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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43765 ***
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+  CHAPTER I
+  CHAPTER II
+  CHAPTER III
+  CHAPTER IV
+  CHAPTER V
+  CHAPTER VI
+  CHAPTER VII
+  CHAPTER VIII
+  CHAPTER IX
+
+
+
+
+  _OLD SLEUTH'S OWN._
+
+  No. 41.
+
+  The Twin Ventriloquists;
+  OR,
+  NIMBLE IKE AND JACK THE JUGGLER.
+  A Tale of Strategy and Jugglery.
+
+  By OLD SLEUTH.
+
+  [Illustration: "Great Scott, the hound spoke!"]
+
+  NEW YORK:
+  J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
+  57 ROSE STREET.
+
+
+
+
+  The Twin Ventriloquists;
+
+  OR
+
+  NIMBLE IKE AND JACK THE JUGGLER.
+
+  A Tale of Strategy and Jugglery.
+
+  By OLD SLEUTH.
+
+  Copyright, 1895, by Parlor Car Publishing Company.
+  All Rights Reserved.
+
+  NEW YORK:
+  J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
+  57 ROSE STREET.
+
+
+
+
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+
+
+
+THE TWIN VENTRILOQUISTS;
+
+OR,
+
+NIMBLE IKE AND JACK THE JUGGLER.
+
+A Tale of Strategy and Jugglery.
+
+BY OLD SLEUTH.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+     NIMBLE IKE ENCOUNTERS AN EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE AND TWO WONDERFUL
+     VENTRILOQUISTS PLAY PARTS AGAINST EACH OTHER WITH ASTONISHING
+     RESULTS.
+
+
+"Great Cæsar!"
+
+The exclamation with which we open our narrative fell from the lips of
+Nimble Ike, one of the most remarkable ventriloquists that ever sent a
+human voice rambling around through space under the most extraordinary
+inflectional disguises. Detectives disguise their appearance, but
+ventriloquists disguise their voices, and make them represent at will
+all manner of individualities, in the human or animal. Nimble Ike, as we
+have intimated, was a wonderful ventriloquist; he had played more pranks
+and worked more wonders with his talent than any other person possessed
+of the remarkable gift. He had paralyzed professionals and amazed
+amateurs, and with the aid of his marvelous vocal powers had performed
+many good deeds on the side of right and justice, forcing rogues to
+confessions and scaring schemers and roués out of their wits. He was a
+daring youth, possessing many talents other than the gift of
+ventriloquism to a remarkable degree. He had never met his match, and
+when not engaged in aiding some persecuted person or working with
+detectives he amused himself in various ways by an exercise of his
+powers. As stated, Ike had never met his match either among
+professionals or amateurs. He stood number one as a ventriloquist
+wonder. He had been told of a youth who also possessed the gift in a
+most remarkable manner. He had never met the youth and was led to doubt
+the fact that there was another who came anywhere near him. One day Ike,
+having nothing else to do, determined to visit the Metropolitan Museum
+in Central Park. He had been there before and enjoyed himself every
+time, but he had never attempted any of his pranks. On the occasion when
+we introduce him to our readers, he was standing beside a mummy case
+containing the linen-bound remains of some poor Egyptian who died
+thousands of years ago, and he was deeply interested in the description
+and explanations offered by a sallow-faced gentleman who was a great
+scientist and Egyptologist. An old maid teacher of an archæological turn
+of mind had chaperoned her class of young lady pupils and had secured
+the services of the sallow-faced man with the big spectacles to act as
+guide and expositor for the occasion. As stated, Ike was greatly
+interested in what the professor had to say; he felt quite serious and
+was in no mood to amuse himself, when a most startling, soul-thrilling
+incident occurred. The professor had all the young ladies gathered close
+around him like so many serious mourners standing around the casket of a
+deceased friend. He had been descanting in a very earnest manner and
+finally said:
+
+"Now, ladies, if that mummy could speak he would."
+
+Here the professor stopped suddenly, his spectacles fell from his face,
+his hands went up and his face blanched, while the young ladies fell
+back trembling with terror, for, from the interior of the mummy case
+came the astounding announcement:
+
+"I can talk. What do you want me to tell you?"
+
+The words came clear and distinct, and they came, as appeared, directly
+from the lips of the mummy; and so realistic was the declaration that
+one might expect to see the lurid-looking object rise in its thousands
+of centuries old shroud and look forth from the sunken hollows where its
+eyes had once beamed forth.
+
+As stated, Ike was standing near the mummy case, but the wonderful
+ventriloquist was as much amazed as any one. He did not believe the
+mummy spoke--he was too great an expert in vocal deceptions--but he was
+amazed all the same, and his amazement arose from the discovery that
+there was one living person besides himself who could produce such
+amazing results. He glanced around and there was only the one party who
+had been standing near the mummy, and that was the professor with the
+ladies gathered around him. Some distance off a very trimly-built youth
+stood gazing at the stuffed birds in a case. Our hero had not seen his
+face; he could not be the vocal deceiver, however, and the question
+arose, Who had performed this marvelous trick? Meantime the professor
+had gathered his spectacles from the floor and had to a certain extent
+recovered from his surprise and bewilderment, and he ejaculated:
+
+"That was most extraordinary."
+
+He beckoned the ladies about him once again, but they came forward very
+reluctantly and our hero, Nimble Ike, scanned their faces to learn which
+one of the pretty girls was the ventriloquist who had worked the great
+trick. All their faces wore an expression of surprise and alarm, and he
+was forced to conclude that the voice magician was not one of them, and
+his final conclusion was that the sallow-faced scientist was the
+culprit--yes, the sallow-faced man with the big nose and goggles had
+made the inviting statement, knowing that he could seemingly make the
+mummy talk. His surprise and alarm, our hero concluded, was all a
+pretense and a part of his little joke, and it was then that Ike turning
+away uttered the ejaculation "Great Cæsar!" His blood was up; the
+professor was a wonderful ventriloquist, but Ike determined to have some
+sport and give the professor ventriloquist, as he appeared to be, the
+surprise of his life. He determined to make the mummy do some tall
+talking and force the professor to a betrayal of genuine surprise.
+
+"Yes," mentally concluded Ike, "the next time you'll shed your goggles
+for fair."
+
+Ike was in no hurry, however; he intended first to watch the professor
+and find out if he were really the vocal wonder.
+
+The young ladies finally gathered around, for the professor's talk had
+really been very interesting. He said:
+
+"Young ladies, I wish to ask you a question. What scared you?"
+
+The ladies did not answer, and the professor again inquired:
+
+"Were you scared by my demonstration or did you, ah--ah--well, did you
+hear a voice?"
+
+One of the young ladies answered:
+
+"We heard a voice."
+
+"You did?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Then it was not a delusion; no, it was not a delusion, but it was one
+of the most extraordinary incidents that ever occurred since the days of
+miracles, or, to explain it on scientific grounds, we were all so
+engrossed on the subject under conversation that by some singular
+psychologic phenomena, our imaginations were momentarily spellbound by a
+concentration of all the nerve forces upon a given thought, and thereby
+our imaginations were abnormally stimulated to such a degree as to make
+the extraordinary deception possible."
+
+The girls stared, but did not comprehend the professor's explanation,
+although it was about as plain as scientific and medical explanations
+usually are.
+
+Ike was unable to decide. The professor appeared to have fully recovered
+and again became rapt in the subject of his discourse. The young ladies
+also appeared to have recovered from their alarm and were deeply
+interested in all the professor said. Ike, however, had lost all
+interest in the lecture. He was piqued, he did not understand how it
+could be that there was really another who possessed a ventriloquistic
+talent almost equal to his own. As stated, he watched the professor and
+finally the good man again arrived at a point when he said:
+
+"If that relic of the past centuries could speak he----"
+
+"I can speak," again came the voice from the mummy case.
+
+The professor stared, the ladies stared, but the expression of surprise
+was not equal to what it had been at the first exhibition. The
+professor, however, came to a dead stop, he looked slowly around and
+finally in a husky voice remarked:
+
+"I do not understand it."
+
+Neither did Ike, for he was convinced that the professor was not the
+acrobatic vocalist. The latter, however, was a man of nerve, a genuine
+scientist, and he said:
+
+"Young ladies, do not be scared; that linen-wrapped object, that corpse,
+that has lain swathed in its funeral habiliments for over thirty
+centuries, says he can speak. We will let him talk." And from the mummy
+case came the statement:
+
+"I think a fellow who has been silent for thirty centuries should have a
+chance to get a word in."
+
+Ike was "on to it." He was too great an expert not to fathom the
+mystery. He had met his match at last. He was fully assured that the
+lithe-looking chap who was studying the ornithological department was
+the ventriloquist, and our hero muttered:
+
+"You are having lots of fun, mister, but now I'll give you a scare."
+
+The ventriloquist stranger was still gazing in the bird case, when close
+to his ear came the startling announcement, seemingly from the bird
+case:
+
+"What's the matter with you? Why do you disturb that poor old Egyptian
+who has been asleep for over three thousand years?"
+
+Ike's test brought its result. He saw the strange youth give a start. He
+turned about, but he did not look at the talking stuffed bird; he turned
+around to see who it was that had so cleverly matched him. It was a
+great game all round. The professor was bewildered, the ladies were
+bewildered, and the young fellow at the bird case, who had bewildered
+every one else, was himself bewildered. In fact, Ike, the master, was
+the only one who at that moment held the key to the whole mystery, and
+knew just what it was all about.
+
+Ike enjoyed his momentary triumph, and so for a few moments nothing
+startling occurred.
+
+The professor kept repeating, "This is most extraordinary," and the
+balance of his party evidently thought so.
+
+The young man who had been looking in the bird case, however, as it
+proved, was a "Jim Dandy," as the boys say. He was not to be kicked out
+so easily. He also, as our narrative will prove, was an expert and a
+very brave and resolute lad. He walked around looking into several cases
+for a few moments and then quietly edged over toward the mummy case
+around which still lingered the professor and his party, and Ike
+realized that a most remarkable duel was portending--a duel between two
+wonderful vocal experts. Our hero had fully identified the young man on
+whom he had retorted as the individual who had made the mummy speak.
+
+"I'll have first shot," thought Ike, and as the young man passed close
+to a second mummy case and stood a moment looking at the bandaged face
+as a "throw off," the relic of a thousand years appeared to say to him
+in a hoarse whisper:
+
+"Look out, young man, look out, you may get hit with a club made three
+thousand years ago."
+
+There was a perplexed look upon the young man's face for a moment, and
+then his bright, clear eyes wandered around and he too fell to a
+discovery, as he believed.
+
+The professor meantime had become exceedingly nervous and he said:
+
+"I believe I will adjourn the lecture for to-day."
+
+As the professor spoke, there came a voice from the mummy case saying:
+
+"Yes, you had better adjourn it forever, for you don't know what you are
+talking about."
+
+The professor advanced close to the mummy case to gaze directly at the
+lips of the three-thousand-year corpse. He was determined to solve the
+mystery, but as he bent over the venerable object there came an
+unearthly yell that froze the blood in his veins. He leaped back, the
+young ladies ran screaming away and there would have been a great scene
+were it not that at the time there were no other persons in that
+particular department of the museum.
+
+The professor led the way down to the office to tell his wondrous tale,
+while the young man who had first started the joke approached and gazed
+intently on the face of our hero, the great Nimble Ike. The latter
+returned the gaze and for a few moments it was a duel of stare; neither
+appeared disposed to open the conversation, while in the mind of each
+there dawned a suspicion, and finally the young stranger mustered up
+sufficient courage to ask:
+
+"Say, young fellow, who are you?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+     A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS
+     AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.
+
+
+Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the
+question with a similar one:
+
+"Say, young fellow, who are you?"
+
+"I asked first."
+
+"Did you?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"It's your place to answer."
+
+"Do you want an answer?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"I'll tell you something: you asked the wrong person. Go and ask that
+stuffed owl who I am."
+
+The young man stared.
+
+"You want an answer to your question?"
+
+"Oh, come off," said the young stranger.
+
+"That settles it," said Ike.
+
+There came a smile upon the face of the youth and he caused a voice to
+come like a halloo from away down the other end of the room, inquiring:
+
+"Say, owl, who is this young chap?"
+
+Ike was amazed, but the owl uttered its peculiar hoot and answered
+seemingly: "He's the devil himself."
+
+The halloo came again.
+
+"I thought so, for he is not square; he don't keep his promises."
+
+"Why not?" asked the owl.
+
+"He promised you should tell who he was."
+
+There came a hoot and an owlish sort of laugh, with the statement:
+
+"His name is Isaac Andro."
+
+"Nimble Ike?" came the halloo.
+
+"Yes;" and the owl added: "Now it's your turn to keep your promise."
+
+The halloo came in answer:
+
+"I am Jack the Juggler."
+
+Ike at once advanced, offering his hand and saying:
+
+"Shake, old fellow, I am glad to meet you. I've heard about you."
+
+"And I've heard about you. I am delighted to meet you."
+
+"And I am delighted to meet you," answered Ike.
+
+"We must be friends."
+
+"Sure."
+
+"We can have a heap of fun."
+
+"We can."
+
+"We are against the deck."
+
+"We are."
+
+"Will you visit me at my home?" said Ike. "Go with me now."
+
+"I will be delighted."
+
+"Do you live in the city?"
+
+"I did live here, but I've broken up my home."
+
+The two wonderful lads wandered off together--Ike the ventriloquist, and
+Jack the juggler, also a ventriloquist and hypnotist.
+
+The two soon arrived at Ike's house and the latter showed his guest all
+through his place, exhibiting his contrivances. Ike ordered a meal sent
+in and the two remarkable geniuses sat down in a very social
+conversation.
+
+Ike told his strange, weird story, all about the old necromancer and the
+mysterious box. And Jack told all about himself, and finally Ike said:
+
+"See here, we are two of a kind."
+
+"We are."
+
+"Let's become partners."
+
+"I am agreed."
+
+"Take up your abode with me."
+
+"On one condition."
+
+"Name your condition."
+
+"I am to share the expense of living in this house."
+
+"Agreed, as it don't cost much to live."
+
+Neither of the lads had told their romance. They had only told the
+simple story of their lives, and when the meal was over they commenced
+by mutual consent to practice together, and so several days passed. Ike
+with his unusual brightness invented a signal code so they could
+converse with each other and no one else understand their talk. One
+evening the two lads were playing a game of billiards together in a
+well-known billiard room, when a very handsome young fellow entered,
+whom Ike at once introduced to Jack as his friend, Henry Du Flore. Ike
+and Du Flore held a few moments talk and then Du Flore departed. The
+moment he was gone the ventriloquist said to his new comrade:
+
+"That young man is a detective."
+
+"He don't look like one."
+
+"He is a splendid officer, brave, shrewd and persistent. I have several
+detective friends, but I've taken quite a fancy to this young fellow and
+I am aiding him all I can."
+
+"Is he a Frenchman?" asked Jack.
+
+"No, he is an American born. His father was an engineer on an ocean
+steamer. He was drowned when Henry was quite a lad. Henry was left an
+orphan at an early age, compelled to knock around and pick up a living
+as best he could. He got appointed on the police force, won promotion
+and is now a regular detective. I want him to make a great success, and
+I am aiding him all I can."
+
+"I took a fancy to him at the first glance," said Jack.
+
+"I am glad of that."
+
+"Yes, I am in with you and when we can do him a good turn we will."
+
+"I am much obliged to you, and we can aid him right now. He has been
+assigned to run down some burglars who are infesting a section of
+country over in Jersey. The gang has become very daring. They are very
+expert and the losses of the people have been heavy; they have raised a
+fund which is offered as a reward for the capture of the thieves. The
+chief in New York is anxious to aid the officials across the river and
+has detailed my friend Henry on the case. It will be a big thing for the
+young officer if he can run down those thieves."
+
+"We will secure the big thing for him," said Jack. "I've had a little
+experience in detective work."
+
+"So I've heard."
+
+"When does he start in?"
+
+"I am to hear from him later."
+
+The two ventriloquists finished their game and walked over to a table
+where two experts were playing a great game in presence of quite a crowd
+of witnesses. Ike and Jack were both very fond of the game, although
+neither of them could play an expert game, with all their talents; their
+genius did not run in this direction. It is remarkable that a great many
+men who are expert in one direction are singularly deficient in others.
+There was a party of young smart Alecs watching the game. They were very
+boisterous and demonstrative--really interfered with the players--and
+they were very unmannerly in several ways, pushing forward and crowding
+quieter people in a very rude manner. Ike and Jack fixed their eyes on
+the dudes and then exchanged glances; and that exchange of glances meant
+a little fun for the tricksters and discomfiture for the boisterous
+dudes, the sons of rich men who because of their social position were
+permitted to cut up their capers where better youths would have been
+kicked out of the place. The dudes every few moments would break through
+the crowd and go to the bar, and upon their return they would push
+through to the front, shoving others aside as though the balance of the
+beholders were mere serfs; and in pushing through upon one of their
+returns, Ike became their victim. The young ventriloquist did not submit
+to be pushed so rudely and said:
+
+"See here, Mister Man, you should wear better clothes. You are such a
+pusher you should have gotten ahead in the world."
+
+The youth stared and the bystanders laughed. The joke was a good one.
+Many times it could be applied in a crowd, for there are so many rude
+people who appear to think there is no one in the world besides
+themselves.
+
+"Don't you like it?" demanded the pusher.
+
+"Oh, yes, I like it," answered Ike with a laugh. "It's quite an honor to
+be knocked around by a thing like you."
+
+"I'll punch you in the head if you say much."
+
+"Oh, I won't say much. I'll be as quiet as a lamb. I won't even bleat.
+It's all right; excuse me for being in your way. I am proud--very
+proud--to be knocked aside, certainly."
+
+At that moment there came a voice asking:
+
+"Why don't you rap that dude on the head?"
+
+The dude looked around to learn who had offered the bold suggestion, and
+then demanded:
+
+"Who spoke then?"
+
+"I did," came a voice, but no one appeared to know just who the "I did"
+was. But there came the suggestion:
+
+"Don't look so fierce. You're around to swipe pocketbooks, you are. I
+advise these gentlemen to be on the lookout."
+
+The three dudes all closed in close to each other. Their faces were
+white with rage and they had just liquor enough in them to be anxious
+for a brawl, and one of them said:
+
+"I'll give a hundred dollars to know who spoke."
+
+"What will you give?" came the voice.
+
+Ike stood still and apparently as mute as a sexton at a funeral.
+
+"You haven't got a hundred cents; you just hung your last drink at the
+bar."
+
+"You're a liar," came the declaration from one of the dudes.
+
+"And you're a thief, or let's see your money."
+
+The dude went down in his pockets, drew forth a roll and exclaimed, as
+he waved it aloft:
+
+"Here's my money. A hundred to ten you are a liar, and a hundred to one
+you dare not show your face."
+
+"Here I am."
+
+The voice sounded as though the speaker stood directly in the midst of
+the trio of dudes. The "chappies" looked at each other in amazement.
+
+"Send for an officer," came a voice. "I've lost my pocketbook."
+
+It appeared as though the voice came from the opposite side of the crowd
+to where the dudes were standing.
+
+The dudes were dumfounded; indeed, the game was stopped and the owner of
+the billiard hall walked over to learn what the row was. Very well, at
+this point the row commenced. One of the youths, calling the proprietor
+of the hall by name, said, or seemed to say:
+
+"You go away from here, you duffer. We own this place and don't want any
+of your interference."
+
+The declaration took the proprietor's breath away for a moment. He just
+stood and gazed, when another of the youths appeared to say:
+
+"Charley, why don't you smash Decker in the jaw? What business has he to
+come around here and interfere with our fun?"
+
+"Who are you talking to?" demanded the proprietor, his face white with
+rage.
+
+"_You_," seemingly came the answer from the dude.
+
+The proprietor could stand no more. He made a rush. He did not care at
+that instant if the dudes were the scions of the governor of the state.
+He grasped the chap who it appeared had given him the insolence by the
+loose part of his trousers and the collar of his coat, and he walked him
+French fashion toward the door. The youth made a vigorous protest. His
+friends also joined in, when the bartender rushed from behind the
+counter and seized another of the "chappies," and a guest who was a
+vigorous fellow seized the third one; and then commenced a grand march
+toward the street door, and each one of the dudes was thrown into the
+street and a kick was administered to each as he was thrust out. Poor
+dudes! they had not been guilty of the particular sin for which they
+suffered, but they deserved all they got, just the same, for they had
+made nuisances of themselves.
+
+Jack and Ike left the place. They were delighted with the rebuke they
+had administered, but the fun was not over. The three dudes were
+standing at the corner of the street talking over their grievances. They
+espied Ike and Jack and one of them said:
+
+"There are the fellows who drew us into this trouble."
+
+"Let's hammer them."
+
+Neither Ike nor Jack were formidable-looking chaps, and the dudes sailed
+for them. Well, a lively scene followed. The two ventriloquists were
+both lithe, active athletes, and the way they polished off the
+"chappies" was a sight to behold, and they were having a heap of fun
+when suddenly both were seized by the collars of their coats and found
+themselves in the grasp of two stalwart policemen.
+
+Neither lad was scared. They did not mind their arrest on such a trivial
+charge at all, and they were led off. Ike asked by signal:
+
+"What shall we do?"
+
+"What do you think?" came the answer.
+
+"Shall we be locked up and raise old Cain in the station house, or shall
+we make these officers dance right here?"
+
+"Let's make them dance," came the answer.
+
+The lads struck a good chance even as the word was passed. They were
+passing a tenement house and a man had just raised a window to close the
+shutters or something, when there came as though from the man a mad cry
+of "fire!" The officers stopped short, and again there came several
+cries, seemingly from different parts of the house. The officers let go
+their hold upon their prisoners. A fire in a tenement house was a far
+more serious matter than the arrest of two youths for fighting in the
+street. As stated, the lads were released, and they darted away to
+secure hiding places from which they could witness the fun and
+excitement, and there was excitement. One of the officers rapped for
+assistance and the second one ran to the fire-alarm box to give the
+signal, and officer number one made a rush to the house. He found the
+door open and he ran up the stairs shouting "fire! fire! fire!" The
+tenants rushed from their apartments and there followed a scene of wild
+confusion, and while the yelling and screaming were at their height two
+engines arrived, also a platoon of police, and the firemen of the engine
+company entered the house, but still there was no sign of either fire or
+smoke. A thorough examination followed. No signs of a fire could be
+discovered. The sergeant in charge of the platoon of police asked the
+two officers who had given the alarm where they had seen the fire. They
+protested they had not seen any fire, but that a man had raised the
+window of one of the front rooms and had shouted "fire!" The firemen
+meantime were thoroughly convinced that there was no fire, and they were
+mad at being called out on a fake alarm. They commenced to abuse the
+police, who protested that the cry had come from the house. The tenants
+had all returned to their rooms and they also had been loud in their
+protests and threatened to make a complaint at headquarters.
+
+"From what room did the cry come?" asked the sergeant.
+
+The two policemen pointed out the room. The sergeant, accompanied by the
+two officers, went up to the room. There were several very respectable
+men in the room and they all protested that they had given no alarm. All
+declared that they were prepared to swear that they had not. The
+sergeant was bothered, and said to the two patrolmen:
+
+"This matter must be explained."
+
+"We did hear a cry of fire."
+
+"No one else appears to have heard it."
+
+"We heard it."
+
+"Where is your proof?"
+
+One of the officers said:
+
+"I wish we could find those two lads. They heard it."
+
+"We can't find them."
+
+The two men were ordered to report at the station house to answer
+charges for their lark, as the sergeant termed it. Other men were put on
+the beat and our two ventriloquists crawled forth from their
+hiding-places and Ike said:
+
+"That was a pretty severe joke."
+
+"Yes, it was very amusing."
+
+"We must do something to save those men or they may be broke."
+
+"How can we do it?"
+
+"We can."
+
+"How?"
+
+"We'll rattle the sergeant on the same scheme," came the answer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+     THE VENTRILOQUISTS DO RATTLE THE SERGEANT AND HIS PLATOON AND AGAIN
+     RAISE OLD CAIN IN A MOST REMARKABLE MANNER.
+
+
+The two vocal experts fell to the trail of the sergeant and his platoon,
+but kept well out of sight. They were determined to set the two
+patrolmen right after getting them in such a bad scrape. The whole
+charge against them was having claimed that they had overheard cries of
+fire. The sergeant was discussing the matter with the roundsman when
+suddenly from a private house before which at the moment they were
+passing came a series of wild, frantic screams, and the next instant the
+screams were followed by cries of "fire! fire!"
+
+"Well," exclaimed the sergeant, "it's a fire this time. Run to the alarm
+box and summon the engines."
+
+The roundsman dashed off to give the alarm and the sergeant ran up the
+stoop of the house and commenced to bang on the door with his club, and
+the two ventriloquists were enjoying the joke. The door of the house was
+opened by a gentleman enveloped in a dressing-gown, who in great
+excitement demanded:
+
+"What in thunder do you want?"
+
+With equal excitement the sergeant demanded:
+
+"Where is the fire?"
+
+"What fire?"
+
+"The fire in this house."
+
+"There is no fire in this house."
+
+"Then why in thunder did you yell 'fire, fire?'"
+
+"No one yelled fire. What is the matter with you?"
+
+The owner of the house discerned that it was a sergeant of police to
+whom he was talking. "Have you gone crazy?" he asked.
+
+"Gone crazy! No; but what did you mean by yelling fire?"
+
+"I did not yell fire. Every one in this house has been in bed a long
+time."
+
+"Who was it screamed?"
+
+"No one screamed."
+
+"Do you mean to tell me you did not yell fire?"
+
+"No one yelled fire."
+
+"And no one screamed in this house?"
+
+"No one screamed."
+
+At that moment the engines reappeared and the owner of the house said:
+
+"I'll have this matter inquired into. If this is a joke you will find it
+an expensive one."
+
+The foreman of the engine company approached and demanded:
+
+"Where is the fire?"
+
+"There is no fire," said the owner of the house.
+
+"No fire?"
+
+"No fire, and I don't know what the officer means by banging on my door
+and arousing my family at this hour of the night."
+
+"And I can't understand," said the foreman, "what he means by calling
+out the engines every five minutes on a false alarm."
+
+"There is my platoon of men, there is my roundsman. They will all
+testify they heard a cry of fire, followed by screams, coming from this
+house."
+
+"Then your platoon of men and your roundsman will testify to a
+falsehood," said the house owner.
+
+"Is there a fire in your house?" demanded the foreman of the engine
+company.
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Is there a fire anywhere around here?"
+
+"No, sir, not that I know of, unless it's in the upper story of these
+policemen."
+
+"Say, sergeant, let me ask you one question: Have you received orders to
+test our department by these false alarms?"
+
+"No, sir, I'll swear and prove that there came an alarm of fire from
+this house."
+
+"That's what your men said down at the tenement house. I reckon it's a
+night off for the police department, or else they all want a night off.
+But let me tell you, if you didn't receive orders to give these fake
+alarms I'll know the reason why you did give them; that's all."
+
+The sergeant was clear beat out. He apologized to the owner of the
+house, went down among his men and asked:
+
+"Did you men hear those screams?"
+
+"We did," came the answer.
+
+"Did you hear the cries of 'fire, fire?'"
+
+"We did," came the answer.
+
+"All right; we'll find out about this."
+
+"How are you going to find out all about it, sergeant?" popped in the
+roundsman.
+
+"I don't know."
+
+The roundsman was a friend of the two men who had been sent to the
+station house in disgrace, and he again asked:
+
+"How about Jones and O'Brien?"
+
+"I've been thinking about them."
+
+"We heard it; they claim they heard the cries. I don't see how they can
+be held responsible."
+
+"I don't know what to think of it."
+
+"Can I advise?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Send the two men back on post and say nothing about the whole affair.
+That's my advice."
+
+"Roundsman, it's all very strange."
+
+"It is."
+
+"It's one of the mysteries of the century."
+
+"It is."
+
+"I am not crazy. I'd think so, only we could not all go crazy."
+
+"I'll swear I heard the cries."
+
+The platoon started for the station house. The men were all greatly
+mystified, but a greater mystery was yet to confront them. The
+ventriloquists had been witnesses of the result of their pranks and
+determined to press the matter along. They followed the platoon at a
+safe distance, one of them going around the square so that they
+approached the station from opposite quarters. The men were just in the
+station; the last man was passing the door when right at his ears
+sounded a wild, unearthly yell, followed by the cry of "Fire! fire!
+fire!" The man stood like one paralyzed, then the sergeant rushed into
+the street. Not a soul was near, and yet even while he stood there again
+right at his ear sounded the weird cry, "Fire! fire! fire!" The man was
+dumfounded. He stood and gazed in wild dismay. The sergeant at the desk
+came rushing forth, demanding:
+
+"What's the matter? Where's the fire? What are you all standing here
+for?"
+
+"Do you think there is a fire?"
+
+"Didn't you hear the cry?"
+
+"Yes; did you?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"Then go find the fire. We've heard cries of fire all the night, but
+devil a fire can we find."
+
+Jack and Ike had had fun enough in that one direction and they started
+off toward Ike's home. They had not gone far, however, when they struck
+another little adventure--a very peculiar one. Indeed, possessing their
+singular talents they were continually running into adventures, as their
+gifts gave them great powers in every direction. A little girl had
+stopped a crabbed, sleek-looking old gentleman and had asked him for
+alms. The man had said:
+
+"Go to the station house," and he spoke in cruel, hard tones. The girl
+with a sigh turned away, and Ike said:
+
+"Let's give that old skinflint a dose."
+
+"Agreed," came the response.
+
+Ike ran forward and dropped a silver dollar in the girl's hand and then
+slid along and joined Jack. The two secured advantage ground, for the
+old gentleman had stopped to gaze in the windows of one of the great
+hotel restaurants. Suddenly there sounded in his ears:
+
+"Cruel, cruel old man!"
+
+The old gentleman looked around in every direction and saw no one near
+him, yet the words had sounded, as stated, close beside his ear. While
+he was still gazing again there came a voice, saying:
+
+"Cold, cold-hearted!"
+
+The old gentleman looked around in an amazed manner, and with anger in
+his heart, but he saw no one. He became a little bewildered, when again
+there came a voice saying:
+
+"Go to the station house! Go to the station house!"
+
+The old man turned pale. It was the most mysterious incident of his
+whole life, and again came the words:
+
+"Go to the station house!"
+
+The admonition sounded close in his ears, and yet there was not a living
+soul near him that he could see. He began to tremble, and again, even
+while he glanced around, the voice repeated:
+
+"Please give me money for bread," and there came the response in exact
+imitation of the old man's tones:
+
+"Go to the station."
+
+"Great Mercury!" ejaculated the man. "I am pursued by a phantom."
+
+"Yes, you are pursued by a phantom, you who refused to give a poor child
+money for bread."
+
+"I'll give the next child I meet a dollar," murmured the old man in
+trembling tones.
+
+"You promise?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"All right; I'll leave you until my presence is required again.
+Good-night."
+
+The old gentleman moved toward his home, and it is to be hoped he became
+a more charitable man.
+
+The two lads started on their way and were moving on up Fifth Avenue
+when Ike, who was quick-eyed and observant, saw a man rush out of a
+hallway. The fellow's actions were suspicious and our hero remarked to
+his companion:
+
+"Hello! Jack, there is something going on here."
+
+The two lads determined to trail the man. They saw him go up the street,
+where he joined a second man. The ventriloquists stole up close, and
+both being lithe and active they were able to secure a position very
+near where the two men stood, and they heard one of them ask:
+
+"Are you sure it's dead easy?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Are you sure you have the right house?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That woman is very smart."
+
+"She is?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"I've been watching her for weeks. There is something strange about her
+and her movements, but she's got the stuff; of that I am sure. She lives
+alone in that big house with only one servant--an old man--whom we can
+silence in about two minutes. She is a stranger in New York, and does
+not appear to have any friends. If we can get in there and away again we
+can make a big haul, and all in good movable swag. I'll bet she's got
+twenty thousand dollars' worth of diamonds alone, and where there are so
+many sparks there are other fireworks, you bet."
+
+Ike and Jack appreciated that, indeed, they had "tumbled on to a big
+thing." The men did not talk in particularly low tones; no one appeared
+to be near them.
+
+"We need a big haul."
+
+"We do."
+
+"I am run way down."
+
+"I am also."
+
+"We struck a big thing when we followed that woman from Boston."
+
+"We did."
+
+"We are not known in New York and the scent will be on natives."
+
+"That's it exactly. We can get away with our haul, return to Boston and
+read the papers and learn how these smart New York officers are closing
+in on the robbers."
+
+"Yes, yes."
+
+Both men laughed in a very complaisant manner, and one of them said:
+
+"It will prove the softest trick we ever played. We are in luck to
+strike a neat, clean affair like this."
+
+"We are, you bet. When will you work the racket?"
+
+"I've got all the points down. We'll jump in and do the job to-morrow
+night."
+
+"At what hour?"
+
+"Well, about two o'clock is a good time."
+
+"Where will we meet?"
+
+The man named a meeting-place.
+
+"I will be on deck."
+
+"We will have this all to ourselves."
+
+"We will."
+
+"And I tell you it's the easiest job we ever struck, and we'll make a
+big pull."
+
+"That will suit me to a dot."
+
+"The police here are on the watch, for crooks are running riot in New
+York just about these days."
+
+"So I see by the papers."
+
+"They are all too noisy about their jobs. We'll go it slow, easy and
+sure."
+
+"We will."
+
+The two men sauntered away and the two ventriloquists followed them. Ike
+expressed a desire to learn where they "hung out," as he put it.
+
+The men went down to a small hotel on a side street and then the
+shadowers once more started for their home.
+
+On the way Ike said:
+
+"Jack, it's a great thing to possess our power."
+
+"Yes, but it does not require our power to capture those fellows. All we
+have to do is notify the detectives and those men will be gobbled. Any
+one could do that."
+
+"Yes, but we can have some fun. You must learn that I like to do these
+things my own way and give those rascals a lesson beyond the mere
+punishment they will get for their crimes. Do you know, I take a very
+serious view of housebreaking."
+
+"You do?"
+
+"Yes, I do."
+
+"I am with you there."
+
+"It's something terrible to be securely sleeping, as one feels, and to
+have one or two of these devils steal into one's house to rob, and if
+need be do murder. Robbers are a mean class, and I could never
+understand the sentiment of romance that is thrown about them. I look
+upon it as the most cruel and cold-blooded method adopted by any class
+of criminals."
+
+"I am with you, but you said you proposed to adopt a peculiar method in
+capturing these fellows."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You may lose them."
+
+"Not if the court knows itself. They feel dead sure. They think they
+have everything dead to rights. They will move with less caution than
+usual. It appears there is a lady living in that house practically
+alone; from what we overheard she has many valuables. The chances are
+that if discovered there would follow a cruel murder. I tell you, my
+experience here in New York has been a strange one. Just watch the daily
+papers and learn the number and variety of crimes that are committed.
+Already there has been a call for an increase of the detective force,
+and it's needed; but in our humble way we'll do a neat job in the line
+of justice; yes, just once at least."
+
+"What is your plan?"
+
+"I'll think it out and reveal the whole business to you; but besides
+arresting these fellows and saving the lady, I want to give them the
+surprise of their life."
+
+"It's easy for us to surprise people. We are doing that all the time."
+
+"We'll give these fellows a big surprise--a stunner."
+
+"Then you have decided on a plan?"
+
+"In outline."
+
+The two lads arrived at their home and were soon resting from their
+singular labors. On the following day Ike revealed his plan and Jack
+heartily fell into the whole scheme. Jack loved surprises and enjoyed a
+good joke equally with the inimitable Ike.
+
+Ike owned a variety of animals, all of which were well trained. Had he
+concluded to appear as a professional performer he would have astonished
+his audiences beyond all belief. Among other possessions was an immense
+Siberian bloodhound. He had owned the animal from its puppy days and it
+was one of the most remarkably trained dogs on earth. Some men possess a
+peculiar talent for the training of animals. It is a special profession.
+Ike possessed this special talent to a great degree. He and Jack went
+forth. They had their breakfast at a near-by restaurant and played no
+pranks. Both the ventriloquists were very particular; they only played
+their tricks and exercised their powers where there was a purpose to be
+gained. After their meal they proceeded down to a point where they met
+Ike's new friend, the young detective whom our hero was anxious to
+serve. To him he said:
+
+"Du Flore, we've got a great catch for you."
+
+Ike proceeded and related all that had occurred, and when he had
+concluded, Du Flore remarked:
+
+"This is very strange."
+
+"It is?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I am already on that case."
+
+"You are?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, that is strange."
+
+"It is wonderful," said Du Flore.
+
+The latter was a rising man in the profession. He was a powerful young
+officer, and, as we have intimated, very brave and ambitious.
+
+"I've a strange story to tell you, Ike," he said.
+
+"We are listeners."
+
+"It is a very strange story."
+
+"So you said, and repeating that fact is not opening up your story."
+
+"Well, you see, in these prosaic days we seldom strike a romance just
+like the one I am about to relate. You remember a great wedding we had
+in New York about ten years ago?"
+
+"I don't," answered Ike bluntly.
+
+"Well, the daughter of a very rich man married a German nobleman, and a
+few years after their marriage they separated. She ran away from him. It
+is the old story: he and all his relatives felt themselves so much
+better than the young American girl. They insulted her in the grossest
+manner--and made her life miserable. She bore it for a long time, but
+being a full-blooded Yankee woman, beautiful and spirited, she
+determined to stand it no longer. Her father had been smart enough to
+secure all her fortune to herself during her life, and one bright
+morning she just dusted and left the count and his high-bred relatives
+to pay their own bills. She had done so for years and only received
+insults and snubs in return."
+
+"It's the fate, I reckon, of most of these rich American girls who are
+marrying foreigners," suggested Ike.
+
+"Yes, I reckon they could all tell sad tales a year after their
+marriage. This case, however, is a refreshing one, for in the end the
+Yankee girl recovered from her blind adoration of rank and came down to
+a good common-sense view of the full value of money."
+
+"Go on and tell the tale."
+
+"That is the story. She just skipped, and, as I said, left her high-born
+relatives by marriage to pay their own bills; and now I come to the
+American end of the strange romance."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+     IKE AND JACK LISTEN TO AN ODD NARRATIVE AND WITH THE DETECTIVE LAY
+     PLANS TO MAKE A GRAND CAPTURE.
+
+
+Du Flore, continuing his narrative, said:
+
+"The lady has a son who some day will be a count if he lives, and she
+stole her own boy when she ran away, and she has put that lad up in New
+England with her Yankee relatives, determined that if he lives there
+will be one count who has had a proper bringing up. She has just
+returned from a visit to her son. He is thriving finely, but one day
+while in Boston she saw her husband and believes he saw her, and she
+fears he means her some harm. She left Boston immediately, and on the
+train and boat became conscious that a man was dogging her steps. She
+believes the man to be a confederate of the count, but the story you
+tell me leads me to determine that the man was merely a common thief,
+attracted by her jewels and the prospect of a robbery. It was probably
+his intention to rob her on the road, but she, thinking her husband was
+on her track, was very careful and cautious. It appears, however, from
+what you tell me that the men have shadowed her down to her home and
+have made plans to rob and possibly murder her."
+
+"I reckon," said Ike, "that this is the true solution. The count may
+show up later on."
+
+"I hope he does," said Jack.
+
+"Why, partner?"
+
+"Well, we'll make his life miserable--make him feel that it is better to
+be in Germany without a dollar than in New York with a million. We must
+protect this American woman, that is dead sure."
+
+"Will we? We will, you bet; but now we have those thieves to look after
+and I have a plan," said Ike.
+
+"What is your plan?"
+
+Ike related his plan. The detective preferred to adopt another course
+for the capture of the rascals, but he was well aware of Ike's wonderful
+ability, and for reasons thought it best to let the remarkable youth
+have his own way.
+
+Later Ike took Du Flore around to show him where the thieves were
+staying, and as good luck would have it he had a chance to point out one
+of the rascals.
+
+Later Du Flore called upon the countess, and acting under Ike's orders
+he let her indulge the idea that her house was to be visited by
+emissaries of her husband, and she said:
+
+"Then I will flee away."
+
+"Only to be pursued and shadowed again."
+
+"I have managed to keep out of his way for nearly two years."
+
+"That is all right, but we want to put these men out of the way. They
+are walking right into your power."
+
+"How?"
+
+"We can claim that they are burglars and scare the life out of them
+almost, and we may scare the whole party--count and all--back to
+Germany."
+
+"I don't think they mean to do me any harm. The count is not a bad man.
+He believes, however, that he has a right to the child. He has a legal
+right, I believe, and I propose to keep the child away from him, at
+least for the present."
+
+"Then the best plan is to let him go back to Germany."
+
+"I do not understand why these men seek to enter my house."
+
+"They may think you have the child here, or it may be that they are
+thieves who have learned some facts from the count, and they may intend
+to rob you. At any rate, I have positive evidence that your house is to
+be invaded and I wish to place a guard here, and I will be at hand at
+the proper time. In these days, when so many strange crimes are
+occurring, it is always better to be on the right side every time."
+
+"I believe you exaggerate the danger, but as I am in your hands for my
+own protection I will agree to any plan that you may propose."
+
+"I will introduce two remarkable youths into your house. They will be
+accompanied by an immense hound. I ask you to permit them to do just as
+they think proper in adopting measures for the capture of two men who I
+am sure will make an attempt to enter your house. Afterward I will have
+much to reveal to you, but at present I know I am acting in your best
+interests and in the interests of your son."
+
+Du Flore explained to the countess how the two youths would enter her
+house, and then departed.
+
+Along about six o'clock in the evening, a poor-looking old man applied
+at the door of the house of the countess. He was admitted, and a little
+later quite a stylish young man also sought an entrance, and a little
+later still the poor-looking old man and the stylish youth were alone
+with the countess, who was disposed to ask them a great many questions.
+The lads were sorely tempted to give the countess a little initiation,
+but concluded to reserve their didos for the two thieves.
+
+At about eleven o'clock the countess retired to a room on the top floor.
+She proved very complaisant, doing in all things just as requested,
+although it was evident that she was a very spirited woman and
+wondrously handsome, as she was still under thirty.
+
+The two ventriloquists lay around until twelve o'clock, when they
+entered the bedroom proper of the countess, her vacated room for the
+occasion, and they went through a very amusing rehearsal with the hound.
+The lads were both very jubilant, for they were in their element--about
+to carry out a scheme which was a delight to them.
+
+"The robbers believe they are to have a walk-over," said Jack.
+
+"They will," responded Ike, a twinkle in his eyes; "a walk over to the
+station house, and then a smooth ride up to Sing Sing Prison."
+
+"Will your man be on hand?"
+
+"If he fails I'll act as his substitute. We are going to capture those
+robbers, and don't you forget it."
+
+Thus the boys continued to talk until about two o'clock. Both were on
+the alert, and Ike said:
+
+"We are not to be disappointed, our game is here."
+
+Sure enough, they could see the narrow gleam from a mask lantern. The
+burglars were at the open door of the room. A moment passed and an arm
+was thrust forward. The light from the mask lantern shot over the room.
+Apparently, in the bed lay a sleeper. On the dressing bureau was a box,
+evidently a jewel case. A mirror permitted the two lads to see the
+movements and faces of the two rogues, and there came an expression of
+triumph and gratification to the face of both as their glance rested on
+the jewel case, and indeed the surroundings all appeared to indicate an
+"easy thing," as one of the fellows had put it the previous evening.
+
+They were very deliberate in their movements, and when satisfied that
+the road was clear they stepped into the room, their eyes fixed on the
+bed where the sleeper was supposed to be lying. They had arrived
+half-way across the floor toward the jewel case on the dressing bureau
+when suddenly an immense hound confronted them--arose before them as
+though he had suddenly come up through the floor. The men were both
+armed and carried their weapons ready for instant use, but they stood
+and glared. They were paralyzed, as it were, with astonishment. The
+thing was not quite so easy at that moment, but one can imagine their
+bewilderment when, as they stood and gazed, the dog appeared to say in a
+singularly doglike fashion, after a regular dog yawn:
+
+"I've got my eye on you fellows. Don't attempt to use those revolvers or
+I'll chew you to mince-meat."
+
+One of the men managed to ejaculate:
+
+"Great Scott! the dog spoke!"
+
+The men were struck nerveless, and their terror and bewilderment
+increased when the dog appeared to say, with a strange, doglike laugh:
+
+"It's dead easy, old man; it's dead easy."
+
+The men's faces became ghastly and one of them in gasps managed to say:
+
+"It's the devil!"
+
+"No, you are the devils, and I am after you; yes, I am, dead sure. You
+miserable skunks, to steal into a house to rob!"
+
+The men were struck speechless and they lost all power to move
+voluntarily. They stood and trembled involuntarily, and the dog
+continued:
+
+"Oh, isn't it dead easy? What a bully old swag you will carry to Boston!
+The New York detectives will bark up the wrong tree, but I won't. No,
+no, you rascals, I'll bark you, and I am a New York detective lying
+around here for Boston thieves. I reckon Boston became too hot for you,
+and you thought you'd try your hands here; but, my dearies, when you get
+out of a New York jail I'd advise you to go to Alaska. There it's dead
+easy for a good slide, but you can't slide back to Boston from here with
+your swaggy--no, no. Just watch my tail waggy, you villains."
+
+The men were just dead gone, and then the hound appeared to say:
+
+"I told you that you had barked up the wrong tree this time. I'll bark
+now."
+
+The dog did bark, and the latter was genuine. He had secured his signal
+and his bark was followed by the entrance of Du Flore, accompanied by a
+second officer, and the two detectives did not stand on any ceremony.
+They just clapped their irons on the two nerveless men, and then Du
+Flore said:
+
+"Well, gentlemen, this was not so dead easy after all."
+
+With men to talk to the thieves to a certain extent recovered their
+nerve. It was too late to avoid them, but they did ask:
+
+"What is that?"
+
+They pointed toward the hound.
+
+"That is our chief of police," came the answer.
+
+The two burglars were carted off, and we will here state that their
+"dead easy" thing did land them in Sing Sing Prison, for the proofs were
+dead against them.
+
+When the lady was informed of all the particulars she was greatly
+surprised and exceedingly grateful.
+
+A week passed. The two ventriloquists, having no serious business on
+hand, determined to have a little sport, and one day they visited the
+Stock Exchange, determined to throw a little confusion in among the
+brokers. They secured a good position at different points, and having
+arranged their programme prepared for active work. They saw one man who
+was conspicuous as a shouter, and as it appeared both formed a dislike
+for the fellow on appearances. He yelled a hundred of a fluctuating
+stock for sale. A man close at his arm appeared to make a bid. The
+fellow turned round sharply to accept. The man who had appeared to make
+the bid repudiated having done so, and the stock was again offered,
+seemingly bid in also by the same man, and when the seller again offered
+delivery the bid was repudiated. The seller had become enraged. He
+suspected he was being fooled. He became angry, words followed, and a
+crowd gathered around. The excitement ran high, when suddenly, right in
+the midst of the crowd, there occurred the loud barking of a dog and
+there was a general scatter, but no dog was seen. Then there came the
+grunt of a pig and a dog appeared to attack the pig. The latter squealed
+and seemed to be running all around the room, and immediately there
+followed a regular barn-yard chorus. Confusion reigned. All business
+came to a standstill and the question arose, who was doing the barking,
+the squealing, the cackling and the quacking? One accused another, rows
+followed, pandemonium reigned and amid the confusion the two authors of
+the whole trouble stole forth to the street. They had a heap of fun. An
+investigation would have followed, for the men believed the trick had
+been played by some of their members, but so general had been the
+confusion no proof could be obtained, and later the business of the
+exchange proceeded.
+
+"Well, Ike, that was high," said Jack.
+
+"It was."
+
+The boys started to walk up the street, when they met a veiled lady who
+was walking rapidly along. Ike stopped short and said:
+
+"Jack, that means something."
+
+"The veiled lady?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What makes you think so? There are plenty of veiled ladies knocking
+around every day."
+
+"That's so; but do you see that lady's excitement?"
+
+"How can I when she is veiled?"
+
+"But you can see it in her movements. Let's follow her and learn what is
+up. I tell you we will be on to something before we know it and I'd like
+to do some one a good turn."
+
+"I'll let you investigate and I will go and do a little business I have
+on hand."
+
+The youths agreed to meet later. Jack went his way, and Ike, who was a
+persistent fellow, followed the lady. She turned into one of the large
+office buildings. The ventriloquist followed and saw her enter a
+lawyer's office. He remained in the hall, and it was fully an hour
+before the lady came forth. When she did her veil was raised. Ike
+recognized that she was very beautiful and refined looking, and he saw
+also that she had been weeping. As she dropped her veil he fell to her
+trail. She descended to the street and with slower steps proceeded on
+her way. Our hero was a good-looking chap. He had increased in strength
+and stature since first introduced to our readers in a former story,
+Number 6 of "OLD SLEUTH'S OWN." He determined to follow and seize the
+first opportunity to speak to the pretty maid, who evidently was in some
+sort of trouble. While following her he was joined by Jack, and a little
+later Ike, who, as has been intimated, was observant, saw a man turn to
+follow the veiled lady.
+
+"Hello!" he muttered, "the game is opening up. I wonder if that fellow
+is acquainted with the girl, or is merely following her on
+speculation?"
+
+The girl walked through Nassau Street as far as the City Hall and
+boarded a Fourth Avenue car. Jack and Ike boarded the same car, and as
+the latter glanced in at the lady he saw that she was giving way to
+considerable emotion under her veil, and he also observed that the man
+who had started in to follow her had secured a seat directly opposite to
+her and had his evil eyes fixed upon her; for the lad discerned that the
+man did possess evil eyes.
+
+"Jack," he said, "we are on to something, sure."
+
+"It looks so."
+
+The lady left the car at the park and started to walk through that great
+pleasure ground. The man left the car also and followed the girl, and it
+is needless to say that the two ventriloquists also followed on a double
+trail.
+
+"The lady acts very strangely," remarked Jack.
+
+"She does."
+
+"And I've a suspicion."
+
+Ike's eyes brightened up as he asked:
+
+"And what is your suspicion?"
+
+"She is going to throw herself into the lake. She is in trouble."
+
+"But why does the man follow her?"
+
+"I believe he is a rascal who means her no good."
+
+"And I mean to see that he does her no harm."
+
+"Suppose she does plunge into the lake?"
+
+"We will fish her out."
+
+From the course that the lady took it did appear as though she really
+intended to drown herself, as Jack had intimated. She finally, however,
+sat down on a bench near the water of the lake. The man stood off at a
+little distance watching her. The ventriloquists also lay off, ready to
+be at hand in case of emergency.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+     JACK AND IKE PLAY A TRICK ON A BAD MAN AND VERIFY IKE'S SUSPICION
+     THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING UP--THE BAD MAN TAKES A SWIM INSTEAD OF
+     THE VEILED GIRL.
+
+
+The girl removed her veil a moment and gazed into the waters of the lake
+and her beautiful face was revealed. The man who had been shadowing her
+had a chance to observe her beauty. Ike had his eye upon the man and
+arrived at a conclusion. He concluded from the expression on the
+fellow's face that he was a villain and meant the beautiful girl no
+good. He was very handsomely dressed, wore diamonds of the biggest sort
+and altogether appeared like an individual whom a young girl would have
+good reason to fear.
+
+"Jack," said our hero, "that fellow is a bad one. He means the girl no
+good."
+
+We write girl, for the veiled lady was but a mere girl, as revealed when
+her veil was removed. She had only removed her face covering for a
+moment. The man advanced toward her and the lads stepped closer, hiding
+in the shrubbery to the rear of the rustic seat where the girl had
+placed herself. As the man approached he said:
+
+"Why, Miss Galt, good-morning."
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir," said the lady; "you have made a mistake."
+
+It was the old trick--merely a pretense to speak to the girl.
+
+"Is it possible I have made a mistake?" said the man.
+
+"You have certainly made a mistake."
+
+If the man had been a gentleman he would have apologized and have moved
+on, but he said:
+
+"It's so strange. You are a perfect picture of the lady I know as Miss
+Galt."
+
+"I am not Miss Galt, sir, and you will please not address me further."
+
+"It's a beautiful day," said the man.
+
+The girl betrayed her surprise from under her veil, but made no reply,
+evidently believing the man would move on; but instead he approached
+nearer to her. The girl rose as though to walk away, when the man said:
+
+"Excuse me, but are you sure you are not playing me a little trick? Are
+you really not Miss Galt?"
+
+The girl started to move away, when the man looked around furtively and
+then boldly approached. The girl was terrified. She attempted to scream,
+when the man actually grasped her arm. She was paralyzed with fear; she
+could not scream. Her eyes expressed her terror, her face became deathly
+pale, and no one can tell what might have occurred if at that critical
+moment Ike and Jack had not darted forth, and Ike exclaimed:
+
+"Hold on there! you scoundrel, what are you doing?"
+
+The man was large and apparently powerful. He glared at the two slender
+youths, and evidently concluded that with but little effort he could
+toss them both into the lake if so inclined. He said:
+
+"You two young rascals, how dare you address me?"
+
+He had released his hold upon the arm of the lady and the latter,
+woman-like, remained, hoping even in her weakness to be of some service
+to the two handsome youths who had interfered in her behalf. In a few
+moments, however, she learned that they did not need any assistance.
+These two young wonders were perfectly capable of taking care of the big
+insulter of womanhood.
+
+In reply to his words to them, the two ventriloquists gave him a laugh.
+He became enraged. He felt mean anyhow, as he had been caught in a
+contemptible act. He was prepared to become enraged very readily.
+
+"You laugh at me, you young rascals?"
+
+"Certainly we do, you mean scoundrel."
+
+"You call me a scoundrel?"
+
+"That's what we call you."
+
+"You two rascals, get away from here or I'll hurt you."
+
+"You will?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You can't hurt any one. You're a big fraud."
+
+The man moved toward the speaker, when a dog barked savagely at his
+heels. He leaped in the air and turned quickly, but there was no dog
+there. He supposed the fierce animal had skipped away, and with an oath
+he advanced another step toward the laughing and jeering lads, when
+again the dog barked savagely at his heels, and again he leaped in the
+air, but there was no dog visible.
+
+The man was confused, and Ike said:
+
+"You are a villain. You should be lynched or ducked."
+
+"Let's duck him," said Jack.
+
+"It's a go," answered Ike.
+
+The man gazed in amazement at their audacity, and he was about to make a
+rush, when seemingly there came a gruff voice behind him, preceded by a
+shrill whistle.
+
+"Hold on there! what are you about?"
+
+The man thought that indeed a park policeman was at hand. He turned. He
+was standing near the edge of the water, for the ventriloquists had
+purposely changed their own position so as to draw him down in that
+direction. As he turned Ike ran forward head first and made a clear dive
+straight at the small of the man's back. Over he went, face forward,
+paralyzed by the blow, and then the two lads jumped on him. Over and
+over they rolled him toward the water. At this instant the lady
+interfered, but her protest came too late. The man was rolled into the
+water about waist deep, and the water restored his strength, and there
+followed a mighty floundering as he struggled toward the shore. The boys
+roared with laughter. The man crawled out and made a rush for them, when
+again the dog barked at his heels, and he made a leap in the air; and as
+he turned and saw no dog, terror seized him, and a sudden impulse, for
+away he ran like a deer, all wet and dripping as he was. Then Ike
+advanced toward the veiled girl and said:
+
+"Excuse us, miss, but he got just what he deserved. We saw him seize you
+and we made up our minds to scare him out. We will bid you good-morning.
+He will not molest you again."
+
+The girl stood and gazed in silence a moment and then said:
+
+"I thank you," and involuntarily she added: "Oh, what shall I do?"
+
+"Are you in trouble, miss?" asked Ike.
+
+The girl had betrayed herself to a certain extent, and she answered:
+
+"Yes, I am in great trouble."
+
+"Possibly we can aid you."
+
+"No, no, you cannot aid me as readily and manfully as you did just now."
+
+"But possibly we can."
+
+The girl looked the two handsome lads over, and again she murmured, as
+though unable to control her emotions:
+
+"Oh, what shall I do?"
+
+"We can help you."
+
+"No, you cannot help me."
+
+"Yes, we can."
+
+"No, no; I wish you could. No one can help me; I am ruined."
+
+"Come, we will walk away from here and you shall tell us your trouble.
+We can aid you. You will find out that we can."
+
+They were both bright-faced youths. They had just given an exhibition of
+their nerve and courage.
+
+"Come, do not be afraid. We can aid you, no matter what your trouble."
+
+"It's so strange," murmured the girl.
+
+"What is so strange?"
+
+"That you should offer to aid me."
+
+"Well, we can aid you. That's our mission in life."
+
+The girl did not understand the remark, but she was charmed with the two
+bright-faced, honest-looking lads. She said:
+
+"I am half inclined to tell you my trouble. I am a stranger in New York;
+I have no one to confide in. Yes, I will tell you my trouble, but you
+cannot aid me."
+
+"I reckon we can aid you, no matter what the trouble may be."
+
+The girl walked away with the two ventriloquists, but occasionally she
+glanced back at the lake and both the youths were convinced that she had
+really intended suicide.
+
+When some distance away from the lake and in a retired part of the park,
+the girl said:
+
+"Mine is a very strange story. I do not know as you will believe it."
+
+"We will believe anything you tell us," said Ike gallantly.
+
+"A week ago I came on from San Francisco. My father died a year ago; my
+mother has been dead for a long time. My father knew he was to die, as
+he had an incurable disease, and he gave me all his savings, converted
+everything he had into cash and placed it in my hands, and when it came
+near the last he told me after his death to come on here to New York.
+He said he once had a brother whom he had not seen or heard from for
+thirty years. 'My brother may still be living; if so he will be your
+friend and protector, and you will not be dependent upon him, as you
+will have five thousand dollars.'
+
+"After my father's death I remained in San Francisco a year to complete
+my education, and then I started for New York. The money I had changed
+into non-registered bonds, and I put them in my trunk. I arrived in New
+York a week ago and went to a place to board that had been recommended
+to me by a friend in San Francisco. Last night I opened my trunk to look
+at the bonds and discovered to my horror that they were gone. I at once
+informed the landlady, who told me she could do nothing, that she knew
+nothing about my bonds. She evidently did not believe my story. She
+looks upon me as a swindler. I saw in this morning's paper the name of a
+lawyer. I called upon him to consult him, but first I went to the
+captain of police in my district. He evidently did not believe my story,
+and then, as I said, I went to the lawyer. I told my tale to him. He
+said he could do nothing for me--I must depend upon the police. He also,
+I think, did not believe my story. They look upon me as an adventuress.
+I have no proofs. I have no way to prove that I ever had the bonds. They
+have been stolen, and in claiming them I am losing my reputation. I am
+looked upon as a swindler myself. I tell you the truth. I did have the
+bonds and they have been stolen from me. I am ruined. No one will
+believe me. You do not believe my story."
+
+"Yes, I do believe your story," said Ike, "and we will recover your
+bonds."
+
+"You will recover them?" exclaimed the girl.
+
+"Yes, we will recover them."
+
+"No, no; never," she said in a despairing tone.
+
+"We will see about that. When did you last see your bonds?"
+
+"The night after my arrival in New York."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"In my trunk."
+
+"After you had arrived at your present boarding-house?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Is there any one in the house whom you suspect?"
+
+"I know not whom to suspect, but they were stolen after my arrival in
+that house. The landlady refuses to believe my story; the captain of
+police refuses to believe my story, and the lawyer to whom I went and
+offered one thousand dollars as a fee refuses to believe my story."
+
+"And my friend and I do believe your story, and we are the only ones who
+can aid you in recovering them. One would have to know you to believe
+your tale. It is indeed a strange one."
+
+"And you do not know me."
+
+"Well, we have other reasons for believing your story. I tell you we
+will recover your bonds. You can rely upon my word."
+
+"How can you do it?"
+
+"We have our own method for going about it."
+
+"The landlady has hinted that she would like to have me leave the house.
+I have no money to go anywhere else, for all my money I had placed in my
+trunk and that is gone also."
+
+"How much money did you have?"
+
+"I had over two hundred dollars."
+
+"And it has been stolen?"
+
+"Yes; whoever took the bonds took my money also, and my jewelry--for all
+my valuables were in my trunk."
+
+Jack looked at Ike in a dubious sort of way, for the story was becoming
+quite odd. Ike, however, believed the tale. He said:
+
+"It's hard luck to lose all that way, but you shall have it returned to
+you."
+
+"I don't know what I shall do."
+
+"Did you tell any one else in the house about your loss save the
+landlady?"
+
+"No, I have not said one word to any one else, and the landlady told me
+not to do so."
+
+Ike was thoughtful a moment and then said:
+
+"I will find your bonds. In the meantime I believe it well for you
+temporarily to find another boarding-place."
+
+"I do not know where to go."
+
+"I can recommend you to a very nice, motherly lady who will see to your
+comfort."
+
+There came a look of sudden suspicion to the girl's eyes and she said:
+
+"I have no money. I do not know what to do."
+
+Ike, as our readers know, possessed wonderfully quick and observant
+eyes, and he could discern in a most remarkable manner.
+
+"You need not bother about the money part of it. I know this lady well;
+she is a very reputable person, the widow of a man who was a great
+detective. She will be willing to wait for her pay until you recover
+your money and bonds."
+
+"But I may never recover them."
+
+"Yes, you will recover them; on that point you can make your mind easy.
+When I and my friend here set out to accomplish a thing we never fail,
+and you shall satisfy yourself that the lady will really become your
+friend before you take up your home with her."
+
+Ike had organized a great scheme. He was satisfied in his own mind that
+the money had been stolen either by the landlady or one of her boarders.
+He had a way of bringing people to a betrayal that was all his own. He
+held some further talk with the girl, and then asked:
+
+"What is your name?"
+
+The girl hesitated.
+
+"You need not fear to tell me your name. I will go with you if you
+choose to the captain of police and he shall vouch for my honor and
+loyalty."
+
+"It is not necessary," said the girl, who was really bright and
+self-reliant. "My name is Sara Sidney."
+
+"Miss Sidney," said our hero, "we will go to the home of the lady where
+I propose that you shall board while I am conducting the hunt for your
+missing bonds. You can satisfy yourself of her respectability before you
+remove to her home."
+
+The girl hesitated.
+
+"You need not hesitate. I will not only find your bonds, but I will find
+your uncle for you if he still be living, or his sons or daughters in
+case any of your cousins may be living."
+
+"Why should you take all this trouble on my behalf?"
+
+"I will confide to you a secret: I am a sort of detective. It is my duty
+to look out for you."
+
+"I will go with you," said the girl.
+
+Ike arranged to meet Jack later on and proceeded with Sara to the house
+of the lady where he proposed she should remain. The moment Sara was
+introduced to the lady the latter won the girl's confidence, and our
+hero left his charge with his friend, and the latter arranged to go with
+Sara and have her trunk removed. Meantime Ike met his comrade Jack, and
+the latter said:
+
+"Well, Ike, I yield the palm to you. Yes, sir, you are the most
+observant and quickest person I ever met. I thought I was great, but you
+are the greatest fellow on earth, in my opinion."
+
+"Well, it is strange how we chanced to fall to this girl, so beautiful
+and so helpless."
+
+"Yes, she is beautiful, and I will say that there are thousands of
+undeveloped romances in New York at this very moment."
+
+"Yes, that is true; if a man desires to get into an adventure of a
+strange character he can easily do it here in this great metropolis."
+
+"Say, Ike, she is a beautiful girl."
+
+"She is indeed. Have you fallen in love with her?"
+
+"I don't know."
+
+"I wish you'd find out," said Ike, with a very meaning smile on his
+face.
+
+"Hello! is that the case, Ike?"
+
+"Is what the case?"
+
+"Are you dead gone so soon?"
+
+"I don't know how I am, but she is a lovely girl and her case is a
+peculiar one."
+
+"And you have promised to recover her bonds?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"You have undertaken a big job."
+
+"You think so?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"I'll get them."
+
+"You will?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Have you a plan?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"Will you tell me your plan?"
+
+Ike revealed his plan to Jack, and the latter said:
+
+"Well, I'll be shot if you haven't a head for a detective, and it's
+right here where our gifts come in."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"And you want me to aid you?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"When will you start in?"
+
+"At once."
+
+The same afternoon that the incidents occurred which we have related,
+Ike, gotten up in good shape and furnished with a letter of
+introduction, called at the house where Sara Sidney had been robbed, and
+he succeeded in engaging board. He pretended to be an art student, and
+the first night he appeared at the dinner table he glanced around to
+take in the general appearance of his fellow boarders. He was just the
+lad to measure human faces. He had questioned Sara very particularly
+about her fellow boarders in the house, and he was well posted when he
+sat down to the table, after the usual introduction in a general way.
+The people he found to be the usual representative class that one finds
+in a city boarding-house. There was the doctor who occupied the rear
+parlor, a lawyer, two lady typewriters, one a creature who knew it all
+from A to Z. There were in all about twenty people in the house. Ike
+went over them all. He studied in his quiet, cute way every face, and
+did not see one person whom he was led to suspect, and the sequel will
+prove how unerring was his facial study of those people. When the meal
+was about half through there came bouncing into the room a young man. He
+was a bold-faced, bumptious sort of a chap, and as he took his seat he
+ran his eyes over the people assembled and then asked:
+
+"Where is Miss Sidney?"
+
+The landlady said:
+
+"She has left us."
+
+The young man was thoughtful a moment, and then asked:
+
+"When did she go?"
+
+"This afternoon."
+
+"What reason did she give for going?"
+
+There was an interested look in the young fellow's eyes as he asked the
+question.
+
+"She gave no reason."
+
+"Where has she gone?"
+
+"I do not know."
+
+"I must find out," said the youth. "I was greatly taken with Miss
+Sidney; she was a very charming young lady. We shall miss her."
+
+At that instant there came the announcement:
+
+"Miss Sidney left the house because she was robbed."
+
+Every one started. No one appeared to know who had spoken, but the young
+man gave a start, turned pale and asked in a voice that trembled
+perceptibly:
+
+"Who says she was robbed?"
+
+At that moment the landlady returned to the room. She saw that something
+had gone wrong.
+
+"What is the matter?" she asked.
+
+No one answered, and there followed a moment's awkward silence, broken
+at length by the bumptious young man, who said:
+
+"Some one stated that Miss Sidney left here because she had been
+robbed."
+
+The landlady's face flushed scarlet as she said:
+
+"Who made the statement?"
+
+No one answered.
+
+"It's false," said the landlady, "and I should like to know who said she
+had been robbed."
+
+"I said so."
+
+The voice appeared to come from the old maid typewriter, and the
+landlady at once exclaimed:
+
+"Miss Gaynor, did you state that Miss Sidney left here because she was
+robbed?"
+
+"I did not," declared Miss Gaynor, indignantly.
+
+"I said so," came a voice from the far end of the table.
+
+The landlady looked in the direction indicated. An old man sat there and
+the voice was that of an old man.
+
+"Did you say so, Mr. Smith?"
+
+"I did not, madam," declared the elderly gentleman in an angry tone.
+
+Again there followed a silence, when the landlady remarked:
+
+"It's very strange; if any one makes such a charge, I wish they would
+come out and do so openly."
+
+"Mr. Goodlove made the statement," came a voice.
+
+Mr. Goodlove was the bumptious young man. He at once rose to his feet
+and in an indignant tone declared:
+
+"It's a lie, I did not make the statement. Who says I did?"
+
+"I do," came the answer, and it appeared to come from the young lady
+typewriter number two, who was a pretty, delicate-looking young girl,
+quiet, modest, and least likely to speak out boldly.
+
+The man Goodlove looked at her and demanded:
+
+"Do you dare say I made the statement?"
+
+"I said nothing," she answered timidly, adding, "I did not speak at
+all."
+
+"What is all this ado about, anyhow?" came a voice. "Mr. Goodlove knows
+better than any one else that Miss Sidney was robbed; why does he
+pretend ignorance as to the cause of her leaving?"
+
+The young man turned ghastly.
+
+"Who spoke then?" he asked.
+
+"Oh, it's no use asking who spoke; you know all about the robbery."
+
+"Whoever says that is a liar."
+
+The landlady was becoming greatly excited. She said:
+
+"Miss Sidney did claim that she was robbed, but I have proof that she is
+an adventuress and a blackmailer. She told me she had been robbed and
+she really wanted to work upon my sympathies. She did not possess
+anything to be robbed of, and I told her she had better go away."
+
+"You did right," said Mr. Goodlove. "I did not wish to tell you, madam,
+but I suspected all along that the minx was an adventuress."
+
+A voice came, saying: "You've changed your mind; you said she was a
+lovely girl and that you were very much taken with her. Well, I reckon
+you did take."
+
+"Who spoke?" demanded Goodlove.
+
+"Oh, you know who spoke, and you know more about this whole affair than
+any one else. The police are after you."
+
+The man wilted as he asked:
+
+"Did Miss Sidney hint that I was the robber?"
+
+As Goodlove spoke his eyes wandered around to learn who it was who had
+addressed him.
+
+"No, she didn't accuse any one; you have accused yourself. You were
+seen, however, to deposit a whole lot of gold."
+
+"She didn't have any gold," came the excited declaration.
+
+Ike had _struck his man_ at last.
+
+It was a strange scene in that room at that moment, and the great
+mystery was who did the talking. No one appeared to know and there was
+great confusion, and it was because of the confusion that no one
+appeared to recognize, as stated, who was doing the talking.
+
+There came a voice demanding, when Goodlove said she had no gold:
+
+"How do you know? Were you rummaging in her trunk?"
+
+The man became confused; indeed, he looked as though about going into
+collapse.
+
+The most mysterious part of it all was the fact that no one knew who was
+doing the talking. The people looked into each other's faces and could
+not discern, and yet the voice sounded distinct and clear. Some one was
+talking. Who was it?
+
+During all this time Ike was as mute as an owl after dawn. He looked
+around with an inquiring and surprised look upon his face, seemingly as
+greatly mystified as any one, and the voice pitilessly continued:
+
+"Better be careful, Mister Man. The detectives have their eyes on you."
+
+Goodlove turned to the landlady and almost yelled:
+
+"Madam, send for an officer. This is going too far."
+
+"I will not have an officer in my house; no need."
+
+"But, madam, who is it insulting me?"
+
+"I do not know."
+
+The landlady was as much dazed and mystified as any one.
+
+The voice, however, ceased--became hushed; but a strange feeling
+pervaded those who had been witnesses and listeners during the strange
+scene. One after the other they rose and left the table and the room.
+Goodlove and Ike remained. The fellow looked over at Ike sharply and
+said:
+
+"Say, my friend, did you notice who used the insulting language?"
+
+The voice was again heard. It appeared to come from the hall and the
+words were:
+
+"That young man does not know anything about it. Don't question him, you
+thief."
+
+Goodlove rushed out to the hall. There was not a soul there. He ran up
+the stairs, but saw no one. Each one of the boarders had either retired
+to his room or had gone out. Ike left the table and passed Goodlove in
+the hall. He did not speak to the man, but went to the hatrack, secured
+his hat and stepped out to the street. Goodlove meantime entered the
+parlor and commenced pacing the floor. The landlady joined him.
+
+"Madam," he said, "this is a most extraordinary occurrence."
+
+"It is, sir."
+
+"You were present. You know who made those insulting remarks."
+
+"I do not."
+
+"I will know, madam."
+
+"I hope you will be able to learn, for the occurrence will do me great
+injury unless the mystery is explained."
+
+"There is no mystery about it. You have an impudent rascal in your
+house. Who is your new boarder?"
+
+"He came to me highly recommended."
+
+"It's all very strange, madam."
+
+"Can it be possible," asked the landlady, "that the new boarder is a
+detective?"
+
+Goodlove's face became ghastly. He walked more rapidly, and finally,
+seizing his hat from the hatrack, stepped out to the street. He had gone
+but a few steps, however, when a hand was laid on his shoulder--a heavy
+hand. The man would have shrieked if he had not been actually paralyzed
+with terror.
+
+"Hello, Goodlove," said the man who had seized him. "Where are you
+going?"
+
+The man trembled, but could not answer.
+
+"Well, we've got you, mister. But let me ask you, is this your first
+offense? If it is it's all the better for you, that's all. We may let up
+on you, but we've got you dead to rights."
+
+The man managed to gasp:
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Oh, come off! We've got you all right. We didn't close in on you until
+we had all the proof. Where are the bonds you stole from Miss Sidney's
+trunk, and the money?"
+
+The detective talked in such a matter-of-fact tone, with such absolute
+assurance, that the culprit was all "broke up." He just wilted.
+
+"Who says I stole the bonds?"
+
+"Oh, come off! don't attempt that. Old man, see here; do you want to be
+locked up? Turn over the stolen property, and if this is your first
+offense I'll let you go; but if you attempt to deny or play 'possum I'll
+lock you up and you will go to Sing Sing Prison; that's all."
+
+"How strange!" muttered the prisoner.
+
+"Strange that you were found out?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why, you fool, we knew all the time that you stole the bonds. Thieves
+always get found out, but it depends upon how smart they are in getting
+away. Crime never pays; criminals always come to a bad end. This is your
+first offense. You have learned a lesson that will last you all your
+life. It always pays to be honest; it's always a losing game to be
+dishonest. Now what is your decision? Will you go to jail or surrender
+the stolen property?"
+
+"If I surrender it will you let me off?"
+
+"As this is your first offense I will let you off, and as I do not wish
+to spoil your future chances I will say nothing about your guilt. But
+let me tell you, if you ever steal again you will surely be caught and
+will pay the full penalty."
+
+"I will surrender the property."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+     IKE RECOVERS THE BONDS THROUGH HIS FRIEND, DETECTIVE DU FLORE, AND
+     HE AND HIS FELLOW VENTRILOQUIST FALL INTO NEW ADVENTURES.
+
+
+The property was surrendered--the bonds, all the jewelry and all the
+money to a cent--and placed in the hands of Ike, who, when he met his
+"side partner" at their home, said:
+
+"Well, Jack, I didn't need you. I caught my fish easy."
+
+"Yes, 'dead easy,' as the two robbers said."
+
+"They missed, I won."
+
+"You did."
+
+"So much for this adventure. To-morrow I will return the stolen property
+to the owner, and then----"
+
+"What then?"
+
+"We will lie around for a new adventure. We're having a heap of fun."
+
+"We are, and doing a heap of good even if I say it myself."
+
+On the day following the incidents we have related Ike and Jack in
+company called upon the young lady for whom they had done so great a
+service. She received them in the little parlor, but she appeared very
+anxious and careworn, and she said after the usual greetings:
+
+"I am very unhappy."
+
+"You are?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"I cannot remain here with this good lady when I am unable to pay for my
+board."
+
+"What will you do?" asked Ike, a pleasant brightness in his eyes.
+
+"I do not know what I will do. I am already in her debt."
+
+"You are?"
+
+"Yes; she paid my board bill at the last place when she went with me to
+get my trunk."
+
+"And you think you will not be able to pay her?"
+
+"I do not know what I will do."
+
+"You can pay her when you recover your stolen property."
+
+"I will never recover that."
+
+"Did I not promise that I would recover it for you?"
+
+"Yes, in the goodness of your heart you did; but the lady here, with
+whom I am staying, says the chances are very much against my ever
+recovering my property."
+
+"And has she intimated that you had better find another home?"
+
+"On the contrary, she has told me I can remain here as long as I
+please--until I find my uncle or secure a position that will enable me
+to earn my living."
+
+"You can set your mind at rest; when I promise a thing I usually keep my
+promise. I will not keep you in suspense. Here is your property restored
+to you."
+
+The girl almost fainted, so great was her excitement. She could not
+speak for a full minute, but when she did find voice she exclaimed:
+
+"And you really have recovered all my property?"
+
+"You can recognize your own property; here it is."
+
+"This is wonderful."
+
+"It's jolly good, that's all. I said I would recover it and I've kept my
+word; and now you are independent."
+
+"Oh, I am so grateful! How did you do it?"
+
+"Well, we did it."
+
+"Who was the thief?"
+
+"One of the boarders in that house."
+
+"Who was the guilty party?"
+
+"Whom would you suspect?"
+
+"No one; they all seemed good people."
+
+"And you had no suspicion?"
+
+"I did not suspect any one particular person."
+
+"A young man named Goodlove was the thief."
+
+The girl stared.
+
+"He was the thief?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I never would have suspected him, he was so kind to me. He was the only
+one to whom I told anything about myself."
+
+"Yes, and he took advantage of your confidence in him to rob you."
+
+"I did not tell him I had any money."
+
+"He evidently suspected you did have, but all's well that ends well; and
+now you will remember I made you another promise."
+
+"You said you would find my uncle."
+
+"I said I would find him if he were living."
+
+"And can you succeed as you have in recovering this property?"
+
+"I can and will, if he is alive. And now can I advise you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Make your home here for the present, until such time as we report as
+concerns the whereabouts of your uncle."
+
+"Now that I can pay my board I will gladly remain here. I propose to
+take music lessons and become a teacher. I shall be self-supporting. I
+am pretty well advanced in music already."
+
+"That is good. Can we call and see you occasionally?"
+
+"I shall always be delighted to have you call upon me; you have proved
+yourselves my real friends. But will you tell me how you managed to
+recover my bonds?"
+
+"Not to-day; some day we will tell you all about it."
+
+"And Goodlove--is he in jail?"
+
+"No, it was his first offense and we let him off. He will leave New
+York, however, and start afresh. I think he has learned a lesson and
+will become honest."
+
+On the day following Ike and Jack were at breakfast in a restaurant when
+they overheard the proprietor of the place and a customer discussing a
+great robbery that had taken place under the most startling
+circumstances. Ike, after the meal, secured a paper and read the
+account. The robbery was indeed a very startling one. An old miser had
+lived in a tumble-down house for twenty-odd years. No one knew that he
+possessed one cent; indeed, his neighbors were not aware that he was the
+owner of the old tumble-down house in which he resided. He was seldom
+seen on the streets, then only at night. He never begged alms, lived in
+the most frugal manner, as was supposed, as no one could tell where he
+did procure his food. He occupied the little old house alone, and, as
+stated, had gone on for years, never attracting any attention until one
+morning through the police the startling announcement was made that the
+old man was really a possible millionaire. Thieves had broken into his
+old house, chloroformed him and ransacked his apartments, and according
+to the old man's statement had carried off gold, bills, silver bonds,
+and securities to an amount which under all the circumstances appeared
+incredible. Indeed, as it appeared, the police had been in possession of
+the facts of the robbery for several days, but they had doubted the old
+man's story, doubted that he had ever possessed any property at all, but
+later revelations established the truthfulness of the old man's
+statement beyond all question. As it also appeared, the old man had gone
+to South America when a very young man. He had returned to New York
+twenty years previous to the time of the robbery, and had then purchased
+the old house where, for reasons of his own, he had lived seemingly the
+life of a miser. The papers spoke of him in contemptuous tones as an old
+miser, and said by intimation that it served him right to be robbed. It
+was a just retribution visited upon a man who for the pure love of
+possession had denied himself the comforts of life just to accumulate
+his hoards, which were useless to him and the thousands of needy people
+whom he might have aided. The robbery had been a very mysterious one. No
+one had been seen by any one lurking in the vicinity of the house, but
+some time between midnight and morning three men, as the old miser
+declared, had entered his house, had chloroformed him and then had
+deliberately gone all through his apartments and had taken everything
+of value they could lay their hands on. After the robbery, as it
+appeared, the old man had refused to take any one into his house as a
+guard. He did not relish the visits of the police, but declared that
+everything portable of any value had been taken. He had been very
+methodical and had the numbers of most of his bonds, and the usual
+notifications were sent to dealers; but it was well known that quite a
+number of the securities were unregistered and negotiable. Indeed, as it
+proved later, the old man was mistaken; the bulk of them were
+negotiable. Besides the securities, jewels of great value and hoards of
+gold and silver were taken.
+
+Ike and Jack read over the account and later met their friend, Detective
+Du Flore, who knew all about the case, and he said:
+
+"I was coming to see you. I wonder if we can get in on this job with any
+hope of success?"
+
+"I don't know about the hope of success," said Ike, "but we can get in
+on the job."
+
+"I will tell you something privately: there is an immense reward
+offered. It will be the job of our lives if we can run down those
+plunderers."
+
+"We can try."
+
+"Ike, you are a wonder, and hoping to have your aid I have had myself
+specially assigned to the case. My reputation for life will be made, and
+we will all receive a big sum of money. I owe my present reputation to
+you. The capture of those two burglars has set me away up, and if I can
+solve this mystery and run down the robbers I am a great man."
+
+"We will see what we can do."
+
+"It's a great case and some of the oldest men on the force are on it. I
+would like to prove a winner."
+
+"We will do the best we can."
+
+"You have a great head, Ike."
+
+"Thank you; I'll do the best I can."
+
+"What is your plan for a starter?"
+
+"I must have a chance to think the matter over. It will take me two or
+three days to make up my mind, but let me tell you, Du Flore, I have an
+idea that we can solve this mystery and get on the thieves."
+
+"We are just made for life if we can. When will you see me again?"
+
+"In a few days or in a few hours possibly," said Ike.
+
+The detective and the ventriloquist separated, and as Ike and Jack
+walked away the former said:
+
+"Jack, we've got a big job on hand. Let's walk down and take a look at
+the old miser's house, for to-night we may wish to play burglar."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I am going to take great chances. I am going to get into that house."
+
+"Sneak in?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You will get into a scrape, I fear."
+
+"Eh, Jack, do you fear? I did not think you knew what fear meant."
+
+Jack laughed and said:
+
+"Don't take me so quick, Ike. All I intended to convey was that we
+should be cautious. That house will be under surveillance. It might
+prove awkward if you were caught sneaking into the old man's place."
+
+"Would you sneak in if you had a plan?"
+
+"To own up square, I would."
+
+"All right; we won't be caught, and if we do, with your brave aid we'll
+get out of the scrape. I've an idea--a very funny one. I won't tell it
+to you now, or even you might call me a crank. But I tell you, I am
+going to take big chances and get into the old man's house on the sly,
+in spite of the police, detectives and every one else. I've a scheme."
+
+The two lads arrived in the vicinity of the house and scanned the
+surroundings very carefully, and as they walked away Ike said:
+
+"We have a chance for a joke on hand, Jack."
+
+"Yes, I am on to it."
+
+"What are you on to?"
+
+"We have been spotted and a detective is on our track."
+
+"Yes, a snide. We'll give him a lesson."
+
+"When?"
+
+"Oh, we'll shake him now, but to-night we'll show up again and have our
+fun, and with our fun we'll do some business."
+
+The ventriloquists were right. They had been spotted and a "snide"
+detective was on their track, and the youths did succeed in giving him
+the "shake," and they just kept under cover until night, when, having
+fully arranged for their adventures, they issued forth and proceeded
+again down to the old miser's house, and just as they suspected the
+"snide" detective got on to their track again, and the second time he
+started in to follow them he was satisfied he had struck something. As
+Ike and Jack walked away the former said:
+
+"Now the fun commences. We will give that fellow a great steer."
+
+Ike and Jack were both well posted all over the city of New York, and
+they proceeded to a public-house which had been for years under the
+surveillance of the police. It was a regular thieves' resort and many a
+bad fellow had been trailed from that very house. Once in the house they
+sat down at a table and called for their beer, and, as both suspected,
+in a few moments the "snide" entered. He pretended to be looking at
+everything else but the two youths, when in reality he was watching
+every movement. Ike had been revolving in his mind how to give the
+fellow a layout. He knew the man well. He was a real "snide"--a
+detective beat--in fact, not a genuine detective, but the agent of a
+detective agency. He thought himself, however, very smart. Ike, as
+stated, knew the house well, and knew that a number of very prominent
+politicians were in the habit of gathering in a back room on the second
+floor, where they indulged a little game of cards _for fun only_, and
+discussed their political plans. They were men away up politically, not
+thieves in the general sense of the word; at least, they were not liable
+to arrest, and they were very bold and resolute and had a very high idea
+of themselves. Even while Ike sat there he saw two of these men enter
+the place and pass through a rear side door to the hall.
+
+Ike knew these men well. He was aware, as stated, that they met in this
+room to discuss their political plans. They were in session, and after a
+little while the "snide" who had been watching the two ventriloquists
+crossed over to the table where they were sitting and pretended to have
+met one of them before.
+
+"See here, mister," said Ike, "you are barking up the wrong tree."
+
+The man gazed in astonishment.
+
+"We are not under glances now, but there's bigger game in this house."
+
+The "snide" recognized at once that the two young fellows were "on to
+him," as the saying goes.
+
+"Who are you fellows anyhow?" he demanded.
+
+"Oh, we're just out, we are. You have no use for us, nor we for you."
+
+"You say there's bigger game in this house?"
+
+"Yes, there is."
+
+"Give me the points."
+
+"Oh, you can't work it alone."
+
+"I can't?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You give me the points and we will see if I can."
+
+"Go and get your pard. It will take two of you, and I'll let you on to a
+big call. I want to get square; that's how I stand."
+
+"You put me on to a big lay and I'll make it worth your while."
+
+"You will?"
+
+"I will. You know me, don't you?"
+
+"I only know you are a cop, that's all."
+
+"Did I ever have any dealings with you?"
+
+"Never; but I want to get square. There are a couple of men in this
+house who swore us away once."
+
+Our readers will bear in mind that both the ventriloquists were under a
+disguise that permitted them to play the role they were working at that
+moment.
+
+"What is the lay?"
+
+"Oh, it's the old miser business. I knew the moment that thing came out
+who did that job."
+
+"It may be you did," said the detective wisely.
+
+"Do you think we were in it?"
+
+"You may have been."
+
+"Then take us, and we'll have the laugh on you and the real game will
+skip. I say I can set you on to a dead sure game to prove your arrest."
+
+"You can?"
+
+"I can."
+
+"How?"
+
+"When I agree I can do it easy enough, but you had better get a pard.
+These villains are wild fellows; they might do you up."
+
+"I'll take chances."
+
+"You will?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"All right; I'll give you the points."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+     IKE RESORTS TO A VERY CUNNING TRICK AND USES HIS GREAT GIFT IN A
+     VERY REMARKABLE MANNER--HIS JOKE IS FOLLOWED BY STARTLING RESULTS.
+
+
+The man's face beamed. He believed he was on to a big thing. We have not
+attempted to go into the full details and describe just how Ike got down
+to his deception. We have just outlined the conversation, but for the
+purpose he had in view our hero talked straight to the point and his
+proposition was not an unreasonable one; it was just the dodge to hook a
+fellow of the stripe of the "snide." Our hero knew just how to work his
+trick and adapted his plan to his man.
+
+Ike had his fish well hooked, and then he became very confidential. He
+told his man to go to the rear room and play off so as not to attract
+attention. The man obeyed and a little later Ike joined him, and then,
+after looking around furtively, still maintaining his play, he said:
+
+"In the rear room upstairs are the fellows who robbed the old miser.
+They are discussing a division of the swag. Now, if you want proof I'll
+go up the stairs with you and you can overhear their talk and get all
+the points--get your men located."
+
+The detective's eyes bulged. He, of course, recognized the possibility
+that Ike was giving him a "steer," and then again it was possible he was
+giving him the real facts.
+
+"You needn't take my word," said Ike. "All you have to do is listen at
+the door. They are not looking for eavesdroppers. Make sure of your
+points, then away with your information, get your aids and capture the
+whole gang. I'll teach those fellows to give it to me in the neck,"
+concluded our wily hero.
+
+The "snide" and Ike stepped into the hall and noiselessly moved up the
+stairs, and as they approached the door of the room where the
+politicians were the "snide" heard the murmur of voices. No
+ventriloquistic trick was ever played better in imitating the murmur of
+several voices behind a closed door, and as the "snide" drew close to
+the door a voice was heard to exclaim:
+
+"Hold on! that is not a square deal."
+
+"What do you want--the earth?" came the retort.
+
+"No, but I want my share of the negotiable bonds," came the answer. "You
+fellows are taking all the easy things and giving me the registered
+ones. They're no good, you know, and I want you fellows to remember I
+fell to that old miser and it was I who put up the job. We made a good
+haul without any blood-letting. I want a square deal, I do. Everything
+is hunky; we've given the police a dead steer away and we're all right.
+Don't you fellows try to rob me, do you hear?"
+
+The "snide" heard and his face became radiant. He stepped away from the
+door and said to Ike:
+
+"You go away. It's dangerous to be around here."
+
+Little did the speaker know how dangerous it really was. He was destined
+to experience the full force of the danger in a most remarkable manner a
+few moments later, for Ike managed to perform a second marvelous
+ventriloquistic trick--one of the most wonderful of all. He managed to
+make, seemingly, a woman scream in a shrill tone:
+
+"Look out, in that room! There's a sneak peeping at the door."
+
+The words had hardly left the woman's lips, as it appeared, when the
+door opened. The "snide" was actually caught with his ear to the
+keyhole, so suddenly had the door opened. Well, a scene followed. The
+politicians were really discussing a very important political matter.
+They looked upon the "snide" as a sneak who was merely seeking for
+information to steal it, and they were mad. Indeed, there was danger
+around there just at that moment.
+
+As intimated, the politicians were mad; they believed this "ward
+heeler," as they mistook the "snide" to be, had gotten on to their whole
+little affair. They did not stand on ceremony--they just broke loose.
+They were all really toughs, and the way they went for Mister Snide was
+lovely to behold, especially had any one been present who really
+recognized what a mean sneak the "snide" was.
+
+"Let me get at him," cried one politician. No one interfered. He was
+permitted to get at him and the first blow knocked the "snide" to the
+landing of the stairs. The second blow was a terrific kick which sent
+him headlong down the steps. He, fortunately for himself, did not break
+his neck in his descent, and gained his feet and made a rush into the
+bar on his way to the door to the street, but he did not get there
+before one of the politicians was at his heels. He received a kick that
+lifted him clear off the floor, then another man took a rap at him, and
+at each kick up he leaped involuntarily; so, with kicks and raps, he was
+knocked clear out to the street, and there stood the two ventriloquists
+to see him come forth. Ike expected him, and the young fellow's
+expectations were not disappointed; a worse laying out no sneak ever
+received. The man fell helpless on the sidewalk, and when a policeman
+ran to his aid he told his tale and yelled: "Arrest those men. They are
+the robbers of the old miser."
+
+The policeman believed the man drunk or crazy, and rapped for
+assistance, and when his mate joined him they toted him off to the
+station. All the way the man protested, and when he arrived at the
+station he told his tale to the sergeant. The latter was bound to give
+the story his attention. He led the man back to the resort and up to
+the room. The politicians had reassembled. The sergeant knocked for
+admission and was let in. Well, a scene followed.
+
+The sergeant knew every man present in the room, knew that none of them
+were crooks, and he was confirmed in the impression that the man was
+drunk or crazy. The "snide" was led back to the station house and put in
+a cell. He yelled and protested, and no wonder. He foamed at the mouth
+in his excitement. The most partial observer would have counted him
+crazy.
+
+Ike and Jack, however, had accomplished their purpose. Our hero said:
+
+"The road is clear now; that fellow was hanging around the old miser's
+house all the time. Now I reckon I can make an entrance and interview
+the old man."
+
+The two ventriloquists proceeded down to the old house and arrived just
+in time to meet another embarrassment. A policeman entered the house
+just as they arrived in sight.
+
+"Hello, Ike," said Jack; "what's that?"
+
+"A disagreeable discovery."
+
+"That fellow is probably going to remain in the house over night."
+
+"It looks so, and yet the papers said the old man had a guard and had
+declined to go to other quarters."
+
+"We must get rid of that fellow."
+
+"It is possible he will not remain there."
+
+The hour was about eleven o'clock and Jack, after looking at his
+timepiece, said:
+
+"Possibly he has just entered to see that everything is all right with
+the old man."
+
+The lads waited around for about an hour, when to our hero's delight he
+saw the policeman come from the house. The two young men had made a
+thorough search around the neighborhood and were convinced that there
+was no one on the watch. After the policeman had been gone some little
+time Ike bade Jack remain on the watch.
+
+The daring young man then leaped the gate of the old alleyway and passed
+around to the rear of the house. He saw the glimmer of a light shooting
+forth from the windows of the room on the second floor. He remained a
+moment studying the rear of the house, then descended the areaway and in
+a few moments managed to gain an entrance, although the door was bolted
+on the inside; but the woodwork had rotted and he easily gained an
+entrance, as stated. All was cold and damp. As he stepped inside the
+hallway he drew his mask lantern and glanced around. It was a dreary
+sight that met his view.
+
+"I reckon," he muttered, "the old man never comes down here and it is a
+wonder he is alive, living over all this filth and decay."
+
+On tiptoe Ike ascended to the parlor floor. He entered the front parlor,
+and as he flashed his light around he experienced a shock of surprise.
+There were articles of great value lying around; marble statues had
+rolled from their pedestals and had fallen to the floor, and on the
+walls were very valuable paintings, their frames moldy and the pictures
+apparently ruined. There was one picture that had been covered, and at a
+glance our hero discerned that it had been cared for--the only article
+in the room which had evidently ever been dusted or cleaned.
+
+"A picture of the old fellow's wife," thought Ike, and after a moment he
+added: "I will have a glance at it."
+
+The young man was doing a nervy piece of business, and yet he was as
+cool and deliberate as though in his own house. He moved about with
+great care and in a noiseless manner, and he advanced to the picture,
+removed the cloth, flashed his light upon it and recoiled as though
+gazing at an apparition. It was the one great surprise of his life.
+
+There he stood, as he supposed gazing upon a portrait of Sara Sidney,
+the beautiful girl whom he had served in such a signal manner. He stood
+gazing in rapt attention, and so engrossed was he that he did not
+observe a counter-light in the room, nor become aware of the presence of
+another until he was startled almost to a condition of terror when a
+voice demanded:
+
+"Who are you, and what do you want here?"
+
+Ike turned and beheld a strange-looking old man standing within a few
+feet of him. In his hand the old man held a light, and his deep, sunken
+eyes were illuminated with a strange gleam as their glance rested on the
+ventriloquist.
+
+"Are you Mr. Ward?"
+
+"I am Mr. Ward," came the answer. "Who are you?"
+
+"Your friend."
+
+The old man chuckled and said:
+
+"You are here to rob me, I suppose; but, Mr. Burglar, there is nothing
+left for you. The scoundrels who came here before took everything--yes,
+everything."
+
+"I did not come here to rob--I came here to aid you."
+
+"To aid me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I don't need aid; if I do there is aid at hand."
+
+"You don't understand me."
+
+"Well, let me understand you."
+
+"I came here as your friend."
+
+The old man chuckled again, and said:
+
+"I need no friends. I've lived many years independent of all friendship.
+But what do you think of that picture?"
+
+There came an eager light in the old man's eyes as he asked the
+question.
+
+"That picture is a mystery to me."
+
+"A mystery?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"I hardly dare tell you."
+
+"Do you know anything about that picture?"
+
+"Shall I speak right out?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"I know the original of that picture."
+
+"Young man, you lie, and you need not come here with any such wild
+story. Hark you, I have but to give an alarm--touch a button--and I will
+have a whole platoon of police here."
+
+"You do not need the police."
+
+"How do I know?"
+
+"I will convince you."
+
+"You will convince me?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"Do so."
+
+"I repeat, I know the original of that picture."
+
+"Are you a maniac or a rogue?"
+
+"I am neither."
+
+"Let me look in your face."
+
+Ike stood with his face turned toward the strange old man. The latter
+thrust his light forward and carefully studied the ventriloquist's
+features.
+
+"You do not look like a rogue or a maniac."
+
+"I am neither."
+
+"Then why did you force yourself into my house?"
+
+"I came here as your friend."
+
+"I need no friends."
+
+"Yes, you need me."
+
+"I do?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How is it I need you?"
+
+"I am going to do you a great service."
+
+"You are?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I will recover your bonds and all the property stolen from you."
+
+The old man again laughed in a strange, weird manner, and said:
+
+"That is what they all told me. I have not yet seen my bonds and
+jewels."
+
+"We will talk about that later on. What I desire to know is, who is the
+lady whose portrait I see here?"
+
+"What business is it of yours who the lady is?"
+
+"I tell you I know the original."
+
+"Then why do you ask me who she is?"
+
+The question was a cute one.
+
+"There is a mystery here."
+
+"Is there?"
+
+"There is."
+
+The old man appeared to be a clear-headed, nervy individual, although he
+might be a miser.
+
+"What is the mystery?"
+
+"I said I knew the original of that picture."
+
+"You did."
+
+"I will say I know one for whom that picture might be taken as a
+portrait."
+
+"You do?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Who is the person?"
+
+The old man was again all eagerness and attention.
+
+"I will not say yet, but I would like to know who the real original of
+the picture is."
+
+"I would first like to know who you are and how you dared force an
+entrance into my house."
+
+"You shall know all about me later on."
+
+"Oh, yes, that is what you said, but it is not satisfactory. You say you
+know one for whom that picture might be accepted as the portrait?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"The picture is mine."
+
+"I will not dispute that, but I tell you there is a mystery. I can see
+now that the party I know is not the original of the portrait, but the
+likeness is very remarkable--yes, wonderful. The party I know could be a
+twin sister."
+
+"Say, young man, what is it you are trying to accomplish?"
+
+"On my honor, sir, I am telling the truth. Is your real name Ward?"
+
+The old man showed signs of great excitement as he demanded:
+
+"What business is it of yours who I am?"
+
+"Is your real name Sidney?"
+
+The old man uttered a cry, and advancing toward Ike seized his arm and
+demanded: "What do you mean? Who are you?"
+
+"We had better settle right down to full confidences, Mr. Sidney. I tell
+you I am your friend."
+
+"Will you explain your words?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"Do so."
+
+"I asked you if your name was Sidney."
+
+"You did."
+
+"I know a young lady named Sidney who could be taken for the original of
+that picture. I concluded she must be a family connection; indeed, I am
+in the habit of putting little bits of evidence together and I arrived
+at a conclusion, following a suspicion aroused by the strange
+resemblance; that's all. I am telling you the truth."
+
+"You look like an honest youth. Come upstairs with me. We will talk this
+matter over. My name is Ward; yes, my name is Ward, but I once knew a
+man named Sidney. He was the friend of my boyhood. I have not seen or
+heard from him for many, many years."
+
+"Did he go to California?"
+
+"Yes, he went to California. Yes, yes, I remember he did; but come
+upstairs. I wish to talk to you."
+
+The old man led the way to the room on the second floor, and,
+remembering what he had seen in the lower part of the house, Ike was
+surprised to behold the air of comfort and neatness presented in this
+apartment.
+
+"Sit down," said the old man.
+
+Ike obeyed and the old miser continued in an eager tone:
+
+"Now tell me about this girl who you say is the daughter of my old
+friend Sidney."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+     IKE MAKES A MOST REMARKABLE DISCOVERY AND ALSO PICKS UP CLUES WHICH
+     ENABLE HIM TO START OUT INTELLIGENTLY ON A SHADOW FOR THE BOND
+     THIEVES.
+
+
+Ike had his own suspicions, but he did not project them. He was going
+very slow, as he hoped to draw the old man on and force him to a very
+startling confession. He told the story of Sara Sidney--told it in a
+straightforward, simple manner. The old man listened attentively and
+betrayed considerable emotion, and he muttered:
+
+"How unfortunate I have been robbed! How much I might have done for this
+daughter of my old friend! But alas! I am a poor man now--yes, a poor
+man."
+
+"All your wealth can be recovered."
+
+"Oh, they all say that."
+
+"Who says so?"
+
+"The detectives who have been here; but they will never recover one
+dollar. I will never get my property back."
+
+"That is what your niece said," projected Ike suddenly.
+
+The old man almost screamed as he said:
+
+"My niece! What do you mean?"
+
+"I will speak plainly. I cannot be deceived--this man Sidney was more to
+you than a friend. I recovered the stolen property of Sara Sidney; I
+will recover your property."
+
+"Who are you, young man?"
+
+"You may call me the devil or Tom Walker if you choose, it makes no
+difference. I will recover your property, and now I tell you I know your
+name is Sidney and the girl I know is your niece, and that accounts for
+the wonderful resemblance to the portrait of your daughter."
+
+The old man glared.
+
+Ike, as our readers will observe, was pressing right ahead in his
+impressions. He had arrived at a conclusion and he was assuming a tone
+calculated to force the old man to an admission. He said:
+
+"You need not fear. Your niece is independent; she will not become a
+burden to you. She is a brave, true, energetic young girl. She has some
+means--enough to maintain her until she is in a position to support
+herself by her labor. I tell you, when you see her you will be proud of
+her."
+
+The old man was very thoughtful for some moments but finally he said:
+
+"Can I trust you, young man?"
+
+"Yes, you can trust me."
+
+"My real name is Sidney. I did have a brother who went to California.
+This is all very strange. I have not heard from my brother for nearly
+thirty years. If what you say is true this girl may be my niece. When
+can I see her?"
+
+"You cannot see her until I have caught the thieves and restored the
+property or come to you and admit that I have failed."
+
+The old man appeared dazed and Ike said:
+
+"Tell me your story. Yon can trust me."
+
+"I believe I can," said the old man; "I will. I have admitted that my
+name is Sidney, and that I am a brother of the Sidney who went to
+California. I went to South America and while there met a young American
+girl, the daughter of the United States consul. She became my wife and
+one child was born to us; but alas! my wife died, carried off by fever,
+ere the child was a year old, and from that moment I devoted my life to
+my daughter. I am of humble birth, and I set to work to accumulate a
+great fortune for my child. I brought out masters from Europe to educate
+her. She was beautiful, amiable, bright and accomplished, and I was
+happy. But alas! death came stealing along one night and wrapped its
+cold arms around my child, and I laid her beside her mother. From that
+moment I lost all ambition, all interest in life. I had heard many years
+previously that my brother was dead. I had never heard of his marriage
+and did not suppose he had left a child. Strange fate! I live, but my
+child is gone; he has gone and his child lives. I converted all my
+wealth into bonds, money, jewels and securities, and I came home to
+America. They call me a miser, alas! In my own way, secretly, I have
+been aiding the poor and needy for twenty-odd years. The portrait you
+see is a portrait of my child. In the South, you know, girls mature very
+fast. She was but thirteen when she died. Well, I have had no interest
+in life. I fear nothing, I have cared for nothing. I have only been
+waiting for death to come and claim me. His visit has been long delayed
+and now my wealth is gone. I did not care, but now I do care, for if you
+are not deceiving me I would have had something for the child of my
+brother; and you say she resembles the portrait. Well, when my brother
+and I were boys we greatly resembled each other. And now listen to me: I
+accept your gage. I will not ask to see my niece until you have made
+good your promise; either you shall recover my fortune or you shall come
+to me and say you have failed."
+
+"It will be strange if I ever come to you and say that I have failed.
+You can trust me. I seek no reward, but I believe I can recover your
+fortune, and now I have a double motive for doing so."
+
+There came a quick, searching glance to the old man's eyes, but he said
+nothing until after an interval, when he declared:
+
+"Recover the fortune and you shall not complain of your reward."
+
+"Have you talked much to the detectives?"
+
+"I have not, because until now I was indifferent."
+
+"If I can secure the slightest clue I will promise success. Have you any
+recollection of the appearance of either of the men?"
+
+"Yes; I had a struggle with them before they chloroformed me."
+
+The old man proceeded and gave quite an accurate description of one of
+the men.
+
+"This is great!" said Ike, and he asked:
+
+"Where did the struggle take place?"
+
+"Down in my parlor. I heard them down there as I heard you, despite your
+care, and there I met and fought them until overpowered."
+
+Ike went down to the parlor. He spent one minute gazing at the portrait
+and then set to work. He had associated so much with detectives he had
+their methods down to a fine point; and besides, as our readers know, he
+was naturally a perfect wonder in shrewdness and cunning. He drew his
+mask lantern and the old man asked:
+
+"Are you a detective?"
+
+"A sort of amateur," came the answer.
+
+Ike got down on the floor, face forward, and flashed the light of his
+mask lantern over every inch of the carpet, asking questions of the old
+man as to just where the first grapple commenced, and soon he cried,
+"Eureka!"
+
+The old man had become eagerly interested.
+
+"What have you found?"
+
+"All I need, added to your description."
+
+Ike had come across several strands of hair. He rose from the floor and
+held the threads under the full glare of his lantern, and the old man
+exclaimed:
+
+"I remember; yes, I did grasp one of them by the hair and must have
+pulled a few locks."
+
+"Hardly a few locks, but enough," said Ike.
+
+The young ventriloquist obtained what he most desired. He had the
+description, as stated, and he knew the color of the hair of at least
+one of the robbers. Let him find one of them and he well knew he would
+not only run down the men but the "swag." He felt quite jubilant, and
+after a long talk with Mr. Sidney, in which he gave the old gentleman
+very minute instructions, he passed out the front door, and as he did so
+a man seized him.
+
+"Hello, young fellow! what are you doing in there?" came the question.
+
+"I am not in there; I am out here," answered Ike coolly, and at the same
+instant Jack ran up and said:
+
+"Look out for that fellow, Ike. He's a bad one."
+
+"I want you," said the man.
+
+Ike suddenly drew his mask lantern, which he had not extinguished, and
+flashed the light straight in the fellow's face. The man uttered an
+oath, drew a revolver and made as if to strike Ike a blow, but instead
+he received a rap on the head which felled him as though he had been
+hit with an iron bar. As the man fell Ike leaped over his form and he
+and Jack sped away. Our hero had reasons for speeding away, for he
+believed he was on to a great thing.
+
+Once out of sight Jack asked:
+
+"What happened; Ike?"
+
+"Wonders upon wonders, Jack; it's a night of wonders. I can't stop to
+tell you now; but who is that fellow? You said he was a bad one."
+
+"I'll tell you. While I was waiting for you I saw him and another man
+come stealthily down the street. I stole behind them and overheard their
+conversation. They were not looking for you, but some one else. I think
+when you came forth they mistook you for the man they were looking for."
+
+"They are not officers?"
+
+"No."
+
+"We must trail that fellow. He is probably associated with the robbers."
+
+The two ventriloquists worked a transform and separated, but both were
+making for the one objective point and both got on to the trail of the
+man whom Jack had so opportunely knocked over just as he aimed a blow at
+Ike.
+
+As intimated, they got on the trail of the man and followed him until he
+met a second man on the Bowery. The latter had come from a saloon--a
+brilliantly illuminated gin palace. He stood right under the glare of
+the electric lights and Ike had a clear, full view of him.
+
+"There's our man," said Ike.
+
+"What do you mean, Iky?"
+
+Quickly Ike stated that he had received a clue and that he identified
+the man standing in the doorway of the gin palace beyond all question as
+one of the burglars.
+
+"This is great!" said Jack. "Let's close in on him, and I'll try a
+little hypnotism on him."
+
+"You may have plenty of chance yet for the exercise of your mysterious
+power, Jack."
+
+We will here state that Jack had given Ike an exhibition of his wondrous
+gift as a hypnotist. Ike was the greater ventriloquist, but he did not
+possess the hypnotic power; while Jack possessed it, as the readers of
+his former adventures as recorded in Number 19 of our series are aware,
+to a remarkable degree.
+
+Ike was not naturally excitable. He was singularly cold-blooded, but
+upon discovering his man so soon his blood did course rather rapidly
+through his veins.
+
+There is one other fact we wish to state: burglars, as a rule, do not
+leave the great cities. They find them safer hiding-places than anywhere
+else, despite the great number of detectives hovering around. There are
+all sorts of burglars--the bunglers and the accomplished chaps who
+proceed on almost scientific principles. These men are strategic. They
+study out all their plans weeks in advance. They calculate all their
+chances, both to accomplish their burglaries and also to prepare for
+their retreat and hiding. Ike calculated that the men who had robbed Mr.
+Sidney were accomplished and veteran crooks who would be likely to
+remain in the city, especially after making such a big haul; and when he
+secured the specific clue he calculated upon finding his man, but
+certainly did not hope to drop on him so soon.
+
+"What shall we do?" asked Jack, after a few moments.
+
+"We will follow this fellow. He will go home by and by, and----"
+
+The lads did follow the man, but he did not go home, and they were
+destined to have quite a long shadow ere they ran their game down. They
+located him in his haunts, but did not trail to any permanent
+abiding-place; and finally, well on toward morning, they returned to
+their home well wearied out but hopeful. Ike was sure the man would
+remain in the city and that he could locate him almost any time when he
+needed.
+
+It was late on the following afternoon when our hero visited Sara
+Sidney. He listened to a long and hopeful talk of the girl's plans. He
+did not say anything direct, but did project:
+
+"Suppose you should find your uncle, and he should disapprove of your
+plans?"
+
+"I do not expect ever to find my uncle."
+
+"Well, now, I once made you a promise."
+
+"I know you did, but remember, it is thirty years since my father saw
+his brother."
+
+"Well, some men live to a pretty old age. I am sure I will find your
+uncle."
+
+"What makes you so certain?"
+
+"Oh, it came to me in a vision. Yes, I will make you a positive promise:
+I will find your uncle. I know that he is alive, or was a few weeks
+ago."
+
+The girl became quite interested, and she looked very animated and
+beautiful as she urged Ike to tell her how he had learned that her uncle
+was living a few weeks previously.
+
+Ike, however, did not tell his tale, but he hoped to tell her in the
+near future, and with it also add the wonderful narrative of the
+recovery of a great fortune.
+
+Three weeks passed, and during that time either Ike or Jack or Detective
+Du Flore was on the trail of the light-haired man whom our hero had
+identified as one of the robbers.
+
+One day Jack asked:
+
+"Ike, are you sure you have the right man?"
+
+"Yes, I am sure, and we'll get down to him."
+
+"Possibly the fellow knows we are on his track."
+
+"No, but he is well aware that detectives are liable to be on his track
+and he is playing away from his lair; but he'll go home sure."
+
+On the day following the conversation recorded Ike was on the trail. All
+three did not "dog" the man at one time--they did so alternately. It was
+Ike's "tour," as boatmen say, and the ventriloquist struck his "lay" at
+last. Hope is the propelling force of energy, and it was constant hope
+that made our hero so persistent on the track of his man. Often during
+the three weeks he had visited Sara Sidney. He enjoyed her importunity
+as she urged him to explain what he meant when he told her that he knew
+her uncle was still living. It was delightful to him. The girl was a
+constant charm to him when in her presence, and a memory of her sweet
+personality haunted him when he was away from her. Yes, he had a strong
+motive for sticking to the trail, and, as intimated, he at length fell
+to a great lead. He had followed his man to Staten Island, or rather
+followed him on board one of the Staten Island boats, and then a great
+game commenced. He saw the thief wander all over the boat scanning the
+face of every man and woman on board, and the ventriloquist made a
+second discovery. He had seen the man exchange signals with a
+fine-looking lady on board, and as the burglar wandered around Ike saw
+the lady watch him in a most intent manner, and he muttered as a great
+suggestion came to him: "At last! At last!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+     IKE'S PERTINACITY IS REWARDED IN A MOST REMARKABLE MANNER--HE
+     PROVES ALL THEORIES AND REDEEMS ALL PROMISES.
+
+
+The exchange of signals between the burglar and the woman was an
+incident of great significance to our hero. The burglar was a very
+gentlemanly looking and acting man--a fellow far above the usual
+personality of robbers. Ike was after him, however, and in his own mind
+had arrived at a conclusion. A little time passed. The man made the
+circuit of the boat, appeared to be satisfied and returned to the cabin
+where the woman sat. He walked boldly up to her and they engaged in a
+very earnest conversation, while our hero muttered: "At last! At last!"
+When the boat reached the landing the woman went ashore alone, and Ike
+was in a dilemma. He did not wish to lose sight of either of them. He
+believed he was not only on to the burglars, but also going direct
+toward the hiding-place of the stolen property. He decided to follow the
+woman, but knew how necessary it was to be very careful.
+
+We will here state that nearly all burglars have women confederates, and
+we will also state that the most romantic dénouements have time and
+again followed the running down of an expert burglar. Burglars are not
+all vulgar, rough men. Some of them are rascals possessing æsthetic
+tastes. The police records will show that many burglars have been
+married to very reputable women whom they have kept in total ignorance
+of their criminal life. It is upon the records that burglars have been
+known to be very fond of their families. Of course, these cases are
+exceptions, as the usual housebreaker is a vulgar rascal. Ike, however,
+knew of many singular romances connected with criminals and believed
+that he had fallen to one, a romance of a peculiarly exceptional
+character.
+
+As stated, he desired to follow the woman, but did not dare show his
+hand. He left the boat, however, and a few moments later saw the burglar
+pass around to the returning boat. It was evident he had met the woman
+and was about to return to New York.
+
+Ike boarded the Staten Island rapid transit train. He had seen the woman
+go on the train and she rode to the third station, where she alighted.
+Our hero was on the alert. He alighted from the train also. His disguise
+was a good one. Again, in a rural district he could lay away back. He
+followed the lady until to his surprise he saw her enter a very handsome
+villa house, and then he remembered he had overheard just one word
+between the lady and the burglar. As he saw her enter that villa
+residence he fell to the significance of the man's words. He intended to
+visit the house that night, and our hero was put to his wits' end to
+decide upon his course in the emergency. Two propositions were presented
+to him: Was the stolen property in the villa, and did the man intend to
+come that night and take it away, or did he intend to remove it from
+some other place and hide it in the villa? The ventriloquist meditated a
+long time and finally decided he had the burglar located. He had the
+villa located. He had reason to believe the man was to visit the villa
+that night. The chances favored a double catch--the burglars and the
+"swag."
+
+Ike determined to return to New York, notify Jack and Du Flore and with
+them return to Staten Island and stand ready for a grand dénouement.
+Before returning, however, he "piped" the house a bit and saw a man
+greet the woman as she stepped upon the grand piazza. He then returned
+to the station, muttering as he went:
+
+"It will be great luck if we capture both burglars and all the swag.
+Great ginger! what a man the young Detective Du Flore will be!"
+
+Our hero arrived in the city, got in communication with his detective
+friend and told his story. Du Flore was all excitement. He said:
+
+"Ike, you have got on to the whole business, sure, and you've done it
+all yourself. Yes, that property is in that villa. We will have a great
+sensation for the public, who are never tired of great sensations, but
+we will give them a dandy this time, sure."
+
+Ike, Jack and the detective got themselves up in first-class disguises,
+and taking different boats proceeded singly to the Island, where they
+all arrived just about dark. They met and our hero indicated the road to
+the villa, and some time later they were all laying low and on the watch
+near the house where they expected to make the capture of the season.
+
+It had been arranged between Ike and Jack to exchange signals, but it
+was some hours before they had the opportunity and then Ike signaled
+that their man had arrived. Our hero recognized his gait. The rogue went
+straight to the villa, which was illuminated on the first and second
+floors, and the woman evidently heard the step, for she came to the door
+to meet her friend. The ventriloquists and detective came together and
+held a few moments' conversation, and it was decided that Ike should
+steal into the house, as he was the one most experienced in that sort of
+work. Ike started right in. He had reconnoitered the house earlier in
+the day and knew just where to effect an entrance. He succeeded, and
+once in the house he went very slow. He saw no servants and decided they
+had all retired; or, as it proved later, had been granted a holiday, for
+only one servant was in the house. As it also proved, this servant was
+really a confederate and had retired. Ike observed that all the lights
+on the lower floor had been extinguished, and he ascended to the second
+floor and fell to his old game of peep and listen. The man and woman
+were seated at a table. The latter was a sharp, shrewd-faced woman. Ike
+heard the man say:
+
+"Mosely will not be here to-night."
+
+"Then what do you propose to do?"
+
+"Look over the swag."
+
+"Do you not think it risky?"
+
+"No, the detectives have given it up as a bad job."
+
+"How do you intend to make a division?"
+
+"The jewels are all yours. The money and bonds we will take."
+
+The woman's face betrayed her delight.
+
+"All right," she said; "such a division is agreeable to me. I will bring
+the bonds and let you count them over."
+
+"Are all the windows tightly closed?"
+
+"We can close them."
+
+"Do so."
+
+The woman did close all the windows, and then going to an adjoining room
+returned in a few moments, bearing in her arms, we will say, a bundle of
+bonds. Ike well recognized the documents. He had seen so many
+bonds--indeed, had captured so many at different times from thieves. The
+woman laid the certificates on the table and the man said:
+
+"Where are the jewels and the money?"
+
+"I thought they were to be my share."
+
+"Certainly, but I wish to look them over. I wish to see the full amount
+of our great capture."
+
+The woman's face displayed a little disconcertion, but she went to the
+adjoining room and soon returned, bringing with her a jewel case and a
+bag which clinked, showing its contents to be gold. The man opened the
+bag and tossed gold and bills on the table, and his eyes glittered as
+his glance fell upon the wealth.
+
+Ike had seen enough for the time being. He slid down the stairs, gave a
+signal and was joined by his friends. To them he told the wondrous news.
+He said:
+
+"We've got it all. It's right to our hands." As stated, he told the tale
+and then led his companions into the house. A programme had hastily been
+arranged. They all gathered at the door of the room. Just one moment
+they stood and then there sounded a wild, weird shriek, and it appeared
+to be in the very room where the robber and his female pal were counting
+the gold and examining the jewels. The shriek had been sent forth with a
+purpose. Both the man and the woman were paralyzed with terror, so
+sudden had come the yell, in all its shrill and piercing distinctness.
+As they stood and gazed Du Flore, armed with a pair of cocked revolvers,
+entered the room. The man attempted to draw a weapon, but Du Flore
+called out:
+
+"Hold on there! you're covered."
+
+Ike and Jack entered the room. Both were armed, and Ike went directly to
+the woman and in a strange, weird voice said:
+
+"You do not wish to die."
+
+"Throw up your hands," commanded Du Flore.
+
+The man did not obey. The click of a hammer sounded in his ears and he
+muttered: "It's all up with us, Maggie. Who is to blame?"
+
+Du Flore was a powerful fellow. He suddenly leaped forward and quicker
+than a wink struck the man a blow that felled him to the floor. The
+robber was unprepared, and fell as though shot; and Jack, ever ready as
+usual, clapped the darbies on him while Ike with singular dexterity
+performed the same service for the woman, and the job was over.
+
+It had been a bold, well-played game from first to last.
+
+The bonds and gold and jewels were scooped into a bag, the man and woman
+were led down the stairs, and a little later the whole party were on
+board one of the Staten Island ferryboats. Jack remarked:
+
+"The servants in that house will wonder where their mistress is when
+they walk downstairs in the morning."
+
+The two prisoners were taken to headquarters, and within two hours the
+"pard" of the robber was captured on information which the chief of
+police secured from the woman. The mystery of the robbery had been
+solved, and on the following morning our hero proceeded to the home of
+Mr. Sidney. He found the old gentleman in his usual placid humor, but he
+did display just a little excitement when Ike said:
+
+"I'm ready now to introduce you to your niece."
+
+The old man stared.
+
+"Is it possible?" he ejaculated.
+
+"Yes, sir, it is possible. It's true your fortune has been
+recovered--every bond, every dollar, every jewel."
+
+The old man stood a moment lost in deep thought, and finally he said:
+
+"This is indeed wonderful--yes, very wonderful!"
+
+"It is true, and now I go to prepare your lovely niece to receive you."
+
+Ike did proceed to the home of Sara Sidney. He found the young lady in
+quite a happy mood, and her lovely face became radiant as she entered
+the little parlor where Ike waited to meet her.
+
+"I am so glad you have come."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Do you anticipate the news I have to tell you?"
+
+"I do not."
+
+"I have great news for you, but first let me tell you a strange tale."
+
+Ike proceeded and told the tale of the robbery--told it as though he
+were merely relating an interesting story with which Miss Sidney had no
+connection--and proceeded and told how he and his friend Jack, with
+Detective Du Flore, had recovered all the stolen bonds, money and
+jewels.
+
+The girl listened and was deeply interested, evidently believing that
+Jack was merely telling a tale of his success, and she said when he had
+concluded:
+
+"You are one of the greatest detectives on earth."
+
+"I will not lay claim to that distinction until I have found your uncle.
+You know I told you I had a clue."
+
+"Yes, and it would be so strange if after all these years I should meet
+my father's brother, my uncle."
+
+"Would you like to meet him?"
+
+"How can you ask such a question? Do you know what it means to be alone
+in the world?"
+
+"Yes, I know exactly what it means to be alone in the world. I am alone
+in the world. I do not know that I have a living relative on earth."
+
+"Ike, you never told me your story."
+
+"Shall I tell you my story?"
+
+"Yes; I should be delighted to hear it."
+
+"I will tell it to you. All I can remember of my earliest days is that I
+was traveling around the world from city to city with a strange man who
+bade me call him uncle. He was a great magician. He taught me his trade.
+I had a natural aptitude for the business. I evidently possessed a gift
+in that direction, and he cultivated my natural gift so that I became a
+wonder to him and a wonder to myself. Well, one day, without any
+previous warning, the old man announced to me here in New York that he
+was going away--to leave me. I was amazed and heart-broken. He had been
+in America a year when he made the announcement. He would not tell me
+why he deserted me; he would not tell me where he was going and would
+not assure me that I should ever see him or hear from him again. And
+what was stranger still, although I knew that he was rich--for together
+we had been very successful--he was leaving me practically penniless.
+All he gave me was five dollars, and when I reproached him he said:
+
+"'You can earn the money you need with your wonderful gift.' He gave me
+a great deal of good advice as concerned my conduct while making the
+struggle of life."
+
+"Did you not ask him about your parentage?"
+
+"I did, but he refused to give me any information."
+
+"Did he deny knowing about you?"
+
+"He indicated that he did know the story of my earliest life, but he
+refused to give me any information. He did say, however, that some day
+if I lived I would learn all about myself."
+
+"How cruel he was!"
+
+"It would appear so, but after all it is proved that he knew what he was
+talking about. He said I could earn all the money I needed with my great
+gift, and his words have proved true. I have not wanted for anything
+since the night he so strangely disappeared. Before going he gave me a
+box and told me I must not open that box until I was twenty-one, or
+until such time as I might fall into some dreadful calamity; then, when
+all other means failed, I was to open the box."
+
+"And you have that box?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"You never opened it?"
+
+"I have never opened it."
+
+"Oh, how I would like to see what is in that box!" said Sara in an eager
+tone.
+
+"No doubt you are a true daughter of Eve, but I will not open that box
+until I am one-and-twenty. I have never had any excuse for opening it,
+as far as having been overtaken by any dire calamity. My life has been
+pleasant and successful. I have been enabled to perform many good deeds
+for people who needed aid and assistance."
+
+"You did a wonderful deed for me."
+
+"I propose to do more for you. I propose to find your uncle."
+
+"But that box, Ike?"
+
+"Well, what about the box?"
+
+"Are you sure it is safe?"
+
+"Yes, I am sure it is safe."
+
+"Oh, how I should like to be present when you open that box!"
+
+"Maybe you can be," said Ike.
+
+"Oh, I should go wild in anticipation."
+
+"Some day--not now--but some day I may propose a condition whereby you
+may earn the privilege of being present when I open that box."
+
+"No doubt it contains some wonderful secret."
+
+"It is possibly a secret concerning me. It may inform me that I am the
+unknown son of a beggar, or it may tell me that I am a prince, a lord or
+a duke."
+
+"A prince, Ike! Yes, it will inform you that you are a prince."
+
+"The prince of ventriloquists," said Ike with a laugh--a very merry
+laugh.
+
+"Oh, Ike, you are really a lord or a duke," cried Sara in tones of great
+enthusiasm.
+
+Ike observed her enthusiasm, and, for reasons which our readers shall
+learn when we tell the story of the opening of the mysterious box, our
+hero was quite pleased, and the girl again said:
+
+"Ike, remember your promise. You are to give me an opportunity to be
+present when you open that mysterious box. Oh, how I would like to learn
+its secret! Not for myself, but for you. It will be a great and
+pleasing discovery when you open that box."
+
+"Maybe I have a great and pleasing disclosure to make to you now."
+
+The girl's face assumed a sudden pallor.
+
+"What do you mean, Ike?"
+
+"I made you another promise. I told you I would find your uncle."
+
+"I see, I see! You have found him?"
+
+"Yes, I have found him."
+
+"I know now why you told me the story of the old miser and the loss and
+recovery of his treasures."
+
+"You discern why I told?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why did I tell you?"
+
+"I hardly dare answer."
+
+"Do not fear. Tell me what you suspect."
+
+"That old miser is my uncle?"
+
+"Yes, Sara, that old miser is indeed your uncle, and I have a great
+surprise for you."
+
+Sara was thoughtful a moment and then asked:
+
+"Are you sure he is my uncle?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"You have absolute proof?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"And I am the niece of a soulless miser!" murmured Sara in a
+disconsolate tone.
+
+"No, he is not an old miser--he is a warm-hearted, generous man. I will
+tell you more about him later on."
+
+"But are you sure you have the proof?"
+
+"Yes, I am sure."
+
+"Tell me what the proof is."
+
+"I am going to show you the proof. I have a great surprise for you.
+Come, put on your hat and cloak. You are to go with me and behold
+something that will make you stare."
+
+"I shall not stare at my uncle; and again, Ike, I assure you I must have
+positive proof."
+
+"You shall have positive proof. This is a most strange and remarkable
+romance. It is fate. I am a strong believer in fate. I have encountered
+so many strange incidents during my short life. See my meeting with you;
+remember the tragic incidents that followed. You intended to drown
+yourself in the park lake."
+
+The girl's face became ghastly.
+
+"No, no, Ike."
+
+"Yes, I know."
+
+"I will admit the temptation to drown myself after the discovery of my
+loss was very great; but no, no, I would have recoiled at the last
+moment."
+
+"I am so glad to hear you say so. I do not think much of people who on
+the appearance of every little trouble rush to kill themselves. It shows
+lack of mind strength. But come; I am to take you to meet your uncle."
+
+The girl hesitated. She did not appear as glad as Ike had thought she
+would be. The fact was, he did not know the lovely girl yet. He was to
+learn more about her later on, and there was to follow an intense
+romance as a result of his meeting with this lovely little lady from the
+far West.
+
+"Come, your uncle awaits you."
+
+"Does he know about me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Does he accept the proof?"
+
+"He will when he sees you."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"That is my little secret for the present. I tell you I still have in
+reserve a great surprise for you--the proof for you, the proof for him.
+It is a most remarkable coincidence, and here again fate comes in. Yes,
+yes, there is a wonderful surprise for you."
+
+While Ike was talking he could not keep his eyes off the face of the
+lovely girl. Its changing expressions made her look wondrously
+beautiful. He was charmed--charmed as he had never been charmed before
+in all his life. We will not say yet that he had met his fate, but we
+will say that he was in a very dangerous position.
+
+Our hero finally persuaded Sara to go and prepare herself for the
+street, and together they started to go to the home of the old miser.
+When they arrived in front of the house the girl stood still; a shudder
+passed over her delicate frame and she said:
+
+"Must I enter that old miserable-looking house to meet my uncle?"
+
+"Yes, but I am surprised. I do not understand your reluctance."
+
+"Never mind. I must go and I will."
+
+Ike led the way into the house. He had completed all his arrangements
+for the meeting. He knew just what he was about. Once in the house he
+led the fair girl into the parlor. There had been no cleaning done.
+Everything was moldy, old and decaying as upon the night when Ike first
+forced an entrance. The girl looked around in a disdainful manner, and
+again Ike did not understand her mood. She did not appear even pleased
+when he had thought she would be so delighted. He dusted off a chair,
+bade her sit down and then he lit the gas; for there was gas in the old
+house. After lighting the gas he went to the covered picture and said:
+
+"Sara, look at this and tell me how old you were when you sat for this
+picture."
+
+As he spoke he removed the cover and the beautiful face of the old man's
+dead daughter was revealed as pictured upon the canvas. It was a
+beautiful painting, and the resemblance to the living girl who gazed
+upon the face was marvelous. She did not speak--she could not speak. She
+just gazed with all her eyes.
+
+"This is something I did not promise to find," said Ike; "but it is the
+proof that Mr. Sidney is your uncle. This is a portrait of his----"
+
+Ike stopped short, and the girl gasped:
+
+"Go on. Of whom?"
+
+"Mr. Sidney's daughter--your cousin--the daughter whose place in his
+affections you are to supply; for she is dead, and that is why he lives
+the life which led people to believe that he was a miser. He is not a
+miser, but a kind, generous, liberal man, and in finding your uncle for
+you I have found one whom you can and will love."
+
+Sara appeared to be completely overcome with astonishment.
+
+"I do not understand it," she said.
+
+Ike had told the story of the robbery. He proceeded and told the
+previous history of Mr. Sidney, and when he had concluded he said:
+
+"It's all very strange and wonderful. Indeed, mysterious are the ways of
+Providence, but the most remarkable feature of this whole series of
+incidents, Miss Sidney, is the fact that the portending dénouement was
+all brought about through two very mean and contemptible robberies. But
+all's well that ends well, as I've often had occasion to say in the
+past, and I wish you to meet your uncle."
+
+Ike had no reason, however, to go and call the old miser, for there
+occurred a most unexpected metamorphosis. Our hero had just concluded
+the last remark above quoted when he chanced to turn, and there stood a
+fine-looking old gentleman, clean shaved, his hair cut and his attire
+perfect. Ike started in amazement, for despite the startling
+metamorphosis he recognized Mr. Sidney. Sara also beheld the old man,
+and she stood and gazed aghast.
+
+For a few moments both stood and gazed at each other as though they were
+looking upon a visitant from the grave. It was Mr. Sidney who broke the
+silence. He said:
+
+"Indeed you have brought to me my child from the grave. I need no
+further proof. This is my niece."
+
+Sara's voice was broken as she said:
+
+"No, no, there is no call for proof. It is wonderful--it is wonderful!
+It would appear that my father had come to me from his grave."
+
+"My dear child, your father and I were twin brothers. Forty years ago we
+quarreled. The quarrel was due to me. I have mourned your father long
+before he went away to California, and now that he is dead this is more
+than I deserve that he should have left as his legacy to me a child to
+solace the remaining years of my life."
+
+A little later Jack and Du Flore entered the room. Many explanations
+followed and also a very enjoyable time.
+
+Jack and Ike had performed several great feats, but later they were led
+into another series of adventures together which we shall relate in
+Number 50 of "OLD SLEUTH'S OWN," wherein our readers will learn the
+thrilling romance of the life of Nimble Ike, the most wonderful
+ventriloquist yet known in all the world, and also will be revealed the
+secret of the mysterious box.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+NOTE.--Remember there are some charming stories in the back numbers of
+"OLD SLEUTH'S OWN." Back numbers are always in print. When books are
+ordered in advance they will be sent as soon as issued.
+
+
+
+
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+  1. Inspector Henderson, the Central Office Detective. By H. I. Hancock
+  2. His Evil Eye.                                  By Harrie I. Hancock
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+  4. Harry Blount, the Detective.                      By T. J. Flanagan
+  5. Harry Sharp, the New York Detective.                 By H. Rockwood
+  6. Private Detective No. 39.                       By John W. Postgate
+  7. Not Guilty.              By the author of "The Original Mr. Jacobs"
+  8. A Confederate Spy.                         By Capt. Thos. N. Conrad
+  9. A Study in Scarlet.                               By A. Conan Doyle
+  10. The Unwilling Bride.                             By Fergus W. Hume
+  11. The Man Who Vanished.                            By Fergus W. Hume
+  12. The Lone Inn.                                    By Fergus W. Hume
+  13. The World's Finger.                                  By T. Hanshew
+  14. Tour of the World in Eighty Days.                   By Jules Verne
+  15. The Frozen Pirate.                             By W. Clark Russell
+  16. Mystery of a Hansom Cab.                         By Fergus W. Hume
+  17. A Close Call.                                       By J. L. Berry
+  18. No. 99; A Detective Story.                      By Arthur Griffith
+  19. The Sign of the Four.                            By A. Conan Doyle
+  20. The Mystery of the Montauk Mills.                By E. L. Coolidge
+  21. The Mountain Limited.                            By E. L. Coolidge
+  22. Gilt-Edge Tom, Conductor.                        By E. L. Coolidge
+  23. The Mossbank Murder.                                By Harry Mills
+  24. The Woman Stealer.                                  By Harry Mills
+  25. King Dan, The Factory Detective.                    By G. W. Goode
+
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+  57 Rose Street, New York
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+
+Italics represented with _underscores_. Bold represented with =equals
+signs=.
+
+Added table of contents.
+
+Page 4, added missing comma after "60c."
+
+Page 38, changed "had became enraged" to "had become enraged" and
+"become angry" to "became angry."
+
+Page 48, changed "mean time" to "meantime" for consistency.
+
+Page 52, added missing open quotes to first two paragraphs on page.
+
+Page 59, changed "starred" to "stared."
+
+Page 61, changed "statemen" to "statement."
+
+Page 65, changed "politicially" to "politically."
+
+Page 74, changed "althugh" to "although."
+
+Page 82, changed "aked" to "asked."
+
+Page 85, changed "Burlgars" to "Burglars."
+
+Page 96, changed "appeear" to "appear."
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Twin Ventriloquists, by Old Sleuth
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43765 ***