Nick Carter's magic hand, or, The crime of the Chinese highbinders

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Series Title:
Nick Carter weekly
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Nick Carter stories
Carter, Nick
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New York
Street & Smith
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1 online resource (32 p.);


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Detective and mystery stories. ( lcsh )
Dime novels. ( lcsh )
serial ( sobekcm )


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Volume 1, Number 44

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University of South Florida
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University of South Florida
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030707287 ( ALEPH )
17902226 ( OCLC )
C36-00031 ( USFLDC DOI )
c36.31 ( USFLDC Handle )

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NieK eARTER WEEKLY. acco1ding to Act of Oong1ess in the yea1 1B97 b11 Sl1eet Smith, in the Ojftce of the Librarian of Oong1ess, Wasltiuglon, D. 0. Enteret! as second class Jlfaft e r at the New Y 01k, N. Y., Post Office. sued u!eekly. Snbscription pl"ice, $2 50 per yeai. Octobe1 30, 1897. o 44. Publishers. N EW Y ORK. 29 Rose St., N. Y. 5 Cents OR, bt: Cril'l)E of t bt: Cbil)ESE Higbbil)dt:rs. By the Author of "NICK CARTER." CHAPTER I. A PANE OF GLASS. The right door or the left doorch ?" n the very heart of the great city, a face to face with the mystery of his asked the question. e stood at the street entrance to a en-down frame building. Dusk was ering, and he had to peer closely to e out what lay beyond the top step !re he balanced, hesitating. re was breathless, and his face was but it was apparent, rather from '.ems of overwl1elming eagerness or !tV than with fear or excitement. Jr ,ten mir.utes he had been following rnn, up this street, down that one, aing, man who went fast with caution and watchfulness, and man had turned in here. I must act quickly," pronounced the ower, his eyes snapping. "He went ugh one of these two doorways. each ing into a different building. If I take wrong one, it's disaster. The right who knows? In a dilemma like this t would he say-the man who directs the great master who has l1is finger continually on the criminal pulse of New York city?" The speaker fluttered like a ferret, every nerve on the razor edge of the keen est suspense. Eyes, face, hands, were in a sypma thetic quiver with the thoughts that ran riot through his quick-acting brain. A physiognomist studying the vivid pose of that moment would have told you that the most transparent elem ents of a strong nature were here in play, that this boy had on e evident qualification-that he was, if nothing else, a natural born detective. For he had the eye of an eagle, the clear-cut nostrils of a bloodhound, the sharp-shaped ear that gives the woodland deer its keenest sense of hearing, while his fingers, steel-knit, yet delicate, sug gested that strength and daintiness com bined that car:. with equal celerity snap the handcuffs deftly across the burglar's brawny wrists, or gracefully adjust my lady's diamond braceiet. "The right door or the left doorwhich ?" again projected the boy, almost irritably now. "Seconds are golden. I must decide. This!" He caught at a knob almost haphazard,


2 NICK CARTER WEEKLY for it was a gamester' s choice. The d oor g a v e, he glided nois elessly across the threshold, softly pushed the door to again, and then all was still. A person taking a survey from the street of the structure that had now swa l l o w e d up !nan and boy, would have b een s omewhat puzzl e d as to its uses. It looked gloomy and forbidding in the extr e me. Way over in on e w i n g occasi o n a l flashes suggested some kind of light manufacturing going on about a p ortable forge-nearer the w est end wh e r e a s h edli k e roof slanted to a narro w c ourt, li ghts show e d at thre e windo ws, but heavy shade s obscured an interior view, a s if the o ccu pants of the ro oms beyond courted an unusual s e clusi o n. It was jus t tha t h o m w h e n the city's'. ro a r a nd din subside for a spell, t o b e r e awakened s oo n by ciattering c a b rattling patrol wagon and the turmoil o f g a y the a t re cro wds. A m ys tic hus h l ay ove r thi s nearly de serte d street-a m ere c o b b l e ston ed vein running l ess than two hund red yards from a briDiantl y lighted m a in artery of traffic. Sudde nl y sharply a f earful clatte r b ro k e in upo n this stillness and a thousand tiny echoes made the air vibra te. The roof of the high shed ran four fe e t b e l o w two windows in the third story of t h e build in g One of these h a d bulged out, fr amework and all, a s if blown fr o m place b y an exJ?lo s i ve g u s t. The sashes struck the s h e d roof with a thud, and went shying clums il y down the s l ant, at.t ended by a prismatic s h owe r of broken glass. E very pane had been shattere d. Then throug h the blank aperture made b y de s i g n or acc ident, a form c ame into vi ew, droppe d over the win do w frame like a swift s h ado w, ducke d a s some mi ssile skimmed the air, an d with a s qu atting pose tha t threw all the w e i ght o n the f eet and t hes e forw a rd like sl ed runne r s s ta r t e d s l iding do w n the in cline It w as the boy who h a d m a de the choice betw een the two stree t do ors At the window he had just sprung throug h almost instantly appea red a s econd form. A fierce, beard e d face p e ered afte r him. It was that of the man he had foll o wed to this s pot. The sh a d ower had opened the right door, it seemed-had found his and was speeding awa y a ga m. Why ? Not from fear, for his e ager far.e was one glow of boyish triumph. He was coatl e ss now, but the stripped off garment inclosed something square, the s ize of a school slate, which he h e ld out before him with both hands 1 as he slid. t Down the planks he skimmed like a to-a bo ggan sled, over the roof's lowes t ed g e h e w ent recklessly. It was a ten-foot drop to the sid ewalk. 1 He struck it with a slam that must h av e ting l e d his soles mighti' ly. The shock did not unnerve him, however. He di': se e m e d simply anxious to keep from falling to maintain a safe balance on the cov ered-up something extended rigid! 1.;1 still by his t w o hands. 1 A shout that w a s a snarl rang out fro11 1 pla the window. The man who uttered it di sappea red. Frorn inside_ the hous e te.ui s ounded nex t a clatter, as if some on e w astha1 de s c ending a flight of stairs four step s a t a B J time. tow, The boy wavered where he stood fo.strai a sin g l e m o m ent, looked quickly all abot him, a nd the n on a circling detour th t oo k him a s fa r out into the street as pu "1 sible fro,n the double entrance he had t iU1111 p a ss, darted in the direction of the n e a)ane m ai n thoro u ghfare TH "Got 1t !" he l)r eathed, in a gas p tha.> e v was h alf a c h ee r "The fir s t cl e w. will they say t o this ? T oo b a d I w:rea s quick, but h e w a s quicker.'' Th He bad p asse d the double entranhJy with a breath o f relief, but now hi s fe1e 1 sought w i n g s, for out throug h it as irt b flung came the man he had i s thither. N either s p oke a word. Just one sour. ed t sh a r p a nd rapid, ro s e and fell to the totf 'Ab of d ouble h ee l and toe-k1oppetty-kl*bt." kloppetty-klop, kloppetty-klop. "I a Once s om ething glinted, vicious a" A n awe in spiring t o the swift, curdled gla se e n the boy in the lead flung behind h"Of t l It was a drawn weapon in the hand ofl 'A p purs uer. er offi1 The latter, however, changed any nt and itated purpos e of this form of a ssault' Can VI they neared the main street. At its ed hi n e r s tood two brawny policemen in form, engaged in conversation.


NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 3 "Stop that boy!" bawle

4 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. had made good use of his re-acquired free dom. His eyes were everywhere as he darted down the street, but they grew Jess apprehensive as he neared his destination. "Home!" he spoke, relievedly, letting down on his pace as he entered the Jong hall of Nick Carter's headquarters. "It was a run-it was a risk, but it was worth it. Now to get back breath and nerves, and then to tell my iotory." Phil seated himself in a chair near a half open door. It looked into a roomy apartment, and light and the hum of energetic voices came out into the hall. Phil placed his package carefully on the floor by his side, and stretched his arms luxuriously. Their rigid pose of half an hour or more had been a great strain on even his practiced muscles. His fine face glowed with unmistakable enthusiasm as he took up the package again. He brushed aside its coat covering, and placed the inclosure across his knees. A pane of glass was revealed-only a pane of glass. It was somewhat begrimed, as i f it had come from poor q uarters. Around its edges were patches of hardened putty. To all appearances it had just been cut hastily and rudely from a sash. There were too many startling circumstances connected with its possession, too much of importance associated with the positive figure it cut in a certain case he was about to discu s s with his guide and associates, for Phil to break in upon the c o t e rie m the next room helter skelter. He had learned patience and prudence from the great detective. He exercised both now, and listened in a pleased, soothed way to the voices that floated upon the air. He could recognize them all-the kindly, measured accents of Nick, indulgent and encouraging ever when with his proteges; the sharp, curious tones of the pupil who had come to regard the detec sphere as a veritable wonderland, and was always pestering Nick with ques tions; the occasional comments of three of the more experienced of the crowd, who had won considerable laurels, and "were above small talk." A lazy, drawling voice struck Phil as if a brad-awl had pierced him. Hew and Io6ked discomposed. "Burt Newton," he muttered, "I he was not here Just now. He's al jeering at me, always making sma anything I do." Burt was a new acquisition to th tective 's household. Nick was a hr minded man, and on the theory that as there are different kinds of crimi so does it take different kinds of d to catch them, he had taken u his tutelage a varied lot of material. Burt was the son of a wealthy ban He had seen the world pretty t onghly, in his own imagination, and "up to all the wrinkles" of both h and low life. He had done indifferent service clerk in his father's bank, as a society porter, as the backer of an amateur pu list, was a crack tennis player, had peared on the amateur minstrel stage w great eclat-in fact, to his indivi

NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 5 He was talking and Phil listened with a bored expression of face. "See here, fellows," Burt was saying, "I'm not the kind of a detective yon read about in story books. I've got a system, I have. Theory-that's my strong point. Give me the outlines of a case. X take it like a chemist-I dissect it, I analyze :Pt. It is not the rough-and-tumble that works the case out, it's the theoriz ing." "Then you don't believe in outside active work?" inquired one of Burt's comrades. "Oh, yes, I do. Leave that to what I call the acrobats of the profession. Now, Phil's one of that kind." "You evidently aim to be what is called an office detective-a sort of consulting official," insinuated Nick, softly. it what you like, but I get there on my system. Didn't I prove to you last week that there is a regular language to the wigglings of a cat's tail? Good. Didn't I insist that you can tell a convict every time by t)1e drag of his foot, the close fit of his cap, the way he holds a door knob, just as he does the door bar when he's locked his cell? No, I don't believe in spilling your head over hunting and shadowing and spotting till you've got a theory. That's my finish, and I say that in the Leslie case, which the police have dropped as unfathomable, the fellow who so mysteri:ously di _sap peared has just done what thousands of others have done-got despondent and suicided. reasoned it out. I consider the man's tastes, his habits, his peculiarities. He simply walked out to some pier on a dark night and shuffled off the burden of life. Now Phil has been crazy over that affair. He's taken a great interest in it. What's he been doing for three weeks? Hunting clews." "Which are an excellent thing in 'their way," suggested Nick. "Yes, when there's any to find. Has Phil found anv so far?" "Yes-the first!" Phil had entered the room. He looked flustered, like a novice facing his first au dience, but even embarrassment could not hide t!le dignity of confidence, the depth of purpose that his features reflected from his strongly working mind. Nick Carter smiled a quick welcome upon his favorite, and this reassured him. Larry Moore, the curious boy of the crowd, got up near to hitn with a rapt, eager lock, as if Phil was a big barrel of interesting information, and he was anx ious to tap him. The three other boys in the room exhibited a fair surprise only. They consid ered themselves veterans quite, and tned not to appear disturbed at anything. Burt Newton's incredulous gaze was Phil's greatest burden. He looked solemn and winked at the others. He smiled pityingly, and vouchsafed direct to Phil. "The first clew? I guess it isn .'t startling enough to put any bristles on spines.'' "That depends on how you take it," returned Phil, calmly. "Mr. Carter," he went on, holding the pane of glass behind him. a nd addressing himself to the detec tive, "three weeks ago I came to you and asked you to make a detective of me." "Which you have demonstrated in a most practical way-if shrewdness and perseverance count for anything-will not be a very difficult matter," spoke Nick, encouragingly. "Thank yo .u," murmured Phil, with some emotion. "I told you then I ha

6 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. here," supplemented Phil; "he has been theorizing.'' "I say--" began Burt, stormily, but Nick quieted the turbulent and affronted amateur with a wave of his hand. "Go on, Phil," directed the detective. "Well, I felt as if I would like to do something that would be creditable, and I made the case my study. Wealthy, happily-situated young men don't lea\e the world in Leslie's way without a moti e or a reason. He was simply blotted out. The police c _ame to the dead wall of 'no clew,' and gave it up. Last night I made mv twentieth odd visit to the home of th.e old lady where Leslie formerly lodged. "She gave me a valuable piece of informa tion." Even Burt looked interested now. As to Larry, he was fairly wriggling with excitement. ''She toM me, and she is pretwred to swear to it," continued Phil, '"that at nine o'clock last night she happened to glance up at the windows of the room Les lie formerly occupied. To her amazement a light showed. To her thorough stupe faction, she saw plainly-paler, thinner, but entirely recognizable-the missing broker. A fierce-eyed, black-bearded m a n held one arm. She uttered a shriek. The light went out. She fainted. When she went up to the room she found its door open and everything disturbed as if a hasty search had been engaged in." "This is startling, Phil," commented Nick, gravely. "All day long I have been looking for the man she described-the black-whiskered fellow. I struck him at dusk." "Good!" ''I foUowed him. He led me to a building where he disappeared. I entered it. I got into a room probably, one of his, surely one where he now has or last night had the missing man, Arnold Leslie." "How do you know that?" demanded Burt. ''Because, by the merest chance, about to lift a window to open a way to escape if detected, against the street lights I oh served some some words, plainly scratched across a pane." "W.ith--" "A diamond, and Arnold Leslie, according to description, wore one on his right hand. One glance told me what a clew had struck. That pane contain_ ed a me sage.'' "To whom?" "To the police, to the world, and i was signed 'Arnold Lesli e.' "And the message itself?" inquire Nick. "I did not read it, but you slrs.11 now It proves tbat the missing man is alive?' "Yes?" "Kidnaped-held by force?" "Probably." "Ah, what deep motives mnst underli the case, then!" cried Phil, enthused with professional zeal. "I cut the pane out; I was detected by the man I had fol lowed. I kicked out a window, hardy es caped, and got here. There is the pane." There was a craning of necks as Phil placed the pane of g1ass on a table in the centre of the room. He tilted it against some books so all could see it. Itwas grirny, but the white, grainy tracings of letters, words, were plainly distinguishable. The veteran detec.ti ve 'as moved out of the ordinary, but h e displayed no emotion by words. Coming up to the pane he scrutinized it closely. 'Arnold Leslie,' he out, "and it is his handwriting." "How do you know?" ventured Rurt. "That curved capital fits to tbe style of the signature to a letter I saw recentl1 in his handwriting." Nick got nearer to inspect the body of the quee r scrawl. '' 'I am a prisoner,' '' he rea

NICK CARTER WEEKLY . 7 tell-tale message, and the precious window pane, shattered to a hundred pieces, flew in a dozen different directions. CHAPTER III. ACTION. "Action!" shouted Nick, promptly, and eyery boy in the room knew what be meant. Like trained soldiers, as the detective hurriedly spoke a succint direction to each in turn, even to the theorizing Burt, the one of them did something, and did 1t without delay. One sprang through the window leading into the yard through which the shot bad just been fired; another dropped through a rear door. Phil ran for the front. Within the space of sixty seconds the house had been completely surrounded, and not a known avenue of exit was left unguarded. All watched in vain, however. There a sharp whistle after the lapse of five mint:l'tes. "We're called in," remarked Larry, who had kept close to Phil's side. "Yes," nodded the latter. "He's got away. It was certainly the man who tried to stop me before. Well, he's accomplished his purpose. Mr. Carter is it en-. l tue y destroyed?'' Phil ruefully propounded the query as he re-entered the room they had so summarily left. The detective, on his knees on the floor, was trying to piece out the shattered pane. "He had a good aim," muttered Nick. "It's splinters, not pieces. We'll never make much out of that jumble." "And you had not read it?" said Phil, regretfully. "Half of it. No long faces, lad! As it 1s, we ve got one piece of valuable infor-mation.'' "What?" demanded Burt. "A st.artling and mystifying piece of mformat10n," added Nick, seriously. "Thus far I read: 'I am a prisoner in deadly peril of' my life. I beg reads this to inform my friends that I am a victim of--' "Yes! yes!" palpitateq Phil. 'The Chinese Hivhbinders.' "W "" hat?" projected the bewildered Phil. "The dickens!" exploded Burt, for once too dazed to offer the faintest of 'theories. "Why, Mr. Carter! What a peculiar statement!" commented little Larry. "We must make the most of it, for that is all we have to go on. Well, it is a new and a definite one. Now then, my friends, put on your thinking caps. Phil has evolved two great points: Arnold Leslie is alive. He is the victim of the Chinese High binders. Why?" It was a way the detective had to close up like a clam when a serious problem confronted hi.m. His young assistants knew it would not do to disturb him when in this mood. Two of the boys subsided to seats and joined their chief in hi-s ruminations. Burt went out into the hall. There he found Phil pacing it up and down rest lessly, immersed in thought. "I-say," he ventured. "I've a the ory--" "Don't want it." "On i:ny first detective case--" "Oh, you 're a used-to-be!" muttered Phil, pettishly. "I'm not a never-was, anyway. Huh! Think you own the Leslie case? I've a good mind to tak. e it up myself." ''Do.'' Burt retired in disgust. He tried to get Larry to listen to a -wonderful "theory" he had concerning opium smuggling and the like, but Larry was too engrossed anxiously watching his friend Phil to pay any attention. __, He came forward as Phil picked up his cap and started for the door as if a sudden idea impelled him. "Hold on, Phil," he urged. "Where are you going?'' "To find that man." "The one who fired tii e s .hot?" "The black-whiskered fellow yes. the hinge on which moves at present. Tell Mr. Carter I'll report before midnight.'' Larry_ stared wistfully after Phil. Then he made a grab for his own cap. Phil, too occupied to notice him, ran down the steps. .He started straight back for the old building where he had secured the dia mond-traced window pane. He knew


8 NICK CAR'.l 'ER WEEKLY. enough about criminals to guess that be might not find the black-whiskered man there, but he might learn something of bis identity. He must make a definite st art somewhere, and this seemed the only point that was promising. "The puzzler is, what can the Chinese Highbinders have to do with a man like Arnold Leslie?" reflected Phil. ''It's baf fling. It's almost incredible. As to the r est of the case, the fellow I shadowed is in charge of Leslie. There's some deep plot under it all, of course. Here's a mystery with a vengeance. Will I ever be able to work it out?" Phil reached the court where the old building was loca t ed. He first lurked in a convenient doorway and studied its front. There was nothing very enlightening in a half hour's survey of the place. No one entered. No one came out. "Of course the nest is empty," he cog itated. "No man, knowing that Nick Carter is likely too be on bis trail, would come back to his lair, even for a minute.'' Phil decided to boldly enter the place and make some inquiries. Then he change d his mind and concluded to adopt more cautious tactics. He left the street, ph1nning what he would do, pel)etrated a narrow space be tween two buildings, and finall y fonnd himself in the rear yard of the double house that was his objective point of investigation. It was littered with barrels, boxes, old timber, a wagon or two, and n ear a cen tral fire plu g stood a street sprinkler, its hose attached, made ready for filling for an early morning round. "Hello!" ejaculated Phil, suddenly. He s tarted into the keenest interest, as he looked across the shed roof down which he had slid an hour previous. As his eyes casually lifted to the window he had smashed out and escaped through, Phil became aware that there was a faint radiance in the room beyond. "It comes from the second apartment whence the black-whiskered man came rushing," theoriz e d Phil. "Some one is in there. The lower sash is curtained. If I could peep over! The very thing." Phil climbed up the side of the high srriukler butt. Half its top was thrown back. He perched on this, tip-toed, and quivered. "It's him!" breathed Phil. "He's a venturesome scoundrel. He's packing a valise. Out goes the light. Why he's corning out the back way!" A form crossed a rear porch and came down the stairs rapidly. In his trepidation Phil started to get out of sight, and 111ov ing to step over the side of the wa g on, found his clothing caught in a hook. The man was on the last step now. To drop to the ground was a futile scheme. Phil gently slipped over the edge of the top and .into the sprinkler. There was a light splash as he landed in several inches of water. Phil had not intended to go lower than out of range, but he had lost his purchase. He Hstened for a minute. Footsteps crossed the yard planking. Then they stopped. "I mustn't lose sight of him," declared Phil. He was just reaching up to seize .the side of the butt, to venture a peep at least, when he fell back with a muffied utterance of dismay. "He saw gulped Phil. Yes, the man had certainly seen himthe man had determined to give !rim his quietus. He mus t have crept nois e lessly to the wagon ancf mounted a whe el, for with a vi gorous slam the open half top went down; with a click 1ts outs ide fastening shot into place H e re was a pretty story to tell to his associates! mus ed Phil. Trapped like a novice! Ah! but h e re was something else that promised to g ive that story a far dif ferent ending, and Phil felt cold shivers run all over him. A splurt of water sounded hollow and sudden at his side, and its contact knocked him over. "The wretch!" shouted Phil, in a fren zied tone. He began to scream at the top of his voice as he realized his perilous predicament. The man he had shadowed had left him a vivid reminde r of his hea rtless personality. He had given the hydrant wrench a pull, and the sprinkling butt was filling. Phil felt the cold water creep up inch by inch. He kept on shouting, but he


NICK CAR'fER WEEKLY. doubted if anything but a vague, hollow CHAPTER IV. 9 echo penetrated the outside air. Up to his waist, beyond his waist it came; it reached his neck. There must be a vent somewhere! Clear up to the top, he decided, with a sinking heart, as hisc bin was submerged. He tried to float. Tip-toeing g:we him a momentary respite. Then Phil gave up, for, choked and blinded, he felt his knees weaken and his senses become blurred. What was that soun

10 NICK CARTER WE KLY. A conviction now nerved him-he had struck a .. clew of the biggest kind-the parrot. A certainty warned him -danger might hau_nt every minute he wasted. Promptness, coherency, dispatch, were the essentials of the present situation. Phil glided to the door and locked it. He was ready for business now. He fixed his eyes upon the parrot . He had backed against its cage when his hair was seized by bill or claw. That cage stood on a high stool. The bird was a large, cre ature, but there was a phenominally wise expression to its sidelong glance. Phil studied it deliberately. It had told him great things already: "Darley," without doubt, the name of the black-whiskered man; "A million dollar spec"-had it hit the true essence of the Leslie case? Things were growing deeper every moment. In his precipitation to leave known quarters, the black-whiskered man had forgotten or abandoned his pet parrot. Perhaps it had not exhibited its full knowingness t him. Then again, perhaps it had, a nd Darley might remember it, and return at any moment to deal with a possible tale-bearer as summarily as 1'e had dealt with the diamond-scratched pane of glass and the lurker in the sprinkler bn tt. "Larry," said Phil, seizing the cage by its top ring, "go ahead. No1 not the rear door, the other. There's a hall, a balustrade, two flights of stairs. Go cautiou s ly, now." ''Like a cat,'' promised Larry, aglow with zeal. "When you come out in front, signal if anybody is hanging around." Larry started out into the dark hall. Phil followed at a safe distance. No one hindered inside, a:nd no one looked suspi cious outside the house. Phil marched forward, full of great thoughts as they reached tl1e main tboronghfare. He based ard ent hopes on the parrot, be was positive that coaxing tactics ut1der Nick's skilful direction would lead Polly into making all kinds of startling revelations. The bird bad not let out a croak so far. It watched the lights and the crowds interestedly. Suddenly a dog, kicked by some irritabe pedestrian, ran by yelping. That started up Polly's vocal powers instantly. The bird let out a series of imitations that made th. e air ring. Then it enjoyed a fit of hilarious laughter. Then it demanded, querulously, a dozen times over: "Where's Darley? I sa y Darley! Lie low, Darley! Danger in the air. Ha! ha! Ho! ho!" Every utterance made Phil's heart thump mightily. Such perfect intonation, such versatility inspired him with the firm belief that Polly would prove a mine of useful information before they got through with the creature. He listened raptly. "Write it down, Darley," croaked the bird next. "Number-got it? Number -write it down, Number Twenty-twowhoop !" Phil' s eyes had began to dilate with eagerness. The b i rd was giving a definite direction. Surprise gave way to practical proceedure, however, for /rooking up, Phil s a w what had diverted Polly's line of conversation. A couple of intoxicated men blocked the walk. Polly was looking them over amusedly. "Ha! ha! Jig, jug, jag! Shoe.king example! Hie! whoop 'er up! We'll have them stuffed. Go on, now. Police!" "What's that?" d emanded one of the inebriates, making a dash for Phil. "Hold on, mister, he did11 't say anything to you," interposed Larry, putting forward as the champion of .tJ1e. occasion. "Inshulted us, maundered the other man. "Heard him dishtinctly." "Shut up!" croaked the parrot. The inebriates unlocked arms solemnly. They never saw the p arrot, and the y squared off to make a de scent on Phil. c "Let me pass," spoke the latter, annoycdly. "Don't you see it's the parrot \ in this cage that bas been doing the talk-a ing? It don't know any better." 1 "Teach then!" Phil did not anticipate what eQsued, and was not prepared for it. 'i'he affront' ed inebriate raised bis foot and it met the cage. de That receptacle was carried sheer out of Phil's hand, went up in the air, lande


t NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 11 on the bard stones of the street with a nal call that he was sure would reach the crash that made Phil thrill with dismay.. roof overhead. Its thin metal bands crushed in, the "Listen: Bird flown to next building. bottom was unsnapped and rolled to a disIt's going to be a race over the roofs, but tance. Phil darted forward to succor I'll get it. I'll tire it out in time." Polly. A rising fluff of feathers struck "Plucky Larry!" commented Phil. his face, elu

12 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. first "he could not believe his &enses, and then he decided that the parrot had played him a trick. It was a little one story, one-roomed strm:::ture. It had at one time been a coal office; a battered sign showed that. Its front window was boarded up, its side one had two panes out, and altogether the place looked more like the possible haunt of some homeless tramp than a point of importance in the plans of a man who was working "a million dollar spec, and no mistake.'' Phil, however, had learned the vital lesson that it is never well to trust en tirely to appearances. He ':herefore made sure no one was observing him, and passing the structure he dropped over the walk to the open space at its edge. :Behind ran a splintered roofing intended at some time in the long past to shelter piles of coal and wood. It ran up to a rear door of the office Phil softly handled the knob. It turned, and he stood inside of the place. He held his breath and never moved. An electric street lamp shone directly through the side window. It's rays brightly illumined one side of the single room. They revealed an old straw mattress, an

NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 13 however. It was to shake his head, to oint to his mouth, to make a distressed weep of his hand and to utter half a dozen words rapid'ly-words Phil knew t once were in some obscure foreign a e. but ver ess. :'.nt, ongue. "1 say!" he breathed, in some dismay "he don't understand me, he can't talk nglish. Here's a muddle. Oh my riend-Darley !" Phil was sorry.he uttered that name the inute he spoke it. Upon his companion ts effect was electrical. Like a tiaer the ,, atter sprang forward. In a trice Phil was ripped flat to the mattress, and to his hrinking gaze the gleaming eyes of his ssailant and a thin stiletto blade he branished glowed with rivaling brilliancy. "No friend to Darley, that's sure uttered Phil. "Hold on. Don't strike. ait Look!" It was certainly an inspiration that ruck Phil just here, for it probably ved his life. The dangling coin piece the neck of the foreigner suggested it. hil struggled one arm free from the .wn-pressing grasp of 11is captor; he ised the counterpart of the little metal agment. The effect was magical. A marvelous ange overspread the face of the for ner. He allowed the knife to drop m his hand, he withdrew his clutch m a supposed enemy. The fierce rkle i.n his eyes died down, and they urned mstead a rapt expression. He arose and then dropped to one knee. emulously, timorously, with unmistakle reverence he drew nearer to the ex ded coin piece. Then he kissed the 1d held it, bowed his head, and in attitude of subjection seemed to indie that he was the slave of the possessor that magic talisman. 'Well!" breathed Phil in one wondergasp. "Now, w:iat am I to figure out this?" wo things he was sure of his com-. ion hated Darley; he could not under-d the English language. A dozen vion the tip of his tongue, coned with curiosity and excitement, 1 realized that talk would -be useless yet to unlock those mute lips, what ghtening revelations might not flow h! "I've come to a block "cogitated Phil "b I ' ut 've made a star hit, sure. 1'11 take no risks this time-it's home, Mr. Carter soon as I can taake it. Come His companion did not understand the w.ord perhaps, but he guessen out the sig mficance of the motion that accompanied it. Without demur or delay he followed Phil outside. A. cab had just deposited a roystering duo m front of a saloon. Phil engaged it and gave a quick direction. .It was almost painful, the intensity w1t.h which the foreigner kept his eyes on Ph1l 's face during the brief drive. Their expression was eager, pitiful, abashed, by turn.s. What mighty thoughts might be welhng up for utterance in that active mind! "Mr. Carter will make him talk. He'll find a way," deciared Phil, confidently. "The parrot, the foreigner-what queer, unheard of for a night's work!" ushered his companion eagerly into the big room where the detective enter tained his associates evenings, glad to discover that Nick had not yet retired. Two of the pupils were also present. They joined Nick in a wondering glance at the rather dilapi-Jated-looking Phil and his odd-appearing companion. Phil began his story promptly. He narrated graphically what had occurred :vi thin the past three .hours. He was grat ified, as he saw anse in the eyes of the old master that speculative, intense which always characterized Nick Carter when he was deeply interested. "Yes, Phil," commented the detective when the bri ef story was ended, have done some wonderful work." "I hope so, sir." "This foreigner knows something of Darley, the main mover in the Leslie case . '' "Everything, I believe. If we can only make him talk!" "That's easy." "Is it?" Nick touched a bell. A grizzled old fellow, his special mssenger, appeared. Nick wrote a few lines hastily, and folded the note. "Professor Warrington," he spoke. "You know where he lives? If he is


14 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. a sleep, wake him up. Tell him I must se e him here at once." The messenger departed w ith a shadow's swiftness. There was not much con versation indulged in during.his absence. Nick had take n a book from a case, a volume of ethnological lore, and was l ooking it over, comparing its presenta ti on of face types of different nations with the mute, restless one before him, and P h i l watched him eagerly. Finally the messenger returned, usherin g in a hearty -voiced old gentleman who g r ee ted the detective effusively. ''Boys,'' announced the latter, ''you h a v e all heard of Profes s or Warrington? H e i s authority on the languag e and per sonnel of all nations,'' and the n Nick en gaged in a bri ef, low-to ned conversation wit h t he pro f ess or, who, approachi11g the io reign e r, studied his face cl ose ly. "I would say tha t he comes from some of the ,, Asia n i s l ands," remarked Warrington. Ai ya ? No. Oo-to-rah? Not a sign of re s ponse Can you get him to speak iJ1 his own t o n gue?'' Phil touched the foreigner on the shoulder .. He went through an industious pantomime, he tried hard to make the man understand that he wanted him to speak, and the latter, evidently painfully d es irous of acceding, finally uttered several strange-sounding words. "Good!" nodded the professor. "Gut teral and the vowels prolonged. Of Malay .origin, that is sure." Then ensued a scene that k ept Phil on tenter-hooks of hope and suspense. The professor ran through a dozen different dialects. Sometimes the foreigner's eyes brightened, as if a word, an accent sounded familiar, but he shook his head dumbly and at la s t Warrington announced. "I give it up, Mr. Carter. I have exhaus t e d m y vocabulary." Phil looked dreadfully disappointed. He paced up and down the long room in a worried way as Nick was showing his fri e nd from the house The foreigner continued to watch him with poignant devotion-intense solici tude. It was apparent that he comprehended the situation, that he would give his life, if needed, to meet the wishes of the posse!Osor of a coin fragment in-vested with undeniable importance in his estimation. He crept up to Phi}-., all distress and hu mility He caught his liand and stroked it, tears in his eyes, as if deploring his unfortunate ignorance. "It's all right, old fellow," cheered Phil. "We'll find a way to unloosen your tongue yet, eh? What now?" A glad, shrill cry that was electrifying rang suddenly from the foreigner's lips. Eyes eloquent with delight and intelligence, his long, slim finger outstretched significantly, the dumb foreigner was staring into Nick Carter's cabinet of curi osities. CHAPTER VI. THREADS IN THE DUST. "What now?" asked Nick, re-entering the room at this moment. "Something attracted his attention there,'' explained Phil. The speaker pointed to the cabinet 5 before which the foreigner. had halted with eyes fixed enrapt upon its content d and fingers working nervously. o / That case was a wonderful one, andill Nick looked gratified at what he counte t at first flush to be the same admiratio which was infused into every observer. It not only contained criminal momen toes that were priceless, but a collectio of every weapon known to armorer or ex plorer, fron.i the stone adze of early Brit ain down to the palm dagger of the fa e mous Mafia of New Odeans. "He sees _something particular, 1 think," suggested Phil. o Nick unlocked the cabinet and swun open its doors. Instantly the foreignd0r darted forward. From its middle a confusing array of blade he weapons, he snatched up a rusted kni e with a peculiar spiral point, gloated OV1Jie its pearl mottled ornamentation, anbol pressed it fervently to his lips as if it wi a familiar reminder of his native land. "Ah!'' commented Nick, simply. He gently drew the weapon from foreigner's hand and inspected the lit nc paper tag pasted upon its. handle. is "Seven hundred and sixteen," he reaas and his face brightened. "Well, Ph we've struck the ril!ht trail at last." in "What do you mean?" fluttered Phi


NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 15 "He'll talk now." "I don't understand yet." "Number senn hundred and sixteen is labelled 'hunting-knife from Borneospecial, race of the Negriticdyaks.' His language is an obscure Malay dialect. Solved, sooner than I thought.'' "Solved?" "Inside of an hour we'll have this man telling all he knows. "I don' are hope it. "_y,-ou can." ch\gain Nick Carter touched the bell, again his grizzled messenger appeared. "You know where Malay George's boarding-house is?" questioned 1 be

16 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. \ r eturn, a prisoner, to his old room, was o cca s ioned by his kidnapers, who wish e d to s earc-h for what he has hidden some-.. ere els e and will not produce. You a ilar row e d the ch ase down to a fine po in t, Phil-you run your cl ew s to cover.'' "I have found the motives." "Now.locat e the people behind them." Phil looked a n x i o u s The hardes t part of his task lay before him, and he r ea lized it. He had no ordin a ry combinatio n o f criminals to deal with, but a coterie of conspirato r s, b ehind whom we a lth, shrewdnes s and influence were bulked. And then his profes s ional zeal flamed up. He recounted wha t d ifficulties he had already overcome and with wh a t glowing results. He comprehended what a feather is would be in hi s cap to run the mystify, ing Leslie case to a triumph and finish. He remembe r e d that Nick Carter had des igna ted him as his cleverest graduate. "I'll do it?! said Phil, simply but confidently. CHAPTER VII. ''ON A SHADOW.'' "I've got a t heory--" "Keep it, Burt." ' A nd I've g o t something else.'' "What?" "Come here, and I'll show you." It was the e vening ensuing to that which had seen Phil Marcy capture two remarkable and valuable clews to the great Leslie m ystery Himstlf and Burt Newton were seated at t\le window of a restaurant near Madi son square, and for over an hour one had been watching every passer-by, and the other every person who had entered the restaurant rooms of the place. Within twenty-four hours the methods of running down the Leslie mystery had been somewhat modified, for Nick Carter himself had taken a hand in the case. He had 'bestowed the half-famished dyak in a comfortable room, had left the house for a few hours, had returned looking complacent and satisfi ed, and had insisted that Phil go to bed and get a good night's sleep. "Preparatory to as vigilant a spell as you '11 care for, I'll guarantee," he promised, "I'll give you some explicit advice to-morrow," and Phil rested on thi and decided to follow present directions. When he awoke in the morning, h learned that Larry had come trailing ft about midnight with two f eathers an 1 badly-tattered attire to show for a fo pursuit of the parrot, and th Burt had appeared somewhat late r, n e v referring to the Leslie case, and, there for e d isappointed i n so ul "theory he bad doubtle ssly been fol!o in g up in conne c t ion with thesame. Nick got the three together abou f ne

NICK CAR'rER WEEKLY. 17 in his apparel or beard. Did Darley sup pose pursuit had ended with Phil's boxing up in the sprinkler butt of the night previous, or had he played his game out and so covered his tracks that 1: e was not afraid of detection? "That's him, that's Darley?" asked Burt. "Yes." "There's no mistake?" "None in the world. I'd know those black whiskers anywhere.'' _in,. "Yery good. When he gets 'through -'-lwith his supper, he's going to leave here, isn't he?" "That's good theory, naturally, Burt," smiled Phil. "Oh! don't grin. You don't know it all. We've got to follow him. I read that man." "Do you?" "Yes; bold as a lion when he's safe, but slippery as an eel when he isn't. Take my word for it, when he leaves here he'll lead us no ordinary shadow. He'll spot us if we get to ) close. I'm going to fix all that." "Are you?" "Sure." Phil was a little surprised at Burt's next movement. He walked straight across the hall and squarely t:p to the table where Darley sat. He even put his hand on the back of Darley's chair, glancing around the room as if seeking somebody. Then he returned to Phil, look-ing dreadfully important and confident. "I've fixed it," he announced. "Fixed what?" "You'll see soon Darley got UJ?1 bis meal for it, strolled to the door then, after a scrutinizing face of every lounger in down the street. finished, paid leisurely, and lance at the sight, started The boys were after him promptly. He entered the first poorly-lighted thoroughfare he came to. "That's what I did," remarked Burt, pointing as they rounded the corner. "Eh? What? Say, good!" cried Phil,. with honest admiration for his comrade's cleverness. '' Phosphoru!? ?'' "Yes,'' nodded Burt, rather disap pointed that his companion had so promptly guessed the facts. "Tipped a bottle of it on his coat when I leaned on his chair. Divide-yon take the other side of the street now." Phil had no difficu1ty in keeping that splotch of phosphoresence on the back of the man's coat in view. It was a valna ble guide where street lamps were few and far between. The black-whiskered man led them a tiresome chase. It ended at a lodging house. The man entered it. The two trailers came together opposite it and stood staring blankly at its dark front. "Not much in this shadow," '!ouch safed Burt. !'We've run him to cover, haven't propounded Phil. "That's so. There he is in bis room, taking off his coat. He's going to bed." The black-whiskered, man had entered a room fronting on the street, bad lit the gas, and, without taking the pains to lower the shade, had removed his coat. It looked as if the chase for the night was ended. Phil was chagrined. He re flected over the situation. "See here, Burt," he suggested, "you wait here, will yon?'' "If you say so." "If that fellow really goes to bed and don't come out again in an hour or so, go to Mr. Carter and report.'' "All right. What are you up to?" "I'll go and call Larry off a watch that is useless, '.'eeing Darley is here -incidentally, perhaps, nose arouna the place he's shadowing." Phil started away, made for the nearest elevated station, and was soon speeding for the second address Nick had given -them. It was not difficult to locate the old road house, a dilapidated haunt with a summer garden attachment, and evidently long fallen into disrepute, for Phil made out a hard-looking crowd on its veranda and in the main barroom. -Just as he was nearing it, a close cab started away. A light fl.ashed across its window, and Phil gave a start and a stare. "Impossible!" he muttered, rooted to the spot in stupefaction. "Iml:Jossible !" The cab was far out of reach before be recovered his. composure. He had seen


. --18 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. plainly and unmistakably in the vehicle -the black-whiskered man! "It was Darley," he insisted. "Don't I know him? And yet I left him less than forty-five minutes ago in the room Burt is watching miles away. I came here fast as any one could. What does it mean?" Phil gave up the riddle. He looked around for sorr:e trace of L iury. He could probably enlighten him somewhat. But Larry was no where in sight, and Phil sauntered up to the veranda care lessly, into the crowded barroom, glided to a vacant chair near a window, and, apparently unnoticed, prepared to keep eyes and ears wide open for a spell. There was a piano over at one end of the room. At it some one was idly strumming. Nearit at a table, smoking, drink ing, heads close together in coi1fidential confab, were two men. Phil lingered, although the tobacco and the liquor fumes were not at all to .his liking. This was one of Darley's haunts. Among the throng were undoubtedly" some of his fellow s It was his duty to watch. Something defmite might be picked up here. Darley has probably been here to see some one-wish I knew who," refl e cted Phil. "Hello, That's familiar. Why, it's the tune the boys whistle when they get near Mr. Carter's, to announce their coming.'' Piunk-plunk plunketty-plunk -with one finger the person at the piano was pickiug out the air in question. He re. peated it, banging the terminal notes in such good imitation of the usual emphatic expression given to them by Phq and his comrades, that Phil stoppeq listening and took to staring. "Well, I declare!" he uttered, under his breath. The musician wheeled around on the piano stool. He poised, half the circle completed, b t1t only for an instant, time sufficient to fix a sharp, meaning look on Phil's face. Then his back was again exposed to Phil's wondering glance. "It's Larry!" he breathed, "little Larry, but what a get-up !-disguised till his best friend would hardly know him. He's following up Mr. Carter's rule seven with a vengeance-'never recognize an associate when in action.' But that sig nificant look, and that tune! What's he try in g to tell me, anyway?" Thumpplunk went the piano again. The n, sharply, definitely, four cle a r notes, repeated twice, and each time the same. "Aha!" suddenly ejected Phil, understandingly. "F-A-C-E." Larry had sp e lled out a word on the ivories, and Phil was musican enough.1to read the notes, cracked and t i.n pann:..1f ., was their expression. ""'" "Face? What does he mean? One of the two men at that table near him? Tlte one facing me? Yes, that's it.'' Phil was certain of it now, for a variation in Larry's theme took place. "B-A-G." The notes were struck that represented those letters, and glancing closely at the environment of the man he spposed Larry was indicating, Phil saw a valise. Larry began a new strain '' B-E-D. '' Phil was puzzled. There was no couch in the room. What did the signalis t mean? Jus t there Larry got up from the piano. He never looked at Phil, but he pointed a finger at the ceiling. Then h.e proceeded straight to the door and left the place. "Does he mean up stairs?" ruminated Phil. "Some one up stairs? Say!" he supplemented with a start, "he's told me plain as plain could be to watch the man facing me with the bag. He's told me plain as plain can be, connected with him, is some one up stairs. In bed. It can't be Darley. I saw him leave just now. Then-why!" palpitated Phil, with a decided thrill, "suppose it should be Arnold Leslie!" CHAPTER VIII. CLOSE QUARTERS. Phil promptly started toward the piano seat which Larry had ju s t vacated. The direction from his little friend was unmistakable Some decided interest in the Leslie case revolved around the man at the table. Phil hoped .to take his seat at the piano wi thont attracting the attention of


f NICK CAR'lER WEEKLY. 1 9 the two men. Near them, he might have a chance to overhear some of their con versation. They almost histantly arose, however. One remark made by the man with the bag set Phil on the sharp qui vive. "vVagon's ready an

20 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. I can keep that wagon in view? The. sta bles are too far; inside the house I

e d d f, e. ed lid NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 21 'What was it?" "The wagon just turned the cornerit's tile same that left the road bonse." ''Nonsense I'' ''Don't waste time, I tell you, but come on. It was a truck. The minute they turned the corner out of sight of foe road house, as if afraid of being watched when leaving and followed, the man behind kicked a spring. Down flew false sides. The driver did the same. The seat fell two feet, the horse's check rein slipped. The man put on an old coat and hat. Presto change I I never saw a lightning change act that beat that." "Well!" exploded Phil, emphatically, and with sudden enlightenment. He realized suddenly that he was deal "ng with the shrewdest kind of men. arley employed clever accomplices, that as sure. Phil ran to the corner, followed by the xcited Larry. There he halted, and his ace grew long. Way over on the next street, behind he roadhouse, he heard a sharp clatter ad saw a horse dashing along at breakeck speed. "We can't hope to catch up that lead," e muttered. "Besides, the short cut rough the yard isn't open. There's l1alf dozen fellows lounging there. Too d." He determined to reach that next reet, however, and ventured to lead the ay past the front of the road house, rry meantime telling him all he had und out. The little fellow had seen the driver of e vehicle, the man with the bag, in ose conversation with the black-whisked man, Darley, who had just left as il arrived on the scene. He had overheard some enlightening rds, such as "Leslie," "the caskets," he High binders," and had kept close the man with the carpet bag until he d signaled Phil, then going out and tioning himself where he could watch who left or came to the road house. 'We've lost the wagon," declared il, "bnt we'll pursue it with a few in"ries, all the same. Here, we can cut oss this lot to the next street.'' "Hold on I" ordered a peremptory voice, as the l wo boys started to leave the siriewalk. "It's Burt," said Larry, as that incE vidual, breathless and perspiFing, dashed up to the spot. Burt looked flustered and mad. He panted once or twice, and then blurted out: "Wrong theory." "What about?" queried Phil. "Black-whiskered man. Wasn't Dar-ley at all." "Say that again," ordered Phil, with a start. "It wasn't Darley at all we followed to-night and dotted with the phosphorus, that yon left me to watch." "It wasn't?" ''No.'' ''How do you know?'' "A blind." ''Explain yourself.'' "After you left me the fellow I was watching took off his vest.'' "Never mind details." "A wig-his black beard." Phil gave expression t a sudden con viction. The mystery of his meeting Darley at the road house immediately after leaving him miles away, under surveillance, was explained now. "Darley planted a dummy to deceive us," he observed. '"r'he real Darley was here. Well, it's the wagon trail now., Phil related to their new accession what bad just transpired. They crossed lots to the next street, Phil first ran up against a policeman, and describing _the vehicle they were looking for asked if he had seen it. He had, and told them so. Such a rig he bad noticed turning into the road leading to the river ferry, four streets farther on. The buys hurried their steps. They got into the street designated. Phil was making an inquiry of a sleepy German smoking in front of his bake shop, when Larry glided nimbly to his side and touched his arm. "Look there," he directed, pain.ting. A man resembling a tramp was leading a horse down the street toward them. It was limping slightly. "Why it looks--" began Phil, peering keenly.


22 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. "It is the horse that started out with the rig..:._same color, and besides I remember the blue beads in the bridle rosette." "Something has happened." "Maybe another trick," suggested Burt, suspiciously. "The air seems full of such.'' "I guess not this time," reponded Phil, closely studying man and ani-. mal as they approached nearer. "The horse seems hurt." "Say, fellies !" hailed the man leading the animal, halti11g jnst then and beckoning, and Phil went forward. "What is it?" he asked. "Information for a thirsty man with the first half-dollar he's earned since Ch1istmas burning his pocket," grinned the fellow. "You see, its dis way: Nigh de ferry two guys was unhitching dis horse and hitching up anoder horse dey'd borrowed. Dis one had stumbled, shed a shoe, and hurt his knee, see?'' "I understand," nodded Phil, eagerly. "Half a dollar for me to lead dis horse back to Lundy's road house. See?" "Well?" "I've got mixed on directions. Do you know where it is?" "We've just come from there. The man who gave you the horse was rather stout but pale-faced, wa!Sn't he?" "Why, ,you know him!" "f cruess I do." "' . "Maybe-say, youse am 't gomg back to Lundy's and couldn't take the horse off my hands, could you?'' pleaded the thirst-tormented tramp. "Yon see, I'm not used to long walks.'' "I guess we could," answered Phil, with promptness. "We'll attend to the horse." The tramp cut a caper of delight, raised his head like a sailor sniffing the sea breeze, and dove for the neares t saloon. Phil stood thinking how he could turn this new adventure to some advantage. The horse moved restively. Then, no one holding its trailing strap, it turned squ a rely around and started back down the street in foe direction from which it had come. "Stop it-this way is Lundy's," spoke Larry to Burt, who was nearest. "No," dissented Phil, sharply. "Boys, here's a fortlmate catch, sure. The horse don't want to go to Lundy's. That's not it's home." "Where is it's home, then?" "That's what I propose to find out," aiaswered Phil, a little tremor of anticipated triumph in his tones. "How?" asked Burt. ''By letting the horse go where it likes, and following it.'' CHAPTER X. INTO A LABYRINTH. The horse started back the way it had come, slowly and limpingly. One shoe had heen wrenched off roughly, and the knee above was slightly cut and bleeding. "Those fellows must.intend to go quite a distance, or they would have made the horse do,'' remarked Phil to his com pan-ions. t s g B b w di hi m wa li "Out of the city, you mean?" interro-aw gated Burt. "Yes, they were headed for a ferry. tr)'i "Maybe haste was the point?" sug'J gested Larry. mo Phil told his comrades to keep to the h o sidewalk. He himse1f wa1ked beside the Th horse, allowing it free scope of progress, I but keeping near enough to seem to be hon with it, so nobody would consider it an the astray. droc The animal seemed to be following a a sti familiar route, for it plodded on without hesitation. It marched square up to the nev gates of a ferry. ii. "We're bound for Jersey," guessed arr Phil. "I'd like to wager we're a second "' t sec 1011'. Rllee "Of what?" demanded Burt. Tl "Of the train that runs straight to the 1 )CY Jt place where Arnold Leslie, a whole nest o t"' t Higlibinders for all we know, will b r e < found." "vVell, that's w1rnt we want, isn't it?' inquire d Bnrt, trying to look important. "It is," nodded Phil, seriously "onl it will be real work when we strike tha b . ,, c1rc com mation. er Burt fidgeted a trifle at this, Larry\ d \4 eyes sparkled. "Anywhere v;ith Phil !'f11 was his motto, and the bigger the racke r ye the better it suited the active little fellow Bet They cro s sed the Fort Lee ferry. rived on the other side, their dumb guid r ha, started a10110' the river, fo1lowing th welc ,., "A stream with unvarying regularity.


NICK CARTER WEEKLY. "I say," remarked Burt, wearily, as th e tramp kept u p s t eadily ''this is getting monotonous.'' "It's bound to end somewhere," observed Larry "Yes, but when?" "You can go back if you like," suggested Phil. "Me ? Not much!" gruffly retorted Burt. "When I ran down the bank robbery case, I didn't sleep or-eat for two whole days." "I wouldn't do that if I were you," dissuaded Phil abrnptly, as Burt solaced himself by lighting a cigarette. "Why not?" "Bus ine s s. We're on a shadow, remember. I know where a noted criminal was traced ri ght into his den through the lighted tip of his cigar.'' Burt growlingly threw the cigarette away. Thea he remarked: "Why, we're getting out into the country They were, for a fact. Houses were more scattered now. At one point the horse struck a marshy flat and crossed it. Then came more hilly ground. It must have been three hours after the horse had started on what was evidently the home stretch, when Phil aroused the drooping sensibilities of his comrades with a a stimulating announcement: t "We 're getting to the end of our jour-e nev." -''What makes you think so?" asked 0 Larn. d "Th, e actions of the horse. This is a ueer place '' There was not a human habitation in igl1t. Before them was a broken, hilly tretch, with the river b e yond. Intervenng was a queer layout that suggested the ? arm i yet no tillable land was discernable nyw here in the immediate neighborhood. As many as fifty high hay-stacks spread ver a ten-acre piece of ground, forming circular group. Phil noticed that they ere composed of old hay, weather-beaten nd bleached as if they had stood there r years. Between two of these, where quite a aten track showed, the horse started, af r halting and sniffing with a neigh, as welcoming home. "A farm,'' muttered Burt, d.isgustedlJ:. "We've been wa sting our time following a borrowed horse to some yahoo's sta bles." "I don't believe that," replied Phil. "Now then, Burt, you can take a rest. Sit down there, and keep an occasional eye out for stray comers.'' "Very stray, if they come to this outof-the-world spot." 1'Never mind. You follow me, Larry," directed Phil. He started after the horse, being guided part of the time by the vague outline of it dark body, part of the time by its crunching steps, for the intervening stacks made the route a winding one. It seemed as if the tortuous turning would never end. "Hist!" uttered Phil, suddenly, and he halted, and checked the comrade at his heels with a warningly outstretched band. ''What is it, Phil?" whispered Larry. "Voices. "Hello! what's this?" echoed distinctly on the air, not twenty feet away. "Why, it's the horse!" came a prompt rejoinder. Phil fluttered. His faithful associate, nestling close to him, pressed bis arm s1ightly but significantly. "The two men who drove away in the wagon," he murmured. "Yes." One of them s poke again. He seemed to give the horse no longer in view of the bo y s, a vigorous slap on it flank as he did so. "You can't trust anybody, it seems," he grumbled. "That dratted tramp just let the animal go as soon as our backs were turned. Come, get through with your business and back to Darley." A dead hush followed. Horse and men seemed to have After a brief lapse Phil ventured to recon cau-tiously. t He crept from hay-stack to hay-stack, peered around them, struck a beaten path, followed it to come straight back to the spot he had started from, and sat down to rest and wipe the prespiration from his brow. "They've gone through the stacks and come out on the other side," said Larry. "I guess that's the way of it. Well,


NICK CARTER WEEKLY, we've run them down, anyway. What's_ that, now?" interrogated Phil, getting up briskly and sniffing the air. "Smoke." 1 It is, a -nd--fire I" A heavy taint was followed almost immediately by a vivid glare. It came from the point where they had entered the haystack circle. "The bungler! the dolt!" stormed Phil, angrily. "Eh?" "Can't you guess? Burt." ''He's--'' "Been making up for lost time. Lit a cigarette, I'll bet, and-Say, Larry, this is serious!'' The situation was proving so with increasing rapidity. A shower of sparks, borne aloft by a high wind, flew directly over their heads. "Take my hand," directed Phil. "Now make away from the starting-point of the fire. I declare! it's worse than a labyrinth," he ejaculated, two minutes later. He could start in a definite direction straight enough, but, rounding a stack before he knew it, Phil would find himself winding back the old course again. It looked from the glare as if the flames had gone around the outside circle of stacks like magic, and dropping sparks had fired othetstacks nearer to them. "We'll never .get out of this," pre dicted Larry. ''Pretty badly hemmed in, I will admit,'' returned Phil, as c almly as he could. "Still, we must make a desper.ate effort to find a way." He seized Larry's hand firmly, and again pressed forward. Suddenly his companion stumbled and went headlong against a stack, tripped by a rope. "Ouch!" he ejaculated, setting up and rub his head dolorously. ?" "Nearly banged my brainsont." "\Vhat, on soft hay?" ''No, on hard bricks, I guess-Hello! look here. Well! Whatever is this, I wonder?'' Larry, getting up, began poking and kicking at the haystack to ascertain what disguised object had dealt his cranium its splitting blow. Then he tore away quick handfuls of the hay, and Phil began to share his excitement. "The hay is a mere outside covering," declared Larry. "Of what?" "A brick something. A burrow in the hay," reported Larry, groping investigatingly. "Iron-an iron sheet. Look there, now-a door!" Larry had pulled away a great heap of the hay now. What it had masked was plainly revealed in the bright glare surrounding them. Sure-enough, there was the side of some brick structure, as Larry had rep resented, resembling a bake oven, and there, too, was an iron sheet with a catch and hinges. "Pull it open. Look in," directed Phil. Larry did so. "It's a burrow, a tunnel, boards, steps, a secret entrance to some place--" "Get in!" ordered Phil, sharply, and he gave Larry a vigorous pnsh, and crowded in after him and slammed th door shut. There were sparks all over him, an these he began beating out. Larry helpe him, with the remark: "Found a shelter just in time." "Yes, but we'll be roasted if we ca get no further." "We will "-click-" how's that?" snap! Larry had lighted a dark lantern. "Cautious now," warned Phil. "W don't know what we're running into.' He took the lantern and cast its fo cused rays aronnd them-guessing tha the masked stru.cture was the secret eu trance to some den at the end of the tun nel. A tunnel it was, narrow and descend ing, but head-high and straight. Phi followed it for some two hundred feet. I began to broaden. He halted and maske the lantern. "Open air. I feel it; starlight, I s it, II announced Larry. "Where are we anyway?'' Both boys came out into what to be a ravine, hidden by thick foliag interlaced overhead with a perfect n work of vines. The glare of the burning. hay-sta


NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 2b I penetrated even this secluded spot, and showed the end of the gully, a level space, and just beyond it an iron door set in the solid rock. Over this door ran out a metai arm. The arm suspended something that swung :;;lightly and glittered with a dull, metallic tinge. "What is it?" asked the peering Larry. "It looks like a gong," ventured Phil. "Why what is it doing here?" "\'es, it is a gong-covered with queer characters. Oh, they're easy J Chinese." "Say--" "You 're guessing it," nodded Phil. "We', e arrived. I am confident that we have discovered the secret den of the Chinese High binders." CHAPTER XI. THE KNIFE THROWER. "The Chinese Highbinders !" repeated Larry, with a little shiver. "That sounds mighty grewsome." "They are a formidable lot of fellows from what I hear, but we 'll not back out for that,'' said Phil. "Back out?" murmured Larry. "I see o way, do you?'' "I don't, for a fact. It's fire back of s, and a burglar's job ahead. Keep back, Larry. We're safe enou g h here for spell-no one will cross the field till it ools down." "Wonder where Burt is?" "Run for home, I hope. He's more of success at theorizing than active work. on't show yourself now." Phil spoke warningly and drew back imself, but he peered sharply from the outh of the tunnel. He had not so far noticed the other end f the ravine. Now he saw that it ran ho11t fort y feet. At its end water learned, presumably the river. Coming from it, at all events, was a an-the driver of the trick wagon. He alked hurriedly up to the iron door. rom its side he took a long stick, and, up, he struck the gong three Imes. The iron door swung back after the apse of perhaps five minutes. Phil re arded the person who answered the sumons curiously. He wore a silken robe almost kingly in its richness. Across its breast was embroidered in gold some mystic cipher, the same as that on the gong. His face was typically Chinese, only that his eye showed unmistakable intelli gence, and his bearing was calm and dignified. "We have just delivered the man Darley sent," spoke up the late driver of the trick wagon. "I have seen him," announced the Highbinder in measured tones. "You are satisfied?" "Entirely so. My assistants received him at the hill entrance. You have been provided with a boat r Return to the city that way. We will send back the bor rowed horse after the people attracted by the fire have departed. Here is the money.'' He handed a bulky package to his visi tor. Then he resumed: "You will tell Darley that here his interest in the case ends. There is his re ward. He will pa y you. Arnold Leslie must either tell what has become of the missing caskets or die. If he tells, Darley shall be further rewarded." Phil was a little shaken by t!ie omin ous declaration of the majestic High binder. The latter accompanied the vehicle driver down the length of the ravine, as if to see him dep art safely. "Larry!" whi s pered Phil, in an intense tone, his face v e ry determined looking. "Yes, Phil?" "Are you grit?" "For wl at?" "The door to that de:i is open. We may never have a chance like it again. Shall we return to Mr. Carter and report, or take the risk of acting indepen dently?" "Phil," returned Larry, with placid confidence, "where you go, J go, and y o u alway s know best." "Come on." Phil let himself down noiselessl y from the tunnei ledge. Larry followed. The next minute both had glided through the open door. A' cav e or pit had evidently been utilized to form the secret lair of the Highbinders. Here was their high court facing, undoubtedly, on the river front, for -____....


26 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. a flooring showed, covering the large vault-like apartment in which the boys found themselves "There's st.airs to some building overhead," spoke Larry. "We won't trnst them just yet. This man is coming back. No place to hide. A door. Ali! safe for the present.'' The boys passed a threshold, and crouched low and listened. They heard the door in the rock locked noisily, and footsteps ascend the stairs they had noticed. "Let's see where we are," suggested Larry. Phil flared the dark lantern. A scene of interest greeted them.. A square apartment cut in the solid rock was hung with heavy draperies. There was an altar at ; ne end and two idols beside it, and weapons and nets, and a variety of curious articles Phil supposed to cut some figure in the superstitious mummeries of the Higbbinders, littered the floor. ''Sort of lodge room, I should say --' began Larry, and p aused, for there was a sound on the flooring overhead, a trap lifted, a pair of folding stairs shot down, and a man began to descend. None too soon Phil masked the lantern and drew his companion behind the silk hangings. Crowded close to the stone wall behind, they held their breath and glanceti through the parted folds of the drapery. The new-comer went behind the altar and brought out two lamps, lit them, and sat down on the steps of the platform as if waiting for somebody. The let-down stairs creaked again shortly. Four men descended bearing a litter. Behind it came the man the boys bad seen nnlock the iron door-evidently the chief Highbinder. As they dropped the litter in the middle of the room, a form it contained started up from it. "It's him!" gasped Phil, and Larry felt his companion shake from to foot in a strangely agitated way ''It's who?" "Arnold Leslie." "How do you know ?11 "I-don't speak. What are they going to do with him?" The man on the litter lifted a pale, wretched face to meet gaze of the chief Highbinder, who now advanced. "Leslie," he spoke, "we need waste no words. You have refused to deliver up to our agent, Darley, certain possessions of the dead Prince Hay which we are determined to have.'' The captive, who panted as if his breath came with difficulty, closed his eyes wearily. ''In the name of an association that never failed to track down an enemy, to accomplish any set purpose, I demand those possessions: the urn containing the accursed ashes of the foe we hated, his treasures; which shall never g o back to China to enrich his heirs. I demand this in the name of the Chinese Hig h binders. Will you tell where you have hidden the caskets?'' "No." "You do so, or die. "Hark you," spoke up the enfeebled prisoner, with a quick flash of the e y e, "a sacred trust was reposed in me. I shall never betray it.'' "He has spoken," the chief Highbinder sternly sai J, turning to his companions. "Go for the executioner." At the word, one of the litter-bearers darted up the staits. He reappeared with a fllow built like an athle te, who simply nodded to the throng, and folding his arms over his ches t, posed carelessl y ready for orders, against the wall, not five feet away from the crouching bo ys. "The board," spoke the High binder chief-"the iron straps, the knives." Little Larry was beginning to shake now. The tragic air of the scene was op pressive. Then, with curdling gaze, he took in a stranger scene than he had ever heard or read of. A board three by eight feet was pro d nced, and plact!d on the floor. It haci holes through it here and there. Arnold Leslie was lifted from 1.he litter to the board, and flexible steel straps were passed through the holes, around arms, waist and feet, and locked behind. Then the board and its burden were set against the altar on a tilt just over the perpendicular.


NICK CARTEU WEEKLY. 27 From behind the altar one of the men next brought out a heavy bundle: Its covering was thick green plush cloth. He handed this to the man designated as the executioner. The latter gave it a jerk across the floor, holding one end. Like a barber's cased roll of razors it unwound. It cont ained a t l eas t a hundred gleaming, sharp-edged tr. owel-pointed knives. "Listen,,, spoke the chie f High binder, again, fixing his eye on Leslie. "We give you thirty minutes If you reveal what we wish to know b efor e that time is ended, your lHe shall b e s pared, you will be restored to your friends. If not, each minute, this man, our executioner, an expert knife-thrower, will come nearer, nearer, nearer to your throbbing heart with the fin a l messenger that shall blot it out. Then--" He went to the far side of the room, he threw back a shutter, then a grating, and as the cool night air Tushed in, continued _ominously: "Two lead weights, the river, and you have passed from the enjoyments of life and the memory of your fellow men. Thirty minutes. Do your work well." The executioner nodded grimly. With slow, solemn tread all the others followed thei r chief np the stairway. They disap peared, the trap closed. The missing New York broker faced his doom, and Nick Carter's youthful associates looked, quivered and wondered what would come next. Leslie' s eyes were dilating with sus-pense, ) :JUt his lips were set firm. "He'll never tell," whispered Larry "He'll never have to!" mutte red Phil. Tlile executioner set himself in square range with the elevated board twenty feet away. H e balanced on one foot, he caught up a knife in ach hand-two sparks of electricity seemed to cut the air-swishchug Phil's flesh crawled One knife quivered in the board two inches from the face o f the helpless human target; the second grazed the scalp. It must have severed a lock of hair, so true was the ann. The executioner folde

28 NICK OARTER WEEKLY: new fangled fish or butterfly net, a grain holer, a coop, a dozen different things, until he had guessed out correctly that it was a man-catcher, an enemy-disabler, part of the Highbinder's attacking equipment, and just the thing to use to great advantage un

NICK CARTER WE.EKLY. 2 0 to his right ..-a skiff. Cautiously he trod fame and awaited him at the old the narrow ledge leading toward it, got Bigelow dock. For that point he put directly above it, and calculated to de-with renewed speed, his face hopeful and scend over a broken slant, hasten after enthusiastic. and take up his friends, and row them It dropped like a changing mask one across the river to New York. minute after his nimble feet struck the. He slipped, however, just started on hls rotted planking, a chilling dismay crept descent. Over he went, slid, tumbled, over every feature. and with a great numbing shock landed Stock still and staring vaguely, Phil in the skiff. looked along the dock, across the pier The rough contact sent the craft shoot-running out into the river. ing out from shore, but farther than that Its planking was gone, and the little Phil for a time realized nothing, for his shanty where regular boatmen and fisher head had received a terrific blow where men were wont to store oars and netsit met the rail of the boat, and the plucky it was no longer there! boy detective lay white and still under the Phil weakened. He could see new tim silent stars of the most eventful night of bers hereand there. The facts of the bis life. case were patent to his quick eye. The --dock was being repaired, rebuilt, and the CHAPTER XIII. JUST IN TIME. "Wake up, here!" With a shock Phil stared at a brass-but toned presence hovering over him. "The river police!" he cried, quickly. "Say, I've been-floating?" "Just took you in tow. Lucky you run against us instead of some ferry. Ht:re, ain't you goi11g to tie up your boat?" Phil made no reply, but spra11g ashore. In one swift glance he took i11 his situa tion, in one vivid thrill decided what he must head for promptly. He had floated down the ri\er uncon scious for a good many miles. He had been stopped, it seemed, just off Fifty fifth street. What had become of Larry and Leslie, Phil could only surmise. "I won't _worry about them. They got a

NICK OAR'l'ER WEF.KLY. "Just. Dixey had a big string of fish. We were just going to smash up the old shanty, when he calls hold on. Long and short of it is, he spotted it as just the thing they needed for a storehouse and shelter at their summer camp

NICK CAR'fER WEEKLY. 31 "No need," announced Phil, brightly. "Why not?" "Here's the caskets. Mr. Carter," and Phil excitedly over his story, "what do yon say to that?'' "I say-famous l" answered the vete ran detective, with a look of approbation that Phil never forgot. "Ah, a new arrival. Burt." Just then Burt bolted through the door way, looking excited and done out. He had no hat, his face was scratched, and he was covered from head to foot with soot or coal dust. "\,Vhere have you been?" smiled Nick. "Leslie case," panted Burt. Phil looked dubious. "You rather briskly burned out one end of it last night," he remarked, dryly. "I did, and cut for life, hating my blunderheaded obstinacy, and wild to make up for it. And I have!" proclaimed Burt, triumphantly. "Mr. Carter, l 've got--'' "A theory?" insinuated Phil, his eye twinkling. "No, not a theory dissented Burt, vehemently, "but-that fellow, Darley! I spotted him through watching the house where his double lodges. I knocked him down an areaway, I had a terrible tussle in a coal va v It, and I've got him locked in there waiting further orders.'' "Good for you!" commented Nick. "You 're started on t11e right track. Keep it up. Now to round out the final points of the case-get Darley and the Highbinder chief into court, start the d yak back to China, and inform the public how my clever protege ran down the biggest mystery of the year. Come, Phil." "Where?" inquired the latter. ''I want to see if those two boxes are all right. We'll show them to Arnold Leslie, in the next room.'' Phil started visibly. Quick-witted Nick, watching him narrowly, smiled to hims elf. "Hello!" he murmured, softly. "Don't want to see Leslie?" "Yes-I do-but-Mr. Carter, do you know?" "I can guess, Phil, I knew all along who you were, but I had too much coufidence in.. you to tell you so. You wanted to work out your own destiny alone. You've done it nobly. Come ahead. Eh? Want to get some of those disguise effects into the background first? All right." Nick led the way into the next room a minute later. In a chair, looking remarkably little like "a man running out the sands of life," sat Leslie. He listened earnestly to the detective's story of the brilliant finish to the casehe tool< the two boxes and inspected them. "They are all right," he stated-" the casket containing the ashes of dead Prince Hay, the jewels out of which I shall see that liberal rewards go to the kind friends who have saved my life and honor. But the brave fellow who instigated and kept up this latter search for me-'' ''Here he is.'' Nick pushed Phil forward. "My brother!" fairly shouted the a s tounded Leslie. "Yes," confessed the flnshing Phil. "Arnold, you remember the row we had six months ago? You told m e I w as idle, a nobody. I reckon I wa s for I hadn't felt the spur of an object in life then.'" "Oh, I didn't mean all I said, by any means.'' "No, you was angry at the way I wasted time, bnt I des e rv e d your c e n s ur e It has been the m aking of me. First I was mad and reckless. Then l went to work. Then I h e ard that you was mi s s ing. I came to Mr. Carter here-de ar, kind old friend-I resolved to try and find you. I have. '' "What do I not ow e y ou cried Leslie, effusivel y "Brave fellow! You shall come back to the office, a partner, an equal--" "No," interrupted Phil-"that is, unless Mr. Carter thin ks I am not cut out for much of a detective." "Much of a detective!" repeated Nick, and his sa tisfied look d e cided Phil as to his natural in life-"you are m y cleverest graduate-the running down of the Chinese Highbinder crime is an unmi stakable record-breaker." ''Don't praise me too much,'' pro...........


32 N IC K C AR 'fER WEE K L '!. t es ted Phil. "I would h av e g ro p e d blindl y but for your a dvice and favo r If a big thing has b e e n a ccompli shed, every body c an g u ess w h e re the rea l c redit i s due. "Ah inde ed!" smil ed the d e t ec t i ve. "Yesto the directin g in flue nce of Nic k Carter's M a g ic H a n d [THE END.] The nex t n um be r of t h e Nick C arte r W eek l y will c ontain "Nick Carter's Promise; o r M ill io n s at S take," by the a uthor o f "Nic k C arte r NICK Our r eade r s wil l be pleased t o l earn th a t we h a ve i ss u e d N o I o f Nick Cart er's Qu arte rl y c ontaining No s I t o 13 of the New Nick C arte r W eek l y bound in one v olume, with all the o ri gina l col or e d illu s t ra ti o n s-a sp l endid collection of good d e tective s t ories P R ICE CENTS. Fur sa l e by a ll new s d ea l ers, or sent pos t paid by m a il on r ec e ip t of price by STREE1' & SM ITH, Publishers N e w Y ork. BOOKS FOR EVERYBODY TEN CENTS EACH. 1 h e f o llowing list o f books wUl b e found u se ful entertafnfng, aud full o f instruc tive info rmatiou f o r aH. The y are h a ndsomely bouud iii attrac tiv e covers, p rinted o u g o o d quality p n o e r l llustratetl, n.nd are marvel s o f exce1le11ce. Tf1ese book s have neve r b e f o r e h ee n o ff e red a t s u c b a low figure 'be price, 10 cents each nclu des po s tage. USEFUJ, AND INSTRUCTIV E INFORMA.' I IO N Albu m Writer's Ass istant. Short H a nd r o r r y body. H o w to D o llu s lu e sh. Amateur's of Photography. Mlll s U n i versal J ,etterWriter lloys' Om R oo k o f lloat s The llook o f K n o wledge. F.ver y day Cook Jl oo k The Taxiden1is t M a nual. Goo d H o u se keeping. GAM ES AN)) SPOJt'l'S. The Hunter ant i A n g ler. T h e Int ernation a l Cricket G uide. The Com11 l e t e A mate u r : m d Profession a l O arsrnan'1 Rid i n g amt Drivin g Ma nual. Poe's Foot-llall. Com p l e t e Train i n g G uide f o r Amateur C a mpb ell'!it LR\ T n Tenni s ))uun,s Fen c in g Instructor. The C o m p l ete C h e c k e r 1'11\y er. Capt. Webb' s Swimming Bac kgamm o n au1I llagatelle. Instrnctor. Ou t Door S ports. Aquatic G u i d e; o r Yachting Knd The Y o un g Gymna s t Sailing. I'O R 'l'U NE-'l' ELLIN G. N a poleon's llook o f Fate. C up i d's Dream Book Z o la's Dream Rook. lle r r m a n's Black Art The Way to D o Magic I R ICms H eller's Hand n ook o f Magic Jl e r r m a n s Trick s 11"lth Cards. ltECl'l' A'l IONS AN)) REAIHNGS. T h e Peerless R e ci t er. S e l e c t Recitation s a n d Readings. The You n g E l o cution i s t The Slandanl R e c iter. r r llese books will be sent prepai d upon receipt o f 1 O c e n l s enc b : Whe n o rdering, p lense be pnrticuln.r t o send t b e fnll title o f the l) oo k so yonr full n and adrl r ess The books nre JO cents eacb, postage f ree. Addr ess IUANUAI. LJB U ARY :lii ROR e s c . New Yorke SPORTS. Compl e t e i nstru ctio n s for p layin g many o f the most p o p u l a r ontof.-do o r games i s r oun< l In thi s took. 'l1be games a r e Illu strated a n d v e r y easily mast e red. P r ice 1411 cents. Address l\IANUAL L TBRARY. 25 RoseS!reet. New V')rk A SUPERB JUVENILE PUBLICATION The Army and Navy Weekly. 48-Large Magazine Pages-48 EACH N UMBER CONTAINS Three Seria l -Stories by the Best Writers, Two Complete Naval and Mllitary Cadet S tories, S ketche s, Special Article s De partments. I\ SPECIAL FEATURE. I n each numbe r o f the Army a n d N a vy Weekly will b e found two comp l e t e n o v e l ette s o f cade t life a t the W e st P oint a nd A n n apolis m ilitary a nd nav a l aca demi es, writt e n by g r a du a t e s of t he academ ies. T hese fascinatin g s t ories can b e found in n o o th e r publicatio n DEPARTMENTS.-Edltorial C hat, A thleti c S p o r ts, A mateur J ourna li s m Cor r esponde nce, Stam p s, Ptc Sl'ECIAL ARTI C LES-Spl e ndi d l y lllnstmt ed o n ""val and m il i t a r y subj ects, will b e f o und In each number. SHORT STOR IES. -Illustra t ed s h ort stories b y th e b es t writers a r e publls b e d e ach week. . 111umina t e d co v er-48 ma gaz ine p ag e s-the bes t s t ories that c a n b e p ur c h ased /\II for FIVE CENTS. For by All Newsdealers. STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., New York City.


Nick earter Weekly Thirty=two Pages. Price, 5 Cents. Illuminated Cover. THE BEST LIBRARY OF DETECTIVE STORIF.S -111111111111111 Back Numbers a l w ays on hand. Price, pos t -paid, Fi v e cent s e a ch. -111111111111111 1-The Gold Mine Case; or, How Chkk's Son Be came a Detective. 2-Trim's Race Across the Ice Fields; or, Hunting a Crimimd with aTeam or Dogs. 3-Trim am! the Swedish Swindler; or, Bilk-You's Career in Alaska Society. 4-Trim Among the Esquimaux; or, The Long Night in Frozeu North. . 5-Trim Among the Bushmen; or, Searching for a Lost Gold l\fine in Australia. 6-Trim' s Double Header; or, Snaring Human Game with Decoys. 7-Trim on the Saftlty Valve; or, Taking Long 1 hances with Death. 8-Trim s Troublesome Tiger; or, How His Pris ouer Escaped the Gallows. 9-Trim in liape Town; or, The Man with a Strange Limp. IO-Trim in the Diamond Fields of Kimberlv 11-'rrim in t11e Wiltls; or, Hunting a Otiininal o n the Dark Continent. 12-Trim Cl1anges Cars; or, Taking Big Chances for a Quick Capture 13-Trim in the Main Shaft; or, Hunting Crimiuals a Thousand Feet Under grouud. 14-Trim :;hoots the Grain Cltute; or A Surprise Partv on Board the Falcon. 15-Trim' s.Roun


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