diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-08 06:26:02 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-08 06:26:02 -0800 |
| commit | 2757c7f9e291bee778ce9fc58f5b1f0f17f184b7 (patch) | |
| tree | 2f7daecb0cc6280cf03ecb78c5922dd77c9d1d30 | |
| parent | 9a564710a2af2d22e0835d555a21dce4b96a70ed (diff) | |
| -rw-r--r-- | 43301-0.txt (renamed from 43301.txt) | 398 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 43301-8.txt | 5237 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 43301-8.zip | bin | 77886 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 43301-h.zip | bin | 873024 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 43301-h/43301-h.htm | 423 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 43301.zip | bin | 77868 -> 0 bytes |
6 files changed, 7 insertions, 6051 deletions
@@ -1,39 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wizard Will, by Prentiss Ingraham - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 - - -Title: Wizard Will - The Wonder Worker - -Author: Prentiss Ingraham - -Release Date: July 26, 2013 [EBook #43301] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIZARD WILL *** - - - - -Produced by Demian Katz and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images courtesy -of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43301 *** CONTENTS @@ -1795,7 +1760,7 @@ To her children then, that Thanksgiving night, after he had departed, Mrs. Raymond read the history of the Dashing Dragoon, and he became to Will and Pearl a hero also in their eyes, and warm was the welcome that he received when he came the next day to tell Mrs. Raymond that he had -adopted all of them as _protegees_, and meant to take them to a pleasant +adopted all of them as _protegées_, and meant to take them to a pleasant home and send the children to school. This promise he kept, for he would not be said nay, and Mrs. Raymond, @@ -4877,361 +4842,4 @@ Back cover, fixed "Magnificent" typo in #139. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wizard Will, by Prentiss Ingraham -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIZARD WILL *** - -***** This file should be named 43301.txt or 43301.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/3/0/43301/ - -Produced by Demian Katz and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images courtesy -of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at - www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email -contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the -Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43301 *** diff --git a/43301-8.txt b/43301-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d4f664b..0000000 --- a/43301-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5237 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wizard Will, by Prentiss Ingraham - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 - - -Title: Wizard Will - The Wonder Worker - -Author: Prentiss Ingraham - -Release Date: July 26, 2013 [EBook #43301] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIZARD WILL *** - - - - -Produced by Demian Katz and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images courtesy -of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I.--THE BOY MESSENGER. - CHAPTER II.--AN OATH TO WIN, A VOW TO AVENGE. - CHAPTER III.--TRACKED TO HIS LAIR. - CHAPTER IV.--THE MEETING. - CHAPTER V.--THE BOY PROTECTOR. - CHAPTER VI.--THE REWARD FOR A CONVICT. - CHAPTER VII.--THE LOST GOLD PIECE. - CHAPTER VIII.--THE DASHING DRAGOON. - CHAPTER IX.--PHANTOMS OF THE PAST. - CHAPTER X.--DESERTED. - CHAPTER XI.--A REBUFF. - CHAPTER XII.--THE BOY CAPTIVE. - CHAPTER XIII.--PUT TO THE TEST. - CHAPTER XIV.--WILL PLAYS HIS LITTLE GAME. - CHAPTER XV.--THE BOY GUIDE. - CHAPTER XVI.--THE RAID. - CHAPTER XVII.--ON SECRET SERVICE. - CHAPTER XVIII.--HEADED OFF. - CHAPTER XIX.--UNKNOWN KINDRED TIES. - CHAPTER XX.--THE GRAVE ON THE PRAIRIE. - CHAPTER XXI.--RETRIBUTION AT LAST. - CHAPTER XXII.--INSNARED BY A WATCH. - CHAPTER XXIII.--WIZARD WILL'S LUCK. - CHAPTER XXIV.--CONCLUSION. - - - - - THE ALDINE "TIP-TOP TALES." - - WIZARD WILL - THE WONDER WORKER - - No. 77.] - - [Illustration: "I wish to see Jerry, the Night Hawk," Will promptly - answered.] - - [1d. - - ALDINE PUBLISHING CO., 9, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London. - - - - -THE - -"O'ER LAND & SEA" LIBRARY. - -PRICE TWOPENCE EACH. - -FREE BY POST 2-1/2d. - -This is the largest (containing more good reading), the Cheapest and -BEST TWOPENNY LIBRARY IN THE WORLD. - -Each carefully written volume is guaranteed to be a work of absorbing -interest and of the highest Literary Merit. - - -VOLUMES NOW READY. - -=1. Buffalo Bill.= His Life and Adventures in the Wild West - -=2. The Comrade Scout of Buffalo Bill= - -=3. The Cabin-Boy of the "Polly Ann"=; or, the Gardens of Paradise - -=4. Mexican Joe.= His wonderful Life, Exploits, and Adventures - -=5. The Sailor Castaways=; or, the Buried Treasure of Phantom Island - -=6. The Death's Head Cuirassiers=; or, Brave of all Braves - -=7. The Boy Wonder=; or, the Star of the Circus - -=8. Joe Phoenix, the Police Spy= - -=9. Billy Boots, the Jockey, and Colonel Plunger= - -=10. The Mystery of the Satin-wood Box= - -=11. The Armourer's Apprentice.= A Story of "The Battle and the Breeze." - -=12. The Red Rajah=; or, the Scourge of the Indies - -=13. The Whitest Man in the Mines, and Charley Jones, the "Angel" of -Dogtown= - -=14. The Mad Hussars=; or, the O's and the Macs. A Story of Four Irish -Soldiers of Fortune - -=15. "One Eye," the Cannoneer=; or, Marshal Ney's Last Legacy - -=16. The "Deep One;"= or, the Puzzled Detective - -=17. Larry Locke=; or, A Fight for Fortune - -=18. "Parson Jim," King of the Cowboys= - -=19. Little Charlie and Pug Billy.= A Mystery of the Thames - -=20. The Skipper of the Seagull=; or, the Fog Fiend of Newfoundland - -=21. Life and Adventures of Barnum, the Emperor of Showmen= - -=22. Joe Phoenix's Great Man Hunt=; or, the Captain of the Wolves - -=23. The Irish Captain.= A Tale of the Fight at Fontenoy - -=24. Nemo, King of the Tramps=; or, a Romany Girl's Vengeance - -=25. The Saucy Jane, Privateer= - -=26. Journeyman John, the Champion= - -=27. The Maverick Hunters=; or, the Night Riders of Satanta County - -=28. The Man in Red=; or, the Ghost of the Old Guard - -=29. Top Notch Tom, the Cowboy Outlaw= - -=30. The Marshal of Satanstown=; or, the League of the Cattle-lifters. - -=31. Lance and Lasso=; or, Adventures on the Pampas - -=32. The Three Frigates, and the Peerless Privateer= - -=33. The Russian Spy=; or, the Brothers of the Starry Cross - -=34. The Demon Duellist=; or, the League of Steel - -=35. The Wild Ranger=; or, the Crack Shot of the West - -=36. The Mutineer.= A Romance of Sunny Lands and Blue Waters - -=37. Captain "Freelance," the Buccaneer= - -=38. Montezuma the Merciless=; or, the Eagle and Serpent - -=39. Overland Kit=; or, the Idyl of White Pine - -_Continued on page 2 of cover._ - - - - -WIZARD WILL - -THE WONDER WORKER. - - - - -CHAPTER I.--THE BOY MESSENGER. - - -"Ho, my boy! do you wish to make a dollar?" - -"I do, sir--indeed I do." - -"What is your name?" - -"Will, sir." - -"Well, Will, can you keep your mouth shut?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"Can you be blind, if need be?" - -"You mean not to see anything that is not intended for me to see, sir?" - -"Yes." - -"I understand, sir." - -"Well, it is important that this letter reaches a friend of mine, as I -cannot go myself, so you take it to the number; can you read?" - -"Yes." - -"Well, take it to the number on the envelope, and ring the bell sharply -_three_ times; then ask for Jerry, the Night Hawk; will you remember the -name?" - -"Yes, sir--Jerry, the Night Hawk." - -"Yes, that's it; and you must give him the letter in person." - -"Suppose he is not there, sir?" - -"Then find out when he will be, and keep the letter for him; and see, I -write on the back here for him to give you a couple of dollars, after -which go your way, and forget all about what you have done." - -"Yes, sir;" and the boy took the note and turned to depart to the -address on the envelope, when he was called back, while the man stood in -silent thought. - -He was a gentlemanly looking person, with a face, however stamped with -dissipation. - -In the neighbourhood where he had met the boy, he appeared to be out of -place. - -For half a moment he stood, gazing at the face of the youngster, and -then he said: - -"My boy, do you remember to have seen me before?" - -"No, sir; and yet it seems as if I had." - -"It so seems to me, and your face comes to me like a dream of the past -which I cannot recall; but--never mind; go and do as I have told you, -and you will get your pay," and the man walked on down the street; but -before he had gone far he sprang into a hack, which had evidently been -waiting for him, and was driven away. - -The boy thus intrusted with what was evidently an important note, was an -urchin of twelve; but he looked older, and there was that in his bright, -handsome face which denoted both courage of a high order and -intelligence beyond his years. - -He was poorly, very poorly clad, but his clothing was clean, and he -evidently took pride in appearing at his best. - -The locality he was in was a hard one, one of the worst localities in -the city of New York, and rude, rough characters--men, women and -children--were in the streets. - -But the lad went on his way without noticing any one, and, as though -acquainted with his surroundings, turned into a wretched street that was -little more than an alleyway. - -He stopped at a certain number and seized the bell knob, which appeared -to belong to a bygone age, and in fact the house was a quaint old -structure that had long been the abode of poverty. - -His three sharp rings, as he had been directed to give, were answered by -the door opening, seemingly without human agency, while a gruff voice -demanded: - -"Well, step inside and tell me what you want?" - -The messenger stepped into a small hallway, and saw before him, a few -feet distant, another door, while, through an open panel in it peered a -man's face. - -"I wish to see Jerry, the Night Hawk," explained the youngster. - -"What do you want with him?" - -"I have a letter for him." - -"Give it to me." - -"No, sir, for I have orders from my boss to give it only to Jerry." - -"All right, you can go up and see him, top floor, right hand side front -room," was the reply, and as the man spoke the other door closed behind -the boy, the one in his front opened, and he found he was in a hallway, -into which no doors opened, except the one through which he had passed, -and in the rear was only a pair of stairs occupying the entire width of -the narrow passageway. - -A dim light came from above somewhere, and the messenger ascended the -stairs to the second floor, where he saw doors upon either side. - -Ascending to the third floor, he sought the door to which he had been -directed, and knocked. - -No answer came, and he waited a while and again knocked. - -Still no answer, and then his eyes fell upon a small knob, which he -pulled and found to be a bell. - -Still no response, and the thought came to him to ring it three times, -as he had the bell below stairs. - -This he did, and instantly he heard a voice behind him. - -"Well, youngster, what is it you are after?" - -He was startled, and turning saw a man's face at a panel in the door. - -"I wish to see Jerry, the Night Hawk," answered Will, promptly. - -"Who sent you?" - -"That I will tell him," was the cool reply. - -"Well, I'm Jerry, the Night Hawk." - -The boy looked incredulous, and the man opened the door, and called to -him to enter. - -This he did, and found himself in a hallway that was perfectly square, -and the light came into it from above through a skylight. - -There was no door in this hall, except the one by which he had entered, -but the man said: - -"Is there an answer?" - -"Yes, sir," said the boy, when he had meant to say 'no,' but he did not -correct himself, and instantly the man tapped three times upon the -wooden wall of the hallway. - -To the new surprise of the boy one side of it was at once run upward, -revealing a small room, and into this the two stepped, the man telling -the youngster to follow. - -In the room was a cot-bed, a table, and a rough-looking individual stood -in one corner, holding a rope in his hand, and which he now let go, the -wooden partition, under which they had passed, immediately sliding back -into place again. - -"Now, lad, the letter," said the man who had entered the room with him. - -"Are you Jerry, the Night Hawk?" and the boy looked the man straight in -the eyes. - -"Yes." - -The boy took out the letter and handed it to him, and glancing at the -address he broke open the envelope. - -What was written within was to the point, and very short, for the man at -once said: - -"Yes, you are just the boy we want, as the captain says," and he gazed -into the handsome, fearless young face before him. - -"What do you want me for?" asked the lad. - -"That you shall soon know, and if you serve us well, you will be well -treated; but if not, then you will have to die, that is all," was the -ominous reply of the man, as he seized the boy by the shoulder and -dragged him through a door into a large room where were a dozen men, -whose scowling faces were turned upon the lad with a look that was -wicked and threatening. As he recalled the words of Jerry, the Night -Hawk, and beheld the wild, evil looking men about him, the heart of the -brave boy shrank with fear, for it needed no words to tell him that he -had been led into some trap from which there seemed little chance of -escape. - - - - -CHAPTER II.--AN OATH TO WIN, A VOW TO AVENGE. - - -The scene of my story shifts from the city to the country. A young man, -evidently city bred, was standing beneath the shelter of a woodman's -shanty, while the rain poured in torrents, and sent little brooks -surging like miniature rivers adown the hillsides. - -It was in one of the most beautiful localities of the State of Maryland, -where forest, stream, woodland and vale stretched away in picturesque -attractiveness for miles, and where the broad fields of well-to-do -farmers were filled with the golden grain. - -The young man was clad in sporting garb, carried a gun, which he -shielded from the dampness, and at his feet crouched a dog, while the -game-bag hanging on a limb near-by proved the sportsman's skill. - -It was approaching sunset time, and the storm had been raging for a -couple of hours, the rain-fall being so heavy as to deluge the country, -and make foaming torrents of mere rivulets. - -"It is clearing now, and I will venture, for I would not like to be -caught in the wood by darkness, as I would have to remain all night," -and the sportsman gazed up anxiously at the clouds, breaking away in the -westward. - -He was a man of twenty-six perhaps, and his erect form, elegant manners -and handsome face had won many a girl's heart. - -A Philadelphian, and the ideal of society, he had run away from -dissipation and comrades for a few days shooting in Maryland, and his -first day of sport had been checked by the storm. - -As the rain ceased falling he threw his game bag over his shoulder and -started out upon his return to the little Cross-Roads Inn where he was -stopping. - -He had to pick his way carefully, and often, as it was, he went into -water nearly up to the top of his boots. - -At last he came to a rustic bridge, across a brook; but the brook was -now surging beyond its banks, and driving furiously along. - -"Ho, don't cross there!" cried a voice from the other side. - -But the hunter heeded not the warning and sprang upon the bridge. - -It was tottering, for its foundations had become undermined; but he -hastened on; it trembled, swerved, rocked, and he sprang quickly toward -the other shore, but too late, as before and behind him the spans were -torn away, and the centre one, upon which he stood must go next. - -"Ah! I cannot swim, and am lost!" he cried, in a tone of horror. - -"I will save you," shouted the same voice from the shore. - -Then followed the words: "Throw your gun and game-bag away, and spring -clear of the wreck when I call to you." - -The hunter tossed his fine gun and game-bag from him and nerved himself -for the ordeal. - -He saw the one who had called to him--a tall, fearless-faced young -man--throw aside his coat and hat and plunge into the whirling waters, -some distance above the bridge. - -As he came sweeping down the bold swimmer called out: - -"Now _jump_!" - -The hunter obeyed, and sank beneath the foaming current; but, as he -arose, his arm was seized by the swimmer, and at the same instant the -tottering centre of the bridge gave way, and was swept after them. - -"Don't be alarmed, but keep cool, and I'll work toward the bank with -you." - -"There, put your hands on my shoulders! That's right, and you are as -serene as a May morn; so all will be well;" and the swimmer struck out -for the bank, and at last caught the bough of an overhanging tree. - -It blistered his hands to hold on; but he did so, and the hunter, who -was perfectly self-possessed, also grasped the tree, and both clambered -up the bank. - -"I owe you my life, my man, and you have but to name your price," said -the sportsman. - -"Thank you, stranger, but I am not a professional life-saver, and money -would not have tempted me to have gone to the aid of one who could not -swim." - -"But come, I was on my way to Miller Raymond's, and I can make bold to -take you there, as I'm about one of the family, I may say, for I soon -will be." - -"The miller will send you over to the inn in his spring waggon, for I -guess you're the city gentleman I heard was stopping there." - -The sportsman saw that his bold rescuer, evidently a farmer, was one who -had pride, and merited the treatment of a gentleman. - -"I beg pardon for offering you money, but it could never repay the -service, so we'll be friends. - -"My name is Schuyler Cluett, and that I appreciate your saving my life -you must know." - -The young farmer, for such he was, grasped the outstretched hand, and -said: - -"My name is Kent Lomax, and I'm glad you begged my pardon, for it proves -you to be the man I thought you when I saw your pluck in the water. You -were as cool as an icicle. But let us move on, for we'll get cold -staying here." - -So on they went along the road bordering the stream, and just at dark, -came in view of an old mill standing upon the bank, the water-wheel -turning furiously, while up on the hillside was a handsome country -house, that had the look of being the abode of one who enjoyed living. - -"Well, Kent, you and your friend have been caught in the storm, that's -certain," said an honest-faced old man, meeting them at the door. - -"We've been caught in the creek, Miller Raymond; and this is Mr. -Schuyler Cluett, a city gentleman, stopping at the Cross-Roads Inn, for -a few days shooting, and I told him you would send him over." - -"I am glad to meet you, sir; but I guess you'd better stay with us -to-night, for we can rig you out, as well as Kent, and I've got a little -apple brandy that will do you both good." - -"I thank you, sir;" and then Schuyler Cluett added: "But let me say that -my modest friend here failed to tell you that he saved my life, as the -bridge went in with me, and I cannot swim a stroke." - -"Ah! that is just like Kent; but here is my daughter, and he saved her -life years ago in this same stream, when they were children together. -Ruby, this is Mr. Cluett, whose life Kent has just saved; but hasten to -lay out some of my clothes in the spare rooms, and tell your mother that -we have guests to supper. - -"Come, Mr. Cluett, you and Kent need a little internal warming up after -your ducking," and the two young men dashed off a glass of apple brandy -of the miller's own making, and then sought their respective rooms to -change their clothes, for, after his eyes had fallen upon Ruby Raymond, -the young sportsman had decided to remain all night at the miller's. - -He felt that he did not look his best, in a corduroy suit of the -miller's and a broad shirt collar; but he had to make the best of it, -and so descended to the parlour. - -Kent was already there, as was Miller Raymond, his wife, and Ruby, and -the young sportsman was introduced, and again told the story of his -rescue by Kent. - -Then supper was served, and such a supper Schuyler Cluett had never sat -down to before, he said, and with truth, for Mistress Raymond was noted -for her housekeeping the country over. - -During the evening Ruby sang, in a sweet soprano voice, played the piano -with a skill that surprised the city-bred gentleman, and he found her to -be lovely in face and form, with large, dark-blue eyes, golden hair, and -a smile of the most fascinating sweetness, while her refinement of -manner was as much a surprise to him as were her accomplishments. - -Mr. Schuyler Cluett also learned a secret from the miller, and that was -the fact of Ruby's engagement to Kent Lomax. - -"Kent is a fine fellow, Mr. Cluett," volunteered the miller, "and we -have known him from boyhood. - -"His father married a crossed-grained woman after his first wife's -death, and she made it so warm for the boy he ran away and went to sea. - -"He was gone six years, and returned one day to find his step-mother -dead, so he remained at home, took care of his father until his death, -and now owns the farm, a mile from here, and a good one it is. - -"He and Ruby have loved each other always, and they are to be married, -come Christmas." - -Schuyler Cluett went to his room that night, pondering over all he had -heard, and at last he said half aloud: - -"That beautiful girl marry that common fellow? _Never_! she shall be -mine, and _I swear it_!" - -And Schuyler Cluett kept his treacherous oath against the man who had -saved his life, for the very eve of her wedding-day with Kent Lomax, -Ruby Raymond stole out of her pleasant room, unlocked the front door, -and glided across the lawn to the foot of the hill, where in a buggy, -with a pair of spirited horses, sat a young man awaiting her. - -"Come, hasten, Ruby," he said in a low tone. - -"Oh, Schuyler, I have given up all for you, my parents, my happy home, -and poor Kent. - -"It will break his heart; but then it would have broken my heart to -become his wife loving you as I do." - -And away sped the fleet horses, while the night wore on, the dawn came, -Christmas morn, and Mrs. Raymond hastened to her daughter's room, to -wish her only child a happy Christmas, a happy wedding day. - -A shriek that broke from her lips, followed by a heavy fall, brought the -miller to the room. - -His wife lay unconscious on the floor, an open letter in her hand. - -He read it, and his heart grew cold at the words: - - "Forgive me, mother, father, forgive me; but I could not marry - Kent, as I do not love him, my heart being another's. - - "Finding out the secret of my heart, I would not perjure myself by - marrying Kent Lomax, and so I fly to-night with the one whose wife - I am to be. - - "Some day, when you feel more kindly toward me, I will come back - and plead for your forgiveness. - - "Now good-bye, and Heaven bless you and poor Kent, whom my heart - bleeds for in the sorrow I know he will feel. - - "Your ever loving daughter, - - "RUBY." - - -Loud and stern rang the miller's voice, calling for aid, and one servant -was dispatched for the village doctor, for Mrs. Raymond still lay in a -swoon, and another for Kent Lomax. - -They arrived together, and Kent Lomax looked like a corpse as the miller -read his daughter's letter, for the eyes of the deserted lover were -blinded with grief and all seemed blurred before him. - -"Miller Raymond," said the doctor softly, as he bent over the form of -the mother. - -"Well." - -"Nerve yourself for another bitter blow." - -"Oh Heaven! another?" - -"_Your wife is dead_," was the low response, and the miller groaned, as -he sank upon his knees by the body of his wife and grasping her hand -buried his face in the pillow by the side of the one who had for twenty -years borne his name, the mother of his child who had struck the -death-blow. - -"_Dead! dead!_" shouted Kent Lomax with wild eyes and writhing face. - -"That man did this deed, for he fascinated poor Ruby, won her from me, -from home, from all, and by the eternal Heaven I will track him to the -death for this! - -"I saved his life once, but now I will take away that life; _I vow it, -so help me Heaven!_" - - - - -CHAPTER III.--TRACKED TO HIS LAIR. - - -There was no handsomer bachelor rooms in the city of Philadelphia, than -were those of Schuyler Cluett, the handsome young gallant and "man about -town." - -Society said he was very rich, that he had been left a large fortune by -an uncle, and many were the young ladies who sought to win favour in his -eyes. - -His rooms consisted of a _suite_ of five, for there was his parlour, -combined with sitting-room, his bed-chamber, a spare one for a belated -guest, a snug little kitchen, that was also used as a breakfast-room, -and a sleeping place for a servant. - -All were delightfully furnished, and the young bachelor was wont to take -his breakfast at ten, his _valet_ getting the meals for him, while his -dinners and suppers he always took at the fashionable True Blue Club, of -which he was a popular member. - -At a stable near he kept his _coupe_ and riding-horse, with a coachman, -so that he lived in very great comfort; in fact, it amounted to luxury. - -His bills were always promptly paid at the end of the month; he dressed -with elegance, took the best seat at the opera and theatres, was able to -take a run around to Long Branch, Cape May, Newport, Saratoga and the -White Mountains in the summer, and having spare money always with him to -lend a friend an X or a XX, he was rated a good fellow among the men. - -One night, about one, a.m., Schuyler Cluett was preparing to retire, and -a friend who had accompanied him home had been shown to the spare room, -which also opened into the parlour, so that the two talked as they -undressed. - -"That deuced valet of mine is always away when I need him most," growled -the young bachelor. - -"Now, here he is off at a ball, and why servants must have balls I -cannot understand, and both you and I, Rayford, are half drunk, and need -him to look after our comfort." - -"It's too bad!" sang out Rayford from his room. - -"I'd discharge him, Schuyler." - -"I will, and I do. I discharge him every day, but I hire him over again -before he gets off, and that spoils him; so I'll discharge him some time -for a week, and it will teach him a lesson--ah! there he is now, and -I'll have to go out in the hall and let him in, for he's forgotten his -night key," and Schuyler Cluett went to the door to answer a ring. - -As the door opened, he began to berate his valet, as he supposed it was, -but was considerably taken aback at beholding a stranger enter the hall. - -He failed to recognise him at first, but suddenly beheld him in the full -light of the parlour, whither the stranger had strode with the remark: - -"I wish to see you, Mr. Schuyler Cluett." - -"Ho, Lomax, my dear fellow, I did not know you; but you look ill and -something has surely happened, for you are as haggard as though after a -long illness," and Schuyler Cluett held out his hand. - -"No, Cluett, I do not take the hand of a villain," was the stern reply -of the young farmer. - -"By Heaven! are you drunk? What do you mean?" and the eyes of the young -aristocrat flashed, while his friend Rayford, half-dressed, peered out -of his door, startled at the turn affairs had taken. - -"I mean, Schuyler Cluett, that you, like a snake that you are, -fascinated poor little Ruby Raymond, she that was to have been my wife. - -"We were happy until _you_ came, and she was all my own; but one unlucky -day I dragged you away from death, and I took you to her home, and from -that moment you began to win her from me. - -"I saw it all, I felt it all, for she became unhappy, and she told me -she thought we should be as sister and brother, for she loved me, but -not as a wife should. - -"She saw how it hurt me to hear her say so, and so she said she did not -mean it; but she deceived me, for she did mean it, and one week ago, on -the very eve of our wedding-day, you came like a thief in the night and -stole her from me." - -"Good Heaven! Lomax, I am not guilty of this, and you wrong me, indeed -you do!" cried Schuyler Cluett, his face the picture of amazement. - -Kent Lomax seemed astounded, and asked, sternly: - -"Do you deny it?" - -"I do. Upon my honour, yes!" - -"You deny that you ran off with Ruby Raymond from her father's house, at -twelve o'clock on the night of Christmas Eve?" - -"I do." - -"_You lie in your false throat, man!_" shouted the farmer, and at his -words Schuyler Cluett sprang toward him; but quick as a flash, a pistol -met him, the muzzle in his face, while the young farmer said sternly: - -"Back! I did not come here unprepared, and I would kill you, oh! how -gladly!" - -"I tell you I am falsely accused; and being unarmed, and knowing your -great strength, I am forced to hear you accuse me and submit to your -insults, Kent Lomax." - -"Schuyler Cluett, I know that you are guilty, for I tracked you in your -villainy." - -"Yet you find me here in my bachelor rooms, and there is a friend who is -with me, and can vouch for my words." - -"I can, indeed, sir, for I know that my friend Cluett has been but two -days absent from the city the week past," and Randal Rayford stepped out -of his room into the parlour, he having hastily dressed as he saw that a -tragedy was threatening. - -"Ah! he was two days absent, then? - -"They are the two days in which he committed the crime of kidnapping and -murder--" - -"Murder? Great Heaven! of what else will you accuse me, Lomax?" - -"Yes, of murder; for when poor Mrs. Raymond read the note left by Ruby, -she fell in a faint, and she never came to herself again, but died, and -four days ago I went to see her buried over in the village graveyard. - -"Then I took your track, Schuyler Cluett, and I found out where you -hired your team of fast horses, and where you drove to catch the train. - -"There you bought two tickets for Baltimore, and I lost trace of you -after I arrived in that city." - -"You have tracked some other man, Lomax, for your sweetheart did not run -off with me." - -"And I say that I saw the man of whom you hired your horses, and he -described you." - -"Other men look like me, Lomax." - -"And I saw the station-agent where you took the train for Baltimore, and -he described you, and Ruby, also." - -"An accidental resemblance." - -"A man met you at that station, to drive the horses back to the town -where you hired them." - -"That proves nothing." - -"Does this?" and Kent Lomax drew from his pocket a handkerchief. - -"That is a lady's handkerchief, I believe," was the cool reply. - -"It was left by Ruby Raymond in the waiting-room of the railroad -station, and it _bears her name_." - -"That proves that she did run off with someone; but who, Lomax, for I am -not the guilty one?" - -"Does this prove anything?" and the young farmer held up the gold head -of a walking-stick. - -Schuyler Cluett again started forward, as though to grasp it; but the -pistol's muzzle once more confronted him, while Kent Lomax fairly hissed -forth the words: - -"This I found in the buggy, and there is the stick--see, it fits!" and -stepping to a corner, he picked up a headless walking-stick of -snake-root. - -"You will not deny your guilt now, for this gold head bears your name, -and it came off in the buggy, and you doubtless thought you had dropped -it along the road." - -"I say that I am _not_ guilty," was the sullen reply. - -"Well, sir, I say that you are, and I came here to kill you; but I will -not be a coward and shoot down an unarmed man. Yet I will not allow you -to escape, for I intend to right the wrong I believe you have done poor -Ruby, and I have vowed, over the dead body of Mrs. Raymond, to avenge -her death." - -"What is your intention, Lomax, for this scene is growing monotonous to -me?" - -"My intention is to demand that you meet me face to face, arms in our -hands, and as one gentleman should meet another, though I do not -consider you worthy the name you have dishonoured." - -"By the Lord Harry! but this is too much, and I will meet you were you -the lowest of the low; so name your friend, and Mr. Rayford here will -arrange with him!" hotly said Schuyler Cluett. - -"_I_ have no friend, but that gentleman will do, and he is all we need. - -"I will meet you at sunrise, at any place you may state, for I do not -know this city, and our weapons will be revolvers, the distance ten -paces, that gentleman to give the word to fire, and to keep it up until -one or both are killed." - -"That will suit me," was the cool reply, and turning to his friend, he -continued: - -"You will act for us, Rayford, in this affair this mad fool has forced -upon me?" - -"Certainly, and there is a pretty spot, on the banks of the Schuylkill -river we can select, for I know it well, and I will give this gentleman -written instructions how to reach there. - -"At sunrise you say?" and he turned to Kent Lomax. - -"Yes, and sooner if it could be so." - -"That is soon enough, and here is your directions to reach the spot," -and he jotted down a few notes upon a paper. - -"Thank you; and Schuyler Cluett if you prove yourself a coward and do -not come, I will prove merciless and kill you at sight, as I would a -snake," and Kent Lomax left the rooms. - - - - -CHAPTER IV.--THE MEETING. - - -Until the time for him to seek some means of reaching the spot, selected -for the meeting, that he intended should be fatal to one of them, Kent -Lomax walked the streets of the city, brooding deeply over his sorrows, -and his determination to avenge Ruby, whom he looked upon with pity -rather than anger, and her mother, whose death had been brought on by -the act of Schuyler Cluett. - -At daylight he sought a livery stable, and asked for a horse to ride out -to the rendezvous. - -"You can get a horse, sir, but you are unknown to us, and we must ask a -deposit of his value," said the man. - -"Ah! that is it, you fear I am a horse-thief; well, hitch a carriage for -me and send a driver, one who knows how to reach this place," and he -gave the directions where he wished to go. - -Soon after he sprang into the vehicle and was driven away at a rapid -pace, and in an hour's time was set down at a lonely spot on the -riverbank. - -Up the stream some distance he saw another vehicle draw up, and out of -it sprang Schuyler Cluett and Rayford, and he walked hastily toward -them. - -"I am glad to see that you are not a coward," said Kent Lomax, -addressing Schuyler Cluett. - -"You are all wrong in this, Lomax, much as appearances are against me," -said Cluett. - -"I know I am right, for I have not had my eyes shut the past two months. - -"Are you ready?" - -"I am." - -"I have brought a pair of weapons belonging to Mr. Cluett, sir, and you -can take your choice," said Rayford, opened a box in which were a pair -of handsome revolvers. - -"I have a weapon, sir." - -"It is best that they be alike." - -"Very well, I will take one of these." - -"Take your choice." - -Kent Lomax selected one without an instant of hesitation, and said: - -"This will do." - -Rayford took the revolver and carefully loaded it, and then took up the -other and did likewise. - -Then he paced off ten paces, gave the men the choice of positions by -tossing up a dollar, and Kent Lomax won. - -Both took their positions, Schuyler Cluett with a quiet smile of -confidence upon his face, and Kent Lomax calm, cold, but haggard, stern -and determined. - -The sun was now up, gilding the tree-tops and causing the dew to sparkle -like diamonds upon the grass. - -It was a pretty scene, and yet one that had been selected to be -desecrated by a tragedy. - -Each man took his position, revolver in hand, and standing to one side, -Rayford said: - -"Gentlemen, I am to give the word as follows: - -"One, two, three, fire! - -"Between the words _three_ and _fire_, you are to pull trigger, and you -can keep firing until one or the other falls, or you empty your weapons. - -"Now, are you ready?" - -Both nodded in the affirmative, and then in a loud voice came the fatal -words: - -"_One! two! three--_" - -There was no need of uttering the word fire, for the revolver of each -flashed at three. - -And the result? - -Schuyler Cluett staggered backward, his hand to his head, while Kent -Lomax dropped as though a bullet had pierced his brain. - -"Shot through the heart," said Rayford coolly, and then turning to his -friend he added: - -"I think that should cancel my indebtedness to you, Schuyler." - -"What?" - -"I put a ball of putty, wrapped with tin-foil, in his pistol, and even -with it he left his mark in the dead centre of your forehead, for it is -bruised; but had it been lead, you would have been a dead man." - -"Great Heavens! did you do _that_?" asked Schuyler Cluett. - -"I did." - -"Rayford, I know not what to say; but as you have saved my life, I will -call the debt square between us; but see, he is not dead, and I will put -him in his carriage and send him to a hospital, for we must look to our -own safety now." - -This was done; the body of the wounded, unconscious man was placed in -the carriage that had brought him out, and the driver ordered to take -him to a hospital. - -Then the two friends entered their own carriage, and were driven, by -another road, rapidly back to the city. - -The next morning the following notice of the affair appeared in the -morning papers: - - "A MYSTERIOUS DUEL. - - "At dawn yesterday morning a young gentleman evidently from the - country, judging from his dress and appearance, went to Nailor's - livery stable and sought to hire a saddle-horse for a few hours; - but, upon the price of the animal being demanded, as he was an - utter stranger to the foreman, he called for a carriage and driver, - and ordered the latter to drive him to a spot on the Schuylkill - river, between the Laurel Hill Cemetery and the Wissahickon creek, - and to lose no time in getting there. - - "Upon reaching the spot he left the vehicle, just as another - carriage drove up in the distance, and from it alighted two - gentlemen. - - "There the stranger walked on and met them, reports his driver, and - the three conversed together for a moment; then two of them threw - off their overcoats, while the third paced off a certain distance - and, after loading two weapons taken from a case, handed them to - the duelists. - - "Word was then given, the driver supposes--for he was too far off - to hear--and the pistols flashed together, one man staggering, as - though wounded, the other falling as though dead. - - "The driver was then called, and the one who lay prostrate was - raised and placed in the vehicle which was ordered to drive with - all speed to the Hospital, the others entering the other carriage - and driving rapidly off in another direction. - - "Upon being questioned by our reporter, the driver of the stranger - said that the other duelist was a young society man about town, but - he did not, or pretended not to know his name. - - "He said the stranger's bullet had wounded him in the head, as he - wore a handkerchief about it, but there was no blood-stain visible. - - "The comrade of the alleged society-man was also a young gentleman - of this city, but whom the driver pretended not to know. - - "Going to the Hospital our reporter discovered that the stranger - was there. - - "He had a watch, chain, seal-ring, and sleeve buttons all of good - value, and a pocket book containing several hundred dollars in - bank-bills, but not a slip of paper, or anything to solve his - identity. - - "He was shot just over the heart, and the surgeons feared to probe - the wound, which they say will doubtless prove fatal though there - is the slightest chance for his recovery, as he possesses a fine - physique and the appearance of an iron constitution. - - "Reporters and detectives are busy trying to solve the mystery, and - our readers will be informed if aught is discovered regarding this - strange affair." - - - - -CHAPTER V.--THE BOY PROTECTOR. - - -Again to the crowded metropolis my story shifts, and to a part of the -grand city where dwell those of the humbler walks in life. - -Here are no brown-stone fronts, no elegant homes, but the imprint of -poverty is upon all. - -Long years before the place was a fashionable locality; but the rapid -growth of the city forced the wealthy residents up town, and into their -homes, not then as now, superb structures, palatial in their fittings, -the poorer classes moved, to again give place to those of a still lower -strata of the society that goes to make up the world to be found in -metropolitan life. - -In a tenement-flat, on the fourth floor of a dingy-looking building, a -woman sat alone, a piece of embroidery in her hands. - -The flat consisted of four rooms, one large one in the front, with a -hall-room adjoining, and the same in the rear. - -Those in the front were used as sitting-room and bed-room; those in the -rear, the larger one for a kitchen and dining-room combined, the smaller -for a sleeping-chamber, for there was a cot in it. - -The furniture was very scant, and cheap-looking, there being nothing -more than was actually necessary for use. - -But an air of cleanliness was upon all, and the woman who sat alone in -the front room had the appearance of one reared in refinement, one who -had seen better days ere she had come to feel the pinching of poverty. - -She was neatly clad in a black cashmere dress that was a trifle seedy, -and which appeared to have been often brushed. - -Her form was slender, very graceful, and her face was beautiful yet sad, -while her large eyes were sunken and inflamed as though from weeping. - -The work she was engaged upon ill accorded with the rooms and -surroundings, for she was embroidering a silk scarf of a rare and costly -pattern, and she kept it folded closely in a clean towel, excepting the -part upon which her slender, skilful fingers worked. - -An easel stood near her with a box of paints and brushes, and a -half-finished painting was before her, a landscape scene, with a cosy -country house, an old mill, a brook, and a valley stretching away in the -distance. - -Suddenly her eyes were raised from her work, and rested upon the canvas. - -"Dear, dear old Brookside! how I long to see you once again, and yet I -dare not go, even though I should have to beg my bread. - -"Not one word in all these long, weary, wretched years have I heard from -those whom I love so dearly, and deserted to become the wife of--_a -scoundrel_! - -"Heaven forgive me that rash act; and forgive me for bringing sorrow -upon my parents and poor Kent; but I was fascinated by that wretch--yes, -fascinated, as though by a snake, for it was not love I felt, as now I -hate him--no, no, I should not say that of the dead, of the father of my -children," and she dropped her face in her hands and burst into tears. - -Thirteen years have passed away since the reader last beheld her who -sits there sobbing like a child, and the once beautiful girl of -eighteen, pretty Ruby Raymond, the miller's daughter, has sadly changed -in all that time. - -Almost from the moment that she left her lovely, happy home, deserting -her parents, and flying from the love of honest, brave Kent Lomax, her -miseries had begun; and, too proud to return to dear old Brookside, -though deserted by her husband, whom she afterward had heard was dead, -she struggled on to support herself and her two children. - -Not a word had she heard from her parents, and she would not write to -them, fearing a rebuff. - -Not a word had she heard from Kent Lomax, and, after all that she had -done to break his heart, she would not seek his aid in her distress. - -She had sewed, embroidered, and then taken up painting as a means of -support; but her income was small, and she had to live very humbly. - -Her children she sent to the public school, and she clothed them as well -as she could. - -"Oh! if I could only get a little money saved up, that, in disguise, I -could go down to Brookside and see them all there, though they know me -not! - -"I could leave my children with good hearted Mrs. Lucas, next door, and -be gone but a few days, for I only wish to see the dear old home, to -gaze upon the faces of my parents, to see Kent, and then come back to my -wretchedness and toil; but I feel I could work the better if I could go. - -"Still, I cannot, for it would take nearly fifty dollars to go and -return, and I have but ten saved up, and it would not be right, if I had -the money to spend it thus, for what if I should be taken sick, what -would my little ones do?" - -Again she buried her face in her hands and wept, to start suddenly, -hastily drying her eyes, and, as a second knock came at the door, to -call out: - -"Come in!" - -The door opened and a man entered. - -He was a most unprepossessing looking person, one to dread, for he -looked like a tramp in dress, and a scoundrel in his face. - -The woman arose quickly, and asked as firmly as she could: - -"Well, sir, what do you wish here?" - -"I've come on business, missus, so don't go to squealin', fer I doesn't -mean ter harm yer ef yer puts up ther chink as I tells you," was the -reply in a sullen voice. - -The woman saw that she was in the man's power, for to scream would bring -no aid, as it would scarcely be heard above the din of the city. - -Her children were at school, and there was no one to call upon. - -The face of the man showed his evil heart, and in dread she said: - -"I have but a few dollars in the world, and would you take _that_?" - -"I would, you bet! fer I needs money, and I'll git it, ef I has ter make -trouble, so out with it." - -The poor woman stepped to a little half-desk, half-table, the place -where she kept the few souvenirs of the past, and took therefrom a silk -purse. - -Out of this she took the money, eleven dollars in all. - -"Let me keep one dollar," she pleaded, adding: - -"I need it so much." - -"Not a copper cent, missus, so hand it over." - -"Here it is, eleven dollars." - -"It is not enough, for I need more." - -"It is all I have." - -"You've got jewellery." - -"I've a little, souvenirs of my girlhood." - -"Durn yer girlhood! Yer should forgit it; so hand it over." - -"I will _not_!" she said firmly. - -"Then I chokes that neck o' yours ontil yer can't preach, and takes -all." - -"Mercy you can have all," and she handed out a small box containing a -few trinklets of little intrinsic value, but which she prized most -highly. - -"You've got some rings there." - -"My wedding ring, and one other." - -"They are worth somethin'." - -"They are worth a great deal to me, for one tells me of a happy past, -the other of only sorrow." - -"One was given by a lover, I guesses, and t'other by your husband." - -"You are right." - -"Well, I wants 'em." - -"No! no! no! You would not take these." - -"Come, I hain't no time to lose, for I'm wanted by the perlice, and to -pertect mysel', I'll jist tie you up, and put a bandage on that -music-box o' yourn, so you sha'n't shout when I gets out." - -As he spoke he advanced toward her, and with a spring he grasped her -arm, stifling a cry with his huge right hand. - -At the same moment he fell like a log upon the floor, struck down by an -iron poker held in the hand of a boy of twelve, who unseen by the robber -or his victim, had glided into the room from the back chamber, closely -followed by a little girl of ten. - -With a bound the woman sprang away from the man as he fell, while she -cried in a voice of anguish: - -"Oh, Will, my son, you have killed him!" - -"I have but protected you, mother," was the reply of the brave boy, who -stood over the prostrate form, the iron, which he had used as a weapon, -still grasped in his hand. - - - - -CHAPTER VI.--THE REWARD FOR A CONVICT. - - -The boy who had entered the room and dealt what appeared a death-blow to -the robber, was a handsome little fellow of twelve, well-grown for his -age, with an agile, athletic form, and a face that would win attention -anywhere. - -He was poorly clad, yet his clothes were neat, and he had the look of -one who had been reared in refinement, in spite of his humble and -poverty-stamped surroundings. - -Behind him, holding in her little hands her own and her brother's books, -for the two had just come from school, was a little, fairy-like form of -ten years. - -Her face was bright, sparkling and lovely, with a look of wisdom and -feeling above her years, while her attire was neat, fashionably-made, -though of very cheap material, and there was a certain style about her -that many a millionaire's daughter on Fifth Avenue would give much to -possess. - -"My son, you have killed him," repeated the mother, in a tone of horror. - -"No--no, mother, for I did not hit him that hard; I don't think I did, -at least, though I was very angry at seeing him spring at you, and I am -so glad we came. - -"We got a half-holiday this afternoon, and came in the back door to -surprise you, when we heard that man talking, and I picked up the -kitchen poker and--" - -"But, Will, something must be done, and--" - -The words ended in a startled cry, for the man suddenly rose up to a -sitting posture. - -But Will was equal to the situation, and raising his poker he cried out -sternly: - -"Lie down, sir! quick, or I will kill you!" - -The half-dazed wretch saw that the boy held him at his mercy, and he -dropped back again in a recumbent position. - -"Run, Pearl, and get a policeman to come!" cried Will, and the young -girl darted away, while the robber started to rise, with the remark: - -"No perlice for me, boy--Oh!" - -Back he fell, as the poker descended upon his head with a force that -again stunned him. - -"Oh, Will!" groaned the poor woman. - -"I had to do it, mother, or he would have killed us both to get away, -for he's a desperate fellow." - -And the fearless boy stood over his prisoner with the air of one who -meant to stand no trifling, and knew very well that he was master of the -situation. - -The man soon revived again, but a motion of the poker held over him, and -a stern order, kept him on his back, for he had twice felt the weight of -the boy's blow, and, bleeding from two scalp-wounds and with aching -head, he concluded to remain quiet. - -It seemed an age to the mother and son that Pearl was gone; but she had -fairly flown to the nearest police station, and came dashing into the -room breathlessly, crying: - -"They are coming!" - -Again the man moved uneasily, but the boy said sternly: - -"Don't make me hit you again; but I will if you don't keep quiet." - -"I'll even up on yer some day, boy, if I go to prison for ten years!" -growled the man; and as he spoke, there came steps upon the stairs -without, and a sergeant and two policemen entered, as Pearl threw open -the door. - -The sergeant bowed politely, for the appearance of the lady commanded -respect, and he said: - -"Well done, my little man--ha! it is you is it, Black Brick?" and he -turned his attention to the prisoner, who already was in irons, as the -two officers had lost no time in getting the handcuffs upon him and -placing him upon his feet. - -"Yes, it's me, Sergeant Daly, and you put a cool thousand in your pocket -by my capture," was the sullen reply, and then he added: - -"I s'pose you won't share it with me fer givin' myself up?" - -"My boy, this fellow you have caught is an escaped convict, and there's -a thousand dollars' reward offered for his capture, which you can get by -making an application for it." - -"Thank you, sir, but neither my son or myself would accept money thus -earned, poor as we are," said the lady quickly. - -"You know best, madam," said the surprised sergeant, while the two -officers also looked amazed. - -"What is your name, my lad?" asked Sergeant Daly, taking out a -note-book. - -"Will Raymond, sir." - -"And your name, madam, in full, please?" and the sergeant turned to the -mother. - -She choked up at the question, her face flashed and then paled; but -after an effort at self-control she responded: - -"My name was Ruby Raymond, and since my husband's death I retain the -name for my children. - -"Is it necessary that I should give another?" - -"No madam, the name of Raymond will do; but you will not surely refuse -the reward allowed for the capture of that rascal there!" - -"I cannot allow my son to accept it, sir." - -"Pardon me if I say I believe you need the money." - -"I need it, sir, true; but not blood money, for I could not look upon it -in any other way." - -The sergeant bowed, gave a hasty glance about the rooms, and said to -Will: - -"Come and see me, my boy, and should you need a friend at any time call -on me," and the sergeant followed his men and their prisoner, after -bowing politely to Mrs. Raymond. - -As the door closed behind the officer, Mrs. Raymond sprang toward her -son, and throwing her arms about him, she cried earnestly: - -"Oh, Willie, my noble boy, you have saved me more than you can ever -know, for poor as I am I would not take a fortune for this ring," and -she held up a solid gold band before his eyes; _but it was not her -wedding ring_. - - - - -CHAPTER VII.--THE LOST GOLD PIECE. - - -Several months have passed away since the daring attempt of the escaped -convict to rob Mrs. Raymond in her humble home, and a change has come -that has brought gloom upon the mother and her two children. - -It may have been the shock she had, when threatened by the intruder, -that caused her to break down and take to her bed ill; but certain it is -that she was forced to give up her work, she said for a day or two, and -keep her children home from school. - -Little Pearl was a good cook, however, and Will made the fires and did -what little marketing there was, so that their mother did not suffer for -want of attention. - -Still she fretted, and a fever followed, and Will went after a doctor on -his own responsibility, and placed his mother in his care. - -The man of medicine made three visits, and his pay took two-thirds of -the little money the poor woman had, and she determined to get up and go -to work to earn more. - -But she could do but little, and, weak and wretched, she gained strength -very slowly. - -Then Will went out to see what he could get to do, and each night he -came in with a few pence, earned by blacking boots, running errands or -selling papers, and this helped to eke out a subsistence for all three. - -Mrs. Raymond did not seem to suffer pain, she had no fever, but her -ailment appeared to be heart trouble, and night after night she lay -awake brooding over her sorrows. - -Surprised, as the days passed, that Will seemed to be bringing in more -money each day, she wondered at it, and questioned him, but he merely -said that he picked it up in odd jobs. - -"But, Will, you are looking pale and haggard, and you are working too -hard," seeing that he did look wan and white. - -"No, mother, I'm all right," he answered, and so the conversation ended. - -But that night Mrs. Raymond could not sleep, and growing strangely -nervous, she went to wake her son to talk to her for awhile. - -To her surprise he was not in his little rear room adjoining the -kitchen, and the bed had not been slept in. - -She awakened Pearl and asked her about her brother. - -"Oh, mamma, don't scold him, for he is at work," said Pearl anxiously. - -"Your brother at work, and at night?" - -"Yes, mamma, for he has a place as night messenger in a telegraph -office; he goes on at ten o'clock and gets off at six," explained -Pearl. - -"My poor boy! and this accounts for his being so hard to wake up every -morning. - -"Yes, mamma; but he sleeps in the daytime when he can, and you know he -goes to bed early, but I always wake him up at half-past nine o'clock; -and, oh, mamma! Will gets six dollars a week, only think of that." - -"And he's killing himself, he don't get half the sleep he should have. - -"He must give it up, Pearl, for I will not allow him to ruin his health -and slave his young life away as he is doing." - -"But, mamma, you are sick, and Will makes so much, and you ought not to -work." - -But Mrs. Raymond was firm in her resolve, and when Will came creeping -into his little room in the early morning, he was astonished at finding -his mother lying in his bed, awaiting him. - -In vain he argued; she would not hear of his continuing his night-work, -and so Will Raymond left his place and looked for something else to do. - -But nothing came in his way; times were hard, and but a few pennies a -day were all the mother and her children had to live on. - -Will seldom ate at home, saying that he got plenty at the lunch-counters -during the day, and he left the scanty food for his mother and sister; -but this his mother soon began to disbelieve, as the boy looked really -ill and was growing thin. - -"To-day is Thanksgiving Day, Will, so we must have a good dinner," said -Mrs. Raymond, with a forced smile, one morning, after a most meagre -breakfast. - -"Oh, mamma!" said Will, and his heart was too full to say more. - -"My son, I have a gold-piece--a three-dollar piece given me years ago, -and which I have held on to until now, never counting it in thinking of -my finances; but I wish you to take it and go to some good market and -invest a dollar at least in a good dinner;" and the poor mother turned -away to hide her tears, for the faces of her children told her plainly -that they were hungry--yes, very hungry, as she was herself. - -Will took the piece of gold, when his mother had taken it from its -hiding-place, and placed it carefully in his pocket. - -Then he started out upon his errand. - -He was anxious to make his money go as far as possible, and yet secure -the best, so he wended his way to a market, which had often attracted -his attention. - -Arriving at the market he feasted his eyes upon bunches of crisp, white -celery, selected some fine sweet-potatoes, picked out a fine chicken, -and then felt in his pocket for his money. - -The marketman saw him turn pale as death, and then say, in a whisper, -which he knew was not feigned: - -"_My gold-piece is gone!_" - -"Have you lost your money, my little man?" he asked, in a kindly way. - -"Yes, sir; and it is all we have in the world. - -"Ah! here is a hole in my pocket, and it has rolled out, for it was a -three-dollar gold-piece. - -"But maybe I can find it, sir," and the tears were in the boy's eyes. - -"If you do not come back, I will trust you for your Thanksgiving dinner, -for I know you will pay me when you can." - -"Oh, thank you, sir! You are so kind!" and Will bounded away to look for -his gold-piece. - -But then he remembered that if he went at a rapid pace it might escape -his eye; he walked slowly, searching the ground at every step of the -way. - -Presently he walked bolt up against a gentleman who had been watching -his approach for half a block. - -"Oh, pardon me, sir!" he said. - -"Certainly, my boy; but you appear to be searching for something that -you have lost?" - -The face of the man was full of kindness, though stern, and his voice -had a sympathetic tone in it that touched the boy, who told his -misfortune to the stranger, adding: - -"It was all we had, sir, and poor mother's heart will break, I know." - -The man looked like one who had seen the world, and he dressed as one -who had a plethoric pocket-book. - -He was a reader of human nature, and saw that it was no begging for -sympathy that the boy told his story for. - -A man of fifty, perhaps, he was well preserved, and yet there was that -in his face that seemed to indicate that his life had not been all made -up of sunshine. - -"My boy, I found your gold-piece, and--" - -"Oh, sir!" cried Will, in delight. - -"Yes, and I took it as an omen of good luck, this Thanksgiving day, and -I meant to devote many times its amount to charity, of which I might not -have thought but for my finding this gold-piece. - -"No, I cannot give you my 'luck-piece,' as I must keep it; but I will -give you more than its value, so let us go to the market and get the -things you ordered, and then, if you will ask me home with you, I will -go, for somehow I look upon you as a lucky find, my boy. - -"Come, now, to the market." - -"But, sir, our home is a flat on the top floor of a tenement-house, and -it is so humble, and we are so poor, you would not like to go there." - -"I will go, unless you refuse to take me, my boy." - -"No, sir, I could not refuse one who is so kind to me," was the answer, -and Will led the way back to the market. - -"Did you find your money, my lad?" asked the man. - -"Yes, sir, or rather this gentleman found it for me." - -"Yes, sir, and I wish you to put up your best turkey, and other things -that I will order, and send at once to the address that my young friend -here will give you." - -Will stood aghast, as he heard the orders, for flour, tea, coffee, -sugar, hams and other things were on the list until he seemed to feel -that his kind friend was going to provision the flat for a year to -come. - -"Now, Will, we must take a carriage, for I am a trifle lame, from the -effects of an old wound when I was a soldier in the Mexican war," and a -passing hack was called, and the two entered it. - -Arriving at the tenement-house the gentleman bade the driver wait, and -then he followed Will up the dingy flights of stairs to the top floor. - -Opening the door of the sitting-room, Will ushered his guest in, and -Mrs. Raymond arose from her easy-chair at sight of a stranger. - -She looked pale and thin, but very beautiful, and her face slightly -flushed as she saw her son with the visitor. - -"This is my mother, Mr. Ivey, and this, my little sister Pearl. - -"Mother, this gentleman has been most kind to me," and Will introduced -his visitor with the ease of one double his years. - -The visitor seemed amazed at the lovely woman he beheld before him, and -instinctively he knew that he was in the presence of a lady. - -He bowed low, and advancing held out his hand, while he said: - -"You must pardon my intrusion, Mrs. Raymond; but I was so fortunate this -morning as to find a three-dollar gold-piece. - -"It caught my eye, as it glittered upon the pavement, and picking it up -I saw that it had a hole in it, so attached it to my watch-chain. - -"A moment after I beheld one I recognized as the owner coming in search -of it, and thus I made the acquaintance of your noble boy, and hence -took the occasion to also meet you and his sister." - -Mrs. Raymond was touched by the words of the visitor, and there was that -in his face that seemed to impress her, and she said: - -"You are very welcome, sir, though ours is but a poor home for visitors, -and I have been an invalid for some little time; but may I ask, as my -son introduced you as Mr. Ivey, if you are not Colonel Richard Ivey, who -was known as Dashing Dick Ivey of the Dragoons in the Mexican war?" - -"Why yes, madam, that was my name, when years ago I was a cavalry -officer; but have we met before that you recognize me?" - -"No, sir, but when a girl I kept a scrap-book, and yours was among the -pictures that I took from a paper and put in it, and often have I looked -over the book and your face has but little changed, so I recalled it -upon hearing your name." - -"You are very kind, my dear madam, and this is another link of -friendship between us that you should remember me as a soldier, and I -hope you will look upon me from this day as an old friend, one who knows -your sufferings and your needs, for I have heard all from Will, and I -intend to do for you just what I would have done for a sister of mine -were she in distress," and into the hearts of the mother and her -children came a joy that they had not known for many a long day, and all -through Will Raymond's losing his three-dollar gold-piece on -Thanksgiving Day. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII.--THE DASHING DRAGOON. - - -Colonel Dick Ivey was a bachelor and a man of vast wealth. - -He had been an only son, and the idol of his boyhood life had been his -sister, two years his junior. - -Their parents had been wealthy, and they dated their ancestry back for -many generations, and the father of the young Richard had been anxious -to have his son become a soldier, and so got for him a cadetship at West -Point. - -A handsome, dashing youth, generous to a fault, Dick Ivey had won the -hearts of professors and comrades alike, and none of the latter had -envied him the first honours of his class when he had graduated, while -the instructors had said they were well won and deserved. - -There were four persons present at the graduating exercises that Dick -was most desirous of pleasing, and these were his parents, his sister, -and her best friend, the young cadet's lady-love. - -But, in spite of his honours won, the fickle young lady-love had flirted -with the honoured cadet, refused his proffered love, and became -infatuated, as it were, with a brother cadet of her old lover. - -It cut Dick Ivey to the heart, but he nursed his sorrow in silence, -uttered no complaint, and went to the border with his regiment, to soon -win distinction as a daring officer. - -The fickle maiden meanwhile married the successful rival, and two years -after died, it was said, of a broken heart. - -The news came to Dick Ivey that his sister was to marry, and when he -heard whom it was that was to be her husband, he obtained a furlough and -started for his home to warn her against the man who had broken the -heart of his old lady-love. - -But, wounded on the way, in a fight with Indians, he was laid up for -weeks, and arrived too late, for his sister had married the man whom he -now hated with all his soul. - -Soon after the Mexican war broke out, and as the American army crossed -the Rio Grande, Dick Ivey met his old rival, and learned of his sister's -death. - -Soon after a letter came to him, written by his sister, and given to -some faithful servant to mail. - -It told of her sorrows, her sufferings, the cruelties of the man she had -loved, and that she too was dying of a broken heart. - -At once did Dick Ivey seek the man who had wrecked the lives of two whom -he had so dearly loved, and what he said was terse, to the point, and in -deadly earnest. It was: - -"You know my cause of quarrel with you, sir, and that now is no time to -settle it, for we belong to our country. - -"But, the day this war ends, if you and I are alive, you shall meet me -on the field of honour, and but one of us shall ever leave it alive." - -And all through the war did Dick Ivey win fame, and he became a hero in -the eyes of his gallant comrades. - -At last the war ended, the City of Mexico was in the hands of General -Scott, and the Daring Dragoons, commanded by Colonel Ivey, were ordered -home. - -Instantly, he sought his rival, and reminded him of his words at the -breaking out of hostilities, and the two met in personal combat upon the -duelling field. - -It was a duel with swords, and each man meant that it should be to the -death, that no mercy should be shown, and it could end in but one -way--the death of one, or both. - -It was fought through to the bitter end, and Dick Ivey left his hated -enemy dead upon the field. - -Resigning his commission, he returned to his home in the State of -Mississippi, and yet he remained there but a short while, for the spirit -of unrest was upon him, and the papers teeming with stories of his -career, he sailed for foreign lands and remained abroad for years. - -Again, he returned to America and settled in an elegant bachelor-home -upon a fashionable avenue in New York city, a man of noble impulses, yet -one upon whose life a shadow had fallen, and who carried in his heart a -skeleton of bitter memories. - -Such was the man who had found Will Raymond's lost gold-piece, and his -career, from a cadet at West Point, to his living a luxurious bachelor -life in New York, Mrs. Raymond read to her children that Thanksgiving -night after he had left; for the distinguished soldier had begged an -invitation to eat his Thanksgiving turkey that day in the humble home of -the woman he had so strangely met, and who, by some strange accident, -had pasted in her scrap-book his picture, as a young soldier, and the -scraps of his life history as she had then read them, never dreaming -that she would meet the hero with the dark, handsome face, dressed in -his gorgeous Dragoon uniform. - -To her children then, that Thanksgiving night, after he had departed, -Mrs. Raymond read the history of the Dashing Dragoon, and he became to -Will and Pearl a hero also in their eyes, and warm was the welcome that -he received when he came the next day to tell Mrs. Raymond that he had -adopted all of them as _protegées_, and meant to take them to a pleasant -home and send the children to school. - -This promise he kept, for he would not be said nay, and Mrs. Raymond, -grown almost happy-faced with the change, moved to a pleasant little -home in the upper part of the city, and Will and Pearl daily attended -the most fashionable schools in the metropolis. - -Months thus passed away, Colonel Ivey taking his Sunday dinner with the -mother and her children at first, and then calling oftener and oftener, -until one night he called Will and Pearl to him and told them that he -had asked their mother to become his wife, and that she had said that -she would. - -It made them happy, for they were glad to see joy in the face of their -dearly loved mother, and soon after Mrs. Ruby Raymond became Mrs. -Richard Ivey. - -It was a quiet wedding in the cosey home, and then into the grand -mansion of Colonel Ivey the mother and her children moved, and sunshine -seemed to brighten all their pathway through life; but alas! who can see -into the future, who can tell how far beyond the sunshine lie the -shadows that must fall upon our lives, shutting out all brightness, -encircling them with gloom as black as the grave, and far more cruel. - - - - -CHAPTER IX.--PHANTOMS OF THE PAST. - - -It was a pleasant night and Mrs. Richard Ivey sat alone in the handsome -library of her elegant country house on the sea-shore, for it was the -summer time. - -Her face had lost its look of haunting care, and her cheeks glowed with -health, and she appeared to be happy once more. - -Still there were phantoms of the past that would rise before her and -they would not go down at her bidding. - -She recalled her first love, noble-hearted, honest Kent Lomax, from whom -she had fled to become the wife of a man who had proved himself a -wretch, a villain. - -She recalled her happy home, her loving parents, and wondered if they -had ever forgiven her, for she had not heard one word from them since -her flight, and she knew not the scene that had followed, when Kent -Lomax had met Schuyler Cluett upon the field of honour, and had fallen -before the bullet of the man she had married. - -She had told Colonel Ivey all before she had married him, and he had but -loved her the more for her confession and the sorrows she had known. - -He had told her, too, that in the pleasant fall of the year, they would -all go down to Maryland on a visit, and see the old home and her -parents, and ask that she might be forgiven. - -As she sat alone in her home she was pondering over the past. - -Her husband had gone off on a business trip to the far West, Will was -away upon a yachting cruise, for he had become a skilful and devoted -yachtsman, his step-father having presented him with a beautiful craft, -and Pearl was spending the night with a little playmate who lived near. - -Presently a footfall was heard in the hallway, and Mrs. Ivey supposed it -was the butler, about to close up the house for the night, so that it -did not disturb her, but she started when the words fell upon her ears: - -"_Mrs. Ivey_, I believe?" - -"_Oh, Mercy!_" - -The cry came like a groan of anguish from the lips of the woman, as she -turned and beheld the form of a man standing before her. - -He had entered the mansion unseen, had walked into the library -unannounced, and was within a few paces of her. - -His appearance was that of a gentleman, and yet one whose life was a -fast one. - -He was well dressed, in fact almost flashily attired, wore a diamond in -his front shirt, another upon the little finger of his left hand, and a -heavy watch chain crossed his vest front. - -He appeared to be a man of forty, and his face was handsome, his eyes -piercing, yet a certain cold look, added to recklessness and a cynical -smile were not prepossessing. - -"You did not expect to see me again, Ruby?" he said in a voice that was -tinged with a sneer. - -"I believed you dead," she whispered, for she seemed scarcely able to -articulate. - -"Yes, for so I sent you word." - -"_You_ sent me word," she said repeating his words. - -"Yes, I got a pal of mine to come and see you, and tell you how I had -been smashed up in a railway accident. - -"The smash-up was true, and I had my leg broken, and lay for weeks in -agony; but I got well, and here I am." - -"Oh why did you do me this cruel wrong?" she groaned. - -"To accomplish just what you have done." - -"And that is--" - -"That, believing me dead you might marry, for I knew your beauty would -turn the head of some old millionaire fool as it has done." - -"And this was your plot?" - -"Certainly," and he took a seat near her. - -"What is your purpose?" she asked in a voice scarcely audible. - -"Not to claim my wife, I assure you." - -"I would die before I would again live with you; but it breaks my heart -to feel that I have committed this crime against the noble man that made -me, as he supposed, his wife, for we both felt that you were dead." - -"And wished me so?" he said with a sneer. - -"Indeed I did, though Heaven forgive me for telling the truth." - -"Well, you see I am by no means a dead man, and as I have no desire to -die of starvation I have come to you." - -"To me?" - -"Yes." - -"And why?" - -"You are rich." - -"I am worth nothing, only such as my husband gives me." - -"Well, you'll have to strike him for a loan on my account." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I need money." - -"I can't help you." - -"You must." - -"I will not." - -"Listen to me, Ruby, and don't be silly. - -"You have broken the laws of the land, in marrying Colonel Ivey when you -had a husband living." - -"I believed you dead." - -"That does not excuse you, and besides, I can bring up witnesses to -swear that you knew me to be alive!" - -"Oh, monster!" - -"I can do it, and that will prove your guilt, so you see, you are wholly -in my power." - -"What do you wish of me?" - -"I wish, as I said, some money, and I will give you a reasonable time to -get it for me. - -"If I get it I will go far away and never appear again to disturb you; -but, if I do not receive it, I will simply make my presence known to -your husband and destroy you." - -"It will but drive me again into poverty and wretchedness, for I will -not live a lie to that good man, and shall tell him all." - -"You are a fool, Ruby." - -"I was a fool when I became your wife. - -"I did not love you, though I believed that I did, and I soon found out -that it was but a fascination, such as a serpent has over a bird. - -"I fled from my happy home, I deserted a true, honourable man, and -became your wife, not to be acknowledged as such, for you hid me away in -a little village, while you led a life of dissipation in Philadelphia, -still believed to be a bachelor by your friends. - -"In that lonely life I lived, and my children were born, and, with no -friend near, mine was a wretched existence. - -"Deserted by you, with my children, I went to New York to earn my -living, and thither you followed me, and I had to give you all that I -had saved up, and you gambled it away. - -"Again deserted by you, I sought to hide away where you could not find -me, and I became prosperous, in a small way, by selling the work of my -hands; but again you found me, took my little earnings and went West, -and soon after I heard of your death. - -"Believe me, Schuyler Cluett, wicked as it was, I rejoiced that I was -free, for I believed that I was. - -"And now you come again, when I felt that my life was not all shadow, -and you demand that I rob my husband to help you." - -"I am your husband, Ruby, and I need help, and will have it." - -"Not from me, sir." - -"Yes, from you." - -"I say no!--for I will tell all, and defy you." - -"I will first see him, tell him who I am, and he will pay me to keep -quiet, for the man loves you. - -"For the sake of yourself, and of your children, you had best decide to -give me the money, I ask." - -She was silent, and lost in deep thought for full a minute, while he -watched her face narrowly. - -At last she said: - -"Schuyler Cluett, you know that I would give much to have you never -cross my path again; but your coming has unnerved me, and I am not -myself. - -"If I give you money, without telling my husband all, it would but be -robbing him to pay you. - -"If I tell him, I believe he would pay you as you demand; but yet, with -you alive, and he knowing it, I could not remain here as his wife. - -"So go from me, and I will decide when I can collect my thoughts." - -"I will give you just one week." - -"It is long enough, for I will not need so much time; but do not come -here." - -"No, I will give you an address in the city that will reach me, and you -can appoint a place of meeting when you can give me the money." - -"If I decide to do so." - -"Oh, no fear about that, for you will decide in my favour, and for your -children for it would be a big scandal, you know, to come out; that--but -I'll not remind you, so here is my address, and I'll bid you goodnight, -Mrs. Ivey," and he left the room as silently as he had entered it, and -the poor woman was again alone with the phantoms of the past. - - - - -CHAPTER X.--DESERTED. - - -Colonel Richard Ivey came back to his elegant home, from his trip to the -West. - -He had telegraphed to have the carriage meet him at the railway station, -but to his surprise it was not there, and so he sprang into a village -hack and drove homeward. - -It was dark ere he reached the mansion and his surprise was greater when -he saw no lights to greet him. - -"Why Ruby must have gone up to the city; but she wrote nothing of -intending to do so, in her last letter," he said, as he sprang out of -the vehicle and paid the driver. - -Ascending to the piazza he rang the bell, and soon a light flashed -within the hallway, and the butler opened the door. - -"Well, Richard, what is the matter, that I receive such a bleak -welcome?" he said. - -"The madam is away, sir, and has been for some days; but she left a -letter for you, sir, and it's on your table with the mail. - -"I'll have lights, sir, at once." - -The mansion was soon lighted up, and supper ordered for the master, who -went into his library and took up the numerous letters that had arrived -for him during his absence of several weeks. - -All were thrown aside excepting one. - -That one bore no stamp or post-mark, and was from his wife. - -Hastily he broke the seal, and seeing that it was several pages in -length, he threw himself into his easy-chair beneath the lamp. - -As he read, he uttered a sound very like a moan, and, strong man though -he was, his hands trembled as he held the letter. - -When he had finished he slowly re-read it, and then bending his head -upon his hands he sat thus, the picture of silent, manly grief. - -What he read was as follows: - - "SOLDIER'S REST, } - "September 1st, 18--. } - - "Dare I, in this letter that I now write you, address you as my - heart would dictate and call you my own dear Richard?--for such you - are to me and ever will be, though a cruel blow causes me to fly - from you. - - "The other night I sat alone in your library in your pet chair. - - "Will was away in his yacht, on a cruise for a few days, and Pearl - was spending the night with a little girl friend. - - "Suddenly a visitor entered the library. - - "To my horror, it was one I deemed dead, years ago! - - "But no not dead, alas! but alive, cynical, sneering, cold-hearted, - cruel he stood before me. - - "Dressed well, wearing diamonds, yet a begger for gold. - - "Need I tell you that it was _my husband_? - - "Need I tell you that he had deceived me in his death, and told me - that he had purposely done so, that I might, by my beauty--such - were his words--win a rich husband and then he could force from me - gold to keep my secret? - - "Such was his mission to me, and he demanded a large sum that he - might dissipate it in his luxurious life. - - "He promised to go from me, and never return if I gave him the sum - he demanded. - - "If I refused, he said that he would go to you, and you, for - honour's sake, to save scandal, would buy him off. - - "Again, he said he would tell you that I knew he was alive and yet - married you. - - "So, in my grief, I begged him to give me time for thought, though - I then knew what my course would be. - - "He gave me a week to consider, and, confident that I would yield, - he left. - - "He judged me by his own guilty heart and felt safe in his threats - to divulge the secret of his being still alive. - - "When he was gone I fell into a swoon upon the floor, and there - Richards found me when he came to put out the lights. - - "The maid revived me, and I passed a night of bitter agony; but I - was decided as to what I should do, and I told the servants that I - had heard bad news, and must go away, perhaps to be gone a long - time. - - "I did not care to say more, that I would never return, for your - sake. - - "Then I began to get ready, and that day Pearl returned home. - - "The next day Will came back from his cruise and I told my children - that we must go. - - "I told them that it was no quarrel, no wrong of one of us against - the other, only duty forced me away. - - "I had in my purse something over a hundred dollars, which you had - given me for charity, you remember, and I devoted it to charity to - myself, for we go as poor as we came to you otherwise, and it is - because I would not feel right in taking from you one dollar when I - know that man lives. - - "To-morrow we leave for New York in the early train, and I shall go - to your city mansion and get our old traps there, and place in the - Safe Deposit the jewellery and other valuables you have given to - us. - - "There is one souvenir I keep, the ring you and I supposed to be - _our wedding ring_. - - "That I shall wear, though the lie stares me in the face; but it - was placed there in honour in so doing. - - "Where I go you will not know, for I shall not wish you to find me, - which your heart, I feel, will tempt you to do. - - "I go my way as before, to earn our bread by my handiwork, and I am - strong now and in good health, after the happiness that has come - into my life, and I can bear much. - - "Heaven bless you, will be my prayer and the prayer of my children, - Richard, for you have been to us all in all, and to give you up is - a pang that cuts deep into the hearts of us all. - - "Farewell, Richard, and ever believe in the love, though it be in - shackles, of - - "Yours unhappily, - - "RUBY CLUETT." - - -Such was the letter that Colonel Dick Ivey read, and it was no wonder -that he felt deeply the blow that had fallen upon him. - -For a long time he remained in silent grief; and then he raised his -bowed head, and already suffering had made his stern, handsome face -haggard. - -"She is as pure as an angel, and she shall not leave me. - -"I will find her, cost what it may, and to-morrow I will go to the city, -and set the wheels of the Secret Service in motion to find her and her -children. - -"Then she shall get a divorce from this wretch, for, innocent thing that -she is, she does not know that she can readily do so, under the plea of -desertion. - -"If not, why, I'll have to make a widow of her and then marry her;" and -the face of the colonel proved that he meant what he said, while, after -a moment, he added: - -"It strikes me that a man who has been such a wretch as this fellow is, -has done that which would place him behind prison bars, and perhaps -stretch his neck, so I'll put the detectives upon his track, and see -what they can discover of his past career;" and with this determination -Colonel Ivey sought the supper room, now cheered with the thought that -his separation from those he loved was but temporary. - - - - -CHAPTER XI.--A REBUFF. - - -Schuyler Cluett waited patiently for the time allowed his wife, in which -to write to him, to pass, and no letter came. - -What could it mean? Had she lost his address? Did she intend to defy -him? - -These questions chased each other through his mind over and over again, -and he could find no answer. - -But he waited another day beyond the allotted time, and then determined -to solve the mystery. - -To do this he would go to the house of Colonel Ivey. - -He first sought the residence of the colonel in the city, and found it -closed up. - -This proved that the family had not returned to town. - -So he started for the country, and in due time reached the station near -Soldier's Rest, as the home of the colonel was called. - -He took a hack and started for the villa, leaving the vehicle at the -gate, while he advanced on foot, having told the driver to wait for him. - -It was a lordly place, a grand mansion, surrounded by spacious, -ornamental grounds on one side, flower gardens in the rear, a lawn in -the front, and a park upon the other side. - -The grounds sloped down to the walk, and there were pleasure boats to -invite to a sail or a row. - -The view from the piazzas was beautiful in the extreme, and altogether a -more charming country home could not be found than was Soldier's Rest. - -"A place for a gentleman of my taste to live, this," said Schuyler -Cluett, as he walked up the grand path to the mansion. - -"By jove! a bright idea strikes me, and I hope I am not too late to -carry it out. - -"Let me see: if I should keep in the back-ground, that is, out of sight, -and get rid of this gallant colonel, that is, let him meet with some -accident to cause his death, why my wife would be his heiress, of -course. - -"Then I could come in, and after half a year's mourning I could force -her to marry me, for appearances' sake, and I'd have all. - -"I was a trifle too fast in appearing as I did, and not thinking of this -little game before. - -"Now it may be too late, she may have told the colonel about me, as she -has not appeared, and he may simply back her up in getting a divorce -from me, which she can do. - -"Well, here I am, and _there he is_. - -"Now I must put a bold face upon the matter and survey the fort to see -if I can take it." - -He had dressed himself up in his best style, and Colonel Ivey, seeing a -well-dressed stranger approaching, arose to meet him. - -The colonel had that noon returned from the city, where he could find no -clue to the where abouts of Ruby and her children; but he had set the -best detectives on the track and was hopeful of soon discovering them. - -Bowing to the visitor, the colonel advanced to meet him. - -Schuyler Cluett bowed politely and asked: - -"Is this the home of Colonel Ivey?" - -"It is, sir, and I am Richard Ivey, at your service. - -"Be seated, pray, or will you enter the house?" - -"Thank you, sir; my name is Cluett, sir, and I am an old friend of your -wife, and have called to see her, being in the neighbourhood." - -"Indeed, sir; I am really glad to meet you, Mr. Cluett, so be seated, -pray, for it is pleasanter here than indoors." - -Schuyler Cluett sat down. But he hardly knew what to say. - -It seemed evident, from the colonel's manner, he thought, that his wife -had kept her secret, for he did not appear to be known. - -"I hope Mrs. Ivey is well, sir?" he volunteered. - -"Well, sir, as to that I cannot just say, as she is not at home; but I -hope so." - -"Indeed! she is absent then?" - -"Yes, sir, she has gone far away, she and her children, and, as you are -an old friend of hers, I do not mind telling you that it is on account -of a grand scamp whom she once married." - -"No!" - -"Yes, Mr. Cluett; she was infatuated in her girlhood by some wretch whom -she ran off with and married, and soon found him out to be a worthless -vagabond, a gambler and all that was bad. - -"He robbed her, deserted her, and sent her word, through a confederate -in guilt, that he had been killed, and so believing him to be dead, she -married me. - -"But he turned up during my absence West, tried to get her to rob me, to -pay him off from telling the secret of his still being alive, and she, -too noble to do so, fled from my home, from me, and has gone far away, -while I am left alone." - -"But you can find her, sir?" eagerly asked Cluett. - -"Yes, I hope to do so, for, I'll tell you a secret." - -"Yes, Colonel Ivey." - -"I have the detectives at work, tracking down this rascally husband, and -I have found out enough about him already, to give her a divorce, by -sending him to State's Prison." - -"Oh, sir, can you do this?" and Schuyler Cluett turned deadly pale. - -"Oh yes, I hope to; and more, for I don't mind telling you, my dear Mr. -Cluett, as you are my wife's friend, but you must keep the secret, that -there was a mysterious murder some time ago, for the murderer cannot be -found. - -"But this husband--I do wish I could recall his name--" - -"Raymond, sir." - -"Yes, Raymond, that's the name, thank you. - -"Well, he was in the vicinity when this murder was committed and I think -men can be bribed to swear that he was guilty, you know and I'll give a -fortune to buy a jury up, so that he can be hanged, and--but why do you -rise, sir, for surely you are not going?" and the colonel looked up with -surprise, as Cluett arose as though to depart. - -"Yes, sir, I must go, for I just recall an important case I have to try, -as I am a lawyer, colonel, and your story of your wife's former husband -recalled it to my memory." - -"But you will remain my guest, sir, for the night at least, and I'll go -up to the city with you in the morning, as I will have this rascal -arrested at once, and I think the law will make short work of him." - -"It should, sir, it should, and I have no doubt it will; but good-by, -Colonel Ivey, good-by, sir," and Schuyler Cluett hastened away from the -mansion, reached his waiting hack, and taking out his watch said: - -"Driver you have just twenty minutes to catch the Express up to the -city, and if you do it I'll give you a ten-dollar bill extra." - -"I'll do it, sir," replied the driver, and the horses were sent along -the highway at a pace that surprised them, as their usual gait was a -jog. - -And looking after the rapidly disappearing vehicle, Colonel Ivey -muttered to himself, as his face wore a grim smile: - -"Well, I think I frightened him so that he'll hunt a hiding-place in the -far West, and I only wish I did know that he was deserving of the -penitentiary; but I'll telegraph the detective chief to have men at the -station to meet him and see just where he goes, and what he does, so as -to be prepared for him should he remain in New York," and entering his -library Colonel Ivey wrote a long dispatch to the chief of the detective -service, telling him to have men on the watch for Schuyler Cluett, -giving a full description of the man, and by what train to expect him. - -This message was then sent post-haste to the station-agent to rush -through with all dispatch, and Colonel Ivey felt relieved at having, as -he believed, got rid of Ruby's rascally husband, from whom she could now -easily get a divorce, under the plea of desertion and non-support for -years. - - - - -CHAPTER XII.--THE BOY CAPTIVE. - - -Let me beg the kind reader, who has followed me through my story thus -far, to recall an important personage who was left a prisoner in the -hands of a band of wicked men who were evidently hiding from the -officers of the law. - -In that boy captive the reader has doubtless recognized Will Raymond, -for his mother had not taught him the name of his father, Schuyler -Cluett. - -When he had been addressed upon the street by a gentleman, and sent on -an important mission, he had been entrapped, for his face and age just -suited a purpose that was to be carried out through him. - -What that purpose was will soon be made known. - -The time of Will's capture was some months after the flight of the -mother with her children from the elegant country mansion of Colonel -Richard Ivey. - -So well had Mrs. Raymond, as I must now again call her, concealed -herself, that the police and detectives, put upon her track by Colonel -Ivey, had been unable to find her where abouts, and it was believed that -she had left New York for another place. - -In an humble home, in a cheaper quarter of the city, the poor woman had -found an abiding-place, for it could not be called a home. - -The rooms were but three in number, and not so pleasant as those where -she had lived in poverty before; but they were kept scrupulously clean, -and were not uncomfortable. - -As soon as she was fully settled, Mrs. Raymond paid her rent for six -months in advance; then she laid in a store of provisions, and -purchasing painting materials, again began to paint little pictures for -sale, for she had but a small sum left of that which she had brought -with her, and she must begin to earn more, she knew. - -But the shock of her husband's return, as though from the grave, had -been a severe one, and she felt that she was by no means as well as she -could wish. - -Gradually her nerves failed her, the mainsprings of life, and she became -almost a confirmed invalid, unable to do but little. - -Will and Pearl had again began attending the nearest public school, but, -as the spring drew near and Mrs. Raymond's health failed her more and -more, her little daughter had remained at home with her, while her brave -boy had given up his studies to earn what money he could, and this was -but little, hardly enough to give them food, and, but for Mrs. Raymond -having paid the rent, it would not have been sufficient to meet all -demands, moderate as they were. - -It was while Will was skirmishing around in search of a stray penny to -earn, that he had struck what had appeared to him a "bonanza," in the -promise of a couple of dollars for delivering a letter and keeping his -mouth shut, at the same time afflicting himself with loss of memory, as -the one who paid him for his alleged services had demanded that he -should. - -When, therefore, Will found himself a prisoner, the reader can well -imagine his feelings. - -Brave boy that he was, his first thought was of his sick mother's -distress at his absence, and his second of himself. - -It flashed upon him, from the words of Jerry, the Night Hawk, the secret -manner of his gaining admission, the letter which had led him into a -trap, that he was meant for some mysterious purpose of villainy. - -The room in which he found himself had but one door, that by which he -had entered, and the ceiling ran up with the peaked roof, in which were -skylights for light and air. - -It was a large room, occupying one side of the house, excepting where -the little ante-chamber, or hall-way was taken off, and about the sides -were baths such as one sees in a steamboat's cabin. - -A cupboard was in one end of the room, filled with dishes, and next to -it was a dumb-waiter that came up from the lower depths somewhere. - -On the opposite side a door was opened to what appeared to be another -cupboard, but in which Will saw at a glance a ladder, leading to an open -skylight above. - -In the centre of the room was a large table with chairs about it, and -seated in various attitudes about it were a dozen men, who scowled -viciously upon the boy as he was dragged into their presence by Jerry, -the Night Hawk. - -But Will, in spite of his perilous position, kept up a brave manner. - -"What did ther kid come here for?" asked a man with a scowling face. - -"Captain Cruel sent him, and writes that he'll do for the little job to -play on the Philadelphia man whose son died on our hands, and thus cut -us out o' the reward," said Night Hawk Jerry, who seemed to be leader of -the band of ruffians. - -"He looks it sart'in, and I thought it were Billy come ter life ag'in -when I seen his face; but will he do it?" - -"He'll have to, Jack, or--" and the look and action of Night Hawk Jerry -were most significant, and did not escape the eyes of Will Raymond. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII.--PUT TO THE TEST. - - -Before more could be said by any of the band, a bell rang over in the -dumb-waiter, and two men at once stepped to the cupboard and began to -place dishes upon the table, preparatory to having supper. - -Will was told to sit down on a chair, and the coming meal, rather than -the boy prisoner, seemed to occupy the thoughts of the rude gathering. -By the time that the table was set, with a plate, knife, fork, teacup -and spoon for each, and a dish of butter and large bowl of sugar in the -centre, a second ring came at the dumb-waiter, and up from the depths -below appeared the supper. - -The two men, whose duty it seemed, put the supper on the table, and it -was by no means a repast to be refused, for there was hot coffee, milk, -hot biscuit, steak, potatoes and preserves. - -Will was told to "Take a seat youngster, and pitch in, for you don't -know how soon yer rations will be cut short." - -He had eaten but a light breakfast, and nothing since, so he obeyed the -injunction with a gusto, winning the admiration of the men at his pluck -in not losing his appetite when his fate hung so in the balance of -uncertainty. - -But Will had made up his mind that though he was in a tight place, he -would not despair, but find some way to get out, and the means of doing -so did not worry him until the time came for action. - -He had read the papers, and he knew that almost under the eyes of the -police there were bands of evil men who would rob and kill without mercy -to gain gold. - -That he had fallen into the hands of some such wicked men he did not -doubt; but he did not despair of working out his own salvation in some -way, when he was assured just what their game was that they intended to -win by playing him as a trump card. - -So Will ate his supper with apparent relish, and rising, thanked them -politely and resumed his former seat. - -"You've been well raised, boy," said Jerry. "What is your name?" - -"Will Raymond, sir," said the boy, returning to his old name, for while -with the colonel he had taken that of Ivey, at his request. - -"What do you do?" - -"Anything I can earn money at to support my sick mother and little -sister." - -"Well, how would you like to become a rich man's son?" - -"I don't know what you mean." - -"The captain sent you here because you resembled somebody, didn't he?" - -"He gave me a letter to bring to you, and said you would give me two -dollars for doing the errand." - -"Well, that was a bait to get you here; but if you do as I say, you'll -do better by far than make two dollars." - -"What must I do?" - -"Do you see this photograph?" and he held up a picture before Will of a -small boy, perhaps seven years of age. - -"Yes, sir." - -"This photograph looks just as you did six years ago, and then your name -was Willie Rossmore. Your home was in Baltimore, or rather near it, and -these are photographs of the place, and a handsome one it was. - -"You went out in the grounds, just here, running away from your nurse, -and two men, passing along the highway in a buggy, took you with them. - -"They carried you far away, treated you well, and took you to a farm in -the West, where one day I found you, and you told me your story and I -immediately recognized you as a boy stolen years ago, and whose -photograph I had often seen published in the papers. - -"Your father, Mr. Rossmore, is a very rich man, and he has offered fifty -thousand dollars for your return, and I will get it. - -"Now, my boy, I wish you to study these photographs of your old home, -and here is the name of the servants who were at the house then, and -your nurse was an old coloured woman, Auntie Peggy. - -"These are the clothes you had on when you were stolen; they are ragged -now, for you wore them a long time, and when you got others you kept -these. You had this ring on your forefinger then, but you can wear it -now on your left hand little finger--see, it just fits." - -"What has become of the real little boy that was stolen?" asked Will, -quietly. - -The men all exchanged peculiar glances with each other, and one said: -"Tell him, Jerry, so that he'll know we won't stand any nonsense." - -"Well, he would not behave as we wished him to, and he would remember -too much, and so we dared not take him back to get the reward, you see." - -"And is he dead?" - -"You've hit it, he is, for one day he left our camp, as we were crossing -the prairie in Nebraska, not very many miles from Fort McPherson, and we -found him lying under a solitary tree, mighty near dead from starvation; -and he died, and we buried him there, cutting his name into the tree, as -a monument, as any emigrant folks would who had lost a young one. - -"Poor little fellow, he had better have done as you wished, and so been -able to get home." - -"Boy, you've got wisdom above your years, and you'll play our little -game for us with a handful of trumps and a card or two up your sleeve, I -can tell you. - -"I guess you've been nipped by hunger, and wish a soft thing of it for -life, don't you?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"And you'll talk our way, won't you?" - -"Oh, yes, sir; only it will be very sad for my poor mother and sister to -lose me." - -"No, for you can write them that you had a chance to go West, and I'll -take the letter and some money to them, and you bet we'll keep them from -want and send them lots of things, while if you don't like it where you -go, you can just skip out after you've got together a nice little sum of -money, for we don't care so long as we get the reward for your return, -and you shall have five thousand of that, for I'll keep you posted where -we are, and you can have the money any time you call for it." - -"This looks fair, sir; but I hate to leave my mother and little sister, -though I do want to make money." - -"Well, you write your mother a letter, and I'll see that she gets it -to-morrow, and I'll put a cool fifty in it for her, too. - -"Now, write your letter, and then study over those photographs, this -list of names, and the lesson I have here for you," and Jerry handed -Will various slips of paper. - -"Now, lad," he continued, "if you play this game right, you'll get all I -say; but if you play us false, you'll be knifed sure, so just bear that -in mind." - -"I don't wish to die, and I'd rather be rich than poor, if I can take -care of my mother and sister, and they don't find out I am deceiving -them." - -"They'll never know it, lad, and it was a lucky find the captain made in -you, for you look just what we want, and have got the sense to play the -game through. - -"I tell you, though, we had a time with Willie Rossmore, up to his death -three years ago, for we had to travel about with him, hide him, watch -him, and were going to take him to an Indian camp to live for a year or -so to make him forget, when he ran off and died on the prairie. But you -look like him exactly, though you are older by a year or so, but that -don't make any difference. Now there's a pen and ink, and here's your -lesson to study, while we play a game of cards." - -Will sat down at a shelf that served as a desk, and began to "study his -lesson," as Night Hawk Jerry had called it. - -He wrote a letter to his mother, and at last the men began to turn in, -each one going to his bunk, while the boy was also given one, and -crawling into the berth, appeared to be sound asleep, while the last man -retiring put out the lamp, and only the light from the stars, twinkling -through the skylights, pervaded the large room, and the sonorous -breathing of the sleepers soon showed that, guilty beings though they -were, no twinges of conscience kept them awake. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV.--WILL PLAYS HIS LITTLE GAME. - - -Lying in his little bunk, which was an upper one, Will Raymond did not -go to sleep. - -He saw the men drop off one by one, from their card playing, he watched -the last one up draw on the ropes, to raise the skylights and let in -more air, and, as he came to the one near him, he feared he was going to -see if he was asleep, so he closed his eyes and breathed hard. - -But the man drew on the rope, that raised the skylight, some ten feet -above Will's head, and then putting out the lamp he went to bed. - -Still gazing upward Will saw the stars fade from view, and the skylights -rattled, showing that the clouds had obscured the sky and a wind was -springing up. - -Until all seemed to be asleep, Will lay quiet as a mouse; then he bent -over the edge of his bunk and looked about him. - -Raising himself then to a kneeling posture, he saw that the ladder, -before referred to as going up to a skylight, was right by the foot of -his berth. - -Softly he arose, grasped one of the rounds and drew himself up. - -Without the slightest sound he ascended the ladder, crept up through the -skylight and found himself upon the peak of the high roof. - -Standing up he glanced about him, and his eye fell upon nothing but -roofs. - -He saw that the building on which he stood ran back some distance from -the street, was very high, narrow, and ended fifty feet away in a large -chimney. - -On each side of the sharp roof were slats, a foot from the top, -evidently placed there to serve as foot guards in a walk toward the -chimney. - -The clouds, black as night, were now flying low, and skurrying along -before an approaching storm. The lightning came in vivid flashes, and it -was enough to appall the heart of a seaman, there on that high perch, -where the slightest misstep would hurl him to death, the tremour of a -nerve would dash him to his doom. - -But there was death behind him, sure, and a struggle against death -before him, with chances of the boy's triumph, so he held on in his -determination to escape. - -He knew that the men had placed those slats along the roof for some -purpose, and that there was a way to escape from the roof he did not -doubt, so he determined to find it. - -With the bundle at his back, tied with a string about his waist, -bare-headed, bare-footed, jacketless, the brave boy stood on the -dangerous perch, to return to the outlaw band certain death, to advance -a chance for life, while the lightning fairly blinded him, with its -vividness. - -Step by step the boy advanced toward the chimney, for he dared not tarry -there long, as any moment the storm might awaken the Land Sharks, as -Will had heard the band speak of themselves, and, if missed, he would be -pursued and taken. - -But he had arranged his bedding so as to look like a form in his berth, -and placed his jacket, shoes and hat so as to be seen, if he was -suspected, which he did not believe. - -As he took the first step the rain began to descend in torrents, and a -sound behind him caused him to turn his head quickly. - -He saw that the skylights were being lowered by someone in the room and -he breathed more freely as he felt that he had not been discovered. - -But the rain driving into his face, blinded him, as he had no hat to -shelter his eyes, and the slats and roof being wet, rendered his -position far more perilous. - -But on he went, step by step, until he reached the chimney. It was -breast high to him, and he noticed that it was very large. - -From there down to the ground was a long way, and he saw no means of -descending. - -Perhaps upon the other side there was a ladder, he thought, and again it -came to his mind that the men might have a rope ladder to bring with -them. - -If this was the case he was doomed, and, the thought in spite of the -driving cold rain made him break out into a dense perspiration. - -Leaping upon the chimney, for his experience as an amateur sailor had -helped him, and he had often gone on board ships at the wharf and -ascended to the highest point he could reach, he gazed over the side of -the brickwork to see if there was aught to aid his descent. - -But he saw that the roof was even with the chimney, so no ladder could -go down it. - -"They must hook a rope-ladder into the chimney in some way," he -muttered, and he ran his hand around inside to find the hook, determined -to tear his clothing in strips and make a rope, so that he might escape. - -"Ah!" he said, as his hand touched a piece of iron. - -"_A ladder inside_," he cried, joyously, as he felt rods of iron going -down as far as he could reach. Instantly he lowered himself into the -chimney and commenced the descent. - -Feeling with his feet he found the rods, two feet apart, and down he -went into the gloom. - -One thing was certain, the chimney was not used as a smoke-conductor, -for there was no soot in it. Down, down he went into the darkness, only -a shadowy light showing the opening in the top of the chimney. - -He had counted twenty rods, and so knew that he must have descended some -forty feet. - -Then his feet touched bottom, and turning, he saw the glimmer of a light -through a crack. - -Stooping, he gazed through the crack and looked out into a room dimly -lighted, the gas being turned down low. - -He saw that a fire-board hid the open chimney in which he stood, and -moving it out he beheld the interior of the room distinctly. - -There were two windows, one on either side of the fire-place, and he -heard the wind rattling the sashes furiously, and the rain pattering -viciously against the panes of glass. - -There was a stove before him, but it was evidently there for show, as -the smoke-stack entered the chimney, yet no soot was in it, which proved -that a fire could not have been lighted in it. - -A table with books on it, some pictures on the walls, a clothes-press, -and over on one side of a door was a bed, while horrors! _there was a -man in it!_ - -The occupant of the bed was asleep, that was certain, his face turned -toward the wall, as Will could see by the dimly-burning gas-jet over the -table. - -To escape, the boy saw that his only chance was to get out of his -hiding-place, cross the room, unlock the door, and thus get out; but -when out of the room would he be free? - -This was the startling question he asked himself, as he grasped the -fireguard to push it one side, determined to at once make the venture, -for he did not know at what moment he might find a pursuer coming down -the chimney on his track. - - - - -CHAPTER XV.--THE BOY GUIDE. - - -The reader can fully appreciate the peril of Will when they know what -was behind him, and that he had a room, unknown to him, and with an -occupant asleep in it, to cross, before he got out, while he little -knew where the door would lead him, or whether he would be any nearer -escape than where he then was. - -Cautiously he raised the fireboard from within and began to move it -outwardly as though it swung on a hinge. - -He did this noiselessly, and soon had space enough to get through. - -This he did and rose to a standing posture, the little bundle still at -his back. - -Then he put the fireboard back in its place and stepped forward. - -The floor creaked and startled him, and he walked quickly to the door. - -As he reached it the sleeper started, turned in bed, raised his head, -and glanced toward the window, while he muttered: "What a deuce of a -storm is raging." - -Then back dropped his head, and he did not see the boy crouching down -within two feet of him, and who held, grasped firmly and ready for use, -a boot-jack, that his hand accidently touched. - -Had the man attempted to get out of bed, or had he glanced toward the -boy, he would have felt the weight of the boot-jack, for Will was -determined to escape at all hazards, even if he had to strike at human -life, for he did not doubt, coming to this room as he had from the den -of the Land Sharks, that the occupant was one of the band. - -But, fortunately for the man he dropped off to sleep again, and -fortunately, too, for Will, who might have made a miss blow and then -been killed or captured. - -As soon as the heavy breathing of the man indicated that he was once -more asleep, Will turned to the door and placed his hand upon the key. -He turned it slowly in the lock, and yet it creaked loudly to his ears; -but the noise of the storm without drowned the sound as far as waking -the sleeper was concerned. - -Taking hold of the knob he drew back the latch, and moved the door. It -creaked loudly, so he shut it to quickly as he saw the man move -uneasily. He kept still, and the man once more breathed naturally in his -slumber. - -Drawing the key from the door Will then opened it quickly and stepped -outside, closed it after him, though trembling at the loud creaking -sound it made. - -At the same time he thrust the key in the door and turned it, just as he -heard the man spring out of bed. - -Where he was he did not know, for all was blackness about him, but he at -once moved away from the door, feeling his way cautiously, while he -could hear the occupant of the room moving hastily about, and then grasp -the knob of the door. - -A smothered curse followed the words: "The key is gone!" - -Then there was a shaking of the door, and Will nearly fell down a flight -of stairs; but caught himself on the rail. - -As he hastily descended there appeared a crescent-shaped light before -him, and he knew that it was over a door, and a moment after he reached -it. - -It was locked, but the key was on the inside and hastily he turned it, -and he could hardly restrain a shout of joy as he found himself out in -the street. - -The storm was at its height, the rain was pouring in torrents and the -narrow street was flooded; but the daring boy cared little for that and -turning noted the house and number. - -Then he darted away, unmindful of the rain. - -At the corner he saw the name of the street, and once more pressed on, -seemingly acquainted with the locality and aiming for a certain point. - -Not even a policeman was seen out in that driving rain, so the boy met -no human being as he ran along up to his ankles in water. - -Here and there a light burned dimly, evidently in some sick-room, and -all else was darkness, excepting the flickering street-lamps at the -corners. Turning into another street he came in sight of a coloured -lamp, jutting out from a large brick house. - -Toward this he ran and a moment after, dripping wet, bare-headed, -shoeless and jacketless he darted into a room where sat several officers -in police uniform, while one wearing the badge of a captain of the force -sat behind a desk in a small adjoining room. - -The boy appeared like an apparition to the officers, but he gave them no -time for thought, as he said: "Is not that Sergeant Daly?" and he -pointed to the officer in the other room. - -"Yes, it is _Captain_ Daly, for he's been promoted," answered an -officer. - -"Ho, Murphy, any one to see me?" called out the captain. - -"Yes, sir, a boy that looks as if he'd just swum across East river," was -the reply. - -"Ah! I know that face, you are Will Raymond, who captured the convict -for me over a year ago," said Captain Daly coming out. - -"Yes, sir, and I've come to tell you a strange story, and guide you to -the den of a band of outlaws that call themselves Land Sharks for I just -escaped from them," and Will spoke quickly, though with not a particle -of excitement in his manner and voice, so well did he control his -feelings. - -The name of Land Sharks caused the police present to gather near at once -and appear deeply interested, while Captain Daly said: "If you know the -hiding-place of that gang, my lad, you know more than any policeman or -detective in New York has been able to find out." - -"I do know it, sir, and two ways of getting there; but what you do, you -must do now, as they will escape, so I'll tell you all I can while you -get your men ready, and there are over a dozen in the band." - -"Murphy, call up twenty men and a sergeant at once." - -"Now, Master Will, for you see I have not forgotten your name, let me -have your story." - -In as few words as possible, Will told of his having been stopped by a -well-dressed stranger and then sent to the den of the Land Sharks, as an -excuse to get him into their clutches. - -His manner of getting there, and his reception he made known, together -with his acquiescence, as the outlaw supposed, in their plot to get the -reward offered for Willie Rossmore, the little son of the Baltimore -millionaire. - -His escape, bringing with him in a bundle, the photographs, and -well-worn clothing the kidnapped boy had on when taken, he also made -known, and they were displayed before the police captain, who said: -"These can wait, and will dry by the time we get back; but Will, you are -a natural born detective, and you shall have work as such, that will -keep your mother and sister from want; but here are my men, my brave -boy, and we will start at once--ho! I forgot that you were wet and -shivering but I'll soon make you comfortable." - -An order to an attendant brought from a package room a thick suit and -india-rubber coat, into which the boy had no difficulty in getting, as -they were nearly double his size, and a policeman's hat sheltered his -head. - -Then, side by side with Captain Daly, and with a score of policemen -following, they stepped out into the driving rain to go upon the raid -against the Land Sharks. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI.--THE RAID. - - -The first point of destination of the police squad, was to the door out -of which Will had made his escape, and he led the men directly to it. It -was unlocked, as he had left it, but four men were left there, and the -others followed the boy around to another street, where was the number -at which he had entered the den. - -"I've made no mistake in this number, but yet it don't look like the -place," he said as he stopped before the door. - -"I hope you have made no mistake, my lad," anxiously said Captain Daly. - -"I know I have not, sir; but then I can't find the bell." - -In vain he searched, there was no bell at the side, but instead a large -old-fashioned knocker. - -"This is a white door, sir, as you see, and the other was painted -brown." - -"Then you are certainly mistaken, my lad." - -"No, sir, I am not mistaken, for this is the number, but--" - -"But what?" asked Captain Daly, as Will paused. - -"They have taken out the bell from the side, sir, and _changed the door, -since I left_." - -Several of the policemen laughed, but Captain Daly did not, and said: -"If you say so, Will, I'll believe you. - -"Your dark lantern here, Gibson." - -The man addressed handed over his lantern, and Will ran the light up and -down the door-post. - -"Here's where the bell-knob was, sir, and it's been plugged up as you -see, by something that fits in." - -"You are right, Will," and the captain gave the knocker three sharp -blows. - -But no response came, and Will said: "They'll not answer, sir, for -they've changed this door to fool me, and they know I've escaped from -that man I locked in his room." - -"All right, we'll open the door ourselves. - -"In with it, men!" - -Half a dozen policemen threw themselves against the door; but it -withstood their weight, and the locks within only yielded after repeated -trials. Then the door flew open, and all entered the hallway, closing it -behind them. - -The next door then confronted them, but Will pointed out the panel, and -a club smashed that in, when Captain Daly put in his hand and drew back -the bolt. - -"This is a secure nest, that is certain; but I fear we'll find it -deserted," said Captain Daly, and with their lantern-shades raised, they -hastily followed Will up the stairs. - -He went directly to the door by which he had entered, and the panel was -opened with a club, and the officers dashed in, and throwing themselves -against the inner door it yielded to their weight with a crash. - -Then they found themselves in the large living room of the band, from -whence Will had made his escape. - -The bunks were there, the table, chairs, dumb-waiter, and much clothing -and bedding was scattered about, showing a hasty departure; but not a -soul was present. - -"Will you follow down the chimney, sir?" asked Will. - -"Yes, I will follow with several of my men, while the remainder break in -every door of this nest, which is, indeed, a safe retreat. - -"Come, men, I want only those who have cool heads on lofty places to go, -for, from what he told me, it will require all your nerve to follow -him." - -Four of the officers volunteered, and up the ladder went Will, he having -in the meantime recovered his hat, shoes and jacket from the floor. - -Out upon the roof, in the drenching rain, the boy stepped, and made his -way fearlessly along the dizzy hight, followed by Captain Daly and his -men, who stepped with the greatest caution, for they realised their -deadly peril at a glance. - -Fearlessly the brave boy led the police captain and his men, the chief -calling out: "Go slow, Will, for a false step here will send us to -perdition!" - -Reaching the chimney, Will sprang upon the top and disappeared in the -interior, the others following, and descending the iron ladder in -silence. - -Down to the fire-place went Will, and the instant after Captain Daly -joined him, and handing the boy his dark-lantern to spring open, the two -hastily sprang out into the room. - -It was deserted, but the door was partly open, for the lock had been -wrenched off. - -The pictures were on the wall, the bed all rumpled up, and the lamp was -upon the table, while there was every indication of a hasty departure, -as in the assembly room. - -Then the police went on a voyage of discovery through the house. - -It was an old-time mansion, two stories, narrow in build, and ran back -against the one on the other street, to which the false chimney -belonged, and in it were some half-score of poor, but reputable lodgers, -who, aroused by the police, were amazed at the raid upon them. - -In answer to inquiries, they said that the room on the rear, through -which the officers had come, was occupied by an artist, they had heard, -though no one seemed to know much about him except that he had a number -of visitors. - -That there was a secret connected with his living there they had not -suspected. - -Confident that the lodgers of the house told the truth, Captain Daly -left two of his men on duty there, and started around the block to the -other house. - -He found the party still on guard at the door, and they had not seen or -heard anything of a suspicious nature. - -Going around to the other house Captain Daly found that his men had -thoroughly searched the place from the cellar to the attic. - -They had discovered the door which Will had remembered to have seen in -front, and as it was still dripping wet it showed that it had been -removed that night from its place, to throw the boy off his guard, but -it had, however, failed to do so. - -In different rooms of the house was found a quantity of stolen booty, -the loss of some of which Captain Daly and his men had heard of, and -there was every indication that it was a nest of burglars of a daring -and desperate nature. - -The Land Sharks had long been known to the police for their bold acts of -crime, yet they never before could be located, and even the gruffest of -the policemen praised Will for what he had done. - -Dawn was now breaking, and a neighbour, coming out of his house, was -asked who owned the premises. - -He said that his landlord did so, and giving the address, the proprietor -of the two houses was at once looked up; but he was amazed at what he -heard, for he let the property to an old woman who said she wished to -keep boarders, and had regularly paid her rent three months in advance, -and had built a new chimney and made other improvements which she had -paid for herself. - -The landlord was greatly amazed to find what those improvements were, -but he could give no clue as to who or what his tenant was, or where she -could be found. - -Having discovered the secret retreat of the Land Sharks, however, was a -cause of congratulation, and the booty found was considerable, so that -Will was praised for his good services, and at once told that he was to -consider himself a member of the Secret Service and to report the -following day after he had become rested, for the night of peril and -hardship the good-hearted police-captain could see had told on the brave -boy. - -With a heart bounding with joy, Will had hastened home, and his mother -and sister greeted him warmly, for they were most anxious regarding his -long absence, and with wonder they listened to the strange story of his -adventures, while Pearl cried in glee: "Hurrah for the Boy Detective!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVII.--ON SECRET SERVICE. - - -The day and night of rest which Will took, he really needed, for his -capture, escape and hard work, had indeed been a severe strain upon him. - -Captain Daly had picked up a roll of bills, in the Land Sharks' rooms -which some one of them had dropped in their haste to get away, and he -had insisted upon Will's falling heir to the money, though the boy had -urged against it. - -There were only about twenty dollars, but it was a large sum to Will, -and he handed it over to his mother, so that when he awoke from his long -sleep, he found a splendid dinner ready, for Pearl had been to the -market and spent the five-dollar bill given her with no economical hand. -The mother and her children greatly enjoyed their dinner, and Will then -told his mother that Captain Daly had said that his pay would be thirty -dollars a month to begin with, and all felt cheered at the prospect, and -retired with lighter hearts than they had had the past few weeks. - -Upon reporting at the office of Captain Daly the next morning, Will -received a warm welcome from all, and was congratulated over and over -again upon his nerve and the good services he had rendered. - -"Now, Will," the captain said, "I find that Mr. Rossmore, a retired -merchant of Baltimore, lost a son Willie some six years ago, and still -offers large rewards for his restoration. - -"From what you heard from the Land Sharks, you know more than any one -else about the matter, and the boy is doubtless dead, as they stated, -and they evidently murdered him. - -"Now I wish you to go to Baltimore with these clothes, the photographs -and the ring, and see Mr. Rossmore, telling him all, and directing him -to the spot on the prairie, as well as you can, where your friend Night -Hawk Jerry said the boy was buried. - -"Will you go?" - -"Certainly, sir, for I am ready to do just what you wish, if you think I -am able to accomplish it." - -"You are able to do a man's work, Will, after what you did to extricate -yourself from the clutches of those Land Sharks. - -"Now I will give you the money for your trip, and you had better get a -satchel, a suit of clothes and some other things, and get your mother to -pack them for you. - -"Here are twenty-five dollars to fit you out with, and I'll give you the -money for your trip when you are ready to start. - -"And here, my boy, I had almost forgotten to give you your badge of -office; it is a gold one, and a present to you by the officers of this -precinct. - -"We would make it a public demonstration, only we do not wish it known -outside that we have made a new departure and enlisted a boy in the -Secret Service force." - -As Captain Daly spoke, he pinned under the boy's coat a handsome gold -badge, a shield, upon which was engraven: - - "SPECIAL OFFICER - of - METROPOLITAN SECRET SERVICE." - -"I will prove deserving of all your kindness, Captain Daly," said Will, -with a choking voice, and he sallied forth to make his purchases. - -This done, he took them home, and Mrs. Raymond packed his little -grip-sack, while Pearl was lost in admiration over the gold badge. - -With the shield fastened securely upon his vest, beneath his coat, and -his satchel in his hand, Will bade his mother good-bye and started for -the precinct to get his final orders. - -These were given him along with a well-filled purse, and Captain Daly -went with him across the ferry to see him on board the train. - -As he took his seat alone in the sleeping car, which the kind-hearted -captain had provided him with, Will felt his own importance, and his -heart was full of gratitude that he had, by his own acts, become able to -earn a support for his mother and sister. - -Arriving in Baltimore, he went to the hotel to which Captain Daly had -directed him, and, after breakfast, with the photographs and clothing of -the kidnapped boy wrapped up in a bundle, he made inquiries as to where -the home of Mr. Rossmore was, and set out to go there. - -He found it without much difficulty, a superb country seat in the -outskirts of the city, and he recognized at a glance the scenes of the -photographs he had with him. - -A gardener was at work upon a bed of flowers, and approaching him, Will -asked if Mr. Rossmore was at home. - -"No, young gentleman, they have gone to their farm for a few weeks on -the eastern shore," was the answer. - -At once Will determined to follow them there, and after getting the -directions, he asked: "Has Mr. Rossmore ever heard of his missing -child?" - -"No, indeed, not a word, and it's my opinion he never will, as I think -little Willie is dead; but master thinks he'll find him yet; but Lordy! -you hain't Master Willie, are you, for you do look 'mazing like him." - -"My name is Willie, but I am not Mr. Rossmore's son, though others have -said I look like him." - -"You do, for a certainty, sir, and master and his wife will see the -likeness, I'm sure, if you are going there." - -"Yes, I am going there, for it is important that I should see them," and -bidding the old gardener good-bye, Will returned to the hotel and -discovered that a boat left the next afternoon for the town nearest the -Rossmore farm. - -So he went down to the wharf and secured his berth, and amused himself -looking about the city until time to go on board the next day. - -He had a pleasant state-room, and, as he made himself at home in it, he -felt that he was becoming quite a traveller. - -Enjoying the run down the Chesapeake, it was late when he retired, and -he dropped off quickly to sleep, lulled by the motion of the boat. - -He was awakened by the hum of voices, and saw a light in his face, -strangely like the glare of a bull's-eye lantern. - -But he had at once saw that it came through a knot-hole in the partition -between his and the next state-room, and within a few feet of him were -two men, one lying in the berth, the other seated upon a chair, and they -were talking in a low tone. - -Without stopping up his ears, Will could not help hearing all they said, -and the voice of one seemed familiar. - -Putting his eye near the knot-hole, to his surprise he recognized the -man in the berth as Night Hawk Jerry. - -The face of the other he did not know. - -What he heard them say was as follows: - -"Well, Nick, we can go and strike old Rossmore for all we can get out of -the him, after we attend to this farmer on board that I tell you has the -cash he got for a boat-load of cattle he took up to the city and sold. - -"He stopped at the same hotel with me, and when I told him I was going -down to see Mr. Rossmore, he told me he lived near him, and directed me -how to get there, while he said he would ask me to ride out with him, -only he had come to the village where he boarded the boat on horseback. -Now we can get a rig and drive out ahead of the farmer, lay for him on -the road, and just take in his pile, which goes up into the thousands, I -am sure. - -"Then we can go to see old Rossmore and see what we can get out of him, -under promise of bringing him his boy." - -"You think he'll put up anything?" asked the man addressed as Nick. - -"Yes, he'll put up something, though he's been very freely bled by -frauds; but, if it had not been for our being taken in by that boy -Captain Cruel picked up in New York and who was, I admit, just the -fellow if he had not played us false, we'd have got a clean fifty -thousand from Rossmore." - -"The boy got your crib raided, you told me?" - -"Well he did, and but for our pal who slept in the exit room, waking up -as he did, we'd have all been caught, for the boy led the police upon us -in an hour after he got away." - -"He was a sharp one for a kid." - -"Yes Nick he was; but you must go and turn in now, and to-morrow, as -soon as the boat lands, we'll hurry ashore and get a waggon to head off -the farmer." - -"Good-night, Jerry." - -"Good-night, Nick," and the latter personage left the state-room of his -fellow villain, and sought his own quarters, while Will, scarcely having -breathed as he overheard what was said, placed a pillow against the -knot-hole, and tried to go to sleep. - -But in vain, for his brain was too full of thoughts, and it was nearly -dawn when he at last sank into a deep slumber; but he had formed a plot -in his fertile mind to thwart the two rascals in their bold game of -double robbery. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII.--HEADED OFF. - - -After what he had heard, Will was most anxious to remain unseen, for he -knew that Night Hawk Jerry would recognize him very quickly, and that -would spoil all. - -So he feigned sickness, had his breakfast brought to his state-room the -next morning, and then, as the boat landed at the town where the two -conspirators were to leave it, he grasped his gripsack and cautiously -went forward. - -The men leaped ashore, when the gangplank was run out, and Will followed -them at considerable distance up into the village. - -There were quite a number of passengers, so that the boy was unable to -select the one against whom the robbers had plotted. - -But he watched his men, saw them go to a livery stable, and soon after -ride out of town at a gallop. Instantly he went to that same stable, and -a few minutes afterward was in a buggy with a driver, going on the road -which the robbers had taken, for the livery man told him how he had -directed them. - -By fast driving he came in sight of them, and then he told his man to -draw rein and wait, while he got out and went ahead on foot. - -By keeping close in to the woods he kept out of sight of the robber -pair, and saw them turn into a thickly-wooded point at a bend in the -road, where the underbrush was very dense. - -"That is their ambush," he muttered to himself, and he returned to the -buggy, getting in just as a horseman appeared coming along the road. - -As he drew near, Will saw that he was a fine-looking man, with an -athletic form, and a kindly yet strangely stern face. He was well -dressed and appeared to be a well-to-do country gentleman, and the boy -remembered having seen him on the Chesapeake steamboat. - -As he drew near to where the buggy was waiting, he said pleasantly, -recognizing the negro driver: "Well, Hercules, out for a drive?" - -"Yas, Massa Lomax, I is takin' dis young gemman on a leetle drive, sah," -answered Hercules, who had gained his name from his great strength. - -"Pardon me, sir, but may I have a word with you?" said Will, politely. - -"Certainly, young man," replied the farmer. - -"You came down the bay on the steamer last night with me, sir." - -"I came down on the steamer, but I do not remember to have seen you, -though your face is strangely, so _strangely_ familiar to me," and the -farmer gazed fixedly into the face of the boy. - -"We have not met, sir; but may I ask if you did not take up to Baltimore -a cargo of cattle and sell them there?" - -"I did." - -"Well, sir, I overheard a plot between two men last night to rob you on -your way home this morning. My state-room adjoined theirs, and a knot in -the wooden partition had fallen out, or been pushed out, just at my -head, and I saw the men and heard their plot. - -"One of the men is a noted New York crook, and I am anxious to capture -him, while his companion is doubtless a Baltimore thief." - -"You surprise me, young sir, and I thank you most sincerely, for I have -with me a large sum of money, and taken at disadvantage I might lose -both it and my life, though I am armed." - -"These are desperate men, sir, or at least I know one to be, and I am -determined to capture him if possible, for I can get him held until a -requisition from the Governor of New York can be obtained." - -The farmer smiled at the words of the youth, and said: "You are a plucky -fellow, and we had better send for a constable from the village, for -Hercules will go." - -"I am an officer, sir, and I have formed a plan to capture them," and -Will opened his coat and showed his badge, not only to the farmer's -surprise, but to Hercules's great awe and admiration. - -"Well, my young friend, what is your plan?" - -"To tie my handkerchief about my face, and muffle up, laying back in the -buggy as though I was sick, while I drive by the point of ambush, which -is at the bend in the road above here. - -"When I get by, I will leave the buggy with Hercules, and we can get -close back to the place of ambush, and you can come along, and as the -men approach you, we will be close on their tracks." - -"A good plan, my lad; but let us know each other, as we are to act -together. - -"My name is Kent Lomax; I am a farmer, and live not far from here." - -"My name is Will Raymond, sir." - -"Raymond!" and the farmer started. - -"Yes, sir." - -"Where are you from?" - -"New York, sir." - -"Ah, me! Your name recalls the strange resemblance your face bears to -one I once knew, and it is strange, indeed, that face and name should be -so alike," and the farmer spoke in a voice that was full of sadness; but -in an instant he continued in a different tone: "Well, Master Raymond, I -am glad to be associated with you in this little affair, and you are the -captain, so go ahead with your plan." - -After a few other arrangements the boy drove on in the buggy with -Hercules, his face tied up, a scarf about his neck and his hat drawn -down over his eyes. - -But his keen eyes were watching the road as they drove along, and he -detected in the bushes the two men in ambush. - -As agreed upon with Kent Lomax, Hercules dropped his whip and sprang out -to get it, so that he, watching back down the road, should know just the -spot where the robbers were. - -Then the buggy drove on, and once around the bend they turned into a -secluded spot and at once sprang out and hitched the horse, while they -crept up a ravine, which Kent Lomax had told them would lead them almost -to the bend in the road. - -"They could not have chosen a better place for us to surprise them," -said Will as he hurried on with the negro. - -"No, massa, dat am so, and I awful glad I cum with you, for maybe I git -suthin' out o' dis scrimmage," returned Hercules. - -"You shall, Hercules, and I hope it will be gold rather than lead." - -"I don't want no lead, massa," and, Hercules picked up a stick, to serve -as a club, as they went along. - -Soon they came to the end of the ravine, and, creeping up to the top of -the bank, Will looked over. He quickly drew back his head, for the two -men were not sixty feet from him, standing behind a clump of bushes on -the edge of the road. - -"You see um, massa?" whispered Hercules. - -"Yes; and Mr. Lomax is already coming, and, but a couple of hundred -yards away;" and Will took from his pocket a small revolver, but of -large calibre, and glanced at it carefully. - -"Now I'll watch, Hercules, and you be ready to run out with me." - -"Yas, massa." - -In silence then they waited until, suddenly, the words were heard: - -"Halt! Your money or your life!" - -"Come!" and with the word Will and Hercules bounded from the ravine. - -They saw farmer Lomax at a halt in the road, one man grasping the rein -of his horse, and the other holding a pistol up in his face. - -The farmer sat perfectly quiet, and the men each had an handkerchief -over his face, with holes cut to see through. - -"Come, out with your money, and lose no time, if you value your life!" -sternly ordered Jerry, the Night Hawk. - -The farmer thrust his hand into his pocket, drew out his well-filled -wallet, and tossed it upon the ground, just as clear and sharp came the -cry: "Hands up, Night Hawk Jerry!" - -The two men uttered a cry of alarm and turned, to see the boy and the -negro almost upon them; and recognizing Will, Night Hawk fired. - -The bullet clipped a hole in Will's hat-brim, and at that moment the boy -pulled trigger, just as the robber fired a second shot. - -Down, dropped Night Hawk, a dead man, for Will's bullet had pierced his -brain, while at the same moment Kent Lomax had hurled himself upon the -other robber and held him at his mercy. - -"I was sorry to have to kill him, but he shot me through the hat, for I -felt it turn on my head, and his second bullet clipped my arm, but I -guess did no harm," said Will. - -"My boy, you are worth your weight in gold; let me see if you are hurt," -and Kent Lomax turned his man over to Hercules, while he drew off the -boy's jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeve. There was a slight gash on -the left arm that was not of much consequence, and Kent Lomax quickly -bound a handkerchief about it, while he said: - -"You will need no requisition for your man, Master Raymond, while this -one we will give into the hands of the village constable. - -"Hercules, mount my horse and ride back to the village for the constable -and the coroner, and I will remain here with this young man." - -The negro departed, while Will said: "My errand here, sir, was to see -Mr. Rossmore upon an important matter, and I am anxious to catch the -boat back to-night, so that I might drive on to his farm and get back -here by the time the constable arrives, if you do not mind." - -"Certainly not, and Mr. Rossmore lives on the road a mile from here. - -"You will come to a bridge crossing a stream with a mill upon it, and -the Rossmore place is just beyond on the hill in full view." - -Thanking the farmer Will sprang into the buggy and drove on. - -As he reached the bridge he came to a halt, while he said: "Why, this is -the very scene that mother painted and gave to Colonel Ivey. - -"How strange her painting should be so like a real scene way down here -on the eastern shore of Maryland," and, wondering at the coincidence, -Will drove on up to the handsome country home on the hillside. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX.--UNKNOWN KINDRED TIES. - - -Little dreaming that he was approaching the home of his mother, her -birth-place, and that of her mother before her, the home from which she -had fled that, to her, fatal Christmas eve, Will Raymond drove up to the -hitching-rock and sprang out of his buggy. - -A gentleman sat upon the piazza, smoking a cigar and reading a paper, -but arose at his approach. - -"Good-morning, young gentleman," he said pleasantly, and then his eyes -became riveted upon Will's face. He was a man of fifty perhaps, with -noble countenance, tinged with sadness, and a look of anxiety. - -"My boy, who are you?" he said, quickly, before Will could speak. - -"Is this Mr. Rossmore?" asked Will. - -"Yes, my son." - -"My name is Will Raymond, sir, and I am a special officer of the New -York Secret Service, sent to see you upon a matter of interest to you." - -"About my lost boy? Quick! tell me if you have any news of him whom I -must say you most closely resemble, and--" - -"I do resemble your son, sir, and so much so that a gang of scoundrels -were to use me as a foil to make money out of you." - -"But you are not my boy? He would be about your age, and look like you, -I think," and Mr. Rossmore was greatly excited. - -"No, Mr. Rossmore, I am not your son; but I have come to tell you all I -know of him, and I am sorry to say that you must give up all hope of -ever seeing him alive." - -"No! no! no! I cannot, I cannot!" and Mr. Rossmore listened to the whole -story that Will had to tell, from his meeting with the man who had sent -him on the errand, to his killing Night Hawk by the roadside. - -"And, Mr. Rossmore," continued Will, "when I escaped from the den of the -Land Sharks, I brought with me the clothes, which they said your boy had -on when stolen, and his ring, and they were to bring them with me, to -prove that I was your Willie. - -"I will get them," and going out to the buggy he returned with his -satchel, and the clothing and ring were exhibited. - -"My poor, poor boy! these are indeed his little suit and ring; how well -I remember them; but, my noble boy, I must see the grave that they say -he was buried in on the prairie, before I give up all hope. If it -contains the remains of a small child, I can but believe, and besides, -Willie had his left arm broken when a baby, by falling from the lap of -his nurse, and this will identify the bones as his. - -"Oh, may heaven's anger fall on those who murdered my little boy!" and -Mr. Rossmore bowed his head with grief, just as a lady, whose locks were -prematurely grey from sorrow and suspense, came out upon the piazza. - -"Husband, I have heard all, and I believe at last that our boy, our -little Willie, is dead," she said, and turning to Will, she greeted him -most kindly, while she too was struck by the likeness of the young -detective to her son. - -"Have you parents, my boy, and a home, for gladly would I give you one," -she said to Will. - -"Yes, my noble boy, come to us and be our son," cried Mr. Rossmore. - -"I have a mother and sister living in New York, and I am their only -support, and I must return to them, though I thank you most kindly for -your good offer to me," said Will, touched by the grief and generosity -of Mr. Rossmore and his wife. - -"Well, my boy, I would not rob your mother of you for worlds, but you -must let me help you, and if ever you need a friend come to us, for we -live all alone here, and are strangely restless since the loss of my -boy. - -"We have travelled abroad, but came back soon to our Baltimore home, and -then we have come here, for this place was the home of my wife's cousin -and adopted sister, whose fate is a mystery to us, and a sad one, for -she ran away from home one night, fifteen years ago, leaving behind her -that noble man, you saved from robbery, Kent Lomax, to whom she was -engaged. - -"She deserted him for a villain, a man whose life Kent Lomax had saved, -and she fled with the rascal to Philadelphia, and was followed there. -Kent Lomax tried to avenge the double wrong, for the poor girl's mother -died from the shock, and the villain shot him, and for months he lay at -the point of death, and, when he recovered all trace of the man was -lost. - -"Years after her father died, and my wife here now has the estate, which -will be hers unless her adopted sister returns to claim it, or her -children do, if she has any; otherwise Mrs. Rossmore is the next heir. - -"So you see, wherever we go, we have sad memories to confront us; but -here both of us are well, and more content than elsewhere, so we often -come; but I am detaining you with family history, when you are anxious -to return to the scene of your affray down the road, and I will -accompany you. - -"Wife, please send the carriage after me," and so saying Mr. Rossmore -got into the buggy with Will and drove back to where Kent Lomax had been -left with the dead man and the bound prisoner. - -On the way Mr. Rossmore asked: "My son, do you think you could find the -grave of my little Will, from the description you had of it?" - -"I think so, sir." - -"Will you go West with me and find out?" - -"If I can get permission, sir." - -"Well, you can telegraph what you have done to your chief, and ask -permission to go with me, and I will have my family physician accompany -us, for he set Willie's arm when it was broken, and could tell if it was -my child in the grave. - -"But we will talk more of this, for there is farmer Lomax," and a moment -after they drove up to the spot where Kent Lomax stood, while coming in -view at the same time were a number of persons on horseback and in -buggies. - -Hercules and the constable rode in advance, and as they rode up and -dismounted, Kent Lomax introduced Will to the officer of the law, and -his story was again told, the coroner standing near with a jury which he -had selected from the crowd. - -All gazed upon Will as a hero; but the boy shrank from observation, and -remarked to Kent Lomax. "I hate notoriety that comes from taking the -life of a human being, villain though he was." - -"That is the proper spirit, my lad; but the coroner wishes to ask you a -few questions, and then I would like to have you go home with me as my -guest, while I also desire to compensate you is some way for your -services to me." - -"Thank you, sir, but I am paid for my duty, and can accept no other -reward, while I am to go back with Mr. Rossmore." - -So it was settled, and as Mr. Rossmore's carriage drove up, Will got -into it with his host, and drove away, followed by Kent Lomax on -horseback, while Hercules returned to town with the buggy and two horses -of the robbers, along with those who had come out to the scene upon -learning what had occurred. - -That Hercules had fared well at the hands of Will, Mr. Rossmore and Kent -Lomax was evident by the happy look upon his honest face, and the words: -"I wish dere'd be a robber-killin' ebery day, and Sunday too, and dis -nigger'd get rich." - -At a place where the roads branched off Kent Lomax bade them good-bye, -grasping Will's hand warmly, and saying: "You know my name and address, -my boy, and if you ever need a friend don't hesitate to call on me, for -I have no kindred that are dear to me and I am rich and would be glad to -serve you--so command me." - -Thus they parted, the man who had been engaged to his mother--the man -whom she deserted to marry the man who had so cruelly treated her. - -Neither knew what they were to each other, and yet each seemed drawn -toward the other. Nor did Will suspect for an instant; an hour -afterward, that he was eating dinner beneath the roof where his mother -had been born, and that Mrs. Rossmore was his own aunt. - -That night Mr. Rossmore and Will took the boat to Baltimore, and having -sent from the village a long and explicit dispatch to Captain Daly, an -answer was found awaiting them upon their arrival at the hotel in the -city the following day. - -The answer read: - - "NEW YORK POLICE DEP'T. - - "_Special Officer_, WILL RAYMOND:-- - - "Your telegram most satisfactory, and will get requisition for - Night Hawk's comrade and have him brought here. - - "You have acted as I knew you would in everything, and the chief - joins me in congratulations upon your pluck and detective skill. - - "You have full permission to go West with Mr. Rossmore, and your - leave is unlimited. Success to you. - - DALY." - -That night the Westward bound through Express on the Baltimore & Ohio -Railroad carried Mr. Rossmore, his family physician, and Will Raymond, -the Boy Detective, and their destination was the North Platte river in -Nebraska. - - - - -CHAPTER XX.--THE GRAVE ON THE PRAIRIE. - - -It was toward sunset, one pleasant afternoon, some ten days after the -visit of the Boy Detective to the eastern shore of Maryland, that a -party of horsemen were visible driving over a Nebraska prairie. - -The party had left Fort McPherson on the Platte, whose commander had -kindly sent an officer and soldiers, under a skilful guide, with Mr. -Rossmore, as an escort. - -Will had told the buckskin guide just what he had heard the Land Sharks -say regarding the spot where they had buried Willie Rossmore, and the -plainsman had expressed himself as acquainted with the Lone Tree, while -he also said that there were fully a dozen graves about it. - -Soon the tree, standing alone on the prairie, and upon the bank of a -small stream, loomed up in the distance. - -"There's the Lone Tree," said the guide, "and we'll reach thar jist -about dark." - -All eyes were turned upon the distant and solitary cottonwood tree, -standing like a giant sentinel upon the prairie, and the horses were -urged on at a more rapid pace. - -But the shadows of night fell before the tree was reached, and it was -decided to go into camp and make a search in the morning. - -One of the pack-horses carried some pine-knots, and a fire was soon -kindled, while another carried some canvas flies which were stretched as -a shelter. - -There were ample provisions with them, with plenty of game shot during -the day's ride, and soon a most tempting supper was spread out before -the hungry party. - -As for Will Raymond, it was to him a most enjoyable expedition, for he -had often read of a wild life upon the plains, and with the -buckskin-clad guide, the soldier escort, and the knowledge that there -was danger of an attack by Indians, he was charmed. - -After the supper was dispatched, sentinels were placed out upon the -prairie, at some distance, the horses were staked out within the circle -formed by the four guards, and the rest of the party sought the shelter -of the tent flies to sleep. No, not all, for Mr. Rossmore was too deeply -moved by the belief that he was near the grave of his long-lost child, -and he paced to and fro, beneath the solitary tree, his thoughts busy -with his grief. - -Then there was another that did not care to sleep, and that was Will -Raymond. - -The surroundings, the wildness of the scene, the prairie, the soldiers, -all impressed him, and he strolled about the camp, while as the moon -arose he walked out to a sentinel on duty and had a long talk with him. - -At last, as midnight came, and the sentinels were relieved by others, he -went to the shelter, wrapped himself in his blanket, and soon sank to -sleep. - -The sun was rising when he awoke, and Mr. Rossmore, who lay near him, -had just got up from his blanket couch. The guide already had breakfast -ready, and when it was over, the search for the grave began. - -As the guide had said there were a number of graves in the vicinity of -the tree for several trails led by it, and many a dear one, dying upon -the plains had been laid to rest there, where the solitary cottonwood -would serve as a monument to their memory. - -"Now give me the particulars, boy pard, the time he was buried, his age -when he was put here, and I guess I kin pick out his restin' place," -said the guide. - -Will gave the full particulars, as he knew them, and the guide set to -work. - -Grave after grave he went to, and left, making some remark at each one. - -"This one looks to be about the age you say, boy pard, and it were made -as though in a hurry, and with a don't care feelin', and not as them -builds a dirt house over them they loves. - -"Sergeant, bring yer utensils and dig earth here," said the guide, and -he stood over a small grave that indeed did look as though it had been -hastily dug and filled in, for others, even those smaller, and evidently -with the remains of children in them, were made as though the heart of -the diggers had been in the work. - -Two soldiers now stepped forward with spades and the work was begun of -turning the earth from the grave. - -It was not a very long task, and soon the end was reached, the moldering -bones of a body were found. Tenderly they were taken out having been -wrapped in a blanket, and from a felt hat that had been upon the head, a -mass of dark-brown curls were taken. - -Mr. Rossmore took the hat and its precious burden tenderly, and asked: -"Doctor, this looks like Willie's hair." - -"Yes, exactly the shade," was the reply, and the doctor bent over the -bones, while all present removed their hats with reverent awe, Will -Raymond having unconsciously set the example. - -In deathlike silence all stood while the doctor placed the bones -together, and said: "This was the body of a child about Willie's age, at -the time that our young friend here says they killed him, and it was a -boy--yes, here is the left arm, and--_it has been broken_!" - -"Heaven have mercy! it is the body of my poor boy," groaned Mr. -Rossmore. - -"Yes, Rossmore, it is, and I can swear to it, for here is the broken -arm, the fracture being just below the elbow, as was Willie's, while you -remember the tooth I took out for him one day?" - -"Yes, he would not go to a dentist, but wished you to take it out, so I -sent for you." - -"He had no other tooth missing, and none here are, you see; but great -Heaven!" and the doctor arose to his feet, holding the skull in his -hands. - -All pressed about him, while he continued, pointing to the skull: "Do -you see that fracture? - -"_It tells the story that he was murdered!_" - -It was too true, the fractured skull showed where a death-blow had been -given the poor boy, but whether by accident or design, who could tell? - -As all crowded about the doctor, gazing at the skull, Will Raymond -sprang down into the grave and picked up something that had caught his -eye in the loose dirt. - -"See here!" he called out, and he held up a gold watch and upon the -inside case was engraved the name: - - "ED ELLIS." - -"Mr. Rossmore, that is the name of the man who was with Night Hawk -Jerry, whom I shot, and he was one of the kidnappers, and here with your -son, for this watch proves it, and it fell out of his pocket when he was -burying him," said Will. - -"Boy pard, you've got a long head, for the man who laid this boy's -remains in thet grave, dropped thet watch," remarked the guide. - -"Then it will be a fatal evidence against him, and I will leave nothing -undone to hang him," sternly said Mr. Rossmore. - -Then the bones were gathered together, and being placed upon one of the -pack-animals, the party started on the return to the fort. - -Arriving there, the bones were placed in a coffin, and Mr. Rossmore, the -doctor and Will Raymond started upon their return East, the -grief-stricken father having given the guide and the soldiers a most -generous gift as an appreciation of their services. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI.--RETRIBUTION AT LAST. - - -It was at Chicago that Will Raymond parted with Mr. Rossmore and the -doctor, for he was anxious to get back to New York, as he knew his -mother had not been very well when he left. - -In vain did Mr. Rossmore urge him to accept a cheque for a large amount -for his most valuable services, for the boy was firm in his refusal, -taking only sufficient for his expenses. - -Two boxes, one marked for Mrs. Raymond, the other for Pearl, Mr. -Rossmore also gave the youth for his mother and sister, and, with the -feeling that he had done his duty well, and would win the praise of his -chief, Will set out on his return to New York. - -It was just supper-time, after an absence of one month, that he knocked -at the door of his home, and heard a voice say: "Come in!" - -In he walked, and, with a cry of joy, the arms of Mrs. Raymond were -about her son, while Pearl clung to his hand in warm welcome. - -"Oh, brother! how like a man you have grown; but you did not lose your -gold badge, did you?" cried Pearl. - -"No, sis, I have it safe, and more, for this was a present to me," and -he exhibited his watch and chain to the delight of his mother and -sister. - -"And here is something for you, mother, a present from the same kind -gentleman," and when Mrs. Raymond untied a packet he gave her, a pair of -superb diamond earrings were revealed. - -"Oh, mother!" cried Pearl. - -"And this is for you, sis, from the same source." - -Pearl opened her box with trembling hands, and took from a velvet case a -necklace of pearls. - -"Mr. Rossmore was determined to pay me after all," said Will. - -"But, my son, tell us about these superb presents," Mrs. Raymond said. - -"I will, mother, and it is a long, strange story," and the Boy Detective -told the story of his travels. - -"We cannot give these presents back, can we, Will, for they ill become -Pearl and I in our poverty," said Mrs. Raymond. - -"No, mother, for it would deeply offend good Mr. Rossmore, and he was -determined to repay me in some way; but I intend to be rich some day, -and then your presents won't be amiss; but, mother, did you say that you -knew Mr. Rossmore?" - -"I said, Will, that I knew a gentleman once of that name," and the woman -hastily wiped away a tear. - -"But, mother, the strangest of all, and which I forgot to tell you, was -the story he told me about his home, and how his wife's cousin and -adopted sister had treated the farmer I saved from the robbers. - -"And the view of his home was just like the painting you gave Colonel -Ivey, and I seemed to recognize it as soon as I saw it, while both the -farmer, Mr. Kent Lomax--" - -"What name did you say, Will?" and Mrs. Raymond sprang to her feet, -white and trembling. - -"The name of the farmer, mother, Kent Lomax," said Will, in amazement at -his mother's excitement. - -"And you have seen that man, Kent Lomax?" again she asked, hoarsely. - -"Yes, mother; did you know him?" - -Unheeding the question, she said: "Tell me of him." - -"Well, mother, he is a tall, handsome man, with a stern face, but a kind -one, and he is a rich farmer, living near the home of Mr. Rossmore. He -was very good to me, and I felt sorry for him when Mr. Rossmore told me -he had been engaged to marry Mrs. Rossmore's sister, a young and -beautiful girl, whose home had been at the Mill Farm. - -"But there had come a wicked city man down there, and though Mr. Lomax -had saved his life, he had made the young lady love him and had run off -with her. It was a terrible blow, for the mother of the young lady died -of a broken heart--" - -"Died!" groaned Mrs. Raymond, and then she said in a voice that was -hoarse and quivering: "Go on! what more did you hear, my son?" - -"Mr. Rossmore told me that the farmer, Kent Lomax, followed the runaway -couple to Philadelphia, and fought a duel with the wicked man who stole -his sweetheart, and received a wound that nearly cost him his life; but -since then they have never heard of Mrs. Rossmore's sister, or her -husband, for he was caught cheating at cards soon after and driven out -of the city by those who had been his friends. But I felt so sorry for -Mr. Lomax, mother, for he is such a splendid man." - -"And the father of this girl who so wickedly fled from her home?" asked -Mrs. Raymond in the same hoarse whisper. - -"He died some years ago, and was buried in the family burying-ground; -but, mother, I have something else to show you, and it is this gold -watch, with a small piece of chain attached, which I found in the grave -of Willie Rossmore, and it bears the name on it of Ed. Ellis, the man -now in prison, and who was the comrade of Night Hawk Jerry." - -"_Ed. Ellis!_ let me see the watch!" and Mrs. Raymond grasped it from -Will's hand and glanced at the name. - -"Yes, Ed Ellis, _his friend_," she gasped, and as she did so her head -fell back, and her lips crimsoned with her life-blood. - -"Oh, Pearl! mother has a hemorrhage! Quick! run for Doctor Churchill!" -cried Will, supporting his mother in his arms, while his sister bounded -away to fetch the physician, whom Mrs. Raymond had been compelled to -send for on several occasions. - -Pearl soon returned, for fortunately she had met the doctor almost at -the door, and under his care the hemorrhage was stayed and Mrs. Raymond -was greatly relieved. - -"You must keep her very quiet, and watch her carefully, for this has -been brought on by some sudden shock," said the doctor to Will, as he -departed, promising to send a faithful nurse to take care of the poor -invalid. - -The nurse came and in the morning Mrs. Raymond appeared much better; -but she was very pale and weak, and her face had become haggard from -suffering; but she whispered: - -"I must live for you, my children, bitter as life is to me, and I will -do so, for you are my all in this world." - -With a heart too full to speak Will kissed his mother and went out to -report to Captain Daly, the poor woman saying aloud as he left the room: -"My punishment is greater than I can bear, for my act, I now know placed -my poor mother in her grave, and nearly cost Kent Lomax his life. I knew -not of this duel, for _he_ never told me. But I erred, and I have -suffered, and now a fearful retribution has come upon me; but, for the -sake of my children I will cling to life until they are old enough to do -without me," and closing her eyes, while her lips moved as if in prayer, -the poor woman sank into a deep slumber. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII.--INSNARED BY A WATCH. - - -The entrance of the Boy Detective into the police precinct caused a -sensation, and his hand was grasped in welcome at every step he took. - -Captain Daly heard his name called and advanced to the door of his -private office to meet him, while he cried: "Welcome back, my Wizard -Will, for I received your telegram from Chicago, and you have worked -wonders." - -"Bravo for Wizard Will!" cried a tall sergeant; while a policeman said: - -"The captain has well named the boy, in calling him Wizard Will." - -For two hours was Wizard Will, as I must now call him, closeted with -Captain Daly, and then the two came out of the private office together. - -A carriage was called, and they drove at once to the Tombs. The police -captain gained ready admission, and he said to the officer in charge, -after he had introduced his young _protege_: "Wizard Will here wishes a -private talk with your prisoner from Maryland, who calls himself Ed -Ellis." - -The officer bowed assent, and Will was conducted to the cell of Ed -Ellis, the man whom he had captured in Maryland, at the time that he had -shot Night Hawk Jerry. - -"Ho, boy, what do you want here?" gruffly said the prisoner as Will -entered and was locked in with him. - -"I am here to have a talk with you, Ellis." - -"What have you got to say?" - -"I wish you to tell me if Night Hawk Jerry really killed little Willie -Rossmore, or if he died of exposure and starvation, as he told me was -the case?" - -"I don't know anything about the kid." - -"Did you never see him?" - -"No." - -"Suppose I tell you that I know something of your past?" - -"I don't believe it." - -"You are from Philadelphia?" - -"Who said so?" - -"You had a watch presented to you once." - -"Yes, I did, and I lost it." - -"Suppose I tell you that I know where it is?" - -"I'll bet you don't." - -"When did you have it last?" - -"It was stolen from me in camp, some six years ago." - -Will did not show the slightest sign of having seen that the man made a -slip of the tongue, as he asked: - -"In a mining-camp, you say?" - -"No, in a camp on the prairies." - -"Some six years ago, in Nebraska?" - -"Yes." - -"Ah! you have been West, then?" - -The man saw his mistake and recoiled, as he said: - -"What if I have?" - -"Suppose I tell you I know where your watch is?" - -"Do you?" - -"Yes." - -"I'll bet my life Night Hawk Jerry was the thief that stole it from me, -after all, and you found it on his body after you killed him." - -"You have the chain that was attached to it?" - -"No, I hain't." - -"Well, this chain, taken from you in Maryland when you were captured, is -it not the same that you had on your watch?" and Will showed a gold -chain of a peculiar kind of pattern, that had been taken, with other -things, from the prisoner when he was captured. - -"No." - -"And you think Night Hawk Jerry stole it from you?" - -"Yes." - -"About six years ago?" - -"About that." - -"Well, tell me how you lost it." - -"I don't know exactly, for I had it one afternoon, and when I went to -wind it up that night it was gone." - -"This was in Nebraska?" - -"Yes." - -"And Jerry was with you?" - -"Yes." - -"Who else?" - -"We were with an emigrant train, and going out West to homestead land." - -"You had your own waggon and horses?" - -"Yes." - -"And joined the train on the march?" - -"Yes, but we didn't stay long in company with it, as it wasn't going our -way." - -"Did you remain long in Nebraska?" - -"No." - -"Why not?" - -"Because we didn't like it there." - -"And you returned East?" - -"Yes." - -"And you became a Baltimore crook?" - -"You seem to know." - -"And Jerry became a New York crook?" - -"As he's dead and not on trial, I may as well say that is about the size -of it." - -"Yet you said awhile ago you had not known Jerry more than a year?" - -"I had forgotten." - -"Well, Ellis, I have got your watch!" - -"The deuce you have!" - -"Yes; and I'll tell you where I found it." - -"Where?" - -"It had a piece of chain to it, a link of the very chain I hold here of -yours." - -"Yes, I remember now; I had the old chain fixed over." - -"And, Ellis, I found your watch in _the grave of the little boy you -murdered_!" - -The man gave a cry in spite of himself, and became livid, while Wizard -Will held up the watch, all covered with dirt as it was, and said: - -"Here is the watch, and I took out of the grave of Willie Rossmore; and -in burying him, it rolled out of your pocket and fell there. - -"And more, the boy's skull was crushed in by a blow you gave him--" - -"No--no! Jerry gave him that blow," cried the man in quivering tones. - -"Jerry is not here to deny it, and you have confessed to having been -there with him, while this watch tells the story that you at least -buried him, and you and Night Hawk were the ones who kidnapped him; so I -tell you, Ellis, you are the murderer of Willie Rossmore." - -"If I've got to swing, boy, you'll not be there to see me die!" was the -savage threat of the man, and he sprang like a tiger at Wizard Will. - -But the boy stooped quickly and avoided him, while the door was thrown -open and Captain Daly sprang in and seized him, followed by the officer -in charge of the prisoner. - -"No, my man, you can commit no more murders in the short time you have -to live, for a jury will soon send you to the gallows," said Captain -Daly, and with Wizard Will he left the cell, while the officer of the -prison remarked: - -"We heard all he said, Wizard Will, and a stenographer took it down, so -he is doomed; and the watch insnared him, for without it he could not -have been tried for anything but highway robbery; now it will be for -murder, as well." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII.--WIZARD WILL'S LUCK. - - -As soon as he left the cell of Ellis, the kidnapper of Willie Rossmore, -Wizard Will went directly home, for he was anxious about his mother. - -But he was delighted to find her much better, though weak, and the iron -will of the unfortunate woman was doing much to build her up again, -after her determination not to give up and leave her children alone in -the world. - -"Mother, Captain Daly has increased my pay to fifty dollars a month, so -we will move to a pleasant little cottage out on Long Island, which -belongs to him, and there is no rent to pay, and it is furnished, and -has five acres of land, with a fine garden, a cow, and a horse and -buggy. - -"Then there are plenty of flowers, and chickens, and though the cottage -has but five rooms in it, it must be a lovely place, for the captain's -brother lived there until a few days ago, when he went West, and left it -to him," and Will's enthusiastic description of the little home got Mrs. -Raymond quite excited over it, while Pearl was wild with joy. - -"And you say there is no rent to pay, Will?" asked his mother. - -"The captain said he was just going to arrange with a man living near -there, to give him the use of the horse, cow and garden, to take care of -the place, while he'll give it to us if we go there to live, and he can -get me a pass on the railroad, so that will cost nothing, and it is not -half an hour's run to the station where our home is, so you must cheer -up, mother, for life is getting brighter for us." - -"But are there any schools, my son?" - -"Yes, mother! one only a hundred yards away, where Pearl can go; and the -captain is good enough to say I can have two hours each day to study -here in town, while he'll not put me on night work if it can be avoided, -and only on special detective service then." - -"That is most kind of him, Will, and I must see him and thank him." - -"And mother," proceeded Will, whose enthusiasm increased as he continued -to enumerate, "Captain Daly says I'll have a chance to earn special fees -if I am successful in my work, so that we need not stint ourselves in -living, and I suggested an idea to him that he was delighted with, and -said I might carry it out." - -"What was that, my son?" - -"Well, you know that I am pretty well acquainted with New York, and I -said I would like to form a league of 'Boy Detectives,' for I feel that -I could do a great deal of good with them, and he said he thought so -too, and I should be captain." - -"Ah! my son, I fear you are taking a very heavy weight upon your young -shoulders." - -"I can stand it, mother." - -"You've always said, mother, that brother had an old head on young -shoulders; but he's got broad shoulders, too, and can stand it," Pearl -remarked in her quaint way, for she would wager her life upon her -brother being able to do anything that a man could accomplish. - -"Well, Will, you are the bread-winner of our home now, and the head, -young as you are, and I will not be the one to put a straw in your way -against success, for you seem to have a real talent for detective work." - -"Thank you, mother, and they have dubbed me, on the force, Wizard Will, -as they say I have done wonders as a Boy Detective." - -"You have, indeed, my son, and in a few days I'll be able to move out to -the cottage, and you can then devote yourself wholly to your new -career;" and, with the firm resolve to bury her bitter past at once, and -forgetting self, to live wholly for her children, the noble, though -sorrow-haunted woman, improved steadily each day, and one pleasant -morning Captain Ryan Daly, the good-hearted officer, called for the trio -in a carriage and drove them out to the cottage, which he playfully -called Wizard Hall. - -It was a charming little cottage, with large trees upon one side, a lawn -sloping down to an inlet of the Long Island Sound, a vegetable garden, a -stable, a meadow lot, in which an Alderney cow was grazing, a henery, -with a large number of choice fowls, and beds of flowers that at once -caught the eye of Pearl. - -The place was in perfect condition, the garden flourishing, the house -well and completely furnished, and the store-room and cellar well -stocked, while the coal-bin and wood-shed were filled, the captain -remarking that his brother had been a most liberal provider, and telling -the story without a flush on his honest face, for he had placed all -there himself. - -"I shall soon get well here, Captain Daly, and I know not how to thank -you for all your kindness," said Mrs. Raymond, the tears coming into her -beautiful eyes. - -"It is a kindness for me, madam, to have the place occupied by good -tenants, and I must tell you that in yonder little cabin on the hill -lives an old negro and his wife, who will do odds and ends for you when -you need them for very small pay." - -"Now, Wizard Will, I shall give you a week's leave to get settled in -your new home, and then you can set to work raising your League of Boy -Detectives, whom I shall put great faith in," and, promising to come out -and dine some Sunday with them, the noble-hearted police captain--whose -daily intercourse was with criminals, who was hourly amid desperate and -tragic scenes, whose will was iron, whose nature knew no fear, but who -had the heart of a woman for deeds of kindness--took his leave and -returned to the city, leaving the mother and her children to make -themselves perfectly at home in Wizard Hall. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV.--CONCLUSION. - - -After a happy week spent at his little home on the Sound, Wizard Will -returned to his duties in town. He had made friends with the old negro -and negress in the cabin on the hill near the cottage, and had found -them most willing to do all in their power to help his mother, and had -secretly made an arrangement with them to look after matters in his -absence, the old man to look after the horse, and his wife to milk the -cow. - -He had also ingeniously attached a wire from the cottage to the cabin, -with a bell at the latter, so that his mother could call for aid if she -needed it. - -With country air, pretty scenery, pleasant quarters, fresh milk and -vegetables, and no worry about their daily bread, Mrs. Raymond rapidly -improved in health, and life became worth the living for her, as she -strove hard to shut out the past. - -Pearl started to school and made friends, and some kind-hearted -neighbours called upon the new-comers, so that the mother and daughter -were not wholly alone, while Wizard Will, when at home, gave them many a -pleasant drive about the country, and row or sail upon the Sound. - -But Will did not neglect his work in the city, and, setting to work with -energy and skill, he formed his League of Boy Detectives, and it was but -a very short while before the police force recognized their ability and -acknowledged it, treating their young captain with as much respect as -they did their own commanders. - -In due time Ed Ellis the kidnapper and murderer was tried, found guilty -upon the testimony of Wizard Will and executed. - -Mr. Rossmore came on to the trial, and urged Wizard Will once more to -become his adopted son, but Mrs. Raymond would not hear of it, and also -declined positively to allow her son to bring the kind-hearted gentleman -out to see her, as he wished to do. - -Will felt hurt at this, especially as his mother gave no other reason -for her strange conduct than that she would not see any strangers. - -With deep regret at Will's refusal to go with him Mr. Rossmore returned -to his home in Maryland, and the boy settled himself to hard work to win -greater fame in the career which he had drifted into by accident. - -Though he had several times seen Colonel Ivey in the street he had -avoided him, as his mother had earnestly requested him to do, and the -gallant soldier little dreamed that the name his eyes fell upon now and -then in the papers as Wizard Will, was the one whose three-dollar -gold-piece he had found on Thanksgiving morning, and still wore as a -charm upon his watch-chain, while he deeply mourned for the woman he had -learned to love, and the children who had crept into his heart as though -they were his own flesh and blood. - -One of the first duties that the brave young officer set for himself to -accomplish with his juvenile band of Secret Service scouts was the -running to earth of the "Land Sharks," and how he accomplished the giant -task is written in the Police History of New York City, wherein no name -stands out in bolder relief than that of Wizard Will, the Boy Ferret of -New York. - -Those who wish to know how he accomplished his task, must read "WIZARD -WILL'S STREET SCOUTS," the next number of the Tip Top Tales. - - THE END. - - - - -THE "O'ER LAND & SEA" LIBRARY.--_Continued._ - -=40. Rocky Mountain Rob, the Roadagent=; or, the Vigilantes of Humbug -Bar - -=41. Kentuck the Sport=; or, Dick Talbot at the Mines - -=42. Injun Dick, the Death Shot of Shasta= - -=43. Velvet Hand=; or, the Iron Grip of Injun Dick - -=44. Gold Dan=; or, the White Savage of the Great Salt Lake - -=45. Captain Dick Talbot=; or, the Black Hoods of Shasta - -=46. The Pirate Chief=; or, the Queen of the Isle - -=47. The "Spotter" Detective=; or, the Girls of New York - -=48. The City Sharp=; or, the Flash of Lightning - -=49. The Cretan Rover=; or, the Secret Signet Ring - -=50. Always on Hand=; or, the Sportive Sports of the Foot-Hills - -=51. The Human Sleuth-Hound=; or, Who Holds the Winning Hand? - -=52. The Prairie Mazeppa=; or, the Madman of the Plains - -=53. The Wolf Demon=; or, the Red Arrow of the Far West - -=54. The Gunmaker of Moscow=; or, Vladimir, the Black Monk - -=55. Death Trailer, the Chief or Scouts=; or, Life and Love in a -Frontier Fort - -=56. The Pilgrim Sharp=; or, the Soldier's Sweetheart - -=57. The Wild Riders of the Staked Plain=; or, Jack, the Hero of Texas - -=58. Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor=; or, the Secret of Sitting Bull - -=59. Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West= - -=60. White Beaver, the Exile of the Platte=; or, a Wronged Man's Red -Trail - -=61. The Wizard Brothers=; or, White Beaver's Red Trail - -=62. The One-Arm Pard=; or, Red Retribution in Borderland - -=63. Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas=; or, the Child of the Regiment - -=64. Red Renard=; or, the Gold Buzzards of Colorado - -=65. The Corsair Queen=; or, the Gipsies of the Sea - -=66. Black Plume, the Demon of the Sea= - -=67. The Sea Cadet=; or, the Rover of the Ricoletts - -=68. Double Death=; or, the Spy Queen of Wyoming. - -=69. Gold Bullet Sport=; or, the Knights of the Overland - -=70. The Vigilante Captain=; or, the Haunted Ranche - -=71. The Black Pirate=; or, the Mystery of the Golden Fetters - -=72. The Dead Shot Nine=; or, My Pards of the Plains - -=73. Tiger Dick, the Faro King=; or, the Cashier's Crime - -=74. Fire Feather, the Buccaneer King= - -=75. Iron Wrist, the Swordmaster= - -=76. Old Benzine=; or, Joe Bowers' Racket at Ricaree City - -=77. Personal Reminiscences of Buffalo Bill= - -=78. The League of Three=; or, Buffalo Bill's Pledge - -=79. Buffalo Bill's Grip=; or, Oath-Bound to Custer - -=80. Buffalo Bill's Secret Service Trail=; or, the Mysterious Foe - -=81. Darkie Dan, the Coloured Detective=; or, the Mississippi Mystery. - -=82. Shadowed by a Showman=; or, the Mad Magician - -=83. Milo Romer, the Animal King= - -=84. Fighting Tom, the Terror of the Toughs= - -=85. Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy=; or, the Mystery of the Strongbow - -=86. The True-Heart Pards=; or, the Gentleman Vagabond - -=87. Detective Dick=; or, the Hero in Rags - -=88. Konrad, the Swordmaker=; or, the Masked Emperor - -=89. The Lost Captain=; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin's Cruise on the Open -Polar Seas - -=90. Buffalo Bill, the Buckskin King=; or, the Amazon of the West - -=91. Buffalo Bill's Swoop=; or the King of the Mines - -=92. Buckskin Sam= - -=93. The Tiger Tamer=; or, the League of the Jungle - -=94. Yellowstone Jack=; or, Trappers of the Enchanted Ground - -=95. The Mad Mariner=; or, Dishonoured and Disowned - -=96. The Kid-Glove Miner=; or, the Magic Doctor of Golden Gulch - -=97. Red Lightning the Man of Chance=; or, Flush Times in Golden Gulch - -_Continued on page 3 of cover._ - -=98. Queen Helen, the Amazon of the Overland= - -=99. Buck Taylor, the Saddle King=; or, Buffalo Bill's Chief of Cowboys - -=100. The Winning Oar=; or, the Innkeeper's Daughter - -=101. Tracked from the Rockies=; or, Injun Dick, Detective - -=102. The Fresh of Frisco=; or the Heiress of Buenaventura - -=103. Bronze Jack, the Californian Thoroughbred=; or, the Lost City of -the Basaltic Buttes - -=104. Cloven Hoof, the Demon Buffalo=; or, the Border Vultures - -=105. Seth, the Dumb Spy of Iowa=; or, the Demon of Des Moines - -=106. The Pirate Priest=; or the Planter-Gambler's Daughter. - -=107. Cutlass and Cross=; or, the Ghouls of the Sea - -=108. The Sea Owl=; or, the Lady Captain of the Gulf - -=109. The Lasso King's League=; or, the Tigers of Texas - -=110. Captain Ebony=; or, Bound by the Golden Fetters - -=111. The Cowboy Clan=; or, the Tigress of Texas - -=112. The Swordsman of Warsaw=; or, Ralpho the Mysterious - -=113. Don Diablo, the Planter-Corsair=; or, the Rivals of the Sea - -=114. The Scarlet Schooner=; or, the Nemesis of the Sea - -=115. The Texas Tramp=; or, Solid Sam, the Yankee Hercules - -=116. Alligator Ike=; or, the Secret of the Everglade - -=117. Buffalo Bill on the War-path=; or, Silk Lasso Sam - -=118. Old Pop Hicks, Showman=; or, Lion Charley's Luck - -=119. The Chevalier Corsair=; or, the Heritage of Hatred - -=120. El Rubio Bravo, King of Swordsmen=; or, the Terrible Brothers of -Tabasco - -=121. Buffalo Bill's Blind Trail.= A Story of the Wild West - -=122. Fire-eye, the Sea Hyena=; or, the Bride of a Buccaneer - -=123. The Czar's Spy=; or, the Nihilist League - -=124. Buffalo Bill's Buckskin Brotherhood=; or, Opening Up a Lost Trail - -=125. Buffalo Bill's Body Guard=; or, the Still Hunt of the Hills - -=126. Dark Dashwood, the Desperate=; or, the Child of the Sun - -=127. Mourad, the Mameluke=; or, the Three Swordmasters - -=128. The Swordsmen Hunters=; or, the Land of the Elephant Riders - -=129. Buffalo Bill's Scout Shadowers=; or, a Romance of the Forts and -Mountain Trails - -=130. Dashing Dandy, the Hotspur of the Hills=; or, Pony Prince's -Strange Pard - -=131. Buffalo Bill Baffled=; or, the Deserter Desperado's Defiance - -=132. Keen Billy, the Sport=; or, the Circus at White Gopher - -=133. Buffalo Bill's First Trail=; or, Will Cody, the Pony Express Rider - -=134. Red Rapier=; or, the Sea Rover's Bride - -=135. Revello=; or, the Rival Rovers - -=136. Buffalo Bill's Bonanza=; or, the Knights of the Silver Circle - -=137. Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels= - -=138. Joe Phoenix's Shadow=; or, the Great Detective's Mysterious -Monitor - -=139. Montebello, the Magnificent=; or, the Gold King - -=140. Death-Notch, the Young Scalp Hunter= - - -OTHERS IN ACTIVE PREPARATION. - - -ALDINE PUBLISHING CO., 9, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, LONDON. - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - - -This book was originally published as _Beadle's Half-Dime Library_ #450: -_Wizard Will, the Wonder-Worker; or, The Boy Ferret of New York. A -Romance of Mysteries in Metropolitan Life._ This electronic edition is -derived from the later reprint in Aldine's _Tip-Top Tales_ series, which -omits credit to the author, Prentiss Ingraham. - -Underscores are used to represent _italics_; equals signs are used for -=bold=. - -Changed oe ligature to oe for text edition; ligatures retained in HTML -version. - -Added table of contents. - -Normalized some inconsistent punctuation in chapter headings. - -Some inconsistent punctuation retained (e.g. gripsack vs. grip-sack, Ed. -Ellis vs. Ed Ellis). - -Page 2, changed "as the reply" to "was the reply." - -Page 3, changed ? to , after "I wish to see Jerry, the Night Hawk." - -Page 4, changed "sportman's" to "sportsman's" for consistency. - -Page 5, changed "miller Raymond's" to "Miller Raymond's" for -consistency. - -Page 6, changed "Mr Cluett" to "Mr. Cluett." - -Page 7, changed "Mrs," to "Mrs." and added missing comma after "lay in a -swoon." - -Page 8, changed "and and" to "and." - -Page 9, changed "villany" to "villainy" for consistency. - -Page 13, changed "Reportres" to "Reporters" and "of of" to "of." - -Page 14, changed "and kept she it" to "and she kept it." - -Page 17, changed "a agile" to "an agile." - -Page 19, changed punctuation to question mark in "Your brother at work, -and at night?" - -Page 21, changed "address of my young friend here will give you" to -"address that my young friend here will give you." - -Page 22, changed "on old friend" to "an old friend." Added missing -"they" to "joy that they had not known." - -Page 24, changed "hostilites" to "hostilities." - -Page 25, changed "yatchsman" to "yachtsman." - -Page 26, changed question mark to period in "To accomplish just what you -have done." - -Page 28, changed "than had arrived" to "that had arrived." - -Page 30, changed "surrounding" to "surrounded" in "surrounding by -spacious." - -Page 31, changed "Mr Cluett" to "Mr. Cluett." - -Page 32, added missing close quote after "make short work of him." - -Page 43, changed "voyrge" to "voyage." - -Page 44, changed "had had" to "had." - -Page 47, changed comma to period after "he got away." - -Page 48, changed "Hurcules" to "Hercules." - -Page 51, changed "Chistmas" to "Christmas" and removed stray quote after -"returned Hercules." - -Page 52, changed commas to periods at ends of two paragraphs. - -Page 55, changed "attack Indians" to "attack by Indians" and "Rosmore" -to "Rossmore." Added missing comma after "went to the shelter." - -Page 59, changed colon to semi-colon after "suffering." - -Page 61, changed "anthing" to "anything" and added missing "gave" to -"Jerry gave him that blow." - -Page 63, removed unnecessary comma after "tears." - -Page 64, changed "living her" to "living for her." - -Back cover, fixed "Magnificent" typo in #139. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wizard Will, by Prentiss Ingraham - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIZARD WILL *** - -***** This file should be named 43301-8.txt or 43301-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/3/0/43301/ - -Produced by Demian Katz and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images courtesy -of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at - www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email -contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the -Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/43301-8.zip b/43301-8.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ae8d4a6..0000000 --- a/43301-8.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/43301-h.zip b/43301-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 41eb1e7..0000000 --- a/43301-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/43301-h/43301-h.htm b/43301-h/43301-h.htm index 55e1cdf..4234dec 100644 --- a/43301-h/43301-h.htm +++ b/43301-h/43301-h.htm @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> <title> The Project Gutenberg eBook of Wizard Will the Wonder Worker, by Prentiss Ingraham. @@ -69,46 +69,7 @@ img { border: 0; } </style> </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wizard Will, by Prentiss Ingraham - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 - - -Title: Wizard Will - The Wonder Worker - -Author: Prentiss Ingraham - -Release Date: July 26, 2013 [EBook #43301] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIZARD WILL *** - - - - -Produced by Demian Katz and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images courtesy -of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43301 ***</div> <div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> <a href="images/coverlarge.jpg"><img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="575" alt="Cover" /></a> @@ -2049,7 +2010,7 @@ handsome face, dressed in his gorgeous Dragoon uniform.</p> Mrs. Raymond read the history of the Dashing Dragoon, and he became to Will and Pearl a hero also in their eyes, and warm was the welcome that he received when he came the next day to tell Mrs. -Raymond that he had adopted all of them as <i>protegées</i>, and meant to +Raymond that he had adopted all of them as <i>protegées</i>, and meant to take them to a pleasant home and send the children to school.</p> <p>This promise he kept, for he would not be said nay, and Mrs. Raymond, @@ -5435,382 +5396,6 @@ have done."</p> <p>Back cover, fixed "Magnificent" typo in #139.</p> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wizard Will, by Prentiss Ingraham - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIZARD WILL *** - -***** This file should be named 43301-h.htm or 43301-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/3/0/43301/ - -Produced by Demian Katz and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images courtesy -of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at - www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email -contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the -Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - -</pre> - +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43301 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/43301.zip b/43301.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a990e89..0000000 --- a/43301.zip +++ /dev/null |