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diff --git a/old/60903-8.txt b/old/60903-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 36f16a1..0000000 --- a/old/60903-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5823 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Bradys' Race for Life, by Francis Worcester Doughty - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Bradys' Race for Life - Secret Service No. 84 - -Author: Francis Worcester Doughty - -Release Date: December 11, 2019 [EBook #60903] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRADYS' RACE FOR LIFE *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Stephen Hutcheson, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(Stanford University, SUL Books in the Public Domain) - - - - - - - - - - SECRET SERVICE. - OLD AND YOUNG KING BRADY, DETECTIVES. - -_Issued Weekly--By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class - Matter at the New York, N. Y., Post Office, March 1, 1899. Entered - according to Act of Congress, in the year 1900, in the office of the - Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C., by Frank Tousey, 24 Union - Square, New York._ - - No. 84. NEW YORK, August 31, 1900. Price 5 Cents. - - - - - The Bradys' Race for Life; - OR, - ROUNDING UP A TOUGH TRIO. - - - A Detective Story of Life. - BY A NEW YORK DETECTIVE. - -Van and Burke fought like tigers, but were finally overpowered. "You are -trapped, my fine birds," cried Old King Brady jubilantly. But at this -moment Ah Ling appeared on the scene. The uproar had attracted him. With -white, scared face he stared at the detectives. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - A MYSTERIOUS CRIME. - - -"Help! Help!" - -This thrilling cry rang out upon the night air in one of the side -streets of New York City. - -The few pedestrians in the bleak, storm-swept vicinity paused and -instinctively looked for the cause of this blood-curdling appeal. - -Someone was in trouble. - -That was certain. - -But who was it and what was the nature of the trouble? - -As usual, no officer chanced to be within call. Two men who were on -their way home from business, however crossed the street with long -strides and plunged into a dingy area. - -It was illy lighted by a gaslight over the door of a wretched tenement. - -No person could be seen in the area, but one of the men, whose name was -Mortimer Smith, bent over and cried: - -"My soul! This looks as if murder had been done!" - -His companion, a merchant named Benjamin Hanks, echoed: - -"Murder beyond a doubt!" - -The snow in the area was trodden and saturated with blood. All the -ghostly evidences of a crime save the body of the victim were there. - -The trail of blood led to the door of the wretched dwelling. - -The two men noted this, and for a moment seemed about to enter the -dwelling. But Smith said: - -"We had better call the police." - -"Yes." - -"Undoubtedly they have taken the body of the victim into that house." - -"That is true." - -"Let us give the alarm." - -These two well-meaning and worthy citizens started for an officer. They -reached the nearest corner and found a patrolman just pulling in an -electric call. - -Upon their statement of the case the officer made it a hurry call, and -then hastily returned to the area with them. - -He tried the door of the tenement. - -It was locked. - -He pressed his weight upon the door and forced it in. - -A dark hallway was seen. All was silence of the tomb. - -Naturally the guardian of the peace hesitated ere entering the place -alone and in the dark. - -It was a rough quarter where crimes were of common occurrence. - -But just at this moment the hurry wagon arrived with more officers. - -A quick consultation was held. - -The police captain at once surrounded the house. That is, men went to -the alley in its rear while the place was entered from the front. - -The two citizens, Smith and Hanks, were held as witnesses. - -But just as the officers with dark-lanterns entered the tenement they -were met by a sudden wall of smoke. - -The crackling of flames was heard. - -"Fire!" cried the police captain. - -The word was echoed by the others. The inference was easy. - -The criminals had sought to conceal the evidences of their crime by -means of the flames. - -The fire alarm was given and into the street now there dashed the fire -companies. - -Lines of hose were quickly run into the building and preparations made -to subdue the fire. - -Not one of the inmates of the place had thus far put in an appearance. -Indeed, it seemed deserted. - -But while the police had been hesitating about entering the smoke-filled -dwelling, two men had joined them. - -"Hello! What is wrong here?" said one of them, a tall, strong-framed -man, dressed in a tightly-buttoned blue coat, old-fashioned stock collar -and wide-brimmed slouch hat. - -"Ah, Old King Brady!" cried the police captain. "Here is a case for you. -It looks like murder and attempt to conceal it by means of arson." - -"Who has entered the place?" - -"Nobody as yet." - -"Is anybody in there?" - -"We do not know." - -"Humph! What are you waiting for?" - -"The smoke is so dense that it is not safe. The firemen will soon have -the blaze under control." - -"Bah!" cried Old King Brady. "By that time evidence of the crime will be -missing. Come on, Harry!" - -This to his younger companion. The officers were startled and the police -captain cried: - -"Why, Brady, you don't think of entering that place?" - -"Yes, I do!" - -"Why, that is foolhardy. You'll not come out alive!" - -"No matter. It is my duty!" - -"You must not attempt it!" - -The man with the wide-brimmed hat laughed sardonically. - -"Come on, Harry," he said to his young companion, "this is work for us." - -"All right, partner." - -And then before the police could recover from their surprise, both -plunged into the dark hallway and the smoke. - -"Here, stop them!" cried the police captain. "They are going to their -death." - -But it was too late. - -The Bradys, detectives of the first class, and the best in the Secret -Service, were out of sight. - -The men in that police squad were what might be ordinarily termed brave -men. - -But not one of them cared to follow the two detectives. - -But Old King Brady, Gotham's greatest detective, and his protege and -pupil, Harry Brady, knew that if the mystery was to be solved, great -risk must be incurred. - -So they plunged unhesitatingly into the burning dwelling. The -possibility of death never deterred either from exact fulfillment of -duty. - -They dashed through the smoke and reached the foot of a flight of -stairs. - -As near as he could, Old King Brady located the fire. - -He believed that it was confined to a point in the rear of the tenement -and had, as yet, not extended beyond one room. - -Each of the detectives carried a dark-lantern. - -It could hardly furnish light enough to penetrate the pall of stifling -smoke, but yet enabled them to find their way up the stairs. - -Choking and gasping they made their way bravely from room to room. - -The dwelling was humbly furnished. - -It was plainly the abode of people of small means. It was dingy and -meagre. - -The Bradys looked for a clew to the supposed crime. - -Suddenly Harry went down on his knees and focused his lantern on the -floor. - -He cried excitedly: - -"Ah, here is the clew!" - -A trail of blood marked the floor. In the trail lay a white handkerchief -of dainty texture. - -The detectives examined it closely. Harry gave an exclamation. - -On one corner in ink was marked a name: - -"Evelyn Grimm." - -This was the name. - -It was a clew. - -The detectives realized this. At once they began to follow the trail of -blood. - -They felt certain of a sure revelation of the mystery. The blood trail -led to the door of a room at the end of the corridor. - -This door was closed and locked. - -What was beyond it, the detectives could only guess. - -But in their mind's-eye they saw the mangled remains of the murderer's -victim. So they threw themselves against the door. - -And beneath their combined weight it gave way. - -As it crashed in, however, they were met by an impassable barrier. - -Flames and smoke filled the doorway and forbade their entrance. They -were driven back. - -In fact it now became a question of self-preservation. - -The old building was like a tinder-box. - -The Bradys seemed to be literally penned in by the fire and smoke. - -There was no time to lose. - -"No use, Harry!" cried Old King Brady. "We are beaten for just now. We -must get out of here." - -The detectives reached the stairs. But escape in this direction was cut -off. Flames were in their faces. - -At the other end of the corridor was a window opening upon the street. -The detectives made a rush for this. - -They reached it just as the sash was carried away by a stream of water -from the firemen's hose. This gave the detectives a chance. - -Drawing a deep breath of fresh air they felt returning strength. - -Harry vaulted lightly over the sill. It was fifteen feet to the area -below. The firemen shouted, but Harry dropped to the flagging. - -Old King Brady followed. - -In another moment they were safe within the fire lines. - -By this time a great crowd was in the street, attracted in spite of the -driving storm. - -The firemen were badly handicapped by the snow, but yet fought their way -bravely while the rickety tenement was being consumed. - -The fire was not allowed to spread, but the tenement was reduced to -ashes. - -Then the crowd dispersed. - -The detectives left the scene and returned to their lodgings for the -night. - -One thing was certain. - -A tragedy had been enacted, which the flames concealed and the only clew -which the Bradys had secured was the delicate lady's handkerchief. - -This alone could furnish the only suggestion to be gained in any way -from the affair. - -Whether it would prove a sufficient means for the complete revelation of -the mystery or not, remained to be seen. - -The detectives hoped it would. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - FOLLOWING THE CLEWS. - - -Fire had destroyed all tangible evidence of the supposed murder. - -The Bradys were up against a hard proposition. - -To evolve the truth from the matter as it now stood did not by any means -seem easy. - -Insurmountable difficulties had seemed to present themselves. All hung -upon the single clew. - -This was the lace handkerchief. - -It was of delicate workmanship and had certainly belonged to a lady of -refinement. - -All manner of deductions could be made. It might be assumed that the -victim was a wealthy woman, decoyed into a trap of death and for some -unknown purpose murdered. - -The Bradys pondered over the case long and deeply. - -The ruins of the fire were visited. - -An inspection seemed to verify the fact of the murder. - -In the ashes there were found the bones of an unknown victim. - -So nearly consumed were they that it was not easy to say whether they -were those of a man or a woman. - -But it was safe to assume the latter. - -But beyond this, all was a wall of mystery. The detectives learned that -the inmates of the tenement were an Irish family by the name of Roche. - -They were honest working people and had been absent for the night on a -visit to an adjoining town. - -It was easily proved that they had no connection whatever with the -crime. - -Thus matters remained in statu quo when one day the detectives dropped -into the office of the Chief of the Secret Service. - -"Hello, boys!" called out the chief, in his cheery way. "What is the -good word to-day?" - -"We are up a stump," replied Old King Brady. - -"How so?" - -"You know that mysterious Fifteenth street fire and murder?" - -"Yes." - -"We can't get a clew beyond this lace handkerchief." - -"Indeed!" exclaimed the chief. "Well, that is something. Let me see the -handkerchief." - -Old King Brady placed a hand in his pocket for the handkerchief. - -To his surprise it was not there. - -"Oh, I recall," he said, "I left that handkerchief in the room at our -lodging house. Do you remember, Harry?" - -"Yes," replied the young detective. "That is the truth." - -"Then that is your only clew?" asked the chief. - -"Yes." - -"To be sure it is a slight one. Was it a lady's handkerchief?" - -"Yes." - -"Then the victim was a woman?" - -"We think so." - -The chief was silent a moment. - -"Many a dark crime has been covered up in that same way," he said. -"Nothing obliterates the traces of a crime like fire." - -"That is right," agreed Old King Brady. "The oddest thing of all is that -the house was occupied by people who could have had no possible -connection with the crime on account of absence." - -"Well, that is strange," agreed the chief. "You cannot explain the -dragging of the body into that house in particular?" - -"Exactly." - -"It would seem that the perpetrators of the crime were acquainted with -the fact that the inmates were away and that an excellent chance was -afforded to cover up the murder," said Harry. - -"Ah, I see!" agreed the chief. "Altogether it is a baffling case." - -"There seems not even a shadow for us to grasp." - -The chief laughed. - -"I'll wager that state of affairs will not last long," he said. "The -Bradys were never yet defeated, and I'm sure this case will meet the -fate of all others." - -"We shall do our best," said Old King Brady. - -"If you were not already engaged on this case I could give you another -which would interest you," said the chief. - -"What is it?" asked Harry. - -"Perhaps we can handle both," said Old King Brady. - -But the chief shook his head. - -"I think not," he said. "It is a case which will require the best -efforts of a man, and could hardly be divided." - -"Let us hear it," said Old King Brady, with interest. - -"Certainly!" agreed the chief, as he turned to his notebook. "Here are -the details." - -The chief glanced over his notes and then said: - -"A mysterious disappearance. A beautiful young society lady and heiress, -of Westchester, drops suddenly from sight. Not a clew to her -whereabouts. - -"Miss Evelyn Grimm, daughter of the late Theophilus Grimm, and heiress -to a vast estate now held in trust by Napoleon Blood, her uncle, -awaiting her coming of age, suddenly disappears. The uncle is frantic -and has used every means to trace her. - -"The only clew is a brief note of appointment, written in a masculine -hand, with these words: - -"'Miss Grimm: I will be at the Union Square rendezvous at ten o'clock. -Do not fail to meet me, for I have business of very great importance. - D. B.'" - -The chief finished reading the notes and then leaned back in his chair. - -When he looked up he was startled at the expression on the faces of the -detectives. - -Old King Brady's eyes gleamed like balls of fire. - -"What's the matter, Brady? You look excited!" exclaimed the chief. - -"Well, perhaps I am," replied the old detective. "I beg leave to ask you -the name of that young lady?" - -"I read it to you. Miss Evelyn Grimm." - -"Grimm?" - -"Yes." - -Both detectives drew a deep breath. - -"She lived in Westchester?" - -"So the notes say." - -"And kept an appointment at ten o'clock Wednesday evening at Union -Square?" - -"It is believed so." - -"That was the night of the storm?" - -"Yes." - -"Also the night of the fire and murder in East Fifteenth street." - -"That is so!" The chief gave a start. "By jove!" he exclaimed. "You -don't really think that--there is any connection----" - -"Yes," said Old King Brady, emphatically, "there is no doubt of it!" - -"How----" - -"The name on the lace handkerchief which we found in the burning -tenement, bore the name of Evelyn Grimm." - -For a moment the chief sat in startled silence. - -Then he whistled. - -"Whew!" he exclaimed. "I never dreamed of such a thing. But--I can see -it plainly now." - -"The two cases are one." - -"Yes." - -"We can easily undertake your case for you." - -"On my word, this is a surprise," said the chief. "But this is light -upon the mystery. We now know the identity of the victim." - -"Beyond a doubt." - -"It is easy to assume that the young girl was decoyed to Fifteenth -street and foully murdered." - -"For what purpose?" - -"And by whom?" - -"That remains to be unearthed." - -"It must be done!" - -At this moment the door opened and a clerk appeared. - -"What is it, White?" asked the chief. - -"A gentleman to see you, sir," replied the clerk, handing the chief a -card. The latter glanced at it. - -Then he gave a start. - -The name upon the card was: - - "Napoleon Blood, Notary and Justice, Wall street, New York." - -"The uncle and guardian," said the chief. "What does he want to see me -for? Perhaps he has a clew!" - -The Bradys arose. - -"Wait a moment," said the chief, "I want you to hear what this visitor -has to say." - -"But--perhaps he will not speak if we are here," said Old King Brady. - -"We will fix that," said the chief, drawing the wing of a folding screen -across a corner of the room. "Get behind this and listen." - -The detectives obeyed. - -In a few moments the door again opened and the clerk showed Mr. Blood -into the room. - -Napoleon Blood, uncle of the missing heiress, was a sharp-eyed, -hatchet-faced man of not altogether prepossessing appearance. - -He was dressed in dark clothes and had an oily, suave manner. - -He bowed obsequiously as he accepted the chair proffered him by the -chief. - -"Well, Mr. Blood, what can I do for you?" asked the chief. - -"Ah, if you could only give me a clew to the fate of my dear niece I -would be forever in your debt," replied Blood, in a psalm-singing tone. - -The chief bowed. - -"Then you have discovered nothing new?" he asked. - -"Well, ahem! That is, I have a new theory." - -The chief affected interest. - -"What is it?" he asked. - -"Well, it may be only theory, but sometimes I think it fact. I do not -wish to wrong the young man--but--you see young people will be -foolish--and--I--of course, this is all confidential." - -"Certainly!" replied the chief in a mystified way. - -"There is a young man in the case. His name is Allerton Banks." - -The chief noted down the name. - -"He is a poverty-stricken clerk," continued Blood, "but he dared to -aspire to the hand of my niece. Of course I forbade the thing at once. -My niece acted very rebellious and forward and I was obliged to be very -peremptory with her. - -"I suspect that young Banks made the appointment with her which the note -indicates. They very likely quarreled. Probably he tried to induce her -to elope with him. When she refused, he might have, in a fit of rage, -killed her and dragged her body into the tenement." - -The chief listened to this statement silently. - -He was silent a long while. His gaze was fixed on Blood so long that the -latter became nervous. - -"I am sure," said the notary, "that this clew, if followed up, will -yield an explanation of the motive. I would suggest that detectives -shadow young Banks and even that his lodgings be searched. I am -convinced he is guilty." - -"Is it so bad as that?" said the chief, quietly. "We will consider your -proposition, Mr. Blood. We are glad to get all the hints possible." - -"And young Banks----" - -"Shall be put under surveillance." - - - - - CHAPTER III. - IN SLY JIMMIE'S PLACE. - - -An evil smile flickered about the lips of the guardian. - -"Well," he said, "I give you the hint. Make the most of it. I could have -given it to the private detectives, but I thought the Secret Service -safer." - -"That was a wise move," said the chief. "The Secret Service is all that -its name implies, absolutely safe!" - -"When shall I expect to hear from you?" - -"At a date as early as possible." - -"You know where my office is?" - -"Yes." - -"Very well. Good-day!" - -"Good-day!" - -The door closed and Blood was gone. The detectives emerged from behind -the screen. - -"Well?" said the chief. - -"Ahem!" said Harry. - -"Humph!" exclaimed Old King Brady. - -They exchanged glances. - -"What do you think of that fellow?" asked the chief, finally. - -"He's an atrocious old scoundrel!" said Harry, impulsively. - -"Well, I think so," agreed Old King Brady. "There is a dark game -underneath all this. Somebody has been fearfully wronged." - -"I hope you will get at the bottom of it," said the chief. - -"We will!" - -"I wish you luck!" - -The Bradys went to the door. - -"Thank you!" replied Old King Brady. "We shall see you again when we -have something worth reporting." - -"Good! I shall wait with eagerness." - -Then parting salutations were exchanged and the detectives went out upon -the street. - -It was natural for them to fall into the making of deductions. - -Many an important fact is arrived at through the medium of deduction. - -By a process of reasoning, therefore, the Bradys managed to hit upon -what they believed was a true line. - -To them it looked logical that there was an animus in the purpose of -Blood in throwing suspicion upon the young clerk, Allerton Banks. - -The detectives made searching inquiries. - -They discovered that Allerton Banks was a young man of character and -reputation beyond reproach. - -No charge could possibly be brought against him. - -Moreover, by inquiry, they learned that he could not possibly have -written the note of appointment signed D. B., and that it was easy for -him to prove a certain alibi. - -All these things had their value and were given due weight by the -Bradys. - -On the other hand, investigation showed that Napoleon Blood was a -crotchety, narrow-minded old usurer and that he handled the inheritance -of Evelyn Grimm as if it was his own. - -In fact, now that it was assumed that she was out of existence, the -property was likely to revert to him as the next and only heir. - -All these things the detectives quietly unearthed. - -Thus they got a line upon the case and were able to form their -conclusions. - -"I can see only one party at the bottom of it all," said Harry, "and -that is Napoleon Blood." - -"Precisely!" agreed Old King Brady. "He is our man!" - -"It is a gigantic black conspiracy." - -"Yes." - -"But Blood had accomplices." - -"Oh, yes. The crime that evening on Fifteenth street could not have been -committed by him alone." - -So the detectives made their diagnosis. It was in order now to place -Blood under close surveillance. - -The detectives shadowed him persistently. - -Wherever he went they dogged him and this resulted in bearing fruit. - -One day Blood left his office in Wall street and made his way to Chatham -Square. - -Here there was a small bar-room known as the "Travelers' Rest," and kept -by a notorious fence called Sly Jimmie Callahan. - -That the eminently respectable Mr. Blood should visit such a place as -Sly Jimmie's, was odd, to say the least. - -The detectives felt sure that at last they had a clew. - -So they kept close behind the notary and followed him into Sly Jimmie's -place. - -Blood kept his collar turned up and his hat pulled over his eyes as if -to escape recognition. - -He had hardly entered the place, however, when three men stepped up to -him. - -They were a trio of as odd-looking crooks as ever saw the light of day. - -The detectives knew them in an instant. - -"By Jupiter! The Tough Trio!" exclaimed Harry. - -"Whew!" whispered Old King Brady. "When did they return? They have not -been seen around New York for five years." - -This was true. - -The three men were a trio of the most dreaded crooks Gotham had ever -known. - -But they had been absent from New York for years. - -The tall, lantern-jawed fellow with the patch over his eye was Dick -Burke. He was a cool, shrewd villain, and the brains of the trio. - -The hump-backed, heavy-jowled fellow with the scar on his cheek was Dan -Collins. - -He was a cunning sneak thief. - -The short, pudgy rascal with the leer and St. Vitus dance was Martin -Van, as atrocious a monster as ever saw the light of day--a veritable -Caliban. - -It was not easy for this trio to disguise themselves. - -They couldn't conceal their identity anywhere, yet they were -mysteriously elusive and always fooled the detectives. - -They managed to perpetrate the blackest of crimes and yet cover their -tracks so well that they could not be cornered. - -The Tough Trio was an appropriate name for them. - -What could the eminently respectable Mr. Blood be doing in such company? - -What business could he possibly have with them? - -This was the question. - -The detectives, it is hardly necessary to say, were interested. - -Yet Mr. Blood met the trio familiarly and as if they were old friends. - -All drank at the bar and then withdrew to a table nearby. - -The detectives in their clever disguise were not recognized. - -They also sat at a table and pretended to sip the vile beer which the -place afforded. - -They regretted that not a word of the conversation reached them. - -It was impossible to get any nearer without exciting suspicion. - -So the Bradys were compelled to wait and be satisfied with the -assumption that something of importance was being discussed. - -They were content now to accept as a fact that their first theory was -absolutely correct. - -The murder of Evelyn Grimm was the work of Napoleon Blood. - -The motive was the securing of her inheritance. - -The Tough Trio were his hired tools. - -It was a horrible thing to think of. The young girl decoyed by the note -of appointment to the Fifteenth street rendezvous on that fearful stormy -night in winter. The fearful murder and the burning of the tenement. - -The work of fiends. - -Such it was. - -But the trio were capable of even worse crimes than this. The detectives -were assured of this. - -For over an hour the conference between Blood and the Tough Trio went -on. - -Then they arose and left the place. - -It was now after dark. - -Blood shook hands with each and left them. The detectives caught only -one sentence uttered by Blood: - -"They can't beat us now." - -Old King Brady's jaws snapped. - -He smiled grimly. - -"We shall see!" he muttered. - -"Well," whispered Harry, "what shall we do?" - -"Shadow them." - -"The trio?" - -"Yes." - -This they proceeded to do. The three villains now walked away toward the -Bowery. - -The detectives shadowed them from one place to another until long past -midnight. - -Then they turned into a cheap concert hall in Bleecker street, known as -Dan Maguire's. - -The trio seated themselves at a table and sipped their beer. - -Suddenly Burke arose and walked leisurely to the bar where the -detectives stood, apparently engaged in drinking beer. - -Burke went up to them coolly and said: - -"How are ye, gents? Won't ye have a drink with us?" - -The Bradys were never more astonished in their lives. - -"Eh?" exclaimed Old King Brady. "You have the advantage of us!" - -"Have I?" leered the villain. "Well, that's queer, for I know you!" - -"You do?" - -"Yas!" - -For a moment the old detective was staggered. Harry was also dumfounded. - -"Come!" continued Burke. "We'd like to talk with ye. Come over an' sit -down." - -"I--I can't leave my friend, thank you," replied Old King Brady. "It is -evident you take me for somebody else." - -"Who are ye?" - -"My name is Schmidt." - -"Oh!" said Burke, significantly. "I thought it was Brady!" - -The Bradys were never more astonished in their lives. - -It was certain that their disguise had been penetrated by the keen -rogues and they were known. - -Concealment was out of the question. Old King Brady saw that a bluff -would be foolish. - -So he said: - -"All right, Burke. You're dead onto us." - -"Certainly I am!" - -"What are you doing in New York?" - -"That's my affair. What are ye shadowing us for?" - -"Can't you guess?" - -"I wouldn't ask if I could!" - -"Well, we lay you up for the gang that burned the Fifteenth street -tenement." - -Burke only grinned. - -"That's jest our luck," he said. "Everybody lays things to us!" - -"Well, not without reason." - -"Mebbe so! But ye can't clinch us. Anyhow, come over an' sit down, we -want to talk with ye." - -Old King Brady looked at Harry. - -"All right," he said, "we'll do it." - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - THE PRIVATE DETECTIVE. - - -It was an unusual request made by Burke. - -It was a strange thing for the detectives to sit at the same table in a -friendly way with three men whom they meant to hang, if possible. - -But life is full of anomalies. - -And detectives certainly meet with queer experiences. This was one of -them beyond a doubt. - -The Bradys quietly seated themselves at the table. - -Burke called for beer. - -But Old King Brady said: - -"Don't order any for us." - -"You won't drink?" - -"No." - -"Ah, that's odd!" said Burke, with bad grace. "Mebbe it would be to yer -interest to." - -"We do not drink anyway," replied the old detective. "Not with anybody -except when absolutely necessary." - -"Well, all right. Now let's get to the point. What be ye shadowing us -fer?" - -"I have told you once," replied Old King Brady, quietly. - -"Humph!" exclaimed Collins. "Do ye think we had anything to do with -killing that gal?" - -"Yes, I am sure you did." - -The trio exchanged glances. - -Martin Van contorted his ugly face frightfully and said: - -"So ye mean to haul us in, do ye? That's your game?" - -"That is just it," replied Old King Brady. "I know that you are the -hired tools of Napoleon Blood!" - -"Ugh!" said Collins, in a gritty voice. "Whoever runs up ag'in' the trio -has a hard time." - -"Lots of 'em have tried it." - -"And they've paid fer it," said Burke. - -"It's a fair warnin'." - -Old King Brady laughed. - -"You are talking to the wrong man," he said. "There's nothing you can do -or say will scare me. I mean to put you fellows in the electric chair." - -"Well," said Burke, darkly, "that's a declaration of war." - -"That is my duty!" - -For a few moments there was silence. Then Burke said: - -"Yes, it is!" - -"An' you make war on us?" - -"Ye don't know what ye're doin'. No man ever run up ag'in' us that -didn't get the worst of it. Nuthin' kin save ye if we git after ye. -Don't fergit that. Ye'll have a hot race fer life!" - -"All right," said the old detective, rising, "you understand me, and I -understand you." - -"You are satisfied to let it go at that?" asked Collins. - -"Yes." - -"Very well. You will know what it is to fight the Tough Trio!" - -"And you will soon find yourselves in the meshes of the law," retorted -Harry. "Remember that escape is impossible. You are not for a moment -lost sight of and whatever comes you are always within our reach!" - -The villains laughed scornfully. - -"Save your threats," said Van. - -"Make your peace with God!" advised Burke, coolly. - -"You say you will hound us," said Collins. "Why don't you arrest us -now?" - -"Yes," echoed Van. "You are so sure of our guilt, take us right in!" - -Old King Brady smiled. - -"Have your fun now," he said, "you may not have the stomach for it -later." - -"Well, why don't you arrest us?" - -"I am not ready." - -"Is that your only excuse?" - -"Just at present." - -Old King Brady bowed very politely. Then he said to Harry: - -"Come! Let us get away from here." - -The detectives left the saloon. - -They had no idea of leaving the vicinity, though. Their purpose was to -remain as long as possible in close touch with the villains. - -If the truth was told, the Bradys were not at all sure of their case. - -They had not the slightest bit of legal evidence against the trio. - -What they were satisfied of in their own minds could never be proved in -a court of law. - -So they were baffled. - -But the bull-dog tenacity of Old King Brady's nature was never more -evident than now. - -Leaving the saloon they dodged into a dark doorway near and waited. - -"Harry," said Old King Brady in a low tone of voice, "that old Blood is -a fiend in human shape." - -"Indeed he is!" - -"We must convict him!" - -"We certainly will do so." - -Just then Harry gave a start and nudged Old King Brady. - -At first, unseen to both, a man with muffled features had been standing -in the shadows of the doorway. - -He now emerged. - -As he came into the light he turned sharply and said: - -"Gentlemen, I wish you luck, but you're on the wrong tack!" - -"Eh?" exclaimed Old King Brady. "What do you mean, sir?" - -"You are tracking the trio with a belief that they are involved in that -affair at the Fifteenth street house." - -"We are!" - -"Well, you're wrong. They are not the men." - -"Eh?" exclaimed Old King Brady. "What do you know about it?" - -"I know it all." - -"Who are you?" - -"I am Ralph Scott, detective, the same as you. I have the right clew!" - -The two Bradys stared at the fellow. - -"You have?" exclaimed Harry. "I would like to know what it is?" - -"I can prove it, too!" - -"That is best." - -"Well, I can tell you that the young cashier is the guilty man." - -"Do you mean Allerton Banks?" - -"Yes." - -The fellow spoke positively. - -The detectives exchanged glances. - -"Look here, Scott," said Old King Brady, "you're not a Secret Service -man." - -The fellow looked defiant. - -"It isn't necessary to be in the Secret Service to be a detective," he -snapped. - -"Perhaps not. But what service are you in?" - -"I have no ties. I am in the business on my own hook!" - -"Private detective?" - -"Yes." - -"Umph! What is your clew?" - -"I got it through a man who is in a position to know all about the -case." - -"Who is he?" - -"That is my affair." - -"I can tell you who you mean." - -Scott looked incredulous. - -"Well," he said, "who?" - -"Napoleon Blood, the uncle and guardian of the dead girl." - -The private detective started. His face flushed angrily. - -"Eh? You'd better guess again," he said. "Who told you that?" - -"Is it not so?" - -"I refuse to say." - -"Well, how much has Blood promised to pay you to convict the cashier?" - -Scott looked angry and baffled. He glared at the detectives savagely. -Then muttering he began to move away. - -"Hold on!" said Harry. "Take a bit of advice before you go." - -"What do you mean?" demanded Scott, in a surly way. - -"Better let this matter alone entirely. It makes no difference what you -do, you're going to get the worst of it. Old Blood will surely be found -out." - -"You talk like fools!" growled Scott. "But just keep on and we'll see -who comes out best. I work for money, I do!" - -"That is right," agreed Old King Brady. "Nobody will dispute that." - -Scott went away in high dudgeon. The Bradys were much edified. - -"It is easy to understand him," said the old detective. "He is only a -tool for Blood." - -"It is evident the old usurer means to put the young cashier out of the -way," said Harry. - -"Very true." - -"I think it would be a good idea to see Allerton and warn him." - -"So do I. Ah!" - -Old King Brady gave a great start. A man had crossed the street and now -passed very close to the detectives. - -It was Blood. - -The detectives were, of course, greatly interested. - -They watched the old usurer carefully. He entered Sly Jimmie's dive. - -"He has gone in to see the trio," said Old King Brady in a breath. - -"Yes." - -"They will tell him of our position in the case." - -"The old fellow will be put on his guard." - -"Just so." - -"By Jupiter!" exclaimed Harry. "I'd like mighty well to know just what -their conversation will be." - -"Would it be safe to venture into the place again in another guise?" - -"They would know us." - -"Well," said the old detective, with sudden inspiration, "I think I have -a plan." - -"What is it?" - -"Do you see the alley on this side of the building?" - -"Yes." - -"Well, I think there is a small window on a level with the ground. It is -directly over the table where those fellows sit." - -"Indeed!" - -"It is true. I remember seeing it. Now, if we can only creep in there -and either open the window or remove a pane of glass, we ought to hear -every word." - -"Good! Let us try it." - -The Bradys were not slow in undertaking this feat. - -They crept into the alley and soon had located the window. - -Here they made an agreeable discovery. It was not necessary to open the -window or remove the glass. - -Every word spoken by the villains below came up to their ears. - -They were still seated at the table and Blood was with them. - -The old usurer seemed greatly excited that the Bradys were possessed of -a knowledge of his complicity in the crime. - -"Curse them!" cried Blood, savagely. "I hope they do not know too much. -Did you admit anything?" - -"You bet we didn't!" said Collins, angrily. "What do you take us for?" - -"Well, it looks as if they might be an obstacle in our path." - -"Wall, you bet!" - -"There's only one thing to be done!" - -"We're waitin' fer the word!" - -"If the trio gets after them it's all up with them." - -"You bet!" cried Van, with a fierce grin. "Say the word, boss. We'll -give 'em a race fer life. What's the job worth to ye in solid money?" - -"Ten thousand dollars!" replied the usurer. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - OUTWITTING THE CROOKS. - - -"Done!" cried Burke. "We are your birds." - -"It's understood," said Collins, "when the Bradys are safe outen the way -you will pay us ten thousand in gold?" - -"That is right!" agreed Blood. - -"Then the job is as good as done!" - -"They are a pair of foxes!" - -The trio laughed in a blood-curdling way. - -"Don't ye fear!" said Burke. - -"Well, it's worth that to me," said Blood. "Once they are out of the way -the course is pretty clear." - -"Wall, it oughter be." - -"I fear nobody else." - -"Ten thousand in gold!" said Burke. "That will take us to Australia. The -twenty thousand we got fer the Fifteenth street job will start us in -business, all right!" - -"Yes, and I wish you luck!" said Blood. "Make the work sure!" - -"Did ye ever know us to fail?" - -"Well, no!" - -"Very well. Ye'll see that we'll take keer of them Bradys all right." - -"Look here!" cried Collins. "What be ye going to do with that young -Banks, anyway?" - -"I'm going to arrest him," replied Blood. This interested the -detectives. - -"Arrest him?" - -"Yes." - -"Ah! Have ye got the right evidence, think ye?" - -"My man Scott, a private detective, has worked that all right. Some of -the girl's jewelry, and a lace necktie stained with blood will be found -in young Banks' room to-morrow. Also, there'll be blood on some of his -clothes." - -The trio laughed grimly. - -"You'll do!" jeered Burke. "If you'd join us this trio might become a -quartette." - -At this there was a general laugh. Then Blood arose to go. - -"All right," he said in parting, "see that you do your work well by the -Bradys. I'll keep an eye out all the while." - -Blood left the place. - -Then the trio also separated for the night. It was a peculiarity of -theirs to be seldom found together. - -The Bradys had gained the most valuable of information. - -"We have got them solid!" cried Old King Brady. "We can now easily -checkmate them." - -"What do you advise?" asked Harry. - -"We must see young Banks at once." - -"So I think!" - -"He must be put on his guard and the dastardly scheme of Blood's -frustrated. Then we will have sufficient against both Blood and the -trio." - -"And arrest them?" - -"Instantly!" - -"Good! Nothing could be better." - -The Bradys left Sly Jimmie's place. The air was crisp and cold, for the -frigidity of winter had not yet passed away. - -They did not attempt to shadow any individual member of the gang. - -But they started at once for the lodgings of young Banks. - -He roomed, while at work in the city, in Irving Place. The room was a -specimen of the sort usually found in lodging houses. - -As is usually the case in New York, Allerton knew none of the other -lodgers. - -He simply knew that a tall, hawk-eyed man roomed next to him. But he had -never ventured a surmise as to the man's character or identity. - -The chambermaid had caught Mr. Scott, the hawk-eyed man, one day trying -to fit skeleton keys to Allerton's door. - -But Mr. Scott profusely explained that he had got the wrong room by -mistake and went into his own room. - -All this the Bradys possessed themselves of very quickly after arriving -at Allerton's lodging house. - -He was not in when they called, but they waited for him. - -In due time he entered. - -At once the Bradys introduced themselves and a pleasant conversation -followed. - -"I can assure you," said young Banks, "the disappearance of my fiancee -has been a dreadful blow to me. I have until now never given up hope -that she might be found alive." - -"I fear there is no ground for such a hope," said Old King Brady. "You -will do well to preserve your own life from the same gang." - -Allerton was startled. - -"Is that true?" he exclaimed. - -"As true as can be. We have come to warn you." - -Young Banks was dumfounded. He listened to the story repeated by the -Bradys. - -"That is very strange," he said, finally. "I cannot understand it." - -"Now, we must work sharp to beat Blood at his own game," said Old King -Brady. "Who could have access to your room here?" - -"Only the maid and landlady," replied Allerton. - -"Unless your next-door neighbor picked the lock." - -"Do you think it?" - -"It is likely." - -"I do not even know him beyond the fact that he is a private detective -and his name is Scott." - -The detectives winked hard. - -"Yes, yes!" said Harry. "Well, such fellows make no trouble in finding -their way through any door." - -"Do you think it possible?" - -"I am sure of it." - -"But what could he enter my room for?" asked Allerton. - -"The answer we will give you speedily," replied Old King Brady. -"Overhaul your wardrobe. We must search every corner of this room." - -"You puzzle me!" - -"Never mind. Do as I say!" - -"Oh, certainly!" - -The young cashier went through his wardrobe. To his horror a suit of -clothes was found smeared with blood. - -In the coat pocket was a bloody knife. - -The detectives kept grimly at work. Other incriminating evidence was -quickly produced. - -The young cashier was aghast. - -"I need only say," he said, "that this is all very inexplicable to me." - -"Indeed?" said Old King Brady. "How did these bloody clothes come in -your room?" - -"I have not the slightest idea." - -"Do you mean that?" - -"Yes, I do!" - -"Are they not yours?" - -"They are." - -"How did the blood come upon them?" - -"I do not know." - -Young Banks was like one dazed. - -"Gentlemen," he said, earnestly, "I swear to you that I have committed -no crime. How the blood came here is an intense mystery to me. Could -anybody have placed it there to incriminate me?" - -Old King Brady's face relaxed. - -"I'm glad you have come to your senses, young man," he said. "Now you -are getting near the mark." - -"Do you know that such is the case?" asked Banks. - -"Yes," replied Old King Brady. - -Banks was amazed. - -"All this is very strange and incomprehensible to me," he said. "Can you -kindly explain it all? - -With this, Old King Brady gave succinctly the facts in the case. - -Young Banks listened with surprise, horror and indignation. - -"And it is true that Evelyn was foully murdered?" he gasped. "I have had -hopes until now. Oh, this is too dreadful! And it is all Blood's work?" - -"Yes." - -"Then I swear that he shall be brought to justice. He shall hang." - -"That is just what we are trying to do now," said Old King Brady. "And I -think we are in a fair way to succeed." - -"I hope so. Oh, gentlemen, I place myself in your hands! What ought I to -do under these circumstances?" - -"Keep very quiet," advised Old King Brady. "Officers will come here to -arrest you and to search your room. Make no objection. Even let them -arrest you if they will. Have faith in us. We will not see you come to -harm." - -"Oh, heaven bless you! This is a terrible nightmare to me." - -"Do as we tell you and you will be safe!" - -"I will surely do so!" - -The Bradys now took their leave. - -They carried with them the blood-stained clothes and all the evidences -of the murder. - -Thus the matter rested. - -The next day officers went to young Banks' room and arrested him. - -The place was searched thoroughly, but not a trace of the evidence, -supposed by Scott to be there, was found. - -The effect of this upon the private detective it is easy to estimate. - -However, the warrant demanded the arrest of Allerton Banks and he was -taken to the Tombs. - -The evening papers came out with a thrilling account of the arrest. - -"The murderer found!" it read. "At last an arrest is made. It proves a -great surprise, for the party charged with the crime by Detective Scott -is no other than the lover of the missing girl, Allerton Banks." - -A long reminiscent account of the crime followed. - -The Bradys read this with interest. - -Then they caused an article to appear the next day deriding Scott and -ridiculing the arrest. - -The brief hearing before a police magistrate justified this. - -There was no case whatever against young Banks. - -The police justice at once discharged him and reprimanded Scott. - -The Bradys now decided to act. - -Their purpose was to make wholesale arrests. They would scoop the whole -gang at once. - -They believed they had plenty of evidence to convict all. - -They had evidence that Scott had secured the room next to Banks for the -purpose of effecting an entrance. - -They had the evidence of the chambermaid that he had been seen trying to -pick the lock. - -They could show complicity between Blood and the Tough Trio. - -They could also show a warrantable motive for the crime and altogether -quite sufficient evidence to convict the gang. - -So the Bradys went first to the residence of Mr. Napoleon Blood in -lonely Westchester. - -But he was not there. - -"He has just gone to the city with Mr. Scott, the detective," declared -the servant. - -And that was all. - -Mr. Blood did not return. His good sense precluded this. - -He had seen the handwriting on the wall and at once took measures to -protect himself. - -He was missing. - -So also was Scott, the detective, and the Tough Trio. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - SHADOWED. - - -With no one to appear against him young Allerton Banks was discharged as -free of guilt. - -Great excitement was created when it was known that a warrant was out -for Napoleon Blood. - -And the interest was at fever heat when it was learned that he had -skipped for parts unknown. - -The Bradys were deeply chagrined that their birds had slipped them. - -They had not dreamed that they would skip so soon. - -They regretted not having made the arrests earlier. - -However, they were by no means discouraged or defeated. - -They knew that Blood had money and would not be easily overtaken. But -the Tough Trio could not get away so easily. - -But events proved that this was not at all the purpose of the three -toughs. - -The Bradys were surprised to receive the following unique message. - -It came by mail, being post-marked at Station E, and was written in a -coarse hand as follows: - - "Mr. Braddy: You hev opened the action ag'in' us and we are on the - deefensive. Pretty soon it will be the other way an' we'll be on the - offensive. Mark it now, we're goin' to do you up. No man can stand - ag'in' the trio and you'll be kept busy running a race fer life. - - "You can't take no step we don't kno' about and we'll be hot on your - heels all the while. You can't sleep nites fer the knife will be at - yure windpipe. You can't leave the city or a bullet will drop ye. - We're watchin' every move of yours and you can't fool us. There's no - escape unless you make a race for it. - Yures fer revenge, - "The Trio." - -The Bradys read this message several times with curious emotions. - -Then Harry said: - -"On my word, partner, this is no joke. It means something." - -"I believe you, Harry," agreed Old King Brady. "But our move is to keep -ahead of them." - -"They mean to kill us!" - -"That is so." - -"Then we have certainly got to capture or kill them." - -"For self-preservation if nothing else." - -"Yes." - -"It is literally a race for life. We must win." - -"We must." - -The detectives decided to give up their quest for Blood. - -They knew that a false step now meant their lives. - -It is no light thing to ponder upon that three elusive deadly thugs are -seeking one's life and waking or sleeping there is never a safe moment. - -The Bradys were constrained to do a heap of thinking. - -The problem before them was the worst they had ever undertaken. - -Every step must be guarded, every move carefully weighed. - -They knew that it was true that they were under the constant -surveillance of the trio. - -How to turn the tables and place the other gang under the shadow was the -question. - -They considered the matter of disguise. - -Disguises are all right and in many cases a valuable aid to a detective. - -But they are not infallible. - -In a passing crowd or the glare of gaslight they will prove sometimes -very effective. - -But not always are they effective. The cunning crook penetrates the -cleverest disguise with ease. - -Every person has certain physical peculiarities which no disguise on -earth can absolutely conceal. - -The Bradys knew that they could not depend wholly upon disguise. - -The detectives decided finally that their only way to baffle their -murderous foes was to make a literal race of it. - -They knew that the three crooks would make hot pursuit. - -By keeping always just ahead of the trio they could be sure of safety -and perhaps find a way of doubling and turning the tables on the foe. - -"We will lead them a chase across the continent!" cried Old King Brady. -"If they can catch us they may have our scalps. In the meantime we will -try every kind of a decoy for them." - -The Bradys left their lodgings. - -They had barely struck the street when Harry exclaimed: - -"We are shadowed!" - -"Eh?" exclaimed the old detective. - -"I tell you it is so!" - -"How do you know that?" - -"I saw one of the gang slip around that corner." - -"If that is so we ought to be able to decoy him. Come on!" - -The two detectives carelessly strolled down the street. - -It was a crowded thoroughfare and they knew that no attempt would be -made upon their lives here. - -But presently they slipped into a dark alley. - -Here they crouched behind some barrels. Each held a revolver in his -hand. - -If their foes came into the alley, the trap was ready and would be -sprung. - -The detectives watched very closely. Twice they saw their birds at a -corner far down the street. - -But they would not venture to accept the decoy. - -Old King Brady was disgruntled. - -"Confound them! They are too sharp," he said. "What shall we do?" - -"Give it up," said Harry, laconically. - -"It looks like it. Well, we would be foolish to go their way. Let us -give them the slip through this alley." - -"Very well." - -So the detectives slipped away and into another street. Soon they were -on Broadway. - -"Aha!" said Old King Brady, triumphantly. "That's the way to slip them. -I think we can fool them yet, Harry." - -But the young detective clutched his arm and said: "Don't you believe -it. Just look across the street." - -Old King Brady was astounded. - -One of the trio, Collins it was, stood at an opposite street corner. - -He glanced at the detectives and then vanished down the side street. - -"By Jupiter!" exclaimed the old detective. "That beats me! Where did he -come from?" - -"I tell you they are almost omnipresent," declared Harry. "We can't seem -to turn the trick on them." - -"Well, we will!" cried Old King Brady, angrily. "We'll catch that -fellow. Stay here, Harry." - -With this the old detective darted across the street. - -But search as he would, he could find no trace of Collins. Baffled, Old -King Brady returned to Broadway. "Confound the slippery rascal!" he -cried. "There must be a way to trip them up." - -"I have a plan," said Harry. - -"What?" asked the old detective, eagerly. - -"Well, it may seem simple, but I think it will work. Go to an uptown -hotel and register." - -"Well?" - -"We will assume to go to our room. But in reality we will slip out by a -rear entrance. Once the gang enters the hotel we will nab them." - -"But will they do that?" - -"I think they will. Certainly they will leave nothing undone to -encompass our death." - -"Very good!" agreed Old King Brady. "We'll try your plan." - -"We'll go to the Broadway Central Hotel." - -"Very good!" - -"It is an old hostelry and does not depend altogether on elevators. -There are rear stairs for us to descend." - -The detectives proceeded to carry out their plan. - -Certainly it looked feasible. - -They registered at the hotel, boldly, under their own names. - -They prepaid their room as they did not have baggage. - -Then they ascended by the elevator. They proceeded to the door of their -room. - -They entered and waited for the bell-boy to disappear. - -Then they emerged and started for the rear stairs. - -They reached a corner of the long corridor when some-thing like a -chuckle came to their ears. - -Old King Brady turned his head. - -"By jove!" he exclaimed, aghast. - -At the same moment Harry saw the cause of the old detective's -excitement. - -Far down the corridor a man stood apparently studying the number on a -room door. He seemed totally oblivious of the presence of the -detectives. - -It was Dick Burke. - -"Great Scott!" exclaimed Harry, and said no more. The detectives looked -at each other in sheer wonderment. - -"What do you think of that?" - -"I think I want that cuss!" said Old King Brady, starting for the crook. - -But at that moment Burke stepped into a side corridor and vanished. - -When the detectives reached the spot he was gone. - -They made a quick search and went all over the hotel. - -They made inquiries of bell-boys and other attaches. - -But in vain. - -It convinced them that they were truly up against a hard game. - -The trio seemed possessed of a supernatural faculty for making -themselves invisible at will. - -Completely mystified, the Bradys sat down in the hotel lobby and tried -to think. - -It was a conundrum. - -The foes were close upon their heels and could not be shaken off or -decoyed. They were as elusive as the will-o'-the-wisp. - -It was easy to understand their game. - -They were waiting only a favorable opportunity for pouncing upon their -intended victims. They were slow and patient as the Hindoo thug himself. - -Old King Brady was all cold sweat. - -"By Jupiter, Harry!" he exclaimed. "They certainly mean to catch us off -our guard. What can we do?" - -"There is only one plan." - -"Well?" - -"We must make a race of it. Let them chase us. We will keep on the jump. -At a favorable moment we will double back on our tracks and then--they -are ours." - -"A good plan and the only one," said Old King Brady. "They will pursue -us. We are sure of that. We are not smart if we do not fool them in some -way." - -So the plan was decided upon and action made at once. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - THE RACE BEGINS. - - -The plan of the Bradys certainly looked logical. - -To make a race of it was the only safe way. So they acted at once. - -They did not even spend the night at the Broadway Central Hotel. Instead -they took a car for the Grand Central Depot. - -Here they bought tickets for Boston. - -The plan was cleverly laid. - -It was arranged to go on to Boston by the night express. When they -arrived in the Hub city they would at once slip onto the next train -back. - -This would confuse the pursuers and place them on the defensive. - -The Shore Line Express took them out of New York. - -The Bradys kept a sharp outlook and were certain that none of the gang -were on the train. - -Consequently they felt elated. - -"On my word!" exclaimed Harry. "I believe we have slipped them." - -"It looks like it," agreed Old King Brady. "But I am not wholly sure. -They have disappointed us several times." - -"That is true," agreed Harry. "Yet I believe we will fool them this -time." - -The Bradys made themselves comfortable in the sleeping car. - -Just as they were about to retire, a short man with bushy whiskers and a -tweed suit came into the car. - -He occupied the section next to the detectives. - -He claimed their attention at once, but neither remembered having seen -him before. - -He ignored them, however, and at once tumbled into his bunk. His snore -could soon be heard above the rumble of the train. - -In due season the Bradys also retired. - -They slept soundly until at about six o'clock the train rolled into -Boston. - -The detectives had decided to stay in Boston during the day and take the -night train back to New York. - -Then they could assume the best disguise they had and perhaps shake -their murderous pursuers. - -They left the depot and made their way to a respectable Boston hostelry. - -The weather was typical of New England at the time of year and was most -bitterly cold. - -When the detectives registered at the Parker House, the fellow-passenger -in the tweed suit also registered. - -He was assigned to a room, as were the detectives. Young King Brady -noted the coincidence, but thought nothing of it. - -But once in the room, a sudden thought came to Harry. - -He instantly exclaimed: - -"Confound it! You and I are getting daft, partner." - -"Eh?" exclaimed Old King Brady. "What are you driving at?" - -"We are blind fools! Far from eluding the gang, we are only getting into -their way." - -"What do you mean?" - -"Do you remember the man who slept in the berth next us?" - -"On the train?" - -"Yes." - -"Short man with tweed suit?" - -"The very one!" - -"Yes. What of it?" - -"Well, we are blind. That fellow is Martin Van in disguise!" - -Old King Brady gasped. - -"Harry!" he ejaculated. "What do you mean?" - -"It is true! I have placed him now. I knew he seemed familiar." - -"Nonsense! I can't see any connection or any similarity." - -"You can't?" - -"No." - -"Well, I couldn't at first. But after we registered, I went down into -the wash-room. He was there as well!" - -"Ah!" - -"I passed by him and chancing to glance into a side mirror I had profile -view of him. He was indulging in the St. Vitus dance and his features -were all contorted." - -Old King Brady was silent. - -He knew that Van had the St. Vitus dance. The coincidence was certainly -suspicious. - -He was thoughtful. - -"I declare!" he finally exclaimed. "Perhaps you are right, Harry. Those -whiskers did not look really natural." - -"No, nor are they. I tell you that fellow is Van!" - -Old King Brady strode up and down the room for some time. - -"Well," he said, finally, "what ought we to do?" - -"I see only one plan." - -"What?" - -"Arrest him!" - -"Of course! We could have done it at the hotel desk." - -"But we did not know him." - -"That is it." - -"He is very likely in his room just now. Let us work the surprise on -him. Fate seems to have played this into our hands." - -The Bradys were elated. - -Their luck in having probed the fellow's disguise seemed likely to stand -them in good stead. - -But they knew better than to act too openly. - -"Harry," said Old King Brady, "we must proceed with due caution. You can -slip out now and get an officer." - -"Yes." - -"I will go down and look on the register and get the number of his -room." - -"Very well." - -"Then I will meet you at the Tremont street door. Do you see?" - -"Yes." - -"Very good. The officer can go right up to his room. I will go up one -corridor and you the other. Then we have him trapped." - -"Splendid!" - -The detectives had laid their plan well. As a matter of fact, their -surmises were correct. - -Martin Van was in his room. - -He did not dream, of course, that the Bradys had penetrated his -disguise. - -It was his purpose to follow them like a lynx and at a favorable moment -strike one or both down with his own hand. - -The officer secured by Harry carried out his part of the programme. - -He proceeded to the door of Van's room and rapped. - -At first there was no answer. - -Then a movement in the room was heard and a voice said: - -"Who is it?" - -"A friend on business!" - -"What is the name?" - -"Open the door and you will see!" - -Silence ensued and the officer rapped again. - -"Wait a moment!" said the occupant of the room. That was the last -answer. The officer suddenly put his shoulder to the door and forced it -in. - -The Bradys came rushing up the corridor expecting trouble. - -But there was none. - -The reason was evident. - -The room was empty. - -A window opening upon a fire-escape was open. It was by means of this -that Van had escaped. - -"Quick!" cried Harry. "We must cut him off below." - -Downstairs dashed the detectives. As they reached the sidewalk they saw -a man in a big overcoat turn the corner below into Washington street. - -It was Van. - -The detectives rushed after him. In the crowd, however, they lost track -of their man. - -Much chagrined, however, the detectives would not give up. - -They went on at random. - -Suddenly leaving Haymarket Square they turned into Portland street. - -This is the street of livery stables. From the door of one of these -stables they saw a cutter sleigh drawn by a spirited horse emerge. - -One man sat in the sleigh. - -"Great Scott!" exclaimed Harry. "Is not that Van?" - -The same big overcoat and hat betokened that it was the crook. He looked -back once and saw the Bradys. - -His whiskers had been sacrificed. - -It was easy to recognize him. - -His face lit up with evil exultation and he made a contemptuous gesture -with his hand. - -"Hold!" shouted Old King Brady at the top of his lungs. "Stop or I will -fire!" - -The old detective's revolver came out then. - -But it was too late. - -The cutter turned a corner and Van was out of sight. - -The Bradys looked about for a means of pursuit. - -"The stable!" cried Harry. "Get another team at once!" - -Into the stable the Bradys rushed. - -The proprietor stared at them. - -"Quick!" cried Old King Brady. "Give us the best horse you've got in -your stable. We will pay for him." - -"Who are you?" asked the stableman, suspiciously. - -"We are Secret Service detectives." - -"Why, I just let a team to a detective to go to Lexington." - -"What!" cried Old King Brady. "Did you say to Lexington?" - -"Yes." - -"Well, he fooled you. He is a noted crook and we are after him." - -"Look here, I can't let my teams this way." - -"Enough of that!" cried Old King Brady, thrusting a roll of greenbacks -in the man's face. "Your best horse. I'll buy him. Here's his value as -security!" - -"The other fellow left a deposit, too. Do you mean it?" - -"Yes, here is five hundred. If I don't bring the team back you are -paid." - -This was enough. - -The stable keeper quickly brought out a flea-bitten gray horse. He was -attached to a light sleigh. - -"Do you know the Lexington road?" he asked. - -"By Scallay Square and Brighton street to Cambridge and Arlington?" said -Old King Brady. - -"Yes." - -"I'll find it. Thank you!" - -"That's the best road horse in Boston. You'll catch your man before he -gets there." - -"That's what we want!" cried Old King Brady. - -Then away in pursuit went the two detectives. - -"If we can catch Van," said Old King Brady, "we shall be all right. We -will have only two bloodhounds on our trail." - -Highly elated, the detectives drove on. It was slow work getting out of -the crowded streets. But finally they crossed the Cambridge Bridge and -were out on a clear highway. - -Then the horse was given a free head. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - AT THE ASYLUM. - - -The horse given the Bradys by the stable keeper was certainly a good -one. - -He dashed over the snow-covered road like the wind. - -Sleighs were met and passed. - -But yet nothing was seen of the sleigh which contained Martin Van. To be -sure he had a long start. - -But still the Bradys kept on. - -Arlington highway was reached and then they turned up the historic -thoroughfare, the route of Paul Revere on his memorable ride, and -entered Lexington. - -On the left was a historic tavern. - -The minute men of olden times who had met here to resist the advance of -the British column of invasion, had once drank their flip and toddy in -this ancient house. - -As the detectives dashed along the snow-bound thoroughfare, Old King -Brady gave a start. - -"Hello!" he exclaimed. "Luck is with us!" - -In the tavern yard was a sleigh. It was the veritable cutter hired by -Van in Boston. - -"Now we have him!" chuckled Old King Brady, as he turned his horse into -the yard. - -The detectives threw the reins to a hostler. - -Then they dashed into the tavern. - -At a counter stood a man of plain, stern features. He was evidently the -proprietor and stared at the invaders. - -Old King Brady leaned over the counter and said: - -"Where is the man who just came up in that cutter out there?" - -The proprietor looked blank. - -"He did not stop here," he said. - -The detectives were staggered. - -"Are you sure of that?" - -"Yes." - -"Do you know which way he went?" - -"Yes, he took the Concord road." - -"Thank you!" - -The Bradys rushed out and leaped into their wagon. They drove on at full -speed for Concord. - -They were soon outside the little town of Lexington. - -The road to Concord is a hilly and difficult highway, particularly in -winter. - -Moreover, a blinding snow storm had commenced to block the roads. After -going a few miles the detectives found that their horse was giving out. - -"On my word, Harry," said Old King Brady, "I am afraid we are bound to -get stuck." - -"There is one consolation." - -"What?" - -"If we are, Van is also." - -Night was at hand and darkness began to settle down. - -The Bradys realized that it was necessary to get under cover somewhere. - -They were averse to going back to Lexington. - -Suddenly, after floundering a while in the snow, a dim light was seen in -the distance. - -"There is a habitation of some kind," said Old King Brady. "I think we -had better strike for it." - -"Very good," declared Harry. "I will go ahead on foot." - -Slowly the Bradys staggered on through the snow. - -After a while they passed through a gateway and drew up in the yard of a -time-stained and weather-beaten old mansion of revolutionary style. - -Lights shone in the windows of the old house. - -Old King Brady shouted and two farm boys came out with lanterns. - -"Reckon hyars some more storm-bound people," said one of the boys. "Say, -mister, what kin we do fer ye?" - -"It looks as if we had got to trespass on you for the night," said Old -King Brady. - -"Wall, ye're welcome! Put yer hoss right in the barn." - -This was done. - -The big barn doors were with difficulty swung back. Then as the -detectives entered they were given a thrilling start. - -Right in the center of the barn floor was the cutter which Van had -driven from Boston. - -The horse was in a nearby stall. - -"By jove!" whispered Harry. "We've come up with the sharp rogue at last. -He won't slip us this time." - -"Indeed he won't!" declared Old King Brady. "I say, my man?" - -"Well, sir?" - -"Where is the man who came in with this team?" - -Both boys stared. - -"Eh?" stammered one. "That team? Why, nobody came in with it." - -"What?" - -"That's so, sir." - -"Do you mean to say nobody drove in here with that team?" - -"Jest so, sir! It came in by itself an' nobody in the sleigh. I don't -know nuthin' more about it." - -"And you don't know where the driver of it is?" - -"No, sir." - -The detectives were dumfounded. - -It was a most astounding turn in affairs. For a few moments they were -overcome. - -What could it mean? - -It was easy to assume that Van had deserted the team. - -But where and why? Where was he now? - -It seemed an altogether foolish thing for him to desert the horse and -sleigh to go afoot such a wild night. - -No man could hope to live long in such a storm. - -Yet it seemed that he had done this very thing. - -The closest inquiries by the detectives revealed nothing more. - -The farmer's boys could vouchsafe no further information. - -The detectives were obliged to be satisfied with it. - -Wherever Van was, nothing could be done to secure him that night. He -might be freezing somewhere in the snow. - -However this might be, the Bradys knew that they could only make -themselves comfortable for the night and wait for the morrow. - -So they went into the farm house. - -A cheery fire blazed on the hearth. - -John Paine, the farmer, and his wife welcomed the detectives. - -They were given seats by the fire and the housewife hustled about to get -them something to eat. - -The Bradys were soon toasting their frigid feet by the fire and -listening to John Paine's homely talk. - -"I reckoned it ud be a pow'ful hard winter," he said. "Everything -p'inted that way." - -"How far are you from the next house?" asked Old King Brady. - -"Summut of a mile, I reckon." - -"What is it, a farm house like this?" - -John Paine screwed up his mouth. - -"I reckon ye're strangers about yere," he said. - -"We are." - -"Bekase if ye warn't ye'd never ax that question. Why, the next _house_ -ain't a _house_ at all. It's a mad-house!" - -"A mad-house?" - -"Yes, some people call it a 'sylum." - -"Oh, yes; a private asylum!" - -"I reckon so. It's private enuff. Old Doctor Scraggs who keeps it has -about four of ther wust dogs in this kentry. Nobody dares to go about -there arter dark." - -The detectives were doing some deep thinking. - -Private asylums were not uncommon in any part of the country. - -They wondered if there could be any connection between Van's -disappearance and the asylum. - -For a long while they pondered over it. - -Then Old King Brady asked: - -"I say, my friend! Have you any snowshoes?" - -"Sartin!" replied Paine. "But ye ain't goin' out to-night?" - -"I have a desire to visit that asylum," said the detective. - -"Wait till ter-morrer. We'll break the road out airly." - -"Oh, I don't mind the storm." - -At this moment one of the farm boys came in with a stamp of his feet. - -"I say!" he cried. "It's all breaking away an' the moon is coming out." - -"Sho!" cried the farmer. "You don't say so?" - -"That settles it!" cried Old King Brady. "We'll take a trip on -snowshoes, anyway!" - -The farmer made no further demur. For himself he couldn't see the sense -of it. - -"But city folks does hev queer ways," he remarked to his wife. - -Two pairs of snowshoes were brought out. - -The Bradys first indulged in a hearty meal as prepared by the good -housewife. - -Then they sallied forth. - -Warmly wrapped they did not feel the chill air. The moon had appeared -high in the heavens and the air was sublime. - -Over the drifted fields the detectives made their way. - -"It's easy enough to understand it all now," said Old King Brady. "You -see Van went as far as he could with his team. Then he turned it into -this man's yard and went ahead on foot." - -"He meant to reach the asylum. It was certainly his objective point." - -"Yes." - -"But what business can he possibly have at the asylum of Doctor -Scraggs?" - -"That is for us to find out." - -"Perhaps----" - -Old King Brady paused. Both detectives had experienced the same thought. -Was there any connection between the insane asylum of Doctor Scraggs and -the Fifteenth street mystery? - -Had the Tough Trio any relationship with this private home for the -insane? - -The Bradys knew well that many of these private asylums are but prisons -for innocent victims of evil plots. - -On the charge of insanity a perfectly sane man may be kept for years, -even to the hour of his death, in awful, torturous confinement. - -It seemed certain that Van had not alone come on to Boston to shadow the -detectives or even to decoy them. - -It was really to pay a visit to Doctor Scraggs' asylum. - -But what was his business there? - -What sort of a place was it? - -The Bradys felt that they were upon a new lead. - -As they glided along on their snowshoes, they were resolved to solve the -mystery that night if possible. - -Nearer now they drew to the grounds of the asylum. - -Now a barrier arose which seemed likely to thwart them. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - A CLEVER GAME. - - -The savage baying of a dog broke the stillness of the winter night. - -The hoarse barking was succeeded by others until the air became heavy -with the uproar. - -Then the distant clang of a door was heard. - -The Bradys had come to a halt undecided what to do. - -They had little fear that the dogs could reach them in that deep snow. -But suddenly as they stood there in the moonlight a distant sharp crack -was heard and the hiss of a bullet by Harry's ear was a note of danger. - -"Down, my lad!" cried Old King Brady, warningly. - -They crouched behind the rails of a fence. - -Bullets now began to sing about their heads. - -It was evident that they had been seen in the moonlight. - -Why the asylum people should receive possible visitors in this warlike -if not murderous fashion was a problem which needed solution. - -"It is might queer," said Old King Brady. "The place cannot be very -straight to be sure. Can it be that they suspect our identity?" - -"Let us find out." - -"How?" - -"I'll show you!" - -Harry disguised his voice, imitating the vernacular of a Yankee farmer. - -"I say, what in darnation be yu afirin' at us fer?" he shouted in a -nasal twang. "Gosh hang it! We ain't doin' of anything to yu!" - -The firing ceased. - -There was a distant murmur of voices as if a consultation was being -held. - -Then a gruff voice came over the expanse of snow: - -"Who are ye?" - -"Wall, I'm Jim Simpson an' this ere is my uncle Hank Small. We live up -tew Concord an' we've got tuckered out an' thought mebbe we cud git yu -to keep us until mornin'. We're willin' tu pay fer a nite's lodgin'." - -"That don't count," came back the same gruff voice. "We ain't got no use -fer strangers around hyar, I kin tell ye. Better move on!" - -"Wall, I must say ye're mighty civil people tu try tu shoot us. I reckon -I'll send the constable down to see yu!" - -A savage curse came back. - -"Ye wouldn't want to spend the night hyar if ye knew what sort of a -house this is," said the gruff speaker. - -"Eh?" retorted Harry. "What kind of a house is it? Dang me, but it looks -big enuff for a hotel." - -"Wall, it's a hotel fast enuff. But it's a hotel fer mad people!" - -Harry whistled shrilly. - -"Yu don't say! Say, now, I'd like to see a mad pusson. Won't ye let us -take a look at one?" - -Fierce oaths greeted this request. - -"Go on yer way an' leave this place as far behind ye as ye can, or it'll -be the wuss for ye." - -"Durn it! But we're all tuckered out. Take us in an' give us a cup of -suthin' warm, anyway. Then we'll go along." - -"Ye'll git somethin' hotter nor ye want if ye fool around hyar too long. -Now git out!" - -"All right!" replied Harry, in a disappointed voice. - -"I say!" came back the call. - -"Wall?" - -"Did ye cum up from Lexington?" - -"Yas!" - -"By ther highway?" - -"We did." - -"Ah, did ye see anything of two men in a sleigh on the way?" - -"Oh, they turned back fer ther snow was too deep!" - -This reply seemed to have a peculiar effect upon the asylum people. A -distant murmur was heard and then there came another hail. - -Meanwhile, Harry and Old King Brady had been holding a hurried -consultation. - -On the way from Paine's farm house they had effected a very clever -disguise. They had borrowed some old coats, mufflers and hats of Farmer -Paine. - -With the use of false beards and wigs they had easily made themselves up -for countrymen of the most verdant kind. - -"What do you think?" whispered Harry. "Is our disguise good enough to -risk a trip to the asylum if they finally decide to take us in?" - -Old King Brady hesitated. - -He knew that it would be like walking literally into a lion's den. - -Discovery was of course possible and could mean nothing but death. - -But the daring old detective was ready to take any risk, however great, -to gain a valuable end. - -So he replied: - -"We will take the chances." - -At this moment the hail came again. - -"Hello, you rubes!" - -"Hello!" replied Harry. - -"Did ye give us a straight story about the two men in the sleigh?" - -"Dead straight!" - -"Do ye know who they were?" - -"Naw! Somebody down in Lexington said they wuz New York people, but they -didn't look tu me tu be stylish enuff." - -At this a laugh came back. - -"Well, Simpson, you an' your friend can come over an' we'll take a look -at ye. Mebbe we can put ye up fer the night." - -"Whoopla!" cried Harry. "We're glad enuff of that an' we'll pay ye fur -it." - -"Don't want no pay, see?" - -"All right!" - -"Come along sharp now. It's mighty cold." - -The detectives climbed over the fence and came along on their snowshoes. -It required nerve to do this. - -For aught they knew this might be only a subterfuge on the part of the -villains to get them within range. - -They could be easily shot dead. Indeed, their nerves were sorely tried. - -But it was all honest enough on the villains' part. - -The detectives came suddenly to a high wicket gate in an iron fence. - -Three huge mastiffs were held in leash by a bull-faced keeper. In the -gateway stood three men. - -Two of these the detectives recognized at once as Burke and Collins of -the trio. This was a revelation. - -It proved that Dr. Scraggs' asylum was really a rendezvous for the -thugs. - -The third man was tall and lean with rounded shoulders and a hatchet -face. - -He was the asylum proprietor. No other than Doctor Scraggs himself. - -The three miscreants and the rascally gatekeeper keenly scrutinized the -two detectives. - -It was a critical moment. - -Collins held the lantern close up to their faces and studied them hard. -Then he grinned. - -"It's all right," he said. "They're a couple of Rubes all right. Come in -an' we'll keep ye till morning." - -"Isaac," said Scraggs to the gatekeeper, "put the dogs back in the -kennel. Show these two men to a room in the south wing. Give 'em a swig -of whiskey." - -"Much obleeged to yu, mister," said Harry, profusely. "I kin see yu are -a gentleman. An' yu kin bet Jim Simpson won't fergit to make it up with -yu." - -"That's all right," growled the asylum keeper. "Maybe you won't like -your room when you find out it's next to a madman's cell." - -"I kin stand it if yu can," replied Harry. - -"What's that?" - -"I say that anything is a durned sight better than freezing to death out -in this tarnal snow." - -"Oh, I see! Well, come on, gentlemen, there's business for us to do. -Look here, you jays, you're not lying to me about those two detec--I -mean men in the sleigh? They really went back to Lexington?" - -"Dead sure, boss! They couldn't git through." - -"Thet is about right," said Yan's voice from an open door in the -building. "I know I had the start an' a half hour afterwards I couldn't -have got through myself." - -This ended the confab. - -Isaac, the bull-faced keeper, led the detectives across the snow-covered -yard to a wing of the asylum which was dark and looked cheerless and -grim enough with its iron-barred windows. - -In a few moments, however, the Bradys were in the kitchen of the asylum -and the keeper had prepared some hot whisky for them. - -The detectives never made a practice of drinking, but the exposure and -the chill made the potation welcome. - -Then they fell into easy conversation with Isaac. - -The fellow had the appearance of a sharp, ferret-like rascal, but in the -hands of the wily detectives he was like wax. - -In a few moments they had wormed some interesting facts out of him. - -"Betcher life Scraggy knows his biz," said Isaac, in a tough way. "He'll -make anything pay. This ere asylum is a dead open cinch fer a fortune. -See!" - -"Gosh!" exclaimed Harry, rolling his eyes up. "Yu don't say so? What -kind of mad people is there here?" - -"Oh, thar's all kinds," replied the keeper. "Them that's fat an' them -that's lean. Men an' women, an' anybody whose friends don't want 'em -around. Do ye see?" - -"What's that ye say?" interrogated Harry. "What's that about people's -friends?" - -"If ye don't ax me too many questions I'll tell ye no lies!" said Isaac -with a shrewd wink. - -"I say," said Harry, in a dull way, "s'posin' ye knew a man yu didn't -like! Couldn't ye put him in this 'ere 'sylum an' swear he wuz crazy?" - -Isaac looked sharply at Harry. - -"Have you any friends you want to git rid of?" he asked. - -"Wall, I dunno! That depends." - -The keeper chuckled. - -"You kin bet your dimes that this is a straight joint," he said. "If -anybody gits in hyar they stays hyar." - -"P'r'aps ye won't let us out," said Harry, suspiciously. - -Isaac laughed loudly. - -"P'r'aps we won't, you jay!" he declared. "This is a hot place for jays, -you can bet!" - -"Do women ever go crazy?" asked Harry, credulously. - -"Eh?" exclaimed the keeper in surprise. "Do women go crazy? Wall, I -should say so!" - -"Are there any here?" - -"Any crazy women here? Well, there's one on the very floor above this." - -The detectives had the deepest of interest. They questioned Isaac -closely and skillfully, but they could learn no more. - -They wondered who the lady inmate of the asylum was. - -But they felt sure that before morning the chance would be given them to -ascertain. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - THE ASYLUM PRISONER. - - -Isaac, the keeper, became quite voluble after a few drinks of whisky. - -He talked freely and the detectives used every effort to pump him. - -They learned that there was a strange female patient in the asylum. - -That she had been brought there by the four crooks. - -That all the gang were in the asylum and that Dr. Scraggs was a close -ally. - -All this Isaac, of course, did not tell them in as many words. - -But from his conversation these facts were easily gathered. - -Altogether the Bradys were well satisfied with the progress of affairs. - -They had all their birds located and but for the embargo of the storm -they might easily have summoned officers and completed the arrest of -their birds. - -Napoleon Blood was safely hidden in the asylum. - -Under ordinary circumstances there would have been scant chance of his -being found. - -But the Bradys were in luck. - -Their foes, from dogging their footsteps with murderous intent, were now -in the position of being dogged themselves. - -The race for life which they had intended giving the detectives had been -arrested by circumstances. - -Altogether the odds were just now decidedly in the detectives' favor. - -But the Bradys were not disposed to spend their whole evening in the -kitchen of the asylum. - -There was other work for them to do. - -Somewhere within the walls of the place the four conspirators were -holding a meeting. - -What that meeting was to decide the detectives could only guess. - -But it was exceedingly important that they should know. This was their -purpose. - -So they did not waste much further time in the kitchen with the keeper. - -Harry began to yawn. - -"By gum, I'm awful sleepy," he averred. "I reckon I'd like tew turn in. -Ain't it about time, mister?" - -"So ye want to go to bed, do ye?" said Isaac, with a leer. - -"Yas." - -"All right!" - -The fellow trimmed the wick of an oil lamp and said: - -"Follow me!" - -The detectives shuffled along after the keeper up several flights of -stairs and finally they passed through a narrow corridor with -iron-barred doors on either side. - -A distant wailing cry gave the detectives a chilly feeling along the -spine. There is no more dreadful sound than the cry of a maniac. - -"Here ye are," said the keeper, throwing open one of the iron doors. -"Ye'll be good an' quiet here, fer Old Hickory, the only madman on this -floor, is asleep. Thar's a good bed fer ye!" - -The detectives passed into the little chamber. - -As they looked about the place they suddenly heard a little click and a -chuckle behind them. - -Turning suddenly they were aghast at the sight which rewarded them. - -The barred door was between them and the grinning keeper. - -He had shut it and barred it. - -They were prisoners. - -Harry was the first to recover. - -"Oh, I say, b'gosh! I don't like thet kind of foolin'," he said, -angrily. "Open thet door, mister!" - -"Will I?" leered the keeper. "Jest hold yer hat on till I do!" - -"Are ye foolin'?" - -"Does it look like it?" - -"Gosh hang ye, let us out!" - -"What for?" - -"Come, we don't like it!" - -"Don't ye? Wall, I'm sorry, but it's orders, ye know!" - -For a moment a horrible fear struck the Bradys. - -Was it true? - -Had they walked unwittingly into a trap? - -Were the Tough Trio after all to be able to carry out their fearful -threat of vengeance? - -For a moment the thought made both detectives shiver. - -They exchanged glances. Then Harry placed his hands on the iron bars of -the door. - -"Gol durn it, friend, this ain't no joke!" he said, entreatingly. "Let -us out an' we'll say no more!" - -Isaac laughed demoniacally. - -"Let ye out? Wall, what fer? When we git two as good patients as you we -allus holds 'em. You'll be worth something to your friends, likely." - -"Oh, ye think ye'll get a ransom fer us, do ye?" asked Harry. - -"Well, we oughter." - -"You won't!" - -"We'll see!" - -"I tell ye we've got no money nor friends. Let us out!" - -"Ye live in Concord?" - -"Yas." - -"What do ye do?" - -"Work out fer a livin'." - -"I believe ye're durned liars. This is the safest place fer ye to-night. -To-morrow the boss kin decide what to do with ye. I hope as how ye'll -have pleasant dreams!" - -And with this the fellow was gone. The detectives were aghast. - -They saw it was no joke. - -It was a clever game to keep them close prisoners for the night. But for -what purpose? - -Did the crooks suspect them? - -Old King Brady was loth to believe this. He reckoned that it was only -intended to keep them from wandering about the asylum, as curious -countrymen might be tempted to do. - -But even at this the situation was extremely unsatisfactory to the -detectives. - -Above all things they wanted their freedom. - -Harry inspected the iron bars of the door closely. - -Suddenly with a thrill he discovered that one of them was loose. - -He believed that it could be sprung from its socket. - -He whispered this fact to Old King Brady and said: - -"Never mind. We will get out all right, yet." - -"Do you think so?" - -"I do!" - -"We had better not try it yet." - -"Oh, certainly not." - -The detectives listened long and intently. They heard a door creak at -intervals at the far end of the corridor. - -It was possible that the wily keeper was on watch there to see what move -to escape the two men might make. - -But the detectives made loud conversation. - -"I don't keer a durn!" Harry finally yawned. "I'm goin' to have some -sleep, anyway." - -"Same hyar! I'm fagged." - -They cast themselves heavily upon the iron cot beds. Then in a few -moments both were snoring. - -But they were not sleeping. - -Each, through half-shut eyes, watched the cell door. - -Just what they expected occurred. - -Suddenly at the iron bars there appeared a leering face. - -It was the keeper Isaac. - -He crouched there a moment and then glided away. - -A distant door creaked and then all was silence. - -Old King Brady sat up on the edge of his bunk. - -"It's all right, Harry?" he said. "The coast is clear." - -"We are safe?" - -"Yes." - -"The fellow was easy to fool. He is off his guard now." - -"Sure!" - -Harry now tried the iron bar. - -It was an easy matter to spring it from the socket. The aperture thus -made was small. - -But Harry squeezed far enough through it to reach the bar and lift it. -The door swung back. - -Freedom was theirs. - -But there was lively work before them. They glided away down the dark -corridor. - -Noiselessly they passed from one corridor to another, past the doors of -cells where madmen prattled, until suddenly Old King Brady gave a gasp. - -A light shone through the grated door of one cell. - -It was more cheerfully furnished than the others. But the single -occupant enchained the detectives. - -A young girl, beautiful, though pale as marble. - -Her face was clear and sweet. Her manner mild and gentle. Surely she was -no maniac. - -The Bradys paused and gazed upon the fair occupant of this cell as if -spellbound. - -She did not at the moment observe them. - -When she did, finally, she gave a great start and half arose. A -frightened light was in her eyes. - -"I pray you be not alarmed, young lady," said Old King Brady, in an -undertone. "We are friends!" - -"Who--who are you?" she asked. "Have you come to take me away?" - -"Perhaps so," said Old King Brady, closely searching for any possible -evidence of insanity. - -But there was none. - -He was satisfied of this. - -No doubt she was confined here against her will. Perhaps she was the -victim of some cowardly plot. - -"Oh, I am thankful!" she said, joyfully. "For my prayer is answered. I -shall die if I remain longer in this awful place!" - -Old King Brady drew close to the bars of the cell door. - -"Come a little nearer, young lady," he said. "We are in danger of being -overheard." - -She drew nearer. - -Her large eyes were fixed upon the detectives questioningly. But it was -plain that her confidence was wan. - -"Oh, I am sure you are friends," she said, earnestly, "and you will take -me from this dreadful place." - -"Tell me your story," said Old King Brady. "Who brought you here? Why -are you here?" - -"Oh, I do not know," she said with a shudder. "They tell me that I am -insane like the others in this place. But I am not. Truly I am not!" - -"Where did you come from?" - -"My home is in Westchester near New York City." - -Old King Brady gave a start. - -His eyes flashed. - -"Will you tell me your name?" - -"Certainly!" replied the fair prisoner. "My name is Evelyn Grimm!" - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - THE RESCUE. - - -"Evelyn Grimm!" - -Old King Brady repeated the name with a horrified gasp. Both detectives -rubbed their eyes. - -"Did I hear you aright?" asked the old detective. "Did you say the name -was Grimm?" - -"Yes, sir." - -The young girl looked at him wonderingly. - -"You lived in Westchester?" - -"That is my home." - -"Do you know Napoleon Blood?" - -The young girl shuddered. - -"He is my uncle," she said. "He it was who declared I was insane and had -me brought here!" - -Old King Brady began to see his way through the fog. - -The vile plot in all its intricacies was now exposed to him. - -"That was the way of it," he said. "Then you did not keep an appointment -in Union Square on a certain evening?" - -"Never!" - -"Nor you were not murdered and burned up in a Fifteenth street house?" - -The young girl looked astonished. - -"I do not understand you," she said. - -"I do not wonder," said the old detective. "I will explain. That is the -story of your mysterious disappearance as given to the world by your -uncle." - -"Well, it is false!" - -"Even traces of your clothing were found and other clews to show that -you were burned in that dwelling." - -"That is strange." - -"Yes, it is part of the plot." - -"Plot?" - -"Yes, young lady, you are the victim of a villainous plot." - -"I think you are right," said Evelyn, with conviction. "And I believe my -uncle is at the bottom of it. I know he always hated me and he wanted my -heritage." - -"Now you have it right," said Old King Brady. "He tried to hang young -Allerton Banks for the supposed crime, but an alibi was proved." - -A cry of horror and indignation escaped the young girl. - -"The scoundrel!" she said, intensely. "He always hated Allerton. Oh, -sir, who are you? Surely you do not keep this dreadful place?" - -"Sh!" said Old King Brady, in a whisper. "We must be careful. No, my -dear young lady, we do not. We are New York detectives, of the Secret -Service. We are in quest of the villains who were supposed to be your -murderers!" - -Evelyn Grimm was plainly surprised and delighted. - -"Oh, heaven be praised!" she said, ardently. "You will save me. You will -take me back to New York. In another year my heritage will be mine. I -shall contest my uncle's right to put me in an insane asylum." - -"And well you may. It is as you say, only a scheme to beat you out of -your inheritance." - -"Uncle Napoleon will pay for it." - -"We promise you he will. But now let us consider what is to be done. -Very naturally you are anxious to escape." - -"Yes." - -"But there are many things to consider. In the first place there is a -terrible risk!" - -"Indeed!" - -"You see the gang of villains with whom your uncle is in league are here -to-night. We want to entrap them." - -"Then I must wait?" - -"Perhaps so. Or--it might be as well for us to liberate you now. But you -must be very careful and not betray us." - -"Oh, I will promise." - -"Very well." - -The detectives now lifted the iron bar and opened the cell door. - -It creaked a bit, but after listening carefully the detectives were -convinced that they were not betrayed. - -In another moment Evelyn Grimm, the supposed victim of the Fifteenth -street crime, walked out safe and well. - -The Bradys felt that they had made a great step toward the winning of -this remarkable case. - -While they knew that the crime charged against the trio was thus -disproved, yet there was sufficient evidence against the gang to hold -them for the law. - -So they did not deem the case by any means ended, with the liberation of -Evelyn Grimm. - -Along the corridor to the end of the wing they now all crept. - -It had been decided by the Bradys what was to be done. - -At the end of the wing there was an iron fire-escape. - -It would be easy to descend by this to the ground. - -Luckily Evelyn knew the use of snowshoes. Harry was to accompany her to -the Paine farm house. - -Then he was to organize a band of the farmers, armed, and return. The -asylum would be surrounded. - -It seemed that this must be a certain way of capturing the gang. - -"Queer, isn't it?" said Harry. "The charred remains of a body were found -in the ruins of that Fifteenth street fire." - -"Very good." - -"Well, now we find Evelyn Grimm alive." - -"Yes." - -"But I cannot see that that disproves the crime of murder. A murder must -have been enacted." - -"Beyond a doubt." - -"But who was the victim?" - -"That remains to be seen. It certainly was not Evelyn Grimm." - -"No." - -"I can see the gist of the whole diabolical plot," said Harry. "Old -Blood thought he could bury his niece forever in this asylum. The -evidences of her presence in the burning dwelling would blind everybody -and make them believe that she was burned to death." - -"That is true." - -"But she is very much alive." - -"Well, I should rather think so. Ah, here we are!" - -They had now reached the window opening out upon the fire-escape. - -Harry softly raised the sash. - -Then he descended and assisted the young girl down. The snowshoes were -found in the kitchen which luckily was deserted and Harry quickly -appeared with them. - -They were put on and then Harry and his fair charge walked away across -the white fields. - -Old King Brady closed the window down and went back along the corridor. - -He could not help wondering at the unexpected outcome of the case. - -"Indeed, people will be surprised beyond measure when they learn that -Evelyn Grimm is alive!" he mused. "It will prove a great sensation." - -But the old detective had no idea of remaining idle while Harry was -absent. - -There was work before him. - -Somewhere in the asylum he knew that a council of villainy was being -held. - -He was desirous of becoming a listener to the same. He proceeded, -however, with extreme caution. - -He made his way carefully to the head of a flight of stairs. - -Down these he crept to a floor below. - -Still further below he now heard the murmur of voices. The light in the -corridor was dim. - -But far below he saw a bright gleam which seemed to come from the -reception room of the asylum. - -The place was unusually quiet. - -Some of the boisterous patients had been drugged to keep them quiet. It -was a villainous practice, but yet of common occurrence. - -Old King Brady had half expected to run across Isaac or some one of the -other keepers in the corridors. - -But good fortune favored him. - -He did not come across any of them. Down the stairs he glided. - -The door of the reception room was half open. - -The old detective peered in. - -The scene which met his gaze at once interested him. - -There were the five precious villains. At a table sat the Tough Trio. - -Beside them were Doctor Scraggs and Napoleon Blood. - -On the table were a number of papers. - -"You know, curse ye, that ye agreed to keep the girl until she dies," -said Blood, in an angry tone. "And now you want to back out." - -"I never had any luck with women patients," said Scraggs, persistently, -"and I know what I'm talking about. You must pay me good money to keep -her here." - -"Why more for her than any other patient?" growled Blood. - -"She gives us more trouble." - -"Bah! You're over nice!" - -"Not a bit of it. But confound 'em! I never had any luck with women." - -"Ye've got to keep her! She'll die before long." - -"Humph!" ejaculated Collins, sourly. "Why don't ye make it a sure thing -right off?" - -"What do ye mean?" - -"You want the gal out of the way?" - -"Yes." - -"Well, the safest way is the best." - -"What?" - -"Kill her!" - -Blood shivered. He drew his cloak closer about him. - -"That's work for a man younger than I am," he said. "I'm too old to -cover up the job." - -"Pshaw! We'll do it for you!" - -"All right. What is your price?" - -"The girl and money!" - -Blood gave a violent start. - -He glanced at Collins. - -"The girl?" he repeated. - -"Yes, the gal!" - -"What do you want of her? You will only have her dead body?" - -"That is just it," said Collins, with a leer, "we could get a good price -fer the body." - -"Who will pay it?" - -"Her lover--or perhaps her friends." - -Blood sneered scornfully. - -"You are cracked!" he declared. "But if you want her you can have her. -That settles it." - -"Very well, then," said Burke. "It is understood." - -"Yes." - -"We are to put the gal out of the way. You don't care so long as she -never puts in an appearance ag'in'?" - -"No! Curse her!" gritted Blood. "She has been nothing but a source of -trouble to me. See that you make the job sure." - -"Trust the trio fer that," said Burke with a horrible leer. "Come on, -boys! The dainty female is ours." - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - DISAFFECTION. - - -Collins and Van both arose eagerly at this. - -The detective's blood surged hotly through his veins. - -"The unconscionable scoundrels!" he muttered under his breath. "They are -human fiends." - -And in that moment the old detective rejoiced that their would-be victim -was beyond their reach. - -But he was conscious of his own perilous position. - -If the trio of villains went to Evelyn's prison cell to commit the -contemplated horrible crime of murder, her escape would be discovered. - -But the old detective was only temporarily alarmed. - -He reckoned that it would be very soon time for Harry to return from -Paine's with assistance. - -Certainly escape would be a difficult matter for the villains. - -The snow was too deep to admit of their making very rapid progress if -they attempted to leave the asylum. - -The trio of villains had arisen for the purpose of paying a murderous -visit to the prison cell of the young girl. - -But at that moment Scraggs interposed. - -"Hold on!" he growled. "What are ye going to do?" - -Burke turned and stared at him. - -"You heard the agreement." - -"Well, you can't kill the girl in this house. I object to that!" - -"Thunder!" ejaculated Burke. "What has come over you?" - -"That's what has come over me," said Dr. Scraggs, coolly. - -"You are blocking our plans." - -"I don't care if I am. This is my house and I am boss here!" - -There was an ominous silence. - -The trio looked ugly and Collins glared at the asylum keeper. - -"You're a cursed traitor!" - -"No, I am not!" - -"Then what's the matter with ye?" - -"I'm not going to have any murder in my house, that's all! I don't care -a picayune what you do with the girl, but you can't kill her here. Do -you see?" - -"Humph!" exclaimed Burke. "You're mighty particular. It's an easy job. -There'll be no blood stains. We'll just shut her windpipe and she can be -carried out for a dead patient. See?" - -But Scraggs was obdurate. - -"I don't care!" he said. "It's not going to be done here. That ends it." - -All this while Blood had been silent. Now he said: - -"Well, I don't blame Scraggs for that, boys. This asylum is his way of -making a living. If any scandal arose out of this place it would put him -out of business." - -"That's it," agreed Scraggs. "Them's my reasons an' nothin' more nor -less." - -"Well," said Burke, in a mollified way, "if that's the way of it perhaps -you're right." - -"We can fix that!" said Collins. - -"How?" - -"To-morrow we'll take her away in a sleigh. A few miles from here is the -Assabet river. We can dump her in under the ice and if she's ever found -it won't be until Spring, anyway." - -"Good!" cried Blood. "That is the best way to work it. No need of having -any hard feelings." - -"I haven't any feelings about it," said Burke. "So we'll put it off -until morning. One more drink, gents." - -Brandy was decanted and the party drank freely. - -All this while Old King Brady had listened with deep interest. - -Now that the fate of Evelyn Grimm had been settled, other matters came -in for discussion. - -Burke laughed uproariously. - -"Haw! Haw!" he guffawed. "Every detective in this country thinks the -girl was burned up in Fifteenth street." - -"Everybody else does, for that matter," said Blood. - -"We led 'em astray easy enough. The poor woman who was burned up there -though----" - -"Sh!" exclaimed Van, with a frightful contortion of the face. "Let thet -rest." - -"Oh, it's a tender subject with you, Old Bluebeard. How many more wives -have you burned up ther same way?" - -"Curse you, shut up!" growled Van, savagely. "I had to shut her mouth. -She was false and would have betrayed the whole gang of us sooner or -later." - -"Never mind that," said Scraggs, "I am interested in those accursed -detectives. You say a couple of them chased you as far as Lexington?" - -"Yes," agreed Burke. - -"Do you know who they were?" - -"I do!" said Van. "For I'm the man they chased. Curse 'em! They are the -Bradys of New York!" - -"They are on our list," said Collins. "We'll trap them." - -"They must die!" - -"Well," growled Scraggs, "I don't want them to get their eyes on my -place here. I've too much at stake. See?" - -"Ain't you with us?" - -"Of course!" - -"Then you've got to take chances." - -"But there's no need of being so reckless." - -"Oh, don't fret, we can handle the Bradys all right! Hello! What the -deuce is that?" - -A wild, animal-like cry came down the stairs. - -Old King Brady crouched back in the shadows just in time. - -A dark form rushed past him. The next moment Isaac, the keeper, sprang -into the reception room. - -He was wildly excited. - -"Quick!" he shouted. "They have got her! She is gone! She is gone, I -tell you!" - -Wildly threshing his arms about him he made the circuit of the room. - -Van caught him by the shoulder. - -"What are ye talkin' about, ye cursed hyena?" he yelled. "Speak plain! -What's wrong?" - -"Oh, the girl! She's gone!" - -"Gone?" echoed all. - -"Yes." - -"Where?" - -"I don't know. The two countrymen slipped a bar out of the cell door and -they're gone, too!" - -Fierce exclamations filled the room. Van hurled the unfortunate keeper -to the floor. - -"You cursed traitorous dog!" he yelled, drawing a knife. "I'll kill you -for this!" - -He flung himself forward and that moment might indeed have been the -keeper's last. - -But Scraggs forced the ruffian back. - -"Hold on!" he growled. "Hear the man's story first. I've always found -him true." - -"Oh, I swear it!" cried Isaac. "I left the door securely barred. Come -and see for yourself. They were asleep before I left them." - -"Come on then, you dog!" hissed Van. "If I find you've lied, you shall -die!" - -Up the stairs all now rushed. - -They found the prison cell of the girl captive empty. - -A brief examination told the whole story. - -The tracks on the fire-escape and the snow beneath told all. - -Fury and fear alike overwhelmed the villains. - -Their consternation was great. - -"We've been fooled!" cried Burke, savagely. "I tell ye it was a game!" - -"Them two Rubes weren't what we thought they were." - -Martin brought his hands forcibly together. - -"Curse it!" he cried. "We had the game right in our hands and didn't -know it. Them two jays were our men!" - -"The Bradys?" - -"Yes." - -"They fooled us!" - -As this conviction dawned upon the villains their fury was beyond -expression. Words cannot depict it. - -But Scraggs was sour. - -"Confound you for coming here at all!" he growled. "Why didn't you lead -those detectives somewhere else?" - -"We thought this the best place," said Van. "If things had worked the -way I thought they would----" - -"But they didn't!" snapped Scraggs. "What are you going to do about it?" - -"That's the idea!" cried Van. "We are gaining nothin' hyar. We ought to -chase 'em." - -"Chase 'em!" said Burke. "In this snow?" - -"We ought to git along just as well as they kin!" - -"You fergit." - -"What?" - -"They have snowshoes." - -"Wall, git snowshoes, then, for us. I say, Scraggs, have ye such a -thing?" - -"No!" replied the asylum keeper. "What do you take me for? I'm no keeper -of a logging camp." - -"No, nor anything else!" snapped Burke, viciously. "But if we can't do -any better we must wade." - -"That would be a fool's game," said the asylum keeper. "They can go four -steps to your one on snowshoes." - -"Curse the luck! They can't go far on such a night." - -"Ten miles would put 'em beyond your reach." - -"Wall, suggest a plan then," growled Burke. "I'm sick of it." - -"So am I!" snapped Scraggs. "I wish I'd never seen you or your girl. -This will be my ruin." - -"You're awful afraid of being ruined," said Blood, angrily. "I've paid -you good money, Anthony Scraggs!" - -"And you're making a fugitive from justice of me, the same as yourself." - -"Well, you ought to be. You're the worst shark of us all." - -Old King Brady listened to all this wrangling with much edification. - -The old detective was exultant. - -Certainly he had reason to be. - -In a short while the asylum would be surrounded by armed men and the -birds would be in limbo. - -The great case would be won. - -Old King Brady could hardly contain himself. - -He listened intently for some distant sound of the return of Harry. But -time passed. - -The crooks did not attempt a pursuit. - -They abandoned it as impracticable. But they were alive fully to the -exigencies of the moment. - -It had been decided to let the girl go without any effort to recapture -her. - -The trio would trudge the best way they could through the snow to a -distant railway station. - -Blood was to remain in the asylum with Scraggs. - -"I can hide you where nobody will ever find you," said the proprietor of -the asylum. "So have no fears." - -Old King Brady listened to all this with some misgiving. Would his men -slip him after all? - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - BAFFLED AGAIN. - - -The trio went on with their preparations to leave the asylum. - -Old King Brady was powerless to prevent it. - -Moreover, he had all he could do now to keep out of sight and assure his -own safety. - -It was long past midnight. - -What had become of Harry? - -It seemed full time for him to return. Yet he did not come. - -Old King Brady knew that it would require some time to arouse the -neighbors and organize a relief band. - -But yet, it would seem that this had already ought to have been -accomplished. - -Old King Brady grew nervous. - -He was half tempted to essay the conflict single handed. But he knew -that it could only result in failure. - -So he tried to remain patient and hopeful. The trio were now all ready -to leave the asylum. - -Yet Harry did not return. - -A fear came to the old detective that some mishap might have overtaken -the young detective. - -The three crooks now took their leave. Old King Brady felt the hands of -his watch. - -It was two o'clock. - -He heard the crooks leave by way of the big front door. He did not dare -to follow them. - -But he was consoled with one reflection. - -It might not be difficult to overtake them when Harry should arrive, for -the trio had no snowshoes and must leave a plain trail. - -So the old detective was patient. - -It was half-past three before the long-looked-for summons came. The dogs -were confined, so they gave no warning. - -But there came a loud knock on the door. - -Scraggs, who had retired to sleep, scrambled out of bed and thrust his -head out of a window. - -"Who is it?" he asked. "And what do you want?" - -"It's yer neighbor," said the voice of Paine, the farmer. "Come down, -Scraggs, we want to see ye!" - -"What do you want?" demanded the asylum keeper. - -"You'll find out when you git down hyar." - -"Well, I'm not to be aroused from my bed at this hour of the night," -replied Scraggs, angrily. "If you want to see me, come around in the -daytime." - -"We want to see ye now," insisted Paine. - -"Well, you won't see me!" replied Scraggs, hotly. "Get off my premises -or I'll fire on you!" - -"No, ye won't!" gritted the angry farmer. "Ye've run your rig hyar, -Scraggs. We air goin' to run you out of this kentry. If ye don't come -down we'll come up after ye!" - -"Curse you! What does this mean?" - -"Come down!" - -Scraggs closed the window and then went down to the door. He met John -Paine backed by a score of armed men. - -These pushed by Scraggs and entered the asylum. - -They instantly took possession of the place. - -Harry Brady was foremost and gave directions what to do. - -Scraggs was stunned. - -"Look here!" he cried. "This is an outrage. I'm a peaceable, law-abiding -citizen, and----" - -"Oh, come off!" cried one of the invaders. "You're a swindling old -hypocrite, you are!" - -"Where are those crooks who came up here yesterday?" asked Harry. "I -mean Burke, Collins and Van?" - -Scraggs looked desperate. - -"I don't know 'em!" he said. - -"Come now, that lie won't save you. Search the place, men! We'll find -them and----" - -Harry ceased talking. Old King Brady had appeared. - -In a moment the two detectives were comparing notes. - -"I reached Paine's all right," said Harry, "and the girl is safe. It -took a long while to get these men together." - -"Too bad!" said Old King Brady. "For our birds are gone!" - -"Gone?" gasped the young detective. - -"Yes." - -"Where?" - -"For the nearest railway station. But I think we can overtake them." - -"We must do so!" cried the young detective. "We have staked too much to -lose now." - -"You are right we have. But one of our men is still here!" - -"Who?" - -"Napoleon Blood!" - -"The old scoundrel! I have the town constable with me. We will arrest -him and Scraggs, too." - -"Very good!" - -"Paine will look out for Miss Grimm until we want to take her back to -New York. Everything is working all right." - -"Splendid! Let us then give chase to the trio at once!" - -Scraggs was arrested at once and easily frightened into revealing the -hiding place of Blood. - -The latter was handcuffed and left in the care of the constable. - -Then the Bradys organized the party to pursue the trio. - -The best men in the party were selected. Only those with snowshoes were -taken. - -Then the pursuit began. - -It was now almost daylight. - -There was little difficulty in following the trail of the fugitives. - -But as they went on the Bradys were impressed with one startling fact. - -The villains had made wonderfully rapid progress through the snow. - -It was not so easy to overtake them. - -At six o'clock it was daylight. - -This brought the party to a railroad track. It was cleared of snow and -far down the line a semaphore was seen. - -The station was just around the curve and the Bradys pushed on. - -"Perhaps they are in the station waiting for a train," said Harry. - -"In that case," declared Old King Brady, "we had better deploy and -surround the place." - -This was done. - -Gradually the party of searchers drew in about the railway station. - -They finally reached the platform. - -The station agent had just come out. - -He stared at them. - -"What's this?" he asked. "Do you want a train?" - -"We want three men who are here waiting for a train," said Old King -Brady. "Where are they?" - -"I am sorry," replied the station agent, "but they are gone!" - -"Gone?" - -"Yes. They left on the five-forty train for Boston." - -The Bradys were beaten. - -There was nothing left but to return to the asylum. - -There was no use in wiring ahead to make the arrest in Boston, for the -train had reached that city long ere this. - -So back to the asylum they went. - -The case against Scraggs was left in the hands of the local constable. - -But the Bradys took Napoleon Blood with them back to Boston. - -Here he was delivered to State officers to await requisition papers. - -Then the Bradys scoured Boston for a clew to the trio. - -Meanwhile, Evelyn Grimm had gone back to New York in the care of friends -who were bound to see her wrongs righted. - -It is needless to say that a tremendous sensation was created when the -facts concerning Evelyn Grimm's experience were made known. - -It was known now, as overheard by Old King Brady, that the bones found -in the tenement ruins were those of the last of Martin Van's innumerable -wives. - -He had killed her in a fit of anger and by the suggestion of Napoleon -Blood, had arranged clews to suggest that Evelyn was the victim instead. - -Certainly the plot had for a time worked well. - -Even such keen detectives as the Bradys had certainly been deceived. - -The case had now simmered down to one thread and this the Bradys were -taking up. - -It consisted namely in the chase and capture of the Tough Trio. - -A murder had certainly been committed. - -It was just as necessary as ever, therefore, for the detectives to -capture the trio of villains. - -Evelyn Grimm and her rascally uncle were now entirely out of the case. - -The young girl's friends took hold of her affairs, with the assurance -that much of the inheritance would be saved for her. - -As for Napoleon Blood, he was held for trial on a number of criminal -charges. - -Scraggs, the Asylum keeper, was also jailed and his asylum closed. - -The case simmered rapidly down to the problem of running down the Tough -Trio. - -Or rather to the running down of the Bradys by this clique of rogues. - -For that they had not abandoned their purpose of assassinating the -detectives was proved by the following startling message received by Old -King Brady one day. - -Thus it read: - - "To the Bradys: - - "Mebbe you think you hev scared the trio. Butt you will find thet - death is on your track an' you can't escape it. An' don't you fergit - it, either! Wakin' or sleepin' it don't make no diffrunce which, we - are rite after you. So look out! - - "Thet's all fer just now from, - The Trio." - -Old King Brady carefully studied the post-mark on the envelope. It was -mailed at Station C, New York. - -The Bradys were assured that their birds were in the big city, so they -had returned to New York. - -For a week they groped blindly in vain for a clew. - -Then one day almost a grim accomplishment of the threat uttered by the -villains occurred. - -The two detectives stood on the platform of an elevated station. - -They were waiting for an uptown train. Suddenly as the train came -thundering up a man with muffled features sprang out of the crowd. - -With all his force he rushed against Old King Brady and hurled him from -the station platform down in front of the train which was rushing in at -the moment. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - A LIVELY CHASE. - - -Only one thing saved Old King Brady from an awful death. - -The impetus given by the push was exceedingly fierce. - -An ordinary shove would have dropped anyone right under the onrushing -wheels. - -But the force of the push sent the old detective far out into the air. -He struck the further rail and the locomotive just brushed his body as -it rolled over upon the next track. - -It was a fearful fall, however, and for a moment stunned the old -detective. - -He lay half senseless upon the middle track. - -Luckily no train was approaching for it was not the time of day for the -expresses which used this track. - -A great shriek of horror went up from the spectators. - -Women fainted, men turned sick and all was fearful excitement. - -Harry was so horror-struck and dazed that he allowed the assailant to -vanish. - -When he found that his partner had escaped death, he turned to look for -the perpetrator of the deed. - -But it was too late. - -He was gone. - -Meanwhile, the train guards and policemen had climbed down to give -assistance to the detective. - -But though badly shaken, Old King Brady recovered and got upon his feet. - -He was assisted back to the platform and the train went on. - -The police, learning who he was, asked no questions. The Bradys, it is -needless to say, were on the qui vive. - -"Did you see the fellow?" asked Old King Brady. - -"No," replied Harry. "He got away too quick." - -"I have no doubt it was one of the trio." - -"Oh, certainly!" - -"That was a close call, Harry." - -"I should say so." - -"To think he was so near us and we did not know it. I fear we have lost -ground, my boy." - -"We are the shadowed!" - -"Just so." - -"Well," said the young detective, resolutely, "we've got to rig a trap -for those fellows. If we don't they'll finish us." - -"You are right!" - -"What can we do?" - -"I have an idea!" - -"What is it?" - -Old King Brady was thoughtful. They had decided not to take the train -and had left the elevated station. - -They were walking down a part of Columbus avenue. The elevated trains -thundered along overhead. - -But before Old King Brady could elucidate his plan, exciting incidents -came along in quick order. - -Harry suddenly ejaculated: - -"There is our man!" - -He clutched Old King Brady's arm and drew him back into a doorway. - -Standing before the door of a liquor saloon on the opposite side of the -street, sure enough, was Dan Collins. - -He wore the same slouch hat and it was beyond doubt that he was the -villain who had pushed Old King Brady off the platform. - -The two detectives gazed at him for a moment intently. - -Then Harry whispered: - -"It's no use!" - -"What?" - -"He is onto us! He knows we are watching him." - -"Do you think so?" - -"Sure!" - -Old King Brady changed his position slightly. - -Then he gave a start. - -"By the great horn spoon!" he exclaimed. "They are all around us!" - -Harry followed his gaze and saw his meaning. - -On the opposite corner stood Martin Van. The crook seemed utterly -oblivious of the presence of the detectives. - -But the Bradys knew better. - -They were sure that the villain knew of their presence. - -"We will test it," said Old King Brady, after some discussion. - -The old detective left the doorway and leisurely sauntered toward the -corner. - -Instantly Van, who appeared to be studying something in his hand, began -also to change his position. - -"Ah! That is it!" thought the old detective. "He can see me plainly -enough from the little mirror he carries in his hand." - -Very swiftly the old detective revolved a plan of action in his head. - -He acted with great suddenness. - -As he slowly approached, Van moved as slowly away. - -This was irritating to the old detective. - -Suddenly he made a panther-like leap forward. - -So swift was his action that the villain was taken off his guard. - -Old King Brady actually succeeded in getting hold of his arm. - -A hissing curse broke from Van's lips. - -He aimed a murderous blow at Old King Brady. - -But the old detective dodged it. - -He would have had his man then and there but for an unlooked-for -incident. - -When Harry saw the old detective grapple with Van, he also saw Collins -perform a strange act. - -He raised the palm of his hand. - -In it was a tiny revolver. - -The next moment the spiteful little report rang out on the air and Old -King Brady released his hold on Van and sank to the sidewalk. - -Harry had crossed the street in flying leaps and was upon Collins like a -panther. - -People on the sidewalk paused in terror, not understanding the situation -at all. - -In another moment Harry would have collared his man. - -But a sharp warning cry from Van caused Collins to turn his head. - -With a side leap he went through a saloon entrance. - -Harry burst into the place hot after his man. - -Half a dozen or more men were drinking at the bar. - -These turned in surprise as Harry burst into the place. - -The proprietor, a huge, red-faced man, confronted the young detective. - -"What do you want here?" he demanded. "Get out before you're bounced!" - -"Easy, my friend," said the young detective. "I am in pursuit of a -criminal. He came into this place." - -"You're mistaken. No such man is here!" - -"I saw him enter." - -"That's not so. Come, get out!" - -Harry ran his gaze quickly over the place. - -He saw a door at the far end of the saloon. - -He was convinced that his man had gone through that door. - -He made a move toward it, but the big man barred his way. - -"No, I guess not!" he said. "You're not going in!" - -"You stop me at your peril!" said Harry, sternly. "I am an officer of -the law!" - -"Is that so?" cried one of habitues of the place, jeeringly. "Well, we -haven't any use for you here!" - -"He's a peeler!" - -"Throw him out!" - -These were the cries which filled the place. - -Harry saw that the situation was by no means a pleasant one. He was only -one against ten. - -All this while Collins was making good his escape. Probably by some rear -way. - -This angered the young detective exceedingly, and he cried: - -"You pack of hounds! You are trying to aid in the escape of that man. -You are thwarting justice." - -A jeering roar of laughter followed. - -But at this moment the door of the place burst open again. - -This time Old King Brady and a couple of policemen appeared. - -The old detective had not been seriously wounded. - -The bullet had struck him a glancing blow in the leg and had brought him -down with the shock. - -But he had quickly recovered. - -Van, however, was beyond pursuit. - -But Old King Brady had seen Harry pursue his man into the liquor saloon. - -Realizing that the young detective might need assistance, he hailed a -couple of policemen and started after him. - -He had arrived just in the nick of time. - -Harry was facing the gang of crooks, but the odds were too great for him -and the result might have been serious had he been left to play his hand -alone. - -The appearance of the officers, however, had a salutary effect. - -The gang fell back toward the bar. - -"What's this?" cried Old King Brady. "Where is your man, Harry?" - -"I might have caught him but for these fellows who have tried to block -me," said Harry. - -The old detective gazed keenly at the proprietor of the place. - -"If I am not mistaken, I know you, Jack Billings!" he said. "Up to your -old tricks, eh? Where is Dan Collins?" - -Billings shifted his gaze. - -"I don't know who you mean," he said. - -"Yes, you do, too," said Old King Brady, sharply. "Come, out with it. I -want the truth." - -"I don't know the man!" - -"You speak falsely!" - -"I swear it." - -"Your oath is worthless. Come, tell us the truth. Where is he?" - -"Really," protested Billings, "I don't know the man you are speaking of. -But perhaps you are after a fellow who rushed through here a little -while ago and went out through that rear door." - -"And you detained me here on purpose to aid his escape," declared Harry. -"Don't you deny it. You shall pay for this." - -"That is not so!" - -"Don't lie about it. I shall see you later!" cried the young detective -as with his companions he rushed through the door at the far end of the -saloon. - -They emerged into a small paved court. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - WHICH ENDS THE CASE. - - -But the birds had flown. - -Again they had escaped the Bradys. It was a disheartening reflection. - -Ordinary men might have abandoned the case in despair. - -But the Bradys were not of that sort. - -With their usual tenacity they hung out, still looking for a clew which -they felt was bound to come. - -In fact they had little choice in the matter. - -They knew there was nothing to be done but to trap the Tough Trio. - -If they did not do so the trio would trap them. It was a case of the -survival of the fittest. - -The Bradys failed to track their birds even the slightest distance. The -trio had seemed to cover their tracks effectually. - -Days passed and still the Bradys were befogged. - -One day they ran across a detective of the regular city force in a lower -part of New York. - -"There's no use in you fellows trying to find the trio," said this -fellow, whose name was Whitman. - -"Indeed!" said Old King Brady, caustically. "You are very sure of that, -are you?" - -"As sure as can be!" - -"How do you get your surety?" - -"Well, I know that all three of the rascals have skipped the country." - -For a moment the Bradys stared at each other. - -Then Old King Brady said: - -"Do you mean to Europe?" - -"Yes." - -"Do you know that?" - -"Well, you bet I do!" - -"Can you prove it?" - -Whitman was silent a moment. Then he said: - -"Well, I've been working up a case on the White Star Line dock. I know -three men sailed from there last Saturday whom I am sure are the trio." - -"Did you see them?" - -"Well, that is, a friend of mine did." - -Finally the fellow was bound to admit that he was not by any means sure -of his statement. - -He depended largely upon the imagination of another, and finally, much -discomfited, admitted that he could not prove it. - -The Bradys thus met with all sorts of rumors. - -But they said nothing. - -All the while they were quietly at work. - -One day, however, a messenger boy stopped them at the door of their -lodgings. - -He handed them a message. - -Thus it read: - - "My dear Brady: - - "Come down to the office at once. I think I have a clew for you. - "Chief of the Secret Service." - -"Ah!" said Old King Brady, with a smile. "Perhaps at last we have hit -upon the right thing. Let us try it." - -So the Bradys at once went down to the Secret Service headquarters. - -The chief welcomed them warmly. - -"I am glad to see you!" he said. "And I believe I have valuable news for -you!" - -"That is what we are looking for," said Harry. - -"You are still after the trio?" - -"Yes." - -"You can't seem to find a clew as to their whereabouts?" - -"Not the slightest." - -"Well," said the chief, slowly, "yesterday we brought a man in here from -Chinatown. He killed a man in an opium den. - -"While questioning him closely I learned that he knew Dan Collins." - -"Dan Collins!" exclaimed Harry. - -"Yes. Do you know him?" - -"He is one of the trio!" - -"Ah! Then it is all right. Collins and two companions have been -frequenting Ah Ling's place in Mott street for a few days past." - -"Hitting the pipe?" - -"Yes." - -"Are they there now?" - -"They may be!" - -Old King Brady sprang up. - -"Come, Harry!" he cried. "Here is work for us." - -"I feel it in my bones," said the young detective, "that the game is -ours." - -"I agree with you," said the chief. "If those fellows are taking dope -you will surely get them." - -Old King Brady knew that many a criminal had been taken in this way. - -Under the influence of opium they are careless and easily entrapped. So -Old King Brady's spirits arose. - -"Very good!" he said, with his grim smile. "I think we shall get them." - -"The tip may be of no value," said the chief, "but such as it is I give -it to you." - -"I feel sure that it is of great value!" said Harry. "We will get our -men this time." - -Frequenters of the opium dens sometimes drop from sight for days. - -This would easily explain why the Bradys had not heard from the villains -before. - -The detectives lost no time. - -They at once set out for Mott street. - -Ah Ling was a character very familiar to them. - -There was no shrewder character, no deeper scoundrel in Chinatown than -Ah Ling. - -The Bradys knew that it would be folly to attempt to gain admittance to -his place in their own character. - -So they went thither in a clever disguise. - -And Harry, for the first time in a long while dressed up as a very -handsome young lady. - -As men and women both frequented the opium joints, this was not deemed -strange. - -Old King Brady made himself up as a country jay, and Harry took him in -tow. - -He steered him into Mott street and Harry led the way into Ah Ling's -shop. - -That urbane Celestial came up smiling and bowing. - -"Ah, Melican lady buy fine handkerchief," he simpered "Sellee cheap! -Comee allee way China." - -Harry punched his rustic partner in the ribs and in true Bowery-girl -style said: - -"Come, buy me that, cully! Don't you see I'm your steady now?" - -"B'gosh! Haow much money do ye want fer the durned thing, Mister -Chineeman?" asked Old King Brady. - -"Sellee cheap. Allee same one dollar!" said the Celestial, winking at -Harry. - -"All right! Hyars yer dollar. Now take it gal, an' I say, what's that -you told me about? I want to see all the sights. But I'll be gol-blamed -if I haven't forgotten." - -"Oh, you mean hit the pipe," said Harry. - -"Yas, yas! That's it. I dunno what it is, but b'gosh I'm reddy fer it." - -Harry winked at Ah Ling, who bit readily enough. - -"Yeppee, me slee!" he said. "Hittee pipe. Heap fine tlime. Comee dis -lay." - -The detectives followed the Chinaman through various corridors and down -stairs until finally they were in the opium den. - -About on bunks and rugs lay the half-stupefied devotees of the pipe. - -The Bradys almost instantly singled out their men. - -Collins lay completely stupefied. Van was still smoking and Burke was -getting ready for the same. - -The Bradys were elated. - -The birds were at last in their hands. - -Escape was out of the question. - -The detectives took in the full situation at a glance. - -Not one of the gang was capable of offering much resistance. The Bradys -quickly planned their coup. - -After Ah Ling had gone, the two detectives laid their plans. - -Nobody in the place noticed them. Old King Brady whispered: - -"Everything is coming our way. Now, I'll first slip over and put the -handcuffs on Collins." - -"Yes." - -"He'll never know it for he is too deeply asleep." - -"Exactly." - -"Then together we will tackle the other two." - -"Capital!" - -"That will place them hors du combat. We must trust to a bold dash to -get them out of here." - -"If Ah Ling is wise he will not offer resistance." - -"He may not." - -"Very good." - -"I'll spring it now!" - -"All right!" - -Old King Brady crept over to where Collins lay. - -He snapped the handcuffs on him and the fellow never moved. Then Harry -took the signal. - -Van and Burke were both half dazed. They fought like tigers, however, -but were finally overpowered. - -"You are trapped, my fine birds!" cried Old King Brady, jubilantly. - -But at this moment Ah Ling appeared on the scene. - -The uproar had attracted him. With white, scared face he stared at the -detectives. - -"Whatee de debbil you do?" he cried. "You no make such noise. Hi-hi, -yeppee, yeppee, who you be? No pleece-man?" - -"Yes," replied Old King Brady, sternly, covering the Chinaman with a -revolver. "We are detectives. These men are murderers. We are going to -take them out of here. If you offer resistance, I will shoot you dead!" - -Old King Brady kept Ah Ling covered while Harry went out to the nearest -signal box. - -In a very short space of time a squad of police were in the place. A -short while later the Tough Trio were in the Tombs. - -The Bradys had won their famous race for life. - -The case was thus ended. - -The three notorious criminals expiated their crimes in the electric -chair. The Fifteenth street case soon became a matter of past history -and the two famous detectives soon had their attention claimed by -another undertaking even more complex and mysterious. The details of -this we will reserve for another story. - - - THE END. - - -Read "THE BRADYS' LAST CHANCE; OR, THE CASE IN THE DARK," which will be -the next number (85) of "Secret Service." - - -SPECIAL NOTICE: All back numbers of this weekly are always in print. If -you cannot obtain them from any newsdealer, send the price in money or -postage stamps by mail to FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER, 24 UNION SQUARE, NEW -YORK, and you will receive the copies you order by return mail. - - - These Books Tell You Everything! - A COMPLETE SET IS A REGULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA! - -Each book consists of sixty-four pages, printed on good paper, in clear -type and neatly bound in an attractive, illustrated cover. Most of the -books are also profusely illustrated, and all of the subjects treated -upon are explained in such a simple manner that any child can thoroughly -understand them. Look over the list as classified and see if you want to -know anything about the subjects mentioned. - - -THESE BOOKS ARE FOR SALE BY ALL NEWSDEALERS OR WILL BE SENT BY MAIL TO -ANY ADDRESS FROM THIS OFFICE ON RECEIPT OF PRICE, TEN CENTS EACH, OR ANY -THREE BOOKS FOR TWENTY-FIVE CENTS. POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS -MONEY. Address FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, N. Y. - - - SPORTING. - -No. 21. HOW TO HUNT AND FISH.--The most complete hunting and fishing -guide ever published. It contains full instructions about guns, hunting -dogs, traps, trapping and fishing, together with descriptions of game -and fish. - -No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL, AND BUILD A BOAT.--Fully illustrated. Every -boy should know how to row and sail a boat. Full instructions are given -in this little book, together with instructions on swimming and riding, -companion sports to boating. - -No. 47. HOW TO BREAK, RIDE, AND DRIVE A HORSE.--A complete treatise on -the horse. Describing the most useful horses for business, the best -horses for the road; also valuable recipes for diseases peculiar to the -horse. - -No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL CANOES.--A handy book for boys, containing -full directions for constructing canoes and the most popular manner of -sailing them. Fully illustrated. By C. Stansfield Hicks. - - - FORTUNE TELLING. - -No. 1. NAPOLEON'S ORACULUM AND DREAM BOOK.--Containing the great oracle -of human destiny; also the true meaning of almost any kind of dreams, -together with charms, ceremonies, and curious games of cards. A complete -book. - -No. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DREAMS.--Everybody dreams, from the little child -to the aged man and woman. This little book gives the explanation to all -kinds of dreams, together with lucky and unlucky days, and "Napoleon's -Oraculum," the book of fate. - -No. 28. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.--Everyone is desirous of knowing what his -future life will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or -poverty. You can tell by a glance at this little book. Buy one and be -convinced. Tell your own fortune. Tell the fortune of your friends. - -No. 76. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES BY THE HAND.--Containing rules for telling -fortunes by the aid of the lines of the hand, or the secret of -palmistry. Also the secret of telling future events by aid of moles, -marks, scars, etc. Illustrated. By A. Anderson. - - - ATHLETIC. - -No. 6. HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETE.--Giving full instruction for the use of -dumb bells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, horizontal bars and various -other methods of developing a good, healthy muscle; containing over -sixty illustrations. Every boy can become strong and healthy by -following the instructions contained in this little book. - -No. 10. HOW TO BOX.--The art of self-defense made easy. Containing over -thirty illustrations of guards, blows, and the different positions of a -good boxer. Every boy should obtain one of these useful and instructive -books, as it will teach you how to box without an instructor. - -No. 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST.--Containing full instructions for all -kinds of gymnastic sports and athletic exercises. Embracing thirty-five -illustrations. By Professor W. Macdonald. A handy and useful book. - -No. 34. HOW TO FENCE.--Containing full instruction for fencing and the -use of the broadsword; also instruction in archery. Described with -twenty-one practical illustrations, giving the best positions in -fencing. A complete book. - -No. 61. HOW TO BECOME A BOWLER.--A complete manual of bowling. -Containing full instructions for playing all the standard American and -German games; together with rules and systems of sporting in use by the -principal bowling clubs in the United States. By Bartholomew Batterson. - - - TRICKS WITH CARDS. - -No. 51. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.--Containing explanations of the -general principles of sleight-of-hand applicable to card tricks; of card -tricks with ordinary cards, and not requiring sleight-of-hand; of tricks -involving sleight-of-hand, or the use of specially prepared cards. By -Professor Haffner. With illustrations. - -No. 72. HOW TO DO SIXTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.--Embracing all of the latest -and most deceptive card tricks, with illustrations. By A. Anderson. - -No. 77. HOW TO DO FORTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.--Containing deceptive Card -Tricks as performed by leading conjurers and magicians. Arranged for -home amusement. Fully illustrated. - - - MAGIC. - -No. 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.--The great book of magic and card tricks, -containing full instruction of all the leading card tricks of the day, -also the most popular magical illusions as performed by our leading -magicians; every boy should obtain a copy of this book, as it will both -amuse and instruct. - -No. 22. HOW TO DO SECOND SIGHT.--Heller's second sight explained by his -former assistant, Fred Hunt, Jr. Explaining how the secret dialogues -were carried on between the magician and the boy on the stage; also -giving all the codes and signals. The only authentic explanation of -second sight. - -No. 43. HOW TO BECOME A MAGICIAN.--Containing the grandest assortment of -magical illusions ever placed before the public. Also tricks with cards, -incantations, etc. - -No. 68. HOW TO DO CHEMICAL TRICKS.--Containing over one hundred highly -amusing and instructive tricks with chemicals. By A. Anderson. -Handsomely illustrated. - -No. 69. HOW TO DO SLEIGHT OF HAND.--Containing over fifty of the latest -and best tricks used by magicians. Also containing the secret of second -sight. Fully illustrated. By A. Anderson. - -No. 70. HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS.--Containing full directions for making -Magic Toys and devices of many kinds. By A. Anderson. Fully illustrated. - -No. 73. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH NUMBERS.--Showing many curious tricks with -figures and the magic of numbers. By A. Anderson. Fully illustrated. - -No. 75. HOW TO BECOME A CONJURER.--Containing tricks with Dominoes, -Dice, Cups and Balls, Hats, etc. Embracing thirty-six illustrations. By -A. Anderson. - -No. 78. HOW TO DO THE BLACK ART.--Containing a complete description of -the mysteries of Magic and Sleight of Hand, together with many wonderful -experiments. By A. Anderson. Illustrated. - - - MECHANICAL. - -No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR.--Every boy should know how inventions -originated. This book explains them all, giving examples in electricity, -hydraulics, magnetism, optics, pneumatics, mechanics, etc., etc. The -most instructive book published. - -No. 56. HOW TO BECOME AN ENGINEER.--Containing full instructions how to -proceed in order to become a locomotive engineer; also directions for -building a model locomotive; together with a full description of -everything an engineer should know. - -No. 57. HOW TO MAKE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.--Full directions how to make a -Banjo, Violin, Zither, Aeolian Harp, Xylophone and other musical -instruments; together with a brief description of nearly every musical -instrument used in ancient or modern times. Profusely illustrated. By -Algernon S. Fitzgerald, for twenty years bandmaster of the Royal Bengal -Marines. - -No. 59. HOW TO MAKE A MAGIC LANTERN.--Containing a description of the -lantern, together with its history and invention. Also full directions -for its use and for painting slides. Handsomely illustrated, by John -Allen. - -No. 71. HOW TO DO MECHANICAL TRICKS.--Containing complete instructions -for performing over sixty Mechanical Tricks. By A. Anderson. Fully -illustrated. - - - LETTER WRITING. - -No. 11. HOW TO WRITE LOVE-LETTERS.--A most complete little book, -containing full directions for writing love-letters, and when to use -them; also giving specimen letters for both young and old. - -No. 12. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO LADIES.--Giving complete instructions -for writing letters to ladies on all subjects; also letters of -introduction, notes and requests. - -No. 24. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO GENTLEMEN.--Containing full directions -for writing to gentlemen on all subjects; also giving sample letters for -instruction. - -No. 53. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS.--A wonderful little book, telling you how -to write to your sweetheart, your father, mother, sister, brother, -employer; and, in fact, everybody and anybody you wish to write to. -Every young man and every young lady in the land should have this book. - -No. 74. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS CORRECTLY.--Containing full instructions -for writing letters on almost any subject; also rules for punctuation -and composition; together with specimen letters. - - - THE STAGE. - -No. 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END MEN'S JOKE BOOK.--Containing a great -variety of the latest jokes used by the most famous end men. No amateur -minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book. - -No. 42. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK STUMP SPEAKER.--Containing a varied -assortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dutch and Irish. Also end men's -jokes. Just the thing for home amusement and amateur shows. - -No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MINSTREL GUIDE AND JOKE BOOK.--Something -new and very instructive. Every boy should obtain this book, as it -contains full instructions for organizing an amateur minstrel troupe. - -No. 65. MULDOON'S JOKES.--This is one of the most original joke books -ever published, and it is brimful of wit and humor. It contains a large -collection of songs, jokes, conundrums, etc., of Terrence Muldoon, the -great wit, humorist, and practical joker of the day. Every boy who can -enjoy a good substantial joke should obtain a copy immediately. - -No. 79. HOW TO BECOME AN ACTOR.--Containing complete instructions how to -make up for various characters on the stage; together with the duties of -the Stage Manager, Prompter, Scenic Artist and Property Man. By a -prominent Stage Manager. - - - HOUSEKEEPING. - -No. 16. HOW TO KEEP A WINDOW GARDEN.--Containing full instructions for -constructing a window garden either in town or country, and the most -approved methods for raising beautiful flowers at home. The most -complete book of the kind ever published. - -No. 30. HOW TO COOK.--One of the most instructive books on cooking ever -published. It contains recipes for cooking meats, fish, game, and -oysters; also pies, puddings, cakes and all kinds of pastry, and a grand -collection of recipes by one of our most popular cooks. - -No. 37. HOW TO KEEP HOUSE.--It contains information for everybody, boys, -girls, men and women; it will teach you how to make almost anything -around the house, such as parlor ornaments, brackets, cements, Aeolian -harps, and bird lime for catching birds. - - - ELECTRICAL. - -No. 46. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELECTRICITY.--A description of the wonderful -uses of electricity and electro magnetism; together with full -instructions for making Electric Toys, Batteries, etc. By George Trebel, -A. M., M. D. Containing over fifty illustrations. - -No. 64. HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINES.--Containing full directions for -making electrical machines, induction coils, dynamos, and many novel -toys to be worked by electricity. By R. A. R. Bennett. Fully -illustrated. - -No. 67. HOW TO DO ELECTRICAL TRICKS.--Containing a large collection of -instructive and highly amusing electrical tricks, together with -illustrations. By A. Anderson. - - - ENTERTAINMENT. - -No. 9. HOW TO BECOME A VENTRILOQUIST.--By Harry Kennedy, The secret -given away. Every intelligent boy reading this book of instructions, by -a practical professor (delighting multitudes every night with his -wonderful imitations), can master the art, and create any amount of fun -for himself and friends. It is the greatest book ever published, and -there's millions (of fun) in it. - -No. 20. HOW TO ENTERTAIN AN EVENING PARTY.--A very valuable little book -just published. A complete compendium of games, sports, card diversions, -comic recreations, etc., suitable for parlor or drawing-room -entertainment. It contains more for the money than any book published. - -No. 35. HOW TO PLAY GAMES.--A complete and useful little book, -containing the rules and regulations of billiards, bagatelle, -backgammon, croquet, dominoes, etc. - -No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS.--Containing all the leading conundrums -of the day, amusing riddles, curious catches and witty sayings. - -No. 52. HOW TO PLAY CARDS.--A complete and handy little book, giving the -rules and full directions for playing Euchre, Cribbage, Casino, -Forty-Five, Rounce, Pedro Sancho, Draw Poker, Auction Pitch, All Fours, -and many other popular games of cards. - -No. 66. HOW TO DO PUZZLES.--Containing over three hundred interesting -puzzles and conundrums, with key to same. A complete book. Fully -illustrated. By A. Anderson. - - - ETIQUETTE. - -No. 13. HOW TO DO IT; OR, BOOK OF ETIQUETTE.--It is a great life secret, -and one that every young man desires to know all about. There's -happiness in it. - -No. 33. HOW TO BEHAVE.--Containing the rules and etiquette of good -society and the easiest and most approved methods of appearing to good -advantage at parties, balls, the theatre, church, and in the -drawing-room. - - - DECLAMATION. - -No. 27. HOW TO RECITE AND BOOK OF RECITATIONS.--Containing the most -popular selections in use, comprising Dutch dialect, French dialect, -Yankee and Irish dialect pieces, together with many standard readings. - -No. 31. HOW TO BECOME A SPEAKER.--Containing fourteen illustrations, -giving the different positions requisite to become a good speaker, -reader and elocutionist. Also containing gems from all the popular -authors of prose and poetry, arranged in the most simple and concise -manner possible. - -No. 49. HOW TO DEBATE.--Giving rules for conducting debates, outlines -for debates, questions for discussion, and the best sources for -procuring information on the questions given. - - - SOCIETY. - -No. 3. HOW TO FLIRT.--The arts and wiles of flirtation are fully -explained by this little book. Besides the various methods of -handkerchief, fan, glove, parasol, window and hat flirtation, it -contains a full list of the language and sentiment of flowers, which is -interesting to everybody, both old and young. You cannot be happy -without one. - -No. 4. HOW TO DANCE is the title of a new and handsome little book just -issued by Frank Tousey. It contains full instructions in the art of -dancing, etiquette in the ball-room and at parties, how to dress, and -full directions for calling off in all popular square dances. - -No. 5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE.--A complete guide to love, courtship and -marriage, giving sensible advice, rules and etiquette to be observed, -with many curious and interesting things not generally known. - -No. 17. HOW TO DRESS.--Containing full instruction in the art of -dressing and appearing well at home and abroad, giving the selections of -colors, material, and how to have them made up. - -No. 18. HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL.--One of the brightest and most valuable -little books ever given to the world. Everybody wishes to know how to -become beautiful, both male and female. The secret is simple, and almost -costless. Read this book and be convinced how to become beautiful. - - - BIRDS AND ANIMALS. - -No. 7. HOW TO KEEP BIRDS.--Handsomely illustrated, and containing full -instructions for the management and training of the canary, -mocking-bird, bobolink, blackbird, paroquet, parrot, etc. - -No. 39. HOW TO RAISE DOGS, POULTRY, PIGEONS AND RABBITS.--A useful and -instructive book. Handsomely illustrated. By Ira Drofraw. - -No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET TRAPS.--Including hints on how to catch -moles, weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds. Also how to cure -skins. Copiously illustrated. By J. Harrington Keene. - -No. 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS AND ANIMALS.--A valuable book, giving -instructions in collecting, preparing, mounting and preserving birds, -animals and insects. - -No. 54. HOW TO KEEP AND MANAGE PETS.--Giving complete information as to -the manner and method of raising, keeping, taming, breeding, and -managing all kinds of pets; also giving full instructions for making -cages, etc. Fully explained by twenty-eight illustrations, making it the -most complete book of the kind ever published. - - - MISCELLANEOUS. - -No. 8. HOW TO BECOME A SCIENTIST.--A useful and instructive book, giving -a complete treatise on chemistry; also experiments in acoustics, -mechanics, mathematics, chemistry, and directions for making fireworks, -colored fires, and gas balloons. This book cannot be equaled. - -No. 14. HOW TO MAKE CANDY.--A complete hand-book for making all kinds of -candy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, etc., etc. - -No. 15. HOW TO BECOME RICH.--This wonderful book presents you with the -example and life experience of some of the most noted and wealthy men in -the world, including the self-made men of our country. The book is -edited by one of the most successful men of the present age, whose own -example is in itself guide enough for those who aspire to fame and -money. The book will give you the secret. - -No. 19. FRANK TOUSEY'S UNITED STATES DISTANCE TABLES, POCKET COMPANION -AND GUIDE.--Giving the official distances on all the railroads of the -United States and Canada. Also table of distances by water to foreign -ports, hack fares in the principal cities, reports of the census, etc., -etc., making it one of the most complete and handy books published. - -No. 38. HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN DOCTOR.--A wonderful book, containing -useful and practical information in the treatment of ordinary diseases -and ailments common to every family. Abounding in useful and effective -recipes for general complaints. - -No. 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END MEN'S JOKE BOOK.--Containing a great -variety of the latest jokes used by the most famous end men. No amateur -minstrels is complete without this wonderful little book. - -No. 55. HOW TO COLLECT STAMPS AND COINS.--Containing valuable -information regarding the collecting and arranging of stamps and coins. -Handsomely illustrated. - -No. 58. HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE.--By Old King Brady, the world-known -detective. In which he lays down some valuable and sensible rules for -beginners, and also relates some adventures and experiences of -well-known detectives. - -No. 60. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER.--Containing useful information -regarding the Camera and how to work it; also how to make Photographic -Magic Lantern Slides and other Transparencies. Handsomely illustrated. -By Captain W. De W. Abney. - -No. 62. HOW TO BECOME A WEST POINT MILITARY CADET.--Containing full -explanations how to gain admittance, course of Study, Examinations, -Duties, Staff of Officers, Post Guard, Police Regulations, Fire -Department, and all a boy should know to be a Cadet. Compiled and -written by Lu Senarens, Author of "How to Become a Naval Cadet." - -No. 63. HOW TO BECOME A NAVAL CADET.--Complete instructions of how to -gain admission to the Annapolis Naval Academy. Also containing the -course of instruction, description, of grounds and buildings, historical -sketch, and everything a boy should know to become an officer in the -United States Navy. Compiled and written by Lu Senarens, author of "How -to Become a West Point Military Cadet." - - PRICE 10 CENTS EACH OR 3 FOR 25 CENTS - Address, FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square - - - - - SECRET SERVICE. - OLD AND YOUNG KING BRADY, DETECTIVES. - PRICE 5 CTS. 32 PAGES. COLORED COVERS. ISSUED WEEKLY - - - 1 The Black Band; or, The Two King Bradys Against a Hard Gang. An - Interesting Detective Story. - 2 Told by the Ticker; or, The Two King Bradys on a Wall Street Case. - 3 The Bradys After a Million; or, Their Chase to Save an Heiress. - 4 The Bradys' Great Bluff; or, A Bunco Game that Failed to Work. - 5 In and Out; or, The Two King Bradys on a Lively Chase. - 6 The Bradys' Hard Fight; or, After the Pullman Car Crooks. - 7 Case Number Ten; or, The Bradys and the Private Asylum Fraud. - 8 The Bradys' Silent Search; or, Tracking the Deaf and Dumb Gang. - 9 The Maniac Doctor; or, Old and Young King Brady in Peril. - 10 Held at Bay; or, The Bradys on a Baffling Case. - 11 Miss Mystery, the Girl from Chicago; or, Old and Young King Brady - on a Dark Trail. - 12 The Bradys' Deep Game; or, Chasing the Society Crooks. - 13 Hop Lee, the Chinese Slave Dealer; or, Old and Young King Brady and - the Opium Fiends. - 14 The Bradys in the Dark; or, The Hardest Case of All. - 15 The Queen of Diamonds; or, The Two King Bradys' Treasure Case. - 16 The Bradys on Top; or, The Great River Mystery. - 17 The Missing Engineer; or, Old and Young King Brady and the - Lightning Express. - 18 The Bradys' Fight For a Life; or, A Mystery Hard to Solve. - 19 The Bradys' Best Case; or, Tracking the River Pirates. - 20 The Foot in the Frog; or, Old and Young King Brady and the Mystery - of the Owl Train. - 21 The Bradys' Hard Luck; or, Working Against Odds. - 22 The Bradys Baffled; or, In Search of the Green Goods Men. - 23 The Opium King; or, The Bradys' Great Chinatown Case. - 24 The Bradys in Wall Street; or, A Plot to Steal a Million. - 25 The Girl From Boston; or, Old and Young King Brady on a Peculiar - Case. - 26 The Bradys and the Shoplifters; or, Hard Work on a Dry Goods Case. - 27 Zig Zag the Clown; or, The Bradys' Great Circus Trail. - 28 The Bradys Out West; or, Winning a Hard Case. - 29 After the Kidnappers; or, The Bradys on a False Clue. - 30 Old and Young King Bradys' Battle; or, Bound to Win Their Case. - 31 The Bradys' Race Track Job; or, Crooked Work Among Jockeys. - 32 Found in the Bay; or, The Bradys on a Great Murder Mystery. - 33 The Bradys in Chicago; or, Solving the Mystery of the Lake Front. - 34 The Bradys' Great Mistake; or, Shadowing the Wrong Man. - 35 The Bradys and the Mail Mystery; or, Working for the Government. - 36 The Bradys Down South; or, The Great Plantation Mystery. - 37 The House in the Swamp; or, The Bradys' Keenest Work. - 38 The Knock-out-Drops Gang; or, The Bradys' Risky Venture. - 39 The Bradys' Close Shave; or, Into the Jaws of Death. - 40 The Bradys' Star Case; or, Working for Love and Glory. - 41 The Bradys in 'Frisco; or, A Three Thousand Mile Hunt. - 42 The Bradys and the Express Thieves; or, Tracing the Package Marked - "Paid." - 43 The Bradys' Hot Chase; or, After the Horse Stealers. - 44 The Bradys' Great Wager; or, The Queen of Little Monte Carlo. - 45 The Bradys' Double Net; or, Catching the Keenest of Criminals. - 46 The Man in the Steel Mask; or, The Bradys' Work for a Great - Fortune. - 47 The Bradys and the Black Trunk; or, Working a Silent Clew. - 48 Going It Blind; or, The Bradys' Good Luck. - 49 The Bradys Balked; or, Working up Queer Evidence. - 50 Against Big Odds; or, The Bradys' Great Stroke. - 51 The Bradys and the Forger; or, Tracing the N. G. Check. - 52 The Bradys' Trump Card; or, Winning a Case by Bluff. - 53 The Bradys and the Grave Robbers; or, Tracking the Cemetery Owls. - 54 The Bradys and the Missing Boy; or, The Mystery of School No. 6. - 55 The Bradys Behind the Scenes; or, The Great Theatrical Case. - 56 The Bradys and the Opium Dens; or, Trapping the Crooks of - Chinatown. - 57 The Bradys Down East; or, The Mystery of a Country Town. - 58 Working for the Treasury; or, The Bradys and the Bank Burglars. - 59 The Bradys' Fatal Clew; or, A Desperate Game for Gold. - 60 Shadowing the Sharpers; or, The Bradys' $10,000 Deal. - 61 The Bradys and the Firebug; or, Found in the Flames. - 62 The Bradys in Texas; or, The Great Ranch Mystery. - 63 The Bradys on the Ocean; or, The Mystery of Stateroom No. 7. - 64 The Bradys and the Office Boy; or, Working Up a Business Case. - 65 The Bradys in the Backwoods; or, The Mystery of the Hunters' Camp. - 66 Ching Foo, the Yellow Dwarf; or, The Bradys and the Opium Smokers. - 67 The Bradys' Still Hunt; or, The Case that was Won by Waiting. - 68 Caught by the Camera; or, The Bradys and the Girl from Maine. - 69 The Bradys in Kentucky; or, Tracking a Mountain Gang. - 70 The Marked Bank Note; or, The Bradys Below the Dead Line. - 71 The Bradys on Deck; or, The Mystery of the Private Yacht. - 72 The Bradys in a Trap; or, Working Against a Hard Gang. - 73 Over the Line; or, The Bradys' Chase Through Canada. - 74 The Bradys in Society; or, The Case of Mr. Barlow. - 75 The Bradys in the Slums; or, Trapping the Crooks of the "Red Light - District." - 76 Found in the River; or, The Bradys and the Brooklyn Bridge Mystery. - 77 The Bradys and the Missing Box; or, Running Down the Railroad - Thieves. - 78 The Queen of Chinatown; or, The Bradys Among the "Hop" Fiends. - 79 The Bradys and the Girl Smuggler; or, Working for the Custom House. - 80 The Bradys and the Runaway Boys; or, Shadowing the Circus Sharps. - 81 The Bradys and the Ghosts; or, Solving the Mystery of the Old - Church Yard. - 82 The Bradys and the Brokers; or, A Desperate Game in Wall Street. - 83 The Bradys' Fight to a Finish; or, Winning a Desperate Case. - 84 The Bradys' Race for Life; or, Rounding Up a Tough Trio. - - For sale by all newsdealers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price, 5 - cents a copy, by - FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York. - - - THIS GIVES YOU FAIR WARNING! - -That all the Numbers of the Best Weeklies Published are always in print -and can be obtained from this office direct, if you cannot procure them -from any newsdealer. Cut out and fill in the following Order Blank and -send it to us with the price of the books you want and we will send them -to you by return mail. - - Postage Stamps taken the same as money. - - - FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union .... 1900. - Square, New York: - Dear Sir--Enclosed find .... cents for which please send me: - .... copies of WORK AND WIN, Nos. ................................. - .... " " THREE CHUMS " ................................. - .... " " PLUCK AND LUCK " ................................. - .... " " SECRET SERVICE " ................................. - .... " " SNAPS " ................................. - .... " " Ten Cent Hand Books " ................................. - .............. Street and No............. Town ............. State ........ - - - A Good Watch for One Dollar! - A STEM WINDER AND STEM SETTER. -A Splendid Chance for "SECRET SERVICE" Readers to get a good Time-piece. - -This Watch usually retails for $3.00, but owing to the immense quantity -we have contracted for we procure them at such a low figure that we can -afford to dispose of them to readers of our publications at the -extremely low price of $1.00. - -THIS IS A FAIRLY GOOD DESCRIPTION OF THE WATCH, ALTHOUGH IT HARDLY DOES -IT JUSTICE. - -It is an American watch that _will keep accurate time_, and will not get -out of order. _This we guarantee. The Case_ is strongly made and -carefully fitted to exclude dust. It is _Open Face_ with heavy polished -bevel crystal. Case is heavily nickeled and presents a handsome -appearance. Weight of watch complete 4½ oz. _The Movement_ combines many -patented devices, including American Lever, Lantern Pinion, Patent -Escapement, and is a stem winder and stem setter, the same as any -expensive watch. The cut, which falls far short of doing it justice, -exactly represents the watch three-fourths size. - - - HOW TO GET ONE OF THESE WATCHES. - -A coupon will appear on this page of "Secret Service" every week. Cut -out _five_ of these coupons from any numbers of "Secret Service" and -send them to this office with $1.00 in money or postage stamps and we -will send you the watch by return mail. - - - THIS IS THE COUPON. - - - - - "SECRET SERVICE" Watch Coupon. - -Send us five of these Coupons cut from any numbers of "Secret Service" -and $1.00 in money or Postage Stamps and you will receive the watch by -return mail.... - - Address your envelope plainly to ... - FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, - 24 Union Square, New York. - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Retained original copyright from the printed edition; this eBook is - public-domain in the country of publication. - ---Relocated promotional material to the end of the book. - ---Corrected some palpable typographical errors. - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bradys' Race for Life, by -Francis Worcester Doughty - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRADYS' RACE FOR LIFE *** - -***** This file should be named 60903-8.txt or 60903-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/9/0/60903/ - -Produced by David Edwards, Stephen Hutcheson, and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(Stanford University, SUL Books in the Public Domain) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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