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Copyrighted, 1889, by Bnnu AND mun. Entered at the Po“ omce u New York. N. Y., In Second Chu Mall Manet. Junas,1889.

 

.. Pblihd kleedl d
No. 282, 332:3. “ 5  39m"  Vol. XXII.

 

 

 

 

 

AND LOCKED THE DOOR.

 

 

8 Buck Hawk, Detective.

 

Buck Hawk, Detective;

on,

The Messenger Boy’s Fortune.

 

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER,
AUTHOR or “nmwoon DICK ” scans, are.

CHAPTER 1.
AN ARTFUL DODGEB.

“ CAN you furnish me with a trusty messen-
ger boy for a couple of hourswone, mind you,
who is reliable in every sense of the word, and
quick-strung, in the bargain?"

This question was addressed to the clerk at the
receiving window of a branch office of the
Western Union Telegraph Co. in Philadel hia,
one morning previous to the opening 0 the
Bi~Centennial celebration in the Quaker City.

The inquirer was a portly man of perhaps
fifty years, Well-dressed, and the possessor of a
short-cropped gray beard. steely-gray eyes, of
hawkish intensity, and hair to match his beard.

He had the appearance of being a man who
was well-to~do, and who had no cause to com-
plain at the way the world used him.

“ All our memengers are out, but if you will
wait a moment, probably some of them will be
in, and I can supply your wants.” the clerk said,
gazinlg at the inquirer through a. pair of green
8 g 98.

n the course of ten minutes a messenger-boy
entered.

He was a strong, sturdy lad of fifteen, with an
open, honest face, a shrewd peering pair of eyes,
and wore an expression of good humor.

He was attired in the neat regulation uniform
of a W. U. messanger boy, and was rather
dashing looking, with his cap cocked a little to
one side of his curly head.

“Hillo, Billy!” he cried, tossing his book to
the clerk. “What’s the next racket? Medea
quarter out o’last trip. Jest connect me wi’
another sech a job, ef ye please.”

The clerk looked over at the man who was
waiting.

“ Here’s a boy‘ that will be likely to suit you,
sir,” he said; whereupon the gentleman came
forward, and gave the boy a criticising glance.

“ What’s your name?” he asked, sharply.

“ Turk, sir ” was the prompt answer.

“ Turk?” t e entleman exclaimed, in sur-
prise. “Turk w at?”

“ Dunno. Reckon nothin’ but Turk, from
Bilack—cat Alley. Never was called anything
e se.

“Strange name. Well, my boy. I am about
to engage your services for a little while pro-
viding you know where Jerome St. Clair ives,
on North Seventeenth street."

“ Dunno. Give's the number, and I can root
out the‘rest.”

“Very well.
clerk?"

The clerk named the amount, which was
promptly paid, after which Turk and his em—
ployer left the office, and proceeded to Walnut
street, near Eighth. ‘

 

i

What will be the charges,

 

Here, numerous rows of houses have for years

been converted into offices, which are occupied
by perhaps as many different trades and pro-
fessions as there are rooms.

Into the second story front room of one of
these buildings, the gentleman ushered Turk,
and bade him be seated, until he returned; after
which he went down-stairs.

The apartment was meagerly furnished, the
floor being covered with oilcloth, and a desk,
several office chairs, a few pictures on the wall
forming the remainder of the furniture.

Having not/him,r else to do, Turk amused him
self With looking at the pictures, which were of
men. whose faces were anything but to their
credit.

“ Sporters, or I’m a shad!” the boy muttered.
“That teller wi’ the eyes cut bias, lookalike
Skin the Slugger, who got ninet lll Moya, for
liftiu’ pocketbooks. Wonder w at sort of a
rooster keeps this ranch? Mustbe’quaint wi‘
the rascals o’ Phila.N

Jerome St. Clair, as he had introduced him-
self to the boy, soon returned.

“ Well, I’m ready for ou,” he said, handing
a sealed letter to Turk. ‘ You are to take that
letter to my residence, and deliver it to my
daughter. If she is not in, you can give it to
some one of the servants, who will give you a
package. which you are to hasten back with,
and deliver to me at the Broad street depot.
You will find me there in the waiting-room. Be
Spry, now, and I will make you a present on
your return." ~

“ But give us yer directions," demanded
Turk. “Got a number, hain‘t ye?"

“Certainly. Here is my card, which will
enable you to find my residence without trouble.
Here is some money for street-car fare. Now,
then, be off.”

And Turk needed no second warning.

Already gigantean air-castles were building
before his mind’s eye in anticipation of the
promised reward for alucrity.

The card read:

JEROME ST 'CLAIR‘,
DIAMOND M212 017.41”,
No. — N’rn 17m Smear, ,
(Private House.) P-‘iilad’a, Pa.

And it is needless to say that the messenger
boy was not long in landing in front of the im-
posing mansion which bore the'diamond-dealer’s
name upon the door-plate.

Accustomed to ringing door»hells, he gave the
knob a tremendous pull, which speedily brought
a frowsy—headed Irish-woman, with a red,
freckled face, to the door.

“Phat the loikes of yez m’ano by pullin’ so
hard av of the dure-bell?" she cried angrily.

“ Oh, go refri erate yourself l" Turk retorted.
“ I want to see t )8 boss’s darter.”

“ Yez can’t see her, ye omadhaun.
she is, at all.”

“ Bah! ye can’t stuff me.
for her."

“ Let me have it thin.”

“Like blazes! The boss sent me, and said I
was to wait until his gal came in.”

It’s not in

I’ve got a message

 

 

Romanian.“ 

  
 

 

 

" «any?!

LA

 
      
  
 

 

 

Buck Hawk, Detective.

 

“Thin come along wid ye an’ wait on the
cheer in the hall till the young miss returns; an”
mind lad, I‘ll have an eye kept onto yez.”

“ erect, Biddy. But ain‘t you goin’ to ax
me into the parlor?"

“ Not a bit of it. Sit yez right forninst the
cheer in the hall, and if yez stir an inch I'll send
the nagur up to bounce yez.”

Presuming that Miss St. Clair was in the
home, Turk took possession of the proffered
chair in the richly-furnished hall, and witha
parting nod of warning Biddy retired to the
domestic quarters.

Turk had not waited long when a young
woman, or, more appropriately, a girl, of
about the boy’s own age, came down the wind—
ing stairs.

She was neatly, yet rather plainly attired,
but this fact did not detract from her exquisite
beauty. A perfect mold of face and petite fig-
ure, with soft, dreamy, blue eyes, a tempting
mouth, and rare health-tinted complexion
made her at once an object for attraction and
admiration.

She uttered a little cry at sight of Turk, who
was staring at her in wondering admiration.

“Great guns! ain't she a stunner? Ef my
bank account were a little larger I’d go fer her
regular Cupid style," were his unutter
thoughts as he paused at the foot of the stairs
in evident astonishment.

“ What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Sittin’ down," Turk re lied, with a grin.
“The Irish stow sed us how should wait here;
didn't ax me into the parlor.”

“ Oh! you are a telegraph boy?”

“ Not much. I’m a telegraph young man, if
you please," Turk declared with self-conscious
pri e.

“Oh, why yes! Pray excuse my mistake,”
the young lady said, amusedly. “Have you a
message to deliver?”

“ Yes, I’ve got a letter here for Miss Aurelia
St. Clair, what her gov’nor sent, and sed I was
to bury back with a package what you would
give.

“I have not the good fortune to be Miss St.
Clair," the girl re lied quickly and in a half
scornful way, Tur fancied. ‘ I am Etta Eve-
lyn, Mr. St. Clair’s niece. Mim St. Clair has
gone riding in the Park, andlwill notbe back for
a couple of hours.”

Turk scratched his head.

“ Dunno what a feller's goin’ todoi” he asked.
“The boss sed I could deliver the letter to one
of the servants, who would give me the package
to fetch to him.”

“If that is so, I can rhaps act for to
0011511)," Etta said, “thong I know very lit e
abgut ulncti'le’ili1 affairs. Come in here.”

be e t 9 way into the nd rlor, and
bade Turk be seated while aggreoepiaved from
him the letter, and gave it a hasty perusal.

“ What kind of n looking man gave you this?”
she asked, as she finished.
~ Turk gave a rapid, minute description of the
person in his off-hand way.

“That’s uncle, to a dot," Miss Evelyn de-
clared. “I can’t imagine who is to purchase
thoae costly diamonds. though.”

“ Diamonds !” echoed the messenger lad.

f

 

“ Wh , of course. Uncle has sent for the
hund -thousand-dollar set of diamonds, which
he has tried so long to dispose of. I guess it
will be all the same if I give them to you.
Wait!” 1

She left the parlor, and Turk heard her trip
ping up the stairs for the jewels.

“ It‘s a shame,” he muttered, “ how sum folks
can waste their cash on gew-gaws, while therest
0’ us have to dig like fun to get enufi ter eatl
Wish I were rich as Jay Gould! I‘d pop the
question to Miss Etta, sure i”

Wishing had never made Turk rich yet, and
so he knew there was no use for him to consider
such a thing. .

Miss Evelyn soon returned and handed Turk
a jewel-case, wrapped up in paper.

“ There! You are to take that direct to Mr.
St. Clair,” she enjoined, “and be very careful
that you don‘t lose it, or make a mistake whom

on give it to, for if you should, mercy only

news what they would do with us.”

“ Oh, never you fearl He’ll get this box all
hunky, if I don’t get struck Ni’ lightning,” was
his confident assertion. “ I sup ye’ll rocker-
nise a feller, ef I should happen to meet- ye, at
the Bi-Centen?”

“Of course I shall,” responded the younglady,
as she ushered him out. “ Be careful of the dia-
monds.”

“ But I will !” Turk replied, as he strode sway
down the street, whistling merrily, and wishing
he was a millionaire.

At the Broad Street Station of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, Turk found the man who had
employed him for the errand pacing to and fro
in the waiting-room, as if in great impatience.

His face ightened, however, when he saw
Turk and the package.

“ Well! you re back at last, eh?" he said, seiz-
ing the package. “ You were unreasonably
long. I have barely time to catch the train.”

And with these reprovin words he turned,
and was about to move off, ut Turk was not to
be blqued in this way.

“ I say! hold up!” he cried, catching the
man‘s coat sleeve. “ You‘re kinder forgetful,
ain’t e?”

“ hat do you want?"

“ IVhy, ye was goin’ ter whack out a present
weren't ye, if I beat Goldsmith Maid’s time?”

“ Oh! I forgot! Yes, here is a dime.”

And tossing the coin to the astonished mes-
senger-boy, the diamond merchant disappeared
amon the crowd.

“ ell. sell me out fer a huckster if that ain‘t
cheek,” Turk muttered, turning away in dis-
gust. “Ten cents fer a hundred thousand dol-
lar job. I wasn‘t half-smart. or I’d ’a’ collected
before delivery. Never mind. I‘ll see the old
chap ag’in, sometime.”

And dismissing the matter from his mind, he
went back to the office and resumed his mes»
senger dutiw for the day.

They were not few.

He was considered one of the smartest and
most trustworthy boys on the force, and mes-
sages of special im rtance were generally in-
trusted to him, besi es errands which frequently
took him out of his own district; so that when
six P. )1. came, he was invariably pretty tired,

 

 

 

  

'4‘ , ' Buck Hawk, Detective.

 

2nd not loth to seek his quarters in Black-cat

ey.

o—night, especially, he found himself nearly
tagged out, as with his dinner basket on his
. arm, he left the office in company with another
messenger, Pat Murph by name. ,

“There’ll be a divi of a row to-morrow,”
Pat observed, as they trudged along.

“ What kind of a row?” Turk asked, rather
disinterestedly.

“ Och! sure it’s some one o’ the messenger
boys will get bounced.”

‘Humphl what for?"

“Robbery, be jabers—an’ one of the cut/est,
(too. Jest heard of it up on Seventeenth.”

“Seventeenth?” Turk echoed, his heart sink-
ing within him.

‘ Yes; it seems that some chap applied at one
o’ the district oflices, and hired a messenger to
go an errand, an’ represinted hisself to he
Jerome St. Clair, the diamond merchant. He
sent the messenger to the St. Clair residence,
beariu’ a letter to Miss St. Clair, orderiu’ her to
deliver the messenger a box of diamonds. Miss
St. Clair wasn’t in, but recognizin’ the writin’,
as she supposed, St. Clair’s niece delivered up
the diamonds. Awhile arter old St. Clair came
home and the swindle was ’sploded. Jeminetta!
but I bet there was fun I”

Turk was white as a sheet, but managed to
maintain composure.

“How did you drop onto this? Are the police
onto it?” .

“ No; et’s goin’ to be kept mum, and be
worked ufion the quiet by Jack Grimes, the de—
tective. e told me and paid me fat to learn ef
an of the boys at our office went the errand.”

his was a stunner to Turk and he at once
made up his mind not to let Black-cat Alley
know him that night.

CHAPTER II.
now A TRUE GIRL ansanrs AN INSULT.

As soon as he could do so without arousing
suspicion, Turk left the company of young
Murphy, whom he had never liked any too
well, and whom he must now necessarily con-
sider an enemy. .

Full well the boy realized that be was in a

v desperate position, to say the least.

A during robbery had been committed, and
he was the tool that had been used to secure the
plunder. If it were discovered that it was he
who had gone on the errand, he would be ar-
rested. and like enough he sent up, charged with
being in the plot.

The thought was horrifying to him, for not
only was be working himself up to a high stand-
ard in the favor of the corn any, but he was
also hopin that, b stea y application, he
would ere ong be 0 ered an office, as he was
already a thorough operator.

Any such trouble as promised to result from
his unfortunate errand that day would he a se~
rious dampenerlo his prospects for promotion,
even it it did not secure his summary discharge
from the employ of the companv.

It is, therefore, little wonder that he felt de—
fiidedly blue after what young Murphy had told

1

m.
“'I can’t go back to Black—cat Alley to-night
. /. I I

   

 

——nor at all, for that matter,” he muttered'
“ ’cause that hawk, Jack Grimes, would duru
soon find me out, the houndl I know that fel-
ler, I do; and he knows I know of some of his
smart games. It’s me an’ him fer it now, and
best one is goin’ to win.”

Not knowin what else to do, he wandered
down to the elaware wharves, and watched
the stream of people surging in the direction of
the ferries.

But, though his gaze rested upon them, his
mind'was upon the trouble which loomed up be-
fore him like a grim giant. '

“ I reckon about the best thing I kin do is to
go and surrender,” he muttered—“but I’ll be
dashed if I’ll do that, either] Every one fer
hisselt; an’ ef I don’t keep an eye eeled fer
Turk, durned at any one else will. eremity!
I bet that niece of St. Clair’s got a tongue-lash—
in‘ when the old gent got home and found his
diamonds gone!

Mechanically, he turned and wended his wa
toward his tenement lodiings in Black-cat Al:
ley, and succeeded in reac lug his bleak, cheer-
lcss third-story room without any one being the
wiser for it,

Old Mother McFadden ran the establishment,
her tenants being bootblacks, uewsboys, and the
like. who had no other home, and who were
glad to turn in the better share of their earn-
ings for the shelter of the McFadden roof and a
very meager allowance of provender. '

Such had been the case with Turk ever since
he could first remember; but he realized that
he must now bid adieu to the classic precinct of
Black-cat Alley, and that without delay.

Hastin divesting himself of his regulation
messen er attire, he donned a neat new Sunday
suit, w ich he had recently purchased, and a
hat in place of his cap; then placing his few ef-
fects in a sachel, he quietly took his departure,
and made his way toward the southern part of
the city, where he found a cheap boarding-
house in a retired street, and paid his board two
weeks in advance, explaining that he was look-
ing for a job.

After being assigned a room, and securing his
supper, he started forth, and mechanical! wan-
dered toward the district office where lie had
been employed—for he now no longer consid-
ered himself one of the employees of the com-

any.
p A glance into the office through the glass door
satisfied him that there was nothing: of excite-
mfnté about the place, which gave him a deal of
re In . .

Bill Jones, of the receiving-window, had been
relieverlhy the night-clerk, and, knawing where
his lodgings were, Turk at once turned his foot-
steps toward them.

“ There’s barely one chance,” he mused, as be
hurried along. “ Bill ain’t always exactly
honest with the company, and don’t always
turn in an account when he sends his tellers out
on errands. for which he knocks down the
cash. Don’t like a fuller to he dishonest; but I
hope to gracious he’s made no account 0’ my
tri ) to—day.“

ones occupied a room in a block on Market
street, third-story hack, and usually get his
meals at a restaurant

  

. ‘?:“‘?"‘¢A« Man-we: 

 

 

 

 

 

l,

 

 

 

 

   
   
   
  
  

 

Buck Hawk, Detective. ‘ s

 

Although he had been in the company’s employ
for along time, he had not yet sown the full
measure of his wild oats, and knowing his failing,
Turk was not surprised to find him “ half the
seas over "’ on reaching his room.

“ Hillo! Sultan! jest in time, old teller. Got
some prime stomach hitters here,” Jones cried,
at sight of the boy.

“Much obliged, Billy; I don‘t drink. You’d
be better off it on wouldn't.”

“Nonsense. hat’s the harm of a fellow
having a little cheer, after getting out of prison?
I believe in work when you work and smile when
you lay. What fetched you up from Black-
cat, ark?”

“ Oh! I came to see you on business, Bill.”

“ Bah! business be hanged. No more business
for me till eight to—morrow morning.”

“ But 1 say yes,” Turk declared, firmly.
“ There’s a big row goin’ to be kicked up, and
you’re the chap that can stop it. Did you turn
m the cash for my errand to~day ?”

The question seemed to have an electric effect
upon Jones, and to dissipate all the effects of the
liquor He had imbibed.

“ To be sure I did," he flustered, appearin to
feel highly indignant at the question. “ at
do you take me for, you young Arab?”

‘ Oh! I only wanted to see if you were pre-
pared to prove your part of the transaction, in
case there’s trouble,” Turk returned, eying the

- clerk.

Jones flushed and grew fidgety.

“ What the blazes are you driving at?” be de—
manded, sharply. “ Explain.”

, “ There isn’t much to explain, more than that
you’re liable to get tripped. Ye didn’t turn the
cash for that errand to-day."

“Curse it. Does the company know? Have
you been squealin’ on me, Turk?” '

” The company knows nothing. I know of
several bits of cash that the' company never
saw.

“ You sharp-eyed rascal. I’ve always been
suspicwus of you. Jack told me to look out for
you once.”

“ Jack Grimes?”

“ No; Jack Freitcher.”

“ That's a lie," Turk inwardly commented.
“ But let it ass. I must work this wire for all
it’s worth Since I hold the key.”

Aloud, e said:

“ Yes, Billy, it I choose, I can cause your dis-
charge, but I don’t propose to do it if we can
agree. No one connected with the office, aside
from ourselves, knew of that errand to-day, eh i”

“0! course not. There was no one about, and
so I made up my mind I might as well make an
extra day’s wages as not, and no one would be
the wiser for it.”

“ Then I am safe so far, thank Heaven!” Turk
exclaimed. “ You dare not now own up the
errand, as it would show you up in a dishonest
light; and will necessarily force me to expose

ou.

“ But what’s the matter? What danger are
you in?"

Turk proceeded to relate the circumstances at-
téancgilng and resulting from his trip for the bogus

t. air.

 

Jones listened with hightened interest, for he .

had by this time fully shaken oil? the effects of
the liquor.

“Well, by thunder, that’s a case, for a fact.
But you can rest easy, so far as I am concerned.
I'll never give you away.” '

“Then 1 will also keep mum about your game; ,
but you’d better drop on it, or some 0’ the boys
will jump onto you, and won’t mind their own
biz like the Sultan 0’ Turkey.”

h‘:,I reckon you’re right. What! ain’t a-goin’,
e i

“ Yes. Do you know, I’m goin’ tonose into
this case and recover them diamonds? Goin’ ter
turn sort 0’ detective, ye see; and see what fer
luck I have at the biz.’

Turk had not long left the operator’s room,
when Bill Jones had another visitor—a tall,
well<formed, and rather good-looking young
man of six or seven and twenty, dressed in the
best of clothes. with the additions of a sik hat,
kid gloves, and old-headed cane.

A not over.a undant mustache was waxed
out at either end; and the habitual steely glitter
in his black eyes indicated the existence of evil
in his heart.

This man was Jack Grimes, the detective, who
was considered one of the most successful pri-
vate experts in the city.

“ He] 0! is it you?" Billy Jones exclaimed, as
the sleuth entered. “ W'hat the blazes are ye
after? I was just preparing to sail off into a
good sleep.”

' “ So I see!” Grimes smiled, taking a seat.

“ New job?"

“ Yes. Mighty big one, too. Got it all to
in self. Fortune in it, if 1 win.”
‘ What is it?" ,

“ Oh! it’s a secret. Don’t know but I can tell
you. if you’re mum.”

“ Humphl guess you know me?”

“ Well, it's true vou never went back on me,
so I’ll let on in. Y1 m see, old St. Clair the dia-
mond dea er, has been skinned out of a valuable
lot 0’ diamonds, and this is the we it happened.”

He then narrated {tactically t e same story
of the robbery that urk had done a short time
before.

“And, now, what I’m after is to find out first
of all, who this messenger was. I’ve visited
several of the district offices, but obtained no
satisfactory clew. How about your office?"

“ No messenger sent on outsuie errands, to-
day,” Jones declared, deliberately.

“ Are you sure?”

The eyes of the detective were fixed on him,
searchingly.

“ Of course I’m sure. Don’t you suppose I
know what I’m aboutrf

“ Seems strange that no messenger was sent
from any of the offices, and yet one went on
that errand l” .

“ Does look rather queer, I’ll admit, but you
can search the cash list of my district, if you
choose.”

“ Perhaps you didn’t turn in the cash, nor
make a memorandum?"

Jones flushed angrily. . ~

“ Well, you’re welcome to your own opinion,”
he said, stiflly. “ You can .probabl find by iii-
quiry that my reputation is good or honesty
with the company."

 

  

 

 

 

\

6 Buck Hawk. Detective.

 

 

“ Poohl honesty is but a. convenience at best.
There is not a person in the world who wouldn’t
look hungcringly at a hundred thousand dollars,
before passing it by. We detectives are neces-
sarily the most honest class of people living, but
I’m blamed sure if i saw a clever chance to rake
in a hundred thousand, and get away with it,
I’d do it.”

“ I don‘t doubt it.
as a saint."

A silence ensued, during which Grimes seemed
to be in deep meditation.

“ Well, I’m bound to make a case out of this,
somehow. You knew, by the way, that I’ve
been paying some considerable attention to St.
Clair’s daughter lately, and the old gent fancies
my suit. So he sends for me to take charge of
this case, and slips 8. cool thousand dollars into
my hands to start on, adding that he will give
a bigger sum for the recovery of the diamonds.
Oh! the old nut is really worked up about the
affair, and it strikes me that there is more im-
portance attached to the loss of the diamonds
than their simple pecuniary value. Now,
Jonesy, if you and I could put our heads to-
gether and'recover the diamonds, we would be
able to command a competency for our efforts.”

“Bah! I know nothing in regard to the mat-
ter, and will have nothing to do with it—~so that
ends that!" Jones declared, emphatically.

" Then that, also, ends our interview,” and
the detective arose and left the room. .

He also left Billy Jones in rather an unpleas-
ant frame of mind. '

I never quite set you down

Jerome St. Clair, diamond merchant, had re-
turned home, about five o’clock that evening,
from town, and, fatigued with his day’s bu51~
ness, had sought his warm, cozy parlor, where he
was soon after joined ,by his dau hter, Aurelia.

Mr. St. Clair was a‘stout, rud y Englishman
with shon‘t—croéiped gray beard and hair, and
an almost per set counter art of the man who
had so successfully used urk, the messenger
boy as the tool of a stu endous robbery.

He was reputed to wealthy, and did not
conduct his business like other jewelers, in the
city, but at his residence. He was well known
among the leading families of the city, whom
he dealt with almost exclusively.

His daughter, Aurelia, was a tall, slender
brunette, with dark eyes, and a coldly pretty
face, and was, because of her fine dress and
educational accomplishments, a favorite in the
best society. ‘

Anything money could procure, that would
enhance her chances of winning a desirable
“ catch,” was always placed at her command by
her indulgent parent.

Potted and humored, from infancy, it was
little wonder she had grown up a sporled child,
with a petulant tyrannical temperament, and a
vain conceit that there was no one quite as good
as herself.

And it might be added that she had also, in a
measure, inherited some of these qualities from
her father, who was not without an excellent
and unbiased opinion of himself.

 Miss St. Clair seemed much surpriSed to see
her arentm the parlor-«so much so. that she
star-ad back with a cry.

 

 

“ Hello! what ails you?” St. Clair ejaculated,
looking around. “Am a bear, that you are
frightened at me?"

“ Oh! no! no! nol but I didn‘t expect to see
you here,” she said, coming forward and kneel-
lng by his side. “I thought you were in New
York.”

“New York? What nonsense, child! How
came such a thought ever to enter your mind i"

“Why, because you sent the messenger boy
for the diamonds!”

“The what? I’ve sent for no diamonds!
Which ones? Speak, explain!”

“ The magnificent ones you have always
treasured so highly, in the green satin case. A
messenger boy came with a note from you, say—
ing I was to deliver them to him to fetch to you.”

“ And you did this!"

“ No, for I was out riding. Your dear sister’s
child, Henriette, performed the work 1”

The banker was white with passxon as he
arose and need to and fro across the carpet.

“Send or the girl,” he finally hissed, and
Miss St. Clair seemed eager to ring for a servant
to dispatch on the errant .

Miss Evelyn soon made her appearance, but
an apprehensive expression came over her face
as she saw the merchant.

“Young woman, who gave you authority to
deliver my diamonds up to other people, open
my daughter’s letters and the like of that?"

“ There was no one at home, except the ser-
vants, sir, and seeing it was your writing, and
the be saying he was ordered to come right
back, didn't suppose but what I would be do-
ing ou a favor, air—”

“ never sent the letter nor the boy. You
are implicated in a conspiracy to defraud me;
and you shall suffer the consequences! Hand
over the letter to me.”

“ No, sir, I cannot!” the girl said, bravely.
“It you are disposed to think me so wicked
that I could wish to cheat you, or abuse your
confidence 1n me as your sister’s child, I shall
keep the letter to defend myself with, before
the courts.”

 

CHAPTER 111.
'r H E N E w H o M E .
THE St. Claire were surprised.
Such a sudden outburst of courage from Etta,
was something entirely new of her, who was

ever quiet and unobtrusive, often hearing many fl

slights at the hands of her relatives without re—
sentment. She was new old enough to keenly
feel the fact she was a. dependent upon her uncle
for support, and to know that she must grace-
fully ac uiesce in the wishes of her uncle and
cousin; ut of late, Miss St. Clair had appeared
to grow constantly jealous of her pretty cousin,
and dld all in her power to make Etta’s life mis—
arable.

The early life of the latter was shrouded in
mystery, and all that she knew was that she
was Jerome St, Clair’s niece, and that she was
dependent on him for her livelihood.

But to be suspected or intentional complicity
in a robbery, was more than her sense of honor

would hear, and she resolved to stand up for ,

her ri hts, cost what it might.
If s 6 lost her home with the St. Clairs. she

 
 

 

 

 

 

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

 

 

 

 

 

Buck Hawk, Detective. 7

 

 

was able to work, and could not well find a more
cheerless abode. .

“What!” Jerome St. Clair cried, angrily, af-
ter recovery from his astonisment at her
words. ” Do yon mean to defy me, you saucy
chit?”

“ I mean just what I said, and nothing more!”
Etta answered. “ Became I have been depend-
ent u on you for my living, it does not follow
that will allow any one to make me onta thief,
nor do I care to stand your daughter’s insulting
conduct much longer.”

“ Indeed! Perhaps it would cure you of some

- of your lofty importance to turn you out on the

world for a time? That I shall certainly do if
you do not deliver me up that paper!”

“ Then, I will consider myself dismissed!" the
girl retorted, with flashing eyes. “If 1 can see
Captain Clyde I am sure he will help me to find
a situation I”

“ If you dare to speak to Captain Clyde, T will
have you arrested!" Jerome St. Clair cried,
thile his daughter looked the jealous anger she

e t.

“ Ohi you are afraid, Mr. St. Clair, that the
captain will hear of how you have treated me,
and will not then realize so much pleasure in
yotilr 'daughtei"s company. Perhaps you are
ri t.

and with a defiant laugh, Etta swept from
the room, and set about preparing to leave the
house.

She had a little money which she had saved
from her monthly allotment, but it did not ex-
ceed ten dollars all told, and she knew she could
not exist long on that amount without work.

It was yet early in the evening, and she was
resolved to set forth that very night, but at the
same time had no idea where she should go.

Packing her not extravagant wardrobe. into
her sachel, and wrapping herself up, she left the
St. Clair residence, a feeling of freedom thrilling
her with hope and ambition.

As quickly as possible she got out of the neigh-
borhood, for she really believed that Jerome St.
Clair would send the officers after her.

After an hour’s wandering, she found herself
at the Broad street railway depot of the Penn-
sylvania Railroad, and feeling fatigued, she con-
cluded to rest in the spacious waitinga'oom, un~
til she read an evening paper she had purchased,
hoping to see a situation advertised that would
suit her fancy.

There were plenty of calls for girls todo house-
work, but having a good education, Etta felt
that she was capable of filling some higher posi—
tion than being a common servant.

As If to gratify her desire, her gaze directly
fell upon the following advertisement, which
was one of a number of others in the same col-
umn: ,

“WANTED —A well educated, respectable young
lady as secretary and reader. for an old inleman.
Good salary to the right party. App y at No. _.
North Tenth street.”

Poor Etta‘s heart bounded with joy as she
read this, and she made up her mind to put in
her application at once.

It could do no harm, at least, to try.

To think, with her, was to act, and leaving

her sachel, at a near-by store, for safe-keep- l

 

ing, she went in search of the residence of the
advertiser.

She found it, at length—a large, imposing
edifice, with a marble-trimmed front, and as-
cending the steps she rung the bell, somewhat
tiinidly.

A colored servant in livery answered the sum-
mons. _

“ I called in answer to an advertisement, Sir,”
Etta explained, eagerly.

The “sir” seemed to banish the servant’s
cliilliness of demeanor, for he opened the door
still further. with a gracious bow.

“Walk right in, miss—walk right in. De boa
is in de parlor ’xaininin’ a lot ob gals dis berry
minute.”

And before she was scarcely aware of it,‘Etta
found heiself ushered into a grand reception-
room, where an old gentleman and several
young ladieswere seated.

All of the latter were dressed much more ex-
pensively and stylishly than Etta, and she felt
rather uncomfortable, as she became aware that
their eyes were bent upon her, buta irit of
resolution caused her to show no trace 0 agita-
tion or confusion.

The old entieman was a fat, round-faced
personage o sixty years, who had a very bald
head, and a pair of pleasant eyes which rather
agreeably lit up his ruddy, clean—Shawn face.

He was seated in a ccmfortable chair, with
one foot upon a cushioned stool, wrapped up
with a plenitude of blankets and flannels, which
was plain enough evidence that he was a. suf-
ferer from the gout.

He nodded to Etta, as she entered, and mo-
tioning her to a seat, turned to a haughty-ap-
pearing lady, who had previously been speak-
mg.

” So ye think you’d fill the bill, do ye?” be
queried, surveying her critically.

“ I do," was the reply. “ I am proficient in
all branches of study, and would like youto
give me a trial.”

“ as, I suppose so,” was the reply. “ That’s
what these other girls want, too, but they’ve all
got fellers. I can’t have no gals about my place
what has got teller on the brain. S’pose you’re
like the rest, eh?”

“ Certainly. But I don’t think you are do
ing right to interfere in a young lady’s private
affairs.”

“ Then we don‘t agree. I pay a girl good
wages to be ready for biz, when I want her.
It should want to hear the news read at two
in the morning, I expect her to be ready to
read it. If I see fit to give my amanuensis tsp
hours vacation out of twelve, that’s my bus1~

ness, too. Don’t think any of you girls will
suit me, unless it is the last one. What 18 your
namegniss?”

"Etta Evelyn, sir.” _

“ D’ye know how to read and write and fig-
ger, correct?"

“ Yes, sir." .

“ Got any relations—poor ones!"

“No, sir. "

“Know how to play the peaner

“ Yes, sir."

“ Got a beau?”

“ N o, sir."

 

 

8 Buck Hawk, Detective.

 

“That’ll do. Ye kin take off yer things, at

yer supper in the dining—room, send Pom or
our luggage, and then come in and write four

flamers, twixt now and bedtime. You other gals
can go.”

Etta obeyed, wondering if this could all be
true, that she was so lucky.

She was a keen reader of human character,
and saw from the start that there was no way
to get along with her employer, except to humor
his whims.

In the dining-rooms, she met the housekeeper,
a motherly spinster and the two became friends,
from the start, but Molly (as she gave her name),
was not one of the communicative sort, and
said very little in regard to the master of the
house, whose name was Jason Titus.

After a bounteous supper, 'Etta dispatched
the colored servant for her luggage, and then
sought the rlor.

Jason Titus was half asleep, but aroused,
when sife entered.

“ This blasted gout has ni h about worn me
out. of late," he growled. “ ever had it, did

9?”
y “ No, sir," Etta admitted amusedly.

“ S’pose not. Might ’a’ know’d better. Get
the per, yonder, and see what stocks are doing,
in ew York."

Etta coin lied with his request. and read for
an hour, to im, on different subjects.

During the evening, a collector came for a
sum of money, and it remained for Etta to wait
upon him, she procuring the money from a safe,
in the library.

Titus then had her bring forth his books, and
in an hour she knew about all his business
aflairs, how much he was worth, and every—
thin that concerned his plans.

H s mone he kept in his safe, at home, not
havin an aith in banks.

“ Et 5 al in yer charge, now. an‘ ye can go on
an’ do bizness same as tho’ I was able," the old
man announced. “ I know you’re honest, or I
wouldn’t trust ye. Your salar will be five
dollars a day, an‘ you are to ta 9 it out o’ the
cash drawer every day. That‘s all. You’re at
liberty for the rest of the evening. Hel your—
Ielf to the pianner, if you want. Mo ly will
show you your room, when you want to retire.
Get up early to-morrow, for a morning drive
with me.”

When Etta retired that night, she was won-
dering if it could all be true.

Seemingl , it had been a lucky happening for
her which been such a heavy loss to the
St. Clairs.

Turk, the messenger boy, felt greatly relieved,
on returning to his lodgings, that night, for he
had cause to believe that he could depend upon
Billv _Jones’s silence, which would insure him

 

against immediate danger.
/ So be resolved to return to work the next
morning. ‘

0n h s arrival at the office, the superintend-

ent informed him that he could take charge of
an instrument, during the Bi-Centenniai week,
during each forenoon, to “spell” the different
operators, and in the afternoons resume his
messenger duties.

 -‘ T.

 

There being more money for him by the
change, Turk went to work.

He was pretty well versed in teleng by, and
his first forenoon‘s work went off satisgictorily.
and he continued in the capacity of an operator
the balance of the week.

The next week was Bi-Centennial week, and
there was an extra amount of messages to be
received and transmitted.

Tuesday noon, just before he was about to
yield his instrument to another operator, two
messages came, which somewhat surprised him,
as he transferred them to paper.

The longest one Was directed to Jerome St.
Clair and read as follows:

“ I am coming to you for protection. There is no
room for me, on the sea, any longer. Besides, I
have had grave apprehensions about my child. Ex-
pect me at any time. I have no remilar schedule.

“UBIAH EVELYN."

“Must be the purty gal’s dad comin’bick,”
Turk muttered. ‘ Thar’s sumthin’ secret 'bout
that gal .an’ I wouldn’t mind knowin’ it.
Reckon i don’t want to take no messages up
there, though."

The other messa e came a few minutes later,
and was addres to “ Fred St. Clair, No. —
Market street. upstairs.”

I It was dated from New York, and ran as fol-
ows:

“Farm-Cannot do anything with them here
Will bring them back. To-night, at the Social."

There was no signature, but the fact that both
messages were for St. Clair, rather aroused the
young messenger's curiosity.

" One is to the old boss, and t’other is to a
young St. Clair,” he muttered. “ Wonder of
the young and the old is related! and what it is
the New York cha can’t do anything with,
over there. Mebhe t 8 diamonds!”

The idea struck him with force enough to
leave a lasting impression upon his mind.

There was just a possibility, he thought, that
he had struck a clew to the robbery, and there
would be no harm in making a quiet investiga-
tion, clew or no clew.

As it was noon, be surrendered the instru-
ment to Finch, the other operator, and took
the Market street message to the delivery-clerk
himself.

“ Put that in an envelope, Chris,” he said; “ I
want to deliver that myself."

“ Got aswaetheart up there, eh?” Chris smiled,
complying with his request.

“Oh, no! They don t trouble me yet," Turk
re lied. “ Time enough for that hereafter."

e took possemion of the messa e and depart-
ed, wondering if he would be a is to make a
discovery.

At las he arrived at the number, and ascended
a narrow staircase to the second floor of an old
building, the lower floor of which was used as a
harness shop.

There were several doors opening off from the
hall, on one of which was a tin plate bearing
the inscription: ,

“ Tm: SOCIAL or SEVEN.”

As none of the other doors had door-plates,
Turk concluded to tr the door of the “Social”
in quest of Mr. Fred t. Clair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

£44.

 

Buck Hawk, Detective. 9'

 

His rap was unanswared; and after Waiting a
moment, he turned the knob of the door, and
entered the room, which was handsomely fur-
nished.

There was no one'in it, however, with whom
to leave the message, and so he concluded to
wait a «few minutes.

The room was fitted up as a parlor, with afine
carpet, sofa, furniture, and costly pictures, and
other ornaments of an e nsive nature.

A door opened from‘thls into another room in
the rear, but this was cloned.

After about half an hour’s wait, the rear door
opened and a man entered the parlor.

He was about thirty years of age, well built,
richly dressed, and bore marks of dissipation
upon his otherwise rather attractive face.

He seemed much surprised at sight of Turk,
and not over-pleased.

“ What d‘ye want here?” he growled, looking
at Turk sharply.

“ Got a. message for Fred St. Clair. Know
such a chap around here?” Turk replied care-
lessl§, producing his book.

“ es; that’s my name. Let’s have the mee—
sa e, and then you skin out of here. We don’t
al ow boys here.”

“ Don’t, eh? What kind of a ranch is it, ye’re
so ’fraid?”

“None of your business, you rascal. Give me
the message. ’

“ Jest aflix your handle to this book first,
Frederick,” the ferret said coolly, “ and pan out
a narter—then the message is yourn.”

t. Clair growlineg obeyed.
“ Wait—see if there’s an answer!” he said

, tearing open the envelope. “ No; you can go.

Turk left the room and descended into the

usy street, with its swarms of si ht-seers.

Passing around the new ublic uildings, past
the’ Pennsylvania depot, rain which hundreds
of poo le were pouring as fast as they were
usher into the city by huge train-loads, he
suddenly felt a hand placed in n his shoulder,
and faced about to find himse f in the presence
of a tall, lank individual with thin, sharp feat-
ures, a hook nose, bead-like black eyes, and a
decidedly Frenchy mustache of a like color,
waxed out at the ends.

His dress, however, was of the shabby-genteel
order, and amon almost any crowd he would
have been class a bummer.

“Hello! what d’ye want?" Turk demanded,
as be critically surveyed the man. “ Don’t try
none 0' your confidence dodges on me—I’m too

en t!"

Thehawkish man laughed.

" I ust reckoned so,” he said, with a strange
chucéxwe. “ And you re just the very chap I
wan . '

And as he s_ .ke he turned aside his vast-
gzlcllar, and exhi ited a glittering gold detective

ge.

 

CHAPTER IV.
K TURK ON THE BEAT.

SUBPRIBED and alarmed, Turk instantly con-
cluded that this detective had discovered him to
be the same person who had procured the dia-
monds from the St. Clair Mansion.
~~ “ Don’t be scared,” the oflicer said, reading the

 

boy’s thoughts. “ It isn’t you I‘m after, by a
long shot. I’m wanting a Widevawake lad as an
apprentice, and, judging by your physiog, you’re
the boy I want. So come along with me.”

He did not say it invitingly, but authorita-
tively, and Turk hardly knew what tosayor do.

He had always longed to become a detective
by profession, and here was a chance when be
least expected it. Yet he knew that he would
be losing his ition in the oflice, and might
not be able to o as well. should he not prove an
expert in the detective line.

‘ I guess you’ll have to strike some other fel-
ler," be demurred, shaking his head. “ I’ve ,got
a pretty good snap with the Western Union.

“ Pshawi you can’t make your living at that.
I’ll pay you good wages, and guarantee you a.
badge a ter a short trial. 80 come along. You
can hand in your resignation to the company
later.”

“ What’ll you give? Money is what makes
the mare o.”

“ Ten ollars a week, and more when you
earn it. Hurry along now. I’ve got some
work ahead.”

“Guess I’ll try you a whack, anyhow,” Turk
muttered. “ Tens six bigger than totin’ mes-
sa es around. Sail ahead.

he detective was evidently no stranger in the
city, for he led the way up Thirteenth street until
they came to a quiet two—story brick dwelling
the door of which be unlocked, and they entered
a plainly furnished front room which bore unmis-
takable indications of beingabacheior’s head
quarters. .

“ This is my abode when I’m home,” the de-
tective announced, motioning Turk to a seat.
“ id name is Buck Hawk. What’s yours!"

‘ urkl"

“ Turk? Is that all?” Hawk asked, with a

nu.
g “All I know of," was the answer. “ Guam
it’s all required for natural purposes” 3
t. “ lggnny name. Know any of the city detec-
ives

“ Once in a while one. Know Hulflsh, Gray,
Grimes and Mack."

“ Humphi Know any of the suspects?"

“ Nuts, you mean-hard cases?"

H Yes-1)

" You bet! I’ve got a has of them chaps
down fine, and know”some 0 their hang-outs
and fence-posts like a book.”

“ Glad to hear it. It will help us along. I'm
from New York, and not known to the profes-
sionals over here generally. But, as it bagpens,
I’m looking for a chap—in tact several 0 :Es—
but one in particular. A visit to some of see
dens may put me afloat. I’ll fix you up as
countryman, and we’ll take a turn In at Joe
Burns’s." '

“ The blazes! Ketch me in there. It’s a reg-
ular cut-throat den.” . .

“ Don’t tell me what it is. But as long as I'm
with you, you’re all right. All you’ve got to
do is to put on ‘ country jist come tew town to
see the sights ’ and I’ll, fence you about. I’m a
thoroughb , you understand, who is showing
you the si hts. ’

‘If Turk ad any misgivings Buck gawkm
talked them away. . ‘

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 Buck Hawk, Detective.

 

 

 

Out of a. large stock of disguises which he
hauled from a trunk he soon had Turk charac-
teristically arrayed as e. clumsy, loutish country
boy from the back woods, and no one could have
suspected that he was other than what he repre-
sented.

The detective then giving some sli ht change
to his own make—u , the pair set out. oe Burns’s
notorious “Club ouse” was soon reached and
entered.

Its proprietor eyed them suspiciously.

Advancing to the bar, Hawk ordered beer.
and having drank it, set down his glass and
glanced about the room.

“Polly been about town lately?” he finally
asked, meaning one of the gang who had long
been one of the expert pickpockets of the city.

“ Not lately,” Burns replied, appearing a trifle
less suspicious. “ He’s been very bus% of late.”

“ S’pose so. I’d like to see him. out seem
to meet any faces I know. Saw Scrogger up the
street, tho’."

“ No? Didn’t know he was out. Got ninety
awhile ago. Who’re you?”

Egg-“eh” H d S k f

ump l ear crogger span 0 on.
Kn‘ow Mike Kerrlg, don’t you?” y

“ He‘s doing well over on Market, fencin‘ fora.
‘Sociall’ Rather hurting me—still I like to see
the boy prosper.”

“What’s the number?” i

“‘No. — Market street—upstairs. Social of
Seven. Nice place to play a game of cards—no
one about.” ' ’

“Have to look it up. Think I’ve struck a

, ‘liner,’ but ain’t sure. How’s oelers’lomrhere?”

“Solid. Per cent—ten. o trouble.”

“All ' ht. I’ll call again. Let’s all have an-
other drin .” '

‘ The drink was had and aid for; then Hawk
and his apprentice left, an returned to the house
on Thirteenth street.

" I’ve struck one desirable point,” the detect-

' ive declared. “ I’ve found out where this ‘ So-
iclujl of Seven’ is, and my man is a member of

t.

" So do I know where it is,” Turk added. “ I

_ tookna. message to the room just before I met
you.

“ Who to?”

“Fred St. Clair.” ’

With a low exclamation the detective became
suddenly reflectiVe and silent.

He was something of a conundrum to Turk
.who had taken to watching him keenly.

I ,When the arrived at the detective’s abode
. they enter , and Huwk‘ proudced some dried
 beef and cheese, and a bottle of wine, as he re.

marked:

“We’ll have some better grub at the hotel
after a while. I’m going to leave you to do
as you please for a time, while I skylark about
for points. By all means retain your rural dis-
 filfie. and look to it you don’t get trapped by

I ks. In my desk yonder you’ll find a roll of
dirt ,. greasy money, which ten out of_ a thoir
, son .would not take as being counterfeit; yet it

Is. You can take snme of that with you, and if
any sharks try to fleece you load ’em up With
, that stuff. Kin ye play cards?” ‘

\

 

“ Bet I can‘ kin beat the feller what put the
spots on ’em!’

“ All right. You’re not to know me if we
meet.”

And with this injunction the lean man took
his departure.

“ Durn me if I don’t ruther wish I was back
a-totin’ messages,” Turk muttered, after Hawk’s
departure. “ Dunno how he expects to make a
detective onten me, ’thout he tells me what
the racket is he’s on. S‘pose I might tackle the
diamond case. Might stir up some sort of a
sensation, and git in jail in the bargain.”

Toward night he tired of stayin<1r in the house,
so arming himself with a pair of Iiawk’s revol-
vers which he found in the desk, and pocketing
the roll of the counterfeit mone , he set forth
and made his way to the'depot o the P. R. R...
at Broad and Filbert streets, where he lounged
about the waiting-room for several hours,
watching the crowds of people who were flock-
ing in by ever train.

About dark e saw Fred St. Clair in the de-
pot, strolling about, and occasionally accosting
some of the strangers.

Turk was seated in one corner of the apart—
ment, staring in the most gawky manner im-
aginable at the surroundings. '

“Good-evening, Johnny 1” St. Clair accosted,
familiarly. “ Come down to take in the glori-
ous Bi-Centennial?”

“ I reckon of I don’t got tuk in myself,” Turk
replied. “ Kinder tired travelin’ around, un’
thort I’d take a rest.”

“ Right. Excess of sight-seeing makes it tire—
some pleasure just now. Let me see, your face
seems familiar. You’re from Perryville, are
you not?”

“ Lordy Jerusha! bow’d ye ever guess that ?”
Turk ejaculated, with a, grin of surprise.

“ Ohl I’ve been through there, traveling for
pleasure, and it somehow struck me I’d seen
your face somewheres."

“ Yas, me an’ dad runs the Schoonover' cheese
factory there, an’ turns out the best cheese in
the State, Dad he kicked like thunder when I
set sail fur beer; but, durn it, I cum on my own
book. I couldn’t berry no stamps from him, so
I jest sold my interest in the last makin’ 0’
cheese, an’ beer I am. Since dad j’ined the
church I’m gel-darned at he don’t git tighternn’
tighter every day.” ..

“ Come down to see the sights, I suppose?”

“ Wanl, I judge. Don’t know much about the
city, but I guess 'I kin git my money’s wu’m],
Didn't cost a heap to cum. Got in wi’ a fellcr as
was fetchin’ over a carvload 0’ sheep.”

“Well, you want to take care of yourself.
There’s a great abundance of rogues in the city
laying for fat pocket-books, and any cne‘s liable
to get robbed.’

“ Bet they won’t soap me! Carry all my
spondulics in my shirt-pocket, ’ccpt ’bout a bun-
dred, dollars pin-money. The old woman posted
me.

“ What a comfort it is to have some one to
advise one," St. Clair said. “But I guess I’ll
journey up to the club,” he added. “ Go along”,
if you’ve nothing more’importnnt on tap, and
I’ll introduce you to some of the first young

   
  

 

 we; .

 

 

 

-~a~m._w.. . ,

,.$.r-<

 

 

 

 

fellows about town, and we’ll have a quiet game
of eucher.”

“Wahl. I might go ’long, sence we’ve met,
but I don‘t play much at keerds, ’cept now an’
then a game 0’ eucher.”

They then set out, and in due time arrived in
the hallway outside the room occupied by the
Social Seven.

Here the handsome sharp paused and said:

“ I’ll just explain to you what otherwise
might seem strange. This Social of ours was
gotten up for mutual enjoyment, and we adopt-
ed several rules and regulations, among which
was one that no one should enter the council-
chamber, except in mask. No one of us knows
the other. Membership is obtained thus: A
person wishing to join, visits the room, during
the day, and leaves a note stating that under
the nom de plume of so-or—so, he will be present
for initiation, that night. Among the mem-
bers, now are Seven—The Murderer, The Smug-
g‘ler, The Ghoul, The Blackmailer, The Burglar,

he Kidnapper, and The Pickpocket!"

“Lord! J erushal I’m goin’ hum!” Turk
gasped, in pretended alarm.

“Nol no! You don’t understand. This is all
fun. you know. Each member is of the best
families, and perfectly honest and honorable.
Just put on this mask, and I’ll introduce you as
The Firebug.”

Fearin that he would arouse suspicion if he
disobeye , Turk put on the half-mask, St. Clair
also masking himself, and then giving five pecu-
liar taps on the door.

A cough was heard, whereupon St. Clair
opened the door and they entered. The place
was lit by a. chandelier, and had undergone no
little change, since Turk’s visit, earlier in the
day, for in the center of the room was an
elegant Euro-table, about which were grouped
six men, engaged at the game, while others
were lounging about the room, smoking, chat-
ting, and drinking, the refreshments being pass-
ed around by a negro.

St. Clair and Turk became seated, and main:
tained a silence.

About half an hour passed, when the six men
at the fare—table arose and left the room.

The door was then locked by the negro, who
retired to an adjoining apartment.

St. Clair then arose.

“ Gents, in my heart rankles a spirit of re-
venge since you cleaned me out of so much
cash, last nig t I repose to get even with
you, by opening a ittle game of taro. Will
you make it interesting ?” ,

The others agreed, and all hands gathered
around the table.

Turk stood near at hand, and looked on.

The negro came from the adjoining room,
and took the position of banker, and sold the
checks to his masked confoderates, as Turk
knew they were.

Too old a lad he was, in the wavs and wiles of
cit life, not to know that the am game was
on y started in the hopes of attracting his
money, of which he had purposely hinted to St,
Clair that he had a considerable.

“ A fine gang of sharks, and I’ll bet they re-
present the different professions that no friend
claimed—in truth, instead of in fun. f they

a

 

Buck Hawk. DetectiVe.‘ If

catch me, I’m destined to be sleepier than I am
now.”

The game proceeded, and the betting ran high,
in consequence of which St. Clair lost about
fifty dollars.

“ That breaks my bank,”he growled. “ Curse
me, if I only had an even fifty more, I’d scoop
the crowd.”

A thought flashed across Turk’s mind.

“ Tell ye what, boss. Give me sum’thin’ fer
security, an’ I’ll put up fifty fer ye,” he said,
ste ping forward.

t. Clair caught readin at the bait.

“ Thank you. Here’s my gold watch. Will
that do?”
“Of course. Here’s your spends."

And he took the roll of money from his
pocket, and counted out three of the time-worn
bills——two twenties and a. ten.

The Social Seven exchanged glances, and. the
darky shoved the notes into the cash drawer,
giving St. Clair checks in return. ,

The others also in vested, and the game was run.

Of course St. Clair won heavily, as Turk
had expected, and redeemed his watch by pay-
ing fifty dollars from the gold which the banker
had shoved over to him, and which Turk pock-
eted with quiet satisfaction.

"‘ I believe I’ll try my luck on the consumed
thing,” he said, iving the darky fift dollars in
greenbacks. “ §ever did hev much uck, tho’.”

He played and scoo d in the checks. »

Again he venture , and again he was suc»

cessful.

“ Waal, I’ll go ye one more, an’ make that
the last. Heer‘s the last 0’ the cheese money—-
three hundred dollars. I’ll bet the hull pile
ag’in’ the backin’ of it.”

The men divided their moneys, and the stakes
were ut up and won—by St. Clair.

Tur was not disappointed, but pretended to

be, boisterously.

“You’re a gol-durned set 0’ skinners!” he”
I feel sick. ,

growled. “ I won’t play no more.
Let me out 0’ here.”

At a signal from one of the men, the negro

opened the door.

Turk staggered toward it, acting as though
he were somewhat intoxicated.

“I’m goin’ up to uncle’s.
ner.”

“ Better go with him l” one of the gamblers
said toSt. Clair, and that individual nodded
and followed Turk down-stairs, both taking otl'
their masks in the hall.

To the sharper’s offer to accompany himto
his stopping-place, Turk made no resistance,
and feigned to be half stupid until they reached
the house in Thirteenth street.

“ Ef ye don’t mind, come in. No one’s u , I

guess, an’ I know whar uncle keeps his bott ," ' '

Turk declared

He opened the door and entered, St. Clair fo‘l- ‘

lowin him.

Tur then lit a lamp, and at the same instant, V

Buck Hawk stepped into the room from the

street.
A startled cry escaped him as he saw St.
Clair, who started back with an oath.

Turk seeing a, crisis instantly drew his row? _

vers, and covered the gambler.

Come ‘long, pard- g “ »

 

  
  
  
 

 

 

18 ‘ J4 Buck Hawk. Detective.

“ Boy, what is the meaning of this?" Hawk
demanded. “ How comes this rascal here, of all
places in the world?"

“ Oh! him and his set were trying to tap me.
but I war too foxy for ’em, an’ lured this feller
here, so you could hev a look at him!”

Hawk whistled.

" I’m might glad. This is Slippery Fred,
one of Murrel ’s gang—a naboh sort of rascal,

. you know—big relations, you know—allus gets
off Scot free."

Hawk taking a pair of handcuflfs from his
big coat pocket, put them on the gambler’s
wrists, without resistance. He next bound his
feet together, and then gagged him so system—
atically, that he could utter no sound above a
groan. This done he dragged him into a small
dark apartment off the front room.

“ There! You stay there for the present, and
if you make any noise, I’ll break your head.
You know the sort of a hairpin I am, and I
relcfk’on you’ve got sense enough to behave your-
BB ‘

He then locked the door and turned to Turk.

“ So far so good I" he said, triumphantly.
“ That catch is worth five thousand dollars, if
you want to know it.”

Just then there came a rap at the door.

Hawk looked at Turk to enjoin silence.

The rap came again.

wk crept toward the door.

For the third time the rap came!

Turk was wondering what was next on the
programme for the evening‘s entertainment.

he show was becoming very interesting.

 

, CHAPTER V.
TURK CUTS LOOSE.

ETTA EVELYN was well pleased with her new
home the longer she remained in it. Her duties
were light, and she had much of the time to her-
self, as old Jason Titus snored away the better
part of each day, in the easy-chair.

,Titus had a large daily income from a down-
town manufacturing place, which it was one of
her duties to collect, every afternoon, at three,
rain or shine, and she always had a coupe at her
command.

Then, there was the early morning drive
whenever it was pleasant in the Park, and all
taken into consideration, Etta was ratherdoubt—
ful if she could have ever found a more desirable
situation.

The Titus turn—out, was one of the nobbiest
equipages seen in the Park, and Etta could not
help feelin a little proud, when one morning
they met iss Aurelia St. Clair, who was out
for a. gallop.

The start and stare, when she saw her cousin
inthe barouche with old Jason, plainly express-
ed her astonishment.

» After one of these. morning drives, as Titus
’ was examining his mail, he looked up at Etta
rather queerly.

“Better put on some extra frizzes to your
hair, to-day, gal,” he observed, “for I'm going

a  break my usual rule and have a friend to
, dinner. Smart young fellow too-about thirty,

and got brilliant prospects, since he quit t e
ocean. If I do say it, Carl Clyde is a man,

‘ every inch of him.”

 

Poor Etta’s heart sunk within her.

Captain Clyde coming here to dinner!

What in the world should she do—‘—how could
she face him, Aurelia St. Clair’s lover?

She had met him frequently at the St. Clair
Mansion, and he had treated her with full as
much cordiality as ho had Aurelia, whom Dame
Rumor said was to become his bride, somewhere
along about the holidays.

If he came here, and saw and recognized her,
he would likely inform Jason Titus of her former
surroundin s, and there was no telling how
thin won (1 turn.

“ am sure you will kindl excuse me, Mr.
Titus," she said, blushing. “ had rather not
meet your company, if you can spare me. I
had rather not make any acquaintances."

“ Pooh! Nonsense! 1 say yes, and that set-

Has it. So, now, run down to town, and inquire

at Drexels if the Panama is in port yet, and
then return.”

Seeing there was no way to get out of the di-
lemma, without offending him Etta determined
to ” face the music,” and make the best of the
situation.

So she ordered the hack, and was driven down-
town, where she made inquiries concerning the
ship, Panama, and then stopped at Strawbridge
and Clothiers to do some shopping.

While there, a man entered the store, and
ta pod her on the shoulder.

t was Jack Grimes, the detective!

Etta had seen him occasionally at her uncle’s
house, but further than knowing his professional
calling, knew nothing about him.

She turned and gazed at him, haughtily.

“Sir!” she said, inquiringly.

“ Excuse me,” he said. “ May I speak to you,
privately, a moment?”

“ No, sir,” Etta replied. “ I do not know
you !” And she turned to the counter.

“But I insist I" he said. “ I do not want to
make you trouble, here!”

She understood, then.

His words implied a threat.

He was a‘ detective. Had he come to arrest
her, at the instance of Jerome St. Clair?

“My carriage is at the door. I shall be out
directly,” she said.

He bowed, lifted his hat, politely, and made
his way out of the store, by the Market street
entrance

Etta’s mind had been suddenly made up, on
one thing. She must dodge this man, no mat-
ter what the results might be!

She quickly made a purchase, and left the
store by the rear entrance and hurried up Fil-
bert street as far as Tenth street, thence down
Tenth to Walnut.

She knew that the carriage would go home in

case she did not return within a reasonable

length of time but what was she to do?

She took a dhestnut street car, and rode into
West Philadelphia and back, her mind in a state
of great anxiety.

What was she to do?

She had no place to go to.

Should she return to the Titus home, and run
the risk of the results that might follow?

Yes. They could not rove anything of a.
criminal nature against er, and she might as

  

 

 

. . ‘21‘ Bi‘ltnifiHA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V Buck Hawk, Detective.

,.-i 

 

well meet any charges brought against Ler at
first as at last.

So she returned to Eighth and Market, and
found the lian still waiting for her, but Jack
Grimes was not to be seen.

Getting into the conveyance, she gave the
order to drive home, which she soon reached,
and she made her way to her room to take elf
her wraps.
fziOn going down-stairs, she met Molly, who
saw :

“ If you please, miss, the master wishes to see
you in the parlor.”

Presuming that he desired to hear from the
Panama, Etta accordingly hastened to the par—
lor, and entered.

She gave a faint gasp of surprise as she did so,
for she beheld Jack Grimes seated there, in com-
pany with Mr. Titus, her employer.

The latter lookej up with a. nod, but the de-
tective gave her only a. passing glance, appear-
ing not to recognize her.

“ Gal,” old Jason said, in his blulf but hearty
manner, “ this is Carl Clyde, whom I was speak-
in’ about. Haven’t seen him before in three
years, and he has changed somewhat in that
time.” '

Etta acknowledged the introduction as best
she could, and then escaped to another portion
of the parlor, in order that Titus might not no«
tice the astonishment that was expressed upon
her face.

What was J ack Grimes doing here, masque-
rading in the nom de plume of Carl Clyde?
What villainous scheme had he on foot?

Poor Etta. trembled.

She was well satisfied that he had some plot
to further, and calculated to use her as the too],
depending upon his" knowledge of her former
circumstances to keep her quiet.

The very thought of such a thing made her so
nervous, that she was heartily glad when Jason
asked her to play something upon the piano.

She layed several pieces, and then excused
hersel on the plea of a headache, and went to
her room, where she threw herself upon the bed,
and lay there, wondering what the result of
Jack Grimes’s interview with Jason Titus would
he.

W hen dinner-hour came she did not go down,
but told Molly to take down the excuse of a
headache,

The idea of facing Grimes, with the knowl-
edge of the lie he was palmiug oil? on Jason
Titus, was too repugnant to bear, and so she
made up her mind to run the risk of meriting
her employer’s dis leasure.

Toward. dusk, oily brought her up a sealed
letter, which she opened and read when the ser-
vant was gone. _

It was from Grimes, and read:

“ DEAR Miss EVELYm—Your generous employer
has granted me the permissxou to escort you to the
performance of Lotta. as ‘ Bob ’ this evening, if
you Will kindly honor me with the pleasure of your
company. It will also afford me an opportunity to
explain much to you which run he puzzling you.
Trusting you will believe I mean or your own wel-
fare, I am, Yours truly, CARL CLYDE."

“ The base impostor,” Etta. murmured, tenr-
ing the missive into shreds. “ He indeed means

)

closing the door, and took a keen survey of?

 

to use me as the stumbling—block to others.
What shall I do? If I refuse to hear his ex~
planation, he may influence my immediate dis:
charge, if he does not work we greater harm.
If I hear what he has to say, I may be better
able to defend myself.” . x 3

Further deliberation strengthened her belief 
that she had better humor his request, and so ‘

rocuring n slip of paper, she addressed it to ‘ ‘
1lrlim, and added:

1 will be ready at halfvpast seven."

Let us return to Buck Hawk and his appren— ,
tice. A. '
The third rap upon the door of their quarters

in Thirteenth street was given loud and per-
emptory. “
“The devil!” escaped from Hawk's lips, and
cocking his revolver, he flung open the door,
and there entered a. woman some sixty years of
age, who hobbled along with a cane, and‘was r
dressed in old and rugged attire. Her hair was _ ,,
unkempt and white, and her face wrinkled and o
withered, but her eyes, black as jet, had the lire, ;
and sparkle of you! h. ' " '
She helped herself

l
i
i
l
1
.2
'1
s
i
i‘ \

 

to a seat while Hawk was,

Turk, who was standing in the center of the .
room.

“ Who have you got here, Buck?” she queried"
in a pleasant voice, which was hard at contrast
with her appearance, and betrayed the fact that .
shellltiad not always been in her present position.
1n 1 e. I , .,

“0h, he’s a. young rat I’ve icked up tohelp
me,” Hawk replied. “Tur , this is my ,
mother." , f

Turk looked in Surprise, and acknowledged f
the introduction with 8. bob of his head. . '  '

Hawk then lit a pipe, and seated himself,
and gazed through the clouds of smoke at his
mother. ' ,

{ggfliat brought you back from Boston?” he
as e . r . _

“ A good reason. There is nothing we want
there,’ was the answer. “I‘ve lea more
since I came back then we’ve both found outin
n. year.” -

“ Humphl What?”

“I met Jerome St. Clair to day.”

Hawk whistled.

“ Did he know you?” _ _ . 1‘ -

“Not be. 1 was watching him unknown to
him. When ‘he walked on he dropped this, and
I picked it up.”

She handed a. telegraph message to Buck, who
read it aloud. I '

It was the one from Uriah Evelyn to Jemima
St. Clair, which Turk had received from the
wire prior to his meeting With. Hawk.

Buck scowled when he read it. _

“It willbe a. question who wins the game
now,” he said. “St. Clair has union or p094
session of the girl. I learned lac—night 15 she
had skinned out, and her whereabouts are not
known." ‘ -

 

  

  
   
 
 
 
  

 

The old woman  - i _
“ More likely s e’s been foully dealt with}?

she said, anxiously. v y _ ‘ ‘
“ Not by St, Clair,” Buck cried fiercely. 9‘ He

    
 

 

     

' 14. 7 Buck Hawk, Detective.

 

has too much value for his own safety todo
anything like that, although i dare say he
Would not care if she were to die from natural

causes."

“ Who’s that ye’r‘ talkin’ ‘bout?" Turk asked,
curiously. “Not Etta Evelyn?”

“ Certainly. What do you know ’bout her?”

“ Oh, not much. Met her up at St. Clair’s,
, I an’ inside a mash wi’ her. ’Spect to hitch on to
her when I git romoted."
Buck ‘and is mother exchanged amused
glances.
“So the gel ain’t at St. Clair’s, eh?” Turk
_ went on, fierly.
r “No. y do you ask? Do you know any-
thing about her whereabouts?" .
Turk scratched his head.
“No, I can’t say as I do, but you jest bet cf
 * St. Clair has hurt that gal I’ll fix him, sure’s
 I’m elected governor in 1890. Bet I know what’s
’ the reason the gel is gone.”
h j “ You do? Then explain, for it is a matter of
great importance to us.”
“Oh it is. ’Sposin’ you explain the whyfore
' to me first?”
“Indeed. You are cute, ain’t you? But I sup—
pose you might as well know, as you are like y
to be or use; '

 

glance.

“ No! no!” she cried angrily; “ tell the young
monkey nothing. Boys can’t be depended on.
If you’ll please me, you’ll send that fellow away,
Back; I don’t like himl”

, “ But, mother—~” ,
_” Send him away I say! Have nothing to do
with him. Do you hear? Am 1 boss, or you i"

“You are unquestionably boss,” Buck said,
, ineekly. ‘I‘ As my mothelrgvillstghat ,I shall not

esp on, su so on eve go.

i‘ “:Igerect!  min wanted, you bet I won’t
" stay,” Turk‘declared} independently. “Kinder
suspicioned I’d lose my job, through doublin’ up
wi’ you. but it don’t matter. Reckon I’ll hang
to the detective biz—set up an opposition shop,
a like. E! on want any ints, jest cell around
' , and I’ll so 1 out fer ten do lars per p'iut.”
d And with this, the boy moved toward the

our.
7 “ Hold on x” Hawk cried. “ Before you go you

had better turn over the counterfeit money I
‘ gave you.”
» “Oh I guess not!” with a cool laug . “ If you
‘ want the , apply to the Social Seven. They were
so acoommodetin as to give me gold for the
better rt of it. he lgold I shall keep fer luck.
Ta! ta Tra-la-lool he next time you employ
; a monkey, beware of the chimpanzee order,
which know how to skin out of ordinary games.
Geod-by, Granny. Hil hii Buck I"

And with this mocking salute, Turk darted
. from the house and down the street. .

It was quite late at night, and so he made his
way to a cheap lodging-heuse on Market street,
near the Schuylkill, and secured accommodations
for the night. , .

_' Bright and earl the next mornin be repaired
M170 adowmtown c othing-house, an by expend—
 ing fifty dollars soon had himself arrayed in at-
I , tire at was nohhy to say the least.

> K Wing the , 06 of the money would

, ,

  
   
    
   
  
  
    
 
 
  
 
 
    
  

   

And Hawk gave the old woman an inquiring

 

keep him for along time, he made no effort to
secure work, but spent his time about town,
dodging in an out the various resorts of crimiw
nals in hopes of. meeting the diamond thief.

He also made it a point to saunter past the St.
Clair dwelling, on Seventeenth street, each day;
but the place was invariably closed, and there
were no si us of life about it—a peculiarity con-
nected wit numerous Quaker City residences.

On the same Tuesday evening that Jack
Grimes was to escort Etta Evelyn to the theater,
Turk chanced to be passing the Titus residence
at about half-past seven o'clock.

A close carriage had just drawn up at the
door, and a. man leaped out, almost against
Turk, as he was passing. ,

Hastin excusing himself, he ascended the
steps and rung the hell, and then it was that
Turk saw for the first time that it was Jack
Grimes.

“Humph! I wonder what racket that son~of-
a-gun is up to?” he mused. “ Bet a cent he’s up
to some mischief l” -

Curiosity impelled him to stop at the corner,
a few steps further on, and wait to see what
turned up.

In the course of ten minutes the door
opened, and Grimes and Etta came out or the
house.

As they did so, Turk made it his business to
pass them; and his astonishment knew no bounds
when he perceived who the young lady was.

Old Jason Titus stood in the doorway, and
called out, as Jack was about helping her into
the carriage:

“ Take good care 0’ her, Captain Clyde, or I’ll
never trust her in your care ag’inl”

“ All right I" Grimes r nded.

Then he sprung in, and t e carriage was driven

away.

Turk had paused again, a short distance
:way, adecidedly puzzled expression upon his

ace.

“ Well, here’s 3 gm” he muttered. “‘Wonder
what the girl is domg here? And Jack Grimes
is known as Captain Clyde, eh? Pnewl there’s
a bit of mystery all around.”

He took a turn about the block, and came
back to the Titus Mansion. v

His brain had not been idle durin his walk.

" I’m jest goin’ to find out w ere they’re
bound fer. I’ll ask ter the captain, and likely
the ’11 tell where he is gone to.’

e ascended the steps and run the hell, and
the summons was answered hyt o negro ser-
vant, Pompey.

“ Is Captain Clyde‘ in?” Turk asked.

“No, ssh! De capting done jest gone away
wid de young leddy to de Ches’nut Street Opera
Hausa, sah, to see Lotta,” he said. “ Jes’ gone,
so. .

Thanking him, Turk departed. '

Taking asouthward bound car, he was not
long in reaching the 0 era House on Chestnut
street. where be pure need a balcony ticket,
not wishing to go below, lest Grimes should dis»
cover and recognize him.

His sharp eyes were not Ion in discovering
Grimes and Mme Evelyn, who ad seats in the
orchestra circle. nearly on a line opposite him.

Twice during the owning he saw Grimes,

e

 

 
 

 

 

  

   

 

 

 

.3 .

 

 

 

LBucl‘: Hawk, Detective. ' 15 '

 

' get up and go out, and during one of these

eriods of absence Turk caught the eye of

h ttaj, and made a motion of caution with his
an .

She evidently neither understood it, or recog—
nized him, for she turned her head and gazed
haughtin away.

At last Lotta had romped and amused the
audlence to the time for closing, and the cur—
tain went down, while the orchestra struck up a.
march.

At the first tap of the curtain bell, Turk made
a step for the door, and was among the first out
of the thzater.

The carriage Grimes had come in, was among
the long line in _front of the theater. and Turk
saw him and MISS Evelyn get in, and watched
them drive off, down-town.”

“Goin’ the wrong way," he mused. “That

don’t look right. Mebbe goin’ arterasupper, '

tho’, in true nabob style. I’ve a notion that I’ll
see what time they return hum."

_He accordingly hurried to the vicinity of the
Tltus reeldence, where he secreted himself in a
dark alley between two houses across the street.

Two hours passed.

No carriage had yet come.

“ Durn my cats if I ain’t afeard that shark
has run the gal-ofl.’ whar she won’t be found
soon,” the boy muttered, dubiously. “ Some-
thin’ seemed to tell me that all wasn’t right.”-

After a neighboring clock had chimed three,
the door across the way opened.

Turk glided from the alley, and across the
street.

Jason Titus, in his dressing—gown, stood upon
the steps.

“ Are you the entleman of the house?" Turk
asked tipping his at.

“ Yes, I am. What d’ye want!" Jason
growled, grufliy.

“ I just wanted to ask if your gal had got
home safe, sir?”

“ No, she hasn’t. What do you know about
her, and what are you hangin around for, at
this timeo’ night?"

“Beg pardon, sir, but if you‘ll hear me, I’ll
explain. I am afraid you let Miss Etta go out
with the wrong customer. Shall I come in,sir?”

“ Thunderation, yes, and mighty quick, too,
if you know anything about this confounded
business. I’ve been in a sweat these tour hours i"

Turk followed the old gent into the cozy par-
lor and he bade him be seated.

Then taking his own big chair, he said: \

“Now go ahead, boy, and tell what ye know.
Where's Clyde and the girl i”

 

CHAPTER VI.
rum: roucnns BOTTOM.

THE young ferret scratched his head a mo-
ment. and then answered:

“ Well. I don’t know as I orter give it away,
because. ye see I’m in the detective bizness. and
my tellin’, you might upmt some of my plans.
But I reckon you canbe depended on.”

“ Most assuredly. Go on.”

“ Well, yer gal went out to the theater with
OaPt’in Clyde, not?" ,

' _ Exactly 1"

 

“ An’ hasn’t returned 3”

“No! that's what’s worryin me.” ’

“ Well. I reckon you mig t as well drop on r
the worrimeut, and take it easy. The gal is a. v
goner. for the present, but jest leave it to me
and I’ll ferret out her whereabouts. ’Speot ye
know this Captain Clyde?”

“ Indeed, yes. His 'father used to be in part-
nership With me, but died.aud Carl went to
Sea. Used to get letters from him. Finally,

‘ three ~years ago, he left the sea and set up in

New ork, and this is his first visit to ma”,

Turk whistled, and then screwed his face into
a comical grin. ‘ '

“ Carl Clyde didn’t come to see you at all.
The feller What‘s been closin’ yer eye up, is a
regular thoroughbred ripscallion, named Jack
Grimes, an’ ye can bet yer bottle on it. I know
that chap like a cross-eyed herring.” .

“Ye don’t tell me. Curse my ignorance. I
thou ht he didn‘t look just like Carl.”

“ on thought right. The girl—what was
she to you, boss?”

“ My amanuensis. I advertised, and she ~
come. Mighty! I Wouldn’t lose the ‘ l for
her weight in gold. She’s as honest an punc-
tual as ever a gal could be.” ' ‘

“ Yes, she's a squar’ gal. But, twixt you an’ .
me, boss, there’s a mystery, about the gal’s life,
and out of pure interest in her, I’ve undertaken
to ferret it out. There’s several persons that’s
interested in the case, and several of the lot, if I
not all, mean the girl evil.”

Jason arose and looked furious.

“ Why curse it, boy. ef they dare ‘to harm a ._
hair of that girl’s head, I’ll fetch the law on ’em
in full strength I” ,

“ Yes, but you’ve got to work up the case, _
first, an’ strike afterward. Jack Grimes has
run that girl off. Jack Grimes is also a deters

tive. Gotell the authorities that Grimes was ,

concerned in such a scrape, and they’d laugh at
ye, and you couldn’t prove nothin’.
J ason Titus looked at his visitor admiringly.

“You've got a smart head on you, boy. , V

What’s your name?”
“ Only got one that I know of, and thatis ‘

Turk. S’pose that answers all purposes, how: I i

ever.”
“ Strange name—probably not your own. ' _
Have you parents or relatives liviu 9” ~ '
“ Nary a one that I know of.
songer boy till lately, when I concluded I could ,
live by my wits. Goin’ to find out this abduc- .
tion case, if I'hu’st.” ‘
“ How do you propose to do it?” r
“ 0h! I’ll root around till I strike a trail.”

“ What do you know of the girl's past?”  ~
“Not much. Saw her first at the house of
Jerome St. Clair—” - I '
“ What)” the old man interrupted, excitedly. .

“ Where did you say?”

“At the house of Jerome St. Clair, where
took a message. , ‘_
“ Great God! That is the first that I ever
knew that man was in the city. What is his
business?” ’. _  -" -. 
Turk explained, so far as he knew, andthen .
also narrated the [acts of the diamond robbery,

Jason Titus did not speak for several minutes
and than his voice was husky. * _

4” 

  

 

 

names-1'

 

A- «Kc—firms; A . r

  

'. sembliu

 

 

 

16 _ ‘ Buck Hawk, Detective.

 

“Where does this St. Clair live?" he finally ‘

asked.

“ 0n Seventeenth street, N o. —,” Turk re-
plied.

“ You are sure this girl lived there?"

“ Reckon so. Sta in' there, anyhow. Reckon
she left, ’cause they icked up the diamond blZ-
ness into a. fuss.”

“ Does this man Grimes know them?”

" Yes. He’s the feller they’ve employed to
hunt up the diamond thief."

“ Then perhaps it is on some such an account
that he has abducted the girl?"

“ P’ra 5. I’d ulcker think some other way,
though don’t to e no stock in Grimes. What
do you know about the St. Clairs and Etta Eve-
lyn, now?” v

“ I prefer to keep my own counsel yet, not be
ing prepared to give an explicit answer. You

0 to work and find the girl, and fetch her safe-
fy back to me, and I’ll make you rich. You can
go now'. Call when necessary. I am tired and
5 as y. ’

T e invitation to go was decidedly pointed,
and so Turk took his departure, if anything

more mystified than before.

The following morning he made a round of the
various livery stables 1n the heart of the city,
and instituted some cautious inquiries among
the hands in regard to whether any of the rigs
had taken parties to and from the Opera House
the previous night.

In none of the stables could he see a man re-
the driver of Grimes's conveyance,
who h red whiskers.

Toward evening he dropped into a saloon near
the building where the quarters of the Social
Seven was located, and purchased a cigar.

Several well-dressed, but otherwise rowdy-
ap arin fellows were lounging about the room

another was about leaving the saloon, as
Turk entered. ,
“ Did you say there was no one up in the

, room J 1m?” he asked of one of the others.

“ N‘o; nothiu going on,” the other grunted.

“Well, then, guess I’ll jump into town."

“ Be back in time. Important business.”
_ " All right. I may run across Fred.”

Then he took his departure.

Turk’s ears had n wide open.

To make an excuse for a‘longer tarry in the
saloon, he ordered a lemonade.

“ Cussed queer why Fred fails to show up ”
one of the loungers growled. ‘o'Can't be hes

 sick.”

“ Likely," another responded, in a tone that
seemed to have the instant effect of silencing
conversation—which Turk judged was owing to
his presence. .

So, as soon as he got his lemonade, he took his

parture.

‘ There’s a part of the Social Seven—thorough—
bred rascals, every one of them,” he mused,
“ and they're going to have an important meet-
lnfi tonight. Wonder if I couldn‘t attend?"

a crossed the street and gazed back over at
the windows of the club-room. The curtains
were down, and no si n of life visible about the

.umrt of the bull 'ng.

tly, the negro came down-stairs, and
boarded an eastern bound car. - I ~

, .

 

/

reputation," Murderer retorted. “My opinion

“ Reckon the coast is clear now,” Turk mut-
tered, “2111’ I’m goin’ to visit them rooms, and
see if I can't find a nest where I can hide, and
overhear the important business, to—night.”

Rea-crossing the street, he dodged up the stair—
way, into the hall, above. Then he listened at
the first door, only to find that silence reigned
within.

Turnin the knob, he cautiously opened the
door an after entering the club—room, closed
it behind him.

All was dark, owing to the curtains being
down.

It took but a glance to assure him that there
was no place that he could conceal himself in
the front room, so he proceeded to find out
what show there was for him in the apartment
ad ‘oining.

t proved to be a much larger room, and 'was
literally choked up with stored goods, including
furniture, and packing-boxes. The farotable
was also there, and a shelf contained a number
of bottles of liquor and glasses.

He discovered also, in one corner, a full kit of
burglar’s tools—bars, jimmies, picks, and other
articles necessary to a rasoal’s profession, includ-
ing various suits of clothes, all of which were
pretty well worn.

There were several places behind boxes where
Turk perceived that he could hide without much
fear 0
was a hole through the wainscoting from which
a knot had fallen out.

By application of his ear to this hole, he could
hear pretty plainly what was said in the next
room.

So he turned off the gas, and settled himself
into a watching position behind the huge pack-

ingibox.

e had full two hours to wait, ere any one
entered the club-room, and then it was the
dorky, who immediame entered the rear
r3011? and began sampling the drinks on the
s e . -

Half an hour later six masked men entered
the front room became seated and called for
drinks, which the negro served afterward re—
turning to the rear room, and closing the door.

The men in the front room then lit cigars, and
were ready for business.

Turk, through the knot-hole, had an unob-
Strfiilted view of them, and could hear as
we
‘ His only fear was that thenegro might desire
to utilize the knotrhole too, in which case there
was likely to be a row.

But Pompe evidently had too bright an eye
for the row 0 bottles on the shelf to care for
what was said in the next room.

“ Well, let’s get to business,” one of the
masked men said. "‘ It's some days since we
compared notes, I believe. Have you learned
nothing concerning The Blackmailer, Kidnap-

“Nothing,” Kidnapper replied. “It’s my
opinion he’s been nabbed, and they’re holdeizf
hlm on account of expectation that he’ll squ .
{l‘d’guickér think you’d squeal, Murderer, than

e

‘I‘ Think what you like, it cannot injure my

discovery, one place in particular, where

 



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Buck Hawk, Detective. 1'7

 

is the same as yours, however, in regard to our
missing member. Something’s up, and I reckon
the sooner we wind up our meetings here the
better we will be off."

The others gave a grunt of approval, showing
unanimity of sentiment.

“I was about to suggest the same thing my—
self,” Kidnap r remarked. “But where will
we go, and w at will we do with the goods?”
And he gave a glance toward the back room.

“ I can arrange with a young Jew to take them
off our hands,” Murderer declared, “and work
them off in the country. I’ve struck a new
meetin — lace, too more safe than this."

ademoiselle Steel‘s!”
She is a warm friend of mine, and an
adroit ‘ fence,’ in the bargain. None but well-

rrecommended professionals can hide under her

protection.”

“ She’ll give us cover, then?”

“ Oh! yes. I made arrangements all right to~
day. So that, after to—night, we’ll adjourn to
meet next at Steel’s, using letters instead of our
present titles. For instance, I, the captain, will
use the letter Z; you, Kidnapper, the letter Y,
and the others in rotation backward. We will
then be as a new organization. Now let‘s hear
what news there is before we adjourn. Is there
anything new in your line, Kidnapper?”

“ Yes. I made a capture of the girl I was
telling you there was a. mystery about, and shall
hold her till I can get a good ransom."

“ Blackmailer knows something about what
the mystery is about the girl, does he not?"

“ I guess he don’t know anything for a cer-
tainty. Anyhow the girl is the one who gave
up the St. Clair diamonds, and she’s better out
o the way, until we get them disposed of."

“You are right. She may be a. mint to us
yet. Found anything of that messenger boy?"

“Ho—not for certain, although I have heard
of him and suspect that he is both watching
and dodging me. He’s left the telegraph ofllces
and is said to be in the street every day.”

The other members were questioned, and gave
re rts of dull business.

“Well if there’s nothing of special import-
ance, wed better adjourn. I’ll turn the goods
over to the Jew pawnbroker tomorrow, and
our next meeting will be at Steel’s."

The following instant there were sounds of a
scuffle and angry words.

The captain sprung to the door of the inner
room, whence the sounds emanated, and opened
the door uickly.

“ Help, 1 Dis nigger done gone cotehed a
burglar i”

In an instant all the members sprung to the
rescue, and Turk was yanked out into the coun-
cil chamber, where he stood puffing and panting
from his struggle, but still defiant.

“,A spy!” exclaimed Kidnapper. ’

“Yes, and the internal messenger rat 1" the
captain cursed. “Didn’t I warn you we‘d best
look bright or we’d have a grate in front of us?
This little devil is more dangerous than a dozen
older sleuths, and we’ve got to put him out of
the way this very night.”

“ 0! course!" the others assented. “ The best

way is to sink him in the bottom of the Dela-
warez”

 

 

And the rascals gathered around the prisoner
threateningly.

hIt looked as if it were all up with him just,
t en.

 

CHAPTER VII.
TURK INVESTIGATES A NEW LEAD.

GAME to the last, however, was Turk, when
threatened by danger, and although his present
situation was manifestly dubious, his grit was
ample to cope with great odds.

“ What d‘ye mean by sneakin’ into‘ our rooms
and playin’ eavesdropperi” the captain demand-
ed, sternly, giving the young ferret a shake by
the shoulder.

“None of yer bizness!” Turk responded,
promptly. “ Reckou I know what I am about.”

“ Oh! you do? Well, maybe you won’t know
quite so much about it directly. Did you qur—
posely come here to overhear our interview. ’

“ Bet your faro chips I did! Didn't get left on
it, neither."

“That remains to be told! Do you know what
we’re goingito do with you 2" .

“ Nix. aven’t an idea more’n the dog that
couldn‘t ketch his tai ”

“Well, I‘ll try to impress it on your mind,
then, that we’re going to get rid of you."

“ You don’t sa 1
oil" that easy.
me off by ’9’”

“The Delaware river route. Drowned kids
never bleat!”

‘ “ Don’t fool yourself. They sometimes change
inter mermaids, and cum back to life. Bet a
jack-knife ag’in‘ seven cents there ain‘t a stun in
Phila’ w’ot kin keep me under water."

“ We‘ll see about that. I’m a pretty good
band at doin’ jobs of the kind,” the co tain
chuckled. “Dead men tell no tales arter get
through with ’em,” and at that instant Turk re—
ceived a stunning blow beside the head, and all
consciousness left him. ‘

hat route are you going tosend

When he recovered his senses the scene had -

entirel changed. Instead of being in the rooms
of the ocial Seven he found himself lylng upon
his back in the bottom of a small row—boat,
which was being propelled upon the water by a.
roughly-dressed, rrim-looking man, some forty-
flve years of age.

Turk instanth comprehended the situation.
He was bound and and foot and being rowed
out upon the Delaware River, the bottom of
which was designed by the Seven to be his grave.

With a slight effort be gained a sitting posi-
tion and took in his surroundings.

The night was dark, and the river was com-
paratively free from shipping, except along the
docks, and from their location Turk Judged that
the skiff had started out from the handy of
Federal street docks. .

He had time only to make these observations
when his captor growled out: I

“Lie down, there. you young monkey, before
I club you over the head.”

“ Say, now, lookee here, Cap,” said Turk. lean-
ing forward, and peering into the man’s bearded
face, “ surely you ain’t mean enough to take a
young feller’s life, like me, what never did you
any harm?"

“Git out! OTcourseIam. What the dams ’

yr!

 

Didn’t suppose you’d let me

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  
  
 

 

 

 

 

18 ' Buck Hawk, Detective.

 

do I keer, so long as the Shekels come in? The
world kicks me, an’ hain‘t I a right to kick
' back?”

“But, if you can make more money doin’ a
good turn, why not do it? It will pay you Just
as much to let me live. Now, you just put lne
ashore, and come along with me, an’ I’ll give
you two hundred dollars!”

“ Show up yer cash, or shet upl”

“ Can’t show a red, now, ’cause it's all in my
room at the hotel. It’s solid fer you, tho‘l
Heerd of Turk, the boy shadow, ain’t ye?”

" No!” contemptuously. ‘

“Oh! you’re a stran er, then. My name is
as notorious as Mayor ing’s. Got a ripe old
case on hand, too. Girl abducted. Suvy'i
Stolen by same gang as hired you to spill me.
Big reward when I find the gal. Sev ril par—
ties want her. Sort 0’ mystery about her.
Fetch a fat price, you bet!”

The man only gave vent to a grunt of indiffer-
ence, and rowed on.

Turk’s heart sunk within him. It was appar-
ent that he had no mercy to expect from the
ruflian. Must he then submit to the fate the
Social Seven had prepared for him?

The thought was horrible!

A moment of silence ensued—then the man
suddenly asked:

“ What’s the gal’s name, boy ?"

“Etta. Evelyn l" Turk replied, a faint hope
budding afresh, in his heart.

And his words resulted in causing him no
little astonishment, for the man at the oars ab-
ru ptly ceased rowing, and uttered an oath!

“ What I ”he gasped, Ieanin forward, his eyes
glowing like coals of fire—“ tta Evelyn, did
you say?”

“ Jest exactly what I said!” Turk declared,
excitedl . “And I bet a cent you are Uriah

Evelynl’
“ use my skinl how in blazes do you know
that?"

‘ The man’s surprise was great:

“ Waal, I jest surmised," Turk replied. “ See’d
{ZN/er; message, when it cum fer Jerome St.

a1r.

“ And you tell me the girl has been stolen from
St. Clairl And will you attempt to find her,
and deliver her up to me, if I spare your life?—
will you swear to do this, and, more—to not
cause my arrest?”

“ Well, I reckon I hain’t at all particular
about passin’ under the river, so I’ll agree to de-
liver up the girl to whoever she belongs to, pro-
vuiin’ it’s on.”

“ Then ’1] spare you.”

He drew a knife, severed the cords that bound
Turk, and then changed the course of the boat
back toward Federal street wharf.

As they neared the wharf, Evelyn said:

“ I am an old ocean pirate, and there’s a. man
here who is after me, with awarrant for my
arrest. All I now desire is to get possession of
my child, and seek some quiet ace to pass the
rest of my da 5 in peace. Mind! you are to
tell no one that am here, but when you went

‘ me, you’ll find me ban in; around the vicinity
of Tenth and Callowhi l streets.”

“ Correct. I’ll set no work at once, in my ate
tempts to find the girl,” Turk said, “ and report

 

 

to you, any time I have news. Tell me one \
thing—do you consider the St. Clairs enemies or

friends?”

“ Enemies!”

“ And a woman—a Mrs. Hawk?"

Evelyn shuddered.

“ The same,” he gasped.

Turk was tempted to question him concerning
Mr. Titus, but something seemed to tell him not
to do so.

They landed at the wharf, and Evelyn left the
boat to drift whither it would. Evidently he
had previously stolen it from some other dock.

They then walked up Federal to Fifth, and
north on Fifth to Market street, where they sep-
arated, Turk going to the American Hotel and
turning in for the night.

The boy’s brain hall little rest, however, for
he lay awake nearly the balance of the night in
perplexed thought.

At length morning came, and he was not
sorry, for he felt wide awake and eager to get
to work, rather than sleepy.

After a hearty breakfast he dropped over on
Walnut street to a certain detective oflice,
which he knew Jack Grimes occasionally fre-
quented, and made inquiry for that worthy, but
his whereabouts were not known. He did not
belong to the regulars of the city, and there-
fore little track was kept of his movements.

A visit to the city agency brought the same
result. and thus far Turk found himself baffled.
He was resolved, however, to let no amount of
failure discourage him, and accordingly did not
feel disappointed.

During the forenoon he met Pat Murphy the
messenger-boy who had first apprised him of the
diamond robbery. ‘

“Hellol” Pat saluted “phat the divil is the
ailin’ av yez, Tuurk? Why yez l'ave the oflis so
suddint?” ’

“ Oh, I met an old pard, who took a fancy to
my mug,” Turk replied: “ and so I don’t have
to work any more. Everything lovely with the
boys?"

“ Be jabers, it is! An’ it's a foine teller that
detective is I was tellin’ yez of.”

“ Indeed l”

“ Yis. Ivery time I giv’ him a whist 0’ news
he slips a dollar into me hand.”

“ That‘s good. How you getting on with that
case about the diamonds?"

“ Divil a bit at all; but I manage to invint a
bit av a sthory to make his nibs thenk it’s on
the trail I am.”

“ Humphl Better look out or he’ll nab you at
it. He’s a snoozer, is Grimes. Where does he
hang out?”

“ No. -— Walnut street, up—stairs.”

Turk started but did not hetra it.
,. The number l’at had mention was the num-
ber of the building in which the young shadow
had waited for the pseudo—Jerome St. Clair W
fore making the trip for the diamonds.

Could this diamond-procuring gent and Jack
Grimes he one and the same?

 looked to Turk as if it were more than pos-
s1 9.

As soon as ible, Turk [left the young Hi-
bernian, whi e he, himself, sauntered about
t0wn, finally bringing up at the front of the

‘x

\

 

 

 

  

 

 

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\V.‘

 

Buck Hawk, Detective. 19

 

building on Walnut street, which Jack Grimes
frequented, according to Pat’s testimony.

Remembering that the room he had once
visited had a glass door, through which one
could look, from the hall, he Wont upvstairs.

A glance satisfied him that Grimes was not in
the alike, and so he entered, and found a young
man seated at a table, engaged in counting over
it number of packages of money.

He was rather a blear-eyed, disagreeable look-
iii person, and Turk at once judged that he
be onged to the class which was composed of
Grimes and his pals.

“ Hillo!” he saluted, as the young ferret en-
tered. “ Anything I can do for you?”

“ Perha s,’ Turk replied, with a good-natured
smile. “ just called to see if Y was in."

The clerk, for such he evidently was, looked
at the ferret, suspiciously.

“ I do not know who you mean,” he said.
“ There’s no such a party here.”

“ So I rccive, but he was here,'not long ago,
and on now who I mean."

“ ell he's not in, if I do,” was the answer.
“ Started out something like an hour ago)”

“ To the den?" .

“ Reckon not—toStael’s, most likely.”

“ Humphl Guess I’ll wait in the neighbor-
hood until he returns."

And with this declaration, Turk took his de-
pai'ture.

He did not remain in the vicinity, however,
but wandered about, wondering where Stael’s
could be.

It the Seven were to use Steel’s place asa
“fence,” might not Etta Evelyn be confined
there, too?

Later by; couple of hours he hhanced to drop
into the evil’s Den, on South 17th street—a
tumble-dean rookery, for the sale of vile rum,
which has in years past gained a notoriety as xi.
place of curiosity, from the fact that in one
corner of the small pen used as a bar-room,
stands a full-sized and grotesque statue supposed
to resemble Satan.

Turk knew that the proprietor, who is known
as Old Mummy, was well posted on the various
known and unknown resorts about town, for he
had often carried cipher memges to him, from
different parties who had a pretty tough crimi-
nal record. Therefore, he resolved to try and
pump out of the old fellow the secret of Stael’s
place.

Entering, he called for a glass of whisky
which he made a (eint of drinking, but instead
tossed upon the floor.

Taking out his former message book, he turned
over several blank envelopes.

In the operation he managed to direct one,
with a pencil, to. “ Mademoiselle Steel,” after
which he handed it to the old man, saying:

“ Know of such a crook, Mum? Dash me if I
can find her, and it‘s important, too.”

The old man adjusted his glasses, and. looked
at the name.

“. Where’s your uniform?” he asked, next, re
garding Turk and his attire, keenly.

“ Hum, gettin’ sewed an’ washed,” Turk fib.
bed, well knowing that the old sinner was sus-
picious 0: him. _ Why do you ask?”

I

 

“ Best to be sure,” was the reply. “ Steel’s is
No. —, Lombard‘St.” ‘

“Thanks. Might have searched an age if I
hadn’t thought of you.”

And with this bit of praise, the boy took his
departure.

A trip to Lombard street acquainted him with
the location of Steel’s place, which looked like a
private house; but as it bore the appearance of

eing closed, he concluded not to a visit, un~
til he had time to arrange carefu p ans.

On his return down—town, he passed the house
of one of his former message mates, and saw a
funeral just entering the carriages, which, on
in uiry, he found was of his former companion.

here being one vacant carriage, he accepted
an invitation to ride to the cemetery,a

The place of burial was West urel Hill,
and the cortege reached that beautiful city of
the dead in due time, and the interment took
place.

Turk was about re—entering the conveyance
that had brought him, when he caught a glimpse
of Hawk, the detective, in another part of the
cemetery.

The sleuth’s movements were w sly and dodg-
ing, that it instantly struck Turk that he was
trailing some one, or something, and the boy re-
solved to try and learn what it was, knowing he
could return to town by street cars, or Schuyl-
kill steamers.

So he sauntered awa in pursuit of Hawk,
keeping monuments an bushes as much before
him as possible, to avoid being discovered.

So Sli’llth-llke and irregular were the detec-
tive’s movements, that Turk found it difiicultto
keep him in sight; but at last the chase came to
an end.

Ahead of him he saw Hawk standing in the
concealment afforded by a large monument,
around which he was peering.

Still further ahead Turk saw the door of a
vault, which a young lady was either trying to
lock, or unlock—the latter, evidently, for the
door soon opened, and she entered, and closed it
behind her. ~

She was richly attired, and it was she that
Hawk was shadowingé

“ Wonder what ind of a racket this is?”
Turk muttered. “ Somethin' in it, or Hawky

wouldn’t be after it. She must be fond o’ roam- ,

in’ about in the dark, among a lot 0' stilts, senoe
she has shot herself in. Mebbe she’s a snatcher.
J inks] jest strikes me she’s mebbeconnected Wi’
the Seven 1”

The thought aroused in him a greater in-
terest inOthe case, and he watched the door of
the vault, which was built in the side of the
hill overlooking the river, full as eagerly as
Hawk did. ‘

An hour passed by, but no one came from the
vault.

Hawk maintained his vigil rather uneasily.
Turk had more tience.

Still another our passed, but without bring-

iu , forth the visitor to the tomb.

ilawk then manifested his disgust by sneak-
in away as cautiously as he had come.

film so with the young shadow. He was bent
on seeing the thing through before he left.

What the woman could be dams in the vault

’ .1

 

 

 

 

 
  
    
  
   
 
  

 
   
 
 
  

 

§
:

g
I _

V 20 ‘ Buck Hawk. Detective.

 

go long, with the door shut, was a puzzler to

1m.

“ I wouldn’t be afeard to bet my name ag’in,
Mayor King’s, that there’s a gum game on fut,
about that aire cadaver pen,” he mused. “ No
gal would stand the smells an’ grins o’ a lot 0’
stills, of thar wasn‘t some peculiar inducement
for it. Ahl thar she isl”

As he was speaking the young woman left the
vault. closed and locked the door, and came to
ward where he was crouching, rendering some
quick dodging necessary. '

As she passed near him he looked at her keen-
ly and studied her features shrewdly.

1‘ Bet a stew that’s Jerome St. Clair’s daugh-
ter,” the boy mused when she was gone. “ She
luks suthin’ like the teller as hired me. Burned

' if I Wouldn’t like to know what’s the rumble in-

side of that vault.”

When he considered it was safe for him to do
sohe approached the door of the vault, but it
was securely fastened with a padlock.

“ No use of hangin’ around here, I guess,”

L Turk concluded, as he noted that the day was

well advanced. “Maybe I might make a fur-
ther discovery by night, but I ain’t werr
partial to wras’lin’ wi’ spooks. Think I’ll cal
again.”

Remembering the location of the vault, he
caught a car on leaving the cemetery, and
reached Sixth and Arch before dusk, where he
left the car, and hurried away to the hotel for
supper, for he meant to investigate Mlle. Steel's
place during the evening, it possible.

CHAPTER VIII.
A BAFF‘LED WOMAN.
IN his parlor sat Jerome St. Clair, a little later

 

L that evening, in an easy-chair, drawn up to the

grate, wherein crackled a cheery hickory fire.

His chin rested in the palms of his hands, and
his eyes watched the flames with a ston sort of
stare. His brows were also contract , and it
was apparent by his general aspect that his
thoughts were not of a pleasant nature.

They were presently interrupted, however, by
the entrance of his stately daughter, Miss Au-
relia, who was attired for the street.

An expression of displeasure came over the
diamond merchant’s face as he saw her.

“ Where now, pray?” he said, snarlingly. “ I
am not in favor of these frequent nocturnal ex-
cursions of yours, girl.”

“Oh! you’re not?” Aurelia retorted, rather
haughtily. “ And why? Am I not capable of
taking care of mysolfl” 

“ I am not sure about it. Tell mefwhy does

‘ not Captain Clyde call for the last few days?”

” Oh! We had a lover’s spat. He will come to
time after a bit.”

“ Curse it, did I not command you not to let
him escape your net?”

.“ Did you? Oh! Well, I don’t know as I am
obliged to he commanded. I don’t think he cares
for me, and am not sure I care enough for hnn
to tie myself to him.” I

“ N onsensel You must-you shall! It is all
important you should.”

“I fail to see why.” .

“ Because you do not understand everything.”

 

 

“ Then, it’s a good reason why I should know

all, before I join in your schemes. In fact, I am
not so sure but what I may be ousted out of a
home at any minute, and it is Well to be re-
pared. Bah! don’t look horror-struck. ou
know there’s a secret between the lives of Hen-
rietta Evelyn and myself, and a deep secret, too,
that might not be pleasant for you. were it re—
Vealed. I half believe that you and Jack Grimes
know where the girl is!”

“Nonsense. You are wild. There is a secret,
but it can never concern you, if you go back on
me. Tame down that infernal temper of yours,
or it may be the worse for you.”

Aurelia laughed mockineg and swept from
the room.

Jerome St. Clair gritted his teeth as he heard
her leave the house. ,

“ A terrible change has come over her in a
few days!” he muttered.
Jack Grimes is at the bottom of it—the infernal
scamp! I don’t half trust him, even though he
works well for me. Egadl if—”

He stopped abruptly, as Jack Grimes saunter-ed
into the room.

Grimes laughed.

“ If what?” he interrogated.

” If you have been successful, you’re a thou-
sand dollars inl” St. Clair answered.

I ;‘,;I‘hen I’m out, for I have not been success-
u .

“ No claw?”

“None. I’ll wager the diamonds are not in
America.”

“ You are not sanguine enough. Something
tells me they are still in America—in~this very
city. How’s the girl?” '

‘ Gritty as a restive ghost.”

“ Any Signs that she knows where the jewels
are?"

“ No.
lamb.”

“ Well, keep her comfortable awhile longer, as
I may want to use her. By the way, have you
seen Titus since the abduction?”

“ No. He keeps close in-doors, and it wouldn’t
do for me to call. It keeps me pretty busy
dodging the detectives he sent after me."

"Have 1you seen Clyde?”

“ No. wrote him, under an assumed name,
to lie low, as he was suspicioned o! a crime.
Was that right?”

“Yes. I didn’t want the fellow troubled.
He’s a catch, only he don’t know it.”

Take my word, she’s as innocent as a

“ Well, I reckon he’ll keep shady, Miss Au- ‘

relia’s betrothed?”

“ N01 Not yet, but I desire to see them mar-
ried. By the way, Grimes, did you find out
anything about Fred ?”

No. There’s no two ways about it, he is:

locked up somewhere for some caper, but not in
Philadelphia, I take it.”

“I fancy not in self, unless the Hawks know
something about im. Have you learned any-
tlEinlgi about them? I am positivo they know me
o o .

“They are both ‘shadows,’ I take it, and, so
far as I can learn, are not long ovor from Soot?
land Yard, London. I should judge by their

movements that they are hunting for some one.” ,

rhaps,” and the diamond mer-

“For me,
a reckless laugh. “I hardly

chant utt

 

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Buck Hawk. Detective.

 

21

 

uess, though, I’m exactly the kind of game de-
ectives hunt after. ”

“Big—bugs sometimes come in for a rated
dungeon ” Grimes suggested, arising. " ll bid
you g evening now, as I have some pressing
business on hand.”

“ Well, call again.
eye out.”

“ Of course,” Grimes assented, and then how-
ed himselt out.

He made his way direct to Lombard street,
and to the house occupied by Staci.

Admitting himself by a latch-key, he as-
cended alflight of stairs and entered a front
room, Wthh was furnished magnificently as a
parlor.

The gas was turned low, leaving the room but
dimly lighted; yet Grimes perceived that a
young woman was seated in a luxurious easy-
chair, while a guitar lay in her lap.

Turning on the gas, Grimes approached her,
and seated himself on an ottoman at her feet.

' “ All alone, eh?” he said. “ Why thus?”

“ Because wenried with 'my work,” she re-
plied in good English, her voice sweet and
pleasing to the ear. “ Monsieur’s friends have
gone to the council-room.”

“Thanks. 1 will join them later. There is

nothing much to do. Where is Pierre?”

’ “Out, I uess. My brother Pierre is very
nervous. e is afraid, and says we shall go
back to Paris.”

“Pshaw. He must be crazy. You are in no
danger here.”

Grimes arose and paced the floor.

“ Did you hear ever of the St. Clair diamonds,
worth half a million francs nearly?" he sudden-
ly asked, turning upon her.

“ No," she said, her eyes betraying eagerness
in their expression. a

“ Well. these diamonds were stolen recently,
and are held In the anticipation of a fat reward.
How would you like to have them 1”

He took a large envelope from his ket, and
emptied its contents into her lap. mm was a
magnificent diamond necklace and brooch, a
diamond-set bracelet and four diamond rings,
the settings of all e which were large and of
great value. ‘

Steel was a connoisseur of diamonds, and she
uttered a cry of admiration at sight of the
beautiful treasure. "

“Oh, monsieur! what a prize!” she uttered,
handling them nervously. “They are for me,
are they not, my lover?"

keen grimace from Grimes.

“Oh, yes; they are yours—hut not until you
are mine, my beauty. Go array yourself, and
be waiting here within half an hour, when I
will return with a priest, and we will be mar-
ried. When we are one, I will have the pleasure
of presenting you with the diamonds, and you,
I, and Pierre will start at once for la belle
France.”

“ ’Tis a bargain, then i" Stael assented, as this
villainous agent of the law gathered up the
. jewels. “I shall be ready here when you
return~in half an hour, monsieur."

She then arose and lided from the parlor
with the M of a sylp , while Grimes donned
his Overcoat and hat and left the house,

In the mean time keep an

 

 

As he hurried past an alleyway adjoinin
Steel’s house, a head popped out and a pair 0
eyes, as sharp as a lynx’s, peered after him.

“Wonder what’s the rip?” the owner of the
head muttered, who was none other than Turk
the Ferret. “Bet there’s sumlhin’ high goin
on in the shebang tonight, and I’m goin’ to take
in the soiree, ifI get my head bn’sted. Mys-
terious place, an’ needs inwestigatiu’.”

He passed back through the alley, which
opened into a. little yard in the rrar of Steel’s
pace. The gate was open, and he gained en-
trance without difliculty. Much to his satisfac—
tion, he perceived that the rear portion of the
house was darkened, but the shutters were not
closed.

It was possible he might get into the house.
He stood in the shadows for some minutes,
making calculations as to how he could best ef-
fect an entrance, and what risk he would run of
being discovered, captured, and handed over to
the law.

A sort of summer kitchen was b '11; against
the rear portion of the dwelling, an from the
roof of this the second—story windows could be
reached, the curtains of which were up, show-
in that there was no light in the rear rooms.

The curtains of the third-story windows were
down closely.

“Reckon afeller might get in, ef the win-
dows ain’t locked,” Turk muttered, “and I
might as well sail in and try, as to be cogitatin’.
Jerimity! wouldn’t I ketch it at them gallus
coves should catch me!“ -

He was thoroughly set upon exploring the
place, come what might, so it was not many
minutes ere he succeeded in gaining the roof.

There were. three windows that looked out
upon it, and after pausing to judge whether he
had been discovered or no, he crept toward the
windows and cautiously peered through them.

The first opened into a room which was
wholly unfurnished, the second into a hall, and
the third into abedroom, which at the time,
ap nrently had no occupant.

11 each instance darkness reigned supreme.

The windows of the hall and bedroom were
fastened on the inside, but that of the unfur-
nished room yielded to Turk’s attem t to raise
it, and he gained accesswithout troub e.

Here he paused to listen once more, and still
he found no reason to suspect that he had been
discovered.

Groping about he found a door that opened
readin into the hall.- Along this he stole cau-
tiously to the front of the house, until he came
to the parlor, which a glance convinced him
was not occupied. _

Hearing a door (span down-stairs, he dodged
into the parlor, an hastily took refuge behind
a large book-case that stood acres one corner of
the room. ‘ ,

Here he was in no present danger of being
discovered, and might be able to playthe eaves-
dropper to some interesting conversation.

He was hardly ensconced in a comfortable po—
sition, when he heard two persons enter the
room, and the voice of Jack Grimes said!

“Be seated, sir. My lady will be ready for
the ceremony directly. ’

Then silence reigned.

as; . 1 g ». »r “#6;-

..au.. nLah-“J

 

 

  

 

 

 

22 Buck Hawk. Detective.

I /‘

 

18Eur]: puckered his mouth, and almost whis-

“ Hello l” he mused, “ I’ll eat m shirt of ther
ain’t goin’ to be a sphcin’ set—tel ucky I come,
by jingo! Wonder if it’s Etta Evelyn goin’ to
marry Grimesyi I’ll just yelp out and inter.
rupt the banns. I‘ll sp'ile Grimesy’s little game,
at he tries to force the gel to marry him.”

Unfortunately, the book-case was so high that
Turk could not see over the top of it; so he had
to content himself with his acute sense of hear-

1D .

{I‘Wish they’d go ahead with the lark,” he
muttered; “ fer of it’s Etta, I’ll make a racket,
if I bu’stl"

Soon the rustling of a woman’s dress was

heard by him, and then Grimes’s voice spoke
up:
“Ah, at last, m dear! Brother Haley, this
is my betrothed—- adenioiselle Steel—an! we
will be married at once. Are you rea 1y, ma’m’-
sells?”

There was a low murmur of assent, and the
pair took their position.

Turk’s curiosity was now at fever-heat, and
he could no longer stand the agony of being
'able to hear without seeing.

So of! came his shoes in a jiffy, and catching
hold of the broad edge of the top of the book-
case, he drew himself up noiselesst to a. seat on

p.

q A high molding ornamented the front of the
'case, and the young ferret was able to make
this screen him from view when necessary.

Grimes and Steel had taken their positions,
and the minister was reading the ceremony—a
seedy-looking minister he was, too!

“ Bet that teller ain’t no more a minister than
old Maginniss’s dorg,” was Turk’s instant con-
clusion. “ Looks like a put-up job to trick the

al. "I’m a notion to squeal out, and warn

er—

What he might have done is not certain, for
just at that juncture, when the ceremony was
near concluded, a man, in a sweeping beard,

stepgxed into the parlor, and leveled a revolver
at t e bridal couple.
“ Holdl" he cried. “I forbid this union!”

“ Furies! What do youmoan?” Grimes cried,
taking a step forward. “ I'll-”

“ Hold 1” the other ordered, sternly. “ I for—
bid the banns. That woman is only marrying

on for the diamonds, which are not yours.
and them over to me, or I’ll shoot you down
in your tracks!”

“ Ze diamonds! They are mine—they are
mine!” Steel cried, frantically, clinging to
Grimes. .

“ Hand them over to me!” the stranger roared,
menacing with his pistol. “ Hesitate at the ex-
pense of your life!”

' Grimes was white as a sheet. .

He drew theenvelope from an inner pocket,
and cast it at the stranger’s feet, that personage
picking it up with a uiet laugh.

“You can have adam Pierre S'ael, now, if
you want her, and thank me you have not made
a £001 of yourself.” r

He then backed from the room, and amo-
ment later was heard descending the stairs, two
at a time.

 

Grimes turned to Steel, but she hurled him
away!

“ G01 coward. go!” she hissed. “Leave the
house instantly l”

“ Stop!” he cried. “ Explain one thing—have
you been deceiving me?" '

“ Of course, you fool!” Pierre is my husband.
Go! take your priest along!”

Giving her a terrible look, the baffled de—
tective seized his hat and left the room, followed
by the man he had brought, to perform the
marriage. I

In his concealment Turk was literally tearing
his hair, because he could not break loose to fol-
low either Grimes or the long~Whisker8d robber.
He was not armed, or he would have made the
attempt, as it was; for he was well satisfied
that these diamonds, to—night, were the same
that he had furnishe l the pseudo-Jerome St.
Clair, at the Penn’a depot.

Furthermore, there could now be no doubt
that Grimes it was who had personated the
diamond merchant.

After Grimes was gone, Steel trod the floor
with impatient step, for some moments, her
manner extremely nervous, and her face flushed
with passion.

“ I will have revenge on him,'now—I will
strike him a blow, for offering me so magnificent
a prize, and then daring to hand it over to an-
other!”

She touched a bell, in the wall, and directly
afterward adapper little man of French phy-
sique and flashy attire, made his appearance.

‘ Well?” he said, surveying her.

“ It is not well !” she hissed. “ Ze devil is to
pay. Is any of ze Seven in so house?”

“ No!" he replied, anxiously.

” Then we must fly, at once, and find another

“ I have quarrcled with 7.6 detective. Ze jig
is up. We shall have to lie low, until I have
revenge, and then go back to Paris.”

“ But ze Seven 1”

“ Bah! they are all treacherous, and ze tools
of Grimes. He is furious. So am I. We fly—
nnwl

“ As you will. I willed it long ago!”

A few moments later, they left the parlor, and
Turk heard them ascend to the third floor.

“Reckon this is a furnished house, ke tby _

these rogues, and they’re going toskip. on-
der if I hadn t better follow ’emi"

To esca to the street, now, by the front
way, reflmred no special effort, and he waited
in the a ey, for them to come out.

 

CHAPTER IX.
A BRACE OF VULTURES.

SHORTLY after the visit of Jack Grimes, that
evening, Jerome St. Clair had still another
caller, who rather unceremoniously made his
appearance in the diamond merchant’s parlor,
and took a seat near the latter, who was en-
gaged in writing.

This person was the rough-looking customer
who had given his name to Turk the Ferret, as
Uriah Evelyn, and he looked
End dilapidated now than when Turk had seen

Lm.

 

    

even more rough v

  
 

5. swrzesmztsv-mllwmmei. 

 

 

 

 

.- ., «riggmuta'amrmywéq ‘

Buck Hawk, Detective. 23

 

Jerome St. Clair looked up from his writing
with an exclamation of astonishment, and sur-
veyed his visitor, angrily.

“ What the deuce—" he began; but Uriah in-
terrupted him. '

“ Ohl nothing about the deuce, Jerome,” he
protested, blandly. “We’ll leave that out of
the question altogether. The question is, do you
know me?”

“ How should I know you? My acquaintance
does not extend far among such characters as

“ Ohl it don’t! Getting mighty high-toned,
I suppose, livin’ in a big mansion, and slingin’
on airs Couldn’t make a gentleman out of
you, tho’, of ye had a million dollars.”

“ What do you mean, man, by your insulting
resence. I‘ll have you know I’m master here.
save my premises, sir, at once, or I will make

it the worse for you !"

“ Oh, I guess not! I ain’t much on the skeer
myself, and besides I allow that you won’t go
back on an old pard. Ha! ha! I’m rather salu-
brious thet ye wouldn’t dare go back on Uriah
Evelyn!”

St. Clair leaped to his feet.

“ You I” he ga d, whitening.

“You bet I” t e other laconically replied.
“ S’prised ye didn’t reckegnize me at furst.”

“You have changed greatly. What in the
name of furies brings you back to America?”

“ Oh, pecooliar inducements, over which I
have no control."

“I can’t imagine why. I thought we settled
up years ago.”

“ Ye did, eh? Oh, no! I was not so extreme-
1y green as that. If a teller don’t look out for a
ramy day he’s likely to get a soakin’; anyhow,
that s my logic. Where’s the gels?”

“The deuce only knows where you/rs is; she
ran away the other day, and hasn’t turned up
since.”

“ The deuce you say! So you was abusin’
her. eh?" Y

He spoke angrily.

“ By no means!” St. Clair hastily assured.
“ She has had some sulky spells of late, because
I could not afi'ord to dress her as well as Au-
relia, and she probably concluded to try to gate.
living on her own hook.”

“Humphl If I knew for sure that on ever
spoke a cross word to her, I‘d mop the our with
you.» Where is the other gal?”

“ My daughter is at the opera.”

“ Indeed! You are bringing her up in style,
I see. Nothin’ like that when one’s rich, with
the prospect of being richer. Glad you are well

heeled too, for I’m dead broke.”

“ And calculate you can make me your bank,
I suppose?” ‘

“ Well, to a certain extent, yes. I know what
a liberal heart you’ve got. so ’vo no fears but
what you’ll come down. should I call upon you,

“You are quite liable to be deceived in that

respect. I have no intentions of aiding you a
ceut’s worth!”

“Oh, well, time will show! By the way,
lease to hand over the diamonds. I can live
ike a pfinée on the worth of them.”

“You’ll not get them. They belon to Aure—

lia, and I shall keep them for her._ on may

hold a secret of mine, Uriah Evelyn, but I do
not fear you. Did Sir Page is near to death’s
door, and the estate comes into my hands, d’ye
hear—mine! You never had any wit, Evelyn,
or you would not have sold the lost heir to me
for a song!”

“ Wouldn’t I l” the finite sneered, his peering
e es glowing greenish y. “You think I am an
i iot then?”

“ Nothing more nor less.”

“ Well, I admire yer frankness, but let me tell
you that a Gypsy is not necessarily a fool.
You’ll find this out sooner or later. The dia-
monds will never do Aurelia any good.”

“ Why not?”

“ Because they are not in your possession, nor
are on likely ever to recover them.” ‘

“ ow know you this?”

“ It matters not. Leave a Gypsy fool to find
out such things. Another thing. your European
correspondent has been literally sucking your
blood—very naturally, through my instigation.
He has kept you informed about Sir Page, who
has not been in Europe for the last five years,
but has been residing in this self-same city.”

“ You lie I”

“ Say so, if you like; I know the truth. I
suppose you are aware that I am not your only
acquaintance in this country i”

‘ You refer to the Hawks!”

“Yes, to be sure. They came over from
Scotland Yard, London, in search of a notorious
murderer named—well, no need to mention
Gerald Hawk as being the man. St. Clair, I
an gose, sounds more protective to you !"

e diamond merchant gnashed his teeth.

“Curse you. man. bée‘gone! Your presence is
hateful to me!” he cri .

“ Lightly—lightly, Jerome! Don’t let yer
angry passions rise. 1 don’t care a. durn how
mad ye git, ’cause I know I’ve got the clutch on
the helm and can uta reef in yer canvas when-
ever I like. All ‘ve got to do is to go whisper
in the ear of Nancy Hawk that you arehere, and
she and Buckingham will make it interesting
for you, and don’t forget it!”

“ If you dare, I will murder you!”

“ Ha! ha! be! I’ll take my chances. I don’t

git too penurious. It’s this way—I’m goin’ to
leave olf hard work and speckilate like a gentle-
man. Et you have got more sand to heave into
my bank than Sir Page, why you’re my man.
If not, vice versa. Plain as Scripter, the logic
0’ that, not?"

Jerome St. Clair, as we shall still continue to

dared his enemy with good heart just then.

His face was white and red by turns, and his
eyes had a snakish glitter that spoke of the bit-
ter venom which rankled in his heart.

you think to bleed me, you will reckon without
your host. I am not worth a cent, and, besides,
Sir Page is where you Will never find him, if, in-
deed, he is not in England.”

“ You are wrong. I have not been a fool all
this time, even though a wild Gypsy and you
a scheming bailiff. If you are particular to
know it, Sir Page resides in this very city, and I

 

know where to lay my hands on him at an in-

 

propose to be hard on you, providin’ you don’t ‘

call him. looked as though he could have murr

“May the furies seize you!” he hissod. “It!

 

 

 

 

 

24 Buck Hawk. Detective.

 

stant’s notice. He will pay a round sum for the
real heir, if you will not!”

“ But possession is three points of any law!”
St. Clair sneered.

“ And you have not even that I” It was Eve-
lyn’s turn to chuckle. “ You have not the real
child you stole from Sir Page!”

“ What? are you mad, man?”

“ Not a bit. Just consider. Do you suppose
I. would have given you my child to abuse and
knock about? Hal ha! no 1 Knowing ol.’ the
immense wealth of your kinsman, Sir Page,
you one night attempted to burglarize his resi-
dence, using me as a sort of tool. You were un—
successful—were recognized—and in escaping

I I took refuge in our Gypsy camp, where you were

kept in hiding for weeks. Mind, in escaping
from the mansion, you murdered Lady Page,
and this set the country wild. Finally, through
our queen, Steel, and myself, you escaped to
Liverpool, and thence to America, leaving be-
hind your wife and son. Later ye wrote me, an’
proposed that I rob Sir Page of his diamonds
and his child and bring them to you, when you
would set me up in business and make me rich.
I obeyed. I brought the diamonds and two
children—one Sir Page’s and the other mine——
and put them in your charge. The two at the
time were very much alike in appearance, and
so, looking out for the interest of my own child,
I gave her to you as being Sir Page’s, while you
knew Sir Page’s as minel”

“ You lie, you rascal, you lie like Satan,” the
diamond merchant cried, savagely, making a
move as though he would strike the pirate.

“No, I don't. While you have made a lady
of my daughter, Sir Page’s child you have al-
lowed to escapel”

An evil glitter entered the merchant’s eyes at
this, which Evelyn did not notice.

“ So you see,” the latter went on, “if you
don't whack up, I’ll set the dogs at you, and
' eventually win Sir Page’s favor by restoring to
him his long-lost daughter!”

“ And I defy you to do your worst!” St.
Clair cried, furiously.

CHAPTER X.
A TRIANGULAR comma.

One young ferret. Turk, could not really
have explained his motive for dodging the
movements of the Steels, but follow them he
did, nevertheless. to a boarding-house in Barker

. street. -

They were admitted'by the landlady, and as

they did not reappear within half an hour, he
‘ concluded that they had taken up quarters there,
and he might as well Seek his own.

“ I’m shot efI wouldn’t like to know who the

aloot was who roped in the jewels,” he muttered.

‘Looks like there ll be a rye old time recoverin‘
’em, now. J ehosephatl Didn’t Grimesy nigh
git took in, eh? Bet he won’t go flshin’ fer beau-
ties againl I must get after him now, for he
hain‘t got the gal,‘Etta, shot up in the Lombard
street den, which, ‘pears like to me, was a
counterfeiter’s crib. Several things I've got to
investigate ter—morrer.”

,The next morning he paid a visit to the Titus
dwelling, and found the old speculator in the

 

parlor, in company with another gentleman, at
the sight of whom Turk started.

He was a handsome person. who in many
respects strikingly resembled Jack Grimes, the
detective.

Mr. Titus was greatly pleased to see our young
ferret, and at once introduced his visitor as
Captain Clyde.

“ Glad fer meet you,” Turk said. “ You’re the
teller as looks like Grimesy?”

“ Ahl yes. My friend, Uncle Titus, has been
telling me how he was taken in by an impostor,
and the serious results that have attended the
nil‘art’tel‘. Think I look like this fellow, Grimes,
e

And the captain laughed good-naturedly.

“ Yes—’bout as much as an oyster luks like a
cLarn !” Turk declared. “ Shook the fair Aurelia,
e ?

“What do you mean? I do not understand

71

“No! Ohl well, I was jist surmisin’, that’s
all. Been up past Saint's, but couldn’t get an
eye on you."

“ You mustn’t be so inquisitive, bo ," Uncle
Titus said, a little severely. “It’s not ecoming
in one so young.”

“ Humphl how d’ye ’spect a feller’s goin’ to be
a detective of he don’t ax questions?" Turk re-
torted. “ That’s a part 0’ the perfesh.”

“ The boy is right," Clyde observed, approv-
iogly. “ That is one strong point in the trade.”

‘ Yas, mebbe,” Mr. Titus allowed. “ When I
was a boy, I never was allowed to speak, except
at proper times."

‘ Guess that’s why you’re no detective,” Turk
said so dryly that the others laughed.

“ Perhaps you are right, lad—perhaps you are
right. Anyhow, let us hear what success you
have had. Captain Clyde, here, is deeply inter—
ested in the 'case of my late amanuensis, too.”

“ What! not cultivatin’ another mash?” de-
manded Turk, quizzically.

“Well, yes. If you refer to any knowledge
of my visits to the St. Clair Mansion, I‘ll ex-
plain that the prime attraction was Miss Evelyn.
Naturally I had to play the agreeable to the fair
Aurelia. in order to get a chance to see Miss
Evelyn.” .

“ Oh! I savy. Well, I haven’t found out
where she’s concealed yet, but I’m thinkin’ I
ain’t for off. Got onto a racket last night.
Found out that Grimes and his pals had got a
new hang—out ataplace kept by a woman named
Stael. Know her?” r

And the boy’s keen gaze sought Clyde’s face
in time to see him flush rather confusedly.

“Yes—that is, I have met her once,” he re-
plied. evasively.

“ Well, I wormed around till I spotted her
residence, and last night I took a notion to pay
a uiet visit. So, it bein’ the servant gal’s night
0 , I hel myself in by a rear entrance, and
ensconce myself behind a bookcase in the par-
lor. Byme—by, in cums Jack Grimes and a
preacher, and the bossess, Steel, is trotted out.to

e j’ined to Grimes. The minister had got the
knot ’most yanked tight when in waltzes a. big-
bearded, swell-head of a chap, an’ forbids the
bonus, and invites Grimes to peny over the
diamonds,"

 

 

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Buck Hawk, Detective. 2‘

 

“ The diamonds!” Jason Titus cried.

“ The diamonds l” echoed Capt. Clyde.

“ The diamonds, you bet!” Turk repeated,
“an‘ as the bewhiskered chap flushed his hand
wi’ a loaded club containlug severial bullets,
you can bet Grimesy ‘ passed.7 over the spark-
lars, an” the stranger ‘ Went it alone down the
stairs,’ two steps at a time. ‘Fore goin’ he told
Grimesy as how the gal Steel was married,
which made his jiblets mad, and he sailed out.
‘Peais he was goin’ to give Stael the diamonds.
After Grimes skipped, Staci called in another
feller named Pierre, and they voted things were
too numerous, and concluded to skip, also, which
they did.”

“ Did you follow them?"

“ Yas. Run ’em inter a boardiul-house an”
left ’em. Allow they’ll stay there till they get
even wi’ Grimes, when they‘re goin’ to scoot for
Paris!”

“ You say you have seen this woman, Steel;
how old is she?” Mr. Titus asked, addressing
Clyde.

“She claims to be thirty, but looks even
younger. There is large chances that she is
older than she claims, as women rarely give
their real ages."

“Bet on it she’s good fer thirty. There’s
Maggie McGilligan, down in Black-cat Alley.
She’s forty, luks like a Maryland free-stone

ach, an’ allows she can mash any teller in

hila, at the tender age of sixteen—soft gloves,
Queensbury rules I"

“This Stael must be the same I once saw!”
Mr. Titus averred. “ She was then the child-
queen of a roving band of Gypsies that camped
upon the moor. Jack Evelyn was one of these
same!"

' “ Hello! d’ye lmow Jack?" Turk asked, prick—
mg up his ears?"

‘To my sorrow, I know of him!” was the
sad reply. “Do you know him?"

“ I should cough up a cat, if I don’t! Why.
he tuk me out inaboat, the other night, an’
was goin' to send me down tew carry a message
toNeptune. Social 0’ Seven hired him to git
rid o’me, ye see, but afore he got ready to
chuck me over, I got tellin’ him about the in-
consistency ot the thin , ’ca’se how I had a job
0’ rescuin‘ a gal nam Evelyn, which must be
done. an’ so forth, an’ so forth. Well, the re
sult Was he prickw up his ears, sed the gal was
his’n, an’ consented to led me breathe for an in-
definite period, if I would find and deliver the
gal to him. So I promised. and got freel"

“ You romised that?" Clyde cried.

“ You t—but sech promises don’t count, no
more’n when an old maid promises to give her
billy-goat oats, and he turns around and butts
her for her kindness.”

“You’re a young rascal. ’pon my word,”
Clyde said, laughing. “ By the way, this
Evelyn is a Sea pirate, and I have a warrant
for him. Do you know where he can be found?"

“Imight, but I’m a Sea cook ef I do,” Turk
declared. “Don’t s‘pose I’m goin’ to waste
brains in workin’ up a case, an’. payin‘ big fish-
bills, do ye, only togive everything away? The

. beer, engaged my perfesswnal services.
an’  never tackles two employers at once, ’cept
one is myself."

 

 

“Perhaps,” Mr. Titus suggested, turning to
Clyde, “it will be nothing to my detriment to
let the boy into the story, as he seems to be a
worthy young fellow, and has both energy and
shrewduess beyond his years.”

“ You are right. I would recommend that
you lay the matter before him, and his gamin
wit ma enable him to make more out of it than
we con d.” '

“ Lookee here! don’t git sofresh and flatterin’
—it don‘t agree wi’ my constitution,” Turk de-

murred, with mock seriousness. “ Besides, flat-'

tery knocks the spots ofi’n ennything. Once
owned a hen, down in Blackcat Alley, what
layed two eggs :1 day, an’ I got pettin’ her, and
tellin’ her what a layer she was, an’ dashed if
she didn’t—”

“ Well, never mind the hen," Mr. Titus in-
terposed. “ I will tell you about my case, of
which you have not yet had a full outline. In
the first place, I am not Jason Titus. in truth,
but Sir Donald Page, an English gentleman!"

Turk puckered up his mouth into whistling
shape, and looked his surprise.

" I used to reside in Surry, England,” Sir
Page went on. “ with my wife and child, upon
my estate, which was large and valuable, and
which I still own. I had a princelyrincome, and
also had an enemy—a kinsman whom I retained
as my bailiff. He was jealous of my prosperity
and happiness, and in an unguarded moment at-
tempted to rob me, but was discovered and fled,
first, however, murdering my young wife, Lady

8 e!

“ You may know that I spared neither mone
nor pains to have him apprehended, but throng
the agency of a band of Gypsies, he evaded
every attempt to capture him, and escaped to
this country. Later, by a couple of months,

my only child was stolen from me, together_

with a. most valuable collection of diamonds.
Through the agency of detectives, I learned
that the perpetrator of the deed was the same
Gypsy Evelyn who assisted Hawk, my bailifl’,
to escape, but again was an attempt to capture
frustrated by Evelyn’s escape to this country,
where, I am now well-satisfied, he placed my
child in the charge of Hawk, as I have since
learned, through my friend here, and also that
he had been an ocean pirate, for a number of
years!” ‘

Turk’s eyes were literally as big as saucers,
When the narrator paused.

“Jehosephat John Rodgers!” he ejaculated.

“ That’s like a meller‘drama—ef it ain't I’m a
shad! Didn’t lose another kid, did ye, what
might look like me?" \

“ Well, no!” Sir Page smiled. “Fortune
never favored me with more. than one child,
which, until recently, I have given up all hopes
of finding. Shortly after the kidnapping, I
came to America, and through the aid of rivate
detectives, prosecuted a thorough searc —as I
abhor publicity, more than anything else.
Failure greeted every attempt, and I at last
gave up in despair. But for the accidental
coming of Etta Evelyn to my house and the
developments that have since followed, Ishould
probably never have expected or hoped to have
my child restored to me.”

“ Then you think Etta is yer gal, eh?”

"'5.

 

 

   
 
   
 
   

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- 26 Buck Hawk. Detective}

. Jersey watermelon.

.

 

“My heart seems to tell me so. While she
remained a member of my household, I studied
her narrowly, and the more I did so, the more
my heart yearned toward her. Then, the very
fact that she was a member of St. Clair‘s house
hold is evidence in itself.” ,

“ bunno. I’ve bin tryin’ to git some 0’ these
p’ints thru my noddle, an’ Ican’t jest ’spress
my opinion as clear as I may be able to do,
hereafter. Are ye sure St. Clair and Hawk are
one and the same?”

“ I am well satisfied on that point. My friend
Clyde has given me a description of St. Clair
that so corresponds with Gerald Hawk, I have
no doubt he is the same.

" Descriptions don’t go very fur. Feller once
hired me to carry a note to a certain number,
while I was on the messenger force. Said she
was tall, slim, were good toga, and had a bright
angelic smile. Ituk the message, and the one
that answered the bell corresponded to the de-
scription—so I guv it to her. Met the feller,
after, and he threatened to give me six 30‘s at
Moya. Sed I’d given the message to the cham-
ber-maid instead of the young lady he had
mashed in the 'Walnut street cars. Then, there’s
another p’int. There’s an extra gal. This
Evelyn isa smart Aleck—inebhe nobod don’t
know which is which ’twixt them gas. Did
gt. Clpir or Hawk have a gal when he left

ng.i ‘

“No! He left a wife and son in London——
the same that are in this city now!”

“ I savyl Must look after ’em to—day. Well,
ef ‘ he hadn’t no gal, did Evelyn, the Gyp, have
one?”

“I am of the impression that he did have a
child, but am not certain."

“ Bad. That rooster’s got a. head as long as a
He could have easily
mixed things up in leavin7 the kids with St.
Clair.”

Sir Page looked somewhat startled.

“ How do you mean? Do you think he would
give my child to St. Clair and claim that the
other one was his, then afterward try to extort
money from me by claiming that he had changed
the children, and that Etta. was his own child?”

“ Well, a feiler can’t tell how fur a frog can
jump. you know. There’s blamed few things
there ain’t a bare possibility of to-day, when
rasaals has got the ti lei-mops.”

“However that may be, there is one way I
can prove my own child, unless—1’

“Unless the birth-mark has been counter-
feitedi" Captain Clyde interrogated.

“Exactly! She ,had a. birth—mark, which I
remember Iainly, andI Will not be convinced
that Etta. lvelyn is not my daughter until it is
proven to me that she does not bear the mark,
which it would be next to impossible to copy.”

“ What is this mark?" Turk asked.

“ I prefer to keep that a secret until I see the
girl and find out the truth.”

“ Well, boss, I’ll go ye a hundred eyesters fer
news when I report ag’in. Got a kind 0’ salu-
brious idea, ye know, that I kin find out where
the al‘is, ye know, un’ef any electric light
cone usions hit me, I’ll run into this dock and
transfer tber cargo, as the sailors say. There’s
one thing to consider, though." » I

 

“ And what is that?” -

“ This. If I should happen to scoop in ther
affections of the gal you’ll not let the captain
here interfere?” .

“Consider that part of it settled,” Sir Page
said, with a smile.

After a little further conversation, Turk took
his departure and went back to the hotel, where
he sat down at a table, lit a cigar, and gave
himself up to thought.

There were several things that must needs be
attended to.

First, the graveyard mystery concerning
Aurelia St. Clair and the old vault.

Then Turk desired to get on track of what
game the Hawks were after, also to get an in-
terview with Jack Grimes, and most of all, to
find out where Etta Evelyn was concealed.

All that he had heard at the Titus place had
not served to throw any more light upon the
whereabouts of Etta’s place of concealment,
and just how he was to go to work to find it out
was a sorry puzzle to him.

The cemetery matter, he was aware, must
needs be investigated at night, as dbring the day
it was visited by large numbers of people. I

What was the attraction within the vault for
Miss Aurelia. St. Clair was also a mystery, the
exposure of which might bring a. sudden revela-
tion.

After dinner he donned a disguise, and carry—
ing another one in a bundle, wrapped in a news—
paper, he set out on a visit to the numerous
thieves’ dens in hopes of finding some tidings of.
Jack Grimes.

He was disappointed, however, and next
soung the establishment of the noted pugilist,
Art ur Chambers, on Ridge avenue, but could
find nothing of Uriah Evelyn, nor did inquiries
elicit news concerning him.

Satisfied that he might as well strike some
other tack, the young ferret then roamed around
town, waiting for night to approach, when it
was his intention to visit the cemetery.

 

Soon after the last words of St. Clair, Uriah
Evelyn took leave of the diamond—merchant
leaving that rson in no enviable frame oi
mind, as may supposed.

The following afternoon, as St. Clair was
going to the Park in his open barouche, he saw
a woman upon the street coming toward him,
and his face expressed great astonishment.

“Steel. as I live!” he ejaculated, under his
breath. “ The very one I wanted to See."

The next minute he ordered the driver to stop,
and when the berouche was halted he sprung
to the pavement, just as the ex-Gypsy queen
was passing.

“ ademoiselle Steel!” he exclaimed, stepping
toward her.

She gave him a startled look at first, then an
expression of recognition beamed upon her
countenance.

“ Monsieur Hawk—can it be possible 1”

“ Most assuredly, and of all persons I want to
see, you are the one i" l

"‘ What for, mousieur?”

“On important business, for which, to both
of us, there is a fortune."

The mademoiselle’s eyes glittered.

.,~.

 

 
 

 

 

   

and: Hawk, Detective. 2v

 

“ Ze mousieur is not laying ze snare?”

“ By no means. You should judge better of
me than that, for you know I was once your
ardent admirer!”

“ Well?”

5“ Where can I see you?”

“ If you wish, I will come tovyour place.”

“ Goodl Get into my barouche and I will
drive you there]”

“ Many thanks. I will come around this eve-

.nina.”

“Very well. Here is my present name and
address,” and he gave her his card.

“ Do not fail me.”

“ I will not l”

And with a winning smile, which made her
look years younger than she was, she swept on,
while St. Clair entered his barouche and drove
on his way. '

“The key tovictory is now within my grasp!”
he chuckled, and he returned to his residence,
to eagerly await the coming of Steel.

It was nearly nine o’clock ere she was ushered
into the parlor, where the diamond merchant
"was waiting for her.

He helped her toa seat in a luxurious arm-
chair, and then seated himself opposite her.

“ Well, mademoiselle, at last we have met,”
he said. “You, of all women, did Iever ex-
pect to meet in Ameriml”

“ Indeed?"

“ Yes. I ‘often thought of you as the bonny
Gypsy queen, who aided me to escape from
England. How has the world been using you,
mademoisellel”

“Oh! very hard, sir. I have drifted about
{Jerefiand there for several years, literally home—
ass.

“ Married?”

- “ Ah! nol I never yet met the man that
could appreciate my talents'or my beauty."

“ Except me, Steel. You know you had an
ardent admirer in me. Times have changed,
though, now. I am rich, where I once was

or

“ Yes?”

“ Oh! certainly. But ’tis said amen is never
satisfied with wealth until he wins love and re-
venge. I crave for both now. Once I get the
revenge, I believe I can win the love. I have a
bitter enemy, and I shall never rest easy until

'he is out of the way. Then, with my great

wealth and a fair wife, methinks I would be
content. I want you for my wife, Staci—I
likewise want you to do the job 1"

She looked at him angrily.

" What! I—commit murder, sir?”

“Well, not exactly; you see, you would only
have to put a little poison in a cup of tea!”

” You do me a terrible wrong, sir. I could
never think of such a thing!”

“ Not if I would marry you?"

“No! no!”

“ What would hire you?”

“ Five hundred thousand dollars would not!”

The merchant uttered a curse.

“ You can go, then. You must have changed
great] . The woman who would not become
the l y of Page Priory must be, indeed, mad!”

“ Would you have me kill old 811' Donald

Page i”

 

 

“Y...” 
“Then marry me first, and I will do the work "
you are too much of a coward to dol”

CHAPTER XI.
THE BOY FERRET’S GRAVEYARD SCENE.

WHEN night had fallen over the city, Turk
the Ferret jumped aboard :1 Ridge avenue car.
and in due time was landed at Laurel Hill
Cemetery, to which he was not long in gaining
an entrance, without discovery. .

It was certainly a spectral place to enter,
with the dim moonlight gleaming over its
thousands of marble slabs and monuments; but
Turk had made up his mind not to allow an
silly superstition to dissuade him from investi-
gating the vault mystery. "

“ Never heard 0’ any one gittin’ hurt by L;
Spooks yet ” he solil uized, as he kept a war . j;
eye around him. “’ pect et would make a fe ~ , - ‘ "
ler’s hair rise, tho’, ef he was to git hugged by
one 0’ them.” . ,

He was not long in reaching the vicinity of s
the vault, but found it looked, as usual, and no _ ‘V
one in the vicinity _

This did not iscourage Turk, for he was re~
solved to make a night of it, believing it would
bring something of importance to light.

Concealing himself within easy range of vis-
ion from the vault, yet in a ‘place where he was
not likely to be discovered, be lit a cigar, and
waited.

Hours dragged by, and barring the monrnful
rustle of the leaves and shrubs, a sepnlchral Ii»
lence reigned throughout the city of the dead.

So intense and lonely was this silence that it
could but have had a weird efiect upon any one
seated within the cemetery, and Turk’s hair be~
gun to feel more light at the ends as the min-
utes rolled by.

“Jeminetty!” he finally muttered. “ I wish
to blazes something would happen to stir up the
monotony. An ordinary ghost would be .wel:
come, during this blasted silence.”

His wish was destined to be gratified. .

Soon after, away ahead, he saw a white ob
ject in flowing robes, moving toward him, with
ma 'esti': mien.

he nearer it came, the ferret perceived that r,
it was marvelously tall, and that the flowing
robe enveloped both head and body, providing ' -
it had any.

“Jerimityl Reckon that’s a bonny-fled
ghost, fer sure," the ferret mused, hugging,
closer to his concealment. “ Hanged of I don't
tickle its ribs with a bullet, ef it comes for me!” "

The spectral—looking figure, however-,did not
approach him, but turned its course toward the
vault, at the door of which it paused.

Like a spectral sentinel it stood there before
ank‘s eyes, for afew moments; then un coking
the padlocked door the ghastly visntor pushe .
open the heavy door, and gazed backward as if «
in suspicion or fear. A moment thus it stood,
then abruptly disa. cred within the vault and
the door was closed hind it.

After waiting several minutes, to see if there
was to be any more ghostly visitants, Turk stole
cautiously toward the arched receptacle of the
dead. “\ ‘ '
“ Jest bu’st me, of I believe that was a ghost;

 

 

 

 
  
   
 
 
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
    

 

 

 

28 /Buck Hawk, Detective.

 

at all,” he muttered “an’ I’m goin’ to sift the
matter _ through, if t ere’s sech a thing in the
almanac. ’Spect mebbe I’ll have to use my re—
volver, but I’m goin’ to investigate, hit or
miss."

As he neared the vault, he drew and cooked
his revolver, and held it ready for use, not
knowing what emergency a moment might
bring forth.

The door was not fastened on the inside, and
stood a trifle open, and so Turk applied first his
eye and then his ear to the crack, to learn if any
one was moving about, within.

But all was silence, and darkness. Not a
sound was heard.

“ Jest like to know cf 3. feller’s liable to git
his census taken, of he should poke his head in
there. Strikes me that there’s two rooms to the
vault.”

His nerves drawn to their firmest tension, he
put forth his hand and carefully pulled the door
open, keeping out of sight himself.

If any one was within the vault proper, he felt
‘sure he or she would come forward and shut the
door. But no such a move was made.

Satisfied on that point, the young ferret stepped
stealthin into the vault, and gazed around him,
his eyes bulging out in anticipation of seeing
some startling sight.

All he saw was on either side, brackets that
supported a couple of tiers of coflins and caskets,
in which probably reposed the bones of some of
those who had formerly owned the vault.

N0 grinning skeletons, or spectral a paritions
were visible, much to the ferret’s relie .

In the rear part of the vault, however, he saw
a door, which evidently opened into some near
underground apartment. r

With cat—like tread, Turk approached this
door, and examined it, and was satisfied that
there were no fastenings to it, unless they were

on the other side.

Holding his revolver ready for instant use, he

'laid his hand on the latch of the door, cautiously

raised it, and flung the portal open.
' The sight that met his gaze was something
entirel unexpected.

The nner vault was like the first, except that
it was larger, and furnished with a couple of
iron ornamental chairs,a rough table, and a
Centennial cot bed.

A lighted candle burned upon the table, and
upon one of the chairs sat Jack Grimes, partly
Wrapped in the robe of white.

Upon the other chair, bound, hand and foot,
sat no one less than lost Etta Evelyn!

There were tears upon her cheek, and she
looked the picture of misery. '

The moment the door flew open, Jack Grimes
sprung to his feet, with an oat , but Turk stood
triumphantly on the thresho d, his gleaming
wea in bearing full upon the detective. »

“ tand where you are, Jack Grimes, or I’ll
put a bullet through on, Turk’s ringing voice
cried out stemly. “ ’ve got the drop on you,
and I’d rather shoot you than not!” .

For a moment Grimes was too enraged to

Span-k- 11
What do you mean? he finally gasped,

‘ homly. “ Put away that pistol, or it will be
_ the worse for you i” '

 

“ Nary a time, Grimesyl I’ve got you just
where I want you, and if you attempt to escape,
I’ll bore a hole in your noddle, what’ll take
away what few brains you have got. Mind
I’m not fooling. You had no mercy on me, (11,
ye, Mister Kidnapper.2 nor I won‘t have any on

on. I jest want ye to understand that I’m

035 of this hyar situation, an’ am 'gom’ to be
obeyed. Take yer knife and out Miss Evelyn’s
bonds. Dare to disobey, or hurt her, and I
will perforate ye!" .

“ Shoot and be—l” Grimes cursed, furiously.
“ I never yet was known to take water from a

m »

“ You’ll find it’s the law as talks, now!” Turk
cried, firmly, a determined glitter in his eyes. “ I
shall count one, two, three. One! ”

’ An expression of bulldog defiance was upon
the detective’s face. He evidently did not believe
Turk would be courageous enough to put his
threat into effect.

“ Two .’ “

Turk’s voice had a steely ring.

Grimes looked less confident.

“ Three 1”

Perhaps a couple of seconds elapsed, then
crack went Turk’s weapon, and Grimes clutched
at his breast, and fel back upon the ground
floor in a faint.

Turk quickly sprung forward, and examined
the nature of the wound, and found that it was
as he had meant it to be, merely a flesh wound,
the bullet having passed nowhere near a vital

art.
p “ He’ll be all right directly,” Turk said, look-
ing at Etta, who appeared terrified at what she
had seen. “ I'll release you, and then bind him i”

This he was not slow in doing, and Miss Evelyn
was soon free, while Jack Grimes lay bound
hand and foot.

“ Now I’ll look him up in here, and hurry you
to a safe place, while I return with a cop and
have him taken to the station-house,” Turk
said, and the poor girl was glad enough to let
him be her director.

Securing the ke from Grimes’s pocket, they
left the vault, an Turk locked the door behind
them.

They then made their escape from the come
tery. Putting her aboard a. car, he directed
her to go to the Titus Mansion, and he would
follow her as soon as he had secured the arrest
of Jack Grimes. ‘

He next sought a policeman, and made known
to him the necessary particulars of Grimes‘s
offense, and of his capture, whereupon the two
entelred the cemetery, and proceeded to the
van t. “ '

On arrival there, what was their astonish—
ment to find the door open, and the rascally
detective gone!

It was at once evident that he had received
relief from some of his outside confederates,
and the escape had been made by the Schuylkill.

Turk was much disappointed, and arranging
with the officer to keep an eye upon the ceme-
tery, he boarded a. car, and rode into town.

In due time he arrived at the Titus Mansion,
and rung the bell.

It was answered by the servant, and without
entering, Turk asked: ‘

 

 

 
 

 

 

  

 

 

 

«a. h:

 

 

 

Buck Hawk, Detective. 89;

 

“ Has Miss Etta arrived safely?”
“Yas, sah; just done come, a few minutes
iii

“All right. I will call around in the morn-

in '17

is then sought his hotel lodgings, and rest
for the night, pretty well satisfied that he
had been in luck in finding and releasing Miss
Evelyn.

But the end was not yet.

Shortly after Turk and Etta escaped from the
cemetery vault, Aurelia St. Clair stood within

, the vault and before Jack Grimes, who had re-

covered consciousness, and narrated what had
just happened.

“ Can it be possible that it has been discover-
ed that I have been connected with you in this
secret?" Miss St. Clair said, cutting his bonds.

“Of course!" Grimes lied. “I learned from
the boy that everything has been ex loded, and,
both yourself and your father will e arrested.
It remains for us to let the old man look out for
himself, while we make a break for cover until
the wind blows over. We must, however, if
possible, secure the girl.”

“ No! no! let us escape from the city by the

midnight train.”

Being scarcely able to walk, Grimes saw the
necessity of obeying her suggestion, and ere an
hour more, they were aboard the train, speeding
for New York.

That was the last ever seen of them in the
Quaker City.

 

CHAPTER XII.

THE HAWK’S swoop.

A MAN had been prowling about the Titus
residence, at the time Etta Evelyn had arrived
and entered, and this ,man was none other than
the old sea pirate, Evelyn who had previously
learned that Sir Page dwe I; there.

When finally the house became quiet, and
time enough had elapsed for its occupants to
get'asleep, he gained access to the rear yard,
and producing a slender bar of iron, was not
long in pryin open a shutter.

It was near y two in the morning, and he had
little fear of being discovered. Yet he had
hardly got the shutter open, when he felt some-
thing cold touch his cheek, and wheeling around,
saw that the cold article was a revolver, held in
the hands of Jerome St. Clair, who was also ac-
companied by StaeL

Ehvelyn recognized them both, and uttered an
oat .

“ What the devil do you want?” he growled.

“What do you want, in there?” Jerome St.
Clair demanded, sternly.

“Money!” Evelyn growled, again.

“ I believe you lie] Has the girl returned?”

“ No—not as I knows on.”

“Don’t lie to me. Now, lookee here, Evelyn,
ly’ou go into that houSP, chloroform the girl, and

ring her to me, and I “fill give you a thousand
dollars." '

“ Let’s see yer swag.”

“ Bring the girl, and help me to take her to
my house, and I will give you the moueyl”

“ D’ye sWenr to this?” '

“ I swear to itl”

 

“ Give us yer chloroform.”

The diamond merchant produced a bottle and
a sponge, and handed them to the old pirate.

“Be lively, now, for I want to get out of the
city, before morning.”

“ Out of the city?”

“ Yes. I met an old friend, (to-night, and have
hired him to take us down the bay in his steam
tug. Once beyond the breakwater, we will land
at some southern port, and I will send an envoy
to collect a ransom from Sir Page. If he pays
a big Price, he can, have her.

“ D ye ’spect me to go slung?”

“ Yes!”

“ An’ ye’ll whack up the ransom i“

“ Yes. I’ve been preparing for this, and if
you’re lively, we’ll leave South street, Schuyl-
kill River, before daybreak!”

“ All right. You’ll find me an ugly customer
to deal with, if you don’t keep yer promises.”

This conversation was not conducted in an un-
dertone, for owing to the lateness of the hour, it I
was not deemed necessary. Just outside the
back yard fence, in the alley, a re hly dressed
pegson had been crouching, in a his ning atti-
tu e.

Dressed in overalls, slouch hat, shaggy beard,
and hair, no one would ever have suspected that
this cleverly disguised eavesdropper was Turk . ,
the Ferret. ‘

To explain his presence here, he had beenin the
hotel an hour, when something seemed to tell him
that danger was menacing Etta Evelyn.

So strong did the matter press u n his mind,
that he arose and disguised himsel , and left the
hotel, with the resolve to spend the night in the
vicinity of the mansion.

He had arrived in the alley about the same in-
stant that St. Clare and Steel had arrested Eve-
lyn, in his burglarious act.

Consequently, he had overheard the conver-
sation between the conspirators. -

“ Here’s a go,” he muttered. “Now it is for
me to play my cards and take the game. Ef I
call the perlice, theylll get the credit, an’ I 110119.
I’ll just get passage on this ship, and rescue Etta
in true style. Reckon old Sir Donald will come '
down handsome." .

His mind was made up.

Gliding from the alley by its rear course, he
set out rapidly for South street, Schuylkill River
——for rapidity was now essential.

Several times he passed policemen who eyed
him suspiciously, but none of them oflered to
stop him.

In due time he reached the docks along the
river, and found a steamer, sucb'as is generally .
used for towing purposes, alongside the wharf,
below the South street bridge. This craft, how’
ever, had an upper cabin, and .was rigged for
sailing in case of the engine givmg out.

The steam was already “Pi and a “In” 53"! {1130?
the mi] smoking a pipe—a bewhiskered indi-
vidual, dressed in sailor’s attire. I

Turk passed along, paying no particular at—

tention to the boat, rather expecting that he a ,

would be accosted —and he was not wrongfv
“ Hello, there l" the sailor sung out. “ here

boun ll 9"

“ What of it?” Turk demanded, stopping and 4 a

looking back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

so . Buck Hawk, Detective.

 

“ Oh, nothing much! Don’t want a fat job for
a couple of weeks, eh?”

‘ ‘ What doin’?”

“ 0h, helpin’ on board. Gwine to take a party
on a trip, and want some one as knows how
to mind their business and keep their mouth
shet.”

“ Struck the right man, then. What’s the
salar 1”

“ wo dollars a clay. Come on board, and I’ll
explain.”

Turk obeyed, and the two descended into the
engine-room and took a seat on the tool-boxes.
Turk took a good look at the sailor then, and
that worthy took a good look at Turk.

“ I reckon you’re to be trusted,” he said;
“ your mug says so. D’ye know who I am?"

“ No,” Turk replied.

“ Well, I’m Buck Hawk, detective. Directly a
party will come on board who desires to escape
from the city. He is an old English criminal—
moreover, my father. He—” ,

“Expects to bring a prisoner aboard?”

“How do you know?”

“ I overheard the plot.”

“The deucel Well, to make a long story
short, I’m going to ut this man aboard an
English vessel, and tare him back to England
to expiate his crime."

“And what of me?”

“ You are to bring this tug back to this wharf.
I chartered it only.”

“ And the girl?”

“You are also to bring her back. She is a
stolen child, and my father has hoped to reap a
fortune out of her possession, but mother and I
have devoted years to the thwarting of his

lens."

Then followed an explanation that Jerome St.
Clair, alias Gerald Hawk, was Mrs. Hawk’shus—
band, and so forth, and so forth; and also the
capture of gambler Fred St. Clare, who, having
“given away ” all that was necessary for Buck
to know about the whole conspiracy, had been
permitted to leave for parts unknown.

About half an hour later, three persons ap—
proached the dock, and carried a bundled‘up
(fibject between them, which Turk knew was

tta

They were assisted aboard, and took posses-
sion of the cabin, where Mother Hawk, in dis-
guise, arranged, for their comfort and conve-
nience.

As soon as possible, the tug was got under
way, and steamed down the Schuylkill, the (lis-
guised Turk acting as fireman, and Buck Hawk
as engineer, he instructing Turk how to manage
the craft on returning.

Toward daybreak Mother Hawk appeared in
the en inc-room.

' “Di you get the wine he ordered?” she
asked.

“ Yes: open the bottle lying on top of the case
—-it’s fixed," Buck said.

About half an hour later he left the engine-
room for a few minutes, and directed Turk how
also to work the pilot-wheel.

“I’ve got three jaiLbirds in one bunch,” he
said. “Uriah Evelyn, the pirate, the Gypsy,
and the scoundrel' Gerald Hawk, the murderer
of Lady Page; and Steel, the once-famous queen

,/_y,

 

of English forgers. All bound and go zed, and
ready to ship aboard the English vesse l”

During the remainder of the trip very little
was said.

Buck Hawk had released Etta Evelyn who
directly came and threw her arms atfectionately
around Turk, and thanked him heartin for what
he had done.

Turk was surprised that she knew him, for he
still were his disguise.

“ What ye mean?" he ejaculated. ” Guess
you’re mistaken.”

“ Not a bit of it!“ Buck Hawk exclaimed. “ I I

recognized you, Muster Turk, the moment you
came aboard, and from what I can hear, you
will get the rich reward you deserve, when you
restore this estimable young lady to her father.
My reward, I trust, will come from the English
Government when I deliver up my inhuman
father.“

In due time daylight came. and shortly after-
ward they werc alongside tho. English homeward-
bound vessel, which was anchored in the Dela-
ware, near the outlet of the Schuylkill.

Buck Hawk boarded her, and shortly after he
had his prisoners transferred to the English ves-
sel.

The manner in which he had made the cap—
ture mnde extradition papers unnecessary, and
thus was the law of the United States baffled for
once.

As soon as the transfer was made, Turk and
his fair charge set out on their trip back to Phil—
adolphia, which was made in good time and
without incident.

What remains to be told can be fold in a very
few minutes, and equally few words.

Turk, our youthful ferret, gained all the honor
of restoring Etta to her father, and a glad res-
toration it was, in which Sir Page, Etta, Captain
Clyde and Turk figured.

Turk received a goodly sum of money for his /

brave deeds; but that was not all.

Sir Page, a couple of weeks later, received a
cablegram from England charging him to ap—
pear against one Gerald Huwk. and Turk was
offered a happy home if he would accompany
the party.

So he naturally consented.

Before departure from America there was a
grand wedding, and Captain Clyde and Lady
Henrietta Page were the happy couple, Turk, in
a handsome suit, actionr as first groomsman. ,

After the ceremony Captain Clyde produced
and adorned his bride with the magnificent Page
diamonds, much to the surprise of all, for it was
he who had demanded them from Jack Grimes
that night in Steel’s residence.

“ Kinder ’curred to me it might be them dia-
monds would turn up,” Turk said, with a grin.
“ Tell ye what. As fur as my ’sperience goes
viilainy will allus got left, sooner or later, and
right will prevail like skippers on a yaller
poodle. An’ ef ye want everything to come out
ge~lorious, thnr ain’t no antidote so good as to
employ a young fuller about the diagram 0’ the
Sultan o’ Turk-eh?" ‘

THE EN D.

 

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We... ..  . , .ufi‘aaqatumu .Mvwéfi
‘ , V.

A... as. a.

gift}

“WNW”. -4- :M-..~mum‘m« ..

 

 

  

 

 

 

._T. ‘0‘ " .

1%.; ...;L.;. 2" I. .

 

 

 

 

\

BEADLE’S POCKET LIBRARY.

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents.

 

 

Deadwood Dick, the Prince ur the Read. By E l.. Whouler.
Knnmm Kin r: nr, The Red Right llnnd. By Bliiinlo Bill,
The Flying Tnunec. By Col. Prentiss lnzrnhxuu.

The Double Danger-n. By .ulward L. “'hceler.

The Two Deter-liven. By AlhorL W. Aiken.

The l’rnlrie Pilot. By Builalo lzill.

The BuffaloDcmon. By lidwnrd 1.. Wheeler.

Antelope Abe, lha Buy Guide liy 0|] Canines.

Nod “'vldc. the Boy Seoul Bv “ Tcxnn dark."

 

 
  

       
 
     

    

=I'la fihfifl~3€®fl$€flhwflfl

  

1 linifnlo lien. l‘rince or [he l'in llyE. l..\ll'heelcr.

i linlph Roy. the Bar llucv'ma By C; L l’rentiaa lngmhnm.

1 Nick 0’ the Nighi. By ,. Hmhnugh.

1 Yellowstone Jnek. By .eph l-2. Badger, Jr.

1 \Vlld Ivan, Um Buy Claude Durnl. By E. l..Wheeley.

1 Diamond Dirk; or, The illysiery of the Yellowstone. Bv
(Tulunel Prentiss lugrnhnm. '

1 Keen-Knife, Prince nl' lhe Prnirirr. By OllCoouws.

1 Oregon Hui, Nil-k \l‘hirllas ByJ, 1.1 c_ Adams,

1 Denill-wae, lln- Dem-m ' .m.

1 Lnnno Jock, iln- Young ‘\lu By Oil Coon)“, ‘

20 Ruin:ng Ralph Rook By llorry St. George.

21 The Roy Clown. By . rum: 8. Finn.

22 The i‘hnniom Miner; or. Deadwood Dick‘s Bonanza. By

Edwnrd L. \Vlluelur.
The Sen-Cut. By Capt. Frederick Whilloker.
The Dnmlr Soy. By Oil Coulnes.
Rnnlln Rube. By "fir"! Sh Gimme.
Old Ava nuohe. the Annllliluior. By E. L. Wheeler.
Ginsu-Eye, the Great Slmr old... “'5... By J, F. c, Adm...
The Boy Csotuin. Br Ringer Suuhuck.
Dick Darling. ihe Pnnv Express Rid". By Cnpt. F. Whittaker.
“oh \Voolf. the Bordur Ruffinn. By Edward L. \Vheelrr.
leiutlnznlc XIII. By T. C. Hnrlmnzh.
“look John. the Rand Ageni. By Jose h E. Bridger, Jr.
(hnnhn 011. the Mask—d 'l‘ermr. By E.  Wheeler.
Burt Bunker. the Trapper. By George E. Lxsnlle.
The Boy Rifle: or, The Underground Cnnlp. By A.C. irons.
The “'hlte Bu nio. By (Home. E. Lnsnlle.
.llnl Bind-on. J r. Br Edward L. “'lm-h-r.
Ned linzol. l'nu- Bay Trapper. lly Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
Homily Eve, Ill»: Unknown Sunni. llr liuiinln liill.
Mel. \Vlllfl‘Ic-h‘ Pet. By Cum. .1. r. c. Adams.
Dcndwood Dlrk’r- Enzlon. By Edwnrd 1.. Wheeler.
The Border King. liy Oil Comma.
01d llluhory; or. Pundv llii's Scalp. By: Hurry Si. George.
The \Vllite indlnn. Capt. J. l-. C. Adams.
Buokhorn liill. By ird L. \Vhoeler.
T 0 Shadow Shin. liy Col. Prenliss lugrnhrun.
The lied Brotherhood. My W. J. lininiliun.
Dandy Jack ; or, The Outlaw of the Oregon Trail. By T. C.

Hurlmugh.
49 Hurricane Blll. By Jmph E. Badger. Jr.
50 Single “and; or. A Life for a Life. By W. J. Hamilton.
51 Patent-louthor Joe. By Philip S. Warne.
53 The Border Robin Hood. By Buifnilr Bill.
58 Gold Rifle, the Shurpshoumr. By Edward 1.. Wheeler.
54 Did Zip‘n Cabin; or, A Greouhom in the Woods. By Capt.

J. F. C. Adonis.

55 Delaware Dink, the Young Ranger Spy. By 011 Coomel.
5 Mad Tom “'eulcrn. By W. J. llxmillnn.
57 Deadwood DIok on Deck. By Edwnrd i.. Wlicder.
58 llnwkeyc llarry, the Young 'l‘mprlll‘l'. By 0|] Cuomel.
59 The Bov Duolini. Br Col. Prentiss lnzrnhmn.
60 Abe Coir, the Cumuxlher. ni- AlImrL w. Aiken.
61 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy 15mm. liy Edward L. Wheeler.
62 “'1” olnorn. the llny Detective. By C Morris.
63 Sol G ngor, the Gian ’i‘rumm. By A.
64
65
66
87
68
69
70
7'1

x-Javu-=ia—ezxwacihww-ccmfiamnu

   

 

.l

 

 
    

Rmebud Rob. By Edward L. Whi-eler.
Lightning: Jon. llv (‘uyinin J. F.
Kit linroi‘oot, Ilw “'(mll-llluvk. By
Rollin, lhe Buy Ranger. n;- on Gnomes.
Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosclmd Rah on ilnnd. liv Edward
L. “'lmeler. ’
Detective Dick: or,’l‘im Heroin Rugs. By Charles Morris.
Sure Shot Seth. the Boy Riflenmn. liy ()ll Comm-s.
Sharp Sam: or, The Adventures on Friendless Buy. By J.
72 'I'imlmider I)??? s n Alb \
re . on o e. .en. .V‘ erl l‘. Aiken.
78 Photograph Philuhe Boy Sleuill‘,or, Rosebud Rob'l Mapper“-
nuce. By E. L. W'heuler.
74 Picayune Dew; or, Nicodemm, the Dog Detective. By
75 [Cih'whls 232m" TI 1’ i, l' h F
o am m: 0r. m e o t e mnil v. B
Hemyng (Jnvh Hnrhuw ) 3 y Baum-‘ng
76 Wnivh-Eyo. lhn Sllmln
r1 Dink Dead E31». on: n. hinuimler. linul. Ringmhnm.
7’! Dendwood Dir-ch Derive. liv Ed. L. Wheeler.
7” The Black Mllninnger. liy ‘npl. Mayne Reid.
80 (Did From", the Guide. By T. C. llnrhuuzh.
8‘ The Sill! Viper. liy Cnl. Pri‘nlisn lngrnhmn.
82 Seth Jones; or. The (‘npnm of the r‘mnuvr. By E. 5, mm,
33 Canada Choi. tho (‘mmterfeiwr Chief. Br ii. 1.. “dialer.
S4 The Dumb Page. iiy )npi. Frederirh “’lllltuker.
85 The Boy Miner-u. lly Edward S. Lilo.
8 J‘nck llarkawny in Nrw York. lly Bracehrhlge lieinyng.
87 line Humor Captain. By Col. Prentiss lllgrflhiun.

   

By Edward L. \Vheeler.

 

38 Deadwood Dick in Lendviile. By Edward L. Wheeler.
89 Bill Blddou. Trooper. By Edward S. Ellis.

90 Tlppy, the Texan. liy Georxze Gleason.

91 Must u; 5min, ihu Kim: "like Plains. 15v Jon. E. Bridger, Jr,
92 Tim ocnu Bloodhound. llv Snmuel W. Pearce.

5'3 Phil Hardy, the Muss Buy. By Charm: Morris.

94 Deadwood chl.’ nu Dr- ectlre. ily E. L. Wheeler.

 
 

 

95 Buck Blwkrum. ily (‘nplaiu J. F. (‘. Admns.
96 Gilt-Edged Dirk. By Edward l.. Wheeler.

97 The Dim-k Stood ofiho l’rnlrics. By James L. Bowen.
98 The: Son Srrpenl. By .iuuu Lewis.
99 lionnnzn Bill, lllv )inn ’l'mckcr. ii)
100 Not. ' ‘

 

E. L. \Vheeler.

1 odd 3 or, Tl": Fflhi of lhe Sioux (Native. By E. 5. Ellis.
101 During Dn ': the Young Bear Killer. By Harry 5!. George
Chief: iiy (‘an Mayne Reid.

'rl Slinrl. lly Edward L. “'heeler.

' hooner. By Roger Suirhuck.

  
 

a.

h
105 llnndasouu- Harry, the Buothlnrlz Dcwclh'e. By C.Morrln.
06 lelIt-Ilnwk Kit. By .lm‘vph E. Badger, Jr.

107 J ark ilorlo‘n Lend. Hy Edward L. Wheeler.

108 Rot-Ry )lonninin Kit. By T. C. Hnrbangh.

109 The “minded Ilnnd. Hy Frnuh Duinont.

110 The "road Rider. ily George W. Browne.

ii lion-4 liob. the, King of Bunthlnrhs. 'ry Ldurard L. Wheelur.

12 The lleiplenn “and. By (‘nph Mnyue Reid.

18 Roar-Face Foul, llieSilentHunicr. My I‘ll (Twines.

14 l’inev l’nnl. 1hr )luumnlr. Buy. By 1'. (2. linrbnugh.

15 Deadwood Dirk-KI Double. By Edward L. Wheeler. .

l Job-oz Coilin. Skip lei. ByCapt. F. Whittaker. . ,

1 FIRIQV’ Frank. 01 «Linda. By “Brillqu Bill.”

118 will \"lldilre, the Thoroughbred. By (Than. Morris.

119 igloadel Bill: or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. .By Edward
.. we er.

120 Gopher Gld, ihc Boy Trapper. By T. C‘. Harimugh.

121 llnrry Armstrong, me Cnplain of the Club. By Bnca.
bridge llelnyng, (.incl; Harkuwny.)

122 The Hunted Hunter. By Edward  Ellis. .

123 Solid Sam, the (lay Road-Agenl. By Edwnrd L. Whaler.

124- Jndgc Lynch. Jr. By T. C. Hurlmulzh.

125 Tho. Luud Pirates. By Capt. Mayne.- Reid.

I26 liluo Blazes: or, The Brenk 0‘ Day Boys of Rocky Bur. By
Frnuh liuniunl.

127 Tony Fox. the Ferret. ily Edward L. Wheeler.

128 “lurk Benn. Will Wildfire’s Raver. Br Chnrlua Monk.

129 linzlo Kit. the buy Demon. lly 0!] (homes. _ -

180 Gold Trigger. the Spun. B\ T. C. llnrhnugh. h ‘

131 A (hum: of Gold; 0?. 5 “WOW Didi Biz Sirilre. By W
Edwnrd L. \Vlieeler.

182 Dainty Lance, the 4’32.” EyJ.E.Bndger, Jr.

133 \Vild-flre. the Bulls (n the Land. Bv Fnuk Dammit.

184 31 [kc Merry, [he Hurbor l’uliulloy. By Clinrlea Martin.

185 Deadwood Dick ochndwnmL By E. L. Wheeler. V ‘ .

186 Did Rube, the Hunwr. lly (:upt. Hamilton Holmes. . r

137 Dundv Book. tlw Man from Tex _ By G. Waldo Browns.” _

188 Bob Roda-M. u..- Bin Dodger. , Chas. M..n-i..

139 The Blank (Slum; or, Dainty Lam-e in Jeopardy. By Jol.

F. Budget. Jr.
140 Captain Arizona. lly Philip S. Wame.
141 New York Nell, (he Boy-Gir Detective. Bv E.L.Wheeln,
142 Little Texan, the Young: )iuslnnzer. Ry Oil Coomes.
143 Deadly Dunk; ur, Fighting Fire with Fire. By Jon. E,
llxdud-r. Jr.
144 LILLle (i rit, ihc Wild Rider. By Col. Premium lngmhun. ; 
145 The ’l‘ilzvr ol‘Tnou. By Git". Waldo Browne. ‘
146 The (‘ntllu King. liy Frank Duinom.
147 Nohby Nit-l; oi’ Xovndu. By Edward 1.. Wheeler.
148 Thunderbolt Torn. By Hurry St. George.
14‘ Bob Room-H. the Bunk Runner. By (‘harlel Martin.
150 The. M ad Minor. By G. Wnldn Brnwne.
151 The Hon Trnllor. Bndl. Prentiss inn-hum,

HHIIiH-U-IH

«a

 

 

 

 

 

1 5 Dun“): lh‘rkc; ul’. The Tigers of High l‘lue. lly W. R. Eysldh
\Vild Frnnk, the Buckskin Bravo. By E. L. Whesler. ‘ .
The Roy Trillion. By .105. E. Bridger. Jr. I Y .
Gold l’lnnio, the Buy Bundli By Col. i’renliu ingruhm.
“‘ill “'ildilrc in the “'oodfl. . Morris.

   

Nod Tom lo, lha Border Boy. By Harbangh. ‘
Dendwoo Diok'n Doom. By E. 1.. Wheeler.

Patent-Lent her Joe’s Defeat. By Philip. 5. Wnrnc. , ‘4
Bnfl'alo Billy, ihc Boy Bullwhncker. By Col. Pnlnmm. , , L.
Bob Roukett, the Crnrhnmnu. lly Chn‘rles Mon“. _,
Little llurrlr-nne. We Boy Cum-m. By Orll (.oouuu. ‘
Deadwood DIr-k'u Dream. By E. L. ll healer.

Tornado Tom. ily T. (L Harimugh:

“nihilu Bill’u not. BF "0!. PN'DLIBS ingrn'ham.

“’lll “'ildi'ire “'inn nnd bones. vi‘hurhm Morris.
Dnndy Hook”: Pledge. By George Vi. Browne,
Dundwuod lblvh’u “Hard. Bv Edward L. which.“
The oy Champion. By Edward “men.

70 Bob lloakett’u Fight. i'or .LIt’o. By Charles Morris,

Bendie'u Pur-kci. Library is for snle hy all Nrwsnienlrv‘s, fin
cents per copy, or mu. by nmil on receipl of six cont: ouch.

BEADLE AND ADAMS. Publiuhcrh,
98 William Street New York.

 
   
 
 
 
  

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BEADLE’S POCKET LIléRARY.

Publis’hed Every Wednesday. Earth Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents.

 

Frank Marlon thr' Bur iil'l‘t'llll‘S. iv Oll Cmnnca.
TIII- Yankee R‘ungt-r. B) Edwin]? lrmnn.
lilvk Din]: ‘ Hit. By Edward S. Ellis.
Dnndy lhu Scheme. llv G. W. Bruwlln.
The Ar'nb lb- tL-ctln ll) Elilvlll'li L. Whuvlvr.
“'lll W lldllrc'n Pluck. liy Clllll'li‘s Mnrrls.
The Boy (lonnnnlulvr. iiy (:nl. ’runiisn lnzrnllmn.
The Munlnr ntor. By Burinn . . r.
9 mum,- lmu , "r, 'l'li.- Myuic \lllrl(slllull. By J. E. Barium”,
I. ( 'thoJBny Golll- [um-or. " (‘. Hm-lmuidi.
1 "i he. fivnpuzruvo Son. . l lllnwis.

82 Tim Dunk-Skinned Nun-t. By Lil'lll. Cul. llnzvltina.

R3 .lnlmz hurt, Iii-l- tiv ll v ()ll Cllfllnilfl.

N4 Ft‘nthorwclzht, (I r. liuy spv. By Edward Willi-it.

185 Illa-on Bill, ilu- {)Vl‘l'lilllll Prim-i». 3y (Yul. l'rmltisk lnurnhnni.
1835 nullity Lnnm- nnd "in I’m-4|. liy Jusepll E. limlgrr, Jr.
18; l he Iruppml ’l‘lgcr King. By Clinrlrs Mnrris.

188 The \ (-ntl'iloqnlnt Del votive. Ih‘ len‘d L. Wheelvr.
199 old lint-1&3"! Bo A. Br M: .S. Hall.

I90 Sim Slnlnklnn.  mt. By mm L. [hm-en.

Ill] Dandy Ruck’n lilvnl. By (.‘en. “'nlilo Browne.

192 Hickory Harry. By [Mr "it. George.

193 Detective Josh Grim. By lidwnnl 1.. wheeler.

194 I’roupeot Polo, tho Iii.) Mlnvr. By 011 Gimmes.

195 The Tenderle Trnllcr. By ’1‘. P. l‘lllrhnugh.

196' The. Dandy Dela-tire. By Clml'los Morris.

I 5'? Roy, the Ynung ('nttlr King. lly Cnl. Prentiss lngrnhaln.
19% Ebuny IMIII'R Musk. ii 1"rnnk Dnllmnt.

199 Dlvtlnnury Nut. Dt'irrtiw. My '1‘. (T. Harhnuah.

200 The Twln llm'ncmon. Ily (Inpi. Frederick Whittaker.
201 Dundy Dru-kl"! I’m-din. By Wm. R. Eyatur.

202 Tom, the ’l‘vxnn Tiger. ily Oll Cumnon.

208 Sum the (illicv Buy. By Cllnl‘lt'fi Morris.

20! The Ynunu‘anboy. By Col. l’rvullss lllzrnllnnl.

’ 205 The Funnier Detective. Hy EilwnrJ L. “‘heelor.
206 while Lightning; 01‘, Thu nuy Ally. By T. C. Ilnrbaugh.
9-0? Kcntlu-L‘ Tnllmt‘fl Blind. By Cunt. Mark Wilton.
208 Tl'nnpel- Tom’u (‘nutlc Myntcry. By Oll Cnonioe.
209 The Mcnncng‘cr-Buy Detective. By Cbnrlen Morril.
210 The lInm-bbm-k ol’the Mines. lly anph E. Badger, Jr.
2n Little. (limit mu! 1m mind. By Philip s. mime.
212 The Jllntowu “port. By lelwnril L. “'hevlcr.

218 The Pirate’s l’rlzc. By C. Dunning Clark.
214 Dandy Dave. ol'fihuntn. By T. C. l-Inrhnngh.

i-ly-A—u-IHHi-l-n-n-I

Hun-n-

“ 315 During Dun, tho Rnnuiir; or, The DI-nver Dubai—live. By 01‘.

Comncn.
216 The Cowboy ('nplnln. lly Cal. l‘h‘lltiss lnpralmm
’2l7 Buld "end of the lhwkion. By Maj. Sum. S. llnll.
218 The Minor Sport. lly Erlu‘nrd L. “’llu.
219 Bin-k, the Ill-loctlvc. liy Allwrt W'.Ai1(en.
220 Uruck-Shut Frunk. By Chm-lira Morris.
2921 Dlorle tlIoVMlddy. Ry Cm. Prentiss lngrnhnm.
222 Rout-bud Ben‘n iioyn. By ()ll ('nolnes.
223 Gold (hmrnd'n Wnti l-szn. By 1'. (l, Hnrhannh.
224 Frisky Fergus, Llu- Ni-w Vnrk Buy. By G. l. Aiken.
2125 [link Drew. tho Milu‘r’u Sm). lly Eilwnrd 1.. Wheeler.
2226 Dakotu I’ll-k in Chlougo. lly Chnrlvs Morris.
2?? Bier-10, the Buy (‘rnisun lly ‘ il. I‘rlsntls; Ingmhnm.
228 The Preacher Hotel-tho. By Oll Coomnn.
229 Old lllokory’n Grit. lly .luhn J. Mnrnhnll.
280 Three Boy Hportn. By Cnpt. th-rick Wliittnki-r.
281 Sierra Stun. thi- Dem-mp. By Edward L. Wheeler.
28’! Merle Monte‘n 'l‘n-nuurc. lly Col. Premise Ingrnlmm.
283 Rocky Rover Hit. By Emil!" C- D
234 Bnldy, |llc Milmr (‘hii-L Hy (wipi.
285 Juok Htump‘n aim... fly {in}: inrhni-k.
236 Hicrrn Smu’n Ilnnlrlo. lly Edwuril L. Whvnlnr.
28’? Newabuy Ned Di‘li'l'llvu. ln- (Illllrli-sMnrrix.
288 Merle Munth Hun-Hul-mwr. By (M. Pl'entiiu Ingram...
23” Ron'n Big Room. liy Can Mnrk \Yiltun.
240 thrp Shunt Mike. By Ull (Jumnm.
241 Sierra Hnm’n Sentence. By Edward L. Wheeler.
'242’1‘110 Denver llcto‘ctlvc. My T. C. llflx'hllllL’ll.
$48 Dutch Jlm’ébllcmnm. By Maj. L. W. Curson.

vl'.

'nrreu.

 

244 )lorle )lnnto‘n Dingulflc. By Cnl. Prentiss lngrnhum.
215 liullly’n Boy Purim-r. ily Edward S. Ellis.
2216 Detective Koch’s A ppm-lithe. By Chnrlvs Morril.
247 The Girl Sport. By lillwnril L. Wheeler.
24% Glunt Gonrge'l l’nrd. By Buckskin Snln.
219 Rum-h Rob’s “'ild lilde. by ’l‘. C. Hnrhnugh.
250 3] (Wk Monte”! Pardon. lly Cal. Prentiss lngmhnm.
251 The Deal’lietcctive. By Edwnl'd Willeti.
252 Denver Doll’s Device. By Edward L. “'healer.
253 The liuy Tendorfuot. By Can‘ Mnrk Wilton.
254 “lurk llllli Bun. lly Mn]. Lewis W. Canon.
255 Jolly Jim. 'Det- live. By Charles Mnrris.
256 Merle Monte‘n Lnut Crulue. By Cu]. Prentiss lnzrnham.
25? The Boy Chief nf‘Rocky Pupil. By Mnj. E. L. St. Vraln.
258 Denver Doll ni- Detevtlvo. By E. L. Wluaelcr.
259 Little Foxoyo, the. Cnlorndu Spy. lly.0!l Coomel.
260 skit. llle C.lbill liny. ily Edward “'illett.
26] Blnde. the Sport; or, The Ginnt ofClenr Grit Camp. By T-
C. Ilnrbnuull.
Billy, the Boy Rover; or, Turror Tom of Texas. By Col. 1‘.
lngrnhnm.
Buster liob'u Buoy; or, Lige, tlu- Light-[Ionian Kvopur.
By Cup‘. J. F. C. Adams.
Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin. the Sport. By
E. L. “‘llrell-r.
Bllly, the Buggnge lioy; or, The Young Rnllroiul he.
trrtiwu My (.‘hnl'lvs Mnrris.
Guy’n Boy Chum; or, The Forest Wall": Mask. Br Capt.
Cmnstuck.
(Hunt George’s Revenge; or, The Boys of “Slip Up
Mine.” lly Buckskin Sum.
Bond-Shot Dnndy; or, The Rio Grundc Mnrnmlern.
Cu]. l’renl'llls lngrnham.
The Qunrtzvllle Bonn; or, Daring David Dnrkc.
Edward Willem.
Denver Doll’s Mine; or, thilo Bill’s Big Law. By E.
L. “‘llevlvr.
Ebony Jim’s Terror; or, Ranger Rninholt’s Ruse.
Oll Comm-s.
1"”, (hr Girl Detective; M, Dnllnly Dash ill California.
T. c. linrlmugh.
The Girl Index-g M, Nimllll- Ned's Sm'pl'isv.
iindger. 1i.
Doml Hhut. Iiumly’n Double; or, llanitn, the Boy I'nrd.
iiy ml. 1’. lllgrnlmnl. ,
Fred. the Ocenn Vi'nif; or, 'l'luI OIll Snilnr‘s Protege. By
Cllnrles i’ilurl‘la.
Domlwnnd “It-k Trnppcd:
|l“'lll’ti L. Whevlvr.
The idiot Bo) \‘ongcr:
an... By Alllvl‘t W Ailu-u.
Arlznnu Alf, the Milwr; or, Littll- Snnp Shnt’: Luck.
'r. (‘. Hurlinugh.
Culnrudn Jnok. the Tiger; or, The Ghost of the Trailer. By
FTt‘IlI‘l'l'lk Ill-wry.
Deml Eliot, llundy’l Lu“. Deni; or, Keno Klt’u New
(1 -. 11y (inl. I’rrntisn lllzr’llfllul.
Ned, the Boy Pilot; or, The Pint». Lientuunnt’s Doom.
By Jack Fnrrugui.
Buck "lurk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy’s Fortunt.
By Edward L. \i’licrler.
Roving Spurt Kit; m‘, The Glmst nf Chuckaluck Camp.
By Edwnrd l'illclt. andy Jullv 1‘2.
The fihowmnn'n Beat Card; or, The Mad Anlmnl Tmuer.
Hy Cnpt. Fl‘l‘lll‘lll‘k \Vhittnkur. Ready JIHIB W.
011] Rovky'n Part]; or, Little lion‘s Cillll‘h’.
Sm”. eruly Jim.- '16.
Dli-k, the Dnlmtn Sport. By C-hnrlea Mnrl'h. Randy July :1,
Ned, the lin)‘ Ski lpv’r; or, Thu Sen Snrcurens’ Cruise. By Jack
i‘nn‘llfllll. Ready . My 10.
Dvndwnod Dlrk’s Dluguine: (:7, Wild Walt,th~s Sport.
By Edward L. “’llu'lef. Ready July l7.
Bendle’n Pocket Library is for min by all Nllwsdenlerl, flu
cent: per copy, or lent by mail on receipt nf alx cents ench. \
BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publisher-u,
98 William Street, New York. 

262
263
264
265
266
267
268 “y
269 ny
270
271 By
272 By
273 By .lm. E.
274
275

or, Rnxoy Ralph’s Rule. By

276
272’ 0r, (Tnptllin Wild-Cnt’s Big
278 “Y
279
280
23]
282
288
234
235 By Buckskin

286
23?

288