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3

The Dandy Detective.

 

The Dandy Detective;

The Abducted Boy Mystery.

BY CHARLES MORRIS,

AUTHOR or“ BOB aocxmr,” “FRED HALYARD,”
“WILL WILDFIRE," are, ETC.

CHAPTER I.
A DOUBLE CAPTURE.

IT was a handsome man and a beautiful wo-
man who walked side by side in the dusk of a
May evening, along a lonely street in the sub—
urbs of Philadelphia.

Hers was one of those soft, pearl and rose
tinged faces, which one sees oftcner in the work
of the artist than in real life. She was dressed
in simple costume, but her robe hung about
her delicate form with a grace which no costly
attire could have emulated. It was of a soft,
amber tint, which comported well with the tone
of her com lexion.

The gent eman seemed to be somewhat of an
exquisite in his dress, and in the curl of his long
mustache, and the dainty cane which he twirle
lightly as he walked. Yet there was something
resolute in his handsome face, and his spriugy
form indicated agilit and strength, as he trod
li htly by the side 0 his beautiful companion.

hey had been conversing in a tone of gossipy
lightness, laughing merril now and then at
some amusing remark. at, as the evening
deepened, and the avenue became deserted, they
fell into a more serious strain of talk.

It is hardly correct. however, to speak of the
avenue as deserted. There were several persons
on it, yet, whose attention seemed closely di-
rected to this unconscious couple. One of these
was a stout, whiskered man, who louiigcd qui—
etly along at no great distance behind them.
On the other side of the street, in the shadow of
ahedge which bordered the grounds of a fine
mansion. was a group of men, who seemed as if
anxious to conceal themselves from the notice of
the others.

EVidentl there was some game afloat that
would needy time for its development.

But the gentleman and lady seemed heedless
or unaware of this surveillance. Their tones
sunk lower as they continued to talk, but not
from any fear of being overheard.

“I cannot,” she earnestly said, in reply to
some remark of his. “ I hope you Will not ask
me a rain. There are reasons.”

“ here are dozens of reasons why you should,”
he answered. “ I do not know what queer idea
you have of keeping faith with a gang of vil—
lains. But, think of the sorrow in that deso-
late household' of the anguish of those poor
parents; and of all the pain and trouble this has
caused. Will you put against all this some
foolish notion of keeping faith with a set of cut-
throats?”

“ No, no!” she cried hastily. “ It is not that!
It is not that! I dare not speak! And I could
not if I would. I do not know what you want
to discover.”

 

 

“ You know more than on are willing to ad-
mit,” was his stern and co d rejoinder.

“Very well, sir," she angrily replied. “ Yet
I did not expect, after all t at has passed, to be
insulted by you in return.” Then, with a sud-
den change of manner, she continued. “ Here.
here! This is my only link with them! Take
it! take it! I cut loose from all connection with
tllelny.’ You may have all the good you can find
in it.

She hastily removed a ring from her finger
and thrust it nervously into his hand.

“ If I could only cut loose from all the past as
easily,” she continued. “ Guard it well. I
dare say nothing more, but it may aid you in
your search.”

He looked curiously at the small golden cir-
clct that lay in his palm. What there could be
in this ring, whose minute sea], as he could see
by the dim light, bore a strange device, he could
not imagine.

“ Conceal it!” she nervously cried. “ You
are upon a perilous )ath, where a thousand
dangers ma lurk. hat signet may hel you
in some critical peril. You do not know w at a
risk I run in giving it to you. Do not lose it,
for your life!”

His eyes were fixed coldly upon the ring.

_ There was something inere ulous in his expres-
SlOll.

“ If you really put yourself in den erb this "
he quietly answered, “do you imagine )that ’I
will take it from you? It is an empty bauble
to me. It of use to you keep it."

“ I will not!" she passionately replied. “ The
race I ,spring from is one that never takes back
a rit't.

‘ Well, if you will have it so,” he indifl’erent-
ly replied, as he dropped the ring into his vest
pocket. “_But do not fancy that I am to be
satisfied With a mystery like this, Lucille. You
must and shall say more."

“ Must and shall are stron words, sir." She
drew herself up to her full ialight, and stood in
the path beside him, her nostrils dilated with
pride a flash of defiance in her eyes.

“ Must and shall, I repeat!" he angrily re-
sponded, seizing her wrist in his strong 'pe,
and looking into her face with a gaze 0 un-
flinching resolution. .

“ Unhand me, sir!”

She endeavored to wrench her wrist from his
grasp, but she could as well have torn it loose
from an iron fetter. His angry impulse lasted
but a second, however, and then he released her
himself, with a sense of shame upon his well-
cut features.

A laugh of scorn broke from her lips.

“ Did you for a moment imagine that what I
would not tell you freely you could force from
me by violence?” she bitterly asked. “ I see
you did not know me. Return my ring, sir. I
prefer to keep it myself.”

He made no answer, but drew a handkerchief
from his pocket, With. which he wiped his lips.
With the cane in his right hand he slowly traced
lines in the path on which he stood.

At this moment the man who lurked behind
them started quickly forward, almost as if he
had taken the handkerchief as a signal.

In a minute he was beside them. They

 

 

The Dandy Detective. 3

 

turned at the crunching of his feet on the gravel
of the walk. and saw through the gathering
dusk the outlines of a portly, whiskered man,
with a face of resolute force.

“ You are Mr. David Darnly?” he said, in a
questioning tone.

“ That is in name ” was the quiet answer.

“ And this is ucille Ernestine?”

“ Precisely. d what now i”

“ Simply that you are both in prisoners,"
and be laid a firm hand on the shou der of each.

“ Ha i” cried Mr. Darnly, flinging off his grasp
and starting angrily back. “ How dare you,
sirrah? What is your authority for this out-
rage? Unhand that ladv, or by Heaven I will
make you bitterly rue it!"

“ I arrest on as accessories in the abduction
of Clarence horndike,” was the firm and cold
response. “ M authority is that of a member
of the Philade phia detective force. You had
best ’come quie ly, my man, for I mean busi-

“What if I refuse to be arrested on such a
charge?’

“ We have means of persuasion,” returned the
officer. “ If you refuse a minute longer, my
man, I will put the darbies on you and take you
into town in that fashion.”

_ Alaugh of amusement broke from Darnly’s

IPS-

“ You are a true policeman,” he said. “ Come,
we will go with you. It is a ridiculous business
all through, but I su pose you are only doing
your duty. Come, iss Ernestine, we must
accompany this honest gentleman, it eems.”

Had the lady been looking towam them she
might have detected a look of intelligence be-
tween Mr. Darnly and the officer. But it passed
unobserved by her, and she nervously took the
arm he proffered her, with a trembling lip and
a dee pallor upon her beautiful face.

“ {ou will not need to walk far,” said the
omcer. “ I have a. carriage waiting in the next
street. I knew your ways, you perceive, and
prepared for you."

A faint gasp came from Lucille’s lips. Darn-
ly turned, with a look in his face as if he was
inclined to strike the burly officer.

“ No. no!" she cried, clinging to his arm.
“ We will go with him! We must i”

A peculiar sense of pleasure shot through
Darn y’s breast. There was something in her
tone as it was for him she feared, not for her-
self. Had the woman’s heart then turned to
him as he had wished it might, half dreaded it
won d?

But at this moment there was a sudden quick
rush. The men who had been lurking in the
shadow of the hedge across the road had broken
loose from their covert, and ran quickly toward
the group of the detective and his prisoners.

The sound of their feet had not been audible
at first in the soft earth. They were nearly
upon them before they were observed. Then
the officer hastily turned and made an effort to
draw his pistol. But before he could do so he
was grasped by strong hands, and flung roughly
to the ground.

He was not stunned, however, and the sound
of a shrill whistle rung through the air, as he
put a. small inst. went to his lips.

 

“ Hal Burst that hound’s hrainpanl” cried a
stegn voice. “ He will bring the cops down on
us.

A blow with the butt of a pistol answered this
order, and left the unlucky officer insensible
upon the path.

Meantime Miss Ernestine had been rudely
seized, a quick scream coming from her lips as
she strove to escape from the bands which had
grasped her. Another of the attacking group
caught Darnly by the collar. But be, for one,
reckoned without his host. For, with a quick
movement, Dai'nly grasped his assailer by the
breast and tripped up his heels, dropping him
with a heavy thud on the path beside im. At
the same instant he leaped upon the man that
held Lucille and struck straight and strong at
his face. No one would have looked for any
great strength in the rather slender form of the
young gentleman, yet the burly fellow went
down before him as if he had been struck by a
pile-driver.

“ Villains!” he exclaimed, facing the other
two. “ How dare you attack this lady? I will
protect her with my life i"

The two men drew back a little. It was not
safe to approach fists so prompt and strong as
his had proved to be.

But at this moment Lucille caught hisarm
with nervous dread. Ere lie Could release him-
self the two men were upon him, and the one
he had first tripped rose from the ground and
seized his free arm from behind.

The odds were too great. In less than a min-
ute after the first assault he was a prisoner in
their hands, his wrists firmly bound in a air of
light handcuffs which had been quickly slipped
upon them.

“The carriage!" came in the quick tones of
the leader of the assailin party. “There are
footsteps. That fool’s w istle has given the
alarm. Hurr to the carriage! It is just round
the corner. e must thank our friend. the
officer, for being so kind as to provide it.”

The two prisoners in these new and strange
hands were forced rapidly forward. Mr. Dam-
ly made a moment’s resistance, and was about
to cry for help, when he felt the cold ring of a
pistol-barrel pressed upon his temple.

“ A word, and you are a dead man I” came in
harsh accents. “ Do you fancy that we are the
sort of men to be played with? And you, my
lady—you know us well enough to know the
value of a still tongue just now. ’

Lucille looked ready to faint as she was hur-
ried forward. She evidently feared some terri-
ble result from this capture. The arrest b the
officer had brought no such deathly pal or to
her face as now gave her lips their ashy white-

ness.
But Darnly’s face was stern, cold and reso-
lute. He was one of those men whose hidden
ualities are called forth by stress of peri.
oppish as he seemed in his dress and ordina ‘
bearing, there was no trace of fear upon [I]?
countenance. He stepped into the carrl
when it was brought up as lightlly as though e
was going out for an evening's easure.
“Quick!” cried the leader. ‘ Here come the
cons! Drive like John!"
2:. "mi “nether Lad thtcltd the tuiiiagc with

l
s

   
 
 
   
   
  
   
  
   
   
 
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
 
   
    
     
   
  
  
  
   
  
    
  
  
 
 
   
   
  
  

«

 
  
  

i Dave,” he said.

4

 

The Dandy Detective.

 

 

theirprisoners. The remaining two leaped up-
on the box. The shrill sound of a policeman’s
rattle rung behind them as they grasped the
reins and plied the horses with the whip.

“ Stopl’ came in an authoritative to ne, as th
horses sprung into full speed.

A mocking laugh was the only res onse. A
sharp crack, and a pistol-bullet ass through
the rim of the driver’s hat. ut he and his
companion only stooged lower, and plied the
whip more keenly. T e furious horses sprung
forward, and the carriage disappeared in the
gathering darkness of the night.

' There were half a dozen men in the group

' which had hastily gathered.

“Here lies a chap,” cried one of them, “ dead
or senseless.”
- “ He is not dead, at any rate,” replied an-
other, as the discomflted officer moved uneasily
gave vent to a hollow groan. He was com-

 ing back to his senses.

 

CHAPTER II.
TOM PARSON’S s'roav.
“ BY the seven saints but it wasa narrow
ueak. The fellow has a cast-iron hand, and
if he’d struck with a heavier weapon it would
I have been all day with Tom Parsons.”
The Speaker was the burly oflicer who had

I, been dropped by a pistol stock the night before.

gave a sour grimace as he rubbed the sore
spot on his head.”
“ He struck hard, then?”
“ Hard? You bet. A premium mule couldn’t

: have kicked harder.”

His companion laughed.
“ But this is a devilish awkward job about
“ What does it mean, anyhow?
Who were those chaps, and what was their ob-
ject in capturing Dave and the girl?”
“ You’ve got me there,” answered Tom.
, “ There’s something mysterious about the whole
business. The villains must have smelt out our
. game, and played trump on us before we could
call in our tricks. But if they don’t find that

j they’ve caughta hornet in Dave Darnly, then
i I’m no judge of horse-flesh."

The two speakers were in an office of the
central police station of Philadelphia, Tom Par-
sons’s companion being a good- coking, finely
built fellow who held the position of lieutenant
of lice. He was known throughout the force
as ieutenant Hill, of the Reserves.

“ You think that they are the child-stealers?”
he asked.

“ I am sure of it.”

“ Then Mr. Thorndike had better be posted at
once. He knows of our pro'ect. We must let
him know of its failure. ake your hat, and
run out there at once, Tom. We must try and
hunt 'i'ip Dave, and he may suggest something.

v He is wide-awake, and has given some good

Whine before now.”
om hastened to comply with this advice,
and in a few minutes had left the office.

The residence of Mr. Allen Thorndike, to

h' ’which he was making his way, was a very

handsome mansion situated out of the closely
. built mrtion of the city, and surrounded by

beau y kept and ornamen ounds.

; 0n the morning in question its richly fur-

A .

 

nished parlor was new ied by Mr. Thorndike,
a gentleman of some orty years of age, his
wife, a handsome middle-aged lady, and his
daughter, a beautiful girl of about seventeen.

But despite the cheerful aspect of the room,
there seemed a dark cloud upon all present.
Mrs. Thorndike looked as if some sorrow had
added twenty years to her e, while an ex-
pression of settled. gloom dwe t upon her hus-
band’s face.

“ It is now more than a year,” he sadly said.
“I thought we would grow more resigned with
time, yet every new day seems only to make
our loss heavier.”

“ But he will—he must come back, Allen!”
answered his wife, in a laintive accent. f‘ They
could not have had the ieart to injure him, our
darlin son!”

Mr. horndike gravely shook his head.

“ 0h! do not do that, papa!” cried the young
lady, springing up and clasping his arm.
“ Clarence must be ound. He cannot be dead!
You have heard nothing more? No bad news!”

“No, my dear ” he relplied, drawing her to
him, and kissing her. “ t is only the long wait-
ing, and the hope deferred, that troubles me. In
fact the police think they have found a clew
but I put no faith in it. I have been deceiv
too often to trust them any longer."

" Oh, papal and you have not s ken of it!”
cried the girl reproachfully. “Do 11 us. You
know we have so little hope.”

But ere he could answer her, aloud peal at
the bell startled them all.

The visitor proved to be the burly officer
Tom Parsons, who was ushered into the rlor.
Mr. Thorndike asking his wife and dang fer to
remain when he found who it was.

“ I am glad to see on,” he said, with a calm
politeness which poor y concealed his repressed
eagerness. “ This is my wife and daughter, Mr.
Parsons. If you have any news you may speak
before them.” _

“ But if it be bad news?" ueried Tom.

“ Bad or good," said Mrs. horndike, in a tone
of nervous dread. “We have borne so much
we can hear anything now.”

“ It is both bad and good," answered Tom, as
he took the comfortable seat offered him. “ I’ve
a strong notion your son is still alive, Mrs.
Thorndike."

" Thank Heaven for that l” exclaimed the sad-
faced mother with clasped hands.

“ But whether we are likely to recover him or
not is another question. Shall I tell you the
whole story, as far as it has gone?”

“ Yes, yes!” The three drew closer to him,
their eyes fixed hopefully upon his face.

“ Well then it comes to this,” began Tom, flx—
ing himself comfortably in his chair. “ .
Thorndike knows Bart of the story, but I may
as well be 'n at t e beginning. One of ours,
handsome ave Darnly, or Dead
boys call him, struck a clew whic he has been
following like a hound after a deer. There is a

irl in it. She took a fancy to Dave’s handsome
ace. I don’t know if it was just what folks
cull falling in love, but it hadablinking that

we .
“7 Anyhow, Dave cultivated hen—That’s what
we call it at the office,” he added in an apolo-

Dave, as the

  

‘ I“ Magi 

.’.H. ..

“4.:5‘x ,.

was”;

        
 

 

The Dandy Detective. 3

 

getic tone. “ It wasn’t long before he found
that there was a big cat in the bag. In short,
be pumped it out of her that she was some way
mixed in with this gang of childstealers. Dave
pumped away, but she didn’t pan out worth a
cent. 80 we made a little plan to arrest her
and try to scare the truth out. We were to ar-
rest the pair of them, in fact, for between us,
she didn’t know the lay that Dave was on. She
thinks he’s a young gentleman of leisure. So
we thou ht, by playing on her fancy for him,
she mig t shell out the whole story to get him
out of rison, even if she wouldn’t blow a word
to save erself.”

“ It wasn’t a very creditable business for your
friend, Mr. Darnly,” said Mrs. Thorndike.

“ Do you know, Dave looked at it that some
way,” answered Tom. “ We had the confound—
edest trouble to get him into it. Anyhow, last
night was the time fixed for the fun. Dawn
Wanted to give her another trial, and if that fell
through he was to wave his handkerchief, and I
was to step up and arrest them.”

“ So far I know the story,” broke in Mr.
Thorndike. “ But what followed?”

“ It come out according to programme. But
there was another act in the play that wasn’t
on the bills. I had no sooner gone through the
little farce of making the arrest, before up come
a party of men, dropped me With a knock on
the brain-pan that came nigh to cracking my
skull, and snatched and made off with Dave
and the girl both. Dave is handy with his fists,
and he slathered them around promiscuously for
a minute or two. So say some who were com-
ing 11 to the rescue. But they were too strong
for him, and they carried off the pair of them
in the carriage which I had provided, consarn
their impudent pictures.”

“ Is that all, Mr. Parsons?”

“ That’s all up to this present writing,” an-
swered Tom, “ and I’ve a notion it’s about
enough for Dandy Dave. He’s in an outrageous
tight scra , and not a soul of us knows where
he is or w at step to take next.”

“ l§ut what do you understand from all this?”
asked Miss Thorndike, her young face aglow
with hope and excitement. “ Do you really
think that my little brother is yet alive?”

“ I haven't no doubt of it, miss,” rejoined Tom,
confidently. “It stands to reason. This gang
knew that Miss Ernestine—that’s the girl‘s name
—-was ted in their doings. Whether they
knew ave’s business I can't say, but they
naturally rew su icious when they saw him
getting so t ick wit the young lad . To give
it all in a nut-shell it’s ¥ust this:— hey’ve got
the boy still in their c utches; they calculated
that the girl had blowed on them; and they’re

oing to make it hot work for the young man
Eefore he gets out of their hands. I wouldn’t
give a pint of peanuts for his life.”

“But in son still lives!" cried Mrs. Thorn-
dike. with Joyful hope. “ My son still lives!"

“ Perhaps he does, ma’am,” answered Tom,
rising with a scornful expression on his features.
“ If you’re going to put a six—year-old kid in
com tition with a diamond of the first water
like ave Darnly, I’ve got nothing more to say.
However, I suppose it’s nature. You mustn’t
mind me, ma’air; but I value Handsome Dave

 

more. than a streetful of youn sters. That’s
about all. You’ll please keep al this to your-
selves. We will report progress if there’s any-
thin new turns up.”

“ on are not going already?” asked Mr.
Thorndike.

“ch. But I’d like to have a minute’s pri-
vate chat with you first, if the ladies don’t think
it’s bad manners.”

“ Of course,” answered the gentleman with a
smile. “ Come out front. We will take a stroll
through the garden walk.”

Tom clasped his dusty hat awkwardly under
his arm, made a low bow to the ladies, which
he intended tobe very graceful, and followed
Mr. Thorndike out.

They walked together up and down its green
and bush-lined walks, inhaling the sweet fra-
grance which rose from its flowery expanse.

“ It’s not always best to tell everything be-
fore the women you know,”beran Tom, with
a significant look. “ And particular when it
concerns themselves."

“I fancy the whole affair concerns them,”
replied Mr. Thorndike.

“Yes. But not in this particular way. For
instance, I don’t want to be impudent, but isn’t
there a young fellow coming to see your daugh-
ter?”

“ Suppose there is?” answered the gentleman,
half angrily. “ What has that to do with your
business?”

“It might have a jugful ” answered Tom,
mysteriously. “ I’m talking from the card, Mr.
Thorndike so you mustn‘t get on your ear for
anything I say. It isn‘t that I’ve got anything
against Will Masters, which I believe is his
name. But I’m told that his folks don’t just
approve his coming to see Miss Kate.”

“His father and I are not friends,” re lied
Mr. Thorndike, coldly. “But asI have not ing
against the boy I don’t meddle with him. He
is a fine young fellow, I believe. ”

“What’s the trouble between you and his
father?” asked ’l‘om.

“ That I decline to tell,” was the cold reply.

“You think I’m pumping, now, I sup 056,”
and Tom knowingly shrugged his shou ders.
“ But there’s no use to be asking questions so
long as I know the whole business. He don’t
like you because he loved your wife, and you
stepped in and cut him out from her. He hates
you for that, Allen Thorndike,” continued Tom,
imgessively. “ He hates you, and when Bentr
ly asters hates a man, that man is in danger.”

“What do you mean?" cried Mr. Thorndike,
turning upon him suddenly.

“ I mean that he has never forgiven you for
marrying Alice Linton. I mean that he is re-
vengeful toward you. That is all I mean. I do
not mean to say that he had a hand in stealing
your son, for I do not know that he bad. But
I certainly sus ect him.”

Mr. Thorndi e stood in deep silence, slowly
grinding the grass beneath his feet, while a
strange look came upon his face.

“ I cannot believe this,” he at length said.

“We detectives deal in theories,” answered
the officer. “ But sometimes facts come out of
theories. This is only a theory, so far. Keep
deathly silent on it. If it turns outafact it

 

  

 

8 The Dandy Detective.

 

willbe time enough to take off the embargo
from your tongue. It’s not exactly my idea.
It’s one of Dandy Dave’s pets. But he don’t
often go wrong in his notions.”

“ Shall I interfere with the visits of the young
man to my house?"

“ No, on your life, no! We mu~t not show
our hand in any direction. till we are ready to
strike, and then strike hard. That’s our rule,
Mr. Thorndike. Good-day, sir.”

The gentleman stood long in musin con-
templation after his visitor had left. e had
gained new food for thought.

 

CHAPTER III.
THE PRICE or LIBERTY.

WE left Dave Darnly in a carria e with the
men who had just captured him. e next find
him inaprison-like room to which these men
had consi ned him. It was a narrow 3. art-
ment, wit but asingle window, and this igh
up in the wall. This aperture was not grated,
or otherwise secured, but he had already dis-
covered from it that he was at the top of a
high house, and some thirty or forty feet from
the ground. There was nothing in the room
which could be made to serve as a rope by
which to descend from the window, so that es—
cape by that avenue was cut off. As for the
door it was of thick oak, and firmly locked. He
was a close prisoner.

He rew more and more impatient as he
walk restlessly from end to end of the room.
His wrists had been relieved from the hand-
cuffs, but in that room, bare of furniture except
a. single chair, his free hands were useless to

1m.

“It’s their deal in the game now, I suppose ”
he muttered. “But they (1 best stock the cards
well while they’ve got them in hand. The ’ve
got no fool to play with, I can promise t em
that. And if I’m not even with the whole gan
before this business is ended, then you can call
me an empt -brained to in earnest.”

He pans in his res ess Walk and listened.
His quick ear had caught some sound through
the closed door. A minute afterward he heard
the rattle of a key, followed by the click of the
{locki The door was pushed open by a strong

an .

The prisoner stood with one hand resting upon
the hack of his chair, his eyes keenly directed
toward the door. Its opening revealed the
form of a tall, thick-set man neatly dressed,
but with his face hidden b a c ose mask, except
til); mouth and the firm y-rounded whiskered
c n.

“ I am glad to see you,” said the prisoner sar-
castically, “ whatthere is of you to see. I’d
offer you a chair, only that furniture is scarce
hereaway. But the floor is handy, if you care
for a seat.”

He seated himself in his single chair as he
spoke, stretched out his shapely limbs, and re-
garded his visitor with as much easy assurance
as if he had been receiving in his own rooms.

A harsh smile came upon the face of the new-
comer, as he shut the door behind him.

“ You take things confoundedly cool,” he re-
marked, in a deep voice.

 

“Yes, I generally do," answered Dave, as he
twirled the ends of his long mustache between
his fingers. “But I can’t say that I feel alto—
gether at home here. The sleeping arrange—
ments are none of the best. And how do you
expect a man to get along withouta looking-
glass? I fancy my necktie is an inch out of
plumb.”

An oath came from the man’s li . .

“ Why, you em ty—headed dan y, is that all
you've got to thi of? You’ll be asking us to
provide you with a boothack next.”

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea,” remed Dave
brushing a s eck of dust with his dkerchiei
from his  y- lished shoes.

He lean ll h 1y back in his chair, and con-
tinued to twir his mustache, as he looked with
en rcilious assurance into his visitor‘s face.

he latter gave a contemptuous shrug.

“ It was worth while to trouble ourselves about
this fool of a fop,” he muttered. “The thing
has no more brains than a donkey.”

“ Thanks.” returned Dave, carelessly. “ It is
lucky I don’t brag on brains, or I mig t not rel-
ish your neat comparison.”

“I tell you what it is, my men," exclaimed
the other, angrily. “That is not what I am
here for. I believe you are more of aknave
than a fool, but you were playin with fire when
ivlou tried to pump our secrets on of that light.-

eaded girl. Did you fancy that our eyes
were shut while you were trying your game
with her?”

“ What ame?” asked Dave, innooently.

“ That what I am bound to find out. See
here my shrewd chap, do you know that we
would as lieve kill you as we would a rabbit?
Dead men tell no tales. and you’ve wormed
yourself something too deep into our secrets.
As for the girl—”

“ Well, as for the girl?” asked Dave.

“ She has turned traitor to us. We have but
one unishment for traitors. Death 1"

“ on will not dare!” cried Dave, starting

up.

“ There is nothin we will not dare,” an-
swered the man, cold y. “ What can you do to
hinder it i”

“This!” roared Dave. With a panther-like
sging he darted across the room, and in an in-
s nt had his visitor by the throat.

“ I can throttle you. you hell-hound I” he cried.
“Swear that you will not touch a hair of her
head, or by heaven! I will not leave a flutter of
life in your black carcass!”

The visitor, utterly taken by surprise, for a
moment could do nothing to defend himself.
He then attempted to draw a pistol, but Dave
wrenched it from his hand.

He pressed him against the wall and held the
pistol to his head.

“Swear!” he cried, “ or I will scatter your
brains on the floor!”

A gurgling sound came from the man’s lips.
He was blue in the face. But at this instant
the door of the room was flung open and two
men dashed in. It was but the work of a mo-
ment for them to seize the infuriated young
man, and to wrest the pistol from his p.

The next minute Dave was forced ack into
his chair, and held firmly. He breathed hard

  

  

   

 

The Dandy Detective. ‘1

 

from his exertions, but there was no sign of
flinching in the fierce glare of his eyes.

“ It is our turn now, ’ cried the released man,
furiously, his face purple with congested blood.
“ Bind him fast.”

The young man made a moment’s ineffectual
resistance, but he was quickly tied to the chair,
too firml to ‘ve him a chance to move. His
struggle but for a minute, then he yielded
to the superior force of his captors, while the old
look of disdain returned to his face.

“Death, I repeat!” cried the man, with a
harsh intonation. “Death to the traitress, and
death to you, unless you swear, by the deepest
oath, never to reveal the knowledge you have

ained.”

“If you knew as much as you profess,” an-
swered the prisoner, “you would know that
Lucille has not betrayed you. If you kill her it
will be for keeping faith with you. I have no
knowledge of your schemes, for she told me
nothing.

“ You lie 1" was the harsh reply.

“ It is'easy to insult a helpless man,” Darnly
bitterly answered. “If m hands were free
you would pay for that wor .” ’

“ How then did you know of her connection
with us? Why did you seek to gain information
from her?"

“ Not because she told anything,” he an-
swered, “ but because I surmised something.
As for your last question I an: a friend of that
poor family whose child you have stolen. If
you had the soul of a man and could see their
distress, you would not need to be asked to re-
turn their child.”

A look passed between the three men.
Dave thought that he caught an expression of
surprise in the glances that shot through the
opening in their masks. What did this mean,
he asked himself? Was he mistaken in sup-
posing that he was on the track of the child-
stealers? Was it for some other crime that
these men were banded together?

“ I do not know what you mean,” answered
the man, coldly. “ We are not child-stealers.
As for Lucille if we find that she has not really
betrayed us she may live; but we shall cer-
tainly take care to keep her away from your
pretty face, and your woman-killing ways. Are
you prepared to take the oath notto reveal what
zpu ave learned, and to desist from any further

terference with us!”

“ No!” answered Dave, boldly. “ I have
learned nothing, so that is easily settled. But,
as for binding myself for the future, I will make

no hasty en ment." ‘
“ Very well: if you will have it so," was the
cold response. ‘ Those who play with edged

tools must look to be hurt. You will not swear
not to see us in the future it we meet you face to
face; not tohear us if we shout in your ears,
nor to speak of us though we break a dozen laws
in your presence?"

‘ Never !” answered Dave. resolutely.

“ Then understand this, if you refuse the oath
we give on, I will send you abroad the mere
frame 0 a man, without eyes, ears or tongue!
That is our way of disarming our enemies.”

The captive shuddered with horror as he
heard that harsh, cold voice, and gazed upon

 

v hf.

the firm set of those lips. There was somethin
of manliness in the aspect of the speaker whic
looked as if he could not be so cruelly diaboli-
cal. The bound captive determined to brave
them ct.

“ hat answer have you? Will you swear?"

“No!” answered Dave, half fiercely.

f'cl’he three men conversed together for a min-

u .

“Bring the irons,” the leader sternly said.

One of the others left the room.

It was a moment of terrible suspense to the
risoner. Would they realigkcan'g out their
orrible threat? He would e a each oaths

rather than that. But it was his disposition not
to yield while a shadow of hope remained"

The messenger returned in a few minutes car-
r ing with him a box in which sounded the I
c ank of iron tools. The leader of the party
bent over the box and took from it a long, sharp
iron tool whoso point he tried with his finger.

He rose and approached the helpless captive.

“ Will you swear? This is your last chance."

“ N01" cried Dave, with a ring of indigna-
tion in his voice.

The leader made a Sign to the others, who at
once gras d and firmly held the head of the
captive. he sharp, crucl point approached his
eyes, He was on the point of cryin out that

he would take the oath, when a an den noise . ‘

caused him to lift again his closed lids.

The noise had been that of hasty footste s
and of the violent flin ing open of a door.
reopened eyes caught t 9 form of Lucille Ernes-
tine, who, with a look of horror and indi a-
tion upon her beautiful countenance, stood ust '
within the door, azing with distended eyes
upon the critical to lean.

“ Fiendsl” she cried.
Ah! ye shall not harm him! my love! my
Own 1’

She flew across the floor as these cries broke
from her lips, and with the strength of madness
pushed awa the men, and encucled his head
with her she tering arms. -

“If he dies we will die together! If he is
harmed, we will be harmed together!” she ex-
claimed. “ I have kept your secrets, and this
is my reward. But you shall not harm him
while I live I”

A pulse of warm jo shot through Dave’s
heart at the touch of t at encircling arm, and
of the warm cheek that lay against his. The
avowal of her love, which had been wrung from
her in the excitement of the moment, was like a
touch of balm upon his soul.

The three men stood back aghast fora mo-
ment at this interruption. Then a lookof an
shot across the face of the leader, and he c ed
in‘%lilvtli‘siltiqice:th t ddli ' 1h 1

~aringsame ngirereDrag
her awa ! Lock heru where sEe cannot inter. ,-
fere wit our work! V e will make this sweet-
heart of hers something that she Will not be
proud of.”

The. two men approached to obey this order.
She lifted her hea and looked around for a mo-
ment with the frightened eyes of a caged bird.
Then, as if with a sudden impulse, she stooped,
Emilie the open blade of a knife gleamed in her
an . I

\f

“ What would you do?’ ' '

 

    

8  The Dandy Detective.

 

Three or four guick strokes of the keen blade,
and the bonds all from the limbs of the pris-
oner. Then turning like an enr
faced the men who threatened
glittering in her hand.

“A step more,” she cried, “and one of on
will feel the point of this bladel Quick! he
road is open! One bold stroke for liberty I”

3‘: In an instant Dave obetzed. Springing from

,‘ his chair he rushed upon 9 leader of the gang,

‘ and wrenched the ironvfrom his hand. The
three men, avoiding the infuriated woman,
rushed upon him. ut backing himself against
the wall, he brandished his dangerous wea n,
and prepared to sell his life and iberty as ear-
ly as possible.

CHAPTER IV.
«we DECISIVE MOMENTS.

THE reader must accompany us for a short
time to the residence of another character of
our story, that of Bently Masters, of whom it
will be remembered that Tom Parsons spoke to
Mr. Thorndike.

This gentleman dwelt in a fine North Broad
street mansion, about which was every evidence
of wealth and elegant leisure. On the morning
of the events described in our last chapter, he
was seated in a room overlooking this broad
avenue. He held a newspaper in his hand, but,
get now, was giving little attention to its con-

nts.

ed lioness she
or, the knife

He was in form tall and rather slender, with
an inclination to stoop. His face was one of
those strange ones which it is not easy for a
physiognomist to read. Small keen gray elyes,
a large and somewhat hook , nose, thin i ,
and over all a look of decision and a sarcastic
expression, made up the generaljeatures of the
face; though there was in it a hidden some-
thing, not to be so easily solved.

Before him stood a young man of ingenuons
countenance. His features were not unlike
those of the older man, but they had a very dif-
ferent e ression, while he was as good-looking
as Mr. tars was homely. He was evidently

his son.

“ You think I had an object in it, Will,” said
Mr. Masters, in a harsh tone. “ Of course I
had. I have an obggct in ever thing I do. But
it happens now t t my obi’ect has changed.
You must cut loose from the girl.”

A deep flush came into Wil 8 young face.

“ You should not have encouraged me to visit
there, father,” he uietly replied. “ I am made
of flesh and bio like other people. Why do
you wish to use me as if I was a machine and
iwithwno more feeling than a thing made of

ron

“ Nonsense, ho . None of that with me ” re-

lied the father, arshly. “ What if you ve

ken a boy’s fancy for the girl? You will take

glfgy f’ancies as strong before you are five years
er.

“ You do not know me,” answered the young
man, in firm tones. “ I am not of that fickle na-
ture. I love Kate Thorndike, and will never
cease to love her.”

There was deep sarcasm in Mr. Masters’s
laug‘h, as he leaned back in his chair and bent
his een eyes on Will’s face.

it.

 

“ Never!” he cuttineg replied. “ What a
powerful word that is in a b0 ‘5 month. Never
means you see the nex pretty face and
hear the next sweet tongue. am ashamed of
you Will. I thought you had more experience
of t e world.”

“Never with me means never,“ rejoined W ‘.1.

“ Deuce take you for an obstinate young ras-
cal i" cried his father, with sudden anger. ‘ You
have got to cut loose from the girl, and there’s
no use for us to bandy words about it.”

“ Why must I?” asked the youth, his cheek
flushing. ‘

“ Because I say so,” was the stern response.

“ I am your son, but not our slave,” an-
swered Will, indi nantly. “ on have encour-
aged me to visit or until I have learned to love
her with my whole soul. And now, for a mere
whim, I must crush this love hi my heart. I
cannot, father.”

" By the gods, ou shall i”

“ By the gods will not i”

With this indignant outburst the fiery youth
new full of his father’s spirit, turned on his bee
andswould, hex:1 leiflt mmm.

to l or r. s rs springing to his
feet. ‘ You defy my wishes, then?”

“ In this. es.’

“ Do on ow why I demand it? It is that
Allen horndike is my bitterest foe. I hate
him as I hate poison. I could slay him as I
could slay a serpent. Shall a son of mine wed
witha daughter of his? No, not if I must kill
them both!

His face was purple with passion as these
words flowed in a torrent from his lips. Will
looked at him with horror and surprise.

“ This is your real feeling?" he asked.

H  is.”

“And yet you encouraged my visits to this
man’s daughter?"

A slight sense of shame showed itself in the
older man’s face.
to“ I had an object in it,” he said, in a lower

as.

“Your ob ect, whatever it was, ma be ac—
complished; at mine is not,” replied ill, as
he paused on the threshold. “ I have learned
to love Kate Thorndike. The work that is done
cannot be undone at a breath.”

“ Come, come. Will.” in a tone of conciliation.
“ What ails on, be i I never knew you so
ridiculously o inate fore.”

“ Because my whole life‘s happiness was never
concerned before.” ,

“ You shall give her up i” cried the father;
again flaming forth “ or you are no longer son
0 mine. If you refuse to obey me Idisown out
You are no longer an inmate of my house! §Tou
are no son of mine!”

Will hesitated, resting his hand on the side of
the door, while the color came and went in his
ingenuous face. His whole frame shock with
the deep throbbing of his heart.

“ You are not yourself now,” he said at length,
in a voice of enforced calmness. “ I will wait
until the storm of ssion blows over.
that then justice wil return to yo

With a step that slight] reeled Will left the
room, leaving his father hot with rage in
the center of the floor. '

'5

E333.

 

  

  

 

 

      
 

 

The Dandy Detective. 9

 

A harsh and bitter expression came into his
face as he clutched his hands till the nails enter-
ed the flesh. _ a

“ So,” he hissed, “ the worm has turned
against me! I didn tknow there was so much of
myself in that boy. But we shall see who is
master here. He shall drop the girl or I will
turn him like a cur into the streets!”

Almost at the same moment that this event
happened, Dave Darnly had backed himself
against the Wall in his temporary prison and
brandishing the sharp iron in his hand he defied
the three men who were advancing upon him.
The odds seemed fearful. Three to one, and to
his single weapon they could oppose pistols and
knives.

But nothing daunted, he firmly awaited their
onset, his e es blazin defiance. He had, be-
sides, an a y in Luci le, in whose hands still

learned the knife with which she had released
in).

“Come on I” he cried. “ Villains and cow-
ards! I do not fear you i”

The next minute they made a combined on-
slaught upon him.

In much less time than it takes to tell it,
Darn] had dis osed of two of his anta onists.
But t e third ad drawn a pistol, an had a
deadly aim upon him, his eyes glaring through
the openin s in his mask.

Unarine and helpless before that deadl
Weapon, for the moment it seemed as if his e -
forts were to prove of no avail, andasif he must
fall again into the hands of his foes.

But his ally now came to the rescue. Lucille
sprung forward, brandishing her knife, and
made a quick stroke at the pistol hand of the
villain.

With a deep oath he started back, dropping
the weapon to the floor. _,

“ Flyl Fly!” cried Lucille. “ The path is
free. Fly while you have the opfportunity.”

Dave sprung forward. One 0 the prostrate
men was endeavoringlto rise, but he hurled him
back to the floor Wit a fierce thrust of his foot.
The iliext instant he had possessed himself of the
piste .

” I will not fly without you,” he cried, taking
gar hand and. drawing her swiftly toward the

oor.

It had all passed so quickly that they were
out of the room before an effort could be made
to hinder them.

Then the infuriated leader of the villains
rushed to one of the prostrate men, who was
again endeavoring to rise, and snatched a re-
volver from his belt. Armed with this wea n
he sprung to the door, and sent a bullet w iz-
zing after the fu 'tives who had already reached
the head of a fli t of stairs.

The crack of t e weapon was answered by a
loud scream from Lucille.

“Great Heaven, I am shot 1” she cried, as she
tottered and fell.

With mad fury Dave turned and tired wildly
into the room into which his assailant had re-
treated after his fatal shot. Then picking up
the prostrate form of the moaning girl in his
arms, he dashed rapid] down t e stairs, his
burden-f ' to him 0 a. teather’s weight in
his excitemen .

 

Reaching the first floor a quick lance showed
him that t e door leading outwar was closed,
perhaps locked. But the door to a side room
stood open, and through that he could perceive
an open window, With the sash thrust up to its
fullest hight.

The next moment he was at the window. It
was impossible to leap through with the burden
he held, and he had not an instant in which to
decide. Laying the wounded or dead girl on
the sill, he s rung through with an alert leap,
just as one 0 his pursuers appeared in the door-

wa .

gut in one respect he had miscalculated. The

window was full seven feet from the round.
He crushed down throu h agrowth o bushes
and struck the earth a apoint quite out of
reach of the body of Lucille, whom he had in-
tended to take with him in his flight.
. It was too late. He would have to leave her
in the hands of his foes. An alert leap and he
gained the corner of the house. Looking back
he caught a glimpse of his principal fee at the
window.

“Murderer!” cried the young man, passion-
ately. “You have killed her! But on will
not find me so easy to kill! She shal not die
without hein revenged 1”

He hurri on, his heart full of passionate
despair. He knew that he was not yet safe
from danger, and he ran at his utmost s 6.
across the open ace that appeared before im.

It was the yar surrounding an old—fashioned
mansion. On its other side were some out-
buildin 5, whose shelter he was seeking.

In a ew minutes more he was running at full
speed across an open field, beyond which some
houses were visible. His pursuers ap cared
around the stable which he had just left hind
him. They seemed hesitatin -whether or not
to pursue, for the oung at ete was dashing
onward at a. speetf that no ordinary runner
could hope to overtake.

 

CHAPTER V.
AN ASSAULT m FORCE.

DAVE DARNLY’S neck-tie was awryandhis
hair tumbled in a way that was unprecedented
in one of his ex uisite habits. Yet for once he
was oblivious to t is fact. There was too much
in his mind for even a locking lass to have any
charms for him. In an hour mm the time in
which he had made his hasty fl‘ ht from his
temporar prison he was on his way ack, armed
with aut ority, and with three or four resolute
men to back him.

.It was scarcely two hours from the time of
his hasty flight when he a ain reached the
vicinity of the house from w ich he had fled.
It was situated in the sparsely sectled region to
the north of the city, and stood almost alone,
getnearest houses being a quarter of a mile dis-

n .

When Dave and his party approached they
were surprised at its utter quietness and look of
deserticn. Windows and doors were closed,
and there was no sign of life about the place.

They cautiously approached the closed door.
There seemed an unnatural quiet about the es-
tablishment. One or two of thee men drew

 

 

1 0 The. Dandy

Detective. ‘

 

nervously back, half fearing a. volley of bullets
from those closed windows.

But Dave advanced boldly to the door, and
tried the latch. It opened easilyto his hand.
All within was silent' and deserted. No sign of
life appeared. ‘

“By all that’s good, they have given us the
slip!” cried the young leader, dashing furiously
forward. “ Follow me, lads. They maybe in
hiding somewhere about the house. Search the
whole establishment from garret to cellar. It
I will be a sorry day for the man of them I find.”

“ It may be a sorrier day for you when you
find him,‘ came in a harsh voice from the head
of the stairs. '

Every eye was turned upward, and beheld a
dark figure half concealed in the gloom that
lurked 1n the closed gassa e. But the next in—'
atant the crouche an shrunk as a bright
finish was ollowed by the thud of a pistol bullet
which buried itself in the thick door.

Two more ineffectual shots followed, the men
crouchin to the floor to esca e them. Then.
with a erce oath, the man ung his emptied
pistol down among them. One of the assailing
v rty had, unluckily for him, just lifted his
- sad to gaze at the dark figure who was making

I a target of them. The hurled weapon took him
' in the forehead immediately between the eyes,
and tumbled him over senseless.
’ Headless of danger, Darnly dashed for the
staifs, his eyes keenly fixad on the dark form of

his oe. ,

It was at him that the pistol had been flung,
but a quick movement avoided the flying mis-
. ‘ tile, which shot onward to meet the unfortunate

- fellow below. -

 'A harsh oath of disappointment broke from
the man’s lips. He turned and dashed back
’into the house, 'followed rapidly by his infuri-
ated ursuer. ‘

“ ollow me, men!” cried Dave, as he dashed
onward. " They are here! We will have them

at!

y From the head of the stairs a wide passage led

backward. It opened into rooms on each side
‘. into one of which the flying man had vanished

r ere the pursuer could reach the head of the
stairs.

. Dave ran quickly forward. He tried the door
of one of these rooms. It opened to-his touch
, and revealed an empty apartment. He had less
r success with the other door. It was locked, and

. failed to yield to his utmost effort. '
“A hammer! an ax! Bring something!” he

elled. “ He is in here! We will have him out
we tear down the house to reach him.”

“Let me at the door!" exclaimed one of the
7 others, who had just run up. “ I will show you
- , how to open locks.” \

He was a brawny, big-flsted man, with a. leg
and foot of elephantine proportions. Pushing
Dave aside with little ceremony, he braced him-
self against the opposite side of the passage,
lifted his ponderous foot, and dashedi with a

'g ng thud against the closed door. ,,
re was a sound of rending wood and
cracking i n. The door flew open as if .it had
been struc b a pile-driver. ‘

With .the eap of a panther Dave s rung

through the opening, his eyes blazing, his mum

 

nerved to an expected struggle. But to his
utter surprise he found the room emp .

“ The window! The window!" cried is burly
aid. 7‘,‘ It is raised! He must have gone by that
way! '

A glance revealed the truth of this idea. The
window, which was of no great hight from the
ground, overlooked a lawn-like portion of the
grounds, on the opposite side of the house to
that b which“ the pursuers had approached.
Beyon the low fence which bounded it ran a
country road. At the moment in which they
reached the window they cau ht si ht of the
fugitive, mounted on a strong lack ores, and
just topping this low fence into the road.

A shout of derision came from him as his
horse struck the road. He waved his hand in
the air.

“ 'Follow me, who can!” he shouted.

The next moment the powerful horse was
thundering rapidly down the road, carrying the
fugitive away from his baffled pursuers.

Dave followed him with a. look of blank dis-
appointment. Then he turned quickly to his
followers.

_“ He has left us in the lurch,” he exclaimed,
“ but there were others. Search the house.
Some of them may be here. They could not
have taken Lucille away.”

Inspired by this then ht he himself dashed
through the house, searc ing room after room
with feverish haste, but all in vain, there was
not a living soul in the house.

Even the furniture was removed, if there had
been any there, for the rooms were bare and

em ty.

'lphere was evidently nothing more to bedone
there. On leaving the house they were met by
an old man, who gazed curiously at them.

“ Do you know who lived in this house?” ask~
ed Dave.

“ There hasn’t a blessed soul lived in it for the
last three months,” was the answer. "‘ It be-

longs to the Lemoine esdtgetgnand has been empty

ever since the old man

“ You are mistaken,” cried Dave arbitrarily.
“ There were people in it yesterday and to-day.”

“That’s the ueer thing,” the old fellow re-
plied. “ I saw em drive away from here in a
carriage, an hour ago. Afterward a man came
back on horseback, and went into the house. I
suppose he must have forgot something, for he’s
just away again.”

. “What sort of a looking man was he?"

“I’m not much on faces, and I did not take
any particular notice of this one,” was the cau~
tious answer. “He was a tall, stoutish chap,
witha black beard. and a kind of captainish
look about him. One of the kind that lays
down the law for everybod else to follow.”

Satisfied that they coul get no further in-
formation from this source, the searching-party
proceeded alon the road which the horseman

ad taken, close y questioning as they rooeeded.
The road led toward the cit , and hough the
fugitives were easily traced t gh the rural
districts, they were lost when they entered the
region of built-up streets. It was quite in.
ssible to tell what route they had taken
hrough this labyrinth of avenues,—and the chase
was soon given up in despair. --

\

€74

~_;\.;l
v

 

8:.

3m

 

 

 

The Dandy Detective. 11

 

Information given the police provod equally
ineflfective. The whole force was set on the
lookout by _tel aphic warning, but nothing
came from it. he fugitives had covered up
their tracks.

There was but one other suggestion that
came to the despairing lover. If Lucille was
not dead, then it was possible that some doctor
or surgeon would be called in to her aid. If
dead, some information might be obtained from
the undertakers. It was a mode of inquiry that
was, at least, worth making.

He sat in his room, as these thoughts came to
him his eyes gloomilv fixed upon the opposite
wall, and thoughtlessly turnin in his pooket
hemysteriousrin which she ad given him,
with such strange ints as to its character.

He drew the ring from his ket, forgetful
of what it was or w ence he ha received it. A
slight start affected him as his eyes fell upon it.
There came back the recollection of her words
on handing it to him and of her insistence that
he should keep it. he looked at it with awak-
ened curiosity.

It was a slender golden circlet, with a narrow
but rather thick plate, on which was engraved a
strange device. This was the minute figure of
an animal of the form of a. lizard, though its
head had a snake-like aspect. It seemed as it
intended for a seal, for there was a slight frag-
ment of wax yet in one of its fine lines.

Dave sat looking curiously at it, as if he
would extract some meaning from this peculiar
figure. Finally, taking his hat, he en the
room, carrying the mysterious ring With him.
Not many minutes afterward he entered the
store of a jeweler friend of his in the vicinity.

“flare is a ring that I came by in a strange
fashion.” he announced. “I wish you would
examine it. It strikes me as a very curious
thing, and I have reason to understand that
there is some mystery connected with it.”

The jeweler examined it closely.

“ A very strange device,” he remarked.
“ Somebody’s whim, I suppose. There is nothi-
in in the ring, though, except—”

e became silent, as he turned the ring on its
side and examined the plate more particularly.

“ ther thicker than there is any occasion
for,” he muttered. “ It looks solid, but I should
not wonder if there was a hollow place in the
thickness of that plate.”

He put his lass to his eye and intently looked
at the edge 0 the plate.

“Avery fine piece of work,”he continued,
“ but there is a joint. Wait a moment. There
must be a spring somewhere about it.”

Taking up a fine instrument, he touched the
ring at every promising point.

‘ I must have been mistaken,” he said, shak-
ing his head. “That crack may have been a
mere scratch. Unless this—”

He had inserted the point. of the instrument
in a slight depression as he spoke. There was a
faint click, and the top of the late flew up like
a hialged cover. A small ope appeared he-
nea .

“ Good for our side!” cried Dave, eagerl .
“Itishollowl And there is something in e

opening!” _ _
“Just so,” answered the Jeweler, inserting

 

the fine point of his instrument into the con-
cealedc avity, and lifting from it what seemed
a minute piece of folded pa er.

Careful y unfolding this y the aid of his fine
tools, it roved to be a piece of excessively thin
paper, a at an inch square in its spread-out
condition.

' “ It does not seem much of a prize after all,"
remarked Dave, with some disappointment of
tone. .

“ Wait a moment,” replied the jeweler, as he
examined it with his glass. ' '

“There is writinieupon it,” he remarked.
“ Or perhaps it. may a photographed inscrip-
tion. I can barely make it out With my glass.
It is not powerful enough to read it with. You
will have to examine it under a more powerful]
microsco , Mr. Darnly.” '

“ Than you,” replied Dave. “I shall cer-
tainly do that. I have a notion that it ma
grove a very interesting document, though

ave not the most remote idea what it is.”

Replacing it within the ring for safe-kee inr,
Dave left the store, anxious to proceed wit his
investigation.

 

CHAPTER VI.
PICKING UP THREADS.

“A HIGH old bit of fun up the street last
night,” exclaimed Tom Parsons, a little ex-
citedly, as he entered the room where sat Lieu-
tenant Hill, of the Reserve Police.

The latter looked tap in some surprise. Tom
was not easily exci .

“ What has broken loose?” he asked. ~

“A neat job of crib-cracking, that’s all,”
answered Tom, flinging his hat on the table.
“ The owls have struck oil. Knight & Rogers’s

jewelry establishment has been bu‘sted, and i ' ‘

cleaned out to a mighty neat tune. Diamonds. 
gold watches, rings-— Oh! it’s a sweet bit of
li ht-flngered art l’

ieutenant Hill dropped thepen with which .,

he had been writing, and leaned back in his
chair. his eyes fixed on Tom.

“ Just found out?” he asked.

“ Yes. Those are highly respectable folks, you
know, and don’t open out earlv. When t ey
got in this morning they foun that some of
their dear friends had opened 11 for them. The
hank-door was on the slip, an ~ the safe neatly
cracked. A Sunday’s job, I fancy.”

“ Any estimate of the amount of loss?”

“ All guess, so far. Some thirty to fifty
thousand is the street talk; but you must always
take street talk with a pinch of salt. It’s just
as likely to be three thousand.”

“Were you in the store?”

“ Me? Not much. That isn't my notion of
business. This is our headquarters Tain’t hard
to find us. I’m no volunteer detectiye.”

The lieutenant laughed at Tom’s idea of pro-
fessional dignity.

“ I suppose you are ready to go when called '
for,” he said, as a choking sound came from a
corner of the room. “And there’s a call for
some of us now.” i 4

He rose, and went to the. telegraphic instal-
ment, that was rattling busfly away.

“ I thought so," he at length announced. 1
“There’s a detective wanted at Knight a

.4»

 

18 ' The Dandy Detective.

 

Rogers’s. You’d best step up. Tom. They need
somebody that’s osted in the tricks of the trade,
and you’re just t 8 man.”

4 “ I’d give an even dollar if Dandy Dave was
here,” replied Tom, as he took his hat. “ He’s
the keenest man in the service on a scent of this
kind.”

“ Where is he, Tom? He ot safe away from
those fellows that captured imi”

“ You bet he did. I told you they’d find they
were fooling with a hornet’s nest when they
nabbmi Dave. I don’t know what in the sun he
is after since. He’s got some foolery afoot.”

Tom left the room with a look of superior
wisdom on his face. The lieutenant resumed
his writing, with the remark:

“If you only had a little of Davo’s foolery
your stock of brains would be a good deal in-
creased."

What was this foolery of Dandy Dave’s? We
must 0 and find out. Since the time we last
saw h in he had been busily an aged, but to no

‘useful end. There was no evi once that either
doctor, surgeon or undertaker had been called
intothe aid of Lucille Ernestine. If any out-
side aid had been rendered, it had been secretly
done, and had left ne'discoverable indications.

During this search he had paid no attention
to the myster of the ring, but nowa strong

, desire arose in is mind to trace its secret.

Dave, taking the advice of his friend, the

. jeweler, sou ht a microscopist, and submitted
the strange ocument to his inspection.

He stood by in curious interest while the lat-
ter adjusted his instrument, spread the thin
scrap on its object table, put in a lens of modeL
flitte power, and applied his eye to the eye—

909.

p All this was done with rofessioual delibera-
tion, and Dave waited wit growing impatience
on the slow movements of the scientist.

' . “ Well,” he asked, in a quick tone. “ Is there
anything in it? Or is it only a sell?”

._ “ Decidedly like a sell, I fancy,” returned the
other. “ It’s a sort of diagram, dotted up in a
.culiéigus fashion. Take a look at it for your-
se . -

' 7, Dave applied his eye to the instrument, and
saw a network of lines, some straight, others
bent or curved. At the intersections of some
of these lines were minute colored dots, some.

-,heing black some red, and others white. Be-
side each of these dots was a word, but from

these no information couldbe gained, as they .

were entirely disconnected.

‘ At the top of the paper the dots reappeared,
in the three colors, and opposite each co or was
a drawin of clasped hands, each color being

red vi a separate mode of hand-clasping.

“I’ve a notion there’s something in it,” said
Dave, rubbing his chin reflectively. “ But just
{what it is I can’t get through my cranium yet.
All these lines and dots, these words and clasped
hands, mean something very interesting if a
fellow could only at at the bottom of it. But
I am too thick-he ed to see through it yet.”

‘i' Let me try the instrument again,” remarked

the scientist. “Only a part of the piper has,

beanin the field of. view yet. By 100 ug over
thetwholensurfaoe something else 0: interest may

I

Moving the field to and fro he gradually
brought every portion of the paper under his

eye.

“ Hal” he at length exclaimed. “I fancied
so. Here is something written. Wait a. minute
till I get a look at it all.”

H331 shifted the field again backward and for-
Wal‘t .

“ Pshaw!" he cried. “ It’s as great a mys-
tarpr as the diagram.”

‘ Read it. Perhaps it may have some mean-
ing to me.” .

‘he professor read as follows:

“ The seal of the grand chief of the Lizards.
Let it be obeyed, on ril of death.”

“That is the, ri iculous farrago,” he re-
marked. “It sounds like some sort of child’s
play.”

“ No,” answered Dave thoughtfully “ there‘s
more in it than you imagine, t
my way through it yet."

He dropped into a moment’s reverie, while
the professor continued to examine the niysteri~
ous document.

“ That is all,” he announced. “ I see nothing
more on it.”

“Could you make me a magnified copy of it?"
asked Dave.

“ Oh yes! Without difficulty.”

“ Then I will leave it in your hands. I want
an opportunity to stud it thoroughly.”

He left the room, t e at document re-
maining in the keeping of the scxentist.’

An hour afterward, at the request of Lieuten-
ant Hill, whom he had met, Dave entered the
jewelry store of Knight & Rogers. The person
in charge, a stout gentleman. with a very dis-
turbed countenance, looked up with an in air-
ing glance at his visitor, who was dr as
usual, in the tip of the mode.

"What can I do for you, sir?” he asked, as
Dave stood by the counter, indolently twirling
his well-waxed mustache.

“ Nothing Earticular, ‘ust now,” replied our
friend, while is eyes too a keen survey of the
store. “Let me see—it was atthat door they
entered?”

“ Who entered?”

“ Your professional visitors; the burglars.”

“ Oh!” in a tone of weariness. “ Excuse me,
but I've been talked to death on that subject
this morning. You will find the whole story in
the afternoon pa rs.”

“ Oh, thanks !” replied Dave, still playip with
his mustache, and darting his keen g noes
around. In the afternoon pagers, you as . I
shall be happy to read it. little h on
you, sir, but it’s a matter of public interest. Is
that the safe your professional friends inter-
viewed?”

,“ Yes.” The proprietor turned on his heel
with a gesture of impatience.

“I should like to examine it.” .

“Perhaps you would!” an ' y. “ But it
does not contain an new-sty e neckties, so I
hardly think you wil find anything there to in-
terest you.”

A laugh of amusement came from Dave's lip

“Excuse me,” . he remarked. “ Perhaps

 

might find something there of interest, Here is ,

Inward» _ 

f V a“.

ough Idon’t see V

A... , ._«._ 3"_..

 

 «th a .

 

....... MW. .
“fiv- mm

, The Dandy Detective. 13

 

He handed the proprietor a daintily—scented

and neatly engraved card which he took from

an ivory card-wee. The latter glanced his eyes
t'estlly over it, and then looked up with a start
of surprise. Dave was idly switching his slender,
gold-headed cane.

“ Is there not some mistake here?”

“ Not much, I fancy."

“ You, a detective oiiicer?”

" It is an honorable business.”

“ Yes, but—” and he looked at the apparently
foppish young gentleman before him.

‘ All 18 not goldhthat glitters,” answered Daile
laughingly. “ I have my fancies about dress;
and all that sort of thing. But—you have heard
of the hand of steel under the glove of silk. Can
I see that safe, sir?”

The astonished progfietor looked again at his
enigmatical visitor. e caughtthe steely glit-
ter in the young man’s eyes, and at once
chan ed his opinion.

“ ertainly,” he answered, with a quick
change of tone. “ There was an officer here an
hour ago, but I should like to have your deci-
sion upon the matter."

“ Yes,” replied Dave. “ Mr. Parsons. I
doubt if I can better him much, but I will at
least take a look. These chaps may have left

their signatures.”
“ Their signatures?” '
“ Precisely. Pen and ink marks are not the

only or the best way of writing a person’s
name. I have known it to bewritten with a
chisel on an iron lock more surely than the best
11 could do it. A person’s handwritin may
counterfeited, but his handiwork is a arder

e thing to imitate. This is the safe, then? Aha!

the were expert workmen who went through
the bit of iron. Loss heavy sir?” asked Dave
as he carefully spread his handkerchief, and
sunk on one knee to examine the safe door more
closely.

“ ther” answered the proprietor, with a

” "‘ enty thousand would not replace
it.

Dave made no answer. He was minutely ex-
amiuin the door, which seemed to have been
cut wi steel chisels and forced open with pow-
der wrenches. There was not a chisel mark
on the hard iron that escaped his keen vision.

“A good job ” he said, risin . “ Those are
no amateurs. And thewenter by this door?”

"‘ We found it open this morning. But there
are no marks of violence on it.”

“ Very true,” answered Dave, after a minute’s
inspection. “ False keys did the work there.
That is all? They left nothing behind them?”

“Nothing.”

“ What is this?” He picked up a scrap of
steel from the floor.

“ Of very little account, I should say.”

“ Perhaps so,” answered Dave. “ It is only a
bit of the edge 0! a broken chisel. A mere
trifle, of course. And yet as I said before, a
man may write his signature with a chisel as
well as with a pen.”

“ You don’t see anything in thatl”

“ It is the best bit of evidence I have found
yet,” answered Dave. “ I won’t say that I can

, put my hands on the burglars; but I can safely
“say this much; they are the same gang that

‘\

‘this story. And I cannot see what it has to

 

tried the Farmer’s Bank recently and that lifted
a heavy plunder in New York some time ago.”

“ How do you make that out? Mr. Parsons
found nothing of that sort."

“ Two 1pairs of eyes are better than one,” an-
swered ave. with a shrug. “ These fellows
might~ have left a bag full of tools and I not
found as much in it as in this sliver of steel. It
is the grmmd edge of a chisel, you perceive.
Now there is an art in everything. eveh ' in the
grinding of a chisel. If you examine it with
your glass you will see that the lines of the
grinding run in a peculiar slant.” ,

“ Yes, I perceive.”

“ There were some tools left in the two other . ‘

jobs I spoke of. The rinding was done in the

same way. A detective can let nothing escape 'f

him you see. I cannot say that we are on their
trail, but we have here something that may
lead to something more. Good-day, sir.”

“ Good—day.” and the proprietor followed -‘
Dave’s graceful form with astonished eyes.

/

 

.—

CHAPTER VII. ,1
A SON DISOWN'ED. ’ ‘I

“ I LOVED Alice Linton, boy. I fancied that ‘ .
she loved me. But men are fools and women 
are false, you know—Sit still, you mushhgar H
me through,” and Bently Masters arbitranl 
waved his son back into the chair from whic 
he had risen. , ~‘

“ She taught me a lesson in love,” he bitterly. :1,
continued. “Allen Thorndike came along,‘ '.
with a smoother face, a softer ton e, and a 
longer purse than I could boast. t was’the f;
latter, I fancy, that turned the tablea At 
events I was incontinently pitched overboard, ;
and her heart—her heart. mind you, be -' ,
turned to this new-comer. I will not 0 through~ '3
the whole story. It was treachery , roughoutgg
lIlcaine to hate her as much as I had ever loved 3',

or. v \“

Will‘ sat silent, listening to this revelation'ot 
his father’s early life, but without a sign of '\
sym athy on his oung face. ‘4 

“ I) hated her, say. repeated his father, with;
harsh emphasis. ‘ And I hated and despised "3
him, the man who robbed me of her. Isworfl I;
to be revenged on them both. I am a Masters, a“
boy. I am of a race that was never yettrodsi
ded on without turning. I wish you‘ had more 1-
of that spirit.” ‘ . 

“Thank Heavon that I have notl” re ed».
Will| fervently. “ I am sorry you have tel {510

0, .

with the subject of our dispute.” 4
“ It.has this to do,” was the stern re 1*. " If =
I could not reach her, through horse , could.)
reach her through her children. I like to many -
in. kind. I loved her and she 'ilted me. ‘ or-
daughter loves you. ’You shall lilt her. I have .-
let you go on until the girl’s heart was utterly
wrapped up in you. It will be like snappin a ‘
lifestringlfor you to break loose. That is w t ,
I want. want to snap their lifestringsf , 
There was a bitter mali nity in his tone that .6
made the youn man shu der. . _ i I
“ You have one more," replied Will, respect- -.\
fully, but firmly. “ Your sword has cut with 2
both edges. She has not only learned to love

if
.2

 

  

 

 

 

14 The Dandy Detective.

 

 
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
 
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
  
  
 
   
 
   
 
   
  

me, but I have learned to love her. I cannot
give her up. " ‘

“Then, by the God above me, you are no
10 or son of mine!”

8 son’s face grew deathly pale as he turned
toward the door of the room. He staggered,
and grasped the door-frame for support. Yet
his lips were firmly set, his eyes full of a reso-
lute spirit.

He looked around as he leaned against the
supporting frame. His father’s eyes were fixed
upon him with a gaze of impotent fury.

“This is the second time that I have heard
those wor ,” came in low but clear tones from‘
the outh. f‘ You shall not need to re at them
age You have just regretted that have not
the spirit of a Masters. I have .at least the spirit
not to want to he kicked from my father’s
house.”

He turned to go again.
white about the lips.

“ Stop, ,you idiotl” he screamed. “ Come

1

Will paused and looked back.

“ When I feel that I can respect you again I
-will return,” he remarked. “ I fear that you
have not told me all. In your hatred against
, the wife of Allen Thorndike have you contented
yuirself with breaking her daughter’s heart?”

“ What do you mean?”

“ Who was it that stole away her son?”

The low, quiet voice was intense in its earnest-
ness. The eyes of the youth were fixed upon
his father like those of an accusing fate. A
shudder ran throu h Bently Masters’s frame.

“ Impudent var at!” he hissed, clutching the
chair bedde him as if he would use it as a weapon.
“ Do you dare to impute that to me?”

" I make no accusation,” answered Will calm-
l’r. “ But I cannot cease to love Kate Thorn-
dike, and I shall use every effort in my power
t ) aid in the recovery of her stolen brother, no
in itter who is guilty of the crime. ”

The sound of his departing footsteps were
audible along the gallery. Then there 0 me the
noise of a. shutting door and all was ' - . For
full five minutes the father stood in the attitude
in which Will had last seen him, his clutch on
the chair, his eyes fixed on the spot from which
his son had disagpeared. ‘ Then with a. sound
mat seemed ma 9 up of a sigh and a curse he
f ell ‘back into the easy-chair behind him, and
risth his bowed head upon his hand.

Two hours afterwa d, on a grassy knoll in the
beach ve back of r. Thorndike’s residence,
Will store was seated beside Kate Thorndike

her hand in hisand her eyes fixed with a startled
look upon his face. .

“ Going West!” she exclaimed, in a tone of
p iined sur rise.

“ Ye. ” enreplied. “ There are reasons which
it is be not to mention now. I must leave this
city for awhile. But‘not for ion , I hope.”

His eyes were fixed with a 100 of deep affec-
ti in upon hers.

“ Reasons!” she cried, pressin his hand in
liars. “ What reasons can there i Are there
‘imt reasons why on should not go West?”

. “Yes ;,indeed, he answered, kissing the
191' vm-m‘ lip: that were turned to him, in such
so oitude. “Itrendsmyheart to part

Mr. Masters grew

 

from you, dearest. It seems barbarous that
those who love should be torn apart by bitter
circumstances. But there have things hapopened,
Kate, that make it necessary for me take
some decided step.”

“ Things? What things?”

“ I cannot tell you that.”

There was something in his tone that struck
her ear painfully.

“’Ahl I know,” she cried.
ceal it from me. It is a renewal of that quarrel
with your father. Forgive me for speaking of
it, dear Will; but I have a right to know all
that concerns you. You- would go West be-
cause—”

“ Because I have no longer a home or a
father 1” he broke out, with sudden energy.

“ Ah! I feared as much!"

“ I must live, Kate. I am penniless. I am,
utterly unfit to make my living in this great
city. But I am young, stron and enterpris-
ing. I will go where these q ities tell."

“ And leave me?” her voice had in it an ago-
nized entreaty.

“ Only for a time, love.”

“You shall not 0!” she cried, clasping him
with her arm, as i she could thus prevent him.
“ My father is wealthy. I have money of my
own. You shall not go. Do you suppose we
will let you suffer?”

Will, with a resolute movement, put aside
her arm and rose to his feet, his eyes fixed upon
her with a strange look.

“ Do not speakthat, Kate " he said, quietly.
“ I thought you knew me  I must go
West.” ‘

“ Why should I not repeat it?" she cried, with
reckless ener y. “I love you! I am part of
yourself l on are too proud to owe anything
to me, then? Why do you not say at once that
you despise me and m odor?"

“II 30 not want to espise myself,” he quietly
re 1e .

B But, Will. _But—” she rose to her feet, her'
hands clasped in an Agony of trouble. She
could not find words to express herself.

“ I understand you, dear,” he rejoined, clasp-
ing her slender waist and pressin his lips to
hers. “ But how would it sound for the world
to say that Will Masters had been disowned by
his father, and had settled down upon the bounty
of his betrothed?” '

f‘ I do not care for the world I” the hotly re-

“ You cannot con-

plied.

“But I do. And for in own self-respect.
There, there Kate. It wi not do. Say no
more about it. Something mayturn up, who
knows? I may not havetoleave you. Andif
I do, it will onlybe my body, not in heart.
There will be a link between us that wi surely
draw me back again. The whole world could
not keepnus long apart.” ’

Clas her hand in his, they walked on
throng t o grove, their tones fallingutheir
voices fell upon softer themes. '

 

CHAPTER VIII.
m insnmous nnom.

THE detective service was vigorous! at work
insearcli ofthogmgofburglanwhohndmade

.s

..»\v  ..

W— i!

‘ “a
if

 

 

 

The Dandy Detective. 15
the bi haul at Knight & Rogers‘s. Yet it was was obtained was concealed. He preferred not
not li e1 to prove an easy task to discover to bring Lucille’s name into the matter.

these bir s of the darkness. The same gan , as
Dave Darnly ailirmed, had made two or t ree
successful hauls within the previous year, yet
no trace of them had been discovered.

Of course the usual programme was gone
through. Tile principal thieves’ headquarters
in the city were put under surveillance; the
“fences” were visited or shadowed; a list of
all the traceable stolen articles was distributed
to the police authorities of the various cities;
and an effort was made to reach the burglars
by that more modern method, of putting out
feelers for a return of the stolen property, “ for
a consideration.”

So much done, the authorities had nothing
further to do than to lie on their oars and await
developments.

Meanwhile Dave received from the micro-
scopic professor the promised tracing of the
ring diagram. He had greatly expanded it in
size, so that it now Occupied a large sheet, and
its features were plainly evident. Yet it con-
tinued as great an enigma as before.

The lines crossed each other usually at right
angles, though in some cases they were oblique
to each other. And the dots wemed to occur in
no special order, being occasionally found at
the intersection of lines, and in other cases oc-
cu ing intermediate positions.

e gazed at it in a complete puzzle. The
Words adioining the dots, the clasped hands,
What coud it all mean? A vague idea was
working into '5 brain, but it took no definite
shape as yet. 9 continued to study it in a
deep quandary.

“ By Jupiter! they needn’t have been afraid
of anybod smelling out their secret,” he ex-
claimed. ‘ There was no need of reducing it to
microscopic size. and hiding it in the secret
chamber of a ring. I don‘t want Lucille’s word
to show me that there is something in it. But
what is it? That’s the question. I will have to
show it to Harry Hill. Maybe his sharp eyes
may make more out of it than I can.”

It was not many minutes afterward ere he
had the mysterious diagram spread before the
eyes of Lieutenant Hill, and of his friend Tom
Parsons, who ha pened to be present.

“I wish you’ tell me what it means,” said
Dave, folding his arms and sinking resignedly
intoa chair. “I have uzzled over the con-
founded thing till I am oubtful if I have any
brains left.”

The two officers looked at it with surprise and
interest.

“Oh! it’s some confounded sell,” cried Tom,
half angrily, after a minute’s inspection.
“Come, Dave, that’s played out. You can’t
get that oil? on us.”

“Nary sell,” answered Dave. “It’s a solid
document. A little like one of those riddles we
used to make on our slates at school' easy to
get in, but mighty hard to get out. What do
you make of it, Harry?”

The lieutenant, who had continued to closely,

observe the strange diagram, now looked up and
asked Dave whence he had procured it.

This involved an explanation of the story of
the ring, in which only the mode in which it

 

“ You have it there, in short meter ” he con-
cluded. “ Tell me what it means, and I have a
notion I can promise you two things. The first
is the recovery of Knight & Rogcrs’s stolen
goods. The second is the finding of Clarence
Thorndike the lost child. I ma be mistaken,
but I have a shrewd notion that 3. our fish may
be caught in that net. The thing is, how is the
net to be taken up?”

“ Maybe there are some big fish in it,” an-
swered Tom, as he rubbed the bald spot on his
head, “ but hang me if I can see them! I never
guessed a riddle in my life. What do you make
now, of this stuff at the bottom, about the ‘ sea
of the grand chief of tho Lizards? It’s all Greek
to me.’

“This,” answorcd Dave, showing the lizard
engraved upon the rin r. “ This is to be obe ed,
on peril of death. Wouldn’t I give somet ing
neat if I only know how to use it, and whom to
use it on?”

Lieutenant Hill examined it closely. He then
laid it down and returned to the diagram, which
seemed to have a peculiar fascination for him.

“ Very good, my boy,” remarked Tom. “But
what is there in these scattered words? I bet
you can’t put them together. What do you
make out of ‘Moonstone,’ ‘sachem,’ ‘duplex,’
and this one, ‘ skim milk? It all looks like skim
milk to me. And the clasped hands at the top.
Is that some secret society grip?”

i9Ha1101” cried Dave, sprin ing to his feet
with such animation as to send is chair rolling
over upon the floor. “ 1’11 beta big ap le the
boy has blundered into it! For :1. int 0 beer
that’s just what it means! And 1; ewords are
pass-words. Stupid ninny I was not to see that
at sirht! That lets a flood of light upon the
who e business. Give me your hand, Tom.”

He took Tom’s fat hand between his slender
and sinewy fingers, and practiced on him suc—
cessively the three grips, as designed upon the
diagram.

“ Here it is, my lad. Slip your thumb around
this way. You’re an awkward hand ata grip
Tom. Here, this is it. Now the others.”

After a little practice he was able to make the
three grips with case.

“It is as well to know them. One cannot tell
how soon they , may come into service. And
the pass-words too, for that matter. Have you
got any deeper into it yet, Harry?”

“ No,” answered Harry, as he drew his chair
closer, and bent moreintently over the diagram.

“Work it out, if only for love of me. I am
sick of it.”

Harry said nothing, but continued his close
study of the diagram. After several minutes
thus engaged he slapped his knee with a sudden
movement of’ satisfaction, and turned partly
around.

“Hand me that map of Philadelphia, Tom,
will you?”

There was no answer. He looked around,
Tom and Dave were both gone, leaving him
alone in the room.

"f I’ll have to help myself,” he remarked,
rising. “Maybe I’m mistaken, but I’ve got an
idea, at any re. .”

 

 

16

The Dandy Detective.

 

He walked across the room and picked up a
large book containing a set of ward maps of
the city of Philadelphia.

Meanwhile Dave Darnl strolled up Chestnut
street through the tide o sight-seers who were
lounging u and down that fashionable thor—
oughfare. ore than one eye was turned to ob-
serve him as he moved lazily along, some with a
sneer, some with a glance of admiration.

With his well-fitting, dove-colored pants; his
white vest, with the heavy gold chain trailed
across it; his tastefull cut coat; the li ht kids
that adorned his shape y hands; his we] waxed
mustache; and the slender cane which he
twirled foppishly in his hand; the name of
Bend Dave seemed to exactly up ly, and it
was t is that drew sneering remarks B‘om some
of the passers.

But there were others, especially among the
ladies, to whom Dave’s handsome face was a
passport to admiration, to which his shapely
and neatly attired form added.

Blut he walked on oblivious of both sneers and
sm1 es.

The fact was that his mind was far from being
at ease. The fate of Lucille Ernestine bore
more heavily upon his mind than he was aware
of himself. She had been wounded in seeking
to shelter him from dan er. He would have
been no man if he could ave viewed the un-
certainty of her fate with indifference.

But there was more than that, Dave was
warm-hearted and susceptible. He had not es-
caped from the influence of Lucille’s beauty.
The mystery surrounding her, the fact that she
was in some way connected with that lawless
gang of whose haunts he was in search, did not

eter him. It rather, indeed added to his in-
terest in Lucille, and he found himself thinking
more of her than he had ever thought of a wo—
man before.

He walked on irresoluteiy, so wrapped up in
his own thoughts as to (pay little attention to
what was going on aroun him.

“ It’s gomg to be life or death between me and
those hounds,” he said, shutting both teeth firm—
lg. “ So far they have hidden their tracks, but
t ey will find it not so easy to throw a sleuth-
And then, if anything
They

hound from the scent.
has happened to Lucille, let them beware!
will have Dave Darnly to deal with.”

His gloomy thread of thought was broken by
alight touch on his arm. In an instant he was
alert. He turned with the quickness of one al-
ways on guard and gazed into the face of the
person w 0 had touched him. It roved to be a
woman, neatly but not fashionab y attired, and
of Xrepossessing countenance.

look of recognition passed between their

eyes, but not a word was spoken. She walked
on as if the touch had been a mere accident,
while Dave twirled his light cane in his foppish
manner as he moved behind her, Seemingly tak-
ing no notice of her movements. But they both
turned down the first side street, and proceeded
onward until they reached a locality in which
few persons were present.

Now Dave walked more rapidly and overtook
the rson whom he had followed.

“ ow d’ye do, Sue?” he familiarly greeted

u

 

her. “ You have struck oil somewhere, eh? I
could see that much in your eyes.”

“ I don’t know that there is anything in it,”
she quietly rejoined, turning her intelligent face
toward him. “ But it’s a point, and every point
counts in our line of business.”

“ Some move at the Masters mansion, eh?"

“ A most decided one. There has been a hit-
ter flare«up between the young and the old Mas-
ters. The upshot of it all is that Bently Masters
has turned ‘8 son out .of doors. Com letely
disowned him. Cut him of! without a shi ling."

“ The deuce l” ejaculated Dave. “ There is no
mistake about it?” ‘

“ No. You know that I am hand and glove
with the servants. One of them overheard part
of the quarrel. It is kept quiet in the parlor,
but it is kitchen gossip.”

“ And is the reason known? What has the
youn fellow done?”

“ I ve my idea,” she re lied.

“ I bet you have, Sue. here’s not many can
beat you seeing throu h things," was his com~
plimentary answer. “ ut, what is it?”

“ It has something to do with the oung fel-
low’s courting of Kate Thorndike. 0 (1 Masters
may have wanted to break it up. But Will is a
boy of mettle, and is not one to be turned from
the track at a moment‘s notice.”

“ That is it, for a thousand i” cried Dave.
“Come, something may be made of this. You
must get on the boy‘s track, Sue. 0r no, that’s
not quite in your line. Leave him to me, and
do you keep up your watch on old Bently. Do
you need cash?,

“ I have enough for the present."

“ Very well. The thing is ripening. We will
get to the bottom of it ye .” c

He paused as some persons came near. It
was two men who were busil conversing, and
who assed by without h to Dave and his
lady dead.

But Dave lifted his head with a quick move-

ment, and gazed after them. He seemed in-
tent};r listening. /
“ y Jove, no," he exclaimed after an in-

stant. “I’ve struck oil again! f would know.
that voice among a thousand.”

“ Who is it?” '

“It is the masked man I told on of, who
shot Miss Ernestine, and rattled b lots around
me. I never forget a voice. Can I trust you to
trail him, Sue? I am not dressed for duty of
that kind.”

She made no answer; but in an instant she
was on the track of the man in question.

CHAPTER IX.
DANDY navn’s ADVENTURE.

THE keenest scout and the smartest detective
are always liable to an error of calculation, and
such was just now the case with Dave Darnly.
He had miscalculated the intelligence of his foe,
which is always a dangerous error. The two
men who had passed him and Sue Dart in the
street had apparently not noticed them. Yet
Dand Dave, when in full dress, was a figure
ve ikely to attract men‘s eyes, and the r
h really seen and recognized him at a g ance
although pretendinalpot to do so. It may well
be imagined, then, t he was keenly alive to

 

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Ax

. pursuit of the one who had shown apprehension,

~ fancy my lady won’t make muc

Q

The Dandy Detective. ‘ . 1'!

 

the consequences. He had not failed to per—
ceive that Dave’s attention had been attracted
to him, and the pursuit by Sue Dart had not
continued for ten minutes ere the fox was well
aware that 'there was a sleuth—hound upon his
track.

Keen as the lmly trailer was, she was no
match for her shrewd opponent. Rightly con-
jocturing that she did not know which. of the
two was the im ortant one, be instructed his
companion to g ance nervously behind him at
intervals, and act as if in dread of pursuit.
After this had continued for some time the two
men separated. The pursuer hesitated for a. mo-
ment at this unexpected movement. She was
aslthey shrewdly con 'ectured, at a loss which of
the two to follow. er indecision ended in a

while the other man walked quiet] away,
chuckling to himself to think how neat y be had
cheated his foes.

He was well aware of the existence of the lad
detective, and was very well satisfied to shi t
from his track this uiet—looking woman, who
followed him along t 9 street with such an air
of innocent attention to the shop windows.

“ Hang their cunning!” he muttered. “Who’d
have thought of being trailed b a woman? I
by following
the man she is after. It is like losing the scent

of the fox and taking up thatof the mouse. But
that confounded steel-lined top of a [detective
knows too much. He is the only man on the
whole force that has smelt out our path. He
made a fool of that ninny of a girl, and now he
has got me spotted so that I am not safe while
he’s above ground. There’s no use wasting time.
There’s only one thing for it. He must go under.
It’s come down to a question of life or death
.now. Let me see. How shall I bring him into
In hands a aini”

e walks on, (leagly thinkiuig. v

Meanwhile Dave arnly he continued his
walk. Turning the corner of Broad and Spruce
streets, he came unexpectedl face to face with
a young gentleman whom e recognized at a
glance. -

“ Will Masters, by all that’s lucky!” be ex-
claimed. “Just the man I Was thinking of.”

Will, who, like the most of Dand Dave’s ac-
quaintainces, was quite unaware of 's business,
and looked u n him as a fashionable young ex-
quisite, who] y given to a butterfly existence,
was not altoget er pleased by this meeting.
He was in no mood just then for any of the
live] trifling of society.

“ ome, my be ,” cried Dave. “.Why, Oh
look as blue as ouble-distilled indigo. I his
will never do. You want a set-to at billiards
to waken you up. Or sup so we stroll tonthe
club and sample that new s arry. I’m told it is
prime. .

“Excuse me,” replied Will, distantly. “I
have no time at present.”

“Engaged in business, eh‘i”

“Yes.” .

“ Well, that’s a new role for ou. Stop there
HOW“ I want to talk with you,’ and Dave lant-
ed himself before the gloomy youth. “ t’s

shrug.
No doubt
to each ot er.
is wasted on trustin
good luck in the wide est.”

 

up? Are you oinE to desert the scenes of
your triumph? l300 ed through for China, chi”

“No; but for Colorado, or California,” an-'

swered Will, firmly.

Dave looked at him curious] . . ~ I
“And what, in the mean ime, is to become

of— on know who? I will not mention names?”

V ill’s eye kindled with an or. '
“What do you mean, sir ’ He turned shar '

1y on his questioner. "How dare you med
in in private affairs?”

“ h, none of that, Will,” and Dave careless;

ly switched his boot with his slender cane.
“ Was I ever the man to meddle with my friend's
business? I am 01:15 talking out of ure friend
ship for on, myl .
the wor d and of woman than Will Masters.

You fancy that you can meander at your pleap

sure through the West, and the girl will wait .
like a trustin
come back.

them.” ~

I known. ii 6 more of

little Dlli' y till you choose to
eware, my Loy. You don’t know

“ I would trust her at the world’s end i” ail-

swered Will indignantly. “Not that I recog-
nize your ri ht to meddle with my private -.
fairs. Let t is conversation end, sir. ‘

“ Oh, well! if you will have it so,” with is
“It’s none of my business, of course.
on both mean to be as true as steel
Only— But no matter. Advice
lovers. Goodday, and

Will stood silent with flushed face as Dave
turned indolently away. The youth could have '
struck his nonchalant friend, and the more so
as the insinuations of the latter had
without effect upon him. He was 1 more
annoyed to see Dave turn before he had taken a
dozen steps.

\.

otbeeu.‘

“Excuse me, Will,” he said, “but there is 

another little matter. How about the child
that was stolen? Mr. Thorndike’s son and
Has an trace of him been found yeti”

“ No, ’ answered Will, with a. hesitation I

the quick eyes of the detective did notfallto
observe. .

“ And yet you love this lost boy’s sister, and
are goln to walk ofl West Without an effort to
aid the istressed famil
ashamed of you. Will asters.”

There was a ring of contain t in Dave’s voice
as he again turned and wal ed away, leaving
the out deeply stung by his words. He
wal ed nearly a square before he looked back.
Will was stil standing on the spot at which he
had left him..

“ He will not go West,” said Dave to himself,
“ that is settled. I have put a bee in the young
man’s bonnet that will sting him to some do-
cided action. He knows somethin bearin
upon this abduction. I am sure of that.
mifst set myself to worm it out of him.”

Yet keen and wide-awake as Dave was, he ' -

was likely to need all his shrewdness before
many hours. .
At a later hour that day Sue Dart made a re-
rt of the result of her mission.
racked her man to the Alleghany Hotel, and
had left the house shadowed. But on her do-
acribing the separation of the two men, and the
behavior and appearance of the one she had fol-

lowed. Dave was convinced that she had pur- . .

suedthe wrong party.

u ,_

She had,

in its search? lam" ..

\ r

 

x

t

18 .

The Dandy Detective.

 

“ But he is one of them, that is sure, from his
actions,” said be. “We must kee him under
our eyes. ‘The finest thread may ead to the
bi gest rope, if it is only followed.”

11 .reaching home that evening, he was
handed a letter, which had just arrived by mail.
He opened and read it, noticing that it was in a
strange and somewhat cramped-hand. Its con-
tents were as_follows:

“If Mr. David Darnly will call at No. 79Hflton

/ ,

street, at an early hour to-morrow, he may hear of r

something to his advantage, and may be aided in a
marter which he has at heart. Let him be silent,
and burn this after reading it, for the life of the
writer will be in danger if this communication be
known. Unless he come alone, and act in all re-
spews as herein desired, he will find no one there.
I he acts with good faith, he will profit by it.”

There was no signature, and some effort had
been made to disgu1se the-hand.

Dave looked at this curious document for
some time, While a busy flow of thou ht passed
through his active brain. Was this 1: e act of a
foe or a friend? There was ev1dently danger in
such a mission, yet the writer might be in earn:
est; it was no uncommon event for a rogue to
\ betray his associates.

It was very plain that it referred to some of
, the several criminal jobs which Dave had in

hand. and he was not at all inclined to give up

the chance of gaining the important information
hinted at. On the other hand, there might be
deadly peril in the enterprise. He ‘ had many
enemies, and some of them might be seeking this
means to revenge themselves upon him.

“ But I hardly think I am the man to step
back. from a shadow of danger," he said, as he

t balanced the letter on his finger. “ I have been
in more than one bad scrape in my time, yet
here I am alive and well. I calculate I can ull

v through. If I take a force with me, 1 sh be
very likely to find the house empty, Pohl there’s
an adventure in it, and adventures are my meat.

Here it is, right or left. If it drops to the right,

I‘ will try it on.”

He held np~his finger with the letter balanced
upon it. It rested steady for a moment, and
thefih slowly toppled over, and fell to the
ri .

5‘ The right has it. Chance has got me into
it, let chance get me out of it. I will take on the
adventure.”

A night’s sleep did not change his resolution.
In one particular, however, he did not obey the
directions of his corres ndent. He was not
verdant enou hto burn he letter. On the con-'

. trary, he re aced it within the envelope, and
redirected t to Tom Parsons, Central Police

Station.

“ If I am not here by twalve o’clock," he re-
marked, “ take this letter instantly to its direc-
tion, and tell Mr. Parsons that I left home at
nine o’clock this morning. He will know what
to do. If he is not there, ask some of the other
officers to open it.”

This arrangement made Dave dressed himself
more suitably for the enterprise in hand, don-
nin a suit of strong, dark cloth. and leaving
all is foppish airs behind him with his dandy-
ish costume. -

“I am not going to play the fool to-day,” he

w

 

 

 

remarked with a smile. “ It is men I have to
deal with now, not women; and I fancy this
will do my work better than a soft tongue.”

As he spoke, he placed a small, silver-mounted
revolver in his pocket, first tryi g the chambers
to see that they were all charges.

“ When a lamb goes among the wolves the
lamb should have the claws of a wolf,” he
laughed. “ Here goes for my adventure.”

Ifilton street was in the thinly built~up por-
tion of the city, and consisted of a few houses,
separated by a consulerable spread of open lots.
No. 79 stood alone, with an open space of some
width on each side of it. He looked at it with
some curiosity. '

It was of three stories high, a narrow, plain,
respectable brick building, of the medium class.
There was certainly nothing suspicions about it,
particularly in ful day, with the sun shining
upon it and through its open windows.

“ Deuce take it, doubt if there‘s to bemuch
of an adventure after all,” thought Dave, as he
walked to the door and boldly rung the bell. An
ill-favored woman, with a masculine face, an-
swered his ring..

She looked at him questioningly. ' ‘

“ I have an appointment here this morning,”
explained Dave. ‘_‘ Am I not expected?"

“ You‘re the gentleman then, as was to call?”
ansviered the woman, in a oarse voice. “ You‘re
to come right in, please.”

Dave followed her as she led the way‘into the
house, his eyes taking a critical survey of her
appearance.

“A strapping woman that,” was his mental
comment. “ And ugly enough to turn sweet
milk sour.”

“ Will ye please walk to the sitting -room, sir?”
she asked, with a decided Milesian accent. ‘

He followed up the narrow flight of stairs.
At the top they passed a door, apparently of a
bath-room. The room to which t e woman led
was in the rear portion of the house. The door
was shut, and she stopped to open it. In doing
so something suspicious in her appearance caught
Dave’s keen eye. With his usual alertness of
action he gras d her shoulder and laid histh
upon his piste .

“ So, my pretty friend, you are masquerad-
ing,‘ eh? That’s well done, my chap, but Pm

not the sort _ for you to play the woman dodge ’

on. It won’t 0 down.”

With an 0a h the disguiSed fellow turned and.
made a quick grab at Dave’s arm. But he had
the wrong metal to deal with. That arm shot“

out like a bolt from a catapult, k him in the
right temple, and sent him spra in half across
the floor of the room whoso door 9 had just

opened.
D “ You can’t play that on me, my friend," said
ave.

He_had no time for other words, for, at the '
same moment, a fierce blow fell upon his head,
the room before him swam for an instant in his
eyes, and then he fell like a log to the floor, ut- .
terly insensible.

CHAPTER X. .
Tim READING or "run RIDDLE.
“BY all that‘s blue, Tom, I have it!” and
Harry Hill started up with a look of immense

 

 

 

         
   

 

  
  
  

   
 
 
 

    

 

 

 

  

      

his

bed
are

he
he

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as,
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ne
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law:- aqsrza

w. v. »

 W” “A a."

The ,Dandy Detective.

19

 

satisfaction. “ Talk about your riddles; I never
saw one yet that I couldn’t guess if I gave it the
time."

“ No doubt. But What is it? I’m all alive to
know.”

The curious ring di
fore them. Tom gaze
tainty.

“ I suppose it’s pass-words, and grips, and all
that. as Dave an s,” he averred. “ I see
through all that. ut.I can make no more of
your spider web than a cow could make of a

ram was spread out be-
at it in hopeless uncer-

» , persimmon. It’s Choctaw of the worst kind.”

“ See here,” answered Harry, pointing to ’a
page of the city map which luv 0 n ‘Look
at he run of the streets here. Th broad line
is Diamond street. Here‘s Germantown avenue.
Here‘s Poplar street. Girard avenue, and so on.
Have you got the ban of them?” '

“ Suppose I have, w at then?”

“Just get the run of the streets in your eye,
and then take a look at this diagram.”

Tom did so but stood scratching his head in

~ho less bewilderment.

‘I am looking at them,” he blurted out.
“But I’ll be shot if I can see anything in
them.” ,

“ Is there not a resemblance?"

Tom’s eyes egilened with a sudden light. He.

sla his h vi orously._

‘Pming my stupigdityl I on ht to knock my-
self down, for want of some ot er fool to prac~
tice on. Why they are the same thing. The
confounded myste is nothing more than a
map of the twentiet ward of Philadelphia; and
I was a= jackass not to see it at a glance for I
know that re ion considerably better than I
know the catec 'sm.”

“ It's the twentieth and the wards above. Its
nearly the whole.northern side of the city.”

“ But what, in the name of Moses, oes any
tool mean by drawin out a map of the city in
short hand, covering i up with grips and. pass-
words, and hidin it inside a fin or ring? The
clearer it ets t e more ridicu ous it grows.
And these ots, red, white and black?”

“.Are houses.” "

“ As sure age-Hon live the are I” cried Tom,
as enthusiasti y as if he ad made the dis-
covery himself. “ This big spot is at the corner
of Tenth and Milton. it's the Blue Blade Hotel.
And here’s Jack Sprou s, at Mervine and Park.
Both shady uarters. I've had my eye on them
for many a y. There is something in it, after
all. Have you made it all out,'Harryi”

“ You bet I have.”

“ Then shell out. I’m dying to know.”

“ It’s just the bi est thin that’s been dug up
these ten years. e fanci we were well up in
thieves’ headquarters Tom, but here’s a guide
to'twenty new places
That confounded gan that has been making
Rome howl for the las gear or two has nothing
to do with. our Philadelp la are. I was sure
of that before. But if I ain t mistaken we are
on their track now.”

“ y, yes” said Tom doubtfully, still look-
ing at the . ‘ There’s a ood deal
that's user about it yet, though. hat do
w e of the grips and pass-words, and the

. erent colors?” ‘

at we never dreamedof. ,

“There’s a word opposite every house," an~
swcred Hurry. “That shows that each house
has its own pass-word. And at the top you see
there’s three different grips, each opposite a
different color. You soc the use of the diagram
now, Wltll its different words and colors. If
you’d try the white color‘ grip at one of the
lack or red spots you’d stand a chance of being

spotted with a knife-blade for your pains. It’s
a very neat coutrivam-e, Tom. These dens are.
no doubt, marvels of innocence outside. But
every one of them has its thieves’ chamber, that
nobody can enter without the grip and pass-
word.’

“And what’s in your eye, Harry? A raid in
force?” , .

“ I hardly know. We must first consult with
Dandy Dave. It’s his mutton.”

“ But where in the world is he? He was to be
here b ten o’clock this mornin .” / ‘
“  _at is it, my‘box?” aske Harry, turnin
to an intelligent—looking little fellow who ha
just entered, and was gazing around inquir-

mgl .V

“ I’m wanting Mr. Parsons,” he said. “ Is
there a Mr. Parsons about here?”

“ That’s me,” answered Tom.

“ Then I was to give you this," and he handed
Tom a letter in an open envelope.

Tom, seeing that it was addressed to himself,
took it out and read it a queer ex ression com—
ing upon his face. IIe mused a ittle over its
contents. ..

“ I’ll bet high that Dave has got into trouble,"
he at length remarked. “He was always too
venturesome, and this looks confoundedly like
a trap. Read it, Harry. ’

Harry did so, knitting his brows over the
strange e istle.

“ It loo blue,” he said.

5‘ How came you to bring it here?” asked Tom
of the b0 . .

“My ncle Dave said if he wasn’t home by
twelve o’clock, I was to bring the letter to Mr.
Tom Parsons, and he’d know what to do.”

“ What time did he go out?” asked Harry.

“ About nine o’clock.” .

Harry looked at Tom, and gave a low_wh1s-

tle. . ,
“Equally weather,” remarked Tom, with a
rimace.

“Thunder and'li htnin in the offing,” re
turned Harry. “T at wi do, my boy. We
will ’tend to it.”

The lad left the room with look of satisfac-

tion. If these two big man dmisod to attend
to it, it must be all right. ‘

“No. '79 Hilton street,” Harry fixed his eyes »
on the diagram. “Look here, Tom. This hne
should be Hilton street. And 79 should be x

ere. ‘

“ A red dot, sure as shooting,” exclaimed Tom.
“It’s one of the dens of t e angl” Dave’s
been roped in, my hearty. ere’s the 
And the password is ‘ Death 1’ Whewl I out
like that! ’ *

” No more do I. We must move like light-
ning. Every minute tells. You take ’1t in
hand, Tom. It's 'just the job for on. Take
half a dozen men and strike for No. . .”

 

“Trust me for that," answered Tom, as he

 

 

20

The Dandy’ Detective.

 

tossed on his hat, and thrust a pistol into his
pocket. “Dandy Dave, alive or dead, that’s
in motto. And if they’ve done him a harm
le them look out!”

He left the room with a quick step, and a
stern look upon his face.

But we must return to Dave Wh'ose absence
had created this sudden movement in his
friends. Was he yet in the land of the livmg?

At the moment in which we left him he had
just fallen stunned and helpless to the floor.

How long he remained in this insensible con—
dition he never knew, but when he recovered
he found himself seated in a strong arm-chair,
to which his hands and feet were firmly bound.

Near him were two men, one of whom he
quickly recognized as the person who had been
masquerading as a woman. The other was a
savage-faced, ill-favored chap, upon whose
countenance was a continual scowl. ‘

It took several minutes for Dave’s senses to
fully return, during which he was in a dazed
way taking in his surroundings. He. found
himself in a very sparsely furnished room, with
a single window before his eyes, through which
other houses were visible at no great distance.

After a few minutes’ inspection he turned to
his captors who were curiously regarding him.
All his native coolness had returne .

“ This is very neatly done, my good friends,"
he remarked, with the utmost ease of manner.
“But there was no need to truss u a fellow
quite so tight. You might have 16 t me room

to yawn.” 4

‘ You’re a bit too handy with your fists,” re-
plied the chap who had felt the weight of Dave’s
right hand.

‘ Pohl that was only a little love ta . Just to
get acquainted you know. If I’d hit ard there
wouldn’t have een a greasespot left of you.”

The man addressed looked silly for the mo-
ment. Then he broke into a laugh.

“ Well, you’re a 'olly one I swear. Do you
know, my funny ellow, that you’ve brought
your igs to the wrong market?"

“ ardl , my lad. I'm only an invited guest
here. This is a ridiculously warm way of greet-
ing a guest. I suppose you were afraid I might
not wait for the company. You needn’t have
troubled yoursslf. I'll wait.”

“ I’ve a notion you will,” grinned the man.

Dave looked around him irresolutely. It was
important to gain time. Every minute might
count with him.

“ We might as well spend the time pleasant-
ly " be next remarked, with a smihng face.
‘ 0 you smoke?”

” Sometimes.”

“Then ust put (your hand in my left-hand
pocket. ou’ll fin some cigars. Or if you
don’t like to put your hand in another man’s
pock’et, just untie my hand, and I’ll get them for

on

“I ain’t got no objections that way,” grinned
the man, as he thrust his hand into Dave’s pocket
and drew out the ci ars.

“ That’s clever. here’s nothing like making
yourselves at home. Help yourselves, gentle-
men. Give me one of the cigars. I don’t mind
smoking with you, being as you are such jolly
company.”

The two men looked at each other, and their
faces broke into a broad grin. They hardly knew
what to make of this queer chap.

In a few moments more they were all three
smoking, Dave pulling away at his cigar with
as much apparent unconcern as if he was really
with a party of his best friends.

“ How do you like them?” asked Dave.

“ Blamed good cigars,” replied the man. The
other had not yet Spoken.

ghey puffed away in silence for several min-
u s.
“If we only had a pack of cards,” remarked
Dave easily, “ we might have a neat game of
eucher. I sup so on play?”

“ You bet. ut guess you couldn’t do much
without your hands.

“ You could untle one of them, you know.
You’dnnever find me running away from a social

ame.

The fellow laughed.

“ A neat coon, you are,” he said. " But when
we et our coons we keep them.” ' ._

“ hat’s the use of all this blasted chin
music?” growled the other man, now speaking
for the first time.
here all day palavering.”

“ That’s so," returned the first, rising from
his seat, and coolly knocking the ashes from his
cigar. “ Fun’s fun, and business is business.
You’re jolly good company, you are and I’m
kind of sorry to break up our talk, but we’ve
got to look after business.”

“Business, eh? Deuce take business!” e'acu-
lated Dave. “Sit down and smoke, my ads.
To the dogs with business.”

‘ 2:: Maybe you don’t surmise what our business
is.

“ I don’t care a fig what it is.”

“ I thought you might be interested in it,”
said the cool vil ain. “ It’s only to knock you
in the head, to. be sure, and to put you under
the round.”

“ nd ,as quick as thunder,” broke in the
other, with a coarse oath.

1%] rose from his chair and walked to a closet
at e end of the room, from which he took a
heavy bludgeon.

Dave’s eyes opened wide. Affairs were cer-
tainly approaching a perilous point. He re-
solved to put into practice an idea which he had
been turning over in his mind for the last ten
minutes. It might work. -

“ Well, this is a decidedly rough way fo
breaking up a social chat,” he said.

“ We ain . got time to parley,” answered the
man in an apologetic tone.

“ town let a fellow write a letter to his
friends, at any rate?” asked Dave.

“ It mightn t get to them,” said the man.

“ 0h, I’ll trust you for that.”

The two villains winked at each other.

“ I guess we’ll let you write it,” remarked the
spokesman. “ ’Tain’t much of a favor.”

At Dave’s further request he was supplied
witstéfaper and a pencil, and one hand was re—
lea in order that he might write. The two
men stood by keenly watching his every move-
ment. He wrote with apparent difilculty a half-
dozen lines.

 

“And now, my dear sir," continued Dave,

“ We ain’t got time to stay.

*-

their 1
:‘ Vestupocket, “ will you be kind enough to soften

(new

I
ihree  seal to in letters.”
with l The to low willingly did so, lighting a matcu
Bally ' and softening the wax in its flame.
§ “Just here. please.”
a The melted wax fell in ared spot on the paper.
The  ave ressed down upon it something which he
3 had ta en from his pocket.
nin- , “ I fancy that will answer,” he quietly re-
; marked. “ You may read the paper to see that
and g 4 it is all right.”
a of ,‘r He handed the document to the man, and
. leaned back easily in his chair. though his eyes
uch  gmamed fixed keenly upon his villainous cap-
> rs.
3w.  A'strong doubt was in his mind as to the effect.
3i“ i of his scheme. But it was quickly disSi ated as
: he saw their eyes open to their full Widt , while
;‘ an ashy whiteness came over their faces.
[en 3 “ The seal of the grand lizard!” gasped the
' 43 3-
;l-n “j “Death to him who disobeys its orders!” fal-
ng  tered the second. ,
fly. 3: “ So. hounds!” cried Dave, in a voice of stern
 authority. “ You would kill me. then? Re-
” sf lease me on the instant. if you would escape the
,is 3» fate on have merited!” .
is.  With nervous haste one of the men drew a
m .1 sharp knife across the prisoner’s bonds. He
,9  sprung to his feet, a free man once more.
a. 2? CHAPTER XI.
5.  rm: NEXT MOVE IN THE GAME.
I; WILL Mas'rnns had not gone West. He had
,3 I] even tEleven up his intention to oWest—at least,
i for present. The skillf hints of Dave
Darnly had had that much effect upon him.
n y “ I hays more reasons than one. dear Kate ”
1 he said, in an interview with his lady love. “ (5f
[- course you are one, and not the least of those
reasons. But I know you would wait for me,
, 2 . no matter how long I was gone. There is an
other matter that Will not wait.” ‘ l
; ‘fIWhat is that?” she asked, looking up With a
_ r sun 9. .
_ “ It is the question of your lost brother,” he
, fished. "‘ I deem it my duty to stay here and
‘ i ' in the search.” . _ .
f “ 0h, thanks! thanks!” she cried. With warm
I ‘enthusiasm. “ We have taken eve means and
i all in vain. It seems as it We sha I never find
3 him. I fear you will have no more success.”
’1 Her voice suddenly sunk into deep sadness.

4

 

The Dandy

takings. small piece of Sealing-wax from his

this wax and drop it here? I always put my

 

“ I ma .” he re 'oined, with gloomy resolu—
tion. “ I have somJe reason to fear—” he paused
? for a moment, as if he could not 9 on. ‘ I fear
‘ —that my own father had somet mg to do With

" this robbery.” _ _ u
“ Your father?” she heard him With open hps

» and distended e es.

“ My father,’ he replied. with more firmness.
“ It is only a vague suspicion, Kate. Yeti feel
I have duties even greater than those to a father.
' ‘You know his hatred ~ to your family. Y_on
know he discarded me because I would not give

on u .”
y Sheppressed his hand in silent acknowledg-

Detective. 91

may have sought to strike your parentsother-
wise than on . ’

“Oh, this is terrible!” she cried. “ But, what
do you know, Will? What have you learned?"
Her voice was full of e or entreaty.

“ It may be nothing. on will keep it secret?"

“Yes, yes l”

“ It is simply this, then. One year ago, at the
time of your brother’s abduction, my father was
absent from home for several days. On business
at Pittsburg, as we were ‘ven to understand.
I remember, now, that acob, the saturnine
coachman we had then, was absent at _the same
time. And I have just learned that our car-

: ria e was taken out after dusk on the day of my

fat er’s departure, and did not return until late
in the next day. On that same evening your
brother was stolen.” ‘

She listened to him with clasped hands. Her
long-lost and deeply-mourned brother; was a
clew to him to be ound at last?

“ But do you know nothing moral How shall
we discover what has been done with him?”

“The coachuian left us shortly afterward.
But I have lately learned where he now is. He
may be induced to tell the truth about that
in terious expedition?”

‘ Qh Will! if you do find our poor Clarence
I Will—I will love on ten times more thanI
ever thought I cou d! My poor father and
mother! you cannot tell how deeply they have
mourned l”

“ I shall do all I can,” he resolutely replied,
“no matter who suflers. I would be a helper in
the crime if I did less.”

She pressed his hand, and looked up into his
face With eyes that swam with warm thankful-
ness and love.

 

But we must return to the others of our
characters. We left Tom Parsons mutt? P
out to the rescue of his endangered ' d.
was. destined to be disappointed. On reaching
the house to which Dave Darnly had been in-
veigled he stationed part of the small force of ‘
men who accompanied him around it, so as to
watch every avenue of escape. With the re-
mainder he made his way into the house. There .
was no diflicnlty in this entrance. The door
was unlocked, and readily yielded to his touch.
Drawing their istols the searching party made
their way slow _y through the silent mansion.

No si n of life appeared. The house seemed
deserted. It was but sparsely furnished, and
gave the appearance of having been temporarily
occupied for some special purpose. A few min-
utes suflloed to search i from to tobottom.
without the discovery of a livin be n . ,

“Confound it all!” cried om. n a rage.
“This is a com lete sell. Have they knocked
Dave in the he and buried him in the cellar?
Or have the hounds suspected this movement
and carried him ofl.’ to some other den? We
must look closer, lads.”

They went over the house again, examining it
with professional acumen. V

“ See here!” cried one of the men. as he point.
ed to a spot just outside the door of the room to
which Dave had been taken. “ 1t isblood, as
sure as you live!” '

 

t. s -
- wire spoke of hatred and revenge. I fear he

Meantime Tom had picked up a. strip 0! linen ,

 

    

The Dandy Detective.

 

from the floor at the other end of the room. He
examined it critically.

“ These two are tied together, and by no fool
of a knot,” he remarked. “ And it has been cut
in two through the middle with a sharp blade.
Look around J 00. See if you can find more of
the same kin .”

The man addressed looked into the closet ad-
joining, and there on a heap of rubbish found
two similar cut strips, and a third one which
seemed to have been knotted and afterward un-

tied.”
Tom surveyed these significant bandages with
the keen eyes of a detective.
“ It has a rascally suspicious look,” he consid-
ered. “ I should imagine that somebody has
been bound hand and foot, and then suddenly
released. They have untied one of the bonds,
and then got tired of that, and taken the knife
to the others.”
“ And here’s a half-burnt candle and a bit of
sealing-wax,” remarked another, taking these
objects from the mantle, “and the match by
which the candle was lit.”
Tom seated himself. with these objects in his
hand, and looked at them earnestly
After a few minutes thus employed he started
quickly to his feet. . .
“ Come, lads,” he said, decisively. “ Our man
isn’t here, that’s flat. The hounds have carried
him 011’, and I am afraid it will puzzle us to tell
how and where. But we must try to get on his
track.” -
They left the house together. At the same
- time a man, who had been carelessly standing
by the fence a short distance down the street,
moved from his station and quietly strolled on
to the next corner. This point reached, he con-
cealed himself behind the fence, from which
shelter he was able to observe the movements of

‘the party of officers. It was evident that the
villains had their scoutsout.

What, meanwhile, had become of dashing
Dave-Darnly? We left him, in the last chapter,
just freed from his bonds, through the influence
of the lizard seal upon his kee rs.

The two men looked upon t eir late prisoner
with aflrighted eyes.

“ How could we know that you Were the
chief?” asked' one, tremblingly. “ We got our

orders from the sub-chief of thisdistrict. We
did not dare disobe them.”
“If you had, I 8 cold have ordered on to

execution,” he replied, in a tone of ant ority.
“ The orders of the brotherhood must beobeyed.
I am here on a secret mission.” he continued,
“and must not be known. Do not on peril of
death, revsal my presence, even to the brother-
hood You may invent some story of rescue to
account for my escape.”

The faces of the two ruflians lighted up. The
secret brotherhood was certain] stern and se-
vere in its punishments, to put t ese hardened
men in such mortal terror.

“Will we be protected?" asked one of them,
humbly.

“ Yea I’will answer for your safety."

He coolly lit a match and rekindled his extin-
guished cigar. ‘

_ “You had better get away from these prem-
ises," he said to the men, “ They might prove

./

 

dangerous. But don’t follow me too soon. I
prefer not to be seen in compan . We law-

abiding citizens have to look out or the char- '

acter of our associates.”

With a light laugh he proceeded toward the
door of the room, the two villains following him
with scared and wondering eyes. -

But escape was not to be made so easily as he
imagined.

For at this moment heavy steps sounded on
the stairs, and before our nonchalant friend
could reach the door, it was flung o n from
outside, and four men walked into t 9 room.
At their head was one whom Dave '
at a glance as the leader of his former captors.

The tableau was an interesting one. The new-
comers gazed with bewilderment on the freed
prisoner, who was walking away so coolly from

is two keepers. A 100 of fu came into
their leader’s face as he looked at t ea men.

“ Traitors!” he hissed. “ Is it thus you obey
orders? Have you forgotten the penalty of
treason?”

Dave, after asli ht‘ start on beholding this
new danger. had re psed into his previous non~
chalance. He continued to smoke, ng
the now-comers with easy assurance.

“ Do you want me?" he quietly asked.

“ I fancy so,” was the grim response.

“ All ri ht. I never object to good company.”
He took t e opportunity. as his face was
turned to his previous captors, to make t em a
warning gesture. “ As for these good fellows,”
he continued, “you needn’t be a with
them. The are not the keenest wi obs
in the worl , as I hadth convinced them that
they had got hold of the wron man. If you
ha n’t been so awkwardly out 0%
visit I would have walked out with a whole
skin. Why weren‘t you kind enough to have
business elsewhere for ten minutes more?”

The leader of the gang looked at the speaker
the anger in his face s owly giving way, until
he burst into a. grating laug . ‘

“ Han me if you don’t take things coolly!”
he ejac ated. “ Snatch him, men! He is as
sharp as a steel-trap. and cunning as a fox.
Snatch him !” '

Dave’s quietness, in factnwas that of the vol-
cano. He was on the very point of leaping
on his foes. and opening a passage to the stairs
with his sledge-hammer fists, when they leaped
upon him in response to this order.

He did strikes brace of blows, sending one
fellow headlong to the floor, while a Second
reeled back against the wall. But the others

were fooquickto permit himto use’his fists'

again. His arms were caught and hampered, and
struggle as he would he could not escape hem
these strong foes.

weight of his fists were on him in a moment,

and despite the athletic young man’s utmost-

eflorts, his arms were drawn back and bound
behind him. ' .

His two former captors had stood irresolub
during this movement.” But for the gesture of
warning he had made them they would have
come to his rescue. As it was the fancied that
the chief of the lizard fraterni must have
“2:11 reasonsfor wishingto preserve hiatu-
co .

order inyour ‘ I

The two who had' felt the '

  
  

 

 

 
  
 

 
      

M". "Ad—1),:a‘uue', w“.- ....

-—._.__..‘_J._

. - '8-

 

 

m ' .3“u.44~&. 'm

The Dandy, Detective.

 

At this moment the bell of a. nei hboring
clock struck the hour of twelve. The leader of
the villains started Time was rapidly passing.
Their risoner might have left orders for pur-
suit. twould not do to dispose of him here.
He must be removod to a safer place before a
rescue could be attempted.

A hasty conference took place between the
villains. It was followed by the‘ dispatch of
one of them down—stairs, apparently to see if
the coast was clear.

In a few minutes more Darnly was conducted
down the stairs by two of his captors. The
leader turned to the two men who stood with
pale faces awaiting the conclusion of this scvue.

“ Follow me," he harshly commanded. “ You
may have been deceived by this keen-witted
fellow. We shall see. Iwill give you an op—
pooortiupityto prove your faith to the brother-

A dark cloth was thrown over Dave’s head,
and he was rapidly hurried from the door of
the house. In a moment he was forced into a
carriage, which evidently stood just before the
door. It was driven rapidly away.

This journey lasted for half an hour, when
the carriage gain stopped. He was taken
from it with the same precaution, and felt that
he was being led into another house. The door
closed with a- clung behind him. He was again
a prisoner

 

CHAPTER XII.

A FRIEND ON THE oursmn.‘
MEANWHILE, in other directions, things were
moving on. The efl’o‘rt to discover the robbers
of Knight & RD ers’s store was yet without any
ViSible results. he authorities, of course, had
claws, they always have clews, or profess to
have, which answers the same purpose with the
gullible public. In fact, however, the matter

yet remained a complete mystery. I
In other uarters events were in motion. Sue
Dart, Dave s lady associate, was gradually. ro‘
grossing in her object. She had made horse f so
ble to the female members of Mr.
ters's household, that her visits there were
gladly welcomed, and she was gradually getting
its of useful information from these loquacious
ladies; The kitchen usually has a shrewd idea
of ,what is going on in the rlor, and the
kitchen is ready to talk where t e parlor would
prefer to keep silent. This Sue very Well knew,

i and she was wise enough to seek information by

the back door in regard to the secrets of the
front ortion of the house. .

Wit out his dreaming of it, a net of suspicious
circumstances was slowly being wound around
Bently Masters. At Sue’s su gestionta police
Scout was put upon his trac ,and his every
movement shadowed.

At the same time Will Masters was engaged
in hunting up Jacob, the man who had acted as
eoachman for his father at-the time of the ab-

duction. _ . '
There was no great difficultfi in nding him,
He was now driving for a r. ompkins, of

Logan uare. But unfortunately for his quest
Jocob % had his eye-teeth cut.'and did noé
to pumpin‘ worth a farthing He was

absolutely ignoran of anysuch circumstance

 

as that to which Will sought to call his atten-

tion.

Will, at last, left him in despair, and with the
feeling that the silent Jacob had been paid to
have a. bad memory. Evidently, if anything
was to be got out of him, it must be by some
other means.

With this brief glance at what is going on
elsewhere, we must return to the adventures of
Dandy Dave, whom we left in a somewhat un-
pleasant predicament.

But Dave had been in many a. predicament
in his life, and had always proved equal to the
occasion. He had, in fact, escaped from very
serious peril within the last two hours, and
therefore, when he now found himself locked up
in a close room, he felt very little dread of the
possible results.

“ I bet high that Tom Parsons is scoutingor
me now," he surmised. “ Poor Tomi he is m
to disappointments. He' is wideawake, though,
sometimes, and may succeed in tracling me to
this den. At any rate I will find some wa to
get out; and meanwhile I think I will ta. 9 a
na to pass the time.”

Lasting himself on a lounge that occupied one
corner of his room, the reckless fellow was soon
sound asleep.

He was roused from his slumber b a sound at
the door. Opening his eyes lazily, 6 saw that
a man had just entered the room, bearing with
him the requisites to a good meal.

He arranged the dishes leisurely upon the
table, fixing his eyes curiously upon the recum~
bent risoner the while.

This steady gaze at length arousad Dave’sat— ‘
tention. He opened his sleepy eyes and returned
the man’s look. It was with a. slight start that
he recognized one of the two men from whom he
had so shrewdly delivered himself that mom-

in . .
Ila rose on his elbow, and looked toward this s I A »

rson.

“ You here 1” he remarked.
trusted you again?”

“ Hist l” cautioned the man, with his finger to
his lips. “ There are others on guard. But they
are friends of mine, and I ot the privilege of
bringing in your meals. hat are we to do,
sir? I and my partner are ready to do anything
you order. Do you want to keep seeret yet?”

Dave deliberated a moment

“ What is in thewind?” he asked.
skull-cracking plans, eh?”

“Not just now,” answered the man, cautious-
ly. “ But there may be tomorrow. We don’t
know the counsels of the chiefs.”

“ That is all right,” replied Dave .“ Kee at
hand, I will tell you when to act. You had t-
ter 0 now. They might suspect you if you lin-
ger ere.”

The man had reached the door on his depar-
ture when a low sound from the prisoner’s lips
caused him to turn. A new thought had come
to Dave’s mind. ,

“Is there not,” he asked, “ with this division
of the brotherhood, a young lady named Lucille
Ernestine?”

The man slightly started.

“ I have seen such a. lady," he WWW “I

“ Have they

“ Any more

.did not know...”

 

remark.

‘ brin

D

24

“Yes,” interru ted Dave. “I have let you
into a secret w oh you must carefully kee .
The lady was badly hurt, perhaps killed, a wee
or so a o. I have no late advices of her condi-
tion. wish you to find out, secretly, and re-
port to me."

The man hesitated a moment. -

“Can I show the Seal of the chief, if neces-
mq?" _ I

‘ Yes. If necessary. Not otherw1se.”

Again making a sign of silence, tho man left
the room.

“ Good, so far,” and Dave turned to his sup—

r, with an appetite. “ You can lock our

oors to your heart‘s content, so long as I ave
a friend on the outside. The fellow verily be-
lieves me the chief of this brotherhood of scoun-
drels. If I can only keep him quiet now, and
work my game well, I may get to the bottom of
the biggest thing that has turned up for the
last twenty years. But the fate of Luellle is the
first thing thearn. I will risk all the rest for
that.’

Imprisonment did not spoil Dave’s appetite.
He was not long in making way with the plenti-
ful spp r which had been provided.

But slip did not come as soon as usual that
night. The long nap which he had taken in the
afternoon, and anx1ety which he felt about Lu-
cille, kept him long awake.

Slumber at length ended his 101:5 vigil. It
was full morning when he waken . t was
now the opening of the door that called him to
consciousness.

He looked u eagerly. It was the man he
he to see. 6 brought with him the prison-
er’s breakfast.

“ I could not come before,” was his cautious
“ I had to have some pretext.”

Dave restrained his impatience while the man
arranged the table. It would not do to display
too much erness. He leaned back in his
easiest attitu e, and quietly watched the move-
ments of his visitor.

The latter quickly accomplished his task, and
then approached. . _

, “’I have found her,” he said, cautiously.

Dave‘s heart leaped, but he forced himself to

calm.
“Alive or dead?” he asked in a tone of
unconcern that told little of the feeling at his

heart.
“ Alive, and well. She was only slightly hurt. r

She has recovered.”
“ Thank God!” was the mental e aculation of

I ' the hesrer, thongh no sound

slips. He
remained silent or a full minute, his hea throb-
biififiawith joy.

' emissary waited in silence for his next
orders.

“ It is necemary that I should see her,” Dave
at len h remarked. “There is important busi-
ness 0 the brotherhood which requires that we
should have an immediate interview. Can you
her here?” ’

“ oubtful," the man res nded. “I will try.
But sup she refuses follow me! What

shall l to her?”
“ “ Give her this.

Here,” answered Dave.
You will need nothing more.” _
line from his pocket. and
*‘f '

Hetook them

The  Detective.

 

      

wrapped it carefully up, without letting the
man see what it was.

“ But if the guards refuse to pass her?”

“ Don’t fear. She will bear a token of authori-
tiy which they dare not refuse. Hasten now.

very minute is important.”

The man left, with a look of satisfaction upon
his face. It was no light thing for him, one of
the humblest members of the eat brotherhood
in crime, to become the truste emissary of their
dreaded chief.

Again the slow minutes passed by. Breakfast
was soon dispatched, though not without some
apgrehension of poison in the food. Yet he had
su oient trust in the good faith of the man who
had brought it to take a certain amount of risk,
particular y as he had 'a marvelously fresh appe-
tite 'ust then.

“ trust my man will not fail,” he remarked,
as he uneasily'paced the room. “ But there may
be a. dozen things to hinder. Why didn’t I have
him bring mea pistol or knife, or some weapon?
I may have to f! ht my way out et.”

The minutes engthened into ours, and still
he kept up his uneasy walk. At length the
sound of voices came to him from beyond the
locked door. He listened eagerly. Was that a
woman’s soft tones?

For several minutes, the conversation contin-
ued. Then he heard the slow opening of the
door. He stood with eager eyes.

In a moment more it wag thrown open. A
silken shimmer came from the shadowy space
be and; the gleam of a remembered face.

ith dilficulty he restrained himself. He
saw this figure advance into the room, with a
face changing from pale to red. He heard the
closing of the door, and the sullen click of the
lock. And then he started forward.

“ Lucille l”

“ David 1”

In a moment the were in each other’s arms,
his eyes on that
that sweet mouth.

“ Mihel Mine again!” he exclaimed. “ Though
I mourned you as dead I”

She said nothing, but yielded in happy con-
tent to his warm embrace.

 

CHAPTER XIII.
m rmws’ rams“.

Tou Pansons’s efforts to track the abductors
of his friend proved futile. The marks of car-
riage-wheels were found just outside the door.
but they were quickly lost. Inquiry proved
useless. No one had observed any specml car-
riage. The paming of carriages in that locality
was too common to excite any attention. Tom
was utter] baffled, and returned to the cit

uite crest allen, after leaving a man atc
t a su house.

“ Dave hasn’t been here?" he questioned Lieu-

tenant Hill, on reaching the Police Headquar-

ters.

“ No. Has he escaped i”

“I am afraid not. Onlyehe's such a slippery
coon that I thought may he might have slid
through their hands. They’ll be wide awake if
they fell the bestof DaVe Darnly, now I tell
you.

r

  

early-loved face, his lips on

 

h P!

 

  
    
 

 

 
   

’ The Dandy Detective} 26

 

“ But what did you discover?”

Parsons proceeded to describe the result of his
investigation. Harry listened with dee inter-
est, and remained silent for some time a ter the
stor had concluded.

“ ell, that’s the whole of it,” said Tom, im-
patiently. “ What‘s to come next? I thought
you’d be ready with some good idea."

“ It is this party that Dave has been trailing
that has carried him off,” suggested Harry.

“ It don’t need a prophet to tell that.”

“Very well. We have the whole thing here
in a nut-shell,” and he laid his hand on the dia-
gram. “No doubt he has been taken to one of
their dens. What follows? We must make a
raid on them.”

“ By thunder, yes!” cried Tom, springing u
and cracking his heels. “ A good thought. II)
knew you’d hit the bull’s—eye."

“ A raid in force,” continued Harry. “ You
have already one of their dens under guard.
There are 'ust twelve more, according to this
diagram. e will strike them altogether, and
in force. Say a half—dozen good men to each,
with a wide—awake leader.”

“ Good,” answered Tom. “I’ll take one. If
we only knew how to use the ss-word and
5p we might walk into their a ections before

ey knew what was up. I’ll take this red spot
for mine. I think I know the place. It’s a lone
ly sort of old mansion on Meeting House Lane,
well out of the city. Just the place they would
be likel to take a prisoner to."

“  That means war, Tom. I’ll take this
white 5 ot for mine. I go for peace, you see.”

“ An I for war to the knife,’ answered Tom,
hotly. “ These coons have got to look out for
themselves when I go for their mutton.”

“ You bloodthirsty wretch 1” laughed Harry.
“ But I leave it to you to work it up, as I have
other affairs on hand just now. It Will take all
afternoon to organize the arties. We can
make our descent in the morning.”

" I doubt if they‘ll relish a very early call,”
returned Tom. “ But leave it to me. I will get
the thing in sha before night.”

He turned to eaVe the room, but was hindered
by the opening of the door, and the entrance of
a. person well known to him.

‘ Good-afternoon, Sue," he said, as that trim
little woman entered. “ Glad to see you. On
business, 1 sup ose?”

“ Yes,” she riefiy answered. “ Where’s Mr.
Darnly?"

“ Gone up,” returned Tom. “Fallen among
the Philistines. If you’ve got any fish that
wants quick frying you can’t wait for Dave. Is
it something about that trail he put you on?
The Masters job?”

“Yes,” she res nded. “ But I don’t under—
stand. Where is r. Darnly?”

Harry, who had just stepped up and greeted
their lady visitor, explained. Sue’s face grew
long as she listened, for Dave Darnly was one of
her is] admirations.

“ e’ve ot them nailed, though,” Harry con-
cluded. “ on’t fear but that Dave will be free
again before noon to-morrow. But what have
you learned about that other business?”

She proceeded to tell that Bently Masters had
been followed on one of his expeditions, and had

 

been traced to a camp of G ies, which had re-
cently come into that neigh rhood.

“ I doubt if it was to have his fortune told,"
she continued. “ I have learned that a party
very similar to this was in the same spot a year
ago, about the time that oung Thorndike was
stolen. They have not en seen since until
now.”

“ That looks suspicious," remarked Harry.
“ But if it was they that stole the child, the
would hardly have brought him back wit
them.”

“ I have looked through their cam , as far as
I could without creating suspicion ’ continued
Sue. “But I can see no oung folks there but
a lot of copper-colored litt e vagrants. There is
gomne,that could possibly answer to young Thorn-

e.

“ That is not so sure,” answered Tom. “ These
rascals would not be long in chan, ng a fair
skin into the deepest coffee color. here is this
camp, Sue? Here is a city map. Point out the
spot on it.”

After some minutes’ careful examination, Sue
put her finger upon a point near the right border
of the map.

“ This must be about the place.”

Harry looked at Tom significantly, and laid
his hand on the diagram.

“Here it is,” he remarked in a low tone. “ A
black spot. Are these G sies in the gun l"

“ Looks confoundedly i 0 it,” mutter Tom.

“You had best strike out, them—All right,”
he continued, turning to Sue. “I will see that
our Gypsy friends are investigated. But it had
better be left till tomorrow. Then we will like-
ly have Dave Darnl to help us.”

This idea suited no to a. fraction, for she had
a most exalted idea of Dave’s abilities. She left
with an intention of keeping a close watch on
the rovin fortunetellers. ‘.

By nig t Tom Parsons had everything pre-
pared for the intended raid. There were twelve
places to be visited and searched, and for this
twelve parties were organized, consisting of six
men each, a detective ofiicer being at the head
of each party.

Ten o’clock of the next morning was the time
fixed for the raid, 9. simultaneous descent being
intended, so there could be no possible warning

1V8".

g Ten o’clock sounded from a hundred clocks

throughout the great city. The raidin parties

who had long smce been ready, move up, and

quickly placed sentinels around the suspected

giansions. The remainder moved toward the
oors.

Tom Parsons, on account of the isolation of
the mission he had chosen, led a somewhat
larger party than the others. At the stroke of
tan a num er of these were placed on guard
around the house. This proceeding was unob-
served from within, for no person was visible at
door or Window of the mansion.

It was a large, old-fashioned, stone house sur-
rounded by various out—houses, and might ave
been a residence of some of the nabobs of the
period of the Revolution.

Tom Parsons, with the remainder of his
party, drew up to the open front door of this
mausxon.

  

\

While these efforts for the recovery of Dave
Darnly were in train, that worthy was not rest-
ing easy under the strain of imprisonment.
The discovery that the lady of his love was still
living. and her entrance to his prison, had for
the time driven all other thoughts from his
mind. But, the first transport of joy over, the
géiestion of escape became again a prominent
1 ea.

“ Something must be' done, Lucille,” he said.
“I do not care for myself, but your entrance
here may endanger you if these ruflians learn of
it. Can we not devnse some plan of escape?”

A smile came upon her face.

“ Trust me for that,” she replied. “ The sig-
net rin will be our ‘open sesame.’ Not a man
here wi dare to disobey it. Have you used it,
as l advised you?”

“ Yes, and saved my life by its use.”

“I would not have credited that fellow you
sent to me but for the ring,” she replied. as she
showed it to him upon her finger. “ We will
try its effect upon his associates.”

A significant knock which she gave upon the
door causad it to be opened from outside. A
stern-faced fellow held it half open, while he

within.

“ Do you wish to come out?” he asked.

“I wish for myself and Mr. Darnly to go
free,” she answered in a haughty tone.

The jailer laughed derisive y.

She lifted her hand and held before his eyes
the ring that glistened upon her finger.

The man fell back as if he had been struck.
His eyes distended in astonishment. The ring
acted like a talisman. _

At a signal from Lucille’s hand Dave followed
her through the open door. They found them-
selves in a sort of. ante-room, which was occu-
pied by four persons. The prisoner instantly
reco nized two of them as his keepers of the
prevmus day. The third was the man who had
Just started back from the doc . The fourth
now rose and came forward.

“ What in the fiend’s name does this mean?”
he exclaimed. -

“ Back! on your life I” ordered Lucille, con-
fronting him. “ Do you dare question the
si et of the chief?"

he ring flashed before his eyes. It had the
same effect upon him as upon the others. He
fell backNvith a like gesture of astonishment.
There seamed to be a wonderful potency in this
mysterious ring. '

he captive walked through his kee rs with
as much im unity as though they ad been
smitten by a ightning stroke. He eigned not
to look at them as they moved with respect
from his path~ But he was not destined to es-
ca so easily.

or at this instant the outer door suddenly
0 ed and two men entered the room. One of
t cm was the man who seemed to act as leader
of this division of the gang. The other was a
stran r a man of small frame, but with the
eye 0 a hawk, and a look of stem resolution
about his mouth. '

Lucille fell back, with suddenly paling face,
as her eyes beheld this visage.

“ What does this mean?” asked the leader
sternly.

u

The Dandy notectivé.

 

“Are you all bewitchedi Yesterday

I found two of you setting this stranger free
against my express orders. Today two of my
most trusty men are turning traitor. What am
I to understand by this?"

“We dare not disobey. We have been or-
dered to release him on the authority of the liz-
ard seal."

“ Hal” cried tho leader, with a start.

“ Hold 1” came in a calm, stern voice from the
stran er. “So, Lucille Ernestine,” he con-
tinue zturning with a sneer to the pale wo-
man, ‘ this is your handiwork. It is to this
use you have put my ring? Have you forgotten
the enalty?”

“ have not I” cried Dave, snatching a revol-
ver from the pistol-pocket of a’man near him.
“ Protect me, man! Down with these traitors!
0n the authority of the ring I command it!”

The four men, somewhat irresolute, ran ed
themselves at his back. For amoment it loo ed
as if the two intruders would be overbome.
But the stranger did not move a step, or change
a line in his countenance. He simply threw
gpgn his coat and revealed a peculiar y shaped

a e.

“ am your chief ” he said, in a loud, com-
manding voice. “The ring was stolen. Seize
themvboth. They are traitors to the brother-

Dave raised his pistol menacingly, but it was
dashed from his hand. He was instantly seized
by the men who stood behind him. The badge
glad produced a yet more powerful effect than

e ring. .

Lucille, with hasty resolution, sprung for the
fallen pistol. She had just , girasped it, when
there came a. sound of steps wit out, and a quick
knock upon the door.

A significant look passed between the two
headers. The chief signed with his hand to the

cor.
keyhole of the portal.

“ Who comes?” he asked.

“A friend,” came in deep tones from without.

“ No friend can enter without a name.

“ Milton,” came back through the door.

It was the correct pass-word.

The speaker rose and opened the door a slight
interva . He extended his hand through the
opening. It was grasped from without in a pc-
culiar gripe.

“ Our friend can enter,” he said, loosening the
stron chain which yet held the door, and which
he be adjusted before opening it. , ,

“Ha! what treachery is this?” he exclaimed,
as he saw the face of the man without. “ Help,
here! We are betrayed I”

He pushed the door to with all his strengh
and sought to fasten it. But at that i i:
there came a quick sharp report, and his arm
fell helpless to his side, germ by a‘ bullet.

It was Lucille who . She had re-
venged herself for the wound which this man
had given her on a former occasion. The chief
sprung to take the lace of his helpless confed-
erate at the door, ut he was too late. For
there came a surge upon it from 'without, which
flung it wide open. and a half-dozen of resolute-
lookln men, pistol in hand, rushed into the
room, om Parsons at their head.

“Down, ye hounds!” he cried. “The men _

/

The other turned and put his lips‘to the

    

 

 

Y!

 

 

   
  

       
 

The Dandy Detective.

27'

 

that draws a weapon is nailed! Hal Dave! Are
you therei—Surrender, ye li ht—flngered rogues,
or we’ll make mince—meat 0 you all I"

Some of the men looked as if inclined to fight,
but the gleam of that array of pistols, and the
stern faces behind them, was too perilous a fact
to dispute. The chief recognized the uselessness
of resistance. He was standing by an open win—
dow through which he suddenly sprung. Tom
ran to the opening, but he had alread leaped
again from a shed on which he had lan ed.

“ Let him go. The boys below will rah him,”
he mid, philosophically. “ We’ve got you out
of the woods, Dave, and that’s our main object.”

CHAPTER XIV.
DAVE man 'rmt GYrsms.

A'l' every point the raid had been successfully
made. Some of the houses, however, were
emp . Others contained only innocent-seeming
fami ‘es with no trace of any contraband mate-
rials. hut in several instances suspic10us~look-
mg persons were captured, and material found
that had apparently been stolen.

But the most essential find was made at the
den which Tom Parsons had raided. Although
the chief of the gang escaped, his subordinate
and four others had been captured. And a close
search of the house revealed the strongest evi-
dence of their guilt. For in a cunnineg con—
cealed closet w ich was discovered in one of the
upper rooms a perfect mine of stolen oods ap-
peared. And among these was a ric display
of watches and jewelry, which there was no
doubt in Tom’s mind formed the spoils of the
late robbery at Knight & Rogers’s store

In another lace of concealment a plentiful
array of burg ar’s tools was unearthed consist-
ing of drills, chisels, wrenches, dark lanterns,
and all the paraphernalia of this unlawful trade.

“ Hang me. if we’vs hit such a bonanza for a
century 1" exclaimed Tom. “ It’s just the great-
est t’urn-up that I’ve ever had the good luck to
m l

 

“ And thank fiour stars you came when you
did,” answered ave, I‘for things were getting
very equally when your lucky knock came on

e door.”

Tom had already sent off for reinforcements,
and dispatched his prisoners under a strong
guard to the city, while another force was left

Wasession of the house.

0 h ve said that the raid was completely
success u]. This is a slight error. As was -
ready know, one of the suspected points was
occu ied by the Gypsies’ camp. It had been
sin: y intended to put this under surveillance,
Im a force could be gathered strong enough to
safel search it. But when the party chosen for
this uty reached the ground it was to find that
the Gypsies had decamped.

It was not long before Dave was put in pos-
Session of all the facts which had transpired
Since he had been made prisoner. These com-
prised the deciphering of the diagram, the raid
‘1 n the dens of the burglars, the new facts
w ich had been discovered in relation to the ab-
duction of Clarence Thorndike, and Sue Dart’s

icion of the Gypsies. _

‘ Then I’m .ylouur man for that,” cried Dave,
urnestly. “ st me to interview our distin-

 

guished visitors from Egypt. I’ve a notion I
can outg sy them, keen-witted as they are."

Taking ucille to the city and leaving her
with some friends, Dave proceeded to put this
important object in train. He soon learned of
the removal of the Gypsficamp, a fact which. in
Connection with Bently asters’s late visit to it,
increased his suspicions. As for Sue Dart she
too had disappeared. Tom’s idea was that she
was in pursuit of the Gypsies.

“ I don’t suppose it will be very hard to trace

them,” remarked Dave. “ I am after them hot-
footed. But I want to get my eyes on Will
Masters first. He may lave learned some-
thing.”
. He was wide awake enough to make his first
inquiries for Will at the house of Mr. Thorn-
dike, shrewdly conceiving that his lady—love
would be best aware of his place of residence.
As it proved however, Miss Kate was not at
home. She had gone out for a walk on School
Lane, a beautiful rural street adjoining Mr.
Thorndike’s residence.

Dave quickly took the same direction, with a
stron‘gisusEIicion that he would he most likely to
find ill asters in this manner. Nor was he
wrong. He had not gone far cro he perceived
the object of his qucs , in company with Kate
Thorndike. The were strolling along with all
the intimate con dence of two youn lovers.

They started slightly, and drew a little apart,
on hearing a voice accost them.

“ Excuse me,” said Dave. “ But I wish to
speak with you on a sub'cct of importance. I
have heard something, iss Thorndike, which
may possibly lead to the finding of your lost
brother."

“ Oh i have you i” she cried, with clasped hands.
“Heaven 1grant that you may succeed! Will
you not to me what you have discovered?”

“ Not at present,” he quietly replied. “ It is
too indefinite. But Mr. Masters was on the
same guest. I wish to know if he has learned
anything. "

“I have not,” re‘oined Will. “ There is a

rson from whom expected to gain some in~

ormation, but I have failed to do so.”

“It may not be nocemar ,” answered Dave.
“And there are reasons w y it would be best
for you to take no further step in the matter. I
fear it comes too nearly home to you. Can you
Miss Thorndike, give me any points by which I
can rec ize our brother? Or is there any
househol wor or song which will arouse re-
collection in him?”

“ Yes, yes 1" she eagerly replied. “ There is a
lullaby which we used to singto him. It goes
in this way.”

She sung a few lines in her fresh young voice,
Dave humming after her in order to catch the

tune.

“ That will do,” he said. “ I think I have it.
He was a little blue-eyed fellow, was he not?”

Kate gave him a minute description of her
lost brother, an account colored egerhaps by
love, but from which Dave manag to extract
a clear conce tion of the child’s a pearance.

“ Thanks,’ he rejoined. “Tha lS allIwill
need. I hope I may be successful.”

f‘ Heaven send you may!” she ferventlyre-

plied.

 

 

28

4/ The Dandy Detective.

 

The further quest in search of the G psy
band did not prove so easy as DaVe be 1m-
agined. He traced them with no great diffi-
cult for some twelva miles from the city, but
at t is point he lost the trail.

A little non lused he continued his inquiries,
throu h the vi ages and at the farm—houses, un-
til he ghad gained a point about twenty-five miles
out. He was passing, in a. vexed frame of mind,
through a rural hamlet called Merton, with a
strong inclination to tly widen his circle of
inquir , when he su denly encountered what
seem a familiar face.

It was a youn lady, dressed in a light sum-
mer silk, who p 8. ed her parasol very coquet-
tishly as she pa him, while a pair of laugh-
in eyes were fixed upon his countenance.

6 her, however, but he had not one
far he ore he turned back, with that inde nite
sense of recognition which one so often feels.
The lady had turned back at the same instant.

A puzzled look from Dave; a slight smile upon
her face; and then he burst out with hasty
ener y:

“ ue Dart, on my life! And I’ll be shot if
she didn’t shut up my eyes with her masquerad-
ing! Well done, Sue. I didn’t think you could
do it. But what brings you here, girl? You
were tracking the Gy sies. You have not let
them give you the slip?’

“ I fancy not,” she Iaughingly replied. “ I
thou ht you knew me better than that.”

“ hey are near here. then?”

“ Not three miles out. They are encamped in
the woods there to the left.”

“ Good. But what are the developments?
Has anything turned up?”

“ Nothin sure,” she res nded. “ I begin to
fancy that am suspec , and have come to
this town to change my character. Would you
like to have your fortune told?”

“Yes, I’ve a weakness that way.”

“ Wait for me, then; I will be with you in ten
minutes.”

He waited with patience, curiously surveying
the country folks who passed, and as curiously
surveyed by them in turn.

The country folks were at least stalwart and
healthy, and the girls buxom and rosy. He
stood easily resting upon his cane, and survey-
ing the passers.

‘ Now there’s one with the walk of a Juno,”
he said to himself. “ There’s nothing like coun-
try air and country livin to bring beauty to a
woman’s frame, and the g ow of health to her
cheek. That one now—”

He paused in his soliloqu , for there was an
undou ted smile upon the gir ’s lips.

“Hang me for a ninny if it isn’t Sue Dart
again !”

“Mebbe ye’d like to have your fortune told
00d sir?” asked she with an awkward shake of
er calico skirts, and in a most rustic dialect.

Dave lau hed merrily.

“ The gir is a real genius,” he affirmed. “ We
had best not to be seen together, Sue. You go
on, I will follow on at a distance.”

“I'm not at al afeard of a good-looking gen-
tleman’s company,” answered Sue, with alaugh-
ing smirk.

he turned and walked with the free step of a

 

country lass out of the village. Dave let her

et a considerable distance in advance before he '

eisurely followed.

Three miles of a country road on a warm
spring day is no trifle, and our city friend was a
little relieved when he saw, close at hand to his
left, the strip of woodland to which Sue had
pointed. Just then a 1i ht
lug rapidly up the mag. The single occupant
fiazed curiously out upon him as he passed.

avo returned the am. There was somethin
familiar in the man 3 face, but he could not te
what it was.

He had now reached the skirt of the wood,
and saw Sue apparently waiting for him.
There was an earnest look upon her face.

“Did you see him?” she as ed in a low, eager
tone.

“ See whom?”

“ Bently Masters.”

“ Ha l” cried Dave.

it Yes.”

“ By J ovel the play is thickenin l I have
never seen him before, but I know h in now by
his resemblance to his son Will. Things are
working, Sue. Where is this camp?”

“ J ust ofl.’ here in the woods.”

“ All right. We had better stroll in separ-
ately.”

In a few minutes they found themselves in the
midst of a strange scene. A half-dozen long,
low wagons, near which their well-fed beasts in-
dustriously cropped the gram. One or two lon ,
oval tents made of a dirty brown canvas. 11
their midst some dark-skinned, tramp—like men
stretched lazily upon the ground. In the fore-
ground were several ill~ avored women, who
sought to induce a grouip of curious rustics to
have their fortunes to] .

As the two new-comers strolled in from oppo-
site directions these Sibyls sought them as more
promising metal for their skill.

“ My fortune, eh?” said Dave to one of the
youngest of these dusky~skinned women. “ Ve'
well. I wouldn’t mind knowing what’s to ha
penktg me, if you can only promise me any g -

uc .

He held out his hand, over which the woman
bent, intently observing its lines. But with lit-
tle heed to what she was saying or doing, his
eyes roamed the precincts of the camp, particu-
larly observing the children, of whom there
were a full dozen of various ages. But there
was not a. face or form amon them that bore

“ He in the carriage?”

any resemblance to that whic Kate Thornkike

had described.

Paying the woman for her profuse romises
of good luck and happy life, to which ave had
paid not the slightest heed, he edged over to-
ward Sue, who was playing the part of a coun-
try girl to perfection.

The group of rustics, encouraged by the good
fortunes promised him, were now, with many a
laugh and blush, investing their loose shillings
in the fortune-mongering of the dusky Gypsy
maidens.

“ I don’t make out the child,” Dave cautious-
ly whispered.
cealment.”

“ Hist l” cautioned Sue.

“ Bentli Masters is
here. Ijust caughtaglimpse of i

s carriage

carriage came whirl— -

u

“ If here he must be kept in con- ‘

ve
3)’
re

he

6" 8‘5?

TTV 0

ywww‘im‘l'lfl
‘-

The Dandy Detective.

29

 

"I 4 throu h the trees, and one of the Gypsies has

\

,_ selves in

gone owninthat direction."

In a few moments the man returned. He
whispered something to the other men, who
were in an instant upon theirfeet. Dave jud ed
from their movements that there was an m-
mediate intention to break up the camp.

 

CHAPTER XV.
'rnn CAMP or run GYPSIES.

Tim women of the Gypsy camp were still en-
gaged in tellin the fortunes of their rustic
Visxtors, while t emen lazily employed them-
reparations for departure. Evident-
1 enoug the viSIt of Bently Masters was at
t 6 bottom of this movement. Dave ran the
affair through his mind as he strolled about the
camp. Was it the raid on the burglars which
had caused this alarm? If so there could be
little doubt but that the stolen child must be in
the hands of these strollers.

He bummed lightly as he walked leisurely
about, taking great apparent interest in the
movements of t e dusky wanderers. His low-

ummed tune became louder as he moved
around tothe rear of the tents and wagons.
There was no one here but two or three of the
frolicsome children.

.He was singing the lullaby which Kate Thorn—
dike had taught him. As he did so his keen
eyes moved from point to point, heedfully
Watching every indication. Vi ere the curtains
0! the wagon nearest him moving? It seemed to

In so, as he sung more loudly a verse of his

song.
' T ecanvas covering was indeed moving. It

Was partly pushed aside by a slender arm. A
Small dusky face appeared at the opening.
Dave continued to sing, but his hand was raised
with a gesture of warning. He had recognized
the blue eyes and regular features of Clarence
Thorndike. The lost child was found! .
The childish face drew back at his warning
gesture. His song ceased as he worked back to-
ward the cup of Gypsies. The men were on-

'88 ed in s ewly harnessing their horses.

ave spokeafew words in low tones to Sue
Dart. She started and her face grew deeply
flushed at his words. They drew aside, and
lleld a short, earnest conference, after which
t"Jay separated, Dave again approaching the
Soup of men, while Sue edged carelessly around

Ward the rear of the camp.

Five quiet minutes passed. The women were
Still occu ied with their deeply interested audi-
ence. histling lightly. and with his hands
thrust deeply into his pockets, Dave stood watch-
mg the lazily-moving men. At this moment, a
cry of alarm, in a childish voice, arose from be-
hind the wagons. The men started. One of
them ran hastil back, unheeding the gentle-
l11_anly-dressed Visitor, who managed to stand
dll‘ectly in his way). The consequence was that
he stumbled over ave’s foot, and fell headlong
and sprawling to the ground.

e immediately scrambled  his feet again, a
erce curse breaking from his lips.

“You stupid donkey,” he be an.

fore he could get any furt er. Dave’s hand
came with a ringing slap across his face.

“ I don’t allow any road tramp to talk to me
that way," he said.

The man’s eyes glared. He half drew a
wicked-looking knife. The other men ran for-
ward as if inclined to take part in the fight.
Instantly a pistol gleamed in Dave’s hand.

“ If it’s to be six to one, I’ll balance the odds
with a few bullets,” he remarked.

But the childish cries continued, and a couple
of dirty-faced little vagabonds came hastily run-
ning in.

“ She‘s nabbed the Kid! She’s nabbed the
Kid !” they cried.

A look of fear and anger passed over the faces
of the Gypsies. Several of them sprung for-
ward, and ran hastil around the wagons.
Dave’s eyes followed t em. There was no sign
of Sue.

He had been simply seeking to gain time.
But now, paying no further heed to the Gig)-
s1es, he [moved ofl? through the woods in e
opposite direction. In a minute or two he had
left the camp behind him, and was in close prox-
imity to Bently Masters’s carriage, which stood
just within the edge of the woods. Its occupant
was not visible. e had apparently gone deeper
into the woods, with his Gypsy associate. From
the direction of the camp came loud cries, min-
gled with curses.

Dave looked anxiously through the trees.
But his eyes lightened up when he saw a
woman’s form approaching with the speed of
the fabled Atalanta. It was Sue Dart who had
made a rapid detour in the forest, and was lins-
tening to gain the carriage. Through the folds
of her shawl was partly visible the head of the
rescued child.

“ Quick!” cried Dave, hastil cutting the
strap that confined the horse. “ loriousl well
done, Sue. In with you like lightning, or the
wolves are on our heels.”

He led the horse into the road as he spoke.
The sound of shouting and cursing veices grew
nearer. He sprung into the carriage himself
and seized the reins.

A sharp touch with the whip and the horse
leaped forward, just as the noisy pursuers broke
into the road a few yards above.

“ Stop, or we’ll check you with a bulletl"
came a loud, threatening voice.

A mocking laugh was all Dave’s answer.

A bullet came whistling past while the swift—
footed Gypsies leaped forward like hounds on
the track of the rapidly trotting horse.

“ Halt!" came in yet sterner tones.

“ That is Bently Masters’s voice,” said Sue.

Dave drew his own weapon as a bullet passed
through the rim of his hat. He set his teeth
firmly, and touched the horse more keenly With
the whip. The animal sprung suddenly forward,
by good fortune perha s, for the sound of a. vol-
ley of pistol-shots was eard behind them at the
same moment. I

“ You will have it then 1” he angrily exclaimed,
as he turned and fired back at the may ui'suers.

There was a loud cry; a man threw is arms
up wildly into the air; and then they saw no
more. The horse had dashed around a curve in
the road, and the infuriated pursuers were no
longer visible.

 

“ Good for our side, Sue!” cried Davo joyous-

 

   

    

30

The Dandy Detective.

4

 

And one

ly. “ We have distanced the rascals.
You have

of them I fancy, has got his rations.
struck the right child?”

“ Trust me for that.”

She threw off the enveloping' shawl, and re-
vealed the retty face of a be of some six years
of age, W 0 was clin ing esperately to her
while his eyes were ful of fright. His face had
been stained of a. dirt yellow by his captors, but
the likeness to Kate horndike was eVident at a
glance.

“ You won’t let them have me again?” asked
the child plaintively.

“ No, indeed, my boy. They shall never have
you again. That shot told, Sue. They have
given up the pursuit.”

We must hasten over the remainder of our
stor . We have carried our characters forward
to t e culmination of their purposes. The dens
of the burglars have been discovered, their gang
dispersed and part] captured, and the proceeds
of several lar e robberies regained; anion them
the whole 0 the stolen goods of Knig t and
Rogers.

And now, through the aid of Dave Darnly and
his shrewd associate, Sue Dart, the lost child of
the Thorndikes has been happily rescued.

We can scarcely describe the joy that reigned
in that household when their recovered darling
was placed in their arms, or the heartfelt thanks
which were showered on the heads of the keen-
Witted and fortunate rescuers.

But there are other events of importance to be
yet described. Davo Darnly lost no time, after
reaching the non rest town, in leadinglout a party
for the ca ture of the Gypsies, on. t 9 charge of
child-stca ing. He was too late, however. hey
had decamped, and were alread miles away.
But they had left behind them a ead record of
the late fight.

This was the body of a man, stretched cold
and dead on the fallen leaves of the forest, his
face covered with a dark cloth. 0n the removal
of this, Dave recogmzed, with a start of surprise
the face of Bently Masters. His return bulle
had struck home, and brought down the ring-
leader of the deSperate gang of kidnappers.

Further efforts were made to arrest the re-
mainder, but in vain. It was found that they
had abandoned their cam equipage and disap-
peared, and no trace of t eir after movements
could be discovered.

As for the arrested burglars, the evidence of
their uilt was too abundant to leave a shadow
of de ones in their favor. They were, in the
modern and expressive phrase, railroaded into
the penitentiary, each of them for a long term
of imprisonment. The chief, however, had es-
caped. After his alert leap through the window
he had overturned the policeman who sought to
stay his flight, and darted away into regionsun-
known, perhaps to reorganize the remaining
branches of is wide-spread brotherhood of
crime.

There was one m story yet to be cleared up.
Greatly as Dave arnly had learned to love
Lucille Ernestine, he could not reconcile this
feehng with his knowledge of her mysterious
connection with the burglars. He lost not a

moment in earnestly questioning her in regard
to this matter.

. w."

 

Her answer was a long one though we will
only trouble the reader with its main points.
She was a native of New Orleans, an or ban,
having lived there with some distant rela 'ves.
They ad introduced her to a gentleman calling
himself Russell Smith, who ad paid earnest
court to her.

He had seemed infatuated with her, and
finally, on the strong persuasion of her relatives,
she had accepted his suit, and had received from
him as enga ement ring the mysterious circlet
which she ha subsequently iven to Dave.

Before the time fixed for t 8 marriage, he had
come to her in great haste, with the story that
he had to leave New Orleans at a moment's
notice. He requested her to meet him in Phila-
del hia at a fixed date.

e had, confluently, come North and, by
his directions, h called at a certain house and
shown the ring to a arty described to her.

She was astonish at its effect, and at the ob-
sequious manner in which all the persons in this
establishment treated her. They, however,
trusted too much to her previous acquaintance
with their character, and were lacking in can-
tion. It was not long, therefore, ere she dis-
covered that she had been thrown among a gang
of burglars and that the ring she here was the
all—powerful signet ring of their chief.

It was about this time that Dave Darnly made
her acquaintance, and that she inadvertently let
fall some hints which his quick wit caught up,
and which led to all the stirring subsequent
events described in the foregoingpa 3.

She had never loved Russell mi however.
It was her own sense of loneliness and the per-
suasion of her relatives, which had induced her
to accept him.
him; now, since—

“ Since you have met me, and found one whom

on can love for himself,” cried Dave clasping her
11 his arms. “ I should advise Mr. Russell
Smith, if he wants to have a healthy time, to
kee away from here.”

T ere were two other lovers who had become V

equally happy. Every obstacle had now been
removed from the (path of Will
Kate Thorndike, an there was nothing in the
way of their bar)qu marria o.

It is true that t e joy of ate in her recovered
brother was somewhat clouded by Will’s grief at
the terrible death of his father. But such a
feeling, under such circumstances, could not long
survive. He was no longer an alien to the home
in which be had been born and in which he had
passed his childhood’s years, while the large es-
tate of his father was now all his own.

And so our sto ends, with two happ mar-
riages, that of W'l Masters With Kate orn-
dike, and that of Dave Darnly with Lucille
Ernestine. _

We will not venture to say which of thesewas
likely to prove the happiest, for both its lived
in a continual honeymoon. Dandy ave-how-
ever, still continued iu the service, and is al-
ways on duty when a piece of work of peculiar
delicacy or intricacy is to be handled, while his
friend, Tom Parsons, is still always ready to
lend a hand when any sort of rough work turns
u .

p THE END.

And now she would never have ' ‘

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32 OCTLVO PAGES.

 

efiADLng
POCKET LIBRARY.

 

1 Dcpdwnnd Dlvk. the Prince uf/lhu Roud. By

hnlwunl l.. \l'lmulur.
Kfllll..l Kl" ' ur The Rad Ri lit llnnd. 15'
lintl'unl-lill. "' ’ g l
The Flylnt: Ynnl 0e.

By Col. l‘renlisa lnurnhum.
The Double Dnggern.

By Edward L. Whreler.

The Twn Dam-(Ives: or, The Fortunes of u
By Alhnrt w. Aiki-n.
UV llntluln lllll.

ln-

llnwary Girl.
The I’rulrlc l’llnl.
The lhlll’uln IN ulwurd 1.. Wheeler.
Antelo c Abe. th I- «In. Hy ()Ii Canines.
Nell *ltle lllfl llny . nt. lly “Tvxun Jnck.”
Prim-o of the) l’istnl. Hy E. L.Vl'heoln-r.
ie llnv l'm‘mneer. My (1 l. lngruhum.
l ht. ll} 1‘. L3. llm-lmnzh.
lly Jmnn E. “mum, Jr.

i...- . nn.i.-I).m.1. kyle. LWht-uler.
Dlumnml I) -L: nr,’l'hn~ Riyalvrv ul' thu Yellow-

atune. Iiv (II-lnm-l l’n-ntisu luurulnv

    

 

 

 
 
   
    

  

  
 

i.
By 011 Canines.

Keen-l o, l'l'llll'v nl' llii‘ l'rui
(Dre on nl; Ivl'. Nick \\'hllll~n'n luyh'py. By Cart.
'. (I. Allmll‘

Deuth-ane. lln: mth. By E. L. \‘l'ln'rlcr.

Lam-o Jul-k llm \Il‘llllfl llnstungur. llv ()ll (Tunmu.

Rom-lug I’lulnh lhwkn‘uod, thu ltuchlutu
linngn-r. nv llurry st. «mg...

The B0 Clown. lly Frunk S.Flun.

The l’ nntmn Miner; or, Duddwnod Dick‘s
llonnnzn. By Ell‘VllI'|l L. \\ himlrl.

The Sun-(Hit: r-r, The Witch nl Durlun. By Capt.
Freilerirk \ ' ' tab-r.

The Dnmh spy. By all Cor-mes.

ltuttllnz Rube. By Hurry St. lu‘enl'ie.

(Ild Avnhuu-he. tim Alllllllllntur. By ‘. L. Wheeler.

Glnns- Eye. l.llu (,ll‘ulll. Shut ol' the West. By Capt. J.
l“. C. Atlllllls.

The Boy (,‘nptuln. Bx Rtrzer Sturhurk.

DlL-k lltu‘llng, the l’ouyl‘lxprusa Rider. By Captain
Frederick WhllLulmr.

Rob \Voull’. the ltnrdi-r Rnfllun. By E. 1.. when)",

Nltrhtlntrnle Nnt. By T. C. llurlJnnuh.

Black John. the RIva Auunt. I?! .l. E. Buduer, Jr.

0muhn 0H. thn Musk-d’l‘erwr. l E. L. “'lleult'l'.

Burt “Hula-r. the Trn'H‘mr. By George E. anl)...

TAhe Buy Rules 3 or, m Underground (lump. lly

. . "ml.
The \Vhltc lhifl’ulo. By Ger-rye E. Lusnlle.
.Ilm 1m me, Jr. By E. L. “healer.
thl llu el,tim Boy ’l‘rupyrr. By Cupt..l. RC. Adunm.
lh-mllv L ~e. the. [lnlmmvn Smut. mhnmnn Bill.
‘Slvk “'ltllllou'n Pet. By Capt. J. F. C. Adana.
l‘yndwond Dlvk’n Ettglcn; or, The Yard: of
mun llur. liy runnm 1.. \\'he\vlrr.
"r"c "order King. My Ull Running.
0m “ll-kory; or, l‘unily l‘4lllKll bculp. By llurry
SLGen “'

 

   

vr. The Scouts of the Yellow-

      

W
‘ iv Uu II. .l. 1‘. L. Adnmn.
firgfihgm llllll: ury 'l’hn Red Ritlu Tcurn. 11y
. . Yh lur.
Tlllllewgrlllhlgw hip. lly Cnl. l‘rnntlrs lngruhum.
The Red Brothel-hand. By W. .l. llnmiltn‘n.‘
Dandy Jaok; or. 'hu Uutluw of the Oregon 'lruil.
By T. C. Hurlmn
lanrfk-nhgzflrglli; _ I
l Ul“|‘..‘.¢'§'§;f.\ Lite for u Lit... By W. J.

 

  

r, Mustuug Sum und l-lla“ Pnrd."

 

. “they Joe. lly Philip S. “'nrnp.
ll‘lllecllhlfi... Robln flood; 01','l'hul’rulne ltnvar.
llv Butl‘ulo Illll.
Gold “Ille, the Shurpshontor. llv E. L. Wlicvh-r.
Old le’n l‘ubln : or, A Ureaulwru in thn “owls.
By Cupt. J. I". C. Admun.
Delaware Dlek, lllu You"): Ruugur Spy. By Oll
Cooniel. . V .
Mad 'l'olll “'ontcrn. By W . .l. llu‘nultnn.
Deadwood chk on Der-k; m (uluunty June,
the llu-roiuo of Whoop-UR; By E. .. Wheel-er.
Huwkeye Harry, the min; 'l‘rupper Runger. By
(lllclgnmdil’ “I. BLll‘ t'l l
e u no. I . y ‘0 . ron IIB nlrnmm.
Elbe Cort. tho Crow-Killer. By Alhurt W. Aiken.
Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo. By Edward L.
Wheeler. ' ‘

 

“owner/mmmmm’m‘d'h’wfifie/TWWEACAMwmmmmmmmmmmw'fi'mmmmmmmwuwfi

6E \Ylll flnmcrn, (hm llny Dnluntive. lly Clnu. Murrli.

68 Hal (Huger, the Glnnt Turpin-r. llv A. “K Alkali.

64 Rosebud Rob. BI" E““"”’" l" Wllt‘filmfi

65 nghtulng Jae. lly Cuptnln .l. l". C. Adnlnl.

60‘ K.“ Illurcl‘oot, the “'Wd-lluwh. By T. C. “ar-
mnx t.

67 Rollo, the Buy Rungur. By 01] Cnoniel.

68 ltlyl, thv Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. By
Edward 1.. Vl'lieelnr.

Oi Dfilcqtlvc "Ink; or,Thu Hero ln Ragl. By Chnrlel

. . mm.

70 Kurt- h‘lmt Both. the Boy Illtlenmn. lly Oll Cunmu-I.

" hlulr'p Nun; or, Thu Adventures ofu Friendch Buy.
lly . . Alunniler Pntlen-

'le 'l‘he Llon oftllo Sen. By Albert W. Aiken.

78 Photograph Phil,” llm Sleuth; ur, Rosebud th'l
)lltifllrllhflll'fllll'fl By E. .. W'hwler.

74 l h-nynne Pete; or, Nlcmleuml, the Dog Detective.
llr (,hnrlrn Morru.

lnlnnd .lhn: nr,’l‘he Pet ufthe Fruuily. By Brno.-

ln-nlge llrinyng (Jllt'll llnrkuwny).
“'ntch-Eye, the Shadow. By Edward L. Whehlor.
Dllvl.‘ l|bcnd Eye. the Boy Sniuguler. By Cal. P.
“gr” III“.

Dondwoml Dlvk’u Device. lly Ell. 1.. \‘Vheelur.

The Black )lllntungcr. My (Tum. l\lu_\-na Reid.

01d Front}, the Guide. By T. (‘. llurhuntzli.

The I‘m-u \ lpor. l'iy Col. hauling liuzruhnm.

82 Seth Jonen; ur,Thu (‘nytivunur the Frnnlirr. By
Eilwuril S. Ellis.

83 Ctlhflhl (illlct, tho Countarfelter Chlof. lly Edward

. lfl . er.

R4 The Du b Page; or. The Dngu’n Dunghtcr. By
Cupt. Fr irk Whutuhel.

H5 The llnv Mlnera. By Edward S. Ellis.

86 Jack ll‘urlmwny in New York.
brltlge llnniynz.

K? The llnnnnr (3n tnln. By Col. Prentln luuruhum.

88 Deadwood llle ‘ In Lei-driller or. A Strange
St-ohe for L:hurly. Hy Eilwurd 1.. Wheeler.

89 BI“ Blddon, Trapper; or, Lila lu thu Nurthwust.
lly Edward  Ellis.

90 Tlppy, the Texun. By George Gleason.

91 Minx-m Sam, the King 0! tbs Plains. By Jan. I.

a gar, . r. - ‘

9% The ocean Bloodhound. By Samuel W. I‘uru.

98 l'hll llnrdy, the llnsn liny. By Charla: Morrls.

9-3 llendwnod luck m- Deteetlve. By E. L.“'hlelu.

9» Buck Buokrnm. B ' (in min .1. F. C. Adnml.

96 (tilt-Edged chk. y E w-rd L. W'hwltnr.

9’? TllchBluc-k steed ol the Prairies. By Jamel
.. uwnn.

98 The Sen Serpent. By Juan Lawln.

99 lhmnnzu lllll. tlxn‘ Mun 'l'riwher. By E. L. Wheeler.

100 NM, 'l‘mld ' or, Tlln Futu «if the Sioux l‘uptivo. lly
ElllVlll‘ll S. lfi is.

101 Dunk": Davy; tho Yuung Bear Killer. By Harry

bl. George.
102 The Yellow Clllel'. By Cupt. Mayne Reid.
103 CM”, the Girl Sport. lly Edwnrd L. “'huulur.
104 The Blnek Sellooner. By Roger Stnrhuclr.
105 Ilnndnomc llarry, the Boutbluck Detutlvo. By
Churlrr lllnrrls.
106 Nluht-llnwk K“; or, the Daughter of the Ranch,

lly on. E. Budgcr .lr.

i 1, By Edward L. Wheel".
K“. B“! T. C. Harbaugh.
a. l3! l'lltlt Dnnmnt.
The “fund Inder. By nor a W. Brnwne.
1 Rm... Bob. thu Kiugnl'lluutbluu I. By E. L.Wheuor.
2 The llelpleu “and. By Cnpt. Mnyne Raid.
3 sum-.Fm-e flnul thaSll-nt Hunter, My OllCoomeI.
4 l'lney Paul. the Mountuin no '; or. The Little
5
ti
7

v

‘
p.

 

tI’l'l “1'? r)
‘33! '43 9'

   
 

3y Brace.

   

  
 

Arrow cf the Ailirundnckl. By ’1‘. . “urban ll.
Deudwnnd chk’l Double. By E L. W solar.
anen 00min. Ski mf- By Capt. F. Vl'hlttultar.
Uy “ Btlfl‘ulo Bill.”

Inner! Every \Vednendny.

Bendln’n Pocket Llhrury in {or anlv by All Nun-
rlunlora, hve cauti lief vopy, or shut by mall on rocalpt nl‘ Ill
cent: each.

BEADLE 4-, Alums. Pulpit-hen."

Fancy Frank, 0! fnlormln.

95 Willlgm Street, New York. "

 

 

 

 

 

.r’.

 

 

 

 

 

82 OCTAVO PAGES.

/QEADLE,S\ rnrcn, FIVE cnnrs. 

POCKET LIBRARY.

 

weatherman:wmmwmmmuwmmmuudmhmammmmmmm

118 w ill Wildfire, tho Thoroughbred. By (Yhnn. lilorrln.

119 Blonde Bill or, Deadwood Drch’l Home Bow.
By Edward L. 'hceler.

130 Gopher Gld, the Boy Trnpper. By T. C. Herhnngh.

191 Harry Armstrong, tnu Captain of the Club. By
Brncebrldgu Heniyng, (Jack Hnrknwny.)

122 The llunted llunter. By Edward 5. Ellis.
138 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. By E. L. Wheeler.
1% Judge Lynch. Jr. By T. C. llnrhnngh.

126 The Land Pirates. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

186 lllue Blllen; or. The Break 0’ Buy Boy- of Rocky
Ber. By Frank Dumont.

197 Tony Fox, the Ferret. By Edward L. Wheeler.
198 Black Ben. Will Wildflre'l Racer. By C. Morrll.
199 Bugle Kit, the Boy Demon. By 011 Coonrel.
180 Gold Trigger, the Sport. By T. C. Hnrlmngh.

131 A Game of Gold or, Dendwond Dick‘n Blg
Strike. By Edward L. healer.

18$ Dainty Lance, the Boy Sport. By J. E. Badger, Jr.

188 Wild.flre, the Bonn olthu Road. By Frank Dumont.

184 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. By C. Morrll.

185 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood. By Edwerd
L. Wheeler.

186 Old Rube, the Hunter. By Capt. Hamilton Holman.

137 Dandy Rock. the Men from Tuna. By G. We.do
Browne.

188 Bob Beckett, the Boy Dodger. By Chen. Morrle.

139 The Black Giant or, Dainty Lance ln Jeopardy.
By Joneph E. Badger, r.

140 Oeptnln Arlzone. By Philip S. Wane.

141 New York Nell, the Boy-Glrl Detective.
Edward L. Wheeler.

148 Little Texamthe Young Muster-Agar. By Oll Conmon.

14B Dendl Dash: or Flgnting Fire wlth Fire. B
Jon. E. Badger, Jr. , y

144 Little Grit, the Wild Rider; or, Beale, the Stock
Tender'e Daughter. By Col. Prnntlnn lngmhnm.

145 The Tiger of Tang. By Geo. Waldo Browne.
140 The Cattle King. By Frank Dumont.

14? Nobhy Nick ofNeveda. By Edwerd L. Wheeler
148 Thunderbolt Tom. By Hrmy St. George.
149 Bob Roche", the Bank Runner. By C. Morris.
150 The Med Miner. By G. Waldo Brown.

161 The Sea Trailer. By Col. Preutien ingrnlmm.

.153 Dandy Berke; or, The Tiger: ol‘ High Pine. By
William R. Eyeter.

158 Wllrl Frnnk, the Buck-kin Brlvo. By Edward L.
Wheeler.

By

154 The Boy Trellere. By Joe. E. Bridger, Jr.

155 Gold Plume, the Boy Bundit; or, The KldGlove
Sport. By Col. Frontiers lngmhnnl.

156 Will Wildfire ill the Woods. By C. Morrle.

157 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. By T.C. Harbough.

168 Deadwood Dick’s Doom. By E. L. Wheeler.

159 lantern-unher- Joe’s Defeat. By Philip. S.
Arne.

160 Bulfeln Billy, tho Boy Bullwhacker. By Col. 1’.
lngrnhnm.

161 Bob Beckett, the Crack-men. By C. Morril.

169 Little Hurricane, the' Boy Ceptein. By on
Common.

108 Deldwood Diok’a Dream.

By E. L. Wheeler.
104 Tornado Torn. By T. C. Huh-ugh.
165 Bull'elo Bill’s Bet. By Col. Prentiu lngrnhnm.
'mo wru wuuro Win." and Lam. By c. Morrla.

 

aficiflri‘arm‘fi—o} to «1‘
187 Dandy Roek’e Pledge. By George W. Browne.

188 Deadwood Dlok’n “'urd; or, The Block lllll.
Jezebel. By Edward L. W molar.

169 The lioy Champion. By Edward Willem.
1?0 Bob Rockett'n Fluht for Life. By C. Mani...
171 Frank Morton, the lluy llurculux. liyOll Comnel.
172 The Ynnkee Ranger. By Edwin Elnvrwn.
178 Dick Dingle, Scout. By Edward S. Ellie.

174 Dandy Rock’s Scheme. By G. W. Browne.
175 The Arab Detective. By Edwnrd 1.. Wheeler.
176 “'lll Wildflre‘n l‘luek. By Chnrlel Norm.
177 The Boy Commander. ByCol.Pn:n|rulngrnhem.

178 The Maninn Hunter.

179 Dnlnty Lance: or, The Myutic hlnrhmen. By
Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

180 The Boy Gold-Hunter.
181 The Senpegrnee Son.

18$ The Dark-Skinned Huout. By Liuut. Col.
Hnwltlne.

188 label Bert, DFMCthr. By Oll Coomel.
184 Featherweight, the Boy Spy. By Edward Willutt.

186 Binon Bill, the Overland Prince.
lngrnhnm.

186 Dainty Lance and Ill: Purd.
Badger, Jr.

187 The Trapped Tiger King. By Charla Morrln.

188 The, Ventrllouulet Detective. By Edward L.
Wheeler.

By Bur ton Sexe-

By T. C. Hnrhnugh.
By Chnrlen Morrla.

By Cul. Prentiu

By Joseph E.

189 Old Rocky’s Boys. By Maj. Snm. S. Hall.

190 Elm filmpklne, Scout. By Jnmm L. Bowen.

191 Dundy Rock’u Rival. By Geo. \andn Browne.
19E lllckory llarry. By Harry St. George.

198 Detective Josh Grim. By Edward L. Wheeler.
19-1 Pronpect Pete, the Boy Miner. By (“I Coomel.
195 The Tenderi'oot Trniier. By T. C. Herbaugh.
196 The Dandy hem-um. By Charles Morris. L

19'? Roy. the Young (‘uttlr King. By Cnlum-l Prentiu
lngrnhmn. Rudy Oct. l9.

198 Ebony Dnn’u Meek.

Ready Oct. '16.

190 ir-tionnry Nut, Detective. By T. C. liubaugh.
ndy Nov. 9.

The Twin Horsemen.
Whittaker. Bondy Nov. 9.

1301 Bend Dnrke’n Par-do. By Wm. R. lily-tar.
Reedy ov. 16.

302 Tom, the Tenn Tiger. By Oll Coonm.
Reedy Nov. 23.

303 Earn. the Ofllce Buy. By Chlrlel Mnrrlu.
Reedy Nov. 30.

By Fr‘Rllli llmnont.

200 By ('npt. Frederick

Issued Every Wedneedu.

Bendie'l Pocket Library in for uh. by nll Nun-
deelern, five centl per copy, or lent by mail on receipt of nix
cent: mh.

BEADLE Jr ADAMS. Publisher-I,
98 Willleln Street, New York.