as soon
as I commenced to question him, and al-
though I could see that he was deeply afi‘ect-
ed he did not attempt to heat about the bush,
but was anxious to give me all the informa-
tion in his power.

“ Mr. Carmanage had only one relative
in the world; the doctor is sure in regard
it) this, for he had it from the man's own

ups.

“And that relative is a young girl about
eighteen years old, the old man’s niece."

“ I know all about the young lady,”
Slauter remarked. “ Although I am not
personally acquainted with her.

.“ Mr. Carmanage thought a great deal of
her, and it is commonl supposed that she
will inherit the bulk 0 his fortune,” the de-
tective added.

“Of course, if we go on the old rule, all
signs point to the girl,” the superintendent
observed.

"But as I happen to know something of
the young lady by reputation I cannot bring
m self to believe that she can have had any-
th n to do with the matter.

" es, the chances are very great that she
is innocent unless she is amoral monster,"
Joe Phenix observed.

, “She has the reputation of being a very
amiable, sweet tempered girl," Detective
Slauter observed.

“Suppose we examine the body,” the New
Yorker suggested.

This was done and it did not take the three
long to come to the conclusion that the blow
which had stolen the millionaire’s life away
had been dealt by a firm and muscular
hand.

From the position of the wound, as well

' as from the doctor‘s statement, they were

satisfied that the assassin knew exactly where
to strike to inflict a mortal wound and
with deliberate determination had, with a

_ single blow,_cleft the old man's heart in

 

twain.

It was indeed very unlikely that any‘

woman should commit such a murder;

Even one steeped in crime would not be
likely to have the nerve and skill to do the
deed.

“ Suppose we have an interview with the
young lady,” Joe Phenix sug ested,

“From her we might be ab e to gain some
information of value."

“That is a good idea. Slauter, have the
kindness to summon the young lady," the
superintendent requested.

“Certainly,” and the detective took his
departure. .

“ Oh, by the way, Phemx, I picked up a
rare weapon the other day, and as it will be

r

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more useful to you than to me you are wel-
come to it.”

“ Thanks!” the man-hunter replied.

Then the chief presented Phenix with the
weapon, a long-barreled, old-style pistol.
t Joe Phenix examined it carefully, while
5 the superintendent watched him.
I “It is indeed a rare and beautiful weapon!"
J the man-hunter declared.
 Then the door opened and Detective Slau-
§ ter appeared with Blanche.

Joe Phenix pocketed the pistol and both
he and the superintendent bowed when the
detective introduced them to Blanche.

CHAPTER XIII.

A iirscovmtv.
| ALTHOUGH Blanche was deeply affected by
I the tragedy which had taken place, yet being
I naturally a strong-minded girl she was not
I so prostrated as to be unable to comply with
t the request.

l Great was her astonishment though when
j the superintendent explained what had taken
| place.

The police chief was a man of great refine-
l ment, and took care to impart the informa-
i tion in a delicate manner.

“It is really dreadful!" the girl exclaimed.

“ Yes, on are right; it is a fearful tra-
gedy, an at present the affair seems to be
wrapped in the deepest mystery,” the super-
intendent remarked.

“But it is our idea that your uncle was the
victim of some personal enemy," the police
chief continued.

“ And we are desirous of learning from
you if he had had any trouble with any
one.”

Quickly to the girl’s mind then came the
remembrance of the story which her uncle
had told her about the vendetta.

And she immediately related the partic-
ulars.

The superintendent set down all the details
in his memorandum-book.

“This is important information,” he re-
marked.

“ Are you aware whether these particulars
are known to any one else or not?" he con-
tinued.

“ I do not think they are,” Blanche re-
plied. “ For my uncle only related the story
to me last night, and from the way in which
.he spoke I do not believe that any one else
knows anything about the matter.”

“I fancy that you have given us a clue
by means of which we may be able to ap-
prehend the assassin," the superintendent ob-
served.

“ Might I ask, as a particular favor, that
you will not mention anything about this
matter to any One ?" the chief asked.

“ Oh, yes, I will be careful not to speak of
it,” the girl replied.

“ The newspaper reporters will flock to the
house as soon as they learn that a tragedy
has taken place here, and as they are alwavs
anxious to get all the information possible in
regard to a case of this kind they will be sure
to question you.”

“ Icaunot give them any information, for
I know absolutely nothing about the dread-
ful affair. Any of the servants could tell as
much as I about the matter,” the girl re-
marked.

“If the reporters should et hold of this
vendetta stor they would un oubtedly make
a great ado 9. out it,” the superintendent ex-
plained.

” Of course the men cannot be blamed for
acting in that way, for it is all a matter of
business with them, but the premature pub-
lication of information of this kind often do-
feats the cnds of justice.”

“ I will be careful not to say a word about
the matter to any one,” Blanche responded.

Then the superintendent thanked her and
1 she retired.

“Well, Mr. Phenix, what do you think
about this matter?” the superintendent asked
after the girl had left the room.

“It is my opinion that if this clue can be
followed up it will lend to the discovery
of the murderer,” the veteran detective re-
plied.

“But there is one point about this matter
which, it seems to me, ought to be taken into
consideration,” Detective Slauter observed.

“And that is, can we be sure that the girl

 

 

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has told «the truth about this vendetta busi- i

t 3». r: a.

“ Yes, yes! that point is well taken,” the
superintendent observed.

“If she had any hand in the crime it is
likely, iyou know, for her to concoct a story
of this ind for the express purpose of throw-
ing the police on a false scent,” the detective
remarked.

“It will be an easy matter to ascertain the
truth,” Joe I’henix said.

“ A telegraph dispatch to New Orleans re-
questing the chief of police there to ascertain
if John Carmanage was murdered in the
manner related by this young lady, will. un-
doubtedly, confirm or disprove the tale.”

“ Oh, yes, the matter can be arranged in
that way,” the su erintendent assented.

“The chief in ew Orleans is a very nice
fellow, and as he is a particular friend of
mine he will be glad to do anything he can
to oblige me.”

“I fancy, Mr.’ Phenix, that you are rather
inclined to believe the girl has told the truth
about the matter,” Detective Slauter ob-
served.

“Yes, I am, for although it is a fact that
criminals often tell the most stupid lies with
the idea of concealing their Connection with
a crime—falsehoods which wil not stand in-
vestigation at all—yet I am of the opinion
that this young lady is too sensible to try any
game of that kind even if she is guilty,” the
veteran detective argued.

“ I don’t think there is much doubt but
what the girl is all right,” the superintendent
declared.

“ While she was telling the story I watched
her narrowly, and if she was not telling the
truth then she is one of the finest actresses I
ever saw, and would certainly make a fortune

upon the stage.” (I

“ She certainly did act as if she was telling
the truth,” Detective Slauter assented.

“It ought not. to be such an extremely dif-
ficult matter to track this man,” the chief of
police remarked, in a reflective way.

“He is a stranger, probably, and came to
Cincinnati for the express purpose of. killing
Mr. Carmanage.

“ Being a stranger he would have to secure

lodgin s somewhere, and the chances are.

great t at as he undoubtedly believes he com~
mitted the murder so cleverly that it will not
be possible for anyone to get on his track, he
will remain in the city to gloat, as it were,
over his success.”

“ Yes, I think you are right in that sur-
misc,” Joe Phenix assented.

“ If the doer of the deed was wise he Would
depart by the first train which he could catch,
but ex erience has shown that men who com
mit crimes of this kind are usually possessed
with a morbid desire to remain near the scene
of their misdeeds ” ‘

“ Oh, yes, thatsis a well-known fact!” the
superintendent exclaimed.

“And if it was not for this peculiar fact,
about nine out of every ten of the men who
commit crime‘s of this sort would succeed in
getting off,” he continued.

“ But they don't ‘ cut their lucky,’ as the
saying is, and scoot to parts unknown," De-
tective Slauter observed.

“On the contrary, they hang around, and,
sooner or later. make some blunder which
gives us a chance to nail them,” the detective
continued.

“I think the chances are good that we
will get this fellow," the superintendent de-
clared.

“Every man on the force, who can possi-
bly be spared. I will put on the casc!” the
chief continued.

_ “I will have every hotel and lodging-house
1n the city examined, and if he is not cap-
tured it will be might strange.”

“If the man was s rewd enough to plan
his crime carefully, and Well in advance of
the execution of the deed, then he may have
been sufficiently wise to calculate that an
exhaustive search would be made for him
and taken precautions accordingly," Joe Phe.
nix observed.

“Yes, that is true, and'if he did have fore-
thought enough to antrcrpate this action of
ours, then he would undoubtedly avoid hotels
and lodgin houses.” the superintendent re,
marked re ectivcly.

“ But the man must sleep somewhere, so I
will order my fellows to examine all the
boarding-houses, and those where furnished
rooms can be had,” he continued. “And it
seems to me that if the search is thorough

t ’ I _I t

 

Sign}. .1 ‘:

 

 

enough we ought to be able to get on his
track."

“Yes, that is true, but Cincinnati is a big E
city, and if the man is an extra sharp one it
will he a hard matter to catch him unless he
commits some blunder,” Joe Phenix ob- l
served. “You can take hope though from
the fact that he is almost certain to make a
mistake of that kind, for the majority of
criminals do.”

“That is certainly correct,” the superin-
tendent assented.

“lint now let us make an exhaustive ex- 5
aminaiion 0‘ the house,” the chief continued. l

"The doctor is an able man and as Soon §
as he had made the discovery that there had
been a murder he gave orders that nothing
should be disturbed until after the arrival of
the police, so everything is just as it was."

“ It is fortunate for the cause of justice
that the doctor was a sensible man,” Joe Phe-
nix observed.

“ We will commence with this apartment,"
the superintendent remarked.

" Mr. Carmanage was seated in that easy-
chair when the discovery of the. crime was
made," the police chief continued.

“Hello! what is that?’ Joe Phenix ex-
claimed as he fixed his gaze on the chair.

“See! by the frcnt leg, furthest from the
table!”

And then the veteran man-hunter picked
up a miniature diamond, just about the size
0 a common pin-head.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
A CLUE.

Tim three examined the stone with con-
siderable curiosity.

“ I should judge that it came from a ring,”
Joe Phenix remarked.

“ One of those peculiar ones where a dozen
or two of little stones are massed in together
like Mosaic work.”

“Yes, Ithink that is correct," the super- ,
intendcnt observed.

" And now the question comes up——is
there anybody in the house who possesses
such a ring, because if there isn‘t it is reason»
able to suppose that the stone was dropped
by the murderer, and it may prove to be a
most important clue to his discovery."

The others assented to this.

“ The young lady will, probably, be able
to give us some information on this point,
and although I hate to trouble her again, yet:
under the circumstances it cannot well be
avoided," the chief remarked. .

So a IneSsage was Sent to Miss Blanche,
asking her to oblige the superintendent With
a few minutes’ conversation.

The young lady came at once, and the
chief of police explained about the finding of
the diamond. .

Miss Carmanace could not give any infor-
mation in regard’to it.

Her uncle did not possess such a ring, she
hadn‘tanything of the kind, nor any oneelse
in the house, to her knowledge. _ _

Of course it was extremely unlikely that
any of the servants would possess a costly
trinket of the kind.

“ This may prove to be a valuable clue, so
I will be much obliged, Miss Carmanage, if
you will not mention the matter to any one,”
the superintendent remarked. .

The young lady readily promised that she
would not, and then retired.

“ Well, gentlemen, I don't know what you
think about it, but in my opinion we have
secured a most important clue," the chief of
police announced.

The others nodded assent.

“It is a very small matter, apparently, but
little leaks sometimes Sink big ships,” the
superintendent observed. .

“Now we will continue our examination
and see if we can make any other discoveries.”
he added.

But the three were not fortunate enough to
find out anything in addition to what the
chief already knew. _

The others agreed with the superintendent
that the‘house had been “cracked by ex-
perienced crooks who understood how to do
a good ob to perfection.

“ If can succeed in nailing the men who
got awa with the silver I may be able to get
some. in ormation of value out of them,” the
chief observed. . ,

“Very likely," Joe Phenix assented, while

 

’ J. ' .n' .:';~._l

oe Phenix’s Double Deal.

Detective Slauter nodded his head as a token 3
, that he agreed with his superior.

“ I think you had better take charge of the
job of locating he crooks, Slauter,” the
superintendent rem .rked.

“It ought not to be a difficult matter to
get on their track, for only first-class men
could do such a job as this, and as I don't
know any of our home breed who are up to
a trick of this kind the chances are big that
some strangir put up the game. ”

" I will get them if they are in the town!"
Detective Slauter declared, confidently.

“It may be possible, you know, that they
have cleared out," the superintendent ob-
served, reflectively.

“ But even if they have, you will surely be
able to learn something about them, for the
‘mob' must have been in (‘incinnati for a
week Or so to get the time to ‘pipe’ this
house 011’ or else they would never have been
able to do the work in such a skillful
manner.”

The others agreed that this was a reason-
able supp0sition, and then as there wasn't
anything more for them to do they returned
to Cincinnati.

As soon as the three arrived in the city '

Detective Slauter left the chief and Joe
Phenix, who proceeded to the otiico of the
superintendent, while he went in search of
the crooks.

Hardly had the chief and the New York
detective taken seats in the office when the
reporters commenced to make their appear-
ance.

In some mysterious way the news of the
death of the millionaire had leaked out, and
the press gentlemen were eager fer informa-
tion.

The superintendent did not hesitate to
furnish the news-gatherers with all the par—
ticulars, with the exception of the diamond
incident; this he ke t to himself.

In about an hour ctective Slauter return-
ed, and then the chief gave orders denying
himself to all callers. .

“Well, did you succeed in getting any in-
formation?” the superintendent inquired.

“Nothing of any great importance—only
just a starter,” the detective replied.

“ Where did you go?" asked the chief.

“To English Kell ‘s crib.”

“ That was a gom move,” the superinten-
dent remarkcd with an approving nod.

“ This man, Kelty, keeps asaloon which isa
little ofl color, ” the chief explained to Phenix.

“ 116 18.8!) Englishman, and as he is al-
ways blowmg about how far superior Eng-
land is to this country, he has got the name
of English Kelly.

“ I have never tried to shut up the fellow’s '

saloon—for he manages to run an orderly
place enough, but it is a regular headquarters

for all the crooks in the town, and as Kelty is -

anxious to keep on the right side of me, Iain
often able to get important information out of
him on the sly."

“ Yes, Icomprehend,” the New Yorker re-
marked.

“ ilc acts as a sort of stool-pigeon for
you."

“ Exactly! He don‘t really give the crooks
away, but drops a hint or two which puts me
on the right track."

“Such men are able often to give valuable
assistance, and it is wise to allow saloons of
this kind to keep open, for then men in our

line can get at. the crooks," Joe Phenix rc- ‘

marked.

“ Yes, that is my idea," the superintendent ‘

assa- nted .

“Once in a while some new mayor, who ;

has become impressed with the idea that he
can run the town better than any man who has

receded him, gets a knowledge of the ex-
istence of a place of this kind, and worries
me for a while about suppressing it," be con-
tinued.

“ And sometimes it is hard work for me to
convince the man that I am not aczar, vested
with absolute power, and able to close up a
man’s place merely because it has a bad
name.”

“ Reformers of this kind,- who have only a
slight knowledge of the matter in hand, are
usually hard men to get along with," Joe
Phenix observed.

“The police officer who thoroughly under-
stands his business comprehends that there
are certain kinds of crime which cannot be
stamped out, and if an attempt is made in

11

that line, the people are only Scattered. so the

police find it a difficult matter to keep their

eyes upon them. while if they are allowed to
remain in one place, they can be kept under
constant surveillance.”

“ Yes. that is the idea exactly,” the super-
intendent remarked,

“Well, go ahead, Slauter,” the chief said
to the detective. -

“I got a chance to talk to Kelty on the
quiet, and found that he was willing to do
all he could for us," the sleuth-hound ex-
plained.

“ I told him about the cracking of the crib,
and asked if he knew of any firstclass men
in the cracksman line who would be capable
of doing a job of this kind.

“ He thought the matter OVer for a mo-
ment, and then replied that as far as he knew
; there wasn‘t a man in Cincinnati equal to
i such a jcb, with the exception of a fellow
who had just arrived from Chicago with a

a .

i “ The pal was a stranger and he didn’t
know anything about him, but as he was

t traveling with the cracksman he thought it

likely he could turn his hand to house-break-

ing.

} “ \Vho is the cracksrnan‘!" the superinten-

t dent inquired.

t “Tommy Powland — Tommy, the Rat,”

i Detective Slauter replied. .

“ Ah, yes, Tommy is an old acquaintance,

} and he could do a trick of this kind to the

I queen’s taste,” the superintendent remarked.

 “ You must know the Rat,” the chief con-

! tinned, turning to Joe Phenix. “For I have

i read of his being in trouble in New York."

I “Yes, I know the man by reputation, but
I never happened to personally come in con-
tact with him,” the New Yorker replied.

“ What is the name of his pal?” the chief

i asked.

! “ Dalstan—Jerry Dalstan," Detective Slau-

‘ ter answered.

’ The superintendent shook his head.

" I don’t know the man,” he said.

“Can on place him, Phenix?” the chief
continued:

“No, not under that name, but some of
these fellows have a dozen names, you
know,” the veteran man-hunter replied.

“ Kelty said that Tommy Pcwland would
be just the man to do a job of this kind, but
as he had just got in town, professing to be
very short of money, and declaring that if
he didn’t strike a chance soon to lift a geod-
sized swag somewhere he would be in a
bale, it did not seem probable that he could
have had anything to do with this affair."

“ This talk may be merely a blind to keep
the officers from suspecting that he had. a
hand in the robbery of the Carmanage man:
; sion," Joe Phenix suggested. ‘
“ That is true, and it will not do any harm
. for us to keep our eyes upon the pair,” the
‘ superintendent remarked.

I “ Did you make a call upon the pawn-
brokers?” the chief continued.

I “Yes, but none of them know anything
about the matter, or they pretend that

they don‘t,” the detective replied.

, “There is only one man in Cincinnati who

l would be apt to take in a swag of this kind,”

5 the superintendent remarked, reflectively.

t ,” Do you mean old Knachbull?” Detective

V Slauter inquired.

t “ Yes, old Tim; he is an EnglishJew, and

as sharp as the English Jews generally are.

3 “ He keeps a pawnshop,” the chief ex-

plained to Joe Phenix.

" And I am perfectly satisfied that the man
will take in a swag whenever he gets the
. chance, rovided the circumstances are such
§ that he oesn‘t run much risk.

' "I have bad a rod in pickle for the old fox

for some time. but I will have to acknowledge

that the old man has been too smart for me,
for I have never been able to catch him, al-

though in a couple of cases I thought I had a

sure thing.” '

“ The only articles which could be traced
are the watch and chain," Joe Phenix ob-
served, in a reflective way.

“The silver, of course, would go imme-
diately into the melting- t,”the New Yorker
continued. " So it won (1 not be possible for
any one to identify the plate."

“That is correct,” the superintendent as-
sented. ” The watch and chain are the only
thin for us to search for, and if the old
Eng fox has bought the articles, the odds

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“ are great he will be shrewd enough to hide
them away so that no fly cop will be able
toget at them, no matter how smart he may

    
   
   
   
    
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
    
 
  
  
     
   
   
  
 
      
    
   
 
  
  
 
  
    
  
  
  
   
     
 
    
  
  
   
 

“You see the old fellow keeps a supply
store for pcddlers," the superintendent con.
tinned. ' ‘

“ Probably from thirty to forty men get

* their stocks of him, and as they travel all
over the Western and Southern country, it is
an easy matter for the peddlers to get rid of
stolen jewelry in remote country places, and
under such circumstances it would he a hard
matter for any one to traCc the articles."

“ Yes, that is true," Joe Phenix assented.

‘V‘Iwould be glad, Phcnix, to have you try
your hand at this case,” the superintendent
remarked.

“ I can see right at the beginning that it is
going to be a mighty difficult one,’ the chief
continued.

. “Yes,
sented.

f‘ Well, I» have no objection to taking the

undoubtedly,” Joe Phenix as-

"!‘hen the veteran consulted his watch, ex~
plained to the chief that he had an appoint-
ment and departed. ‘

CHAPTER XV.
run BANKER’S s'rour.

FROM the Police Headquarters Joe l’henix
proceeded to the cities of the banker who had
summoned him to Cincinnati.

It was only a. short walk, and within ten
minutes after quittin the presence of the
 superintendent of pol co the New York de-
., ‘ .tjective was ushered into the private otlice of
 Horace Latchford was one of the leading

bankers of the city, a man reputed to be
Worth‘a million or more.

 _In erson the banker was a tall, portly,
di ni ed gentleman, about fifty years old,
1w th a‘good face and a genial manner.
" "Halted made Joe Phenix’s acquaintance a
year or so before the time of which we
write.
 A. trusted clerk had absconded with a
A hrgeamount of mone ,and as he was sup-
 fj tohave gone to ew York, the banker
there in search of him.
' ’Joe Phenix had been recommended to hint
33
had beenput into his hands. ’
  was usual with him, the veteran detec-
tive brought the affair to s“.successfui con-
" ‘ ’ and the banker had de arted with
high idea of the talent o the man-
- r

to .

pen the detective’s arrival, the banker
Borders to his clerk to say that he was
’* could not see any callers for an
ear or so. ‘

.“Now, Mr. Phenix, I am about to relate
30. you the particulars .of a rather compli-
case, and as I know I can rely upon
" ' tir' discretion, I shall not hesitate to speak
Keel ,” the banker said.

 “'Ees, detectives are like lawyers and
ministers, and all confidenccs reposed in
 are held sacred.” '

, , course, Mr. Phenix, you know what
uflaman I am, and you understand the
 position which I occupy in the world’s
 I
Thadetective bowed assent.
~ ‘ Jain commonly reputed to be a sharp.
jhiiewd, long-Wed business man, and I
 I may say, without being accused of
.egoti'sm, that my business transactions have
me out the reputation. .
..‘.‘And now comes the strange art of it."
, Wficontinued, with a we ghty shake

a
s

~ shrewd, sagacious business man,
._ «than guiltygof committing an act of
inmygivs’te life such as no man pos-
ueueda ,f avers 9 amount of common
ought to have no.”

‘ where is a classical” as log, you know,
' even the great god, ove, nods some-
' "the veteran detective remarked.

es, and I suppose there tone doubt
the greatest of men Will make mistakes

inawhile.” , - s. . .
There is no dis-

 
 

  

  

 
 
 
  
 
 
 

. es, undoubted-1y!
truth of that statement.” , ,
d a asthmatic“

     

a good man to undertake the case, and. it '_

 

“But, to make an honest confession, like
the majority of self—made men who boast
with a great deal of pride ,of having risen
from nothing to affluence, I was aided by a
fortunate circumstance which put me on the
high road to prosperity.

“I was a humble clerk in a banker’s office,
and the only daughter of my employer took
it into her head to fall in love with me.

“ As a rule, when a thin of this sort hap-
pens, the father is gencral y very indignant,
but in this instance the daughter had so
much influence over her sire that he did not
make any objection to her choice.

“I will admit that I was not particularly
infatuated with the lady, but she was a
goodlooking girl, an heiress; and as all the
world thought I was Wonderfully fortunate
in securing so rich 8. prize, I married her,
and from that union came my wealth.

“My wife and I did not get on well to-
gether, for she was imperious and domineer-
ing, but as both of us were too proud to
allow the world to know that we did not
live in harmony, we passed for a model
couple.

“ We lived together for over twenty years,
and then death released me from my bond—
age, for such it was in reality.

“No children had come to bless our
union, and during the last few years of the
twenty we had lived almost as strangers, to
each other, although we arranged matters
so that the world at large never suspected
the truth.

“I had been ver fortunate in my busi-
ness operations, an long before my wife’s

,death my fortune far exceeded that of her

father.

“About five years after my wife’s death,
I accidentally made the acquaintance of a
woman in humble circumstances, who was
supporting herself by the work of her own
hands. '

“I have often read of the jargon of the
spiritualists in regard to certain men and
women having a natural affinity for each.
other, but 1 never took much stock in the
idea until I happened to meet this lady. ”

“ Well, there is'no doubt in my mind that
there is a great deal of truth in the sup i-
tion, although some extremists are inc ined
to carry the matter entirely too far,” the de-
tective marked. , r

“ Fro the'beginning I tooka great likin
to the woman, and it was not long before I
came to the conclusion that she Was the one
person of all the world to make me happy.

” From the way in which she acted, too, I
could see that she regarded me with a favor-
able eye. g ,

“ Being satisfied that I had not made any
mistake about the matter, I asked the'woman
to become my wife.

“ She was no foolish K young girl, but a
sensible woman of twenty eight, so she did
not heat about the bush at all, but spoke in
rlesard to the matter just as frankly as I

l .

(

“Without any hesitation she told me the
story of her life.

“ When a girl of seventeen she had mar-

ried a worthless fellow who turned out to be
a vcr bad husband indeed. ,
" I e did not beat or ill-treat her, but as he
was so indolent and rareless that it was a
hard matter for him to sup rt hintself, the
unfortunate young wife h a hard time of
it as ion as she depended upon him. '
. ," The us‘bsnd was by nature: wandering
vagsbond; he would start ofl-on ,a trip with-
out saying a Word to his wife, and she would
not know whether he was dead or alive for a
year or so, when he " would reappear as
abru tl as he had disappeared."

“ s ould think that it would not have
taken her long to get tired of that sort of
thing; Joe Phenix remarked.

“ ell, she was a patient sort of a girl,
and she put up with it for anumberoi years,
until finally she awoke to the consciousness
that all the affection she had ever entertained
for the man had vanished. Then she told
him plainly that all was over between them
and she never wanted to see hisfaca again.
.“The husband received the news calml
outings; merely remarking‘that perhaps t
was ‘ , be best should separate, and

   

  
  
 
   

 

he as.

his wife decided not. to have anything to do
with him,” the detective observed. '
“For four years she had neither seen nor

.heard from him, and she had got the im~

pression that the man was dead.

“Now then, the proper thing for me to
have done under the circumstances would
have been to advise the woman to get a legal ~.
divorce on the ground of desertion and aid!
her to do the same.”

“ Yes, that is correct."

“But I didn't. The husband had said
upon parting that he was going to California
and it was doubtful if he would ever come
back to the East again, so I made the
grievous error of deciding there wasn't
any necessity of her getting a divorce. and
she "allowed mete persuade her to marry
to “ Ah, yes, that was a mistake," the veteran
detective observed. .

“And I can anticipate what has hap-
pened,” he continued. “The husband has
appeared.”

“ Yes, you are correct," the banker assent-
ed. “My wife saw him the other day on
the street, and although he did not act as
though he saw her, yet she is Certain
that he did, and she is apprehensive that he
followed her home, but she is not sure of
it.

“She told me of the circumstance, and I
immediately telegraphed to you.

“ You understand that as yet the man has
not made any movement, but if he has found
out, or does find out, that his wife has mar~
ried a Wealthy man like myself, without ob-
taining a divorce from him, he would be very
apt to try to extort money as the price of his
silence.”

“Yes, such a man as you have described
would be very likely to try a game of that
kind,” Joe Phenix assented.

“Now then, although I did make a ter-
rible blunder in marrying the woman before
she obtained a legal separation, yet as our
married life has been extremely happy, I do
not intend to either give her up or submit to
be blackmailed, and l relyupon youto find ,
some wa “ to" get me: out of the scrape." \-

“It ll not be a difl‘lcult matter,” Joe
Phenix remarked,

“Have your wife depart immediately to
one of the Western States, where a short
time of residence only is required of the
applicant for a divorce, and appl for a
separation on the ground obdesert on and
lack of support. ,

“There will not be any dimculty in‘her
securing a legal decree, for by aid of plenty
of money to grease the wheels of ustice, the
machinery o the law can be m e to move
with wonderful swiftness.

“After the divorce is obtained on can
marry the woman over again, an it will
not be possible for the husband to trouble

on.”

“The plan is a good one, and I will.
have it executed at once!" the banker do?»

clared. -

“ I will look up the best State to which to
go.” the detective remarked, as he rode.
“ And if the husband'makes his appearance,
refer him to me.”

And then Joe Phenix departed.

CHAPTER. xvi.  “
THE W.A:NDIBER.

 

Jr" was about nine o'clock‘on the night of

the do when Joe Phenix held his interview
witht e banker.

A fine rain had commenced, and those
people obliged to be out were hurrying
along, anxious to reach shelter. . v

It was a nasty ni ht. ;, -  : -*

The brawn po ceman who covered the
“Fifth street t," in the neighborhood of
Fountain Square, was slowly Proceeding to-
ward Plnm street when he was accoste by
a poorlydressed fellow. Slouchin along in
the rain, with an _old felt hat pu ed down
over his eyes. ' . *

he man was a big fellow, very dark-
complexlone‘d, as though he had been ex-
posedtothesun and wind. . -

He a, peculiar ban do .ex-
pression, just such a manas a go in ge‘ of
character would, be inclined to ive a wide
berthtoif he encountered him na lonely,
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Joe Phenix’s Double Deal.

‘.

13

 

 

“Yes, it will ass for a nasty night,” the
officer responded‘,’

He was a (good-natured man, and, although
he suspecte the other was one of those home-
less wretches found in all large cities, yet he
did not speak harshly to him.

“I don't know much about Cincinnati,”
the man explained.

“ Are you a stranger here ‘2”

“Yes, and I have 'ust arrived.”

“ By the Shanks‘- Iare Special Express?"
the otiicer questioned, jocosel y.

" You are rightl That is the line I
patronized this time,” and the man grinned.

“It is a good line for a man who is short
of money.”

“Yes, and the passengers never have any
disputes with the conductor about the fare.”

“That is so,” the oilieer assented. “ But
that wouldn’t make any difference to a man
like yourself, for you are flush of cash, of
course.”

“ Oh, yes; I am rolling in wealth just
now!” the wanderer declared, with a gri-
mace.

“ Why, if a wealthy bloke was to offer to
give me the best house in town if I would
only rub two cents together in my pocket, I
wouldn‘t be able to get it.”

“ Completely cleaned out, eh ‘2"

“ You bet 1”

“That is bad, for Cincinnati isn’t a good
town for a man to go broke in.”

“I don't know any town that is—do
you ‘3"

The policeman laughed.

“ I reckon you have got me; for a fact, I
don’t know any such town."

“ I took the trouble to speak to you for I
thought, maybe, you could give mea little
information.”

“ information is cheap, and I always have
it on tap.”

“ As I was sayin , I am down on my luck
in the worst kind 0 way.”

“You look it!" the otiiccr assured, with a
smile at the seedy garments of the other.

“ And, as I am a stranger in this here burg,
I don‘t stand much chance to raise a stake,

' you see."

" Not much chance, although I s’pose you
could collar a few stray nickels by doing the
begging act."

“ Oh, I reckon I won’t starve as long as I
have got a tongue in my head, for I never
did yet."

“Yes, a man like yourself can always
strike some flats for a few coins.”

“But what I was arter was a place where
I kin hang out—some saloon, you know,
where the boss don’t mind a cove like myself
loafing ‘round—some place, you understand,
where the men who are on the cross are in
the habit of going.”

“ Crooks, you mean?”

“Yes; but not that I want to do any
crooked work, you know, for, though I ain’t
a going to pretend that I hav’n’t been in
trouble in my time, yet I am on the dead
square now, every time."

“ Until you get a good chance to pull off
a stake worth going for?"

“Oh, no; I wouldn’t do it! Honest In-
junl I am on the dead square now, as I
said,” the wanderer averred, earnestl .

“Yes, of course; and you are qu to will
ing to swear to it, too, I suppose," sar-
castically. ‘f I have yet to meet a man of
your stamp who wasn’t on the square.”

“It is natural for you to have doubts
about the thing. but I am giving it to you
straight, this time," the vagaboud insisted,
and then explained:

“You See, the game I want to work is a
mighty simple one. In a saloon of this kind
1 stand a chance to run across some crook
who is flush, and by faking up a ripe ghost
story I might mana e to get a stake out of
him if I work the tr ck right.”

“ That is so,"the oflicer admitted. “With
both crooks and gamblers it is easy got and
easy gone." _

“I stand a good show to get a lift to help
me on if I can only find the right place
where i can see my men."

“Let me see,” said the policeman, reflec-
tively. “There isn’t many saloons of the
kind in Cincinnati, for we hav'n‘t many
crooks here, when the size of the city is taken
into consideration.”

“ So I have always heard.”

“I think English Kelty’s place the best

. H1 ‘ - b...‘
.5‘.‘ .r V

 

for you to strike, for you will be more apt
to find the men you want there than in any
other gin-mill in town."

Then the policeman instructed the tramp
how to reach the place, and the man, after
thanking the kindly disposed officer, slunk
away through the rain.

It only took the wanderer about ten min-
utes to reach his destination, which he found
to be a common, ordinary saloon, such as are
in almost every biock in the business part of
the “ Paris of America.”

There was a bar, and tables and chairs for
the accommodation of customers who wish d
to sit down or to play cards.

At the end of this resort was a door which
gave entrance to another room reserved for
customers who desired to drink in privacy,
or to be free from the espionage of the
police. ,

Two men stood behind the bar, one a
stoiid-faced, short~haired, young fellow, and
a stout, burly, middle-aged man, with an cx~
tremely red face, whose general appearance
betrayed the native of Britain's tight little
island.

When the wanderer entered, the bartender
was engaged in waiting upon some customers
at the lower end of the bar, so he was able to
speak privately to the saloon-keeper.

“ Is this English Kelty’s saloon?” he
asked.

“ This is the place,” the saloon-keeper re-
plied,surveying the man with a “sizing up ”
glance as he spoke.

“I want a glass of beer,” and the wander-
er deposited a nickel on the counter, as he
spoke.

“My name is Barney Mickie, and I am
playing in hard luck just now."

“ That is bad,” the Englishman remarked.

English Kelty wasa good judge of char-
acter, and fancied he detected that the stran-
ger was no common tramp, although he was.
n’t then in good feather.

“ I have 'ust arrived in town—~have tramp-
ed it all t e Way from Tennessee, where I
got into trouble about a little bank affair.
The crib was cracked, and I was nailed on
the outside, and, being a stranger in the town,
the people all believed that I had something
to do with the robbing; insisted, you under-
stand, that I was the ‘ lookout,’ who had been
placed on the watch to give warning if any-
body approached.”

“ These countr men are always up to
games of that kin .”

“ They put me through and sent me to the
stone jug, but the jail wasn't strong enough
to hold me and I managed to give leg bail.”

“That was lucky.”

“ I made for Cincinnati, and. after getting
in, hunted your place up, for I have always
heard you spoken of as being a man who was
willing to do all he could for a fellow who
wasn’t striking it rich.”

“Oh, yes; I always try to do whatI can
fora man who is playing in hard luck.”

“ Iain t after money, you know," Mickie
explained, “for I have been lucky enough
to pick up a stake or two on the road; but I
ain’t rolling in wealth, you understand. I
have got just enough to keep me until I can
strike a job ” '

The saloonkeeper nodded.

“ I don‘t pretend to be a first class cracks-
man, for I am not, but if there is an body
round who is going to work a job, an‘ they
want a good helper to play the look-
out triek, or anything of that kind, I don’t
believe they would be able to find a better
man than myself.”

The saloon-keeper took a glance around to
make sure that no one was near enou h
to overhear the conversation, and then e
said:

“ Well, of course, you must understand
that 1 really don’t know anything about
such .natters. I keep a saloon, and as long
as my customers behave themselves it is none
of my business what they do outside, or how
they get their money.”

“Certainly not." 4

“If I had a suspicion that any of the boys
had a little game on foot, I would prefer not
to have any knowledge of it, for if the trick
went wrong. and the fly cops got onto them,
they might think I gave the snap away.”

“Yes, they might."

“Now there are a couple of men who
have just come to town, and they let on to

 

 

me that they are thinking of tryingr to make

;‘ r r o r
"u‘ ‘ V i v, .‘.‘," '
...._‘_., . ..,.v.

 

 

a stake—two cod men they are, Slim Jerry
Dalston and homas Powland, or Tommy
the Rat, as he is called by the profesh.”

“ i don’t know the men personally, but I
have heard of them.”

“They are in the back room now. I will
introduce you, and I shouldn’t be surprised
if you could manage to get a job with them,
if you are so disposed.”

“ I will be ever so much ohliged to you!”
the vagabond declared, as he finished his
beer.

The saloon-keeper conducted Mickie into
the rear room and introduced him to the two
men whose names he had mentioned.

{uglish Kelty was a shrewd fellow, but in
[ills instance how he had been tricked it
would have terrified him to know.

The tramp crook volunteer was the vet-
eran detective, Joe Phenix!

CHAPTER XVII.
A FRIEND IN NEED.

Tun announcement in the public prints of
the death of the millionaire—the old time
great whisky king, Stephen Carmanage—
created a great excitement in the city of Cin-
cinnati, and the declaration that he had per—
ished by the hand of an assassin astounded
the police.

The (police authorities declared that they
believe Mr. Carmanage had been murdered
by the b-irglars who had robbed the house,
and announced that they were doing all in
their power to discover the audacious cracks-
men.

()f course they could not refrain from mak-
ing the old-time statement, dear to the heart
of the average policeman in every clime and
in every age.

They were in possession of some important
clues, and they had no doubt that in an ex-
tremely short time they would succeed in
apgrchending the murderers.

ut the astute newspaper men of Cincin-
nati had heard this sort of talk before and
were not inclined to place implicit faith in
the announcement.

The newspaper scribes had their own ideas
in regard to the murder.

In a case of this kind the average reporter
considers himself as able to “hit ofi the trail "
as the average detective.

The nOWSpaper men followed up the case
like so many bloodhounds.

They examined everything and cross-ex-
amined everybody, and the result of this pro-
ceetling was that they came out in the news-
papers and announced that it was their opin-
ion the police had made a mistake.

The millionaire had not been robbed by
the burglars who had robbed the house, and
then they gave in full their reasons for so
thinking.

But as the reporters hadn't the remotest
idea who had done the deed, for all their in-
vestigations had not furnished them with a
single clue, they fell back ou'vague conjec-
ture, and the columns of the newspapers were
full of theories, more or less wild and im-
probable as to who had done the deed.

The authorities did not allow the comments
of the newspapers to trouble them, and the
superintendent and detectives chuckled
among themselves when they read the ar-
ticles which went to show that the police
were willfully blundering in the wrong
direction.

And so a week passed away.

Both the detectives and the reporters did
all in their power to get aclue to the m s—
terious murderer, but not a soul could ay
claim to have discovered a sin 1e fact of any
importance in connection wit the mystery.

In a well-ordered household, such as the
millionaire’s certainly was, the untimely tak-
ing otf of the master of the household, made
but little difference.

Miss Blanche had been accustomed to giv-
ing orders, and there Was a well-trained
hogsekeeper to see that they were carried
on .

Then too Miss Carmana e had a friend, a
middleagcd Kentucky w dow, who came
immediately to assist the girl as soon as she
fleard of the sorrow which had fallen upon

er.

Mrs. Belle McClintock this lady was
named.

Iicr husband had been a partner of the
dead millionaire and she had knoWn Blanche
ever since she was a little «.‘irl.

 

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' 'm.n.— ...-~..,.-. . ‘. -

 

 

 

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it?
Q.


L' .ViAAtl'.) pe-

 

 

  

 

 

' treated any one man with

  

14

 

 

Joe Phenix’s Double Deal.

 

Mrs. McClintock was a big, resolute wo-
man, gifted with a large amount of common
sense, and a better companion and adviser
the bereaved girl could not have found.

She arrived on the next day after the one
on which the tragedy occurred.

Being a wealthy woman, without children,
she had no family ties to hamper her move-
ments.

Blanche received her with open arms.

Although there was considerable difference
in the ages of the eighteen-year-old girl and
the fifty-year-old widow, yet they were the
greatest friends possible, and the presence of
Mrs. McClintock greatly cheered the alilictcd
girl.

It was just seven days from the one on
which the millionaire’s death had been dis-
covered.

Mrs. MeClintock and Blanche sat in the
parlor of the Carmanage mansion.

A couple of the gilded youths of Cincin-
nati had just made a. call upon Miss Blanche
to condole with her on account of the atliic-
tion which had fallen so heavily upon her
young life. -

They had just returned to the city, they
explained, after a brief absence, otherwise
they would have called before.

From the wa in which one of the gentle-
men spoke, it rs. McClintock got the idea
that he was anxious to win the girl's fa-
vor.

This was not at all surprising, for the
will of the millionaire had been made pub-
lic, and among other bequests the sum of
five hundred thousand dollars had been left
to Blanche.

Not outright, but in trust, she to receive
the interest only. and the sum at her death
to go to her heirs.

But as the money was placed in secure in-
vestments, netting six per cent. interest, she
was sure of an income of thirty thousand
dollars a year.

And then, too, she had been given the life
use of the Carmanage mansion, just as it
was at Mr. Carmanage’s death.

Therefore it can be readily seen that the
girl was a most desirable match for any
young man.

“If you have any desire to get married,
it seems to me that you will not have to
look far to find a husband,” the Kentucky

widow remarked, after the young men de-'

parted.

“ I am in no hurry to give up my liberty
yet awhile," the young girl replied.

“ The right man hasn’t come along, eh?”

“Well, if he has, 1 hav’n‘t made up
my mind about the matter,” Blanche re-
p] ed

“ I suppose you mean to imply, by speak-
ing in that non committal way, that there is
one of your suitors whom you like a little
better than the rest, but you hav‘n’t made
up your mind in regard to whether you like
him well enough to make him your 0rd and
master.”

“Yes, that is true.”

“ Which man is it?"

“ Can’t you guess ?" Blanche asked, with a
smile.

“I have seen him, I presume?"

“ Yes, you have."

" Well, really, I have not noticed that you
articular favor,”
Mrs. McClintock observe , in a reflective
wa .

‘IISO I suppose I will have to go on the
idea of selecting the most attractive man.”

“ Yes, that would be a good plan,” Blanche
assented, with a smile.

“ Of course, the man who seems at-
tractive to me, might not appear so to

on.”

“ Very true.” _

“But I will venture a guess that this
young lawyer, Mr. Sangerton, is the man.”

The young girl laughed and a slight blush
crimsoned her cheeks. .

“ I have not made a mistake,eh ‘1” the Ken-
tuck widow exclaimed triumphantly,

“ 0, you are correct,” Blanche admitted.
“ You have succeeded at the first guess.”

“ Let me see,” Mrs. McClintock remarked
in a reflective way. “It Seems to me tha
you didn't say much about him. -

“You described all the other gentlemen at
length, but, if I remember rightly, you did
not say a great deal about him.”

 

 

“Well, there isn’t much to say,” the heir-
ess replied.

“ llis name is Roland Sangerton and by
profession he is a lawyer.

“(‘omcs originally from New Orleans, and
isaclerk in the oillce of the lawyers who
transacted all my uncle’s business."

“ Not a rich young man, I should judge?"
the Kentucky widow observed.

“ No, nor does he even come of a good
fainily-that is as far as he knows, for he is
an orphan without- any living relatives,’
Blanche explained.

“ Ills father and mother (lied of yellow
fever in New Orleans when he was about six
years old,” the heiress continued.

“ They were strangers in the city, having
resided there only a couple of years, and as
they were inclined to be reserved, keeping
aloof from the neighbors, no one knew any-
thing about them so as to be able to throw
any light upon their former history.”

“Under the circumstances then it is not
strange that the young man cannot tell any—
thing about his family,” Mrs. McClintoek
observed.

“He certainly seems to be a gentleman
though, and I don't believe that he comes
of common, low people.”

“ Neither do I, for he is the equal in every
respect to the gentlemen of my acquaint-
ance,” the heiress declared.

“ Yes, that is my opinion also,” Mrs. Mc-
Clintock assented.

“Of course, he is very far from being a
rich man, being only a simple clerk."tlie
young girl remarked with a thoughtful air.

“But his employers speak. Well of him,
and once when I was in the law—ofiice with
uncle I heard one of the heads of the firm
tell Mr. Carmanage that Mr. Sangerton was
one of the brightest young men whom he
had ever encountered, and there was no doubt
in his mind that he would make a great law-
yer.”

“ That was a strong recommendation,” the
widow observed.

“ Yes, so it appeared to me.”

" Well, one thing is certain, if you do
come to like the young man well enough to
marry him you are well enough off to be able
to waive the question of money,” Mrs. Mc-
Clintock observed in a thoughtful way.

“Oh, yes, I have ample, for I am not at
all extravagant, and I know that I can live
like a princess on a third of my income, and
if I put by twenty thousand dollars a year
for ten years it will amount to a handsome
fortune.”

At this point the entrance of a servant in-
terrupted the conversation.

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE YOUNG LAWYER.

THE maid bore the message that Mr.
Roland Sangerton desired the pleasure of
an interview with Miss Carmana e.

The two ladies exchanged g ances, then
Blanche smiled and told the servant to admit
the entleman.

“ Ie didn‘t say a private interview,” Mrs,
McClintock observed. “But I suppose Ihad
better retire.”

“Oh, no, Ido not think so,” the girl re-
plied.

“I do not believe that he can have any-
thing to say to me which he would hesitate
to say in your presence.”

“Unless he comes to op the question!"
fhe widow exclaimed, w th a good-natured
an h.

Tghe color rose in Blanche’s face, and she
shook her finger at the lively widow.

“ Ah, you know very Well that he doesn’t
come with any such intention!” the young
lady declared.

“Oh, I don‘t know about that,” Mrs.
McClintock replied. '

“The young men of the present genera-
tion are so audacious that there is no telling
what bold act they may commit.”

“I can see, of course, that the young
man admires me, but I am quite sure that
I have never yet given him sufficient en-
couragement as to lead him to make a pro-

sal.” '
p0“This is a world of surprises. and_there is
no telling what may happen,” the Widow re.
marked, _

The entrance of the young lawyer at this
point interrupted the conversation.

He was a good-looking gentleman of about

 

 

 

two-and-twenty, or thercabouts, with a dark
complexion, and rather small, finely-cut fea-
tures.

From his appearanre the inference seemed
plain that he was of foreign descent. .

Mrs. McClintock, who was a good judge
of nationalities, having traveled extensively,
believed the young man to be of French ex-
traction.

Ilc greeted the ladies with the easy polite-
ncss which came so natural to him.

“Pardon me for inquiring if it is a private
interview which you desire with Miss (Tar-
mauagc,” the widow said. “ For in that
case I will retire.”

“ \Vell, the business upon which I come is
vcr important indeed, but I do not think it
wil be necessary for you to dcpni t." the
gentleman replied in a thoughtful way.

“ On the contrary, if my opinion was
asked regarding the matter. I should advise
that you should remain by all means. as I am
satisfied that a lady of your experience and
sngacitv will be able to give Miss Blanche
good advice," and he concluded the speech
with a polite how.

The widow was of couise pleased by the
compliment, but remarked that she thought
he was flattering her.

“Oh, no!” the young lawyer responded,
with another polite bow,

“ It is only the simple truth and truth is
not flattery, you know,” he continued.

“I shall not attempt to argue the point
with you,” Mrs. McClintock remarked with
a smile.

“For you are a trained advocate and I
would be sure to get the worst of it," she
added. -

“ As I stated, I have an important matter
to discuss,” Mr. Sangerton observed.

“Of course, you are aware that I am a
lawyer, and in the office where I am employed
it is my duty to waive the visitors who come
with the idea of employing the firm to con-
duct their legal matters.”

The ladies nodded to show that they com—
prehrnded the position.

“ Yesterday afternoon amiddle-aged woman
made her appearance; she was neatly dressed,
and seemed to be a person of considerable
education and refinement,” the gentleman
explained.

“ She asked to see one of the heads of
the firm, as she had an important case to
submit.

“I explained that I attended to all business
matters, and it would not be poseible for her
to see one of the firm until I was put in pos-
session of all the facts of the ease.

“Then she proceeded to explain.

“ It was a very strange story indeed which
she told, and she commenced by saying that
she would not mention any names, so I could
give her an opinion in the matter without
being prejudiced."

“ It was certainly very mysterious," Mrs.
McClintock remarked.

“ She was a widow, and had been so for a
number of years. She formerly resided at
New Orleans, but now for about a 'ear had
lived in Cincinnati, where she be made a
comfortable living as a dressmaker.

“ Shortly after coming to the city, she had
made the acquaintance of an elderly gentle-
man in a singular manner. -

“ As she detested boarding-houses, she
lived in a furnished room, where she got
her own meals. and while on her way home
one evening, the streets being wet from a
rainstorm, she slipped and sprained her
ankle.

“ The elderly gentleman. happening to be
at her elbmv, caught her as she fell, and as
she was only a few doors from the house
where she had her room, he assisted her to
her home. .

“In this way the acquaintance began. and
soon it ripened into a. wooing on the part of
the gentleman.

“ He was a traveling man, he said—a
bachelor, and tolerably well off. .

“The lady yielded to_his solicttations at
last, and they were married.

“She was not inquisitive by nature, so be-
lieved what her husband said in regard to
himself, and made no attempts to pry into
his affairs.

"But when the tragedy which occurred
in this house was made public, and she read
the name and description of the victim——
examined the pictures given by the news-

 

t9.

 

 
   

 

  
 
 

 

 

 

. -' Thei- story

 

 

 

 m-tne matter; they acume‘totlm conclusion

  

 

murdered was her husband.”

The ladies were completely surprised by

this unexpected discloSure.

CHAPTER XIX.
'run nrziincss SPEAKS.

“ WELL, well, I must say that this is about
the last thing that I expected to hear!" Mrs.
McClintock exclaimed.

“It is a great surprise, truly," Blanche
assented.

“I can assure you that I was Very much
astonished when the disclosure was made,
and it was not until her story was completed
-—not until she had related all the particulars
of her marriage, including the name of the

' clergyman, and an account of how the elder-
ly gentleman and herself had gone to the
minister’s houscmhc lived in Covington, Ken-
tucky, a short distance from the bridge, that
she made known the name of the man whom
she had weddec .”

“Well, Ireally think that this is one of
the strangest afiairs that ever came to my
knowledge," Mrs. McClintock remarked.

r “ Yes,‘ it is very strange,” Blanche as-
sented.

" Of course, as soon as the disclosure was
made I was compelled to tell the lady that it
Would not be possible for my firm to take the
case, for we had attended to all Mr. Car-
manage's legal business for years, and in the
event of a claim being made by anybody
against the estate, we undoubtedly would be
expected by Mr. Carmanage's niece to look
after the matter.”

' “That was aptly put‘i” Mrs. McClintock
exclaimed. -

“It was the truth, of course,” the «young
lawyer remarked. '

The ladies nodde'dx

“.And then I expressed to the lady my re-
gret that she had not mentioned names in the
first place, for. really, it did not seem quite
right for me to listen to her story—get all

. the points in regard to the evidence she pos-
sessed, when it was certain that if there was
a fight over the matter I would be against
her.”

"Well, yes, it is certainly the truth that

 

Lguwere placed in a delicate position," the

entucir widow observed.
“But i; was not your fault," Blanche .re—
marked. ‘ .. ' ' ' -’

“For it was not possible for younfio'guass

that your firm was at all interested in the
matter until the name of the husband was
spoken," the girl continued.

y“ That is the truth,” the young lawyer as-

"seated.

“I expressed my regrets to the lady, and
told her that she could rely upon my keepin
themattor a profound secret. but she repliet
immemately that she did not case how soon
“became public roperty, forshc in
tended to claim the rl to due to her under
her marriagea—one-thi of all the real estate
left by Mr. Carmanage."

“Well, that would amount to something,”
Mrs. McClintock observed.

“ But it Seems to me that the story which

" the? Woman tells is extremely improbable,”

an widow continued, in a reflective way.

“ Mr. Carmanage always passed for a
bachelor, and it seems unreasonable to sup-
pose that lic would have married this woman
secretly in the manner which she relates.”

. Q Alf“ Yes, it does seem rather out of the way,”
  r: ‘

 
   

 "$335" 1
 ' , “ 7 ,_ ,. fifnmnnneras ible
suggested toner ,;_.y;;h§,rs¢ory,  ex.

stremely strange . v .

“She did not 

by my frankness, and'replléajhe‘ . uh”
- that the tale did seem to be impmbnblg.’ but

I -~  satisfied she had not made any m‘ls-

takoabont the matter.

“The dead millionaire was her husband
and she was so confident her claim would
bear investigation that she, was willing to

' submit all her proofs to me. ”

. “‘ That was certainly frank enough, Mrs.
' McGiintock observed. .
“‘-‘Yes,a‘nd it really looks as if the woman
~ feels convinced that she bass Just claim,"
Blanche remarked, in a thoughtful way.
affix submitted the matter to the heads of
 and after they consulted in regard

 

in: ouldmot deft-i!er to: the t
. .' _ Laynefih was) r , .

papers, she suddenly woke to the conscious?
ncss that the man who had been so foully

 

  
 

accept the woman’s otl'er, subject, of course,
to your approval."

(“I think that it is a very good idea indeed I”
Blanche declarch immediately.

5' For, if the woman’s story is correct~if
she is the widow of my uncle, I would only
be too glad to help her to get what lightly
belones to her,” the heiress continued.

“ You are willing, then, that I shall look
into the matter?" the young lawyer asked.

“Yes, Iwill be glad if you will do so.“
Blanche answered.

“ Very well, I will attend to the matter.
and make my report as soon as possible,"
Mr. Sangcrton remarked, rising to depart as
he spoke. ‘

“I will be Very much obliged to you in-
deed!” the heiress declared. gratefully.

“ Don’t mention it, I beg!" the young
lawyer responded as he bowed himself out
of the room.

Mrs. McClintock exchanged a nu anionr
glance with Blanche after the door closed be-
hind the gentleman. ’

“ lie is deeply interested in you." the lady
observed with a smile. “And there is no

' doubt that yon can rely upon him to do his

best for you.”

“ Oh. yes, I think so," Blanche assented
with a half-blush.

“I judge from the way in which he speaks
that he is rather inclined to believe there is
something in this Woman’s claim,” the widow
observed, reflectively.

“It seems very incredible, of course, but
rich old men have been known to do just
such foolish things,” Mrs. McClintock con-
tinued. -

“ I did not think Mr. Carmanage was a
man of that sort; but a man .is a very decep-
tive'animal, and thebest judges are apt to
‘be deceive . '  ' ' »

” Well, if I am satisfied that the woman‘s
claim is a just one, I will do all I can to aid
her,” the heiress declared.

“ Oh. yes, that is only right,” Mrs.
McClintock assented.

“ But, someway, I cannot bring myself to
believe that Mr. Carmanagc would become
fascinated with an unknown, struggling
dressmaker,” the u idow continued.

“ it does not seem at all probable to me!"
the heiress declared.

“Then, too,'l know that my uncle was a
thoroughly just and conscientious man, and
it seems to me that if he had married any
woman, no matter if it was in secret, and he

fnonsfdcredithowomanto be beneath him in
station,l~h‘g-Twouhl.handmade some provision
for her initi’syillfi»  _ .,~~-,:‘~.-« ‘ . .

“ Yes, that is what so ought name done,"

Mrs. McClintock observed.   3‘ - ~ ' '

the matter," the widow continued.

“Some men are careless about afiairs of
this kind. He may have made the wrll be-
low he bCCaInc acquainted with this wo-
man,‘ and then neglected to make a new
Ulif‘.

" Yes, that may be so.” , .

“ l have an ideal" exclaimed Mrs. McClin‘
tock, abrupi'y. . “Let us send for that do.
tectivc, Mr. basis, and get his advice.”

CHAPTER XX.
JOE rnnmx on THE sonar.

BLANCHE thought that Mrs. Meolintock's
idea was an excellent one, and it was at once
carried into effect. '

“There is a telephone at the drugstore.
and I will send a message to the chief of
police requesting him to ask Mr. Phonix to
call upon us," the widow observed!

".0! course, dean] have no experi-

 

‘gn'cq , matters of this kindfi’she continued.
‘t' ,ncemetovme thatit will u t be wise ‘

 
 
 

8111le If  Then this
The a rest: = , ' yeast? ,, s wayward; so
. “Went? to the tolephone.
“called up” the on “intendent or lice
and informed him 1. ,t’she would i e to
consult Mr. I’henix upon an important mat-
ter, . ' 
As it happened, the veteran detective was
seated in the otlice of. the superintendent of
police at the. time, and so the answer was re-
turned that the expert man-hunter would
{some immediately.’ . A , V,  ..
 H 2 iron interline Pliesix‘ 

 

  
  
    

all

   

.f ()1- course, it is possible that he neglected.

to illmanygoneltokhowltm ’WO: . V07 
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appearance at the Carmanage mansion, and v
was at once ushered into the library, where
the two ladies were awaiting him.

Mrs. McClintock then explained what had
taken place. _

Joe l’henix listened attentively and made
no comments until the recital was finished.

“I advised Miss Carmunagc to send for
you so that your counsel in regard to the
matter could be had," the widow said in con-
clusion.

“ You see, it seemed to me that it was one
of those cases where the services of an expert
was needed,” )Irs. )lcUlintock added. '

“ It was a wise move on your part, mad~-
am,” the detective remarked. ‘ L x
“This is one of the alfairs where the ser-

vices of an experienced man, who has been
used to handling such matters. are extreme. ‘ .
ly desirable,” Joe Phcnix continued. ' ’

“What is your opinion in regard to the
case?” with all a woman’s curiosity. _ ' »

“I regard the story as being improbable
in the extreme,” Joe Phenix replied immedi-
ately.

“ At the same time, becausc it seems to be
very improbable, it will not do to (lecide off-I ’
hand that there isn't any truth in the sin: ’.’,’ 3

 Yes, I understand; it may be posshle 5
that the story is correct," Blanche. remarked,
slowly. ‘ ._
“ hat is right," the detective assented. ‘ 4

“ Many strange things happen in this .
world," he continued. ‘fAnd it will not do?“
for a man to decide immediately, that a stoiy.
is false, because it is out of the 
’I‘lll. I , _ fh,‘ a... ‘

“But cases of this kind are hap ‘ in
every day, and there is no doubt I at'in
about nine instances out of ten where a
wealthy bachelor dies, and after his death's;
woman comes forward, claiming to‘be’his‘
wife by a secret marriage, the story is miniser-
hood, and the woman an adventuress  _‘ ed
in a conspiracy to seize what does nb’t‘helong 
to her." ~  ' 

“Oh, yes, I have often read of suchcases-
in the newspapers,” Mrs. McClintock'ob;
served. - ' 

“ And now how would on advise‘Miss-
Germans e to proceed in t is matterWIthc
widow tasted. , f. ‘

“Go on just as you have begun,” the dc
tective ieplied., - . , ',' l, ,

“Of course, the story is such a strange
one that it is only natural that an it;
tercsted should have some doubts 
matter. » 

“ If I understood you correctly, Miss ‘ar- 1
man , the position which you  ,
that‘aggu are willing to give the  all?
Shogdcmunda when you mammalian in
she tarest your uncle’s widow?“ ‘ '5,

' "Yes, sir, that is correct," the heiress”,
plied. “ I would not for a moment attain ,
to keep her from cujoyiugher rights; 
contrary I would do all in my powerj‘tom
to prove her claim just as soonffis ‘I an
satisfied that it is a just one.” .  . ,4 ‘

“You must instruct your lawyers
effect." Joe Phentx remarked“ ,; ‘  "

"Tell them that you do not Visual,
a contest, bug would prefer to .sottlefthe
ter'ln an amiable way. ' . z" ,

"All you require is to be satith , '  ~
woman’s claim is a just one, and flagrant
say that it seems to you that ite'wzilf-béim
easy matter for her to present herm‘t‘oof ' L
that your lawyers can make an  , ,
lion, and if their report is a favorabln ‘ "

on will be glad to do all '01] can is} '
ady in possession of all t at is "
without putting her tdthe ' '
to law about   _‘.  V ' , ,3: _

"Yea. I am. wrung» em  ‘ ' ‘
iin that wayfi’vthehoircssirem ' ' ..

. “ And new 'I~'wish .to' call your 'atlen
jimost'hnportant point," the véter'a"
dreamer-red; . 
 ‘31).) not tell any one—not even
yer,jthat you have consulted mo
matter, for it is most important 
should suspect that a detect} " i V
played on the case.” —  ,

“Yes, sir, I will be, careful 145,,
matter secret, Blanche replied}? '

I “To do good detectivew‘ork-it . .- “
for the man employed on the job 
the background is magazine's-Ms, v.

..,
V .7 J‘
.

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Phenix ex ' .
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'16

Joe Phenix’s .Double Deal.

-.—-I
‘

 

of this kind, it would be best for you to dele-
gate some gentleman to represent you.

“I will find the man,” the detective con-
tinued. “But the affair must be arranged
in such a way that no one will suspect that
this gentleman is not an acquaintance of
yours who is attending to the matter solely

, to oblige you.”

“I have an idea!" Mrs. McClintock ob-
served abruptly.

“Blanche and I are great friends, and
everybody who knows of my being here.
understands that I came on purpose to be of
assistance to her.

“What would be more natural then than for
me, when this case comes up. to tell Blanche
that there was a Kentucky friend of mine—a
gentleman of experience and wisdom—who
would be glad to look after her interests.”

“That is a capital scheme!” Joe Phenix
declared. “And I have no doubt but that it
will work to perfection, particularly as the
gentleman whom I will get to attend to the
affair will be perfectly competent to play the
character of a Kentuckian.

“I will have him call upon you this eve-
ning. Major McGoflin is the name he will
pear, and you can place implicit trust in
mm."

Blanche thanked the detective for his kind-
ness, and then Joe Phenix departed.

From the mansion of the dead millionaire
he went straight to the otliee of the superin-
tendent of police, and there to the chief
related the particulars of his interview with
Miss Carmanage. .

“Aha! I fancy that we have got hold of
the tail of an extremely large rat here!"
the official exclaimed, rubbing his hands
briskly together. a sure sign that he was
deep] interested.

“ es, in the beginning there was appar-
ently no reason why any one should want to
murder the old man, for the niece seemed to
be the only one who would profit by his
death, and it was a most impossible thing
that a young and innocent girl would enter
into a conspiracy against the life of her
uncle.”

“ Yes, yesl I never took any stock in that
theory.”

“ But the appearance of this woman,
claiming to be the widow of the (lead man,
throws a flood of light upon the mystery.”

“Oh, yes!" the superintendent assented.

“It is my belief that the millionaire was
the victim of a dark conspiracy,” Joe Phenix
remarked.

“In the background there is a gang of
unscrupulous scoundrels, and they coolly
planned to murder the millionaire so that
after his death the woman could appear, de
clare that slie was his widow, and set up a
claim against the dead man’s estate.”

“ 1 think that you have hit upon the
truth, Phenix, although I must say that I
am amazed to think that there is a gang in
Cincinnati bold enough to try such a‘dcs-
pcl‘itte game."

“They are probably strangers, for it is
my belief that no common gang of scoun-
drels could have arranged such a job as
this.”

“ Yes, that is correct, I think."

“And although it seems wildly im.

robable, yet the idea has come to me that it
8 possible that the Rosaire family, who are
mixed up in this vendetta business, are also
connected with this plot to get a slice of the

. old man's fortune.”

“.4

“ Well, it is not impossible,” the superin~
tendent remarked, in a reflective way.

“As you observed, no common rascals
could hatch a plot of this kind, and this ven-
detta fellow may have got it up."

“ I think we are on the right track now
and unless the men in the background are
really superhuman scoundrels, we ought to
be able to snare them," Joe Phenix declared,
as he rose to depart.

“We will nail them!” the superintendent
responded, in the most confident manner, as
the veteran made his exit.

 

CHAPTER XXI.
THE MAJOR APPEARS.
JOE PHENIX lost no time in carrying out
the scheme which he had arranged. _
Being a really marvelous actor, and wrth
wonderful aptitude for assuming all sorts of

disguises, he had no trouble in playing the

y .

r

i)“,

it.
i
A
—.

 

i character of a jolly old Kentucky major to
the life.

A man who had been born and brought up
in a small country town, but who believed

‘ he was uncommonly well versed in the ways
of the world, and possessed a high opinion of
his own shrewdncsrz.

The lawyers of the dead millionaire, Wen-
dell and W'hykcll, held a high rank itt (Jin-
cinnati, but they never did anything in the
criminal line, and therefore were pleased that

i the young heiress had decided to have the
' case arranged in a quiet manner.

As old Mr. Wendell explained to the sup-
‘ posed Kentuckian:

“ “'e do not like to have anything to do
with cases of this kind, and we think that
Mr. Sangerton acted very discreetly in hand-
ling the matter as he did.

“We have given the case entirely into his
< hands, and you must consult with him in re.~
' gard to it.”

Mr. Sangerton was not present when the
disguised detectivo arrived at the law-office,
but came in just as the old head of the firm
rinishcd his explanation.

The young man greeted the Kentuckian in
the most friendly manner when he under-
stood the nature of his business.

And in a few well-chosen words he ex-
pressed his delight that Miss Carmanage was
going to have the advantage of the advice of
a man of the major's experience.

Of course, in order to keep up the charac-
ter which he had assumed, Joe Phenix pre-
tended to be highly pleased by the compli
mentary words of the young lawyg.

But the expert man-hunter was no vain
countryman, and as the old saying has it,
with him, “soft words buttered no pars-
nips.”

The speech was designed to flatter him in-
to the belief that the young man was very
glad indeed that he was going to have the
benefit of his advice.

But the words did not produce that impres
sion on the disguised detective at all.

On the contrary his suspicions were at once
aroused.

Immediately he said to himself:

“What is your idea in trying to flatter me?
That is not honest! Is it possrble that there
is some little game which you are trying to
play?

“ And if so, what is it?

“ I think I will have to keep my 0 es on
you, young man,” the veteran thie taker
muttered in conclusion.

Mrs. Imogene Carpenter Carmanage, which
was the full name of the woman who claimed
to be the widow of the dead millionaire, was
to call at the lawyer‘s office at eleven o’clock
that forenoon, so Mr. Sangerton informed
the Kentuckian.

“ After Miss Blanche told me that she
would not oppose the woman's claim if she
became satisfied that it was a just one I called
upon the lady—she had given me her address
—-and suggested that it Would be a good idea
for her to come to the oflice and submit her
proofs for inspection.

“ it was my idea, you know, to get either
Mr. Wendell or Mr. Whykell to act as a sort
of referee in the matter."

“Yes, yes, I see,” responded the Kentucky
major With a wise. look.

“ But neither one of the
be mixed up in a matter 0
young lawyer explained.

“ Of course, if there wasn’t any other way
to arrange the affair, one of them would act,
but your appearance on the scene relieves
them from the unpleasant necessity.”

“ I reckon that I can smell out the truth!”
the Kentuckian declared, assuming a wise
look, and shaking his head with an air of
judicial gravity.

“ I am no lawyer, you know. but I do not
believe that any one can fool me much,
sah, in a case of this kind,” the major con-
tinued.

“l have no doubt that the lady’s lawyer
will try to throw dust in my eyes,” the Ken—
tuckian added. “ Particularly if he is a
sharp chap, but I reckon I will be up to snuff
all the same. ‘

“ She has not employed a lawyer." Mr-
Sangerton observed.

“ Shot you don’t say so?" exclaimed the
major, pretending to be greatly astonished.

” The statement is correct,” the lawyer re-
plied, ” And from the fact that she had not

cntlemen like to
this kind," the

 

l

 

secured a legal gentleman to conduct her‘
case, 1 got, the impression that she thought‘
she would not have any trouble proving that
her claim was a just one.”

“Well, yes, it does kinder look as if she‘
had a deal of confidence,” the major re-
marked with a grave shake of the head, as
though he was considerably puzzled over the
matter.

“I expressed my surprise when she told
me that she hadn’t any legal adviser," the
young lawyer explained.

“But she appears to be a very innocent,
simple sort of woman, and when I told her
I was amazed that she had not retained a law-
yer to look after her interests, she responded
that she did not think she needed a lawyer,
for she was satisfied that if any one would
take the trouble to listen to her story they
would not fail to be convinced that she was
telling the truth."

“ B‘gosh it kinder looks as if the woman
thinks she has a dead sure thing of it!” the
Kcntuckian exclaimed.

“ Yes. that is certainly the truth," the law-
yer responded.

“Of course, at the beginning, when she be-
gan to explain that she had a claim on the es-
tate of the late Mr. Carmana e, I was not at
all inclined to place any faith whatever in
her statement, but after listening to her

lain, straightforward story I was decidedly
impressed by the belief that she thought she
was telling the truth, and if there was any
mistake about the matter she knew nothing
about it."

“ ’Bout time for her,
gested.

’s

the major sug-

 

CIIAPTER XXII.
'rrrn WOMAN’S STORY.

Tm: hands of the large ofiicc clock on the
wall pointed to the hour of eleven, and it
was the Kentuckian’s observation of this fact
which caused him to speak.

Hardly had the remark been made when
the door opened and a lady made her ap-
pearance.

She was a woman of forty-five or there-
abouts, apparently, of medium height and
with a well-proportioned figure.

She was a brunette. with dark eyes and
hair, the locks now thickly sprinkled with
gray, and from the darkness of her com-
plexion one would be apt to surmise that
there was a good deal of foreign blood in her
veins.

She was evidently a lady—a person of re-
finement and education.

Mr. Sangerton greeted her politely, and
introduced the major as being a friend of
Miss Carmanage who had been delegated to
examine as to the merits of her claim.

The lady, in well-chosen words, expressed
her pleasure at meeting the gentleman, and
said she would be very glad indeed to relate
to him all the particulars of the affair.

And this she immediately did.

The Kentuckian took out his memorandum
book and made copious notes as she pro-
eeeded.

As we have Lpreviously related the woman’s
story in regar to her acquaintance with and
marriage to Stephen Carmanage we will not
again detail it, but come at once to the proofs
which the woman had as to the truth of her
stor .

Slie had been married to Stephen Car-
manage by a minister residing in that part of
the city known as Cummingsvillc, the Rev.
Mr. Felix Bohn.

She had been taken to the house of the
minister by Mr. Carmanage in the evening
and the witnesses to the ceremony had been
the minister‘s wife and nephew.

She had her marriage-certificate all made
out in due form and the certificate plainly
announced in a round clerkly hand that on a
certain da the Rev. Felix Bohn had united
in the ho y bonds of wedlock Stephen Car-
manage and Imogene Carpenter.

“Yes, this seems to be all right and re u.
lar enough, my dear madam,” the Kentuck an
remarked with courtly politeness.

“But there'isn’t anything in this document
to show that the Stephen Carmanage who
was married to you is the Stephen Carmanage
of Walnut Hills. who came to his death in so
foul and mysterious a manner."

“ You see, my dear madam. that the iden-
ttt question is one of the main points of this

I air,” the young lawyer remarked.

{1‘

453‘

‘ marriage license in this State before 8 cere-

 

Joe Phenix’s Doube Deal.

17

 

 

“The burden of proof, to use a legal term, i
is on you to show that there were not twoI
Stephen Carmanages.”

“ Oh, yes, sir, I understand that," the
woman responded in her mild and placid
wa .

‘YOf course, I, myself, had no idea that:
my husband was a wealthy and prominent
man until after his death and I saw his pic- ‘
ture in the newspapers,” she continued in
explanation.

“Then I immediately realized that my
husband had deceived me in regard to his
true condition, and I thought that it was
only right that as he had not shared his
fortune with me before his death, that I1
should make an endeavor to obtain what was 3
justlly mine. ‘

“ procured a photograph of my husband
and visited the minister. I

“ lie is an old gentleman, and did not at
first recall who I was, but wh n I told him 
that only a shert time before he had united '
me in wedlock to the man of my choice, then
he said he remembered me.

" His wife and nephew, the two witnesses
to the wedding. were in the room, and they
also said they recollected me.

“Then I asked if they remembered my
husband. All of them had forgotten the
name.

“As the old gentleman explained, being
Germans it was not an easy matter for them
to readily recall English names.

“ ‘Do you think you Would be able to
recognize the gentleman to whom I was
married if you were to see him again?’ I i
asked.

“All immediately answered ‘Yes!’ with-
out hesitation. ’

“ ‘ Oh, we have a good memory for faces!’ -
the old gentleman declared.

“ ‘The English names, being so strange to
us, we do not remember, but we always rc-
member the faces all right,’ he continued.

“Both the wife and the nephew also de-
clared that they had excellent memory for
faces.

“Of course I am only a simple woman,
and do not pretend to know much about such
a matter as this one,” she continued in an
humble way.

“ But when I found myself forced to meet
this emergency, I tried to recall all that I
had ever read upon the subject. and ri ht at
the very beginning I came to the cone usion
that it might be a very difficult matter for
me to prove that my husband, Stephen Car-
manage, was the great millionaire who had
come to his death in so untimely a manner.

“ And after racking my brains for a long
time, I came to the conclusion that the minis-
ter and his family were the only ones who
could prove that it was the millionaire whom
I had married.

“But then when I reflected upon the mat-
ter the thought came to me that perhaps none
of them took enough notice of my husband
to be able to identify him, so in order to as-
certain the truth about the matter I got my
husband’s photograph, together with a dozen
other pictures of men about Mr. Carmanage’s
a e.
g“ These pictures I showed to the minister ;
and his family, and asked them if they [
could pick out the gentleman who married
me."

“That was a sharp trick, madam!" the
major exclaimed, with an approving nod.

" It was a successful one, for the old min-
ister selected my husband's picture immc
diately. and the rest all agreed that it was r
the photograph of the man to whom I had
been married."

“It seems to me that this is a mighty
strong bit of evidence,” the Kentuckian ob-
served, in a reflective way. ,

“ Yes, that is the view which I took of it
when the lady told her story to me.” the
young lawyer remarked. ‘

“ Let me see; it is necessary to take out a

 

mony can be performed?" the major asked,
assuming a judicial air.

“Yes, that is correct,” Mr. Sangerton re~
plied. ' .

“ If the clerk who issued the license hap.

ened to be acquainted with Mr. Carmanagc

he would be an important witness,” the major
suggested.

" That is the truth," the young lawyer 33‘
seated. “And as that idea occurred to me

 

right in the beginning. I took pains to call
upon the clerk for the purpose of seeing what
information he could give in regard to the
matter."

“How did it pan out?” asked the Ken-
tuckian, evincing great interest.

“I did not succeed in getting any satis-
faction,” Mr. Sangerton replied.

“The clerk who issued the license is an
old man, and inclined to be extremely dog
math: and disagreeable.

“By referring to his book he was able to
say that a marriage license had been issued
toa man who called himself Stephen (.‘ar-
manage but he did not remember how the
person looked."

“And he had no personal knowledge of

1 Mr. Carmanage, I suppose?" the Kentuckian

remarked, in a reflective way.

“ No, he had never even heard of the man,”
the young lawyer replied.

“ But how about the people in the neigh-
borhood of where you lived?" the major
asked. assuming a very wise air.

“ Didn‘t any cf them become familiar
with your husband‘s appearance so as to be
able to give some evidence in regard to
him ?"

“No, I do not think so," the woman re-
plied.

“We had apartments in a large house on
Sixth street, where there was a dozen other
tenants, and as both Mr. Carmanage and my-
self were naturally inclined to be reserved,
neither one of us made any acquaintances.

“Then too, as my husband rarely came
home until after dark, and went away early
in the morning, few of the people in the
house ever saw him."

“ Well. who engaged the apartments?” the
major asked.

“ I did, just before the marriage,” the
woman replied.

“ Mr. Carmanage said that he was too busy
to attend to the matter, so be instructed me
to look for rooms, and to engage them in his
name.”

“The evidence of the minister and his
family, then, is about all that you have to
offer?" the Kentuckian remarked.

“Yes, unfortunately for me,” the claimant
observed in a regretful tone. '

“But you see, sir, I never even dreamed

that circumstances might arise which would 4

render it necessary for me to prove who and
what m husband was.”

“ We 1, madam, it seems to me that you
have made out a tolerany strong case,” the
major said.

“I will go and see the minister,” he con- '

tinned.

“After 1 have had a talk with him and
his family, I will be able, probably, to
come to some conclusion in regard to the
matter.” .

“ Of course. I may be mistaken, but I am
firmly of the opinion, that the Mr. Stephen
(.‘arnianage who was so mysteriously mur-
dered, and my husband were one and the
same,” the woman remarked.

“ And if I am correct in my surmise it is
only right that I should inherit some of his
estate,” she added.

“Certainly, madam! that is entirely cor-
rect 1” the Kcntuckian declared.

“And I can assure you that the moment
Miss Blanche Carmanage becomes satisfied
that there isn't; any mistake about the matter
she will not only not endeavor to keep you
out of what you arejustly entitled to, but will
do all in her power to aid you to gain posses-
sion of your property.”

The woman eXpressed her thanks and
departed.

“ Now, then, I will try my hand at a little
detective business!” the major remarked in
a jocose way as he rose to his feet.

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
nor on THE TRACK.

“ WHAT is your opinion of the case?" the
young lawyer asked.

” Well, the woman certainly tells a plain,
straightforward story, and she seems to be
honest and upright.”

"‘That is the impression I formed. She
did not ap(pear to me to be the sort of woman
who _woul come forward and set up a claim
of this kind without she was fully convinced

 

that she was doing what was right,” Mr.
San gerton observed.

“ I reckon that she has got a tolerably good
claim," the major declared with a sagacious
nod.

“ Of course it looks like a mighty strange
thing for a man like old Carmanage to go off
and get married to a poor woman in this
kind of way, when a fellow as well fixed as
he was could have almost taken his pick
from some of the best women in the city;
but it is my experience that man is a mighty
queer animal, and there is no telling what he
will do, the Kentuck'an declared in an oracu
lar way, and then he took his departure.

He went straight to the minister's house.

Mr. Bolin, with his wife and his nephew,
were all at h0me, and the major had a long
conversation with the three.

After the Kentuckian crossexamined them
to his heart‘s content he departed, and took a
car for the center of the city.

But before boarding the car he sent a
telephone message to the superintendent of
police.

So when he descended from the car at
Fountain Square, and repaired to a neighbor-
in g saloon, he found the police official await-
ing him in a private room.

The disguised detective related the par-
ticulars of his interview with the claimant.

“Her case depends upon the three wit-
nesses. to the wedding," the superintendent
observed, in a reflective way.

“Yes, and they are all right.”

“ Square, eh?” '

“As a diet”

“Then her story is correct 7"

“ I doubt it!” Joe Phenix declared in an
emphatic way.

“ She has fooled the witnesses?”

“Exactly! that has been the gamel The
minister and his people are honest folks, but
exceedingly dull, and it would not be a hard
matter to trick them.”

(t see.”

“ And the widow, while pretending to be
very mild and amiable, is a sharp, determined
woman, just the kind of one to pull the wool
over the eyes of. dull, common-place people
of this kind.”

“How was the game worked do you sup-
pose? Did she get some onqto make up like
Stephen Carmanage, and have the minister
marry her to the man?” the superintendent
asked.

“Yes, that was the way the trick was
worked, I think.”

“It was a good scheme."

“ There was an elapse of some months be-
tween the marriage and the time when the
woman presented the photo raphs to the
people with the re uest to pic out the pic-
ture of the husband.

“ Of course, the chances are great that
only one picture in the lot at all resembled
the old man whom she had married, and
so it was not strange that the minister
and his folks should pick it out imme-
diately."

“ Oh, yes, that little trick could be worked
easily enough.

“And now that the three have identified
the picture it would take a deal of evidence
to make them believe that Stephen Car
manage was not the man who married the
woman.”

“Yes, yes, that‘s right!” the superintend-

, ent assented.

“Why, to my thinking, the chances are a
hundred to one that you could not make
them believe there was any mistake about
the matter,” the chief continued.

“When people of that kind get an idea
into their heads it is the deuce and all to get
it out, for, from your description it is evident
that they are of the obstinate and stolid
kind.

“I fancy, too, that in an artful wa the
woman has given them to understand t at if
she is anecessful in getting the money to
which she claims to be entitled, she will make
them a handsome present. ”

"‘Very likely, and an inducement of that
kind is a great aid to the memory of a cer
tain kind of people,” the superintendent ob-
served.

“Then, too, it seems to me that this law-
yer, San erton, is taking more interest in the
matter i an he ought to under the circum-
stances,” J oe,Phenix observed, in a reflective
way. v

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° “That is certainly the truth."

1 “A arently he is actuated by a wish to
save iss Blanche trouble, and 13 going on
the idea that as it is a family matter it had
best be kept quiet.

“ The young lady. too, is good-hearted, and
disposed to do justice, so that if the woman
succeeds in making a good showing it is cer-
tain that Miss (Earmanagc will not put any
obstacles in her Way.”

_ “I; it your impression that the lawyer is
inleague With the woman?" asked the chief,
thou btfully.
, “. es, it is,” the veteran detective re-
sponded, decrdedly.

"I have not a good opinion of the man,

' andIthink that if we follow the ease up
closely We will find that he is one of the
prime movers in the conspiracy which i feel
sure exists.

. "The first move of the conspirators was
the killing of the millionaire, and when that
" was successfully executed it rendered it pos-
sible for the woman to come forward with
the claim that she’ was the widow of the dead
man." .

“ The evidence which she produces does

.not amount to much," the superintendent ob-

served.

  

. “And Idon't believe she could win her
» case if she was forced into a court.” .
=  ,“It is thega’me of the conspirators to get

' i_, ‘ Carmanage to agree to al10w the wo-
,'-Tman's claim without a contest,“ Joe I’henix
. aremarked.

‘ ‘ “And that is where the lawyer gets his
fine work in,” he continued.

' ' a “He knows that the young lady has con-
'_ fidcneein him, and he‘fancies that he has
j'ibfluonee enough to get her not to Oppose
l. the woman’s claim.”

v, “ It is a deep game. Phenix, and we
fin-net do our best to trap them!" the chief
,“declared. .

jzr‘.‘You can rely upon me to do my ut~
most." the veteran man-hunter replied.

“.‘At present we must work for delay. I
shallgtelljthe lawyer that I want time to
Whale matter over, and then i shall try
tofl’n'd out the woman’s history."

. ‘Ytsuthat is a mood idea, and if you
’ flotation call upon me!

 '9‘ must do our level best to nail the
some,” the chief declared.

. This ended the interview and Joe Phenix
m- , to the rooms which he had

CHAPTER XXIV.
 nsrnc'rn'n up 'rnr: sron'r.

 veteran New York detective
, midi-ibis trip to Cincinnati he had not an;
, :» fici' atcddoing much-business.

‘  soon as hegb‘eeame interested in
I _ , - murder affair he com re-
d’athat e had become invoked n a
,lebrated case,” and so he at once tele-
I a ‘to New York for a trunkful of his
 to.be sent to him.
  the time the trunk arrived he
muted a couple of rooms in a big
<01 a house on Fifth street, near

MGR ~ .’
Mirrore fully twenty tenants in the
' and in such a. human h Ve'tho‘man-
fhewthat it" would be possible for.
fanning“ go in a'dozon dlfierent'
‘ l

    
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
 
 
  
  
  
  

  

 n. , . 
“fig? roachin his apartment the detective

"  “Mural self again.
. " 7 ea in the afternoon he had arranged
" tor the business which the banker,
tohfm'd, had committed to his

_ anticipated, the man whom
is eXpectedto‘ make trouble had be-
“ Lionswithont do . . ‘

l V ng u n thgdétective’s instructions,

Which 0rd had left her-husband's heuse

   

   
 

My)” into hiding.

 
 

 had delayed. _
 order to open comm nicatldn with
'whom'she bad believe tobedoad. ‘

' ‘ 5; dodge of the detective:  

    
        
 

at "being apt to excite any '

’ red his (1 sgulsc and appeared as his

her departure for the,

It was carefully Written, there not being
anything in the letter to excite the suspicions
of the banker that there was anything wrong
if by any accident it had chanced to fall in.
to his hands.

The note merely said that the writer Was
an old acquaintance, and would like to have
the opportunity to converse With her in re
gard to a little business matter, and then fol-
lowud the signature, " Levi Mack."

Acting on Joe Phenix's instruction, the
lady wrote in reply saying that she would
meet him 2. any time and place which he
might suggest. ‘

To this letter came an answer nmking an
appointment at the Post ()lli<-e. and stating
that in order to avoid a mistake the writer
would wear a yellow rose in his button-hole.
and carry a letter in his left ll'lllfl.

He also requested the lady to carry a small
bunch of white roses in her right hand.

A reply. was immediately dispatched agree-
ing to the conditions.

And now Joe Phenix started forth to meet
the gentleman. -

He had a lengthy interview with the bank-
er's wife, who had furnisth him with an
accurate description of the tramp printer.

As soon as the detective entered the Post-
ofiicc corridor he catmht sight of a man who
wore a yellow rose In his button-hole, and
carried a letter in his left hand.

But he did not at all resemble the descrip—

Morrow.

Joe Phenix watched the man for a few
moments, and soon became satisfied that he
was the one who had come to keep the ap-
pointment. for he Was plainly on the watch
for smne one.

“The man has evidently delegated some
one to represent him,” the detective mur-
murcd.

Then Joe Phenix accosted the other, who
was no other than Scotty, the gambler.

“I presume you represent Mr. MeMor-
row‘!" the man-hunter said.

"Eh?" exclaimed Scotty in surprise.

"I come on behalf of ilrs. Horace Latch-
ford.” the detective cXplained. _ ‘

" Being a woman she did notvfeel egual‘to
conducting this buéiness, for   an
idea that it might prove to be disagreeable,
and so employed megto attend to the mat-
ter ’ '

“Here is my credential,” Joe Phenix con-
tinued. producing a sheet of note-paper, up
on which the banker’s wife had written a
line stating that the bearer, Mr. l’henix, had
authority to net for her.  ,

.‘cotty read the paper carefully, and then
he looked at the detective in a manner which
plainly showed that he was not pleased with
this arran ement. . ~ .

“Well, don’t know as I care to talk to
’ you about this matter,” he remarked.

"‘I wanted to see Mrs. Latchfomi,” he 00n-
tinued. - , ’ r

f" You are Levi McMorrow, the man who
wrote to Mrs. Latchford, I take it?”

“No, I am not.”

“ Well, if McMorrow, as one principal, can
delegate another party to represent him, I
don't see why Mrs. Latchford should not
have the same privilege."

Scotty shook his head and was evidently
at a loss for a reply, '

business with me there, will not be a
l9.ness*d‘ne,’_’.1he detective declarediw  .
 eu't’tnink Mrs; .Lmurord can. aflord
to talk in that way 1" the-gambler declared,
in‘a menacing manner. 1 ‘ I

“Well, that. is just the way she does talk,
whether she can afford to or not!" Joe Phe-
nlx retorted.

“I know a nipe, quiet little back room.
in the rear of a saloon near here, where we
can go and converse to our hearts’ content,
without any danger of being interrupted,”
the detective continued. ' l

“ I mean business, you understand, and I

ean’come to some arrangement.” a ,

While the detective had been apes
Bcotty had been meditating over the situa-
tion,‘and by the time thosp'ecch w \ finished
the fierthad cemefito the =‘eoneln's ,n'ithnt it
 .n ‘d anyhm .h'mta-

     
   

    

#94" WW

é‘N

    
 

 

tion which the lady had given of Levi Men

“One-thing is certain, if you‘will 
ny'busi-

 

don't think there is anydoubt but what we .
king '

printer thought a bird in Ame hand Wong. ,
  ,oin  A I . ;‘ I,  t d u r”  
7. shaman; h‘odnéhua Maggi; ’ 

business,” the veteran detective said.

Ruched either to him'or thezwoniatil-‘ ,5,  .

run. both heand-nmgrnho,mh§ ,' .   a

that she me new   * A " .3
"But Mr. Latchlord is wealthy enough to ,l 

give you men a stake, not really to buy your :2, '

silence, but to make you satisfied.” it '
The face of the sport brightened up. I  ,
“Now you are talking real,  ,_ j

   

” Come on, then!” the detective observed.
The two proceeded to the saloon where Joe
Phenix‘had made arrangements with the pro-
prietor for the use of a back room.
" Now then, we will get, right down to

        
       
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
 
    
  
   
   
   
    
   
    
    
  
  
  
   
  
     
   
  
     
  
 
  
  

“Of course your principal is after money,"
Joe Pheu i x continued.

Seoity grinned and nodded assent.

‘ llc has practically deserted his wife for
the last ten years. and she, believing him to
be dead, was unwise enough 10 mal ry again
without getting a legal divorce, which she
could have lia'l for the asking.

“ You see, sir, I do not attempt to conceal
any of the facts of the ease, f r I am one of
the men who believes in being own and
above-board in a matter of this kinl, par—
tieulurly when there is a remedy at hand to
straighten everything out."

The sport looked surprised, and a trifle un~
Cit.“ '.

‘p'l‘hc worthless wretch whom you represent
doubtless thinks that owing to the circum-
stances he ean levy blackmail on either the
unfortunate woman, all of whose early life
be ruined, or the man who lifted her to a
higher life, not knowing that any legal tie
existed binding her to another.”

“ Of course he thinks he ought to get some
money out of the thing!” Scotty exclaimed,
u an ugly way. ' - 

"And he proposes to make trouble if he
doesn’t get the money?"

“Yes, he doesl”, the sport cried. defi-
antly. - "

“Now let me show
work this game.

“As soon as Mrs. Latchford came to the
knowledge that her supposed-to-be-dcad
husband was alive, like a sensible woman,
anticipating trouble, she went to Mr. Latch-
ford and told him the whole story.

"Then the gentleman gave the conduct of
the affair into my hands—I am a detective-
officer."

At this announcement the sport looked de-
cidedly uneasy. _

“ Mrs: Lalchford separated immegiuclx, ,
from her, husbandrupon discovering" that the " ‘
gnu:i was alive whom she had supposed to be

ea .

"Then she waited in Cincinnati long
enough to arrange for this meeting, and as
soon as the particulars were completed she
started for a certain Western State which is
noted for the ease with which a divorce ca
be obtained Within its borders. ,. ‘ '

“There she will; remainnntlga‘neg 3
legal. divorce can be QM. j ;‘ and then 1
she will return and ~ remarry ‘ Mr. Lateh- 5

i
!

~\

' :r “K?”

1

you that you can’t

 

.«

ular

 

ford.” - V ‘ ~ . . a

“Yes, but We can publishing whole
thing in the newspa ers, and kick yup a,
big row!” Scotty exc aimed, .in cxasncras
lion. ‘

“ How much money is there in that for
either you or McMorrow?” asked the dctec- V

tive, in a uiet way. i.
” Well, don’t suppose there infany, but  '

we will get some sat erection out .of the '

thing!”  ‘ ' ‘ .

“‘Latchford is a man of the world, inde-
pendent; and able to rise above the shafts of
malice," Joe Phenix observed.

“- In, this affair no blame can  I

  

  

*.:._._.:  ..

sense!" he exclaimed. V «  :
“ How much is he willing-tong
“ One hundred dollars”; 3:7

Sootty meditated for a moment.
“I don’t supgow that it. is of any use to  ‘_
attempt to stri 6 him, for any more?" he  4 :
aske ~ *' . 

    
 

up?"

       
      

    

o, abundredis'the limit,"  - I
'1‘ I' will take thef_money, and agree to keep
:1 ct.” , -‘  .
q  mm seoMcMOri-ow.” - y _.
" I will take yen to him in ten minute; a 1,  >1: ~ .
AThe‘ port was as. good as ms word. and 
tho afia r_.Was soon settled, for the "gm

     

     
 

   
    
     
     

  

     
   

   
   
      

   

 

 

. “no.-.”

 

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, on that night for I would have surely done

_thou ht.

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXV.

AN ODD PROPOSAL.

AFTER leaving the pair Joe Phenix walked i Englishman asked in an extremely friendly

down Fourth street, and at the corner ofi
Vine encountered the young showman, Alex
ander Delmay.

The dogtrainer was delighted to meet the v
detective and greeted him warmly.

“Have you been up to see my dogs yet?‘
he asked. ,

“No, not yet, I haven‘t really had time as
I have been very busy, but in a day or two ‘
I think I will be able to get an opportunity,"
Joe I’henix replied.

“ Oh, by the way, I have a bit of good 3
news about my sister,"

“ I am glad to hear it."

“Her husband has been given the man-
agement of a large stock farm in Kentucky
by his relative in Chicago, and they are
going to move there in a few days. so the
chances are that they will be all right here
after.”

“That is good news indeed.”

“ Yes, and I am so glad that you interfered

l
I
7 l
l
|
I
l

something desperate.”

“ It was fortunate.”

“I had a very bad opinion of him at first,
for there Seemed to be something mysterious
about the man, you know, but when he ex
plained about his rich uncle in Chicago, and
how necessary it was for him to keep on the
right side of him I comprehended."

“ Of course, " Joe l’henix remarked in a non.
committal way.

“ Well, come and see the dogs, and when
you do come drop around to the back door
of the Garden. so I will have a chance to
show the beasts to you when they are off the
stage.”

“ Yes, I will.”

Then they shook hands and parted.

Joe Phenix turned up Vine, going in the
direction of his room, his mind busy with

“ hat is the meaning of this announce-
ment?” he mused as he proceeded.

“ Goin r to a stock farm in Kentucky ‘3" he
continue .

“ Is this adevice to get the girl out of ("in
cinnati?

“ The man is leading a double life, I know;
now have circumstances arisen so that the
girl is in his way while she remains in the
cit :?

‘3‘ It really looks like it, and I must try to
get on to his game as soon as possible.

"' But how can I do it? Ah, that is a diffi-
cult question indeed, and at the present mo-
ment I don’t see just how I will be able to do
anything.

“If he was a different kind of a man I
might assume some disguise and attempt to
worm myself into his confidence, but there is
no chance of working a game of that kind
with any such man as he is.

“ I must watch and wait, depending upon
the chapter of accidents to give me a chance
at him.

“ Meanwhile as I can‘t go ahead in this di-
rection I will see what I can do in regard to
the crooks.”‘

By the time he had Come to this conclu-
sion he had arrived at his house, which he
entered.

It did not take the detective long to trans-
form himself into the disreputable-looking
fellow' who had given his name as Barney
Mickie.

Then he proueeded to English Kelty’s sa-

Icon.

The burly Englishman was behind the bar
and he greeted the disguised detecrive witha
friendly nod when he entered,

The new-comer approached the bar and
called for a glass of beer.

The saloon-keeper served it, and in an un-
dertone, so the other Customers tn the place
could not hear him, said

“ Take your beer into the back room for I
have. something to say to you, and I wrl. be
in there in a minute or two—ss soon as my
tumbler juggler comes."

Mickie nodded assent—to prevent contu-
sion we will call the disguised detective, by
the name which he had assumed—and thh-
drew into the small room in the rear of the

 

saloon.
In about five minutes the saloon-keeper

Joe Phenix’s Don Ie Deal.

 

made his appearance and took a seat at the
table where the shabby-looking crook sat.

“ Well, how goes it, my beauty? ‘ the
way.

“ Not very Well," Mickle responded.

“ Haven‘t struck anything yet?"

“ No, mt yet.”

“ Have you seen Slim Jerry, or the Rat?"

“ No, neither of them."

"1)» you know. my boy, that I don‘t take
much stock in either oneof those two blokes,“
the saloon keeper remarked, in a reflective
wa 7.

“ Well, I don't know much of anything
about them, excepting that I have always
heard them spoken of as being good men."

“ Oh, they know their business, of course,"
the saloon keeper responded.

“ I am not saying a word against them in a
professional way, but from the manner in
which they are acting I am not taking much
stock in the story they tellabout being broke,
and anxious to strike a good job.”

"Don’t you think that it is so?" the other
asked, in a tone which seemed that he was
much astonished by the speech.

“ No, I don’t!” Kelly responded. decided
1y. “ I haven't been keeping a saloon and
dealing with these crooks twenty years with-
out getting prett well usmt to their ways.”

" Oh, yes; no t oubt about that," the other
assented.

“ You ought to know them like a book."

“1 do, and you can bet your life on it.
too!" the Englishman declared.

“Now, then, I know front the way that
these two blokes are carrying sail that they
ain‘t particularly anxious to strike a job, and

“it is my opinion, too, that they are well-

heeled as far as moneygoes.”

“ What are they giving out the other story
for, then?”

“ Ah, that is a question!" the saloon keep-
er responded, with a sagacious shake of the
head.

“There is a reason for it, of course," he
continued.

“ And as it is my belief that I can see as
far into a millstone as the next man, I think
I can guess the little game which these men
are playing.

“ They have just taken a trick, and a big
one too. or I am away out in my reckon-
ing,” the saloon-keeper added in a very em

. phatic manner.

“Now, if they sport around town and
show that they have money the are afraid
the attention of some fly oop \vi 1 be directed
to them.”

“ Ah, yes, I see."

“ So they put on a poor mouth, pretend
that they have just come to town, and so
think to avoid suspicion. "

“It is a good game. but has there been
any good jobs worked in this neighborhood
lately?”

" What is the matter with this Carmanage
case?" the saloon-keeper asked with a signifi~
cant wink.

“And do you think they had a hand in
that?“

“ Itis just in their line!" Kelty declared.

(‘IIAPTER XXVI.
A BARGAIN.

MICK”; meditated over the matter for a
few moments.

“ Ithink you are right,” he said at last.
“According to the newspaper accounts the
job was done by cracksmen who understood
their business, and thesetwopals operate right
in that line, but the murder is a'puzzle though,
for asfar as I can see there wasn’t the slight-
est need of their killing the old man, and
neither one of the two would be apt to
make a blunder of that kind for they are
entirely too smart.”

“Yes, it ismighty strange," the saloon-
keeper asserted. “ And ‘it doesn’t seem pro-

 

"But now to come right down to busi-
ness." the saloon keeper .v id, abruptly.

“ You had a little talk with this pair about
going in with thetn, I believe?"

" Yes, but it did not amount to anything.
I could not get any satisfaction out of them.”

“They hadn't any job in prospect?"

“ No, and although they said they would

1 have to strike something very soon because

they were shortof cash, yet they didn’t know

how long it would be. and I might starve:

while I am waiting for them."

“That istrue," the other assented.

Then the saloon-keeper surveyed the crook
in a thoughtful manner for a moment or
two.

“ It strikes me. that you are a pretty square
sort of a fellow, and will not try a throw
down on a man who is willing to give you a
job," he said.

"' Oh, you can bet your life that I will do
the right thing, every time!" the crock pro-
tested.

“And you are not particular as to what
the job is, eh?”

“ Beggars can‘t be choosers,” the other re-
sponded with a grin. »

“Well, I think there is achance for you
to pick up a trifle," the saloon~keeper re-
marked, lowering his voice, and speaking in
a confidential way.

“I am just the man to do it.”

“I don’t know what the job is, or, in fact
anything about it, for I always make it a rule
not to inquire into the particulars of these
things.

“ .\ cove comes into my place and says
that he wants a good man to do a little work
for him, and asks me if 1 can recommend a
fellow. ,

“ All I usually say is, ‘ Give me an ilea of
what kind of a man you want.’ "

“I see," the crook remarked with an ap~
provin nod.

“This man is a stranger; I never saw him
before, and from the way he tdked l have
an idea that he will pay you a good price for
the work which he wants done.

“ He did not heat about the bush, you un- 

derstand, but came right out.

“‘I understand that once in awhile men
who are a little off-color drop into your place
here ‘2‘ he said.

“ ‘ Well, a saloon like this one has all
kinds of customers,’ I replied, carelesly, for
I didn't know what the man was driving at.

“ ‘ I want to get hold of a man who is not
particular in regard to the kind of job that
that he does, provided he is well paid for his
Work. Do you think you can put me on the
track of such a fellow?’ ”

" That was coming right down to busi-
ness,” Mickie remarked.

“Oh, yes, there wasn’t any nonsenSe about
the man,” the saloon keeper declared.

“ I thought of you the moment he spoke.
and I told him that I reckoned I knew a. cove
who would be glad to take any kind of a
'ob, no matter what it was, so long as a good

it of money could be made.

" I pitched the thing strong, you under-
stand.”

“ That was right—that is the kind of man
I amt” Mickle exclaimed.

“ If you will drop in tonight, at ten
o’clock. the man will be here.”

“ All right! 1 will be on hand!”

At this point the conversation was inter-
rupted, by a summons to the saloon-keeper
from a man who wanted to speak to him.

“ Come at ten tonight, and there isn’t;
much doubt about your getting the job,” the
saloon-keeper said as the two rose.

“You can bet our life I will take it if
there is a dollar in it, no matter what it is!"
Nickle declared.

“That is where your head is level!" the
old Englishman responded. '

Then the crook took his departure.

After he got into the street the disguised

, detective meditated over the situation.

“ ls it wise for me to go on with this un—

bable that they would make such a mistake. : known?" he murmured, as he walked in the
“ I feel sure though that they have made a ! direction of his room, communing with him-

good haul somewhere lately,” he continued. } self as he proceeded—after the fashion com-
“ It is possible that the job wasn't Worked mon to him.

in Cincinnati,” Mickle suggested.

“ This is a side issue and may take up too

“Yes, that is true, and if the pair didn’t . much of my time, still as I really hav‘n’t

do the Carmanage trick it is certain that they l
did not lift a swag here for that. is the only 2

job of importance that has been done in this
vicinity for some time. '

much to occupy me just at present, perhaps
I will be able to attend to this affair without
being compelled to neglect anything else.

“ Anyway, it will not do any harm to have

a ._..._.

git—Am“ ‘HJ:

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9.. ix

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I-a talk with the man, so as to soc what ras-
cality he is meditating.”

  

made his appearance in English Kelt '8 sa»
Icon a few moments before ten o'cloc that
night.

“He hasn’t showed up yet,” the saloon-
keeper remarked.

“I'll take a beer while I wait,” the crook
.vrespOnded.

And just as he had emptied the glass a
rather tall man, with a full, black beard and
hair, worn longer than is Common, somewhat
roughly dressed, having the appearance of a

‘ . sailor, entered the saloon.

At tlte first glance Mickle eon jectured that
the man was Wearing a disguise.

It Was his supposition that the heard was a
false one; he also conjectured that the man
~ Wore ar-wig.

‘ And as the bushy beard concealed all the

lower part of his face. While the soft, slouch

hat which he wore, pulled lo x down on his
, forehead, hid one-half of the upper part,
it was apparent that no one could form
mach idea of what the face would look
 like if the hat, wig and heard were re-
moved.

The moment the man made his appearance
 "Mickie had at once jumped to the conclusion

that he was the stranger who was in search
.of a willing tool.

/ . t This‘conjecture was correct, for, when the
' stranger approached the bar and spoke to
En“ lish Kelty, the saloon-keeper at once in-
,trnduecd him to Mickie.
" “This man will fill the bill, I. think," the
old Englishman remarked.
, " [,“Hil name is Barney Mickie," the saloon-
‘ continued.

he stranger said that he was glad to make
1Mr. Mickie/s acquaintance, and suggested
" that they take a walk together. .
, -' The crook'was willing, of course, and the
two'ieft the saloon.
“ They went down the small side street
$0!) the corner of which the saloon was

hated.

    
  
   
   
  

 

  

 street was deserted and the stranger
remarked that they could talk business with-
, many: danger of their conversation being
450 ‘rheard., .

" “Kerri-I will come right down to business,”
cheaariounced.

  

  

  

indict a job no matter what it is, so long as
gauges price fOr itti'

 ' ‘~‘_ 63,5 at is the kind of man I am!"
' i'ckie‘re‘glied. promptly

“lAnyo 'jection to ivin a man or woman
speedy dispatch to t 1e ot er world it”

, , bloneat all, provrded I am paid a good
“$98k «and the job is so arranged that there
  for me to get off without being
’hb‘ed.” V

Hamill. fix the thing so there will not be

groiuhlo in regard to that,” the stranger

. ed.
f‘Aljid the price for the job will be two
f , red dollars.”
 ‘fl‘fhat is satisfactory, provided that the
, isn't too great." ,
"ithll. it is my opinion, from the way in
_ which .1“ have'arran god the matter, that there
" . «th risk at all. ' v .

.f'Thntis good I” the crook exclaimed, rub~
" lands to ether, gleefully.
‘v of th kind is just what I am
‘ after“. and on can bet your life that
it the. trio

 
   
  

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

  
  

 
 

  

  

, will do." _ v,
- thnned the affair so the job can
. j  at night." .
at}: a; nod idea, for the darkness
3 chance or a man to escape.”

‘5

  

   

r on .
" “He "then this is the game. ‘

J art to be put out of the way is a
w in l ves tn a busy part of the city.
j occupies apartments in a tenement-
“ butas it. happens she is the. only in-
 dwelling at present, therest of
t in the house having moved.”
1. goodiththe crook exclaimed. .
 nv- conditions are favorable

‘ _ outside door “gt-Va

  

 
    
  
 

Acting on this idea the disguised detective

.“Are you willing to undertake to do any -

. stranger. l.
n x. The; in:

will open it, also a key which will unlock
the door of the woman's apartment."

" Why! that makes the thing as easy as
rolling off a log!" the OlllCl‘l‘Xclttllllctl.

“The Scheme is a good one; there is no
mistake about that,” the strangcrvassentmi.

“ As a rule the woman goes to bed about
ten o‘clock.”

“ Keeps good hours,” suggested the crook
with a grin.

“Oh, yes. Now then if you make your
way into the house between twelve and one,
the chances are big that you will find the
Woman buried in a deep sleep."

“ Yes, yes, not nnteh doubt about that!”
the other usscntcti.

“ If anybody goes to bed about ten o'clock
the odds are a thousand to one that they will
be in the deepest kind of a sleep by mid-
night."

“Exactly! that ismy calculation."

“Now then, it is tny idea to have the
job done as quietly as possible. Noknit‘e
no violent attack, but I will provide you
with a sponge and a bottle of chloroform."

“ Oh, yrs, 1 see the gmnc!" the crook ex-
claimed with an approving nod.

" All I have got to do after I got into the
rootn where the womanlics asleep, is to fill the
sponge with chloroform and hold it twhcr
nose until she is n goncr "

“ That is the garnet" the stranger replied.

“ Of course you’ must be careful to hold it
to her nose long enough to produce death,
for a mere slupor from which she would re-
cover wouldn‘t answer.” v

“ Don’t you worry about that!" the crook
exclaimed in a Confident way.

“I will not make any mistake, but will
hold the sponge to her nose until she is as
dead as a door nail.”

“In her pocketbook you will finda hundred
dollars,” the stranger explained.

“ I will be waiting for you at the door of
the room, and after the gob is done will pay
over the second lmndrc "

“Yes, that is a good way to arrange the
thin ."

“ li'ou are willing to do the job?"

“ You bet I amt" . ‘ ~

“ Then you can consider the matter settled
and I will meet you at the corner of Central
avenue and Tenth stree‘t at twelve o‘clock
tomorrow night.” .

“ I will be there, prompt to the minute."

Then the two parted.

CHAPTER XXVIl.
AN unnxrncrnn Discnosrmn. \

THE two had halted upon a corner to con.
clude their conversation, and when it was
ended. the crook turned and retraced his
steps toward the saloon while the stranger
kept on down the street.

it was late and the thoroughfare was de-
sertcd. s.

Not a soul did the disguised detective see
as he proceeded on his way. ‘

Yet the footsteps of himself and companion
had been followed.

Two men had tracked the pair.

They were upon the opposite side of the
street, and were careful to keep so far in the
xrear that it Was hardly possible for, either of
the two whom they were tracking to discover
that they were bcin followed no matter how
careful the pair m ght be to keep on their
guard against shadowers. "

The two did not appear to desire to come
near to the pair, only to keep them in their
si ht. ‘ -

hen the stranger and the crook halted
upon the corner the watchers immediately
took refuge in a doorway from whence they
peered out cautiously at the two.

And as the crook came upon the street they
shrunk within the doorway, concealing them-
selves so well wi‘ hin the gloom that the sharp.
est pair of e es could not have detected
their lurking urea. ‘

The two waited until the crook passed
their hiding lace. then ’ they . came out
and stole wit noiseless tread down the
street, following in the footsteps of the

 

  
  
 
 
  

 

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The stranger's attention was attracted to
the pair and he glanced in a suspicious way
at them. ‘

As he did so, too, he thrust his hand
into the sidepocket of - the loose rough
coat which he wore, evidently to grasp a
weapon. ' I

The two were quick to note the movement;
and they grinned at each other. '

Then the pair cast a quick glance around.

The street was dcscrtcd.

Not a soul was insight.

“Hey, old pal!" called out the taller of the
two.

It Was the cracksman, Slim Jerry, whose
acquaintance the reader made in the first
chapter of our tale.

Ii is companion was the redoubtable Tommy,
the lint.

The stranger halted, faced toward the
pair and regarded them with a suspicious
glance as they came slowly aeross the
street.

Ilis right hand was still in the ocket
of his coat, and ncilhcr of the pa 8 had
any doubt but what the hand grasped a
pistol.

“What do you want?" asked the stranger.
and from they way in which he spoke it was
plain lllllt'llc regarded the pair with a con,
sidcrablc amount of distrust.

“ We want to have a little talk with you,"
Slim Jerry replied.

By this time the two were near the curb-
stone, and within a. yard or so of the
stranger. ,

2' And you need not be alarmed in regard
to us." the cracksman continued.

“Though we are ‘cross' men both of us,
and take pleasure in having the reputation of
being'at the top of the heap, yet we will dea

on the square with you. -
. “ Our purpose is to do you a service.”

The stranger glanced at the pair with a
suspicious look and shook his head.

“ I don’t see how you can do me a service,”
he said.

“Maybe we cannot, but I think we can/f

Slim Jerry replied ~

. “ Of course, we don‘t kriow an  about"
Eon, but my pal and I happene ‘ to be in the

nglishman’s saloon when you came in to-
night, and when we saw Kelty introduce you
to this Barney Mickie, as he calls himself, we
had an idea t at you were astranger who had
some notion of doing business with this
Barney.”

A look of surprise appeared on the man’s
face, and he regard the pair more sus-
piciousl than ever. -

“ We I, what is it to- you whether I am
goin to do any business with the fellow or
not?’ he asked. ' ,o r ‘

“Oh, it isn't any of our business, of course," »-

Slim Jerry answered.

“But we have taken it upon ourselves to
poke our noses into the matter, not that we
care particularly about you—why should we,
seeing that you are a stranger?" .

“ Yes. it is not natural that you shoal ,”
the other remarked. .

“But we have got it in for that son of a
gun!" the Rat exclaimed.

“ That is the idea!" Slim Jcrr assented.
"We are dead sore on that bio e, and we
want to give him a lick if we can.”

“You bet!" cried the Rat, Witha‘maiig‘é .

nant scowl.   " : v .
“What haspthat got to do with me?" the
stranger demanded. '
" A and deal if things are as I think they
are,” S itn Jerry replied.

“This fellow, Barney Mickie, as he calls,“ '
met and 
my pal here got the idea that you were main

himself, pretends to be a crook, and

ing a bargain with him to dorsome crooked
job for on. . i . ‘ '

“Is t at straight, stranger. or am t it?” the
wily crook demanded
“ Well, supposl

asked. ~
“ Then you are. being led into a trap, for.
this fellow is a detective in disgutse,’ S
Jerry replied. ’.
The stranger started in amazement.

“You don’t mean it?" he exclaimed, evié I

dently much agitated.

:‘It is a fact. and you would be safe in" _ ; ‘
on will ever get” ,.

betting all the donuts that
in this world on it!" Slim

  

 

 

.‘fH Joe Pheni‘x ,
Wflflh: r “it

that it is?" the other,

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' he said at last.

.he said.

 

 

Joe Phenix’s Double Deal. 

 

CHAPTER XXVIII.
A DARK DETERMINATION.

THE stranger meditath over the matter
for a few moments, a dark and angry
scowl upon his face.

“ I don't know anything about the man,”
“But, then, there isn’t
anything strange about that, for all I know
about detectives is what I have read of them
in the newspapers.”

“\Vell, sir, this man is away up at the top
of the heap in the detective line,” the tall
cracksman explained.

“ lie is not a Cincinnati man at all, you
understand,” Slim Jerry continued.

“Then he is not on the force in
city?" the stranger asked.

“Oh, no!" the cracksman replied.

“ lie is one, of the tip-toppers from New
York," the liat added.

“We know the man like a book—you
can bet your life on thati” Slim Jerry de-
clared.

“ Oh, yes, we know him to our cost,
curse him!” the other crook remarked with
ferocious emphasis.

" You have had dealings with him, then?"
the stranger questioned.

“ Oh, yes; through him both my pal
and I were compelled to take a trip to the
Stone Jug, and you can bet your life that
both of us are dead sore on him."

“And that is the reason why we have gone
out of our way to give you this tip," the Rat
explained.

“As I said in the first place,'we don’t
know who you are, or anything about you,
but when we saw you go off with this fly
cop in disguise we came to the conclusion
that he was trying to play some little game,
and we made up our minds to block it if
we could,” Slim Jerry explained.

The stranger’s brows were knitted in
meditation, and it was apparent that he was
much disturbed.

“I am much obliged for your warning,”
“And 1 don’t mind telling you that
I made a bargain with the man to do a job
for me, thinking he was a fellow that I
could depend upon.”

“It was a ‘ plant’ to catch you in a trap,”
Slim Jerr asserted.

“ But thought English Kelty could be
trusted, and he told me that he believed the
fellow to be a good man,” the stranger re-
marked.

“Well, the explanation is that the man
was smart enough to pull the wool over
Kelt ‘s eyes," Slim Jerry grinned.

“ t is just as I tell you about the cove; he
is one of the best detectives in the country,
and what he doesn’t know about man-hunt-
ing isn't worth knowing,” the cracksman
continued.

“He fooled English Kelty into believing
that he was a low-down crook in hard luck,
anxious for a job.”

“ Yes, the saloon-keecper is square enough
as far as he is concerne ,” the Rat added.

“He introduced the bloke to us as a man
who was anxious to get a job, and wasn’t
particular as to what it was."

“We were too fly for the man though!”
Slim Jerry exclaimed with a chuckle.

“Oh, yes, we spotted him, arter we had
talked a couple of times with the cove,” the
Rat added.

“His get-up is just splendid too,” Slim
Jerry remarked.

“ But both my al and myself are might
sharp-eyed, and t e deal that we had wit
this fly cop in New York was such as to
make us pretty certain to spot the man no
matter how carefully he might disguise him.

this

“‘What do you suppose brings the man to
this city?" asked the stranger.

" Oh, he is on some lay, of course,” the
cracksman replied.

 

“ That is evident from his going round _in
disguise, pretending to be a crook,” Slim l
Jerr continued. . ,

“ t is my idea that he is trying to work ,
up this bi murder case—this ’ere Carmanage I
business,’ the Rat observed.

“ I should not be surprised if that was cor-
rect," the other eracksman assented.

“ A mysterious case like this murder would 
be just the kind of one that he would like to I
handle." :

“ And I suppose that when he found he
could play me for a flat, he went into the

game just for the sake of keeping his hand
in,” the stran er observed.

“Yes, that is about the idea,” Slim Jerry
assented.

“I would like to get a chance to get
square with the man,” the stranger re-
marked, in a vindict'.ve way.

"I hate all these detectives on general
principles, anyway,” he added.

"What do you say—.will you two go in
with me to do up this bloodhound?"

The cracksmen shook their heads in a
dubious way,

“What are you afraid of?" the other
asked. “Surely we three ought to be able
to lay out this one man, although he is a
good, big fellow.”

“ Oh, yes, we ought to be able to do it,”
Slim Jerr assented.

“And don’t mind saying to you that if
the chancc came in my way to K ive this in-
fernal flv cop a lick which won d settle his
account in this world, I would be mighty
apt to d r it,” the veteran crook continued.

“Me, too!’ his pal declared. “I wouldn’t
hesitate for a second in sticking a knife
into him if I had a good show to do the trick
and get off without being nailed.”

“Well, can’t we put our heads together
and fix up some trap to catch him?” the
stranger asked.

“It would be a mighty risky piece of
work,” Slim Jerry declared.

“Of course, as you do not know anything
about the man, you can’t comprehend just
what sort of a born devil he is,” the cracks-
man continued.

“He isn’t any more than mortal, and
therefore can be got at, if care is taken to go
about the job in the right way," the stranger
argued.

“Yes, that is true, of course, but the
trouble is to find out just the right way,”
Slim Jerry remarked.

“You see, being intimately acquainted
with the man, I am posted in regard to some
things about him that no stranger could pos-
sibly catch onto, and one of the things is that
although many desperate and determined
men have endeavored during the last ten or
fifteen years to lay out this human blood-
hound, not a soul of them ever succeeded in
damaging him.”

“That is the truth,” the Rat assented.

“No mistake about” that," he continued.
“ And though I think I am as game as they
make ’em, I ain't anxious to stack up against
no Joe Phenix.”

‘fNeither am I," Slim Jerry declared.
“So, stranger, if you are anxious to get
hunk, you will have to pull the trick of!
yourself; solongi” -

And the crooks departed.

. The stranger went on down the street, deep
in meditation.

“ Can it be possible that this blood-
hound has been able to hit off the right
scent?" he muttered. “It seems too im-
probable to be true. but he must die, for I
cannot risk it.”

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
THE ATTACK.

DURING the day which followed the night
when the events detailed in our last chapters
took place, the veteran New York detective
busied himself in making preparations to en-
trap the stranger who had in so cool a man-
ner arranged for the murder of the unknown
woman.

Of course, under the circumstances, it was

not possible for the detective to guess that
the secret of his disguise had been revealed
to the man whom he was preparing to
arrest.
. So he went on arrsn ing the details, his
idea being to take the fellow in such a way
that there would not be any dimculty in
securing his conviction.

And when the midnight hour approached
the man-hunter, disguised as the crook,
turned from Fifth street into Central ave-
nue.

It was exactly a minute to twelve when
the disguised detective approached the
meeting-place.

He was proceedin at a slow pace, as he
knew he was ahead 0 time. ~

Just as he step ed upon the curbstone on

the upper side 0 the street a sharp report '

 

rung out clear and shrill on the still air of
the night.

The disguised detective Wheeled around

and a pistol flashed in the rays of the gas-
light.

But no fee was in sight.

Then the man-hunter clapped his hand
to his side, uttered a groan, as though
he was in great pain, and sunk to the
ground.

The shot had apparently been fired by
some one on the opposite side of the
street.

The assassin was probably concealed in a
doorway, for no one was visible.

Then came three men, making their ap—
pearance so suddenly that it seemed as though
they had sprung from the ground.

Although dressed in plain, dark suits, pre'
senting the appearance of common citizens,
yet from the brisk, business-like way in which
the proceeded to search for the person who
ha fired the shot, it was apparent that the
three were officers in plain clothes.

First the three ran to the fallen man.

“ The shot came from the other side of the
street—search the doorways,” the disguised
detective exclaimed as the trio came up to
him.

The search was prosecuted with all pos-
sible vigor, for the men were old hands at
this sort of thing, being three of the best de-
tectives that Cincinnati could boast.

The search was an unsuccessfulone though,
for not the slightest trace of the party who
had fired the shot could be found.

And as the three det ctives had made their
appearance so quickly. it was evident that no
time had been allowed for the firer of the
shot to escape.

So it was evident that the pistol must have
been discharged from an open doorway, then
the assassin retreated into the entry, closing
the door after him so as to baflie nvestiga-
tion, or, possibly, the shot was fired from

behind the blinds of one of the Windows.

But as there was not the slightest thing
to give the detectiVes a clue to the right
house they were u‘terly at fault.

It only took the three a few minutes to
come to the conclusion that the unknown
assassin had succeeded in masking his retreat
so cleverly that they would not be able to get
at him.

Then they returned to the wounded man.

There was a gas-lamp on the corner, and
the disguised detective had risen to a sitting
position, leaning his back against the iron

ost.
p “The fellow has managed to get away
somehow,” one of the detectives remarked.

sAre you badly hurt?” questioned a sec—
on .

“ Yes, I think I am,” the disguised detec-
tive replied.

“We had better summon an ambulance
then,” the third detective suggested.

“1 think it would be as well,” the in!

jured man answered.

One of the detectives immediately hastened
to the nearest drug ist's and “called” the
ambulance by the ai of the telephone.

The man-hunter closed his eyes, and as he

leaned against the lamp-post, seemed to be‘

half-insensible.

So the detectives came to the opinion that
he must be pretty badly hurt, and they
shook their heads as they looked at each
other.

Joe Phenix was not an easy man to read
thou h, and anybody who imagined they
eoul penetrate the veteran's thoughts by
surveying his face, would be apt to only
have their labor for their pains.

0n the present occasion. although the man-
hunter was apparently half-insensible, yet
his busy brain was working with its usual
rs idit . t '

. he moment the shot was fired, Joe Phe-
nix realized that he had fallen into a tra .

The tables had been abruptly turned: to-
quote .the old saying.

While trying to lead the stranger intoa-
snare he had fallen into one himself. ‘

There was not the least doubt in the mind

A".

of the veteran sleuth that it was the mysteri- '

ous stranger who had fired the shot.

But the reason for the attack?

There must be some strong motive, or
else the man would not have attempted such.

a e . ,
First and foremost, Joe Phenix was satis—

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fied that the man really wished a woman
killed, and he thought he knew who that
woman was, too.

The agreement in regard to the murder
was made in perfect good faith by the
stranger, but in the interim which intervened

between the making of the arrangements for "

the murder and the time set for the execu-

' tion of the deed, some one had revealed to the

stranger that the supposed crook was a blood-
hound in disguise.

Who had done this?

Rapidly the veteran detective revolved the
situation in his mind as he put the ques-
tion.

How many men were there in Cincinnati
well enough acquainted with him to be
likely to recognize him in spite of his dis.
guise"

The two pals, Slim Jerry, and Tommy,the
Run, at once came to his mind.

Both of the crooks knew him.

Both of the rascals had strong reasoa for
hating him.

Was it not likely then that one of the two
had succeeded in recognizing him, in spite of
his disguise, and. actuated by a spirit of
malice, seeing him in conversation with a
stranger, had revealed to him that he was a
man-hunter?

It was a reasonable explanation, and it did
not take a sagacious man like the veteran de-
tective long to come to the conclusion that he
had hit upon the truth.

“ The rascals have succeeded in spoiling my
game, but there is no doubt that I will be
able to pay this little debt with compound
interest before many months have come and
gone.” the detective muttered.

The approach of the ambulance put an
end to his meditations.

On the next morning the citizens of Cin-
cinnati were informed throu h the columns
of the daily newspapers t at Mr. Joseph
Phenix, the celebrated New York detective,
had been so badly wounded by the pistol
shot of an unknown assailant that his life
was in danger, for it was the opinion of the
doctors at the hospital, to which the hurt
man had been carried, that the wound would
prove to be a fatal one.

The newspapers then gave a full account
of the assault, winding up with the state-
ment that, although the detectives hadmade
:an exhaustive search, yet they had not been
able to discover the slightest clue to the doer
of the deed. .

And the man who had coolly planned the
murder, and from behind the blinds of the
window of the furnished room which he had
hired, so he might ambush the detective,
fired the shot which laid Joe Phenix low,
chuckled merrily as he read the newspaper
account.

“It is the old story!" he exclaimed. " The
best way to throw the bloodhound off the
SCent is to kill the dog!”

CHAPTER XXX.
ANOTHER DISGUISE.

APPARENTLY the unknown stranger had
succeeded in seeurin g a most important ad-
vantage when Joe Phenix fell by his bullet,
and it was no wonder that he chuckled with
delight when he reflected upon how easily
he had disposed of the man hunter who had
managed to get upon his track.

There was no danger to be expected from
the detective lying badly wounded in the
hos ital.

I the man had been a regular old crook,
though, with years of experience of detec-
tives and their ways, he might not have felt
so complacent over the matter, for he would
have understood that the wily detectives are
slippery customers.

Then, too, it is not always safe to believe
all the stories which are published in the
newspapers.

B skillful playing, the unknown had suc-
cee ed in securing the first trickin the game,
and while Joe Phenix was quite willing to
admit that this was the truth, yet he went to
work to render it impossible for the man to
take another. . -

As soon as the shot was fired Joe Phenix
realized that he had fallen into a trap,
and guessed immediately, too, that the man
whom he was trying to snare had turned the
tables upon him.

At once be determined to play a trick

5‘

 

' upon the unknown, by pretending to be
. badly wounded.

If he was in the hospital, stretched upon
the flat of his back, with a prospect of
death soon seizing upon him, it was Certain
that the unknown villain would be apt to
think there was no more danger to be ap-
prehended from him.

Then he might grow careless and make
some uncautious move which would give the
acute detective a chance at him.

The stranger was a good shot, and it was not
through any fault of his that the bullet had
not inflicted a mortal wound, for it was sent
with a true aim.

It was a common belief among the crooks
that Joe Phenix bore a charmed life.

Many a pistol-shot, and many a desperate
knife-stroke had be e caped, and it was a
source of wonder to the crooked fraternity
that some of these violent attacks had not
succeeded.

Few of the rascals were wise enough to
suspect that Joc I’henix owed his marvelous
escapes from pistol-shots and knife-strokes to
the fact. that he were next to his skin a shirt
of mail.

It was an article which the veteran
detective had picked up during a European
trip.

It was made of steel rings, curiously linked
together, perfectly flexible, yielding to every
motion of the body, and not particularly
cumbersome to wear.

It was a perfect protection against a
knife-stroke, and a revolver—ball could
not do much more than penetrate it,
and then, the force of the ball being
broken, only a slight ilesh wound would
be the result.

In this case, as the pistol was discharged at
a considerable distance, the ball did not
penetrate the shirt of mail, only inflicting a
bad bruise.

It was just over the heart, though, and so
the shock was a severe one, forcing the de-
tective to the ground.

As soon as J 00 Phenix reached the hospital
he explained the situation to the superintend-
ent, who readily enough agreed to assist him
in his scheme of deception.

So, when the reporters came in haste to
the hos ital. which they did as soon as the
news 0 the assault rgached them, they were
all told that the condition of the wounded
detective was so serious that the doctors did
not deem it wise to allow any one to see
him.

And in this way the Argus-eyed news-
gatherers Wt'rt‘. completely deCeived, and so
it came about that the false statements in re-
gard to Joe Phenix’s condition were pub-
lished.

The detective was a man who had :1 mar.
velous faculty for playing many parts, as
the reader who has followed his fortunes
knows full well.

And so while he was supposed to be lving
helpless in the hospital, in reality he, in dis-
guise, was preparing to entrap the man who
had attempted to slay him.

Joe Phenix had assumed one of his favor-
ite disguises, that of the German professor.

He wore a sober suit of black, rather the
worse for wear, and yet not shabby, with a
long~hai red .wig of tlaxen hue, the hair slight-
ly curling at the ends, and pushed back be-
hind the ears.

The wig, comin low dowu on his fore-
head, and the old- ashioned spectacles which
he wore, completely changed the appearance
of his face.

Naturally the detective had a lion-like
head, and any one who had skill in reading
men’s characters could have told at a glance
that Joe Phenix was a born leader.

Butafterhe assumed the German profes-
sor’s disguise he appeared like a mild, inno-
cent old bookworm, and so complete was his
assumption of the character that it would
have taken a shrewd man indeed to have
guessed that he was a bloodhound in dis-
guise.

After completing his preparations, Joe
Phenix sent a messa e over the telephone
requesting the chief 0 police to meet him in
the private room of the saloon where he had
had his former interview with the superin-
tendent. "

Joe Phenix realized that the man whom he
was trying to entrap was a remarkably acute
fellow, and he thought it might be possible

 

 “ Keg—#6":

   

that he was the leader of a gang, and some
i one of the band, possibly, would be deputed
: to keep a watch on the chief of police's visi-
tors.
' It will be seen that the manhunter did not
intein to throw a chance away.
The chief was surprised by the story that
i the veteran detective told, but when Joe
 Phenix explained his plans he expressed his
‘ satisfaction and said he thought the chances
were great the scheme would be a success.
Joe Phenix explained what assistance he
required, and the superintendent willingly
agreed to do all in his power to aid him in
his plans.
“ The man is a skillful rascal—a desperate
one too, but I think I can trap him," the
veteran sleuth declared in conclusion.

CHAPTER XXXI.
A REVELATION.

AFTER leaving the superintendent of
police, the dis uised detective proceeded to
the Summer ‘arden on Vine street, where
the young man, Alexander Delmay, was ex-
hibiting his troupe of performing dogs. _

As it was only about ten o’clock, the de—
tective knew that if he succeeded in finding
Deimay he would not be busy, and he would
have an opportunity to talk to him.

Delmay was in the garden, seated at one
of the tables, conversing with the proprietor
of the place, a fat, jolly-looking Dutchman,
when the detective arrived.

Just as the manohunter approached the
pair, the proprietor was summoned to the
saloon, so Joe Phenix got an opportunity to
speak to the young man in private, for there
was no one else in the neighborhood.

The detective’s disguise was so good that
the young man greeted him as a stranger.

Great was his astonishment when Joe Phe-
nix revealed who he was.

“I never should have recognized youl”
Delmay exclaimed.

“That is as it ought to be," the man-
hunter replied, with a smile.

“If a man in my line of business is not
an adept in assuming all sorts of dis nises,
he would not be able to achieve mu suc-
cess." ‘

“ Oh, there isn’t any doubt about that being
the truth," the young showman remarked.

“I read the account of your having been
wounded in the morning newspapers," he
continued.

“And Ican assure you I felt much con-
cerned about the matter,” he added.

“I visited the hos ital this morning for
the purpose of seeing f I could be of any use
to you.

" You see, sir, you did me a ood service,
for which I am truly gratequ and I was
anxious to show my gratitude if there was
any chance for me so to do.”

“ I am much obliged to you just the same,”
the detective observed.

“They would not allow me to see you,
and I came away feeling very much dis-
satisfied.”

“ That was a part of the programme,” the
man-hunter explained.

“If the man whom I am after believes
that I am lying at the hospital at the
point of death he may relax in his cau-
tion and I will be able to get a chance at
him.”

“Oh, yes. I understand the game now!”
the showman exclaimed.

“ Now, to come to business. You wanted
me to find out what sort of a man your sister’s
husband is?"

“ Yes, I am very anxious about the matter,
for I will admit to you that I am afraid that
all is not right.”

“Well, I regret to be obliged to say that
I think it is very probable that the man
is an utter scoundrel,” Joe Phenix re
marked.

“ Ah, yes, I feared as much!” the youn
man declared with a melancholy shake o
the head.

“Now, then, can I depend upon you to re-
strain your fcelings,‘and listen with calmness
to what I am about to say ‘2" the detective
asked. .

“ Oh. yes!” the youth answered, quickly.
“I know that I am quick-tempered, but
I can assure you that I am prepared to
hear the worst, and will listen with calm-
ness ”

 

 

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23

 

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I

scoundrel, and your sister is in danger as
long as she remains with him.” i

“ Yes, yes. Ihad an apprehension that he
was not all right, but as my sister has‘the
most perfect faith in him I do not suppose I
will be able to make her believe that he is a
villain ”

“ Possibly events will so shape themSelves
that she will be forced to come to a
knowledge of the truth, no matter how
strong may be her desire to believe the fellow
to be a gentleman and an honest man, Joe
I’henix observed.

“ I sincerely hope that you are right"
the young man exclaimed. fervently.

“ I think that with your aid I can succeed
in entrapping the man and showing him up
in his true colors.”

" You can command me, for I will do all
that I can to help you!" the showman ex~
claimed, immediately,

“ Will you be at liberty to give some time

- to this purpose f”

“Oh, yes,” Delmay replied. “I am my
own master now. I closed my engagement
here last night.

“ Business has not been good,” the show-
man explained. “And so it became neces-
sary for the manager to cut down expenses.

“ He was giving me more money than he
could afford to pa , and as I am inclined to
be an easy sort 0 a fellow, I never hold a
man to a bad bargain.

“The old fellow means well, and when he
showed me how he was situated 1 was will—
ing to let him off.”

"Then you are at liberty to devote all
your time to this aflair?”

“ Yes, and I will he lad to do so."

“That is good,” the etective remarked.

“ Now then, Iwill explain how the mat- ;
ter stands.

“In the first place, I feel pretty well
assured that it was your sister‘s husband
who attempted to kill me.”

The young man was amazed at this state- 3
ment, and said as much.

Joe Phenix then related all the particulars
of his meeting the stranger, and the bargain
which he had made with him.

“He was carefully disguised," the detec.
tive said, in conclusion.

"But. notwithstanding that fact, I am
satisfied that he is the same man whom your
sister called Robert Cummings and declared
to be her husband.”

“ If this is the truth, he is indeed the vilest
kind of a villain l” the young showman ex- 3
claimed. I
“Yes, there isn’t any doubt about that," t

Joe Phenix assented.

“But why should he desire the death of !
this poor girl, who never did harm to any I
one, but loved and trusted him?” Delmay
asked, with a puzzled look.

“ Well, there is a motive, of course, and a
strong one, or else he would not attempt to
play such a deeperate game,” the detective
remarked in a reflective way.

“You see, Iam working in the dark, for,
with a man of this sort, who covers his tracks
so carefully, it is not an easy matter to get
.at his plans.

“But from certain facts that have come to
my knowledge, I have a suspicion that the
man has formed a scheme which he cannot
carry out as long as your sister is alive.

“Although a desperate and determined
felon, yet he had some slight repugnance
about staining his hands in the blood of the
woman who trusted him, and so he resolVed
to hire the deed committed.

“ lIer death is necessary to the success of
his plans, and there is no doubt in my mind i
that he will make another attempt to get rid
of her."

"The infernal villain!” the brother ex-
claimed in righteous wrath.

“ You have characterized him truly," Joe

“And now it must be our game to form a

ian so as to not out prevent ‘the murder,
gut make a prisoner o the man in the act of
attempting the crime, in order that he may
be brought before the bar of justice and pan-
ished.” .

“Yes, that is the Way the matter ought to
be arranged,” the youth assented. ' I

“ I think it can be done," the detective re- I
marked. r _

“You are in the habit of visiting your
sister?” he asked.

a>‘~‘. f.  .r‘
. . .... _ . .‘, 4

V3,} , .»

“ Yes, two or three times aweek."

“I believe she is now the only occupant
of the house where she has her apart-
ments?” >

“That is correct.”

“ And the other rooms in the house are to
rent?"

“ Yes "

“That affords me the opportunity that I
require," the detective explained.

" She has the front room and bedroom on
the second floor, and there is a door which
leads from the main room to a similar apart-
ment in the rear.

“That rear apartment I am going to hire,
and by means of some holes bored in the
door I think I can keep a watch, so that if
this scoundrel attempts to harm your sister I
will be able to interfere.” .

“ That is an excellent idea 1" the dog-trainer
exclaimed.

“1 will take possession of the apartment
after dark, and as I can get on without any
furniture, a blankct and a eainp‘ehair being
all I will require, neither your sister nor this
fellow, whom I am anxious to trap, will
have any suspicion that there is anybody in
the house.”

“Yes, I understand your idea," the young
man remarked.

“He will go ahead with his schemes in the
belief that there isn’t any one in the neigh-
borhood to interfere with him.”

“It is not my impression that this man
will resort to any open violence,” Joe l’henix
explaineed.

“And it is important for him too, to ar»
range the matter so that he will not be
brought prominently before the public in

' conjunction with the affair.”

" You see, it is necessary for him to keep

1 in the background as much as he can just at

present. ”

“Yes, I should suppose that to be the
case,” the other remarked.

“ Now then, I want you to get your sister
out for a walk this afternoon, say about two
o’clock.

“Continue to keep her out for a couple
of hours, so as to give me a chance to operate
on the door, for I can’t do it while she is in
her apartment.”

The young man said he would arrange the
matter. then the detective made an appoint-

ment to meet Delmay in the neighborhood of '

the old house at seven that evenin g and took
his departure.
CHAPTER XXXII.
PLAYING THE st.

Fnon the Summer Garden the veteran del
tective proceeded to the real estate agent
who had charge of the house wherein the

 

i dog-[trainer‘s sister had found shelter.

to agent gladly rented the two rear apart-
ments to the supposed German.

The disguised detective got the keys and
departed.

A little before two o’clock he entered the
beer-saloon on the opposite side of the street,
which wasa few doors above the house which
he desrgned to turn into a rat-trap.

He called for a glaSs of beer, and sat down
at a table by the window so he could keep a
watch on the opposite side of the street.

At exactly two o’clock the dog-trainer en-
tered the house.

Fifteen minutes later he departed with his
sister.

The disguised detective finished his beer,
a second glass .it' which he had ordered,
crossed the street and entered the 11011.56.

In a Case of this kind it was necessary to
“fight fire with fire,” as the old saying is. so
the veteran detective, being provided with
an assortment of skeleton keys found no dif-

; flculty in enterin the other apartment.

. The door whic led from the front room
into the rear 0 ned into the front apartment,
and was guar ed by a stout bolt.

The lock was a ponderous, old-fashioned
one, and the man-hunter had no trouble in
fitting one of his keys to it.

Then, being provided with ascrew-driver,
he removed the screws which held the catch
of the bolt, with his knife be enlarged the
holes into which the screws went, so that
when they were replaced, althou h the catch
looked to be perfectly solid an secure, yet
in reality a small amount of force would dis-
place the bolt.

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4

After fixing the bolt to his satisfaction.
the detective bored a couple of small holes
in the Corner of one of the lower panels of
the door, taking care to do the work in such
a way that the holes looked as though they
had been made by nails carelessly driven in
the door.

After completing the task the man-hunter
departed.

" Now, then, if I don’t succeed in snar—
ing my game I shall be very much disap-
pointed,” he muttered as he descended the
stairs.

At seven that night he met the dog trainer
according to appointment.

The disguised detective had a couple of
blankets and two camp-chairs, neatly
wrapped up in paper, under his arm.

“ My sister‘s husband is coming to see her
to night,” Delmay announced.

“Well, I have made my preparations so as
to be able to see what takes place,” Joe
I’henix observed. ,

“He will not arrive until eight o’clock,
and has requested her to get supper for
him; he said he would be out of town on
business all da ', and would be pretty well
tired out when e returned.”

“It may be possible that he meditates
making a map to—night,” Joe Phenix ob-
served.

“ Perhaps so.”

‘ You see, all the circumstances appear to
be particularly favorable for his purpose,"
the detective explained.

“ He thinks that he is alone in the house
with the woman whom he designs to make
a victim. -

"From what I have seen of the man I
have come to the conclusion that he is not
one of the kind who would he apt to attempt
open violence.

“His game will be to get rid of her
in a quiet manner, possibly by the use of
poison.”

“But, then, the man surely must know
that if my sister died suddenly, and in a
mysterious manner, I would certainly cause
an examinatior to be made,” the brother
remarked.

“And I can assure you that I would not

spare either time or expense to get at the'

truth of the matter either,” the showman
continued.

“ You 'can depend upon it that this fellow
is too shrewd not to have taken this fact
into consideration,” the veteran detective
remarked.

“We must not make the mistake of un-
derrating the man, for we could not make a
greater blunder,” he added.

“ The fellow does seem to be smart
enough,” Delmay admitted.

“You may rest assured that he has not
forgotten that you, the brother of his wife,
are in the city, or failed to calculate that if
his wife should come toa sudden end you
would be sure to insist upon an examina-
tion.”

“Yes, I do not doubt that it is the truth,”
the young man remarked, after meditating
over the matter for a few moments.

“Now, then, how would the man be likely
to act under the circumstances?” Joe Phenix
remarked in an argumental way.

“The vital points must be considered,” he
continued.

“First, it is necessary for the success of
his plans that your sister should be put out
of the way.

“ Second, the deed must be performed in
such awaythat suspicion will not be directed
toward him.

“Third, and most important, the matter
must be arranged in such a manner that

there will not be any row kicked up about -

the aflair so as to bring him prominently be-
fore the public, for, if I have not madea
mistake about the man’s game, that is the
chief thing which he wishes to avoid.”

“ I presume you are correct, for it is evi-
dent to me that you thoroughly understand
the subject, and, of course. I do not, 'the
dog-trainer observed.

“Yes. I Ought to do so, for I have had a
deal of experience in this line,” the veteran
man-hunter remarked in his quiet way.

“Now, then, this is my idea,” he contin-
ued. “The man will use poison to accom-
plish his purpose.

“It will not be a difficult matter for the
man to administer a drug to her in her drink.

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“Joe, Pheizr’s Double Deal. n

 

 

for, as she has the utmost confidence in him,
she will never suspect that he intends to
harm her.

‘Then, after the poison takes effect. as
the house is unoccupied, what will be easier
than for him to set tire to the building?
The flames will destroy all traces of the
crime.”

“Yes, the affair could be arranged in that
way, but what a villain this man must. he lo
even conceive of such a crime!” the dog-
trainer exclaimed.

“I don’t think there is a doubt but what
he is one of those great rascals who astonish
the world by their crimes every now and
then," the thief-taker replied.

“But comel we will get to our posts and
there await the development of events.”

The two entered the old house and stole
tip-stairs with noiseless Steps.

The detective was provided with a dark-
lantern, and by its light the pair were able
to make their way through the dark passages
without any trouble.

CHAPTER XXXIII.
A VILLAINOUS DEED.

J on PHENIX had arranged two pair of
peep-holes, and after the two were seated on
their camp-chairs by the door, they com-
manded a full view of the front apartment.

And as the other apartment was brilliantly
lighted. while the one which they occupied
was plunged in total darkness, there was
very ittle danger that the spies would be
discovered.

The young wife had the table prepared for
supper, and a savorysmelling stew was sim-
mering upon the stove by the side of a steam-
ing‘teapot.

he woman herself sat by the table, read
ing, and altogether the scene presented a
perfect picture of domestic contentment.

“It is a very Eden,” Joe Phenix whis-
pered in the ear of the other.

“ Yes, and we are awaiting the appearance
of the serpent.”

“It is fortunate that we are on hand to
bruise his head so as to prevent him from
doing any damage,” the veteran detective re-
marked, in his dry way.

The spies had not been in their position
over ten minutes when the husband made
his appearance.

The wife sprung to her feet and
him in the most cordial manner, an
his part was e ually affectionate.

“ I am very ungry, and all tired out!” he
declared.

“ That is too bad," she replied.

“But I have prepared a nice supper for
you, and after you have had a plate of the
stew, and a good cup of tea, you will feel
better.”

“ Oh, yes, no doubt about it, and you are a
dear little woman to repare so nice a supper
for me!” the husban exclaimed.

A smile of delight came over the coun-
tenance of the young wife as she listened to
the words of raise.

“ I am gla that you are pleased,” she an-
swered.

“ Oh, yes, you are just about the best little
woman in all the world!” the husband de-
clared, iving the girl an affectionate hug.

“ Coufid any one brin themselves to believe
that this man had mur er in his heart, if they
had no knowledge of the true state of affairs?”
the dog-trainer whispered in the car of the
detective.

“ No, it would hardly be possible,” Joe
Phenix replied.

“Yet it must be remembered that all men
of this class who plan elaborate crimes must
be most excellent actors or else they would
never be able to deceive their victims," the
detective continued.

“ Yes, that is true, of course,” the young
showman observed.

” Now, little wife, suppose you fill out the
tea right away,” the bus and remarked.

“ I will attend to putting in the milk and
an ar while you dish the stew "

‘All rightl I will do it,” the woman re-
plied. .

“ Now then, here is an opportunity for the
man to use his drug, if he has an idea of
Workings trick of that kind," Joe Phenix
whis ered in the ear of his companion.

" es, that is true,” the dog-trainer re-
plied.

_ “‘ We must keep a close watch upon him,

 

reeted
he on

 

 

 

 

so as to be able to detect if he tries any
game of the kind, and then be ready to inter-
fere before she can drink the poison. '

“1f the infernalvillain tries any trick of
the sort it will be hard work for me to keep
from strangling him on the spotl" the brother
exclaimed.

“ You must restrain your anger," the de-
tective warned.

“ We must not use any more violence than
is absolutely necessary to insure his capture,"
the man-hunter continued.

“ Let the law do the punishing."

“But will the law administer as great a
punishment as his crimes descer?” the dog.
trainer asked, in a tone which plainly indi-
cated that there was considerable doubt in
his mind in regard to the matter.

“Oh, yes. have no feam in regard to that!"
the veteran detective replied

“ Unless I h:th made a great mistake this
man is ‘ wanted’ for a crime fully as great
as that which he is now about to commit, so
have no uneasiness in regard to the law met-
ing out full and exact justice to him."

“ Of course, you understand all about the
matter and I do not,” the brother replied.

“But as I have full confidence that you
know what you are talking about I will re
strain my desire to take Vengeance into my
own hands and leave him to settle the inat-
tei'wilh the ministers of justice.”

“Do not fear but that he will receive all
the punishment which his crimes deserve,”
Joe Phenix remarked.

During this conversation, which was car-
ried on in cautious whispers, the two had
not relaxed in their vigilance, but kept a
close watch on the inmates of the front
apartment.

The young wife poured out two cups of
tea, then she busied herself in dishing the
stew.

In order to perform this operation she
had to turn her back to the table.

This was the opportunity for which the
husband had schemed.

As soon as the Woman turned her back
to him, he drew a small vial from his pocket
and emptied the contents into one of the
cups of tea. quickly returning the vial to his
pocket again.

This act was performed so speedin that if
the pair had not been on the watch for just
such a movement, feeling satisfied that he
would try some game of the kind, the
chances are reat that the “doctoring” of
the tea might ave escaped their observation.

“Did you see what he did?" the brother
asked in a voice which trembled with indig-
nation. -

“Yes, the fellow has dosed the tea,” the
detective replied.

“ We must interfere before she has a chance
to drink it, for there is no doubt that it is
poison and the scoundrel designs to kill her,”
the brother remarked.

" Undoubtedly! It was m idea, if on
remember, that she was in h s way, an he
Would not hesitate to take considerable
trouble to remove her from his path," Joe
Phenix replied.

" But thanks to your wisdom and skill this
villain will not succeed in accomplishing his
purpose.”

“It is, contrary to the law of the universe
for (ice , designing scouudrels of this sort to
succee in their dark and devious schemes,"
the veteran man-hunter replied.

"As the old saying goes, the very stars
in their courses fight against them, and in
the end, take ninet nine cases out of a bun.
dred, the man who g eaks the laws is brought
before the bar of Justice there to be punish-
ed for his crimes.’

While this conversation had been going
on, the young wife finished dishing the stew
and placed the vessel on the table.

The husband had seated himself, havin
put one of the cups of tea by his late, an
the other upon the opposite side 0 the table
where the woman was to sit.

The man took 9. 00d drink of the tea, and
smacked his lips w th an appearance of great
satisfaction. _

“ Really, my dear woman, I think this is
about as good a cup of tea as I ever drankl”
he exclaimed. .

"Just take a good drink of it and see how
excellent it is.”

” I am glad on like it,” the young wife
remarked, colo n g with pleasure at her hus.

 

.‘
bailid’s praise, which was extremely welcome
to ier.

“ I always do my best to ha.e everything
as nice as I can,” she continued.

“Well, you have certainly succeeded to
perffction as far as the teagoes,"the man re-
plier .

“ But try it for yourself."

“ Yes, I will, dear.”

She reached out her hand toward the cup,
but before she could touch it Joe Phenix
put his shoulder to the door and as it. yielded
to his weight rushed unceremoniously into
the apartment.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
Tm: ACCUSA’I‘ION.

THE surprise was a startling one.

Both the man and Woman sprung to their
feet, amazed beyond measure by the abrupt
entrance of the two.

Joe Phenix's first move was to take posses-
sion of the cup of tea into which Cummings
had poured the contents of the vial.

But no sooner had he grasped it than the
husband, apparently comprehending what.
the detective was after, executed a movement
so sudden and unexpected that even the
veteran man-hunter was taken completely by
surprise.

Cummings. with a quickness and agility
which would have done credit to a professional
acrobat, gave a sudden spring, and leaped
headlong over the table and buttcd Joe Plie-
nix full in the chest.

The thief-taker was not prepared for an at-
tack in this peculiar manner, and the violence
of the shock sent him over backward to the
floor.

Cummings, in his passage over the table,
hurled the lamp to the floor, where it was
broken in a dozen pieces.

The light was immediately extinguished,
so the room was at once plunged in utter
da~kness.

Cummings had fallen on top of the detec-
tive, and J0e Phenix essayed to hold him.

The cup of tea, which the man-hunter had
wished to preserve, so as to be able to prove
that the husband had poisoned it, was forced
from the hand of the detective by the violence
of the fall.

The evidence was destroyed. but for all
that Joe Phenix did his best tomake the man
a prisoner.

The detective was amost excellent wrestler,
being an adept indeed in all muscular sports,
but though he did his best to hold on to his
man, yet Cummings managed in some way to
wriggle out of his grasp.

Joe Phenix gave immediate pursuit. but as
he rose to his feet he encountered the dog-
trainer, who was hastening to his aid.

The two grappled, but though they dis
covered their mistake almost immediately,
yet the blunder gave the fugitive an oppor-
tunity to escape.

Seemingly he had the catlike wer of see-
ing in the darkness, for he mat e his way to
the door without any difficulty and rushed
out.

The door creaked as it swung on its
hinges, so that the pair were warned of the
escape of the fugitive, and they gave pur-
suit at once.

Cummings had succeeded in getting a
good start, though, and just as the two
rushed into the entry they heard the bang of
a door.

” He has managed to get out. but we may
be able to nab him in the street!” Joe Phenix
exclaimed, as the two hurried down the
stairs. .

The pair were not half a minute behind
the fugitive, but when the reached the
street no sign could they see 0 the man they
sou htl ,

“ e must have taken refuge in some door-
way !” Joe Phenix declared.

“Yes, for he has not had time to reach.

either of the corners so as to get into another
street,” the brother observed.

” You go up and I will 0 down!” the
veteran detective exclaimed, urriedly.

“ Are you armed t" he asked.

“ Yes, I have a revolver."

“That will dol Get it out so as to have it
ready for use, for this fellow is a desperate
rascal, and there is no doubt that he wili
offer a stout resistance if we succeed in over»
hauling him.”

 

 

 

 

 

u ‘

 

Joe Phenix’s Double Deal.

 

 

“ I will be on my guard, rest assured!” the
showman replied.

Then they separated.

One went up the street and the other down,
.both with revolvers in their hands, ready for
mmediate battle.

Ilut no trace could they find of the fugi-
tive. although they examined every nook
and corner where he could have taken
refuge. ‘

The truth in regard to the man’s escape
flashed upon the veteran detective as soon as
he reached the corner

“ I have blundered," he muttered.

“The fellow played an exceedingly sharp
trick. and succeeded in duping even a man
of meI experience,” he continued.

“ e never came through the front door at
all, but went out the back way and made his
escape by sealing the fences of the neighbor-
ing yards.

“ It was a sharp trick, and there isn’t much
chance of our catching the fellow now, for
we have wasted too much time to be able to
get on his track." '

llaving come to this concluSion Joe Phe-
nix retraced his steps, and met the dog-train-
er in front of the house wherein this exciting
event had taken place.

“I can‘t discover any signs of him,” the
brother declared.

The detective then explained his ideas

about the matter.

‘ " Ah, yes, no doubt but what you are cor-
rect,” Delmay assented.

“We will examine the rear entrance, but
he has obtained such a start that the chances
are a hundred to one that we will not be able
to et on his track," Joe Phenix remarked.

i he two proceeded to make the examina-
t on.

They found that the entry ran directly
through the house. .

There was a back door, not fastened, which
led into a medium-sized yard. ,

The fence was only about six feet high, so

‘it was apparent at a glance that it would not

be a diliictilt matter for a man possessed of
any agility to scale it.

The fugitive by his desperate. headlong
dive over the table had proved that he was
almost as nimble as a professional acrobat.

“ This is the way the man escaped,” Joe
Phenix observed.

“ Yes, no doubt aboutit, and the man most
certainly played an extremely sharp trick up-
on us.”

“He has beaten us this time, but a man
must not expect to win every time,” the vete-
ran detective observud with the air of a philo
sopher.

“ Do you think there is any chance of

your capturing him?”

“ Yes; it is my impression that in the long
run I will succeed in putting the bracelets
on the rascal.” the man xhunter replied.

“ Still he ma be smart enough 0 get out
of the town,” oe Phenix continue .

“And if he takes refuge in flight I may
not be able to get on his track."

“ Do you think he will try a game of that
sort?” '

“It is just what the man ought to do,”
the detective answered.

“Still, men don’t always adopt the best
course in this uncertain world, and it may
be possible that he thinks he is cunning
enough to be able to trick me.

“If he comes to that conclusion, and re-
mains in Cincinnati, the chances are great
in my opinion that I will be able to put the
collar on him ” _

“Well, Isincerely hope that you win be
lucky enough to do 801" the brother ex-
claimed.

“You were singularly correct in your
estimate of the man. and  do hope that you
will succeed in bringing him Within the reach
of justice."

“It is just aslsaid,” the veteran man-
hunter replied. . .

“ If the man makes the mistake of think-
he can brave the avenging sword of_3ustice
because he has succeeded in aveiding the
trap which I laid for him to-night, and re-
mains in the city, the odds are great that I
will be able to get him. .

“ But if he is wise enough to take warning
by his narrow escape tonight, and seeks

matter for me to nail him.”

 

refuge in flight, then it will be a difllcult‘

“But what course do you think he will
pursue ‘2"

Joe Phenix reflected over the matter for a
moment and then remarked:

“It is my impression that he will remain.
His escape tonight instead of being a warn-
ing will make him foolhardy; he will fall
into the error of thinking he can repeat the
trick and then he will fall into my hands.”

 

CHAPTER xxxv.
I GOOD ADVICE.

THE detective spoke in a confident tone,
yet there was no trace of the boaster in his
manner.

It was the utterance of a man who knew
his prowess, and was satisfied that he could
accomplish the task which he had set out to

o.

“This will be a terrible blow to my un-
fortunate sister.” the dog—trainer remarked as
the two prOCeeded up the stairs.

“Yes, it will undoubtedly come very hard
on her," the veteran man-hunter assented.

“And it is possible too that we will not be
able to make her believe that her husband is
a villain,” he continued. .

“Oh, I don't think she would doubt the
truth of our story," the brother observed.

“ And then the two desperate attacks
which he made on you, and his headlong
llight, ought to satisfy her that he is not an
honest man, for any one who is not afraid of
the law would not be apt to act in such a
way.

“That is true, but sometimes it is a diffi-
cult matter to induce a woman to listen to
reason in a matter where her heart is inter-
ested.”

“ Yes, I suppose there isn’t any doubt about
that, for it is awell-known fact that some
women will cling to the most worthless of
men, and the greater the rascal the more the
woman seems to care for him.”

When the pair arrived at the door of the
room, where the struggle had taken place:
not a sound could they hear to denote that
any one was within.

“ What can have become of her?" the bro-
ther asked, anxiously.

“She has probably fainted, the excitement
being too much for her,” the detective sug-
gested.

Then he got his bull’s-eye lantern, which
he had left in the adjoining room.

It was as the veteran man-hunter sup-
posed.

The girl, being a nervous, fragile creature,
had fallen into a faint from which she was
recovoring when the two entered the apart-
ment.

There was another lamp on the mantel;
this the dog-trainer speedily lit and again
the room was illuminated.

. The girl looked around her with apprehcn
men as the brother assisted her to rise, and
then placed her in a chair.

Briefly, Dclmay explained how it was that
he and his companion happened to make their
abrupt entrance into the room.

The young wife listened with the utmost
amazement.

“ Oh, no, it cannot be possible!" she ex-
claimed. “ There must be some mistake
about the matter. \Vliy should the husband
whom I love, and who loves me, wish to do
me harm?”

“ No, Marguerite, there is nomistake," the
brother remarked, slowly and sadly.

“I wish to Heaven, for your sake, that
there was," he added.

“ But, are you sure?” the girl persisted, in
an obstinate way.

f‘ Yes, as sure as any one can be of any-
thin in this world!” the brother replied

. “ his gentleman, Mr. Phenix, is a detec-
tive, and employed him to find out all the
facts which could be ascertained in regard to
your husband, for 1 had an impression that
all was not right.” I

“ And what did you discover, sir?” the girl
exclaimed, in a trembling voice.

“Enough to convince me that the man was
an impostor, sailing under false colors,” Joe
Phenix replied.

“ I made a diligent search and could not
find any traces of this rich uncle. Robert El-
liott, from whom he professes to have such
great expectations.”

“The uncle does not exist; the tale was

\

 

gotten up by him for the express purpose of
deceiving you,” the dog~trainer remarked.

“The name by which you know him, Cum-
mings, is a false one,” the detective ob-
served.

“The man has an office in this city, and
pursues a regular occupation, but goes by
another name, and I am satisfied that he is an
out and out villain.

"It pains me to be obliged to make this
disagreeable disclosure, but in a case of this
kind the truth must be spoken, no matter
how disagreeable or painful it may be,” the
detective continued.

“Yes, it would be an act of folly, almost
as bad as a crime, to attempt to conceal the
truth in a case of this kind,” the brother
asserted.

“ Oh, it is too dreadful!” the afflicted wife
declared.

“There is a motive, of course, for the
man’s attempt upon your life,” the detective
remarked.

“The fellow became impressed by you,
and being satisfied that you were too good a
girl to be won in a dishonorable way, made
you his wife.

“ IIe tookthe precaution, though, to marry
you under a false name, and hid his identity
behind a screen of lies. .

“And it is my impression, too, that he
never intended to openly acknowledge you
as his wife to the world.

.“ I_Ie intended to wrong you from the be-
ginning."

“ Oli, can it be possible?” the girl moaned
in anguish. _

“I do not think there is a doubt about the
matter,” the man-hunter replied. gently, but
with firmness.

“Now circumstances have arisen so that
the man is desirous of being free again.” the
detective explained.

"He thinks there is a chance for him to
marry a woman who is worth a great deal of
money, and, of COurse, as long as you are
alive it is not possible for him to contract
another marriage without committing big-
amy')’

“ This is a horrible story, and it does not
seem to me to be possible that it can be true.”
the girl remarked, slowly. '

“ From the way in which he acted when
we made our appearance, I should think you
would be satisfied that he is not an honest
man,” the brother remarked.

“An innocent man does not fear the in-
trusion of strangers,” he continued.

“ He would be apt to resent such a thing,
of course, but he would not immediate y
commence an attack, as this man did.

“ Just carefully consider the circumstances,
Marguerite,” the brother urged.

“ Why should the man act in such a
strange way if he was all right?

“If your cup of tea was not drugged, why
was he so eager to knock it out of the hand
of this gentleman.”

“I do not know, and I do not understand
it at all!" the suffering woman declared in a
helpless way.

“ The moment we made our appearance he
realized that we had played the spy upon
him, and understood that if he did not con-
trive to destroy the evidence which this gen-
tleman had secured it would be apt to go
hard with him,” the dogtrainer re-
marked.

“That was the reason why he made the
desperate attack, and as soon as the cup was
destroyed he made his escape as quickly as
possible,” the brother added.

“ I do not know what to think about the
matter, for I am utterly bewildered!" the un-
happy young wife exc aimed.

“If you will be uided by my advice, you
will accept your rother‘s protection, and
retire. to some secluded spot where you will
be out of the reach of your husband,” the
veteran detective remarked.

‘jBy means of the daily papers you can
easdy keep informed in regard to all that
goes on in the world," Joe Phenix con-
tinued. . '

“ And, unless I have made considerable of
a mistake in my calculations, within a couple
of weeks, this man, who now calls himself
Cummings, will be the inmate of a prison
cell with the charge of murder hanging over
his head.”

“ Is it possible?" the wife exclaimed.

“ Such is my opinion,” the man-hunter re-

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plied.
will soon be shown, I am confident."

-“'I‘bis gentleman is giving you good ad»
vice, Marguerite, and lthink you onghtto do
as he says,” the brother urged.

“Very well, I will,” the girl replied.

“ Take mo with you, Alexander, whenever
and'whercvcr you please!” she exclaimed.

Just then the keen eyes of the cxpcrienccd
sleuth-hound caught sight of a minute object
on the floor. __~___

CHAPTER XXXVI.
A ('IJ'E
“WHAT is this—a diamond ?" Joe I’henix

‘ remarked as he stooped and picked up the
' tiny stone.

' ' , "It looks like one,” the dog-trainer rc-

marked, as be surveyed the stone sparkling

in the palm of the detectivtr.

‘ "It is only a fragment,” Joe Phenix re-
marked.

"Yes, it looks as if it might have Come
from one of those peculiar diamond rings
composed of minute diamonds massed to-
gether." Dclmay observed.

Apparently only simple curiosity actuated
the veteran detective, yet the moment his
eyes fell upon the tiny stone he comprehend-
ed that the chances were great that he had
.v secured an important clue.

‘ ’ ' .It~was just such another stone as he, and

Q.

 [the chief of police, had discovered in the

groom of the dead millionaire, Carmauage,
 when they were endeavorin to find some
clue to the murderer who ha committed the

ma '

r - ” Did your husband have a diamond ring

 botany kind?” the sleuth-hound asked in a

, careless way of the young wife. _ .

. .. - “.No, butll once saw in his possession a

'- hrdg’s hairpin, which had a curiously-carved
gal en head, ornamented‘with little stones,
snagging like the one which you have,” she
to .r

. ‘ “  That was rather an odd thing for a gen-
419mm to carry around with him," the vet-

- 'e‘randetective observed.

 aftfle had it stuck in the inside of his coat,
.-:aadi.w.hen I happened to notice it, and re-

. marked what a strange ornament it was, he
haplainw that he found it in the street, and
intended to return it to the owoer, for he had

' [seen an‘ advertisement stating that just such

Lupin-had been lost," the girl explained.

3;; ‘t‘Ah,’ es, Isee." Joe Phenix observed.

, .. 4”.»I1 a natural curiosity to examine the
' .  arbut to husband said he would prefer

 I than (1 not, for the head of it seemed

 loose and he was afraid that if it was

 handled it would come otf."

EXPO! course. as he was going to carry the

pin hackle the owner, he was anxious that it

should not“ be damaged," the man-hunter re-

 assented.

=“'-“It,’ is;strange what culiar ornaments
Miss-like to wear in their hair," the detec-

flfif remarked, in a reflective way.
“#11 an pose this hair ornament was one of
the?“ - which seem to be so fashionable
Mi?!“ sort with a long pin, almost big
. ' it to be callcd‘a dagger.’
: es, the pin was a lat go one—that is, it
in” go ’around~-~larger than usual, but I
:' it was the usual length,” Marguerite

 nottcu anything about the length. .

 for it Was stuck in, his Coat,;so I
W  onl see the upper part." , '

“d , 1“, Yes Icorrprehcnd, and thislittle stone

" "think

, , not much of a judge of that sort of

ndoubtedly came from this hair orna-

' ‘ a“ Yes, that was what he was afraid of,”ths‘ "pol

th

W _.q..., ..._._._.M. -..__.....-....- m... .ms

“And whether] am correct or not,

it is a genuine diamond, although *

 

ink‘s‘o, sir, for there were quite a I

 

‘f Oh, no, I do not care for it at all!” the'

girl rcplicd, quickly

“ It does not belong to me, you know,”

“ Wcll, in the absence of the real owncr,
you are. certainly entitled to retain posst‘Sa‘lon
of it,” the dctcclivo replied.

“ And i. fancy. too, that unless your hue
band has returned the hairpin to the. owner

bcforc this little affair of to-night took plncc, ,

that he will not be apt to troublchimsclf
much about the muttcr," the dctcctivc rc-
Inarkcd in a significant way.

" It appears to me that you have not made
any mistake," the dog-trainer obscrvcd.

“ I think the odds are grcal. that the man
will be apt to kccp out of the way until he
thinks this ullair has blown over,"tl1c brother
addcd.

“It is likely. but in my opinion it Would
be wise for you to find some qliict retreat in
which you can place your sistcr for a whilc,
so that it will not be possible for this man to
discover whore-she is; thcn he will not be
able to make any further attack on her,” the
detective remarked.

“ I will do so," Dclmay responded.

“But if you should discover that there has
been any mistake—if you should find out
that my husband is not a villain. you will
not preventme from going back to him i" the
young wife asked, pleadingly. .

“Certainly not," the dog-trainer respond-
ed, immediately. .

“Be under no apprehensions in regard to
that,” he continued. v ‘

“There isn’t any one in.thls wide world
who has your happiness more at heart than
I, and I assure you, Marguerite. if I should
discover that this man is not a rascal. but
worthy to be the husband of a good woman,
Iisho’uld be delighted to restore you to
h m.’

“ Oh, yes, Alexander, I know that you
would do what is right i" the girl ex-
claimed.

“ I will take you to my hotel to-night, and
in the morning I will find some nice, quiet
place a little ways out of town, where ‘we
will be comfortable.

"It is my intention to lay oil for a couple.

of weeks anyway, so‘I'will not"~liave any
work to bother;mc,v”pthc young man con-
tinned. ' ‘ 1' i ' '

“ And you will not fail to tell us if you
hear anything of my husband, no matter
whether the news is good or bad?” the girl
said, imploringly, to the detective.

“ You may rcst assured that i will not fail
to keep you informed if anything of interest
transpires,” Joe l’benix replicd. , . i

and alt-deg

This ended the conversation.
parted.  ' / 

In the street they separated, the brother
and sister going on together, while the detec-
tivep’rococded to the house of the chief of
ice. .

As it happened. the official was at home,
and he listencd'with the utmost attention to
the tale told by the man-hunter.

Great too was the satisfaction which be
displayed as he gazed on the tiny diamond.

“ You are on the right track, there is not
a doubt of it; and I think the odds are a bun-
dred to one that you will nail your man i" the
chief declared. - '

“I am going to put the screws on Slim
Jerr to-morrow," Joe Pheutx announced.‘

i ,“u t is my im ression’ that he 'lmd’iflome'"

to dolwit .the'Qarmana‘ge mystery,
and meansto prostate truth;~ out of, him.”
CHAPTER’XXXVII. ‘
m DETECTIVEAND run ‘cnacxsnm.
ALTHOUGH the two crooks bad firmly re
solved that. after getting safely awity with
the rich booty secured by them in the (Jan
mana e mansion, they would turn over a

umber uni-little stones in the head of the 1 new eaf and not throw away their money

pm, )‘ifos"assented. -
“I noticed that the{ wereveaay bright, and
ut I h n

‘t any idea : Slim Jerry

in a vain attempt to win more at the 3am
lug-table, yet, after a week had elapsed.
was unable to resist the incline.

r1 " led brilliantly ‘

, s   were diamonds, although my has, i tion to try a flyer attire faro~table; and, un-
 , ,d that. he thonghtthe pic was avalu- . willing to admit to the Rat, that he could
titlionéfflnd lb!" “‘Hsthe‘redson why he was 5 not withstand temptation. he stole away

.xi'ohsto return it in I goqtjcondmgn w the
> .- ' ';~"‘she continue .' ‘
 that was natural,

> uhderthh‘ecimum‘
lithedcteetiveobserved;* ‘ ’ ‘ fisé ”

as do an Objection-to 
‘ ad “or-“henna; .

Without letting Portland knowwhe‘re hams

going. M . 7. , 
Gambling was, the 
v » d unkemi _  0, 

demanded, to known

 

off so as to be able to do the trick'with-
out trouble when a favorable opportunity
came. .

The Rat did not take the trouble to question
his companion about the matter, for he, was
a< anxious to be rid of his pal as the latter
was to go. ‘

[wit to his own devices. he could drink all
he wat'ucd without rcproof by his pal for his
weakness.

So, while one man drank to his heart ‘8 con-
tent, the other enriched the furo dealers of
the “Paris of America" by cndcuvoring to
show them how they could be bean-n at their
own game.

The two crooks, beingr diligcnt news-
paper rcadcrs, had not failed to peruse
the account of the mishaps which had
occurred to the veteran crook catcher, Joe
I’hcnix, and chuckled in great glcc at the
idea of the rcdoubtablc detective being laid
up in the hospital for repairs.

It was a source of hilarious sati~faction
to the pair to have been able to deal an
ugly blow to their mortal enemy—for so
they considered the mun-buntcr~without
exposing themselves to any danger.

The ruse of the thief taker had completely
deceived the rogues, and neither suspected
that the untiring “ Hound of Justice" was
sim ly “playingr ’possum." -

8 im Jerry had held an all night “session '
at the table. and when the dawn lit the eastern

skieshe wasa good thousand dollars poorer

than whoa
hows. . ., .1 .

A half-dozen players had kept the cracks-
man company in the attempt to “ break the
bank,” and all Were pretty well cleaned out
when the morning came. ‘

Aboutthe only man at the table who had
memorial in holding his ‘own was a red-
faced, middle aged gentleman, who looked
as though he came from the Country.

This man had played a careful, scientific
game, quite a contrast to the reckless
plunges of the others, who grew more and
more desperate as fortune failed ~,t0' smile; 0,1,1
them. .  " - "£3, , 'Vlfit‘frfi

It about four in the moi-nth when
the )laych gave up the game, the majority
of t em because they had lost all and Could
not goon, and the few who “we fortunate
enough to have some cash remaining, on ac-
count of twin: tircd out.

The players had the usual partin drink
with the roprictor and then dcpartr .  ‘

Slim erry and the, country gentleman
walked down thefstreet together. ‘

“‘ Hang mcit' thisbnd run of luck wasn't
just about the worst ‘I ever had!” the cracks-
man declared.

Dalston had drunk considerable and Was}
inclincd to be talkative. '

"Mighty bad, I reckon!" his companion
rcspondrd.

“ Did you notice that during the last hour
or so I didn‘t win one hot out of ten?" ' “ t.

he had. entered  gaming-

"Luck did run mighty hard it ’in’lyou}  "'

for sart'in," the Other-acceded, spec ing with
the peculiar phrase'cbmmon to the men of
the, Sottthest. ,
“ It [didn't know that the house always
runs a square game, I should think I had
g no up
' .mcc  n ‘ ..,\ '1 iv"  "W

" Oh, I reckon itmiiisli‘iiqnar'eetnmt”:

' “ masseuse-m tho-reputation or going oh '

the square,“ I suppose everything was all
right, but I never saw such an infernal run
of bad luck in all my life."

“Things will run that way. sometimpt'lfi‘i'
the other concluded with the air (a? " "
Osophcr.  m

“ Yes, I know that, but Rm ‘3’

,"f"

against the worst kingpin"

u

 

 

H ‘man, . 
mad when he has to ’stagKW'iCflDSt and! a. 1

game." , , x 
“ Sart'in, you bet!” “.4

i. Andy} I have wn;:playing in mighty  i  

(luck lately, too," r 

“801 have ‘héard;"'the cOuntrymsn re-

sponded. speakifigsvnh such an entire changz;   '
in' ’

of voice  crooksman stared at hi
astonishu'ittn'tr»,~ ‘ "

“Eht;.Wbat~do you know about}??? 

what their! hare been having?" sum.

“0h. 11 am posted!" the other res ndcd.

n

 was not atrace of the ‘ u h

Vuif'eor word's now '

.491.

 

 

 

 

 

J 96 Phenix’s Double Dash

. Mun». yuane.  -. -..~ —_--.~ vds- 

; tacy—stmrr_=z:n_r .—‘.-.~_».r. “Ti-yr .».~-~~7- :7 .- .  . «z;- “.-

2'7

 

 

panion suspiciously. “ What do you know
about me?”

“ Oh, I am no stranger to you, Slim Jerry,
although I have succeeded in fooling you in
this particular get up.”

The rascal stared at the other for a mo-
ment in dumb amazement, and then shook
his head.

“It is a pretty good disguise this time,
eh, Jerry?" the stranger inquired banter-
ingly.

“I did not succeed in pulling the wool
over your e es when imasqm-raded as the
crock, but Iydid the trick this time, my
cove!” _____

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
A ('oxr‘tcsstox.

Tins speech of the supposed stranger was
a revelation to the crook.

But the disguise which the man-hunter
had assumed was so perfect that, even now,
when he had as good as admitted that he
was Joe Phenix, the Cracksman was not able
to trace any likeness in the face of this florid
countryman to the veteran hunter of “ want-
ed " men.

But it vas not the old cracksman's game
to admit that he had any knowledge in re-
gard to the detective playing the role of a
trook.

“Well, stranger, I think you are a little
“too much for me,” Slim Jerry returned, with
5 quick shake of the head.

“Don‘t know what I mean, eh?" the dis-
guised man sleuth asked.

“No, sir, I don’t!”

“Ah, Jerry. boy, this game will not
work!”

“ I am not trying any game! ’ the crook re-
sponded, sullenly.

“ Oh, yes, Jerry, you are! You know
who I am Well enough nowl” the detective
persisted.

“Now there is one peculiar thing about
me," Joe Phenix continued: “I am always
willing to admit when lain beaten. If I am

man to complain, or harbor resentment.

" You and your pal, the Rat, did get the ‘
best of the first round. You were sharpl

enough to detect who I was, and it was only
natural you should attempt to put up a job
on me so as to insure your own safety.

“That stranger, too, was a rather sharp tive exclaimed.
fellow, and when you ‘blew the gaft’ on}

me, and let him know that I was a blood- ;
bound in disguise, he did not lose any time
in attempting to put me where I could not i
do an damage to him or any one else. 1‘

“ e was not quite smart enough, though,
to do the task, although he made a good try
for it, and I determined to see if I couldn’t }
turn the affair to my advantage. ;

“If you and your pal, and this stranger,
imagined that I was flat on my back. help- '
less, in a hospital, some of you would be apt
to make a false move, and then I would have x
a. chance to nail you. See?” I

“I hav’n't done anything so that I need to 1
be afraidl” the cracksman aVerred, in a sullen
mood.

“How about this Carmanage job?” in ?
quired the detective, sharply.

"I didn’t have anything to do with it!"
the crook asserted, decisive! '.

“Oh, you didn‘t, eh? ow, Jerry, I am
going to talk plainl n I don‘t believe that
either you or the at had anything to do
with the killing of Mr. Carmanaee.”

Although a past master in the art. of dis. 1
simulation, the crook could not hide his satis-
faction at this admission of the detective.

“ That is the truth!” he assented with em- 1
phasis. “ You know me of old, Phenix, and
you know well enough that it neVer was my
game to hurt anybody. .

“If I get nipped while trying to take a
trick, I don't kick at taking my turn in Jhe ;
stone jug, but you can bet all you are worth, '
that I will never do anything to expose me
to the danger of a life-sentence in the
‘cooler,’ or to sitting bound in a chair, so as ,
to allow some bloke to tire e‘ectiicity enough i
to run a car through my corporation.” ‘l

“0h, Iam satisfied that neither you nor
your pal had anything to do with the man’s ,
degth, but, all the same, you cracked the
en . ’

“ Oh. no! I wish I may die if I had any- '
thing to d ) wi h it.

 

. in the town!”
trying to play it on a man, and he is smart 
enough to get the best of me, I am not the

,clean breast of it, but. I give you my

, explaine

I
“Of course, I don‘t know what the Rat  apt to make almost everybody think that we
may have been up to,” the cracksman added v were guilty," the cracksman argued;
aftcra, moment's pause_ i "Tililt is true, but I know better,” Joe
“I am not green enough to expect you I Phenix remarked.
to speak unless I force you to do so," the de- l “ Men in your line don’t commit murder
teetivc remarked ; when there isn't any necessity for the deed.”
Au ugly look appeared on the face of the ‘ “ That’s right!" Slim Jerry exclaimed.
cracksman. “There never was a truer word said,” he
“ You are only wasting your time," he de 1 continued.
Citll‘t‘ti in a (logged way.
“1 do not agree with you,” Joe Phenix re
plied in hi: terse, decided way
“ And now, in the first place, IWant you
to understand what i am after.
“ l desire to nail the man who killed Car-
mauage. ,
“I don’t believe that either you or your 1
pal did the job, but you cracked the crib ‘
and lifted the swag, which you ‘ melled’ ; “The man was killed by a secret foe,
at a certain English ch’s place in this and vengeance was the motive for the mur-
town, and it is my idea that you can put me der. ‘
on the right track of the man who committed “The party who did the job was con-
the murder.” cealed in the neighborhood of the house,
“I don‘t know anything about it!” the ' waiting for an opportunit to enter the man-
crook declared, shortly. sion, when you and the t arrived on the
“ By the Way, your wife is in Cincinnati,” scene.
Joe I’henix observed, abruptly. “ You got the dog out of the way through
“Which one"" Slim Jerry asked with a, the open gate, and then, when you entered
grin. l the house, you did not fasten the door be-
“The one who will be certain to put a f hind you, so it was an easy matter for
knife into you, or bring your career to an end 3 the party, whoever he was, to get into the
with a pistol bullet if she discovers that you house
are in the city. “ And While you and vour pal were busy
“Iain speakingofBelle Hacker, the woman ‘ in getting at the silver, the man stole into
whom you married when you were calling the sitting room, found the old gentleman
yoursel Bill Hacker. l asleep and killed him.”
“I met her the other day and she went for “ You have got it all right, I think,” Slim
me like a wildCat, so I had to explain matters Jerry remarked.
and tell her what a. rascal you were in regard And then a sudden thought came to the
to her. Now, you ought to know the woman cracksman.
well enough to understand that if I were to “ By gum! I’ll bet a fortune that I know
reveal to her that you were in Cincinnati, she ‘ where the man was hiding!” the crook ex-
would never rest until she had avenged her- claimed.
self upon you. And then he explained to the detective
“Why, man, I wouldn‘t give adollar for , how the dog had entered the shed and
your life if that woman knew that you were ‘ sniffed in a susp'cious manner at the pile of
rubbish in the corner.
The underjaw of the cracksman dropped .. “I thought that the beast smelt a rat, or
and he looked troubled. something of the kind, there, but I should
“Say! is this a dead straight steer that you I not be surprised if the man who com.
are giving me?" he asked. = mitted the murder was concealed in the cor-
“lt is the Gospel truth, and I will take my r ner.”
oath on it l” “I do not think there is a doubt about it,”
The man was evidently wavering. Joe I’henix remarked.
“Comel out with it!” she veteran detec- “ Do you recall anything else bearing on
the matter?"
The cracksman shook his head.
“ No, I can't give you any more points.”
“ Well, I am glad to get what I have, and
as your account will give me something to
. work on I will not harbor any grudge
my head about the swag which you and the against you for trying to sot the stranger on
Rat collared.” me,” the veteran detective remarked.
“We-11,} think you are acting on the “If you are wise, though, you will not
square With me and so I will make a ' tarry in Cincinnati, for if that wife of yours
; should happen to run across you, the will be
word that what I can tell will not help you 1 apt to make you regret the occurrence.”
much.’ "I will be oif by the first train!” Slim
. “Go ahead and allow me to be the judge Jerry declared.
"1 regard 10 that.” This ended the interview,
Thus admonished the cracksman told the
story of how he and his companion had rob- CHAPTER XXXIX.
BROUGHT TO BOOK.

bed the Carmanage mansion.

“'And you found the old man dead in his , LAWYER SANGERTON and the self-possessed
chair vs hep you entered the sitting-room?" middle aged lady, who had set up a claim to
Joe Pheuix asked, his brows contracted in be the widow of the dead millionaire, satin
thought, for the statement puzzled him. ‘ the office of the legal gentleman waiting for

He placed perfect faith in the story that the appearance of the jovial Kentucky major
the cracksman told, for he knew his man a v be had taken upon himself the task of look-
well enough to feel satisfied that he was all } ing out for the interest of the heire.~s of the

. a 01150 a man might get hurt, but men like
the Rat and myself, who know their busi-
ness, are not going out of their way to mur-
der people and risk the hangman all for no-

t thing.”

‘ I think I know how the job was
worked,” the veteran detective remarked.

“ Tell me all you know about the affair and
then get out of Cincinnati before this woman
gets a chance to lay you out!

“ I am after the man who killed Carmanage,
you understand, and am not going to bother

 

 

, ing the truth.  dead millionaire, Stephen Carmanagc.

“Yes, and the Rat and I thought we had I “What do you think of the prospect?”

struck a(picnic, you understand,” Slim Jerry ; the lady asked.
. “ Well, to all appearances everything seems

“We didn’t have an idea, you know, that T to be going on all right," the lawyer an.
the old buffer had passed in his checks in a ‘ swered, his brain contracted in thought.
wrong way,” the crook continued. " Yet, someway, the upprtiit-usion has

“ You thought that it was a case of sudden c.0519 ‘0 me that danger threatens.” he con-
natural death?" tm‘l‘led, SIOWIY- ',

“Yes, that is how we figured it out, and “from “thafilsgume?
both the Rat and myself were struck all in a “N01111an tL : , ”
heap the next day when we read in the news- .. N0 13”"? “"5 KentUCkmn? , ,
papers that the old man had been knifed." seemsot'o grunt; thinks”: and 3"“: 9t “mes ‘t

“ You were afraid that if it was discovered c at them Is somethmg about

him wl ' l ' ‘, u
that you and the Rat 1yobbed tlie house the n 1161;: xiyngto Ordliflgiunfl and jolly n
murder would surely e charger upon you?" n Y A '1 . ' .
Joe Phenix remarked, thoughtfully. es, and he seems dispOSed to beheve

_ that your claim is a just one; that is, be

“It would be a dead sure thing, and we talks in that way; but a question has come

might have a mighty hard time to get out up in my mind as to whether we can put

of the scrape, for the fact that we had been implicit reliance upon what he says or
uzixed up in some crooked deals would be not." .

 

:ly
}

2-.»  

‘ “Once in awhile a cracksman who is cor- ,r
nered Will be apt to show fight, and in such ‘

r-

;{o-wri  r a
- 7'; '~: , ,r -

 

2.

 

 

 
 

 

28

Joe Phenix’s Double _I3ea1.

 

 

“I think we can,” the lady remarked in a
thOughtful way.

“ He does not seem to be the kind of man
capable of dissimulation,” she continued.

“No, that is apparently correct, if he is
not playing a part."

“Have you seen anything in his conduct
to indicate that he is attempting to deceive
us?" the lady asked, anxiously.

“ No, to speak the truth. I cannot say that
I have, yet in some peculiar way I have got
the impression that danger threatens us, and
as he is the man who is conducting the nego-
tiations, my suspicions fail upon him "

“ Ah, yes, I see,” and the lady nodded her
head gravely.

“I understand just how you feel about the L

matter," she continued.

“But we have planned so carefully, and
carried out our scheme in such a successful
manner that it does not seem possible to me
that any one will be shrewd enough to iii—
terfere with us."

“That is all very true, and yet I have an
apprehension of danger,” the young lawyer
responded.

At this point the conversation was inter~
rupted by the entrance into the office of .loe
Phenix and the superintendent of police,
while two stalwart policemen brought up the
rear.

Upon the faces of both the lady and the

lawyer there appeared a look of surprise; but _

no trace of alarm.

Both had too complete control of their
emotions to allow their features to express
their feelings.

Sangerton rose to his feet.

“What is your business, gentlemen?" he
asked, politely.

The chief of police he knew by sight, but
was ignorant in regard to Joe Phenix.

I presume the reader has surmised that the
jolly Kentucky major was the veteran detec-
tive in disguise

But Joe Phenix had played the character
so well, and changed his appearanCt: so com-
pletely when he donned the garb of the Key-
tuckian, that even the shrewd and keen-eyed

lawyer did not recognize that he had met the .

man-hunter before when the veteran appear-
ed in his own proper erson.

But from his coming with the chief of
police he surmised that he was a detective.

“I come u u an un leasant errand, sir," .
9° .

the superintendent replied.

“ You are Mr. Sangerton and this lady
Mrs, Imogene Carpenter?”

“ Yes, sir.” the lawyer replied.

“ You are my prisoners then,” the chief
said.

“Upon what charge?" Sangerton asked.

“Conspiracy and murder," answered the
superintendent.

The policeman advanced to the side of the
two

“The accusation is absurd!" Sangerton de-
clared. “Who makes it?”

“ I do.” Joe Phenix replied.
tective officer, and think I have succeeded in
making a strong case against you.”

CHAPTER XL.
REPELLING 'l‘lIli‘. ACCUSATION.

IF the young lawyer was the criminal the
veteran detective supposed him to be, he
certainly was an excellent actor, for the
amazement depicted upon his face did not
seem to be. assumed.

"You are a detective officer?" the young
lawyer asked.

“ Yes, I am.” Joe Phenix replied.

“ And you charge me h conspiracy and
murtlier?" Sangerton queried.

” do”

“ There is some dreadful mistake!" the
.awyer declared.

“Oh, I think not.”

“But there is. The accusation is absurd!
Whom have I murdered, and against whom
have] conspired?” -

“Asa rule, men in my line of business
are averse to allowing their prisoner to know

 

just what evidence they hate succeeded in ;

gathering against them until brought for-
ward during the trial of the case," Joe Phe-
nix observed. .

“It is my Opinion, though, that in the
majority of cases it is best that the accused
shal comprehend just exactly how he is
situated, so I have no objection to entering
into an explanation.

I-w ..
arm. «,n

“I am ade-.

l
“ To begin with the conspiracy charge:  lished in the newspapers, and it is not
I accuse you with having entered into an ‘ possible you charge that I am a common
,arrangement with this woman, who calls I vulgar thief—a housebreaker?"
herself Mrs. Imogene Carpenter, to defraud “Oh, no; I am satisfied you did not have
the estate of Stephen Carmanage by falsely anything to do with the robbery,” the detec-
claiming that she is the widow of the dead tive acknowledged.
i millionaire,” “ I am glad to hear you say that!" with a
| “ The accusation is a ridiculous one!” the scornfnl laugh. “It is a relief to know that
lawyer assevcrated in contemptuous tones. Iam not going to be charged with all the
1 “ It is apparent, too, that you are not well- crimes in the calendar.”
1 posted in regard to the matter, or else you “I know you did not get away with the
5 would understand that I do not represent the silver, for I have already located the two
3 lady at all. men who did that job."
I “On the contrary, I have acted for the The lawyer looked surprised at this state-
? estate—that is. as far as I have had anything mcut, but, thinking for a moment, he added:
at all to do with the matter." “As I said, I do not understand much
“ I am Well informed in regard to all that about the detective business, but would think
; has transpired,” the detective rejoined. “ In that, if you had succeeded in discovering the
this matter you played a very cunning and men who robbed the house. you would not
iskillful part. You pretended to be Miss be at a loss to apprehend the slayer of Mr.
. Blanche Carinanage’s friend; she had con» Carmanage, for it stands to reason that the
- fidencc in you and believed that you would men who plundered the house are the ones
 give her good advice, but you took advantage who committed the murder.”
of that fact to aid this woman in her scheme “ In this ease I am satisfied that it is not
to seize upon a part of the dead millionaire’s so," Joe Pheiiix promptly rejoined.
. property by pretending that she had been “The men who got away with the silver
married tohim. are a pair of cunning crooks, who have
“ You did not appear for her in the guise managed the affair so cleverly that, though I
of a lawyer, but as Miss Blanche’s friend am satisfied they were the two who robbed
gave your opinion that the woman’s claim the house, yet I am not able to secure proof
was a just one and advised that a compro- enough to convict them.
misc should he made with her.” “I know both of the fellows, of old, and
I “That is my honest opinion!" Sangerton know that neither One of them would use
: assented with a great deal of dignity; “but violence in a case of this kind. even when
I the fact that I gave such advice to Miss Car- their own liberty Was threatened. In fact,
3 manage does not warrant. you in charging there was no reason whythey should kill Mr.
, that I am engaged in a conspiracy with her Carmanage, and I am sure they did not do

I to defraud the dead millionaire’s estate." the deed."
“ Why do you charge me with the murder

“Ihave other evidence in regard to that
. which I will produce in due time,” Joe Phe- —why should I kill the man?" the lawyer
demanded.

nix rejoined.
i “I fancy that. the assertion is what the “Because you owed him a debt of ven-
sporting men would call a bluff on your geancei" was the ready reply.
, part,” Sangi-rton suggested with a sneer. “ A debt of vengeancei” Sangerton repeat-
I “It will take time to prove whether that ed, with an appearance of being greatly as-
tonished. yet the keen-eyed Phenix read the

is correct or not," was the answer.
“And now in regard to this murder uneasiness in the man’s manner, despite his
wonderful self possession.

charge,” the lawyer remarked with an air of
“ Yes; it is the story of the Corsican ven-

bravado.
“If you have no better evidence to base it detta over again- The vendetta- Of the Car-
manages and the Rosaires."

upon than mere supposition, as in this ridicu- V ’ '
lous conspiracy charge, I fancy that I am “ \ou are speaking in riddles. Ido not
comprehend what you are talking aboutf"

not in a particularly dangerous position.
“ Whom am I charged with murdering?” Sangerton declared in a lofty way.
He had entirely recovered his composure

“ Stephen Carmanage," Joe Phenix an
now. but the woman was visibly agitated.

swered.

‘j This is So absurd that. it is hardly worth “Of course you are not obliged to crimi-
while for me to deny it!” Sangerton ex- nate yourself,” the detective remarked, “and
claimed. I have no wish to set any traps for you. It

is my opinion that I have secured evidence

a “ You can suit yourself in regard to that, . .
. of course,” the detective returned. enough to conv1et yon. but that is a point
which the trial alone can settle.”

i “I have often read of the blunders which
you sharp-eyed man-hunters make some “I cannot understand, Sir, how you could
arrive at such a conclnSion; it is a complete

itiincs,” the lawyer went on, in a sarcastic
, way, “but in this case you have beaten the mystery to me,” the lawyer asseverated with
growing uneasiness; “and as to my being

i record.”
1 “Do you think so?" the veteran queried. named Rosaire, the supposition is absurd!"
“ I do, indeed 3" “ That is your name, and you came to
“ You will have cause to change your mind Cincinnati for the express purpose of killing
in regard to that matter before this case is Mr. Carmanage, in carrying out the family
i ended.” ' vendetta.

“I doubt it!” with a sneer. “Why, the “It is aleaf torn fromaromance! ’the law-
very idea is so absurd that it is hardly worth yer declared with a sneer; yet now pale in
, while to discuss the matter; but. just for the face and agitated in manner. “It is sober

sake. of argument I will go into it. reality!” Joe Phenix averred serenely. “ You

! “Men do not commit crimes without a are named Rosairc. the last member of the

reason.” family which for two generations has been at
war with the Carmanages.

“Very true,” Joe Phenix assented. ,
“ What reason was there for me to murder “ It our purpose has been acoomplished;
you have killed the last/male of the Carman-

| Mr. Carmanage? I was on good terms with

' the old gentleman—there had never been the age line, for (‘armanage has left no son to

i slightest trouble between us, in any way. In carry on the vendetta.

I fact, I am certain the millionaire had a good “Apparently you have secured a complete

I opinion of me, as I certainly had of him. for triumph. but I do not think you counted up-

ihe had always treated me with the highest on the law to take up the ‘quarrel. It has
done so. though, and the death of Stephen

I consideration.
’ “Although I am not a detective. yet I Carmanage will be avenged—righteously
avenged !"

iimderstand enough about the man-hunting
“ You liaVn. constructed a most ingenious

business to be aware that when you blood-

‘ hounds take hold of a case of this kind theory, but, I fancy, when you are called up-
;your first step is to look for the man who on in a court«r00m_t0 prove that it is the
, truth, you will find it a much more difficult

as a motive to commit the deed.” . ”
“That is correct." Joe Phenix agreed. matter than you anticipate, sangemn as_
sumed wtth bravado.

“And you surely have not succeeded . .
in discovering that I had any reason to “That is something time must decide,”Joc
wish ill to Mr. Carmanage!” the lawyer Phenix qmetly responded.
asserted. “ I hope that you will not parade us through
“ As I said, there had never been any the streetsin fettei's.”the lawyer urged, glar-
trouble between us, therefore there could ' ing at the handcuffs. which one of the police-
not be any personal enmity as the motive. men held in his hand.
I “ The ouse was robbed on the night of "Oh, no," the chief announced. " There
the murder according to the accounts pub- is a coach outside for your accommodation.

 

 

.  2‘17"“?  ..:

i
i
i

 

 

i

 

 

 

M_._..I.__.. ._..,. ._.....

wJoe Phenix’s Double Deal. 

 

 

“ I am much obliged.” with a polite bow.

The lawyer and the woman weze conduct-
ed to the carriage, by the policemen, Joe
Phenix and the chief remaining behind.

 

CHAPTER XLI.
THE sEAitcii.

As soon as the officers departed with their
prisoners, the superintendent of police shook
his head at the veteran detective

“The fellow is game!” he declared.

“Yes, and he will fight to the last gasp.”

" We have succeeded in forming a pretty
strong chain of circumstantial evidence,
though, and ought to be able to convict
him,” the police chief assumed.

“ Very true; but I Wish we could get hold
of the tiny dagger with which the deed was
done. If We Could find it in possession of
this man, or on premises occupied by him,
it would be one strong link in the chain.”

" No doubt about that,” the chief assented,
“but a shrewd, sharp fellow like this one
ought to have sense enough to destroy a thing
of that kind.”

“That is correct, but the criminal annals
of the world prove that the men and women
who are reckless enough to break the law are
so unwise, in a great number of cases, as to
preserve articles sure to lead to their convic-
tion,” Joe Phenix explained.

“ Yes,you are right about that," the super-
intendent admitted. “ Since I have been on
the force, at least a dozen instances of the
kind have come to my immediate knowl-
edge.”

“ I now propose to make a careful search
of this house. If the dagger is not found
here, then to search the office of Sangerton,”
Phenix remarked.

“ Which is a good idea.”

“I don’t build much upon either search,
though, for it is my idea that this man has
an abode somewhere which he is careful to
keep concealed from the knowledge of all
who are acquainted with him. He has been
leading a double life since coming to this
city, and s0 mu.t have some place where he
makes the change from the one character to
the other.”

“ Undoubtedly; and if you could succeed
in discovering his secret resort, the chances
are good that some important discoveries
might be made.”

“That is my opinion; but the man has
managed his game so cunningly that, so far,
I have not got on the track. I have hopes of
being able to do so yet, however.”

The twothen proceeded to search the house,
but the result was as the veteran detective
anticipated: not a single discovery of any
importance was made.

“Let us go at once to Sangerton’s office
and try our luck," the superintendent now
ur ed.

be two at once set out.

Leaving them to pursue their way, we will
follow the coach in which the lawyer and the
lad had been put.

wo policemen had charge of the pair;
one rode in the inside of the coach with the
prisoners, while the other was on the box by
the side of the driver.

As Sangerton apparently had no idea of
attempting to escape, the policemen had
neglected to handcufl' him.

This was a mistake, as the officers were
fated to discover.

The prisoners were ated, side by side, on
the back seat, while t c policeman occupied
the front one.

All went well until the coach got to Vine
street.

When it turned into this noted thorough-
fare, from the side street, its progress was
sto ped by a block in the street.

here had been a runaway; the horse had
smashed into a street-car which had been
forced from the track and overturned, caus-
ing‘a complete blockade.

he policeman on the box of the coach
leaped t0 the ground for the purpose of regu-
lating matters, for the drivers of the vehicles,
after calling each other all the names which
they could think of, were about to come to
blows.

The officer in the interior of the coach took

.alively interest in the scene, neglecting his

prisoners for the moment.
This gave the lawyer his opportunity.
While the blue-coat was staring out of the

 

window, at the crowd, Sangerton softly:

pushed open the door of the coach, on the
opposite side, and both he and the woman
were lucky enough to slip out without the
policeman being aware of the fact.

A minute later the officer discovered that
the birds had flown!

Greatly exasperated because he had been
so neatly tricked, the policeman at once
bounded out in pursuit.

Vain was his search, though. No one had
noticed the man or woman leaving the hack,
and, therefore, no one could give any infor-
mation in regard to them.

The disgusted officers proceeded immedi-
ately to Headquarters, and there the machin-
ery of the law was set in motion to effect the
recapture of the fugitives.

The details stationed at the railway depots,
Were warned to be on the lookout for the
pair, and those on duty at the bridges and
roads leading to the suburbs were particular-
ly cautioned to be on the alert.

A half an hour after the policemen reached
Headquarters, the superintendent and J oe,
Phenix made their appearance.

The rage of the chief was great when he
learned what had occurred, and in his exas-
peration he threatened to “ break” the un-
lucky pair.

The captain in charge, at Headquarters,
tried to pacify the “ great Mogul ” by recit-
ing how prompt he had been to take meas-
ures to effect the recapture of the man and
woman.

“If the pair attempts to leave the city it
is almost certain that they will be captured,”
the captain declared.

“ That is all very well, but the birds may
have alread flown beyond reach,” the police
chief rowiixl.

“ at do you think. Phenix ?" he asked.

“ I am inclined to think that both are still
in the city, for, as they could not have antici-

ated arrest they probably were not prepared
or flight," was the veteran’s conclusion.

“ Ah, well, yes. I don’t know but what
there is a good deal in that,” the chief as-
seated.

“It takes money to travel, you know, and
if the pair were not well prov1ded with funds
the chances are great that thegy could not get
far away,” Joe Phenix argue .

“ True—very true!" the superintendent ad-
mitted.

“Money to the fugitive is like wings to a
bird. Without wings the bird cannot fly,
and lacking money the fugitive from the
wrath of the law does not stand much chance
to get beyond teach."

“It will take the man aday or so to get
ready, for I assume that he has been sharp
enough to have his affairs in such a shape
that he can get at his valuables at short no-
tice,” Joe Phenix observed.

“Then, too, as the man is an uncommonly
sharp scoundrel, I am inclined to think he
Will not'attempt to get away immediately,
for he Will be shrewd enough to suspect that
all avenues from the city will be carefully
guarded.”

“That is a reasonable supposition,” the
superintendent acquiesced.

Then Joe Phenix added:

“And now that he knows we are after
him, he will be on his mettle, and it will not
be an easy matter to trap him. It is our
skill, now, against his wit.

“He has been leading a double life, and
just by accident I learned the fact. His
right name is Rosaire. He called himself
Sangerton so as to get a chance at Mr. Car-
manage. Then, again, he has been passing
as Robert Cummings, pretending to hail
from Chicago.

“He assumed this name because he had
fallen in love with a young girl and did not
want to marry her as Bangerton, as he had
made up his mind to secure the heiress, Miss
Blanche.”

“ A dyed-in-the wool scoundrel !” the police
chief declared.

“Exactly! one of those supremely smart
rascals who take real delight in playing a
desperate game for a great stake.

“In the first place, he wanted to kill Car-
manage in order to can? out the family ven-
detta; that is the old talian-Corsican idea.
But the villain desired to improve upon the
old-time notion; the death of his enemy alone
would not content him, for, in addition to
killing the man, he wished to get possession

.' "e.’ '
. ...'~.....--,,,. _ ,,

 

of some of his wealth, and an extremely cun~
ning plot be devised.

“First the murder was committed; then
the woman-who, I believe, is the mother of
this Rosaire—was brought forward as the
widow of the dead millionaire, hoping thus
to secure her one~third of the estate; then
the man himself made love to the heiress,
and as he is a plausible, gentlemanly l'ellow,
the chances were good that, in time, he
would have captured the girl."

“ But this explosion has upset both games,"
the chief intimated. “And now to work.
I will not leave a single stone unturned. In
addition to putting all the detectives on the
alert, I will order the police to make a house;
to-house inspection, giving them instruction
to make a particular inquiry in regard to all
stran ers.”

“I ere is another point which has occurred
to me,” the veteran detective now observed.
“This man is now rendered desperate by the
complete failure of his schemes.

“Will not the idea of the vendetta come
up again in his mind ‘2"

“Miss Blanche is a Carmanagc—the last
one of the family—and until the Carinanages
are entirely destroyed the vendetta really
will not end.” \

” That is so; you are correct in regard to
the situation. It would be the most natural
thing in the world for the cut-throat to strike.
at the oung lady now that there is no possiL
bility or him to get at her fortune," the chief
decided, “so we must put a guard on the
Carmanage mansion!"

“Just what I was going to suggest; and if
you will give me a couple of good men I Will
take charge of the house, myself.”

“ Certainlyl I will be glad to commit the
matter to your hands."

“ As I told you, he changed his appear-
ance materially, and under the name of
Robert Cummings married a girl known as
Mar uerite Delmay.

“ hen, when he saw a chance to ma
this heiress, he formed a plot to murder h 3
wife, as the secret of his double life might be
discovered.

“I was fortunate enough to frustrate this
dastardly scheme, for I had already discov-
cred that‘the lawyer Sangerton and Robert
Cummin s were one and the same person.

“1 di not say anything to him to-day
about the Cummings matter, as I wished to
hold it in reserve.”

Then J oe Phenix took his departure.

That night, a little after eight o’clock, the
veteran and a couple of the Cincinnati sleuths,
carefully disguised, entered the Carmanage
mansion.

 

CHAPTER XLII.
A DESPERATE MAN.

IT was a dark night, although there was a
young moon, but, as the face of the heavens
was covered by heavy clouds, the “queen of
night" was almost totally obscured.

One by one the lights in the Carmanage
mansion disappeartd, as the hours waned and
midni ht drew near.

At ast the bells in the distant city pro-
claimed that twelve o’clock had Come, and
all the lights in the house of the dead
millionaire were extinguished with the ex—
ception of those usually kept burning all

night.

1'othing was stirring in the neighborhood
—only the big mastiflf who was wandering
around the garden, as was his wont during
the hours of darkness. ‘

Suddenly the dog raised his head and com-
menced to sniff the air.

A dark figure was stealing along in the
gloom, in the neighborhood of the small door
in the wall, on the back street.

As soon as the dog became satisfied that t

somebody was approaching in that direc- 1

tion, he uttered a series of low growls and
marched with stately steps in the direction
of the door.

_ The man in the street, who was proceed-
ing so cautiously, tried about the same game
that the two crooks had worked.

\Vith a'skcleton key he unlocked the door,
then opened it and took refuge in the shed
across the way.

When the mastiff came to the opening he
passed through it, and with threatening
growls marched into the shed.

The man, though, who had unlocked the

use”; an i.

a ..
JbK4511fA-9f . A;

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fig“...

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Ah“

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' tracted by the sounds of dogs barking in the

:30

Joe PheniX’s Double "Deal.

 

 

door, had mounted to the loft and so was

Apparently the fate of Blanche Carmanage

well out of the dog's reach: therefore the i Was in his hands.

mastiff, after sniffing around the shed and 5
growling for a while, passed out into the
street.

Then, as on the previous occasion when he ,
had obtained his liberty by means of the I

open door, the mastiif's attention was at- 

distance, and he set off to investigate the
matter.

The man in the shed waited for a good ten
minutes, so as to allow ample time for the
dog to get well out of the way, before he
descended to the ground.

Then he stole with noiseless steps to the
open door and passed through the entrance
into the (Tarmanage garden, closing the door
carefully behind him, thus preventing the
big dog from returning it the beast took the
notion into his head to do so.

As the reader has doubtless guessed, this
midnight intruder was Sangerton, or Rosaire,
to call the man by his right name.

He was dressed in a well-worn dark suit
and had assumed a false full heard as a dis
guise; and now, with a soft felt bat pulled
well down over his eyes, he bore no resem-
blance to his former self.

W'ith noiseless steps he made his way to
the home.

He had carefully calculated upon his plan
of action, for he proceeded without hesita-
tion.

A veranda ran around two sides of the man
sion, and it was nof'a difllcult matter for a
young and agile man to climb one of the
posts of this porch and so gain access to the
.roof of the structure.

Being Well acquainted with the house,
ROsaire knew just how to direct his steps.

The windows of Miss Blanche's sleeping
apatrtmcnt looked out upon the veranda
roo .

To one of these windows Rosaire at once
moved.

He was provided with a diamond glass-
cutter and with all the skill of a professional
burglar he cut a hole in the glass in the
neighborhood of the catch, so that he could
unlock the fastening.

Then it was an easy matter for him to raise
the window and enter the room, which he
did, with the silence of a shadow.

The gas was burning, turned down quite
low, still there was light enough to enable
any one to distinctly distinguish all objects
in the room. .

The bed of the girl stood at the further end
of the room in an alcove, and by the dim
]i ht the intruder could distinguish the form
ogthe girl beneath the clothes.

She was lying upon her side with her back
to the window.

Rosaire halted and listened intently for a
few moments.

The girl did not stir.

“It is all right,” his thoughts took word.
“ She is sleeping soundly; the raising of the
window will not disturb her.

“ The end of the vendetta then is at hand.
One blow, and the last of the hated race of
the Carmanages passes from the earth.

“The line is extinct, and the last of the
Rosaires have done the deed of vengeance!”

Then the intruder drew a slender bit of
steel from where he had it hidden in the in-
side of the breast of his coat.

The little piece of steel did not seem to be
more than a toy, for it was only about six
inches long, of the Size of a knitting-needle,
with a jeweled head.

A sort of lady's hat-pin, in fact.

“ This is the imtrument with which the
deed will be dune !" Rosaire murmured, as he
held the bit of steelso that the dim rays of
the gaslight could fall upon it.

“ This is the steel which let out the life of
Stephen Carmanage, and now it will send
the soul of the last of the race to the other
world.

“ Thishumanbloodhound,"hethenthou ht,
“who hunted me so closely. is a sharp fe low
and undoubtedly ima ines that he has driv-
on me from the city; ut when he reads the
particulars of this tragedy in the papers
tomorrow, he will be apt to change his
mind. -

“ And now to the deed! A single stroke,
and vengeance will be accom lished!"

With noiseless steps Rosa re stole across
the floor.

 

But, this is a world of surprises, and a par
ticularly great one was in store for this mid»
night assassin,

When he was within a yard of the alcove,
Joe I’lienix suddenly made his appearance
from behind one of the curtains which half
masked the approach to the bed.

A revolver was in his hand, leveled full at
the breast of the intruder.

“ Drop your weapon and surrender, oryou
are a dead man!" the veteran bloodhound
exclaimed.

Rosairc was so taken by surprise that for a
moment he was completely astounded.

And then, before he had achance to re-
cover—to prepare to risist capture, if any
such wild idea was in his head—he was
seized from behind by two stalwart men, the
slender dagger was wrested from his grasp,
and a pair of handcuffs snapped upon his
wrists, although he made a desperate resist.-
anee.

During the struggle Blanche sprung from
the bed, and when Resaire saw that, instead
of being attired in a night robe, she was
Completely dressed, he comprehended that he
had fallen into a trap.

“This is your work, you infernal blood-
hound! ’ Rosaire cried, fiercely, as he rose to
his feet after his captors had snapped the
"bracdets" upon his wrists.

“Yes, it is mine, and at last I think I
have got you so dead that I will not have
much difficulty in convicting you of the
murder of Mr. Stephen Carmanage.”

“It is a lie! I did not kill him!” Ros-sire
fiercely retorted.

“ Let me warn on to be careful in regard
to what you say, or your utterances may be
used against you on your trial,” the detec-
tive cautioned.

“ Bah! I am not afraid of that! But I did
not kill the man, and I defy you to prove
that i did!”

“ Here is the very weapon with which the
deed was done,” and Phenix stooped and
picked up the tin steel dagger.

“Take notice t at either your rough grasp
or the shock when the dagger struck the
floor has displaced one of the tiny dia—
monds."

The gems, after the fashion of those Set
in a marquise ring, adorned the handle.

“ See where it (glistens on the carpet!"

All looked, an the minute diamond was
visible.

“What of it—what has that to do with my
case?" Rosairc demanded.

“A great deal; as you will discover when
your trial takes place,” Joe Phenix averrcd.

“I do not comprehend you.” the prisoner
said, wifh an air of sullen amazement.

“A tiny diamond, exactl like this one,
was found by the chair 0 Stephen Cal‘—
manage when the discovery was made that
he had been murdered,” the detective ex-
plained.

Rosaire shut his lips firmly and a desperate
look came into his eyes.

For a moment be surveyed the acute
bloodhound, who had so cleverly entrapped
him, as the hunted animal, brought to bay
and who sees no way of escape open. looks
upon the hunters eager to give him his
death-wound.

Rosaire was lawyer enough to understand
that such a bit of evidence would be almost
certain to lead to his conviction.

His heart sunk within him, for he now
realized that his case was desperate indeed.

He was game, though, and so put on a
bold front.

“This is all an ingenious artifice of yours
to fasten the guilt of this crime upon me!” he,
protested; “but a good lawyer will not have
any difficulty in making the truth apparent,
and although I am aware that appearances
are greatly against me, yet I will be able to
explain everything, I think.”

“1 hope so, for I hate to bring a capital
crime home to a man, but I have my doubts
about your being able to accomplish the feat,”
Joe Phenix replied.

An hour later Rosaire was in a prison cell.

CHAPTER XLIII.
-A conrmmo wom.
Jon Pnme was up early the next mom-

in .
fie got his breakfast and then sat down in

 

 

 

I the hotel reading-room to peruse the morning

news.

Owing to the late hour of the assassins
capture no account of the affair was in the
morningr papers, and as the detective under-
stood this he did not expect to see. any im~
portant statement in regard to the murder of
the millionaire.

The hotel reading-room was on the first
floor, and I’henix sat by one of the windows,
so he could be plainly seen from the street.
lie had not occupied the chair more than ten
minutes when the young showman, Alex-
ander Delmay. came along.

A grave look rested on the young man’s
face, but he brightened up immediately upon
lielxilding the great crook-smiter from New

or .

Delmay came at once into the hotel and
shook hands warmly with Phenix.

“You are just the man, of all men, I want-
ed to see!” the dog-trainer declared.

"' You have the Opportunity now. Take
a chair and make yourself comfortable,”
l’henix invited.

The. young man obeyed, and as he sat down
he took a look around.

The room was almost deserted, and as
none of the occupants were near the corner
where Phenix sat, the dog-trainer saw that
he could speak freely withOut danger of be-
ing overheard.

“I am having considerable trouble with
my sister,” Delmay explained.

“ I am sorry to hear it.”

“Despite all that has occurred she still has
a great deal of faith in that scoundrel of a
Cummings.”

“Well, I am not surprised to hear it, for it
is the way of womankind," the veteran re-
marked, with a thoughtful shake of the
head.

“ When a woman—a 00d, true-hearted
woman—once fixes her a eetions on a man,
it is usually a hard matter to convince her
that he is unworthy her love.”

“That is 'ust where the trouble lies, in
the present instance.” the dog-trainer ob-
served. “ My sister is not willing to believe
that this man is a thorough-paced scoundrel;
she thinks there must be some mistake about
the matter. She cannot conceive it possible
that the man deliberately plotted to have her
murdered so as to marry another woman.
She assumes that it is some horrible mistake,
and feels sure he will return to her and make
a satisfactory explanation.

“Poor, deceived woman! But, luckil
for her, certain events have happened whic
must satisfy her that this man is a villain of
the deepest dye."

Delmay looked surprised.

“ lie is now in jail, accused of being the
assassin of the millionaire, Stephen Carman-
age.”

“Is it possible?”

“ Yes; 1 arrested him last night.”

“And there is no doubt about his being
the murderer?"

“ Not. the slightest. in my opinion, and I
do not think there can be any trouble in
convincing a jury that he is the real crimi-
nal.”

“When my sister learns this news, she
surely must be convinced that she has given
her love to a most despicable villain.”

“I will go with you and explain to her
just how matters stand, if you care to have
me do so,” Phenix volunteered.

“I willbe greatly obliged if you will do
so!” the brother assented, immediately.

“ You see, the trouble is that she lacks
faith in me, although I am her brother,” the
dog~traincr explained. “She knows that I
had a bad opinion of the man in the first
place, and so she thinks I am PreJUdlced
against him.” , .

“Yes, I comprehend; audit ls quite pos-
sible that she will not be WIlllng to believe
me, but when she sees the map standing be-
fore the bar of justice, a prisoner, charged
with a, most foul and atrocious murder, and
listens to the evidence, if she is possessed of
good sound common sense she must then
come to the conclusion that she has bestowed
her affections upon an utterly vile and con-
sciencelcss scou‘ndrel.” rising as he spoke.

“ We are now staying at the professional
boarding-house on Vine street, only a few
minutes walk," the dog-trainer explained as

 

 y g x ‘05”. "  ".Tik‘ "-A n'
l . ,1/ 1.4-.“   ‘- 

they started on.
In ten minutes they were in the presence

\

 

 

 

 

 

a'é“.

 

 

l

 -L.
t 4-,..-

 Rosaire 0t

Joe Phenix’s Double Deal.

31

 

 

.—

of Marguerite. The girl had changed great-
ly for the Worse. and the iinpassive detective,
who had a soft heart despite his lion like
nature, felt extremely sorry for her.

As gently as possible he broke the terrible

- news to her—told her the whole story.

The girl was astounded.

“ ()h, sir. it does not seem as if it could be
possible!" Marguerite exclaimed. _

“If you attend the examination which
will he held at ten o’clock this morning, you
will liud that] have not told anything but
truth," Phenix assured.

At this moment acouple 0f newsboys came
up the street yelling:

“ Here’s yer extra!"

“ An account of the arrest!" the detective
suggested.

Dclmay hastened to prorure the “extra.”

It was as the (iotham sleuthhound antici-
pitted.

'l‘he newspaer men, understanding that
they had a first-class sensation. hastened to
get out an extra, giving elaborate particu»
lars ot' the arrest of Sangerton.

Delmav read the account aloud.

“ 'l‘her'el \Vhat do you say now?" he
asked when he had come to the end.

“ It seems too dreadful to believe, but I
fear it. is the truth,” the hapless Marguerite
admitted. _

“Will you go to the trial and see With
your own eyes the man brought before the
bar of justice?“ the brother asked.

“Yes, I will, although the experience will
be a most painful one to me,” the girl an-
swered.

The detective gave the dog-trainer instruc
tionsin regard to the matter, and took his
departure. .

in due time the assassin was arraigned be.
fore the bar of justice. He had secured a
prominent couple of criminal lawyers to de-
fend him, and presented a bold front, de-
spite the overwhelming array of evidence
against him.

Phenix had an idea that the mother of the

risoner—th‘e woman who had called herself
imogene Carpenter Carmanage—would at-
tend the examination, in disguise, so he,
Willi three of the keenest of the Cincinnati
detectives, was on the watch for her.

The inference of the veteran thief-taker
was correct; the woman did come, in dis-
guise—was reco nized. captured and placed
on trial, charge with being an accessory to
the murder.

Rosaire was visibly disturbed by this un
expected occurrence. . . _

He held a whispered consultation With _his
lawyers after the telling ev1dence against
him had been part] developed, and they im-
mediately begged or an adjournment of the
ease, pleading that they had not had suf-
ficient time to become acquainted With the
particulars. -

The judge granted this request, and the
'two prisoners were conveyed to the jail.

in the prison the lawyers had a long inter-
view with both mother and son—for such
they were—and these wily advocates, al-
though acknowledged to be the leaders in
their line in the Queen City, frankly con-
fessed that the evidence was so strongr they
did not see how it would be possible for
them to break or qualify it.

“ It will he the gallows for me, then, and
along term of imprisonment for her, I sup.

Ose?” the prisoner asked, with a gloomy

row.

The lawyers admitted that that expressed
the situation exactly, but they attempted to
comfort the accused by saying that. while
there was life there was lmpc.

Then the men of law departed.

An hour or so after the lawyers were gone

ermission from the prison om-
.cials to 01 abrief conversation With his
mother.

The jailer appointed to keep watch over
the conference was a humane man, and so
retired a little in the background to permit
mother and son to converse without their
words being overheard.

Ten minutes only the interview lasted; but
during that time the steel-hearted avengers
of blood adopted their own method to battle
the law. . I

Both were found dead in the morning]

They had taken a subtle poison, which
evidently the woman had secreted on her

 

person, and thus escaped standing before
the bar of an earthly tribunal.

The death of these two vengeful and
utterly depraved creatures closed the stran-
gest episode in the momentous life of the
great metropolitan detective, and to the end
he will regard the case as a terrible illustra-
tion of the powerof hate and vengeful passion
to endow a human being with the attributes
of a tiger.

THE END.

 

Beadle’s iii_me Library.

BY LEON LEWIS.

735 I‘he Down-East. Detective in Nevada.

773 But!an Bills Ban: or, Cody to the Rescue.

699 The. Cowa Couriers.

686 The On-the‘ Ving Detectives.

621 The Submarine Deteciive: or, The \Vater Ghouls.
484 Captain Ready, tb ‘ Red Ransomer.

411 The Silent Detective; or, The Bogus Nephew.
456 The Demon Steer.

428 The Flying (llim: or, The Island Lure.

BY J. (7. CO‘YDRICK.

752 The Sus cct Sport of Daisy Drift.

626 Dueats ion, t is Naboh Sport Detective.

612 Sheriff Stillwood. the Regulator of Raspberry.
598 The Dominic Detective.

591 Duke Daniels, the Society Detective.

581i Shadowing a Shadow.

56') i’riiiee Paul. the Postman Detective.

557 The Mountain (irayheards; or. Riddles’ Riddle.
Sill Uld Riddles, the Rot‘kv Ranger

:99 Twilight Clitll‘llt‘. mu Road Sport.

473 Gilbert of Gotham. the Steel-arm Detective.
4522 Rainbow Rob, the Tulip from Texas.

456 Kentucky Jean, the S )ort from Yellow Pi .e.
422 Blue Grass Burt. the old Star Detective.

390 The Giant Cupid: or Ctbuta John‘s Jubilee.

BY NED BUNTLINB.

657 Long Tom, the Privateer.
633 The Sea S y.
621 The Red rivateer; or, The Midshipman Rover.
5‘41 Fire Feather, the Buccaneer King.
517 Buffalo Bill‘s First Trail.
361 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot.
270 Andros, the Rover; or. The Pirate‘s Daughter.
1"" Saul Sabberday, the Idiot S y.
111 The Smuggler Captain; or. he Skipper‘s Crime.
61 Captain Seawaif, the Privat ~er.
23 The Red Warrior; or. The Comanche Lover.
18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle.
16 The White Wizard; Or. The Seminole Prophet.
It '1‘hayen:lanegea,the Scourgezor, The War-Eagle.

(
(

BY PIIILIP S. \YARNE.

583 Captain Adair. the Cattle King.

567 Cap‘ain Midnight, the Man of Craft.

544 The Back to Back Pards.

522 The Chain ion Three.

Bareback nck. the Centaur of the Plains.

(78 Six Foot 81' or, The Man to “ Tie To."
431 California Kit. the Always Jn Hand.
404 Silver Sid; or A “ Daisy " Blufl.

880 Tiger Dick's Pied : or, The Golden Serpent.
359 Yellow Jack. the esttzo

338 Jack Sands. the Boss of the Town. .
299 Three of a Kind; or Dick. Despard and the Sport.
280 Tiger Dick‘s Lone Hand.
251 Tiger Dick vs. Iron D -spard.

an Old Hard Head: or. Whirlwind and his Mare
171 Tiger Dick. the. Man of the Iron Heart.

114 The Gentleman from Pike.

80 A Man of Nerve; or. Caliban the Dwarf.

51 Always on Hand; or. The Foot-HUS Sport.

29 Tiger Dick. Faro King; or, The Cashier‘s Crime.

4 The Kidnapper; or, The Northwest Shanghai.
1 A Hard Crowd; or. Gentleman Sam's Sister.

BY MAJOR DANGERFIELD BUB“.

448 Hark Kenton. the Traitor.

188 The Phantom Mazeppa: or. The Hyena.

156 Velvet Face, the Border Brawl.

142 Captain Crimson, the Man of the iron Face.

117 Biiti'al » Bill's Strange Ford; or. Dashing Dandy.

BY J W. ORBON.

759 The Sport from St. Louis.
513 Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred.

BY JACKSON KNOX—“Old Hawk.”

778 The. Butler Detective; or, Old Grip‘s Grip.

770 The Showman Dete iivc.

762 Old Grip. the De‘ective.

740 Capt tin Clew, the Fighting Detective.

782 The Hurricane DetectiVe.

643 Castlematne, the Silent Sifter.

616 Magnus. the Weird Detective.

606 The Drop Detective.

595 Wellborn, the Upper Crust Detective.

582 J oram. the Detective Expert.

574 Old Falcon's Double.

561 The Thug King- or, The Falcon Detective‘s Foe.
518 Falcmibridge. t e Sphinx Detective.

586 Old Falcon 8 Foe: or. The Detective‘s Swell Job.
515 Short-Step Ma e, the Diamond Field Detenive.
509 Old Fal 'on. t e Thunderbolt Detective.

501 S ringsteel Steve, the Retired Detective

494 T e DetectiVe‘s S y
485 Rowloek. the Ear
477 Dead-arm Brandt.
467 Matriwarinir. the Salamander.

462 The Circus Detective.

451 Grlplock. the Rocket Detective.

444 The Magic Detective: or, The Hidden Band.
434 Hawk eron‘sDe uty.

886 Hawk Heron. the alcon Detective.

r Detective.

 

BY GEORGE (l. JENKS.

772 Captain Cortlen t‘w Twister Detective.
755 Wild P»te the Bi‘;>liciiO-Bustel‘ Detective.
726 Fearless Sam. th i Grand Combination Detective.
719 Boston Bob, the S tort Detective.

572 Jaunty Joe, the oekey Detective.

55.1 Mad Sharp, the Rustler.

539 Rub.u Rocket. the Tent Detective.

526 Death-Grip, the Tenderfoot Detective.

507 The Drummer Detective.

432 The Giant Horseman

898 Sleepless Eye, the Pacific Detective.

BY (H PTA IN HO‘YARO HOLMES.

798 The Night-H iwk D.~tec‘ive.
779 Silk Rtbbon’s Cr. sh-out.
766 Detective Zaeh, the Broadway Spotter.
751 l‘he Dark Lantern Det'ctive.
736 The Never-Fail D tective.
724 Captain Hercules. the Strong Arm Detective.
711 Dan Damon, the Gilt-Edge Detective.
701 Silver Steve, the Branded Sport.
694 Gideon Grip, the Sect ct Shadower.
681 Velvet Van. the Mystery Shadower.
6. The Dude Desperado
71 Jason (flew, the Silk-Minded Ferret.
661 Monk Morel, the Man-Run er.
631 Sol S hinx. the Ferret Detective.
612 Red ard and Yellow
608 Silent Sam, thi- Shadow Sphinx.
592 Captain Sid, the Shasta Ferret.
579 Old Cormorant. tl.e Bowery Shadow.
569 Captain Cobra. the Hooded Mystery.
559 Danton. the Shadow Sharp.
550 Silk Hand, t e MohaVe Ferret.
513 The Magnate Detective.
532 Jac r Javert. the independent Detective.
523 Reynard of Red Jack: or, The Lost Detective.
512 Captain Velvet‘s Bit: Stake.
505 Phil Fox, the Genteel Spotter.
496 Richard Rk‘tifil‘t‘. the Two Worlds‘ Detective.
48" Sunshine Sam, a Chip of the Old Block.
4S0 Hawkspear. the Man with}: Secret.
4 R Coldgrip iii Deadwood.
460 Captain Coldgrip. the Detective
45% Captain Coldgrip‘s Long Trail.
447 Volcano. the Frisco Spy.
411 The California Sharp.
434 Lucifer Lynx, the \\ onder Detective.
421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow.
413 Captain Coldgrip in New York.
407 Captain Coldgrip’s Nerve; or. In'un Nick.
400 Captain Coldgrip: or. The New 'ork Spotter.
392 The Lost Bonanza: or, The Boot of Silent Hound.
882 The Bonanza Band: or, Dread Don of Cool Clan.
374 Major Blister. the S ort of TWo Cities.
' Keen Kennard. the Shasta Shadow.
35‘! The Desperate Dozen.
347 Denver Duke. the Man with “ Sand.”
310 Cool Conrad. the Dakota Detective.
3‘35 Flash Dan. the Nabob; or. Blades of Bowie Bar.
821 California Claude, the Lone Bandit. '
294 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy.
278 Hercules Goldspur, the Man of the Velvet Hand.

BY DR. NOEL DUNBAR.

730 Duke Despard, the Gambler Duelist.
604 The Detective in Rags; or, The Grim Shadower.
500 The True-Heart Pards.

2
.L

A

BY DR. FR‘NK POWELL.

746 The Dragoon Detective; cr. A Man of Destiny.
158 The Doomed Dozen.

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.

87 The White Squaw.

284 The Hunter‘s Feast.

228 The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Ob*ah.

21% The Wild Huntress; or. The uatter.

213 The War Trail: or. The Hunt of he Wild Horse.

208 The White Chief. A Romance of Mexico.

200 The Rifle Rangers; or. Adventures in Mexico.
74 The Captain of the Rifles; or, The Lake Queen.
66 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the Pacific.

55 The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plains.
12 The Death-Shot: or. Tracked to Death.
6 The Headless Horseman.

MISCELL \NEOL’S.

566 The. Dauntless Detecive: or, The Daughter
Avenger. By Tom Vi . King.
542 The Ocean Drift; or, The Fight for Two Lives.
By A. F. Holt.
531 Green Mountain Joe: or, The Counterfeiter’a
Cave. By Marmaduke Dev.
366 The Telegraph Deiectivo. By George H. Morse
353 Bart Brennan; or, The King 01' Straight Flush
Bv John Cuthbert.
350 Flash Falcon. Society Detective. By W. J. Cobb.
312 Kinkfoot Karl, the Mountain Scourge. By Mor-
ris Rodwing.
275 The Smuggler Cutter. By J. D, Conroy.
261 Black Sam, the Prairie Thunderbolt. By 001.
Jo Yards.
190 The Three Guardsmen. By Alexander Dumas.
179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersleeve.
166 Owlet. the Robber Prince. By S. R. Urban.
15-2 Captain Ironnerve. the Cont terfeitei‘ Chief.
116 The Del-tor Detective. B ' George Lemuel.
144 The Hunchback cf Notre )ame. By Victor Hugo.
140 The Three. Spaniards. By Geo. Walker.
133 Body the. Rover. By William Carleton.
125 The Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainsworth.
110 The Silent Rifleman. By H. W Herbert,
102 The Masked Band. By Georze L. Aiken.
78 The Mysterious S y. By Arthur M. Grainger.
76 The gust-n s Mus 'eteers. By George Albany.
69 Tile iRhting Trapper. By Capt.J. F. C. Adams.
60 \V‘ide Awake. the Robber King. By F. Dumont.
32 Rho s of Yale: or, The Scrapes of Collegianl.
11 Mids ipman Easy. By Ca tain Marryatt.
10 Vidocq. the French Police Spy. By himself.
9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover-
6 Wildcat Bob. By Edward LM’heeler-

A new issue every Wednesday.

imdlo’s tEDI-no Library is fort shay]. by g
" wen. u cents cop or can mail
moi of twelve cents  EADLI & ADA“.
Pub hers, 8 William street, New York. '

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' 826 Buffalo

BEADLE’SrDIMEruBRARY.

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of (Zen Cents. No Double Numbers,

 

 

BUFFALO Bth NOVELS.
By Colonel Prentiss lngraliam.

950 Buffalo Bill at Bay.

943 Buffalo Bill’s Block Game.

936 Buffalo Bills Black Purd.

927 Buffalo Bill‘s Bluff; or, Duiky Dick the Snort.

921 Buffalo Bill‘s Quandary: or. Velvet Bill‘s Vow.

915 Buffalo Bill and the Surgeon-Scout.

909 Buffalo Bill’s Le igue; or. Red Butterfly.

904 Buffalo Bill‘s Tangled Trail.

900 Buffalo Bill‘s Fough Riders.

895 Buffalo Bill‘s Secret Ally.

890 Buffalo Bill’s Lite-Stake.

882 The Three Bills: Buffalo l ill Wild Bill and Band-
box Bill; or. The. Bravo in Broadcloth.

874 Buffalo ill’s Buckskin Braves.

869 Buffalo Bill‘s Road—Agent Round-up.

863 Buffalo Bill’s Dea h Charm.

857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Flush.

851 Buffalo Bill‘s l‘onhie Dilemma.

845 Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Ruse.

830 Buffalo Bill‘s Boxsin Blue.

Bill's Shar Shooters.

Bill’s Best OWer.

Bi l‘s Red Trail.

Bill’s Death-Knel'.

Bill‘s Winning Hand.

Bill’s Dead Shot.

Bill's Brand.

777 Buffalo Bill‘s Spy Shadower.

769 Buffalo Bill's Sweepstnkc.

765 B iffalo Bill’s 1X29“! or, Silk Ribbon Sam.

761 Buffalo Bill‘s Mascot.

757 Buffalo Bill’s Double.

750 Buffalo Bill’s Big Four;or. Custer‘s Shadow.

743 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand.

739 Buffan Bill's Blind: or. The Masked Driver.

735 Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men.

731 Buffalo Bill‘s Beag es: or. Silk Lasso Sam.

72? Buffalo Bi'l's Bodv Guard.

722 Buffalo Bill on the “Mr ath.

716 Buffalo Bill's Scout Sha owers.

710 Buffalo Bill Baffhd: or. The Ueserter Desperado.

697 Buffalo l:ill’s Buckskin Brotherhood.

691 Buffalo Bill‘s Hind Trail; or. Mustang Madge.

667 Buffalo Bill‘s Sv 00p; or. The King of the Mines.

658 The Cowbav Clan: or. The Tigress of Texas.

653 Lassa King‘s League; or. Buck Taylor in Texas.

649 Buffalo Bill‘s Chief of Cowboys; or. Buck Taylor

644 Buffalo Bill‘s llonaiza; ('r S ver Circle Knights.

362 Buffalo Bill‘s Gri ; or. (Jam Bound to Custer.

829 Buffalo Bill's Pie ge: or. The League of Three.

189 V‘ ild Billis Gold Trail; or. The Desperate Dozen.

175 Wild Bill‘s Trump Card: or. The Indian Heiress.
Wild Bill. the Pistol Dead Shot.

By llull‘nlo Blll

The Ranch King Dead-Shot.

sso White Beaver '8 Still Hunt.
807 Wild Bill. the Wild West Duelist.

800 Wild Bill. the Dead-Center Shot.
639 Buffalo Bill’s Gold King.
599 The Dead Shot Nine: or. My Pards of the
414 Red Renard. the lndlan Detective.
401 One-Armed Para; or. Borderland Retribution.
397 The Wizard Brothers: or. White Beaver’s Trail.
394 White Beaver. the Exlle of the Platte.
819 Wild Bill. the Whirlwind of the West.
304 Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler.
243 The Pilgrim Sharp: or. The Soldier‘s Sweetheart.

83 Gold BulletSoorr: or. Knights of the Orerland.
L62 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

By Leon Lewis, Ned Buntllne, etc.

773 Buffalo B ll’s Ban; or. Cody to the Rescue.

682 Buffalo Bill’s Secret Service Trail.

629 Buffalo Bill’s Darin Role; or. Daredeath Dick.

517 Buffalo Bill‘s First rat]; or. The Express Rider.
158 Buffalo Bill, Chief (f Scouts.

117 Buffalo Bill 8 Strange Pard; or, Dashing Dandy.
92 Buffalo Bill. the Buckskin King.

BY HAROLD PAYNE.

883 The Man from Mexico in New York.

872 The King-Pin Shark: or, Thad Burr’s Ten Strike.
861 The Tenderloin Big Four

853 The Quaker City Crook.

844 Tracked to Chicago.

836 The Policy Broker's Blind.

829 The Friscv Sharper's Cool Hand.

821 The Tramp ShadOWer‘s Backer.

813 The Sham Spotters Shrewd Scheme.

$6 The Grand Street Gold-Dust Sharpeis.

798 Detective Burr's Luna ic Witness

792 The Wall Street Sharper‘s Snap.

784 Thad Burr‘s Death Drop. _

742 Detective Burr Among the New York Thugs.

822 Buffalo
816 Buffalo
812 Buffalo
794 Buffalo
787 Buffalo
781 Buffalo

l’lains.

' 734 Detective Burr‘s Foil; or. A \\ oinan’s Strategy.

728 Detective Burr. the I eadquarters Special.
713 Detective Burr's Spirit Chase.

706 Detective Burr‘s Seven Clues.

698 Thad Burr. the Invincible; or, The “ L " Clue.
690 The Matchless Detective.

680 XX. the Fatal Clew: or. Burr's Master Case.

BY LIEU'I‘. A. K. SIMS.

914 Snowflake Sam‘s Double.

897 The Six-Shot Spotter.

887 The Stranger Sport from Spokane.

873 The Sport l)PteCtive‘s Colorado Clew

860 The Spangled Sport Shadower.

843 The Crest-mt City Sport.

832 Gid Gale‘s Block Game.

804 Tne King Pin of the Leadville Lions,

786 Chicago Charlie’s Diamond HauL

776 Chicago Charlie. the Colombian Defective.

758 The V\ izar l King Detective.

723 Teamster Tom. the Boomer Detectivp,

709 Lodestone. Lem. the Champion of Chestnut Burr,
695 Singer Sam. the. Pilgrim Detective.

688 River Rustler-s; or. the Detective from ‘Way Back
673 Stuttering Sam. the Whits st Spt rt of Santa Fe.
666 Old Adamant. the Man of Rock. .
618 Kansas Karl. the Detective King.

552 Prince Primrose. the Flower of the Flock.
528 Huckleberry, the Foot-Hills Detective.

A i ,. i . _ _,‘-  1.2

". Eon-.1“ w.) . “.15.... yam-.. _

 

 

BY CAPTAIN HO‘VARD IIOLNIES.

929 Gentleman George, tho Showman Sport.
91': Ge nteel Joe‘s Lone Hand.

903 The Train Detective.

896 Kent Keen, the (‘rookf‘rushen

888 Nightshade in New York.

879 Falcon Flynn. the Flash Detective.

871 The Crook Cashier.

859 (‘lew-Hawk Keene‘s Right Bower.

849 Major Bullion Boss of the Tigers.

83! Sh‘idowing the London Detective.

817 Plush Velvot. the Prince of spotters.

803 The, llogiu Broker‘s Right Bower.

788 Th" Night-II 1w R De fee lve.

779 Silk R bllOII‘S (‘r sit-out.

766 Detective 7.:teh. the lii‘ondn ay Spotter.

751 The Dark Lantern lief. ctive.

' The Nevvr-Fa I I) leetive.

24 (‘aptuiu llercrh-s. the Strong: Arm Detective.
Dan Damon. the Gilt-Edge Detective.

Silv-xr Stove. the Branded Spot t.

Gideon Grip, the Seciet Shudower. l
Velvet You. the Mystery Shadow“.

The Dude Desperado

Jason Clew. the Silk-Ponded l-‘t rret.

Monk More]. the Man-Hun er.

Sol S iliiiix. the Feri et Detective.

Red ’ard and Yellow

Silent Sam. the Shadow Sphinx.

Ca itain Sid. the Shasta Ferret.

()l(l Cormorant it e Bowery Shadow.

Captain Cobra. the Hooded Mystery.

Danton. the Shadow Sharp.

550 Silk Hand. the Mohnw Ferret.

613 The Magnate Detective.

5‘32 Jack Javert. the. independent Detective.

523 Reynard of Red Jack: or. The Lost Detective
512 Captain Velvet’s Big Stake

505 Phil Fox. the Genteel Spotter.

496 Richard Rednre. the Two Worlds‘ Detective.
Sunshine Sam. a Chip of the Old Block.

480 Hawkspear. the Man with a Secret.

4 8 Coldgrip in Deadwood.

460 Captain Coldgrip. the Detective

453 Captain (,‘oldgrip‘s LOng Trail.

447 Volcano. the Frisco Spy. l
411 The California Sharp.

434 Lucifer Lynx. the ‘H onder Detective.

421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow.

413 Captain Coldgrip in New York.

407 Captain Coldgrip's Nerve: or. In iin Nick.

400 Captain Coldgrip: or. The New ork Spotter.
392 The Lost Bonanza: or. The Boot. of Silent Hound.
382 The Bonanza Band: or. Dread Don of Cool Clan.
374 Major Blister. the. Spt rt of Two Cities.

365 Keen Kennard. the Slirsia Shadow.

352 The Des rate Dom-n.

347 Denver uke. the Man With " Sand."

340 Cool Conrad. the Dakota Detective.

335 Flash Dan. the Nabob: or. Blades of Bowie Bar.
321 California Claude. the Lone Bandit. .

294 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy.

941 The Shadow Sport from Frisco. i

BY IVILLIANI ll. MANNING. '

948 The Red-Gloved Detective.

931 Frisco Frank at Glory Gulch.

920 The Mon'ana Miner in New York.

908 The Doomsday-Den Detective.

899 The Double-Quick Detective.

893 Yellow Gid. of Dark Divide.

885 The Expert Detectiw‘s Shake-up.

875 Trap 'ng the Race Track Judge.

864 The olicc Special‘s Dilemma.

84) The, Genteel Sharper‘s Combine

841 Graydon‘s Double Deal. ‘

833 The Sport Detective’s Guy}:

823 The. Athlete Spout About own.

808 TheCrook-l)et4-ctive‘s Pull.

790 Plun er Pete. the Race Track Detective.

7'82 Rova Rock, the R< mid-up DeH ctive.

774 Save Starr. the Dock Dett ctive.

764 The New York Sharp's Shadower.

738 Detective Claxton. the Record Breaker.

714 Gabe Gull. the Gainbolier from Great Hump.
70% Spokane Saul. the Samaritan Suspect

692 Dead Shot Paul. tl e Deep-Range Ex lorer.

655 Strawberry Sun. the Man with the irthmark.
616 Dark Joli v, the G-iiin (iiiard.

638 Murdock. the Dread Detective.

62i Dangerous Dave. the Nevrr-Beaten Defective.
611 Alkali Mir. the (lame (‘l ieken from Texas.
596 Rustler Rube: the Round-Up Detective.

58") Dan Dixon‘s Double.

575 Steady Hand. the Napoleon of Detectives
563 Wyoming Zeke. tl e Hetspur of Honeysuckle. l
55] Carry Kean the Man with Bnclbone.

539 Old Doublcdark. the Wily Detective.

531 Saddle-Chief Kit. the Prairie Centaur.

521 Paradise Sam. the Nor’-West Pilot. .

513 Turns Tartar. the Man With Nine Lives.
mil Uncle Hottest. the Peacemaker: of Hornt-ts’ Nest.
498 Central Pacific Paul. the Mail Train Spy.
492 Border Bullet. the Prairie Sharpshooter.
486 Kansas Kitten. th+ Northwest Detective.

l
i
847 Hiram Hawk. the Harlem Detective. 
|
i
l

S

 

479 Gladiator Gabe. the Samson of Sassajack. l
l

470 The Duke of Dakota.

463 Gold Gauntlet the Gulch Gladiator.

455 Yank Yollouhird. the Toll Hustler of the Hills.
449 Bluff Burke. Kin;r vi the Rockies.

442 Wild West Walt. the Mountain Veteran.

437' Deep Duke: or. The Man of Two Lives.

427 The Rivals of Montana Mill

415 Hot Heart. the Detective Spv.

405 Old Baldy the Brigadier of Buck Basin.

297 Colorado Rube. the Strong Arm of Hotspur.
279 The Gold Dragoon. or, California Bloodhound.
BY LEON l.I~:\VlS.

797 Pistol Tommy. the Miner Sharp.

785 the. Do .t n Fast Detective in NI'Vada.

7’73 Buffah Bill's Ban' or. Cody to the Rescue.
699 The Cowboy Couriers.

686 The On—the-Wing Detectives.

l
624 The Submarine Detective: or. The Water Ghouls. :

484 Captain Ready. the Red Ransomer.

481 The Silent Defective: or. The Bogus Nephew.
45b The Demon Steer.

428 The Flying Glim: or. The Island Lure.

4‘ H... 2. _ . , . o » . A. ,h ‘ x .4 lf‘f‘." . M

l
; 7-tt Dick Talhot‘s Close Call.

v 717 Captain Pat

A LBER'I‘ \V. AIKEN’S NOVELS.
Dick Talbot Series.

737 Dick Talbot in Apache Land.

733 Dick Talbot. the Ranch King.

729 Dick Talbot’s Clean—Out.

725 Dick Talbot in No Man’s Camp.

354 Dick Talbot: 01. The Brand of Crimson Cross
36 Dick Talbot; or. The Death-Shot of Shasta.

Alken’s Fresh of Frisco Series.

825 Fresh. the Race-Track Sport.

660 The Fresh in Montana; or, Blake's Full Hand.
652 T: e Fresb‘s Rustle at Painted City.

647 The Fresh at Santa Fe: er, 'l‘h Stranre Sh"rp.
(56 Fresh. the Sport: or. The Big Racket at S ide Uut.

; 537 Fresh Against the Fie'd: or, Blake. the Lion.

497 The Fresh in Texas: or. The Escobedo Million“.
46! The Fresh of Frisco on the Rio Grande.
97 The Fresh in Big Walnut Camp; or. Bronze Jack

lulu-it‘s Jon Plicnlx Series.

919 The Doctor from T xas; or. Joe Plieiiix’s ( ‘hie. I

944 Joe l’henix‘s Right Bower.

865 The Female Barber lh teeliv
Silver City.

799 Joe Phenix’s Great Blue Diain: nd Case: or. The
New York Sport at Long Bram-h.

793 Joe Phenix’s DeCoy; or, The Man of Three.

: or, Joe Phenix in

' 760 Joe Phenix’s Lone Hand.
, 749 Joe Phenix's Big Bulge.
‘ 745 Jie Phenix’s Mad Case.

708 Joe Phenix‘s Siren; or, The Woman Hawks’ aw

700 Joe Phenix’s Unknown; or. Ci ushing the (‘rooks'

681 Joe Phenix‘s S ecials; or. The Actress Detective

637 Joe. Phenix in ‘razy Camp.

632 Joe Phenix’s Master Search.

628 Joe Phenix‘s Combin ; r.the l‘andy Consp rator

620 Joe Pheuix’s Silent Six.

601 Joe Phenix‘s Shadow ; or.tl‘e Detective’s Monitor

419 Joe Phenix.. the Kin? ef Detectives.

161 Joe Phenix‘s Great Man Hunt.

112 Joe Phenix. Private Detective; or. The League.
79 Joe Phenix. the. Police Spy.

Alken’s l'llse ellaneous Novels.

' 940 Captain Jack. the Scalper

935 The hawks and Wolves of New York
932 Detective Gordon’s Grip.
926 Old Sunflower. the Silent Smiter.
923 Old SunflOWer. the. Hayseed Detective.
901 The Hotel Swell-Sharp; tr. The Siren Shadower.
892 The Countryman Detective.
876 Gold Button S rt; or, The Miner Sharps.
842 Teton Tom t e Half-tilt 0d.
835 The King-Pin Detective.
814 The New Yorker Amons Texas Sports.
775 King Dandy. the Silver Sport.
753 Gideon’s Gri at Babylon l‘ar.

gchowen. tl e Greencoat Detective.
674 Uncle Snii Up. the Born Detective.
670 The Lightweight Detective.
665 The Frisco DetectiVe; or. The Golden Gate Find.
613 Keen Billy. the Sport.
607 Old Benzine, the “Hard Case" Detective.
594 Fire Face. the Silver King‘s Foe.
586 The Silver Sh arp Detective.
577 Tom. of Calif ( rma; or. Dttective‘s Shadow Act.
570 The Actress Detective: or. The Invisible Band
562 Lone Hand. the Shadow.
520 The Lone Hand on the Caddo.
490 The Lone Band in Texas. .
475 Chin Chili, the Chinese Detective
465 The Actor Detective.
440 The High Hor e of the Pacific.
421 The Lone Hand; or. The Red River Recreants.
408 Doc Grip. the Vendetta of Death. ‘
381 The Gy sy Gen tleinaii: (r. nick Fox. Detective
376 Black eards; oi. The Rio (v'izinde High Horse
370 The Duskv Detectivelz) or. Pnrsued to the End.
363 Crownin .‘hlf‘ld. the etective
320 The (lenfiel Spotter: or The N. Y. Night Hawk.
252 The Wall Street I 100d; (r. The Telegrai 11 Girl.
203 The Double Detective: Lr.The Midnight Mystery.
196 La Marmoset. the Letreiive Queen.

- 101 The Man from N( w York.

91 The Winning Oar: or. The Innkeeper’s Daughter.

84 Hunted Down: or. The Le acne of Three.

81 The Human Tiger: or. A Hemt of Fire.

75 Gentleman George: or. Parlor Prison and Street.

72 The Phantom Hand : or. The 5th Avenue Heiress.

56 The Indian Mazeppa: or. Madman of the Plains.

49 Thu Wolf Demon: or. The Kanawha een.

42 The California Detective: or, The Witc es of N.Y.

31 The New York Sharn: or. The Flash of Lightning.

‘27 The Spotter Detective: or. Girls of New York.
BY J \V. OSBON.

922 Gilbert Goldspur. the Dandy Sport.
905 Shasta Sam. the Sparkler.

877 Cool Creede, the Dead-Shot.

759 The Sport from St. Louis.

518 Royal Richard. the Thoroughbred.

NEW ISSUES.
957 The KingPin Sport. BY Jos- E- Bad?“ Jr-
958 The Round-About-Town Sport By J- C COW-

drick.
959 Joe phenix’s Double Deal. By Albert W. Aiken.

I 960 Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade. By Col. P. In-

graham.
JUST ISSUED.
953 Dashing Charlie's Minute Men. By Col. lngraham
951 Joe Phenix in Chicago. By Albert W. Aiken.
955 on... Secret Service Special of New York. By
Ed. Gaines Bumes.
936 Buffalo Bill‘s Volunteer Vigilantes. By lngraham
A new issue every ll’ednerduy.
Beadle‘a Illinois Library is for Bale. l :3
v . or ' m in
ittflefleéttl‘v’fi 333m ginsofiimhbfis ayamms,
Publ shers. 92 William street, New 1: ork.

In