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diff --git a/old/66740-0.txt b/old/66740-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c8a15a6..0000000 --- a/old/66740-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10550 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Stolen Brain, by Nicholas Carter - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Stolen Brain - A Wonderful Crime - -Author: Nicholas Carter - -Release Date: November 15, 2021 [eBook #66740] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: David Edwards, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STOLEN BRAIN *** - - - - - NICK CARTER STORIES - - New Magnet Library - - PRICE, FIFTEEN CENTS - - _Not a Dull Book in This List_ - - -Nick Carter stands for an interesting detective story. The fact that the -books in this line are so uniformly good is entirely due to the work of -a specialist. The man who wrote these stories produced no other type of -fiction. His mind was concentrated upon the creation of new plots and -situations in which his hero emerged triumphantly from all sorts of -trouble, and landed the criminal just where he should be--behind the -bars. - -The author of these stories knew more about writing detective stories -than any other single person. - -Following is a list of the best Nick Carter stories. They have been -selected with extreme care, and we unhesitatingly recommend each of them -as being fully as interesting as any detective story between cloth -covers which sells at ten times the price. - -If you do not know Nick Carter, buy a copy of any of the New Magnet -Library books, and get acquainted. He will surprise and delight you. - - - _ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ - -850--Wanted: A Clew By Nicholas Carter -851--A Tangled Skein By Nicholas Carter -852--The Bullion Mystery By Nicholas Carter -853--The Man of Riddles By Nicholas Carter -854--A Miscarriage of Justice By Nicholas Carter -855--The Gloved Hand By Nicholas Carter -856--Spoilers and the Spoils By Nicholas Carter -857--The Deeper Game By Nicholas Carter -858--Bolts from Blue Skies By Nicholas Carter -859--Unseen Foes By Nicholas Carter -860--Knaves in High Places By Nicholas Carter -861--The Microbe of Crime By Nicholas Carter -862--In the Toils of Fear By Nicholas Carter -863--A Heritage of Trouble By Nicholas Carter -864--Called to Account By Nicholas Carter -865--The Just and the Unjust By Nicholas Carter -866--Instinct at Fault By Nicholas Carter -867--A Rogue Worth Trapping By Nicholas Carter -968--A Woman’s Hand By Nicholas Carter -969--A Network of Crime By Nicholas Carter -970--At Thompson’s Ranch By Nicholas Carter -971--The Crossed Needles By Nicholas Carter -972--The Diamond Mine Case By Nicholas Carter -973--Blood Will Tell By Nicholas Carter -974--An Accidental Password By Nicholas Carter -975--The Crook’s Bauble By Nicholas Carter -976--Two Plus Two By Nicholas Carter -977--The Yellow Label By Nicholas Carter -978--The Clever Celestial By Nicholas Carter -979--The Amphitheater Plot By Nicholas Carter -980--Gideon Drexel’s Millions By Nicholas Carter -981--Death in Life By Nicholas Carter -982--A Stolen Identity By Nicholas Carter -983--Evidence by Telephone By Nicholas Carter -984--The Twelve Tin Boxes By Nicholas Carter -985--Clew Against Clew By Nicholas Carter -986--Lady Velvet By Nicholas Carter -987--Playing a Bold Game By Nicholas Carter -988--A Dead Man’s Grip By Nicholas Carter -989--Snarled Identities By Nicholas Carter -990--A Deposit Vault Puzzle By Nicholas Carter -991--The Crescent Brotherhood By Nicholas Carter -992--The Stolen Pay Train By Nicholas Carter -993--The Sea Fox By Nicholas Carter -994--Wanted by Two Clients By Nicholas Carter -995--The Van Alstine Case By Nicholas Carter -996--Check No. 777 By Nicholas Carter -997--Partners in Peril By Nicholas Carter -998--Nick Carter’s Clever Protégé By Nicholas Carter -999--The Sign of the Crossed Knives By Nicholas Carter -1000--The Man Who Vanished By Nicholas Carter -1001--A Battle for the Right By Nicholas Carter -1002--A Game of Craft By Nicholas Carter -1003--Nick Carter’s Retainer By Nicholas Carter -1004--Caught in the Toils By Nicholas Carter -1005--A Broken Bond By Nicholas Carter -1006--The Crime of the French Café By Nicholas Carter -1007--The Man Who Stole Millions By Nicholas Carter -1008--The Twelve Wise Men By Nicholas Carter -1009--Hidden Foes By Nicholas Carter -1010--A Gamblers’ Syndicate By Nicholas Carter -1011--A Chance Discovery By Nicholas Carter -1012--Among the Counterfeiters By Nicholas Carter -1013--A Threefold Disappearance By Nicholas Carter -1014--At Odds With Scotland Yard By Nicholas Carter -1015--A Princess of Crime By Nicholas Carter -1016--Found on the Beach By Nicholas Carter -1017--A Spinner of Death By Nicholas Carter -1018--The Detective’s Pretty Neighbor By Nicholas Carter -1019--A Bogus Clew By Nicholas Carter -1020--The Puzzle of Five Pistols By Nicholas Carter -1021--The Secret of the Marble Mantel By Nicholas Carter -1022--A Bite of an Apple By Nicholas Carter -1023--A Triple Crime By Nicholas Carter -1024--The Stolen Race Horse By Nicholas Carter -1025--Wildfire By Nicholas Carter -1026--A _Herald_ Personal By Nicholas Carter -1027--The Finger of Suspicion By Nicholas Carter -1028--The Crimson Clew By Nicholas Carter -1029--Nick Carter Down East By Nicholas Carter -1030--The Chain of Clews By Nicholas Carter -1031--A Victim of Circumstances By Nicholas Carter -1032--Brought to Bay By Nicholas Carter -1033--The Dynamite Trap By Nicholas Carter -1034--A Scrap of Black Lace By Nicholas Carter -1035--The Woman of Evil By Nicholas Carter -1036--A Legacy of Hate By Nicholas Carter -1037--A Trusted Rogue By Nicholas Carter -1038--Man Against Man By Nicholas Carter -1039--The Demons of the Night By Nicholas Carter -1040--The Brotherhood of Death By Nicholas Carter -1041--At the Knife’s Point By Nicholas Carter -1042--A Cry for Help By Nicholas Carter -1043--A Stroke of Policy By Nicholas Carter -1044--Hounded to Death By Nicholas Carter -1045--A Bargain in Crime By Nicholas Carter -1046--The Fatal Prescription By Nicholas Carter -1047--The Man of Iron By Nicholas Carter -1048--An Amazing Scoundrel By Nicholas Carter -1049--The Chain of Evidence By Nicholas Carter -1050--Paid with Death By Nicholas Carter -1051--A Fight for a Throne By Nicholas Carter -1052--The Woman of Steel By Nicholas Carter -1053--The Seal of Death By Nicholas Carter -1054--The Human Fiend By Nicholas Carter -1055--A Desperate Chance By Nicholas Carter -1056--A Chase in the Dark By Nicholas Carter -1057--The Snare and the Game By Nicholas Carter -1058--The Murray Hill Mystery By Nicholas Carter -1059--Nick Carter’s Close Call By Nicholas Carter -1060--The Missing Cotton King By Nicholas Carter -1061--A Game of Plots By Nicholas Carter -1062--The Prince of Liars By Nicholas Carter -1063--The Man at the Window By Nicholas Carter -1064--The Red League By Nicholas Carter -1065--The Price of a Secret By Nicholas Carter -1066--The Worst Case on Record By Nicholas Carter -1067--From Peril to Peril By Nicholas Carter -1068--The Seal of Silence By Nicholas Carter -1069--Nick Carter’s Chinese Puzzle By Nicholas Carter -1070--A Blackmailer’s Bluff By Nicholas Carter -1071--Heard in the Dark By Nicholas Carter -1072--A Checkmated Scoundrel By Nicholas Carter -1073--The Cashier’s Secret By Nicholas Carter -1074--Behind a Mask By Nicholas Carter -1075--The Cloak of Guilt By Nicholas Carter -1076--Two Villains in One By Nicholas Carter -1077--The Hot Air Clew By Nicholas Carter -1078--Run to Earth By Nicholas Carter -1079--The Certified Check By Nicholas Carter -1080--Weaving the Web By Nicholas Carter -1081--Beyond Pursuit By Nicholas Carter -1082--The Claws of the Tiger By Nicholas Carter -1083--Driven From Cover By Nicholas Carter -1084--A Deal in Diamonds By Nicholas Carter -1085--The Wizard of the Cue By Nicholas Carter -1086--A Race for Ten Thousand By Nicholas Carter -1087--The Criminal Link By Nicholas Carter -1088--The Red Signal By Nicholas Carter -1089--The Secret Panel By Nicholas Carter -1090--A Bonded Villain By Nicholas Carter -1091--A Move in the Dark By Nicholas Carter -1092--Against Desperate Odds By Nicholas Carter -1093--The Telltale Photographs By Nicholas Carter -1094--The Ruby Pin By Nicholas Carter -1095--The Queen of Diamonds By Nicholas Carter -1096--A Broken Trail By Nicholas Carter -1097--An Ingenious Stratagem By Nicholas Carter -1098--A Sharper’s Downfall By Nicholas Carter -1099--A Race Track Gamble By Nicholas Carter -1100--Without a Clew By Nicholas Carter -1101--The Council of Death By Nicholas Carter -1102--The Hole in the Vault By Nicholas Carter -1103--In Death’s Grip By Nicholas Carter -1104--A Great Conspiracy By Nicholas Carter -1105--The Guilty Governor By Nicholas Carter -1106--A Ring of Rascals By Nicholas Carter -1107--A Masterpiece of Crime By Nicholas Carter -1108--A Blow For Vengeance By Nicholas Carter -1109--Tangled Threads By Nicholas Carter -1110--The Crime of the Camera By Nicholas Carter -1111--The Sign of the Dagger By Nicholas Carter -1112--Nick Carter’s Promise By Nicholas Carter -1113--Marked for Death By Nicholas Carter -1114--The Limited Holdup By Nicholas Carter -1115--When the Trap Was Sprung By Nicholas Carter -1116--Through the Cellar Wall By Nicholas Carter -1117--Under the Tiger’s Claws By Nicholas Carter - - - - - THE STOLEN BRAIN - - OR, - - A WONDERFUL CRIME - - - BY - NICHOLAS CARTER - - Author of the celebrated stories of Nick Carter’s adventures, - which are published exclusively in the NEW MAGNET - LIBRARY, conceded to be among the best - detective tales ever written. - - [Illustration] - - STREET & SMITH CORPORATION - PUBLISHERS - 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York - - - Copyright, 1914 - By STREET & SMITH - - The Stolen Brain - - - (Printed in the United States of America) - - All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign - languages, including the Scandinavian. - - - - - THE STOLEN BRAIN. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -STARTLING INFORMATION. - - -“There goes another, chief. That makes five so far. There surely is -something going on to-night,” the young man at the window declared -excitedly. - -It was Patsy Garvan, Nick Carter’s second assistant, and he who was -addressed was the great New York detective himself. - -The closest friends would have known neither of them, however, unless -they had been in the secret, for both were cleverly disguised. - -Moreover, the room in which they seemed to be so much at home was not -one of those in Nick’s handsome Madison Avenue residence in New York. - -It was, in fact, a room in a house miles away from there, to the -northward, in the Bronx section of the great city, a short distance from -the New York Zoölogical Park. - -On the first of the month, about ten days before, a family, which went -by the name of Webb, had moved in there. The family consisted of three -persons: The father, Charles Webb; a grown son, William, and the -latter’s young wife, Mildred. - -Such, at least, was the understanding of the neighbors. As a matter of -fact, Charles Webb was Nick Carter, his “son” was better known as Patsy -Garvan, the famous detective’s clever assistant, and “Mildred” was -Adelina Garvan, Patsy’s pretty Chilean-Spanish wife, whose woman’s -intuitions had materially assisted in solving more than one difficult -problem in the mathematics of crime. - -It was a peculiar case which had brought them to that out-of-the-way -neighborhood, and required delicate handling. - -Their interest lay in the house next door, a big, rambling wooden -structure, which, with theirs, stood somewhat apart, with vacant lots -all about. - -The house in question was occupied, and had been for years, by its -owner, Doctor Hiram A. Grantley. - -Grantley was well known in New York medical circles. Indeed, his fame -was at least twenty-five years old. - -He was accounted one of the most skillful surgeons in the State, which -necessarily meant in the United States as well. He had a long list of -remarkably daring and successful operations to his credit, and might -have been one of the wealthiest and most honored men in his profession -had it not been for certain unfortunate peculiarities, which had grown -upon him as the years passed. - -People were afraid of him--that was the sum and substance of it. - -He was altogether too daring and ruthless in his methods, too ready to -operate on the slightest provocation. He was never satisfied with the -conservative methods of his colleagues, but was always seeking new ways -of carving up the human frame. The individual patient meant nothing to -him. It was a matter of supreme indifference to Doctor Hiram Grantley -whether his “cases” lived or died, so long as they gave him a chance to -test his theories. - -Of course, he recognized as clearly as any one that a surgeon’s ultimate -success must lie in saving life, not in taking it. That was his goal, -but, being apparently heartless, and looking upon the individuals who -sought his services much as other surgeons looked upon guinea -pigs--merely as subjects for experimentation--he usually preferred to -try something new rather than follow a safe-and-sane procedure which had -proved its worth in hundreds or thousands of cases. - -That was the quickest way to advance the science of surgery, according -to Grantley, and the result was that, years before, people who knew of -his tendencies had ceased, for the most part, to go to him, unless they -were in such desperate straits that they were willing to take a last, -supreme chance. - -Consequently, his practice had fallen away to a very marked extent, and, -despite his acknowledged brilliancy and the many improved methods he had -introduced from time to time, he had come to be looked upon with more or -less distrust, even by the members of his own profession. - -His income had once been a very large one, however, and when it -dwindled, he gave up his house in one of the fashionable sections of the -city and moved to the Bronx, where he turned the house he bought into a -sort of private hospital. - -His treatment at the hands of the public and his brother surgeons seemed -to aggravate his tendencies rather than curb them, and he became more -and more eccentric and ruthless, a sinister figure in appearance and in -reputation. - -When Nick Carter interested himself in Doctor Grantley, the latter was -about fifty-five years of age. As a young man he had had jet-black hair -and eyes. His hair was now almost white, and it was always brushed -straight back from his forehead, although worn rather long. - -His brows were gray and shaggy, and under them gleamed his piercing -black eyes. His forehead was high and denoted great intelligence. His -nose was thin, prominent, and curved like the beak of an eagle, or the -nose of an Egyptian mummy. - -He was nearly six feet in height, very spare in build, and his long, -sensitive fingers resembled claws at times, as they curved out from his -bony hands. - -For two or three years, Grantley had been at odds with the latest owner -of the house next door, a certain John D. Wallace. - -Wallace was an intelligent man of means, a retired business man, who was -an ardent antivivisectionist, whereas Grantley had always been -famous--or infamous, as you please--for his experiments on living -animals. - -The former had bought the smaller house, next door, at a time when the -surgeon had tried to get hold of it, probably because he did not care -for such near neighbors unless he could choose them himself. Ever since -then there had been bad blood between Grantley and Wallace. - -Wallace had complained of Grantley more than once, alleging that the -doctor’s private hospital was a nuisance, and that the howling of his -animal subjects was intolerable. - -Nothing further had been done about it by Wallace, however, and -Grantley, in retaliation, had made it as uncomfortable as he could for -Wallace’s tenants. - -At last, Wallace had done some spying on his own account, and he had -finally come to Nick Carter with a startling theory. - -He believed that Doctor Grantley was not only using animals in his -experiments in vivisection, but human beings as well, and he offered the -detective a tempting fee to look into the matter. - -The fee did not hold out as much interest to Nick as Wallace’s story -did, for it bore out many more or less vague rumors which he had heard. - -According to Wallace and others, Doctor Grantley had recently made a -surprising move. Although he was about the last man in the world who -would naturally be thought of as a philanthropist, he had begun to offer -his services to the poor of the East Side, and without charge. - -More than that, Wallace claimed to have spent hours in the house he -owned, which was vacant at the time, and had seen several patients enter -the private hospital, all of whom seemed to be foreigners and far from -prosperous enough to pay Grantley’s regular fees, which had always been -large. - -Wallace also reported that he had reason to believe that bodies were -carried away from time to time, under cover of darkness. - -Finally, he declared that several young men, who looked like doctors, -frequented the place, especially at night. From this circumstance he -argued that Grantley had a following among young and unscrupulous -surgeons, who came there to witness or take part in the older man’s -gruesome experiments. - -In answer to Nick’s inquiries, Wallace informed the detective that -Doctor Grantley’s regular establishment included Grantley himself, -Doctor Siebold, his young assistant; a nurse of perhaps thirty-five, -Miss Rawlinson, and a German manservant, named Hoff. - -The latter was the doctor’s only servant, and, apparently, did -Grantley’s cooking. Wallace was inclined to think that Hoff had seen -army service. - -It will readily be seen that the case was no ordinary one. There is no -law which covers the employment of living human beings in such -experiments, for the simple reason that until lately there has been no -demand for it and no suspicion that the practice existed anywhere. - -If a death could be proved to have occurred under such circumstances, -however, and not in the ordinary course of medical or surgical practice, -the person responsible could be arrested and tried for manslaughter, or, -failing in that, he might be exposed and driven into retirement, if -definite proof could be obtained that he used men, women, or children in -his ruthless pursuit of forbidden knowledge. - -The detective saw that John Wallace was not a visionary crank but a -practical man of affairs, who was not likely to exaggerate. Grantley’s -reputation lent color to the possibility, for another thing, and, -finally, the detective had strong convictions on the subject of -vivisection, even as practiced upon animals. - -In most cases he was willing to believe the claims of the -vivisectionists that the living animals which they strapped down and cut -open were generally under the influence of some drug, but, to Nick’s -mind, that did not alter the fact that, after the poor creatures had -been mutilated in a hundred different ways, they were frequently turned -loose, suffering acutely, and with their wounds uncared for. - -Nick’s kind heart led him to abhor such cruelty, especially when it was -indulged in so freely and constantly that its oft-reiterated excuses -lost most, if not all, of their original weight. - -“A certain amount of vivisection, carried on under proper restrictions, -may be an important factor in the advancement of science,” the detective -was wont to say. “I don’t say it is, but it may be. Even so, it should -be permitted only in the case of a few men, not indulged in by the -wholesale in every medical school.” - -It may be imagined, therefore, that he was more than interested when it -was hinted to him that Doctor Hiram Grantley had gone farther than any -one else was known to have dared to go, and had extended his experiments -to the defenseless and ignorant poor of the East Side. - -Nick hoped that Wallace was wrong, but he determined to find out for -himself as soon as possible, and made his plans accordingly. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE BOMB RUSE. - - -At Wallace’s suggestion, the detective promised to occupy the empty -house next door to Grantley’s under an assumed name, moving in openly, -as an ordinary tenant would do. - -The plan was carried out with comparatively little delay, and Patsy was -chosen because he was married and could bring his wife along to give an -air of domesticity to the establishment. - -The “Webbs” had moved in ten days before; their furniture having been -carefully selected in different secondhand stores of the better class. - -Charles Webb, the “father,” went downtown every day, but it was -understood in the neighborhood that “Will” was temporarily out of work. -That explained why he remained at home all day. - -A close but secret watch had been kept on the doctor’s house, and its -regular occupants had been studied as thoroughly as possible under the -circumstances. - -Doctor Siebold, Grantley’s assistant, had proved to be a man in his -early thirties, evidently of German descent, whose keen, searching eyes -seemed to belie his too agreeable expression and his suave manners. - -Kate Rawlinson, the nurse, seemed to be thoroughly efficient, as she -must have been to please Doctor Grantley; but her face, which was rather -good looking, in a pinched, tight-lipped way, had a hard, forbidding -expression, which warned one not to look to her for much human sympathy, -to say the least. - -As for Hoff, the German servant, Nick found it easy to agree with -Wallace that he had been a soldier. He was fully six feet in height, -powerfully built, with a scarred face, keen blue eyes, and a sandy -mustache, the points of which were trained rakishly upward, after the -model of his emperor’s. - -Of the lot, he was the only one who seemed likely to give much trouble -in a physical encounter, if it came to that. Siebold was slight and wore -glasses, and Doctor Grantley himself, while undoubtedly strong and wiry, -did not impress one as a fighting man. - -That remained to be seen, however. - -It was Hoff who always answered the door, and he did it with an air of -suspicion and a brusqueness which suggested a sentry on duty. - -Little real progress had been made by the detectives, despite their -vigilance. They had discovered that Wallace was correct in saying that -patients who seemed to be in humble circumstances were frequently -brought to Doctor Grantley’s, or came of their own accord, and they had -verified Wallace’s report that several young men, obviously doctors, -frequented the place, but that had only been ascertained after a tedious -wait. - -For the first few days after the Webbs moved in, there appeared to be -little activity next door, probably because Doctor Grantley was more or -less suspicious, in a general way, of the newcomers, whose presence he -doubtless resented. - -He would naturally have waited to see if they were going to show any -embarrassing interest in his doings. Their apparent inclination to -attend strictly to their own affairs, however, seemed to reassure him. -Shrewd as he was, he did not dream of the watch which was being -maintained, day and night, over his house. - -Presently his attitude of caution relaxed, and things went on as they -had been going. Nevertheless, with all their advantages, Nick and his -assistant were not in a position to draw any very definite conclusion -for some time, and in the end they were little the wiser. - -They decided that they would have to resort to some more active method -of getting the evidence they desired. Many different plans were -discussed and rejected. In the meantime, two of Nick’s other assistants, -well disguised, were sent to the doctor’s house on different, plausible -errands, but they did not succeed in penetrating it far enough to learn -anything of value. - -Furthermore, although the windows of the Webb house were left open night -and day, no sounds suggestive of torture were heard, and whatever went -on in the private hospital must have been well cloaked and unaccompanied -by any excitement. - -Nick and Patsy finally determined upon a ruse. They had learned enough -to know that the house was carefully guarded by the watchful Hoff, who -prowled around at all hours. Besides, they wished to gain access to it -when the young doctors were there, for it was reasonable to suppose that -at such times the most important experiments took place, whatever their -nature might be. - -But with five or six extra men in the house, in addition to its regular -occupants, the chances for secret entrance were decidedly slim, to say -nothing of the likelihood that the investigators could get into -position to witness the proceedings. - -Therefore, it seemed necessary to wait until the occasion seemed as -promising as possible, and then to force an entrance under cover of some -exciting diversion, which could be counted upon to draw away, -temporarily, the attention of Grantley and his chosen disciples. - -It meant a dangerous plunge, for, if it failed to uncover the desired -evidence, for any reason, it would unavoidably reveal to Doctor Grantley -the fact that he was under suspicion. He would be put on his guard in -that case and it would be far more difficult thereafter to trip him up, -even if he was not of the sort to put up a fight or attempt to -retaliate. - -Not only that, but there was little likelihood that such a device would -catch the man and his associates in the midst of a punishable crime. - -Time was passing, however, and the detective felt it necessary to push -matters. His attention was needed elsewhere, and he made up his mind -that if he could expose Grantley’s methods and show that the eccentric -surgeon was actually engaged in unwarranted experiments on his poor and -obscure patients, public opinion would do the rest and drive the doctor -out of the country, or, at least, force him to give up his questionable -practices. - -The newspapers could be counted on to make the most of the sensation, -and it would almost certainly result in the passing of stringent laws -against human vivisection, as well as the unauthorized administration of -various experimental serums in the case of unsuspecting persons, -especially children, of which there had recently been many instances in -New York. - -That would be a great step in advance, and it would make possible -Grantley’s subsequent conviction, if legal proof could be obtained in -regard to his past performances, or if he should ever resume such -practices in the State at some future time. - -Half a loaf was better than no bread. That was the way Nick looked at -it. Thus far he had tried in vain, by means of numerous inquiries on the -East Side and elsewhere, to find a single instance of a suspicious death -under Grantley’s care. He had little doubt that there were plenty of -cases of that sort, but he had not happened to come across them, and his -time was precious. - -Finally, he planned to explode a large bomb in front of his house, by -means of an electrical connection. - -The bomb was to be placed in the middle of the street, which was not -extensively used at any time, and Nick counted on the deafening noise of -the explosion to draw the occupants of Grantley’s house into the street, -or, at any rate, away from the operating room. - -While they were temporarily absent, Nick and Patsy were to break into -the doctor’s house at the rear and make their way as rapidly as possible -to the operating room, the location of which they had roughly determined -by a process of elimination. - -They intended to take with them an expert witness in the person of -Doctor Willis Cooke, a friend of Nick’s and one of the ablest of the -city’s younger surgeons, who was noted for his opposition to vivisection -in almost all of its forms. - -In addition to this qualification, Doctor Cooke was a strapping fellow, -an athlete, and a champion trap shooter, who could be depended upon to -give a good account of himself if it came to a fight. - -Doctor Cooke’s presence would be important, because he could determine -at a glance the nature of the experiment in progress, whether legitimate -or otherwise, and his testimony would be taken by the public as -authoritative, where Nick’s, not being that of a specialist, might be -open to question. - -On the night in question, when Patsy made the observation recorded at -the beginning of the first chapter, the young surgeon was in the room -with the detective and the latter’s assistant. - -He had arrived unobtrusively at the Webb house some time before, having -been summoned by Nick when it became clear that something out of the -ordinary was about to take place at the private hospital next door. - -A young girl of eighteen or thereabouts, evidently a Jewess, had been -brought there in a taxi by Doctor Siebold that afternoon. - -She was noticeably pretty and seemed to be in ill health, although she -had alighted from the machine without assistance. Patsy had witnessed -her arrival and had reported the circumstance to Nick when the latter -put in an appearance about five-thirty. - -It looked as if interesting developments might be looked for that night, -and, as the bomb was all in readiness to be planted, Nick decided to -telephone for Doctor Cooke. - -By half past eight five men had arrived and been admitted by the -watchful Hoff. The detectives had, of course, no means of knowing that -the pretty Jewess was to be the subject of the night’s experiments, but -it seemed probable. In any event, there was something of more than -ordinary interest scheduled. - -Nick waited until nine o’clock to see if any others would arrive. One -did, about a quarter of nine. He was obviously in a hurry, which -indicated that he was late. - -When another fifteen minutes passed, without incident, Nick inferred -that no others were coming. He decided to delay still longer, though, -for he wished to give Grantley time to get to work. - -The delay might mean a great deal to the victim of the vivisectionists, -but that, unfortunately, could not be helped. It would do no good to -break in prematurely, for, unless an operation of some questionable kind -was in progress when the interruption came, nothing would be gained, and -Doctor Grantley would be justified in taking legal action against the -intruders. - -But when nine-fifteen came, the tender-hearted detective could stand the -suspense no longer. - -“Heaven knows what may be happening to that poor girl--or some one -else!” he exclaimed. “See if the coast is clear, Patsy.” - -The street was deserted, and Nick’s assistant slipped out and placed the -bomb at a sufficient distance from the two houses to prevent any -material damage. - -A small electric wire was attached to it in such a way that the -explosion would free it and allow it to be drawn quickly into the house -as soon as it had done its work. - -Nick and Patsy were armed, although they did not look for any resistance -of the kind in which there would be gun play, and the detective had -supplied Doctor Cooke with an automatic. - -They would be greatly outnumbered, of course, if Grantley and the others -returned to the operating room and found them there, which they fully -expected. Therefore, it was well to be on the safe side, despite the -fact that they did not look for weapons in the hands of any of the -surgeons. - -Patsy’s wife was instructed to rush out of the house immediately after -the explosion, to pretend to be greatly mystified and terrorized, and to -say that her husband and father-in-law were both downtown. - -In that way it was hoped that any suspicions Grantley might have would -be nipped in the bud for the time being, and that pretty “Mrs. Webb’s” -distress would delay the return of the doctors to the house. - -The electric wire was a long one, extending from the bomb in the street -through one of the open front windows, and so to a concealed battery. - -Nick and his two companions took their places in the back yard, under -cover of the fence separating Grantley’s grounds from theirs. - -Nick and Patsy carried burglars’ tools, so as to be ready for a quick -entry. - -The seconds dragged by. - -Boom! - -An ear-splitting report rent the air. - -Adelina had fired the bomb and was doubtless drawing in the wire, -preparatory to running out and playing the other part assigned to her. - -Without a second’s delay the two detectives swarmed over the fence and -ran silently toward the rear of the private hospital, with Doctor Cooke -close at their heels. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -AN APPALLING SIGHT. - - -They heard a commotion in Grantley’s house, and the scuffling of many -feet as they ran across the yard. - -Evidently the occupants were scurrying to the front to see what had -happened. The ruse seemed to have worked so far. It remained to be seen -how successfully the rest would turn out. - -Nick and his companions were already under cover back of the doctor’s -house before any one emerged at the front. - -They found the rear door locked, and left it alone after giving the knob -one quick wrench. The nearest windows were all fastened, but Nick’s -jimmy was put to use at once, and in half a minute a sharp click told -that the catch had given way. - -The window was pried up swiftly but silently and the detective slipped -in, his example being imitated at once by the others. - -They found themselves in a large kitchen, which was brightly lighted, -and which gave evidence that Hoff had been there very recently, probably -at the time of the explosion, for there was a dishpan in the sink and -dishes in the draining rack alongside. - -In their previous study of the windows they had learned that there was a -rear stairway, for they had often seen Hoff passing a small window as he -went up and down. - -They had reason to believe that the operating room was on the second -floor, somewhere in the center of the house, and they meant to reach it, -if possible, by way of the rear stairs. - -In fact, that was their only hope of doing so unobserved, since they -could not count on the bomb having emptied the house completely. - -The door from the kitchen into the lower hall had been left open, and -Nick and his friends dodged through it. Fortunately, the hall contained -a turn, which shut them off from observation on the part of those on the -front stairs and at the door. - -They heard hurried footsteps descending the other stairs, however, and -concluded that several persons were clustered about the front door. - -The rear stairway was easily located, and they started upward with as -much care as their desire for haste permitted. It was no part of their -plan to leave the house again without being seen. They knew that was -practically out of the question. However, they wished to see as much as -they could before they were discovered, and were, naturally, anxious to -find something that would justify their intrusion before Doctor Grantley -became aware of their presence. - -But luck was against them. - -When they reached the head of the servants’ stairs, they saw the open -door of an unusually brightly lighted room about fifteen feet ahead of -them. - -The detective instantly came to the conclusion that they had found the -room they sought, for the brilliancy of the light told him that a big -arc lamp, or other illuminating device of similar power, must be in use. - -As he started toward the door, however, he became aware, for the first -time, that there was a figure standing in the dimmer light of the hall, -beyond the operating room, probably at the head of the first flight at -the front. - -More than that, the figure’s posture was a tense, listening one, and a -white face was turned over its shoulder. - -The form was that of a woman in a nurse’s garb. Undoubtedly their -presence had been detected by Miss Rawlinson, who had evidently not seen -fit to descend the stairs with the rest, but was waiting for their -report as to the cause of the explosion. - -When Nick first caught sight of her, she had seemed to be held -spellbound by this unlooked-for invasion from the rear, but in a moment -she recovered her self-possession. - -“Help, Doctor Grantley--quick!” she called down the front stairs, in a -high, shrill voice. “There are men in the house! It’s a trick!” - -And as soon as she had shrieked her warning, instead of running to meet -her friends, she turned and came flying along the hall toward the -detectives. - -Nick had thrown all caution to the winds as soon as he saw her looking -at him. With a low-toned command to the others to follow him, he had -leaped forward, and when the nurse started back to meet him--or, more -likely, with the idea of keeping him out of the operating room if she -could--he had almost reached the brightly lighted doorway. - -“Stop! What are you doing here?” the woman demanded harshly. “You must -not do----” - -But, although the detective heard a clamor of alarm downstairs and the -sounds of running feet, he ignored the nurse and sprang into the room. - -Patsy entered a moment or two later, but Doctor Cooke, who brought up -the rear, was intercepted by the nurse, who fearlessly grabbed him and -sought to hold him back, calling wildly to her employer and the others -to hurry. - -It went against the grain, but the young surgeon, knowing that every -second was precious, kept on his way after a momentary pause. - -He did not lay a finger upon the nurse. He simply dragged her with him, -despite all of her struggles to hold him back, as a football player -drags the opponents who are trying to down him. - -Thus the three gained access to the room before any of the men reached -the head of the stairs. - -The sight that met their gaze was an appalling one, and their hearts -contracted with horror and pity. - -A girl, plainly the same one whom Patsy had seen arriving that -afternoon, lay on an operating table, in the full glare of a large arc -lamp, which was shaded in such a way as to throw all of its rays -downward with pitiless intensity. - -At first glance she appeared to be lifeless, but she was doubtless -merely under the influence of some anæsthetic. - -In fact, there was the best reason in the world for thinking that she -was alive--her heart was in full view, its rhythmic contractions being -revealed in the most ghastly way. - -The lower part of her body was covered with a sheet, but the upper part -was bare, and a great hole had been cut in the wall of her chest, -through which her beating heart had been lifted out. - -Something had been inserted beneath the heart, after it had been raised -through the incision, with the result that the naked organ, red and -pulsating, stood out in startling relief against the whiteness of her -body. - -“Good Lord!” exclaimed the detective reverently, as he got his first -view of it. “The fiends!” - -Patsy, used as he was to scenes of crime and bloodshed, actually shrank -back a little as his eyes fell upon the horrible spectacle, and even -Doctor Cooke was visibly affected when he staggered in, with the nurse -clinging desperately to him. - -Nick and Patsy made way for him without attempting to draw nearer to the -table. They had seen all they could endure for the moment, and were -already waiting for the advent of the surgeons. - -Willis Cooke kept on to the unconscious girl’s side, however, without -paying any more attention to the nurse than if she had been a puppy -tugging at his trousers leg. - -He bent over the still, mutilated form, scrutinized the exposed heart -for a moment, and then took in the thinness of the arms, the prominence -of the ribs in the slightly emaciated body, and the rather sunken -cheeks, in which faint spots of unnatural color still lingered, despite -the pallor, due to the drug and the operation. - -Suddenly he raised his head and turned to Nick. His jaw was suggestively -prominent, and there was a steely glitter in his eyes, which boded no -good to Doctor Hiram Grantley and the latter’s associates. - -“There is absolutely no excuse for this,” he said quickly, as if -conscious that those responsible for the girl’s condition were already -at the door. “Her heart is perfectly healthy. She has -tuberculosis--that’s the way Grantley got his hands on her. I suppose he -promised to cure----” - -But he had no time to finish the sentence. - -At that moment Doctor Grantley himself, clothed in white from head to -foot, burst into the room, a malignant snarl on his strongly marked, -sinister face. - -And after him came Doctor Siebold and the six visiting surgeons. - -“What is the meaning of this?” howled Grantley. “Who are you and what in -thunder are you doing in my house, curse you!” - -And with that he jerked out one of the drawers of a desk which stood -beside the door and took out a couple of revolvers, one of which he -started to pass to his assistant. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -NICK STIRS UP THE ANIMALS. - - -Nick, Patsy, and Doctor Cooke had concealed their weapons in order not -to provoke trouble unnecessarily. At this move on Grantley’s part, -however, Nick whipped out his automatic and covered the surgeon. - -“None of that, my man!” he commanded. “We’re all armed.” - -The sharply spoken words and the steady muzzles of the three -automatics--for Nick’s companions had followed suit immediately--froze -Doctor Grantley into inaction for a moment. - -One hand was still extended toward Doctor Siebold, but it had been -arrested in mid-air, and the younger surgeon made no attempt to take the -weapon. - -All eyes were fixed upon Nick Carter, save those of his own companions. - -“I don’t care a whoop whether you’re armed or not,” Grantley snarled, -but he made no further attempt at aggression. As a matter of fact, he -lowered his extended arm. “You can’t bluff me like that,” he went on. -“What do you want here, anyway?” - -He was trying his best to bluff it out, but it was obvious that he was -not finding it an easy matter. - -Suddenly his eyes shifted to Doctor Cooke, and he gave a start of -recognition. At the same time a still more frightened look came into his -eyes. - -“So that’s it, is it?” he growled. “You’re behind this, you young -whippersnapper!” - -“I am not ‘behind’ it,” Cooke corrected. “Nothing would have given me -greater pleasure, but, as it happens, I was merely asked to come along -in order to give a surgeon’s opinion of your scientific orgies. I have -seen all that is necessary. There is nothing the matter with your -victim’s heart--nothing whatever. You had absolutely no excuse, either -from the standpoint of surgery or humanity, for performing any sort of -an operation upon it, least of all to drag it out of this poor child’s -body and make a show of it. Her lungs are more or less affected, that is -all, and it was doubtless to the excuse of treating her for tuberculosis -that you got her in your power. If I had not seen with my own eyes, -Doctor Grantley, I would not have believed it possible that any doctor -could be guilty of such a fiendish misuse of professional privileges. -What did you expect to find that you did not already know, and if these -satellites of yours were so ignorant of heart action--which I am not -prepared to believe even of them--why could you not enlighten them just -as well with a dog or a cat or a guinea pig?” - -Doctor Cooke’s fiery earnestness and withering scorn were good to see, -but Grantley’s attitude remained one of sullen defiance. - -“None of your business!” he retorted angrily. “I refuse to answer to my -inferiors for anything I do. What’s more, I’m beyond the reach of the -law, and you know it. I am searching for something of which you and your -kind have never dreamed, and if I choose to use a piece of worthless -human flesh, doomed already by disease, it is no affair of yours or the -world’s.” - -“Don’t be too sure of that,” Nick spoke up. “By the way, permit me to -introduce myself. I am Nick Carter, the detective, of whom you may -possibly have heard, and this is one of my assistants. We have been -living next door to you for a short time, but quite long enough to -become convinced that there was something radically wrong here.” - -Doctor Grantley paled at the mention of Nick’s name, and a perceptible -tremor of surprise and fear passed over the group of doctors behind him. -Seeing this, Doctor Cooke broke in grimly: - -“And while we’re about it, Mr. Carter, I might as well make known to you -a couple of Grantley’s hangers-on there. I know two of them well by -sight. The one with the mustache is Doctor Hunter, and the one with -reddish hair is Doctor Willard. I can furnish you with their addresses -if you wish.” - -The two men named cringed before Doctor Cooke’s accusing finger. - -“Thank you, Cooke, that will help,” Nick replied quietly. “And now, -gentlemen, I am afraid I shall have to give you another little jolt. I -am a special officer and am quite within my rights in arresting you all -for malpractice, which I intend to do forthwith. The nurse, here, will -be detained as a material witness.” - -“I’d like to see you try it!” stormed Grantley. “Such a charge is -ridiculous. I can take the position that the displacement of the heart -was only incidental, that I was really trying to find a surgical method -of dealing with tuberculosis. Nobody could prove that I wasn’t, and I -can get any number of expert witnesses to testify in my behalf, or, at -least, to admit that I might have been looking for what I claimed. You -wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. I tell you there’s no law that can -touch me.” - -“Perhaps not,” admitted the detective. “That is comparatively -unimportant, however.” - -“Unimportant? How the devil do you make that out?” - -“The charge of malpractice is a good-enough excuse for your arrest. -After that the newspapers will try your case before a jury of millions, -and when they finish, the argument for the prosecution----” - -Doctor Grantley quailed. - -“You mean----” he began, in an unsteady voice. - -“I mean that public opinion is going to be given an opportunity to try -and condemn you, Grantley,” Nick answered evenly. “I know as well as you -do that you’re in very little danger of a prison sentence, as things are -now, but the greatest punishment of all is available--the universal -execration of your fellow men. That is going to be meted out to you and -your accomplices, and the result of your showing up will be that laws -will be speedily passed to cover such revolting crimes as this. In -short, we’re going to ‘break’ you, Grantley. You have no one but -yourself to blame, and you will deserve all you get. Incidentally, I -might add that I am ransacking the East Side for other evidence against -you, in connection with previous offenses of this sort, which I have -reason to believe have ended fatally for your victims. The charge I -shall make against you to-night will serve to hold you until one of -manslaughter can be sustained.” - -Patsy Garvan looked at his chief in surprise. It was decidedly unlike -Nick to bandy words in this way, or to “rub it in,” either before or -after arrest. In the present instance, moreover, his assistant feared -that he was making trouble for himself and his companions. He was giving -away his hand in a peculiarly reckless fashion, and it was more than -possible that Grantley and the others, seeing the pit that yawned for -them, might be driven to desperate measures in their desire to escape -arrest. - -As a matter of fact, that was precisely what Nick desired. - -He knew only too well that he was treading in the midst of uncertainties -and that his case was lamentably weak, from a strictly legal standpoint. -Consequently, he hoped to provoke resistance, because he could count on -that to strengthen the sentiment against Grantley and the latter’s -followers. - -He did not look, though, for anything like the outburst that followed. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -“LET GO, OR I’LL FIRE!” - - -Without warning, Doctor Grantley clubbed his weapon and threw himself at -Nick Carter. - -Taking their cue from him, Siebold and the others sprang forward almost -simultaneously. - -Grantley was shrewd enough to know that the detectives would not fire -upon them if it could possibly be avoided, and, furthermore, that they -would be greatly handicapped by their concern for the safety of the -unconscious girl. - -That was true, for a rough-and-tumble fight there in the operating room -would be very dangerous for her, for, if the table were overturned or -she was swept from it in the mêlée, the chances were that her exposed -heart would be fatally injured. - -Nick and his allies did not forget this for a moment, and when they saw -the threatening move of their enemies, they rushed forward to meet them, -in an effort to carry the fight as far from the operating table as they -could. - -They reversed their own weapons as they did so, but their little -automatics were much lighter than the larger revolver which Grantley had -snatched out of the drawer. - -Moreover, Doctor Siebold had possessed himself of its mate, which -Grantley had dropped when the charge began. - -The others were without firearms, but caught up chairs and whatever else -they could lay hands on. - -The opposing forces met about in the center of the space between the -operating table and the door, while the nurse, ignored by both sides, -shrank back against the wall, beyond the ghastly form on the table. - -Nick had fully realized the odds that would be against them in the event -of a clash. He had assumed, however, as he was not dealing with ordinary -criminals, but with men who would probably be unarmed, and would have -much to lose by an ill-advised attempt at resistance, that three -well-armed and determined men could bluff nine into submission. - -They had failed in that, and the odds were three to one, for Hoff had -arrived a little after the others, armed with a big army revolver. - -When the attack began, Hoff forged to the front, pushing the young -surgeons to left and right. As a result, he, Doctor Grantley, and the -latter’s assistant, all armed, were directly opposed to Nick, Patsy, and -Doctor Cooke, while the six young surgeons, taking advantage of the -situation, wormed their way past, one by one, and got in the rear of the -invading trio. - -Things began to look far from promising. - -Hoff was bigger than any of those on the other side, and he advanced to -the fray with a bellow which suggested that he felt himself in his -element. - -Doctor Grantley was transformed. His face was distorted with murderous -hate, and there was a tigerish quickness about his movements which was -unexpected in a man of his age and occupation. - -Even Doctor Siebold proved to be a surprise. His agility and reckless -ferocity made up for any physical deficiencies, and he fought with a -whole-hearted devotion that was worthy of a better cause. - -Desperation nerved them all, in fact, to a degree which would have been -impossible under other circumstances. Their resistance was utterly -unreasonable, since they could hope to gain no real or permanent -immunity, no matter how completely they might defeat the three who had -seen the fruits of their detestable experiment. They could not hope to -stop their mouths for good without actually killing them all, and that -way led straight to the electric chair. - -Nevertheless, their fears urged them on, and it looked as if nothing -short of murder would satisfy them. - -The fight was hot, bitter, and merciless. - -The detectives and Doctor Cooke acted upon the defensive as much as they -could at first, and pressed the others back toward the door into the -hall. They wished to get out of the room, if it was possible, before -showing what they could really do. - -Naturally, their three principal adversaries did their best to prevent -this, and for two reasons: - -One was that Grantley and his lieutenants wished to block the way toward -the open air--although they might have known that the detectives had no -thought of retreat--and the other was that they were bent upon keeping -Nick’s men as close to the operating table as might be, and thus -limiting their activities. - -Without the opposition of Hoff, there would have been comparatively -little difficulty about gaining the hall, but the German’s bulk and -weight formed an effectual barrier. - -Grantley and Siebold were driven back against him again and again, but -they seemed to rebound from his great frame, and to fling themselves -upon the detectives once more with renewed fury. - -Blows fell thick and fast. Revolver butts met and struck sparks as they -ground together in mid-air, and often they fell with dull, bruising -thuds on the flesh of one or another of the combatants, or drew blood -from glancing blows on scalps or cheeks. - -For some time, however, no one was knocked unconscious. - -The blows were too well parried on both sides, for the most part, to -bring that about; but the conflict could not go on in that way forever. - -Doctor Cooke was the first to go under. He was pressing his advantage -over Siebold at the time, forgetful of all else, and was just about to -deliver a blow which would have ended Grantley’s assistant for some time -to come, but just then Hoff, seeing his chance, brought down the butt of -his heavy revolver with crushing force on Cooke’s head. - -The young surgeon fell like a stricken ox, and howls of delight went up -from his enemies. - -Nick, who had not yet succeeded in beating down Grantley’s guard, owing -to the confusing attacks from the rear, saw red when he saw his -professional ally fall. - -He ducked suddenly, got under Grantley’s guard, and pushed his opponent -violently backward against the German. The impact took Hoff unawares and -caused him to stagger back. In a moment Nick was at him. The detective’s -clubbed automatic whistled past Grantley’s head and caught Hoff fairly -on the center of the forehead. - -The weapon was light, but the trained muscles behind it more than made -up for that. - -The German caved in at the knees and toppled over backward through the -doorway. He blindly grasped Doctor Grantley as the blow fell, and so -dragged his employer with him. - -Quick to see his advantage, Nick sprang after them, determined to put -Grantley out of commission as well. Siebold managed to trip him, -however, and, at the same time, one of the other doctors brought a chair -down on the back of his head. - -The blow might easily have been fatal had Nick been standing erect at -the time, but he had already started to pitch forward, thanks to -Siebold’s trick. - -In spite of that, the whirling chair, which was a heavy one, knocked the -detective senseless, and he fell, a dead weight, upon Grantley and Hoff. - -The latter was unconscious, but Grantley had been frantically trying to -wriggle out of Hoff’s arms when Nick landed on him. - -Immediately he turned his attention to the detective, and, from -underneath, clamped his long, bony fingers about the helpless -detective’s neck and began choking the life out of him. - -Patsy Garvan was now the only representative of his side who was still -on his feet, and no less than seven enemies ringed him around. - -His keen eyes detected his chief’s danger, however, and he started to -Nick’s aid at once. - -He never knew how he escaped the clutches of his opponents, or kept in -the game under the rain of their blows. Nevertheless, he did so, and he -not only did that, but also succeeded in driving forward until he was -crouching over the pile of prostrate forms in the doorway. - -“No you don’t!” he ejaculated, bending over and poking the muzzle of his -automatic under Nick and into Grantley’s side. “Let go, or I’ll fire!” - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -A FLANK MOVEMENT. - - -Nick’s assistant did not need to be told that his own position was a -decidedly unenviable one, despite the momentary advantage he had gained -over Doctor Grantley. - -Patsy’s back was turned to his seven foes, all of whom were bent upon -“getting” him in almost any way they could. - -They did not seem disposed to shoot, and that was the only comforting -fact that stood out. - -The young detective’s threat to fire into Grantley’s body if the -vivisectionist did not relinquish his hold on Nick’s throat took the old -surgeon’s friends by surprise and flabbergasted them for a few seconds. - -One of them had already pounced upon Patsy’s back and was leaning -forward, ready to strike Patsy on the back of the head with a heavy -paper weight which he had snatched up from the near-by desk. - -He paused, however, as did the others. Patsy lost no time in taking -advantage of the fact. He squirmed out from under the man, leaving his -coat in his enemy’s hands, and scrambled over the heap of bodies in the -doorway. - -Before the others realized what he was about, he was in the hall, facing -them. - -He had removed his automatic from Grantley’s ribs while he changed -position, but now he thrust it back again. - -“Did you hear me down there?” he demanded. - -Simultaneously he produced another weapon with his left hand, dug that -in turn into Grantley’s side, and, lifting the muzzle of the first -automatic, trained it on the foremost of his foes. - -He had made a decided change for the better, for he was now in the hall, -with his opponents all in front of him, in plain sight, and the length -of the three bodies between him and them. - -“Keep back there!” he commanded, waving his upraised weapon a little and -covering one after another of the crouching surgeons. “I’m just getting -warmed up, and I wouldn’t advise you to make any false moves, unless you -want to kiss yourselves good-by.” - -Grantley had relaxed his throttling hold on Nick’s windpipe at Patsy’s -first threat, but had taken a new and more dogged grip, while Nick’s -assistant was so unceremoniously making his way over the detective’s -unconscious form--and incidentally squeezing the breath out of Grantley -himself, who was beneath. - -When the muzzle of the automatic prodded him again, however, he let go a -second time and lay quite still, contenting himself with cursing Patsy -under his breath and calling on his own followers to rescue him. - -It looked as if Patsy had turned the tables about as completely as -possible. - -If the seven, or any of them, tried to rush him, there was little doubt -that he would make good his threat and shoot their leader, which he -could easily do before any of them could reach him. - -And even aside from that, such an attack could hardly be successful, in -itself, if the young detective was in earnest about firing into the -crowd at the first sign of hostile action. - -The nearest of them, Doctor Siebold, was nearly six feet away, beyond -the narrow, body-choked doorway. Patsy’s quick-firing automatic could -probably speak twice before that space could be covered, especially as -the three prostrate forms which occupied most of the distance would make -the going very precarious. - -Siebold was armed, to be sure, but Patsy’s keen eyes were watching his -every movement with lynxlike intentness, and it would have been folly to -suppose that Grantley’s assistant could get the drop before such an -experienced man hunter. - -Still, the situation was trying enough for Patsy, and it demanded so -much concentration that it could not be expected to remain unchanged for -long. - -Nick’s assistant was beginning to wonder when help would come, if at -all. Neither he nor Nick had found opportunity as yet to whistle for the -police. They had been kept too busy ever since the need had arisen so -suddenly, and now it was out of the question. - -Even if Patsy had dared to withdraw either weapon in order to use his -police whistle--which would have been a risky experiment as things -were--the move would have been fruitless, for the whistle was reposing -in one of the pockets of the coat which he had shed when he broke away. - -There was Adelina, however. - -There was a telephone in the next house, and it seemed more than likely -that his wife had grown somewhat alarmed before that, over their long -absence, and had telephoned for the bluecoats. - -Besides, it seemed probable that she had heard the sounds of strife and -knew that her friends were meeting with vigorous resistance. - -Patsy hoped that she had taken some such action, but he had good reason -to know that station houses are a considerable distance apart in that -section of the Bronx, and policemen not as numerous as they might be. - -That being so, assistance might easily fail to arrive in time to save -them from more or less ignominious defeat, if nothing worse. - -Patsy was not so much preoccupied, though, that he neglected to offer up -a brief prayer--or something very like one--that Adelina might not feel -called upon to take a hand herself. - -There was nothing she could do, and he did not wish to have her expose -herself to unnecessary danger. - -The crisis came unexpectedly, but in a manner so simple that Nick’s -assistant mentally kicked himself for not foreseeing it. - -Doctor Siebold suddenly gave a leap, not toward Patsy but to one side. -The act took him out of sight in a moment, so far as the young -detective’s range of vision was concerned as he looked in through the -door of the operating room. - -“Follow me, Chester,” he called, “and you, Graves. We’ll show this -fellow a trick or two in half a minute!” - -Two of the other doctors instantly followed his example, knowing that a -step or two would put them in safety. - -In a flash Patsy guessed what the move meant. Almost immediately the -sound of an opening door confirmed his suspicions. - -He had been too busy, while in the operating room, to notice whether -there were any other doors opening in it, aside from the one which -communicated with the hall. It was evident now, however, that there was -at least one other, between the operating room and the next one to the -rear. - -Siebold meant to reach the hall by that route and take Patsy in the -rear. - -The young Irishman would soon be between two fires, and still there was -no sign of the police. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -PRISONERS. - - -Patsy presently heard a door open into the hall from one of the other -rooms, and Doctor Siebold’s voice came to him again, this time from -behind and to one side. - -“Now we’ve got him where we want him!” it said triumphantly. - -The young detective did not dare turn his head as he heard footsteps -approaching along the hall, for there were still four men in front of -him in the operating room, and they were waiting to take advantage of -the slightest inattention on his part. - -All he could do was to withdraw one of his weapons from Grantley’s side -and point it at them, when he swung the other around so that it pointed -along the hall, in the direction of Siebold and the others. - -He could not aim it, except by ear, but it might have a deterring -effort, and if it became necessary to fire it, the shot might take -effect by accident. - -“I wouldn’t be too sure of myself if I were you, Siebold,” he called, -without turning his head. - -He put as much confidence into the reply as he could, but he felt -little, for he knew that Grantley’s assistant could fire at him if he -wished, without giving him the slightest warning. - -It all depended on Siebold’s willingness to go that far, and his ability -to hit his mark at the first shot. - -“Shoot him down, you fools!” screamed Grantley, who had been emboldened -by the removal of the muzzle from his ribs. “And a couple of you go next -door and get the woman. Go the back way. The street is probably full of -gaping idiots, drawn by the explosion. Don’t let them see you.” - -The young detective’s heart sank at the words. Adelina was in danger, -and he could do nothing to help her. - -In a rage, he kicked Grantley in the head and had the satisfaction of -hearing a shuddering sigh at his feet. He could not look down, but he -felt sure that Grantley was unconscious. The kick had been a powerful -one. - -The vivisectionist’s brutal advice had its effect, however, and spurred -on his reluctant followers. One of those in the operating room leaped -aside and made for the door, and Siebold sent one of the two who had -accompanied him to join the first and carry out Grantley’s instructions. - -The die was cast. - -Patsy’s enemies ceased to hang back and content themselves with halfway -measures. Their fears were forgotten, and, although most of them -probably did not know what was to come of it, their leader’s words -inflamed them. - -Almost immediately a shot rang out in the narrow hall. Siebold had fired -at Nick’s assistant. - -The latter stiffened expectantly, involuntarily, but the bullet sang -past his head and was embedded in the wall beyond. Siebold had missed. - -The weapon in Patsy’s right hand answered at once, and although it was -impossible for its owner to see what success it had had, he heard a -startled, agonized exclamation, followed by a fall. - -He could not be sure of the voice, but he had an unwelcome feeling that -it was not Siebold he had hit, but his sole remaining companion. - -If that was the case, luck was certainly against him, for Siebold was -the only one remaining who had a revolver. - -But if Grantley’s assistant was still on his feet--which later proved to -be the case--he had no time to fire again, for one of the three men -still in the operating room relieved him of that responsibility. - -It was Doctor Willard, the man with the reddish hair, who was one of the -two whom Cooke had pointed out to Nick. - -Just after Patsy had fired at random, and while he was listening for the -effect of his shot, Willard swung aloft the heavy chair across the back -of which he had been leaning, and let it fly straight at Patsy’s head. - -By some strange freak of chance it cleared the narrow doorway and struck -its mark fairly and squarely in the chest. - -Patsy had seen it coming, but the distance between him and Willard had -been too short to allow him to dodge, even if he had wished to abandon -his vantage point in front of the door. - -He counted on its striking the doorjamb, and, by the time it hurtled -through the opening without touching the side, it was too late to guard -himself. - -Both of his weapons went off as the chair struck him, owing to the -unconscious tightening of his fingers on the triggers, but the shots -went wild. - -The impact was a vicious one. - -It knocked the breath completely out of the young detective’s body and -flung him violently against the wall of the passage behind him. - -Before he could begin to recover himself, half a dozen hands were laid -upon him at once and he was borne to the floor. Such resistance as he -was able to make was quickly overcome, and he was bound and gagged. - -It was a bitter dose, but Patsy took it philosophically, an example of -the uncertain fortunes of the business which he followed. - -It was characteristic of him that he gave little thought to the plight -of himself and his companions, more to the peril of Adelina, and most to -the condition of the unfortunate girl whom they had attempted in vain to -rescue. - -The worst of it was that she would doubtless soon be coming out from -under the influence of the anæsthetic, and the agony and unimaginable -shock of her condition might easily prove fatal. - -Surely, though, his wife had sent for the police by that time and they -would arrive soon. If they did, the first thing to be done would be to -give the girl more ether and then rush her to a hospital. That was more -important even than the capture of those who had cut into her so -mercilessly. - -But help seemed as far away as ever. - -There was a hasty consultation, in which Doctor Siebold took a leading -part, and then Patsy was blindfolded and dragged away, after being -whirled around several times in order to confuse him and cause him to -lose his sense of direction. - -Nick, who was exhibiting faint signs of returning consciousness, and -Doctor Cooke, who was still dead to the world, were similarly treated. - -Patsy tried to keep track of his surroundings, but failed. - -He only knew that he was roughly dragged along the hall--in which -direction he could not tell--hustled through no less than three doors, -and then--after some heavy furniture had been moved, apparently to -uncover a trapdoor--was yanked up and down on a rope. - -When his captors got through with him, he could not have told, to save -his life, whether he was on the same floor as the operating room, the -one above it, or the one below it--that is, from anything which his -confusing route had told him. - -And the only reason he was inclined to believe that he was in the cellar -was that the air had a musty, subterranean smell. - -Two other prisoners--Nick and the young surgeon, beyond a doubt--were -soon dumped in on top of him. - -Evidently their prison was very small, and the closeness of the air -suggested that it had long been closed up. - -Perhaps ten minutes later a fourth prisoner was unceremoniously added to -the growing heap, but the additional weight was not great. Patsy’s -instincts told him that Adelina was probably the latest arrival. - -The thought gave him a sickening sensation. - -If his young wife had been seized, no one was left on the outside with -anything like a definite knowledge of their whereabouts. - -To be sure, Nick’s other assistants knew the situation in a general way, -but they were not aware that an attempt to force Doctor Grantley’s hand -was to have been made that night. Nick had not been sure that he would -act until the last moment. - -They would doubtless take steps, sooner or later, to learn what had -happened, but, in the meantime, unless Adelina had called up the police -before her capture, almost anything might happen. - -Grantley had unmistakably revealed his vindictiveness and willingness to -go to any length. When he was himself again, therefore, his influence -would be in the highest degree antagonistic, rather than otherwise. - -That was doubtless what Siebold and the rest were waiting for--to get -orders from Grantley for the final disposal of their enemies. - -But Patsy was to experience still another shock. - -Almost immediately after the fourth prisoner had been thrown upon the -indiscriminate heap, a fifth form was added to it. - -For perhaps half a minute Patsy puzzled over the identity of this latest -arrival; then, in a flash, he guessed the harrowing truth. - -It must be the Jewish girl, the vivisectionist’s victim; and she had -almost certainly been brought there--unquestionably more dead than -alive--to get her out of the way in case the bluecoats should search the -house. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A SINISTER CELL. - - -That conviction made Patsy cringe more than ever. - -Had they done anything to relieve the girl’s sufferings or close the -gaping wound they had made in her breast? - -Or had they thrown her in there just as she was, to die? - -Again the young detective’s speculations were interrupted, however; this -time in a different, and, at first, more puzzling way. - -The air suddenly became still closer and more oppressive, as if they had -been shut in a confined space; but that was not all. - -The sound of shoveling began at once, and lumps of something hard struck -and rolled, with a hollow sound, just above Patsy’s head. - -What was happening? - -Nick’s assistant did not take long to penetrate the mystery, although he -had only his ears to aid him. - -He concluded that a wooden cover had been placed over their place of -confinement, and that coal was being shoveled in on top of it. They were -probably in an old coal bin, he reasoned, with a false bottom, and when -the space above was filled, there would be nothing to indicate that the -whole bin was not full of coal. - -It was a clever arrangement--altogether too clever for comfort. Nick and -his assistants had encountered its like more than once, and it could not -have deceived them for long; it might easily prove too much for the -police, however, even if they made an investigation. - -Nick’s other assistants could be counted on to solve the problem when -they finally obtained access to the house--if they could--but it would -probably be too late then. Much too late, in fact. - -The hole into which the prisoners had been thrown could hardly be more -than eight feet square, if that much, and it was not likely that it was -more than four feet deep. - -It was closed at the top now, and the sides were doubtless fairly tight, -in order that no cracks of any size should reveal the hollow space -behind. - -That meant an appallingly small number of cubic feet of air--and bad air -at that--for five people to breathe, assuming that the young Jewess was -not yet dead. - -As Patsy analyzed his sensations, he became aware of a peculiar and -sinister odor, which pervaded the place. For some time he could not -identify it, but at length, with a start of horror, he realized its -nature. - -There was no doubt about it in his mind now, or about the criminality of -their captors. - -For the odor was that of lime, mingled with a faint stench of decaying -animal matter. - -That was the way that Patsy put it to himself, at any rate, but he more -than suspected that the “animal matter” had been human flesh. - -In other words, he was convinced that the place where they had been -thrown had previously been used for the purpose of destroying the bodies -of previous victims of the vivisectionists. The bodies had apparently -been thrown into the old bin and covered with quicklime, which had -afterward been removed. - -There was only a little fine dust on the concrete floor of the bin now, -as Patsy easily ascertained with his bound hands. It must either be lime -or coal dust, perhaps a combination of the two; for the young detective -had felt the latter sifting down through the cracks above his head as -the coal was shoveled over the false bottom. - -He could not resist a shudder as he came to this ghastly conclusion. He -and his friends were in a veritable charnel house, and if Doctor -Grantley had his way, there was little doubt but that quicklime would be -heaped over their dead bodies--perhaps over their living ones--before -long. - -Something must be done, if possible. But what? - -Whatever it was to be, it looked as if Patsy must attempt it unaided. -Some one else was moving--some one whose body lay partly over Patsy’s. -The latter believed it was his chief, but he could not be sure. -Moreover, even if it was Nick, Patsy had been in full possession of his -senses throughout, and was therefore in a better position to go ahead. - -He wished he could communicate with Nick and get the benefit of the -great detective’s advice, but that was out of the question--for the time -being, at least. - -Patsy was quite used to going ahead alone and relying upon his own keen -wits. He did so now. - -His first thought concerned his bonds themselves. Could he wriggle out -of them? - -His captors were not experienced criminals of the ordinary sort. Perhaps -they had failed to tie him securely. Certainly they had shown their -ignorance by binding his hands in front of him instead of behind. - -He went to work at once, slipping his wrists back and forth and making -his hands as small as possible in an effort to draw them out of the -loops of rope. - -Nevertheless, despite the fact that he had doubled his fists and made -his wrists as large as possible while the ropes were being fastened, he -found it impossible to free his hands. The knots did not give to any -appreciable extent, and it was obvious that they had been tied with -greater skill than Patsy had supposed. - -Nick’s assistant next tried his teeth on them. This would have been out -of the question if his hands had been secured behind his back, but, -fortunately, they were not. - -His teeth were sharp and strong, and had often been put to a similar -use. It was tedious work at best, but gradually one strand after another -was gnawed away. - -Victory was in sight, when, to his supreme disgust, his teeth -encountered something hard. He ran his tongue investigatingly over the -place. The rope had a core of strong, flexible wire. - -Patsy’s teeth, efficient as they were, were powerless against such an -obstacle. This setback would have discouraged ninety-nine out of a -hundred detectives, to say nothing of other men, but the young Irishman -was not daunted. - -He put his brain to work again, with the result that, after a few -moments of hard thinking, he twisted his fettered hands about until the -fingers of one of them could fish into the inside breast pocket of his -coat. - -Siebold had disarmed him, but he had not made a general search of -Patsy’s pockets; consequently Nick’s assistant was still in possession -of his pocket kit of folding burglars’ tools. - -He drew it out, opened it awkwardly, and felt about until he located the -desired article, a thin file. - -The combined weight of more than one of his companions in misfortune -held down his legs, but the upper part of his body was free, and one -shoulder was against one of the wooden walls of the bin. - -Holding the file, Patsy raised his hands and felt about for a crack. He -found a small one at once, a few inches above his head. In this he -pushed the handle end of the file. - -He was ready for work. - -He put one hand on one side of the file and the other hand on the other -side, to prevent the tool from slipping away from him as he pressed -against it. That done, he began to draw the exposed wire to and fro over -the file. - -The sound could not be muffled, but it was slight. In any case, it was -not likely to bring disaster, for Patsy felt sure that the cellar had -been vacated by their captors after the coal was thrown into place. - -He kept his ears open for sounds of approach, however, and went at his -task with a will. The wire was not more than an eighth of an inch in -diameter, and was soon filed through. - -That did not mean release, however, and Nick’s assistant kept on sawing -away at the rope itself until it frayed out and gave access to another -core of wire. - -That, too, was severed in the course of time, and, after a few jerks, -the ropes on Patsy’s wrists fell away. - -His hands were free, and with them once more fully at his command, he -made short work of his gag. - -“Chief!” he whispered cautiously, “I’m loose--partly--and I’m going to -make a stab at getting you out of here. Are you all right?” - -There came a muffled sound in reply to Patsy’s question. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -AN INTERRUPTED ESCAPE. - - -A pair of hands groped toward the spot from which the sound had come, -found Patsy’s arm, and gave it a reassuring pressure. - -Nick Carter had answered as well as he was able at the moment. - -“Good!” murmured Patsy. “I’ll have you loose in two shakes.” - -He felt along Nick’s arms in turn until he came to his chief’s face. -Nick’s gag came in for attention first and was quickly removed. - -“There now,” Patsy remarked, in the same low tone. “This is a little -more like it.” - -He had a knife out now, but his fingers proved to be better able to cope -with the rope with the wire core, now that he could use them freely. He -went at Nick’s wrists first, leaving his own ankles bound and weighed -down as they were. - -“Where are we? Have you any idea?” Nick asked eagerly. “I have only the -vaguest impressions of being dragged and suspended and dumped and a few -other things--including something which sounded as if we had been buried -alive and they were throwing the dirt over our coffin.” - -“You’re not so far off about that as you may think,” his assistant -replied. - -Patsy then went on to tell his chief what he knew and suspected. A few -crisp words were sufficient, and after that he explained what he -thought would be the best move for them to make. - -Nick approved the plan. Neither of them wasted any time in outlining -their course of action after they should get out of the bin. That must -take care of itself, and would naturally be governed by circumstances. - -Nick’s bonds were soon entirely removed, and the detective turned his -attention to the others, while Patsy removed the dead weight from his -own legs and attacked the ropes which bound his ankles. - -Nick’s little pocket flash lamp had not been taken away from him. It was -now brought into use, since there was apparently no one in the cellar to -see its light. - -The sight which it revealed was a most painful one, through the chinks -of the bin. - -Doctor Cooke was still unconscious. At first glance it seemed that he -must be dead, but the detective quickly ascertained, with an exclamation -of relief, that the young surgeon’s heart was beating strongly. - -Reassured by this, Nick threw the light upon Adelina Garvan. Patsy was -entirely free by that time and pressed forward anxiously. His wife was -conscious and seemingly unhurt, although she had been bound like the -rest. - -“Is it all right, dear?” her young husband asked eagerly. - -She gave a nod. - -“Then the chief will cut you loose. Unfortunately, I have other fish to -fry.” - -“Yes, you had better get busy,” Nick agreed. “It will save time if I -attend to Adelina while you’re trying to force your way out.” - -“By the way, did you send for any ‘brass buttons’?” Patsy asked his wife -suddenly. - -This time she shook her head, and a look of distress came into her -expressive dark eyes. - -Her husband bent suddenly and extracted the gag from her mouth. - -“Why not?” he inquired gently, striving to conceal his disappointment. - -“I--I thought you would whistle if you wanted me to,” Adelina replied -apologetically. “It didn’t seem possible that they could down all three -of you without giving you a chance to signal to me, and I was afraid of -‘gumming things up,’ as you call it. Just before they seized me, though, -the police were coming--to investigate the explosion, I suppose. But I -didn’t have any chance to call out--I was so taken by surprise. They -came in the back way and I thought it was you and the chief.” - -“Never mind, little woman!” Nick spoke up consolingly. “You couldn’t -help it. Get to work, Patsy. We haven’t any time to lose. It isn’t -likely, under the circumstances, that the police will search Grantley’s -house, and there’s no knowing how soon those scoundrels may come for us -again.” - -Patsy waited, however, until Nick had flashed the light on the other -figure. The suspense was painful. - -Yes, as he had suspected, the fifth occupant of the bin was the Jewish -girl. The sheet which had partially covered her on the operating table -had been wrapped about her. - -Her bare feet and shoulders protruded from it and were as white as the -muslin itself. She lay in a position which suggested that she did not -have a bone in her body, so strangely twisted was it. - -The detective bent forward reluctantly and drew down the sheet. He felt -it necessary--after ascertaining that she was still breathing -faintly--to see in what condition her wound had been left. - -Her heart had evidently been replaced, for a bandage, tightly drawn, had -been wrapped about her body under the arms. - -It was stained with blood, and there was little doubt that the terrible -opening had not been sewn up at all. The bandage was merely a temporary -one, resorted to for the sake of keeping her alive, if possible, until -Grantley should determine what was to be done with her and the others. - -The vivisectionists’ victim was still alive, and that was about all that -could be said. Patsy had seen enough. He left Nick to care for her and -Adelina, and turned his attention to the walls of their strange prison. - -Their place of confinement was even smaller than he had supposed, and -the air was already stifling, and it was being breathed much faster than -it could possibly be renewed through the tiny cracks between the boards. - -Patsy’s head was already beginning to feel as if there was an iron band -around it, which was being drawn tighter and tighter. The memory of the -girl’s deathly pallor and the bloodstained bandage sickened him, under -the circumstances, to an unaccustomed extent. - -Patsy selected a collapsible jimmy from his set of tools. This he pushed -out to its fullest length, then, armed with it, he attacked the boards -at one side of the bin. - -He preferred to make his attempt there, rather than in front, because, -if he made any headway, their enemies would not be so likely to see what -was going on as soon as they set foot again in the cellar. - -Before doing so, however, he had cautiously tapped on the side chosen, -and produced a hollow sound, which told him that there were no -obstructions on the other side of the plank wall--none, at least, which -were immediately in contact with the boards. - -His little tool, a slender rod of iron, not much more than a foot in -length, seemed inadequate. Patsy knew what it could do, though, and just -how to use it to the best advantage. - -In his skilled hands it immediately began to bring results which seemed -out of all proportion to their cause. The heavy planks, a good two -inches thick, laid close together and fastened with big wire nails, -started to give at once when the flattened end of the jimmy was inserted -in the cracks and the tool used as a miniature crowbar. - -The wire nails screeched with startling loudness as they were drawn out -of the wood of the stout uprights, but that could not be avoided. Patsy -worked as cautiously and slowly as the circumstances seemed to justify, -and for the rest he could only hope that the occupants of the house were -too far away to hear the noises he was obliged to make. - -Apparently, they did not, for there was no sign of approach as yet. Soon -one of the planks, about eight or ten inches wide, was pried loose -sufficiently to allow it to be drawn into the bin, out of sight. - -Nick, who had released Adelina and cut the ropes from the still -unconscious physician, helped his assistant in this. They took care not -to drop the board, and as soon as it was deposited on the concrete floor -of the bin, Nick took the jimmy and attacked the next one above it. - -The hole was already large enough to allow one of them to wriggle -through, and Patsy, at his chief’s suggestion, took advantage of that -fact. - -The plan was that Patsy should secretly escape from the house, if -possible, through one of the cellar windows, taking Adelina with him. He -could then summon help and return. - -It would have greatly increased their difficulties to have tried to -remove the mutilated girl at that time--aside from the probability that -such an attempt, without proper conveniences, would kill her outright. - -As for Doctor Cooke, he was coming to under Adelina’s ministrations, but -it would be some time before he was on his feet again and able to cope -with the difficulties involved. - -Consequently, Nick decided to remain where he was and guard his two -charges as well as he could, in the absence of weapons, while Patsy and -Adelina sought a way out. Moreover, while he was waiting for the result -of the sally, he meant to enlarge the opening, in order that the girl -could be removed as soon as the way was cleared for the summoning of an -ambulance. - -Adelina wished to stay, but Nick made her see that that was useless. -She accordingly followed Patsy through the narrow space between the -boards. - -They found themselves in another coal bin--an honest one this time. -There was a ton or so of coal in it, but it sloped up toward the -opposite wall and the back in such a way that it did not interfere with -their escape. - -They proceeded very cautiously, nevertheless, for there was a little -coal underfoot and it had a tendency to roll under their feet and set -the main mass to sliding. - -They gained the front of the bin without making much noise, and Patsy -climbed over. He was just in the act of helping his wife to do likewise, -when their hearts stopped for a moment. - -They heard footsteps over their heads, followed by the opening of a -door. - -Immediately afterward came voices, distinctly audible, and the creak of -stairs close at hand. - -The cellar was being entered again--and by their foes. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -PATSY TO THE FRONT. - - -The shock benumbed Patsy’s faculties only for a moment. - -He gave Adelina’s waist a warning squeeze, then lifted her over with a -rush, set her lightly and silently on her feet, and dragged her to one -side. - -He made no attempt to warn Nick, for he knew that his chief’s keen ears -had already done that for him. - -Next to the bin from which they had just emerged was a space not -partitioned off, which contained several barrels and boxes. It was -nearer to the stairway than the bins, but Patsy instantly decided that -they could hide behind the barrels before there was much chance of their -being seen, and they were the nearest shelter, anyway. - -The foremost figure on the stairs was evidently carrying a candle, for -the light which shone on the steps was dim and flickering. The feet of -two men were now in sight, but the upper parts of their bodies were -still hidden, when Patsy and Adelina dodged behind the nearest of the -friendly barrels. - -Another advantage of their position was that they would be between their -enemies and the stairs when the crisis came, as it was almost certain to -do. - -They crouched down in their dusty, stale-smelling retreat and waited -with bated breaths. - -“This is an awful thing that you are planning to do, Doctor Grantley,” -said a voice, which Patsy recognized as that of the assistant, Siebold. -“It isn’t the mere taking of lives that I’m thinking about now. That has -come to mean comparatively little to us, although we have never murdered -anybody in cold blood, for the sake of murder, or any personal reason. -We’ve experimented on plenty of people, though, knowing that there -wasn’t one chance of recovery in a hundred; and there isn’t so very much -difference between that and downright murder. But think what this -means--think of Nick Carter’s fame and the rumpus his disappearance will -cause! We’ve made a clean sweep next door, but he must have other -associates, who will know why he was living up here. They’ll put the -police wise, and between them they’ll make short work of arresting us -and turning this house inside out.” - -While Doctor Siebold had been speaking, he and his companions--for it -turned out that there were two of them--had passed Patsy’s hiding place -and paused in front of the trick bin. - -“Well, let them!” Grantley answered, in a voice that was thick and harsh -with rage. “Nobody--I don’t care who--can stick his nose into my affairs -and try to make me out a criminal just because I choose to risk a few -worthless lives. This confounded Carter couldn’t prove anything, but he -and that fool, Cooke, could have me hounded from pillar to post. My work -is far too important to permit it to be interfered with by any such -meddlesome blunderers. They must take the consequences. As for there -being any ‘comeback,’ that is out of the question. At any rate, I’m -willing to take the risk, and I pay you fellows to do the same. We’re -all in it, and we must hang together. If you balk, either you or Hoff, -here, you’ll go the same way. I give you fair warning. They can arrest -us if they want to, but they’ll find nothing to convict us--I promise -you that. There are several carboys of that new acid of ours upstairs. -After we have given them a bath in that there won’t be a trace of any of -them left. And when we get through with it, we can pour it down a drain. -Fortunately, it hasn’t any odor to speak of, and no one will ever know -the difference. Then we can clean everything up here in the cellar and -elsewhere, and sit tight. The police have been sent away none the wiser, -and it isn’t likely that they’ll bother us again to-night. Everything -will be quiet until Carter’s friends begin to get uneasy, and when that -happens, we’ll be prepared for anything. Get to work, Hoff, and open -that door!” - -Patsy was at a loss to understand what door was meant, but he had no -doubt that his chief was in danger of discovery. Therefore, he leaned -over until his lips touched Adelina’s ears. - -“Wait until I give them something to think about,” he breathed, “and -then slip upstairs. I think the others have gone. Go next door and -telephone.” - -His wife nodded silently. Patsy might be mistaken about the other -doctors. It was more than possible that she would run into them before -she could get out of the house. Nevertheless, she was game. - -They heard the jingling of keys, and then a rasping, as of a padlock -being removed. Following that came the creaking of rusty hinges. - -They could not see what was going on. If they had been able to, they -would have been greatly surprised, for the two lower boards at the -front of the bin in which they had been confined formed a rude door, -which was being opened outward by Hoff. - -Patsy had not investigated the front of the bin, having preferred to -force his way out at one side. Even if he had discovered evidences of -the door, however, the padlock on the outside would have prevented him -from taking advantage of the fact. - -Incidentally, this padlock, being in plain sight from the outside, -showed that there had been no attempt to conceal the existence of the -door. - -Obviously, those responsible for its presence had assumed that, in the -case of a possible search of the premises, it would be accounted for on -the theory that it was used to facilitate the removal of coal from -underneath. - -Patsy was somewhat mystified by the turn affairs had taken, and could -not understand how the door alluded to by Grantley could give the -rascals access to his friends. Nevertheless, his instinct told him that -such must be the case. - -He felt in the barrel behind which he was hiding. Luckily it was nearly -full of odds and ends of junk, including several pieces of old iron, -evidently parts of a kitchen range. - -Patsy seized upon one of these fragments. It must have been part of the -top of the stove, along the edge, for it included one straight side -about fifteen inches long and parts of two stove holes, with jagged -edges between. - -It was likely to prove a formidable weapon in Patsy’s hands. - -The young detective lost no time in pulling it out of the barrel. He was -obliged to make a noise in so doing, but the time for care had passed. -It was haste that was demanded at that stage, for he wished to attract -the attention of the trio, and thereby cover emergence from the bin, as -well as Adelina’s flight. - -“What was that?” demanded Grantley. - -The words had barely left the vivisectionist’s lips before Patsy burst -from the shadows and ran forward with his rude weapon uplifted. - -“You know me all right, gentlemen!” he called, with a grin of defiance. - -“In the fiend’s name!” ejaculated Grantley, starting back. “How did----” - -As he advanced, Patsy swept the scene with a quick glance. He saw that -the front of the fake bin gaped open and that Hoff was just in the act -of straightening up, with one hand still on the little door. - -If Hoff had already seen anything out of the way inside, though, he had -had no time to communicate the fact to his companions. - -Nick’s assistant had taken all three of them completely by surprise, and -it was obvious that they were either unarmed or too dumfounded to draw -their weapons. It was quite possible that the former was the case, for -they could not have foreseen any need for firearms in handling the -prisoners whom they had bound so securely. - -At any rate, Patsy was already within arm’s reach of Grantley, who was -the nearest of the trio. - -The surgeon was far from a coward, but in the face of this unexpected -onslaught he could only back toward his allies. His manner was still -dazed, and his eyes were fastened unwinkingly on Patsy, in the manner of -a fascinated squirrel under the spell of a boa constrictor. - -It was not until the strange weapon was actually descending that he -recovered his presence of mind enough to dodge--or try to do so. - -He succeeded only partially, however. The piece of iron missed his head -by a fraction of an inch, but descended with numbing force on the -muscles of his right shoulder. - -Hoff had tried to protect him, but the German’s interference came a -little too late to be very effective. He thrust his staggering employer -aside, however, and jumped at Patsy before the latter could recover for -another blow. - -Patsy gave back a step or two and thus came close to the front of the -coal bin, that adjoined the one with the false bottom. - -The German was larger and much more fully muscled than the young -detective. It looked as if the latter was pitted against more than his -match. But Patsy was not daunted in the least. He was chiefly concerned -just then with the hope that his wife would not delay her attempt to -escape and that Nick would be able to crawl out of the hole before he -was discovered. - -“Ach! So?” snarled Hoff. “Ve shall see!” - -He caught Patsy’s upraised wrist in a powerful grip and one of his big -arms went around the young man’s waist. Patsy felt himself being bent -backward from the hips in a way that was far from agreeable. - -Despite Hoff’s hold, he managed to toss the piece of iron into the coal -bin. It was only in his way now, but he did not care to drop it where -one of his enemies could possess himself of it without any trouble. - -As soon as he was relieved of this encumbrance, he began to do his best -to break Hoff’s hold. He was master of hundreds of tricks of ordinary -wrestling and jujutsu. Moreover, his suppleness and rapidity of motion -went no little way to offset Hoff’s brute strength and ponderous bulk. - -The result, for the time being, was something surprisingly like a draw. - -The German pinned his lighter antagonist against the front of the bin of -coal, but Patsy’s lithe wrigglings prevented him from bringing the -struggle to a conclusion. - -As for Grantley and Siebold, they made no attempt to take a hand, on the -assumption that Hoff ought to be able to handle Patsy alone. - -They were too much interested in the struggle, however, to realize the -full significance of Patsy’s escape from captivity, or to look into the -hole to see if any of their other prisoners had escaped. - -There was a gas jet close to Siebold, which he had lighted with the aid -of the candle as soon as Hoff had engaged Patsy. The gas was turned low, -to keep it from attracting attention on the outside, but it illuminated -the cellar sufficiently for them to see a skulking form beyond the -combatants--a skirted form, that was creeping stealthily toward the -stairs. - -Doctor Siebold discovered it first and seized Grantley’s arm. - -“Look there!” he cried, in alarm. “Another is loose--the girl!” - -It was indeed Adelina whom he had seen, and she had heard the -exclamation. It warned her that no time was to be lost. - -She broke into a run, while Patsy ground his teeth at the mishap which -had revealed her, and Siebold sprang forward, in pursuit. - -The chase was arrested the next moment, however, in a startling way. - -“Look out!” shouted Grantley. - -His tone was peremptory and shrill with excited warning. - -Siebold paused abruptly and turned his head. Grantley was not looking -after the scurrying girl at all, but at the bin, just above the heads of -the struggling men. - -A head and a pair of upraised arms, with something grasped threateningly -with both hands, had suddenly appeared there, the rest of the body being -hidden by the boards which formed the front of the coal bin. - -“Hoff!” cried Siebold. - -But his warning was too late. A heavy shovel whistled through the air -and descended with a sickening thud on the German’s head. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -VARYING FORTUNES. - - -It was Nick Carter who had come to his assistant’s rescue--and, -incidentally, had taken a hand just in time to halt Siebold in the -latter’s pursuit of Adelina. - -Contrary to Patsy’s expectations, the detective had chosen to crawl -through the opening into the next bin, instead of through the little -door which Hoff had opened at the front. - -Grantley and Siebold were too near the latter to make it a safe exit, -for Nick would have had to crawl out on his hands and knees, and they -would have been practically certain to see him before he could get into -a position to defend himself to advantage. - -By creeping into the other bin, however, as Patsy had done, he was -enabled to remain under cover until he was ready to make his presence -known. - -Moreover, he had found there the shovel which had been used to throw the -coal over the false bottom of the trick bin, and with this as a weapon -he had decided to terminate the struggle between his assistant and the -servant. - -There was no doubt about his success. - -The handle of the shovel narrowly missed Patsy’s head, but Nick knew -what he was about. The heavy metal scoop landed fairly on Hoff’s -cranium, and the German crumpled up in the arms of the astonished -assistant, who let the body of his antagonist drop to the floor. - -An instant later Nick was vaulting over the barrier. - -The young Irishman picked up the shovel. He did not wait for his chief -to alight, nor did he apparently pay any attention to Adelina, whose -feet were pattering on the stairs by that time. It was enough for him to -hear them and to know that he could now prevent her from being followed. - -He singled out Doctor Siebold and sprang at him, whirling the big shovel -aloft as he did so, and leaving Nick to attend to Grantley. He knew that -the detective would prefer to deal with the ringleader himself. - -Siebold was unarmed, and a hasty, panic-stricken survey of his -surroundings failed to reveal anything in the nature of a weapon within -reach. - -Suddenly, however, he leaped toward the gas jet and turned the -thumbscrew. Immediately the cellar was plunged in darkness, except for a -faint light, which filtered down the distant stairs from the lighted -hallway above. - -Nick’s assistant had read Siebold’s purpose, but he was too far away to -thwart it. He dropped the shovel, however, as soon as the light went -out, and flung himself toward the place where Siebold had been standing. - -His outstretched arms encountered empty air and then the rough, -whitewashed wall, to which the gas bracket was fastened. But his keen -ears caught a noise just to the right. He knew in a second that Siebold -had dodged in that direction and could not be more than a foot or two -away. - -Sheering off from the wall, he plunged recklessly in pursuit, leaning as -far forward as he dared, every sense on the alert to catch the -slightest hint of Siebold’s movements. - -It was evident at once that the assistant surgeon had made a foolish -blunder. If he had dodged to Patsy’s left, instead of his right, the -young detective would have necessarily been between him and the light on -the stairs. As it was, though, he was between Patsy and the light, and -his antagonist saw his form dimly outlined as Siebold took another tack. - -Patsy’s eyes had not yet accustomed themselves to the changed -conditions, but they were in much better shape to see what was going on -than the average person’s would have been under like circumstances. -Consequently, he made out as much as was necessary, and instantly -changed his own course. - -Simultaneously, he bounded forward with added confidence and -impetuosity. The result was that he grasped Siebold’s coat almost -immediately. - -The young surgeon tried to wriggle out of the garment, but before he -could free himself, Patsy had grasped both of his arms and brought him -to a halt. - -Siebold was at a disadvantage because he was half out of and half in his -coat, and, consequently, his resistance was not what it might have been -otherwise. - -He fought desperately, in a frenzy of fear, while curse after curse -passed his writhing lips. But Patsy hung on with comparative ease. - -Gradually the young doctor’s wrists were brought together behind his -back. Then, to make sure that Siebold would not break away while one of -his captor’s hands was temporarily withdrawn, Patsy deliberately -tripped him and fell as heavily as he could on top. - -While Siebold was gasping for breath to replace that which the -unexpected fall had knocked out of him, Nick’s assistant reached into -his pocket, produced a pair of handcuffs, and snapped them into place. - -Siebold was not likely to give further trouble just then. In fact, Patsy -intimated as much to his captive, and added: - -“So just lie there and think it over while I throw some light on this -business again.” - -He had scarcely regained his feet before there was a clatter and the -sound of a heavy fall. An exclamation accompanied it, which told Patsy -that it was his chief who had gone down. Besides, there could be little -doubt that it was the shovel which had tripped his chief, while the -latter was scouting about in the darkness on Grantley’s trail. - -He had dropped the shovel near the gas fixture, so that the sound now -helped to guide him toward his objective point. He did not speak to -Nick, however, for he was afraid, if the latter answered, that the sound -of his voice would help Grantley to locate him, in case the scoundrelly -surgeon was game enough to pounce upon his discomfited enemy instead of -taking that opportunity to steal away. - -Patsy’s thoughtful precaution was useless. Before he could reach his -fallen chief, or the detective could scramble to his feet, Grantley had -turned back and leaped upon Carter with all the fury of desperation and -murderous resolve. - -Nick had been expecting that move on the part of the vivisectionist, -and listening for it. He was still on his knees, but he had laid hold of -the shovel to keep it out of Grantley’s hands. - -The surgeon’s impetuous rush caused him almost to fall over the -detective’s arched body. He came from one side, at an angle, and the -impact threw Nick over again. His side struck one of the sharp edges of -the shovel, which he had not been able to get out of the way. - -An involuntary exclamation escaped him as a pain stabbed him through and -through. His grip on the handle of the shovel relaxed for a moment. The -next instant Grantley’s groping hands had found it and jerked it from -under him. - -“Now, curse you,” the surgeon cried, “we’ll see how you like your own -medicine!” - -Again the shovel was upraised, this time over Nick’s own head. - -The detective forgot his aching side. Grantley’s knees were gripping his -legs, as they might have gripped the side of a horse, but the -vivisectionist had been compelled to use both hands to swing the shovel -upward. - -With surprising ease, Nick flung the upper part of his body around until -his head and shoulders were close to Grantley’s left knee. - -As he did so, the ponderous weapon descended. Its target had shifted, -however, and the shovel rang against the concrete floor with a force -that stung Grantley’s hands. - -At the same instant the detective’s arms reached up and shot around his -waist--and the darkness fled. - -The struggle had been taking place directly between Patsy and the gas -jet, with the result that Nick’s assistant had halted uncertainly and -peered forward for a few seconds. He did not hesitate long, though, for -it suddenly occurred to him that his flash lamp had probably been left -undisturbed, as the burglar tools had been. - -He was right, and it was the work of an instant only to find the -electric torch and turn its rays upon the combatants. His first glance -reassured him, for he saw that his chief had managed to twist himself in -a position which made it impossible for Grantley to use the shovel -successfully. - -Instinctively Patsy’s eyes traveled from them to the fallen German. The -latter was seemingly as unconscious as ever. - -“Shall I finish him, chief?” the young detective asked eagerly, turning -back again. - -He knew that Nick had been knocked out pretty thoroughly, and saw no -good reason for prolonging the fight; as a matter of fact, however, he -had little hope that Nick would allow him to interfere. - -“You might choke him off for me,” the detective said, with a wry face. - -Evidently his side was troubling him more than he would have cared to -confess. - -Patsy needed nothing more. He laid down his flash lamp--which was so -made that it did not require a continuous pressure on the button to -remain lighted--and jumped into the fray. - -His fingers went around Grantley’s neck and he jerked the surgeon -backward until Nick was freed. Grantley struggled for all he was worth, -but the grip on his throat did not relax. His face grew purple and -congested, his tongue hung out of his slavering jaws, and still Patsy -maintained that terrible hold. - -Gradually the vivisectionist’s struggles became weaker and weaker, but -it was not until Nick had handcuffed him that Patsy’s grip was loosened. - -As soon as he had tossed the gasping and almost unconscious man aside, -Patsy made for Hoff, with the intention of securing him before he should -come to and give any more trouble. - -He halted on the way, however, amazed to find Doctor Cooke in his path. -Nick’s friend had slowly regained his senses, and, finding himself free, -had crawled out of his prison house as soon as he felt it safe to do so. - -He and Patsy exchanged a few hurried words, after which the latter -started upstairs, to satisfy himself that all was well with Adelina. - -He met her returning to the Grantley house, and learned from her that -she had telephoned to the police and the nearest hospital. An ambulance -and a patrol wagon, full of reserves, soon arrived. There was no longer -any need of the latter, but the ambulance was very welcome. - -The Jewish girl--whose name was subsequently found to be Alma Baum--was -tenderly removed from the cellar and carried to the hospital, where she -ultimately recovered from her terrible experience. - -Grantley’s skill had made a bungling job impossible, despite the highly -dangerous nature of the inexcusable operation which had been performed -upon her. - -Alma owes her life to Nick Carter twice over, as a matter of fact, for -the detective was not only instrumental in halting the operation and -rushing her to the hospital at the earliest possible moment, but also -furnished the money which enabled her, later on, to go to the -Adirondacks, where she made a complete recovery from her lung trouble. - -Grantley, Siebold, and Hoff were locked up that night. The six young -physicians who had been Grantley’s disciples had left the house before -the climax, after the flesh wound which Patsy had inflicted on one of -them had been dressed. The nurse had taken “French leave” as soon as her -employer and his two companions started for the cellar. All of them were -rounded up, however, despite the difficulties involved. - -Nick was usually opposed to newspaper sensations, but in this instance -he encouraged the newspapers to make as much as they could of the -arrests and the shocking practices which had led up to them. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -A SURPRISING DEVELOPMENT. - - -“You say that Doctor Hiram Grantley has offered his services to J. -Hackley Baldwin? What do you mean?” - -These two startled questions were put by Nick Carter to a handsome, -impressive-looking man of the most polished professional aspect. - -The scene of the interview was the detective’s study, and the -gray-haired man in eyeglasses, with whom he was closeted, was Doctor -Delos Vanderpool, physician to many of the most exclusive families in -the city, and, more particularly, the family practitioner of J. Hackley -Baldwin, the blind multimillionaire. - -“I mean exactly what I say, Mr. Carter,” Doctor Vanderpool replied -gravely. “There is no room for mistake, unfortunately. Grantley, the -surgeon who has been shown up so completely--thanks to you--in -connection with his reckless and shocking experiments on living human -beings, has had the effrontery to approach Mr. Baldwin and offer to -perform an operation on his eyes.” - -The detective’s attitude relaxed as a result of this explanation. He -knew as well as anybody that the powerful millionaire had been totally -blind for years, and had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and -submitted to numerous operations in vain, in an attempt to recover his -sight. - -“Well, what of it?” he asked quietly. “I am surprised that Grantley -should have aimed so high, after all the undesirable publicity of his -recent trial; but he cannot operate on Mr. Baldwin without his consent, -and surely there is not the slightest likelihood that that will be -granted.” - -“That is just the trouble,” the physician responded, with a worried look -in his eyes. - -“You mean that Mr. Baldwin is actually considering the fellow’s offer?” -Nick queried, in surprise. - -Vanderpool nodded reluctantly. - -“I am sorry to say he is,” he answered. “More than that, he seems -determined to place himself in Grantley’s hands. Nothing I have been -able to say appears to have shaken his resolve in the smallest degree.” - -Carter whistled. - -“Doesn’t he know what Hiram Grantley is?” he demanded. - -“Mr. Baldwin keeps in touch, through his secretaries, with everything of -importance that goes on in the world,” was the reply. “He claims to have -followed Grantley’s trial very closely. Moreover, I have taken it upon -myself to speak very plainly to him. As a matter of fact, though, he -knows a great deal more about Grantley than I do. He has caused the most -minute inquiries into the man’s professional record to be made, and, as -a consequence, he has discovered that Grantley has had remarkable -success as an eye surgeon in many cases. Not only that, but Grantley -himself seems to have made a great impression on Mr. Baldwin by the -confident way in which he has stated his qualifications and declared his -belief that he could restore the financier’s sight. Now, Mr. Carter, -there is no doubt, of course, that Hiram Grantley has been one of the -ablest surgeons in America, if not in the world. Strictly speaking, -there is nothing to be said against his qualifications, and a great deal -to be said for them. But the man has been under suspicion for years, and -is thoroughly discredited now. His scientific zeal and ruthless -disregard of life have carried him beyond all bounds and made him no -better than a murderer in the eyes even of his brother surgeons. You -caught him red-handed, and although twelve fools in a jury room saw fit -to disagree over his guilt, he stands condemned to-day before the -world’s bar of judgment. Shall such a man be permitted to do as he -pleases with one of the most precious lives in the country? And, aside -from his unsavory record, he has violated professional ethics in the -most serious way by making an unsolicited offer of that sort. What is -behind it? That is what is worrying me chiefly, however. Is it based on -actual confidence in his ability to cure Mr. Baldwin’s blindness, and -designed to restore Baldwin himself to popular favor; or is it not -possible that there is a secret and sinister motive in the background, -which threatens Mr. Baldwin with injury or death? You can see now why I -have come to you.” - -Nick Carter remained silent for perhaps a minute, thoughtfully studying -the blotter on his desk. - -“How far has it gone?” he inquired presently. “Has the date of the -operation been set?” - -“Yes, the day after to-morrow, at ten a. m.” - -“And the place?” - -Doctor Vanderpool made a wry face. - -“Grantley’s residence and ‘private hospital’ in the Bronx--the scene of -your raid,” he said. - -“Baldwin is evidently willing to take chances in order to recover his -sight,” the detective said musingly, after another brief pause. “As you -say, it is quite possible, theoretically at least, that Grantley has -sufficient skill to do what the others have failed to do. He has -certainly performed many surgical miracles. This seems to be another -instance of a drowning man grasping at a straw. In his anxiety to see -again, Baldwin does not care what liberties Grantley’s knife may have -taken with the bodies of obscure persons living on the East Side, or how -near he came to murdering us that night, after we had interfered with -his bloody scientific pastimes. Your multimillionaire friend feels -confident that Grantley would not dare try any tricks on him, and he is -willing to overlook the unprofessional manner of the man’s approach. He -is impatient toward restraint, used to having his own way in everything, -and, fired by a new hope, he is harder to manage than ever. Is that the -way you interpret the situation, doctor?” - -“I could not hope to put it better.” - -“That is the way I size it up--that part of it, anyway. As for the rest, -however, you’ll have to give me a little time to think it over. I’m very -glad you came to me. As you say, there may be something queer back of -it. By the way, can you arrange an interview for me with Mr. Baldwin, in -case I find it necessary to call upon him?” - -“Certainly.” - -“Very well. I may ask you to do so later on. In any case, I shall let -you know as soon as I come to any decision.” - -Doctor Vanderpool rose to go, and took his departure after a few more -words, confident that he had placed the matter in the best possible -hands. - -Nick Carter remained at his desk, absent-mindedly drawing circles on his -blotter. - -The puzzle which had been given to him to solve was a decidedly unusual -one, and it might mean almost anything--or next to nothing. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -WANTED: A MOTIVE. - - -The case against Grantley and his confederates had furnished one of the -greatest newspaper sensations of recent years, and the attitude of the -public toward the vivisectionists was bitter in the extreme. - -Their trials were delayed for some months, during which time Nick and -his assistants collected all the evidence they could obtain. The girl -recovered, and, as there had been no law at the time to forbid such -unnecessary operations, the detective was compelled to furnish another -basis for prosecution. - -It was that or nothing. - -After a great deal of probing, Nick had brought to light an instance of -actual death as a result of a previous experiment in vivisection, which -had been carried out by Doctor Grantley and the same set of assistants. - -It was that of a little boy, also from the East Side, and the son of -poor parents. He had been lame, and Grantley had carried him to the -private hospital in the Bronx, after promising a cure by means of an -operation on his hip. - -The operation that had actually been performed, however, had borne -absolutely no relation to the child’s lameness, and he had died from the -effects of it. - -It seemed a clear case of manslaughter, and the prosecution put all its -strength into it. But Grantley still had means, despite the fact that -his practice had fallen off to an alarming extent in recent years. -Moreover, he was exceptionally clever and had retained a number of -powerful friends among the more radical and unscrupulous surgeons in the -State. - -As a consequence, his defense was an unexpectedly strong one. He and his -lawyers brought forward expert witness after witness to testify in his -behalf, all of whom insisted that there was, or might have been, -abundant justification for the operation performed. - -The experts for the prosecution denied this, of course, and between them -they managed to bewilder the jury to such an extent that the long trial -resulted finally in a disagreement. - -To cap the climax, the district attorney had decided to release the -prisoners, rather than hold them for a new trial. He did not believe it -possible to convict them, and desired to save the county needless -expense. - -This decision was a great disappointment to Nick and his assistants, as -well as to the public generally. - -Nevertheless, the agitation had resulted in placing on the statute books -a new law, which made it a crime for any surgeon to perform an operation -of any kind without the consent of the patient or some relative or -responsible friend. Furthermore, any unnecessary operation, or any -surgical or other experiment having no bearing on the patient’s ailment, -was at last prohibited, under penalty of a heavy fine and imprisonment. - -Therefore, if Grantley should return to his old practices, it would be a -comparatively easy matter to convict him. - -Nick and his assistants made it their business to keep a close but -unobtrusive watch over the liberated surgeons. Grantley and his -lieutenant, young Doctor Siebold, accompanied by the nurse, Miss -Rawlinson, returned to the former’s house immediately after their -release. Most of the others scattered, some of them going so far as to -change their names. - -The detectives kept track of them all, but did not attempt to interfere -with them in any way. Nick was willing to give them the benefit of the -doubt. If they had learned their lesson they did not need to fear any -further action. If, on the other hand, they should attempt to resume -their questionable or criminal methods, it would then be time enough to -act. - -For some weeks nothing had developed to indicate that Grantley was doing -anything at all. He seemed to have no patients, and to be seeking none. - -At the end of that interval, Nick Carter had been surprised by the visit -of Doctor Vanderpool. After the eminent physician’s departure, the -detective remained buried in thought for half an hour or more. - -The situation was unique. - -Grantley’s action in approaching such a commanding figure as J. Hackley -Baldwin, at such a time and under such circumstances, was little short -of staggering, and Nick could easily understand Doctor Vanderpool’s -anxiety. - -The Fifth Avenue practitioner had hit upon what seemed to be the two -alternative explanations, at least the two most likely ones. Either one -was quite possible. - -There was no doubt about Hiram Grantley’s daring or his confidence in -himself. His great ability was unquestioned, and his release had -probably convinced him that he was safe enough in going to almost any -lengths. - -Therefore, the truth seemed to lie close to either one of two -suppositions--one of them harmless, the other freighted with direful -possibilities. - -The harmless one, as Doctor Vanderpool had pointed out, had to do with a -possible and very natural desire on Grantley’s part to regain the -confidence and prestige which he had forfeited. - -It was not difficult to understand that he might really believe himself -capable of restoring the blind financier’s sight, and if he could get a -chance to do that it would mean a great deal of money in his pocket, an -immense amount of free advertising, and a resultant modification of -public opinion. - -So far, all was plain sailing. Baldwin had been blind for many years, to -be sure, without previously receiving any such offer from Grantley; but -the fact could be explained away without much difficulty. The surgeon -had never been in such a predicament before, had never been so badly in -need of such a boost as this would give him if he could make good. - -On the other hand, there loomed the sinister possibility that Grantley -had something worse up his sleeve. In other words, his intentions might -be criminal, and he might be plotting harm to the multimillionaire. - -But in what way, and for what reason? - -Surely, if he intended to go back to the methods which had been so -unsparingly exposed and condemned, he did not need to choose so shining -a mark for his unlawful experiments. On the contrary, it would seem to -be to his interest to aim low, and to continue to pick out victims who -were comparatively unimportant to the world at large. - -Besides, he must have known that a man of Baldwin’s wealth and standing -would not place himself in the hands of any one without instituting the -most rigid inquiries. His offer could not fail to be discussed by those -close to the great financier, and it would be sure to cause a sensation. - -Why had he braved all the dangers involved and defied all of the many -obstacles which lay between a notorious and discredited surgeon and one -of the most carefully guarded of Wall Street’s money kings? - -Was it merely because he longed to “come back,” to reëstablish himself -by means of one brilliant coup, or did his motive lie far deeper than -that, in some dark corner of his cruel nature? - -And if the latter was the case, what could that motive possibly be? Was -it financial or personal in character? - -It was difficult to see how Grantley could hope to benefit, in a -financial way, by harming Baldwin. The crooked surgeon might have larger -interests in the money world than any one knew of, but to strike at one -of the big magnates was to precipitate widespread shrinkage in values, -perhaps a panic on the floor of the Stock Exchange. - -On the whole, therefore, if Grantley’s motive was an evil one, the -chances were that it involved revenge of one kind or another. - -It might be private revenge, a desire on Grantley’s part to retaliate -for some real or fancied wrong done to him; or it was conceivable that -one or more of Baldwin’s rivals in the game of high finance had hired -the rascally surgeon to put him out of commission. - -As a matter of fact, though, Nick was not inclined to put much faith in -the latter theory. If Grantley’s object had to do with revenge of some -kind, the chances were that strictly private reasons were involved. - -A painstaking examination of Grantley’s record might reveal those -reasons, but the detective was not hopeful on that score. The time at -his disposal was too short, for one thing. For another, since it was -obvious that Baldwin did not know of any particular reason for -distrusting the surgeon--aside from his tendency to cut up his East Side -patients--the cause of any enmity which might exist seemed to be an -obscure one, the whys and wherefores of which were locked in Grantley’s -own breast. - -If that was the case, an investigation would only result in a waste of -precious time. Consequently, Nick decided to take the bull by the horns. - -First, he would call on Grantley himself and put him through a rigid -cross-examination, in an effort to worm his secret out of him, if -possible. - -Second, no matter whether he was successful in this first interview or -not, he intended to see the financier and add his influence to Doctor -Vanderpool’s, in a final attempt to dissuade Baldwin from submitting to -the proposed operation. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -A BOLD MOVE. - - -The first part of Nick’s plan involved a certain amount of risk. - -It takes courage to beard a man of Doctor Grantley’s type in his own -lair, especially after a narrow escape from annihilation by acid in that -same lair. Nick Carter never allowed such considerations to weigh with -him, however, and the most he consented to do was to take his first -assistant, Chick, with him when he set out for the Bronx. - -Hoff opened the door a crack, in accordance with his usual suspicious -attitude toward visitors. The detective promptly put his foot into the -opening. - -“Is Doctor Grantley in, Hoff?” Nick asked. - -The servant’s face was a study. Amazement at the detective’s daring and -hatred of him for the part he had played were both written there. - -“I see he is,” Nick went on, without waiting for the belated reply. -“Kindly let us in and inform the doctor that I wish to see him at once -on important business.” - -The German hesitated, but presently the door swung open, and they were -invited, in a surly tone, to enter. After leading the way to the -reception room, Hoff went upstairs. Five minutes later Doctor Grantley -put in an appearance. - -“You’re certainly a cool one, Carter!” was his greeting. “What the devil -are you doing here? I thought you had sense enough to let me alone after -that farce of a trial. What new maggot is busy in your head now?” - -“I have left you alone all these weeks, haven’t I?” Nick asked, in turn. -“And I would have continued to do so if you hadn’t taken such an -extraordinary step.” - -A sneer distorted Grantley’s face. - -“Ah, so you have heard of the Baldwin matter, have you?” he asked. -“Well, what about it? What business is it of yours?” - -“I shall make it my business just so far as I see fit, Grantley,” was -the quiet answer. “Knowing that you are a murderer at heart, do you -suppose I am going to stand by with folded hands and let you get one of -the most valuable lives in the country under your knife, without doing -everything in my power to prevent it?” - -“But it doesn’t happen to be in your power, my friend. You have no -standing at all in this affair. It is purely a matter for Mr. Baldwin to -decide, and he has chosen, after a searching investigation, to put -himself into my hands. I am confident that I can restore his sight, and -to that end I obtained an interview with him. He knows all about -me--more than you do, in all probability--and there is nothing underhand -about it. I suppose Vanderpool has run to you with the story, but I care -nothing for Vanderpool’s opinion. I violated professional etiquette, of -course, by openly offering my services; but I’ve never cared a row of -pins for such rules. They’re beneath me. Besides, I had everything to -gain and little or nothing to lose. Your confounded meddling has played -the deuce with my reputation, if it hasn’t done anything else. I saw a -chance to get on top again and make all those fools who have been -attacking me sing another tune. That’s all there is about it, and you -haven’t a leg to stand on.” - -“That sounds plausible enough, as it was meant to sound,” the detective -remarked; “but--are you sure you never lost any money through Baldwin, -or on any of his stocks?” - -The question came out like the snap of a whip, and Nick’s eyes bored -into the surgeon as he watched for its effect. - -Apparently, however, it had none. Grantley did not drop his eyes for a -moment. He returned the detective’s glance, eye for eye, and not a -muscle of his face moved. - -“Guess again, Carter!” he said, after a pause. - -He shrugged his shoulders now, and a triumphant grin overspread his -face. - -“You thought you had me, didn’t you?” he went on. “Well, your little -third degree went for nothing. As I’ve said before, it’s none of your -business; but I’m willing to stretch a point in order to get rid of you. -Therefore, I’ll go so far as to assure you solemnly that there is -absolutely nothing of that sort, or of anything else beyond what I have -stated, about this forthcoming operation on Mr. Baldwin’s eyes. It will -be perfectly straight, and you may be sure that I will give him the -benefit of every bit of skill and experience I possess. Does that -satisfy you?” - -“It would if I had any confidence in your word, solemn or otherwise, -Grantley. As it happens, however, I did not ask you for any such -assurance in regard to the proposed operation on Baldwin’s eyes. You -couldn’t inflict much damage on them, no matter how criminal your -motive might be. But how about some other operation or experiment along -your favorite lines? Will you declare as earnestly that you have no -intention of playing any tricks of that sort?” - -Again Grantley’s eyes met the detective’s without the slightest attempt -at evasion. - -“Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to kick you out of this -house for suggesting such a thing, Carter,” he said, with an obvious -effort to control himself, “but I suppose I’ll have to humor you again. -Suspicion is your stock in trade, and if you can’t find a legitimate -suspicion, you’re evidently content with any old kind, no matter how -insulting or ridiculous. No, my spying friend; I swear that I have never -had any thought of conducting any experiments in vivisection on J. -Hackley Baldwin. Nobody but a lunatic would. A sane man would as soon -set fire to a sheaf of thousand-dollar bills, which represented the bulk -of his wealth. Why, man, you’re letting your silly fears run away with -you! Baldwin has promised me a quarter of a million dollars if this -operation is a success, and he would have given me twice as much--four -times as much--just as readily, if I had insisted upon it. Do you -suppose for a moment that I would try any tricks on him, as you call it, -with such a reward in prospect? Where’s all that superhuman cleverness -of yours, of which I’ve heard so much--and seen so little?” - -Nick refused to take offense, however, and was not daunted in the least. -He returned again and again to the attack from different angles, but was -at last obliged to give it up. - -Grantley stood his ground throughout, and none of Nick’s questions -seemed to cause him any embarrassment. If Grantley was plotting against -the financier in any way, Nick had to confess to himself that he was -about the coolest and most accomplished liar that a long experience had -brought to light. - -Curiously enough, the only tangible thing which kept Nick’s suspicions -alive was the fact that Grantley returned his glances so defiantly. He -got the impression that the surgeon was forcing himself to do so by -sheer power of will. It seemed a little overdone. - -At last Nick was compelled to withdraw with as good grace as he could, -none the wiser for the interview. Grantley lost no opportunity to jeer -at him, but made no hostile demonstration of any other sort. - -At the first opportunity, Nick called upon the blind millionaire, by -appointment. He was not able, however, to give any definite or -compelling reasons for his attitude, and, as he had feared, all of his -arguments were in vain. - -Baldwin admitted the truth of many of the detective’s points, but they -had no weight with him. He plainly showed his knowledge of Grantley’s -past unscrupulousness, but declared that he was willing to take whatever -risks might be involved. - -Nothing could shake his conviction that the surgeon would not dare to -injure him in any way, and he returned repeatedly to Grantley’s own -strongest argument--namely, that the vivisectionist had, in the huge fee -at stake, the greatest possible incentive to do his best. - -Finally, the millionaire thanked Nick for his interest, but announced -his intention of submitting to the operation at the time appointed. - -“I’d give millions, if necessary, to any one who could give me back my -sight, Mr. Carter,” he said, as Nick rose to go; “and the character and -previous record of Doctor Grantley are matters of supreme indifference -to me. If he were guilty of all the crimes in the penal code, I should -still put myself into his hands, for every conceivable consideration of -self-interest would operate to make him hold me sacred and to give me -the utmost of which he is capable.” - -As yet, Nick had nothing to show for his pains, but he did not give up. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -MADDENING SUSPENSE. - - -The detective gave hurried orders to his assistants and set them to work -on another investigation into Grantley’s past, with a view to ascertain, -if possible, the surgeon’s experiences in Wall Street. - -Unfortunately, nothing of any importance was unearthed. - -It was learned that Doctor Grantley had speculated heavily at one time, -years before, and was supposed to have been unlucky in some of his -investments, but the exact facts could not be obtained. - -Nick felt it his duty to communicate the little he had learned to the -blind magnate, and did so, but without result. Baldwin’s hope had been -aroused, and he was pathetically eager to undergo the operation. He sent -word to Nick that he could not see how the latter’s information affected -the situation. Many men had burned their fingers in blind speculation, -he declared, and added his conviction that a detective, with the best -intentions in the world, was “making a mountain out of a child’s sand -pile.” - -Still Nick did not despair, and the probe went on. The next day passed -without bringing anything more definite to light, and the morning of the -operation dawned. - -The blind millionaire was already in Grantley’s hands, having gone to -the private hospital the evening before, in order to become settled in -his new environment and to have a chance to quiet down before the -fateful hour arrived. - -He had no immediate relatives, and would allow no one else to dictate to -him. Against Doctor Vanderpool’s advice, and in spite of the physician’s -anxious pleadings, he insisted upon trusting Grantley implicitly. - -“It’s all or nothing with me,” he persisted in saying. “This operation -is altogether too important to me to allow its success to be threatened -in any way. Grantley knows he is under suspicion, but I do not suspect -him in the least, and I shall consent to nothing that would lead him to -think so. He doesn’t want you or any other hostile personality present, -and I don’t blame him. Besides, it might affect his nerves disastrously. -And any nurse you would be likely to introduce would be bound to reflect -the same antagonistic attitude toward him and his staff. I won’t have my -chances jeopardized by any such childish jealousies.” - -Doctor Vanderpool threw up his hands at that, but Baldwin laid down the -law still further. He made it plain that he not only meant to place -himself in Grantley’s hands for the operation itself, but that he did -not wish any interference afterward, until such time as the surgeon -should pronounce him ready to receive visitors. - -The financier’s stubborn attitude caused Nick Carter many misgivings, -but the detective saw that his own hands were tied. He could not force -his way into the house, in the face of Grantley’s enmity toward him, at -such a critical time. What was more, he could not even keep an effective -watch over the premises, although that would have been small comfort at -best. - -The house immediately adjoining Grantley’s, which Nick had previously -occupied for a time, had been regularly rented since then, so that that -vantage point was no longer available. - -The blind master of millions had, by his own act, completely isolated -himself from his friends for an indefinite period, and put himself -unreservedly in the power of the rascally Grantley, his no less -unscrupulous assistant, Doctor Siebold, and the hard-faced nurse, Kate -Rawlinson. - -Moreover, even the protection of publicity was denied to Baldwin’s -anxious well-wishers. They would have preferred, for the sake of the -effect upon Grantley, to have all the papers publish the fact. They -would have liked to see reporters calling at the private hospital at -frequent intervals, in the hope that public knowledge and interest would -deter the surgeon from crime, if he contemplated anything of the sort. - -But Baldwin had also made that impossible, and for a very good reason: -He realized that there would be the greatest alarm in financial circles -if it became known in advance that he was about to submit to an -operation at the hands of Doctor Hiram Grantley, and, in order to -protect his own interests and those of his friends, he had taken the -most elaborate precautions to keep his whereabouts secret. - -The situation was maddening, but it could not be helped. - -Ten o’clock came and went. Eleven struck, and then twelve. Doctor -Vanderpool was almost beside himself with suspense. He longed to go to -Grantley’s house and inquire about the success of the operation, but he -did not dare for fear the secret would be revealed through the fact that -he was known to be J. Hackley Baldwin’s physician. Besides, such -operations often require several hours. - -Consequently, the doctor haunted Nick Carter’s house, instead. Finally, -at one o’clock, Nick telephoned to Grantley’s house. Hoff, the German -manservant, answered the phone. Nick gave his name and asked after -Grantley’s patient. - -The German replied that his employer had been expecting such an inquiry -and had instructed him to say that the operation had been successful in -every respect, and that Mr. Baldwin was resting quietly. It would be -several days, however, before the patient could safely receive callers, -and meanwhile he would, of course, remain at the private hospital. -Doctor Grantley did not care to answer in person. - -There was an undercurrent of hostility and contempt in the manner in -which the message was delivered, but that was to be expected. It did not -necessarily mean anything, for Nick could hope for nothing else from -Grantley or any of his employees. The detective could do nothing but -formally thank his informant and hang up the receiver. - -He repeated the message, word for word, to Doctor Vanderpool, and the -two consulted. - -Obviously, they knew no more than they had known before. The message -might be a lie from end to end, it might be partially true, or all true, -and there was no way of finding out until Grantley was ready to let -them, unless they went counter to the millionaire’s express -injunctions. - -Would they be justified in doing so? That was one of the most important -of the many problems which confronted them. - -There had been something resembling a ring of truth about Hoff’s report -of the success of the operation, but Nick had already foreseen the -possibility that Grantley might take a fiendish delight in restoring the -millionaire’s sight and then injure him terribly--if not actually kill -him--in some other way. - -To have to wait for days without knowing the true situation seemed more -than flesh could bear. - -On the other hand, if Grantley had really performed the operation in -good faith, a forcible entry and examination of the patient might work -grave injury. - -Baldwin would be kept in a dark room for some time, under such -circumstances, and rest and quiet were an important part of the cure. - -It would excite him greatly to have his wishes disregarded, and Grantley -would doubtless resist such an invasion to the last--very likely to the -extent of arming himself and his staff. - -The detective and Vanderpool realized all this, and finally came to the -conclusion, with the greatest reluctance, that they must let matters -take their course for a few days. - -Some kind of an operation had doubtless been performed on the financier, -and it was extremely improbable that their interference at that late -hour could materially benefit him. Apparently, the most that could be -done involved a more or less long-distance oversight of Grantley’s -doings. - -If any suspicious departures, or other questionable activities were -noticed, it would be time to step in, but not otherwise. - -Time passed. Repeated inquiries were made, both by phone and in person. -Not until the third day did Grantley condescend to see the detective -when the latter called, and then the interview was as fruitless as it -could well have been. - -The surgeon assured Nick that Baldwin was improving constantly, but he -peremptorily refused to permit his patient to be seen. Moreover, he -would make no definite statement as to the date of Baldwin’s return -home. - -To be sure, he did give the detective a message, which purported to come -from the jealously guarded financier. It was to the effect that all was -well, and that Nick and Doctor Vanderpool were not to worry; but that -might easily have been made up out of whole cloth. - -The surgeon’s manner was as irreproachable as ever, and Nick had to -confess to himself once more that if Grantley was playing a part, it was -a masterly one. - -Thus a week of harrowing uncertainty passed. - -At the end of it came the crash. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -“THIS IS TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE!” - - -There had been nothing at any time which Nick could properly seize upon -as an excuse for action, much as he longed to end the terrible suspense. - -Doctor Grantley had the whip hand throughout, and the isolation of the -financier, alarming as it was under the circumstances, was nothing more -than any surgeon might be expected to insist upon in such a case. - -The only departure from that rule occurred on the fifth day, when J. -Hackley Baldwin’s confidential secretary received a check, directing him -to fill out a check for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, payable -to Hiram A. Grantley, and send it to the latter’s house in the Bronx. - -The secretary, who was necessarily in the secret, immediately telephoned -to Nick. The detective responded at once and carefully examined the -note. A microscopic comparison with various documents left no reasonable -doubt that the message had actually been written and signed by the -millionaire. Not only that, but the handwriting revealed no sign of -tremulousness or any other indication that Baldwin had not been himself -when he wrote it. - -Forgery was plainly out of the question. - -Nevertheless, both Nick and the secretary could not help feeling a -profound disquiet. The affair struck them as decidedly irregular. It -suggested an unseemly haste on Grantley’s part to collect the promised -fee for the operation at a time when Baldwin was still in his power and -no one on the outside was in possession of any real evidence that the -conditions had been complied with--namely, that the operation had been a -success. - -Irrespective of his success or failure, however, if Grantley had in any -manner influenced Baldwin to take this step, he had acted in a way that -no reputable surgeon would have dreamed of doing. - -On the other hand, it was quite possible, of course, that Baldwin had -acted purely on his own initiative, in order to show, by his prompt -payment, the gratitude he felt for his returning sight. - -It was another delicate and trying situation. - -In the end, Nick advised the secretary to make out the check and send it -as requested. There were no obstacles in the way of this, for the -millionaire, who had the utmost confidence in his secretary, had signed -several checks in blank before entering the private hospital. - -Nick reasoned, that, if all was straight, the secretary might get into -serious trouble with his dictatorial employer if he failed to carry out -the latter’s instructions to the letter. Besides, a quarter of a million -was only a drop in the bucket compared with the immense bulk of -Baldwin’s fortune. If the millionaire had come to any harm, the money -loss would quickly pale into insignificance. - -Lastly, the giving of a check and the payment of it are two very -different things. Payment of it could be stopped, if necessary; or, on -the other hand, the rapidity with which Grantley might try to realize on -it, or the use to which he might put it, could be turned to advantage -as an indication of the game being played. - -It went against the grain, but the check was made out and sent without -further delay. - -That was on a Friday. - -Nick at once set a watch over both Grantley’s bank and Baldwin’s, but -they closed on Saturday, without any attempt having been made to catch -or deposit the big check. - -The delay gave the detective a more favorable impression than anything -else had done, for it seemed to show that Grantley was in no hurry to -take advantage of the payment, and that implied that the surgeon had no -intention of trying to disappear. - -But Nick soon changed his mind. - -Early Sunday morning, just a week after the operation, Patsy Garvan was -on duty as near the Grantley house as he dared to go. - -He saw a taxi drive up. Almost immediately Doctor Grantley and his -assistant, young Doctor Siebold, helped the millionaire out of the house -and into the machine. - -Baldwin seemed to be rather feeble or uncertain in his movements, and -there were black patches over his eyes. - -Patsy was not near enough to ascertain the number of the taxi, which at -once started downtown at a rapid rate of speed. Unfortunately, too, -there was no other vehicle at hand. - -It was hopeless for Patsy to attempt to follow, and, consequently, he -did the only thing that was left for him to do--he ran to the subway -terminal, two or three blocks away, and took a downtown train. - -Twenty-five minutes later he alighted at the station nearest to -Baldwin’s house and started on a sprint toward Fifth Avenue. - -He hoped that the millionaire had been taken home, and when he arrived -at his destination, he learned, to his great relief, that such was the -case. - -But the next piece of information he obtained gave him a shock that he -was never to forget. - -He was given to understand that Mr. Baldwin had arrived in a most -alarming condition--and all alone. - -The financier had presented a startling appearance, and was obviously in -a dazed condition. He had not recognized any one, and had had to be -carried to his room. Doctor Vanderpool had been summoned at once, but -had not yet arrived. - -The taxi was still standing at the curb and the driver was inside, -having been detained by Baldwin’s secretary. - -Patsy gained admittance by using Nick’s name, and soon obtained an -interview of a few moments with the distracted secretary, Frank Craven. - -“Thank Heaven you’re here!” the latter exclaimed. “I’ve telephoned to -Mr. Carter. This is terrible, Garvan, terrible! Mr. Baldwin doesn’t -recognize me. He’s in a state of collapse and doesn’t seem to have a -spark of intelligence. He’s whimpering like a baby up there. I made the -driver wait so that Mr. Carter could see him. He says that two men, who -answered the description of Grantley and that precious assistant of his, -helped Mr. Baldwin into the cab.” - -“Yes, I saw that,” Patsy interrupted. “But where did they leave it?” - -“At Lenox Avenue and One Hundred and Twenty-fifth, according to the -chauffeur. See what you can get out of the man. He’s downstairs with the -servants. Heaven only knows what those fiends have done, Garvan, and -they must be found, if the whole world has to be turned upside down to -do it! Do what you can--everything you can. I must go back to poor Mr. -Baldwin.” - -With that Craven turned around and sprang up the stairs. - -Patsy hunted up a telephone and called his chief’s number. Chick -answered, after being called to the instrument by the detective’s -butler. - -Garvan explained the situation in a few words, and his fellow assistant -promised to speed up to Grantley’s house at once, and try to intercept -Hoff and the nurse if they had not already vanished. - -It was also arranged that Ida Jones, Nick’s pretty woman assistant, -should accompany Chick in the car as far as One Hundred and Twenty-fifth -Street, where she would drop off, in order to search for the trail -there. - -Patsy knew that minutes might be priceless things just then, and he felt -sure that Nick would sanction the moves made. - -As soon as he hung up the receiver he sought the basement, where he -found the driver of the taxi surrounded by a knot of excited servants. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE LOOTED CRANIUM. - - -The man seemed reliable, and he told a perfectly straight story. - -He informed Patsy that he drove for a garage on Boston Road, in the -Bronx, and that he had never been called to Doctor Grantley’s house -before that morning. The manager had received the order and sent him -out. - -Patsy did not see fit to tell the chauffeur that he had seen the arrival -of the machine at Grantley’s. He allowed the man to tell his story in -his own way, and found it accurate, so far as his own observation went. - -The driver declared that three men had entered the cab. He described -them with sufficient accuracy, and reported that the elder of the two -men who had subsequently left the cab had given him Mr. Baldwin’s -address. - -When the machine reached the corner of Lenox Avenue and One Hundred and -Twenty-fifth Street, however, the same man--Grantley, in short--had -ordered him to stop. The two had alighted without explanation and told -him to take the third man to the address given. - -The chauffeur had thought it rather strange, but they gave him no time -to ask any questions. Instead, they had walked rapidly away to the -eastward, along One Hundred and Twenty-fifth. - -After noting that and glancing in toward his remaining fare--who seemed -sunk in a sort of stupor--the driver had continued on his way without -incident until he had arrived at Baldwin’s house. - -He had informed his passenger that their destination had been reached; -then, failing to obtain an intelligent answer, he had rung the doorbell -and notified the manservant who answered it that he had an old gentleman -in the cab, who had been sent to that address. - -The servant had gone out to the machine and recognized his master. -Pandemonium had then broken loose in the house, and the secretary had -been summoned. - -That was the gist of the chauffeur’s story, and Patsy’s questionings -failed to bring out anything else of importance. - -He took the man’s name and address and the number of the taxi. Finally, -he instructed the driver to remain where he was until Nick could -question him, if desired. - -When Patsy returned to the first floor, he found that Doctor Vanderpool -had arrived. Nick put in an appearance a few moments later, approved of -the measures Patsy had taken, and sent his assistant to the point at -which Grantley and Siebold had disappeared. - -Thus far, Nick was necessarily in the dark as to just what had happened -to the millionaire. For all he knew, Baldwin might be suffering merely -from a premature removal to his home. The detective’s instinct told him, -however, that something far more sinister than that had occurred. - -If there had been nothing wrong, Grantley could never have deserted his -patient in any such way and left him to be taken home in that haphazard -fashion, as if he had been a drunkard picked up on the street. - -The fears which Nick had tried so long to fight down rose in their might -and mastered him at last. He felt sure that something frightful had -happened, but he was no nearer an understanding of Grantley’s motive -than he had been in the beginning. - -The two fugitives--for such he assumed them to be--must be caught at any -cost, and to that end the police must be notified and a general alarm -sent out. - -Nick decided, though, that it would be best to await the result of -Doctor Vanderpool’s preliminary examination before taking that step, -especially as the delay ought not to be long. - -He had one of the servants take him upstairs to the corridor outside of -Baldwin’s suite, and sent word to the physician that he was there. - -After a wait of ten or fifteen minutes, Vanderpool himself emerged -hurriedly. His manner was greatly agitated and his eyes had a look of -horror in them. - -He took Nick by the arm and nervously drew him aside. - -“Good heavens, Carter!” he whispered hoarsely. “This is worse than I -feared. Grantley is a fiend--nothing less! I would not have believed -it----” - -“He has actually done something to Baldwin, then?” Nick demanded -quickly. - -“He has done his worst,” was the grave reply. - -“You mean?” - -The physician looked about him. His grip on Nick’s arm became painful, -and he leaned closer. - -“Mr. Baldwin is a hopeless idiot, I fear,” he announced, in a broken -whisper. - -The detective gave a gasp of sympathy, and recoiled a step. - -“An idiot--literally?” he asked. - -Vanderpool nodded. - -“There seems to be no doubt about it, unfortunately,” he said. “A second -operation was performed several days ago--on his head. I shall send for -my X-ray apparatus at once, and until the photographs are -developed--which will be done with all possible speed--I cannot, of -course, speak with authority. The evidences of the operation are -unmistakable, however, and his distressing symptoms alone are sufficient -to show, in general, what has happened. Carter, one of the most powerful -of our money kings lies there in that room, conscious but bereft of all -real intelligence. I believe he would play with a doll if you gave it to -him--or a bright-colored ball. And yet it isn’t enough to say that he -has only the mind of a child. That wouldn’t be fair to the children, -unless one had reference only to newborn babies. Heaven help him, his is -now only the mind of the imbecile--or, in other words, no mind at all -that is worthy of the name!” - -“Is it possible?” - -“It is more than that--it is true, man! That monster has stolen -more--infinitely more--than all of Baldwin’s wealth: he has stolen part -of his brain--and no power on earth can restore it!” - -Words were powerless to express the detective’s horror of the crime. His -face showed the depth of his feelings, however, as well as of his -determination to bring the merciless surgeon to justice. - -“And the eyes?” he asked, after a pause. - -“Oh, Grantley has kept his promise, curse him! That only makes it seem -worse. He has played to his heart’s content with one of the most -precious lives we have to-day. The devilish irony of it! He has given -Baldwin his sight, collected his huge fee--and then reduced his patient -to a mere brainless hulk! The villainy of it almost passes belief!” - -Nick could only agree, his blood running cold at the thought. The next -moment it surged feverishly through his veins. He vowed to catch -Grantley and his accomplices again if it should be his last act on -earth. - -He waited to hear no more, but sought the telephone and called up police -headquarters. One of the deputy commissioners was on duty at the time, -and Nick soon had the satisfaction of being assured that all of the -machinery of the department would be put into motion at once. - -No more than an hour had elapsed since Grantley and Siebold had alighted -from the taxi in Harlem. Surely they could not have put any great -distance between their pursuers and themselves. Besides, Patsy and Ida -Jones were doubtless already at work at the scene of their -disappearance. - -Nick had barely hung up the receiver before the phone bell rang. As none -of the servants was at hand, the detective answered it. He was not -surprised to recognize Chick’s voice on the wire. - -“Hello, Chick!” he said. “What’s the word?” - -“The roosts are empty, chief,” was the disappointed answer. “I’m -telephoning from Grantley’s house now. I found it empty and broke in. -The people next door tell me that Hoff and the nurse skipped out in -another taxi not more than ten minutes after Mr. Baldwin was taken -away.” - -“Which way did they go?” - -“North, curiously enough--in the opposite direction from that taken by -the others.” - -“Have you found out whether the car came from the same garage?” - -“I just telephoned. The garage people say they sent only one car to this -address this morning.” - -“Well, phone a description of the German and Miss Rawlinson down to -police headquarters. I’ve already notified Deputy Commissioner Leith, -and the hunt is on in earnest. Then try to find the garage. Call up my -house every half hour or so. I may want you.” - -The detective was about to leave the Baldwin residence when he was -informed that a messenger had just brought him a note, directed in care -of Baldwin’s secretary, and had left without waiting for an answer. - -The “note” proved to be simply an envelope, directed in Doctor -Grantley’s characteristic hand, and containing a number of small -fragments of torn paper. - -The detective had pieced together only a few of the bits when he gave an -exclamation of amazement. - -Grantley had sent him Baldwin’s check for the quarter of a million -dollars, torn into pieces! - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -WHAT DID IT MEAN? - - -What in the world did it mean? - -This new development was certainly startling in the extreme, and even -more incomprehensible in its way, if that were possible, than the -appalling crime itself. - -It was unnecessary for Nick to piece the check together in its entirety -in order to be fairly certain that it had not been cashed. Any one with -the slightest knowledge of banking methods would have understood at a -glance that the check had either never been deposited, or else that it -had been stolen afterward. There is no legitimate way in which a payer’s -check can fall into the hands of the payee after the money has been -paid, except when payer and payee are one and the same. - -Moreover, in the ordinary course, supposing Grantley had cashed or -deposited the check at once, it would not even have returned to Baldwin -in such a short time. - -To make absolutely sure that it had not been stolen from the bank after -being deposited, Nick arranged all of the fragments, not because he -believed it necessary, but for the purpose of eliminating any such -possibility at once. - -As he had anticipated, the back of the check bore neither indorsement -nor bank stamp of any sort. - -Grantley had deliberately torn up the equivalent of two hundred and -fifty thousand dollars--a fortune in itself--and sent the fragments to -his greatest enemy as a challenge of some sort. - -But why? - -The surgeon’s act promised to prove itself one of the most difficult -puzzles of a case that had, all along, been full of unusual problems. - -Both Grantley and the tragically obstinate millionaire himself had -scored most heavily against the detectives when they had argued that the -promised reward was so tempting that it made double-dealing out of the -question. And yet, Grantley had now spurned that reward in the most -contemptuous manner, after he had apparently brought pressure to bear on -Baldwin in order to obtain the check two days before. - -At this point Nick’s thoughts took a new turn. - -How was the note to the millionaire’s secretary to be explained, he -asked himself. - -He still felt sure that Baldwin had written it, but if so, it was -obvious that it had not been written since the operation on the -financier’s head. - -If Doctor Vanderpool were not greatly mistaken, the millionaire was not -in a condition to know his own name, much less to write and sign a note -without a tremor or a single false stroke. - -Had the second operation been performed in the last two or three days? -Apparently not, for Vanderpool was authority for the statement that the -marks of it were several days old. - -Nick had the note with him, and he examined it anew. It stood every -test, as before, but there was one fact about it which, the detective -had previously noted, became significant: It was not dated. - -That had not appeared to mean anything of importance up to that time, -but in the light of recent revelations it suggested that the note had -been written soon after Baldwin’s arrival at the private hospital, -before either operation had taken place. - -If that had been the case, no element of gratitude could have entered -into the matter. And not only that, Baldwin was a shrewd man of affairs, -and would never have consented to write such a note except in return for -value received. - -In other words, it became startlingly clear to the detective that the -financier had not been himself when he had written to Craven. - -But what about the sureness of the handwriting, which had always been -characteristic of Baldwin, despite his handicap of blindness? - -That would have puzzled almost any other detective in the country, but -it did not long stand in Nick Carter’s way. - -His mind played over the various possible theories with lightninglike -rapidity and quickly focused upon one, which alone answered every -requirement. - -The note must have been written and signed at Grantley’s dictation while -his distinguished patient was under hypnotic influence. - -Men of Baldwin’s type are not usually susceptible to hypnotism, but the -financier had trusted Grantley implicitly, and, doubtless, had never -known the base use to which the surgeon had put his confidence. - -He probably had been unaware that he was being hypnotized, and, of -course, had had no recollection of writing the note when Grantley had -restored him to consciousness. - -As for the normal character of the handwriting, that was easily -explained. Baldwin had been accustomed for years to write without seeing -what he wrote. Therefore, the peculiar condition of the hypnotic sleep -would not have modified his handwriting to any such extent as would have -been the case with an ordinary person. In fact, they would not -necessarily have modified it at all, any more than they modify one’s -voice, or walk, or manner of using the hands. - -All of this, however, failed to explain the trouble Grantley had -evidently taken to procure the note and check, and his strange action in -subsequently destroying the latter. - -He had laid himself open to suspicion by his unprofessional eagerness to -collect his fee, and, seemingly, all to no purpose, unless he had merely -desired to keep the detective and Doctor Vanderpool guessing. But surely -his motive went deeper than that. - -It now appeared obvious that his motive had been one of revenge, but -that did not account for the failure to keep the huge sum he had -obtained. He was believed to be a comparatively poor man, one to whom a -cool quarter of a million would have meant a good deal. - -Whatever his reason for committing so ruthless and revolting a crime, -why had he not kept his ill-earned fee? It could hardly be that he had -any moral scruples about doing so. Nick had sometimes suspected that -Grantley was merely the tool of one or more of the millionaire’s -financial rivals, but the fact that he had looked elsewhere for his pay -need not have prevented him from putting his hand into the pockets of -his employers and his victim. - -The most likely theory seemed to be that the surgeon had realized, too -late, that he was probably being watched and would not be allowed to -make away with the proceeds of the check. In that case he might have -seen that it was practically valueless to him, and suddenly decided to -tear it up and send it to the detective--a spectacular act of defiance -that would have been characteristic enough of him. - -But even that explanation involved many difficulties. - -Grantley was not the man to have failed to look ahead and take account -of all the difficulties in advance. That was one objection, and there -were others almost equally as strong. - -On the whole, therefore, the detective was obliged to admit to himself -that this last tangle in the line would be far from easy to unravel. - -Fortunately, however, it might be ignored for the present, and later on -it was possible that it could be cut out instead of untangled. In other -words, whatever the motive, the crime had undoubtedly been committed by -Grantley and his assistant, with the connivance of the nurse, at least. - -Consequently, the hunt for motives could well wait until after the hunt -for the men themselves had been carried to a successful conclusion. - -Grantley and Siebold had obtained very little start--hardly more, if -any, than they would if they had attempted to cash the check. That fact -told heavily in the detectives’ favor, but, on the other hand, Nick -realized that he was not dealing with ordinary criminals. - -The very fact that Grantley had been satisfied with such an apparently -unsatisfactory get-away, knowing that the driver of the taxi would -doubtless tell all he knew as soon as he was questioned, indicated that -the fugitives were either plain fools or else that they had something up -their sleeves which gave them unusual confidence in their ability to -escape the net. - -Grantley was certainly not a fool, and Nick was prepared for some -extraordinary matching of wits. - -He left the mansion of the stricken millionaire and set to work at -once. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -A GREAT STROKE OF LUCK. - - -Hard thinking and tireless following of trails could usually be counted -on to explain the successes earned by Nick Carter and his assistants, -but sometimes plain, “bull-headed luck,” as Patsy Garvan would probably -have called it, proved to be the determining factor. - -That was the case in this instance. - -Nick’s other assistant, Jack Wise, the well-to-do young society man, had -had nothing to do with the Grantley case at all. He had been doing a -little “pussyfooting” in the Harlem section, in connection with a -totally different investigation, and was about to enter the subway kiosk -at Lenox Avenue and One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street when he saw -Doctor Grantley and Doctor Siebold alight from a taxi. - -He knew them both by sight. They, however, were probably unaware of his -existence, and even if they had known of him, they would have been -unable to recognize him, owing to the fact that he was disguised. - -Jack was thoroughly familiar with the circumstances connected with the -millionaire’s headstrong acceptance of Grantley’s offer to operate, -since he had heard it discussed several times by his chief and his -fellow assistants. - -As a result, his curiosity was aroused at once, and he managed to shift -his position in such a way that he caught a glimpse of the man who -remained in the cab. The black patches over the eyes convinced him that -it was Baldwin, and his familiarity with the financier’s features, as -reproduced in the newspapers and magazines, confirmed the impression. - -“Here’s a queer go!” thought the young detective, as the taxi continued -southward without the two surgeons. “Looks as if they were sending Mr. -Baldwin home alone, and they act as if they had been stealing sheep. I -wonder what the dickens is in the wind now? Jack, old chap, maybe you’ve -stumbled on something that needs looking into. I think you’d better keep -in their wake for a while.” - -Grantley and his assistant were some distance away before Wise arrived -at this decision, but he had no difficulty in keeping in sight of them, -despite the fact that they were proceeding eastward at a brisk pace. - -They had probably hoped to give the impression that they were bound for -the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street station, but they were a -considerable distance from that when they hailed a disengaged taxi. - -They jumped into the cab as soon as it came to a stop, and were soon -speeding back toward Lenox Avenue again. Jack gave an exclamation of -disgust before he espied a garage a few doors beyond, and on the other -side of the street. He sprinted across, narrowly escaped a couple of -trolley cars, and, as luck would have it, found a taxi standing outside -the establishment. - -It had just arrived, and the driver was in the act of alighting. - -“No, you don’t!” shouted Jack, wrenching one of the doors open and -leaping in. “Two dollars extra if you keep that gray taxi in sight!” - -The chauffeur looked in the direction that Wise pointed, saw the machine -indicated, and nodded his head. In another moment he was back in his -seat, and the cab was in motion. - -The sixth sense, that plays so large a part in successful detection, had -told Jack Wise that something was wrong. Grantley and Siebold gave every -indication that they were doubling and twisting for the purpose of -throwing off subsequent pursuers. - -Their taxi took the shortest route to the Pennsylvania Station, where -they alighted and dismissed the cab. Jack’s machine drew up a few -moments later, and its occupant slipped the fare and the promised tip -into the driver’s hand and told him not to wait. - -Wise had made some slight but effective changes in his appearance on the -way, and he had no fear of being recognized as one of those who had -witnessed the unceremonious parting with Baldwin. Moreover, every -advantage was his, for the fugitives could not possibly be prepared for -this accidental pursuit. All of their clever precautions were evidently -being taken with a view to confusing the detectives later on, when their -anticipated inquiries were being made. - -Nick’s assistant trailed the two surgeons to a toilet room, where they -donned disguises. Their make-ups proved to be excellent and might well -have baffled Jack if he had not taken care to avoid mistakes by counting -those who went in and came out, eliminating every other possibility. - -From the toilet room he followed the two to the check room, where they -claimed four new suit cases, which must have been taken down to the -station by some one else. - -Jack was near enough to use his eyes, and he did so to advantage, with -the consequence that he saw the lettered names on the baggage. - -Grantley’s cases were labeled “Henry S. Packard, Boston, Mass.,” and -Siebold’s, “Arnold J. Taliaferro, Phila., Pa.” - -Their plans had been carefully made, and it was plain that they would -have given Nick and the others a great deal of trouble, to say the -least, had it not been for the chance presence of Jack Wise at that -particular corner, and just at the right time--an accident that set at -naught all the probabilities and rendered worthless the elaborate -subterfuges of Grantley and his satellite. - -They had not emptied their bag of tricks, however. - -To Jack’s surprise, instead of heading for a train, they emerged from -the building and entered a taxi. - -It was clear that they were bent upon putting another kink in their -trail. - -Across the street was a cab stand, and Jack hurried toward it and -entered the nearest machine. Again he offered a generous tip, provided -the taxi he pointed out could be kept in view. - -They lost little time in getting started, and Grantley’s cab remained in -plain sight, headed still farther downtown. At Fourteenth Street the -chase turned westward, and it was soon clear that Grantley’s goal was -the water front along the Hudson River. - -Before the river front was reached, Jack thought it best to exchange -vehicles. He consulted the meter, learned the amount of his fare, added -the driver’s tip to it, and then looked through the little pane of glass -at the rear. When a crosstown Fourteenth Street car was seen at about -the right distance behind him, he ordered the chauffeur to stop. He -thrust the money into the man’s hand as he alighted, waited a few -moments, and then swung lightly on board the car as it passed him. - -He was sure that his maneuver had not been witnessed by his quarry, on -account of the amount of traffic which intervened. - -After entering the trolley, he kept his eye on the taxi ahead, which had -slowed down. When it turned southward through the maze of streets close -to the water, Wise jumped off and followed on foot. - -There was still a possibility that the fugitives might give him the -slip, but he did not believe it likely. As for their recognizing him, he -had made that difficult, if not out of the question, by another clever -change of appearance, made during the run of the second cab. - -Heavy drays and lighter delivery wagons abounded in this section, and -the streets were narrow. As a result, the taxi which Jack was following -was making slow progress, and its athletic pursuer found it easy to keep -within less than a block of it. - -He was thus in a position to see that it stopped in front of the -entrance to a small dock, above which appeared the sign: “New York & -Buffalo Transport Co.” - -“That’s certainly a new one on me!” thought Wise. “Not a very -well-patronized line, I take it. Is it possible they’re going to skip -on a canal boat--or try to? That’s the only way of getting from here to -Buffalo by water. Bright little chaps, those! Nobody else would have -thought of that in a hundred years--and when they got to Buffalo, a hop, -skip, and a jump across the Niagara River would have carried them into -Canada. After that a transatlantic steamer at Montreal or Quebec, I -suppose, and then--ta, ta! I saw them first, though, and if the chief -doesn’t decorate me with the Order of the Eagle Eye for this, he’s a -hungrateful master.” - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -SOME GOOD NEWS. - - -Jack Wise made himself scarce, and yet took up a position which enabled -him to keep track of the fugitives’ movements. - -He was in no great hurry to notify Nick or the police. He wished to -first make sure that there were to be no more doublings and twistings on -the part of Grantley and Siebold. - -Apparently, they had reached the end of their New York trail, and Jack -was forced into a sort of reluctant admiration for their cleverness. - -The man who had driven them--with the unfortunate millionaire--from the -Bronx to One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street, knew only the beginning of -their wanderings, and even if the driver who had picked them up several -blocks from that point could be found, it would only be possible for him -to say that he had carried them to the Pennsylvania Station. - -The supposition would have been--but for Wise’s timely cut across their -trail--that they had taken a train there; and there would have been -nothing to disprove that belief. - -So far as Grantley and Siebold, in their proper persons, was concerned, -the trail had ended there. It was “Henry S. Peckham,” of Boston, and -“Arnold J. Taliaferro,” of Philadelphia, two very different-looking -individuals, who had taken the taxi at that point and driven to the dock -of the New York & Buffalo Transport Company. - -The only way in which Jack could have improved on their tactics would -have been to buy tickets for some point on the Pennsylvania and actually -to pass through the gates toward the proper train, if not to board it. - -That would have added to the complications, and it would have been easy -enough to mingle with the crowd from some incoming train and so return -to the waiting room and the street. - -The tracks they had left were confused enough as it was, however. - -They dismissed their cab and entered the company’s tiny office, from -which they emerged a little later, after which they went on board one of -the barges lying alongside the dock. - -It was plain to Wise that all arrangements had been made in advance, and -that the two had been expected. The captain of the barge greeted them -with respect and led them into the tiny cabin. - -“Hope they like the accommodations!” murmured Jack, with a grin. “They -won’t have time to get fussy over them, though.” - -Everything seemed to be in readiness for departure. Towlines were being -paid out and made fast, and a powerful tug, with steam up, was in -readiness to tow a number of the barges up the river to the entrance to -the canal, near Albany, where horse power would replace steam for the -long, tedious journey through the canal. - -Jack waited until Grantley and Siebold appeared again, without their -suit cases, and idly began watching the preparations. He had no -reasonable doubt after that that they intended to remain on board, at -least during part of the trip. - -Reassured as to this, and no longer fearing that an alarm would be -premature, Nick’s assistant slipped across the street in search of the -nearest telephone. He was perfectly willing that the tug and its covey -of barges should depart before help came, for, if desired, they could -easily be overtaken on the river long before they had passed the city’s -northern boundaries. - -The two rascally surgeons had committed themselves now, and they would -not leave the canal boat unless they became suspicious, which was -extremely unlikely at that stage of the game. - -There was no public telephone in the neighborhood, but Wise easily -gained permission to use an instrument in a near-by store. - -He first called up Nick’s house. Neither the detective nor any of his -other assistants was at home, but they had been telephoning back there -at frequent intervals in order to keep one another informed of their -movements. - -Consequently, Joseph, Nick’s highly efficient butler, was in possession -of the main facts regarding the crime committed on Mr. Baldwin and the -plans for the pursuit of the fugitives. - -“Well, as fast as they telephone in tell them I’m accidentally on the -job, that I’ve been trailing those fellows all over town, and that I can -lay my hands on them at any moment. There’s no hurry, so I won’t notify -the police. The chief can do that later, if he wishes. Tell him and the -rest of them--except Ida Jones, who won’t be needed--to meet me as soon -as convenient at the corner of Fourteenth Street and Tenth Avenue? Got -that, Joseph?... All right, then. It’s all over but putting on the -nippers.” - -He had been careful not to speak any plainer, especially in regard to -the fugitives’ whereabouts, for fear some of those who were in the store -might tip the wink to Grantley and Siebold, in the hope of earning a -reward for the information that they were in danger of arrest. - -One who had had less experience in such matters, or had studied the ways -of criminals under an inferior master, would almost certainly have -chafed under the delay and given way to apprehensions lest the two -scoundrels might yet slip through his fingers. But Jack Wise knew when -to look for trouble and when to be sure that the wind was in the right -quarter. - -Forebodings would have been foolish under the circumstances. Grantley -and Siebold had made themselves at home on the canal boat, which would -require days to reach Albany. The very fact that they had done so proved -that nothing had aroused their fears during their zigzag course through -the city, and now it was to their interest to do nothing that would whet -the curiosity of those with whom they had temporarily thrown their lot. - -Therefore, there was no reason to suppose that they would not sit tight -so long as nothing disturbed them, and Nick and his assistants could be -counted on to see that nothing did--until it was too late for their -quarry to escape. - -Meanwhile, several of the barges had been lashed together and had -started up the river. They were heavily laden, however, and the tug’s -pace was almost a crawl. - -From the vantage point of a neighboring dock, Jack watched them -philosophically. - -“By-by, my friends! See you later!” - -The words formed themselves in his mind, but instantly the look of -anticipated triumph disappeared from his face and one of horror replaced -it. He was thinking of the well-nigh unbelievable outrage which had been -perpetrated on the trusting financier. - -“‘The chair’ is altogether too quick and clean a death for those -fiends,” he told himself, “and yet they won’t get even that. They -haven’t killed his body, but have only murdered the part of him that’s -worth most to him--his mind! Yet all they’ll get, I suppose, is the -maximum sentence for performing an irregular operation under the new -law. They’ll get that, though, I can tell them! I can never be grateful -enough for the chance, or the fate, that threw them in my way just then. -I suppose the chief would have nabbed them, sooner or later, but it -would have meant a lot of mighty stiff pulling against the current.” - -Jack thereupon lounged slowly toward Fourteenth Street and hung about -the corner he had named for half an hour or more. At the end of that -time Nick put in an appearance in one of his motor cars, and, being -familiar with his assistant’s disguise, he picked him out at once. - -“What’s this Joseph tells me, Jack?” he demanded eagerly, as he jumped -out of the machine. “Do you really know where Grantley and Siebold are?” - -“That’s the idea, chief.” - -“Where?” - -“On the barge _Mary Jane_, bound up the river for Buffalo.” - -“Are you sure?” - -“As sure as I am that you’re the champion detective of the world.” - -Nick ignored this. - -“How long ago did they leave?” he asked. - -“About the time I called up the house. You can’t lose them, chief. -They’re probably off Thirty-fourth Street now. You could come abreast of -them on foot without breaking any walking records. Going to notify -police headquarters?” - -“I’ve already done so. I knew that you could be relied on, and that -Joseph isn’t in the habit of tangling messages. The police ought to be -along any minute now.” - -Two plain-clothes men, armed with warrants, arrived shortly afterward, -and Chick Carter came up almost simultaneously. Nick had instructed -Patsy and Ida Jones to continue the hunt for Hoff and the nurse. - -One of the boats of the harbor squad was summoned to the foot of West -Fourteenth Street from Pier A, after a brief consultation, and in half -an hour more the little party was in full pursuit. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -THE FUGITIVES GET A SHOCK. - - -The low cabin of the canal boat _Mary Jane_ was aft. Nearly an hour and -a half after leaving the dock, Grantley and Siebold were sitting just -forward of the cabin, on a couple of coils of rope. Their heads were -thus below the level of the low roof. - -They were conversing in low, guarded tones in order not to be overheard -by the captain and hands. - -“I’ll confess now,” the younger of the two was saying, “that I never -expected to get away from those cursed detectives so easily. It seems -almost too good to be true.” - -“Pooh!” sneered Grantley. “Like almost everybody else, including those -who ought to know better, you have let yourself believe that Carter and -his crowd come somewhere near living up to their newspaper reputations. -That’s plain nonsense. They don’t. They’re greatly overrated. The -detectives of fiction and those of fact are two very different -propositions. I’ll admit that Nick Carter is a great deal cleverer than -the police, but that isn’t saying much. He’s unusually lucky, too, and -that accounts for most of his success, such as it has been. But I -haven’t been afraid of him for a moment. Neither he nor anybody else -could follow the trail we took, and nobody will think of looking for us -on a canal boat. The idea that we would deliberately choose such an -infernally slow means of transit will never occur to our enemies, -confound them! We’re as safe right now as if we were five thousand -miles from New York. And we certainly did a good job. I almost wish I’d -left Baldwin with enough mind to realize what had happened to him. I was -a little too thorough. When they try the X rays on him, as they -undoubtedly will, they will find his cranium absolutely empty. It will -be a vast surprise to Vanderpool and the rest of the tribe of medical -nincompoops. They’ll stand around in open-mouthed amazement, wondering -how he can remain alive after such an operation. I set out to show them -something, and I have done it, but I’m sorry now that I didn’t make a -little more artistic job of it. I could have removed just enough of his -brain to make him a mental wreck, and yet left enough to cause him the -greatest anguish of mind over his condition. As it is now, he is nothing -but an empty hulk, without intelligence enough to feed or dress himself. -He’s deprived of everything but physical sensations, and most of those -are missing or robbed of their greatest intensity.” - -“I see what you mean, but I wouldn’t worry about that,” returned -Siebold. “Your revenge is a thousand times better than killing would -have been, and even if you haven’t left him with the power to think, -you’ve given the others enough to think about. I’d have given a good -deal to see Carter’s face when he opened that envelope and found the -pieces of Baldwin’s check. I’ll wager that stumped him. He’ll puzzle -over that until he’s black in the face, and never guess your motive for -turning down all that money. Even if he knew about Felix Simmons he -wouldn’t see through the rest--and he’ll never know about Simmons. It’s -fortunate that Simmons----” - -The speaker paused abruptly, and he and Grantley looked at each other -with a start of apprehension. - -They had overheard one of the men on the barge calling to another as he -pointed beyond the stern of the unwieldy craft, down the river. - -“Look at that police boat footing it up this way, Tim!” were the words -that had come to their ears. “Wonder what the cops are up to now?” - -In a moment the attitudes of the two fugitives relaxed, and they smiled -rather sheepishly. Guilty consciences are not agreeable traveling -companions, but their self-confidence and contempt for their enemies -reasserted themselves at once. - -“This won’t do,” muttered Grantley. “We must get our confounded nerves -under better control than that. There’s nobody after us here, and we -know it. They’re all running around in circles back there, and we’ll -have to stop shying at the mention of a policeman. Let’s have a look at -the blamed boat, and then forget it when we’ve shown a little natural -curiosity.” - -Before they could rise, though, another of the boatmen gave an -exclamation which halted the two criminals and left them tense and -motionless. - -“By George, they’ve done changed their course, an’ are headin’ right -this way!” the man ejaculated. “Gosh! I ain’t cracked no safes, I’ll -swear! How about you guys?” - -The jocular query was addressed to the speaker’s fellows, but that did -not give much comfort to the two skulkers in the shadow of the cabin. -They decided to remain where they were until they saw which way the cat -was going to jump. - -Meanwhile, however, Grantley thought it best to pull the wool over the -boatmen’s eyes. - -“What’s that I hear about a police boat?” he asked lazily. “Tell us when -it comes abreast. We’re too darned comfortable here to get up for -anything short of a battleship.” - -The man made some laughing answer, and Grantley and Siebold managed to -keep up a semblance of careless conversation to mask their anxiety. - -They had had the best of reasons for believing that effective pursuit -was out of the question, but at the approach of the police their guilty -fears had instinctively flamed up. - -Those who had been watching the boat approach had little doubt now that -its business was with the little flotilla of barges, and their mystified -comments caused the fugitives’ hearts to sink like lead. - -It seemed incredible that their carefully concealed get-away had come to -naught so soon. Surely the police boat was not after them. Perhaps one -of the boatmen on the _Mary Jane_, or another of the canal boats, had -knocked somebody down in some waterside quarrel. That must be it, and -yet---- - -“Tug, ahoy, there!” an authoritative voice boomed through a megaphone. -“Don’t be in a hurry! There are a couple of fellows we want back here.” - -The voice was startlingly close, and the sound had hardly died away -before the bow of the police boat came into view opposite the criminals’ -position. - -Their fears were uppermost now, and their terrorized instincts told them -that the worst had happened. - -With one accord they rose to their feet, whipping out their automatics -as they did so. - -One penetrating glance was enough for them. - -They recognized Nick and Chick, and realized that there was something -vaguely familiar about the appearance of a third figure on the police -boat’s deck--that of Jack Wise. - -Before those about them knew what was happening, they had begun firing. - -The tow was a big one, consisting of nine barges in all, lashed three -abreast. Grantley and Siebold were on the left-hand barge in the first -tier, counting from the front. Therefore, as the police boat had -approached on the right, they were obliged to fire across two of the -barges. - -The approach of the official tug had drawn the attention of the boatmen -on all of the barges. Two or three of these curious ones were almost -within the line of fire, with their backs turned to the fugitives. - -Siebold fired wildly, and one of the bystanders went down, with a groan. -The rest scattered or threw themselves flat on the decks. - -Grantley, however, in contrast to his nervous assistant, was perfectly -cool. The detectives were hardly more than twenty feet away, despite the -two intervening canal boats, and the scoundrelly surgeon began pumping -away as fast as he could and with the steadiest of hands. - -His first shot went just over the detectives’ heads, but the second one -would doubtless have caught Nick full in the breast had it not been that -the police boat grazed the side of the nearest barge at that moment. - -The result was that Nick and his companions were thrown off their -balance for the time being, luckily for them. Their efforts to prevent -themselves from falling were as effective as if they had been able--and -willing--to dodge Grantley’s bullets. - -The second of these ripped through Nick’s coat, gouging his side a -little. - -“Down!” commanded the detective, and, just as the fugitives fired again, -the five detectives sank below the level of the police boat’s rail. - -All but their heads and weapons, that is. They remained in sight, and -their revolvers blazed away in a businesslike volley that woke the -echoes of the New Jersey hills. - -A naval battle in miniature was taking place off West Sixtieth Street, -Manhattan. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -GRANTLEY TAKES A SWIM. - - -The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not -made of such stern stuff as Grantley. When the detectives dropped down -behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him -wildly for a hiding place. - -He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into -the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that -he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to -reach that retreat with a whole skin. - -With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken -doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in -the shoulder before he disappeared. - -A howl of pain followed, and Siebold crumpled up in the doorway, just -out of sight of his enemies, who promptly counted him out of their -calculations. - -Not so with Doctor Grantley, however. - -That sturdy rascal had seen as quickly as Siebold had that their -position was untenable. The detectives were under cover, while he was -exposed. The sides of the canal boat rose only a few inches above the -deck, so that there was no shelter corresponding to that of which the -detectives had taken advantage so promptly. - -In spite of his exposure, however, the murderous surgeon kept his head, -and retreated slowly, firing as he went. His shots did no more than to -drive a big splinter of wood into Jack Wise’s cheek as they struck the -rail of the police boat, but, on the other hand, he seemed to bear a -charmed life. - -The trouble was that the detectives were trying to wound him slightly in -the hands or arms, for the purpose of ending his resistance--or, at -least, of rendering him incapable of using his weapon. - -Such shots are difficult ones, and that was especially true just then, -for a strong wind had sprung up, and was causing the police boat to rock -to one tune, and the ponderous barges to another and entirely different -one. - -Besides, the description of the affray had occupied much more time than -the affair itself. - -Grantley began to move as soon as Siebold did, but he deliberately took -his time about it, being bent, presumably, upon showing his contempt for -his enemies’ aim. - -Nevertheless, it required only a few backward steps to bring him to the -farther corner of the low cabin, beyond which he crouched, unscathed. - -He had been wise enough to retreat in that direction, instead of -trapping himself in the cabin. He was now shielded in much the same way -as his opponents were, and there was only a narrow, open passageway -between him and the water. - -He could, therefore, fire over the top of the cabin when the detectives -approached to dislodge him, and, whenever things got too hot for -comfort, he could always plunge into the river and swim for it. - -Nick had no intention of wasting more ammunition under those -circumstances. He had a plan ready the instant Grantley subsided behind -the barge’s cabin. - -“O’Brien, you and Gillespie stay on board here,” he said, addressing the -two policemen in plain clothes, “and direct the pilot to drop back and -then come alongside again beyond the canal boat. Meanwhile, my -assistants and I will skip across the barges and smoke that fellow out. -See the point? I want you to be between him and the Jersey shore, on the -chance that he’ll escape us and dive overboard.” - -“That’s the stuff!” was O’Brien’s enthusiastic answer. - -He appreciated the quality of the detective’s strategy, and it is -probable that, at the same time, he was willing enough to have Nick and -his assistants bear the brunt of the danger. That was only natural. - -No time was lost in carrying out Nick’s plan. The utmost haste was -necessary, inasmuch as, for all they knew, Grantley might already have -slipped into the water. - -At a word from Nick, Jack and Chick jumped up and followed him on a run, -after vaulting over to the deck of the nearest canal boat. - -At the same instant the police boat began to back. - -Grantley opened fire as soon as he had a target, and the detectives -answered him, shot for shot; but no damage was done on either side. Only -the upper part of the surgeon’s head showed above the barge’s cabin, -and, on the other hand, those who were running over the pitching barges -presented difficult marks. - -Nick and his companions crossed the first canal boat in a few bounds -and jumped to the deck of the middle one of the three which lay side by -side. - -At that, Grantley ceased firing and his head disappeared. A moment later -they heard a splash. The criminal had taken to the water, as Nick had -anticipated. - -Fortunately, it was broad daylight, and there seemed no likelihood that -he could escape them, no matter how good a swimmer he might be, with the -shore far away. - -As it stood, the detectives were practically out of the race. They could -have plunged in after Grantley, to be sure, but there did not appear to -be any need of that, unless he should attempt to drown himself. - -The police boat would have to take care of him now, and it was quite -capable of doing so, to all appearance, although it might be two or -three minutes before it could come up with him. - -Nick and his assistants had forced the issue so suddenly and dauntlessly -that the official craft was still backing past the long line of canal -boats when Grantley took to the water. It would have to keep on until it -was clear of them and had room enough to swing around and steam behind -them. - -After one glance at the head of the swimmer and another at the -maneuvering police tug, Chick turned his attention to the game he had -already brought down. - -He did not believe that Siebold was plucky enough to try to shoot any of -them in the back, but it was well to put him out of temptation. - -As he had expected, the wounded man was too much occupied with his own -suffering and to what was going to happen to him to give any thought to -revenge. - -Chick disarmed and handcuffed him in short order, leaving him where he -was. - -By that time, a group of excited and curious boatmen had gathered about -the detectives, drawn from the several canal boats when they decided -that the danger was past. - -Nick and his assistants answered their numerous questions briefly, but -kept their eyes all the time on the fugitive, who was swimming strongly. - -The police boat had been obliged to go astern for some distance -downstream in order to get room enough to make the double turn around -the string of canal boats, preparatory to straightening out in pursuit -of Grantley. - -Its bow was now pointed toward the New Jersey shore as it crossed behind -the barges. It was about to swerve again and come up along the other -side of the drifting tow when the surgeon suddenly and unexpectedly -changed his course. - -He had been swimming with lusty strokes straight for the western bank of -the river, but now he swerved and started at an angle against the -current. - -His object was apparent at once, and the realization gave the onlookers -a thrill. - -A racing power boat of the Express type, the sole occupant of which was -a pretty girl in oilskins and sou’wester, had been skimming up the river -at reduced speed when the unusual encounter began. - -The girl had passed the barges and was about opposite the tug which was -towing them when the shooting began. She had ducked out of harm’s way, -but had slowed down. She was obviously determined to see all there was -to see. Accordingly, when Grantley had jumped overboard she had waited -only long enough to see that he did not strike out toward her; then she -had shut off her power and turned her whole attention toward the novel -sight. - -When Grantley changed his course he headed directly for her boat. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -A TIMELY SHOT. - - -The girl had made a foolish mistake in throttling her engine, for the -current was carrying her down to meet the desperate swimmer. - -Nick’s men gasped involuntarily as they saw that Grantley could not fail -to reach the power boat before the tug could overtake him, unless the -frightened girl came to her senses and forged ahead again. - -“Run for it, or he’ll board you!” shouted Chick through his cupped -hands. - -But the girl’s presence of mind seemed to have deserted her, or else she -was torn between the desire for flight and some feminine notion that -Grantley might be in distress and needed her help. - -At any rate, she looked as if she did not know what to do, and she made -no attempt to start the boat. - -“Go, child, before it’s too late!” Nick called apprehensively. “If he -gets control of your boat we can’t catch him--and he’s a fugitive from -justice, who deserves nobody’s sympathy.” - -But still she hesitated and looked about her wildly, while Chick and -Jack Wise called to the police boat to hurry. - -Grantley was within a few strokes of the power boat now, and both were -too far from the detectives for the latter to do any good by jumping in. - -“That’s a Simcoe Express,” Nick muttered to his first assistant, “and -it’s good for at least twenty-five knots an hour to the police boat’s -twelve or fourteen. We must go----” - -He did not finish his sentence, for Grantley had already laid one hand -on the power boat’s gunwale, and was preparing to pull himself over the -side. - -“Jump overboard, girl!” the detective shouted peremptorily. “We’ll take -care of you.” - -For a tense moment he feared that the girl would not profit by this -advice, either, but her fears got the upper hand when the fugitive’s -pale face and glaring eyes came into view above the gunwale. - -With a cry of terror, she threw herself over the opposite rail. - -“Thank Heaven!” exclaimed Nick, under his breath. “Now that she’s out of -the way----” - -Again he broke off abruptly, but the action which followed immediately -left no doubt of his meaning. - -He sank down on one knee, steadied his pistol arm on the other, and took -careful aim at the figure which was climbing over the side of the racing -craft. - -The police tug was coming, approaching now at full speed, but it was at -least fifty yards behind. - -Doctor Grantley had proved that he was too dangerous a man to dally -with. If he was not effectually stopped at once, before he started that -blue streak of a speed boat, there was no telling when they would see -him again. He was doubtless familiar with marine engines of that type, -otherwise he would not have headed for the boat. As soon as he started -the powerful motor, he would fade away up the Hudson with the speed of a -projectile, and there was no craft at hand that could keep him in -sight. - -It was no time for halfway measures. - -Grantley was climbing into the power boat from the other side. He -exposed himself as little as possible as he came over the rail, but the -target was big enough for Nick. - -The detective’s automatic spoke just once, but the fugitive crumpled up -over the gunwale, his legs in the water, his hands groping blindly over -the rail of the craft. - -A cheer went up from the boatmen, and Nick’s assistants joined in a sigh -of relief. A moment later they were both in the water and swimming to -the aid of the girl. - -The police boat slid alongside the racer with reversed engines. Grantley -was taken on board. It was found that he had been shot through the right -breast. Nick had taken no chances. - -The girl proved to be a good swimmer, but her fright had weakened her to -an extent which made her very grateful for the young men’s assistance. - -Chick and Jack helped her back to the boat, and, after the former had -been transferred to the police tug, Jack piloted the racing craft back -to the yacht club from which the girl had set out a short time before. - -The wound was a clean one, and, in spite of his age, Doctor Grantley -possessed a great deal of strength and endurance. He recovered rapidly, -and in due time was put on trial. Doctor Siebold, Miss Rawlinson, the -nurse, and Hoff, the German servant--the latter pair having been -captured through the efforts of Patsy Garvan and Ida Jones--were -arraigned with him as accomplices. - -There was another accomplice, however, who shared the ordeal with them, -and whose arrest had caused a tremendous sensation in financial and -social circles. - -The fifth prisoner was Felix Simmons, another of the Wall Street money -kings, and J. Hackley Baldwin’s rival. - -The tearing up of the check for the quarter of a million dollars had -started Nick Carter’s suspicions off on a new line. - -Had Grantley merely wanted money he could have earned that sum -legitimately, or even more than that, by bringing his great skill to -bear--as he had actually done--on the multimillionaire’s eyes. - -The fact that he had not been content with that, but had gone on and -committed a revolting crime by literally robbing Baldwin of part of his -brain, indicated that revenge of some sort had been his motive. - -But even so, there would have been no reason, from his unscrupulous -standpoint, for his refusing to profit financially by the first -operation. His act in destroying the check seemed to show that somebody -else was paying for the crime, and that, such being the case, Grantley -felt that he could afford the luxury of spurning Baldwin’s two hundred -and fifty thousand dollars. - -And that, in its turn, implied that the surgeon must have hated Baldwin -so intensely that, criminal though he was, he could not bear to touch -any of the millionaire’s money if his own wants could be supplied in any -other way. - -There had been several difficulties about this new theory, notably the -fact that Grantley had, apparently, been anxious to get hold of the -check in the first place. - -The more Nick puzzled over that, however, the more he became inclined to -believe that the surgeon’s seeming eagerness to obtain the check had -been due to pressure from a third person, his unknown backer. - -If such a person existed, it would obviously have been to his interest -to have Grantley obtain and seem to make use of the huge fee which -Baldwin had promised, for that and Grantley’s own enmity toward the -blind financier would supply a sufficient motive for the crime, and -prevent the authorities from probing deep enough to discover the -surgeon’s secret arrangement with this third person. - -On the other hand, if Grantley were shown to have had a quarter of a -million, as good as in his grasp, and to have failed to take full -advantage of his opportunities, no mere motive of private vengeance -would be likely to be accepted as an adequate explanation, and in that -case the prosecution would probably attempt to dig up additional facts, -to the great embarrassment of Grantley’s principal, or silent, partner. - -Supposing such an individual to exist, that was the way the detective -pictured him as reasoning. But it was hardly probable that any one of -Baldwin’s financial enemies would have been willing to pay Grantley for -the crime, and, at the same time, allow the surgeon to carry off a -quarter of a million of the victim’s money in addition. - -Therefore, it looked as if Grantley’s backer must have prevailed upon -him to obtain the check, partly as a blind, but with the understanding -that it was to be turned over to him after the transaction had been -covered up in some way. - -If that were the explanation, it was plain that Grantley had proved -false to the bargain. He had not only destroyed the check--which seemed -to confirm Nick’s theory that he was not entitled to it, but was -expected to pass it on to some one else--but he had, also, by sending -the fragments to Nick, given the detective a broad hint that he was -looking elsewhere for his pay. - -Nick did not believe that Grantley had meant to do any more than indulge -in a dramatic defiance, but that was the effect his act had had. - -As for his apparent breaking of faith with his unknown confederate, that -presented no great difficulties. Grantley would have been quite capable -of such an act if he had already received his pay from that quarter. It -would have meant neither financial loss nor physical danger to himself, -and that was all that would have deterred him. - -To make a long story short, the great detective had set to work along -this line. With Grantley and his known accomplices safely in custody, he -had ample time to carry the investigation as far as necessary. - -It is enough to say that it confirmed his theories one after another. - -First, he discovered that Doctor Grantley’s original motive had been one -of private revenge, of a twofold character. The surgeon’s real name was -not Grantley at all, but Standish. He had inherited quite a large sum of -money, and, in their younger days, he and Baldwin had both loved the -same girl. She had married the future financier and died a few years -later. - -Standish had foolishly blamed Baldwin for the girl’s preference, and had -never forgiven him. He had subsequently changed his name to Grantley, -which explained the fact that Baldwin had not suspected his identity. - -Years afterward, Grantley, as he then called himself, had invested -heavily in a certain copper company, not knowing that the corporation -was secretly controlled by the blind financier. The venture happened to -be one of Baldwin’s few failures, and Grantley had lost his entire -investment. - -Afterward, when he had learned of Baldwin’s connection with the -punctured bubble, he had gone nearly mad with rage and the thirst for -vengeance. - -He had bided his time, however. After his sensational trial on the -charge of manslaughter, he had decided that the time was ripe. His -practice was already ruined, and he had little more to lose, whatever -happened. - -There was something else to be considered, however. - -His income had long been dwindling and his trial had been expensive. He -was badly in need of money, and, although he believed he could restore -Baldwin’s sight, and thus technically earn a big fee, there were two -difficulties in the way: - -The first was that he rebelled at the thought of using his enemy’s -money, after all that had happened, even though he considered Baldwin -responsible for the loss of a small fortune of his own. - -The second was that, even if he could bring himself to accept such a -fee, his contemplated revenge on the financier would almost certainly -prove an effectual barrier between him and the collection of the fee. - -While in this quandary, Grantley had thought of Felix Simmons. The -latter was Baldwin’s greatest rival in the financial world, and he was -personally known to Grantley. - -The surgeon had treated him in a professional way some years before, and -had reasons to know that Simmons was thoroughly unscrupulous whenever -there appeared to be no chance of his being found out. - -Accordingly, Grantley had approached Simmons on the sly, and a deal had -resulted. - -It would be worth millions to Simmons to have Baldwin eliminated from -the financial game, and, therefore, he readily agreed to pay Grantley a -very large sum--the exact amount was never established--if he could -bring about that result. - -There must be no suspicion, however, that Simmons had anything to do -with the matter, and, to that end, Grantley was to appear anxious to -obtain the fee which Baldwin had promised. This fee, however, was to be -turned over to Simmons in such a way that his relations with the surgeon -should not be disclosed. - -In that manner the shrewd Grantley had made sure of a new fortune, -irrespective of the success of the operation on Baldwin’s eyes, or his -ability to realize on that before the crash of discovery came. - -The operations had been performed and the crime committed. Simmons, in -disguise, had managed to evade the watchful detectives, and had seen for -himself that Grantley had carried out his part of the compact. - -He had thereupon paid him the sum agreed upon, in gold, so that there -would be no possibility of its being traced to him. Being -constitutionally crooked, however, Grantley had failed to carry out his -agreement in regard to Baldwin’s check. - -His hatred of Baldwin prevented him from trying to realize on it -himself. Moreover, he had good reason to fear that Nick Carter would not -let him do so, in any case. - -But when it came down to it, he could not endure the thought of turning -it over to Simmons, for that would be reimbursing Simmons for the amount -he had spent on Grantley, and in that case the crooked financier would -be paying nothing for the great advantage that would come to him through -Baldwin’s withdrawal from the game. - -In short, Grantley decided to double cross his powerful confederate, -feeling sure that Simmons was not in a position to expose him. - -He had not dreamed of the use to which Nick Carter would put the -destruction of the check, but even if he had, it is more than likely -that he would have persisted. Misery likes company, they say, and it is -certain that, when Grantley found himself in the toils, he was glad to -see Felix Simmons in a similar plight. - -Nick established enough of these facts to convict all of the criminals, -and they were sent to prison for long terms. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -A TRAGEDY OF THE STAGE. - - -It was several months after the conviction of Grantley and his -confederates that the members of Nick Carter’s household all happened to -meet at the breakfast table--a rather unusual circumstance. - -The famous New York detective sat at the head of the table. Ranged about -it were Chick, Patsy Garvan, and the latter’s young wife, Adelina, and -Ida Jones, Nick’s beautiful woman assistant. - -It was the latter who held the attention of her companions at that -moment. She was a little late, and had just seated herself. Her flushed -cheeks and sparkling eyes gave no hint that she had reached the -house--they all shared the detective’s hospitable roof--a little after -three o’clock that morning. - -“You good people certainly missed a sensation last night,” she declared. -“It was the strangest thing--and one of the most pitiable I ever -beheld!” - -Nick, who had been glancing at his favorite newspaper, looked up. - -“What do you mean?” he asked. - -It was Ida’s turn to show surprise. - -“Is it possible you don’t know, any of you?” she demanded, looking -around the table. “Haven’t you read of Helga Lund’s breakdown, or -whatever it was?” - -Helga Lund, the great Swedish actress, who was electrifying New York -that season in a powerful play, “The Daughters of Men,” had consented, -in response to many requests, to give a special midnight performance, -in order that the many actors and actresses in the city might have an -opportunity to see her in her most successful rôle at an hour which -would not conflict with their own performances. - -The date had been set for the night before, and, since it was not to be -exclusively a performance for professionals, the manager of the theater, -who was a friend of Nick Carter’s, had presented the detective with a -box. - -Much to Nick’s regret, however, and that of his male assistants, an -emergency had prevented them from attending. To cap the climax, Adelina -Garvan had not been feeling well, so decided not to go. Consequently, -Ida Jones had occupied the box with several of her friends. - -Nick shook his head in response to his pretty assistant’s question. - -“I haven’t, anyway,” he said, glancing from her face back to his paper. -“Ah, here’s something about it--a long article!” he added. “I haven’t -seen it before. It looks very serious. Tell us all about it.” - -Ida needed no urging, for she was full of her subject. - -“Oh, it was terrible!” she exclaimed, shuddering. “Helga Lund had been -perfectly wonderful all through the first and second acts. I don’t know -when I have been so thrilled. But soon after the third act began she -stopped right in the middle of an impassioned speech and stared fixedly -into the audience, apparently at some one in one of the front rows of -the orchestra. - -“I’m afraid I can’t describe her look. It seemed to express merely -recollection and loathing at first, as if she had recognized a face -which had very disagreeable associations. Then her expression--as I read -it, at any rate--swiftly changed to one of frightened appeal, and then -it jumped to one of pure harrowing terror. - -“My heart stopped, and the whole theater was as still as a death -chamber--at least, the audience was. Afterward I realized that the actor -who was on the stage with her at the time had been improvising something -in an effort to cover up her lapse; but I don’t believe anybody paid any -attention to him, any more than she did. Her chin dropped, her eyes were -wild and seemed ready to burst from their sockets. She put both hands to -her breast, and then raised one and passed it over her forehead in a -dazed sort of way. She staggered, and I believe she would have fallen if -her lover in the play hadn’t supported her. - -“The curtain had started to descend, when she seemed to pull herself -together. She pushed the poor actor aside with a strength that sent him -spinning, and began to speak. Her voice had lost all of its wonderful -music, however, and was rough and rasping. Her grace was gone, -too--Heaven only knows how! She was positively awkward. And her -words--they couldn’t have had anything to do with her part. They were -incoherent ravings. The curtain had started to go up again. Evidently, -the stage manager had thought the crisis was past when she began to -speak. But when she only made matters worse, it came down with a rush. -After a maddening delay, her manager came out, looking wild enough -himself, and announced, with many apologies, that Miss Lund had -suffered a temporary nervous breakdown.” - -Nick Carter had listened intently, now and then scanning the article -which described the affair. - -“Too bad!” he commented soberly, when Ida had finished. “But haven’t you -any explanation, either? The paper doesn’t seem to have any--at least, -it doesn’t give any.” - -A curious expression crossed Ida’s face. - -“I had forgotten for the moment,” she replied. “I haven’t told you one -of the strangest things about it. In common with everybody else, I was -so engrossed in watching Helga Lund’s face that I didn’t have much time -for anything else. That is why there wasn’t a more general attempt to -see whom she was looking at. We wouldn’t ordinarily have been very -curious, but she held our gaze so compellingly. I did manage to tear my -eyes away once, though; but I wasn’t in a position to see--I was too far -to one side. She appeared to be looking at some one almost on a line -with our box, but over toward the other side of the theater. I turned my -glasses in that direction for a few moments and thought I located the -person, a man, but, of course, I couldn’t be sure. I could only see his -profile, but his expression seemed to be very set, and he was leaning -forward a little, in a tense sort of way.” - -Nick nodded, as if Ida’s words had confirmed some theory which he had -already formed. - -“But what was so strange about him?” he prompted. - -“Oh, it doesn’t mean anything, of course,” was the reply; “but he bore -the most startling resemblance to Doctor Hiram Grantley. If I hadn’t -known that Grantley was safe in Sing Sing for a long term of years, I’m -afraid I would have sworn that it was he.” - -The detective gave Ida a keen, slightly startled look. - -“Well, stranger things than that have happened in our experience,” he -commented thoughtfully. “I haven’t any reason to believe, though, that -Grantley is at large again. He would be quite capable of what you have -described, but surely Kennedy would have notified me before this if----” - -The telephone had just rung, and, before Nick could finish his sentence, -Joseph, his butler, entered. His announcement caused a sensation. It -was: - -“Long distance, Mr. Carter. Warden Kennedy, of Sing Sing, wishes to -speak with you.” - -The detective got up quickly, without comment, and stepped out into the -hall, where the nearest instrument of the several in the house was -located. - -Patsy Garvan gave a low, expressive whisper. - -“Suffering catfish!” he ejaculated. “It looks as if you were right, -Ida!” - -After that he relapsed into silence and listened, with the others. Nick -had evidently interrupted the warden. - -“Just a moment, Kennedy,” they heard him saying. “I think I can guess -what you have to tell me. It’s Doctor Grantley who has escaped, isn’t -it?” - -Naturally, the warden’s reply was inaudible, but the detective’s next -words were sufficient confirmation. - -“I thought so,” Nick said, in a significant tone. “One of my assistants -was just telling me of having seen, last night, a man who looked -surprisingly like him. When did you find out that he was missing?... As -early as that?... I see.... Yes, I’ll come up, if necessary, as soon as -I can; but first I must set the ball rolling here. I think we already -have a clew. I’ll call you up later.... Yes, certainly.... Yes, -good-by!” - -A moment later he returned to the dining room. - -“Maybe your eyes didn’t deceive you, after all, Ida,” he announced -gravely. “Grantley escaped last night--in time to have reached the -theater for the third act of that special performance, if not earlier. -And it looks as if he subjected one of the keepers of the prison to an -ordeal somewhat similar to that which Helga Lund seems to have -endured.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -ESCAPE BY SCHEDULE. - - -“What do you mean by that, chief?” demanded Chick. - -“Kennedy says that one of the keepers was found, in a peculiar sort of -stupor, as he calls it, in Grantley’s cell, after the surgeon had gone. -He had evidently been overpowered in some way, and his keys had been -taken from him. Kennedy assumes, rightly enough, I suppose, that -Grantley lured him into the cell on some pretext, and then tried his -tricks. The man is still unconscious, and the prison physician can do -nothing to help him. Kennedy wants me to come up.” - -“But I don’t see what that has to do with Helga Lund,” objected Chick. -“Even if it was Grantley that Ida saw--which remains to be proved--I -don’t see any similarity. He didn’t render her unconscious, and, anyway, -he wasn’t near enough to----” - -“Think it over, Chick,” the detective interrupted. “The significance -will reach you, by slow freight, sooner or later, I’m sure. I, for one, -haven’t any doubt that Ida saw the fugitive last night. If so, Grantley -did a very daring thing to go there without any attempt at disguise--not -as daring as might be supposed, however. He doubtless counted on just -what happened. If any one who knew him by sight had noticed him in the -theater, the supposition would naturally be that it was a misleading -resemblance. - -“There doesn’t seem to be any doubt that he disguised himself carefully -enough for his flight from Sing Sing, and covered his tracks with -unusual care, for Kennedy has been unable to obtain any reliable -information about his movements. If he was at the play, we may be sure -that he restored his normal appearance deliberately, in defiance of the -risks involved, in order that one person, at least, should recognize him -without fail--that person being Helga Lund. And that implies that he was -again actuated primarily by motives of private revenge, as in the case -of Baldwin. - -“The scoundrel seems to have a supply of enemies in reserve, and is -willing to go to any lengths in order to revenge himself upon them for -real or fancied grievances. If he’s the man who broke up Lund’s -performance last night, it is obvious that he knew of the special -occasion and the unusual hour before he made his escape. In fact, it -seems probable that he escaped when he did for the purpose of committing -this latest outrage. Even if his chief object has been attained, -however, I don’t imagine he will return to Sing Sing and give himself -up. We shall have to get busy, and, perhaps, keep so for some time. -Plainly, the first thing for me to do is to seek an interview with Helga -Lund, if she is in a condition to receive me. She can tell, if she will, -who or what it was that caused her breakdown. If there turns out to be -no way of connecting it with Grantley, we shall have to begin our work -at Sing Sing. If it was Grantley, we shall begin here. Did you see -anything more of the man you noticed, Ida?” - -“Nothing more worth mentioning. He slipped out quickly as soon as the -curtain went down; but lots of others were doing the same, although -many remained and exchanged excited conjectures. I left the box when I -saw him going, but by the time I reached the lobby he was nowhere in -sight, and I couldn’t find any one who had noticed him.” - -“Too bad! Then there’s nothing to do but try to see Helga. The rest of -you had better hang around the house until you hear from me. Whatever -the outcome, I shall probably want you all on the jump before long.” - -Nick hastily finished his breakfast, while his assistants read him -snatches from the accounts in the various morning newspapers. In that -way he got the gist of all that had been printed in explanation of the -actress’ “attack” and in regard to her later condition. - -All of the accounts agreed in saying that Helga Lund was in seclusion at -her hotel, in a greatly overwrought state, and that two specialists and -a nurse were in attendance. - -The prospect of a personal interview with her seemed exceedingly remote; -but Nick Carter meant to do his best, unless her condition absolutely -forbade. - -Nick had learned from the papers that Helga Lund was staying at the -Wentworth-Belding Hotel. Accordingly, he drove there in one of his motor -cars and sent a card up to her suite. On it he scribbled a request for a -word with one of the physicians or the nurse. - -Doctor Lightfoot, a well-known New York physician, with a large practice -among theatrical people, received him in one of the rooms of the -actress’ suite. - -He seemed surprised at the detective’s presence, but Nick quickly -explained matters to his satisfaction. Miss Lund, it seemed, was in a -serious condition. She had gone to pieces mentally, passed a sleepless -night, most of the time walking the floor, and appeared to be haunted by -the conviction that her career was at an end. - -She declared that she would not mind so much if it had happened before -any ordinary audience, but, as it was, she had made a spectacle of -herself before hundreds of the members of her own profession. That -thought almost crazed her, and she insisted wildly that she would never -regain enough confidence to appear in public again. - -If that was the case, it was nothing short of a tragedy, in view of her -great gifts. - -Doctor Lightfoot hoped, however, that she would ultimately recover from -the shock of her experience, although he stated that it would be months, -at least, before she was herself again. Meanwhile, all of her -engagements would have to be canceled, of course. - -In response to Nick’s questions, the physician assured him that Helga -Lund had given no adequate explanation of her startling behavior of the -night before. She had simply said that she had recognized some one in -the audience, that the recognition had brought up painful memories, and -that she had completely forgotten her lines and talked at random. She -did not know what she had said or done. - -Her physicians realized that she was keeping something back, and had -pleaded with her to confide fully in them as a means of relieving her -mind from the weight that was so evidently pressing upon it. But she -had refused to do so, having declared that it would serve no good -purpose, and that the most they could do was to restore her shattered -nerves. - -The detective was not surprised at this attitude, which, as a matter of -fact, paved the way to an interview with the actress. - -“In that case I think you will have reason to be glad I came,” he told -Doctor Lightfoot. “I believe I know, in general, what happened last -night, and if you will give me your permission to see Miss Lund alone -for half an hour, I have hope of being able to induce her to confide in -me. My errand does not reflect upon her in any way, nor does it imply -the slightest danger or embarrassment to her, so far as I am aware. My -real interest lies elsewhere, but you will readily understand how it -might help her and reënforce your efforts if I could induce her to -unbosom herself.” - -“There isn’t any doubt about that, Carter,” was the doctor’s reply; “but -it’s a risky business. She is in a highly excitable state, and uninvited -calls from men of your profession are not apt to be soothing, no matter -what their object may be. How do you know that some ghost of remorse is -not haunting her. If so, you would do much more harm than good.” - -“If she saw the person I think she saw in the audience last night,” Nick -replied, “it’s ten to one that the remorse is on the other side--or -ought to be. If I am mistaken, a very few sentences will prove it, and I -give you my word that I shall do my best to quiet any fears my presence -may have aroused, and withdraw at once. On the other hand, if I am -right, I can convince her that I am her friend, and that I know enough -to make it worth her while to shift as much of her burden as possible -to me. If she consents, the tension will be removed at once, and she -will be on the road to recovery. And, incidentally, I shall have gained -some very important information.” - -The detective was prepared, if necessary, to be more explicit with -Doctor Lightfoot; but the latter, after looking Nick over thoughtfully -for a few moments, gave his consent. - -“I’ve always understood that you always know what you are about, -Carter,” he said. “There is nothing of the blunderer or the brute about -you, as there is about almost all detectives. On the contrary, I am sure -you are capable of using a great deal of tact, aside from your warm -sympathies. My colleague isn’t here now, and I am taking a great -responsibility on my shoulders in giving you permission to see Miss Lund -alone at such a time. She is a great actress, remember, and, if it is -possible, we must give her back to the world with all of her splendid -powers unimpaired. She is like a musical instrument of incredible -delicacy, so, for Heaven’s sake, don’t handle her as if she were a -hurdy-gurdy!” - -“Trust me,” the famous detective said quietly. - -“Then wait,” was the reply, and the physician hurried from the room. - -Two or three minutes later he returned. - -“Come,” he said. “I have prepared her--told her you are a specialist in -psychology, which is true, of course, in one sense. You can tell her the -truth later, if all goes well.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -THE ACTRESS CONFIDES. - - -Nick was led through a couple of sumptuously furnished rooms into the -great Swedish actress’ presence. - -Helga Lund was a magnificently proportioned woman, well above medium -height, and about thirty years of age. - -She wore a loose, filmy negligee of silk and lace, and its pale blue was -singularly becoming to her fair skin and golden hair. Two thick, heavy -ropes of the latter hung down far below her waist. - -She was not merely pretty, but something infinitely better--she had the -rugged statuesque beauty of a goddess in face and form. - -She was pacing the floor like a caged lioness when Nick entered. Her -head was thrown back and her hands were clasped across her forehead, -allowing the full sleeves to fall away from her perfectly formed, -milk-white arms. - -“Miss Lund, this is Mr. Carter, of whom I spoke,” Doctor Lightfoot said -gently. “He believes he can help you. I shall leave you with him, but I -will be within call.” - -He withdrew softly and closed the door. They were alone. - -The actress turned for the first time, and a pang shot through the -tender-hearted detective as he saw the tortured expression of her face. - -She nodded absent-mindedly, but did not speak. - -“Miss Lund,” the detective began, “I trust you will believe that I would -not have intruded at this time if I hadn’t believed that I might -possibly possess the key to last night’s unfortunate occurrence, and -that----” - -“You--the key? Impossible, sir!” the actress interrupted, in the precise -but rather labored English which she had acquired in a surprisingly -short time in anticipation of her American tour. - -“We shall soon be able to tell,” Nick replied. “If I am wrong, I assure -you that I shall not trouble you any further. If I am right, however, I -hope to be able to help you. In an case, you may take it for granted -that I am not trying to pry into your affairs. I have seen you on the -stage more than once, both here and abroad. It is needless to say that I -have the greatest admiration for your genius. Beyond that I know nothing -about you, except what I have read.” - -“Then, will you explain--briefly? You see that I am in no condition to -talk.” - -“I see that talking, of the right kind, would be the best thing for you, -if the floodgates could be opened, Miss Lund,” Nick answered -sympathetically. “I shall do better than explain; with your permission, -I shall ask you a question.” - -“What is it?” - -“Simply this: Are you acquainted with a New York surgeon who goes by the -name of Doctor Grantley--Hiram A. Grantley?” - -The actress, who had remained standing, started slightly at the -detective’s words. Her bosom rose and fell tumultuously, and her -clenched hands were raised to it, as Ida Jones had described them. - -A look of mingled amazement and fright overspread her face. - -Nick did not wait for her to reply, nor did he tell her that it was -unnecessary. Nevertheless, he had already received his answer and it -gave him the greatest satisfaction. - -He was on the right track. - -“Before you reply, let me say this,” he went on quickly, in order to -convince her that she had nothing to fear from him: “Grantley is one of -the worst criminals living, and it is solely because our laws are still -inadequate in certain ways that he is alive to-day. As it is, he is a -fugitive, an escaped prisoner, with a long term still to serve. He -escaped last night, but he will undoubtedly be caught soon, despite his -undeniable cleverness, and returned to the cell which awaits him. Now -you may answer, if you please.” - -He was, of course, unaware of the extent of Helga Lund’s knowledge of -Grantley. It might not be news to her, but he wished--in view of the -actress’ evident fear of Grantley--to prove to her that he himself could -not possibly be there in the surgeon’s interest. - -His purpose seemed to have been gained. Unless he was greatly mistaken, -a distinct relief mingled with the surprise which was stamped on Helga’s -face. - -“He is a--criminal, you say?” she breathed eagerly, leaning forward, -forgetful that she had not admitted any knowledge of Grantley at all. - -“You do not know what has happened to Doctor Grantley here in the last -year?” - -“No,” was the reply. “I have never been in America before, and I have -never even acted in England. I do not read the papers in English.” - -“You met Grantley abroad, then, some years ago, perhaps?” - -The actress realized that she had committed herself. She delayed for -some time before she replied, and when she did, it was with a graceful -gesture of surrender. - -“I will tell you all there is to tell, Mr. Carter,” she said, “if you -will give me your word as a gentleman that the facts will not be -communicated to the newspapers until I give you permission. Will you? I -think I have guessed your profession, but I am sure I have correctly -gauged your honor.” - -“I promise you that no word will find its way, prematurely, into print -through me,” Nick declared readily. “I am a detective, as you seem to -have surmised, Miss Lund. I called on you, primarily, to get a clew to -the whereabouts of Doctor Grantley, but, as I told you, I am confident -that it will have a beneficial effect on you to relieve your mind and to -be assured, in return, that Grantley is a marked and hunted man, and -that every effort will be made to prevent him from molesting you any -further.” - -“Thank you, Mr. Carter,” the actress responded, throwing herself down on -a couch and tucking her feet under her. - -The act suggested that her mental tension was already lessened to a -considerable degree. - -“There is very little to tell,” she went on, after a slight pause, “and -I should certainly have confided in my physicians if I had seen any use -in doing so. It is nothing I need be ashamed of, I assure you. I did -meet Doctor Grantley--to my sorrow--five years ago, in Paris. He was -touring Europe at the time, and I was playing in the French capital. He -was introduced to me as a distinguished American surgeon, and at first I -found him decidedly interesting, despite--or, perhaps, because of--his -eccentricities. Almost at once, however, he began to pay violent court -to me. He was much older than I, and I could not think of him as a -husband without a shudder. With all his brilliancy, there was something -sinister and cruel about him, even then. I tried to dismiss him as -gently as I knew how, but he would not admit defeat. He persisted in his -odious attentions, and one day he seized me in his arms and was covering -my face and neck with his detestable kisses, when a good friend, a young -Englishman, was announced. My friend was big and powerful, a trained -athlete. I was burning with shame and rage. I turned Doctor Grantley -over to his tender mercies and left the room. Doctor Grantley was very -strong, but he was no match for the Englishman. I am afraid he was -maltreated rather severely. At any rate, he was thrown out of the hotel, -and I did not see him again until last night. He wrote me a threatening -letter, however, to the effect that he would have his revenge some day -and ruin my career. - -“I was greatly frightened at first, but, as time passed and nothing -happened, I forgot him. Last night, those terrible, compelling eyes of -his drew mine irresistibly. I simply had to look toward him, and when I -did so, my heart seemed to turn to a lump of ice. I forgot my -lines--everything. I knew what he meant to do, but I could not resist -him. He was my master, and he was killing my art, my mastery. I was a -child, a witless fool, in his hands. My brain was in chaos. I tried to -rally my forces, to go on with my part, but it was impossible. I did -manage to speak, but I do not know what I said, and no one will tell me. -Doubtless, I babbled or raved, and the words were not mine. They were -words of delirium, or, worse still, words which his powerful brain of -evil put into my mouth.” - -Helga Lund halted abruptly and threw out her hands again in an -expressive gesture. - -“That is all, Mr. Carter,” she added. “It was not my guilty conscience -which made me afraid of him, you see. As for his whereabouts, I can tell -you nothing. I did not know that he had been in trouble, although I am -not surprised. I had neither heard nor seen anything of him since he -wrote me, five years ago. Consequently, I fear I can be of no assistance -to you in locating him--unless he should make another attempt of some -sort on me, and Heaven forbid that!” - -“I have learned that he was here last night,” said Nick, “and that is -all I hoped for. That will give us a point of departure. I assure you -that I greatly appreciate your confidence, and that I shall not violate -it. With your permission, I shall tell your physicians just enough, in -general terms, to give them a better understanding of your trouble. It -will be best, for the present, to let the public believe that you are -the victim of a temporary nervous breakdown, but I should strongly -advise you to allow the facts to become known as soon as Grantley is -captured. It will be good advertising, as we say over here, and, at the -same time, it will stop gossip and dispel the mystery. It will also -serve to reassure your many admirers, because it will give, for the -first time, an adequate explanation, and prove that the cause of your -mental disturbance has been removed.” - -The actress agreed to this, and Nick Carter took leave of her, after -promising to apprehend Grantley as soon as possible and to keep her -informed of the progress of his search. - -Before he left the hotel he had a short talk with Doctor Lightfoot, -which gave promise of a more intelligent handling of the case, aside -from the benefit which Helga Lund had already derived from her frank -talk with the sympathetic detective. - -The man hunt could now begin in New York City, instead of at Ossining, -and, since the preliminaries could be safely intrusted to his -assistants, Nick decided to comply with Warden Kennedy’s urgent request -and run up to the prison to see what he could make of the keeper’s -condition. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -STRONGER THAN BOLTS AND BARS. - - -The great detective set his men to work and called up the prison before -leaving New York. As a result of the telephone conversation, the warden -gave up the search for the fugitive in the neighborhood of Ossining. - -Ossining is up the Hudson, about an hour’s ride, by train, from the -metropolis. It did not take Nick long to reach his destination. - -He found Warden Kennedy in the latter’s office, and listened to a -characteristic account of Doctor Grantley’s escape, which--in view of -the fugitive’s subsequent appearance at the theater--need not be -repeated here. - -Bradley, the keeper, was still unconscious, and nobody seemed to know -what was the matter with him. Nick had a theory, which almost amounted -to a certainty; but it remained to confirm it by a personal examination. - -The warden presently led the way to the prison hospital, where the -unfortunate keeper lay. No second glance was necessary to convince the -detective that he had been right. - -The man was in a sort of semirigid state, curiously like that of a -trance. All ordinary restoratives had been tried and had failed, yet -there did not appear to be anything alarming about his condition. - -The prison physician started to describe the efforts which had been -made, but Nick interrupted him quietly. - -“Never mind about that, doctor,” he said. “I know what is the matter -with him, and I believe I can revive him--unless Grantley has blocked -the way.” - -“Is it possible!” exclaimed Kennedy and the doctor, in concert. “What is -it?” added the former, while the latter demanded: “What do you mean by -‘blocking the way’?” - -“Your ex-guest hypnotized him, Kennedy,” was the simple reply, “and, as -I have had more or less experience along that line myself, I ought to be -able to bring Bradley out of the hypnotic sleep, providing the man who -plunged him into it did not impress upon his victim’s mind too strong a -suggestion to the contrary. Grantley has gone deep into hypnotism, and -it is possible that he has discovered some way of preventing a third -person from reviving his subjects. There would have been nothing for him -to gain by it in this case, but he may--out of mere malice--have thrown -Bradley under a spell which no one but he can break. Let us hope not, -however.” - -“Hypnotism, eh?” ejaculated Kennedy. “By the powers, why didn’t we think -of that, doctor?” - -The prison physician hastily sought an excuse for his ignorance, but, as -a matter of fact, he could not be greatly blamed. He was not one of the -shining lights of his profession, as his not very tempting position -proved, and comparatively few medical practitioners have had any -practical experience with hypnotism or its occasional victims. - -Nick Carter, on the other hand, had made an exhaustive study of the -subject, both from a theoretical and a practical standpoint, and had -often had occasion to utilize his extensive knowledge. - -While Warden Kennedy, the physician, and a couple of nurses leaned -forward curiously, the detective bent over the figure on the narrow -white bed and rubbed the forehead and eyes a few times, in a peculiar -way. - -Then he spoke to the man. - -“Come, wake up, Bradley!” he said commandingly. “I want you! You’re -conscious! You’re answering me. You cannot resist! Get up!” - -And to the amazement of the onlookers, the keeper opened his eyes in a -dazed, uncomprehending sort of way, threw his feet over the edge of the -bed, and sat up. - -“What is it? Where have I been?” he asked, looking about him. And then -he added, in astonishment: “What--what am I doing here?” - -“You’ve been taking a long nap, but you’re all right now, Bradley,” the -detective assured him. “You remember what happened, don’t you?” - -For a few moments the man’s face was blank, but soon a look of shamed -understanding, mingled with resentment, overspread it. - -“It was that cursed Number Sixty Thousand One Hundred and Thirteen!” he -exclaimed, giving Grantley’s prison number. “He called to me, while I -was making my rounds--was it last night?” - -Nick nodded, and the keeper went on: - -“What do you know about that! Is he gone?” - -This time it was the warden who replied. - -“Yes, he’s skipped, Bradley; but we know he was down in New York later -in the night, and Carter here can be counted on to bring him back, -sooner or later.” - -Kennedy had begun mildly enough, owing to the experience which his -subordinate had so recently undergone, but, at this point, the autocrat -in him got the better of his sympathy. - -“What the devil did you mean, though, by going into his cell, keys and -all, like a confounded imbecile?” he demanded harshly. “Isn’t that the -first thing you had drilled into that reënforced-concrete dome of -yours--not to give any of these fellows a chance to jump you when you -have your keys with you? If you hadn’t fallen for his little game----” - -“But I didn’t fall for nothing, warden!” the keeper interrupted warmly. -“I didn’t go into his cell at all. I know better than that, believe me!” - -“You didn’t--what? What are you trying to put over, Bradley?” Kennedy -burst out. “You were found in his cell, with the door unlocked and the -keys gone, not to mention Number Sixty Thousand One Hundred and -Thirteen, curse him! Maybe that ain’t proof.” - -“It ain’t proof,” insisted the keeper, “no matter how it looks. He -called to me, and I started toward the grating to see what he wanted. He -fixed his eyes on me, like he was looking me through and through, and -made some funny motions with his hands. I’ll swear that’s all I -remember. If I was found in his cell, I don’t know how I got there, or -anything about it, so help me!” - -The warden started to give Bradley another tongue-lashing, but Nick -interposed. - -“He’s telling the truth, Kennedy,” he said. - -“But how in thunder----” - -“Very easily. It hadn’t occurred to me before, but it is evident that -Grantley hypnotized him through the bars and then commanded him to -unlock the door and come inside. There is nothing in hypnotism to -interfere; on the contrary, that would be the easiest and surest thing -to do, under the circumstances. Grantley is too clever to try any of the -old, outworn devices--such as feigning sickness, for instance--in order -to get a keeper in his power. All that was necessary was for him to -catch Bradley’s eye. The rest was as easy as rolling off a log. When he -got our friend inside, he put him to sleep, took his keys and his outer -clothing, and then--good-by, Sing Sing! It’s rather strange that he -succeeded in getting away without discovery of the deception, but he -evidently did; or else he bribed somebody. You might look into that -possibility, if you think best. The supposition isn’t essential, -however, for accident, or good luck, might easily have aided him. As for -the means he used to cover his trail after leaving the vicinity of the -prison, we need not waste any time over that question. Fortunately, we -have hit upon his trail down the river, and all that remains to do is to -keep on it, in the right direction, until we come up with him. It may be -a matter of hours or days or months, but Grantley is going to be brought -back here before we’re through. You can bank on that, gentlemen. And -when I return him to you it will be up to you to take some extraordinary -precautions to see that he doesn’t hypnotize any more keepers.” - -“I guess that’s right, Carter,” agreed Warden Kennedy, tugging at his -big mustache. “Bolts and bars are no good to keep in a man like that, -who can make anybody let him out just by looking at him and telling him -to hand over the keys. I suppose I’d have done it, too, if I’d been in -Bradley’s place.” - -“Exactly!” the detective responded, with a laugh. “You couldn’t have -helped yourself. Don’t worry, though. I think we can keep him from -trying any more tricks of that sort, when we turn him over to you -again.” - -“Hanged if I see how, unless we give him a dose of solitary confinement, -in a dark cell, and have the men blindfold themselves when they poke his -food in through the grating.” - -“That won’t be necessary,” Nick assured the warden as he prepared to -leave. “We can get around it easier than that.” - -Half an hour later Nick was on his way back to New York City. - -He was not as light-hearted or confident as he had allowed Warden -Kennedy to suppose, however. - -The fact that Grantley had turned to that mysterious and terrifying -agency, hypnotism, with all of its many evil possibilities, caused him -profound disquiet. - -Already the fugitive had used his mastery of the uncanny force in two -widely different ways: He had escaped from prison with startling ease by -means of it, and then, not content with that, he had hypnotized a famous -actress in the midst of one of her greatest triumphs--for Nick had known -all along that Helga Lund had yielded to hypnotic influence. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - -THE TRAIL VANISHES. - - -Grantley’s trail vanished into thin air--or seemed to--very quickly. - -Nick Carter and his assistants had comparatively little trouble in -finding the hotel which the fugitive had patronized the night before, -but their success amounted to little. - -Grantley had arrived there at almost one o’clock in the morning and -signed an assumed name on the register. He brought a couple of heavy -suit cases with him. - -He had not been in prison long enough to acquire the characteristic -prison pallor to an unmistakable degree, and a wig had evidently -concealed his closely cropped hair. - -He was assigned to an expensive room, but left his newly acquired key at -the desk a few minutes later, and sallied forth on foot. - -The night clerk thought nothing of his departure at the time, owing to -the fact that the Times Square hotel section is quite accustomed to the -keeping of untimely hours. - -That was the last any of the hotel staff had seen of him, however. His -baggage was still in his room, but, upon investigation, it was found to -contain an array of useless and valueless odds and ends, obviously -thrown in merely to give weight and bulk. In other words, the suit cases -had been packed in anticipation of their abandonment. - -It seemed likely that the doctor had had at least one accomplice in his -flight, for the purpose of aiding him in his arrangements. But not -necessarily so. - -If he had received such assistance, it was quite possible that one of -the six young physicians, who had formerly been associated with him in -his unlawful experiments, had lent the helping hand. - -Nick had kept track of them for some time, and now he determined to look -them up again. - -It was significant, however, that Grantley had, apparently, made no -provision for the escape of Doctor Siebold, his assistant, who had been -in Sing Sing with him. - -In the flight which had followed their ghastly crime against the blind -financier, Siebold had shown the white feather, and it was easy to -believe that the stern, implacable Grantley had no further use for his -erstwhile associate. - -There was no reason to doubt that the escaped convict had gone directly -to the theater after leaving the hotel. But why had he gone to the -latter at all, and what had become of him after he had broken up Helga -Lund’s play? - -There was no reasonable doubt that Grantley had disguised himself pretty -effectually for his flight from Ossining to New York, and yet the night -clerk’s description was that of Grantley himself. - -It followed, therefore, that the fugitive had already shed his disguise -somewhere in the big city. But why not have gone directly from that -stopping place, wherever it was, to the theater? - -Nick gave it up as unimportant. The hotel episode did not seem to have -served any desirable purpose, from Grantley’s standpoint, unless on the -theory that it was simply meant to confuse the detectives. - -However that might be, it would be much more worth while to know what -the surgeon’s movements had been after his dastardly attack on the -actress. - -Had he gone to another hotel, in disguise or otherwise? Had he returned -to his former house in the Bronx, which had been closed up since his -removal to Sing Sing? Had he left town, or--well, done any one of a -number of things? - -There was room only for shrewd guesswork, for the most part. - -An exhaustive search of the hotels failed to reveal his presence at any -of them that night or later. The closed house in the Bronx was -inspected, with a similar result. - -That was about as far as the detective got along that line. Nick had a -feeling that the fellow was still in New York. He had once tried to slip -away in an unusually clever fashion, and had come to grief. It was fair -to assume, therefore, that he would not make a second attempt, -especially in view of the fact that the metropolis offers countless -hiding places and countless multitudes to shield a fugitive. - -If he was still in the city, though, he was almost unquestionably in -disguise; and he could be counted on to see that that disguise was an -exceptionally good one. - -Certainly, the prospect was not an encouraging one. The proverbial -needle in a haystack would have been easy to find in comparison. - -And, meanwhile, Helga Lund would not know what real peace of mind was -until she was informed that her vindictive persecutor had been captured. - -Three days was spent in this fruitless tracking, and then, in the -absence of tangible clews, the great detective turned to something which -had often met with surprising success in the past. - -He banished everything else from his mind and tried to put himself, in -imagination, in Doctor Grantley’s place. - -What would this brilliant, erratic, but misguided genius, with all of -his unbridled enmities and his criminal propensities, have done that -night, after having escaped from prison and brought Helga Lund’s -performance to such an untimely and harrowing close? - -It was clear that much depended on the depth of his hatred for the -actress who had repulsed him five years before. Undoubtedly his enmity -for the beautiful Swede was great, else he would not have timed his -escape as he had done, or put the first hours of his liberty to such a -use. - -But would he have been content with what he had done that first night? -If he had considered his end accomplished, he might have shaken the dust -of New York from his feet at once. On the other hand, if his thirst for -revenge had not yet been slaked, it was probable that he was still -lurking near, ready to follow up his first blow with others. - -The more Nick thought about it the more certain he became that the -latter supposition was nearer the truth than the former. Grantley had -caused Helga Lund to break down completely before one of the most -important and critical audiences that had ever been assembled in New -York, to be sure, but, with a man of his type, was that likely to be -anything more than the first step? - -He had threatened to ruin her career, and he was nothing if not thorough -in whatever he attempted. Therefore--so Nick reasoned--further trouble -might be looked for in that quarter. - -The thought was an unwelcome one. The detective had taken every -practicable precaution to shield Helga from further molestation, but he -knew only too well that Grantley’s attacks were of a sort which usually -defied ordinary safeguards. - -The possibility of new danger to the actress spurred Nick on to added -concentration. - -Assuming that Grantley was still in New York, in disguise, and bent upon -inflicting additional injury on the woman he had once loved, where would -he be likely to hide himself, and what would be the probable nature of -his next move? - -The detective answered his last question first, after much weighing of -possibilities. - -Grantley was one of the most dangerous of criminals, simply because his -methods were about as far removed as possible from the ordinary methods -of criminals. He had confined himself, thus far, to crimes in which he -had made use of his immense scientific knowledge, surgical and hypnotic. - -Accordingly, the chances were that he would work along one of those two -lines in the future, or else along some other, in which his special -knowledge would be the determining factor. - -Moreover, since his escape, he had repeatedly called his mastery of -hypnotism to his aid. That being so, Nick was inclined to believe that -he would continue to use it, especially since Helga had shown herself so -susceptible to hypnotic influence. - -Could the detective guard against that? - -He vowed to do his best, notwithstanding the many difficulties involved. - -But it was not until he had carefully balanced the probabilities in -regard to Grantley’s whereabouts that Nick became seriously alarmed. - -As a consequence of his study of the problem, an overwhelming conviction -came to him that it would be just like the rascally surgeon to have gone -to Helga’s own hotel, under another name. - -The luxurious Wentworth-Belding would be as safe for the fugitive as any -other place, providing his disguise was adequate--safer, in fact, for it -was the very last place which would ordinarily fall under suspicion. - -In addition to the great advantage, it offered the best opportunity to -keep in touch with developments in connection with the actress’ -condition, and residence there promised comparatively easy access to -Helga when the time should come for the next act in the drama of -revenge. - -This astounding suspicion had sprung up, full-fledged, in Nick’s brain -in the space of a second. The detective knew that his preliminary -reasoning had been sound, however, and based upon a thorough knowledge -of Grantley’s characteristic methods. - -It was staggering, but his keen intuition told him that it was true. He -was now certain that Grantley would be found housed under the same huge -roof as his latest victim, and that meant that Helga’s danger was -greater than ever. - -The next blow might fall at any minute. - -It was very surprising, in fact, that Grantley had remained inactive so -long. - -The detective hastily but effectively disguised himself, left word for -his assistants, and hurried to the hotel--only to find that his flash of -inspiration had come a little too late. - -Helga Lund had mysteriously disappeared. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - -HELGA IS AMONG THE MISSING. - - -Doctor Lightfoot, the actress’ physician, was greatly excited and had -just telephoned to Nick’s house, after the detective had left for the -hotel. - -The doctor had arrived there about half an hour before, for his regular -morning visit. To his consternation he had found the night nurse -stretched out on Helga Lund’s bed, unconscious, and clad only in her -undergarments. - -The actress was nowhere to be found. - -The anxious Lightfoot was of very different caliber from the prison -physician at Sing Sing. He had recognized the nurse’s symptoms at once, -and knew that she had been hypnotized. - -He set to work at once to revive her and succeeded in doing so, after -some little delay. As soon as she was in a condition to question, he -pressed her for all the details she could give. - -They were meager enough, but sufficiently disquieting. According to her -story, a man whom she had supposed to be Lightfoot himself had gained -entrance to the suite between nine and ten o’clock at night. - -He had sent up Doctor Lightfoot’s name, and his appearance, when she saw -him, had coincided with that of the attending physician. He had acted -rather strangely, to be sure, and the nurse had been surprised at his -presence at that hour, owing to the fact that Lightfoot had already made -his two regular calls that day. - -Before her surprise had had time to become full-fledged suspicion, -however, the intruder had fixed her commandingly with his eyes, and she -had found herself powerless to resist the weakness of will which had -frightened her. - -She dimly remembered that he had approached her slowly, nearer and -nearer, and that his gleaming eyes had seemed to be two coals of fire in -his head. - -That was all she recalled, except that she had felt her senses reeling -and leaving her. She had known no more until Doctor Lightfoot broke the -dread spell, almost twelve hours afterward. - -She had met the bogus Lightfoot in one of the outer rooms of the suite, -not in the presence of the actress. Miss Lund had been in her bedroom at -the time, but had not yet retired. - -The nurse was horror-stricken to learn that her patient was missing, and -equally at a loss to explain how she herself came to be without her -uniform. - -But Doctor Lightfoot possessed a sufficiently analytical mind to enable -him to solve the puzzle, after a fashion, even before Nick arrived. - -The detective had told him that the sight of an enemy of the actress’ -had caused her seizure, and it was easy to put two and two together. -This enemy had doubtless made himself up to represent the attending -physician, had hypnotized the nurse, and then passed on, unhindered, to -the actress’ room. - -He had obviously subdued her in the same fashion, after which he had -removed the unconscious nurse’s uniform and compelled Helga to don it. - -The doctor remembered now that the two women were nearly alike in -height and build. The nurse had dark-brown hair, in sharp contrast to -Helga’s golden glory; but a wig could have remedied that. Neither was -there any similarity in features, but veils can be counted on to hide -such differences. - -Doctor Lightfoot, despite his alarm, was rather proud of his ability to -reason the thing out alone. He had no doubt that Helga Lund, under -hypnotic influence, had accompanied the strange man from the hotel, -against her will. - -It would have been very easy, with no obstacle worth mentioning to -interpose. No one who saw them would have thought it particularly -strange to see the nurse and the doctor leaving together. At most, it -would have suggested that they were on unusually good terms, and that he -was taking her out for an airing in his car. - -The keen-witted physician had progressed thus far by the time Nick -arrived, but he had not yet sought to verify his deductions by -questioning any of the hotel staff. - -Nick listened to his theory, put a few additional questions to the -nurse, and then complimented Doctor Lightfoot on his analysis. - -“That seems to be the way of it,” the detective admitted. “A light, -three-quarter-length coat, which the nurse often wore over her uniform, -is also missing, together with her hat. The distinctive nurse’s skirt -would have shown beneath the coat and thereby help the deception.” - -Confidential inquiries were made at once, and the fact was established -that the two masqueraders--one voluntary and one involuntary--had left -the building about ten o’clock the night before. - -The supposed Lightfoot had arrived in a smart, closed town car, which -had been near enough to the physician’s in appearance to deceive the -carriage starter. The chauffeur wore a quiet livery, a copy of that worn -by Lightfoot’s driver. The car had waited, and the two had ridden away -in it. - -That was all the hotel people could say. The night clerk had thought it -odd that Miss Lund’s nurse had not returned, but it was none of his -business, of course, if the actress’ physician had taken her away. - -It was of little importance now, but Nick was curious enough to make -inquiries, while he was about it, which brought out the fact that a man -had registered at the hotel the morning after the affair at the theater, -and had paid his bill and left the evening before. - -It might have been only a coincidence, but certain features of the man’s -description, as given, left room for the belief that Doctor Grantley had -really been at the Wentworth-Belding during that interval. - -But where was he now, and what had he done with the unfortunate actress? - -Such as it was, the slender clew furnished by the closed car must be -followed up for all it was worth. - -That was not likely to prove an easy matter, and, unless Grantley had -lost his cunning, the trail of the machine would probably lead to -nothing, even if it could be followed. Nevertheless, there seemed to be -nothing else to work on. - -The chauffeur of the car might have been an accomplice, but it was not -necessary to suppose so. It looked as if the wily Grantley had hunted -up a machine of the same make as Doctor Lightfoot’s, and had engaged it -for a week or a month, paying for it in advance. - -There are many cars to be had in New York on such terms, and they are -extensively used by people who wish to give the impression, for a -limited time, that they own a fine car. - -It is a favorite way of overawing visitors; and chauffeurs in various -sorts of livery go with the cars, both being always at the command of -the renter. - -It would not, therefore, have aroused suspicion if Grantley had -furnished a livery of his own choice for his temporary chauffeur. - -The first step was to ascertain the make of Doctor Lightfoot’s car. -Another make might have been used, of course, but it was not likely, -since the easiest way to duplicate the machine would have been to choose -another having the same lines and color. - -“Mine is a Palgrave,” the physician informed Nick, in response to the -latter’s question. - -“Humph! That made it easy for Grantley,” remarked the detective; “but it -won’t be so easy for us. The Palgrave is the favorite car for renting by -the week or month, and there are numerous places where that particular -machine might have been obtained. We’ll have to go the rounds.” - -Nick and his assistants set to work at once, with the help of the -telephone directory, which listed the various agencies for automobiles. -There were nearly twenty of them, but that meant comparatively little -delay, with several investigators at work. - -A little over an hour after the search began, Chick “struck oil.” - -Grantley, disguised as Doctor Lightfoot, had engaged a Palgrave town car -of the latest model at an agency on “Automobile Row,” as that section of -Broadway near Fifty-ninth Street is sometimes called. - -The machine had been engaged for a week--not under Lightfoot’s name, -however--and Grantley had furnished the suit of livery. The car had been -used by its transient possessor for the first time the night before, had -returned to the garage about eleven o’clock, and had not since been sent -for. - -The chauffeur was there, and, at Nick’s request, the manager sent for -him. - -The detective was about to learn something of Grantley’s movements; but -was it to be much, or little? - -He feared that the latter would prove to be the case. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. - -A SHREWD GUESS. - - -The detective had revealed his identity, and the chauffeur was quite -willing to tell all he knew. - -He had driven his temporary employer and the woman in nurse’s garb to -the Yellow Anchor line pier, near the Battery. Grantley--or Thomas -Worthington, as he had called himself in this connection--had -volunteered the information that his companion was his niece, who had -been sent for suddenly to take care of some one who was to sail on the -_Laurentian_ at five o’clock in the morning. - -Both of the occupants of the car had alighted at the pier, and the man -had told the chauffeur not to wait, the explanation being that he might -be detained on board for some time. - -The pier was a long one, and the chauffeur could not, of course, say -whether the pair had actually gone on board the vessel or not. He had -obeyed orders and driven away at once. - -Neither the man nor the woman had carried any baggage. The chauffeur had -gathered that the person who was ill was a relative of both of them, and -that the nurse’s rather bewildered manner was due to her anxiety and the -suddenness of the call. - -That was all Nick could learn from him, and an immediate visit to the -Yellow Anchor line pier was imperative. - -There it was learned that a man and woman answering the description -given had been noticed in the crowd of people who had come to bid -good-by to relatives and friends. One man was sure he had seen them -enter a taxi which had just dropped its passengers. When interrogated -further, he gave it as his impression that the taxi was a red-and-black -machine. He naturally did not notice its number, and no one else could -be found who had seen even that much. - -A wireless inquiry brought a prompt reply from the _Laurentian_, to the -effect that no couple of that description were on board, or had been -seen on the vessel the night before. - -It was clear that Grantley had made a false trail, for the purpose of -throwing off his pursuers. It had been a characteristic move, and no -more than Nick had expected. - -The detective turned his attention to the taxi clew. Red and black were -the distinctive colors of the Flanders-Jackson Taxicab Company’s -machines. Consequently, the main garage of that concern was next -visited. - -Luckily, the man at the pier had been right. One of the company’s taxis -had been at the Yellow Anchor line pier the previous night, and had -picked up a couple of new passengers there, after having been dismissed -by those who had originally engaged it. - -Nick obtained the name and address of the chauffeur, who was off duty -until night. He was not at home when the detective called, but, after a -vexatious delay, he was eventually located. - -A tip loosened his tongue. - -“I remember them well, sir,” he declared. “The man looked like a -doctor, I thought, and, if I’m not mistaken, the woman had on a nurse’s -uniform under her long coat. I couldn’t see her face, though, on -account of the heavy veil she wore. She acted queer--sick or something. -The fellow told me, when they got in, to drive them to the -Wentworth-Belding, but when I got up to Fourteenth Street he said to -take them to the Metropolitan Building. I did, and they got out. That’s -all I know about it. I drove them to the Madison Square side, and they -had gone into the building before I started away, but that’s the last I -saw of them.” - -“Well, we’ve traced them one step farther, Chick,” Nick remarked to his -first assistant as they left, “but we haven’t tracked them down, by a -long shot. Grantley doubtless went through the Metropolitan Building to -Fourth Avenue. There he either took the subway, hailed another taxi, -or--hold on, though! Maybe there’s something in that! I wonder----” - -“Now, what?” Chick asked eagerly. - -“You remember Doctor Chester, one of the six young physicians, who was -mixed up with Grantley in that vivisection case?” - -“Of course I do,” his assistant answered. “He has taken another name and -given up his profession--on the surface at least. He’s living on East -Twenty-sixth Street----” - -“Exactly--a very few blocks from the Metropolitan Building!” interrupted -his chief. - -“You mean----” - -“I have a ‘hunch,’ as Patsy would call it that Grantley has taken Helga -Lund to Chester’s house. Chester had rented one of those old-fashioned, -run-down bricks across from the armory. It’s liable to be demolished -almost any day, to make way for a new skyscraper, and he doubtless gets -it for a song. He can do what he pleases there, and I wouldn’t be -surprised to find that Grantley had been paying the rent in anticipation -of something of this sort. They undoubtedly think that we lost sight of -Chester long ago.” - -“By George, I’ll wager you’re right, chief!” exclaimed Chick. “The fact -that we’ve traced Grantley to the Metropolitan Building certainly looks -significant, in view of Chester’s house being so near to it. It’s only -about five minutes’ walk, and a man with Grantley’s resourcefulness -could easily have made enough changes in his appearance and that of Miss -Lund, while in the Metropolitan Building, to have made it impossible for -the two who entered Chester’s house to be identified with those who had -left the Wentworth-Belding an hour or so before.” - -“That’s the way it strikes me,” agreed the detective. “And, if the -scoundrel took her there last night, they are doubtless there now. I -think we’re sufficiently justified in forcing our way into the house and -searching it, and that without delay. We don’t know enough to take the -police into our confidence as yet; therefore, the raid will have to be -purely on our own responsibility. We must put our theory to the test at -once, however, without giving Grantley any more time to harm the -actress. Heaven knows he’s had enough opportunity to do so already!” - -“Right! We can’t wait for darkness or reënforcements. It will have to -be a daylight job, put through just as we are. If we find ourselves on -the wrong scent, Chester will be in a position to make it hot for us--or -would be, if he had any standing--but we’ll have to risk that.” - -“Well, if Chester--or Schofield, as he is calling himself now--is -tending to his new business as a commercial chemist, he ought to be away -at this hour. That remains to be seen, however. I imagine, at any rate, -that we can handle any situation that is likely to arise. If time were -not so precious, it would be better to have some of the other boys along -with us, but we don’t know what may be happening at this very moment. -Come on. We can plan our campaign on the way.” - -A couple of tall loft buildings had already replaced part of the old row -of houses on the north side of Twenty-sixth Street, beginning at Fourth -Avenue. Nick and his assistant entered the second of these and took the -elevator to one of the upper floors, from the eastern corridor of which -they could obtain a view of the house occupied by young Doctor Chester, -together with its approaches, back and front. - -The house consisted of a high basement--occupied by a little hand -laundry--and three upper stories, the main floor being reached by a -flight of iron steps at the front. - -Obviously, there was no exit from the body of the house at the rear. -There was only a basement door opening into the tiny back yard, and that -was connected with the laundry. - -The detective decided, as a result of their general knowledge of such -houses, not to bother with the back at all. Their plan was to march -boldly up the front stairs, outside, fit a skeleton key to the lock, and -enter the hall. - -They argued that, owing to the fact that the basement was sublet, any -crooked work that might be going on would be likely to be confined to -the second or third floor to prevent suspicion on the part of those -connected with the laundry. - -Therefore, they hoped to find the first floor deserted. If that were the -case, it was improbable that their entrance would be discovered -prematurely. - -There was, doubtless, a flight of steps at the rear of the house, -leading down to the laundry from the first floor; but they were -practically certain that these rear stairs did not ascend above the main -floor. If they did not, there was no way of retreat for the occupants of -the upper part of the house, except by the front stairs, and, as the -detective meant to climb them, it seemed reasonable to suppose that -Grantley, Chester & Company could easily be trapped. - -Nick and Chick returned to the street and made their way, without the -slightest attempt at concealment, toward the suspected house. - -They met no one whose recognition was likely to be embarrassing, and saw -no faces at the upper windows as they climbed the outer steps. - -They had already seen to it that their automatics were handy, and now -Nick produced a bunch of skeleton keys and began fitting them, one after -another. - -The fifth one worked. They stepped into the hall as if they belonged -there--taking care to make no noise, however--and gently closed the -doors behind them. - -The adventure was well under way, and, technically speaking, they were -already housebreakers. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI. - -“HOW ARE THE MIGHTY FALLEN!” - - -The house in which Nick and Chick found themselves had been a good one, -but it was now badly in need of repair. - -The main hall was comparatively wide for so narrow a building, and a -heavy balustrade fenced off the stairs on one side. - -The detectives paused just inside the door and listened intently. The -doors on the first floor were all closed and the rooms behind them -appeared to be untenanted. At any rate, all was still on that floor. -Subdued noises of various sorts floated down to them from above, -however, seemingly from the third floor. - -They looked at each other significantly. Evidently, their theory had -been correct--to some extent, at least. - -They approached each of the doors in turn, but could hear nothing. Under -the stairway they found the expected door leading down to the basement, -but, as it was locked, and there was no key, they paid no further -attention to it. - -Instead, they started to mount the front stairs to the second floor. The -stairway was old and rather creaky, but the detectives knew how to step -in order to make the least noise. Consequently, they gained the next -landing without being discovered. - -Here they repeated the tactics they had used below, with a like result. -The sound of voices and footfalls were louder now, but they all came -from the third floor. The second seemed to be as quiet as the first. - -The doors on the second floor, like those on the first, were all closed, -but Nick ascertained that at least one of them was unlocked. - -That fact might be of great advantage in preventing discovery, in case -any one should start down unexpectedly from the third floor, for the -halls and stairs offered no place of concealment. - -The detectives noiselessly removed their shoes before attempting the -last flight, and placed them inside the unlocked room, which they -noiselessly closed again. - -They were now ready for the final reconnoissance. - -By placing the balls of their stockinged feet on the edges of the steps, -they succeeded in mounting to the third floor without making any more -noise than that produced by the contact of their clothing. - -A slight pause at the top served to satisfy them that the noises all -proceeded from one room at the front of the house. They were already -close to the door of this room, and they listened breathlessly. - -Words were plainly audible now, punctuated at frequent intervals by loud -bursts of laughter. - -It sounded like a merrymaking of some kind. What was going on behind -that closed door? Had they made a mistake in entering the house and -wasted precious time in following a will-o’-the-wisp, when Helga Lund -might be even then in the greatest danger? - -Nick and his assistants feared so, and their hearts sank heavily. - -But no. The next words they heard reassured, but, at the same time, -startled them. The voice was unmistakably Grantley’s. - -“That’s enough of pantomime,” it said, with a peculiar note of cruel, -triumphant command. “Now give us your confession from ‘The Daughters of -Men’--give it, but remember that you are not a great actress, that you -are so bad that you would be hooted from the cheapest stage. Remember -that you are ugly and dressed in rags, that you are awkward and ungainly -in your movements, that your voice is like a file. Remember it not only -now, but always. You will never be able to act. Your acting is a -nightmare, and you are a fright--when you aren’t a joke. But show us -what you can do in that confession scene.” - -Nick and Chick grew tense as they listened to those unbelievable words, -and to the heartless chuckles and whisperings with which they were -received. Apparently there were several men in the “audience”--probably -Chester and some of Grantley’s other former accomplices. - -The meaning was plain--all too plain. - -The proud, beautiful Helga Lund was once more under hypnotic influence, -and Grantley, with devilish ingenuity, was impressing suggestions upon -her poor, tortured brain, suggestions which were designed to rob her of -her great ability, not only for the moment, but, unless their baneful -effect could be removed, for all the rest of her life. - -She, who had earned the plaudits of royalty in most of the countries of -Europe, was being made a show of for the amusement of a handful of -ruthless scoffers. - -It made the detectives’ blood boil in their veins and their hands clench -until their knuckles were white, but they managed somehow to keep from -betraying themselves. - -The employment of hypnotism in such a way was plainly within the scope -of the new law against unwarranted operations or experiments on human -beings, without their consent; but it was necessary to secure as much -evidence as possible before interfering. - -To that end Nick Carter took out of a pocket case a curious little -instrument, which he was in the habit of calling his “keyhole -periscope.” - -It consisted of a small black tube, about the length and diameter of a -lead pencil. There was an eyepiece at one end. At the other a -semicircular lens bulged out. - -It was designed to serve the same purpose as the periscope of a -submarine torpedo boat--that is, to give a view on all sides of a given -area at once. The exposed convex lens, when thrust through a keyhole or -other small aperture, received images of objects from every angle in the -room beyond, and magnified them, in just the same way as the similarly -constructed periscope of a submarine projects above the level of the -water and gives those in the submerged vessel below a view of all -objects on the surface, within a wide radius. - -Nick had noted that there was no key in the lock of the door. Taking -advantage of that fact, he crept silently forward, inserted the -wonderful little instrument in the round upper portion of the hole, and, -stooping, applied his eye to the eyepiece. - -He could not resist an involuntary start as he caught his first glimpse -of the extraordinary scene within. - -The whole interior of the room was revealed to him. Around the walls -were seated three young men of professional appearance. Nick recognized -them all. They were Doctor Chester, Doctor Willard, and Doctor Graves, -three of Grantley’s former satellites. - -They were leaning forward or throwing themselves back in different -attitudes of cruel enjoyment and derision, while Grantley stood at one -side, his hawklike face thrust out, his keen, pitiless eyes fixed -malignantly on the figure in the center of the room. - -Nick’s heart went out in pity toward that pathetic figure, although he -could hardly believe his eyes. - -It was that of Helga Lund, but so changed as to be almost -unrecognizable. - -Her splendid golden hair hung in a matted, disordered snarl about her -face, which was pale and smudged with grime. She was clothed in the -cheapest of calico wrappers, hideously colored, soiled and torn, beneath -which showed her bare, dust-stained feet. - -She had thrown herself upon her knees, as the part required; her -outstretched hands were intertwined beseechingly, and her wonderful eyes -were raised to Grantley’s face. In them was the hurt, fearful look of a -faithful but abused dog in the presence of a cruel master. - -Her tattered sleeves revealed numerous bruises on her perfectly formed -arms. - -The part of the play which Grantley had ordered her to render was that -in which the heroine pleaded with her angry lover for his forgiveness of -some past act of hers, which she had bitterly repented. - -She was reciting the powerful lines now. They had always held her great -audiences breathless, but how different was this pitiable travesty! - -It would have been hard enough at best for her to make them ring true -when delivered before such unsympathetic listeners and in such an -incongruous garb, but she was not at her best. On the contrary, her -performance was infinitely worse than any one would have supposed -possible. - -She had unconsciously adopted every one of the hypnotist’s brutal -suggestions. - -There was not a vestige of her famous grace in any of her movements. The -most ungainly slattern could not have been more awkward. - -Her words were spoken parrotlike, as if learned by rote, without the -slightest understanding of their meaning. For the most part, they -succeeded one another without any attempt at emphasis, and when emphasis -was used, it was invariably in the wrong place. - -It was her voice itself, however, which gave Nick and Chick their -greatest shock. - -The Lund, as she was generally called in Europe, had always been -celebrated for her remarkably musical voice; but this sorry-looking -creature’s voice was alternately shrill and harsh. It pierced and rasped -and set the teeth on edge, just as the sound of a file does. - -Nothing could have given a more sickening sense of Grantley’s power over -the actress than this astounding transformation, this slavish adherence -to the conditions of abject failure which he had imposed upon her. - -It seemed incredible, and yet, there it was, plainly revealed to sight -and hearing alike. - -A subtler or more uncanny revenge has probably never been conceived by -the mind of man. The public breakdown which Grantley had so mercilessly -caused had only been the beginning of his scheme of vengeance. - -He doubtless meant to hypnotize his victim again and again, and each -time to impose his will upon her gradually weakening mind, until she had -become a mere wreck of her former self, and incapable of ever again -taking her former place in the ranks of genius. - -There was nothing impossible about it. On the contrary, the result was a -foregone conclusion if Grantley were left free to continue as he had -begun. - -The very emotional susceptibility which had made Helga Lund a great -actress had also made her an easy victim of hypnotic suggestion, and, if -the process went on long enough, she would permanently lose everything -that had made her successful. - -Outright murder would have been innocent by comparison with such -infernal ingenuity of torture. It seemed to Nick as if he were watching -the destruction of a splendid, priceless work of art. - -He had seen enough. - -He withdrew the little periscope from the keyhole and straightened up. -One hand went to his pocket and came out with an automatic. Chick -followed his example. - -They were outnumbered two to one, but that did not deter them. - -Helga must be rescued at once, and her tormentors caught red-handed. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII. - -THE SWING OF THE PENDULUM. - - -What was to be done, though? - -To burst into the room and seek to overpower the four doctors then and -there, in Helga’s presence, would place the actress in additional -danger. - -Nick was convinced, however, that that risk would have to be run. He had -seen evidences that more than one of the men were tiring of the cruel -sport, and it might now come to an end at any moment. - -He swiftly considered two or three possible plans for drawing the four -away from their victim, but rejected them all. They would only increase -the danger of a slip of some sort, and he was bent upon capturing the -four, as well as releasing the actress. - -Furthermore, he did not believe that even Grantley would dare to harm -Helga further in his presence, even if the fortunes of war should give -the surgeon a momentary opportunity. - -He, accordingly, motioned to his assistant to follow close behind him, -and laid his left hand on the knob. - -He turned it noiselessly, and was greatly relieved to find that the door -yielded. Their advent would be a complete surprise, therefore, and would -find the four totally unprepared. - -Nick paused a moment, then flung the door back violently and strode into -the room. - -Grantley was the ringleader, the most dangerous of the lot at any time, -and the fact that he was an escaped convict would render his resistance -more than ordinarily desperate. The periscope had told Nick where the -fugitive stood, and thus the detective was enabled to cover him at once -with the unwavering muzzle of the automatic. - -“Hands up, Grantley! Hands up, everybody!” cried Nick, stepping a little -to one side to allow Chick to enter. - -His assistant took immediate advantage of the opening and stepped to his -chief’s side, with leveled weapon. Chick’s automatic was pointed at -Doctor Chester, however. After Grantley, the man whose house had been -invaded was naturally the one who was likely to put up the hardest -fight. - -The guilty four were spellbound with astonishment and fear for a moment, -then the three younger ones jumped to their feet like so many -jacks-in-the-box. Grantley had already been standing when the detectives -broke in. - -“Did you hear me, gentlemen?” Nick demanded, crooking his finger a -little more closely about the trigger. “I said ‘Hands up!’ and it won’t -be healthy for any of you to ignore the invitation. One--two--three!” - -Before the last word passed his lips, however, four pairs of hands were -in the air. Doctor Willard’s had gone up first and Grantley’s last. - -“Thank you so much!” the detective remarked, with mock politeness. “Now, -if you will oblige me a little further, by lining up against that right -wall, I shall be still more grateful to you. Kindly place yourselves -about two feet apart, not less. I want you, Number Sixty Thousand One -Thirteen”--Grantley winced at his prison number--“at this end of the -line, next to me, with Chester, alias Schofield, next; Graves next to -him, and Willard last. You see, I haven’t forgotten any of my old -friends.” - -This disposition of the trapped quartet was designed to serve two -purposes. In the first place, it would remove them from proximity to -Helga Lund, who, crouched in the middle of the floor, was watching the -detectives with bewildered, uncomprehending eyes. In the second place, -it would enable Chick to handcuff them one by one, while Nick stood -ready to fire, at an instant’s notice, on any one who made a false move. - -It looked, for the time being, as if the capture would be altogether too -easy to have any spice in it, but the detectives did not make the -mistake of underrating their adversaries--Grantley, especially. - -To be sure, they were probably unarmed, and had been taken at such a -disadvantage that they would hardly have had an opportunity to draw -weapons, even if they had worn them. Still, any one of a number of -things might happen. - -The four doctors had been caught “with the goods,” as the police saying -is, and they might be expected to take desperate chances as soon as they -had had time to collect their scattered wits and to realize the -seriousness of their plight. - -Nick Carter had shown his usual generalship in the orders he had given -so crisply. - -Grantley himself, the most to be feared of the lot, was to be placed -nearest to the detective, where Nick could watch him most narrowly. That -was not all, however. The detective meant that Chick should handcuff -Grantley first, and thus put the leader out of mischief at the earliest -opportunity. - -After him, Chester was to be disposed of, and the two that would then -remain were comparatively harmless in themselves. - -Grantley doubtless saw through Nick’s tactics from the beginning, and if -the detective could have caught the gleam behind the wily surgeon’s -half-closed lids, he would have known that Grantley thought he saw an -opportunity to circumvent those tactics. - -With reasonable promptness, hands still in the air, Grantley started to -obey the detective’s order. He moved slowly, grudgingly, his face -distorted with rage and hate. - -Chester started to follow the older man toward the wall, but Chick -halted him. - -“Hold up, there, Schofield-Chester!” the young detective ordered. “One -at a time, if you don’t mind!” - -He wished to prevent the confusion that would result from the -simultaneous movement of the four scoundrels. - -Chester paused with a snarl, and Grantley went on alone. He was making -for the corner nearest to Nick, who still stood close to the door. In -doing so, he was obliged to pass in front of the detective. - -It had been no part of Nick’s plan to have the fugitive take to that -corner, and he suddenly realized that the criminal was crossing a little -too close to him for safety. - -“Here, keep to the left a little----” he began sharply, when Grantley -was about four feet away. - -But before he could complete his sentence, the escaped convict ducked -and threw his body sidewise, the long arms were already above his head -and he left them where they were. Their abnormal length helped to bridge -the distance between him and Nick as he flung himself at the detective. - -Nick guessed the nature of the move, as if by instinct, and when he -fired, which he did immediately, it was with depressed muzzle. He had -allowed, in other words, for the swift descent of Grantley’s body. - -In spite of that, however, the bullet merely plowed a furrow across the -criminal’s shoulder and back, as he dropped. It did not disable him in -the least, and, before Nick could fire again, Grantley’s peculiar dive -ended with a vicious impact against his legs, and claw-like hands -gripped him about the knees in an effort to pull him down. - -The convict’s daring act broke the spell which had held his companions. -Without waiting to see whether Grantley’s move was to prove successful -or not, the three of them threw themselves bodily upon Chick, while the -latter’s attention was diverted for a moment by his chief’s peril. - -Doctor Chester, who had been looking for something of the sort from -Grantley, was the first to pounce upon Nick’s assistant. He gripped -Chick’s right wrist and began to twist it in an attempt to loosen the -hold on the weapon. - -“Help Grantley, Willard,” he directed, at the same time, between his -clenched teeth. “Graves and I can handle this fellow, I guess.” - -Willard started for Nick, while Graves shifted his attack, and, edging -around behind Chick, seized him by the shoulders. At the same moment he -placed one knee in the small of the young detective’s back. - -There could be only one result: - -Chick was bent painfully back until his spine felt as if it was about to -crack in two; then, in his efforts to relieve the strain, he lost his -footing and went down, with Chester on top of him, and still clinging -doggedly to his wrists. - -A few feet away Nick was being hard pressed by two other rascals. - -The pendulum of chance had swung the other way, and things looked very -dubious for the detectives--and for what was left of Helga Lund! - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII. - -A HUMAN WHEEL. - - -Chick had thrown himself to one side to ease the pressure on his back. -Accordingly, he struck the floor on his left side. - -Chester and Graves dropped heavily upon him before he had more than -touched the boards, the former at his feet, the latter on his shoulders. - -Their bony knees crushed him down, and Graves used his weight to try to -pull Chick over on his back. - -Nick’s assistant had twisted his left wrist out of Chester’s grasp as he -fell, but the renegade physician had clung for dear life to the hand -which held the automatic. - -Chick allowed himself to be pulled over on his back--for a very good -reason: His free arm had been under him as he lay on his side, and he -wanted an opportunity to use it. - -Graves grabbed at it at once, but Chick stretched it--all but the upper -arm--out of his antagonist’s reach. Graves would have to lean far over -Chick in order to reach the latter’s left wrist, and, in so doing, he -would expose himself not a little. Or else he would be obliged to edge -around on his knees, behind Chick’s head. - -He chose to try the latter maneuver, but Chick feinted with his left -arm. Graves dodged, and Chick’s hand darted in behind the other’s guard, -grasping Graves firmly by the hair. - -Almost at the same instant the young detective jerked his right foot -loose and gave the startled Chester a tremendous kick in the stomach. - -The master of the house gave a grunt and doubled up like a jackknife. -His grip on Chick’s right wrist relaxed simultaneously, and its owner -tore it away. - -Chester had involuntarily lurched forward, and the act had brought his -head well within the reach of Chick’s right hand, which was now once -more at liberty. - -While Nick’s assistant held the struggling Graves at arm’s length by the -hair, with one hand, he brought down the butt of the automatic, with all -the strength he could bring to bear, on Chester’s lowered poll. - -He had juggled the weapon in a twinkling, so that it was clubbed when it -descended. The blow was surprisingly effective, considering the -circumstances. - -Chester groaned and toppled forward, over Chick’s legs. - -The detective’s assistant was ready to follow up his advantage at once. -He wriggled about until he was facing Graves, and then he began pulling -that individual toward him by the hair. - -Tears of pain were in Graves’ eyes, and he struck out blindly in a -desperate effort to break Chick’s relentless hold. The attempt was a -failure, however. Despite all of Graves’ struggles, he was irresistibly -drawn nearer and nearer. The fact that he wore his hair rather long -helped Chick to maintain his grip. - -Presently the young physician’s head was near enough to allow Chick to -strike it with his clubbed weapon. He drew the latter back for the blow, -but his enemy, seeing what was coming, suddenly changed his tactics. - -Instead of trying to pull away any more, he ducked and threw himself -into Chick’s arms. - -The revolver butt naturally missed its mark, and, for a time, they -fought at too close quarters to permit such a blow to be tried again. - -Graves had seized Chick around the body as he closed in, and he drew -himself close, burying his head on Chick’s chest. Chick still maintained -his hold of his opponent’s hair, however, and now retaliated by rolling -over on Graves, working his feet from under the unconscious Chester as -he did so. - -Graves snuggled as close as he could to avoid the dreaded blow, but -Chick, now being on top, was able to hold Graves’ head on the floor by -main force, while he arched his own powerful back and began to tear his -body from his antagonist’s straining arms. - -Graves was game; there was no doubt about that. The pulling of his hair -must have been torture to him, but he did not relinquish his hold about -Chick’s waist. - -His eyes were closed, his face drawn and twisted with pain, but he clung -obstinately, and without a whimper. - -Slowly but surely, nevertheless, Chick raised himself, and the space -between their laboring breasts widened. Graves’ hold was being loosened -bit by bit, but it had not broken. - -As a matter of fact, Chick did not wait for it to break. It was not -necessary, for one thing; and, for another, he realized that it would be -a kindness to Graves to end the painful struggle as soon as possible. - -Accordingly, as soon as he had raised himself enough to deliver a -reasonably effective blow with the clubbed automatic, he struck -downward, with carefully controlled aim and strength. - -The butt of the little weapon landed in the middle of the physician’s -forehead. A gasp followed, and the tugging arms fell away. - -Chick had floored his two opponents. - -He got quickly to his feet and looked to see if Nick needed him. Chester -and Graves ought to be handcuffed before they had time to revive, but -that could wait a little if necessary. - -It was well that Chick finished his business just when he did, for Nick -was in trouble. - -Doctor Grantley was not an athlete, and his long, lanky build gave -little promise of success against Nick Carter’s trained muscles and -varied experience in physical encounters of all sorts. - -On the other hand, the convict was possessed of amazing wiriness and -endurance, and, although he was not cut out for a fighting man, his -keen, quick mind made up for most of his bodily deficiencies. - -His original attack, for instance, was an example of unconventional but -startlingly successful strategy. On the surface, it would have seemed -that such a man, without weapons, had precious little chance of gaining -any advantage over Nick Carter, armed as the latter was, and a good four -feet away. - -But Grantley followed up his impetuous dive in a most surprising way. -His long arms closed about Nick’s legs, but, instead of endeavoring to -pull the detective down in the ordinary way, Grantley unexpectedly -plucked his legs apart with all his strength. - -The detective’s balance instantly became a very uncertain quantity, for -the surgeon’s abnormally long, gorillalike arms tore his legs apart and -pushed them to right and left with astonishing ease. - -Nick felt like an involuntary Colossus of Rhodes as he was forced to -straddle farther and farther. He threw one hand behind him to brace -himself against the wall, reversed his automatic and leaned forward, -bent upon knocking the enterprising Grantley on the head. - -The fugitive had other plans, however. Just as Nick bent forward, -Grantley suddenly thrust his head and shoulders between the detective’s -outstretched limbs, and heaved upward and backward. - -The detective was lifted from his feet and pitched forward, head -downward. His discomfiture was a decided shock to him, but he neither -lost his presence of mind nor his grip on his weapon. - -Had he struck on his head and shoulders, as Grantley evidently intended -he should, the result might have been exceedingly disastrous. The -detective would almost certainly have been plunged into unconsciousness, -and his neck might easily have been broken. - -Nick saw his danger in a flash, though; drew his head and shoulders -sharply inward and downward, and at the same time grasped one of -Grantley’s thighs with his left hand. - -The result would have been ludicrous under almost any other -circumstances. The detective’s lowered head went, in turn, between -Grantley’s legs, and their intertwined bodies formed a wheel, such as -trained athletes sometimes contrive. - -This countermove of Nick’s was as much of a surprise to the surgeon as -the latter’s curious mode of attack had been to the detective. - -They rolled over and over a couple of times, until Nick, finding himself -momentarily on top, brought them to a stop. So awkward were their -positions that neither was able to strike an effective blow at the -other. - -Nick had the upper hand temporarily, however, and proceeded to wrench -himself loose. He had been busily engaged in this when Willard had -rushed to Grantley’s assistance. - -That put still another face on the situation at once. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV. - -NICK’S EXTREMITY. - - -The newcomer saw his opportunity and snatched up a chair as he rushed -toward the tangled combatants. - -Nick heard him coming, but did not have time to extricate himself from -Grantley’s dogged grasp. - -He raised his weapon, though, and was about to fire at Willard, when he -saw that the latter was directly between him and Helga Lund. Under the -circumstances, the detective did not dare to fire for fear of hitting -the actress. - -He kept Grantley down as best he could with his left hand, and waited -for Willard with his right hand still extended, holding the automatic. - -He might have an opportunity to fire, but, if not, he could at least -partially ward off the expected blow from the chair. - -Just as Willard paused and swung the chair aloft, Grantley managed -partially to dislodge the detective, with the result that Nick was -obliged to lower his right arm quickly. Otherwise he would undoubtedly -have lost his balance completely, and the surgeon-convict would have had -the upper hand in another second or two. - -This involuntary lowering of Nick’s guard served the purpose that -Grantley had intended. Willard’s cumbersome weapon descended with -uninterrupted force on the detective’s shoulders and the back of his -head. - -Nick lowered the latter instinctively, and thus saved himself the worst -of the blow. Nevertheless, the impact of the chair was stunning in its -force. - -The detective felt his senses reeling, but he somehow managed to retain -them and to grasp the chair, which he blindly wrenched from Willard’s -grasp. - -As he did so, however, Grantley succeeded in throwing him off and -scrambling to his feet. Nick followed his example almost simultaneously, -dropped his revolver into his pocket--for fear it would fall into the -hands of one of his enemies--and, grasping the heavy chair with both -hands, whirled it about his head. - -His two antagonists dodged it hurriedly, thus clearing a space about -him. Their blood was up, however--especially Grantley’s--and they felt -sure that the detective had by no means recovered from the blow. - -“Catch the chair, Willard!” cried Grantley. - -The younger physician obeyed instantly, grasping the round of the chair -with both hands, and thus preventing Nick from using it to any -advantage. - -The detective shoved it forward into the pit of Willard’s stomach, but -the newcomer managed to retain his hold. He guessed that Grantley merely -meant him to keep Nick busy in front, in order to allow of a rear -attack; and such was the case. - -While the detective was occupied with Willard, Grantley stole behind him -and plunged his hand into Nick’s pocket, in search of the automatic. - -The detective was obliged to let go of the chair and clamp his hand on -Grantley’s wrist. He was still feeling very groggy as a result of the -punishment he had recently received, and a thrill of apprehension went -through him. - -Grantley’s hand was already deep in his pocket, grasping the butt of the -weapon; and there was nothing about the wrist hold to prevent the -criminal from turning the muzzle of the automatic toward his side and -pulling the trigger. - -Incidentally, Nick foresaw that he could not hope to hold the chair with -one hand. Willard would twist it away and turn it upon him. - -He was right. That was precisely what Willard did. Nick let go just in -time to escape a sprained if not broken wrist, and dodged back. - -In order to keep his hand in Nick’s pocket, Grantley was then obliged to -circle about, between the detective and Willard. That saved Nick from -the latter for the moment, and, simultaneously, the detective shifted -his hold from Grantley’s wrist to his hand, pressing his thumb in under -the latter in such a way that it prevented the hammer of the automatic -from descending. - -He was just in time, for Grantley pulled the trigger almost at the same -moment. Thanks to Nick’s foresight, however, the weapon did not go off. - -Grantley cursed under his breath, but he had not emptied his bag of -tricks. He suddenly drove his head and shoulders in between Nick’s right -arm and side, and threw his own left arm around, with a back-hand -movement, in front of the detective’s body. - -The move threw the detective backward, over Grantley’s knee, which was -ready for him. At the same time, the criminal, whose right hand had -remained on the weapon in Nick’s pocket, began to draw the automatic -out and to the rear. - -In other words, he was forcing the detective in one direction with the -left arm and working the revolver in the other with his right. It was -manifestly impossible for Nick to stand the two opposing pressures for -long. - -Either he must break the hold of Grantley’s left arm, which pressed -across his chest like an iron band, or else he must let go of the -weapon. - -The former seemed out of the question in that position; and to -relinquish his hold on the revolver meant a shot in the side, which, -with Grantley’s knowledge of anatomy, would almost certainly prove -fatal. - -Backward went Nick’s straining right arm, inward turned the hard muzzle -of the weapon. Grantley was twisting the automatic now, hoping to loosen -the detective’s grasp all the quicker. - -Something was due in a few moments, and it promised to be a tragedy for -the detective. - -Then, to cap the climax, Willard circled about the two combatants, like -a hawk ready to swoop down on its prey, and, seeing Nick’s head -protruding from under Grantley’s left arm, hauled off and let drive with -the chair. - -The surgeon received part of the blow, but Nick’s head stopped enough of -it to end the strange tussle. - -The detective crumpled up, but Grantley held him from the floor and -wrested the weapon from the nerveless fingers. He withdrew it from -Nick’s pocket and put it to the detective’s left breast, determined to -end it all, without fail. - -It was at that supreme moment that Chick charged up and took a hand. - -Nick’s assistant reached Willard first. The latter’s back was toward -him, and he was just in the act of drawing back the chair. Chick’s -clubbed weapon descended on his head without warning, and Willard -pitched forward on his face. - -It was not until then that Chick saw the automatic at his chief’s -breast. There was no time to reach Grantley--not a second to waste. - -The young detective did what Nick and his men seldom allowed themselves -to do--he turned his automatic around again and shot to kill. - -Nick’s own life depended upon it, and there was nothing else to do. - -The bullet struck Grantley full between the eyes, and the escaped -convict dropped without a sound. - -The battle was over and won. - - * * * * * - -Doctor Hiram A. Grantley--so called--master surgeon and monster of -crime, would never return to Sing Sing to serve out his unexpired term; -but neither would he trouble the world or Helga Lund again. - -If the truth were known, it would doubtless be found that Warden Kennedy -heaved a sigh of profound relief when he heard of Grantley’s death. It -left no room for anxiety over the possibility of another hypnotic -escape. - -Doctors Chester, Willard, and Graves were speedily brought to trial, and -they were convicted of aiding and abetting the deceased Grantley in an -illegal experiment in hypnotism on the person of the great Swedish -actress. - -As for Helga Lund, she was a nervous wreck for nearly a year, but -gradually, under the care of the best European physicians, she recovered -her health and her confidence in herself. - -She has now returned to the stage, and Nick Carter, who has seen her -recently in Paris, declares that she is more wonderful than ever. - -He wishes he could have spared her that last humiliating ordeal, but she -is wise enough to know that, but for him and Chick, the man she had -despised would have made his dreadful vengeance complete. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV. - -“MYSTERY 47.” - - -Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request -to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience. The -request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and -Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend. - -The inspector looked worried as he greeted Nick in his private room at -headquarters. - -“Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is -undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of -the department, at least while I have been connected with it. We have -called it ‘Mystery 47,’ on account of its similarity to the case which -startled Paris a few years ago, that, if you will remember, occurred at -47 Rue Boulogne. - -“The bodies of six men have been found, one after another, and all of -them within ten feet of each other. Another puzzling feature about the -murders is that there does not seem to have been any motive for any of -them, as the bodies when found did not appear to have been robbed. Still -another strange feature is that, so far, the coroner’s office has not -been able to determine what has been the cause of death in any of the -cases. We have absolutely no clews on which to work. Whoever the -assassin is, he has covered his tracks with the hand of a master, he has -not left the slightest thing on which we can work. There does not -appear to be any reason for the shooting down of the people that have -fallen at the hand of the murderer. In all my experience I have never -known of a case where murders have been committed without a reason, but -in this instance there does not seem to be the slightest reason for the -man to have struck down the people that he has, as the murdered men were -in different walks of life, and, so far as we can learn, none of them -had an enemy in the world. - -“Another strange feature of the case is that the bodies all present -exactly the same appearance; on each is found a small speck of blood -over the heart. No other marks of violence are visible, and the -coroner’s physician says that he has not been able to find any trace of -poison in any of the bodies. - -“So far the papers have not paid much attention to the mystery, but I -have concluded that the men whom I have had assigned to the case will -not be able to solve it, and so I sent for you, as I know that Nick -Carter has never yet failed to get at the bottom of any case.” - -“You are very kind to say that, but I am afraid that you overestimate my -work,” said Nick modestly. “I will undertake to solve the mystery for -you, however. - -“Of course I will not be hampered with instructions from anybody, as the -manner in which I work is not always in accordance with the set rules of -some of the detectives,” continued Nick. - -“You will not be interfered with in any way, and any assistance that you -may need will be furnished you gladly,” said the inspector. - -“Now if you will commence at the beginning and tell me all about the -case I will go to work at once,” said Nick. - -The inspector told Nick all that he knew, from the finding of the first -body. - -Nick listened attentively. - -When the inspector had finished, Nick said: - -“Kindly give me a detailed account of the spot where these men were -found.” - -“Are you familiar with the country surrounding Astoria?” asked the -inspector. - -“Fairly so.” - -“Well, about two miles north of Astoria is an old lane that runs through -a clump of trees----” - -“I am familiar with the place,” said Nick. - -“Right on the edge of these woods the murdered men were found----” - -“That would bring it within a hundred yards of Weeden’s place, the man -who keeps an automobile repair shop.” - -“Precisely. I see that you are acquainted with the locality.” - -Nick smiled, but did not interrupt. - -“You looked as if you thought that Weeden might be mixed up in it when I -mentioned his name,” said the inspector. “It is not possible that you -suspect him?” - -“I don’t know. Do you think that he is?” asked Nick. - -“Certainly not.” - -“What makes you so certain?” - -“Because Jack Weeden’s name is above suspicion. His reputation is that -of a sober and industrious man. His neighbors all bear testimony to that -fact.” - -“I have seen other men whose neighbors thought that they were above -suspicion, and they afterward found out their mistake,” quietly replied -Nick. - -The inspector studied a moment and then asked: - -“What do you suggest might have been the object of the murders?” - -“That is not an easy question to answer, offhand,” replied Nick. - -“You say that a sum of money was found on the body of each. Was the sum -always about the same?” - -“No, there were different amounts found on each, on one over three -thousand dollars. It was in a wallet which was in the upper vest pocket -where anyone could see it. There were also about forty-five dollars in -the pocket of the trousers, so that the wallet could have been taken and -there would still have remained a sum sufficient to divert suspicion.” - -“At first glance that would remove robbery as a motive for the murders.” - -“It certainly does.” - -“What do you know about Weeden?” asked Nick. - -“Nothing except what I have told you,” replied the inspector. - -“Then I will give you a short history of the man that you say bears such -an excellent reputation. I am sure that you will be surprised when you -hear what I have to tell you.” - -“I will be pleased to listen, Nick,” said the inspector. - -“Fifteen years ago he was convicted of highway robbery in Boston and was -sentenced to five years in prison at hard labor. He served that term. -Two years before that he was sent up for the same offense, that time -serving a year and a month. He had some hold on a man who had friends in -politics, they had his sentence made light, or he would have still been -wearing prison clothes. Besides these he has had several other ‘run ins’ -with the police, but somehow has managed to escape. After he had left -the Massachusetts prison it was said that he had sailed for Australia. -That evidently was a blind to throw off the Boston police, who had been -watching him on several other cases. - -“Now what do you think of the record of the man that you said enjoyed -the confidence of his neighbors?” asked Nick, as he concluded. - -“Are you sure that you are not mistaken in the man?” asked the -inspector. “It hardly seems possible that a man could get such a good -reputation and be the villain that you say he is.” - -“I am sure that it is the man.” - -Nick then arose from his chair and strolled over to the window. - -“Quick, come here!” he cried. - -The inspector hurried to the window. - -“What is it?” he asked. - -Nick pointed to two men who were just passing. - -“That is the man of whom you were talking a few minutes ago.” - -“Jack Weeden?” - -“Yes, that is he. Do you know the other man?” asked Nick. - -“No! I do not, I am sure.” - -“I do! It is Billy Young, one of the most noted burglars in New York.” - -The men were powerfully built fellows. - -The appearance of the men was peculiar. Weeden looked like an honest, -hard-working man, while Young looked like a typical thug; his -battle-scarred face bore the marks of dissipation as well as the marks -of numerous encounters. - -It was a most remarkable thing that they should be in the locality where -the police had their headquarters; it was evident that they were there -for a purpose. What was it? - -“What do you think of your honest workman now?” asked Nick, with his -quiet smile, as the inspector watched the men. - -“I guess that, as usual, you are right,” replied the inspector. - -“Look! they have seen you from the window and have disappeared,” cried -Nick suddenly. - -“Let’s follow them,” said the inspector excitedly. - -“No, don’t do it; leave that to me,” said Nick, as he left the room. - -Going downstairs, he called to a man who had been waiting for him in the -hall. Whispering a few words into the man’s ear, he nodded in the -direction that the men had taken. - -The man left the building on the mission which Nick had given him. - -Nick went upstairs to the room where he had left the inspector. - -“It is all right,” he said. “I have sent one of my men after them, and -he will find out where they go.” - -“Well, what do you want to do now, Nick?” asked the inspector. - -“The first thing will be to go to the morgue and see those bodies, and, -if you have no objection, I will bring a young surgeon with me. He is a -very clever chap, and one who can be depended upon to keep his mouth -shut. I hope that there will be no objection to his coming?” - -“Not the slightest; this case is in your hands now, and you have full -charge to bring whom you will, and to do as you please.” - -“Well, then, let’s be off, as every minute may be valuable.” - -Just as they were about to leave the room a great commotion was heard in -the hall, and the sound of excited voices reached their ears. - -“I wonder what the racket is all about?” cried the inspector. - -At that moment the door burst open and a man, bareheaded, staggered into -the room. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVI. - -NICK CARTER’S NARROW ESCAPE. - - -The man was bleeding from a great wound in his right temple, his face -was pale as death, and he was gasping for breath. - -“Great heavens! it is Sweet,” exclaimed Nick Carter, as he sprang -forward. “Who has done this, Tom?” - -“Billy Young--Weeden----” - -As he gasped out the words, Sweet’s head fell forward. He tried to -finish the sentence; a spasmodic shudder ran through his frame, and he -was dead. - -Nick made a hasty examination of the body and found that, besides the -wound in the temple, Sweet had received a knife lunge through each lung. - -It was miraculous how he had kept his strength enough to enable him to -stagger back into the office. - -The inspector and Nick gazed at the body for a moment in sorrowful -silence. - -“Poor Tom,” said Nick, “you did your best. But, if I live, your cowardly -murder shall be avenged.” - -The inspector did not know who the murdered man was until Nick explained -that Sweet was the man he sent to shadow Weeden and Young. - -Immediately after the explanation a general alarm was sent out, so that -steps could be taken to arrest the assassins before they had time to -leave the city. - -After this had been done, Nick and the inspector, accompanied by the -young surgeon, made their way to Brooklyn. - -They called first on the inspector in charge of the Brooklyn detective -bureau, to whom the inspector explained the nature of their business. -The inspector was astounded when he learned from Nick Carter the -character of Weeden. The man bore such an excellent reputation, for -sobriety and honesty, that he could scarcely credit what he heard. - -“If you have any doubt as to the correctness of what I have just told -you, here are proofs that I am sure will satisfy you,” said Nick. - -He handed the inspector a document, and a photograph from the rogues’ -gallery, of Boston, numbered 1313. - -The inspector read the document carefully and scrutinized the picture. - -“Your information seems to be correct, Mr. Carter,” he said, as he -handed the paper and the photograph back to Nick. “It seems that Weeden -is a dangerous character, as well as a cunning hypocrite.” - -After a moment’s pause, he added: “I agree with Mr. Carter. Weeden has -either committed these murders or else been a party to them. I am ready -to aid him in running down the criminals.” - -Nick explained that he had brought a young surgeon with him so that a -careful examination of the bodies might be made. - -The party at once went to the morgue. - -Upon their arrival there the doctor went skillfully to work. - -On the left side of each body was found a slight puncture, just over the -heart. - -Nick followed the doctor’s examination very carefully, as did the two -other detectives. The doctor, as he probed the puncture of the last -body, gave a startled exclamation. - -“What is it?” demanded Nick. - -“Wait a minute,” said the doctor, as he proceeded to cut away a small -portion of the flesh. The knife ran against a minute metallic substance. -A close examination showed that it was a small needle, one end having a -slight opening in the end of it. - -The needle had been driven clean through the heart. - -On the point of it was a bright yellow spot. - -The doctor, after some trouble, drew it forth. How it had been driven -into the body was a mystery. The doctor made a hasty examination of the -other bodies, and from the heart of each he drew forth a similar -instrument of death. - -“Never before,” he said, “have I seen so unique a manner employed in -putting a fellow creature out of the world. The five pieces of steel -have pierced almost in the same spot, the deviation being less than -one-sixteenth of an inch. One thing is certain, these men all died -instantly.” - -“Why are you certain?” asked Nick. “Might they not have died before -these murderous needles were driven into their hearts?” - -“Such a thing is impossible,” said the doctor. “They all died in the -same way.” - -Nick Carter was puzzled. - -If Jack Weeden was the murderer he had chosen a strange way to slay his -victims. - -Had these men been enticed to his place? And, if so, how? Had they been -drugged? - -The doctor said they had not, but that the yellow spot on the point of -each needle was Ewara, a powerful poison, which is used by the fanatics -in India. - -“Who could have secured this poison?” wondered Nick. - -Here, perhaps, was a clew which would enable him to run to earth the -murderer of these men, who had met such a strange and untimely end. - -One thing that puzzled Nick, and also Inspector Ward and the doctor, was -how these bits of steel had been projected into the heart of each of the -victims. It seemed preposterous that they could have been shot into the -bodies. - -During the doctor’s operations the bodies lay exposed on the marble -slabs. The party was about to leave the morgue when the ambulance came -in. In it was the dead body of a man who had been found in exactly the -same spot as the other victims. - -His death had been caused in the same manner. A piece of needle, with -its fatal yellow point, had been driven through the man’s heart. - -While the doctor was making an examination of the last body a shadow -crossed one of the windows of the morgue. - -A face was flattened against one of the dingy panes of glass. It -remained but an instant only. - -None of the party had seen it. - -The startling report of a pistol shot rang out through the stillness of -the night. With a loud crash the shattered glass fell to the floor as -the bullet sped into the room. - -Simultaneous with the report, a cry went up from the driver of the -ambulance as he fell to the floor in his death agony. - -Unfortunately for him, he had just stepped in front of Nick Carter, and -received the bullet meant for the detective. - -Nick was the first to recover his presence of mind. In an instant he was -out into the street. A block away he saw a man spring into a motor car -and drive furiously away. - -While he could not see the man’s face, Nick could have sworn from his -general appearance that the man who jumped into the machine was Jack -Weeden. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVII. - -FIGHTING AGAINST ODDS. - - -Did the man in the motor car fire the shot which had killed the driver -of the ambulance? Nick was certain that it was so. It was useless to try -to pursue the man on foot. - -As Nick was about to reënter the morgue, Inspector Ward came out. His -face was white with excitement. - -“Did you see the man who fired the shot?” he asked. - -“Yes.” - -“Who was it?” - -“I am positive that it was Weeden.” - -“Did you see his face?” - -“No, I didn’t. But from the man’s general appearance I could have sworn -it was he. This is two murders that Weeden has been guilty of to-day. -The first was poor Sweet; the second the driver of the ambulance,” said -Nick. - -“It was a mighty lucky thing for you that the driver stepped in front of -you just as he did, or we should not have had the services of Nick -Carter, the famous detective, at our disposal now.” - -“Yes, the poor fellow saved my life,” said Nick. “The bullet evidently -was meant for me.” - -The doctor, having finished his work, bade the detectives good night. - -After he had gone they walked slowly up the street. A taxicab was -driving by the corner. Nick and Inspector Ward hailed the chauffeur. -Having made a bargain with him, they directed him to drive them to -Weeden’s shop. - -He looked at them very hard. It was evident that he had recognized them, -and had purposely thrown himself in their way. If they had seen the -gleam in the chauffeur’s eye, as he made a motion to three men who stood -in the shadow of a doorway on the other side of the street, they would -have been on their guard. - -They did not see it, however. - -The vehicle was driven rapidly in the direction of Grant Avenue. The -machine had not left the corner more than a couple of minutes when a -taxicab surrey with drawn curtains drove up. - -The three men who had been standing on the other side of the street -jumped in and drove in the direction of the vehicle occupied by the -inspector and Nick Carter. - -Jack Weeden was not among the men who were following the detectives. Had -he anything to do with them? They probably were his accomplices. Their -following of the detectives boded no good to the men who were trying to -solve “Mystery 47.” - -Great masses of dark clouds obscured the stars; fierce gusts of wind -howled dismally through the branches of the trees at the roadside; peals -of thunder broke the stillness of the night; vivid flashes of lightning -illumined the sky for an instant and made the roadway as light as day. - -“I’m afraid this may upset our plans,” said Nick, as he looked out of -the taxi window. - -That instant a gust of wind blew his hat into the road. It fell into a -pool of water. With an exclamation Nick shouted to the chauffeur to -stop. - -The man obeyed, and Nick sprang to the ground. As he did so, he saw the -taxi that was following. - -When the motor car stopped the taxi stopped also. Nick gave a glance at -the chauffeur and saw that there was a diabolical grin on his face as he -sat on the box looking down at him. - -“That chauffeur,” Nick muttered to himself, “is Phil Meloy.” - -The chauffeur of the motor car seemed to have grown nervous. He glanced -back at the taxi, and, with a muttered oath, was about to drive on when -Nick stopped him. - -“What’s the matter?” asked the inspector, as he put his head out of the -window. - -“We are being followed,” replied Nick. - -“By whom?” - -“By that taxi with the four men in it. It is now waiting for us to go -on.” - -“How do you know?” - -Nick quietly told Inspector Ward about the chauffeur, Meloy. - -“He is one of the most desperate characters I have ever met,” said Nick, -“and, as for him being a licensed chauffeur, that is all rot. That taxi -probably contains Weeden and some of his pals. Let us go back and arrest -Weeden and Young, if they are in the party.” - -As they were about to start up the road the chauffeur of the motor car -made a motion with his arm. - -It was evidently a signal to the chauffeur of the taxi, as he suddenly -threw in the clutch, and, turning around, dashed off in the opposite -direction. - -“Too late,” cried Nick. “They saw us and have skipped.” - -Fifteen minutes later the motor car drew up at Weeden’s shop and the -detectives got out. They found no one in the shop, which contained four -rooms. - -“There is nothing here,” said Nick; “let’s get back into the machine.” - -The chauffeur had been watching their every movement. He peered -anxiously up and down the road, by which he had come, expecting, no -doubt, the arrival of his accomplices in the taxi. - -Not a drop of rain had fallen as yet from the threatening clouds that -swept furiously overhead, though the winds tore the branches from the -trees. - -“Now show me the exact spot where these bodies were found,” said Nick. - -The inspector walked down the road. - -“Who is that?” Nick asked, as his quick eye perceived the figure of a -ragged-looking old man who sat by the roadside. His clothing was in -tatters; his long hair was matted on his shoulders, and his torn shoes -were tied with bits of cord. - -In his right hand he carried a heavy staff. - -He appeared to be either shortsighted or partially blind. - -“Oh, that old fellow bobbed up here about a week or so ago,” said -Inspector Ward. - -“What is he?” - -“Oh, I guess he’s a tramp; anyhow, he looks as if he had been on the -road for forty years or more.” - -“This is a peculiar neighborhood for him to be in. What is his business -here?” - -“Why, he’s begging here, I suppose.” - -“Oh,” said Nick quietly. - -It certainly was a peculiar location for a beggar to choose. Few people -passed there, and those who did were not of the class who had money to -give away, even to a poor old beggar, reasoned Nick to himself. - -“The murders were committed right near this spot, were they not?” Nick -asked, pointing to a place about ten feet from where the aged tramp sat. - -“Precisely; the bodies were found right there.” - -“What is the name of that old fellow?” - -“They call him Benny the Bum.” - -“He seems to be blind.” - -“I believe he is, and deaf, too; at least that’s what they all say -around here.” - -“I don’t know about that. I’ll test him by asking him which he would -rather have, a quarter or a dollar.” - -Inspector Ward laughed. - -Nick Carter was serious. - -Perhaps Benny the Bum was not so blind as he would have people believe. -He probably was like the majority of his calling, a fraud. - -“I’m going to talk to him,” said Nick, as he crossed the road. - -“Hello, Benny!” - -Nick spoke in tones that an ordinarily deaf man could hear. The tramp -answered at once: “Well, what do you want?” - -“I’ve got a charitable friend with me who will pay you well if you will -tell him what mark to put on his gate so the other tramps will see it -and keep out.” - -The beggar gave a hoarse chuckle. “Maybe he owns a bank; if he does, he -can pay me well.” - -“No, he don’t,” Nick replied, “but he will give you ten dollars if you -will tell him.” - -After the first few words the conversation had been conducted in -ordinary tones. Nick had led the supposed tramp on cunningly. He had -gained his point. The beggar was not deaf. - -And he must have heard the sounds of the various murders committed so -near him. - -Was it possible that this tramp had had any hand in these ghastly acts? - -“He is no more blind than he is deaf,” Nick muttered to himself. “I’ll -bet he is an accomplice of Jack Weeden. I----” - -Four men stole quietly into the road through a hole in the hedge. - -They sprang forward with savage oaths. - -They were the same men who had followed Nick Carter and the chief in the -taxicab. - -Before the detectives had a chance to draw their weapons they found -themselves looking into the muzzles of four shining revolvers. - -With an exultant cry the apparent blind beggar sprang to his feet -cursing like a demon. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVIII. - -THE FIGHT IN THE WOODS. - - -Nick and the inspector were taken aback by this turn of affairs. - -As the beggar hobbled down the road his hoarse laugh came back -mockingly. - -At the same moment that the four men appeared, two others came from the -direction of Weeden’s house; they were Meloy and the chauffeur of the -taxi. - -The question that flitted through Nick Carter’s mind was: “Where was -Weeden?” - -None of the men who confronted the detectives bore any resemblance to -Weeden or Billy Young. - -Was it possible that the old tramp was none other than Weeden in -disguise. He was evidently a fraud. - -Nick made up his mind that he would look after the beggar when they had -finished with the rascals who now confronted them. That they would be -able to overcome the men, who now threatened them, Nick was almost -certain. He had been in tighter places before, and his calmness and -courage had gotten him out of many a hole. After Meloy and his companion -had arrived the detectives were ordered to throw up their hands. As they -were covered by the guns of the men they were compelled to submit. - -At this moment the rain commenced to come down in torrents. - -The flashes of lightning and the awful peals of thunder made the scene a -weird one. - -“Meloy, see what these fly cops have on them,” commanded the leader of -the gang. - -He was about to obey the order when a terrific peal of thunder, -accompanied by a blinding flash of lightning, struck a tree at the side -of the road. - -The tree fell with a tremendous crash across the road, burying two of -the men under it as it fell. - -The rest fell back, awed for the moment; it seemed as if the heavens had -opened and sent a messenger to the aid of the detectives. - -The instant’s delay had given Nick Carter and the inspector time to draw -their revolvers, and when the villains had recovered from their surprise -they were looking down the shining barrels of the weapons that were in -the hands of the two detectives. - -“The tables are turned,” rang out in Nick’s clear tones; “throw down -your guns or we will shoot you full of holes!” - -The only answer that the men made was the report from two of their guns. -They did not propose to be taken without a fight. - -The first shot that was fired struck the inspector in the shoulder, the -second one just grazed Nick’s head, inflicting a slight scalp wound. - -The inspector, wounded as he was, pluckily returned the fire of the -villains. One of them gave an unearthly yell and dropped to the ground -with a bullet through his heart. - -Nick’s revolver spoke quickly, and the man at whom he fired dropped to -the ground without a cry; Nick had shot him through the head. - -The inspector had fainted from loss of blood. This left Nick alone with -Meloy and the chauffeur of the taxi. - -Both of these men were great, husky fellows, and, besides, they knew -that it was to be a fight to the death. - -Meloy sprang at Nick with a horrible oath. He was followed by the -chauffeur. - -The latter struck a terrific blow at Nick with his fist, knocking Nick’s -revolver from his grasp. - -A yell of triumph came from Meloy as he saw that the detective was -unarmed. - -It looked as if Nick Carter was about to meet his doom. - -Nick waited patiently the onslaught of his assailants as they dashed -toward him with yells of savage delight. - -As the chauffeur of the taxi reached him, Nick struck out with his left, -and the fellow staggered back under the force of the blow, landing on -his back on the ground. - -In an instant he was on his feet and made a savage rush at Nick. Meloy -aimed a terrific blow at Nick’s head. - -The detective adroitly dodged the blow meant for him, and gave his -assailant a couple of heavy blows in rapid succession. - -Meloy went down like a log, and lay on the ground motionless. He -evidently had had enough to last him for a while, at least. - -The driver, who was a boxer of no little skill, tried to bewilder the -detective by cunningly feinting, hoping that he would be able to get -Nick to leave an opening through which he could deliver a blow that -would settle the detective for a moment until he could draw a knife, -and then he would quiet Nick Carter for all time. - -The rascal did not know that Nick was a past master at the art of -boxing. - -Try as hard as he could, he was not able to break through Nick’s guard, -and in a few moments he was panting for breath, while Nick was laughing -at the fellow’s desperation. - -As a last resort, he tried to kick the detective, but again he was -unsuccessful. - -Finally he made one last desperate effort to strike Nick in the stomach. -Nick stepped quickly to one side and dealt him a terrific blow on the -side of the jaw. - -The fellow spun around for a moment, and then fell to the ground as if -he had been struck on the head with a club. - -Nick turned around to see what had become of the other two men that had -been standing by the tree when it had been struck by lightning. - -They were nowhere to be seen. - -The rain was falling in torrents, and there did not seem to be any -chance of it ceasing. - -What had become of the inspector was Nick’s thought as he turned to -where he had seen him fall. - -He must be taken care of at all hazards. - -The inspector lay as he had fallen, while the blood oozed from the -wound. - -He was unconscious. - -“I must get him to the city at once,” said Nick, to himself. - -As Nick turned to look where the taxi had been left, he had just time to -dodge a murderous blow that the driver of the taxi was about to deal -him; the fellow had recovered consciousness and was bent on murdering -Nick. - -“You coward, you!” said Nick, as he dealt the fellow a blow on the side -of the head that sent him to the ground. As the fellow arose Nick gave -him another one, and the rascal went down and out. - -Having disposed of the fellow, Nick turned his attention to the -inspector. - -He lifted him in his arms and bore him gently to the taxi. After -cranking the machine, Nick jumped to the chauffeur’s seat and drove -rapidly in the direction of Brooklyn. - -Stopping at the house of a doctor, whose sign he had noticed coming -over, Nick went in and told the physician that he had a friend outside -who was in need of medical attention, and that he would bring him in at -once. - -When the wounded man was brought into the house the doctor looked at him -and shook his head gravely. - -“This appears to be a very serious wound,” he said. “It may not be -fatal, however. May I ask you how your friend came by such a wound?” - -Nick did not tell him how the inspector had been wounded, nor did he -tell him that the patient was a police official. - -“Do your best by my friend. I will be back to-morrow and see how he is -getting along,” said Nick, as he took his leave. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIX. - -THE BLIND BEGGAR. - - -Five minutes after Nick had driven away from the spot where the -encounter had taken place, a dozen rough-looking men had come from the -woods and were looking around to see if they could find any trace of the -detectives. - -They were piloted around by the chauffeur of the taxi, who declared that -the two officers had been assaulted and thrown to the ground by Meloy -and himself. - -“You see,” said the fellow, as he stopped at the side of the road, “we -had a desperate fight with the two cops, but we were more than a match -for them.” - -“But where are they?” asked one of the party. - -“Right back of where you are standing,” the other answered. - -The party looked back of the woods, but were not able to find any trace -of the two detectives; they turned on the driver and were going to call -him to account when they saw that he had been injured and that he was -out of his mind. - -The beating that Nick Carter had given him was too much for him, trained -athlete that he was. - -“Where is Meloy?” one of the men asked. - -“I don’t know,” replied the chauffeur. - -“I supposed that Meloy was a match for any detective on the force,” said -one of the fellows when Meloy’s insensible body was found. - -“He is a match for any ordinary man,” replied the other, “but you can’t -expect him to whip a man like Nick Carter.” - -“You don’t mean to say that Nick Carter is on the case that has so long -baffled the police, do you?” - -“Yes, the case has been turned over to him, and I tell you, boys, that -we have got to be very careful, or we will find that we are up against a -losing game,” said one of the older men. - -“I think that the best thing that we can do,” spoke up the leader of the -gang, “is to wait for this detective and blow out his brains. I tell you -that he is a dangerous man, and the sooner we are rid of him the safer -it will be for us.” - -“You are right,” came a voice from out the darkness. - -“Benny the Bum by all the imps in the place below,” said the leader. - -“You are mistaken, Hall, it is not Benny the Bum, but Jack Weeden, at -your service,” said the voice. - -As he stepped out into the light of a lantern that the leader carried, -Jack Weeden looked like the old tramp that had been on the side of the -road when the fight began that afternoon. - -His make-up was wonderful, and when he commenced to talk, as the tramp -had done in the afternoon, the gang were more surprised than ever, as -none of them had seen their leader in the disguise before, and, although -they had had orders to obey the tramp, they did not know who he was -until now. - -Hall laughed at how his chief had fooled him, and the others could -hardly restrain a cheer at the cleverness of the man who ruled them. - -“What orders have you to give us now?” asked the leader. - -“I want you to find Nick Carter, and when you do----” - -“All right, sir, we will do the rest.” - -“But where did he go?” - -“He left in the motor car with the inspector, and he will probably go to -some doctor’s.” - -“Part of you fellows stay here and attend to the men who are hurt, and -the rest of you go to where Nick Carter has taken the inspector, which -you will probably find is the first doctor on the road as you enter -Brooklyn.” - -“All right, sir, we are off.” - -Jack Weeden watched them as they went off up the road; a satisfied smile -was on his lips; he knew that if these men ever got Nick Carter in their -clutches, the detective’s life was to be the forfeit for the manner in -which he had injured their comrades. - - - - -CHAPTER XL. - -A BOLT FROM HEAVEN. - - -When Nick Carter left the doctor’s house he was buried in thought. The -events of the day had occurred so quickly that he had hardly had time to -figure out in his mind the best thing to do next. - -In the first place, what did it mean that Weeden should turn up in the -company of Billy Young, the burglar? - -What was their object in killing Tom Sweet? Was it possible that they -had been seen going somewhere that would have betrayed them? - -The visit to the morgue, and the killing of the driver of the ambulance, -showed that they knew that he was on the case; also it was evident that -they feared that when he took up the case that he would be able to -discover the guilty ones. - -The great detective, as he walked along, pondered over the various -aspects of the strange case. The murders had all been committed by using -strange pieces of steel dipped in poison of some kind. As the detective -revolved the case in his mind three important questions presented -themselves: Who had imported the poison? How had the pieces of steel -been driven into the bodies of the murdered men? What object actuated -the murderers? - -A visit to the scene of the crimes would perhaps throw some light on the -matter. - -“I will visit the spot to-morrow,” thought Nick; “a search of the woods -in the daytime might show something that would give me a clew on which -to work. - -“I will be better prepared when I go there to-morrow,” said Nick, to -himself. “I will get a hold of that beggar if he is anywhere around, and -I will see if he knows anything about the murders. It may be that he is -the man that has committed the crimes. - -“I am sure of one thing, and that is that he is a fraud, pure and -simple. Another thing that I must do is to get a hold of the crook, -Billy Young, and see what he knows about the killing of my man -yesterday.” - -If Nick Carter had seen the machine that went by the doctor’s house, -while he was inside, he would not have been so sure of reaching the spot -in the woods where the murders were committed. - -The men who had been sent by Jack Weeden were in the machine. - -Of course Nick did not know this. - -He drove on, thinking of the things that he had to do. - -The vehicle swayed from side to side as it rattled over the -cobblestones; this did not worry Nick, as his thoughts were too much -taken up by other things. - -He had reached the park, when the car gave a sudden lurch and toppled -over on its side. - -It was smashed to pieces. - -That Nick was not killed seemed to him to be a miracle. - -He alighted in a ditch, which had been partly filled by the rain. Almost -suffocated, he crawled out of the ditch, only to find himself grasped by -several brawny hands. - -The truth flashed upon him. The smashing of his car had been -deliberately planned. - -While he was struggling with his captors he thought to himself: “This is -some more work of Jack Weeden.” - -He struggled for a few minutes with a semblance of resistance; he did -not want to display too much strength before he had time to reflect. - -His captors thought that his fall had taken his strength, and very -slightly loosened their hold on him. - -This was exactly what Nick had wanted them to do. - -With a sudden wrench he tore himself free, and gave the man nearest to -him a smashing blow in the face that sent him to the ground. - -It was a good beginning. - -He rained blow after blow on those nearest him, until he had cleared a -circle. - -Then, for the first time, did the would-be assassins give vent to their -feelings. They raved and cursed as they saw him fell one after another -of their comrades. - -“Kill him!” yelled a voice. - -“Shoot the detective!” screamed another. - -“Stab him to the heart!” - -“Hit him on the head with a club!” - -A shot whizzed by Nick’s head; it was too close for comfort. - -He suddenly remembered that he had taken a revolver from the body of the -man that the inspector had killed that afternoon; he would use it. - -Had his fall into the ditch ruined it? - -Nick concluded that he would see. - -His assailants were rushing toward him again; by the light of the -lantern he could see that they were armed; he must do something to save -his life. - -Taking aim as well as he could in the uncertain light, he aimed at the -man who was nearest him. - -He fired. - -The man who received the shot gave a scream and fell to the ground, shot -through the heart. - -Nick fired another shot; another yell gave evidence that this one had -also hit the mark. - -Nick had forgotten the man that he had sent to the ground with a smash -when he was first attacked. - -The fellow had revived and was creeping up on Nick, when, suddenly, -there was a blinding flash, and the outlaw dropped to the ground a -charred and shapeless mass. - -It was the work of Providence. - -Once more had right triumphed. - - - - -CHAPTER XLI. - -THE STRANGE FARMER. - - -Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to -realize what had happened. - -It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had -threatened him. - -He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it -descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been -creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand. - -The men were at the detective again. - -Suddenly the noise of horses’ hoofbeats were heard. - -Hall, the leader of the outlaws, cried to his men: “It is the police; -fly!” - -The rascals jumped the hedge and disappeared into the park. - -Was it the mounted police? - -Nick listened, but the noise had ceased. - -He then went to look at the motor car; it was a shattered wreck. - -“I guess that was one of the closest shaves that I have had in a long -time,” said Nick. - -A small electric pocket flash lay on the roadside where it had been -dropped by one of the men who attacked Nick. - -The detective picked it up and proceeded to look over the scene of -battle. - -The first thing that he saw was the body of the first man that he had -shot. - -Nick turned him over and flashed the light in his face. - -It was covered with blood; Nick wiped it away; he thought that it might -be either Jack Weeden or the burglar, Billy Young. - -It was neither. - -“Fred Rowe,” exclaimed Nick, as he recognized the features of the -corpse. “A more unprincipled scoundrel never lived. A man of good family -and excellent position, he took to bad companionship, and this is his -end.” - -About a dozen feet farther down the road he saw the body of the man who -had been stricken down by the thunderbolt. - -His features had been so badly burned that Nick was unable to recognize -who it had been. - -While Nick was looking at the man who lay at his feet, he was seized -from behind and dashed to the ground. - -All of the breath was knocked out of his body by the fall. - -“I guess that this is my finish,” he bitterly reflected. “I should have -been more careful; I did not think that they would return.” - -Nick was wrong. It was not Hall and his gang that had returned. - -“Sallie, drat you! Why don’t you bring me that rope so that I can tie -this critter?” - -The tones in which these words were said convinced Nick that the people -who had caught him were not members of the Hall band, or, if they were, -they talked differently from any of the others. - -“I wonder who they are?” asked Nick, of himself. - -“Gosh hang it, will you hurry with that rope? I don’t want to sit here -all night.” - -“I reckon that you are an old crank; I have dropped it.” - -“Well, hurry up and find it! I don’t want to sit on this feller; he is -too slippery.” - -This conversation would have been very amusing to Nick were it not for -the fact that his unknown captor was sitting on his head and his face -was being pressed down into the mud. - -When Nick had recovered his breath, he asked, as best he could, if his -captor did not think that it would be a good idea to let him up. - -“I reckon that you must take me for a fool,” said the man. “I had -trouble enough to get you down, to go and let you set up.” - -“But you have got the wrong man,” persisted Nick. - -“I am too old a bird to be caught by such fine talk. Didn’t I catch you -right in the act?” - -“I don’t know what you mean,” said Nick. - -“Why, I caught you right in the same old trick of robbing people, and I -don’t know but that you are the fellow that has been doing the killing -around these parts.” - -“Say, are you ever coming with that rope?” yelled the fellow to the -woman. “Do you suppose that I asked you to get it for fun? You are -slower than a freight train.” - -As he turned to see if the woman had yet secured the rope, he eased up -somewhat on Nick. - -The detective had been waiting for this. - -He drew himself together, and, with a tremendous effort, hunched his -knees together and threw the fellow sprawling several paces distant, -where he landed in a pool of water. - -The woman had come up with the lantern now, and she was the picture of -astonishment when she saw Nick standing up and her companion over in the -water. - -“Well, I say, who might you be?” she asked. - -“I might be a good many people, but I am somebody else,” answered Nick -laughingly. - -“Whoever you are, there is one thing certain, and that is that you are a -cool one,” she said. - -“I do feel rather cool after having been pressed down into the mud by -your husband there,” said Nick Carter. - -“Husband, indeed!” she sniffed. “Do you suppose that I would marry an -old fossil like that thing over in the water? I reckon I could get finer -men than he dares to be.” - -“I have not seen his face,” said Nick apologetically. - -“If he was a handsome young feller like you,” continued the woman, “I -might not mind.” - -Nick, for the first time, took a good look at her as she stood in the -glare of the lantern. - -She was rawboned, with the shoulders of a husky young farmer; her hair -was as fiery a red as it could possibly be; her face was disfigured by a -scar that ran down the left cheek; her brilliant black eyes were the -only redeeming feature of the woman’s face. - -Her voice was the thing that had attracted Nick--it was discordance -itself. - -“I reckon you must be pretty strong to throw the old man,” she -continued, with a chuckle. “He is forever bragging about how good he can -rastle, and this will take him down a peg or two. He’s forever blowing -about how strong he is, and how he used to win all the matches at the -corner store. I am fur you, if you go at him again.” - - - - -CHAPTER XLII. - -SALLIE AND HER COUSIN. - - -Nick Carter looked at the woman in silence for a few minutes, and then -he asked: - -“What was the object of your father trying to hold me down on the -ground? I have no money, and he would not get anything of value from the -few papers that I have in my clothes?” - -“First of all, let me tell you that he ain’t my father, nor my husband; -he is just an ordinary fourth cousin. He did not want to rob you at all, -but I suppose that he wanted to stop you robbin’ somebody else.” - -“Oh, he took me for a robber?” asked Nick. “Do you think that I am a -robber?” - -“No, I don’t think that you are a robber. I think that you are one of -them fellers that goes around looking fur robbers,” was the woman’s -startling reply. - -“What makes you think that?” asked Nick. - -“Oh, that was easy. I knew that as soon as I saw you.” - -“But how did you know that I was an officer?” - -“Why, when your coat flew back I saw your badge, and that is how I -told.” - -“Why did you not tell your cousin to let up on me, if he is an honest -man?” - -“I suppose that I had ought to have done it, but he has been so much on -the bragging line lately that I thought that I would see if he could -really rastle. You looked like a husky chap, and I saw a chance to test -him,” responded the woman, with a laugh. - -Nick’s attention was now called to the man that he had thrown over into -the pool of water. - -The fellow had crawled out and was coming for Nick. - -“I suppose you think that I am a durned fool. I was pretty hasty when I -saw you,” he said. - -“You were a bit hasty,” assented the detective, “but I think that you -got as good as you gave, and so we will call it even.” - -“Yes, I think, Mr. Officer, that you gave him a good deal better than he -gave you, and I am right glad, as it will keep his mouth shet for a -while,” put in Sallie. - -“Women has too much to say in this day, so you had better take a reef in -your jaw,” growled the fellow, as he scraped the mud off of his clothes. - -Nick, upon questioning the man, found that he lived on a farm a few -miles from Brooklyn, and that he had passed the scene of the murders -each day as he went to market with his produce. - -He had been going to market that evening, so that he would get a better -price for his things, and had heard the pistol shots. When he did, he -hurried his horses until he was almost to the spot where the fight took -place, and then he concluded that it would be safer to go ahead on foot -and find out what was going on. - -It was the noise of his horses that had frightened Hall and his gang. - -“You see that, when I came up into the road and saw you bending over the -body of that fellow there, I thought that I had captured the man that -had committed the murders that have stirred up the country round here, -and I concluded that I would take him into the city and turn him over to -the police.” - -“If you live so near the scene of the murders you must know something -about them, or, at least, you have heard some of the folks around talk -of them, so tell me what you know,” said Nick. - -“Yes,” assented the fellow, “I have heard some talk of the murders, and -lots more about the robbers who are making life miserable for the people -around here.” - -“How is it that you are not afraid of them?” asked Nick. - -“Because the people around here know that I am pretty husky myself, and -that when I get my money for the stuff that I sell in the city I put it -in the bank.” - -“Then some of the other people who live around here have not been so -fortunate as you?” asked Nick. - -“I should say not. There was Farmer Grout, who was robbed of over three -hundred dollars, night before last; they took his gold watch and chain, -too.” - -“Did Grout report the matter to the police?” - -“He? No, he was too scared, and, besides, the people around here are so -terrified that they would rather submit to any loss than have the ill -feeling of the desperate band that is making things so hot around -Astoria for the people that pass the woods near the automobile repair -shop of Jack Weeden.” - -“Well, I suppose that Weeden knew of the robberies, then?” asked Nick. - -“I didn’t say that he did, did I?” - -“No, you did not say that he did, but don’t you think that he did?” -persisted Nick. - -“I would hardly like to say that, as Weeden has the reputation of being -an honest man.” - -“I don’t think that he is as good as folks think,” put in the woman -Sallie. - -“Shet up,” said the farmer, “you women talk too much, and your tongues -often get you and your folks into a lot of trouble that you needn’t get -into. I don’t know much about the man,” he added, to Nick. - -“I guess that this fellow is about as scared of the man Weeden as are -the rest,” thought Nick. - -“It seems that you, Miss Sallie, are not afraid of this man that seems -to have inspired the community with such dread.” - -“You can just bet that I am not scared of him, and Harry Block knows it -as well as any of the rest of them,” said Sallie. - -“And pray who is Harry Block?” asked Nick. - -“That is my name,” spoke up the farmer; “but I wouldn’t pay attention to -what she says, as you ought to know that wimmenfolks talks too much; -they are very undescreet.” - -“My, what a long tail our cat has got all of a sudden,” said Sallie -scornfully. - -“Will you shet your mouth?” growled the farmer; “you talk too -gosh-darned much, I tell you.” - -“I know a darn sight more about it than you want me to tell.” - -“Won’t you please keep quiet?” the man growled. “Are you going to -Brooklyn?” he asked, turning to Nick, who had been listening attentively -to the conversation. - -“Yes, I am going to Brooklyn, but I would like to hear more about this -man that your cousin seems to know so much about.” - -“Do you suspect him of robbing that man the other night?” - -“He might have had a hand in it if he did not do it himself,” said Nick. - -“Well, seein’ as Sallie appears to know all about it, I would suggest -that she tell you what she knows; she is so all-fired smart,” said the -farmer sullenly. - -“Ain’t you ashamed of yourself!” exclaimed the woman. “Why don’t you be -honest and tell the detective all about it? That is the only manly thing -to do. There is no harm in telling him what you know, as you had nothing -to do with it, and it may help him run down the people that he is -looking for.” - -“Did you ever see such a woman in your life? She will be saying next -that I am the man that did the robbery, myself. Bless me, if I would -marry a woman like you for a million dollars.” - -“Ha, ha! that is funny. You forget that you have been asking me to marry -you every day for the last ten years, and that I have always told you -that I would sooner marry a tadpole than you,” said Sallie. - -“Well, let’s go up the road, as we are only losing time standing here -and listening to the chatter of that fair cousin of mine.” Saying which, -Block took the lantern from Sallie’s hand, and, motioning to Nick to -follow, led the way up the road. - -What was the reason of the farmer not wanting to talk about Weeden? - -Was it because he was afraid of him, or was it possible that he, too, -was mixed up with the gang and afraid to talk? - -“I will get this man to talk before I am through with him, or my name is -not Nick Carter,” said Nick to himself, as they reached the wagon. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIII. - -THE FARMER QUESTIONED. - - -When the farm wagon had reached the park, Nick commenced to talk about -one thing and another, cunningly putting in from time to time questions -about the murders and about Weeden. - -“Is Astoria a healthy place?” asked Nick, as a starter. - -“I reckon it is healthy enough for some people,” said the farmer. - -“Not for such men as your friend that was relieved of his pocketbook, is -it?” asked Nick, with a laugh. - -“No, I hardly think that it is, although it is better than getting a -bullet in you,” was the answer. - -“Are there many doctors around here?” - -“No, there ain’t any regular doctors around here, that I know of, -excepting the ones at the asylum, and they are so thundering high-priced -that it is cheaper for a man to die than to go to them, so most of the -people around here either goes without doctoring or else dies.” - -“I suppose that you are all healthy, and seldom need a doctor.” - -“Most of us are in pretty good shape, and seldom need anything excepting -a dose of physic now and then; there is Grout, the man that was robbed -the other night--he has been sick ever since, at least he says that he -is sick, although I think that the losing of his money is the thing that -is the matter with him.” - -“Indeed?” - -“Yes, and the day after he got touched up for his money he went into -town and bought himself a medicine chest filled with all sorts of -funny-looking things. There was lots of curious-shaped things in the -instrument line; there was a lot of funny-looking medicines that I have -never seen the like of in any drug store, and a book telling you the -effects of poisons. He did not mean me to see that, but when his back -was turned I took a peep at the book.” - -“What do you suppose that he wants with all this stuff? He would not be -allowed to practice medicine without a license from the State?” - -“Practice nothing. Why the old fool cannot write his name.” - -It was plain to Nick Carter that there was something back of this that -would be worth looking into. - -Farmer Grout was evidently a man that it would be worth while watching; -he, too, might be one of the band that had been terrorizing the -neighborhood, and then might he not be the man that had furnished the -poison that had tipped the steel projectiles that had been found in the -bodies of the men who were found within a few yards of the home of Jack -Weeden? - -If he was connected with the gang, he would probably need something with -which to patch up the members of it when they were wounded, and he might -be a skillful surgeon who had allied himself with this band of outlaws -and posed as a farmer to throw off suspicion. The robbery, too, might -have been part of the scheme to put the authorities off the scent, if at -any time they should find out anything that tended to point the finger -of suspicion at him. It was evident that this man, Weeden, had as -carefully a selected gang of villains as could be found in the United -States. - -“We were speaking of Jack Weeden a few moments ago,” said Nick; “tell -me, who is his doctor?” - -The farmer looked worried. - -“I don’t know anything about him, as I have told you,” was the sullen -reply. - -“Don’t you think that as a neighbor you ought to know? Suppose you were -asked to go for the doctor for him some night, what would you do?” - -“I suppose that if I was asked to go for the doctor,” replied the farmer -slowly, “I would--well, to tell you the truth, I don’t know what I would -do.” - -Sallie giggled. - -It was just barely audible, but the quick ears of Nick Carter heard it. - -“I wonder what there is so funny in that?” Nick asked himself. “I -suppose that the woman thinks that Block is going to pull the wool over -my eyes. Well, here is where I will fool them.” - -Nick concluded that the best thing he could do was to play on the vanity -of the woman. - -“Of course, with all respect to you, Mr. Block, I suppose that you leave -all the thinking that you have to do to your cousin, Miss Sallie, who -seems to be very quick in grasping the meaning of the questions that I -have asked.” - -Sallie simpered and looked as pleased as her vinegar-like features would -allow her. - -“Didn’t I tell you that I always was much smarter than you are?” she -said to her cousin. - -“Didn’t Jack Weeden ever do any work for you or your cousin?” asked -Nick, of the woman. - -“Yes, he has done work for me two or three times; he fixed the wheels of -my bicycle, but each time that he did it he kept it so long that I -thought that perhaps he sent it into town to have it done there. He -didn’t seem to know exactly what to do with it when I took it to him, -and he said that he would have to have one of his men fix it, as he had -several other jobs on hand,” was her reply. - -“When automobiles have come to his shop to be repaired, who generally -did the work?” asked Nick. - -“One of his men usually did, while he either looked on or else went into -the shop and pretended to be fixing the forge.” - -It was evident that the automobile shop was a blind. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIV. - -RESCUED FROM THE MOB. - - -The great farm wagon was going along toward Brooklyn slowly, the lights -in the distance were growing brighter as the party approached the city. - -Suddenly Nick turned to the farmer, and said: “I didn’t suppose for a -moment that you would tell me anything that I wanted to know about Jack -Weeden, or any of his gang, but I thought it best to ask you before I -decided on my course of action. I will give you another chance to tell -me the truth, and I can assure you that it will be to your interest to -tell me all that you know. I will be fair with you, and I intend that -you shall be honest with me.” - -The only reply that he received was a muttered oath from Block. - -“Go on!” commanded Nick. - -“What the devil are you driving at?” finally asked the farmer. - -“I want to know what you know about this man Weeden and his gang, and I -want the truth.” - -“Anybody would think that you thought that I was in league with the band -of outlaws!” cried the farmer, in alarm. - -“How do you know that there is a band of outlaws here?” asked Nick -suddenly. - -The farmer was confused. - -He turned to the woman and said: “Sallie, you are a she-devil. This is -all your fault, and you have got to take the consequences. I will never -forgive you for what you have done, drat you.” - -“You must not blame the lady,” said Nick quietly; “she has done the -thing that will be the best for you, and she has shown very good -judgment. I am going to have the truth from you before we part at the -Brooklyn police headquarters.” - -“You don’t mean to say that you are going to arrest me, do you?” - -“That will depend largely upon yourself,” replied Nick. - -“I like your gall, to talk to me like that, and especially as you are -riding in my rig; I have half a mind to throw you out.” - -“I would not do that if I were you,” Nick calmly replied. - -“Then you get off my wagon right away!” - -“I don’t think that I shall.” - -Block leaped to his feet and aimed a heavy blow with his whip at Nick. - -“Don’t do that. Stop it, I say!” came in terrified tones from Sallie. - -Swish! - -The whip cut through the air where Nick a moment before had been. - -He had stepped to one side as he saw the farmer prepare to strike. - -The farmer, overbalanced by his savage move, had fallen out after the -whip. - -“My heavens! He is killed!” screamed Sallie. - -“No, he is not; it would take a harder fall than that to kill your -worthy cousin,” said Nick reassuringly. - -Nick leaped lightly to the ground, and, gathering the farmer in his -arms, he tossed him back into the wagon. - -It was as pretty a piece of athletic work as Nick had ever done. - -Sallie sat with her mouth open. When she recovered from her surprise, -she said: - -“No wonder my cousin could not hold you down when he was on top of you -in the road.” - -As soon as the farmer was able to get his breath, he sat up and looked -at Nick as if that worthy were a creature from some other planet. - -Finally he managed to say: - -“You are a wonder. Tell me how you did it, and I will give you ten -dollars.” - -“You will tell me all that I want to know before we discuss the other -matter,” said Nick. - -“You can’t make me talk unless I want to,” growled Block. - -“No; but I can lock you up, and keep you there until you will.” - -“Oh, no, you can’t.” - -“Consider yourself my prisoner, then,” Nick said sternly. - -“What am I charged with?” demanded the farmer. - -“Of being an accomplice of Jack Weeden and his gang.” - -“Of what are they guilty?” - -“Murder.” - -“You had better tell the man all that you know about that gang,” said -Sallie. “I told you that you had better keep away from that crowd, but -you would persist in mixing up with them; now you see what is the -result; you will be dragged off to jail, and I won’t have anybody to -fuss with.” - -“There will be one grain of comfort in that, to say the least,” remarked -the farmer grimly. - -Block thought a moment, and then, at the urgent solicitation of Sallie, -told Nick all that he knew about Weeden and the beggar. - -The wagon had gotten to the ferry, when it was compelled to stop. A -great crowd of people blocked the street. They were shouting and -struggling. - -What was the trouble? - -Nick jumped off of the wagon and dashed into the crowd; he was followed -by the farmer. - -As he reached the center of the crowd, he saw the body of a woman lying -on the ground. She was dying from a pistol wound that had been inflicted -by her jealous husband. - -The husband stood near, looking at her unconcernedly as she lay there, -the blood flowing from her wounds. - -“Lynch the brute!” came from a voice in the crowd. - -“Burn him!” cried another. - -“Shoot the demon!” - -“Somebody get a rope!” - -“I’ve got one here,” came from a voice in the crowd. “Let me get -through!” - -Nick Carter started back as if he had been struck by lightning. - -The voice was that of Jack Weeden! - -Nick looked at the man a minute, and then sprang at him like a tiger. - -“Jack Weeden, you are my prisoner!” he cried. - -“What do you mean, sir?” gasped the man. “My name is not Weeden; it is -Wright.” - -The mob, thinking that it was a ruse to keep them from getting their -prey, turned angrily on Nick. - -“He is an accomplice!” they shouted. “Lynch him, too!” - -With frenzied cries, they turned upon Nick, who still hung on to his -prisoner. - -The farmer fought by Nick’s side, and did splendid work in holding back -the crowd. - -There were too many for the two men, strong as they were, and one of the -leaders of the mob had thrown a rope over Nick’s head, when a patrol -wagon filled with policemen dashed around the corner. - -“Let the police deal with them,” said one or two of the cooler heads in -the crowd. - -Some of the mob, angered at the loss of a chance to lynch somebody, -tried to reach the detective, but were driven back. - -One of the officers recognized Nick, and, swinging his club, shouted: - -“I know this man; he is all right; fall back!” - -The officer also recognized Wright as being a crockery dealer on Maple -Street. - -Nick could not understand it. The features, the voice, the actions, and -the build were those of Jack Weeden. - -Nick Carter had never made a mistake in the identification of a man. - -Could it be possible that he was wrong now? - - - - -CHAPTER XLV. - -THE MAN OF MYSTERY. - - -With an apology to the man whom he could have sworn was Jack Weeden, -Nick once more fought his way through the excited crowd. - -He went back to see what had become of Harry Block, the farmer. The -wagon and its two occupants were gone. - -Nick was inclined to be angry, but after a moment laughed, and said: - -“Well, the fellow saved my life, and, besides that, I can pick him up at -almost any time.” - -All round him was the scene of conflict. - -Suddenly a bloodcurdling yell was heard. The mob, angry at being robbed -of its prey, had turned on the policemen that were in the center and a -terrific struggle was on. - -The police were using their clubs to clear a passage that they might -take the prisoner they had to the patrol wagon that was waiting for them -at the corner. - -The prisoner that they had was the man that had shot his wife. - -The poor wretch was bleeding from a dozen different wounds that he had -received at the hands of the mob. His hat had been torn from his head -and his clothes were in shreds. - -The man was crouching in terror by the side of the brave officers that -were endeavoring to protect him from the savage onslaughts of the crowd -that was intent on taking his life. - -Nick saw that something must be done at once, or the policemen, as well -as their prisoner, would be crushed to death under the heels of the -infuriated crowd. - -“Down with the police!” yelled a woman, from a point of vantage on the -sidewalk. “They are protecting a murderer!” - -A volley of paving stones followed this advice. - -More than one brave policeman fell senseless to the ground. - -Nick was enraged beyond measure when he saw one great, burly ruffian -draw a revolver from his pocket and point it at the head of the officer -who was nearest to him. Before Nick had a chance to dash the weapon from -his hand, he had fired, and the officer fell to the ground a corpse. - -The sight seemed to give Nick the strength of a dozen men. - -He threw men right and left, until he reached the place where the man -stood, the smoking revolver in his hand. - -Nick grabbed him by the throat. - -The man grew black in the face, and vainly gasped for breath. - -Seeing that two other men were coming to the rescue of the man that he -held, Nick raised him clear of the ground and hurled him at the oncoming -men. - -The men dodged, and the fellow struck, headfirst, against a pile of -stones that lay on the side of the street. - -His skull was fractured. - -This served to awe the crowd, but only for a moment. They returned to -the attack with greater fierceness than before. - -It seemed as if all the officers and Nick would be ground to death under -the heels of the maddened throng. - -“Heavens! Cannot something be done to stop this hellish work?” cried -Nick. - -“Since you are so powerful, why don’t you do it yourself?” said a -mocking voice at his elbow. - -It was the voice of Jack Weeden. - -Nick turned, and saw before him the face of Wright, the man he had taken -for Jack Weeden but a short time before. - -“I am not mistaken,” thought Nick. “That man is Jack Weeden, and I shall -take him dead or alive. - -“You dog,” he cried, “you are Jack Weeden, and you are my prisoner!” - -He made a step forward and clutched at the man’s throat. - -As he did so, he was struck on the head with a blackjack in the hands of -a man that stood at the side of the automobile repairer. - -The man who struck the blow was Billy Young, the companion of Jack -Weeden. - -Nick sank to the ground insensible. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVI. - -NICK CARTER WOUNDED. - - -When Nick came to his senses, he was lying on a cot in the Brooklyn -police headquarters. Around him lay the bodies of several men that had -been killed in the riot. Several others who had been slightly wounded -were sitting around in chairs, talking about the riot. - -At the hospitals were a dozen other officers who had been severely -injured. - -A citizen had seen the rioting, and had sent word to police -headquarters, and the timely arrival of the reserves from several -station houses had finally checked the outlawry of the crowd. - -Nick remembered having tried to catch Wright, or Weeden, by the throat, -and all after that was a blank. - -The doctor, after examining Nick, told him that the only injury that he -had sustained was a small scalp wound and a general shaking up, but -advised that Nick take a rest for a day or two. - -Nick laughed, and said that he had business on hand that would prevent -his taking a rest of more than an hour. - -Nick lay on the cot for a few minutes, thinking of the course that he -should pursue. - -If by any mischance the man that he had tried to arrest was really -Wright, what was his object in attacking the detective, and why had he -jeered at Nick as he had? - -Was there such a man as Wright? - -Nick thought it over, and came to the startling conclusion that the man -Wright, Weeden, and the old beggar were one and the same. - -It was really a triple identity. - -Nick closed his eyes to think. - -The voices of the policemen around him were heard. - -One of them was asking the other about the wife of the man who had been -the cause of the trouble. - -“How long did she live?” he asked. - -“Only a minute or so.” - -“How about Small? Did we finally get him to the station house?” asked an -officer whose head was wound with bandages. - -“Oh, he was brought to the station house more dead than alive; he was -scared to death, almost. He is a fine man to be a member of a ‘bad man -gang’! Why, he actually was crying from fright when they got him in the -wagon.” - -“Then that is the fellow that we have been looking for for some time, is -it?” - -“Yes, that is the chap. We have wanted him for his connection with the -gang that has been terrorizing Astoria for several months.” - -Nick pricked up his ears. Here was something that interested him. - -“It appears,” continued the officer that had been talking, “that there -is a man named Weeden, who is at the head of the gang, but nobody has -been able to trace him in anything that savors of rascality, and as he -has such a reputation among his neighbors for being honest, the people -in charge are afraid to make any move against him, although I think that -they would be only too glad to get something on him, as he has been -very insolent to the men who have questioned him about the murders that -have been committed near his repair shop.” - -“Don’t talk too loud,” cautioned the sergeant. “That Manhattan man is in -here; they say that he is a crackajack, too. I wonder what case he is -working on now?” - -“Oh, you mean the man that was talking with the inspector to-day?” - -“Yes, that is the one. I have heard some of the men say that it is Nick -Carter, the famous detective, but I don’t think that it is he, because I -saw him once, while I was working on a case, and this man does not look -anything like him at all.” - -Nick smiled to himself. The man had once worked with him on a case, and -as keen-sighted as he was, he did not penetrate the disguise that Nick -wore at the time. - -The door of the room opened, and the inspector entered. - -As he came into the room, Nick staggered to his feet and looked -confusedly around. He appeared as if he had just awakened. - -“I see that you are on your feet again,” said the inspector, as he -entered the room. - -“Oh, yes, I am all right, barring a slight headache,” answered Nick. “I -guess I must have had a narrow call at that time, and if it had not been -for my usual good luck I would not now be willing to go to work again.” - -“I don’t believe that anybody will ever succeed in giving you your -quietus,” said the inspector laughingly. - -The inspector asked Nick to step into his private office, that they -might discuss the case. - -The inspector listened to Nick’s story of the affair attentively, and -when he had concluded, he said: - -“I have heard of the crockery man, Wright, but have never seen him. I -shall have to look him up. - -“The peculiar part of the thing that puzzles me is the remarkable -resemblance of the men, if, indeed, Wright is not Jack Weeden in -disguise. - -“But, then, all of my officers who saw the man that you tried to get are -ready to swear that the man is Wright, and that his reputation is of the -best. According to people in the neighborhood, he has been in business -but a short time, but during that period he has succeeded in making a -number of friends in the locality where he does business.” - -“That may all be true,” responded Nick, “but I have seen many curious -things in my long experience, and I am not surprised at anything that -happens now. I remember a case where the man that I wanted passed among -his neighbors for a woman for several years, and it was not until he met -with an accident that his identity was discovered.” - -“But is it not possible that two men could be in the same locality at -the same time?” asked the inspector. - -“Yes; but it is hardly likely that both would be dressed alike, even to -the style of collar and necktie.” - -“Well, we shall find out in a very short time whether it was Weeden or -Wright that you saw. I shall send one of my men, and have the crockery -man brought before us,” said the inspector. - -“That will be an excellent plan, and if we find that it is the man we -want, then we will have him right here,” declared Nick. - -The inspector touched an electric bell on his desk, and an instant -afterward an officer entered. - -“I want you to tell Edwards to come here at once,” said the inspector. - -“Yes, sir.” - -A minute or so afterward, a man entered the room. - -He was one of the shrewdest men that the inspector had on his staff. - -“Edwards, do you know this man Wright?” - -“Yes, sir, I do. I was in his store yesterday, buying something for my -house.” - -“Do you know the automobile repairer, Jack Weeden, who has a place over -in Astoria?” - -“I do, sir. I rode out that way on a case several weeks ago, and one of -the tires on my wheel burst, and I had to stop in his place to have it -fixed.” - -“I want you to go to Wright’s house and get him and bring him here to -me. This is very important, and I want you to say nothing to any of the -men about where you are going.” - -“I understand, sir, and I will be back as soon as possible.” - -After the man had left the room, the inspector turned to Nick and said: - -“Well, what do you think of it now, Mr. Carter?” - -“I hardly know what to say about it, and, to tell you the truth, I have -been so worried over having to leave the inspector from the New York -office that I have not really had time to think out much of anything, -especially as I have had such an exciting time since I left him at the -doctor’s.” - -Nick then related all that had occurred when he and Inspector Ward had -visited the repair shop of Jack Weeden. - -While waiting for the return of the man Edwards, who had been sent to -bring Wright, the crockery man, to headquarters, they discussed the -beggar, Jack Weeden, and the gang of ruffians that had been terrorizing -Astoria. - -“What plan do you propose to follow in the work on this case?” asked -Nick. - -“I shall have one or two of my men keep an eye on the place, and such -other work that you may desire, and such that will not interfere with -you in any way,” replied the inspector. - -“This is, indeed, ‘Mystery 47,’ and it has been a mystery too long, and -I intend to clear it up. I feel that my reputation is at stake, and, -besides, I have a private score to settle; you know that they killed one -of my men, Tom Sweet, and I am confident that they were at the bottom of -the attack that was made on your officers to-day.” - -An hour had elapsed since Edwards had taken his departure. - -Nick looked at his watch, and suggested that perhaps the man had not -found Wright at home, and had been looking him up. - -As he said this, the door opened, and Edwards, accompanied by two men, -entered the room. - -The second man was the doctor that Nick had left Inspector Ward with. - -“I am delighted to see you, Mr. Jack Weeden,” the inspector said, as -soon as he got a good look at the man standing by Edwards’ side. - -“Shut that door, and allow no one to leave the room, unless I tell you -so,” and as he said so, he advanced toward the man that he had called -Jack Weeden. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVII. - -ALMOST EXPOSED. - - -The scene was a dramatic one. - -On the face of the supposed automobile repairer there was depicted -amazement mingled with terror. - -His face was ashen, his hands trembled, and he tried to speak, but his -tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. - -The doctor’s face was a study; he was surprised and bewildered. - -On the face of Nick Carter there was a quiet smile as he watched the man -who had been brought into the station. - -The doctor was the first to recover his presence of mind. - -“I demand to know what this outrage means?” he cried haughtily. “Is it -meant as an insult? If so, I will see that the commissioner of police -attends to the matter!” - -“I can assure you that it is not meant as an insult, sir; it is a most -serious matter, and I would advise you to keep your temper. If there has -been a mistake, no one will be the wiser; if there has not, then your -friend will be treated as the law provides,” said the inspector. - -Turning from the doctor, he faced the man that a moment before he had -addressed as Jack Weeden, and said: - -“I am sure that I am more than pleased to see you, Mr. Weeden. We have -been looking for you all day, and this is an unexpected pleasure, I can -assure you.” - -“I beg your pardon, Mr. Inspector, but the gentleman that you are -talking to is not Mr. Weeden, as you have addressed him,” said the -doctor. - -“If that is not his name, what is it?” - -“My friend’s name is Wright,” replied the physician. - -“Why, how singular,” sarcastically said the chief. “I am amazed; I am -sure that he is Weeden.” - -“Well, I guess that this is one of the times that you are mistaken. This -gentleman is an old friend of mine; he is in the crockery business, and -I have seen your man Edwards, here, in his store within the last day or -two.” - -“Who do you think this man is, Edwards?” asked the inspector. - -“I really do not know who he is, I am sure. I never met the man until I -went into his store to-night, when you sent me after him; he may be -Weeden, or he may be Wright. I only know that when I went into the store -after him to-night he seemed to act as if he owned the place, and was at -the safe putting away some books. He did not seem anxious to come with -me, but his friend over there,” nodding in the direction of the doctor, -“told him that the best thing he could do would be to come without any -delay, as he would then avoid any notoriety. He finally agreed to come -if I would let him empty a bottle of chemicals that he had been -experimenting with. He said that it was a patent that he was working on, -and that he did not want to let any one find out what it was, as, if -they did, it would mean the loss of a great fortune to him. This seemed -to be a reasonable request, and so I let him pour the stuff out into a -sink that was in the back of the store.” - -“That is all that you know about him, is it?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -The man who was the subject of the discussion broke out into a hearty -laugh. - -There was a false ring to it, and Nick Carter’s keen ear noted it. - -“Then you deny that you are Jack Weeden?” continued the inspector. - -“I certainly deny that I am Jack Weeden, or any one else that you may -call me, except Mr. Wright. The latter is my name, and I would have you -understand that I am not in the habit of masquerading as some one else. -I trust that you are through with me, and we shall be allowed to take -our departure. This indignity has been great enough without prolonging -it.” - -“I am here to do my duty, no matter how unpleasant it may be, and until -I am satisfied that what you are telling me is the truth I will be -compelled to force you to stay.” - -“I suppose, then, that the best thing that I can do is to answer your -questions, although I want to tell you that you will hear from this.” - -“If you are not Jack Weeden, then who are you?” - -“My friend has told you who I am, and that should be sufficient.” - -The man was evidently playing for time. He wanted to think before he -answered any question as to his identity. - -“I want you to answer the questions that I put to you,” said the -inspector sternly. - -“I suppose that I must answer, then. I am Mr. Wright.” - -“What is your business?” - -“I am in the crockery business, at the place where your man found me -to-night.” - -“How long have you been in that location?” - -“I have been there for a few months.” - -“How long have you been in the crockery business altogether?” - -“About five years.” - -“Where were you in business before you came to this city?” - -“I was in business in Washington, D. C.” - -“Where was your store located there?” - -“Nine-forty-five M Street, Northwest.” - -“You are certain of that, are you?” - -“I am.” - -“Kindly step over to my desk and look at the business directory that you -will find in the lower left-hand corner, and see if that address is -correct,” said the inspector to Nick. - -The face of Wright grew ashen. - -Nick saw the change, and concluded that the man was trapped. - -Nick opened the directory, and went carefully over the list of Wrights. - -“Here it is,” he said: “Wright, crockery, 941 M Street, Northwest.” - -A sigh of relief escaped both the doctor and Wright as Nick said this. - -“But you said nine hundred and forty-five,” corrected Nick sharply. - -“Did I? Well, then, really, I made a slight mistake,” said the man -insolently. - -His bravado had returned. - -“I have visited him there,” spoke up the doctor. - -“I was ill there, and I do not like to think of the place,” said Wright. - -“Your appearance was that of a sick man when the inspector suggested the -directory,” said Nick dryly. - -Wright gave Nick a look of hatred which was met with a scornful smile on -the face of the detective. - -“How did you come to make that mistake?” asked the inspector. - -“I just made a slip of the tongue,” answered the man. - -“I understand you were at the place where the rioting occurred to-day, -and that you were the man that had a rope and wanted to lynch the man -who had shot his wife. Is that not true?” - -“I was not near the place where the trouble was, I can assure you. I -only heard of the trouble in a most casual way.” - -“You are perfectly sure of that statement?” persisted the inspector, as -he looked at Nick. - -“I have already answered that question,” said Wright angrily. - -“What would you say if I were to bring a dozen people here that would -swear that they saw you there?” - -“It would not make any difference to me if you brought a thousand. I -could bring twenty or more that will testify that I did not leave my -store until I came here with your man.” - -“Did you ever see this man before? Did you see him at the riot, or did -you speak to him at that time?” asked the inspector, pointing to Nick. - -“I did not see him, for, as I told you, I was not anywhere near where -the riot took place. I never saw the man before, and I certainly am not -anxious to make his acquaintance.” - -Nick and the inspector retired to one corner of the room, and talked -over the situation. Legally, they could not hold the man, and Nick -decided that he would let the two go, and have one of the department men -follow them. - -Nick was certain that the man was no other than Jack Weeden, and that -the man was playing a desperate game, but he concluded that he had -better allow him to depart thinking that he had fooled them than to hold -him and have him discharged for lack of evidence. - -“You don’t seem to take very much interest in your patients?” said Nick -to the doctor, as he and his friend were taking their departure. - -“I have had no patients in the last three days,” said the doctor. - -“This was the limit,” said Nick to himself. Here were two men that he -had seen earlier in the day, and now both of them denied their -identity. - - - - -CHAPTER XLVIII. - -CAPTURE OF MELOY. - - -It was late before Nick parted from the inspector of the Brooklyn -headquarters. - -They had gone over the question of “Mystery 47” thoroughly. - -Shortly before Nick left the inspector, a man was brought into the room. - -It was Meloy. - -He was put in a cell next to that occupied by the wife murderer, and an -officer was placed in the cell next to him, so that he could hear if -Meloy tried to say anything to the other prisoner. - -After Meloy had been locked in the cell, Nick said to the inspector: - -“I want to interview that wife murderer. He knows that things are in -pretty bad shape for him, and I may be able to get him to tell us -something that will shed some light on these murders.” - -“What makes you think that you will be able to get anything out of him?” -asked the inspector. - -“In the first place, he is locked up on a charge that cannot be bailed, -and in the second, he will try and get on the good side of the keepers, -so that he will be able to get more liberty around the jail, and the -last reason is that I shall tell him how some of his companions have -turned against him, and that the leader of the gang, Jack Weeden, wanted -to take his life.” - -“What under the sun could have been the object of the man in wanting to -have one of his own gang killed?” - -“He may have learned too much of the workings of those high in the -council of the gang, and they saw an excellent chance to get rid of him -without putting their own lives in jeopardy. They are a desperate and -cunning lot.” - -Nick took leave of the inspector, and started down toward the ferry. - -He had almost reached his destination when he noticed that two men were -passing on the other side of the street. - -The men were Wright and the doctor. - -They turned and saw Nick, and the next minute they had disappeared into -an alleyway, and were lost to sight. - -As Nick had not eaten since early in the morning, he concluded that the -best thing he could do would be to go over to New York and get a big -porterhouse steak at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. - -As Nick passed into the ferry house, he was followed by five -rough-looking men. Three of them carried pails and the other two had -pickaxes. - -“I think I will go out and smoke a cigar. I have not had one to-day, and -a smoke will do me good,” Nick said to himself. - -Nick had been smoking for several minutes, when he heard the tread of -stealthy footsteps behind him. - -As he turned to look, to see who was coming, he was seized by several -hands, that held him as in a vise. - - - - -CHAPTER XLIX. - -A FIGHT ON THE FERRY. - - -Nick was lifted high in the air. - -“Throw the confounded detective into the river!” hissed a voice. - -“Over with him! Some one may come!” said another. - -At this minute, two figures sprang out of the darkness and struck two of -the men that were holding Nick in the air. The men struck fell to the -deck like logs, and before the other two could defend themselves they -had likewise been sent to the deck. - -“I saved your bacon that time, Nick Carter, although you don’t deserve -it,” said a familiar voice in his ear. - -Nick turned, and looked into the face of a man whom he had had under -arrest that afternoon. - -It was Harry Block, the farmer, and with him was his Cousin Sallie. - -“Where did you come from?” asked Nick. - -“Oh! we just dropped in, and, seeing an old friend was in trouble, we -thought that we would give him a helping hand,” laughed the farmer. - -“I can assure you that I appreciate your help,” said Nick earnestly. - -“Mr. Carter, ever since you threw my cousin, he has done nothing but -talk about your style of rastlin’,” spoke up Sallie. - -“How did you know my name?” asked Nick, when the woman had finished. - -“Oh, we can’t tell you that just now, but perhaps we will some time.” - -“You men are standing there talking like two old women at a sewing -circle; why don’t you watch the men that tried to throw you off the -boat?” - -Both Nick and the farmer turned like a flash, to see what had become of -the assailants. - -They had disappeared. - -“Let’s search the boat for them, and if we find them, you can be assured -that we will help you take them to the station house, as we believe in -law and order; don’t we, Sallie?” said the farmer. - -“If you do, why did you give me the slip this afternoon?” asked Nick. - -“You threatened to have us locked up, and so when I thought that the -police had quieted the mob, I went back to the wagon, and Sallie and I -drove off, so that you would not take us to the lockup.” - -“I am very glad that you have concluded to tell Nick Carter the truth,” -said the woman, in a tone that was familiar to Nick. - -“I think that I know you now,” said Nick, as he made a grab for Sallie’s -head. - -He pulled a wig from what he supposed was the head of a woman, only to -find that the person was Patsy, Nick Carter’s assistant, whom Nick -thought was enjoying a vacation. - -“Well, I’ll be jiggered,” said Nick. “Can’t you take a rest, as I told -you to do, or must you work all the time? It looks as if you are a born -hunter of criminals.” - -The farmer was none other than Chick. - -“Since you two are determined to work, I suppose that I will have to put -you on the case, and I will give you some instructions after you have -gone home and had some sleep,” said Nick, as he bade them good night. - - - - -CHAPTER L. - -TRICKED. - - -After Nick had said good night to Chick and Patsy, he set out to trace -the men that had assaulted him on the ferryboat. - -About two blocks from the entrance to the ferry, Nick saw a lumber -wagon, which was covered with a sheet of tarpaulin, moving slowly up the -street. - -It took him but a few seconds to reach it, and as he did, he grasped one -of the horses by the bridle and ordered the driver to stop his team. - -The driver made a cut at Nick with his whip, and yelled that he would -brain him if he did not let go of the horse. - -“I think that you will stop until I have seen what your wagon contains,” -said the detective. - -“Who are you, that you should hold up my wagon?” demanded the driver -angrily. - -“I am an officer,” replied Nick. - -“If you are an officer, then it is all right,” replied the driver. “I -thought that you were one of the robbers that has been making things hot -for the people around Astoria, and I did not want to take any chances.” - -“What have you got in your wagon?” - -“Oh, I have just got a load of boards that I am going to take up to -Harlem.” - -“I think that I had better look in the wagon, and see that valuable load -that you are so careful not to lose.” - -“I’ll be blowed if you do!” replied the man, making another slash at -Nick with his whip. - -Nick’s revolver was out in an instant, and he told the fellow that if he -did not climb down off the seat that he would fill him full of lead. - -The driver got down and stood to one side, while Nick made the -examination of the load. - -It was as the driver had said, and Nick was about to let the man go, -when his trained eye caught sight of a piece of blue jean that had -caught on a nail, evidently as the owner of the garment had been getting -out of the wagon. - -“Hello! What is this?” he said to himself. “It looks to me as if the -wagon had been used to conceal the men when they had left me on the -ferryboat. I guess that it would be a good plan to take this fellow to -headquarters, where I can ask him a few questions.” - -“What is your name?” asked Nick of the man. - -“My name is John McDowell,” he answered. - -“Now that I get a better look at your face, I think that you are Pat -Dean, alias Pete Deck,” responded Nick. - -“No, it ain’t.” - -“Well, we can very easily tell when we reach police headquarters.” - -“You don’t mean to say that you are going to arrest me?” asked the -driver. - -“That is about the size of it,” replied Nick. - -“Well, I won’t go. You have no warrant for my arrest, and I defy you to -take me to any station house.” - -“I am going to take you to headquarters--alive, if possible; but I am -going to take you there,” said Nick quietly. - -The fellow saw that he had to deal with a man that would not stand any -nonsense, and he got up on the box and drove as he was told. - -As the wagon turned into Center Street, the man suddenly threw his arm -around and tried to knock Nick off of the wagon. - -Nick had been expecting something of the sort, and before the fellow -knew it he had the handcuffs on him. - -“A very neat trick, my good man,” said Nick; “but, you see that I was -prepared for something of that kind, and I kept my eye on you.” - -A moment later, and they were at the desk of the acting inspector. - -The latter looked up and said: - -“Why, here is my old friend Pete Deck!” - -“I tell you that my name is John McDowell, and my name ain’t Deck.” - -“We don’t often make mistakes here, and if I remember correctly, your -number under the old system was 423.” - - - - -CHAPTER LI. - -YOUNG’S CAPTURE AND ESCAPE. - - -The man had kept pretty cool up to this time, but as soon as the acting -inspector called his number, he commenced to rave and swear, and tried -to dash his handcuffs in Nick’s face. - -One of the officers on duty grabbed him, and he quieted down. - -“I guess that the jig is up, as you seem to have me marked, so go ahead -with what you are going to do,” he snarled. - -“The inspector is going to give you a chance to save yourself from Sing -Sing if you will be square, but if you are not, you are going up the -river for a long time,” said Nick. - -The fellow’s belligerent spirit once more came to the surface, and he -screamed: - -“You have no right to send me there for simply driving a wagon!” - -“You hid the men that attacked the officer, here,” said the inspector, -pointing to Nick. - -“What of it if I did? You can’t send me up for that!” - -“No; but I can have you sent up on this old indictment, that perhaps you -had forgotten,” said Nick, with a bland smile. - -“You will have to tell me what the charge is before I will tell you -anything.” - -“The indictment charges you with burglary and attempted murder, and if -you will remember you never stood trial for it,” the detective said. - -“I had forgotten all about it, and would not have been around with that -gang from Astoria if I hadn’t.” - -“Then you are, or have been, associated with that gang, have you?” asked -Nick. - -“I have done some work for them, but I have kept out of such things as -would lead me to the penitentiary.” - -“From whom did you get your orders? Was it from Jack Weeden?” - -“No, I never saw Weeden. I got my orders through a man that perhaps you -never saw. His name is Hall.” - -“It seems to me that I have heard that name before,” commented Nick. “He -is the leader of a gang that has been making the trouble over in -Astoria, I believe?” - -“Well, he has been given credit for having done some things over there -that perhaps are not exactly on the level, but he is not the man that -you are after, I am sure.” - -“Who is the man that you think that we are after?” asked the inspector. - -“Oh, I think that you are after the fellow that may be one man, and then -again he may be another man. You know that you can’t always tell who a -man is by looking at him once; he may be a business man, or a common -scoundrel. I have known of people that looked like one man, and the next -instant they were identified as somebody else.” - -“What are you driving at?” asked Nick. - -“Oh, you need not try to fool me. I know what you want me to say.” - -“Well, what do we want you to say?” - -“You want to know if the blind beggar that hangs around the woods near -the shop that is run by Jack Weeden is really a beggar or somebody -else.” - -“Supposing that we do, who is the man?” - -“He might be just a blind beggar, and then he might be----” - -Just as Pete Deck was going to finish his sentence, the door was opened, -and two policemen dragging between them a struggling prisoner entered -the room. - -“Billy Young! The very man that we want; this is good fortune, indeed!” -cried the inspector. - -“Great heavens! Young, how did you come to be brought here?” exclaimed -Pete Deck. “I thought that you were over in Astoria.” - -“Shut up, you fool!” growled Young. - -“That was a good give-away,” laughed Nick. - -“If you say another word, I will brain you when I get out of here!” -screamed Young, as he turned on Deck. - -“All right, Billy; I will not make any more slips. I will keep my trap -shut.” - -“Now, inspector, that you have got me here, I would like you to tell me -what you have me here for? I have not done anything, and it is a shame -to deprive a man of his liberty when he is being on the level,” said -Young. - -“The reason that you were brought here is that you are charged with the -murder of Tom Sweet, a detective in the employ of Nick Carter.” - -“I didn’t happen to kill him; on the square, inspector, I did not do the -work.” - -“Then you admit that he was killed, do you?” asked the inspector. - -“I don’t admit anything,” stammered Young. He saw that he had made a -fatal slip, and he concluded that he would not talk any more. - -“It is no use for you to try and question me any further. You might just -as well take me to one of your rooms and put me there until you want me, -as I don’t intend to give up anything.” - -As the officers who had been holding Young by the arm opened the door to -lead him away, he gave a wrench and threw them to one side. - -Like a flash, he was down the steps and away. - -Officers and detectives that had been standing near the door started to -chase him. When he turned the corner, the officers were but a few yards -behind him. As they turned the corner, they were surprised to see that -the street was empty. Not a trace of the man could be found. - -They returned to the building, and an alarm was sent out. - - - - -CHAPTER LII. - -NICK’S LIFE SAVED. - - -In vain did they try to get Deck to talk. Once that he had seen his pal -Young he had somewhat recovered his courage, and he positively refused -to answer any questions that were put to him. - -After they had tried to get him to tell about the gang for an hour, Nick -gave it up in disgust. - -“Inspector, I feel hungry, and think that I will get a bite to eat -before I turn in for the night,” said Nick, as he left headquarters. - -“There is no doubt in my mind that Deck knows all about that gang, but -when he saw Young, he was either frightened stiff or his feeling was -that of the average tough who wants to appear game in the eyes of his -fellows,” muttered Nick, as he walked up the street to a restaurant near -his home. - -The restaurant was one that served a good dinner at a moderate figure, -and there one met the different celebrities of the day--lawyers, -brokers, newspaper men, actors, and the light-fingered gentry all rubbed -elbows in this strictly bohemian resort. - -As Nick passed through the barroom his attention was attracted to a -table at which were seated four men. - -The features of one of the men were familiar to Nick, but the hair did -not appear to be in keeping with the rest of the man’s make-up. - -“I will watch those men when I go out and see who they are. I don’t -like their looks,” said Nick to himself as he took his seat. - -Nick had hardly begun his supper, when a young man strolled in and took -a seat at Nick’s table. - -He was a young newspaper man on one of the great dailies, and was a warm -friend of Nick’s. The young fellow had been all over the world, and -whenever Nick and he got together they sat down and exchanged -reminiscences. - -They lingered over their coffee and cigars, and when the young newspaper -man said good night to Nick it was long past midnight. - -Nick took his departure shortly after. - -The four men, who had been drinking wine all the time that Nick and his -friend had been talking, got up and left the place as soon as the -detective went out the door. - -Glancing up and down the street, they saw Nick going toward his home. -They followed, skulking in and out of doorways. - -The young journalist, who had forgotten his cane, was returning to the -restaurant, when he saw the suspicious actions of the men. He dodged -back into a doorway until he saw that they were really following Nick. - -As Nick reached the corner, he saw two patrolmen that he knew. He spoke -to them for a minute, and then turned the corner to go to the house -where he lived. - -The reporter, who was acquainted with the officers, ran over and hastily -explained the situation to them. - -They at once went around the square, where they could head off the men -when they got near Nick’s house. - -Nick Carter, walking along the street busily engaged in thinking over -the events of the day, did not for an instant suspect that he was being -followed. - -Nick stopped to relight his cigar, when the four rascals jumped upon -him. - -Nick barely had time to turn and avoid a blow that had been aimed at him -by the man that he had noticed in the café. - -The man, with an oath, started to strike again, when the sharp crack of -a pistol rang out in the night air. - -The man fell to the sidewalk, with a scream of agony. - -The policemen rushed up and attacked the remaining three men with their -nightsticks. - -Two of the men took to their heels, and made their escape; the other man -was captured, and made a prisoner by the officers, while the reporter -turned in a call for the ambulance, that the injured man might be -removed to the hospital. - -Nick bent over the wounded man. He noticed that the hair which he wore -was false. Pulling it off, he saw that the man that had tried to kill -him was the very man that he had been looking for. - -It was Billy Young. - -The other fellow that had been captured was also wanted. He was Hall, -the leader of the gang of outlaws that had attacked Nick in front of the -repair shop kept by Jack Weeden. - -When the ambulance arrived, the surgeon in charge saw the man who had -been shot was mortally wounded, and could not live over five minutes. - -Nick knelt down by the side of the man, who had now recovered -consciousness. - -Young looked up and smiled. - -“I guess that you hold the winning hand, Nick Carter,” he said. “I tried -my best to do you, and would have succeeded if that fool reporter had -not been so good with his gun play. You have won a good fight, and I -give you credit.” - -“Young, you are dying! Why don’t you tell me what you know about Jack -Weeden and that gang? It may help to atone for the crimes that you have -committed in this world,” said Nick quietly. - -“I never yet have squealed, and I don’t intend to begin now,” was the -answer of the dying man. “I would tell you if I ever told anybody, as -you are the gamest and squarest man in the business, but I can’t die a -squealer. I--I----” - -With a gasp, his head rolled to one side, and the man who had helped to -kill Tom Sweet was dead. - -The policemen took their prisoner to the station house, where he was -held on the charge of attempted murder. - -The body of Billy Young was removed to the morgue. - - - - -CHAPTER LIII. - -AN ATTACK ON NICK’S HOME. - - -When the detective and the reporter were left alone, Nick said to the -latter: - -“I almost regret that you fired that shot, old man.” - -“Why?” asked the other. - -“Because, Billy Young alive might have proved of great service to me in -clearing up this case. Of course, I know you did it for the best.” - -“Maybe I can help you on this case, Nick.” - -“You might, but I cannot accept your help just at the present time.” - -“Oh, I see,” said the reporter; “you do not want any of the papers to -get to work on the case until you are ready for the grand finale.” - -“Correct you are,” laughingly replied Nick. - -“I hope that you will give me the first show at it, so that I can get a -scoop.” - -“You may rest assured, my friend, that you will be the first one who -will get the news when I have solved the triple identity, or Mystery 47. -You will, of course, make a story out of what happened to-night?” - -“Well, you just read to-morrow morning’s paper, and you will see a -cracking good account of what has transpired to-night. Good night.” - -“Good night,” responded Nick. - -As Nick went up the stairs of his house, he felt that he had earned a -good night’s rest. He went to bed, and slept for about three hours in a -restless sort of way. - -Suddenly he awoke, with a feeling of uneasiness and apprehension. He -glanced at the clock on his dresser. It was nearly four o’clock, and in -a short time would be daylight. He turned over, and tried to sleep -again, but his restlessness only increased. - -“This certainly is strange,” muttered Nick. “I never felt this way -before; it must be indigestion. I will get up and take a little drink of -brandy; that may help me.” - -On a table near the bed was a small pocket flask filled with brandy. He -swallowed a small drink, and got back into bed. It was impossible for -him to sleep, however, as the feeling of uneasiness which had attacked -him before returned, even more strongly than ever. - -Nick jumped out of bed, and, going to the window, looked out into the -back yard. Suddenly his gaze penetrated the shadow of an old cherry -tree. He detected a movement in the shadow. As his eyes grew accustomed -to the dim light, he saw the figures of three men. They were gazing -intently at his window. - -At first he thought they were burglars. A closer examination disclosed -the fact that two of the men were his late assailants, who, when Billy -Young had been shot, had made their escape. - -The third man bore a strong resemblance to Wright, the Brooklyn crockery -dealer, as also did he to Jack Weeden, the Astoria automobile repairer. -Besides the revolvers that the men carried, each was armed with a long, -murderous-looking knife. - -“It is very evident,” murmured Nick, “that I am too hot on the trail of -the Astoria horror, and that gang intends to murder me, if they possibly -can. I will give them a warm reception if they try to get into my room.” - -Nick stole silently to the bed. He lifted one of the pillows. There lay -two automatic revolvers, each one fully loaded. Then he crept back to -the window, and in the shadow of the curtain watched the men. - -It was evidently their intention to enter his room and murder him while -he slept. - -Nick could hear what the men said. - -The following is a part of what he heard: - -“And so Billy’s done for,” said the man who resembled Weeden. - -“Yes,” was the reply of one of his companions. “He was shot by a cursed -newspaper man.” - -“Well, I will see to it that he don’t write any more interesting -stories.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“I will kill him!” hissed the man. - -“He killed Billy Young, and I will kill him. ‘Blood for blood’ is my -motto.” - -“Well, what about that fellow up there?” said the second thug, pointing -to Nick’s window. - -“We will settle him right away. He has been the cause of Billy Young’s -death, Hall and Meloy’s arrest, and a few other things that I shall tell -you of later.” - -“Well, then, we had better do it now, because it will be daylight pretty -soon.” - -“The lightest man can climb up the trellis and finish him in the room, -while the others wait down here, ready to give him a hand if necessary.” - -“I would like to go up and fix him,” said the more slender of Weeden’s -companions. “I owe him one, and want to pay it as soon as I can.” - -“What has he done to you?” asked the other man. - -“Nothing”--sullenly--“but he was the means of sending my brother up for -twenty years. The poor boy went to that prison, and the treatment that -he received was so harsh that he died in less than three years. It broke -my mother’s heart, and it wasn’t long before she followed. You can -understand now why I want to be the one to end the life of that cursed -detective, Nick Carter.” - -The man started toward the trellis. - -“I am off,” he said, clambering up the trelliswork and taking hold of -the vines. - -“And you will get as warm a reception as you ever had in your life!” -muttered Nick. - -He intended to let the would-be assassin enter his room, and then thrash -him within an inch of his life. Nick went to his closet and picked up a -heavy oaken walking stick. - -The man was coming up the trelliswork slowly. - -Suddenly there was a crashing sound, a yell and a volley of oaths. The -trelliswork and vines had given way underneath the man’s weight, and he -went crashing down into the yard. - -An old gentleman who lived next door had seen the men in the yard, and -when the man fell he thrust an old musket out of his window and fired -point-blank at the man. - -The gun had evidently not been fired since the Civil War. It knocked the -old gentleman senseless by the force of its recoil and alarmed the whole -neighborhood. - -The men at once scaled the fence and got away. The old gentleman -suffered from a lame shoulder for weeks. - - - - -CHAPTER LIV. - -THE THIRD DEGREE. - - -At nine o’clock next morning Nick Carter was at Center Street police -headquarters. After the men had been routed the night before, Nick had -returned to his bed, and had had several hours of good sleep. - -He took a cold plunge and a brisk rubdown with a Turkish towel. When he -appeared at the office of the inspector, that official was more than -astonished to see him. - -He had hardly supposed that Nick would be up and ready for work so early -after the hard work he had done the day before. - -“Have you read the papers this morning?” the inspector asked, a moment -later. - -“No, I have not,” responded the detective. “What is in them?” - -“It is an account which makes you a great hero.” - -“Oh, I guess it’s a young fellow’s story of a little scrimmage I had -near my house last night. I hope he said nothing about the case I have -been working on.” - -“No, he has not printed a word about it.” - -“Well, then, when I clear the Astoria mystery I shall take good care -that he has the story first.” - -“By the way,” asked the inspector, “do you know that a man named Hall -was brought here this morning?” - -“No, I did not, but I am very glad to hear it. He was one of the men who -tried to kill me last night. - -“I must see both Hall and Meloy,” continued Nick. - -“Do you think that Meloy will talk?” - -“The chances are that he will, now that Billy Young is dead. He feared -him more than he did a dozen policemen.” - -“I think, then, that I will go down to the cells and see these men.” - -“Very well; I’ll go down with you,” said the inspector. - -A couple of minutes later, and they were in Meloy’s cell. - -The prisoner had had a good breakfast, and was inclined to be funny. -They cut him short and came down to business. - -“Meloy,” said Nick, “you appear to be in a much better frame of mind -than you were last night?” - -“I am,” the man replied. “I’ve had a good night’s sleep and an excellent -breakfast, and what more does a man want?” - -“Liberty,” laconically replied Nick. - -“Yes, liberty’s a good thing, but if a fellow hasn’t got money and grub, -liberty don’t amount to much.” - -“You can have both liberty and money if you answer certain questions -truthfully.” - -“What questions are they--the same as you asked me last night?” - -“Yes.” - -“Suppose I refuse to answer them?” - -“Then you will be deprived of your liberty and brought up on the old -indictment.” - -“And get twenty years, hey?” - -“More likely you’ll get thirty or thirty-five,” Nick answered coldly. - -“What is the additional time for?” he asked, in a surprised tone. - -“We have some other counts to try you on.” - -“Well, I think you are a pretty square cop, and if you give me your word -I feel sure that you will keep it. Now, what do you want me to do?” - -“I want you to tell the truth.” - -“Well, where am I to begin?” - -“Where you left off last night. Let me tell you first that Billy Young -is dead,” added the detective. - -“Well, what of it? That is no news to me. I have heard it before.” - -“Is that so? From whom did you hear it?” - -“One of the doormen told me, as he thought that it was a brilliant piece -of news. I didn’t take much stock in it until I heard him tell another -man, and then I felt sure that it was not a ‘plant’ on your part to get -me to talk.” - -“I will show that I am in earnest when I tell you that he is dead. I -will do what will convince you, I think; I will send for Hall, the -leader of your gang, and have him tell you about how he was killed.” - -An officer was sent to fetch Hall from his cell. - -He was handcuffed, and looked rather forlorn as he stood in front of -Meloy’s cell. - -“How did you get in here?” asked the latter. - -“I suppose that it was in the same way that you got in.” - -“Is it true that Young is dead?” - -“Yes; he was shot by a newspaper man, who was a friend of Nick -Carter’s, and he clubbed me with his stick until I am black and blue all -over.” - -“Well, I am glad that he was killed, as there was not a man in the gang -that did not fear him. Hall, do you know that you and I are in a bad -hole? I am good for thirty years, at least, and I think that they will -send you up for a good, long term. I am going to talk to the inspector -and Mr. Carter, and tell them what I know.” - -“Then you are going to squeal?” - -“Yes; because they will let up on me, and, besides, Weeden does not care -for any of us. All he wants to do is to pose as a man of respectability -one minute and the next he wants to go around looking like somebody -else. I tell you that I am tired of the whole business. I have not had -anything to do with the Astoria horror, but I am going to tell them all -I know about the crimes.” - -“I will talk to you about the terms before you begin, so that there will -be no misunderstanding about the matter,” said the inspector. - -“Well, inspector,” said Hall, “what we want is to walk out of this place -free men.” - -“You don’t ask much, do you?” said the inspector, amazed at the cheek of -the fellow. “But I shall keep my word. Now, tell us about the murders.” - -“The members of the gang were entirely ignorant of the way that they -were committed, that is, with one exception; that was Billy Young. He -knew everything that was either going on or that was to ‘come off.’” - -“What you say may be true,” said the inspector, “but Young is dead, and -so all power of corroborating what you say is gone.” - -“Yes, and if it were not for the fact that he is dead you would not be -listening to what you are being told now. There isn’t a man in the -gang--and there are some very brave fellows among them--that would have -the nerve to tell you anything about the workings of the gang if Billy -Young was alive.” - -“You are not afraid of Jack Weeden, then?” - -“No; I would meet him anywhere or any place.” - -“Will what you are going to tell me implicate Jack Weeden?” - -“It will. He is really the mysterious assassin.” - -“Who is the old blind beggar that hangs around the road near where the -murders were committed?” - -“That is Jack Weeden, the man that keeps the automobile repair shop; the -two people are one and the same.” - -“I was right,” said Nick. “Now, let me ask you another question. Who is -this man Wright, the man that keeps a crockery store?” - -The two criminals looked at Nick for a moment, and then laughed. - -“I guess that you know who he is, Mr. Carter. You tried to arrest him -that day the riots were going on in the street. He laughed about his -narrow escape that day.” - -“Well, what was his reason that day to try and have one of his own gang -lynched?” - -“He was sore on the fellow, as he thought that he was trying to spy on -his business, and he saw a good chance to finish the fellow without its -being traced to him, so he concluded that he would get him out of the -way in that manner. He first sent a note to the woman, asking her to -meet him, and addressed the letter to her in endearing terms, and then, -before she had time to receive it, he sent word to the husband that his -wife was receiving letters from different men. The husband, of course, -found the letter, and accused his wife of being untrue to him, and he, -in his jealous rage, shot her, which was exactly what Weeden wanted him -to do. I tell you, of all the devilish men on earth, he is the very -worst.” - - - - -CHAPTER LV. - -THE MYSTERY SOLVED. - - -“How did you come to discover that the man Weeden was Benny the Bum?” - -“I followed the tramp one night, and saw him steal into the shop. He -went into the rear part of the shop and took off the false beard that he -wore, also the wig of matted hair that hung over his shoulders. He kept -saying to himself: ‘I am the king of murderers! I am the king! I love to -see their ghastly faces as they look up at me.’ - -“Then he went over into the corner and set down the long staff or -walking stick that he carried, and unscrewed the ferrule, and out -dropped a small tube of compressed air. - -“He went to a closet and took out another one and inserted it into the -end of his staff.” - -Later in the day, Nick and several of the men from headquarters went out -to the place where Jack Weeden and his gang held forth. They surrounded -the shop, and Nick opened the door to enter, when swish! something -whizzed past his side and embedded itself in the woodwork of the door. - -Whipping out his revolver, he dashed into the center of the room. There -stood Jack Weeden, alias Wright, the crockery man, and on the floor lay -the clothes of Benny the Bum. - -Here was the secret of the triple identity. The case that had so long -been known to the police as “Mystery 47” was at last solved. - -With his eyes starting from their sockets, the man now looking more like -a wild beast than a human being, turned to Nick and said: - -“I have tried my best to beat you. I find that I have lost, but you will -never take me alive, as I have poisoned myself with the ring that I have -on my finger. I will tell you in the minute that I have to live all -about the different murders that I have committed. I do this because I -like a brave man, and you have beaten our whole gang, and I respect you -for it.” - -“Thank you,” said Nick quietly. “Go on.” - -“I have always hated the human race, and when I was a young boy I killed -a man in defense of a dog that I owned; the blood from the man’s wound -got on my hands, and I experienced a feeling of joy that would only -return when I saw a corpse at my feet. I had lots of money, so I -surrounded myself with as trusty a lot of villains as you might find in -a month’s journey, and proceeded to kill people for the satisfaction -that it gave me. Sometimes I would let the men rob the bodies after I -had struck them down with the air gun which is concealed in the staff, -so that it would look as if the motive for the murder was robbery.” - -“How did you send the men to death with the air gun? Was it with the -small steel projectiles that were found in the bodies of the men that -you killed?” - -“Yes,” said Weeden, who was now almost ready to gasp his last. “Yes, it -was the small needles that I shot into them, the same kind that I shot -at you a minute ago. They were all tipped with a poison that I got while -I was in India a few years ago. I--I----” - -A gasp--a stiffening of the body, and the man who had the triple -identity was dead. - -The mystery of the Astoria horrors was no longer a secret. - -Nick Carter had solved the hardest case that had ever come to the -attention of the police, “Mystery 47.” - - - THE END. - - -“A Titled Counterfeiter” will be the title of the next volume, No. 931, -of THE NEW MAGNET LIBRARY. As the name indicates, the story has to do -with the most troublesome type of criminal with which the government has -to deal. How Nicholas Carter rounds up this daring gang of crooks makes -a narrative that you will find most entertaining. - - * * * * * - - - RATTLING GOOD ADVENTURE - - SPORT STORIES - - Price, Fifteen Cents - - _Stories of the Big Outdoors_ - - -There has been a big demand for outdoor stories, and a very considerable -portion of it has been for the Maxwell Stevens stories about Jack -Lightfoot, the athlete. - -These stories are of interest to old and young. They are not, strictly -speaking, stories for boys, but boys everywhere will find a great deal -in them to engage their interest. - -The Jack Lightfoot stories deal with every branch of sport--baseball, -football, rowing, swimming, racing, tennis, and every sort of -occupation, both indoor and out, that the healthy-minded man turns to. - - - _ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ - - - 1--Jack Lightfoot, the Athlete By Maxwell Stevens - 2--Jack Lightfoot’s Crack Nine By Maxwell Stevens - 3--Jack Lightfoot Trapped By Maxwell Stevens - 4--Jack Lightfoot’s Rival By Maxwell Stevens - 5--Jack Lightfoot in Camp By Maxwell Stevens - 6--Jack Lightfoot’s Canoe Trip By Maxwell Stevens - 7--Jack Lightfoot’s Iron Arm By Maxwell Stevens - 8--Jack Lightfoot’s Hoodoo By Maxwell Stevens - 9--Jack Lightfoot’s Decision By Maxwell Stevens -10--Jack Lightfoot’s Gun Club By Maxwell Stevens -11--Jack Lightfoot’s Blind By Maxwell Stevens -12--Jack Lightfoot’s Capture By Maxwell Stevens -13--Jack Lightfoot’s Head Work By Maxwell Stevens -14--Jack Lightfoot’s Wisdom By Maxwell Stevens - - * * * * * - - - Not How Much - - _But_ - - HOW GOOD - -In the editorial preparation of the STREET & SMITH NOVEL the question of -how much in money we were going to get for each volume never really -occurred to us. 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