l ‘ ~ .Mlll‘ll a \ . w .0 .4 ’9‘ M ‘ "gika-WIII'HI/ ? - :5 €19 ‘91-"? ~ xi 'l"““lll1llllllllll “ ‘ llth 2 ‘ l {'l‘ill‘lll‘l‘i 1:3" 'll‘iirlwllil‘ l€‘§‘3"=*lxl‘:l‘i"‘:l “Yul ENTERED A3 SECOND (‘mss MATTER. AT THE NEW YORK. N. Y.. POST OFFICE. August l‘.’. 1896. N 0 Published Every (fjcculla (f- flrla II'LS, (1)1Lbl’i87L8/‘S, Ten CentaaCopy. V01 ' ’ Wednes‘my‘ 92 WILLIAM srxmml SEN YORK. “'00 a Yur‘ ' ' Copyrighted. 1896. (N READLE AND Axum. H Vl'l‘l‘l”l‘."‘ll \Y ~ l x ll" ) I l ‘ x if»? SPOTTERS'PANGLES’ SCOOP. BY CAPT. HOWARD HOLMES, AUTHOR or “111mm HAWK, THE HARLEM DETECTIVE," “MAJnu nuuux,“ ETC. CHAPTER I. THE )l\'.~'”l‘liI{IHC\‘ HACKER. “Ono more trial, Joe, and then we'll go." ‘ Tllw lulr‘s cracketlw" “ Hm it's all right for another whirl. (‘omm hurry up? I've got an engage- mvm.” “ With (:(mll‘ r“? " ,- ‘ - - a . , v» .7 "NM 'wnizh'. Cnphvr‘s all right. if THE SNOWMAN H'OR’I‘ Malawi“, HT'T TIL: '1 ummullg HAM) lllil :> max wl'l'u luv ‘~ :I l m n'ri< : null wlwn \W'I'H \ unn- my .mm '\!= “ v 1 LI12:;.lil>~1'orl1im.” ' ' ‘ f‘ I I. a, This was said ina large, well fur- nished second-floor apartment. It was Well'supplied with trapezes and other appliances for athletic sports. or the two occupants of the apart- - ment, one was tall, dark face, and with the eyes of a hawk; the other, his junior by ten years, was youthful looking, handsome, with a frank, open countsL nance, which betrayed good breeding— refinement. , The one was in full dress, the other .11 in his shirt sleeves, which exposed his ‘- limbs and his excellent muscle, just the ‘I right amount for a Successful acrobat. The youth mounted the trapeze bar and the other looked on. I “There, that ends it for to-night," said the young performer, at last. “I think I can get some applause from the crowds that will flock to the tents when; V we are fairly on the road.” 4 “Of course you will, Joe, and, with your bare~back riding, you‘ll be the drawing star of the Great American cir- . 0118.? .9“ -:‘ Both men laughed at this, and the' youth began to don his street clothes. “Which way?" he said to his com- panion at the door of the room. " I think ’ I shall drop in on Jack a few minutes." .13 “ Very well. I’ll see you here to-mor- it" .- row at the usual practice hour. Things _ , ’ :are going on swimmingly, and the Great z . American will" soon be equipped for the road.“ , Joe Vincent looked closely at the speaker and'then laid one hand on his {RN ‘i ‘ , P I ’ “You” will pardon me, George—Mr. . ’” . , Farrell, I should say; but the old query comes up with emphasis just now. I woulld like to know who is putting up for it a l." ’ The dark face Seemed to grow a trifle ‘darker, and the eyes appeared to re« cede. ' . . , .’ “I think you'd better put of! the in- Qujry." Was answered. “ I don’t want to have to/retuse you anything, Joe, but—" “Don’t, ,then," , broke in the youth. “I can wait, for it will come out some .. , day, and I’ll know who our backer is." “ I hope so, Joe. We’ll get on the road in a’few days, and then you’ll see the “ , money come‘in.” ' ' They proceeded to the street, and on . e pavement halted ,for,a. moment. -" “Thedark man lit a cigar while the I acrobat watched him with more than pausing curiosity. ‘ ' “To-morrow, Joe. Don‘t orget the hour," said George Farrell. " I'll. be prompt, and I shall expect as much of ‘:, \. v “That’s all right," was the answer, wand they parted. 5 0n the corner the youthful acrobat z», stopped, andlooked at the figure making ' it the street. , - »' The well~built figure and Clear-cut 3, face oistrreii were still'in sight, and (Joe Vincent watched them till they van- ‘L I y ' \ 4 “.I might have solved a part of the 1 4 mystery by following him," he sudden- ' "1y thought. “ It We me not a little. . 1 like him and I don like: him. He has eyes I can't fancy. for they seem,.to ’ ; read one’s inmost thoughtsj‘and. then I catchhlm gloating over me as a hawk Igloats over a dove, though I’m» not exact- 11.13; lywn bird of that sort. "Is heigoing to ‘ Jase Gopher. the evil genius of my life? flake going to have a talk with the man- ‘ agar of the Great American, or will he drop in upon our- mysterious hacker—— the; ld-bug who is sending the Great . Ame on the road? I’d like. to 5,, knOWo". \_ i ‘ ' x The circus performer was in] doubt first what to do. Why not shadow the other and thus solve at least one of his ‘ :doubts? ‘ - " X , He could at‘ least do, that, and.“ once r‘ ‘ar‘ted 'on‘ his quest—to shadow [George 11. -, , , I .21That individual has turned the-iith merger; ' was walking" down " -’“f[~ '5» teen win the long hairs of the black mustache and made him lower his face. ' A good many people were on the street, but soon the young acrobat caught sight of the familiar figure, to discover that Farrell was not alone. He had a companion~a man a. little shorter than himself and as heavily set. They were close together and evident- ly were conversing. “ That's Gopher now! " exclaimed Joe, the moment he saw the new man. “ Is it an accidental meeting, or was Gold- star waiting for Farrell round the cor- ner? ” He neared the couple; and tried to catch the trend of their conversation, yet not for the world would he have been seen. “It's all 0. he heard Farrell’s companion say. “There’s nothing. ab- solutely nothing, in the way." “ That‘s good.” _ “We have the whole matter right in‘ our hands, George.” ‘ “Yes, yes, and there it's safe. How’s the boy doing?” “ Splendidly! " cried Farrell. “ He im- proves every time he practices. He’s a marvel on the bar, and he'll do equally’ as well in the ring.” “ That’s good. Fairy is mastering her art just as well, and she’ll be the draw- ing card, next to Joe.” For a moment the two men walked along in silence; then the listener heard Farrell ask: " He never suspects, Gopher?" “ Not he! Why, the stream will flow Just as long as we keep our eye on it." “ And as long as they don’t suspect.” “That’s true; but how can they find out? You see, I’m looking after that part of it, and the secret belongs to us and to no one else." - “ Yes, yes; but there’s the Man. in Blue—the little felow who vanished some years ago.” I Gopher Goldstarlaughed. “ He's dead,‘George,” he said. “ It I thought so—if I had the proofs of that—I could go out on the road with the Great. American all \right”. “I can’t convince you, it seems: but, never fear. The little man's-dead, and we won’t be bothered by his ghost.” Bythis time the two had reached a corner, and in a moment.more had van- ished from Joe Vincent's eyes. When the acrobat came to the corner they were gone as if the sidewalk had opened and swallowed them! ' He looked in every direction, but the two were notto be seen. . A few steps from where he stood was the half.open door of a saloon, and' be- yloiifid8 it a restaurant famous for its 3 v ‘ , I " Farrell likes a grilled bon‘e,” thought Joe. ‘I But I’ll not disturb him. Let, them go. They've got something new out their string and they're bleeding the man who is putting up for the Great American. Why should I make a fuss so long as. I get my wages and haves, good time on the road?" , Heturned back without investigating either the restaurant or the saloon. “Iowan-1d like to see this patron," thought the acrobat. “ I would like to know the person who is putting up all the money and keeping in .the back- ground“, George oncetold, me that he was, a retired sport, andl heaven knows there's a lot of them in New York. But all of themaren’t' m’ liionaires. This" Croesus is oddity. 8 (1 he Opens the" floodgates of gold at Ferrell's b ddi‘ng, f and the yellow stream seemsto. ow on. - forever. ” k ' i . v H Joe's musing was stopped by a person =‘who accdsted him, and he «Iv-looked down into the face of‘a boy. , , “You couldn't give a teller snickel, eh.‘b6ss?"’ piped the little chap; “It’s just this way. I'm, Buttons. that’s‘ail. You kin1 that} ain’t‘Wanderbilt or Jay Gou " " ‘- is ' Great American ‘03) its low 0 not the rich bloke what ' He caught the boy's arm and dragged him into a convenient doorWay. “What do you know about the Great American?” he asked- , “A good deal, boss, but, you see, I’m not connected with the show, though I ’ knows something about the managers—- )Gentleman George and Gopher. Why, them chaps ought ter be elsewhere in- stead o’ managin‘ a show what is about ' ter start out an’ rake in the sheckels. If it wasn't for the backer—an’ he’s a daisy, you see, with the rocks an' the disposi- tion—why, they’d be walkin' ties in some’ country district ‘over in Jersey. But‘ they’re shrewd, though; they know just how ter squeeze the goose what lays the golden eggs, an’ there’ll never be too much pressure put onto the squeezer— jes’ enough ter fetch the rocks.” I “But who is this man—the backer of the Great American, I mean?” The boy—Buttons—drew back the length of the acrobat’s arm and gave him a stare of wonder. “What's it ter you?” he asked. “I jes’ happened ter mention that I wasn’t that individual for fear you. might take me for him.”: “ But you know who he is? ” r “I know.” Joe dived one hand into the depths of his pocket and drew out a quarter. He placed it in the boy's hand and pressed his slender finger down over it. “ Jeewhiz! ” cried Buttons. “ You must have a gold mine somewhere.” , “ Not quite, but I pay for information.” “ Like a prince, at that,” said But- tons. “ I’ll be liberal with you. His name is Harold Hart." ‘ r “ You don't mean Hart, the million- aire, the man who last year got his name in the papers by several eccentric acts? " , “ The same man. Why, he’s rich. That’s the man who is behind the Great American; but if Farrell an’ Gopher knew what I’ve been tellin’ you they’d have spasmn" "Nearly, if not quite,” observed Joe Vincent, with a smile. " Harold Hart, eh?“ Why, he's not regarded as entirely responsible.” " . . i ' . “He’s responsible enough for Gentle-w man George and Gopher,” grinned But- tons, as he drew of! I stop. "He «need to §be a sport, himself—Hart: did, He used ter roller and, back the hosses. But he don't‘fdo that any more. He’s past it, but 0 takes an interest in the sporting worl , and him an' Floss—” “ Who'svfloss? ” ‘ ‘ “ His ward.x Don‘t know her, eh? No? Don’t try ter get acquainted. If you do you’ll find Gopher in your hair, an’ Go— pher’s a holy terror when he's roused.” “ You don't tell me that Gopher wants, ' to possess the girl besides robbing the old man? " Joe exclaimed. . ~ 2.1 x “ I make no charges," retumedBut- tons. 7‘ Let ’em fight it out. I know Gopher an' I’ve seen Floss. Iistso‘ know a little about George Farrell an a trifle» about Harold Hart... ‘Beyofid that I 60'0": go. See?" \ , .1 b _ Joe Vincent turnedzdway and ‘10“ the boy looking after him. . Luck had come to him. direct, and he knew the named! the mysterious. back- er otjthe Great. American Circus about to stag-gentile ' , ,. s v , : _"0\il' backer to-morrow," he said ‘ himself. I want to see this liter-old. rt. I'll drop into the ‘Her: )3 ald‘foliice and, see if there's anything. for me!" I - , Within a pinute he held three letters in his hand. and drawing back a little ‘he selected. one and terq it open. -. The next instant he started and. flushed: , “If you really mean business. meet . me in Room ‘D,’ No. -,-——\Hester Street, ,, ’at.four p. mic-marrow, the 23d. = _ ' Climax”; ‘ Joe Vincent looked Waugh-1001.149 smile. ., . ,. , I .. - ’ a1‘31 knew my, acute at thnt,hour.";ag~ ,, .7, , 1 lie (1, folding letter. "I ‘ .V V ’1‘“ ‘ l , ., \ ‘s . n» ..-.~-' . . 5. y 3 ‘ CHAPTER II. A TERRIBLE DOOM. The young acrobat walked home in a reflective mood. I, The other two letters he left unopened in his pocket, but in his little room he read the first again. i “ I would go, and see if he was in now, 5 ' but I wouldn't be carrying out his wishes,” he said aloud. “ To-morrow at four isn’t very long to wait, and I’ll not bother him before." The reply which the young man had received at the newspaper office referred to the following advertisement which he had left there the night before: “Wanted, a partner with some capi- tal. Business not risky, but good, cool- headed man needed. Partner must have a good knowledge of the world, and be discerning and quick. Nerve.” When Joe thought of the- other mis— sives reposing in his pocket unread he took them out and opened them. The first he threw aside with a laugh, but the second he rea twice. “A little too anxio s, and wants to know just what the business is by mail. I can't do that,” said Joe, the acrobat, and then he threw the letter into the fire with its companion. “ I’ll stick to ‘ Climax.’ He doesn’t mince matters and choose his words. I‘ll try him to-mor‘ row afternoon.” - Meantime, in another part of the city, _ ‘ the first shadows of a deep mystery were ., falling. 2 Harold Hart, the eccentric moneybags, sat alone in a sumptuously appointed i room in the “L” of hi elegant resi- " den‘ce; - glasses, while a man in a chair near his .1 deskwas talking in a low voice. ' Harold Hart was just sixty. He had about him the look of the old bean or sport, and'he had been both in his time. ' lie ind amassed a large fortune, part- ’ 1y 'through his business tact, and partly \ by rare good luck, and if he was sixty he did not look if. for time had dealt gently with the old habitue of the tracks. His ViSl'Ol was a little man with con- tracted shoulders and deep-set. eyes. He moved his hands rapidly while he talked, and his eyes got a singular light as they regarded Hart. “ I ,can't Just see through your scheme,” said the millionaire. “There may be something in it—" “ But you must! " cried the other, ris- ing partly in his chair and fixing upon hart a glance that seemed to startle him. T e old 'm'an’smiled. “ ot quite sq fast. Nathm Money- :box." said he, reprdvingiy. ., ",But you must, ‘I say. Without a start I go down'to the gutter. I’ve invested my all in the venture." " How much was that? " u ,’ “A good deal to mes" , Hi “Who never had much.” The iittie’man’a eyes flashed. . . For half a minute he glared at Harold Hart like a cornered tiger or a teased rattlesnake, and then he laid his hand 3’“! _ on the table. v .5 ' This hand had but three fingers. ~ v One of these beasts-d of a scar that ran the whole length d it and ended ' only where there was no more linger for it to appear on. a . _ Hart. glanced at the hand and then .. ' , up into the face of its owner. " i “ Go on." he said. “ You were going to speak}! ., “I will. I say you must help me or by the heavens‘above us, I'll peach." I The words came from the little man inguick succession and like the snap- ping, of whips. I The millionaire only looked across the xtable and then” smiled. t , . i ~ I v ‘f You think I dcn't know anything? " cried..Nathan. Moneybox. ,. I 1.“! say so.» . 3 “No; ya know better." ‘ “ng1, how much do you want.“ ‘ mail man‘staited. He was about \ s 1 ,. I / 3.x ’5 ll. 5 g? 7‘ , i ii‘ i. E f i toying with his gold-rimmed . to win. Harold Hart was yielding; he had frightened him. “It’ll take only ten thousand," said he promptly, as if he had decided on the amount some time before. “ Is that all you want? ” asked Hart. u Yes", I “ You’re not very hard on me." “ Not when you have your millions at your call day and night.” “ Men lie on me.” “ They do, eh?" and the little 'man laughed. “You don’t deny that you’re rich? ” A “ I‘ won’t starve.” “I should say not,” ejaculated the other, and thenihe,watched Hart as he rose and slowly crossed the room. In one corner of the apartment stood a large safe, the doors of which were elegantly painted. Nathan Moneybox had seen‘it before. In fact, it was the first thing his greedy eyes had ferreted out in the room, and he wondered how much it held. I“ Ten thOusand,” said Hart, glancing at his visitor. "You won’t come back for more, eh?” “No, that will put me on my feet .again, and from to—night I will take a new start.” . Harold Hart stepped to the hall and looked out. He glanced up the stairs there and then turned back into the library. Nathan Moneybox was still looking at the easure house belonging to the mili~ ionaire, and the steps of Harold Hart rcusedhim. a" Check or cash, Nathan?" Hart. . “cash, if it’s all the same to you.” Hart opened the safe, swinging back the strong doors with startling ease, and then he beckoned his visitor forward. Nathan Moneybox stepped forward. , “I want you to see if I'm as rich as they make me out.” smiled the retired sport. “When you have robbed me of the ten thousand you can see what you have left.” ' , There was a large space in the safe, almost large enough for a man like“ Na- than ‘MoneybOX «to stand erect there. Hex’did not catch the sn‘dden,,basiiisk glitter of the eyes that Watched him. He did not look at the white face of the old sport, nor note the eagerness with, which he watched him approach the treasure box. " asked “A little closer, Nathan. You can’t» see all I wantto show you," said Hart. Nathan Moneybox forgot all about dan- ger in his desire-to inspect the interior df the .safe. - He bent forward. and was right in front of the door. He saw a deep recess, and beyond it little iron doors and dryw- ers. But no money, not a single note; “ Cash, did you say, Nathan?” cried Hart, as his long hand fell suddenly upon his visitor‘s collar, “I’ll let you count it for yourself. Ha, ha, ha. Ydu can count money, can't you? "I ‘ ' Then, and not till then,"did the lit- tle man scent danger. When he was in the paws of 'the lion v_he\saw that he wasin the shadow of death. Harold Hart dragged his. caller still closer to he open safe; he pushed him across the th‘eshoid, showing wonder- ful strength for one of his yearns , . Nathan pulled back. but as well might he have tried to break from the Jays of a steel vise. . “l’ll let you do themoounting, friend Nathan,” laughed mercilessly. “‘ You came for ténthousand dollars, ydu’ll find ten times ten‘ thousand in, the safe, w ich shall become your grave." ‘ ntc thesafo was Nathanpushed de- - spite his struggles. as could not escape immurement, for he was in the hands of a madman, and his tongue seemed pasted to the roof of his mouth, and terror froze his, very blood. \ , . - ' . With a cry‘ which waslittle more than a groan he was Jamaica against the iron drawers and the great steel of‘the safe, was swung 0PM. v backing these’ k. man had a special visitor connected with I ;;f bod. ‘ reclined the eyents of the past night. “Help! help!” wailed the imprisoned man, but a heartless laugh was all the answer he received. He was held against the drawers, and . the door of the safe shut upon him. No cry, no sound came from beyond the portals after they were closed. Hamid Hart went back to his desk. He sat down and picked up a pen, if which he dipped into a cut-glass ink- stand. ' :1]? Only once did he glance toward the _‘ , safe, and then he quickly looked away. 71" For five minutes he wrote rapidly and without looking up. He covered a sheet of legal cap closely written and sealed it with some crimson wax which he took from the desk. ' In another instant the door leading into the hall opened and a young girl \" looked into the room. Their eyes met. “It was a false alarm," said the girl at the door. “ I thought something had happened to you." ‘ “ To me, Fiona? No, indeed—not to me,” and the girl did not catch the bid- den meaning in'liarold Hart‘s reply. ' She shut the door, but immediately rapped on it. “You're going to bed soon, aren’t you?” she asked from the other side of the hall door. ' “In a few minutes, pet,” was the re- sponse, and then footsteps went up the stairs. ’ " The old beau’s ward entered her room‘ and drew a chair to the table. .. She had heard strange noises in the library, which was directly beneath her room. and she had heard some one utter the word “help” once at least. , It was this which had 8 led her be- fore and taken her down sta rs. But‘Harold Hart was safe and well. " After all, she must have fallen into a‘ doze, and while in that'state dreamed the whole thing. , . “I'll wait till I hear him go to his room,” thought the girl. “ He is acting strangely of late, and, besides, he is men in a mannerd don't like.” g , Floss opened a novel and readuntil. her eyes grew heavy. ‘ ‘ . She could notkeep awake, and throw-n ‘ ’ " ing down the book, she went to the door,» and looked down over‘ the banisters. 1 1‘ 3 There was a‘light in the library and voices. , ' , . Once she thought of going down and investigating, but thinking that her guar- the Great American Circus. which_.Har-‘ ,. old Hart was putting on the road, she retired to her apartment and went; to- She slept soundly and for some with nothing to disturb her. ‘ ‘ ,r ,/ When she. awoke. the first streaks of e day were shining into her room, and she v; hours ' 1,”; The‘ girl, who was not headlining? though the possessor of ‘a strong we , gifted with 0d looks, went to the door' 1 and listen with it slightly ajar. , ‘ .; Alia once she heard a screamthatt .' nearly ifted her off her feet. , » \i '1 ‘ “Help! help! There’s murder done?"- ~ rang out the cry which came up the; stairs. - y ( , ; Floss sprang to the head of the night}. andllhokeddowng . ~ She saw that the library doornwas‘i opened," and hat in front df itstbod- a I , tall, w‘iliowy girl. With :the Whiteett’of, ' faces and terrorestrieken. . ‘ ’ , ‘ ‘ -- “hit was Nevis, the housemaid. In there! in there! " shrieked .the tan girl; wlv‘i she' caught 'sight of Pi overhead, and at the same time she M ed! into the library. ‘fHe's been and _ dorm? killed by. some assassin inrthe, ,_ n ,_ , . N ., .§\ ' Fins went down the flight faster than she‘ had ever descended those steps.‘ . ,‘ . Nevis grasped '11 am, d pushed_her"."rr acrossth library'threshol . ii a a I 4‘ Gentleman George, the Showman-Sport. Floss went down the flight faster than forward, she saw more than the outlines of the dread thing on the carpet—she saw the doubled-up figure of Harold Hart and the unmistakable signs of murder. CHAPTER III. SI’ANGLICS. Joe Vincent, the acrobat, slept well enough that night and early the next morning he was on the street seeking his breakfast a short distance from his lodgings. He recalled the actions of George Far- rell and Gopher the preceding night, and whilefihc drank his coffee he wondered what they had done toward helping the Great American Circus on its way. , Of course, during his breakfast he thought of Harold Hart. the mysterious backer, and how the two worthies were bleeding the old millionaire sport. A morning paper lay within reach of his hands, but he did not pick it up. He therefore missed a vivid account 'of the finding of the millionaire dead in his room, with certain signs of murder all around him. If Joe had picked up the newspaper he might have missed the best part of his breakfast and have quitted the little cafe sooner than he intended. He went up to the room where he practiced on the horizontal bar and went through with his morning work there. He was not disturbed, and, having some hours before him, he sauntered away smoking a cigar and taking his ease. When he met George, according to the terms of the separation the previous night, that worthy did not say anything startling, and when they parted again it was with assurance that the cir— cus was coming on in great shape, and would startle the show world in due time. Vincent was extremely anxious to meet the person who had answered his ad— vertisement, and a few minutes before the hour he turned in to Hester Street. The number was not hard to find, and Joe rang the hell with a good deal of impatience. The portal was opened by a woman, and, asked to be shown to room “D,” be was directed, and presently stood at the fateful door. The young acrobat did not have to wait long for a summons to enter, for immediately after his knocks he was told to push. the door open and cross the threshold, which he did. The next instant Joe Vincent stood startled in the middle of a plainly-fur- nished apartment, and his eyes seemed to bulge from his head. A man several years his senior had risen from a chair, and was laughing as he held out his hands. “So you’re the chap who tolled me into this meeting?” cried Joe, when he found his tongue. “I didn’t recognize your handwriting nor did I dream of you at all." * “Of course not," laughed the other. " I’m glad it’s you, Joe, for there’s no- body I_d sooner help than you.” The two men shook hands, and Joe was waved to a chair, which he took. “ This is a surprise, Spangles,” said he. “I never thought of finding you when I put my ‘personal’ in the paper. Fact is, I’m almost ashamed of what I’ve done.” “No, that’s all right, Joe. I might have heard of’you a little later on, but now that you’re here, why, we can com- pare notes. What are you doing?” “ What you said I would do some time —practicing on the trapeze and doing a- ‘ little bare-back.” “ Like your father before you.” Joe Vincent started. ' “Pardon me, Joe," cried Spangles. “I didn’t intend hurting your feelings, but you know Ix. once told you that I be- lieved your father was at one time con- nected with the profession. and——" ' " “I remember, Spangles! I am follow, H‘ l '4 . I V‘ 1v.:lf.‘"v‘.-‘lv.“\’i17- 1- ing in his footsteps then, for I‘m con— nected with the Great American Circus.” “ It’s a new one, isn't it, Joe?” "Yes," answered the acrobat. “You may have heard something of the pro- jectors—«Farrell and Goldstar." Spangles leaned toward Joe, and for a moment looked him in the face silently. “Do you mean George Farrell?” he slowly asked. “That‘s his name, known as Gentle— man George, the Showman Sport." “ I’ve heard of him. When did he come here?” “I can‘t say. He's in with Goldstar, and they’ve got the Great American fair— ly on its feet, and, with plenty of money behind them, why, they’re liable to make it go." “Plenty of money? the aggregation, Joe?” “A mysterious friend, I believe." “A no-name friend, eh?” “He has a name, of course, but I never knew it till last night. I have been puzzled over the unknown for some time, but last night, I happened to run across a bit of luck, and now I know something about the moneybags behind us." “ IVell? I would like myself to know just who’s backing that precious pair? " “His name is liart—«i-Iarold Hart, the somewhat eccentric money—bug who is known for doing a good many strange things.” Spangles leaned back in his chair and looked steadily at his companion for a full minute. “You haven't heard of it, then?” he asked. “ Heard of what?” “The death.~the crime—the strange and diabolical mystery which so far is too dark for the police of Gotham! ” The breathless acrobat shook his head. “I have heard nothing,” he said as he watched Spangles. “Well, the Great American is liable to be stranded right here in New York. Its backer is dead.” “ Harold Hart? ” “Yes, he was murdered last night. His ward, Floss, and the maid, found him. I haven't been up there yet, but I’m going.” “,Did you know him, SpangleS?" “ I’ve seen the man, and I know some- thing about his acts. A queer man, an old racer, and, in early life, a. circus rider.” “ I never knew that of him.” “ But it’s a fact. He followed the races and the shows. He liked both; the lat- ter, however. held him the tightest, and he went so far as to become part OWner of a. little circus which traveled through Pennsylvania, and did considerable busi- ness. But afterward he came to New York, struck a streak of luck, went into Wall Street and—you know the rest, Joe.” Joe Vincent did not speak for a little while. Who‘s backing “ It may change the plans for the‘ Great American. We have everything in readiness, were about to start out, had the property purchased and the day of delivery set. I don’t care if it does alter our plans, now that I’ve found you again, Spangles. What are you doing?” A singular look came into Spangles’ eyes. “I’m doing nothing in particular. just now,” he answered, evasively. “But, let me become ‘Climax’ again, and you ‘Nerve,’ and get down to business. You got my letter and you want a partner in a. ‘risky business.’ Well, Joe, I'm ready.” “But, hang it all, it seems so strange, my meeting with- you, and the outcome of my ‘ personal.’ I don’t believe I'll state the matter. It might sound foolish to you. Spangles.” “ Go ahead. I won’t be Spangles again till we’re through with the other matter. Remember, I’m ‘Climax.’ Go ahead, Joe. What was the risky business? " The young aerobatipulled his chair 'i t /‘ .. ’ I is»; i . r ' ,, . \ .., i forward until he could lay his hand on his companions arm. For a moment the two friends thus singularly brought together looked at one another, and then Joe Vincent said: “I want to find my father. That’s the risky business.” “Is that all?” “All? Isn’t that a good deal?” cried Joe. “I'll admit that it's something of a. mystery—a good deal of a mystery. Why do you want to find this out? ” “Because I want to prove that what. George Farrell said to me in a, tiff the other day is a lie.” The speaker‘s cheeks flushed with in— dignation and for a second the flush did not vanish. “What did he say?“ asked Spangles. “He said that l was a child of the gutter, and that I got my suppleness there." “The scoundrel!" cried Spangles. “My first impulse was to fly a: his: throat and pin him to the wall. I had a fair chance at him, for we. were alone in our practice room; but all at once the door opened and Goldsar came in. This served to cool my anger, and it saved George a torn throaL, if no.hing more, for l wouid have mashed ii..; dark face against the papcring‘." “I wish you had, although you would have lost your 3')» with the Great Amer— ican." “I would have surrendered it gladly to have had the pleasure of blacking the rascal’s eyes! I'll quit it yet. The thought of his insulting remarks mad- dens me when I think of it." Spangles said nothing in reply, but. looked across the room, permitting his gaze to wander to the opposite side of the street, where the first shadows of night were already gathering. “I want to know," suddenly contin— ued Joe, the young acrobat, “ if that, re» mark is true. I want to know it, and if a lie—and I believe it is one—~I must know it, so as to fling the insult back into its maker’s face with a. pair of fists behind it." “Why did you say that your business was ‘ risky’ ? ” “I believe there are people who don’t want me to solve this family mystery. Then, it will take some money, but I’m willing to throw into the hunt my sal— ary and all my energies. Not long ago some papers, which I thought might throw some light upon the past, were stolen from my room, and I never picked up a clew to the robber.” “There is some mystery here,” said Spangles. “I’m with you, Joe. You can count on Spangles. I have some money, and can get help in that direction if‘I need it." “That’s good. You’re a god-send, Spangles. I’ll never forget you,” and Joe would have grasped his friend’s hands if they had not been quietly but firmly withdrawn. “ I’ll quit the circus, and we’ll devote our whole time to this search.” “Do nothing of the kind,” broke in Spangles. “Stay right where you are. I don’t doubt your ability to make a first— class acrobat—” ’ “They call me that now,” said Joe, proudly. “So much the better. You see, you will soon make a name. not only for yourself, but for the circus. Now, Joe, I’m‘Spangles again, and if you’ll go with‘ me, we’ll investigate this murder on Twenty-eighth Street.” “ The murder of Harold Hart?” “ Yes.” “ I can’t stand such things, Spangles—'— - never could," said Joe Vincent. “By and by I'll get a little more nerve, but if nerve is needed in this search of ours, why, you can count on me. It’s to be the effort of my life.” Spangles rose and went to the win— dow. Joe saw him look down into the street. and for some time watched him closely. (no: sesame ‘told. Spangles suddenly turned and came back. . “What day do you start?” he asked. “I heard Gentleman George say that 'within a week we‘d be on the road with (“blurs flyingffg. , “You are likely, to go ’very soon.” “I can’t see how; if our backer is dead.“ ~ “Oh, that makes no difference. How would you like to have me go along, Joe?” Joe Vincent uttered a. cry of delight. “The very thing! I‘ll speak to the managers about a place for you!” he exclaimed. “Not on your life,” .said Spangles, solemnly. “Say nothing to them about me. I may be with you all the same, . Joe. I like life on the road. I know a few old tricks in circus life which I can improve on and make a hit. Silence now. Meet me to-morrow at“ nine in this room. Remember, I am ‘Climax’ 1n ' one. sense, but to you always, Joe, I am Spangles. I am Spangles, the Spotter—" 1 “Great heavens! the truth is out at ast." . Yes, but the secret is ours as yet. I am going to grapple this new mystery of murder-the puzzle on Twenty-eighth Street.” CHAPTER IV. THE MAN IN THE SAFE. Meantime, in the home of the eccen- tric man known as Harold Hart there was mystery and consternation. I The finding of the dead body 0n the floor first by Nevis, the maid, and then by Floss. had spread rapidly,“and the police ,had carried it fir t to headquar‘ ters and thence to the ewspapers. It was murder! ' . There was no doubting this, for the signs of crime were so plentiful that the , dullest‘ manfhunter need not withhold‘ his opinion for an instant. In‘the little room she occupied on the secOnd flo'or stood the determined-look— , ing' girl called “ Old Hart’s angel.” ' Floss was alone, audit was the morn-V ing after the crime. , 1 She could hear voices on the floor he ‘ low, but she did not appear tolisten. She knew that detectives were at work, i that strange men were in the house, men ‘who had never entered it before that ‘ « day, and she knew,,too, that the report: er was inquiring into everything he 'could find with all the ardor oi the eager .158? et i . ~ I ,,was a long tfiie'enoon tot Floss, ‘ W g'r story halt a dozen times, and ...had- retired to her room“, leaving orders with Nevis that she was " ‘not- in to “the inquisitive any longer. By and: by the house became stillrto' be stared at by passers¥by and to be- come an object of interest to all. on the. street. . It was nearly five in the: afternooni' when Floss heard Nevls’s footsteps 9n " ‘the stairs. ' . The tall maid, came to the door and an ad lightly. ~- ' oss opened it and looked at the card w lclr the maid extended. I ." “.Where 1:. .the owner or the .card, ' __ eyis?z”:’she asked. . " “"111 e“ parlor." " what. isthe” like? " » .‘ 3%, a: Qupz'xnian, good-looking, as unemgo‘, hdto me he looks more like >.’ s‘ont' t an {a ‘detective,.but, then, I .ne'a ly don‘t know." 2 . . . ‘;,F,'loss glanced at the card“ again. and, finder her hrsaihrread the name it cons. ital, ed. "pyrusSpanglesJV - -' " ‘t 11 ' him, Nevis," she said,.wh‘ere- on “tha’maid withdrew, and glided ‘ . 33-. V . ' . . .. :;-Flhs‘s,-made very little ‘breparatg n- ton est theyihan who. awaited} her the ‘ had,ln;a_;tew (minutes sheepened and appeared to 1101‘ Visa felt that this person was Cyrus Spangles, .eyesv _ , . tory. . “ till .1,ook."tor,g‘the little card now. ' ~» file wroteth‘e combination on a card and ‘ keptit at onetime in his room’g-k with- is" m. the owner'of the card. He stepped forward quickly and threw a swift glance toward the door which led into the hall, and opposite which was the portal of the library, the scene of the tragedy. “I am Cyrus Spangles, miss}? said he. “I am not here to disturb you, but I am here to find, it I can, a clew to this horrid catastrophe.” “Another detective?” said Floss. “You may call me that, though I am not connected with any particular agency." “An independent, I presume. I have been interviewed by several since the discovery, but I do not see why I should refuse to give you the particulars as i know them.” , ‘.‘I am not here for that. I read your .story in the newspapers, and I suppose you have been correctly reported." “In those I looked over my story was not mutilated,”.smiled Floss, and then she w ed for Spangles to proceed. ' “ W uld you mind letting me look at theroom? ” he asked. 1 “Come,” she said. “He is not there L—now. They have taken him into another part of thevhouse, but the furniture has not been moved in the library." _ Floss led the way from/the parlor across the hall~and-’ into the darkened room where the crime ‘had'been com- 'mitted. “It was here," she said, ,waving her hand towardthe desk as she turned upon the young detective. “Just what took place here last night is known only to one living person, the assassin.” “You incline to the opinion that there was but one?” . “Really, I” can’t any, but I think so.” “ What is missing? ” “ Nothing.” This laconic answer, seemed to stump Spangles. , ‘ He glanced at the safe. “ Has it been opened since? ” heasked. “It has not.“ I ' * “ The combination, I suppose, isthe dead ma ’3 secret.” ‘ - “I'm at so) sure about, that,” said Floss. . ‘ “.Do you know it,.miss?"’ , “I .do not, but Harold Hm! Was a queen man in: many ways. Atoone time he was very forgetful, and I have known ,him to leave the queere'St memoranda about the-gousonvat’ one time he left the combination of his sate in his room.” I i“ When was that? ” , .._ a “ Three. months, since." , ., .»“Did,he‘ often change the combina- tion?”; ' . ~- \ - “ Not; that. I know of. -Heladhered to . one, I, believe, newline; coursed am not sure.'.‘ ,. . a . , “The “interior or :thegsate might fur,- nish. a clew," gsaid'._,8pangives,, .‘iooking. sharply at. Floss. -“.You say the stitches not, been openedhsincethe discovery?" “ hat is, true.\. ’1‘ ey*‘=,intend to. open it, t ough. 'Neyi gsa d’». e“ superintend- ent has gi‘senuou ; suCh ,, more." ,_ " Then, it we adgthei'proper combina- tion, we .could, torestail' them , all?’ ‘1. .1 seem seé!_';."ened,'tne girth: her goitia suddemg‘leam of coming vice , "In anotheri‘nstant.8panglesf her on the stair. audithen he’ togwatt for her'return.» _ . ‘ In less than. five minutesi‘he, saw. the figure ht in: millionaires. wand... mun-d . into the we " d the-momenthe greet,” ed her he saw a, malliwhtte card clutched tightly ’ in her hand... I z ' »“‘It was unexpected. firmnechrlod". Floss. ,“ Th4: is the .‘samez-‘cardhe once»i ,hsed,_..butt then, *you ‘see, he,may.,,havg than 9d t ' “ mi: . 9’99: bo'wmlbifiatlQmY‘, ‘ ~ 3.19.13 a: .P “Do you know anything about open- ing safes, Mr. Spangles? ” asked Floss. “ A little, miss,” came over the detec- tive’s shoulder. “This one may defy us. though.” and he stopped and began with the “key” on.the card. . Floss, standing near the desk under the electric light, watched him intently and seemed to hold her breath. Suddenly Spangles looked at her with a glance it was impossible not to inter- pret. ‘ The girl darted forward. “You have found it out?” she cried. “It was the right key, after all.” Spangles nodded slightly. 5 “How fortunate,” and she clasped her hands. “Now, if the safe should give youa clew—" ' ' Spangles had grasped the steel knob ‘ of the massive doors and was tugging at it. . i ‘ - Floss scarcely breathed; perhaps, after all]: she had failed with the supposed Id .e v.’, “ They will have to open it by aid of an expert,” she was saying. whenSpan- I, gles pulled the door open and nearly lost ' his balance in the effort: ‘ The next moment something relieved by the opening door fell out on the mat in front of the safe, and Floss, with a. horrified glance at it, recoiled with "a. 1‘ cry. ' “Merciful heavens! . another dead f man,” she exclaimed, while Spanglesp. looking down at the thing-at his feet, said nothing, but seemed to be thundera struck. ' i The light shone full upon the black-r ened face of .the man awho had rolled . from the safe of steel with his 11 (is m torn andclenched and his lips bit en." through. ' “Who did it? In heaven’s name, how _ came be there? " cried the girl, looking“ at Spangles. “Is this to be anothermys- .. tery of murder?” . V ,‘ " “Who is he?" asked Spangles. "' Have you ever seen this man before, miss?” f _ Floss moved forward, her gaze riveted-g ». on therterrible spectacle on‘ the carpet," and for half a minute ofbreathless Jute lence she gazed down into‘the face at" herteet.‘ . - “ It looks like one of his visitors; i1: didn’t come very often”. she ham at" a t. . t i; “Whatwas-his name?” .' ' «“Harnld Hart called him Nathan “Nathan what?” t. r y Floss ‘shook‘ her head. - ' " g “ I don’tknow. «Once I'h‘eard‘ hi thisman Nathan‘l—it' was in the hall. months ago, They stood face to Iaceifikm enemies, but I never asked Harold}! ' why it was so. But he was in there-e" dead!” . 4. A. ', '9 “ Yes, crushed between the ironldra. . ers 'of the Bate. and“th6 bis (1001‘: musthave taken a powerful man to its” pushed 131m inflthere against his will: Fl""ndd£lred.“ ' " l “ e. verys strong." she said, low-tones. ;. - A. ' - “Who? HaroldHartZ’t > " messseemed to catch at once 1; ri’ble inference that waste .be‘iv' raw immuner‘wor‘ds and poled; , a . ‘,‘_I don't accuse: him,‘?.:hrted Che. you. Cyrus Spansiwwl don’t accuse ‘Old.H¢rt 01.5crime...’bnt—,~'.’.. ' ‘ ’ She stopped indigent} ‘l'ooked d at the dead mam-me*.w ONE ,7" Its another mystery-5’" ,said .the testing,“ and‘..one‘swhich silent lips; » ‘ holdjoreverg” ‘5 ‘ ’ ~ ~ .4‘ v. . -“ think} #gunrrelled; 'Do inseam matte ‘ those “hens-and? flare! provedtthe masher? “ ‘ " He, knew‘um , , combinatidnfnifia ' Die whafihi' WM”..WY a if valuables dost-sire my Mr i. u... understand. ~' 1.3136319. I, murdered-met wan make him; l . . ' l ‘ . » i : “ The safe is air-tight when the door is shut,” he said. “ This man had no chance then." ' “But he‘ may have been dead when placed in the safe,” replied Floss. “He may have died suddenly of heart dis- ease in Harold Hart’s presence—” “ But the features, miss! Look at the blackened face and the unmistakable signs of agony. Look at the torn hands and the bitten lips. That man lived a year of torture in that safe after the door was shut, though, in reality, it was all over in less than two minutes.” “ It must be so. What keen hunters you men are! You will fasten this crime on Harold Hart. You will make him out a murderer and the public will applaud you. on won’t care who killed him." “ That shall become my mission, miss,” killed Harold Hart. He may have been justified in shutting that person up in the safe, even admitting that he did it, , ‘but I am most interested in the question: Who killed Harold Hart? ” “ The dead cannot talk, Mr. Spangles. The lips in yon room are closed for— ever. The man who killed him holds the secret." “And that secret shall be wrested from him! ” f Floss held out her hands. “Go and find him," she urged. “All I have is yours, and I am his sole heir, , it you selve this mystery—if you avenge r the death of Harold Hart. But this . body? ” ‘5} “The p lice must know everything,” decided angles. “But not just yet. Leave me alone with this mystery for a. little while, miss.” “All night, if you say, so,” and Floss, with another look at the idetective, swept from” the library. ’ ‘ Spangles followed her with a scrutin- _ izing gaze... . , , “ She’s a strange; girl, and there's ' something magnetic about her. I won- der‘ii Joe ever saw her? ” , 'Then he turned to the, safe, stepping' “river the dead body lying in front of it. ‘ CHAPTER ‘ V. SPANGLES JOINS THE snow. ‘ ’1 , dilatione hour later Spangies called for , ” Floss, and the young lady made her ap-' " , y'pearance. ' l «The looks at the detective had not changed, and the girl eyed him closely ‘ in hopes Of finding out it his search had , been successful; but he did net/in the ‘ 'vl‘eajst betray himself; " ' ‘ ,' “To all appearances he had not dis- ;turbed’the contents of the safe, the door .. ‘7' of which steed open,~just as it had when gheqstarted back as the dead man rolled jfiromitite safe, to the carpet. _ ' ,',I-Fi'o‘ls instinctively glanced at the dead v‘b‘ody, and then looked up at Spangles. 7 ‘ f“ I will notify the authorities,” said he. The ‘will not let it remain here." .. . “I trust not. You remember thatxyou' groto'avenge Hui-did Hart.” - « ja‘flel. wili not forget. miss." \ l " r. W-l'loss tpilowed the detective into th hall, and thence tether ddor, where she finds him good-night, and in a .1 little “while Cy Spangles/ was! on the street 3. first notified the,” propel-authorities or the new, mystery in the‘millionaire’s mansion. and then vanished. , I sit“ , hour, later he turned up at: .w ere he‘mpped. , r ' - hat! you, Cy?" c mad/who opened the noel-hand who. i tied the young stood lboking at 'him with genuine cu- gouty. “ I was not to’ meet you, ‘ogain i, td-morro‘w, but-thaw aims for you. new? A ' .1, Joe Vincent Waited tilt in r friend? 1 as had entered the.,litte doom ‘ ,helodxed, and then he turnédhbnr mmeriy. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ' I. i ‘ said’ Spangles. “I want to know who ‘ " we . 53's. xofi8;,0ut., this, in i’ « to be enga L '\ “ The‘plan exactly,“ laughed spangies, anything like this? " plans of the management, and we are to start day after to-morrow. George says everything is so nearly ready that we can get of! then, and they have decided to go.” i‘ But the dates, Joe?" “Oh, as to that, We shall open in an- other town from the one selécted and billed. George has telegraphed ahead." The detective seemed thunderstruck over this change of plans, but he quick- ly said: “I would go with you, Joe, if you had a. place for me.” _ “We have a place! If you can ride bare-back—” , “Can'tll?” laughed Spa gles. “You don’t know what all I’ve een doing since I saw ydu last, .109. Ride bare-back? Look at this old relic.” Spangles drew from his pooket-book a bit of folded newspaper and handed it to Vincent. It was a rural notice of a circus, and praised the 'bare-back riding of “Signor Mantelli." Joe looked up With a smile, “ You’re Mantelli, aren't you,” he said. “Yes. I passed then as Mantelli, the champion bare-back rider of the Royal Italian Circus. I’m a little out of prac- tice, for that was five years ago, but it won’t take long to get me in trim." “ Come with. me. We’ll see them to- night.” . Vincent picked uphis hat, but the hand of pangles touched his arm. “.No doubt you wonder at my eager- ness to become a part of the Great Amer- ican Circus?" said he. ' “I do, but I’m not asking any ques- tions. I’m content to have you with me on the road, Cy.” . “'All right. Silence ‘is, golden, they say, but I won’t always keep the secret from you, Joe.” ~ ' " To the mana'ement then They have, advertised for a. ew. rider, but intended to start out without him. They all seem ged, and you’ll just fill the bill." - , "‘Wait a moment. Did you ever see :Spangles, who had again dived into his pocket, produced an old-fashioned leather pocket-book, at sight of which Joe littered a sharp cry. ‘ “My papers were injust such a pock- et~book like that. _Let me see. I know some private marks on it, and it it is mi e—Here they are. 05’! This'is the poo et-book that contained the value.- ble papers when I missed them. Where are they? ” ’- ; ‘ I The eyes of the‘two friends met. ‘ . “I can only show' you the pocket-hook at present," said Spangles. . ~ .“ Then, it did not contain the papers? " " Not when-I found "it." i ‘ ‘ “That is bad. Perhaps the thief de- stroyed them.” \ i . That is to, be determined by.’ another and better search. He. may have “kept them. forjthey' must have been at 'some importance to him." ’ ' » “Yes, yes. But I l‘ ave that to your cunning. .Find the pop rsand. that will he the ‘iir t step on on trail. I don’t ask ydu t tellx mewhe‘re yen tound the pocket-book. 'I- dare n t.” ‘ ' Vinc’ént’s taco was qu to white," and the detective turned hi own away, nor did, he look at him ‘for minute. < " To George j,Farrell‘ now." said Joe. “ I‘ want him‘to see.Signor manteni. We are not close, friends, of course. I. ac-I 31:131me ran across xyou. Won’tthaLj o I r, ‘ 4 - t t snotty frigids left. the room together. " A temminut, ,shlded by Joe. 'hr0u8'ht /Spangles to, sf“ woéstory house. shaded t. \ 9:. dosing '_the afternoonuhy several trees. 1nd in _mwnse to Vincent's» ring the M!" W! cussed b1. is mummies a- mom up» x It ' EM? . trance he laid down » “ This gentleman is Signor ~Mantelli, the king of bare-back ridersand hurd- lers," said Joe, presenting Spangles. “I came across him accidentally, and, as he is out of a Job, I thought I would fetch him round and see if he wouldn't prove an attraction to the Great American." The keen, deep—set eyes of the Shows man Sport were already taking in the detective’s anatomy, and in another min-' ute he had opened the door of a. room to the right of the hall, saying: “We’re all here, so we’ll discuss the matter in open court, Signor. Step in." Into the well-lighted apartment stepped Spangles and stood face to face with a dark-faced. but handsome man, whom he guessed was Gopher Goldstar. “Signor Mantelll,” said Farrell, with a wave of the hand. “Out of a job, ran across Joe on the street, an'd they talked shop, of course. The Signor has [been I in the profession for some years. I think I have heard of him." “ He’s ’got recommendations in his pocket," put in Joe. “Show them your notices, Signor.” " The bogus Italian produced the news- paper clipping, and Goldstar, donning his gold-rimmed glasses, read it care- fully. g “It gives you a good send-off, sir,” he commented, looking up. “ Do you want a job? ” Mantelli bowed. I “ There happens to be just one opening in the Great‘ American,” resumed Gold- star. “If we can agree on the salai‘y—” “Don’t let that bother you. I want, to keep in practice and salary is‘ no‘ ob— Ject. This ntleman,” nodding to Joe, “ tellsLme that you» will go out day after to-morrow. That will suit me.” , Mantelli lookedlround the room while the two magnates of circusdom con- sulted in low t0nes, and presently Gold- star said: “The place is yours. Just now we can’t determine on the amount of salary to offer you. We suggest that it depends on the business we do.” ‘ ‘ “An excellentsuggestion," answered Spangles. , - . “Take care of the new star. Joe,” said ' a “ Farrell. “See that he doesn't get away between now and the time we start,” and both mapagers'lasghed. , ‘ I “Didn‘t' I tell 'yoqu‘d get you in, Spangles't-i’ cried the delighted Vincent, as they left the little. house together: “They’re'not .cheru'bs, as you can see at a glance, but they’re shrewd and cool- heade'déwjust the sort of fellows to’make it go. But, with. the hacker dead, mura- dered, as you say, I don’t see where the money is to come from. They know, no doubt, or else'they wouldn’t be ready to go out in so short a time." ' ,Spangles and Joe walked away tOgeth- er, andrat a certain corner the thinner. touched his companion's arm. ', , “I suppose they‘re talking over their new acquisition,” said he; a twinkle of "~ ,merriment in his eyes. "Farrell has changed very little,,imt Gold-star's race has rown considerably darker.” “ anyone! do you know those men?" cried Vincent. ‘ ” I’ve heard of the pair. ,This is’some- what of a.” new role~ for them, but they’re site"s.» r- ‘1“?! . 5‘69." 3 _ m .m- g. up to all so s of things [and schemes. ' Wait for here a moment. Joe.” , -, , Leavingv ncent'on the cbrner, s' an, i A gles hastened aw”. 811d entering a. all. ‘. way. ran up a flight 'ot'stairs, andsh ' " t: , into a small room fltted’ like a}. as. _- graph odice, ~ I ‘ . v A ydung man sat at the table reading between,messages, but at \Spangles’s en- the book andw’aitefd for work. . - ~ . . , , "‘ Spangles drew toward, him- a yellow}, ~ blank, and wrote a brietumessage, whien‘ iherhanded to thebperator. ,_ , .It Was acipher message. as the young M man saw at a glance, but he did” not rp- markiupo'n it. I He sat'down and solicit ' hileSpangles waited. , '1. ~. '- ll r: was audio ' theme, ' Win. < -. . . ~ ' ~ «v i» ._ I ‘ . < . .x g.’ and“; ,V n. t;— ., A a v .- ,- _.~ ‘ ‘5 .4 .,I;fi~*fl3;-u ,, - JV,“ fl" f . . 1. will tell.’ .,-- *SShO-Sport. . signs . .g "- .v‘ . “1 “No reply expected,” and the sender of the cipher message turned and walked out. i In another moment he was on the street, and rejoined Vincent, who seemed 'not to have stirred an inch since he left him. . They resumed their tramp together, and during the walk, Spangles narrated the story of his visit to Harold Hart’s hou , and the startling episodes! the dea man in the steel safe. “ In God’s name, how came he there? " cried Joe, looking at Spangles with wide open eyes. “What would you say after hearing about the crime? ” “I’d say—but it’s a. terrible accusa- tion—I‘d be compelled to‘say that Har- old Hart found that ‘he had a dangerous guest and deliberately thrust him into the safe.” - ,“‘It looks that way.” ’ “It looks no other way," said Joe. “Unless the man who killed Harold ,Hart was suddenly confronted by this stranger, and, in order to silence a. wit-- ness, landed him where you found him." “But no 0 e but Harold Hart knew the combinati n.” Joe nodded. “ I 'see. That does away with my theory. Harold Hart could tell the story of the dead man in his safe.” V . ‘ ' “But he never will unless he left he,— hind a confession, which, as yet, has not been found." “And Floss heard nothing?” “Nothing that gives a clew.” Joe was silent. ' “Did you ever see this girl, Joe?”. suddenly asked Spangles. 6‘ Once‘!) ‘ ’ ‘ J “ Where? "’ " " “In the park: I stopped her herse in ‘time to prevent an accident to her." “Wk/en was that?” f‘ Oh, six months ago.” r' -“ Did you know at the time who she “I felt a thrill run over me when our eyes met. She isn’t a beauty, Spangles, but‘there is something magnetic about the girl. She actually caused me to start—froze ‘my blood, as it were, and before I fully recovered she was gone." “ Did she tell you who she was?" . “No, one :of the bystanders did. He ' said she was as eccentric as her guardian, old Hart. By" Jove! at the time I [thOught she was. She’s sole heiress now, I and if Gopher captures her and gets hold at the‘money-bags, wiry, they’ll have enough. to‘run- the Great American dur- ing'tvlrp seasons, of failure. But“ she ‘ don't chime inwithithem, there's likely toxbe a time." , " ~ ’ “Yes,” said Spangles, lowering his 'voice. “ This strange, cold girl is almost as much of a mystery as the two al- ready in her house. But theGreat Amer- ican will reveal all or nothing/Joe. Time CHAPTER v1. j , .. , a PLAY NOT ox rm; BILLS, .5an week later, ina small city in the heart at Pennsylvania, :1 large tent might a have been seen pitched in a meadow; The )tneameraiii‘yini o‘ver the ca - .v‘as bore the letters “ .l A. 0.," wide the initiated knew meant “ Great Ameri~ can Circus," which had been tairlY» launchedandtwhichfor several days had . been playing ‘to’ good icrowds. , Gentleman: George) and Gapherraoid- star had managed.. the opening” with a V ' 1' d' dealrof acumen, and their eiforts» ’h ‘d been crowned with sue ss. ‘ ’fl'i‘hepersonnel of, the “Great Anteri- _ can " was good, as shows of its‘classgo; _there were 300 tumblers, riders and aerobat's‘: 'the " caution of ,the'ring” = were as prettyias the usual run-o! such vi~(i"people, and; as a 'whoie,.the managers -, able to congratulate themselves on ' i’ ‘ I J ,Lontiook. . .‘ x Kiri .. to ‘keep track offisome one in the crowd. been faithfully kept by both Joe Vincent .and Spangles.» r Spangles had. proved quite an acquisi- tion to the ring and the “ Italian ” had won a great deal of applause. It was the eighth night of the tour, and the lights illuminated the large space ur{der the. canvas. Fairy Flake, the female rider—a fair young girl—had just taken her depart- ure from the ring amid a generous show- er of applause and George Farrell stood looking at the crowd that faced him. Fairview City was a good show town and had good"\hotels at the best one of which he and Goldstar were domiciled; but just then he was not thinking of the accommodations there. ' \ He heard a. voiCe behind him, and knew it was Goldstar‘s without turning his head. “He’s on the fourth seat from the top, straight ahead," said his partner. “ You’ll see him in a moment. There, he moved his hand, threw it up to his hat.” . A faint answer came from Farrell's lips. ’ “I See him now,” said he, still look- ing right ahead. “I see the fellow plain- ly now.” “ Weih that’s the man who signalled to Mantelli the moment he entered the ring awhile ago. I was watching the Signor very closely, and when he raised his hand and shot a glance in that man’s direction, I looked that way. too. It was :11! over in a flash, but they weren’t quick cnough to deceive me.”‘ . The Showman Sport continued to re- gard the man on the seat for a‘ moment longer, when Vhetu‘rned to look at a couple of acrobats, the Turner Brothers, who had just bounded upon .the sawdust. “Watch him like a‘hawk, and when the performance is over, why, watch him still,” he said in a whisper to Gold- star. , i t “On my life,” answered, the dark-faced man. “ He is here for a purpose. Man- telli may be,a rascal, a wolf in sheep’s clothing.‘ If he is. he may regret that he ester came into the world". v The man so closely observed by both Farrell and Goidstar was‘a person of Nifty and not very well dressed. Indeed, he looked, very much like a 'common farmer, his heard of rural cut and his‘ garments going ,to Show that he did not belong to the'busiuess, side of Fairview me. . If he was» not a. farmer the was cer-. tainl a miner, and the two‘ managbrs of e Great',American did" not‘kmwv just which tostyie hims , The circus was not marred by any un-~ pleasant incident, the performers going through their parts to the satisfaction of all. and at last, the last'whip cracked and -;the lastg riderretired. - . The crowd rose-and surged man! the opening in thatent. * ‘, ‘ . It was an orderly crowd, no one *jostled his neighbor‘pnd all. were‘in genuine good humor; u -. «. . ' q , “Where is he? " asked Goldstar, com- ing up to his partner. Who wastWing ' “‘ Over there. No, by Jove, he's gone!"’ m“‘That's bad. I told you lemon m..”, , V \ ‘. J ".1 maugm‘rhad‘ him hat, but. I’ve lost'him. But, hold on. A than of his build and ess can’t be ’lost instill a. little place like this.’ Where’s» nan— 'telli?” , , . “ In the dressing room talking" with Fairy.” ,V,‘ . ‘ “ ,. ,a” "‘ Well, I'll k ep track'of the outer one. He’s here fer mischief: he looks too much. like s. cc sin person,fnd We cant afford to. let him get ay." ‘ , , Glancing into the lttle te t-‘hehihd. "the main one. George Farr l hurri‘edv. toward the door "of the .canvss‘ ,sought ,to get sight of" the :fstrange'r 3831m- .,‘, 1 W .i; I" _ He was. very, but-Tim's r discs-- _ ., I y _.x dike. identity; ot,’ signer Mame!!!“ had. VP ‘, ,G “I, ’ l‘ r In.. ,can’t say that we paid particular amen-'9 you thought you had a right 'to look me. , han‘dwsomething‘ dark, like a- miniatpri ,reil, where's Lucy? " pagers lips. and he gave Fonteiiotr ‘sj-wtid ‘3 You don’t, sir? lie to‘ me——‘o’f an ' Mimi-fin” 1")". have filed am. i in he“? he was /. :Iiiixucye-ithe littleon'e who tell ind?) ,“ Hang it all, it won’t do to let him give us the slip altogether. If Mantelli did _signai him—if they know one an- other—there’s bad work here,” and he ran outside and tried to find his quarry in the scattered groups on the show ground. ; All at once the Showman Sport caught sight of a stationary figure on his right where the tent ropes were; and in an- 0ther moment he had stepped thither. The figure observed did not move, and the manager saw that the man had not seen him. “That‘s the fellow," said Gentleman George under his breath. “ He may be waiting for Mantelliu I‘m in luck. If I can only overhear, then it will be nuts for us. I could do it inside against thea canvas, for the conversation is doubtless to be held where the fellow is, and—I’ll try it if I can escape Mantelli’s eye.” - He looked again at the man near the‘ canvas, and that moment saw him move. He came straight toward Farrell, and the well-dressed partner resolved to st nd his ground. " he stranger loomed up larger than. ever as he came on, and in a. second he seemed to have reached the stature of a. giant. , _ The men came face to face Where the, light happened to reveal Farrell to the ‘ stranger, and in a second the hand of the self-styled farmer fell upon theman— ager's shoulder. , Gentleman George [recoiled as the hand touched him, and the fingers seemed to _ sink beneath his clothes. _ “You’re Farrell, i believe," said the. stranger in a harsh voice. “ YO‘u’re George Farrell of the Great American. Seems to me you're in luck.” Farrell resented the words with. a glow-‘ ering look, but the speaker was not disc: comflted there-by. He only seemed to" give a shrug and to eye the manager more fiercely than before. 2 ” Gentieman'George had been backed up against the banvas, and a little push would throw him off his feet. . “You‘don’t know me,” continued the .3 stranger. "‘Isaw both yen and your, I. pard eyeing me like two chicken hawks,“ " and from the way you did it you ought“ to know me in the dark.” _‘ ‘ ,’ He chuckled a little at the end orbit, gelntence, but Farrell. did not enjoy the "‘*” o e. r . .. “ I don’t know you," said he, “and If tiou to you—’7 Come, don’t ,deny that’s all right. it, Farrel-Ti Under the circumstances " through. for I haven‘t been to a shomjn,‘ tWenty years.” . x I“ I can't help that, you know, Mr. 4.2—??- “ You may, call me. Fontenoy—rdack, Fontenoy—‘th‘ough that .‘isn’t my homers One name’s as good as another justnom I have a little bustness with you.” ‘ 7 , I “ Withmy partner, too, I suppose??? “No, sir, with y u, and you ~aloné was the Stern anew r, and suddenly ,-; hand of, Jack Fontenoy was transtemd from Farrell’s shoulder to ‘ his 4th}; . where the lingers seemed to close like: talons' of a bird of prey.‘ I. ’ '- '3" handheld himfn's’t. “ i - . i. " He glanced toward, the gr ndla'id that Fontenov held somethin in this case- i , - . a ‘ .5 ~ " Go on, them but remember. thét» time is limited]: he 'g’rowlgd__ '. . 1', Sal-s, gimme. ’ Never mind .. (hp, won‘t-le ever the time. he “ Lucy." came suddenly from nt n4 iv g nee. ‘f‘ I‘don’t know anything abo L one," . 3 E " ‘ .. W Come,,‘ now. ' ‘ men) I mean 't v #1 ‘ i -i For the first time Gentleman George, appearedto smile, but the attempt was a failure. ’ “What ever became of her? " contin- ued Fontenoy. . The‘other man grew dark in the face and maliciously showed his teeth like a tiger. - s “in the first place, what's you? " he demanded. “A good deal, and to others, too. It's ‘ your secret kept pretty well, but you‘ve got to out with it now." “Do you expect me to be threatened into making a disclosure. I'll show you that Farrell is no coward." " “Very well. that‘s just what I want. Look at this picture first. There's light enough for that. Do you recognize the face in the old case?” The left hand of Jack Fontenoy came tip. and the miniature case snapped open »’ in the manager’s face. ' ‘ “Look at her. You know the face, don’t you? I haven't had the satisfac- tionof'i’acing you for years, but I knew you were coming, and so I tarried here.” ,. Farrhll glanced madly at the portrait, ' and then shut his lips hard. .K ‘As Jack Fontenoy‘s hand fell the pict- ’ .fire vanished and the hand came up ’ ‘ again" empty. ' . "‘ You haven't answered said Fontenoy. "I don't have to.” “I’ll kill you where you stand! ” ‘ hissed the so~cailed'farmer. “ I am here .. tor the secret or blood.” .:Just then footsteps wereheard ap- " — preaching, and as both Farrell and Fen- » tenoy glanced to the right they beheld V the outlines of Gopher Goldstar within 7 fen feet of the spot. ' . Farrell’s heart leaped tor joy in his be- m, and he saw the face of Fontenoy ‘ g‘ow desperate. 5’ .; ‘f Stand of: there! " he cried to Gopher, who , stopped the moment he saw. the situation. V . _ , I ._ The Showman ,Sport looked appealing- : 1y, at his pa'rtner,"‘andr saw‘ Gopher draw .358 revolver, which was gripped in a dark that to my question,” 9». 6%.: , ~Iliaii‘d‘as the latter came up. , . “It you fire,” cried' Fontenoy, "you’ll .‘be‘without'a partner. This is a gameifor, ‘ more _ than one.” ' en leanedtoward the canvas. ‘ i ‘ 17‘" Don’t mind me," cried.Farreli. " Kill ‘- ,':h.im“in his tracks, Gopher." ' : .‘-;='..:At that. moment‘there.was a quick .mouement on Jack Fumtenoy’s part and" ’tfi sharp report ot’Goihstar‘sgsix—shoot- wa'sheard,.. , j. . age ’f' leman George: staggered, against’ the'canvas,~Which swayed and let him ‘11-. guest. insider while. Jack. Fontenoy ‘cOv- themound between him and Gold- ..‘dtar with the agility of a practiced acrth to. ~ \’ ' , Gopher-{felts hand at-Ihis own throat, then he was thrown tenri'eet away as tensity.” n newer“ child. - V _ ‘. 7,1! don‘t 'want ' your‘.;.liio now." said _ nW0¥.. “"1 wasn't“? doing, business menu, but withyyo'ur partner. How; Waxes. Some other time, itan inter-‘1 3 again with myailainr-I'ii pay" attem, u, to you.,Goph'er, .but Just” new I’nig ' sailing with your partner.” ,, _ ~ ‘ . 'iGoidstar was Jett' to‘fi‘eceverlas best he Iiiwhiie Fontenoy, carter eyeing/him ant.“ turned and locally. «aired ‘oxié'n aside: sharp voice behind ~ “You want to'slee me, do you here—ready. toxv humer ‘ event trues. . cyan but?” a a ~. . .- ‘ jack 1? tenoy Lio’oked around and'saw- arming t. ward him the enraged Ferrell’s ' cad-taunt blazing ahdj-his clothes . from their canteen 'Mth‘i'iithe huizmustfi‘not, G 'ofge.’;l'zet,,tfh f“ andsaoph‘ r‘ .Goidstir his Mm." fini’wfifil him we him [new ,‘1 ' before them. 'Goidstarastepped toward the pair and" ,' ,I’d call- the iellow in and let him go.” dismiss him ,would be‘totelkhim that he it‘s two of 'ei‘kind',» to ailrintents and I in; about town main ’streetpm ly. “if you call a cyclone harrmless, you‘re the biggest fools on the read to-,- day. Good-night. gentlemen. We’ll meet again, and when you least expect,” and. rounding a sharp angle in the tent, he vanished as suddenly as if the ground had swallowed him. '\ CHAPTER VII. A mr or‘ NIGII'I‘ nusmnss. The Showman Sport and his partner. glared after the man till he was out of sight, and then for “a seCOnd they did not speak, although they looked at one an- other in the light that fell upon them. “ He’s a tiger,” said Gentleman George at last. , a . “ A regular tempest," answered Gopher Goldstar. “How did he get you in his clutches? " A . “ Sprang upon me unawares, like a wild beast." " Without giving you time to draw, eh? ” “Exactly. He came down upon me like a thunderbolt} and the first thing I knew I was in his power.” ' “I don't see how I missed him. 5 Of course, it was a hasty shot, but I don’t usually miss men at that distance.” “I know you don‘t. I heard the whizz of the bullet. It must have struck the tree over there.” , The two men walked slowly back into the tent, the lights of which had‘nearly. i all disappeared, and in a few minutes they were not to be seen. ‘ Leaving the hands to take down and pack the canvas for the night journey to the next toWn, George-and“ Gopher ad- journed to the hote and shut themselves up in their room, Their thoughts‘were not on the success of the day, for the circus'had ‘shown to excellent bmsiness, but they talked about the sudden swoop oi the’ .ma‘ncalled Jack Fontenoy. " , “What did he ask queried Gopher. - ‘ Farrell’s eyes grew mad. “About the'old girl-—about Lucy.” “The dance he did! What does that subject have init; tar" him? ” Y ' . “‘ 1 don’t know.” “ Did he threaten your? " . . » ' “ Yes. He had her picture in; his hand, and- hc poked it 'intO'my taceywhile he made the demand." F ’ " v 3 . “ Wanted to know what/had become of her, did he?_” ‘ . r w “That's: it exactly." ,, Goldstazi was‘silent for a it no while, and then his dark, serpent-lite face seemed to glide across the table. . , , ' “ This man" means mischiet, audit i thought MantelliWa-s‘ connected with him :you, George? ” “No, watchah-im," said, Farrell. “To is under' suspicion.” “' You are right. 'anli noes? You know will to us?" p » " Yes, but I 'd see’ms,,innocent enough. ,I don‘t thinkfgeknows anything, but it we should discover'ith‘at ‘he does, 'why, we can play ‘a‘: doublejixandgbéfore. they get onto its!” "’ "' ' he , introduced Man- ch whh’lhad rewirst cube man, afterthc encounter. He may be loung.’ ‘ yet. It I thmight he was, ,I'd'go cutiantl run him dowm' ' I ‘ _ "Keepv‘away‘; from his iron“ hand. He has thets‘ripjof an eagle and the power ,or anarchism ' . ~ . , .. ,Golds'tar rose and Went over to we fit. tie-window will i1 looked, pm'u’pone; " F139!!!“ Y .faiowxi. some “some: M mu; is my tones to his friéhdi Wi’thpdt";tummg‘ mg head? “it “y j. t. w , . ders .. , ‘ In'éfimmt'm 0. Amines wet-sat]. Hashqu the passenger mildly. " 13?; v r», “*Imvaffignmgigmatw u “ I 'l‘ 5"; ' ’ ' 1‘ HMO. I have‘toundv you! like in.th ," H ' vi , i i" _ handing for amend-almost touching ~ ‘ 1 2 i’:“°”"-’1L»“3 “WM You’re; .. a 1th ‘a bottle or wine _ ing when the manager awoke ‘ .lowedWme. He snowman H ,_ _ i: felt for his revolt'ei'.~., » , watch this man. - Can Joe, also haven hand in this bum." depot. iHedooked’ifinODeflt enough, but George placed hist'face against the glass and looked for half a minute Without! saying a.word. - , . ’ .- “I see a man there,” said he. “ Can it be Fontenoy? ‘If I thought it was, I would be tempted to shoot; from here.” .\ . “ Don’t, for heaven’s sake! That would only expose the old matter, and we can’t afford to be exposed now." V “ Nor at any time. I must go to New York to-night; that was determined last night, and I don’t want this'man after me.” ' While they looked, with the light be- hind them turned quite low, they saw the watched man move from the doorway and walk off. ' , “it doesn’t look large enough for‘him” - v". -—the figure don’t," said George. “It's .;' more like Mantelli.” n “ Do you think the new rider is play- ing spy?” and Goldstar's face seemed to grow black as he spoke. “That man must not play spy on us, George..He dies r : . if he tries that! " ' . 't; “I can't say, but he lookalike Man- telli. Can‘t you see that the man down on the street is about the rider‘s build? " “ He is, amide—wait. I’ll see." - “Not to-night. Leave him to me while you’re gone. I‘ll take care of our inter- ' . ests at this end of the line. Only play 4 out your hand in the city, and play it 5 ,Well.n _ é" . “ Trust me for that. Let the man you. der, go for the present. I can get onto! , town at midnight. and, once on‘the road .' 77. to New York, I’ll lay my plans so that. ‘ they can’t fail.” " ,‘ . I Goldstar slipped over to the little d0? : ' i 7 .«, ‘ I. 3‘ 4" a» n "7’ . pot and hid Irom view among the shad- f, g ows there. - I * 5.13 ;‘ The place was nearly deserted’y my 44‘: prospective passengers but“ an old man . 54-; Occupied it, and the manager‘ of the . Great American Circus studied him for a ., « 33, v ~ little while building. ~ When the train dashed up to the star. ‘ tion,vGoldstar‘Sprang aboard and snug-‘ gled down in the flrstcorner that he en-a countered. He forgot the old. passenger. and did not think of him again; ‘ = It Was in the small hours of the morn- van'd looked through the window of "the - r out upon the landscape. . ..s I- . GOpher had had'a good-dosaand the' other passengers‘werb stretching them- . selves in the coach. -i.:~-“ ‘5' ' ' ' ‘ All at once ,he‘have, utterance toa sharp eryfiof danger, ands 3 hand dived ‘into the inner pocket-of hi ' i ," Robbed! ”. he criedelr_.~,aff’"$9bbed‘Wliile I slept! ‘In the name,‘etiit¢aren..why did 1 go to Sleep? [I mighty five known that a spy was onmy 5:; the man on the street in Fain/leis" “St 118‘“? fol- ‘I carried: He must be o’nithe ttfin'sttih” k g _ 7 Goldstar,iwnitea&o¢a.»'now ass and (x... “ru rob‘rhinr idfturn'it I-«catizii him," . . he ’gra‘ted. -- "He be still On the train ,foi‘howins..‘inid‘§0 the City, There was the but man I saw lust- night in the V. _. he martiaveheen‘ theyiilaid'fl . , , , I - The passengersin noticed the mung “I consternatiquiiidgnot speak, b‘ut lookm , on»:in'silénce.whflo Goldstar went down . , . the flaw “bung madly: at. @011 and trill-3: , "Heldt:.che WI: and went back. 1 ‘ one'himhffifi" vam‘gers we ' ‘s'. ‘ asleep on their cushions ,- nt: this ,1 defi- relax Gopherfs vigilance, 1-19 9y ‘ f with a fingerless born. or intenhe‘li'dt” ‘- ‘ ' .‘ stood still near ward endptvfiiiersecond coach: relied ‘The old-inane! the h _..-) f. 4‘. ‘ .;- %‘};‘;f:\ ‘I‘, ‘i z: gamers: looked a mom'th Rd mean-:1" g g hishandateilr‘upon the similar; 3 stigma; ‘ . ’ .9" re petition. ‘ :sv ., ‘\""‘ ..r " . 4"“ t. r. .“ V ,‘r-r- “ -‘ 1.4.): V . ’ h I, .*‘- . 3:. ._ , V 1 . . i , . V . .4 » .' ‘- fi , ,, t . v 2 . . .- . -» « .2. 1 ~.).. H . , ., .. .. . , . M o. s». morning." = x thge...gghgmf ' ; ail—Sport! ‘ 1:9 f tore loose from Gopher’s grasp and rose resentfully. , “Have a care who you insult," he ex- claimed. .“I’m a quiet gentleman. en- titled to the rights of a person who trav- els, and you have no right to trouble me.” “ But you’re the man who got on at Fairview? ” “ I am, sir." “ You got on for‘ a certain purp0se." “ So I did———I am going to New York." Gopher was nonplussed for a little while, but he did not allow the cool an- swers of the passenger to balk him. He believed that they covered a deep design, and he went on accordingly. “ You've robbed mo—plundered me while I slept," he cried. “Hand the plunder over!” The old man was sitting bolt upright, looking coolly into Gopher's face, and his manners were most perplexing. “Robbed you? " he cried. “Do I look like a train robber? ” \ “Never mind that; you robbed me all the same.” “ Prove it.” “I can do that by searching you.” The old man threw open his coat and unbuttoned his old—fashioned waistcoat. “ All right, go ahead," said he. Gopher did not know what to do. He half believed he had made a mistake. and for half a second he relented. But, the deep—set. eyes of the passenger and his very coolness told him that he was on the right track. The old man, whose voice was rather strong for a man of his years, puzzled him. Catching sight of a pocket on the in- side of his vest. Gopher suddenly ran his hand into it and fished up a‘black leath- er pocketbook. ” You’ll turn robber-yourself,” said the passenger, as the pocketbook was with- drawn. ' it did not take Gopher long to look . into the pocketbook, while its owner looked silently on. The partner handed it back disappoint- ed. .“ Do you want my wotch?” asked the passenger. “That's the next thing in train robbery, I believe." ‘ By this time the other passengers be— came aware that something out of the ordinary. was goingon in the car. All faces were turned upon Gopher and the old man, and the manager of the Great American Circus looked for a place . to crawl out. of the incident. , w “ I, may be mistaken." he said, sudden- }? desisting. “People make mistakes nowadays; but-the man who robbed mo v boarded, the train at Foirvlow.“ .r _ “That’s a. broad accusation, air,“ on- swered the damn. " What ii‘m‘mm- cent woman got on bond there? “ , “ But none did—~I “who one board the train in Fairvlew but yourself. Gopher turned and own coach. , He had been plundered with} good deal of cunning. for his inside pocket- book was missing with valuable papers the very thought of which unnerved him, - ‘_‘“1-’ll telegraph. George at once‘ when I reach the city," said he, as he broodod over his misfortune. A “ A ‘fool fallsasloep walkodhacktohu when he‘shou'ld keep awake, and I was the fool last‘night." .. . During the rest of the trip, Gopher thought‘of the‘robbery. and more than ‘ once of the man he had tried'to make . distal-go. j ' ' 1' . g ' When the train pulled into the Grand Central Depot in New York hewu on the alert, and. h s first move was toward thé‘telegragh 0 ca. 4 ' _. He sent’ h cipher the following telo» grain to; George'Fari-ellz' , . ; "t Robbed an the train last night. .Lost I the papersyand'my p‘o _ Manama audit-hm tn' Fontenoy rev ’ ‘ -' ml?- They Arson; h mat ome- 2.80 ,. Good- . but. etbook. Watch Having sent this message, Goldstar left the depot and took a cab for a cer- tain part of the city. Half an hour later he sat in a well—fur- nished room not far from Madison Square. with his chair drawn up to a ta- ble covered with soft green baize. Goldstar was still anxious-looking, and the events of the past night had left their traco on his hardened face. He was at home once more, far away from the Great American, which he had left in the hands of Gentleman George, and he could afford to smoke a little while e thought. All it once the bell of the front door rang, and Gopher leaped to his feet. “What, word from George already?" he cried, as he darted into the hall and leaned over the banisters, listening to the woman and the messenger boy below. A telegram had been delivered, and for him. GOpher seized the envelope and tore it open. ‘ The message was brief and very start- ling, and all color faded from his face. “My God! ” he cried, staggering" back. “Why didn’t I kill him while I had a chance? ” CHAPTER VIII. THE SILVER \VI'I‘NESS. The telegram received by Goldstar in New York was not in reply to the one he had sent Gentleman George, though it was from that shady same individual. GOpher’s brows contracted while he read it, and, flinging it aside, he uttered the exclamation We have just heard: “ Why‘didn’t I kill him when I hada. chance? " In another moment he was looking at the reflection of his own face in the mir- ror, and what a face it was! “.Abandoned the show? I thought he would. It's a deep and. dark conspiracy. They are in league against us. It is a plot, but waitwwait till I get thercards in .my’ hand. He may be heading for New York. and he’ll be met on his or- rival.” r He flung himself into a chair'at theta- ble and wrote a reply to George’s tele- gram. » , . He knew that the messenger boy was“ ' waiting in the hall below, chatting with the landlady. and in no hurry to depart. Gopher Goldstar tore up, the) first two telegrams he wrote and flung them across the room into the sinoldering ashes in L the grate. The third one stuck. .'. Folding it,- hoseal‘ed it up and went out. ‘ He mildew: to the boy, paid for the telegram, and saw the messenger go out. “ They may be lulu for the boy," he Suddenly thought. 1“ I'd better go With. In." ' ‘ " and in a moment who strth 'Tlle daw‘dling mommi- was in sight, and in a little while Gopher bad himin tow. ‘ I _ ' . He did not lose sight of the boy till he entered the, telegraph tones, and even then “lingered lock” «the operator * till he saw his telegram “to Gentleman George on the, wires; ‘ " u new; nothingliko it,” and argue to‘ himself, well pleased. as he turned ,“They didn't intercept that mes- sage, and they won’t know ‘what I sea to George. "It won't stop the show.) but it may. Ran 'ofl. did he? I never liked thé , . loo I of Mantelli, and when I saw him lg al the, man who calls: himself Jack'f Fon’tenoy I (knew that up. u” ‘1 The end of the, next hour’fOund“ Gopher Goldstar in‘ a cramped apartment in a dingy mime:- of the city: waiting for some one to enter. " * ' j .. The room was not in keeping within; own appearance, but he» had come; thither for a, purpose, and, for a man playing =‘a desperate game likgihe senior partner of‘ ' ‘ ' ' fit 1. :«G'reat cameos ‘ e everywhere; . He rushed up stairadn‘dodud his hat. inf-rumor. ». You. man after all. ' Why, he, was eager: ; ’ *He opened his .- 13er km whathe wasga‘. * had searched him. Jack.» ,l and at the first squeak he started expect- antly. The person Who entered was a man of sixty, with cunning—looking eyes and long, dangerous hands- At first glance one would have taken him for a foreigner, but his voice told that he was not, and his greeting was in merry tones. “ You‘re making it. I hear,” he said to Goldstar. “ I see by the newspapers that the Great American is a hit. Good act- ors, good crowds, and lots of money in the coffers. You can thank me for some of the latter, Gopher." “Consider yourself thanked, Gloster. Yes, we had good business, but I‘m back in New York.” “ So I see. pher? ” , “ Yes—~all wrong.” The man with the long hands had‘ drawn close to the showman and was looking down into his anxious face. “ I was robbed on the way down.” “ Robbed? Come, you don’t expect me to believe that any one is sharp enough to plunder you.” “It is true. I was asleep." “ I thought a weasel never slept.” “ There,” said Goldstar, putting out his hand. “ No joking at my expense. It’s a. seriOus matter. Some villain on‘ the train'took advantage of my loss of sleep and plundered me.” “What did that person get?" ‘ “Everything I had in here.” and the g showman touched his left side, where * the pocketbook had been. “ It was a.‘ clean sweep. I carried the memoranda .. with me. I had it safe, as I thought, in ' ' there, but the silken fingers got it." “ Where did he quitthe train at? " ‘ ‘ Something wrong, Go- “ I don't know. He may have come n_. ‘ A to the city.” _ - “ You searched the train..didn't.you? ”' “Yes; I accused an old man’ of. the theft. He boardoi the train at ran-view; ” I saw him, but he outwitted me." "‘ Why should antold man rob. you?" ‘ “That‘s what puzzled me, After the, encounter Gentleman George and I had last night after the performance 1 was puzzled to think why I should be robbed, bya man with white hair.“ ‘ ‘ “ Unless the hair was a wig." , " I’ve thought of that since landing here," said Gopher. “ It could be 60:”. .- . “ What sort of. an encounter did your... and Buck have. after the circus?{” _ .. Gopher leaned back in his chair and de- . tailed the meeting With Jack Eontenoyr ,the man called Gloster listening to every" word and speaking not till all had been ' , . ' I ’1‘ fl 1‘ “That's all. Now get out of it who}: ‘ \~ you said Gopher, as he wound his narrative. ’ ‘ ‘ v ' 'Glo‘ster looked at him another and then went over-to the wali, lwhefa, he 'a button ingenidusly‘ [set-‘- thorein and look something from the lit- deepening thus revealed. . ' " “In that like him! " he said, throw upon the table a portrait, which .; showman snatched up eagerly. “That’s the man! I know the outlet. his face. Who is he? , IsJack his right name?!" 7 : ~~ No; He may have half a . you‘completeiy.”. ._ , : “You don‘t mean to. ,y‘ that-3m: F'ontenoy room, me on“ the. train? "“ ' ‘ "(I don’t ogre where you were robbed. ,. He did it", a -. , .. ,‘=“ The defll! Then he was the 0d .meito ride his packets.» A 'WOUldntt. have found the called. is no ordinary persona -’ ‘ I discovered that last night's. elthol‘ bullet-proof, or heh'fpnm. unreal-fired athim.” . . *-‘ .: 3 " L" “ileum neither. for he is; not, WM 39.12%“th ' :1 I was robbed, I say. . . 1} A“ ‘ Gentleman a. 3: Ge .rg'e: ‘“ I know it now. Why, Gloster, he has papers which I would not have parted with for the Great American." The tall man with the skeleton fingers , laughed. -,’- “You may have to give the Great American up. anyhow," said he. “You two have your hands full now, Gopher.” “With lJack Fontenoyx? Where does he hide when in New York, for .1 know that he doesn't live where we met him, last night? ” “What would you do if you were to find him here‘?" , “ Get back my property." ' “ What if you found the papers guard- ed at every point by more than one pair of eyes? " “ I’d recover them anyhow! " cried Goldstar. “ Is he in the city now? ” “He is here.” ‘ In an instant G0pher Goldstar was on his feet and his right hand had closed on Gloster’s arm. “ Give me his number. Zounds! Point out the nest of this king eagle and l'll show him a trick or two." ' Gloster did not answer, and for half a minute he looked down into Goldstar's ‘ face, white and red by turns. “ Let’s see; you haven’t been away very long. Gopher? ” he said, cooly. “Np. I’ve kept track, of the news, though.” “Not of all of it." a, “I mean I’ve watched the newspa- - pers," corrected the showman. “ Have you any other news? " - " Once more the slippered feet of the tall man crossed the floor, and Gopher saw I 1. him halt near a window. He put up his hand to a shelf against the wall, picked something off it, and turned back. “ Here‘s something else,” said he, throwing upon the table his find, which spun at little there, and stopped in’front . ofGoldstar’s hand. i The showman leaned forward and lo’oked at the object, then picked it up. , » It Was a. silver dollar dated “1849,” ’ r and looked but little worn since its mint- age. It fell from Goldstar’s hand the mo- ment he picked it up, and his face pared. again as he encountered Gloster’s gaze. “Well, what of this? ” he asked. "‘ Do you know it? ". ’v “ Why should I? There are thousands like it.” - ' “ Perhaps. You don’t care for dates.” “ No. Dates‘are nothing to meJ' _ , -._,Gloster seemed to laugh, but he made ’ ,Jio‘soun’d; he was looking at the hand and ,Y -’ the dollar it had again picked up. ' - “ It' the year of your birth.” said he, , , looking steadily at the showman. . ’ " It is, but‘I had not thought of it. 5 Other people have come into existence a dulri g the same year." i :“ undreds of them, but all, haven't ’ handled ‘9. dollar like that". . i ' 1.71” In‘the name of com on sense; what are you coming to? "'c ed Gopher, and This face grew steadily. dark as he spoke. . “Where did you; run across this piece of «money? " l ,, 4, , L‘i “ I didn't run across it. It threw itself V,._.-1.v1_n4my path." ' , ,, “.How so?” , 'e 7“ I stumbled on a bit of carpet, and in falling I accidentally turned up the dol- " which rolled across the, room.” _ f'l‘hat was strange. You must have, ‘iheefi where there were dollars to roll," laughed Gopher Goldstar. , p p . of?! saw but'oh'e roll, and that was. this " piece.- Perhapsil Shouldnjt have brought .it off ‘with, me, but I couldn't help it." " “Well, where didyou find-it?” ‘1 “‘In the house of the crime.” "The" house of what crimef’fl, . 153-1":va murder of Harold Hartsnd the '. sniothering of old Nathan in the steel- ' ’ ' I unearthed that piece of moneyq ere.’! _ y , I , ‘ Mrs a. queer find,” an Gopher turned- ‘ooin overand overl his handw- "J m prov-o s claw _z _ P _ ‘ to the person want” " of (30th l “I though of that." ".Why di n’t you\ turn them?” ' “Because I wanted you to see it first.” Goldstar glanced toward the door as if he had heard a footstep outside, but in an instant his gaze had come back to the man with the long hands. “I shan’t deprive you of it. Why not turn it over to the police yet, Gloster? i don’t like to see the detectives hunt in the dark. A pocket piece of ‘ 1849' found in the hodse of the crime might start them on a. new trail. It may have belonged to the man who was murdered \in the safe, or to Harold Hart.” “ Or to the man who killed him,” said Gloster. “ I’m no detective, Gopher, but if I were, I would call this a clew." , The tall man picked up the coin and twirled it in his dark fingers, and Gopher watched it as it revolved on the oilcloth. “ What do you think? ” he asked, look- ing up at Gloster. "I think this piece of money belonged to some one who visited Harold Hart that night." “ To the murderer? ” asked Gopher. “ I would say yes, but that is for Span- gles when he comes here again.” “ Spangles! ” cried. Golt star. “ I_heard Joe call Mantelli Spangles the other night. Great God! I‘m catching on pretty fast just now. What do you know about Spangles, Gloster Turk? ” it over to CHAPTER IX. THE GREAT SNAP GOLDSTAR MISSED. The lengthy hands of Gloster seemed to clinch at this question, and he looked away to check his feelings. V The eyes of Goldstar were upon hm, and the partner of the Great Amer can seemed to hang on every word Gloster uttered. . ' “ What do I know about Spangles?” saidhe, returning to Goldstar’s anxious face. " I have a friend by that name, but he has ’t been here for some time.” “Bu you said the dollar would be a clew for Spangles? ” ‘ i “ Did I? Well, so it would." ."Is he a detective? ” ' " He knows‘something about the the- ory of crime. In other words, Spangles is a speculativeidetective, not an actual one”. , " Ferrets out crimes in- his mind, eh? ” I“ Exactly.” . ' f " Where is he? ” The man with the long his head. “ I haven’t heard from him for some days, and I cannot tell yon Where he is." “Did you ever hear of Signor Man; ,telli? " asked GoldStar. ” That’s, a professional name, isn’t it?” es.” ' . -, " I don’t know, the signer.” “But I dos? said Goldman through teeth well clinched. ' “I am much obliged *0 you. Gloster. I'll see you some other time. I won’t quit the city fer several days. The ‘show is in good hands, and Lcame' down here to transact a little private business." Goldstar‘ rose andswept 32.18 hand thalf Icarelessly across, the table, ‘de’xterously picking up the silver coin, after’ which he madeghisexit, bidding G10ster a hasty good-morning. * , " . - ‘1, Back on a. little private business, is he? ea culsted the lnan left behind, " Itmayahe of a very private nature. Let him go.‘ Hefdidn’t get very much out, of me, but he is Very anxious tokhesr about Spangles. *There was the coin. It puz- " and startled him, sud—where is the ece? ” ’ ‘ Gloster looked on the floor. . ' . 7 % "’He carried. it away -, With him!” he exclaimed. ,“ The villain took it off for. a urpose. 3 I'll; or him” ‘ p ' hrough my hands in that manner an norm meme later on." *- _ , cluster “Tull! W6 M0 the and ' -.. guybutwhisfl; to visitor was ot- ‘ hands shook I... over the sham their \ 1' It i He csn1t get ' suddenly asked Goldstar. . . am .‘,_,1 square away, and no one seemed to take particular notice of the man just from the heart of Pennsylvania. “I beat the old fiend at last!” he chuckled, his hand closing on something in his pocket. ” He didn't see me pick up the coin, and it’s safe now. Catch me napping if you can, Gloster. You may have your secrets, but I have the key that unlocks them." A few minutes later Goldstar sat in a half-darkened room in a clean part of the city, apparently waiting for some one to come in. .' . Like a hawk he watched the door, and at each breath he grew more anxious. When at last the portal so well watched opened, he gave ’a little start, ‘ for Floss Hart stood before him. The tall, cold‘faced girl came forward and held out herhand as she looked down into Gopher’s face. “ I’m glad to see you,” said she. “ How goes it with the show? ” “Admirably, Miss Floss," smiled the . “I left it for a. few hours to - manager. see my friends here and to attend to a little pressing business. How re you? " The set features of the girl (1 d not re- lax, and her voice was hard, almost ' harsh. “ Things are not very lively here,” 'she said. “The house seems lonely, never was much life, you know, but since ~the—the tragedy we are stared at by everybody, and I can’t look out without being looked out of countenance. It’s a. shame.” , \ “ You’ll get used to it,” said Gopher, from the depths of his chair. “I don’t 'know when. Then, we are still pestered with. detectives—mew ones who think they can go straight to the Se cret. I don't let them is any more. Ne- vis has her instructions to that effect. and we have been enjoying a little rest for tw days." ‘ 'f ‘t‘s a good idea!" exclaimed Go- phen “ If you had put it into operation '; a little earlier it wouldhsve‘ been to. your peace of mind." 1 , The shadow of smile seamed for an instant to rest. “the corner of F'loSS’s mouth. “ You See, we M to deal with thy 1‘68- ular police and detectives. and ‘ we Hey y couldn’t well give them narsh‘wordsu ‘ They don't come here any more, and‘we aretreetocsrryoutourown hwsaswe make them." I , . All .this time Gopher was regarding the girl with. strange, eager looks. She had not seated herself. but stood as e t'ss an Indian. her tail, well- shaped 'ilgure standing out against the ,one lighted window in the room like a statue.“ ' , . ' . “ Did you ever see a tall man here—a very tall one, who had a kmg hand?" i Floss shook her head. , "I. Fthn was he here?" she-asked. “ That I cannot say.” ‘ : “I don’t“ recall him stall, though he may have been here m‘thfi'eafly Stages of.“ the excitement. iThere were so many who came that I couldn’t keep track of them all." ‘ l 4‘," . ' “ Maybe‘Glosterffleds. thought Gopher. “Was 'he a terrstlf’ suddenly asked Flosls. I ‘ w ‘ a! n ‘4‘: 41/ “ Tall, you my? ’=’. ' " 1lies, and unusually thin and grasping-like, {and his face—At was dark and thin, too. ‘In short, he was a man whom you would never forget it you had seen "" If he came. it must have b , was not in. I have, been’ont. several- times since the double mystery, and he .may have come during my absences; .- ' 1‘ But Nevis would have seen him, . That’s her do ." l“ ' ' .' . .‘ ‘Where is the girl? " In answer to this 101301166 8 bell Qn the centm table‘md sent its silver; tone; the / g'- ’l. .fisl'\l,{.I-,'? ‘. \ I» * , A... n. J v v'Z‘ . A; ~ l, . . I , his hands were the most v markable ones you eVer saw. They ere , Tying I . question; R'Ffioas' t ., ,' . . PA“. i ) ml i a“'J“ W, a. a _. .g. 4.. murmur. deW.» A A ~ . a I, .k a“. » a ',.'~_fl't‘w ,% c is, if m Ganesha G-"éorééidihe‘i ‘ .» , Kat, '17 -;:.v, '5 2:1...” 1. X." 5... In response, Nevis, the maid, who had discovered Harold Hart dead in the library, made her appearance. ‘ At the threshold of the parlor she stopped, and all color left her face, for her gaze had fallen upon Gopher Gold- star. “ Mr. Goldstar wishes to question you a moment, Nevis,” said Floss. “ He is a friend of mine, and—~" The maid uttered a slight cry, and Go— pher looked at her as if he would ferret out her inmost thoughts. . Nevis came in and stopped close to he mistress, looking at Goldstar all the time, “ Nevis,” said Gopher, ” do you remem-e her a tall man, dark of faceand with un- usually long hands, who came here dur- ing the excitement of ten days ago? " The girl started a. little. She looked first at Floss, and then her gaze came back to the man in the arm- chair. “I recall a man like that,” said the maid. “I remember him distinctly, but he didn't stay long." "When was be here? ” “It was several days after the two mysteries. He came in toward evening, and you, Miss Floss, happened to be out. He wanted to see the library, and I took him thither. I couldn't help it, for his eyes seemed to fascinate me.” “What did he do in the library?” asked Goldstar. \ “I hardly know. I remember that he was very awkward, for one time, when crossing the room, he stumbled over the carpet and nearly fell. I remember noth- in more about ‘that man's visit.” “ 'ou cam go, Nevis,” said Floss. “ You never mentioned this man's visit to me." “ So many called those days that I did not think of it," replied the maid, and with this she went away. . ‘ “ Now, » what about 9 moat” asked the millionaires ward, turning to Goldstar. “Why does he assume such - importance in your eyes, and what makes his visit here so startling? " “I'was only trying to put this until that together," said the manager. “ He must have been one of those detectives who think they and no one else can iind \a clew. "You see, that you've had visitors of whose call you knew nothing till now.” “ But it won't be so again. If this man comes back, we'll know it, for Nevis won't be so remiss again.” ,: ' "Floss glanced toward the door, and, finding it slightly ajar, went over to it and closed it, afterward doming back to Goldstar. . .,‘/-fCome. with me," she said, and the sport followed. her from magnum across the hall and into the fatal brary. ‘ The scene of the two mysteries was better lighted than the parlor, and Gold- stan noticed the safe and the furniture. “I ‘have conducted you thither for a purpose," said/Floss, in hex-cold manner; “‘Please take the chair at the desk car. ‘It was his chair, youknow." Wonderment was uppermost in Go- pher’s eybs as be complied and, turned his gaze upon the face above his.” “‘There are writing materials before you,” continued the tall girl. “ Now, please Write as I’ dictate.” Goldstar dipped the pen into the cut- glass inkstand'and held it above a sheet --, of paper which he had drama. half way across tho'blotter, while Floss dictated as follows: i ‘ .‘ 7 “'Know aiifinwn, that iiGideon Gold- . star, do solemnly promise to take as my “ lawfully wedded wife within ten days after the signing of this document Miss Floss Hart, ward of the, late'Haroid Hart of New York, but murdered in the‘library of his late home by persons as yet un- known to the officers of the iiaw, and that I promise to exact from my wife not one .penny of the‘ammmt which she inherits under the will of the late Harold Hart." The race of void-w changed color mealtimes-as his pen put these words ' ibqptpofore mm. _. . yon- , At first his eyes beamed with satisfac- tion, and then they seemed to disappear Within his head, while his face lost color and remained so for some time. He did not sign the document, but. still clutching the pen, looked up into the tall girl's face. “ Sign! " laconically said Floss Hart. “ Do you mean this? " ' “ Why not? ” cried Floss, her eyes get- ting a degree of warm light for the first time. “’Am I not alone in the world now, and haven't I a right to seek my husband? " . ' “Indeed you hare, but—” “You refuse, do you?" and the girl bent forward and seized the paper. “ You won’t accept me under these circum- stances. You robbed Harold Hart, you and 'our partner did, for the purpose of putt g your scheme on the road; but you shall not plunder your wife. The document can yet be signed. Igive you three minutes, Gideon Goldstar.” It was a. strange wooing, none ever like it, and Gopher Goldsiar, while he had secretly plotted to win the girl and thus get hold of the millionaire’s. wealth, shrank from the last clause of the paper. What would Farrell do under the same circumstances? He thought of this. Farrell would not refuse to put his name underneath the agreement. It could be broken. He and George would be babes in villainy if they couldn’t break the last clause. Why should) be hold back another minute?‘ He reached up for the paper, saying: “ I'll sign ‘it and carry out the provis- ions of the agreement to the very letter," said he. ' “You are too late!“ cried Floss. “I shall present tho document to another. You. hesitated too long, Gideon Goldstar. You had best 30 back to the Great Ameri- can. You, mar be wanted there. I am sure 3m: have loot'o wife, and perhaps a fortune.” \ . Goldstar, with a roar of disappoint- ment, started to his feet, but the white hand of the girl pushed,him back. ' - “Too istei". she exclaimed; “lion should have accept‘i at once. I will never. present this paper to you again." Gopher Goldstar did not speak, but deep down in his heart he cursed himself bitterly, ‘ ~ ' CHAPTER X. , A Lmr freon sonnnonr's Pass. Gopher, or Gideon, Goldstar walked, half-dazed from the house on the now famous stileet. ' The last words of the girl with the cold demeanor buzzedlin his ears, and he: could not help thinking about :her. That she should m‘akesuch‘a cd'oi prop-. osition was a, mystery to him','and t2: more he thought of it the deeper‘it gre . “I missed it: but, after all, there may have been a a ring to her propO'sition," said he 'to hi self. r“_ It was so sudden and startling thatI didn’t get my head for a minute, and than ‘it was everlast- ingly too late.” v ‘ Gopher turned down the first street and walked rapidly. ~ ,/ t He went ‘~back to the house he had sought immediately tater hisreturn from the show and sat do ,n. "Shall I fail just ‘beCause I -lost my head this morning?" he exclaimed. “ I‘ must have some or this fortune, and I . can't get itrwithout‘ first gettinga hold on Floss. S won't repeat the offer, eh? Dy JoVe! a an doesn't have a wife-of- fered him often in this mariner. "Whats consummate tiss’ I am! " - ‘ lA continuance of these reflections Was interrupted by awknoc‘k, and Goldstar‘ bade hisfvisitor enter. "\ V -’ ' x The dooropened, and the longfface-of Gloster Turk appeared. The'showman started. " , v ,The man with, the long hands stopped the-‘moment he saw,,,Goldstar. and for half a second the two men eyedoneia‘n-i “ You picked it"up‘; . 1,3 . hands. "1‘1 '1 Gloster, without removing his gaze from the man in the chair. “ What do you mean?” “ The dollar of ’49.” “I left it on your table. It may have fallen to the floor and rolled away.” The strange man came closer still, and his face seemed to get a shade darker. “ It didn't fall to the floor, consequent- ly it didn’t roll away." 'he said, dropping his voice to a threatening whisper. “ You have it. I want that coin!" ‘Goldstar appeared to gather himself for a struggle with the man~ who had come in, but he did not betray his rage. “Did you search the room? " he asked. 3“ It is not there, I say. You carried it o One of the long bands was thrust out, but not in the attitude of a beggar’s. "I am here for that piece of money, or—” ‘ Gloster Turk paused. “Go on," said Gopher. stop on my account.” “I will take the dollar of ’49, or you will be under arrest within an hour." " . “ Under arrest? What for? ” “ Don’t ask any questions. You know." The hand was nearly in the showman’s face, and the slender fingers looked doubly dangerous in the soft light that sifted through the curtain into the room. “ I make the last demand for my ‘ money,” said the old man. “ Hand it ‘ 't over, or go to jail.” This was the straw that broke the ‘ camel's back, for GopherGoldstar sprang up and caught the tall man by the collar. ‘ At the same time he uttered an oath of defiance and threw Gloster back, narrow- ly missing the edge of the table and land-‘ ing him against the wall. Gopher was strong and active; he had .a- muscles of iron, yet muscles that bent easily to his will, and Gloster Turk dis- covered that, despite his long arms, he\ was no match for the shaman. ' " You want the money. do you? " hissed Gopher. as he held his victim against the wall. “ This is the'obje0t of - your call. Well. if I have it; I am liable- to, keep it." ‘ " It will burn a hole into your pocket.” “ Do you think so, Gloster? My, hands . are liable to play havoc with your plans . for the future." a f , - ' i The only' response to this threat was ’ mad look from Gloster 'I‘urk's eyes, an '- he shrugged his shoulders, but did Knot ~- make “an effort to got out of Goidstar’s ‘ ,, “ You needn’t f iv" \ ,' ‘ ‘ u a! _ “We’ll come back to the com of '49 . presently," continued Goldstar. "‘ Walk? . overathere and sit down.” ‘ ,. He pushed Gloster Turk toward " ,' armchair at t table and turned upon—- wdwith s cocked revolver in his dark ‘ i. 6' The man with tire long hands sown-*2 1 weaponfand walked over to the chain’- . , He, satdown quietly and séemedi’h 5 vaWait Goldstar’s pleasure, as if the wdapa ' " on had had ,a wonderfully \quieting' 6f:- fect'on his nerves. ‘ ‘ r “ I want to know more about this Mam}. 1.8111.” mid he. ' ‘3 . ' ‘1‘ .« Mantels? " repeated Gloster '1 ~ "Yes: you call him Spanglesj \ stimes. ’He’s the star rider of the Great American Just. now, but he’stm- with more than, one‘nanm. and a' ,man...f withapurpose."- ‘ . r There was no immediate reply on Glos- ' ter's part; he only looked up into the ‘ ‘ sport's face and kept silent. ' , 1. “ “_ You are looking for him. Yod‘s‘ald! you would turn the dollar ayer whim " ' that it mightgtve’hima cl w, shah-’32? ‘say you stumbled across it in“ H" Hart's room: Now, tell me who, is, and why does he want to find outm killed the millionaire“? - Uri Gloster Turk was not to be browheata ; en, if the man who stood over-him .m ‘ desperate and armed t‘ozthe I Maximum say): lie-said ' “r{,~don't know doggedly: ~ . . ,. , lea; I say! -‘Don’t ,thi' “ “1—10 is 8 him.“ sums: fighgt‘was on! “iiifififl a»; the , serge, of his many names. he? ” “If I tell you, what will you do?” ,“ That depends,” answered Gopher Goldstar. “I may laugh at your expla- nation. or I may take action.” , “By looking up Spangles, eh?" cried Gloster. “ I’ll take the coin first.” “I won’t give it for your story. It may be a tissue of falsehoods.” “ You have it, then? ” laughed the man with the long hands. “You did carry off the dollar of ’49? ” Gopher colored slightly. “ The coin or no story! " repeated the man in the chair. " You don’t expect me to talk for nothing, Gideon Goldstar.” “No; but you’ll not get the coin till the story of Spangle’s life has been truthfully spun in this room.” Gloster suddenly sprang up and waved his hand defiantly. “ Then there will be no story spun!" , cried he, stepping free of the chair. In an instant the revolver was looking into his face with the stern and severe ctountenance of Gopher Goldstar behind 1 “Don‘t be too fresh,” said Gopher. This is my game, and all the cards are in my hands. I have but to press the easiest trigger in Gotham, and your den will soon be for rent.” “ Press the trigger,” ccoly said the man confronted with the six—shooter. " You utterly refuse to tell me about . Spangles?” ‘ “I utterly refuse!" ‘ ~ “ I will give you half a; minute. Look at the clock yonder and note the yellow .‘hand, plainly seen from where. you stand.” , ' ' g Gloster threw a swift glance at the clock on the shelf and then lowered his ' gaze to the face before him. " ' He did not look like a-man who in- tended to be frightened into the betrayal of a secret; he was cool now and the old , nerve hadcome back. ."How long have you known Span- “ glee? ” ' ‘ "A number of years.” i " Where did he come from? ” f‘ You must ask S'pangles thht.” . '3‘Qne of the secrets he never shared with'you, eh? ” . “ Perhaps." , « , “ Why did he join" the show? " -~" Is he with vou, really?” Glodt'er Turk. i gffComei You know he .13.. You know ugtha‘t. 8:0th is Mantelii; the bareback ' ' rider. You know, too, that he domed us fora phrpose. and he, keeps in communi-' catlom with you, besides." ‘ . Thesemblance of a smile overspread 111,6 tall man's face. ‘ r !-.f,‘8pangles, if you must know, Gideon Goldstai', is a man of secrets, and I never A artere With them nor ask him about t " “mum he has mapped out." - 4‘ queried 737‘} on don’t, eh? No, you don’t inter- gore-mtg anyf‘person' affairs, yet you ' Harold Harts house like a ferret and tried to; pick up a . w. » ‘ ‘ ‘ ’ What if : dial? Why, man. {used to Wynne of the men who died that‘aisht 121.1%“ house.” 3 v H W ' hmld Hart?” ‘ lilo, t o ther one." i. 1 (I ' 1 V found mysteriously ill the ' .1, _ I mount yours, Gloster? They 'h in Nathan .Moneybox; the police, tux: . hays found out a good deal about‘him,’biitfyon can supply has or missing links, it you knew the dead ,flnn‘wery'mllx', r ,;,rigjr"Turk. ,“If I have anylto give ‘ , ,.‘ they go to .SpAnglesi" and he, exited while he looked at Goidetar. ' 3"! IV non'tpiay mu: my temper,” cried As Spangles, Who is ‘ ‘fIimipply no missing links,” snapped; ' tolli hid dos Gloster Turk stepped aside and threw a sudden look toward the door behind Gopher. “I‘m going now,” said he, with the coolness of a desperado. “When I give you the liberty,” was the answer. “I am going out. Remember, the man who stops me will have a terrible wit- ness against him.” “ How so? ” “Press the trigger now against your finger and find out.” “ Take another step toward the door and fall dead on my carpet.” Gloster Turk only smiled, but he stood still, as if the last threat had awed him. For the fraction of a second the two men stood face to face, when suddenly Gloster Turk threw out one of his long darkish hands, so much like a. thug’s. “I see a house in another city," said he, looking beyond Goldstar with. the j “ I see a little woman 3‘ strangest of eyes. sewing at a window, and there are bars' at the panes. I see her look up at thinl blue sky and sigh. Her needle falls from? her hand and she drops back in the chair". I see her faint in the light of the evening . and lie like one dead in the chair, her half-finished dress falling from her white and nerveless hands to the carpet. The woman, thin—faced and gaunt, is alone. Overhead hangs a bird-cage, but the ca- nary in it is dead; its little body as emaé ciated as the woman‘s. “ Presently some one comes’ to the door on the outside and unlocks it. A face is thrust into the room. It is the face of a man past thirty, and handsome, as the faces of men go. He looks into the room where the woman lies in her faint and sees her in the chair. I see a smile that would do credit to Satan steanVer his face, and for some time he remains at the door. By and by he slips into the room, shutting the door. behind him. He steps up to the seamstres and searches her clothes, but not until e has felt the wrist for the pulse. This man takes from the woman’s pocket a. pocket-book of black leather and, transfers it to his own. - He robs the silent, and perhaps the dead. He gloats over the poor creature for some time, and then glides from the room, locking the door behind him. Do you want me to go further, Gideon?" ., Gopher Goldstarpwhd had listened to Gloster’s story without once interrupting . him, did not speak. - “ Chapter niimber tw’o,", said the man with the long hands, smiling grimly.‘ “ But we'll give it same: other time. I’ll go now. Step me if you date. This whole‘ history is written down. and the aveng- er will find it if you are fool enough to press thetrigge'r where You stand.” Gloster Turk walked coolly to the door. turned the key in the lock, and with triumphant smile opened it. i “ You may keep we dollar of ’49. Thore are other Witnesses," he paid. and then Gopher Golds‘tarheard the man go away“ “ That story‘ doo s more than one person,” fell from t e showman’s lips. , 'CHAPTER XI. \ - . BACK ON gran ,crrr ram. ' When this eventful. day had drawn to a close and the lights Oli’Gotham were flashing out over the thousands on the streets a man q letly landed at one of the crowded! ferr es. ‘ I ' .39 coma ‘unhmlded and walked. tha'ou’ghIhe; ferry. house With a springy step. ' - a ‘ Beyond the ferry he" took a carriage and'settlsd batik amongthe cushions like one Who wasientiijely at his-ease. he was a“‘inan we havegseen nature. ’ He was Spangled, ‘ ,‘ Pei-miss George; Farrell would tele- graph'hiac'pame‘rin the city that Mane , ed’the Great American,‘ mend somehow told. the truth had ‘ha-dofievmu Man-tenth“ for the pres" tag,“ f2?“ his tights and ' ‘ A . q ... L, \ I » l. ' ' .3) the institution, watched by the alert Far-1 rell, who had already discovered that the Great American had lost one of its best attractions. , No one had witnessed the Spotter’s ara rival. ' ' He had the whole’path to himself, and while the carriage carried him up town from the ferry he seemed to fall into a sober mood. The vehicle’ stopped at last more than a mile from the- ferry, and Spangles got out. ~- t;- He stood for half a minute 0n the side« walk, as if watching the carriage while it vanished, and then he walked slowly for half a square. mounted several steps, and jerked a knocker. In anorher moment he stood in the presence of the man known to the read- er as Gloster Turk. The man with the long hand started at/ sight of Spangles, and the pair shook hands cordially. ' _ “ You didn’t remain long on the road," said Gloster. “No, I am back in New York. He is here, too, isn't he? " “Yes.” Y - “ You have seen him. Gloster? " “I have; he called on me and two I returned the call." “Getting pretty familiar, me.” “I went to see him .On business. seems to is had me at the trigger "of his pistol, but , You see I'm here, Spangles." and the tall man broke into a laugh. 7 “What was it about? " the detective- showman asked. ' ' “ In the first place. I went to him to get a piece of money back. He robbed me of it." _ “What, has Gopher turned common thief? " ’ i" “ Not, quite; but that bit of monhy in- terested him. and he could not refrain from carrying it off." r ' “But he resisted, did be?” "Yes. I came aWay without it.’ He ‘ has it yet." . " Was it only one piece, Glaster? ” " A dollar of ’49—the year of his birth, youknow." ‘ ‘ , ‘ . "I see. He it W0! its_as- Nations." 1] » l" - I d ('41 "Not'quit’e'a ‘ ’ job,"'smie os- ter Turk. “'1 '7 dollar where the mystery some int?) being.” " “ Where was -tl£at?”_ '- ' " In Hamid Hart’s iibmer' “I see," said Spangled. “ And he stated its return—wanted to keep the dollar because’you found it there? " “ Exactly. Now. Spangles. tell me one thing. How's, the boy coming on?” 1 " J 0e? " t “ Yes.” ' ~ " He is the star, of the arena. He car- ries the crowdh by “0111i with his riding and vaulting. The boy has; (mum ,. tore him if he wants‘to motto chafing” . “I knew it!_" exclaimed‘Gloater Turk. “ Now that you are back “(New York you must-iobk‘out." . I ‘ . ’ “For wit "1'" v “ For are Goldstsr. for one. He knows th'ht .' " ' area ferret." r “Forw‘ pout, did he?” “Katmai; at any, “to. He my. also kPOIW you are not mm v the Ibo"? j', "l/ , ' >' "it he don t it but George sari-en's fault.” swim“- “ He ‘wg 91.33; i bunce. Never be on mat“ for ‘11 my enemies-2’. For shuttle. while Gloste‘r' Turk ap- pearedjito fillth to noises that did not ex- _ 'actlyiicbmei In ‘frOm the street, then he i‘oseiafid ' ' .“:It's the young rat coming in a. little; = 5’ earlier than ‘usual nestl" ere “W1! . fora snooze ink}:er 4998 59 sleep? ." Masai. "at the’hend’ of the haii‘gm‘ Imam, un_ ‘der the. unset - . . . 4' ref ‘ ‘ 31%? . ‘ went to the door ,lehding to the \1' >.vWin49w.~ He's, a, (buyers - is . .‘ 3‘ as.” . no I, - i". i , "Gen email-«cache, .19 f ’ wman‘ "’-~spoi4t. ' y "t' ,§ crossed the room and opened the door without noise. In another moment he was stepping lightly down the hall, and Gloster saw him bend over a piece of boyish humani- ty in the corner. It was cuddled up like a sleeping dog, but the detective saw the face which the sleepy arms tried to hide. "‘ Why, it's Buttons! ” he said, and then' his hand touched the boy’s shoul- der. In another instant the boy was fully amused, and was looking into Spangles's face. “Why, bless me, it it isn’t Spangles, old boy!” exclaimed the boy of street . and gutter, sitting bolt upright in the corner. “I say, Spangles, old chap, what’s the latest tip? ” ' The Circus Detective led the boy tri- umphantly back to Gloster’s room and stood him in the light. " Do you know him,'Spangles? " asked the man with the long hands. “I ought to. Bu...bns and I have been friends for. some time, and he never goes back on‘ Spangles." “ Wouldn‘t for the world, Spangles, old boy. We stick closer than brothers, but this gentleman here—he don’t care much for boys." Gloster' laughed slightly, but his eyes seemed to grow moist. “I did once—I did once," he said, hur- riedly, and then he seemed to turn to Spangles for an explanation of his bring- ing the boy to his room. “ I may need Buttons yet to-night, and I thought I’d just bring him to the room," said Spangles. “ You canasnooze in the cerner yonder, Buttons, till youjre want- ed." ‘ The boy smiled and sprang to an old settee in one corner, and threw himself upon it. 4 In another moment he seemed sound asleep, and Spangles turned to the man with the long, hands. I ,.,"‘-‘Where will I find Goidstar? " he '- asked. " You say you called on him to- ', day? ” ‘ ' ' “ “He may not be at home Just now, but you'll be likely to find himin the old nest—the} one which he titted up with Harold Hart‘s money.” “.What is the news from the Hart res- \ idence?" “'I have none.” “.Then you haven’t cal since I left the city? ” ,“ Not exactly upon her,” said Gloster. “ I_. had occasion to enter the house, but' ,I didnft see t young lady. I saw only the. maid—Ne r 3,, you call her.” » ., “The” detectives are still working "t the mystery?” » »_ , ‘ “ Of course. The newspapers may have told you that. But to them, .so far as I know, the double mystery is as deep as ever.” _ I Spangles glanced at Buttons, and for an instant thought he caught the boy's eyes wide open. .I , ‘ ~ g They gleamed in their very blackness: ‘but as he looked they seemed to lose c led on Miss Floss" r .the wall. _ V I But Spangles knew that Buttons was 7‘ playing 'possum," though.he did not, mention they-"mutter t9 Gloster. ' . ." You promised to take a look for Na- " than Moneybox‘s nest," said the detec- ‘ tiVe. '“ What have" you done in that direction? " “I made an éflart, but I failed.” “ What. balked you? ” . "A- very strange circumstance" was '. the reply. .“ I though“ was on the right 'trail. but all at once I.w baffled. The man who rolled from the s eelgsaie when you opened the door the "day after the ;, tragedy took pains to conceal his abid- iing place. as if he didn't want any one ,to hear.“ i.” . . ‘ of, a. singular . circumstance twasj it, Glosteri‘i‘ Was "stop ‘ on; the streetwhen on lian gland was induceggtoi enter a ‘ _~ ‘ t‘ I Iin Battery Park, their light ‘and the head turned toward . turning once more to Gloster. o ‘ ‘ . " I 599'" 831d 3981113168. “I accept the. “‘ There was no such woman in the house?” ' ' “ There was not. The moment the door had shut behind me I was pushed against the wall and blinded with a handker— chief.” “But you struggled, of course? ” “I did, but it was useless. I was in the hands of a person who had the strength. of a giant, and, despite my efforts, I was thrown to the floor and bound hand and foot.” “A pretty proceeding," smiled Span- gles. ' “When I had been thus served, I was picked up. and whirled, about till my brain swam. It seemed as though my. head was falling to pieces. I never had an experience like it.” “Well?” “I can’t tell what happened during the next half hour. When I came to myseli again I was lying on one of the benches still dazed and half I crazed." “Can’t tell how you came there, suppose? ” ' “ I have no recollection of, any journey: but. of course, I was taken from the house of the decoy to the park. I sat up till I came to myself in full, after which I tried to find that place.” “ And failed?” ’ “ Failed signally," said Gloster, with emphasis. " It was the most startling episode of my life. I hunted for the house and then went home baffled." At this juncture Spangles's attention was drawn to the Settee where Buttons' lay, and he caught sight of the glittering black eyes again. . They eemed to- possess'a merry gleam, and a smile appeared to come tor a mo- ment; to Buttons’s lips. “ Have you tried to recover the trail since?” asked Spangles. . “ Half a dozen times. but always with the same result.” “ The house is still lost? And the nest of Nathan Moneybox you cannot find? ” “ That's it exactly. You remember, the police didn't ,know where the‘old ‘man lived, so he was buried by the city in the potter’s field the day after. Harold Hart." ‘ ' “ I recollect,” said the spotter. “ They believe, generally, don’t they, that Har- old Hart, before his own murder. put old Nathan in the safe, and smothered him to death?” , . v v “ They believe that. There‘s no :telh ing what passed between the two men-- no one knows‘why Nathanwent to the millionaire that fatal night, norwhat’ hold he had on Harold Hart. it any. But we all know that Nathan Moneyhox was the man in the steel “saie,;~and. that he was smother’ed‘ there." '. ‘ ,. ,_ “ We wonfit dismiss that phase of the case, Gloster,“ saidISpangieS, as herose. “ I’ll see you dome other time.‘i.or I’m back in the..cijty, to stay.‘ The Great. AmericaniWill‘soon be withus.” ' “How, so?" cried the man with the long hands. , _ " It can’t remain on'the ,road since the renowned Man'tellivleft it,” and the de- tective laughed. ‘V , ' ‘ ' : “Joe will come back "'0! oeurse.” . r , " And oe'orge Farrelljand the others?" "Certainly._ They’ll all be“ here." . f l f‘fi‘hen you will have to keep both‘eyes You‘ see the stakes the'ipards‘ are playing for." ‘ ‘ , V with," it, than? f.‘ issue. ” Well, gobd-ni ht. Glosten: What are you going out wit-_ me, Button’s‘l." The boy had left ._ .- settee ‘fwa's waiting for the Circus Detpcti'i’f'e to go away. . ,- 1;, ' 5 r" ewalk und r the-la On the sid . I , mp3 But? tons caught Spangles by‘ the hand.“ ‘ I‘ didn’t, sleep swink in that house”, cried , be. "‘Just- couldn't. you see, ,1 wheresfiloster. was-battled. i can» show you the~ house, and. t‘ be investigated the "f . ‘~" You‘ . ' ‘.1.(‘ - she comes." ,. * fer-(instead or the-gums " to. dance iiire'fmad‘stafi in 1,}; CHAPTER XII. THE.TRAP AND THE GAME 11‘ CAUGHT. Spangles looked down into the urchin’s face and smiled. . “I knew all the time you were only shamming, Buttons," he said. “ You know Gloster and some of his tricks, - eh?” “I haven’t been sleeping in his hall for nothing,” was the answer. “ I know how to take the old fellow." “But how came you to know where he had his adventure.” “I saw him come out of the house." “In the hands of those who beat him there? ” “Yes.” ‘ “ And you followed them to the park, where Gloster came out of his trance? ” “ Didn't I, Spangles? ” “ Well. Buttons, where is this house? ” . , The boy looked cautiously around, and then touched the detective’s hand. “I’ll show you, bu; you must be care- ful." “I'll be careful, where this trap is.” " It was a trap for Gloster, and, if he hadn’t been looking for the trail, he'd never have run into danger.” _ ~ Guided by Buttons, the Circus Detec- tive was shown to anather quarter of . the city, where the boy stopped and pointed out a plain—looking house. " “That’ll do, Buttons,’f said Spangles. “ Heavens! be you going in? " . Buttons. Show me» "Perhaps." . ‘ ' , “ Keep your eyes about you, Spangles." The ferret nodded, and then Buttons vanished, leaving him on the sidewhik not far from the place which had 586 pointed out to him. . ‘ . For some time the Circus Detective. made a study of the house, and at last advanced upon it. . , , . The story told by Gloster Turk was » ‘ still in his mind, and he knew that‘heg might be led into the same trap, which‘ had closed on that individual. 5 ‘ w Spangles went up t the be“. _ A J \ x 1' ' In a minute the door was opened hyjjgH woman, and he was invited to enter. ; Once inside, the door was shut behind ‘ him and he stood in a semi-darkened hallway with the same woman him. : - “What is it?" asked she. . _, “I come from Goph‘er,’_’:said the erg? , ret. “ He sent me here to see—you}?! its." ' ' A curious look came into the 'wdma.’ ‘ ‘ eyes, and she walked to a side do, which she opened. , " ' ' “ In ‘- there," she “said. in a minute”. , -, , 4. .. Then the detective heard momenst 1 up the stairs in theme and, he was; alone. . . p _, “ Thi must be the woman’l overheard Goldsta and Farréll' talking ghost-Zia Fairview. ,Thg’y caliber Me ‘ y, - ' “looks like Vaigeanoe. She- _‘f I. pher. for she did not deny itflwhen, ~‘ told her that I come hominid. h ' ‘ ~ he steps and, 4’ ‘v ’ i ‘f {’11 be, news;- .The strange woman wasp/on the; gain; Spangles bellev,ed.‘ahfi he" “the! door breathlessly. ' _ a . He was a little startled wheni tore» him, he was-confronted}: '3'” ‘ 3 "Good! ‘ He sehd‘st-_-'you.“cdee,hei this person. who was short qt stat andewirif, with testifies» eyes ill in . ets." “Mercy meson had..icodie ...‘wvod.; . 3”: L - other. ‘5 I’ve known, this”). N? was the here ‘statementlf'that he is enough; How fares-he? ?" -'{ He is suiting» mightier. " 158’”! ~. . I " ' ‘ . ,'I' 5 I“v'I§xactiy‘,”' was tit repl' ‘ is areal-one. but. he #eht'z‘ , renters, ‘ ' ' tor entl'emah ésorga‘thsgs own ail-Sp rt. “ A good deal.” ' ’ “Where did you leave them?’ _ “I left after the last performance at Fairview City.” “‘Yes, I heard they were to show there. Tell me,” and the little man leaned to- ward Spangles. “What about this Man- telli, their chief rider? How does he! do? ” “ He is the drawing card of the show.” v “And Joe Vincent, the Mysterious, and Fairy, the star? ” 1 “They’re doing excellently. Without them I don't see how the Great Ameri- can could get along." , “ It’s partly my genius," and the speak— er rubbed his hands with glee. “You don‘t know, perhaps, but Gopher does." “I am aware or the part you have » played and how much the show owes to ' your genius.” “ That's it! Shake!" and the‘ little man put out his hand and grasped Span- gles’s. “ I ‘told Gopher it would be a suc- cess, but, you see, when the hacker died he grew disheartened. and—4’ “ That was a bad thinglfor us,” inter- rupted Spangles. “Harold Hart had the wealth, but we have 'the genius." “ That’s it—the money-making ge- nius!” and the little man clapped his hands. “I say, sir, we shall get along famously. I am the secret-keeper for the '3 firm. It’s all right. They trust old-Logan " and he never r’betrays." - The secret-keeper for George Farrell ‘ aind Gopher Goldstar! ' ’ Surely the Circus Detective‘had struck a‘ rich vein. . .“ That was a. pretty neat trick you served the old fox,” he ventured. ' In an instant there was a start dn the old man’s part,vand Spangles'waited. , ""Did you notice her hands when yol'l came in?” he asked. , “( Yes. They’re just the hands "wprk, aren’t they?” . , - “ None better in the universe,” laughed ,flie other. , “Why, he was a babe in ,. ,sMercy’s hahds. ,She stood him against the .‘wall and" would have given' the police another mystery if I had not interfered. - We couldn't afford to carry the Joke too‘ a fanyou see'.” _ . i ' _‘ ‘3 No. It went far enough.- When the old fellow came to he didn’t know for a ' spell where he was.” ' ‘ ' don’t blame him. It was Marcy's" handhthose pretty little hands~that . can make a dress or choke a man to death. She’s worth her weight in gold.‘ {Did Gopher send for the papers?" . 7“ No. Heonly wanted me to see them, ch would be proof ethat they were all -/s'ajfe." . . 4 ' , ,In‘ another moment” tor the I h old Logan bound (1, ".frm/ the groom, leaving Spangles ralon , he waited tor his return with a good deal of 'anxiety. , ' ’-“Wh_en the little man came back. he carried in "his hand alot of papers which. .1119 half held behind him. ' l l _."Here theyl‘are'," he said, approaching. ghost-detective. “ You, can tell Gopher {that you saw ,, them in Logan's hands. ‘whiéh means that7the‘y're we." ‘ .30: course? ~ " I .1 l-Spangles‘had caught sight of a bit of ’redltape which encircled the documents, Quilt attracted\him. v V ' ’ f‘vvfiewanted me to look at them, Lo- gay-rout mayimow‘ what is in there, ' UGeorge ‘andy‘ Gopher w re disputing 1 tether night over a sen once, and—” all .stilbhorni ‘ t ‘ , Ignvwhich‘l‘paper was the Seritence?""‘ flaked. . ' '* ‘ I ' J the main one;’ said tile detective attrandoma, ‘; ' t r ., ‘3. Themam One, he? That’s’just what ~Gopher calls it. You’ll do, sir. Here,‘ them over," and he threw the papers! entire table: 1‘ ’ a v , l .The Circus Detective took alchair, ag‘ he table and ll tied theatrih'g, melt male éwlikezwes of 55°? its twenfidmpom 13,135. 3113:; t. ,_ as same ‘1 lather man drew back a. little and , it stood’him in need to play it well. The least suspicion, the smallest amount of distrust, and he would never Walk from that house alive. Spangles opened the papers without a tremor and looked at the first one. It was a. folded sheet of legal ‘cap, covered with close writing, which he did not stop to decipher. ‘v At that moment he looked up and dis— covered that he was the sole tenant of the chamber. '1 The queer little man had taken his departure so quietly as not to disturb him, and he had the room to himself. Spangles turned to the documents once more and opened them one by one. All at once a little envelope fell out of the packet and lay' at his hand. It was sealed, but-the ferret noticed at one end a. bit of thread that protruded from it. . . The packet itself was a little weighty, and‘the ferret balanced it on his hand while he looked at it. ' Could he have looked behind him at that moment he would have seen two faces that would have done credit to the fiends of the loWer world. A curtain had been pulled aside, and there side by side stood Mercy and old Logan, their faces close together, and their evil eyes distended with demonism. But Spangles laid the little packet aside and turned again to the other pa- pers. ' “ He refuses to pull the cord? " whis- pered Mercy. ' “Wait! He‘ll go back to it,” was the reply in the same tones. “ He must pull the cord. Ah, that will be the best trick we ever played, old woman.” ' The only reply was a gleam of dark hatred in the woman’s'eyes, and the faces did not 'move. Spangles, the detective, read «one of the documents for some ten minutgii after which he gl nced over the others and laid the whol aside. I “Look! he comes back to the little packets He wants to see what is inside,” said Logan to his companion. , for us at last!” ' . "He is fooling with. the string. Shall we look on, woman? ” , 9 “_Why not?” ‘ ' ' , Spangles had taken up‘th'e packet with the intention of giving it, a, closer exami- nation than; he had dope before. The little cord that hung Out of one corner of it seemed to tell him that it held the packet between him and the light. ' pl" ' . “He will lay it down. and We will lose,” said the woman} V . " He must not. Why, he might escape us then." . , I “ He will not eSCape. We have him in our hands. No one will know but Gopher, and us. and-4" , .j I J “ Wait! These 11 .goes.‘ He 1 going to pull the cord. Iti all right, woman.-” At this moment Spangles seemed to tug. a little at the cord, and then the bell rang. , ' , , ,. - ’ “ Let it ring," said Logan, holdinghis spurt of gunpowder,and it won’tbe heard beyon‘p the-‘roomw Let the person ring‘and‘golaway.” , But the detecti‘Vé.hadleoked up and nearly. dropped. thepacket. ' ' lHe Stooderect with tho, chair behind him, and-his eyes fastened oh the door; " Let' me try my hands again. He will man. I l . ,r ,. , w “No.3no. 'Give,him time. There: thg will become ; calm . again. we're after. :3)! my.” - is slid?" ‘ rate " a run of also “mm? if}? “ I believe it. Fate is playing” the game' was the key to what‘iayrinside. and he" rcgmpanion back: " The noise will be like . not Open the1 packet." pleaded the we- fpersononjthe 'steps is moving on, and.“ , the . spy- . Swag}? up gone'back .to the :‘fatal' i insets-am the sari m Once more" in I there mu will? A strange vapor seemed to fill the room. ' “ Come! don’t breathe it,” cried eld Lo— gan, jerking his companion from the opening. “We will come upon the scene by and by. it is. death for us to inhale the gases." ‘ “It is all over with the spy!” cried the creature who had admitted Shangles. “It’s another proof that the mysterious slayer is invincible. Yes, yes, I‘ll come.” The faces left the spot and the cur— tain dropped back to its normal position. Ten minutes later the same curtain was drawn aside once more and the same faces appeared there. Old Logan bounded into the room and looked around. He was followed by his companion. ‘. “He is'gone! ” cried the old man. A scream of rage came from the wo—j man’s throat; ‘ “It is true! I told you you had better' let my hands at him, but no. You trusted in the silent death.” ' "I never knew it to fail. Look. Mercy. , Look, woman. Not only is the man gone, but the papers as well.” ' “ We are ruined!” Old Logan stood like one paralyzed in the middle of the room. ,His hand trem— bled on the table, the edge of which he clutched. . He seemed to haVe been rendered mad by the discovery of the detective’s ab- sence, but the woman called him back to the true situation. /_ ‘ “The,spy has the papers—the secret belongs to him! There is .but one way' out of it‘ for us—7but one thing to do." “What is that?” a ‘ “Beyond the door yonder must lie some hiding” place. We must not be found here. We have betrayed our trust. They will demand an explanation. They——” , “That’s enough!” broke in: Logan. “Come! We vanish from this moment. But some day we will find this inVinCi- ble Spy; then death! death! ” . . I And the white—faced pair bounded from ‘ the room and all was still. " ‘ CHAPTER XIII. "r‘womras ON rm: TRAIL. It‘was the next day when, Gopher Geld— star, enteringhis, room, was confronted by his landlady. who told ‘him that a, gentleman had called tosee him. , At the same time she handed the show;- man-sport a" card upon Which was scrawled a name at sight of Which Go- pher started. , v ‘ _ h . “ Back? ” he exclaimed. 'f‘Back at this time? ~What has become of the show?” “I can’t say, sir,” ‘said the Woman, "‘He will come/"back soon. You are tn “asters 1'9 r'erness or ' a“ . [“Yoil’re su 1-» it What next? " wait for him.” ,. \ , ‘.‘I’ll wait." ‘ . » ,. v . Gol‘dstarhad read on jthe ‘card. the name, of George Farrell,‘:and this was- what startled him._ . s ,' He waited ‘an' hob it} the solitude of his room watching-the deer with the eag- drlven; nearly to de- Straction, an at. he 'heard George’s footsteps. , . He was, .,tpe‘,;lloor when Gentlemain George ope, for a moment the two, map,~ ,stgp "face to face without speaki g‘.’ '1 lastin - f chine in; and almost thmilled‘ in ‘ spwr.‘ I .i . 9 deal s-to Day." said he. “Where’s your thinvfaced landlady? " . - ,, ‘ "pawn. stairs. She can’t hear us." ' “,Monsense.” cried Gopher. “Go on," “ Well, Mantelli’s letting; w " Your dispatch said "so"; r‘iJoe Vincent has . " The show has collgpfisa,sr_;‘ ' hfitlail'ii' 3;} 1}- ,' f ,' '- in a k“ tape,” ‘5' h ,’ cried , ;», alto" ngwsl and 3 don‘t want her about.” melee 5'7 :, «a .", * sn-Snert; I he twisted uneasily in his chairf “ What more do you want? ” ‘ r “ No more news from Jack Fontenoy? ” queried Gopher. . “No, and I don’t want to hear from that country Ajax any more. I had enough of him the other night.” Gopher smiled as he recalled the en- counter'after the show in the Pennsyl— vania town. “ I can feel his accursed fingers at my ‘24: ‘ a»... «31%. .1 r . .. ‘T throat whenever I want to,” continued ‘ f Gentleman George. “I‘m the advance 1 r agent of disaster. You got my telegram? Yes. Well, what’s happened here?” ii i. “Nothing.” 3 “You telegraphed me that you were ‘ ‘ robbed on the train.” “ I was." “ Is it still a mystery? " “Not much of one. I was robbed.by the so-called old man who boarded the ' 5 train at FairView City.” ‘ “ “A spy, was he?” v . “More than that.” , ,- » , “ You must have gone to sleep." ' “Perhaps Ildid, but come, don’t re- proach me, George. I can’t stand the loss of sleep, you know, and I suspect I fell an easy prey to this cool plunderer.” “Well?” “ I haven’t found him yet." . “What did he get?” « “The notes and the other papers I carried." “Great heavens! ” [and Gentleman George was on his feet with a flushed face and eyes that seemed to look his partner through and through. . “Not that bad? ‘See here. You mus have played into the man’s hands.” Gopher laid his hand on his partner’s arm, and. said fiercely, through clinched teeth: ’ , “ StOp where you are! No insinuationli. I lost the papers, but I’ll get them bac If you reproach me again, we’ll dis— solve.” V ’ ' ’ l i ‘The other winced. ,1. j I...” I was jesting, Gopher. Reproach you? i j 'never! ,1 suppose I would have lost them Mm... ;...,, cum» ,‘ ...- d-..“ we.» a“ o as well, When did you see Logan last? ” “Not since I left the city with the 'v 3‘ show.” i - . “ “ We must see him at once.” - * ' “ We will." ' ‘ Five minutes later the two partners might have been seen on the street, and in a short time they reached the house. 9 tive. . 1 " rt No one opened the door in response to ‘ , Gopher‘s ring, and in a few seconds that » rpenson took a key from his pocket and opened the front portal. _ ,' He and Gentleman George stood in the darkened hall and looked at one am ' other. a - ' ‘ “ Why, the nest is empty," said George.» - g , “It looks that way. But we: shall soon» 1 see. There is a way finding, out for » , certain. This wéypGeorse." 4 ' "‘ Gopher led the way to the scene of i , Spangles‘s adventure,'and.stopped in the’ i :3. . rooms ‘ " ‘ ‘ " He. seemed to he staggered ‘hy the ' strange silencethat prevailed, but he kept his composure in a marvelous man- ner. 4 k“(‘idne, I think. But if anything hap- pened Old Logan was to leave word over- ‘here.” ~ , . v -’ H crossed the room as he spoke and turifd a‘portraltyhalf way round. T 'he elt along a little shelf set in the wal , but found " nothing. ' “It’s ardeeeptioni'l said George _ ren. ‘:_The old serpents have gone back ogan dare not do that." said Go- pher: " I hold bothhim I my hand, and can crus them at any ‘- ' . time. We’ll go over the house iirst——" ., . f'And find the whole nest empty," 3 i .i venture which befell Spangles, the detng i ins to be done. We must attend to in which. we witnessed the startling ad-1 rustinghis hand behind theplctureg Far— . d old Mercy in * 34f roke in George, “Then‘o ,is another, Goldstar made no reply, but bounded into the hall and then up-stairs.‘ George could hardly keep track of him, and did not follow him very far, but re- entered the dark parlor and sat down. \ Presently Gopher came back with dis- appointment written all over his coun- tenance. . “Curse it all, everything’s vanished," said he, hoarsely. “The documents even are gone.” ‘ “ No? Then we must fight.” Gopher stood at the table like a statue looking down into the face of his com- panion. ' “I intimated once that the. woman might prove treacherous," said he. “It was not the woman. She was all right. If there was a faintheart Between the two,'it belonged to the man—to Old Logan.” ‘ “ What did you find up-stairs? ” ' “Evidences of flight.” “I have discovered something rather strange here." - “ What’s that?” » Gentleman George ran his hand over the table lightly, and then held it to— ward his partner. “ Do you detect anything?” he asked. “ Yes, a peculiar odor,” ’said Gopher. “ Well, you can analyze it?” “ It smells like the fatal powder after it has been burned.” “It is nothing else,” answered Farrell wisely. “ The agent was exploded here on' this table." , ‘ “ But the mystery is, why was it ex— ploded, and who was the victim? If Old Logan and Mercy did the deed, who did they operate against? Spangles?” “ I don’t know." “Jack Fontenoy? ” Gentleman George shook “ We must" find out. said Gopher. 4 “Unless the victim’s face is not di- rectly over the powder." _ “ There’s hope for him, then.” The men were silent for a little while, and then Goldstar said quicklyz‘ . “Old Logan’ and Mercy know. It is their secret, and-they may be~lying low till they can reach us.” “It may be so. If they killed they know Who he was.” " ‘ “Yes.” - . f‘I c n‘ see the old couple watching their ork from a se ret place) I can see the face of Mercy, earned with eag- erness and r ge, for she is the faithful one of- the pa r,’ which is not saying any— thing against Log‘an." r . .Again Farrell ran his hand over the oil-cloth, on the table andsmlled. “It was done right here. The spy, who~ ever he was, got his deserts in this room and the, couple hold the secret.” “I hope so. But how came his to quit thé show? ” asked Gopher, \ his head. It always kills," lake and ,theiiniferiors, and I gave or~ ders .to. have all dates canceled and ‘No- lan” has the property in charge. I took the first train for the city. Joe must be night in timem catch» the Express."‘ "In time, to join Mantelli here, you mean,” said. Gopher, bitterly; “d his hands shut. “Confusion onthelr eads! star is invincible.’ ,I have a "in my hand. I Will play it." .. .. g , “ Yes, the girlf’ cried Gent eman old man’s wife—e” . g, . v Goldstar' broke the sentence, with a. look. ’ l- ' ** i , He had not forgotten his last interview with the milli‘onaire’s ward, her'start- ling propositlén‘and his refusal to sign .the marriage agreement. . a " a . He seemed to turn purple as he looked at his friend, and Farrell did not pro~ ceed.‘ ‘ "' ' .‘flt’s not to be. that fl purse, and' with" her; for your. Juét'yet,” first What. ‘ spoke Gopher stung. " A 19.9. and. 11M Gmtv‘Ameripan ‘ V “ He just pulled'upand left. ~ Wehad’ eft no one of any account, huts Fairy here, too.’ He gave me the slip in the Wait._ ru‘ show them-that GopherGold: great card _ e I _ A , . . ing‘ toward the’river}axld. dodging int George. “‘ Floss holds the strings to the g “But in the future?” “Yes, yes. The girl and the fortune can’t escape us, George. Just now we want to turn our attention to other peo- ple. We want to find first Spangles, the detective—the false Mantelli, of the Great American, and next the‘ wherea- bouts of Logan and Mercy.” “Let’s divide the work.” “Good. Toss for Mantelli,” Goldstar took a coin from his pooket, and balanced it on his fingers. “Heads for Mantelli.‘ he said, send— ing the piece toward the ceiling. The coin came down and settled ‘at Gentleman George's feet. He looked at it and then into Gopher‘s face “I‘m to hunt the detective,” said he. “Agreed! He never had a keener wolf on his trail than George Farrell. And he’ll never want another there.” r CHAPTER XIV. FI‘ANGIJis MEETS HlS MATCH. . The mystery of Harold Hart’s death still puzzled the authorities, and they, in secret, confessed their inability to. grapple with it. .' Coupled with the startling crime was, the death of Nathan Moneybox in the.’ strel safe, though the ferrets had agreed that the old millionaire was guilty ‘pf this crime. However, they failed to trace the safe’s- victim to his past record, for no one seemed to know anything about old Na» than. ‘ Gloster Turk came nearest to the'mysl- ' tery, but we have seen how he was de. coyed into the strange house when on \- the trail, and how he came back to his;‘ senSes on the bench in Battery Park. ’ Spangles, the Spotter, in returning to New York. where he could doi‘f the, mask * of Mantelli and reappear in his true ‘role, had placed himself in the shadow of «- danger, for the two partners were ready to bathe him. ' , . , But Spangles was not easily caught, and he recalled his last interview with. Floss Hart, ,in‘ which he had promised to ferret out the crime of the library and ' bring to light,'if possible, the true- rea-r son for the death of Nathan Moneybox. , ' The night after the tossing of the coin which, in the minds of Farrell and Gold-, star was to determine the fate of the detective, a man might have been seen looking at a certain window .on a quiet little street far from the bu‘sy hum of“ Broadway. ~ This person occupied a ,dOOrway Cal-- , most Opposite the window and 'for some time he had watched it with increasing .. curiosity. , ‘ ' f, g ‘ He did not seem to be over eager‘to enter the house opposite, but the wins; dow, in which there was a light. seemed. . to afford hima good deal of interest. \ ‘. , At last the“light he had watched!” an hour went out-suddenly, andthe Watcher..moved.v , r . , Hie'crossed .tfie street and «waited ,ti , the door of the house opened and a‘ yo me out. ‘ ._ .- 311;? _‘ ' :1 another instant he had thrownh me self ,upon this man’s track, a124,..wnn the clevernessof the. expert first-ls he followed him to the first corner then around it. ' p ' . It the person thus tracked.,.waa‘aware Lot, the espionage, he did not manifest as ‘by/ any outWard sign, but kept’on a frame house not tar {waves , g , , . V g “The tracker smiled peculiarly to, self as‘he saw the victim‘~‘vantsh then he turned back. , , _“ It’s all right," said he 10‘ it. ‘f‘He is still on the turf, an?! all} to do is to‘go back hyrahd by 9, till he“ shows up'a‘gainf',‘ ’ S , " ., i 51,!rwenty minutes later‘he went- I oh and fell to watching the house to which. he had tracked the man. . 1-" When ' the watchedone amp that upon again With the/sin: «7 min then-wishing flange, studio‘s little while > . .A ‘ h. i ‘ 7-: 16 .i ......__..¢-L' ——v. mum“- .. i .. a .. w“... a-» 4-. _.._ ....._ Gentleman George, the Showman-Sport. " Once more the victim was tracked home, and the light reappeared in the upper window. Then it was that the tracker seemed imbued with new life. He retraced his steps, found the house near the river, and boldly rang the bell. The moment the door was opened he pushed across the threshold and stood face to face with a man. “What’s wanting? ” asked the per- son who had let him inside. The watcher pushed on, the other fol- lowing him in the light, and both en- tered a room alongside the hall. “ Great heavens, you? " cried the one who had admitted the spy. “Why not? ” “I wasn't looking for you.” “ Perhaps not.” “ Where have you been? ” Spangles—the watcher was the Circus Detective—smiled and pulled a bit of crumpled paper from his pocket. He did not say a word, but put the pa- per in the other man’s hands, and then settled back while he watched him read. “I see. You’ve been playing the old role. You’ve gone back to the profes- sion!” was the exclamation the reader made as he looked up. Spangles nodded. “They give you a good send-om. What did it cost you?” “ Mantelli is criticised on his merits,” said Spangles. “You see what a star I’ve become. Mantelli! That's pretty good, isn’t it?” “Excellent! But how did you know I lived here?” i The query was an abrupt one, and the ‘detective had to smile thereat. “ I’ve known of this nest for some time. You had a visitor to-nigh.t.” ll H ‘ ’ “ Come. Yes, a visitor. He didn’t care to be seen. He did not. stay long, but slipped back to his own nest." “Did you see him?” ‘( Yes.’! “ He’s a queer man, is Old Logan. I’ve ,known him for years, and he trusts me.” “You would not betray him, I sup- :pose,” said the detective. “ To whom should I betray the old man?” cried the other. “ If you are Mantelli, certainly not to you.” “But if I am a detective—a ferret—a man~hunter on the trail—" The other interrupted with a sharp cry. “I see! ” he exclaimed. “ You are now playing your true role. You are a hu- man bloodhound." “That’s a pretty harsh name,” smiled the spotter. “You wouldn’t have applied it ten years ago.” “ No, nor five. But, about my visitor. Old Logan is in trouble. He has lost his sister.” “Mercy?” “Yes, the Amazonian sister, hans are hands of steel.’ ‘ “ Is she dead?” “ No; but it troubles him all the more because she is living; but where he does not know.” “He didn’t think you had given her asylum, I hope?” “I would as soon think of hiding the boss demon of Tartarus,” was the an- swer. “She is not here. Mercy is gone. She has vanished. She will never come back to Old Logan.” “A good riddance, I would think,” laughed the young ferret. “She may have gone off with some of his secrets.” “That’s it. She has all of them, but I would trust this strange creature. I Would trust her in some things, I mean, but if my life was in her hands and she hated me—not then, thank you.” “ Of course not. But what did Old Lo- gan say to-night? What about the mys- tery of the rich man’s library?” ~ “ Nothing. He did not mention it.” “ Nor the other crime?” “ The man in the safe?” V “ Yes. Didn’t that enter into his er- rand?” whose There was no reply to this question, and Spangles watched the changes on the face before him. “ What is all this to you, Spangles?” queried the other. “A good deal, perhaps,” was the fer- ret's answer. “A good deal to you, too.” “ I can't betray Logan.” “ You mean you will not?” “Put it that way if you care to. I shan’t object." The hand of the Showman Sport was put forth till it touched the other’s arm. At the same time both men looked into each other’s face. “ Concealing information of a crime is had,” said the ferret slowly. “It is nearly as bad as the deed itself." “Not to my mind.” “You don’t have the conscience you are credited with having,” remarked the spotter. “You have a pretty good repu— ,tation for honesty, but after all, you don’t deserVe it.” “ I won’t betray Logan,” was the repe- tition, spoken with a good deal of em- phasis. “While I like you, Spangles, you can’t get me to add one sorrow to that man’s life." “Not when you knew it would help to avenge the dead? ” .Suddenly the man who had admitted the detective stepped forward and whirled upon him. “What was this nabob?” he almost thundered, his figure seeming to in- crease in stature. Spangles simply looked at him, but did not speak. “ He was a murderer himself. He shed blood. He made money hand over fist, and he would not for the world have the city know his past. Men called him ec- centric. It was not eccentricity. It was guilt, the overmastering thought of his evil deeds which. he could not shake off. Death overtook him in his mansion. It came in the night and he was found on the floor by the cold-hearted girl whom he took to his bosom like one takes a frozen serpent to be bitten when the rep~ tile is warmed. This is Harold Hart. This is the man whose death you want to avenge. You come to me like a blood— hound on the trail and ask me to betray Old Logan, the man of sorrows and mis- fortunes. He has been other peeple’s tool; he has played dark games for oth- ers and few for himself. I don’t call him an angel, nor is his giant sister a seraph. Remember, I stand not between you and this pair in order to frustrate justice. I stand there for other reasons. The na- bob of the avenue killed before he died. The man who fell from the safe when you opened the door was the dead wit- ness of Harold Hart’s guilt. What is to be your reward, Cyrus Spangles?—+the gold he won by questionable means” or the icy hand of this bloodless beauty? " “Neither,” said the detective, who had not interrupted the person before him. “ Do you think I would marry Floss, the cold-hearted, the living mystery of the housc of the double crime?” “She plays for you.” “ It cannot 'be. I have given the girl no grounds for such. a game." “ But she plays for you just the same. You are now in the shadow of danger, not from the hand you hunt, but from the cold hand of the dead nabob’s ward. You cannot have studied this creature. You must not have looked into her eyes and caught there the real flashes of self- ish flre. She wants you to hunt the mur- derer of the nabob, does she? You have become her man-hunter, and she has told you that Nevis, and not herself, first discovered the crime of the library? Wasn’t this her story, Spangles? ” “You read the newspapers,” said the detective. “I did. I read all about it, so far as they told. I read twice the Well-boined story of this girl.” “ The ‘ well—coined ’ one, you say? ” “ Yes. You may be a host on the trail, but if you can’t drag from the heart-of Floss the true story of that night’s work you had better go back to the circus and abandon forever the track of crime. She loves you as creatures of her sort love, but the cobra is always dangerous." Spangles seemed to retreat ifrom the keen glowing eyes of the man who had spoken thus. “ You don’t mean all this,” he cried. “I mean it and more. I make no ac- cusations. I betray no man’s secrets. I have warned you, Spangles. Better the ring than the trail. Better the sawdust than the love of this woman." “ But I do not love her. You mistake me; you are on the wrong trail yourself. I will show you in time that you have wrongly thought of Floss, of the house of the double crime.” ~ “I have made no mistake,” was the answer in haughty tones. “You will stand some day or some night so deep in the shadow that it will take all the cun- ning you have acquired in the school of cunning to extricate you.” The speaker walked away, followed by the eyes of Spangles the Spotter. “I can’t get it out of him,” he thought, and five minutes later he stood on the steps outside. In another instant a figure sprang to his side, and he smiled as he looked on. It was the figure of Buttons, and the boy’s hand seemed cold as it was gripped by his own. “ They've tossed a coin for your life,” whispered the boy. CHAPTER XV. THE FLIGHT OF A WITNESS. As we know, this was true. Spangles stood looking down at But- tons for a second, and then, with the lad’s hand in his own, the pair walked away. “Where are they, Buttons?” simply asked the spotter. ‘ “ They have separated.” “Did you see them? ” “Didn’t I? ” and the eyes of the boy seemed to snap. “ How did you manage it?” “I was on the back roof, and had a good View of the whole doings. I expect if they had seen me they would have made short work of me, and they wouldn’t have tossed up a dollar about Buttons.” _ “ Perhaps not," Spangles said.-. Then, in his own peculiar way, But- tons proceeded and narrated the interw view between Gentleman George and Go- pher Goldstar, winding up with the toss- ing of the coin, which was to decide which one should hunt the young fer- ret. ‘ “So Farrell is the hunter; eh, But- tons?” said Spangles. “He's the wolf on the trail,” was the answer. “And he said, remember, that when he gets through with YOU, you won't want another wolf of that sort aft— er you.” / Spangles looked away, but at the same time he smiled as if he did not fear this foe. The pair vanished in a tangle of streets near the Battery, the detective turned up at a door not far from the scene of the separation. . In an upper room of this house he greeted Joe Vincent, who recognized him with a cry of JOY.- “Who told you I had come back to New York?” asked the young acromt. “ Buttons.” "And who told Buttons?” “Gentleman George, unwittingly,” was the answer. “He heard that the ‘Great ’American had utterly collapsed, and that the remaining manager had abandoned the institution.” “It is true. After you gave us the slip George grew restless and I knew some- thing was in the wind. He got a tele- gram from Gopher. saying he (Gopher) had been robbed, and this seemed to quite upset him. After that the days of the show were numbered. I gave him the slip first, then Fairy Flake vanished, and 1?; .L -.L: 1 the whole thing broke down. So George is here. too?" The detective nodded. . “ I am not surprised. Themeeting with Jack Fontenoy outside the tent was the starter, and then camevthe hasty trip of Gopher to the city. Who is this man Fontenoy 2’ " “ I’ll answer you later on," said Span— .---\n-,“; t \‘ «Ach ‘ ,, ,5. w ... . Mwn- .-.~...¢fi 5— son, just now.” “ Go on.” “ Some time ago, long before the double mystery of the miliionaire’s house, Joe, you told me about running across a man 'on the street who stopped you and dragged you into the light of a lamp where he looked closely at your face.” “ I remember the circumstance distinct- ly. It was more than a year ago, or just after I had obtained what I considered a clew to my parentage." “Exactly. Well, you haven't seen this person since? ” “I have not. I have hunted high. and low for him. He has never bothered me since that night, though on one or two occasions I thought I heard stealthy foot- steps behind me.” “ But you never saw any one trail? " “I never did.” “Well, Joe, I believe I have found that man.” . Joe Vincent started sharply, and his face flushed. , “Good, it you have!” he exclaimed. “It is just the thing I want to know .3 ,« now. That man knows something about - -. my life secret. He said Ivhad the mus- ; cle of 'an at.hlete,‘like my father, and , then he laughed in a strange manner 1 and vanished. Where is this person, Spangles ? "I , ‘ The Circus Detective did not vouch- safe a satisfactory reply, but Joe di not press the query. ‘ ' . “mm.--” . - M - Ame“ a (9.. ~ 5‘: x “.1, MA... -..~<~'v- .. < - 1":"“‘w‘; "2“ ,‘- 's E ' M, w’s~w“r'fim“ on your rl'i'w "'2: v v“ A. ,r.~....y~ whoa“. « "1.... ._. v? 4.»: ~ to Wait, and will try and‘be content. " ‘Don’t lose track of him, Spangles. Prom- .ise', me that you will not." i - ' “I will not lose track of him, Joe,” promised the detective. “I am in this case to stay, and you shall see, the mys. as. :1.“ 5‘49}? - r : .‘c ..<' r “4- ' . gles up." . . . “Don‘t let them do that. Cy. For , heaven's sake, be, on your guard, for the hand that struck Harold Hart down may be lurking in the shadows for you." A fearless smile overspread the spot- ter’s face, and he said good-night to Joe. | Half an hour later he might have been tracked through a certain portion of the city; but he was not seen. . ‘ *The our was not late, and he entered , the home of, the late-Inwionaire.‘ - "‘Miss Floss is not in," said ‘the tall maid. who did not at first recognize the detective, but a moment later she seemed to do so. . , ' “ When will she return, Nevis?"‘ asked Spangles. ‘5 NOt before to—morrow. ,She has gone across the river on a mission, the put. , port‘ot which she did not impart to me, and, the house is in my care." i Th re “was some acidity in the maid's tone, which did not escape Spangles, and ' he, said: ' “Nevis, I am back on the trail. Would .you‘ show. me ‘t library? " r = 'I'he‘maid started a little, and then led ’ the way to" the sconce! the double crime. In the library she lit the gas and , turned upon the detective with the stump 1 ofthe match in her long. slender tin- ‘ 4.. a... an“ 4 _., “it -: . . W .. ~ ifiafiwwmfnrmml u- <, ‘ . 69.1.? rind?" .. \- .— you want to search room again?“ she. asked. - ‘ ‘ .- ‘ .“iNot exactly. Nevis,” and ‘ Spangles $53 you a question or two." w phat she soon recovered: , _ . ‘ [dear Loan give you nudism", said a‘wi‘thavtaint smile. ‘ “ lydsre semen b. «all a w : stow " “ Gen 1% gles. “ I want to talk about another per- "1 see," said the youth. r I shall have ' tery solved if the enemy don’t‘trip Span~ ' / [Spangles locked closely at the maid. "I want to The“ girl seemed to 1039 -n- little color,‘ a threads . ~ I ., . filters! 7 V “Certainly, but about the finding, Nevis. Let us go back to that. It was in the early morning, wasn’t it? " " Yes, sir, just after daybreak. You see as how I had had a sick headache nearly all night, and'I came down-stairs before the usual rising hour to get some- thing for it. Then’s when I saw the li- brary door ajar, and I looked in to see him yonder.” “ Yes, that is the old story, Nevis. You stick to it well." She gave Spangles a curious look, and then her gaze for a moment sought the floor. ' “You don‘t mean to say that it’s not the straight story?” she cried, flushing suddenly. ', Spangles did not answer. “They questioned me—the reporters and the coroner, and the detectives had a hitch at me, and they all acknowledge that it couldn’t have :been any other way." ' Nevis was a little indignant, and her face was quite white while she spoke. “ Yes, but, Nevis, a story well stuck to is as good as the best. It sometimes pulls one through and gains him a good deal of notOriety. I’ve heard a‘ good many well-coined steries in my time.” “Then you don't believe mine! come right out and say so, Mr. Spangles. You needn't go behind the bush about it. I understand ‘you; you came' hither to en— trap me.”v The tall girl looked taller than ever and her hands seemed to sink into her palms. ,i _ “When did ydu come in that night, Nevis? ” askred the ferret, coolly. “It was :afteryten, sir. ‘I was out that night—it Was my night of the week." “ You went to the opera, did you?” “ Yes, sir-etc the opera.” ’ “ Just like you told the coroner and the detectives." ‘ “And you 3 well, Mr. Spangles.” The Circus Detective bowed, and the girl flushed scarlet. ' t “ But, Nevis, one more'q'liestion," said' Spangles. “ I’ll answer it; if I think proper,” was the . , "Su.t. yourself about that,” smiled “ When you came home that night who was with him in the library? " ‘ “ [have already said no one.f' “Your published narrative. Ybu did not look into the library?" ' » “I never. did so, when I found a light there." ' ~ . ‘ I "No? Not a servant's ,buslnesa- But who left the "door ajar, Nevis? " The tall maid did not start now. She stood erectvbetore thefterret. and her eyes seemed to ignite. ” .' _ . "The, man. 'whO léft him dead over there,.l suppose]? she answer-eds. .' ‘ ' “ You suppose so. Nevis? " “ Yes, sir." ' ' ' -. ‘ n “ Do I not speak. to the'pemn who left that door open?” ‘ ’ Nevis took one “step back and her hand fell upon the table, where rested the cut-glass inkstand" 01’ f the dead nab‘ob, and it seemed 'to grip it madly. , ” y The. keen eyes‘0f the detective ...inter-. centred: the movement, but he did pear, to interpret it. ‘{ - - , I ‘S- There, ldo’ntnccuse me of compii’hitf in this murder! '1 hushed the girl. ‘firWhen , I called Mica Flesssiie camel tottering downgthe steps and;saW'what LII-it seen." 1 ' . ' ’ ' r ' “, No doubt of that NeViQurRC 88011 it before you.,cried;, ,u-t."i-' , , Thehand at the inkstand;‘got"a‘~Med poised above the niaid's head}: 'She would-have hurled-it"with. mh. , ms (area; into the detective’é‘ tace'it he .* .-npt,x sprung figment, ‘torward. and gripde her uplifted hand; i ' . For a moment e‘ioo ‘NeVidlflflyr injure face, and the arm is owed signs '01 struck: the Mill near the window withing; .‘ )1 maps. , "“w :a house‘mrtrom , , counter and coolly. cicada cigar . :a'n'open box. on a tab! ‘ ‘ w year down i h’fid‘i‘. I .conntonan"“ee indicated, and he 1 clutch, and the next" moment'i‘Qt was? ‘ _ I _ I I ' An hour passed thus, .With‘.t;lir~ ‘th he watched it eagerly. ' ~ g the “Great 1. amt-team . 2 ' o". “ Let me go,” she suddenly cried, wrenching herself away, and then she broke from the detective’s clutch. Spangles looked at her as she crossed the library, and at the open door she turned and gave him a look of scowling hatred and vanished. Spangles heard her on the stairs, and smiled to himself. Whether the. game had been worth the candle was known only to him, for he did. not follow her. He stepped to the desk and pushed some papers aside, while he looked at others there. Almost at the same mo- ment he heard a strange noise overhead, and in a second he was at the open door. “Some one seems to have shut dow‘n - a window up stairs. was it Nevis?” said the ferret. g Spangles bounded up the steps, and halted in the corridor leading to the. main sleeping rooms on the second floor. At the window at the end of the corri- dor, a window which overlooked aporch at the rear of the house, he caught sight of something that attracted him. ~ ’ It vanished as he looked, but the sight ' took the detective forward as last as his limbs eould carry’hlm. ‘ It did not take him halt a. second to ‘- reach the spot and throw up the lower. sash. ‘ .. . - Something seemed to fall from the , sloping root of the porch the moment he ,5 5 - looked, and he heard a noise like some * one dropping to the ground. ' - _-, '- “ I see! The girl is in full flight," said, Spangles, as a figure flitted through the 1, garden. “Nevis is running away. The witness is determined not to be ex— ‘ ’amined again by me." _ « He shut the window and stepped back; As he did so he saw a man at the‘head of the stairs, and then a sharp report j, sounded in his ears. ' ' _ .. The new-comer had ti ed point-blank at. him, and Spangles ielt the winds: 8-2- bullet as it sped past his head. At the same time he thought OtiBJ‘lt-fi tons and his warning. , a '“ . ~ "—4—- /“ CHAPTER XVI. , A, now'm rm: FIRM. ., -. - Spangles saw that the man at the, head ” " of the stairs was a man qt cool cunning-i He did not stop to ask how he had ,en‘-_ tered the house, nor when he had come}? upon the scene. It was enough to that he was there and on a deadly‘mis-i . son. . ’ The spotter had little time for th ‘, t}; or action; he knew that theme wo' d not spare him, and that the ‘flngersrf ’ the trigger were as merciless as ,e » '-' glare of the eyes. . . ‘ ’ He leaped forward, straight downthei corridor, only to see the revolver has little ‘and then another Jet of fire flasher in his face, . . . Spangles recoiled, staggered back, dull sound. ' . _‘ .1 Darkness came and he knew, no more, . "The career or the showman-detectiv bad seemingly come to. an abrupt gen clusion. and the man of many trials, an! mystery-hunter of street. ind ring. found his-master.‘ ' ’ . ' Some time afterward a, , ' some of th No one was there to“ himi'aud.;..he the best chjir‘in theiroogn and amok ‘ : while he. waited" ; . That he had-achieved "widower kind agreeable“ him in, every w‘ on'with.,a.taoe*seamed with i \ k , audit the‘usist‘tu... . steps. came up to the doortoht'the‘ o'fihsr . d H , ' ,‘brut the ' . (int he stepped over. theg‘hrémold, ' {tonne-d «to? admit p96 mid ,lookedat the Mood-deal ot- 1‘ erections” his 1.“ ’ my twain as the myrrh fl war? ” he asked, taking a cigar from the same. box. ‘ The other man, who wasGentleman George, took from his pocket a ring, which [be tossed carelessly on the table. Goldstar leaned forward and picked it up. a " Mantelli’s! " said he, lifting his eyes to those of his companion in cunning. Farrell nodded. “ You saw him? ” , . “I won the toss of the dollar, didn’t I‘? ” “Of course.” “And it was my duty to find him." “ Good!” cried Goldstar. “ Did he give you much trouble?” - ‘There,” said Farrell, with a. gesture. “Don’t ask me too many questions." “I Will not. The ring tells enough. You would not rob the living, ha, ha! " Gentleman George made no reply, but looked at the ring and then took it back. “I haven't found Logan and Mercy yet,’3'remarked Gopher. “ me old rep- tiles have given me the slip completely. I will find them yet, never fear." “ They can't hide long from you in this city, if they are still here,” replied Far— rell. ‘; There are several places‘where clews might be obtained.” ’ . “Yes, and all will be visited in time. ., The time for our startling play is about '. here. With the circus collapsed and the game of death on its last legs; we must ,look to the gelden part of it.” ., “‘ I was thinking in that line when you came to the door,” said Farrell. ,“ Now, if the newspapers to—morrow morning give the city another mystery, don’t be alarmed.” - ' I “Will they do that?" l ' A: “They may, I say.” .' L“ lurrderstand,” cried Gopher. ” You’ll ,do, George. If you had handled Jack ‘;,‘Fontenoy as easily as I think you have . “handled this‘deteetive known to us. as . Mantelli, to others as spanglcs, why, we ‘ hays thrown danger to the four winds." Gentleman George smoked on, but did , not answer. :He seemed wrapped in \Z' thought, while Gopher Gol‘dstar waited [for him to speak again. r , “I only trust you made ,ho mistake,” ' said Gopher, suddenly. “One made now might: prove fatal.” ‘ 2 "I make none,” the hand of George fell upon thetable. “ See that you do as await. , See that you leave no trail behind ,{ for this man whom I found is not the sole spotter in Gotham.” , :" ‘f I-knowthat’. There are scores of oth- ~ ,,.,,ers,“but this one had a bitter‘ purpose in ’ thisr'hunt.” ' x ' g“ :1" I know that. He is the girl‘s hunter.” - -“Do you think so?” queried Gopher. "‘If Fleas. phi; him upon the trail she may want to knowawhat has beco eat him.” r » , . Gentleman George laughed unmolested, ri-he suddenly threw his cigar away r080. v I \ I ' ’ "I'll. see you“ tomorrow,” ‘4'. H I said he. wind you, watch the newspapers, but she startled at nothing.” ’ \ (trauma them.” , , ' r «The men parted, but on the lid the door George halted. , ,3“ I, wonder if he really'means to capt- , urawthe align?" he said to himself.‘ , might have drawnshim out a little. A could have unlocked his secret. Whyhot-‘know it before I go away? ", new,” back to the door and walked to the.room to see Gopherfloldstar in 1‘ steps be- inthe wall. . « at sound at his partner’s footsteps Go- pher‘turned and flushed. -, , ’ "What is it?" he asked, glancing at the table; ,as if; Gentleman George had “@3011! theme not long" ago'thht, you the girl fairly in” regatta that at tire-thus you could fasten e whole mat- iot the oldfcsown’s fortunes“ ‘* ,Gopherstarte . ~. - lbw question, aw an,“th " is did: i; he 2‘" r i ,--in fact, \ thrusts before me. ‘ .firha‘ps hell noted the suggest J “I said something in'that direction, I believe," said he. . , “ You really‘ said that within ten day you could become the husband of the clown’s daughter.” “Did I? ” “ Certainly. You haven’t forgotten that nor changed your mind?” I “I haven’t changed my mind, George, but just now—” He stopped, for, that moment he thought of his interview with Floss, in which she had offered him her hand if he signed a certain agreement from which his cunning nature had shrunk.’ Farrell .waited coolly for him to go on. “If you doubt your ability to win, let me try,” suggested the man near the door. . For the minutest part of a Second a smile appeared at Gopher Goldsrar‘s mouth, but almost before it could be seen it was gone. "‘ “ I‘m in dead earnest,” George. “Let me try. Why not? equal to the emergency." He had advanced a few steps and stood at the table, from which he leoked into his partner’s face. “ She might have a choice of her owu," Gopher said, in sharp tones. I “What if she has? It you have failed to bring her to time, I may.” ‘ “But I have met with no repulse yet.” “ No? What's this?” . At the same time the hand of Farrel disappeared in his bosom and the next moment it came out. again with some— thing white between thumb and finger. Goldstar started the moment he saw the bit of folded paper and flushed deep- ly " ‘~ continued I‘m .“ It seems to me you didn’t take ada- vantage of the opportunity,” pursued Gentleman George, a gleam of humor in the depths of his eyes. “It waste. little severe, that’s a fact; but-y—" » “Where did you get that?” inter- rupted Gopher. “Did she—-" “A strange wind blew it across my path/Kwas theranswer. “ I ran across it on the rail—the‘trail, ha, ha.” Gopher Goldstar didi not reply, but his gaze rested on the paper in his com- pa‘nion’s hand. ‘ ‘ “Y 11 acknowledge the corn, ha?" cried arrell. “ You refused to put your name to. this. interesting little docu- ment?” 2. ‘ . “I did. She sprung it on me unan- nounced. She thrust it before me, and didn’t give \me time to collect my thou hts.” ‘ ‘ r “ loss is"'a cool one,'anyhow and at all times; but I didn’t give her credit for a play like this.” . ,‘ . \ g . Goldstar stammered,' for the words r would not come forth. as he to, ahd Farrell laughed: , “ It's my’turn now... I’ll sign the paper any, one the fair , creature But I don’t think she’ll ever impose such a burden on me.” “ I’m not ,through'with her yet. I shall win in time.” , , V v . ” Not with. this? paper in the girl’s hands nor with her, mind made up, as it shows.” ; ' , , ‘ ' I “ But I’ll bring her around. I’ll show .ehpr shat Lam the/master of just as much. cunning, as‘ she, can 9 hibi-t. That only a little pieoemf‘ Ryérsion." ‘- was , ‘fA joke, 'en? shes a not intend to carry out the agreement, then? ’/ r _ , a “ No. , c act of taking, something from a con; " —“ Then, in the name of Heavenplt'it is a Joke, whydidn't‘you sign?"l‘he change of shame will do it all.- l'll call outlier and see to it. What’s thediiference. so long'as we, are together iii-"this little scheme? (What‘recks it it she becomes wife or “yours? " . v fiGopher saw: that :Géntl'eman George was terribly in earnest: ,he noticed, the manés, eyes “undermined his mien- "e salquuickly. he ginalxbargain.” , . fill. and-y wanted, them _ can’t take thi‘sfiplay from my. “ That Wasn’t hand if I can. We must not lose the for- tune; and the wedding places it in our hands.” . “I see that: but she has not slipped through my fingers. She sticks there, despite her move. I’ll go back and put my name to the paper. l’ll'reconsider—” “If she’ll let you! What if this girl refuses to present a document like this again.” ‘ “Then I’ll shift my hand and play an— other card.” “ Keep cool," said Farrell, with a cyni— cal smile. “ I’m going to take this mat~ ter in hand for the present. I intend to play a card I happen to hold and one which no power on earth. can keep from winning. It means a wife and fortune, the latter large enough to enrich both of us. We could put a dozen shows on the road. We can become the show kings of this country—the millionaire sports of the world. It all lies in my hands. I hold the key that unlocks the treasure house of the old clown.” “ How? ” asked the startled Sport, who, had listened to these words like a man in. a maze. . “Never mind, just now,” said Gentle- man George. “The bOSS hand of the game is mine. I can play it out.” “And lose; that's it! ” laughed Gopher. “ You can‘t play it out and win. She won’t give you a chance.” “ I make my chances. You have seen me tried before this.” ' sneered Goldstar, flushed. ‘ ~ I “ You’re sarcastic. Who mi9sed a man at ten. paces, and who was robbed on .the and his companion ,- train ? ” The arrow went straight to the target, and Gopher Goldstar seemed to turn ghastly white. ' He surveyed his partner from head to while the eyes of Farrell twinkled atro— ciously. ‘ v I. . “Just keep cool,” he repeated. “Give me a chance. if I fail you may try again. If I win, why, you shall have you share whole, without ‘a penny deducted for commission/.3 , . . ,This was the last straw, and), with an oath, GoldstarbOunded forwa d.'to be caught hv Gentleman George nd flung back against t 6 table. , . . “ We’re part ers in this game,” said he, through set teeth. ‘f You have had your inning; now coines mine. And if you in— terfere, by Heavens! Idl‘ turn loose the dogs of fate. L.’.emt:.1bcr that I am the old tiger of other days. ' lien call me,on Broadway”, ‘ Gentleman George;' but you know that I have two natures; so don’t rouse the one that kills.” ,1 \ CHAPTER XVII. t, , THE manomnuu OF noon. » 'i " » in the little restaurant whigih ’1 ed waiting for his supper, andxat the me time lookingover wetsuit edition of his vorite paper”. g ' .- ' v It was themightgafter his return to New York after, the suddenvcolla e of nine Great arlcaninuthc heart of, ehn-, sylvania,fi (the. I heard the latestzirom the lips of his friend, the;:_Glrcus Detective. . Joe: dld‘not talk: noticc of those who ,came in» and dropped into the the tables ‘argand him. , v \ till heiwasitouched on the arm": and look- ing in the right direction, he discovered a. boy "pyeing him eagerly. . ~.,“Youre Joe, the ltumbler, aren‘t you? ” mi’stakablg cast of the street urchin. I u I um.) you? ” i ' oncesthat you hashegyher-er If; Whamtold you'll"; , r on! have failed armies”? “Yes; when we met Jack Fontenoy,” I foot, like, a gladiator about to spring,, Joe 'Vincent, the younsiacrbbat, sat- he patron— , xseen Spangles and r chairs at V , He .wazln‘ot‘u'ware that he was seen ' " asked the boy, whose fecal-had the 1111‘; ) said the acrobat. “who are. I’m Buttons? the boy loweredghi‘s ' voice'~ and then proceeded; “I wasl‘toldi . . J - . 3.7521177 - p. ow”. . u .. “at. . 09 ’( in ‘the shutter," and the boy Seemed to take delight in his attention. ' “Would you mind going with me?” Buttons asked. ' “Go where?” “On a. singular trail. I‘ve been look- ing for Spangles, but I can‘t find him, so the next best thing to do is to take you to the place.” .“ To what place?” Before he answered Buttons threw a suspicious look around, and his gaze seemed to rest for a moment on a man who was discussing his supper three ta- bles away. “Don’t ask me here," said Buttons, turning again to Joe. "Just come on. But you haven't hashed yet?" “ No. ‘ Is it so important that ypu can’t wait? I‘m a little hungry." Buttons settled back with a look and told Joe to-eat his, supper. which came just then. " “ It’ll keep,” sai the boy, with‘.an- other glance. “ n?fngs like it don‘t spoil like fish in a su mer‘s market.” He scraped the newspaper toward him and began t: read, while Vincent turned to his own meal. In a few minutes Joe looked at But- - tons, and the boy at the same moment caught his eye. “I’ll waltz out first. Meet me around the left-hand corner,” he said, and the next moment he was gone. ‘ Joe paid his score and left the room. wondering if he would really find But-' tons at the appointed rendezvous, but he was not disappointed, for the boy was there., “Now, come,” Said the. boy. “It‘s a ]ong run, but the game will pay for the tramD-" For twenty minutes Buttons led Joe from one street to another until the acrobat stopped him. “ We could have done this quicker with a cab,” said Joe. V - “ Witha brass-band cab, eh? Not for 'B'uttOnS.‘ ‘ifyou please,“ was the retort. "‘ Ketch Buttons coming down here with ' a cab cushion at his ’,hack! Not much, I Joseph. But we’re almost there.” Joe said no more, and‘ watched the guide with a great deal of cufloslty as he dodged into the mouth or an alley and seemed to vanish in the twinkling of ameye. . ~ “ This way. It’s a strange flndfthe strangest you ever saw, and I'm son-y you’re, not Spangles.” At the ,rear of an old house the boy Opened agate in a thick fence and held it, open for Joe to enter a dark back yard:, 7 ’ ” Who lives here?“ asked the acro-. .bat, halting at the/threshold! I“ Nobody. Somebodygdid not long ago, as you'll see. But just- now the old tliing’s empty, or nearly so.” Buttons escorted Joe across the back yard and Open d a door leading into a one-story bulking, where the darkness of Egypt seem to reign. - ‘ " Don’t strike a match; there’s alhole whispered Buttons. “We’ll find the {underground ‘ passage withouta light.” _» Vincent followed his young guide in the dark, heard him open a door, and then ,w nt after him down ten steps. The dors of an underground passage . ' assailed his nostrils, but the acrobat did not draw back. ,. . . “ In heaven’s name, how came you t find this place? ” he asked, pulling at the boy's sleeve. ‘ ' “Wat’s my eyes for?" was the re- ply. “ Tell you'h Joe, they is keyes, and you can’t fool Buttons, if he was raised in the gutter. The other door/is here and then—” Joe,heard the boy tugging at some- thing in‘the dark, and at last a door seemed to open before them. The circus htar putput his hand and , 'touched, an cosy wall, which sent a thrill ough his nerves. ' ” ° uttered 3“ , ‘ Motion at this, and “ We’re under the worst nest 0’ rats in New York,” he said. “I tell you. Joe, it’s the death walk here.” “ But the thing you say you found here? Where is it? " i “ In a second, no longer,” was the assurance. “W‘ k straight ahead and don’t touch the lls—'—they’re wet.” Joe did so, but the uneven stones un- der his feet at times threw him out of his beehline, despite his efforts to keep “ straight ahead,’ as Buttons phrased it. At last this strange journey came to an end, and Joe Vincent breathed his thanks for the termination. “It’s on the stones here.” said the boy in the dark. " You can’t see it with- out a match, though.” Joe had a lueifer in his hand almost before the last word was out of But- tons‘s mouth, and the little light seemed to wa'er under the foul vapors that filled the place. ‘ “What is on the stones? ” queried the circus star. - “ The marks—~the record of the great mystery.” “ Where is it? " Joe. saw the figure of Buttons spring forward. and noticed that it stopped juSt before his arm while, with one hand pointed at a certain gray stone in the wall of the corridor, he turned to him with a triumphant look. ‘ “That’s it," cried Buttons. “That’s what i wanted you to see. I’m only sorry you’re not Spangles, for you’re no detective.” , Joe was at the spot in an instant, and his match almost touched the stones as he leaned forward, his-heart stilled, as it seemed, by excitement. “Don‘t you see the record?" asked Buttons. ,“ How did Ihappen to discov— er it? ‘I come down here now and then on the funniest mission you ever heard of. Beyond this passage lies a great sewer, and I Math for waluables.” Joe did not seem to hear the boy. His match had revealed certain marks on the gray stone, and they hadbeoome intelligible. ' I. , What at first seemed a lot jumbled hieroglyphics stood out like is ters of blood on a white surface, and nolwon- der the acrObat's eyes seemed to bulge from his head. ‘ tion?” cried the street urchin. " Ever see‘anything like that, Mr. Joe?” , Joe Vincent‘shook his head and again he read the inscription on the stone: “Harold Hart, April 10, “st There it was—the record the mar- der mystery in the million ire's man- sion. ' ‘ Why should it‘come to light under the streets of \‘New York? Why he found by the boy of the gutter far from the place where the‘ crime had startled thou- sands? ' ' It Was a puzzle for Joe, the acrobat. “ Who put that there, «Buttons? ” asked the acrobat. " ' . he boy shook his head. , ‘ You know what it is? ” he said. ' Hart’s death by “19388388131.” , "What a snap for Spanglesl” cried Buttons, as he looked at .the inscrlpcio tn ‘the light of Joe’s thirdamatcn. ."B I haven’t'been able. tolflnd huh,- wasn’t at home, you see." ' 'contlnued‘ the boy. “ It’s put thers‘ with. an indelible pencil as thick as your an- ger.” , “ I\.see that, ButtOnsi' The/person who ’Dut it there knew about/ the murder." ‘ " Certainly. . He wanted to make a note 01a, fact; he didn’t care to “forget,” “ When did you find, it first?" ' _ I. " This afternoon.” . * fore’in tha-d’ark.” for .3 came fde m 11339? 3‘ day a before ye rda‘y‘, i a [4.9” ,here warns ii gt. * "it had" we . 5 “Ain't it a bummer. that informs-5‘ " Yes, the name,and date of Harold. no! “ It's not cut into the stone, Joe.“ “ Perhaps you may have“ passed lit-bog i “It is passage; an. it wasn't there ‘ and the young acrobat the nine sewer, but did notspeak. if , m, or some: minim. . Us? Joe was about to try another match when Buttons darted away and struck at something on the, ground. “ They ge‘ in here from the main ssw— er," explained Buttons coming back. “ You can get out into it by going a. lit- tle further down there, and then you can walk under the millions up yonder.” ’ Joe bunched several matches which Buttons held while he (Joe) improvised J. a little torch out of a cedar pencil which is be split and thrust between two stones, 1 where it burned like a wax candle. _ “This stone seems to be loose,” said Joe, moving the stone with the inscrip— tion. “If it is we may be able to un— derstand why the date Was put there." “Loose!” cried the boy. " It moves! it moves, Joe! Pull it out and look be- hind it. Jehu! what a snap for Span— gles.” ' Joe found that it was easier to sug* gest the removal of the stone than its actual removal, but, watched by But- tons, he tugged at it till it seemed on the point of yielding. It had been loose for some time and had evidently been taken out before. It was not more than a foot square,‘ and reaching up with both. hands the acrobat grasped it firmly and lifted him- self on his toes in his supreme effort. “ It’s coming,” cried Buttons. “ That's the way, Joe. Why, you‘re a reg’lar Samson.” Joe smiled as he pulled the stone from its place in the wall and lifted it down. “ The door! the door!” gasped "the street rat. “Some one‘s at it, Joe.” ' ~ At the same time the dirty hand of v ' the boy extinguished the burning pencil and total darkness reigned. ‘ . “We’re caught in a trap,” he wills-- pered, clutching Joe’s sleeve. “ We must hide in the sewer, for the door up yon— der has opened.” ~ ‘_ Visiny excited, he pulled Joe away , from the hole in the wall and before the acrobat eculd thrust his hand «into t. I If there was a prize or a clew behind the stone bearing the memorandum of doom they had lost it ‘at the lastgmin— { uic. CHAPTER-XVIII. . H.101; vmenxr MEETS ms MATCH. Darkness reigned once niore in‘ tunnel and'for some time the two friends '9 stood there touching one another, but? . speaking not. \ ‘3’ Buttons had pulled theracro‘bat weird until he felt a puff of foul air on. his cheeks, and he knew he wasat - opening of the main sewer. . “1’ “ Listenl'lx said the voice of the at his 8166. “ Don’t you hear it coming": ’ down 9 passage?" . 1 , I, ’ 1 “I hehr, Buttons," said Joe, and with faces turned toward the objept there: could not see, both listened immersed-*3 with their nerves at their-greatest ton-l“ men 1 ' . . " ' .‘ , Sométhin’: was coming down, the" nel, something that had a stealthy't‘ . ht he tectedx the swish of garments% But he’said nothing of this to tons while he waited for the uh to strike a light and thus let him the mystery of~the undergroqu wa __ Presently the footsteps .3 "the two companions drew closlerf er. , ‘ ‘- ‘ 5 " t ,, i “ R up.” in thedark—J known!“ said the snipe. . / . v .- Joe made no reply, but the next ment 3 little cry escaped his lips; ‘ a light had flashed up. -' , , a ‘ "’ ' In another ‘moment they saw a near the wall from which Joe the dated stone, and it- grew do stature ofa oms‘n there." . I. i , e . ‘21 w, er," whispered .whilesos "sesame. ‘ "s heir." ' _ I as hugged the wall at the mouthgfi it be amt holwas‘gazi i. \ Y ‘-the- heart of that grimy tunnel,'with a ‘match in her hand and in the dead of night? What had brought her to that spot, 'and why had she stopped there with her icy face and uplifted hands reaching to- ward the hole in the wall? “ She wants what’s behind the stone,” continued the boy. “See! she feels in she place, Joe, and—~” . The hand of the woman had vanished 1n the hole made by the removal of the dated stone, and now she stood in the passage with something in her hands. “She‘s got it!” cried the boy, press- ing Joe Vincent’s hand. “Quick! she’ll 5 get away.” - Floss did not seem to suspicion any- thing by reason of the removal of the J Stone, but rather seemed to rejoice that she had found the objects behind it. ,The match went out, leaving her in darkness, and the two companions heard in: back. I . _" She’ll get away,” cried the boy, anx-' . .iously. “ Not for good, Buttons.” “ But don't you intend to follow her? " "" Not just now. show me where the . sewer trail leads to.” " And‘let her get away?” I U 1765.)! i In the sewer and among its foul odors .. the two friends stood for a little while, _and then Buttons, with an admonition g td Joe to look out for vermin, started ,1 coil.“ . I, . r " . “ It’s better than going back the way , fwegcame,” he explainéd.’ ‘fI happened fitto find, out this trail accidentally. Jehu! :what a. snap our discovery would prove Rio Spangles.” . , In less than ten minutes the boy had {Johnd a way out of the sewer, 'and the spalr stood once more under the blue sky that roofed the city, with but little ’hfthé underground grime on their gar- “m‘e’nts; , / ' 1'; g l“ You‘ll find her out, won’t you, Joe? ‘_’ 'a‘skedv the boy. 3.“ That’s my intention.” . ',‘.“"You’ll tell Spangles as soon as he items up and let him play»his hand? " 1., :39 Spangles shall know." . . ' Joe Vincent was deeply puzzled over ,, th‘s’adventure underneath the city, as he hurried from the spot. i , ’5 It’s another mystery,” said he. v“, That 'Moso, the nabob’s heiress, should know is waygto the dated‘stonl'e, mystifies eu'beyond .‘anything I ever saw! ,,She knew'the ,way, and she'kn‘ew what was .Iiiddsnvbehind the stone." , i . " , did not find any One’at his quar- jwhgnhe went back and then he ted‘out to flhd Spa glee. . s , yisit to theCircus tective’s room not unearth him, and his landlady ’ , felts 'had not seen .him for some ’ “Shall I play the card myself?” the . 'findi‘flpangles the game may have ’ win-too complidated. ,She is at home ' ultimo. loss,’who carried away. .priit'eneafl inmynhand. has re-. edghome, and. if I (all: to take ad— ftagewt my discovery, she may do: 1,159 documents”; , , a direction of: the L urged in the, , sot-the double crime. and tens the with some little uneasiness. V J soot-“mailman by- moss in_pei-. Vahdwthe’, acrobat was ushered: inthl ‘ __i oi: opposite. the fatal libraryfia triedfto fathom the thoughts oaths ’pd girl by.,_her expression, but it :him nothing,- an‘d.hs was compelled Hive . ._ .. ,. fi’w'as Joe’s first Visit, to th house. iron before. thacrime the l e ofithe , sired man... or so much of t as the i'c .knsygxhad‘stranhlx. Interested ‘ ever pipes he kaowthat Harald backed the G «more. hlsggn L. K :Wfll'. . t i to t. - the. ri h receding footsteps. The woman was gov unspecrobat reflected. If I wait till~ ? .34 . c . 'a. . in Harold Hart.” "blackmallerfl said‘the girl without a from your c: z “ You ts. “ You want to see me, I believe. I am at your service, Mr.-—-” ' “ Vincent," answered Joe, watching to see if the name startled her in any way. The impassive face gave out no signs of surprise or interest and Floss waited for him to proceed: “I have called, mi 8, for the purpose of confirming a suspicion. I am Joe Vin- cent, a circus rider—” ' “One of the profession?" exclaimed the girl, with a very little-start. “Yes; but just now out of a job," and Joe smiled. “ What can I do for you? " “ You might tell me something about Harold Hart, your late guardian." “Something about him? Why about the dead?” ' " He was once, so I am told, connected with a show." “ Harold Hart?” and the whitetcheeks seemed to flush. ' "It was years ago, and not in this city." “ Who told you? " “It has been common report." The girl relapsed into dead silence. She seemed to increase half an inch in stature and her eyes transfixed the young acrobat like arrows. “When was be connected With a show? I must ask you to be a little more explicit." “I cannot give you the exact date.’f “Did he ever tell you so? ” “No, but-—” - r “The baseless rumor comes in here, doesn’tiit?” , \ Floss almost laughed, but not a sound came from her lips. ' E “ It is; not a baseless rumor, if you will pardon‘me." cried Joe, the acrobat. “ There are those who can substantiate it. He was once connected Wan the pro— fession, but left it suddenlyin the South and came to New York, where fortune smiled on him.” ' - “ And fate found him "atglast!" Said the girl, 'coldly. ' “Yes, he died here in this house, and that death is today the city’s mystery." “ Are you one of those who seek to solve it?" , i ‘ . “I am one of the would:be solvers," answered the youth. “I am interested ‘ u n ,l . , ‘) Because I wish‘ tolknow about his pastf’ - . “His death settled, that. You‘can nev- er wrest the secret from him." “ It was a secret, then? " , “One he, guarded zealously-0ne .no human could wrest fro him. , ~ “ Not even the man ound in the steel safe? " ‘ V , ,. “ Not even that poor wretch——that old. start. “ He should have remained away that night. He simply buttered, moth. like, about the candlea little too ilong." Floss leaned against the. table. and glanced toward the door, as if she ex- pected it to open and admit some one. .“ You will not "give me‘auy clew to the pastor Harold Hart?" said Joe. ‘- I “ Why should I, even it I'knew it? " " You should not try to'keep back that which might solve the mystery of a birth and make a human being happy." " Is that person yourself? f’ ‘ ‘-‘. Perhaps.” ‘ - ‘ “ I ansWer no questions regardigg the past of Haroldgllant.) I am .m‘lstres here. I have set, a‘ detectiveon the trail and it belongs »to,-.him‘ Whatever he finds out he may. share with you if he pares to.” Her’ words, were Words of ice, and they came out coldly and in measured tones. Joe resolved to bring her to time. r» ;,1 ~. 2"Younw’ere pa night?” beheld. g ,, _, “Whotoifd yon??? i . "1_ f’ 4, " Never mind. Xou have gust, returned hpdturnslx. trail; A ' , 1.. saseemioi' re 3'0 Lin» 9, secret nuntj git"- \ . come to rob me, even as you say} robbed-in f" and his last moments were mam nts at - . i ‘ “3 Opened the 'safe since theywiet‘ bird "out. “I have come hither for the truth, and your sex shall not protect you in keeping it from me.” The young shOWman believed he was playing his best and strongest. card against this creature of ice and mystery, but she did not give him any encourage— ment. His last words had failed to startle her and she was looking once more at him as coolly as ever. “I go out whenever I wish," said Floss, with~~a haughty toss of her head. “After dark frequently?” “After dark,” she echoed. “ I am my own mistress. There is no living per- son who has the right to circumscribe my bounds wnen I quit this house.” “'But‘ to—nigh.t you proceeded to a strange place.” “Did I? I am liable to select strange u places for inspection or visit. I am a l strange creature, Mr. Vincent.“ She was almost unassailable, was this . young girl, and the acrobat thought of 1 giving up the game. it “Perhaps you played Spy,” continued ’3 Floss. “ You may have followed me.", “I did not. I was there when you v i- came.” . . This was a bolt that sank deep and - i startled the cold-faced listener. ’ “ Indeed? I did not see you, sir.” ‘ F “Your match went out too soon," said at " ~,..3_ ,.-. A ' " _ ' "i .14 h,” ._. « ~V~ v.1 - amm- vq .,...... l'«fi-‘:I- ,Awqiaq-i :- \ e W . fl.&rw—h an. 'u-‘X . 2”“"3 curd-019‘ d Joe. “ You should have explored the ol 3 tunnel.” ‘ ‘ i “The tunnel? You 'speak” in riddles to‘ 3 ii me. When did you ever see metunder ground." ' " ’ _. -'- "‘To-n.ight, miss. You came down the i old passageway and found the stones 7‘ v out of its place." *“ “Well?” ‘t‘ “By the light of your match you man- aged to rob the'hole in the wall and you carried off the prize Victoriously. You I did not see me.” ‘ ' “ You were a spy for all! ” cried Floss. “ You have been watching me. I am not to be blackmailed-:enot by a,circus rider, at least.” Joe Vincent felt the sarcastic empha~ sis of the last sentence,‘ but it: did not. frustrate him. \ ‘ ' “You knew the documents were there,” he exclaimed. I“ You Went to the tunnel for‘the purpose of removing them. You know that the memorandum of crimewas onthat stone in letters .of black. You placed the papers there to befound again when needed. You have. played ,a,,cool‘ganie, miss. You selected the’ night hour for your visit, and .yOu came off with the papers. I want to see them.” I m ' *1 The tall figure of r loss fell back from ' the table, and.Joe Vincent watched her narrowly. I ‘ “ You want them, do you? Youfihaveq the hole in the wall of the oldtnmm? I am not to beaten by a stand. lili’hfihisif Joe seemed at his without!v _, Never before had "hé‘~‘~comfrontéd 8- * creature like this girl. 1 , ’ “She must be thermal-deter,” thought he. “ Whyhas’ndt‘fimnglesthought of ‘ i I this, for he has some is contact with a » her and'mustzhave.,gtudied her closely? " - . ,V. 4 “I admit“.nothi;ig}'.'_fierded Floss Hart ' at this momgnwgt'xou have done all the, accusing. _ page)?! found some papers i V in. the. waitrotzartiinnel. If I found any: i", rv' 1 peepith'em." 'Yoq'have'sbught to blacij ' 4 mail ~ the inputs. person. The, other wretchwas found dead in a safe or (steal ~. agony.‘.IWo_uld you look at the tr p'that , 1d.-hiin.”'t_ill the ferret came?” ~ . ' » Floss, ' Vanced toward the hall door, f“. butt- JOe did not stirs _> , ' -‘ ,l I - ‘It .is inst across the halls-in, .the fatal: library,” she \Went on. '.'Nd.o‘gt: ‘. Crime Mr. ‘Yipcohanlet show you thevstwhl‘ (toga?~ :f » ' ' .; But Joe, the young; «chat, is . —A,.Jr»~‘m 4. “j A 3 - ,. 1L “.m;£afiul".fik ""fi “ 1:: t -5, v" “4., mt} A?“ g .3 aim» rhea-egg..- “yygg l the long, hands. ' his breath. ’1 7‘,»'\‘jrha‘nks. How goes it~I J11 ‘ 1‘ ’ Getl‘manw my castle, again unsummoned, and your fate may be more terrible than was that of the tenant of the steel safe. Good- night! Watch or follow Floss Hart when she is abroad and reap the whirlwind." CHAPTER xux. STILL or: Jack FONTFZNOY‘S TRAIL. The absence of Spangles was a mys-1 tery to Joe Vincent. Once more back at the ferret‘s door, after his exciting interview with Floss, he found that the man he wanted to see had not turned up, and he left the place somewhat puzzled. ‘ Spangles might be On the trail some- ,where, but he would like to see him; the strange adventure he had had with But- tons in the tunnel beneath the old de- serted house was waiting to be told in full, and Joe was ready to laugh over his meeting with. Floss at the latter’s home. Once more that night he went back to the house with the same. result—no Spangles. As he turned from the place he caught sight of a figure that had a familiar look, and the next mement he was fol- lowing it. There could be ‘no mistake. He had feund Gopher Goldstar, the head man- ager of the Great American, and not Wishing to let the fellow see him, Joe kept in the shadows. What was Goldstar doing in the vi- cinity of the detective’s rooms? Had he turned against Mantelli, and was he plotting to draw Spangles into a web of danger if not of 'death? For more than an hour Joe shadowed his former employer, and at last lost him on Broadway. He was in doubt whether,Gopher had seen him, and came to the conclusion that he had been‘a little too clever for the cunning sport. . But Gopher was smiling all the time ovcr a little trick of his own by which healed Joe to Broadway for the pur- pose of giving him the slip, and when he had done» so he quickened his gait and tur ed up in another street. “ I’m going to know now once for all,“ said Gopher. as he entered a dwelling without the ceremony of knocking, and startled Gloster Turk at a small table covered with little pinchers and wires. "You!" exclaimed the tall man with “I wasn't looking for you.”. ’ , ,1 “’ Perhaps not. Wished me in the riv- ’ , er,- no ’doubt. but I'll. be here to plague the world for sometime to come. You still Work at the old trade occasionally? " Gopher took ajchair nearthe other and began to watch the hands of Gloster as they manipulated thewires and pinch- ers, making the . frames tor cheap brooches and mistlets.‘ » 1 “One mustIIIVe,"-Was the reply, but the speaker did not“ lift his. eyes. “ You make money hand over list. You always strike it rich, but I never had a hacker. like—" i x ' Old Gloster stopped and seemed to ‘ smile tu'himself. .- ,“I've no backer now," said Gopher. _ ""lou had till some one killed, him.” “Yes. It,st a bad blow for me. It broke?” the Great American and brought «back to the city beggars." . Tho-long hands stopped and the deep eyes of théin bvner‘looked slowly into Gopher's ‘ face. ~ I, ' ‘f Beggars!” .said. he. scarcely above “It‘ll' be a cold day when . you two are paupers.” ” . " You don't take my word for it? ’ "No1 don't.,there! Beggars, did you ; “lily? When you are it will {be when "there are no more people to rob.” ‘ .‘ZTYou'i-e almighty harsh‘.with an old Amend. I won't ‘call it an insult, though. - hut other men would not be permitted make that'comment, unmol, ted.” ' I ,‘,when you map the main harvest?" - ' that? ' to “He left it all to the girl—Floss.” , “Well, isn’t that to~ your liking? Which one of you intend to make her your wife?" Perhaps Gopher thought. of his last in- terview with George Farrell, for he flushed and averted his eyes. “She’s in themarket, Gopher. If you don’t hurry you’ll miss the prize.” “We won’t miss the prize, then,” was the answer. “But, Gloster, lay aside the wires for a spell.” “Why?” ‘ “ I want you to talk; that is, you must have nothing on your mind but the mat— ter in hands.” . The old man scraped tools and mate- rial into a drawer before him, and be~ came all attention; “I am here to ask one or two ques- tions, and I want them answered with~ out reserve," proceeded Gopher. “That depends. you know. I am not to be dragged into anything shady.” “Not for the world. Of course you have changed your life and are now a toiler in the ranks of honesty.” “That’s enough! " cried Gloster Turk, and his hand shot across the table and caught Gopher’s sleeve. trench on the years that lie behind me. If you have business with me state it and don’t remind me of what I would forget.” “You’re touchy, I see.” “ Decidedly so. It is silence as to the past, or no a word from me.” Once more GOpher Goldstar grinned, hot the face before him had not a sign of humor on its leathery surface. “1 want toknow what’s become of Jack FonteIIOY." said the Showman- Sport deliberately. “Did you have to hunt me up to ask that question? " ' “ Yes; you know." , Gloster seemed, to shrink from the answer that Seemed to tremhlebn his thin lips, and be regarded his visitor with reptile glances. “I say you know,” persisted Gopher. “He came to New York after he met usteorge and I——in Pennsylvania. He is here and you can tell me where he hides." " Perhaps he don’t hide."- " He does from me, at any rate.” “What is thistman to you that you must find him?” asked the "long-fin- geredman. ‘ ‘ i i "That is my business." shopped Go- pher. " That belongs tome, and I‘want no queStionswnothing but answers.” For halt a second the race of Gloster Turk. underwent more than One change in color, and then he said: i. . " You are right. the man is in the city. Joel: Fontenoy is in New York.” “I know iti" cried Goldstar. “.He is here to pit his accuracd cunning against ours." ‘ ' x , 4 “ Yours and George's. eh?” "Yes." ' ' ' ' 1 t Why don’t you go out and tight him a r. ” - . A , “I’ll fight him as I t‘ink best," said ‘Gophsr. “ One has a rig t to meet a too, should." . -' ,‘ ‘ H, I , I “ Years ago you “didn’t regard Jack r “It is true.“ Yearsago we W on the some footing and that man feared me VI . q “hutfhedoes not now?! *‘ a shame)? Gloster. know. ,,The meal plundered me.“ “You. should have been wide-iawaka”, "Did hate!) you about at, Did he shbw you the shallot his crime?” ' swerodéthe'lanyhanded man. “‘He finer-V a, than “was i _ a x :54 ’1' you mIISL ' “ You mustn’t as he pleases, not as others" think he" ‘Fonte'noy as being much of a Hercules.” j " No. He who a man wherever: “When ‘did he turn robber-3”.qneried” “:Not very slang as '1‘, happen (a: " He showed 'me nothing," coolly an» ,sbeam‘oi‘light. ‘ ertells manlhdh." ' . he:st g sidamrsem ‘e ' That' p ‘ ‘ “ . it?5k ' fame. " Will ! Old Gloster listened with a good deal' of patience, and when Gopher finished he passed his hand over the oiled cloth. and said: “You will have to watch, that‘s all, Geller If this man robs you it is be- cause you cant throttle him.” “ Ry Jove! that’s it exactly.” cried Go- pher Goldstar. “Now, let’s come back ..) business. Where is Gloster? ” Silence was the only reply Gopher re- ceived, and it nettled him to the quick. “You won’t tell me? You want all my plans to come to naught and you‘re really aiding our foes." “ I‘m not playing traitor at all. I will not betray him.” “Nor assist us?” “I must remain neutral.” ‘ “The devil you must! Let Fontenoyr step in here ten minutes after I step.out,‘. and you’ll put him on my trail. I know you, Gloster Turk. It was your nature years ago. You haven’t changed much since, and if I should go out yonder and lift the curtain—” ‘= " , “Go out and lift it!" thundered the- z _ man with. the long hands. “ You know where I am to be found, but be careful what you say of me. Don’t tell too.‘ much, nor twist the truth. I am not go~ mg to be here long. I feel that the shad- ows are nearing me, and I won't resist. I am not the man of other days I am. \ not at the beck of any living person." Gopher, or Gideon Goldstar, you can tell the story, if you will; but, remember, there hangs over more than one head a. sword deadlier than the sword of” Damocles.” 3 “Ha, ha, you’re getting eloquent”... laughed Gopher, as he left his chair and straightened before the old man. {‘1 am getting truthful," was the tea-‘5 ‘ ply. “Out yonder is the trail andttho. 5 world. Out yonder lie the toils, and the» f snares of a devilish plot. You must ,re» member that the tenets of crime never’» " sleep.” ' - ‘ , I “But they perish, all the same,” al-l ,‘ most hissed the Show-mkn-Sport, as his: body bent toward the speakervan'd his? "“ eyes seemed to “snap. , ‘ LI Gloster Turk did not speak, but his: face got an ashen hue. 1 ' ‘11? " Remember that the blackest crime in the decalogue is now in their hands for ravelment. Don’t forget for a nib“- ‘ ment- that these men can go back 3 pick up old clews which they follow tilt“ they becometresh. They can ferret the darkest crimes, no matter how we!!!" the fingers of the guilty cover Nothing stops them, Spanslss up the most hidden. trait? " i ,. ‘Spangies?” ’, ‘ ¢ \ Gopher Goldstar laughed definitely- .He thought 01 mt " had told him of the tons “of mead“ hf ‘7 or the start, or the hunt for the Detective and the report.~ ‘. , He could look down into 6W1; ‘i‘ and believe that. he knew the. rate»? the detectiye. Spangles to theisold man, Mantel“ to him. , ‘ “ “Spangles don't ‘ find the . ‘ trail," he cried, after. his ’ Old Gloster merely shut his lips returned to the little drawer tint-w: he had placed 0; his l sion, and while he that 'whistied to himself... ‘ " fi‘ Gopher Golden: drew watched the Old muss this, on darkened. . - '1 ' ', ‘ 1 " Gloster seem ed total 11', '01)“!‘10118; ‘ presence, and when (be bold; spread work before him 1once more he; ‘ «v ,his task where it hasnsb , , . For live minntssgthp .Sho" ’ looked on. my : A, ‘ t at times swallowing- nose‘and 89296 , silent man at ' 6'5“ ’Whnt an OW thought flashettiirongh his. E? "matrices or Foams? I lobkmmg A. 1pm: .- 1 », m,__5_ Suddenly Gopher Goldstar threw one foot forward and quivered over his vic- tim. But the next instant the face of Gloster Turk was uplifted, their eyes met, the gaze of the long—handed 'man resting on his rage-seamed countenance, and the Showman-Sport had failed. Not a word was spoken by either man. Gopher dropped his half-lifted arm, his eyes sought the floor, and while the orbs of Gloster, the secret—keeper, fol- lowed him. he slunk from the room. like a whipped bandit. CHAPTER XX. THE EVIDENCE 01“ A MATWII. GJntleman George, resolved to carry «out his intentions as to Floss, the heir- ess, was in the act of quitting his lodg- ings when a boy appeared at the door with a letter. The Showman-Sport took it and went back into his room. There he broke the seal and read as , follows: ' , “Mr. George aFarrell: ‘I have arrived in the city with the property of the Great American, and am to be found at the old house. If you want to communi- cate with me, you will know where I am. All bills have been paid and treasury needs replenishing. I owe a board bill which presses? and would like to hair « from you." r He threw the letter on the table with an angry gesture and then laughed. "Letrhim wait! He has waited be- fore. I have other business just now.” He went out, leaving the letter on the table and missed the boy, who sauntered from the house. ‘ Gentleman George Was faultlessly at- tired and looked as sleek as my dandy on this particulnr occasion. - _ But'he was not at his ease, as if th brief letter had thrown him of! a lit- tle. and when he turned the nearest cor- a .\ C‘ “You’re the man I want to see," said a voice, as. some one jostled him, and Farrell started a he looked at that 'UmsiOOkmoquestlonu-dtheother ~ one seemed to enjoy it. “ Let's drop in here at the Red Bou~ quot," continued the rson who hag stopped him. and at 9 same time h led the way into a saloon; where there ' were private stalls. Selecting the middle. one; the‘ stran- 4' gel-led George to it and the pair sat a "My name is Holcomb. I'am a detec- tive,” began the stranger. “I want to 'gtslk with you.” . , ‘ ' 1. ‘-' ,“.Well, go on.” ' ' f'l‘iie ShowmaneSport had got his seo-' wind, and Was new as cool as usual. : "You’re" interested in the matter-yet, larsn’t you? " _ “In what matter?“ , f] g 217,“, The" mystery of the millionaires You remember. 116 was found, acid inatthe library—emurderedfl I '“Dofiyou mean Harold Hart?" . ,'”‘E actly. Yomcatch, on. I see. He ,the show, and yen ought to take Ingest interest in/the affair." . .‘ “ of course ,I (10,": and Gentleman, fQEOrge'began to size up his companion, ' o looked like~a.person of tong-five, gray eyes and,a good, if , 'd‘some, face. ‘ ‘ » _, _W'h8t’§,the reward? " *fWg have offered none." ' , '.:'?'NQ,.}afid being interested so? " l , five interested to a certain ex—i '~ fi‘fiydid, back «us, and 'we .lost 3 end when he. died; but; yo see, the t} ’is=,no longe on the I. have learned that. hour . _ in the city??' Who has offered the reward. than? " "F rell'Tshook‘ his head. r' ‘ _ it He reward 'has’ been offered". "" .i‘hat’b ~ I be in «e- l. “ Why don’t you'go to Miss Floss! the heiress? "’ " Don’t want to, you see,” and H01- comb leaned toward” George in a confl— dential manner. “ Between you and me, I‘d sooner some one else would offer the reward.” “ You don't—" The Showman-Sport stopped looked-into Holcomb's face. “I understand." smiled the detective. “ I am keeping my own secrets. but I’m in a fair way to spring a Sensation." “ Not against the girl?" “I haven‘t said so, have I?” “ No, but your manners indicate—” “ That it is against her. eh? There have been stranger things than that in the history of crime. I thought I would find you or Mr. Goldstar, and I pre- ferred meeting you.” ' “To tell me in so many words that you can spring a sensation that will in— volve the young lady?” Holcomb was silent, spoke. “You dare not carry this joke too far," said George Farrell, coldly. “ This is simply infamous.” “That's simply your opinion.” ‘ It amounts to an accusation. It throws a shadow across the girl’s path.” “ What is she to you?” inquired the detective, as he leaned back in his chair and sent a swift glance toward the man on the opposite side of the table. “ More than you may imagine,” cried George. “ The girl is to be protected. She shall not be smirched by one of your ilk. She needs protection and shall re- ceive if from me to the bitter end.” ' The other coolly laughed and let his chair down solidly on thefioor again. “ Very well," said he. " You ofler no reward. You tell me to go to the girl. I will. I will see that me relaxes a lit- tle, for she is a puzzle, an iceberg, a strange creature, and just the kind who are to he'feared when there is a fortune in tho‘market, but still beyond the reach of her white hands." . ~ “ This is infamous,” and Gentleman George leaped to his feet, vf-hlle Hol- comb looked coolly on. ' “Call it what you please," said the (amt. " I may have come into the game a little late, but, better to than. never. I am here for a purpose. You say you will protect the girl. Who will protect you? " ' . "I can do that myself.” A “ Very well. You need protection. Sit and but his eyes down, Mr. Farrelli" “ No. I am going. Play out your in‘ fame 8 hand if you dare! ! The biter will at bit in this case. It is a plot against the girl. I will.see that it‘is rendered useless. You're a pretty man—m”, Halcomb interrupted the Showman- Sport :by rising quietly and looking him fairly in the face. ' ' The, man was coolness itself, and for half a minute he looked across the has his at George with all the sang from of one who knows his'cards and his ad- versary’s hand. " 1“ By the way," said he, " when'you go; acquaint inn- with my" to Miss "Floss '0 piece of infamg, please take her to the top of the stair» and tell her what cc- curred;there the other night.” ~ ~ Gentleman George seemed to stagger under these words, ander a moment he looked at the other one with eyes that appeared ready“ to; spring from his head. ? ‘ * f _ ' e“ Don’t forget to tell her this," contin- ued Holcomb. “ It‘ might ’prove a very interesting story Tfor Miss Floss. You can show her the mark of the. bullet on, the wall. just under the .window, and." , Ishe is very inquisitive, take her to -.a certain spot and let her look_upon a sight connected with the’ scene ' at to puns-gunk , . , a, x glamome eyed his hand and stepped inward ; the otthe, private stall, ;' .. " " falter'him (have to say is: this" mamwmevel‘ 118.15} V K .e' x "1mm; Showman-Sport hurriedawaytand‘ “I’ll see' you later,” said the‘ detec- I tive. “ Youdon’t care to tell Miss Floss this story? Well, others may. Good- bye.” Gentleman George was alone. He heard the departing steps of the cool head who had thran himself across his path, and in a few seconds he ventured out into the saloon proper. The detective was not in sight. George hurried to the sidewalk and caught a glimpse of a man who looked like Holcomb. “I’ll let him know that he cannot , frighten me," he said, under his breath. 7g 3. “Curse the blackmailer—” “ Some one ran again t him, and he lost sight of the ferret; but a minute aft- 3‘ terward he was again on the trail.: - He missed his man, however. He hunt~ ‘- ed half an hour for Holcomb, but was compelled t desist. f‘ He may - ve been (fraud? he said to himself. “,After all, there may be no , i detective of that name. I will see.” ‘ i It did not take the Showman-Sport i long to hunt up a. man with. whom he was acquainted, and who knew a good ' deal about the secret force of the city. George was eager, but he did not want to let his friend think so. He led up to the matter in hand in’ a cautious manner, and at dast asked u if a detective' named Holcomb was known to the authorities. " I know of none. He mAy be a ‘pri- vate,’ though," was the reply. ' ' V George had not thought of that. t “ What was he like?” queried the friend. ' I , George gave a good description of the , 1', man who had caught him on the street 2 and taken him to the private stall of the Red Bouquet. Then he hung on the answer like a man listening to his death warrant. . . " I know a man who is up to all sorts of disguises—a man who is the shrewd- est detective to my notion on top of . ground, but he is not known as the most celebrated." ‘ ‘ " Who is he? " “ His name is Cyrus, Spangles. He ~ . _, used to be a circus ’rider, but of late ~ i _ years'he took to the trail and has 419- v . x *3 veloped wondeM‘ui talent. in that ‘ .4 U084" V‘ i . ' ‘ I A“ It "seemed that George would fall! off the chalr.’ The airarounfd him appeared / close, and he actually gasped as the I . friend answered him. ‘ a “ But thism‘an couldn't have been Cy- rus Spangles," hqmanaged to say. ' “I'm not so sure about that." "I know Spangle’s: that is, I have [seen him.”~said George. " I would know , » _ him anywhere and under almostiany dis— guise. No, the man who met [me a while i l 1' ago is not that person." ’ ‘ ‘ “He can’t be Holcomb, for thererr'is ‘ no detective of that name in the can". “ You suggested that-ha might be, a» ‘priyatefl‘ / _' / “Indid, but,‘ come to think- .of it, I know the whole lotpretty‘lweililand he sn't answer the description *0! ,a sin- oneofthem", “ ‘v = “That’s 8.11;", replied: '0801'86- “All I‘ a" «Lav "*4 J" S would better steel-“clear of me." ' . “He tried to bieegryou, did he?.” ., v: » v‘ “No; he tried to throw a stain upon . the chéracter of a friend. I stand by . my friends. That isrmy motto, and has], I " always been through‘life. Let this man . via“): , ._ i. > I '\\ ' “ But Wait. Don t make a hasty threat nor a foolish play. Don’t snowy,“ ‘ hand; This, man may know what 11319 «king, and if he should turn out to be ' 8133118158,; why~'~” i V , . Y ' “Spangles he can’t be!_ I know that; ‘ thadoor and Opeqed‘qt, “Ivmrmu—chrt obliged to‘you'. Tom. What I' nnmwfifi N». knew, .3110 reflection on you; arm’s-a. ‘Will-see yen latch”- ' '1 ~ *- “WM 1). in: a different part formatcny, - 'f s andtanxietygah .33.}; .i__ L eyes as he unlocked a door and locked it carefully after him. Proceeding to the end of a dark hall- , way he opened another door and paused on the first of a flight of steps leading apparently into a tomb of some sort. Then he struck a match overhead and let the flame burn slowly, illumining the cellar—like place which he had in- vaded. “ Spangles the deuce! . Tom didn't guess what I meant by my assurance that the detective who cornered me isn‘t Spangles. I‘ll prove it now." The match had burned to its full and ' was throwing its light around the place. Suddenly Farrell leaned forward and threw it from him to see it circle down- ward like a descending rocket. It alightcdat last, but the face of the man had undergone a change, for from anxiety it see ed flushed with triumph, for he was al cady laughing. _ i; “ Spangles,‘ eh? That proves it!” cried : 2- he. “ Tom would acknowledge it if he i. were here, but Tom shall never see." With this he stepped back and re- :i‘ locked the door, and on his face lin- 7',‘ gered the sign of triumph which the i visit to the dungeonhad placed there. But at the same time Gentleman George was puzzled. .ggfwsiamup‘a. . T .. . ~. “was. .~,,.,¢i.p. ; w, . CHAPTER XXI. WHAT sermons on). “Not'back yet? Seems to me some— thing’s happened. I 'wonder if Joe tried to find the woman who came down the _ -. tunnel and reached up and pulled some— ’ 1 thing out of the niche there? Joe seemed ' to know her, but I certainly do. It was a queer thing for a girl of her standing to do—a very strange thing; but she knew what was behind the stone and she wanted it." I ' The speaker was Buttons. He.st00d in the shadow of a large building and the light of the nearest lamp failed to touch him. It was verging on ,to midnight and the boy had occupied his station for nearly an hour. ~ g , His eyes were on the ale‘rt'and he seemed to see all who passed him, A cool wind swept up the street, stir- ring the flame in the lamps and now ' and then touching the face of the boy V ,wm} the keen eyes and the friend of ’6 . . ' Spangles. - Suddenly Buttons started just a little. A man had stopped a few feet from ‘ ’ ‘1; -' him and was looking at a bit of paper I “ which he had taken from his pocket, ‘ ‘ .l and was mmining closely. {new A; A J van {have «5-2 an, My... s,‘ "gasses-aways. e,» s “It looks like him. that it does." said Buttons to himself. "He is in other v “i J, ' feathers now. but ,he‘s all-R the ” same.” ., .. . W " r " As the man moved away, he was to]- , lowed by the boy, who left his place for t ur ose. ‘ \ thfi'HEWRD or buzzard, it's all the same,” muttered Buttons. “ Maybe he knows something about Spangles." , , Half way aeross the great city and on i 5 a street where the lamps did not seem to shine with their wonted, brilliancy ' .L . Buttons nearly, ran against his quarry. ' -’ i‘ ‘v i The man .had stopped in front of a. ’ “ house, the front windows of which ' he seemed to be in‘pecting very closely, ‘- ‘and as‘he‘had baited in the center of the sidewalkiand just around a corner. this is why there came near being a collision. But Buttons,-as quick as a" cat, slipped around him‘, and when a few feet past him‘ he looked back he heard the closing of 3 door and the man had vanished. “ He got inside, didfhe? ” he exclaimed. " Must have signalled theibirds in the nest "there: I‘ll see? ' ‘~_L.A.;..« .' am‘a: .4 '- ve forth no sign that the heuse was fennanfed, and he was compelled to slip -sround. to. the magi:k and"d approach t '- through the dirty ~31 .. . ~ awn}; his sharp eyesglu9d to the shut- '- tars behind the Buttons held his ' ‘ r (horn abut a lightinst ) t ‘i ii rst heard. The boy glided back, but the'shuttersq in they that} no The boy spy was using all his senses to get at the situation, when he felt something drop over his shoulders from above and he sprang back with a cry. He had been caught! The blacknoose that had dropped from overhead had already tightened round his arms. pinioning them to his sides, and he was a prisoner. As he looked,up to see who had thus caught him. he was lifted from the ground and dangled in midair. \ The horror of the strange situatio thrilled the boyso as’ to prevent his crying out, and he was drawn up by unseen hands. I When he. reached the sill of the open window above a pair of hands clutched him like Vises of steel and he was jerked into a room there. Buttons tried to spring back, but the hands held him and he was hurried for- ward thrOugh a darkened apartment. Not a word was spoken, and presently Buttons was ushered into another room, where for half a second he saw what it looked like. It was a. large room, poorly furnished, with a high ceiling and carpeted. This he saw for a moment, as it were;" then his eyes were covered with a dark bandage and he was thrown into a. chair, where hands‘held him securely. “ You were playing a pretty game, my young rat," said a voice. Buttons looked up and a grin for an instant appeared at his lips. . “.Who are you serving now?" i “ Buttons.” . “That's good. You don’t scruple to lie even in the shadow of death." "I tell the truth.” f‘But who employed’you to play spy to—night? Not yourself. You\.know bet- ter, boy.” \ Buttons thought that silence might be golden, so he did not answer. “ You want to get out of this trap, don’t you?” ask the same voice, with refined cruelty. , ‘ "I'd go, I guess, if I was free,” was the reply. . . ' “7 No doubt of it, but, don’t you. know, Master Buttons, that you’re in a pretty pickle? ” - , . J " Seems like it." ' .A low conversation seemed to follow between” ’two men, and then a pair of hands were laid on the boys shoulders. “Whit. Question him first about the other matter," said a voice, and But- tons waited for the query. , ~ I " Where did you go with the? circus rider? ” ' 1 ' . Buttons/started a little and, looked sur- prised...- ' “ They’ve seen me (with Joe,” he thought. hurriedly. “They know that I- guided him somewhere. In the name of heaven, into whose hands ‘ have, I fallen? " ’3 - “ Tell us, boy,” said the same unseen speaker. . v . Buttons took a long .breath., which gave him time to make up his mind and 'then he spoke. , -' f‘ With what'circus rider? " he asked! “He'sa cute one," laughed a voice. Which did not seem to be the one he had _ p “ Catch a young weasel asleep. will you?” ~ , ~_ “ By heavens! he shall tell me or lose his neck," was the hissed rejoinder, and ,the’ arise-like hands seemed to sink into the boy’s flesh. “I'll show’ this Young, chain that he’s in bold, bad hands before ‘ he'is donewith. me . ,‘persists in hold: ing his tongue." .é H A short silence followed.‘ and for 8 time Butt s flatteried himself that he was 80mg 0 get off easy? . " “ Come! time's up,” cried thetorturer. “We’ll come back to the bircus'sharp. Where did you go with himr‘ifi’ '" - - Buttons ’ground his teeth and settled, hack in the chair. ‘ , . ' The following moment hemis jerked, out of it and hurried across 9 room I 1" d (C "-. ,. hand seemed ' i he; bolted "sway, “ You hold _, htjhad ndtentirely missedmg the maddened voice of the man. “ Thus be it with all who‘refuse to tell the truth! ” _ A key turned in a lock which the boy could not see, but he seemed to be held back as a last chance for him to retract and tell about his trip with Joe Vincent. “Once more! Where did you go with the showman? " said a voice at his ear. “We went up town.” , :w: The words seemed to be wrung from . 9'4}; the boy on‘ pain of death. He was pulled back. but the door was not closed. “ You took him somewhere, didn’t you? ” “ Yes." “You sought him for the purpose of making known to him a discovery of' some kind? " “ Perhaps.” i “No equivocation!” thundered the voice of his persecutorI “ We want it all." . “I had a little trail that did not pan out." said Buttons. “ I made a blunder. I‘m not detective enough for that, you ‘\ know.” V ' In the silence that followed this ruse of his it seemed to Buttons that the two men looked at each other, but he did not hear a word pass between them. Would his ruse Succeed or would it .be detected and the worst follow? A few seconds would tell the «tale. “It's another lie,” said one of the » men. “He is playing for time and lib- erty. Shove him down!" B ttons held back. All the strength he could summon to his help he threw into the struggle against fate. “Don’t let him escape,” cried some one. " If he does we are undone.” , “ Let the rat of the gutter get away? Noyer! ’I - Buttons threw out one foot and it touched the wall, where he braoed'him- self, while his teeth seemed to crack with resolution. It was now. or never. . “ Pull him loose! I can’t quite inan- age'him myself. He’s a regular little ’ Hercules." ‘ i , Another hand touched Buttons. and just then he squirmed from beneath it " and freed himself. -‘ " He fell sprawling on the floor and. the blindfold dropped from his eyes. ' He saw again the lighted room and the , figures of two men. He saw them asthey. T . stood irresolute for an instant, mist the same time he noticed a door that . seemed to lead into the room through- which the had been! conducted to the present chamber. _, g, For Buttons to see this open door with, the danger that menaced him was. {or him to make a break for freedom. _‘ In a flashghe was on, ,darkened. room beyond? .Hs cleared the ‘death chamber with a. bound, but hehad " the meant his heeis.‘ Fear lent speed to. his limbs, tesr' seemed to give him wings,’and he gained , the sill of the open window. I '- " it did not take Buttons any time?) \f- k throw. his body over the sill. and of did this just as a hand touched ‘He hung fora flash to the 8mm that -'seeme_d to se‘yer his fingers. j; as a .fsceappeared in view shaftij to swoop down- upon “go, 7 n ,. 5:3 >' Thefall “seemed never to end. yarns; must have gone downwardiike a. snug; bomb; ‘ ' W He struck the ground the window and staggeredto his feet. *Out onithéiions’ dawsii-fl'. ‘ . _ Buttons- glanced upward as he, _ for the; back fence' he. sawno' ts; theiwmdow' now, 'blit he saw‘qn heard s‘sharp report. . . 2.3, 7 v “Missed!” hexsaid, til thiu'uiph ‘kill the weasel of.- the gutte .t’ ~ A h‘Bu't heron-938mg“? the ._fsncs.. feltas rp pan n as e.» a?" 1330:: time? after. call-:4 the ’shotlfn:£g 111.] L tawdry“ a; he his teeth as he threw “I must find Spanglos, for I know them! ” ran through'the boy’s mind. “ I must see Joe, too, for they wanted to find out where we went and What we saw in the tunnel.” He ran for the street, the pain grow- ing more poignant all the while, and his sight wavering. There were mists before his eyes and the lamps vanished; his ears were filled with. strange sounds like the rumbling of heavy wagons, and as the boy gained the street and stood for a' moment in the glare of the lights he seemed to fade away. With a cry he threw up his hands and fell forward. ' “ Spangles, Spangles, look out! ” he tried to say. “They are on your track. They tried to pump me; but I would not let them.” Whether he said this or not the boy ,‘did not know, but he thought he did. In a few seconds a crowd gathered around a boy lying in the gutter and a- policeman picked him up. “He ran out of the alley there and tumbled over," said one of the specta- tors. “He seemed to have a fit, I never saw a boy act just that way before.” ‘Then some one saw blood. which had not come from the boy's nose; his left side was covered with it, and they opened his clothes to find more. a “ He’s dead! dead!” said a voice. “He’s been shot.” . Just then a manywalked away and , looked at another man near by. ‘ i " It was the best shot of your life, Go- . pher,’f he said, in low tones. ,. CHAPTER XXII. ,7 v THE FRINGE or run I’REPII’ICE. i‘I told you I would play the surest 7 ' hand.” ‘ a _ s“ What sort got a hand have you , ‘ played? " 2v ‘ ' A smile stole over George Farrell’s r face, and for a moment he looked at his friend Goldstar without answering, . .' It was, the day after the events just l’recorded,‘and the two sports satin Go- a" phor’s room, at his lodgings. ‘ George had just come in to find his Companion quietly smoking at the ta- . hie, a parently at his ease and at peace {with e world. i . ., 9’;th don’t mean toteil me,’,’ said Go— pher at last, “ that you've really car- ' tied-out your threat?'? 1 4’ . ,“What threat, pray?" ._ . filthy, the one to the effect that you ileum supplant me in the affections of low" ' a .. ‘- I ‘ .f‘I, didn't know you shared. the afore- yflsaid affections,” grinned George, as he ioked up a cigar. “ I am her 'afnanced ,2 _ ', all theaame." _ fl ;. it he Havana nearly fell from Gopher's = Mum, and far half a “coughs stared Veand glared at the man who had Just ,, ken. ,. . . v ' :: 'elfi'fltmrvhavon't done that. George,” he manned to any at last. . Road that.” ._ n, I fluttered _ ‘cfipottfo pocket. and the table, and , nele seized ,- by Gopher. I he read he turned “white. - v Iafdhift think it’ll; fairideak", he analyq'lod ,XW don't; , rejected itJ’ ' “NM.- 1 only hesitated.” j , - well, the man who hesitated,“ lost; in. .. . . A r "Garner hit h1- Iip. but made“ no reply- adobe mom," ho _ ‘ -~W~1thm “148334” », , . iGopher Gold-tar seemed to hreathe a ' l 216 @0er ask. after, a '_ if. " corseloontinuedgh , 'o, the hustlin- Didi-aha has. Dietitian, herself? '.’ i z- " » ‘ mace gtéto‘rqu. didn't glider ,, _. H " .. ‘~ V'f " ‘o‘h‘ ‘ h w.’ ma, betweendthe Show- A one You had. disagreed? said Farrell. the, {2619111931 ‘ take- . a r _ ,'George~.recoiled. ' ,. ,- g p . A. ‘ ortunes will he, shmhy both' "Don’ti--d0h't i‘touch ms with those; newer» Gentleman George coolly picked up the marriage agreement and transferred it to his pocket. ' He was very cool, but Gopher, who watched his partner like a hawk, saw the old smile of triumph, which he could not wholly conceal. He looked like a man who had missed a prize. He glared at George and seemed ready to spring from the chair and grap- ple with him. _ Farrell walked away at last, leaving Gopher in no enviable frame of mind. He stopped not till he had placed some ten squares between them, and then he entered a little house, where he seemed to be at home. “ Thought I couldn't do it, didn’t he? ” he chuckled. his mind going back to Goldstar. “Let me play out this hand and I‘ll look out for number one when it comes to the fortune. But there's that infernal doubt again. Is he in the pit? Did I really see him When I threw the match down there?” V He was uneasy;/he walked the floor for a time and drew up suddenly at the window. “ The boy’s fixed," said he. “The lit- tle street spy is out of the way and won‘t bother us any more. As for Joe, the tumbler, we needn't fear him now. And Gloster Turk?——he’s GOpher prey. Then, lastly, there's old Logan, who can’t be found just yet. He’s in the city somewhere and keeps the secret of: the death powder, which was exploded in the old nest. The dogs at large are all at fault, and the game's in our hands.” For a little while longer the Showman- Sport sat in 'the arm-chair, to which he went from the window, and then he sprang up and darted into the hall.‘ “I thought I heard the hell,” he ex- claimed, and when he opened the door he stared with a cry into a woman’s face. ‘.‘You?" said he, admitting her. i,‘lt‘s a pretty trick you’ve served Ins—you and your brother." The woman was old Mercy—Logan's secret—sharer, and her face changed color as she.moved toward Farrell’s room. “ Sit down and tell me all,” commands ed GeOrge. “You know. what happened last in the nest." - She merely looked at .him and crossed her dangerous hands. and eye met eye for a-full minute. j ‘ , “Where. is he?” asked George, eag- erly. ' ' "Logan?" ' u Yea.” “. You force d d. the 'truth from me. He is“ an . n .V f ‘ “ Dead? Logan? In the name of heavg'. en, Woma , when did . “Last 11 ht." w “ Go on.” . , Mercy moved uneasily and ' look away. ' , , E ‘5 Violence?” asked Farrell. a Yes.” ‘ ‘ ‘_‘ Must I force every word from you? " cried George, quite out of patience. " You need not to have sought me unless you it happen? " ‘want to tell me all,” he went 011..“ Who turned on him‘ and struck him down? ” In reply Mercy held ‘ out her long hands, and the Showman-Sport "seemed to. shudder. tilt the same time a horrible ‘jgugicion appeared to take possession of "I Bet. You did it. You must have I V ,“ You two were used to such things.” i - “ I didn't. want'to hurt him, but he got, “angry moaned th- hold me against the wall in hi“,me I threw out my hands" thus—I’ll shew you.” Did Mercy sprang , , uprand threw out her hand, but with a, furious! " heiiexciaimed. I- can ‘ under- stand you» I parson- in: , _. ,‘i'lt. was; tin ’Vvdl-__.Ju§t .. m w- ‘ ' ' * no minute. I a, ~ .Gopher. He knew some pry "Gentleman if ‘ a demonstration. You . Kieth.“ - - ,. ., _ v "rm!" #9? opinion that he did not want to feel the long hands of the old Amazon at his" throat, so _he fell back, looking at her with innate fear. “Where is he?” he asked. “Where I left him.” “Of course. But they will find the body, woman. The police will discover it, and then—” “ Who will tell them? You?” “ No, no! ” “Who, then? much! ” She laughed. The Showman—Sport threw a glance t0ward the door. as if to see whether it was shut. The key was in the lock anti he could possess himself of it in a mo- ment, if necessary. “Tell me now what happened in the other nest that night,” he said. You placed the death envelope in some man’s way.” ' “ Do you think so?” “ Yes. We found the scar of the bomb on the table-cloth. You and Logan ex~ ploded it.” “ He did it himself—the eager spy.” “A spy? I thought so." “It was strange—~the strangest thing I ever heard of. He came to the house and we consulted. In’a little while we concluded he was-a spyua watch-dog, or a. wolf on the trail. It mattered little which. He said he can)? from you and hing about the documents we wereguarding; he‘ want— ed to look at them to settle a dispute.. We gort them for the spy—” “Knowing what he was?” Farrell. : . “ Yes. We had him in our hands, don’t you‘see? The little envelope which you called the death-agent when you placed it in our hands would tempt any one. We gave him the papers and left him alone in the room. Why not, you see? Wasn’t. he in our power, and if the powder failed. hadn't 1 these?” and again she thrust her terrible hands into George’s face. “.60 on!" he cried. the envelope, did he? ” " Yes. Bless you, he Just couldn’t help it. It was made to catch the coolest. 1-19., ha, it caught him." . . y " “Well?’.’ .‘ . ' , ‘ George waited, consulted with cha- grin till the old woman had ceased laugh- “Th canto: our surprise!" she said. “ The powder flashed up in his face and we dropped the, curtain to avoid the Old Me- cy ? Not broke in “He tugged at . deadlxyapm-s. We stood behind it till all wad quiet in the room and then vent~ tired to look in. There was no one there." “My God, woman! ”. cried Farrell.. “You don‘t tell me that the man had carried off the documents? ” . humanity or V dwdmentd", coolly swered, Mercy. “ The powder left some stains on the able-cloth. as you dis}- covered; but the man had Then we vanished fllo.” “ Withdut looking for him! "We found :a trdll’ floor. There was a. little blood on the‘lintel, nothing more." . . . ’ ~‘ ".Wha' didn't. you hunt me up? f’ ““i‘hat “Enough? fault. He wouldn't let me." We tail: 6 another nest and keep {baptism But we had a little quench-am!!! dm.”.‘.ii'.' ' ' .. Herd! held out one of her 1605 bands, ‘uanished. and Gentlemen (loom looked mist‘at it and than into her chocolate-colored. face, “I'm gait i want money,“ said qr”. _ . ‘ ,‘“I have none. woman.“ , ~ , The" id face seemed to grow white and | u oney!” . 1.: A , j, .“ us: you can‘t rob a Wrong: - * v ‘ t. a. '_ age. was repea . am, last ’7 Shawna-themed lint-l it 91? Meow ' ' " the hand shut like the Jaws of a tigrm, “Nothing was there in the shape have told you that he is “r h A V: . 'r y. ». i “I want five hundred dollars! ” hissed old Mercy. 5 “ I haven't five hundred cents.” “And yet you have had Harold Hart’s millions poured into your coffers! You tell me. your old slave and tool, that you have no money when you have had him for y’our backer. Who killed him, George" Farrell? ” “You mustn’t ask me that. woman." . ~ A .- . 'pwfi‘ifl'WJUNnt‘ ‘ ‘, . ‘ ) “But I do. You won’t answer, eh? ‘" ‘ Well, I will." . r7". “ You? " " I! I will answer the question to the police.” , .“And who will tell the story of old Logan's death? “ Instead of turning white again, Mercy broke into a derisive laugh. “If you don’t pay me I’ll .tell that myself.” she exclaimed. “ It is the five hundred or the police. Wait! I can do better than that. I can tell the spy who ran off with the papers.” “But you might not be able to find l him."' "I saw him within the hour." ‘iThe man who escaped the action of l ‘ the deadly envelope?” “The same person. I know him!” For a moment Gentleman George did not know just‘ how to take this declara- tion, but the old woman flashed on: “I can lay "my hands on him at any time. I know where he lives under a new name since the visiteto the den. I «can find the spy whenever I care to un- earth him. It is the spy or the five hun- dred. I am very desperate. Think ‘of the old, form lying in; a dark room, just as I left it awhile ago.” “ You are a demoness,” said. Farrell. “I can’t compromise with you, Mercy. .YOu are a murderess. You have killed ‘ your—” ' » She threw op stopped. “Not another word!” cried the old creature. “They can’t cheat: me out or "many days. You won’t let me elude them. You refuse the five hundred? Then let the hand of justice descend .sw— w— 1. ‘4‘ . ' Gus-pm.» 23* a » “- her hands. and Farrell Harold Hart, the millionaire clown. I will set the trap, and ' he—J-Spanglek shall spring it.” _ .She 'sprang past the Showman-Sport ahd gained the door; she lookednback from". the threshold, and when he reached it he received a stunning blow from her ‘open hand—a blow that stung. , ' CHAPTER Xian. .75 i . -, THE TRAIL or run ween: _, ‘ A boy lying on a cot in a hospital was ‘ .a ,moaning like .one ‘in mortal agony. - ' Buttons had come teat-tor his start- v ‘lin‘g‘ advehture‘in the hands :qf the two . .indn, only to fall,'aswe have" seen, bu the street, to. be carried to‘, the emer. gency hospital in the ambulance; , ' His wound was pronounced; danger— ous. , ‘ ' . ~ ' _ . More than once Buttons i‘had' men- ..ti’Oned “Joe” and “Spa les” in; the ‘ same breath, and. with some lucid spells, ' ’- thelon ni ht passed. , I - * ‘I’t thgnext day, and the sun, Shin- ing into the ward where the boy. lay ,‘mban g, rendered paler than ever his ' ‘ 'dra' ‘ watchedjhim with earnest solicltude. Buttons; r I , v , “Who. 13%8pmles,‘-‘ boy? Is there " you dreamed it?” demanded the'nurse. ’ ‘ ".“You den'tkno‘w Spangles—athe fer- ret, {theicool Spangies, with a hand that. sticks toe boy like-me? “That's funny. " But, you’ve seen the _ nanie ;~ in the De- _9 n‘. , r, , {"1 don’t recall it.”«, ., I .. "‘ tl'u because you were looking for something shoal want, toyee Spangl’es: " than Buttons, after-Via pause. contin- 3"! '_l’_. upon those on whose flesh is the blood df l ‘ face, and one ‘of the attendants» / V . . aboutthé layer in land.” . -:‘,‘ When 'will Spangles- come? " asked really a person with that name, or have the; “Tliat‘u'ill put Spangles onto me;" and the face of Buttons flushed alittle. “ He‘ll see it, for nothing escapes him." Just then one of the surgeons came down the aisle accompanied by some one. ~ “That is Buttons," said the surgeon‘s companion, and the next moment the boy nearly sprang erect. “It's Spangles! l knowed he’d come! You saw it in the newspapers, didn’t you, Cyrus? " The new comer drew a chair close to the couch and sat down, holding But- tons’ hand. “ “Will it worry the detective. “Not if he doesn’t excite himself.” “I’ll keep him toned down,” smiled Spangles, and the attendants withdrew, leaving the two friends alone. "I was right in it last night, Span- gles," said the boy. “You never saw a trap like the one they’ve got.” “ Who were they, Buttons?” “ Gentleman George and Gopher Gold- star. It was a jump for life and a run for my very teeth." . “But they got you?" “Yes, yes. it was a shot in the dark, almost; but I didn’t let it stop me in the yard.” - “ Tell me all, Buttons: but tell it slowly. They say you’re better, and that you’re going to pull through.” “ You’re pulling me through, Span- gles,” smiled the boy. “ Since you’ve come I’m bound to pull-through.” Then for at least ten minutes the only sound heard in that particular spot was the measured voice of Buttons as. look— ing up into the detective’s face, he told the story of his thrilling adventures in the old house. I it was' a’ fascinating narrative for Spangles, and he did not interrupt But- tons once. . When the boy stopped he looked into the eyes above him and seemed to study them. ‘ him to talk?” asked “ It’s another -link, Buttons,” said Spangles. . “Is it? That's good. You'll put all othe linkstogether, by and by, won’t you, Spangles? ” , ' ~ “ Yes?" . ~ ,_ x , “ I knew it. You see, they wanted me .“ Well, J 06? " “ He hasn’t seen “ No.” ‘ _ a r \“ And you don’t know anything. abbut the tunnelgandfthe movable sto'he? ” . “ What tunnel,: Buttons? " “ The Lone, underneath the oldohouse, ,which I- believe belonged to'Harold-«Harw "the rich ’ man who backed ‘ the Great hmeriean and got killed for it." v But-torts, where did '- you ,take you, has "hezrv" h ing of the movable stonedor‘ seen Jae to learn" the secret."”‘ ,. . .“ Wellr, you’ve got it now. It’s 'on N~—_ street, that, house'is, not far train the .1 havens rlous parts, of-‘~.the city, and may have owned som' '-there’." ' ‘ ‘ v .. “If he'd d. don’t you what 'was‘ ehlnd the stone H person ho came!“ ~ ‘fI got a good look at hen" », “ Geode-enough tosatlsfy you’lzhai: was Floss, ‘ Harold Hart's ' vc'la~r;t€i'."’!l is » true. ‘ Shae the 3mm”: hi: any shape. Spangle‘s; but I say she ‘n- ., ‘ ~“ What 'did Joe, says "2 .. ~ ~ "‘ It knOcked, him" silly." stood in the lightiof her match, theta“ girl with the cold face audio): look—the ‘ ~ ‘ .. ' » anymoresqmu,“ “WNU'L s ’i ‘I .355“ 4., ‘ x .l 'V I ‘ to tell wherel took Joe Vincent.” ’ ~ x river, and clbse tonne of them setters?” - “;Harold ~‘Hartq.owned; proper y.’in va- , face she alway "showseren‘in the park‘ 4-; where, ,‘I » some messes, r _ leisurely" WMIFIOBB; ‘ round “ I know nothing or the tunnel—norm, ' h _ “see, the person . who came" to the. tunnel and carried at . knew all ) id ,you really see his H . . i . ; y .ter Turk’seefliéd’.“ ’\ .« I don’t like to connect. the girlf'with * . . Feminist! the». ‘ boy, forgetful ,of‘. his hurts. 4‘ There she Detective rose and held the boy’s hand ere he said good-by. “Look out, Spangles. If they you're close onto the game they will give you trouble. They’ll set all man- ner o’ traps for you. They’ll see that Spangles the Detective never reaches the end of the trail.” -. The boy’s gaze followed Spangles until the figure of the ferret vanished. A few minutes later a figure not very unlike Spangles might have been seen standing in the shadows of a tall build- ing not very far from a man who seemed to be waiting for some one to emerge from a down-town hotel. PreSently a man came out and the two met. Spangles saw the meeting, but could not overhear what passed between them. “ Still in the conspiraCy," thought the detective, when the couple separated, and then he walked away himself. “ I‘ll lo'ok for Gloster now. He wasn’t at home when I called last.” Spangles turned up shortly afterward in the vicinity of Gloster Turk's abode, and the door Opened at his first rap. Gloster fell back, with his hand on the latch and looked at his caller a, full minute before he caught the Spangles smile. “Just in time. few moments.” “Here, Gloster? ” ” Yes. It’s about the‘ hour now. There, he’s on the steps now,” and Old Gloster pushed “his visitor across the . room and opened a door on the opposite s1 9. There’s a hole on a level with your . , eye, and you can do the rest.” he said“ hastilyJ ‘ ' think I’ll have a caller in a 7 As the‘ door-of the little room was, closed Gloster Turk fell back, and, pane, gles put his keen eye to the place indi-J = cated by the old necklace maker. ‘ ’At that moment-the door in the large . room opened and a man came in. ' Gloster welcomed him in a fervent . manner, asking him how a the Great‘ ' American Circus progressed. ' ‘ t v ’ It was Gentleman George, sleeklyl‘ dressed and looking for all the world. . like a gentleman Who has made a luckyi‘ tenvstrike. _ .~ . z ‘ “I did hear that you’re back inf-th- city and‘out of the show business/“said old Gloster. . ‘ t y -' H "For the present,” answered George. “ we’ll get an the road again, and make, things" hum”. ‘ _ -~ ‘,‘ 7 - “.Ybu don't came to: see me very to!» ten," remarked. the necklace. maker. v “ No. "Not as often as 'I should, haps: Yowwill pardo’n‘meigl say that .my present visit is a‘ business '.one.f'f~-{~ “That‘s all rightgGearge. ‘What an :old man, like" mode. for “you”? ”- "k ", “I want to eeltvy‘oufone‘or ,tv‘m queue; tions which may seem a bitimp'exfiy Lnent‘?‘ 1‘ I, -.‘ ._ . . g. .1. “ Go with your questioning.” ' ' " You. knew Harold Hart. yery' well 1, 3‘. c didn’tyoui'” asked Geo e. dead in his library; a few h . “Year! V .1 ’,‘I‘ilv ‘:,-’. oi, '91 used’to‘ know nth." »» if “ I thought s05 You kneW,_htm” he struck it; rich, orwh‘en he mdzn‘w, « L ‘01 F. (I... i I In aln‘ instantt’thegwholgmien of log “ {list- got". to do with‘ the :~ present visit otgyoinji"; he asked. ‘ WA shed wane-a little/1% martian.” 1' 5interested {to '5th or in them: gimme, left, behind.‘ He mrged‘ was Harold H e ‘ “rifle “ i to 'dld'not‘ 117% Very-W, '~ithe,,1na_f ageff’ " finest; ' - _ J‘iSh‘e presented » Harold ‘ Harte child whogyau‘ished amen ‘afg‘e'r . reply, “ though the sex of the child is somewhat of a mystery." “ It seems to be," affirmed Gloster. “Very well. Now, look here, Gloster. You don’t make a great deal of money at your business here? ” “ Not much, George.” In another moment sleek George Far- rell had his hand on the necklace mak- er’s knee. 2 “Now then, Gloster, if I make it in- teresting for you—no insignificant sum-— won't you help to prove that that child was a girl?” , , “ But it wasn’t- ” “ Never mind that, man. For my pur- pose that child must be a girl. Say the word, and I’ll make a very Midas out of you. Your oath would fix the whole matter. It would virtually settle the . whole affair.” “\ But there s the murder!” “a To styx with that! ” cried George Farrell, quickly. 1 CHAPTER XXIV. A com. rnorosrrxom‘ ; Gloster Turk made no reply for a moment, but watched’his visitor with his keen, hawk-like.eyes. ' “ I'm not (lisCussingthe-tragedy of the library," continued Gentleman George; “I’m talking about the bargain I would make with you. You can be the richest ‘ man of your profession iii New York if you but take fortune at its flood and make a little effort. All I want is proof hat, the missing child was a, daughter, andvif you help-me out, why, I'll make it doubly interesting." 7 “ Tell me just what you want, and 6/, 'maybe I can see my way clear to assist you.” ' ’ ' ', Farrell, took hope. He ,seemed to go . . aver hispiece in silence and then settle 1-3 " onlthe trend of the story he wanted to tel. ‘» ' , - “You see, Gloster, if we canmake . out that the missing child was a’daughp ter it means a lot of gold far both of v . us, and we’re all after that. I can pro- duce the proper heir at the right time, provided you come,forward and tell the story that will settle. the whole matter.” i‘ But, in order to do that I wOuld have to go back in my own life a few years." , ‘ ' “Certainly. You will ‘ have, to un- ‘ ,‘J mask yourself a little, and thelcity will ., discover that Gloster Turk has been “ . Imasquerading under a borrowed name for-some years. That won't be hard to _ ‘ dopand the result will austify the effort. V'YOu knew Harold Hart when he was a ‘ loin, long before he got to be so rich too .c . an one of the queerest speculators in is. ks- He made money handover fist,‘ and, with the cold-faced beauty who {7 lived with him, he established a strange Hreputation, while .few suspected that he' grade a circus steed.” . . ' ' . at he did," exclaimed Gloster. “ In shin day he was one of the best of the old tumbler-sand clowns. I suspect it 'w’as "-5.131! love ‘fpr bidtimes that made him fir” ’ the Great American Circus." _ . ."lfai'tly from that,” said the Shhw- ‘ on Sport. . “ Now, don’t, you e,»if we 4 R... _ prove that the lost child was :s‘; . 2:“ ', ghter, say the one ,whom herniated-'— _‘ _s-—-why, our nest'sfeathered.” r ' "But the boy might step in...” . ‘ in,“ Newer.” I’ll see .to that." ,1 "(There’s a little risk,” - answered Hipster. “I .might'come forward at the j ', r timeand make an Oath that the Limit! in: a girl, just as you suggest, and the other side may bring for- illlnrd’proot which» might knock us out." . graftddlesticks‘! There’li be no other or, 'at least; it won't materialize. Imam. is yoW‘Word. You knew . .‘ him: you remember the birth'of the heir; " 'glyou r‘remember. alaouthe theft and the" . hunt for that child." -. _ . ;.. ff Distinctly," said old ,Gi'oster. crossing 1113:1081 and sending his first glance to: “routine :littie. room where, the dew ve Q . 1“ Blithe never found either-A? . a ‘- , "‘i-What‘be¢fmyof,tho wife?" - / , 6 died ,aa-'nsrtm,city.,leu x hidden. Stir?!" Milne “ Wasn‘t it?” grinned the plotter. “They hunte for a long time; even dragged the creeks and scoured the woods. I remember it; but the epidemic which swept over the country some years afterward nearly depopulated it, and I’m told that no one who lived there at the time of the tragedy now survives but yourself." “I guess I am the only survivor, and I escaped by coming to this city.” “ No doubt of that. Now, Gloster, you know what I Want, and you can make up the little story unmolested. I’ll drop in again' to-morrow and com- pare notes with you." George crossed the room. but stopped at the door and looked back. “One word,” said he. “You haven’t seen this Spangles lately, have you?” Gloster shook his head. “He would be likely to call if in the city, wouldn’t he? " “Quite likely. He always called. Do you know him? " - ,. I “ No; I understand that he is the main detective on the Harold Hart mys- tery; but he doesn‘t seem to be making much headway." ‘ The knob was turned and in another moment George Farrell was in the little hall beyond the portal. ‘ Gloster followed him to the door, saw him on the street, and then came back. At the same moment a door opened, and Spangles stepped into view. , “ You entertained him very well,Glos- tor,” said the Circus Detective. “I tried to," was the reply. “That was a cool proposition of his, eh? ” _,“ But in keeping with other chapters in his life. George Farrel‘l might have received a shock if he could have looked into the room yonder."l . “ But he didn’t see you, which is good.” cried the necklace maker. “,You’ll help me make up my story, won't you? ” Gloster Turk sat down and drew a bit of paper toward him. ' ' “He wants you to come forward when he has evérything ready and make oath that the child stolen from his cradle long ago when his father was not so well known as he afterv'vard 'became was not a boy, but a girl,” said Spangles. , That‘s it.” i , :‘And, what is mere, he intends to, make that girl turn out to be’Floss,’ and she is Hatrold Hart’s heir now.". ‘; She is, if the lost‘child doesn’t turn up. n Old Gloster opened his eyes. “I see.” he said. “ If the boy never turns up she will get the fortune, but if she turns out to be the missing child, why, it's here in spite of fa'te.” ‘ “That's the idea exactly. If lH‘arold Hart had lived he might at some’ time have left on record the fact that the lost heir was not a glrl;.but he can’t do that now.” . . ,4, : ' “Who was suspected of stealing the boy?” . ‘ ., . “A ‘ man called Manson, but that wasn’t liis nameri' ;-‘ ‘ , “it wasacase of revenge, wasn't it? “ artly that. Manson ’tedsHarold Hart. because he got thebe to: «himin a love‘affair. Hewas a cool fellow, was this Mark Manson. a coldahearted wretch who never'stopped for anything. I saw him often those days. but, after the crime I lost si t of him. entirely.” “And Hart’s wife—the mother‘of the missing‘chil‘d?” _ k ,‘.“ She vanished. That: was the. stran- u .gest event connected with those crimes. fShe disappeareda year afterfithe crime, and that’s what dross Harold 'Hart to the ring." ' “I hays heard asi'm‘uch hinted. else- ‘wiiere,"’said the detective. "n took him' on the road partly from a burning de-- sire to findrhis wife andthe man sus- pected of '- taking the child." ’ r a sm- 5 he; “Who is that person, master?” Gopher Goldstar.” . “I thought as much," exclaimed the ferret. "And now this gilt-edged scoun— him clinch the fortune by perjury.” “That’s his proposition boiled down,” smiled Gloster. “There never was one just like it in the world.” “And never a scamp with. all his cun- ning," anSWcred the detective. “You will have the story ready for him to~ morrow, won’t you? " ' “ You don’t mean that, Spangles?” “Why not? He's promised to make a Midas of you." “I don’t want to become rich in that manner.” “He can make you famous. He has it in his power to make you an envied per- son, but, at the same time, Gloster, if the tide turns, he may engulf you." "‘I know that. Just look at the cool- ness of the rascal. I can‘t see through. his intentions, for he hasn‘t much show to get his hands on Harold Hart’s for— tune, even ii .he proves that Floss is the real heir, unless—" The necklace-maker paused and~passed his long dark hand over his brow. It can hardly be‘that he, intends to make her his wife,” cried he, suddenly. " That would be ’a winning card, wouldn't it? " . ‘f It would! it would!” i . . “With himself thus feathered there- may be a successor to the Great Ameri- can. Who knows but that it may be- come the greatest show in the world? " “There would be a cool million behind it," said Gloster, refiectively. “But Floss might not care to become his wife.” “She may be sollhadgered as to lose her nervé and wilingiy become Mrs. George Farrell." For a. little ,while the old man sat silent before the detective, and then he suddenly looked .up and caught his eye. _ “What have you found. out?” he asked. ' i “ I’ve picked up a few links." ‘ » a“ Who killed the man found dead in the steel safe? You opened it, I believe." . . “ The newspapers have solved that rid- dle to their satisfaction." ‘ “I know they think they have. They‘ charge that'crime‘ upon Harold Hart.” ‘1 Yes.” , “ But what proof have they? He was found dead in the safe, but the hands that forced him into it may not have been Hamid Hart’s. is‘against the dead man—the millionaire clown—but I’m not satisfied. , Moneybox was not a pleasant visitor to Harold; I know that. He went thither that night for. a purpose. He knew enough to make some threatenproyided' things didn’t comethis wan. He W33 an old r probate who had a secret ,which.‘ he thfimt _o t in ameasure whenever he wante a itle extravcash.“ “That s ret‘ was against the man he visited." ’ , y ‘ . , f “ It Was. No doubt he threatened Hat- all over. He‘lmighttflrliave threatened a little h rderthan on previous calls and got the at ‘l safe for his last prison} glee.»"-,=‘ . “But the girl—+Floss—must know more than she has told." cried Glo’s‘ter. You must soundi her—push heri'to the wall. She. is cold-hearted. which goes to show that she never had a drbp of Hart blood f ell when he comes, if he even comes fi‘ack'ior it.” , _ I V ’A “ He will come? confideg’tly answered Spansies, theferréh "1‘ko this-man on. *Gloster.j HQ; 18 ,IVeI‘Y cool. and ,~‘if he catches you in ai‘falsehood. he’sliabl'gftm play a very, uneXpected hand,” ; x" \‘1 "/ “ She told her story to one of two men. She told it to \George Farrell or drel comes to you and wants you to help Nathan ‘ ~ “7" “mar anesthesia». 3%, 323?)"- ,kV‘; v4 . . o it , 1:: I know theproof .» old Hart that night. i That was the man] “‘ It look that way. Everything points i, t?) g tragedyvof/ this kind," replied Span; , ,in' her veins: Illl.have_‘a story for Far- , :‘i; ., up» r ‘4 Axe-v as. wigs? 3‘“ ""5 “/¥Y’lo.€ v‘rzr‘f a 3,". ,3; \ 3~%‘;r£:§jM1{-{’-:Hs‘fi“ , g} . a. swam—saw... \ . 1.1M» 77:" w. , . me». w w 35m s 1 'hr; .. ): . 'more on the street with the little room ’ enough, but this did not discourage the x the creases made by it; remained. I n ' and” explored the hole again. . place and prepared to‘ quit the passagel . the darkened way startled ~ itnnnel ._ .. riot the, "'5‘, v “ Not quite that far,” smiled Spangles. “ If I can help it you will never be re- quired to carry the joke this far. Toll him on, I say. The missing heir was a. girl! She was stolen from her cradle by a man supposed to be Mark Manson. By the way, whatever became of this sus- pect? ” “ Oh, he's dead. He died at the gam- ing table? . Then he’ll not trouble Farrell with. a confession, and he won‘t interfere with your story.” “ Of course not.” Spangles, the detective, stood once and its singular occupant behind him. His face seemed 150 index to his thoughts, which must have been busy, and he walked away with. agile step. “I am picking up a link now and- then,” said he to himself. “It is a strange trail and deeper than I suspect- ed. But the last link=is,_the beSt one. With one or two more in my hands I shall forge the chain against the guilty, and Gotham will receive a double sur- prise. ' a ' CHAPTER XXV. \ THE FERRET'S. EXECUTIONER. There was one thing connected with the. story told by Buttons from his cot in the hospital that interested Spangles more than anything else. , “ This was the adventure in the tunnel, the visit of Floss Hart to the place and the theft of the papers behind the dated stOne. . The detective, after quitting Gloster Turk, resolved to visit the spot himself, and thitherward directed his steps. In a short time he stood under the roof, having effected an entrance from the rear, and presently he, Opened the door'leading to the underground pas- sage' » ’ The place was dark and forbidding ferret. s. The ay seemed open forhirn, and following Buttons’s directions he soon found himself in the. tunnel. - v He felt the moistened walls and in- haled the foul air that pervaded the place, but on he went, eager to see the dated stone and perhaps run his hand into the dark'Opening behind it. . Far down the tunnel he struck a light and held it above his head. A pquof air from the main sewer flared the little flame and he shielded it w th his hand. . The stone was back in its place as Buttons had first described it, and the eager detective thrust. up his light and breathlessly.‘r_ead the same inscription. .in black. ' ‘ I; ‘ He at last let the match go out, and began to tug at the stone itself. ' It yielded after somework, and he :succeeded in taking it from its place and gently lowered it to the flagging of " id tunnel. ' t v “gnomother instant he had thrust his right hand into the opening above his. head. ' » 2 . ‘At first it touched nothing. and then his fingers felt a bit of damp paper. ' Eager for anything the hole‘ would . yieid',‘*thc detective drew this forth and again'ilt his match. . _ M It was a folded paper, with signs. of having been tied at One ,time, but now the string was missing, and nothing but 'Spangbs put the paper in his pocket Nothing else rewarded him,’ andafter a while he‘lifted theistone back to its. But at that moment a sliglhit; noise up :11. The detective hugged the wall of the andhc’ld‘ his breath, as the. door,q end “of the corridor opened. and his “ea caught the scan of footsteps. "some newas contingt :- him, ‘close to the 5amleared eagerpto brand itself on his suppress he dropped his flaring light 118 had stood within a “whet/of the“i "feet the screen (a: tie --sion.s, w over, the stone, now and then scarcely perceptible in their sounds, and now ringing out distinctly in the ferret’s ears. They stopped where the stone was and Spangles waited for a light ‘thaLwould show him the face and figure of the un- seen. But no light was struck. He heard some one tugging at the loose stone, and then it seemedto be lifted from its place. Who was over there? In vain did the keen-eyed ferret try to penetrate the darkness; he could not see past his own hand. “There! I have it at last,” suddenly spoke a voice, at sound'of which Span- gles started. “It took a little more strength than I ever had to exert before, but it’} up now, and ail’s well.” In-a few minutes the unseen went back up the corridor. Spangles followed. ‘ Ever on the alert, he was determined to see more of his adventure, and as he slipped over the damp flags of the corri- dor his eagerness became intense. The door ahead opened and closed, and he heard to his sorrow the turn «of a. key in a lock. r “It's better to lock it,”'.said a voice beyond the portal. “1 don‘t think any one will come down here, but ..a leck’s the best security in a case of this kind." It was a voice that had a familiar sound, and the detective stood at the portal shut in the corridor with a strange visitor‘abou't to give him the slip. “Never mind, I can rob the stone,” said Spangles. “She can't get ahead of me very much, after all." He turned back and almost ran down the tunnel. hen he thought he had reached the icinity of the movable stone he paused and struck a. light. “She has eyes like an owl,” thought Spangles, as he spied the dated stone. “But what’s this?” ‘ The match showed ghim a dark line drawn thrOugh the inscription, .and un- derneath it sdme words which showed that they had been written in, the dark. The Circus Spotter held his breath as stobd on tip~toe and held. the light gray surface of \the loose he stone. , r The new inscription stood but before his eyes like letters in relief, and not one of them escaped his eyes. 'v ,4 He read simpl this—simply, we say, for the inscriptlo was ibriefv—but it was almost too terrible to believed " Cyrus-Spangles. Died April 18th, 13—7 It was the date that flashed across his mind like an electric belt, for that very day was the 18th. ’ ' .. Spangles looked Qtthe insert on (till it seemed to quit the‘harti,.col surface of the rock and come to meet him. ._ It forehead, and with a cry he could not and fell back to the opposite wall. “ , ,yDarkness denser. than ever scented to an the tunnel. and 'the silence Which came down over the scene was its propo’ er mat'e.’ . . . I, v‘ " His own doom had "been, decreedfnot only this, but the date of it had already been recorded. on stone, and probably. assassin." - f 1 ,. . . Spangles thought of a t ‘sandy'hnd- one things" in'thevspace o ‘ breath." Hisheart beat fast, and he went‘back over the myste trail‘frotn the first step to the presentmoment. He reds-liedthe adventures he had had since taking up, the thread of crime in Harold Hart's library; the opening of the safe in‘pres- _ ence of Floss,‘the‘ ice-hearted heiress, the finding there of Nathan Moneybdx. , the short ,life of the Great American Circus on the road, his return td. New York.“ the. encounter with, "Nevis. [the mats; in the once of.,the‘tr18€d‘y; the; many”. the" -irs,> .e'..shoti_.” from which, ‘ «it ' . with wonde room looking at some 'papers which he ‘ he had picked up another link. * - Tell minutes drifted on, the cheaper: -‘,himself, as he all this and more came back to him i emphasis. His brain for a moment seemed on fire in the darkness. “ But what did she deposit behind the stone? " he suddenly thought. Reaching up, he pulled the gray stone out to let it fall at his feet, while be straightened to light another match. Spangles was all mettle now; he thrust . his hand into the hole, gripped a packet. ' ‘ ‘ of some kind and pulled it forth. 5 “I thought so! " he exclaimed. “ This creature has overreached herself. She has played a hand which shall beat her out of the stakes in the end.” . That which he held in his hand 1 seemed to be a package of letters, but he put it in his pocket all the same, and lifted the stone back to its place, then he turned away and started, not toward the door which he had heard locked, but toward the main sewer which But- tons had described to him. Spangles found the opening, and in a short time was pushing toward the street-rat‘s opening? from which he" emerged with the filth of the sewer on his garments, but‘with the package in his pocket. ,. . Spangles still felt the excitement .of . his last adVenture, then he turned the: ‘ , corner and came face to. face with the house in which it had opened. It looked silent and innocent enough to be the abode of love, but he smiled 7 when he recalled what he had seen be- " . yond its portals within the last hour. In a short time the detective in the: . case was seated at a table in a small had released from confinement by cut- ting a string. .‘ He had read one by one the documents for half an hour and his eyes told that] w “ No wonder these papers were to. be ” buried,” said the Gimme Detective. x“ She wanted them hidden, perhaps :forever, behind. the stone. Just why she didn’t. bui‘n them is somewhat of a‘m‘ystery, but she knows why she did not. She. may tell me one of these days.” " He read an till the little clock on a. shelf across the room _ struck another half hour, when he dropped the 13,33: paper and settled back,in his chair. 5 , , “Joe would start if he'could readwh'at g I have just finished," muttered the Spot—- ter. “ He would not believe/Cat first; _. but there's all the proof ’he. wants", There's a complete refutation -of Go- ' phe'r's insinuation, that he came from.» ' the gutters. But it will all betold now. The last quarter of the race iseheing run , and if I escape the doom they have re; served for me-for this is the 318de will stand at the end "of the great trail, of the year." ‘ « fr; Spangles gathered up the paperrangd i put them in a secret receptacle in the 2"; wall which was not visible from anti... part, of the'room. Then he came back I “to the table and resumed; his seat. a )‘u i. t ft‘ lug them away distinctly lwhile wrote with his-body bent slightly for ward, and the light fallingxdn thee“ “ a won him. I I 'V”:‘,“. ‘, ""1 Who's to do it, I wonder?.”3h¢;m a. mom [ person who came » the inane in}: doubtediy left‘ the ndw on stone? ' am ’1‘ marked to "fallfibyrhe it" hands? Has the fair one liehnwseleete ‘ for this work,'iand must I play into-the trap take, may have set for me? see. witch. og‘darkness and cunning The’ 1am which bubbled to“ - ret’s lips was suddenly; brolteh b ‘, “ steps. and his door, . ., . V ».,y,-:~;,,t as mad for the hook, and/it softly and haifjtimidly to his certify ; Spangles was looking “for no wishing," just then. and he crossed the with; ,_ wonder min-his eyes. i “ . ‘ 33;»; In an] ‘sr moment lie-had, opened and ,he’heidxit. open for the Where] " e. in. ‘ «it ' 4 who m'there'f! .Spenzie ‘28 mgtg... “-Ci'w “w .i . he. Gentleman George, the Showman-Sport. little smile gather at his lips, while he .gazed at his caller. He caught sight of the half hidden hand, which to him seemed to grip a dagger, but he did not .betray himself. “Come in,” said he, cleverly. “I was not expecting you. Miss Floss, but, nev- ertheless yo.. .2 e welcome here." The girl. crossed the threshold and stepped lightly forward and as she turned upon the detective in the middle of the room their eyes fairly met. “This is the executioner,” thought Spangles, the Spotter. “This girl has come for my life.” CHAPTER XXVI. . THE snowmnx-sronr TAKES THE: TRAIL. About the same hour of Floss’s visit. at the detective’s lodgings there entered into a room further up town and in a comfortable locality already boasting of some notoriety a man who seemed half caller and half owner. This person with the cleverness of the always-at-home sport threw himself in- to a chair and spread his arms over the back of it as if he intended to wait for some one. The room was shaded and cool, the thick curtains keeping out both light and heat, and while he waited his gaze wandered around the chamber. No one came in. Not (niy this, but, the whole house seemer‘ deserted, for not a. sound came to the man’s cars from any part of the house. “She can’t be in,” said he at length, shifting uneasily in the chair. “ I don’t know but that 1 had best take a survey of the premises, and if I’m the only tenant just now I may extend my ex- plorations.” He left the room and crossed the hall ‘to a door which he opened with some caution. The room thus entered was a library, high-celled, well-carpeted and richly- furnished. At one side of the room stood a large steelsdoored safe with its shining knob of the same material. This at once caught the man’s eye and he walked cvor to it without hesitation. Gopher Goldstar, for the man was the head manager of the Great American Circus, as the reader would discover in a little while, twisted the shining steel knob as if to see whether the safe was locked. “ Why not?” said he, in low, but audi- ble tones. “She can’t be at home, else she would have been dowu before this. I have the power to look beyond this [door and‘why not do so? " He gave the safe more attention from that moment, for he knelt on the rug before it and listened as he moved the handle. “I knew the old combination,” he went on. “Can it be that she has changed it, or has she respected his last combination? ” Even as he spoke the handle seemed to yield to his manipulations, and then he swung the heavy door open. “A small place in which to die,” he said, as he took a survey of the interior of the safe. “ He didn’t last long here; he could not. It was over almost in the twinkling of an eye.” - The next moment he was engaged in looking into the various drawers of the steel safe. ‘ He carefully lifted and turned papers over as if he was looking for something which appeared very elusive. “ Nor here. She may have gone through it,” he muttered at last. “I understand that she knew the combination. If so, she has lost no time and—” He paused suddenly, for a slight noise beyond the door of the library startled him, and he swung the safe door shut. In another moment he was on his feet looking anxiously across the -room as if ‘he expected to see the door open in his face. All at once he stepped forward and . ‘ . . I I opened the door himself. A scream rewarded him. “You, is it?” he exclaimed, laying hold of the tall girl, who stood white- faced in the hall in the act of flight. “Where did you come from, girl?” “This is my home, don't you know?” “But you have come in within the last few minutes? Where’s Miss Floss?” Nevis, the maid. shook her head. “She hasn‘t come down yet, perhaps,” said GOpher. “ You don't deny that you haven't been in the house long?” t‘ NO.’! “I’ve been waiting for your mistress. Go up and tell her. No, you needn’t mind it. I guess she isn't in.” “ She isn’t," said Nevis, with. some trepidation, as she looked into the eyes that transfixed her. Goldstar did not relinquish his hold on the tall maid‘s arm, but pulled her into the library and shut the door. He pushed her into a chair in a man- ner that nearly made her teeth chatter. “Did you see Mr. Farrell during his last visit here?" demanded Gopher. “I did not. I haven't been here very lately," protested Nevis. "1 went away, and this is my first visit back. I lied to eScape a man whom I do not like.” “Name him.” “He was one of those detectives who have made life a burden to us ever since the double tragedy. l-le persecuted me till, to escape the man, I fled the house.” “ Which. one was it?” “They call him Spangles, I believe.” “Did he try to make you retract your old story and give him something new?’ “ Yes, yes." ' “Well, he won’t bother you again, Nevis, so rest easy on that score. But answer me: How did Mr. George Farrell win the play in this house?” “If he won a play here it is news to me.” “ He has won your mistress, Nevis.” “Floss? Impossiblel—I thought—” “Why don‘t you go on?” “ I thought she preferred you—there! " cried the maid. “ You see, Floss has been under a terrible strain ever since the double mystery,\ and she hasn’t had time to make a confidant of me, but a woman can see some things that are not spoken.” “Good! And you’ve been using your eyes in this house, girl?” “A little,” confessed Nevis. Gopher seemed to take a long breath, and his gaze wandered across the room to-tlie steel safe. “What do you remember about that night?” he asked. “You were at home that night?—and heard noises in the slight ‘library? ” “ I‘ve told that before.” “Of course. You saw the old man come it), didn’t you'.’ ” “The other one? " asked Nevis. “Yes. The one who tumbled out of the safe when the detective unlocked it.” “ I saw him in the library with Harold Hart. They were over there at the desk.” “ What did you hear, girl? ” Nevis seemed to recoil, for she laid her hands on the arms of the chair as if about to quit it, but a glance from Go- pher held her down. “Who else came here that night?” he asked, his black eyes still riveted on the whitened face before him. “I cannot say.” “You must tell me all you know. This is the one thing you have withheld from the authorities. To escape telling this you fled from Spangles, the detective, as you have told me. You know who came in after the first crime.” Once more the girl threw an appealing glance toward the door, but Gopher Goldstar was as firm as a rock- of ada- mant. “Come! Don’t make an all-night’s job of your silence,” he cried. “Who came in after old Nathan entered the steel tomb? ” The maid sprang up and threw out her hands. I “ Don’t! don’t! ” she cried. “ Don’t force me further in this matter. I have been troubled ever since with'the secret, and I don’t want to talk. You.must let me go.” Gopher Goldstar threw out his hands and caught her wrists: “You must name him!” he almost hissed. “ It shall not get you into trouble. The avenging will be as secret as was the other affair. You shall not be dragged into court. But, girl, you shall not quit this room till I know. Quick! Name that man,” he commanded. Nevis turned white, and her lips fell apart in a cry.” “ It was Gentleman George. There! for God's sake, let me go now,” and, as Gold- star's grip loosened she staggered across the room and fled into the hall. CHAPTER XXVI. THE I’LITNDEIUCI) SI‘UTTER. Alone with Floss Hart, who had found him in his lodgings, Spangles felt that the woman was his enemy and self-con— stituted executioner, and he watched Floss as she came forward with the mien and the noiseless tread of a pantheress. But all at once the cold—faced woman seemed to change her mind, for suddenly she whirled around and sprang to the door again. The detective watched her till she reached the portal, and when her hand had turned the knob, he spoke: “One moment, Miss Floss. I want to see you.” She threw a look over her shoulder, but did not stop. She appeared to be con- trolled by fright—fright which she could not drive away-for she threw wide the door and was gone. Spangles looked after her, but did not seek to stop her again. Down on the street Floss Hart looked up at the detectives window and took a long breath. She acted like one who had escaped danger by a narrow margin, but her white cheeks did not flush. Spangles went to the window and looked down into the street, but missed the figure that flitted away. “Her nerve failed her at the supreme moment,” said he, as he retraced his steps. “She came here to end my trail, but she lost nerve just when she needed it most for her purpose.” The detective laughed at the end of his sentences and went down on the street. . Of course the girl who had so strangely visited him and then escaped was out of sight, and he looked in vain f0r her, half expecting all the time to catch sight of her well-known figure, or to hear sud- denly behind him her step on the pave- ment. But the detective was not rewarded. It was not long after this adventure that Spangles turned up elsewhere, and stood before Joe Vincent. The young acrobat reclined on a set- tee in his own lodgings, and for some time the two friends sat in silence, as if neither cared to open the conversa— tion. “ At last Joe asked: “Have you found the missing link, Spangles? ” Spangles looked over at his friend and his face seemed to get a look of deep sympathy. Joe noticed it. “ There,” said'he. ” Don’t look so sym- pathetic, Spangles. I don’t need much sympathy, after all. I once had Gopher Goldstar by the throat, and yet i spared the lying rascal. It was my fault. And how Often did I have a chance to make him retract during the brief existence of the Great American Circus! ” Spangles leaned toward the occupant of the settee, and for a moment longer looked steadily into his face. “What have you found out about the parental trail?” Joe started with a sharp cry, and set- tled back on the settee. “ Alas, nothing," said he. “ I' am baffled at every turn and know not which way to look nor what to do. The man who might have known something, for he was an old—time showman, is dead, and you are on the trail of the murderer. Hart cannot speak, and even if he could he might not tell me anything.” “What about the heiress, Joe?” “ Why ask me about her? She is noth- Harold ing to me. She has fallen heir to Harold , Hart’s wealth, and in time will take a {r' , husband, and she will see that none of it ' sticks, to his fingers.” i '- ” “ She has chosen already." “ . who was all attention, did not “ Who is “ Our old as you call said Joe. ‘ The youn on. went " Vhat's. the young “ I say if Spangles “ Tell me ‘ l .patience; I ._ for I can't I comes'in.” :4 _ game. nerve". . I) ‘1 ,. ‘ Irv ' ’1 i t i” ’1 . hat. I I f'“. Before lang," , .. , .3“ You have unexpectedly. Pk!in .“b‘a not directly connected with the ,d'oi‘xthle mystery of the library.” v '. » W it and see." p ‘I y, '. J ‘ 9’?“ I‘l wait, Spangles, but make no miss Seem to breathe now. the lucky man?” he asked. “ It is Goerge Carroll." employer?” laughed Joe. “I wish him happiness, but she can‘t love him. That girlywill neverlove any one. ‘ “But she is to wed Gentleman George, him.” “ It means more than‘a mere match," ‘It means something deeper than the‘outWard‘ scheme. Floss is cool and.he is no man’s fool.” " What think you it means, Joe? " g showman shook his head in a puzzled manner. “It is an alliance of some kind,” he “I am satisfied of that; but there I stop.” v Spangles's face seemed to light up with the possession of a secret. “ If Floss child—not merely his ward-3’ proven Harold Hart’s 1'»: that, Spangles?” interrupted showman. “You don‘t mean to tell me that she was his child? " she proves that she was—" “They must lie 'to prove that?” “ George and Floss, you mean?(’ nodded and Joe sprang up. and came over to him. what you've found out,” he . ., cried, his hand falling upon the ferrets shoulder. “ You have filled me with im- ' am burning with a. desire to , know more about this new scheme. It ,_means much. Floss to become the bride w of George Farrell? It is almost amusing,» see where a GophEr Goldstarv . “Oh, he’s been ruled out—that's all," .. ' “laughed the detective. “ Goldstar missed .3 his opportunhy and a I Now; Joe, you must keep your Farrell won the I’ll'keep it, Spangles. No danger, of hay losing it at this stage, of the play. ' , s‘fnYou; must let: 'nothin‘ ,you must, remain cool on er all circum~ . . Steam.z.f’for something. startling may» ' turn upandyou may be’roqulred-to'una (10th a. thrilling ordeal» ‘ . ‘I I f t ‘-,. g "j. ":‘Joe Vincent’s gaze did not quft‘ihé- .~'y,‘téctive's face while age, latter. spoke, Spangles finished i an undertone. ‘ ‘ .‘fWhen will I k ow? " asked upset you—— c the acre-k” was the answer: * ‘ » i > ~‘talte...\Remember,' ' nowadays you 1111.1” phase solid ya", . “‘Goo‘d! u but ,i «i. of _,,ol'ls, a e " nag; proof to convince the world.”_ .fflI‘il‘havs n'o_other kind when l play‘w cried Joe. “ You are trumDS. 'Spangle's. 'But, as I told‘~y0u' once he: tore,- look out; If Jack Fonten'oy comes into the game again the pair may not get x ‘1!” easily as they” did that night after. Wth in, . Pennsylvania. Jack ,Fonte— “1103" “‘1 thought. I saw him on Broadway ‘ ‘I may havebeen'm'l‘siAkQD. i "‘I'Té‘fis'ih,the city.” ' i . , “Hera-"and tor a purpose theni'; ‘ .- wflsefiv s »- » ‘ i r ‘ s :3 heft-“Spanglesl” ‘ l 1“ ‘ - r did .not speak {or mmoment, -_door'fhehindhini,‘. ‘ ahead}. , _ 4: .. ,‘ , . J M His wish waszzveetad‘oyijwishm' ' as. - a” “la “We a Warm ass-stead must ’turn” a “have’thern in: making up, the Wrgm r remember that Jack Fontenoy that night asked George Farrell what had become of Lucy?” ' “ Yes." “Well, I have wondered a thousand times who ‘Lucy’ was.” ' “Well?” ' “I can reach but the one conclusion, and it always comes to me in spite of my thoughts. ‘Lucy,’ pardon me, Span- gles—J Lucy ' must have been my moth- er.” ‘ The det ctive averted his face a little, and Joe d d not catch the singular light that flushed it for an instant. “Never mind. It maybe only a fruit- less; conjecture, but for all this, the idea comes to me at unbldden times, and whenever I think of Jack F‘ontenoy the same thought recurs. My mother is a dream to me. 1 home no recollection of» her. I was thrbwn onto the world at an early age, and first chapters in my life are lost. on know that, Spangles. I keep no secrets from you. I could not if I would. But-.thc time must come when I -,will read‘ that lost chapter. I have looked to you to help me recover it. Don’t forget that, Spangles. And if, 1 were to lose you I would be lost myself." Spangles seemed anxious to get away, and ila little while he stood once more on the street. ‘ “Joe is'anxious, yet fearful," thought he. “If he could read the papers Floss Hart buried. in the hole in the tunnel he would almost lose his head.” Spangles did ‘ t go back 'to his lodg— ings immediatel , but an hour later he opened his-door, and, walked into thellit— tie room. * . ‘ 1 He struck a light, it being well filled with shatlows, and had reached -thc ta- ble when. he suddenly stopped. ‘ The faint odor of a. singular perfume assailed his nostrils and he sniffed tlie‘ air half suspiciously. . ' ‘ As the gas wasturned 6n the flame. quivered a little and Spangles fell back. He looked toward the place where 1e had . hidden" the documents found it the tun/net ,and-.,the next second was“ there. " . “Gone. ‘ Found oat! ’Ahe. cried. These expressimns ea e’unbidden from the lip%;0ffi8pangles; the. Circus Detecfi tive. . . . . . .He stood, at the robbed nest like, a man inradiieamgfle had thought them securee-that no one knewthe secret hole in the wall hut‘..himself,'and that they were permanency ‘ V . v , , “I'll. ,’-' Was ail he " id, and then the ferret turned'and walked tome door.- 'Had Floss come "back? ad the ice. beauty of the house at the tr” y-rohhetl‘_ " him ' of 'the most ‘im "t IdOcument's‘ he had ever? discover {:2 " N“ W“ you: swims: a many trails, butithe‘i’oo‘m otir’e’solut'iOn’ that lit up his eye "(11¢th die out. ’ Spanglea left \lthe ream,” loeking the . HefWEdl-to give new, speed to his limbarsmiiething urged‘ddm on andongand fat lamina he ran 9 - a flight .‘of 'hs‘tepsg'; ,‘e’l‘anpeared to . Eva reached his scalp, — ; , v - Hammad to; “311861118 shadowotJ-a: secondnt' the doorgtiefore‘ him. and than,» tagging, the knobgqgicifly. pushed; this porjfl‘l ands into, the f; tore him? r . .; his unseen tracker, ‘ 3‘2, '" ‘mi’ts'thaafhefdreamed in the comedians his own room. ' '1 is. . 7 met.» - *undeen ’lips 33141333 TwanedA“ 1- ' _ I CHAPTER XXVII. D THE mm IN THE DARK. Jack Fontenoy for half a minute looked‘. at the detective, and then deliberately” shook his head. “ You want me to come forward and: tell my story about the tragedy in an—- other State. You ask me to proclaim that I am not Jack Fontenoy, the Penn- sylvanian, but Wilde Winston, the Vir~ ginian. That‘s it, but I say no." Spangles seemed to draw. off a little, but all the while he looked the man “‘3 squarely in the face. .- “ Then I go back to the trail," said the ispotter. “I have the links in my hands now. I shall startle the city. You‘re— fuse to assist the cause of justice.” “It is not that!” cried Fontenoy. “I. don't care tO‘ unmask myself just yet. Give me a little more time. I will rob them both. I will give you satisfaction." “I will pull in the net. The mystery of the millionaire’s house will be solved. ,, ‘ 3 within ten hours.” “ By you? "~ - , “ By me," said Spangles, coolly. V x. “If they don’t entrap you." . . _' .‘* “They have done that already, bull. ' the trap has failed to hold its victim." Fontenoy rose and paced the floor, his. breathing hard and his face atriile white. . “I‘ll tell you," he said, turning sud» denly upon Spangles. “ You are liable- to tarnish his name.” “I can’t 'help that. I' intend toga: straight to thegoal from'now on.” “Good luck attend you," said l“0nte-, - noy; “ If you fail-I-will try my hand.” “Not before?” ; ‘ ' “Perhaps not." > , ~ " Then your hand will not appear in‘ * the game. any. more.” . . . ' J ’ The lips of 'Fontenoy curled derisive‘ly and he turned toward the table. ._ ., _ In another minute the figure of S ans-r ,' ‘ gles came doWn the stops and sto " for a little while on the street in front??? , of: the house. , ' ' , ‘i V “Jack Fontenoy would not tell" 'stoiz-y of Lucy because“ of family pride, . but it shall 'not‘» sum me: I, embarked inithis puzzle? of crimetto uni-Evelyn” and I shall let nothin balsam”, 33'; Thus speaking to h mselfflhe moved? away. and in a short time vanished. Almostat the same time a manned nottiecgiti buy the stigma—spot: was we ng im from 9: o , "site ide mesh-set. ‘ ’ ' , I)??? "if I, This had {allowed him {to ‘ the my doom: Jack ’Eontenoyz'a retreat and {with keen pres kept him in ,sig A ‘» ashepushedaiong. , \ Motto?!“ a moment did spa little room once nonfatal door behind him” chess. were at the loot of the I .f thalamus“ was a‘ azure.” - :therehad ,1: did not morgmo‘r didi’asingie , ’Down via the dark‘as the ‘ ‘ aim .onoe treatment" door and”; opened. tic , T... m t ‘ “What'g’t’s Mama . v gas: 4: " v» ' ; “ A good deal; You, the .front." v‘, I, " “ :I cannot. ,th ' is a,‘ iittl need notcarrybutiflfi W? mu“ twat? yew—r90? I 'isayttmust weak. {1. x . ,1 " y Then I, no? wannabe Jack-Foa- .tenoyz_'§,;said.;he. -»-<' , A. , aware r p. now (to: ’ jfiosooqg-Yonfi _ , . ‘n‘i a! my I: ‘ " ‘4 hat" the twillalns, RI Willy “Soon, but; . 3O Gentleman George, the Showman-Sport. over whose lips it rippled had shaken off the last vestige of trepidation. “I was mistaken. I must not lose nerve now. He is within my reach. The ferret who is trying to wreck my life is up-stairs. I have stood before him in that little room and I can find him again. I go up to vengeance.” Up the stairs moved a figure that left but faint sounds for the other person in the dark below. This one leaned forward out of his corner and listened. “Why not let her do it? She is all nerve now,” he said. “Heavens! what a hold I will have on her.” But that moment the same footsteps came down the stairs and stopped in the hall once more. “He is moving about. He may come down here,” said the same voice. “If he does I can see in the dark, for re- Venge will direct my hand." The next moment the speaker stepped from the last step and then brushed the man in the corner. In another instant a light cry of horror ascended in the dark, and the would-be assassin recoiled to find a hand of steel on a ready arm. “ Don’t cry out. I am here,” said some one. “You lost nerve at the supreme moment." , “ In heaven's name, who are you? ” “Never mind. Have you courage to go up and finish him. If you do not, the jig is up. He knows!” It was a. strange tableau in the dark- ness of the hallway, and the last sen- tence seemed to bring out no reply. “You won’t?” said the man. “You have lost courage, sure enough. You de— serve to suffer—to fall into the hands of Spangles, the detective." “ I cannot go up there now. I am not myself.” “Just as I told you! Your nerve has oozed out of you through your fingers." “Let me go. Let the detective play out his hand. He may meet with his mor- tal enemy some other time.” “ Yes, at the bar of Justice." “ No, no! Not there! You forget that I will get my old courage back. I will find him. But let me see your face. Take me home.” The man in the hallway opened the door and led the other one out. On the steps beyond they stopped and v} looked into each other’s face. There was a cry on the part of the. one who had failed to go up to Spangles, the Spotter, and she would have darted from her captor if he had not thrown out a hand. Without a word they walked from the house and he called a carriage a few doors from the detective’s rooms and handed his companion into it. With the coolness of a desperado he stepped in, too, shut the door, and took a seat at her side. Already he had given the cabman or- ders which the woman had not heard. As the vehicle moved away, deep breathing was heard within; but the sounds of the horses’ hoofs on the stones ' of New York soon drowned it. ‘ A few minutes later the carriage drew up in front of a house a number of squares from the starting point, and the door opened. A woman stepped out and looked back at the vehicle. It was Floss! She did not seem to see the face pressed close against the glass of the carriage window, but a face was there. “ My friend, the gentleman, wants to get out on Union Square,” she said to the man on the box, and as the horses turned their heads she entered the house. “ He cannot play out his hand if I hold mine well,” was all she said when she ‘ shut the door, and then she entered a par- lor and threw her hat upon a table. “ The time has come! Twice I“ have lost my nerve. This man is closing in ‘on the truth. He has the hreads of the dread mystery in his h- ds, and though I robbed him I will soon be powerless.” I the detective caught At the same moment the carriage rat— tling over the streets Iwas heading to- ward Union Square. The driver did not take heed of his passenger, but looked only to the jour- ney with the last commands of Floss in his mind. “I guess he's not particular in what part of the Square he is let out," thought Jehu, as he turned into the famous plat. “One place is just as good as another, and she didn’t name the spot.” The carriage stopped and the driver leaned from his seat. “ Here we are, sir—Union Square," he shouted; but the door did not open—no one moved inside. ‘ The next moment the driver sprang to the ground and opened the carriage door himself. A man sat rigid, white—faced and death- like on the cushions with eyes full of vacancy. , CHAPTER XXVIIL 'an SHOVVMAN-Si’oitT'S PLAY. If Spangles had not been so busy at the table in his room at the time of Floss’s visit to the hall, where she lost her nerve and fell into the hands of Go— pher Goldstar, he might have given a different termination to the last chapter; but the cold heiress of Harold Hart‘s wealth had escaped him. When he quitted the room it was to cross the city and turn up in a part of it with which he seemed familiar. The detective was cool and very calm now. Spangles had a scheme on hand which, if it failed to reward him, might turn the tide of life in an opposite direction and strangely terminate the trail which he had followed since the double mys— tery of the millionaire showman‘s house. The night of the 18th had not passed, and the inscription on the stone in the wall of the tunnelstood out with the same emphasis that had startled him. Spangles drew up near a house which he fell to watching with a good deal of keenness, and at last he ventured a lit- tle closer and mounted the steps. ‘He gently tried the knob, but it did not turn, then he rang and waited. Half a minute passed and footsteps sounded in the hall beyond the portal. The face that greeted the Circus De- tective drew back the next moment, but Spangles was not to be beaten off thus. Pushing the door open, he stepped for- ward and closed it after him, as be con- fronted the Cerberus of the place. “ He isn’t in, sir,” said the raw-boned woman on guard. “ How comes there to be a light in his room?” " He went out a while ago and left it burning.” Spangles smiled and threw a swift glance down the hall. “You can’t go there!” cried the wo- man, as a hand fell upon the detective’s arm—a hand which he promptly shook off. . Spangles started forward, and heard a sharp cry behind him. He looked back to see the creature springing at him with Amazonian fury. It was a mad, impulsive charge, and he arm as it came down and forced the oman against the wall. , " You must not stop me, woman! ” he said, sternly. “ You shall not check me now. .He is in thpre—” “ It is false. You are a ferret, and I have my orders.” “ Very well. You must not stop me, I say,” and Spangles threw her off and started again toward the closed; door. The vixen glared at the spotter, but did not lesume the attack. She was not conquered, only checked a little, and her hands twitched nervously as she gazed at the cool face of the detective. Spangles stopped at the first door down the hall‘and pushed it open without cer- emony. . r The woman uttered a cry as he did this, but he did not heed her. The room beyond the door was a little dark, but here and there streaks of light were scattered around, showing the fer- ret the interior and its occupant. It had one. A man sat in an old-fashioned arm- chair drawn up to a. table, and his head had fallen upon his breast as if sleep had suddenly overtaken him. The detective stopped and looked at this person. a smile forming at his lips as he gazed, for he seemed to recognize him. He went forward, but the man in the chair did not move. There was another sound at the door and Spangles, glancing over his shoul- der, caught sight of the dark face of the she-Cerberus ere it vanished. Then he went back and shut the door, locking it securely, to return to the silent tenant of the arm-chair. If the man was only asleep the hands of Morpheus must have rested heavily upon him, for he did not start even when Spangles touched him. “Wake up.” said the detective, shak- ing the sleeper. “I have business with you.” ' Then it was that the eyes unclosed and the ferret saw from their gaze that their owner was under the influence of some noxious drug. “ With. me? I don’t know you," drows- ily said the sleeper. Spangles shook him again and leaned over him in the chair. “You ought to know me, Don’t you remember Mantelli? ’,' The name seemed to start the other into a little more life, for the old feel- ing appeared to vanish and he sat bolt upright. “ Mantelli?" echoed he. “Yes, yes You are the Mantelli of the show?" l‘ I am your rider. The show is off the road now.” “ Yes, yes—gone, broken up.” “ And you have come back to the city? ” “ Why not? I belong here." “Of course, but, Farrell, you seem to know me only as Mantelli.” “ I know you now,” and the chair was pushed back, as everything seemed to dawn upon the man's mind. “Gods! you are the man I had in the pit.” Spangles laughed. “ I am the rat in the trap, George—the person at whom you fired in the house of the double mystery. Your traps don’t hold their victims very long.” Gentleman George’s only reply was a stare, which did not quit his eyes for some time. “ We are alone again,” continued Span- gles. “ You have been under the influ- ence of some drug.” “ Think so?” and the other smiled faintly, and the next moment drew a lit- tle ebony box from his pocket and placed it on the table within reach of his hand. “ What brought you here, and did Jane admit you? She had her orders—" “Don’t blame your janitress,” broke in Spangles. “I pushed my way past her, and my presence here is not with her consent." “ Well, what’s your mission?" Farrell’s face was flushed a little, but the flush faded as he finished and he tried to show his coolness by reaching for a cigar that lay on the table. “You must realize that the jig is up,” said Spangles. . “ I don’t understand you. I am simply George Farrell, a little the worse with my last bout zwith the old drug; but if you’ll be kind enough to reach me the shelf yonder I will be in excellent trim to talk.” The shelf was on the other side of the room and Spangles hesitated. Was it a ruse on the part of the Show- man-Sport, whom he had cornered, to gain time and an advantage? If he turned his back on this man would he. not sufler thereby? Farrell. \ . The Circus Detective thought fast at that momentous time and kept his po- sition. “You can talk without the glass," he said to Farrell. “ If the drug causes g thirst you can wait till the story is over?” I, “ The story? " , \ 33 ,' “Yes, the one, I came for.” " The eyes got another ferocious gleam and were turned to the door leading into the hall. “It is locked," said Spangles, inter- cepting the look. “ I see. You have played out a part of your game. Now, what is wanting, Man- telli? ” “ I am after the truth. Don‘t you think you have been George Farrell long enough? " “That’s my only name.” “ Don’t you think it is time for you to go back to the .old name—back to the one you doffed when it suited you to do so, Mark Manson? ” , There was a quick start on, the sport’s ’, part, and he seemed about to quit the chair, but as suddenly he settled back again. \ / “You see what I have picked up," . 'Span les resumed. “I have gone beyond V the rail in New York—I have picked up a link or two in another state. I have returned to the old affair in Virginia. You are trying to prove that the child stolen from Harold Hart was a' girl, when you know better.” ' Gentleman George did not answer. “This child, taken from its parents to carry out the meanest revenge a man ever harbored, fell into your hands." " Why into mine? ” i . ‘.‘ Because you' are Mark Manson. Th epidemic spared you, contrary to general belief; ,you simply vanished with the child and the mother afterward fell into your inhuman clutches in her search for her offspring.” .r \ “ It is false!” -“DOn't you remember the night you met Jack Fontenoy outside the tents in Fairview City? You may recall that he asked you whatever became of ‘Lucy,’ and that brought you two men together. I am not here to ask about that mother. .You would conceal that last crime if I did. You can keep the secret, for secret it is only in your-mind now, George Far- mll'n - ; ‘ “ You are playing the boldest hand I ever, ,knew aman to play," said the Showman-Sport. “ Do you expect. to win? " x . ., T‘ Never mind that. Come‘back to the ., present, ark Manson. You never lost Sight of e Harts. Time changed you' 'and blunted the old man's’senses. He took to his in that'oold-faced girl called Fleas. ager fer an heir, he ,took her to his home and saw her grow to womanhood ;‘ but not with the Hart blood in her veins. Floss can heifer inherit the. ex-clown’s fortune.” ’A' “ Why not? ” V . “ Because the boy lives.” The Showman-Sport breathed hard. _ “ It is true, and no one knows it better 9’7 than. you, Mark Manson,” coolly said ‘ 'Spanglés, and he quickly continued: ‘ “ The girl is merciless and revengeful. V She has a" hand that spares not, but now ' ‘ : . and then her nerve failsher.” I ' "‘ Floss you mean? ’ “Yes. She has 'lost'nerve lately, and now is nearly powerless. You have failed, Mark." . “At home, perhaps,” . - Gentleman George from his ’, \~,ch_air.and moved toward the door; but I the hands of the Circus Detective held him fast. ‘ ' V a j U“ mewill talk to me first; You shall not warn Flo ?’.’ . " - . .ru“Warnhe?i" J» 1* , “ Yes, that is your'intention.” " ,, ' The Showman-Sport settledback in the I'A'chai , a malicious grin at the comers, of m V ,, . ' his White’s I armed \ “Where is she?" . I ’ ' is . 33' ,now,"Vf he and turned; his eyes away.V we accompli t’ V ' , ‘ 2 '5 I " At the same time Spangles heard foot. steps quit the door in the hall, and Far- rell seemed immensely pleased. Had the woman Cerberus of the sportfs house gone out to warn the tenant of the house 'of the two mysteries? “As good as warned, is she?” said Spangles. “ You must tell me the truth now, Mark." “Get at it if you can! " and there was deflance in words and look. “ Gopher has turned against you,” con- tinued Spangles. “Of late he has been playing a hand, secret and cool. You have supplanted him in the affections of Floss, you—”. I The hand of Farrell checked the ferret. “ Where is Gopher?” he demanded. “Where he can fight you underhanded and beat you at your own game." A look of mingled fierceness and ven— geance gleamed from Gentleman George‘s face, and he sprang to his feet. “What have you found out? ” he asked. “This,” returned Spangles, coolly. “I stand before the man who killed Harold Hart! " “ At the end of the trail, eh? ” " Yes, the game is holed." “Fool!” cried Farrell. “There are other things for you to find out. You may be a good bareback rider, as Man— telli; but, as Spangles, the Spotter, ‘you do not get on 50 well. You have come for me, have you? ” “I have come for both Mark Manson and George Farrell, and I find one and the same person." ' “ 0h! indeed! But,. remember that the last act in this game may be the great- est of them all." The‘Showman-Sport heldout his hands, white as snow at the wrists, and looked over them into Spangles' face. Never before had, he shown such cool- ness, and his breath did not seem to come or go 1Wlli10 he looked the detective in the eye. ,' “You have no manacles! ” hh said with a laugh. " Aren’t you afraid to take Gentleman George without them?" ,' “ No, not now." u v Farrell stepped aroundthe little table, his eyes drapp g to the ebony box which he had 'p noted there. “‘ See! It contains nothing but the drug," he assured, picking up the box and opening it in Spangles’ face. i“ It never,‘k‘ills, only benumbs. But this—- this is better!" ‘ _ _ With the ‘words, he sprang across the" room, seized fr the shelf a claretsool- ored goblet, putt ng it at once to his lips. “ I’m ready now! " he said, as the glass fellehattered at his feet. ‘ / CHAPTER XXIX. ~ THE MORNINGOF ms Ninmmm. Spangles did not miss the triumphant look that blazed in the Showman-Sport’s eyes as Gentleman George went from the roomlin hischarge. ’-~ \ On the stair-why, however, the Show— man-Sport sto" ped su‘ddenly “and fell: \ , . against the we. l., , with the movement came the fear that the man, was playinghis lastidesperate cards-that the call was death’s own. In another instant the sport pitched headlong down the flight and landed in‘ the semi-darkness at the foot with} sickening thud. ‘, V. x _ Spangles‘ bounded to the bottom had over his prisoner, who lay on~the floor With hands clenched ‘and face deathly. white. He was‘still alive and conscious; , The detective liftedhim to his knees. " “You‘are at the end of our trail,"‘ spoke the sport. ,“ Mark ‘ anson 'has failed, no thanks to you, who was once in his trap, yet was snared. You can go, now'and trap the beauty. Tell her she need not fret about the bargain we made; f r Gentleman George is at the end of t e tether." g. y , ~. . he in the plot? " tree do: , " Floss?'was s tective demanded. , “ Why: doth Wi , '- ‘\ - tion—ihouse—a prisoner. He sent Jane to the hidden chapters of Harold Hart's life. It told the story of the old crime. We had the papers. We had every card in our hands at one time, and but for you and your cunning—curse you, Cyrus Spangles—you would not be here at the end of the path.” The detective tumed for a moment, for footsteps sounded beyond the door. “ It isn’t Jane, for she has gone to warn Floss. 'ha! ha!" laughed the Showman— Sport. - Spangles opened the door, but no one was there, though sounds of footsteps P he surely had heard. “ You sent Jane to Floss?” he de- manded. - “I did, and you will find the nest 9:? empty and everything destroyed.” “ Then," cried Spangles, “ you shall not ' die here!” ' 4,5,, He dragged the almost inanimate man ' from the house, and, as chance would ' have it, a passing cab was hailed. Every moment was precious now, and Spangles fairly tumbled Farrell into the vehicle, closed the door after them and gave hurried commands. At the police station Gentleman George gasped like one nearly gone, but the po- lice surgeon gave hlm new life, and in a short time he was on the mend, bit— . “V terly cursing his failure to take his own ’ ” life. Meantime the detective had left the station and was hastening. toward an» other part of the city. It did not take him long to run up the ,V front steps of Harold Hart’s late resi- ‘dence, and to enter by the unlockedVdoor. If Jane had warned Floss, and she had had plenty‘of time, the nest would be i, found empty—the bird flown! \V V Spangles heard a slight noise on the main staircase as he closed the door,‘ and a figure appeared on the stairway. above him. I It was Floss. She wasiooming down placidly as if" she had not played a dar-’ ing hand 'Within the last few hours. _ At the foot of the stairs she stripped and fixed her gaze upon the intruder. r “ Well, Mr. Spangles, what is it? ” she . ‘- quietly asked. a a ' For reply, Spangles opened the door ' leading into the library and motioned: the girl to enter‘, which she did at once. , There was nothing in her demeanorto‘ indicate that anything out of ‘the ordi-_«,Q nary had taken place, and when in: . -. library sh turned upon Spangles, as f for an ex lanation. “ , I “It; is all over with Farrell,” he ins-V; formed her. :‘j The man has told the story:~ “ of the past and I have him at the sta~ " warn you, but-——" i, .. “I dismissed the woman ten minutes“? ago!" interrupted‘Floss. 4"‘1 won have words with her. 1, locked a door: ' _. in her face, for I‘ never fancied her.” , "She came to warnyou, miss." “ Against whom? ” ‘ r "against me." ‘ c. l A smile for a second see 5 mod to give; some color to gthe woman's face, but it 1 Quickly vanished. ' ' ‘ 1 ..."I would. not be warned creature,” she went on. " _ ,rell came to this house the 1': double crime. It itch“ cenfoss‘od,” should ‘I keep me She had taken ‘aohair ’ :the V V the middle 0f the room, and'hsr face whgg tamed full upon the wary and attentive ;, a ferret. ' ~ ' He dine after om Nathan unlined; You found: him, you know, in t‘ho's‘iosl .safe'oveg- there. He came‘toi», , Hart with a threatxand a well ~in " game, but. my guardian wouldnot, him get the best of him, so Moneybox went into the safe‘anda ,Hanmhts death. I saw 1min” ‘ a ‘ 'f‘ilYeu, miss?" ’ . ' ,,‘ “‘ Ail!” answered Floss, wally. I, the: attack, and, the incarceration. "It .1, “starter that that Farrell ind: ‘ ..‘\ . . I ‘ 1”" 4 H 4 ,G‘léfiflem'ah’lG-éo .i—v , I 3 it? rge,‘ the shamahggPM. l “No; to kill him outrig t.” ‘ She was not the least ex ted. l 1‘ You saw that, too?” l “ Never mind; you can’t use me as a} witness here. I knew he was 'here,} though.” i “ So did Nevis." v “ Perhaps,” haughtily. “ I am not dealing with. what my maid knows. This l man George Farrell-Gentleman George -knew as much of Harold Hart's past: as did Nathan Moneybox. Just what passed between them in this room he must reveal." _ “But you did not interfere, miss? ” "I withheld my' hand,” replied the , girl. “ Why, don’t you see I was in dan er of losing all I had lived for? .Nat an had a will made; he had also written out that part of his life in which he lost wife and child—~the child, a boy, stolen by an enemyand liable to rise and plague me one of these days. That I was the life I led, living in Tim shadow of an ever-present fear. Would I not stay my hand, no matter what was hap- pening in this room? 'l‘ho' heir might appear to ruin me. I was liable to walk from this house a beggarmto pass out v ‘Xinio the streets of New York, not his I heiress, but his disinherited ward. Put yourself in my place. Live as I have lived in the shadow of this living fear and ahk‘ yourself if you: would have .stayed’youn hand with George Farrell in. this room with Harold iiart! . “Of course he had a fondness for shows; and his written life tells why. Learned off those papers, for he d'd not hide them in the safe for a wonter. I vhid them elsewhere. 'Other papers fell into Gentle ' an George‘s hamls—"‘ ‘ “But_you s, miss, you carried to the “old underground passage and secreted : them there. You left on the moveable‘ ‘ r stone the record of my end,” broke in the ferret. f I , V Flues, leaning—toward the Circus De- “? ,iteetiave, answered: ‘ I ‘ , ' fir} did. ’-I lost my head at the sun 'breme moment; I lost all my nerve. and ‘7 when I went: to kill I stoOd in’ your presence as helpless as a. child. But it- ‘ is all over. I never destroyedthe pa- « pers you took from the h le in the wall. ",zand which I afterward at 8 back. They are in the safe yonder.“ The combipatlon ,9 is'the same.” . ; _ l '7, {1.13m Gamer Goldstar, miss?” oueo, ,' fled Spangies.‘ “This man has :had {a wheel! in, the game.” ' " _ . . .--'.»“*Wl‘1at, have they found him?" do: Flirts. “ Did I not finish human: carriage? or Will the wretch live over ‘the’;,llttle choking I gave him on. the gills home? Tell me! ” she urged. ‘ ‘ vyhfingles, who knew nothing of the in— tuit. answered: ' , ' - v He will recover to talk, I guess.” . ~ " Then. he will live to ,lie! " she cried. ‘fll don't know but that you'ought to be "pail! the reward I 'prdmised for »the;solu-. Mn? of the rmurder mystery of this ‘ ' ‘ V . ' .’ t. . A ; .- - Rho “drew from her .bosom_ a black .3théltethook and ,openeditou the dealt. .. . (taunting out a number or bills‘of large J'aafi'qmmauom, she threw “the whale at. £111!i detective with a little laugh, ,. . Hist you yourself haversolvedeit long do ’3: he aver-red; pr‘otesimgly. . Y‘Eut I, would not! YOu fliers, had more ‘ “6% narrow escape: I. ‘ lost. I tool that 1 was! You hlnfiat the» ” “gm of the boy. Let'me 331‘: kings ’ u «‘4 d‘rwmn” him?’.’ 3 ' § complete surrender . Joefqund a‘ Wife “The dead cannot solve that mys— tery.” ' ‘ Floss rose and stood like a statue be- fore the stern shadower, her face mar- ble—like now in its color and eipression. She darted a look toward the door and , then one at the man of trails. Spangles seemed to interpret both. He stepped quickly to one side and placed himself between her and the door; then, with a. low cry indicative of the young woman sank back into the chair. Spanglts, the Spotter, had won! ‘ His scoop was complete! It was tho' morning of the nineteenth, and in a certain room sat .loe Vincent, staring at a steel safe, which seemed to force itself upon his notice. i The young,r acrobat had been told all, and it seemed to him that he still heard the footsteps of the tall, white-faced girl, who, after a full confession, had just vanished. He knew that he was llarold Hart‘s son and heir, the lost, child stolen bv Mark Manson, alias Gentleman George Farrell: he had read his father's will and tho sell-confcssed story of his life: his flight from Virginia after the theft of his child: his fruitless search for his boy and his loss of his wife; his rise from an humble gontility to be the millionaire of his street; his backing of Farrell and Goldstar, men whom he feared; his Visit .l'rom Nathan Moneyhm. and, finally, the admitted tragedy of the stceltscife. All this was enough to make the young, acrobat‘s head whirl. He sat at the desk in a half-dazed state. nor did he stir until the door opened. * Then he sprang to his feet» as Spangies entered the room. I I ~ .. “Ten thousand thanks, Spanglesi ” hle' cried. seizing ,the worth de‘tective’s hands, “Yen have enriched me. but at thesame time you have clouded my life. Floss—Floss, the cold-hearted--will“ go out in o the world penniless-J’ ‘ Spangles interruptedf ' 1 , ” She has gonehow! Gopher‘Goldstar is said to bedying from her assault .in the carriage, and Farrell—Gentleman yGeor'ge, the murderer—has lost nerve and ' awaits his doom. This afternoon ,Gloster Turk, to whom you (We a great deal. Joe, 4 ‘ will see‘you, and perhaps you will ave to listen to his story of your“ childhood; He may spin a chapter not " in Harold Hart’s manuscript", ' . ‘ Joe sprangacrosil the room and bent‘ overwthe. steel safe.» ‘ ‘ “-‘ I shall have this accursed thing taken . away!”'he- insisted, as he turned to his friend. “I shall. send, from the house everything- thatrreminds me as the trage- dies. and then/I shall try to live.” v " lie did all this and settled down in the placate “try to live." ashesaidl ‘ ," Gentleman George his, fato‘with. a stood deal of coolness. though a’t one time he attemptedlto shift the crime first 11an Gopher ,G'oldstar and themupon' Floss; ‘Goldstar paid a just penalty for several crimes :c’otiu‘ectérdv with thé mystery. and, g, confessed how; when lieyisiteii the scene of the crime, holdst hisvpocket—piecw- the do at (if F43. , x ,7 ‘ '- ‘ _ ih‘a'mlaidgen‘ in every. ,way worthyot him, Misti Fairy Fl he at “ Great Americana:an nose ‘assed from sight;'nevermore'*to“bl$¥ a. desper~ 'ste‘ hand in"a'xame,._to}. ‘ old end position, v . , , , ,. S, , , . , Needless to* sayggjalqgo, that “Buttons. , ,. himself: ,8. _ , r .1 v. ‘ cum from thqih " ' “Ward” “30" 9‘ Hamid 15“" it, magnet.lioanglesfigteshis’present'amo the “t \ ‘ him} as a map-,leuth-tfrom'the ‘d ubieijmystM-y. {thought so! - Wonit you brfiin _ ? "What is balms: Mr. Spengler... gerarold» Hart’s peaked face and his 1* W899?“ 1v " f 1. x7." - a _, 'e ;has"hiisa,fa«thor’s eych .Wev call .k if”), a .1» L I. -, ' - NW.§‘§%%‘3‘3¥*93’;;NW¥W airtime house’og ms literal safe. . .. .1 x if: , .‘ ENE“ ; '- _,‘ ‘w 1 . . j .e » amen-15km: ‘ .nj. paging-r; answer .3 i . lot f" - .. $5. I "am BUFFALO Bum. NOVELS. By Colonel Prentiss lngrahnm. Bufi'alo Bill‘s Quandary: or. Velvet Bill‘s Vow. Buifalo Bill and the Surgeon-Scout. llulfalo Bill’s League: or, Red Butterfly. lluti’alo Bill's Tangled Trail. Bull‘an Bill’s Rough Riders. Buffalo Bill‘s Secret Ally. Buffalo Bill’s Life-Stake. 'l‘hc Ther Bills: Buffalo Bill Wild Bill and Band- bi x lzill: or. The Bravo in Broadcloth. Buifalo l ili‘s Buckskin Braves. Buffalo Bill‘s Road-Agent Round-up. Buffalo Bill’s Dea'h Charm. W Buffalo Bill‘s R0) 111 Flush. 831 li'lll’alo Bill‘s loubie Dilemma. 845 Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Ruse. ‘ 8 Buffalo lliil‘s Bors in Blue. 526 liufla lfill‘s Shar ) Shooters. 82: Ruth 0 lTill‘s Best l (r. Slli Buffalo Bi l‘s Red Tral. ‘ Buffalo Bill’s Death—Knee". » Buffalo Bill‘s Winning Hand. Buffalo Bill’s lleml Shot. Buffalo Bill‘s Brand. " Bui’tall Bill's S )y Shadowcr. ’. Buffalo Bill‘s .‘n'lepstukc. ' U t’falo l‘liil‘s Ill-zen: or, Silk Ribbon Sam. Buffalo Bill‘s Maseru. ;‘ Hull“an Bill‘s Double. Buffalo Bill's Flu Fl ur;or, ("uster‘s Shadow. llull’alo llill‘s Flush Hand. liull’n-J i:ill's lllnd: or. The Masked .lli‘lW‘l" 7'35 Buffalo iiill :m‘ His Merry M. n. 7.51 Bull. lo i ill's l’cae cs: or, Sill. Lasso Sum. 1‘37 liufl'a'o l in s l 0va Guan‘l. l l 921 9r 90%; I 904 900 H9! sec 88:"! 87 i r 869 so; p‘ v ~— \ - ’ Hum 0 Bill on t] e W r- lath. lll llulfalo I i 1's :- -ou' Slim owers. Buffalo Bill Lu iv d: or. T) c l (-sl-rtcr De.-perado. Gil? Buffalo l ill's Ill Cimkill Hl‘Ofllerlmmi, 6‘11 ufl'afo Hill’s l limi 'l‘railzor. Mustang M (120. ,' 'lui‘falo ill-l‘s H- oopzur. The King of the 1358 The Cow!) v Clan: n". The ’l‘igress of 'lexas. -. 5 ‘4 6“ Buffalo Bill’s i war 28 ; or Si vcrl‘ircle Knights. 36:! Bufl’alo Hill's Grim or (mill Bound") (luster. 329 Buffalo Bill‘s-Pledge: or. The League of Three. 1'49 iiri Billis Gold Trail; or. The llcsprrute Dom-n. 175 Wild Bill’s Trump Card: or. The indian Heiress. 168 Wild Bill. the Pistol Dead Shot. By Bull‘qu um. 939 The Ranch King Dead-Shot. 820 White Beaver ’s Still Hum. l 3507 ihl Bill, the Wild WHY; Duelist. ; Sill.) Wild Bill. the D: an (‘cnmr Shot. 3 “39 Buffalo Bill's Gold Ring. ‘ 599 The Dead Shot Moo: or. My Pards of the Plains. All Red Renard. the iner Detectilre. 401 Clue-Armed Para; or, Borderland. Retribution. 397 The Wizard Brot hers: or. White Burner a Trail. 894 White aver. the Exile of the Platte. 319 Wild Bi . the \\ hll‘h lid of the West. 304 Texas Jacinthe Prai e‘Rattler. 8‘3 Gold Bullet Snort: or. .353 Death-Trailer. theCmet of Serum. . ' : ‘ ‘ -." > “ 8y Leon new"; nod Donahue, ole. ’ m Rn’s'na :m‘ m maximum. use 3mm sec’l-t ée‘rvicsé ms. 629 Hill‘s Daripfirtioie; 0". Donal!th Dick. ‘51? i'l s! F‘irstx ‘11; 'or. The Express Rider; 158‘ ll, Ohio! I f Scouts. ' l 117' Buflaip‘ Bill a Stmnlre Pard- or, Dashing Dandy- \ 9:3“Buflolo Bill. the Buckskin King. av HAROLD PAYNE. 883 .The Man from Mexico in New York; 872 The King-Pin Shark: or. Thad Burr‘s Ten Strike. 1 The Tenderloin Four . ‘5 The Quaker (‘ity 00k. 844 Tracked to Chicago. r's Bllild. 880 The Policy Bro 899 ~ I d r’sCoolHand., The Frisc gg :Rle Sham S ,m-r‘s Shi'er heme. : . 0 Grand meet Gold-Dust Sharpen. ,‘ M‘Derectivc Burr’s Lunwlchilnmv' ‘ ’ 33? $32.37? “if: 5%“ 3”“ i \ rr‘s a s l . . i V 742 Detective Burr Whirbe New York Thugs. . 1, «We Butr‘s 38011291,. A \\ omtn‘s Strategy. ' Deteot'v t Run the , . rum-s Spools .v 718 [hicctive Burr s Sp , . _ 706 Del cl.in Burt‘s some» use. _ 098 Thad llm'r. ,theimtpqible: ‘01‘. The “ L ” Clue. 699 The)“ ' lei! Detectives. . ‘ 080 XX: the“, all ‘E‘ieat: or._~3urr 3 Master Case. = x, I ~ .. :1;an ems: , nkptrGlor Gui-ii: V ; mowing. ‘ "it: ill and! By Wm. = ‘ ‘ans'rjssum. i ' “ Bill‘s min: ' ‘ f _ ‘ ol.'P;Imrmhnm.or’ my?) a]? sport. ~.hsa’ l5: mbt‘Mhlea; the ;, ‘ 1:. The ' -Le lgue y-Out. By J. E; Badger. Gentleman. ‘ " ~0éoméi-‘lkuvshowmanvs .n;.or..‘ " r “ lines. ' v limiter Spengler 8099!). ' By Gapt. a; .. (fiasco-1km wm-tWalM;, ' ’x t; Beadle’s Dime Library} $53 Less» King‘s ljrasruezor. Buck Taylnrin Texsa.C 649 Butfalo Bill‘s (Yhicl'cf Cowboys: or. Book Taylor - 243 The Piigl-im Sharp: or. The Soldier's Sweetheart. ‘ Knights of the Overland. . M [be Tramp Slle-Wo‘r‘fi Back 1‘. x I , é." .0119 in. I g‘m‘Vflox-don‘s o - r ‘ . l , l'l ; .. .. . , ow.» orkfiwell. By“Al€enqlV. Pienghadowe‘l! v ‘ " oleokiyeot Flt‘. Louis; on ' it“ " 1' ' . e f , ' t ‘ ‘ ,' Charlie'k‘nouhirq or, 7}, v _ .L ' Col. P.Jug1'aham.= 8 01d in“??? - I, 98) ' ' .