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diff --git a/old/67179-0.txt b/old/67179-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1d33f0b..0000000 --- a/old/67179-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6312 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Nimble Ike, the Trick Ventriloquist, -by Old Sleuth - -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: Nimble Ike, the Trick Ventriloquist - A Rousing Tale of Fun and Frolic - -Author: Old Sleuth - -Release Date: January 16, 2022 [eBook #67179] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Demian Katz, Craig Kirkwood, and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Images courtesy - of the Digital Library@Villanova University.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NIMBLE IKE, THE TRICK -VENTRILOQUIST *** - - -Transcriber’s Notes: - -Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text -enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=). - -Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end. - - * * * * * - -OLD SLEUTH’S OWN. - -No. 137. 10 CENTS. - -NIMBLE IKE, THE Trick Ventriloquist. - -A ROUSING TALE OF FUN AND FROLIC. - -By OLD SLEUTH. - -[Illustration: “Good Day, my Friend.”] - - NEW YORK: - J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY, - 57 ROSE STREET. - - * * * * * - - - - -NIMBLE IKE THE TRICK VENTRILOQUIST. - - - A Rousing Tale of Fun and Frolic. - - By OLD SLEUTH. - - Copyright, 1894, by Parlor Car Publishing Company. - All Rights Reserved. - - NEW YORK: - J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY, - 57 ROSE STREET. - - * * * * * - -NIMBLE IKE THE TRICK VENTRILOQUIST. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -“You have bags of gold, and do you refuse to give me just a little?” - -“Not one cent.” - -“I helped you to earn that money.” - -“Yes.” - -“And you refuse to give me any, and you are going away?” - -“I refuse to give you any and I am going away.” - -The above dialogue occurred in a room on the top floor of a great -tenement house, and a strangely picturesque scene was presented. -An old man with frowzy hair, and deep-set eyes illuminating a dark -and wrinkled face, sat by a table. Opposite to the old man was a -bright-faced lad of thirteen or fourteen. The furnishings of the room -were reasonably comfortable and on the table burned a flickering -candle. Indeed the whole scene was weird and strange in the extreme. - -The lad was kneeling on a stool and his elbows were resting on the -table, and there was a serious and earnest look upon his bright face; -and the shadow deepened when the old man repeated: - -“Yes, I am going away and I refuse to give you anything.” - -“Are you treating me right?” asked the lad, in a wistful tone of -entreaty. - -“Yes.” - -“No, you are not. I have worked hard. I am penniless; I am but a boy, -you are rich. You do not mean to leave me penniless?” - -“All that you say is true. You did help me to earn the money; you did -serve me well; but I have repaid you in full. I owe you nothing.” - -“How so?” - -“You have been my pupil; you excel your master; you are the most -wonderful trick ventriloquist in the world; you will have no trouble -in earning money; you can make a fortune greater than mine; you were -an apt pupil. You have a better chance than I, lad, and you owe all to -me. I have supported you well; I have educated you. You speak three -different languages, and the man does not live in the world who can -excel you as a magician or a ventriloquist. Your education and your -talents are your fortune.” - -“But you should give me a little money.” - -“No, I need it all. Yes, I have worked hard, I have saved my money. I -need it all, yes, all, for purposes of revenge.” - -A moment the lad was silent and thoughtful, but at length he said: - -“You promised some day to tell me about myself. You are not my father. -You have told me you were in no way related to me. Who am I? What am I? -Who were my parents? Where are they? You told me some day I should know -all.” - -“You shall.” - -“Good; tell me now.” - -“No, not now; some day I will tell you all. You were born in India; -your parents are dead; you have relatives living. It would be of no -advantage to you now to know who your relatives are; some day it may -be. I will watch; if that day come you shall know all. It will be of no -advantage to you to know now.” - -“And you refuse to tell me?” - -“I do.” - -“Will you tell me my real name?” - -“Your real name is Isaac. You bear my last name Andro. It is a good -name and will serve you for the present. The name you have is Nimble -Ike, for you are the most nimble lad in the world. I have been very -careful in your instruction; the lad does not live who in every way is -as accomplished as yourself.” - -“And yet I will be penniless.” - -“Not long will you be penniless with your talents and your experience. -Remember how much you have seen of the world; remember how great has -been your experience. You have visited with me every city and town -of any importance in the United States. Few middle-aged men have had -your experience. You are less than fourteen to-day and possess the -experience and knowledge of most men of forty. You are a wonderful lad; -you need never want for food or money.” - -“And is that all you will tell me about myself?” - -“All at present.” - -“But we may never meet again.” - -“Oh, yes, we will meet some day, and here is a little box. Do not open -it; in fact you can only open it by smashing it, but if at any time -you are sick and helpless open the box. On your honor do not open it -unless, as I say, you are sick and helpless and starving. Obey me and -all will be well; disobey me and trouble will overtake you. Never lose -the box. String it around your neck as a charm and some day it may be -of benefit to you; but the best I can wish you is that you never have -occasion to smash the box.” - -The old man spoke the last words in a very solemn, warning tone, and -then handed a tiny little box to our hero, that could readily be strung -over his heart, as a talisman, without any inconvenience. - -“When do you go?” asked the lad. - -“I will bid you good-by some day this week.” - -“How about the things here in this room?” - -“They are yours, and the rent is paid for three months. Yes, the -furniture is yours.” - -“Then you do give me something.” - -“Yes, but no money. I need the money; but some day we will meet again -and then I may have a wonderful revelation to make to you.” - -“Will you leave me your address?” - -“No.” - -“Why not?” - -“I have my own reasons for disappearing and leaving no trace behind.” - -“But will you know whether I am alive or dead?” - -“Oh, yes; I have read the future. You will flourish all right, but -remember one thing: remain honest; cheat no man; lie to no man; and -remember that while you are at present only a showman that some day you -may be a gentleman, and then your record will tell for or against you.” - -A little later and Ike retired to his bed. The little box had been -strung around his neck, and his thoughts were centered on its contents, -and despite the strong prohibition he felt an especially strong desire -to open it. In fact he argued audibly: - -“I have not been treated fairly. I have a right to open the box. Hang -me, I will open it.” - -With this resolve in his mind the lad rose from his bed slyly and -searched around for something wherewith to smash the box. He found a -heavy spike; and then it occurred to him that the noise might awaken -the old magician, and he hesitated. Finally he remembered he had a -strong knife in his pocket. He could pry the box open. He drew the -knife from his pocket and made an attempt to pry open the lid when -suddenly he felt a cold hand on his cheek. He turned and beheld a -figure in white standing before him, and the figure spoke, saying: - -“Remember your promise.” - -Ike was a lad of extraordinary nerve. He had speculated in surprises -all his life as the assistant of the necromancer. He had worked all -manner of surprises, and therefore was less likely to be overcome by a -sudden apparition. He demanded: - -“What promise?” - -“You promised not to open the box.” - -The lad recalled that he had made such a promise and the figure spoke -again and said: - -“It is a test of honor. If you open that box you are without honor.” - -The lad at once exclaimed: - -“I will not open the box; or, only under the conditions named.” - -The figure disappeared and--well, the lad started up in bed. He had -only dreamed. Then he closed his eyes and dropped off into sleep. He -had about resolved to open the box, and thus had come to him a dream. -He made sure that he had been dreaming and then said: - -“I renew my promise. I will not open the box. I will keep the promise I -made when awake and the promise I made in my dream.” - -The lad awoke at his usual hour and after dressing entered the room -where the old magician usually slept on a mattress placed on the floor. -The old man was not there and the lad muttered: - -“How strange! Uncle Andro does not go out before breakfast as a rule.” - -The boy stood gazing around the room when his glance fell upon a note -lying on the table. He seized the note and read: - - “You will not see me again until fate has done its best or worst. - Make no inquiry for me. I have left one dollar for you. All else in - the rooms is yours, as I told you. Good-by until we meet again at the - command of fate. - - “UNCLE ANDRO.” - -“He has deserted me,” said Ike in a low, sad tone. “Yes, he has -deserted me. I did not think he would go away and not say good-by. He -intended to steal away when he was talking to me last night. I cannot -help it, and I will not complain. I am but a boy, but I have had a -large experience. I can work tricks better than my master. I will get -along well enough; but I would like to know what he meant all these -years when he continually alluded to fate as connected with me. Hang -fate! I am going to strike in for myself.” - -The lad placed the note on the table and as he did so he espied a -neatly folded bill. He unfolded it and found it was a “fiver,” as the -boys say. - -“Well, he did leave me enough for a meal.” - -There was enough in the rooms for several meals and Ike prepared his -breakfast--he had been accustomed to so doing. He was a resolute -lad, and we will here state that there are many resolute lads to-day -struggling against adverse fate, and they are doing it cheerfully and -without complaint. - -We will make one more statement; some of our friends have often said to -us: - -“It is wonderful how you can make up all the incidents in your -stories.” We answer upon these occasions, that more incidents, strange -and wonderful, are occurring every day than the most imaginative -author could conceive in a month--incidents far stranger than go upon -record; and we are not compelled to “make up” incidents, simply because -“fact is stranger than fiction,” and we have more incidents and actual -occurrences in our note-book than we can ever relate. - -Ike finished his meal and then lay down on old Andro’s mattress -to think over the past and study the future. At length, however, -he determined to go forth. There was no need for him to look over -his possessions; he knew every article in that room and its value -thoroughly, and he had a five-dollar bill. He started to go down the -stairs, and on the floor below the one he and old Andro had occupied -for over a year he saw a little girl come from a room. The child was -very pretty and had been weeping. Ike was a tender-hearted, sympathetic -fellow. He had never seen the child before, but upon beholding that she -had been weeping his curiosity was aroused. Once more, dear reader, how -often do we meet people who invite our sympathies in great cities. I -can say one on about every square mile as we walk the streets. - -The little girl preceded our hero down the stairs, for he had stepped -aside to permit her to do so, and when she reached the street he -followed her. She walked along at a slow pace and several times Ike -could hear her sob, and beheld her little delicate frame quiver with -emotion; he could not stand it and he ran up and accosted the girl, -saying “Good-morning.” - -The child started back in an affrighted manner. - -“You are crying,” said Ike, in a very kindly tone, “can I aid you?” - -The child fixed her blue eyes upon him, and, after a moment, in a low -tone, answered: - -“No.” - -“Mebbe I can?” - -“No.” - -“How do you know I can’t help you?” - -“I know it.” - -“Tell me how you know it?” - -“Because I want money; you can’t give me money.” - -“I can’t, eh?” - -“No, how can you?” - -“Easy enough; how much money do you want?” - -“I don’t know, mamma told me to go out and ask for money.” - -The girl was not over ten years of age. - -“Don’t you know how much money you need?” - -“No.” - -“Will five dollars do?” - -“Yes.” - -“I can give you five dollars.” - -“Why should you give me five dollars?” - -“Because you need it; that is a good reason, I reckon.” - -“Will you come and see my mamma and tell her? She knows how much money -we need.” - -“Yes, I’ll go and see your mamma.” - -“Come.” - -The girl led the way back and our hero accompanied her; they ascended -to the room from whence Ike had seen the girl issue and entered, the -girl still leading the way. Ike beheld at a glance that it was the -home of need; on a bed lay a woman, possibly she had once been comely -looking, but she did not look pretty as the boy beheld her. She was -evidently quite ill and her complexion was the color of saffron. - -“Mamma,” said the little girl, “here is a good boy, who says he will -give us five dollars. Is that enough?” - -The woman’s eyes bulged in their sunken sockets, and she asked: - -“Who is the boy?” - -“I think he is the boy who lives with the strange old man overhead.” - -Ike stepped beside the bed and said: - -“Madam, I have got five dollars to which you are welcome if it will be -of any service to you.” - -The woman just glared but remained silent. - -Ike pulled the money from his pocket and proffered it to the invalid, -who, for the first time spoke, and asked: - -“Why should you give me five dollars?” - -“Because you need it.” - -“But can you spare it?” - -“I do not need it as much as you do,” was the startling and really -suggestive answer. - -“Who are you?” - -“My name is Isaac Andro.” - -“And you propose to give me five dollars?” - -“Here it is,” said Ike, and he tendered the money. - -“I cannot take it.” - -“Why not?” - -“You cannot afford to give it to me.” - -“Yes, I can.” - -“Have you plenty of money?” - -“That’s all I’ve got.” - -“That is all you have?” - -“Yes.” - -“And you offer it to me?” - -“Yes.” - -“How strange; why should you?” - -“I told you why; you need it more than I do.” - -“I do need it, but I will not take it from you, no, no; you can give -us a few cents, enough to buy a loaf of bread, but I will not take the -five dollars.” - -“Do you need something to eat?” - -“Why, sir,” said the woman, “we have not had a mouthful pass our lips -in twenty-four hours.” - -“Great Scott!” cried Ike, “why, I’ve got lots of food upstairs, I’ll -go and get some,” and without waiting for remonstrance, or thanks, or -inquiry, the lad shot from the room. - -Ike prepared some coffee, he had all necessary appliances, and he had -plenty of bread and cold meat, and he returned as quickly as possible -with the food; he placed it on the table, and demanded: - -“Where are your plates, and knives and forks?” - -“We have none, all are gone.” - -Ike had noticed, as stated, that there were few things in the room; the -woman reposed on a cot, there was a table and one chair, no carpet, -and he, at the last moment, discovered that there was no stove nor any -of the usual, even poor equipments that can be found in the poorest -apartments. - -Again he left the room and soon returned with cups, plates, knives and -forks, and he bustled around and set things all ready for eating. He -carried the invalid a cup of coffee, and some bread and meat, which -she devoured with avidity. The little girl also betrayed an excellent -appetite and as her hunger became appeased she exclaimed: - -“Mamma, this is just splendid.” - -Ike’s curiosity was aroused and he asked: - -“Madam, how is it I find you so poor?” - -“I am a widow, and managed to get along well enough until I was taken -sick; my husband was mate of a vessel; the vessel was wrecked and all -lives were lost.” - -“How long ago did it all happen?” - -“My husband was wrecked five years ago.” - -“And have you no friends?” - -“No, I was an orphan and my husband was born in the West Indies. He -never spoke of having any relatives.” - -The woman had appeased her appetite, and she said: - -“Now tell me about yourself.” - -“Mine is a strange tale, madam. I have a faint, a very faint -recollection of once being in a great big house, and as the opera -goes, ‘with vassals and serfs at my side.’ It may all be a dream, -recollections of splendors that belonged to some one else. Later I -remember enduring great hardship with a strange old man; we were in -France, England, Spain and Italy, and finally embarked for America; by -that time I was old enough to remember all that occurred. We arrived -in the United States and the old man commenced instructing me in all -kinds of magical skill. He was a magician, we traveled all over the -country, and I learned a great deal. He was a strange man, always -making strange and mysterious allusions; but he never would make any -actual explanations, nor would he tell me anything about myself. He -accumulated a great deal of money, and--” the lad proceeded and related -the subsequent facts which are known to our readers. - -“And he deserted you!” - -“Yes.” - -“And took all the money?” - -“Yes.” - -“And you offered me the only five dollars which you had in the world?” - -“What odds? I can make lots of money, and I am alone. I’ve got an idea -and----” - -Ike was interrupted; there came a rap at the door, the woman betrayed -agitation and the little girl turned deathly pale and instinctively -ejaculated: - -“Oh, dear! it is that awful man.” - -Ike suspected the identity of the awful man and called out: - -“Come in.” - -A mean-looking man entered the room. - -“I have come for my money,” he said. - -“How much money is due you?” asked Ike. - -“Four dollars and seventy-five cents--one month’s rent.” - -“Here is your money, give me the change and a receipt as quick as you -can.” - -It did not take the man long to hand over the change and the -receipt--the latter he had ready--and then in a cold-blooded manner, he -announced: - -“You must move out, I have let the rooms, the new tenants will come in -this afternoon.” - -The poor woman struggled hard to say something; she was about to make -an appeal but Ike anticipated her and declared: - -“That’s all right, we will be out of here in an hour.” - -The man went away and did not hear the woman’s call for him to return. -At length she said to Ike: - -“What have you done?” - -“The right thing, I reckon.” - -“Oh, what will become of us?” moaned the woman - -“You are all right for three months.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“I told you that the rooms overhead were paid for three months in -advance; they belong to me, you will move up.” - -“And turn you out?” - -“Not much, I will take you in.” - -“We cannot live on you.” - -“What will you do?” - -“I don’t know.” - -“That is what I thought, so I just did the ‘think’ for you, and for the -present you are all right.” - -We will not relate all the arguments Ike used to induce the poor widow -with her child to move into his rooms. He succeeded, however, and he -set right to work to move her few things upstairs; she and her daughter -were to occupy one room, and Ike determined to take possession of the -bed formerly used by his late master, and he did so with the remark. - -“I am the boss now.” - -That same evening the woman whom he had befriended and whose name was -Pell, said: - -“As soon as I am well I will repay you for all you have done for us.” - -“All right, we will wait until you are well.” - -A few days passed. Ike had not fully determined on what he would do, -as his provisions were fast being devoured. He had no money to pay his -rent on the rooms, and in a most startling manner he learned that he -must pay for the rooms or--well, he adopted the or--for he was fully -assured that the contemptible landlord had determined to take a mean -advantage. In some way the fellow learned or suspected that the man who -had paid him for the rooms had gone away. He possibly suspected that -the rooms had been paid for in advance to the advantage of the boy, and -the widow and her child. At any rate one night he called and demanded -the month’s rent. - -“No rent is due you,” said Ike; “you have been paid three months in -advance from the first of last month.” - -“I have, eh?” - -“You have!” - -“Then produce the receipt; that is the shortest way to settle it.” - -Old Andro had forgotten, or in some way failed to give Ike a receipt -for the rooms. Ike took in the situation at once; he was a wonderfully -quick lad, and he said: - -“You call here to-morrow night and you shall have the receipt.” - -“All right, I will call here to-morrow night.” - -As stated, Ike took in the whole situation. The man was a “skin” and -intended to steal three months’ rent, and our hero determined to beat -him at his game. - -We have indicated all along that Nimble Ike was a very resolute and -smart fellow, possessed of nerve, experience, and cuteness. He had no -notion of letting the mean landlord succeed in his trick. - -After the man’s departure Mrs. Pell said: - -“It is as I feared, we will turn you out of your apartments.” - -“You will do nothing of the kind.” - -“You heard the man’s threat?” - -“I did.” - -“He is a terrible man.” - -“Is he?” - -“Yes, he has several times nearly frightened me to death. He appears -very mild until he is aroused and then he is an awful, violent man.” - -“He has scared you several times?” - -“He has.” - -“Well, I will give him the scare of his life when he comes here -to-morrow night. I will produce _a living receipt_ for him. He will -think the devil is after him. Mebbe I will scare a year’s rent out of -him. I think I can.” - -Ike had received tickets for a show that evening and he asked Mrs. Pell -to let her daughter Lulu go with him. - -“My child has never been to the theater in her life.” - -“So much the better. She will enjoy it the more; let her go, I pray -you, by all means.” - -Mrs. Pell finally consented. - -Lulu was delighted at the idea of going, and at an early hour the two -proceeded to the theater. It was a variety performance and among the -several entertainments a magician was to appear, a man who had been -advertised in the play-bills as the most wonderful magician the world -had ever seen; a man who could put the Indian jugglers to shame. Ike -had seen these advertisements and he looked forward to heaps of fun; -in case he called for a volunteer from the audience our hero intended -to volunteer and permit the juggler to make him appear ridiculous and -foolish--“oh, yes, mebbe so!”--was the lad’s mental ejaculation. - -The show proceeded and there were many very pleasant and charming acts -and finally the necromancer appeared on the stage. He was a “dude from -dudedom” and as Ike perceived at a glance a regular “fake,” a man who -was merely an imitator and practically a fraud. - -The fellow performed some tricks with cards and one or two simple -little sleight of hand acts, when he called for a volunteer and our -hero leaped upon the stage. As usual the “fake” commenced making witty -remarks and the audience laughed. Finally the performer said: - -“My son, did you know that some little boys were regular silver mines? -Now I am going to prospect on you; mebbe I can find quarter-dollars in -your nose, ears and eyes?” - -The manipulator handed our hero a plate to hold and on the plate he -placed a dozen quarters. He did it with such a great display, letting -them fall one at a time, counting them as they fell; and then he took -the plate and jingled them, all the time making very funny remarks--not -funny but intended to be so; then he turned his back a minute and -returned to do his act, when he started back in amazement: the silver -on the plate had all disappeared. Ike had stood perfectly still, not -once moving from the spot where the juggler had placed him. He looked -innocent and simple enough, while the magician gazed in amazement. The -audience meantime were leaning forward in great expectancy, to behold -the wonderful trick. The magician was, as may be supposed, completely -nonplussed, but he was a bright, tricky fellow. He stepped to the front -and requested two gentlemen to step upon the stage. After the usual -delay two good-looking men did step upon the stage, and the magician -said: - -“Ladies and gentlemen, a most extraordinary incident has occurred. -You all saw me place twelve quarter dollars on that plate; they have -disappeared; that lad could not resist the temptation and has stolen -them, and I have requested the gentlemen to come forward and search -this boy. I confess this is no trick on my part.” - -The audience and the gentlemen all supposed that the whole was a part -of the performance, and they proceeded to search Ike. They did so -thoroughly, the magician standing by and watching them. The men did not -find the money and matters were at a standstill for a few moments. The -magician was greatly disturbed. He stood like one dazed, and as there -had been no result the audience began to get wearied, and there came a -cry of “Go on with the show.” - -The magician stepped forward and said: - -“Ladies and gentlemen, I protest that the quarters have been stolen.” - -“Oh, that’s all right. Go on with the show.” - -The real fact was the performer did not have any more quarters--he -hadn’t received his salary. He was a gambler and the three dollars in -silver was all the money he possessed. He had been compelled to save -them for his great act. - -The man stepped up to Ike and said: - -“You scoundrel, if you don’t surrender that money, I’ll call an officer -and have you arrested.” - -Ike turned, and facing the audience, said: - -“This man accuses me of stealing his money. He can’t work his trick, -and that’s the way he is trying to get out of it.” - -When the magician had threatened our hero he had stepped quite close -to him and had whispered in his ear. We relate this in order that our -readers will more readily comprehend what is to follow. - -“You stole my money,” said the magician. - -“You had the two gentlemen search me.” - -“You have the money.” - -The magician was losing his head and Ike said: - -“Ladies and gentlemen, if I have fair play I can prove that man is -a ‘fake,’ and that he is trying to sneak out of a trick he promised -to perform. He said he would make a silver mine of me, and now he is -trying to prove I am only a _quicksilver_ mine, and got away quickly -with his money. I ask fair play.” - -The audience was interested and excited, and Ike continued: - -“Those gentlemen searched me; let them search that fellow and if my -words aren’t proven true, he can kick me off the stage.” - -The magician, not dreaming of possibilities, threw his arms aloft and -challenged: - -“All right, gentlemen, search me.” - -The gentlemen went into the “fake’s” pockets and to the amazement of -every one present drew forth the money. There was no acting in surprise -and even alarm displayed by the “fake.” He stood like one stricken with -paralysis. He was dumb. - -“Now, then, gentlemen, did I steal his money? Isn’t he a ‘fake,’ and -didn’t he try to crawl out of his trick by accusing me?” - -There is no consideration on a variety stage. The side-show had -consumed all the allotted time of the “fake,” the succeeding performers -were ready to go on, they were in the wings and calling upon the “fake” -to come off. - -The man was dizzy with surprise, and Ike said: - -“You let him go on with his trick. He can’t come the trick of making -three dollars out of me, or work upon the sympathies of this audience -to make good his three dollars.” - -The proprietor had been a witness of the affair. He had been standing -in the front. He went round to the stage and appeared just in time to -call the man off. The latter made a bow to the audience, and amidst a -shower of hisses left the stage, and our hero regained his seat in the -audience. - -Lulu, who had been greatly excited, inquired: - -“Did he really accuse you falsely, Ike?” - -“You saw what occurred,” was all that our hero answered. He was -satisfied; the man whom he had made a show of once kicked him without -cause. Our hero recollected the kick and thus repaid it. - -When the show was over Ike and Lulu returned home. On the following day -Ike was busy. He was preparing the living receipt for the landlord when -he called. At the appointed hour the man appeared and to his surprise -at a table there sat the old magician, Andro. - -“Well, what do you want,” in a gruff tone demanded the old necromancer. - -The landlord stared in amazement. - -“I’ve been told,” said the old man at the table, “that you claim I did -not pay three months’ rent in advance.” - -“I had forgotten it, and I came to-night to tell you I had made a -mistake.” - -“Oh, you called to explain your mistake?” - -“I did.” - -“Then you admit I paid you three months’ rent in advance?” - -“Ah, certainly; ah, certainly; I made a mistake.” - -At this moment there came an inquiry from the hall. - -“Will you want me, sir?” - -“No, officer, you can go, I was about to have this man arrested.” - -The landlord stared; he had not seen an officer when he entered the -room, and he commenced to make all manner of apologies, and old Andro -said: - -“I am going away for a few weeks, and I trust this mistake won’t occur -again.” - -The landlord departed, still apologizing until the last moment, and -after he had gone the pretended Andro leaped from his seat, slid off a -disguise, and Ike, the tricky and wonderful Ike, ran down the stairs -calling after the landlord, and when the latter answered, the boy said: - -“Mr. Andro says you did not stop to examine the receipt.” - -“Ah, that’s all right; I know he has the receipt. I do not wish to see -it; it was all a mistake.” - -Ike returned to the room and Mrs. Pell and Lulu came from the inner -room, and the lady said: - -“Ike, you are a wonderful fellow.” - -Even in less than two days, with good food and care, Mrs. Pell had -commenced to show considerable improvement, so that she was able to -leave her bed, and move from room to room. - -She and Ike sat down for a long talk. Ike had told his history and he -proposed that as he had lost his father, as he called old Andro, Mrs. -Pell would have to be a mother to him, and he added: - -“I must hie me around and get into making money.” - -“Why don’t you start out as a magician and ventriloquist?” - -“For the best reason in the world,” answered Ike. “There are so many -‘fakes’ in the business it has ceased to be a drawing card, and there -are hundreds of amateurs in the business. I’ve got a scheme, however, -and I will carry it out. I have an idea I can make money and possibly -a fortune in time. We will see, but I need friends, I need some one to -confide in, to counsel with me, and to be company for me, and I want -you to become my mother.” - -“I do not feel that it is right for me to permit you to support myself -and my child, and as soon as my health is fully restored I shall -recommence to earn my own living.” - -“We will talk about that when your health is restored. In the meantime, -you are to act as counselor and friend to me.” - -A few days passed and Ike was casting around for an opening, not on -the boards, but in reality a chance to start in and make a dollar, -as he put it. He had a home but no money, and there were three to -feed; all his provisions were gone and also all his money, and it was -absolutely necessary that he should get on to something that would -bring in a dollar or two, and in a most remarkable and really dramatic -manner the opportunity at last opened up to him. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -Ike was a curious little fellow. We mean, he possessed the bump of -curiosity to a great degree and he was constantly poking around into -all manner of odd places. It had become a mania with him, and one -evening he was walking along the street when he beheld a gentlemanly -looking man walking in company with two of the worst-looking characters -to be seen anywhere. Our hero had knocked around the world long enough -to know that strange and even tragic incidents were of constant -occurrence. In support of the above opinions we will state that the -writer was once asked where he got so many weird and tragic incidents -to record, and the answer was a reference to a morning paper. In that -paper there was a record of two abductions, one secret murder, a -poisoning case, eleven assaults, seven cases of robbery, one case of -illegal confinement in an insane asylum, the account of a trial for -will forgery, four mysterious disappearances and several minor accounts -of odd and strange occurrences. We called our friend’s attention to the -several startling records and then said: - -“This is our guide book; we go to the detective bureau for further -information. There are more strange, startling and romantic cases -occurring than we can follow, or possibly record.” - -And this is true, if the municipalities of our great cities were to -keep a history, follow to the end and record the denouement of one -year’s thrilling experiences in a great city like New York, more -strange, marvelous stories would go on record than can be found in a -dozen so-called works of fiction. - -Ike had become quite a detective in one respect--in knocking around the -world. He had become very observant; he was quick to notice anything -unconventional or odd, and as stated, when he saw a gentleman walking -along in company with men who looked like veritable rogues, he made up -his mind that “something was up” and that he possibly had got on to -a startling drama in real life. One who has observation and time can -easily do so. The lad started to follow the men and saw them enter a -hotel on a side street; he followed in by the side door. The three men -went to the bar and had a drink, and then ascended to a room on the top -floor of the building. Ike was not dismayed; when once starting in on -a “lay” he followed by taking all the chances. He saw the men enter a -room, and he entered the adjoining one, which happened to be vacant, -and he muttered: - -“If I am caught, I am in for it, but there is something going on, and I -want to know what it is.” - -Fortune favored the lad. The rooms were a sort of attic apartments, -and extended out on a projection. He crawled out and stationed himself -by the window of the room in which the three men had assembled. He lay -down, face forward, and was prepared to listen, having discovered that -he could plainly overhear every word spoken above a whisper, and all -his suspicions were verified in the most remarkable manner. The men had -just finished a drink from a bottle of whiskey which they had brought -upstairs with them, when one of them said: - -“Now, sir, we are ready to listen to your proposition.” - -The man said: “I have an enemy; I want to get him out of the way.” - -“You want him ‘dropped out?’” - -“No, not that.” - -“Well?” - -“I want him to disappear.” - -“For how long a time?” - -“I’ll tell you, I have a house out on Long Island. He is a dangerous -man. If I could have him abducted and taken to that house I could take -care of him for awhile.” - -“Ah, you merely wish to abduct him?” - -“Yes; in a mysterious manner, so that it will appear that he is dead.” - -“It is a dangerous job, sir.” - -“Yes, but dangerous jobs earn big pay.” - -“That is all we are looking for, but it is a state’s prison offense if -there is a mis-go. We take all the chances.” - -“There need be no mis-go; we can arrange our plans so well.” - -At that moment a startling incident occurred. Ike heard a noise behind -him. He rose suddenly and unthinkingly, and the next instant he was -caught in a strong pair of arms and dragged into the room through -which he had crawled out upon the projection. He was in the hands of a -powerful man, who exclaimed: - -“Ah! you little thief, I’ve caught you at last, and the mystery is -explained.” - -Ike made no outcry. He did not wish the men in the adjoining room to -get on to the fact that he had overheard a part of their plans. - -“What were you doing out there?” asked the man, who had seized, and who -held Ike. - -“I was out after that cat.” - -“What cat?” - -“Out on the roof.” - -“You miserable little sneak thief, there is not a cat in the house, and -surely there couldn’t be one on the roof.” - -At that moment the mew of a cat was distinctly heard right by the -window, and the next instant the spitting, snarling meows of two cats -was heard. - -The man gazed in amazement. - -“I was up doing you a service,” said Ike, “how could you have slept -with those cats there all night?” - -“Where do you live?” - -“Up the street. One of them is my cat.” - -Even while the man was speaking the spitting and meowing of the cats -was heard, and then there came a crash. It was evident that some one in -an adjoining room had hurled a pitcher or washbowl, or some other piece -of china at the night prowlers. - -“Hang it,” said the man, “you may be telling the truth.” - -The next instant the bark of a dog was heard right by the window, and -then a series of screeches and snarls. - -The man uttered an ejaculation of amazement and ran to the window, -releasing his hold on Ike, and our hero improved his opportunity by -darting from the room. The man turned to say something and saw that the -boy had “skipped.” - -“Well, hang it, he told the truth, and I must get rid of those infernal -cats, or not a wink of sleep will I have to-night.” - -The man crawled through the window and looked all over, but the cats -had disappeared. - -He crawled back with the remark: - -“I reckon they have been scared off, but it is very singular, I never -heard any cats around here before. Some one must have chased them on to -that roof.” - -Meantime Ike had made his way downstairs, and when he gained the street -he laughed heartily and said: - -“There’s tricks in all trades but ours; by joky poky, won’t that always -be a mystery to that old fellow in that room? He doesn’t know that I -carry a whole menagerie in my throat.” - -Ike was a wonderful ventriloquist, equal to any one who ever attempted -vocal deceptions, and far better than a majority of public performers, -and when it came to imitating animals and locating their growls, barks -and hisses at a distance, he could in that direction beat any one in -the world. - -He did not walk off. He had gotten on to something immense, as he -expressed the initial steps in a great crime, and he regretted that -he did not have an opportunity to overhear all the details, and the -outcome of the man’s proposition to the two abductors. - -“I’ve heard enough,” he muttered. “I’ll bet a big apple I can locate -the house on Long Island, so if any one is missing I will be able to -trail down to his prison, and what is more, I’ve seen all the three -men. I can identify every one of them, and I am not through with them -yet.” - -The lad hung around the hotel until after midnight, when he saw the man -who had made the proposition come forth. He followed him and located -him at one of the most fashionable hotels in New York. He actually -followed him into the hotel and located the man in his room. He had -great luck in escaping observation, for he was such a nimble little -“cuss” he was sure to succeed where many would have failed. - -He succeeded, as stated, in following the man to his room, but when it -came to making his way again to the street, he failed. He was stealing -along when suddenly he felt himself in a strong grasp. Ike was like -an eel, as nimble as a fish, but he thought it better to resort to -stratagem to escape rather than try to wrench himself away. - -It was the night watchman who had seized him, and who asked: - -“What are you doing here?” - -“I got in here by a mistake. I am a stranger and I got in the wrong -hotel.” - -“That won’t do; you are a thief and I shall take you down to the -office, and have you taken in. I’ve been on the lookout for you.” - -“I can prove my innocence,” said Ike. - -“Oh, you can, eh?” - -“I can.” - -“You will have a chance, little sly thief. Yes, you shall have a -chance, but I’ve been on the ‘lay’ for you all the same.” - -Ike allowed himself to be led along. He knew what he was up to, and -he went along as quietly as Mary’s little lamb. As intimated, Nimble -Ike was what the boys call awfully smart, and he had nerve of the -very first quality. He just acted as meek as a little girl until they -reached the great staircase, and were descending the last flight of -steps leading to the office, when suddenly a dog snapped at the calves -of the night watchman’s legs. The man was entirely off his guard. He -felt as safe as a ship floating on a smooth lake in midsummer, and the -bark and snap came so suddenly he released his hold on Ike, leaped into -the air, and as he came down struck on the carpeted edge of the step, -fell over and rolled to the bottom. Ike was more nimble, however; the -moment the man released him, he made a plunge down the stairs, went -down the broad rails “belly gutters,” as the boys say, and away he went -across the marble office floor, and out into the darkness and away. -Meantime the watchman had rolled over and over, and slid out on the -marble floor, and one of the bell boys ran to his assistance. - -“Where in thunder,” demanded the watchman, as he rose to his feet, “did -that darn dog come from?” - -“There weren’t no dog, Boss.” - -“There weren’t no dog?” - -“No, sir.” - -“How dare you contradict me; didn’t he spring at me from behind?” - -“There weren’t no dog. I was looking at you when you came down the -stairs.” - -“What do you want to lie for?” - -“I was looking straight at you.” - -“And you didn’t hear that dog?” - -“I heard him, but I didn’t see him.” - -“You heard him and didn’t see him?” - -“No.” - -“Why, he sprang right at my heels when I was half-way down the stairs.” - -“Yes, I heard him, but there weren’t no dog there.” - -“Don’t call me a liar.” - -“I know what it was.” - -“You do?” - -“Yes.” - -“Well, what was it?” - -“You were tricked.” - -“Tricked?” - -“Yes.” - -“By whom?” - -“That boy.” - -“That boy?” repeated the man. - -“Yes.” - -“How could he trick me?” - -“He was a ventrickulist, I guess, for there weren’t no dog there in -sight, and yet I heard him.” - -“Impossible.” - -“No, those fellows can do wonderful tricks. You had him under arrest?” - -“Yes.” - -“Well, he fooled you, that’s all.” - -“I’ll bet you ten dollars I saw a dog.” - -“All right, sir, stick to it,” said the bell boy, and he walked away. -The night watchman was mad. He had lost his prisoner and it did run -through his mind that possibly he had been tricked, and then he had -rolled down the stairs in front of all the other bell boys and the -night clerk. - -“Did you know that boy?” he asked, walking over to the bell-boys’ bench. - -“No, but I’ve seen fellows like him at the show. You were fooled, -that’s all.” - -“I’ll bet there was a dog. It isn’t possible for a human being to -perform an imitation like that.” - -At this moment a second time a dog barked at the man’s heels, and -yelling “There, there!” he leaped away and turned with drawn club -to strike, but there was no dog for him to club. He just gazed in -amazement and muttered: - -“Well, I’ll be hanged.” - -The man meditated a moment and then went toward the door. As he did so -he beheld a nimble little form dart from behind a column and dash away. -He started in pursuit, but the trickster was too nimble for him and got -away. - -The watchman went out to the street and peered around for some time, -but saw no more of the dog-maker as he called him. - -In the meantime, Ike returned to his home, and it was after one o’clock -when he arrived. Mrs. Pell was waiting for him. She had been worried, -and Ike said: - -“You must never be worried about me. I may sometimes be gone two or -three days at a time. Here’s a quarter to get a meal to-morrow, and I -am happy to say that I think I am in the way to make quite a big stake. -I can’t tell, but it looks that way now.” - -On the morning following the incidents we have recorded, Ike was out -bright and early, and he went over to the hotel to which he had traced -the man the preceding night. - -It was late when he saw the man come forth, and he at once fell to his -trail, and followed the man down town. He saw him enter an office over -which was a sign, Fellman & Co., Bankers. - -“I wonder if that is Fellman or the Co.?” muttered Ike as he walked -past the office, and took a close survey as far as he could from the -outside. - -He was still gazing when he saw a fine-looking young man, evidently -not more than five or six-and-twenty, enter the building, and a moment -later he saw him enter the office into which the man he had been -trailing had proceeded. Our hero could see into the office from the -street. He saw the young man greet the elder one and he remarked: - -“Well, that young fellow has a fine face. He is not a rogue, but I -cannot say as much about the older man. If I didn’t know he was up to -an underhand scheme, I should set him down as a mean sneak. He carries -a map of mean town on his face. I reckon I’ll find out which is which, -and who’s who, and then I can lay out my course.” - -A little later and a lad whom Ike had seen flitting around the office -came forth. Our hero followed him and when a chance offered went up and -addressed him, saying: - -“Hello, Tom.” - -“You’re off,” came the answer. - -“Am I?” - -“Yes.” - -“Ain’t you in Fellman & Co’s. office?” - -“Yes, I am.” - -“I thought so; don’t you remember me?” - -“No, I don’t.” - -“That’s funny, but let me see, mebbe I’ve made a mistake; what is the -name of the young man who is the junior partner in your place?” - -“His name’s Burlein.” - -“Oh, excuse me, I’ve made a mistake.” - -Ike walked away and the lad stood and looked after him while our hero -remarked: - -“I’ve made a little progress, I’ve found out the name of the man who is -putting up the job.” - -Ike knew it was necessary to pick up a little money, and he didn’t -know just how to do it. He had walked back to the vicinity of Fellman -& Co’s. office when he saw the younger partner, Burlein, come forth. -He stood looking at the young man, when the latter, singularly enough, -advanced directly toward him. - -“Are you busy?” demanded Burlein, addressing our hero. - -“No, sir.” - -“Can you carry a note for me?” - -“I can, sir.” - -“Our office boy cannot be spared and I wish to send a note up town. Can -you carry it?” - -“I can, sir.” - -The young man handed our hero an addressed note and told him to deliver -it, and wait for an answer. At the same time he gave Ike a quarter to -pay his car-fare. - -Ike wasn’t spending any money for car-fares, and away he went like a -young deer. He reached the house, a nice three-story brown-stone house, -located in a side street leading off from Fifth avenue. He rang the -bell, and to the colored boy who answered the ring he handed the note -and said he was to wait for an answer. He was kept waiting on the stoop -for fully fifteen minutes, when the colored boy brought him a note, and -handed him twenty-five cents. - -“Well,” muttered Ike as he walked away, “this is a great day’s -business.” - -He observed that the note was addressed in a lady’s fine hand, and in -good season he appeared at the office and delivered the missive to -young Mr. Burlein, who handed him a half dollar. As Ike passed over -the note and received his pay, he observed that Fellman, the senior -partner, was glancing out from under his shaggy eyebrows. A moment -after Ike had left the office and was walking along in an exuberant -feeling at the idea of having made one whole dollar, when he felt a -hand laid on his shoulder. He started, and on the instant it shot -through his mind that he had been recognized by one or the other of the -two men whom he had run across upon the preceding evening, but instead -he recognized Fellman. - -“Come with me, lad,” said the man. - -Ike asked no questions. He was a lightning thinker, and in a few brief -seconds quite a volume of conjectures had run through his mind. - -The man led our hero down a narrow side street, and then coming to a -halt, inquired abruptly: - -“Did you deliver a letter this morning?” - -“Yes, I did.” - -“To whom?” - -“A young man in an office over there.” - -“But did you carry a letter for him?” - -“Did I?” - -“That is what I asked you.” - -“What business is it of yours what I did?” - -“Hold on, lad, don’t get mad so soon.” - -“It’s none of your business, sir, what I did.” - -“I’ll make it my business.” - -“You let go of me.” - -Fellman had seized Ike by the arm. - -“I won’t hurt you.” - -“I know you won’t, I don’t mean to let you hurt me.” - -The man discerned that Ike was one of those bright boys, and many are -to be met with the world over. - -“You let go of me,” repeated Ike. - -“I won’t hurt you, I say.” - -“No, and I say I won’t let you.” - -“Did you deliver a note?” - -“It is none of your business.” - -The man handed Ike a quarter; the lad refused to take it, and saw his -advantage at once. - -“I don’t want your quarter,” he said. - -“You don’t?” - -“No, I don’t.” - -“I’ll make it a half dollar.” - -“What for?” - -“I want you to answer my question.” - -“I am not bound to tell you.” - -“No, but I’ll pay you.” - -“Why are you so anxious to find out what I did?” - -“I have good reasons for wishing to know.” - -“That don’t pay me.” - -“I’ll give you a dollar.” - -“What for?” - -“To tell me if you carried a letter and where you took it.” - -“You want to know?” - -“Yes, I do, and I’ll pay you one dollar.” - -“Only one dollar, eh! you must be rich.” - -“How much do you want to answer me?” - -“What will you pay?” - -“I’ll give you two dollars.” - -“Oh, raise.” - -“You are a little ‘beat.’” - -“I am?” - -“Yes.” - -“All right, go off and I won’t beat you.” - -“How much do you want to answer my question?” - -Ike considered everything. He finally made up his mind to tell if he -received his price, and then he proposed to lay around and notify the -young man, Burlein, so there would be no advantage on the part of -Fellman. “I want a five-dollar bill, that’s what I want.” - -The man handed the lad a five-dollar bill, and our hero was jubilant; -here he was six dollars in hand, a big sum, enough to take care of his -family for a couple of weeks on a pinch. - -“Where did you take the letter?” - -“Uptown.” - -“Where, uptown?” - -Ike named the street. - -“The number?” demanded the man. - -Ike told the number. - -“What was in the note?” - -“How do I know? I don’t open letters, when I have them to deliver.” - -“You brought back an answer?” - -“Yes.” - -“You are a smart boy.” - -“Thank you.” - -“Who wrote the letter?” - -“I don’t know.” - -“Was it a lady or a gentleman?” - -“I should say it was a lady.” - -“You judge from the handwriting?” - -“Yes.” - -“That will do. You were well paid.” - -Ike stood and looked after the man and muttered: - -“Well, I am getting into this matter pretty deep; that man has an -enemy; he wants him put out of the way, ‘dropped out.’ Yes, I see, and -now I know there is a woman in the case, and I have already picked up -six dollars out of the adventure. A gold mine for me; good enough, I am -on the side of the young man, Burlein, and I am against the old fellow. -I begin to get on to things. I’ll know more later, and a big game is -being played, and I am peeping into the mystery.” - -Ike hung around the whole forenoon until he saw the young man, Burlein, -come forth, and then he followed him. Our hero was fairly well dressed -for a lad, and when he saw Burlein enter a restaurant he followed, and -boldly took a seat at the same table. The young man stared, and then -said, good-naturedly: - -“Well, lad, are you going to spend your half dollar?” - -“Don’t cost as much as that for a meal in here, does it?” - -“I reckon the cheapest meal you can get here is half a dollar.” - -The young man spoke good-naturedly, but as our readers will hear, he -was of a very pleasant temperament, and yet withal, he was somewhat -annoyed, as he suspected the boy was set to work him, for he had read -Ike, and perceived that he was a very smart fellow. - -“I reckon I can stand the meal to-day,” said Ike, and he added: - -“Mebbe you will treat me.” - -Burlein did not like what he considered Ike’s boldness, in fact he -began to suspect that the lad was even smarter than he had supposed, -and there were reasons why he was a little sensitive in one direction. - -“If you expect me to pay for your meal, you are likely to prove a -victim to great expectations.” - -There came a peculiar look to Ike’s face as he said: - -“It’s all right, you will change your ideas about me before you and I -are through.” - -Burlein gazed in amazement. This was not the language of a boy but of -an experienced man of the world. - -“Who are you, anyhow?” asked Burlein. - -“I am Ike.” - -“What is your last name?” - -“We will get to that later on. Your name is Burlein.” - -The young man started, for the address on the letter had been simply -“Ed;” the name Burlein had not appeared on it. - -“What do you do for a living?” demanded the young man. - -“We will come to that by and by. In the meantime, I want to ask you a -few questions.” - -Burlein stared. - -“You are a strange lad,” he said. - -“Yes, I am odd, but I know what I am about.” - -“It strikes me you had a purpose in coming and seating yourself here.” - -“Yes, I had a purpose. I thought you might pay for my dinner.” - -“That was not your purpose.” - -“You have fallen to that first, eh?” - -“Yes, I have.” - -“All right, I want to ask you several questions, and I want you to -answer me fair and square.” - -The surprise of young Burlein was increasing at every word. - -“You wish to ask me some questions?” - -“Yes, I do.” - -“Well, go on.” - -“Is Fellman your partner?” - -“He is.” - -“How long have you been associated together?” - -There was a singular directness in Ike’s questions which hardly -accorded with his position as a mere lad. - -“How does it concern you?” - -“Is he your friend or your enemy?” - -“That is a strange question, even impertinent, I should say.” - -“Answer me.” - -“I beg your pardon, boy; you are saucy, I will not answer your -question.” - -“Suppose I give you a reason why you should answer me.” - -“Can you?” - -“I can.” - -“Do so.” - -“He is inquiring into your affairs.” - -The young man stared with a glare of blank amazement in his eyes. - -“He is inquiring into my business?” - -“Yes, he is.” - -“Will you tell me what you mean?” - -“I am telling you that he is inquiring into your private affairs. He -may suspect that you are robbing him.” - -The young man, Burlein, was taken all aback. It was the most -extraordinary incident of his life. Here was a mere lad sitting down -and coolly holding out the most startling suggestions. - -“You are a remarkable lad,” he said. - -“I am very observing.” - -“Yes, you are, and your words imply something.” - -“On my honor, they do.” - -“Then talk right out.” - -“I have talked out pretty plain. I tell you, your partner is inquiring -into your private affairs. I believe he is a sneak. I believe you are a -fair and square young man, so I’m telling you the fact.” - -“Will you tell me how you know he is inquiring into my affairs?” - -“Yes, I will tell. This morning you sent me with a note?” - -“I did.” - -“I brought you an answer?” - -“Certainly.” - -“When I delivered that answer, I noticed your partner, Mr. Fellman.” - -“Well?” - -“He was watching me very closely.” - -The young man laughed in a relieved way, and asked: - -“Is that all, my lad? My partner is a very nervous man. He is always -on the alert. He is always watching everything that goes on around. -Here, finish your dinner and I will pay for it. You are, I am afraid, -a little too smart, but no doubt you mean well. I certainly am a very -good-natured man to have permitted you to say all I have listened to.” - -“But I am not through yet.” - -“You will excuse me, I do not wish to hear any more.” - -“You are sure?” - -“I am.” - -Ike pulled a five-dollar bill from his pocket and holding it toward -young Burlein said: - -“You see that bill?” - -“I do.” - -“Your partner, Mr. Fellman, gave me that bill.” - -Burlein suddenly turned deathly pale. - -“My partner gave you that bill?” - -“He did.” - -“For what service?” - -“If I were on the make I could demand another five from you for telling -you.” - -“And I might refuse you it, might look upon it as a game to ‘do’ me out -of five dollars.” - -“It would be bad for you in the end, possibly. You know the old adage, -‘Forewarned, forearmed.’” - -“This is all very puzzling to me, lad.” - -“No doubt it is, but your partner gave me that bill.” - -“And you want me to give you another to tell me why he gave it to you?” - -“No, I do not want you to pay me one cent.” - -“Will you tell me why he gave it to you?” - -“I will. After I had delivered your answer to you, and had left the -office, what did Mr. Fellman do, can you remember?” - -The young man was thoughtful a moment, and appeared to recall, and -finally he brightened up and said: - -“Oh, yes, I remember. He seized his hat and suddenly ran out.” - -“You remember that?” - -“I do.” - -“Now I’ll tell you why he ran out. He followed me, caught me, led me to -a side street, and asked me if I had not just delivered you a letter. I -told him ‘Yes,’ then he asked, ‘Did you carry one?’ I answered, ‘Yes’; -then he asked, ‘Where did you take it.’ I refused to answer, and he -finally offered me five dollars to tell him. I did so, resolved to come -and tell you all that had occurred.” - -The young man listened with starting eyes and deep attention, and when -Ike stopped, he sat for some moments lost in deep thought, but finally -he asked: - -“Now, that leads you to think he is my enemy?” - -“I thought I’d at least tell you what had occurred.” - -The young man laughed--his laugh, however, was a forced one--as he said: - -“It’s all right, lad; yes, it’s all right, but you have interpreted the -little adventure the wrong way. Mr. Fellman is my friend, and that is -why he asked you those questions. They were prompted by interest and -anxiety on my behalf.” - -“Oh, that’s all, eh?” - -“Yes.” - -“Well, Mr. Burlein, all I have got to say is, look out for his interest -and anxiety in your behalf. You are not a fool, neither am I. You are -greatly disturbed.” - -“Oh, no--no, no; but see here; you have shown good sense and judgment. -The circumstances are a little peculiar. Here is a ten-dollar bill for -you. This has been a good day, for I will pay for the dinner. Now, tell -me about yourself. Tell me who you are, what you are. Yes, tell me the -whole story.” - -The young man spoke in a very nervous tone, and his manner betrayed the -fact that really he was very much disturbed. - -“There is not much to tell, sir. I am a lad who keeps his eyes and -ears open, that’s all, and I’ve put you on your guard. You employed me -to go upon an errand. I did so and your partner betrayed a desire to -find out all about my errand. Yes, he cared five dollars’ worth, and it -struck me as very peculiar; and I thought I’d tell you all about it.” - -“You were right, yes, just right. And now see here; meet me to-morrow, -be my guest. Say nothing to any one and to-morrow we will talk this -whole matter over.” - -“Yes, I will meet you to-morrow and you may have something to tell me -and I may have something to tell you. And I tell you one thing now; -put not your trust in princes or partners when they pay five dollars -to find out who sends you letters. That’s all; you may trust them, but -they do not trust you.” - -Burlein paid for the dinner and separated from our hero. When they -issued forth Ike went home with his fifteen dollars, and Burlein -returned to his office to meditate, and as the sequel will show he had -ample subject for meditation. But he was a brave, trusting and noble -young man and little dreamed of impending evil. He was surprised and -annoyed, that was all. Alas! when he awoke to his real danger it was -too late to avoid it. - -Ike was quite proud when he handed Mrs. Pell ten dollars and said: - -“That is for the present. I am on a big ‘lay’ and may make considerable -money. I can’t tell, but I think I will.” - -There came a thoughtful look in Mrs. Pell’s face. A weird suspicion ran -through her mind. Fifteen dollars was a great deal of money for a mere -youth in no regular business to earn in one day. Ike, who was quick and -observant, saw the thoughtful look in his friend’s face and he said: - -“You need have no fear. I get all my money honestly. I would neither -hold nor receive money that did not come to me honestly.” - -The lad lay around until night. He had a scheme in his mind. He -believed he had fathomed the whole scheme of the man Fellman, and he -also believed he had learned the identity of the intended victim. - -When night came the lad issued forth. He had spent a part of the five -dollars he had reserved for equipment, and he believed he was prepared -for almost any kind of villainy. He proceeded direct to the hotel where -the two men had gone with Fellman to hold their consultation, and he -lay around until he saw one of the men approach and enter the place. - -“So far so good,” he muttered. “This is their headquarters.” - -A little later and he saw the two men come from the hotel together, and -he started to follow them again, muttering: - -“I’ll be on hand to give an alarm, or follow them if I cannot do any -more.” - -The two men strangely enough went direct to the vicinity of the house -to which our hero had carried the note, and again he muttered: - -“Is it possible I am mistaken? Is it the girl they mean to abduct -instead of the young man?” - -The fellows lay around until nine o’clock, when our hero saw young -Burlein come along and enter the house, and he also saw the two men go -through a sort of pantomime. - -“Aha!” muttered the lad, “now I recognize their ‘lay.’ They will wait -until the young man starts for his home about midnight, and then they -will attempt their game, whatever it may be.” - -The two men walked away. Our hero followed them. They entered a private -house some distance away and Ike lay around to watch. After a time -he saw several men enter the same house, and he put the question to -himself: - -“Is it a gambling den, or a resort of thieves, I’d like to know?” - -Ike was, like many boys, full of enterprise and courage. He did not -stop to think of danger--at his age probably did not appreciate the -possibilities of peril as an older person would. He walked up and down -several times before the house and finally went around to the street -toward which the rear of the house faced and at once ejaculated: - -“Eureka!” - -He found an alleyway between two houses, one of them directly in the -rear of the house he was “piping,” and watching his opportunity he -scaled the iron gate and grating and landed in the alleyway. “Now,” he -said, “I must go slow; it won’t do to be caught here.” - -Noiselessly he stole along to the rear yard, intending to climb the -rear fence between the two buildings. He had almost reached the line -of fence when suddenly he heard a savage growl and a powerful animal -sprang upon him. Certainly the lad received a shock, but as stated he -had equipped himself and he seized the dog ere the animal could bite. -The next instant with a moan of pain and surprise the huge dog fell -over helpless, and our hero remarked: - -“That’s the way I serve everyone, doggy, who comes too close to me -without a proper introduction.” Ike scaled the fence and found himself -in the yard in the rear of the house he had seen the men enter, and -he was on the lookout for dog number two as he cautiously stole along -toward the porch of the house. He met no dog and the house appeared to -be dark save a stream of light which shot through the blinds from the -second-story room. - -“So far so good,” said the lad. A moment he stood and considered, and -then he made an effort to climb one of the columns of the porch, and he -succeeded with the apparent readiness and ease of a trained acrobat or -sailor boy. When he reached the roof of the porch he lay on his belly -and slowly crawled forward, and in good time arrived at a position -under one of the windows. Here he lay low for a few seconds before -rising to his feet. When he did attempt to rise he did it very slowly -until he had his eyes on a level with the lower blind opening, and then -he peeped in. Several men were seated around a table; wine was before -them and they were all talking in a very earnest manner. - -“It may be a gambling house and it may not be,” muttered the lad, and -he added: “I wish I could overhear what those men are saying.” - -Ike considered for a long time. Finally he determined upon a bold and -really desperate plan. The plucky boy resolved to enter that house. -He was bent upon hearing the talk of those men. He crawled to the -end window opening into the small hall bedroom or bath-room. He was -equipped for business, as we have indicated, and it did not take him -long to undo the fastening, and pull the blind open. Then he tried the -window. It was fastened, but the new-fangled catch was not in use and -it did not take him long to slide the hammer and raise the sash. Only -a moment he considered, and then boldly crawled in. He knew his peril. -He knew they were desperate men and did they once suspect that he had -overheard any of their talk and catch him his chances would be very -slim; and yet he faced the peril. - -There was no need for pretense and he removed his shoes and slipped -across the room. He found the door unlocked and passed to the hall, -and then along to the door of the room in which he had seen the men. -Peeping through the keyhole he saw them still sitting there. They -were not laughing and talking like men enjoying themselves, but were -evidently holding a very earnest consultation. Our hero was of keen -hearing and could catch almost every word that was spoken--at least -sufficient to know the sense of what was being said. - -One man appeared to be in authority. He was asking a great many -questions, and Ike heard the question put: - -“Are you certain that they carry as much money as that in their safe?” - -“According to my information they do.” - -“Who is your informant?” - -“The typewriter.” - -“Oh! you are soft on her, eh?” - -“No, I am playing the good Sunday-school teacher dodge on her. I’ve met -her a great many times at church, got up a speaking acquaintance, and -she thinks I am a model of good deeds.” - -“Say, old man, women are dangerous to deal with.” - -“Oh, yes, generally, but I am all right here.” - -“They are very close observers. Do you know a woman can beat a man -noting and giving descriptions?” - -“Yes, I know.” - -“This woman has talked to you and in case anything should happen -she will give a clew to the cops. They are dangerous people to deal -with--they are not afraid to talk up.” - -“I’ve only worked on her for the information.” - -“And they carry large sums over night?” - -“Yes.” - -“How much?” - -“Sometimes sixty or seventy thousand.” - -“Not as a rule?” - -“No, but there are times.” - -“If we knew one of those times.” - -“That is just what I am getting on to. I will know one of those times. -We can have our plans all laid and ‘nip’ the ‘swag’ easy.” - -“Well,” was the thought that ran through Ike’s mind. “I am getting into -a few complications by following those two men last night. I’ve opened -up a nest of crime.” He lay low and heard considerable more talk; -indeed, the full details of a plan to rob a safe of a great banking -house, and he had about taken it all in when suddenly a heavy hand was -laid on his shoulder, and a gruff voice with an oath demanded: - -“What are you doing here?” - -“It’s all up with me,” was the mental conclusion of our hero, who -declined to make a reply to the inquiry. Indeed he had no time for -replies. He needed his thoughts to meet the emergency. - -The man’s voice evidently aroused the fellows inside the room, and the -door was opened and Ike in his stocking feet was forced into the room -and confronted the conspirators. The men stared with looks of amazement -upon their faces when the man who had captured Ike demanded: - -“What have you fellows been discussing here?” - -The evident leader of the gang took in the situation and he was a -quick-witted man. He answered: - -“Oh, we have been discussing a new play we are going to bring out. -We think it a good scheme to make it realistic and introduce a real -burglar scene.” - -The man who had asked the question laughed and said: - -“You have had an audience during your rehearsal.” - -He forced Ike into a chair and sitting opposite him as the others -gathered around he asked: - -“Who are you, lad?” - -Ike made no answer, but stared as though he were hard of hearing--a -poor trick, indeed, for the man said: - -“Oh, that won’t do; don’t come the deaf and dumb dodge on us. Mutes -don’t stand in their stocking feet in a dark hall with their ear to a -keyhole.” - -Ike laughed; he saw that his dodge didn’t work and he came a more -cunning one. He said: - -“I am on to you men. You are not actors, you are robbers.” - -The men all glared and exchanged glances. - -The man who had captured Ike asked: - -“Who sent you here?” - -“No one sent me; I followed in here.” - -“You followed in here?” - -“Yes, I did.” - -“Who did you follow?” - -“No one.” - -“Then what do you mean, you little rascal? Are you fooling? Be careful, -we may hang you.” - -“Oh, you will not hang me, but I was led in here.” - -“You were?” - -“Yes.” - -“By whom?” - -“No one.” - -The man drew a pistol, aimed at the boy and said in a menacing tone: - -“Stop fooling.” - -“I ain’t fooling.” - -“Then talk out straight what you mean, or something may be sent into -you.” - -“I was led in here.” - -“Come, come, talk up. Who or what led you in here?” - -“A cat.” - -The men all laughed and Ike appeared as innocent as a kitten when he -made the statement. - -“A cat led you in here, eh?” - -“Yes.” - -“I reckon, sonny, it was a cat chased you in here, for you are _our -mouse_, and you are trapped.” - -Ike laughed as though the conceit was very funny, but there came a -change over his face when the man asked: - -“Do you remember what they do with mice when they catch them?” - -The lad did not answer. - -“They kill ’em--strangle ’em,” said the man. - -The boy laughed. His assumption of carelessness and innocence was -immense. - -“I reckon we will strangle you.” - -“Oh, you won’t hurt me.” - -“You are a smart lad. We’ve humored you, and now answer my question, -What were you doing there?” - -“I was listening.” - -“Yes, I know that.” - -“And that’s all.” - -“And that’s all, eh?” - -“Yes.” - -“What were you listening to?” - -“To these men.” - -“And what did you hear?” - -“I heard they were going to rob a house.” - -“You heard that, eh?” - -The boy answered so frankly the men really were for a moment deceived, -and one of them said: - -“He is an idiot.” - -“Is he?” queried the man who had captured Ike. - -“Yes.” - -“He is the smartest idiot you ever struck;” and addressing Ike the man -continued: - -“So you chased a cat in here?” - -“Yes.” - -“How did the cat get in?” - -Ike proved as keen-witted as the man who was questioning him. - -“I don’t know,” was the answer. - -“How did you know he was in here, my lad?” - -“I saw him at the window.” - -“And how did you get in?” - -“I crawled in.” - -“Crawled in where?” - -“Oh, I climbed up on the porch and got in through the bath-room window.” - -“You came after your cat?” - -“Yes.” - -“Go on.” - -“When I got in I heard men in this room, and I peeped in and heard all -they said.” - -“You heard all?” - -“I heard a good deal.” - -“What did you hear?” - -“I heard there was seven hundred thousand dollars in a safe on a -steamboat.” - -“Oh you rascal!” exclaimed the man. - -Ike did not wince, and the man finally said: - -“We will hang you unless you prove your innocence.” - -“How can I prove my innocence?” - -“You say there was a cat here?” - -“Yes.” - -“Did the cat get out?” - -“No.” - -“Where is he?” - -“He ran up the stairs.” - -“You find that cat, or we will hang you.” - -At that moment a cat was heard actually mewing in the hall, and there -Ike sat in the chair under the gaze of all the men, and one of them -said: - -“By ginger, the lad tells the truth.” - -Another of the men drew a club from his pocket and started for the -hallway. He saw no cat and in a moment returned. In the meantime the -men appeared to be confused and the man who had captured our hero, said: - -“We must take care of this lad. Here, Martin, you take him upstairs, -put him in the chain and secure him so he cannot get away, and we -will decide upon his fate. I vote for hanging him unless he tells the -truth.” - -Ike showed signs of great fear and one of the men whispered: - -“Hold on; you will scare him to death.” - -The man answered: - -“He must talk or he is a dead boy, that’s all.” - -The man who had been ordered to take Ike upstairs and bind him seized -hold of the lad, and the latter began to plead. The man who appeared to -be the leader said: - -“No use, sonny, there is only one way out of this--talk.” - -“I am talking.” - -“Oh, you are smart. You know what I mean--who sent you here?” - -“No one.” - -“All right, take him upstairs and we will decide what to do with him.” - -Ike was dragged from the room while protesting in the most earnest -manner, and so he struggled all the way up the stairs. - -After he had been led from the room, one of the men said: - -“You are wrong, cap.” - -“Am I?” - -“Yes.” - -“How?” - -“That lad did follow a cat in here, and he was so frank.” - -“Was he?” - -“Yes; you heard all he said.” - -“I did, and I’ve something to tell you. That is one of the smartest -lads in New York. He holds the liberty of every man of us in his hands.” - -“What do you mean, cap?” - -“I am astonished you fellows are not on to him.” - -“Who is he?” - -“He is a detective’s ‘cub,’ that’s what he is, and he was sent here to -‘pipe’ us.” - -“But we heard the cat, that part of his story was true.” - -“You think so?” - -“We heard the cat.” - -“But you didn’t see him, did you?” - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -While the conversation we have recorded was in progress the man led -our hero upstairs and Ike beheld a strong room, a place where it was -evident prisoners had been confined. There was a regular steel chair in -the room. The boy took in the situation at a glance. Once in that steel -wire chair and he was a goner. Indeed, it was one of the most ingenious -contrivances he had ever beheld, and only a lad of his wide experience -would have discerned its use, and with the rapidity with which thought -can act he went over all the possibilities. - -He had ceased to offer resistance and the man said: - -“Come, sonny, I am going to let you sit down in that nice chair.” - -“Are you, sir?” - -“Yes, I am.” - -The man seized the lad by the arms, but the next instant he began to -writhe and twist, and finally fell to the floor, evidently paralyzed -and helpless. Ike was a powerful fellow for his age. He raised the -man and placed him in the chair, and his natural genius for invention -discovered to him at a glance how the chair was operated, and in less -time than we can tell the man was secured in the chair. So skillful was -the contrivance that a casque settled upon his head, closed and held -his jaws together better than any gag ever invented, and there he sat -powerless and speechless. - -Then Ike spoke. He had but an instant to stay and he talked like a -streak. - -“Good day, my friend, we will meet again. Send home the cat when you -find him.” - -Ike did not descend to the floor from which he had been led up, but -ascended the scuttle well and passed out to the roof. He thought he -could take his chance better that way rather than risk a second capture. - -He had little difficulty in reaching the roof and closing the covering -after him. He started to navigate across the house tops, looking for a -convenient place for a descent to the street. - -In the meantime the men continued their talk. One of them asked: - -“Do you think the ‘cops’ are on our track?” - -“I did not think so until I captured that detective ‘kid.’” - -“You think he is a detective kid?” - -“Yes.” - -“You’re off,” said one of the men. - -“Am I?” - -“Yes.” - -“You feel sure?” - -“Yes, that is as innocent a lad as ever lived. If he had been a -detective kid do you suppose he would have admitted all he overheard?” - -“That is just where his smart work comes in. He has evidently fooled -you.” - -“No, you have fooled yourself, old man. I’ll stake my life he is no -detective ‘kid.’” - -The man who was stating the objections was the owner of the house, the -one who had been acting as chairman during the “confab” to which our -hero had been a listener. - -“I’ll bet you a hundred it turns out he is one of the best in the -business.” - -“Will you be able to prove it?” - -“Yes, I will.” - -“Then I will take the bet.” - -“All right, wait until Barney comes down and learn what he has to say.” - -The men continued their talk for some time, but Barney did not return, -and finally the man who had been addressed as captain said: - -“One of you go upstairs and learn what the matter is.” - -One of the men left the room and after a minute a yell was heard. - -All the men rushed to the hallway, and the captain ran up the stairs -followed by the man whom we have indicated as being the master of the -house, and who had made the bet with the captain. The man at the head -of the stairs met the rushing party and exclaimed: - -“There’s been the devil to pay.” - -“How’s that?” - -“Come and see.” - -The men entered the room and there sat their “pal” in the chair, -muzzled by the casque and tightly enfolded in the wire contrivance. The -captain ran forward, touched the springs and when the man was released -demanded: - -“What in thunder has happened?” - -All the man could ejaculate was: - -“That boy!” - -“What of him?” - -“He is a fiend.” - -“A fiend?” repeated the captain in a perplexed tone. - -“Yes.” - -“Explain.” - -The man told his story. He said: - -“I brought him up here. He was as quiet and meek as Moses, and when I -seized hold of him to put him in the chair all power suddenly left me. -I became as weak as a sick cat. I fell helplessly to the floor. He then -lifted me up, placed me in the chair, worked the machinery and there I -was, speechless and helpless, and with a grin upon his face--a demoniac -grin--he walked off or vanished in thin air, I do not know which.” - -“You’re a fool,” said the captain. “You have been outwitted by a smart -kid, a detective’s apprentice, that’s all.” - -The men descended to the lower room and held a long “confab,” and the -captain finally said: - -“We are in luck.” - -“How?” - -“In discovering that lad. He heard the whole business. We know now that -the cops were on our track. Had the ‘kid’ got away we would have gone -on with the job and every man would have been captured. Yes, we are in -great luck.” - -Our hero in the meantime managed to gain the street, and he proceeded -direct to the house into which Burlein had gone. He lay around -expecting the men to show up, but they did not appear. But the young -man did come forth from the house and Ike fell to his trail. The lad -followed until he saw the young man seek to enter a house, when our -hero approached and called out: - -“Don’t go in, I want to talk to you.” - -“Who are you?” demanded Burlein. - -“I am Ike.” - -“Oh, the boy I saw to-day?” - -“Yes.” - -“What do you want?” - -“I must talk to you.” - -“All right, talk away.” - -“You are in peril.” - -The young man laughed and said: - -“So you are not satisfied; you want to make another ten out of me. You -are a little fraud, I fear.” - -“You think I am a fraud?” - -“Well, yes.” - -“That’s all right, then I’ve nothing to say. Good-night.” - -“Hold on; you have been dogging me.” - -“I’ve been laying around to protect you, that’s all.” - -“You’ve been ‘laying around’ to protect me?” - -“Yes.” - -“Come, tell me all about it.” - -“No, I am a fraud. I’ve nothing to say now, but some day you will -apologize and then I will tell you all.” - -“Tell me now.” - -“No; good-night.” - -Without another word Ike skipped away. He went direct to his home and -to bed. He was tired and did not attempt to think or plan that night, -but on the following morning he was out bright and early. He had quite -a good deal of business on hand. - -Ike proceeded to the hotel where the two men lodged whom he had twice -dogged. He saw nothing of them until late in the afternoon, then they -came forth. He fell to their trail and saw them meet Fellman, with whom -they held a long consultation. He tried to get near enough to overhear -what was said, but no opportunity offered. When the men separated he -fell to the banker’s trail and saw him go to his hotel. The lad lay -around. After having secured a quick meal he lay around the hotel for a -long time until he saw Fellman come forth. It was about eight o’clock -in the evening. He followed the man and saw him enter a house quite -a distance up town. He hung around for a couple of hours but the man -did not reappear and Ike concluded to postpone an investigation of the -house to some future time, and he proceeded down to the house where he -knew Burlein was a constant visitor, or at least so he had concluded. -In fact the lad had worked up a complete theory as to the whole -situation and was determined to be on hand when anything occurred. He -saw Burlein go to the house and a little later the two men put in an -appearance, and he saw several other singular occurrences which led him -to conclude that the scoundrels had determined to put their scheme, -whatever it was, in execution that very night, and he muttered: - -“I reckon Burlein will not think I am a fraud when this whole affair is -over.” - -The charge of being a fraud rankled in the young man’s mind. He felt it -unjust, and again he muttered: - -“I will make him eat his words before morning, you bet.” - -Ike lay around until midnight and saw young Burlein come from the -house and walk up the street. The men had disappeared and the boy did -not know their exact position, so he followed some distance behind, -when suddenly a most startling incident occurred. Burlein had reached -the corner. He appeared to be walking along in deep thought. He had -passed the corner and was stepping from the curb to the crosswalk when -suddenly two men leaped forward and ran at him from behind. Ike ran -forward giving a shout, but his warning call came too late. The young -man had received a blow on the head which felled him to the ground. -Ike drew his pistol. He raised it to fire at one of the two men, when -suddenly everything swam round in his head and as quickly everything -became a blank. How long Ike remained unconscious he never knew -exactly, but some time later he concluded that he must have been out of -his senses fully an hour. When he returned to consciousness he was in a -dark apartment. He made an effort to move and could not, nor could he -discern an object a foot from his face. He lay still--it was his only -way. He determined to go slow, very slow, and consider and if possible -recall. He was, as the incident we are about to relate will prove, an -extraordinary fellow. He first strove to line back his thoughts and -if possible recall all that had happened. He was certain something -had occurred--something very extraordinary. He picked up his line of -thought just where the extraordinary incident must have occurred. He -recalled how he had seen Burlein knocked down. He recalled how he had -attempted to draw his pistol, and then all recollection ceased up to -the moment he found himself in the dark apartment, and chained to the -floor, as he discovered. - -Ike was perfectly cool. His brightest and keenest wit had returned to -him, and he muttered: - -“I see it all. Just as I was getting ready to shoot I received a crack -on the head. But where am I now?” - -He felt around and discovered that he was chained by his ankles--his -hands were free. - -“Good enough,” he muttered. “If I haven’t been stripped I’ll find -something.” He felt in his pocket and found a match, and ejaculated: - -“Here we are, sure enough.” - -He managed to scratch the match and as it blazed up he gazed round, and -then an exclamation of consternation fell from his lips as he cried out: - -“I thought so. I am in the ‘brig’ of some sort of vessel and I am out -at sea. I have been kidnaped.” Then he smiled as he repeated, “Yes, -_kid_naped, for I am only a kid, after all.” - -Continuing his soliloquy the boy muttered: - -“What do they mean to do with me? Do they mean to drown me? Well, well, -it’s hard luck, but it does look as though I were ‘a goner’ for sure, -and I will go down to the bottom of the sea with the knowledge that I -did not play my cards well or I never would have been in this box.” - -As intimated Ike formed a pretty correct idea as to all that had -happened, and he was indeed in a bad box; but he did not despair. -He possessed a wonderful talent, a gift that had been carefully -cultivated, and he had a great field to work--the prevailing -superstition of people generally, and especially of sea-going men. -Sailors are proverbially superstitious and superstition prepares one -to become terrorized to a greater degree than any other sentiment. Men -who would kill a fellow man in cold blood tremble if compelled to go -through a cemetery at night. Men who would lead a charge in a battle -would fall to the ground paralyzed with terror were their imagination -to present to them after dark a vivid apparition of a dead soldier. Ike -was well aware of these facts, and he determined to use his knowledge -in order, if possible, to save his life and effect his escape. He knew -he had fallen to the facts of a great scheme and possibly a tragedy. -The men who were actors in the crime knew that he was a witness against -them, and the question arose, did they intend merely to get him out of -the way or did they intend to murder him or drown him in cold blood? - -He knew that it was after midnight when the incident had occurred -which led to his being a prisoner on that boat. He was quite a sailor -himself, and as he lit a second match and glanced around, he concluded -he was a prisoner on a medium-sized schooner or sloop. How long he -had been there he had no means of knowing, as he had been unconscious -and had regained his consciousness in total darkness. He concluded, -however, that the possibilities were it was not yet daylight. He -learned that the schooner was sailing over the waters, as he was down -in the hold. He knew from the motion that they were under way and -possibly far out to sea. - -He lay and waited and fully an hour passed, when the hatch over his -prison was raised and he became aware that a man was peering down upon -him, and he knew it was daylight. He had decided upon his course; it -might cost him a meal or two, but it was a part of his plan to lay low -and watch his chance. - -He heard a man on deck ask: - -“Is he awake?” - -“He ain’t moving, captain.” - -“I hope he is dead and then all we will have to do is throw his body -over for the fishes.” - -This dialogue was certainly a very consoling and comforting one for a -lad to listen to who was chained to the upper side of the keel of a -boat at sea. - -“I don’t think he is dead, captain.” - -“I hardly know what to do.” - -“I’ll tell you.” - -“Well?” - -“We can take it for granted that he is dead, and toss him over.” - -“No, I won’t do that, but something may happen. We will get rid of him. -I feel very uncomfortable at having him on board anyhow.” - -“It’s big money if he goes over, captain.” - -“Oh, yes, that’s all right. He’ll never step foot on land again, but -the question is, how can we dispose of him?” - -“Throw him over.” - -“He may be able to swim.” - -“We can weight him.” - -“No, he is a human being. That would be drowning him as we would a dog.” - -“What’s the odds?” - -“I’ve got your voice down, Mister Man,” was the mental conclusion of -our little hero, and he muttered: - -“Some day I will get even with you if we ever meet again. I’ll remember -you.” - -“I’ll tell you what you can do, cap.” - -“Do so.” - -“Let him lie where he is.” - -“Well?” - -“He will die. We will forget all about him, find him dead and toss him -over.” - -“I’ve been thinking of that.” - -Ike thought that if he were consulted and had his choice he would -rather be drowned like a dog--much rather--than cruelly starved to -death in that dark ship’s hold. - -The hatch was replaced and our hero was alone, and he commenced to -consider. He studied by feeling the chains which bound him, and he -soon assured himself that he could get free at any time he saw fit. -At the same time he decided that he must be very careful and not take -advantage of his privilege too rashly. - -“I will lay low until night,” he said. - -It was a cold prospect for the poor lad to think of--lying there all -day hungry and wounded, for his head did ache a little, owing to a blow -he had received. He had discovered also that he had bled freely. The -stain had not been washed off, and had dried on him, and he knew he -presented a horrible sight. - -“It may aid me,” he muttered, as he realized the fact, “to come the -ghost act on ’em.” - -As the hours passed the lad became very hungry and thirsty, and so -intense became his thirst he was almost inclined to cry out and ask for -water, although the act might hasten his end. But as it turned out he -was not altogether deserted by the fates. - -It is an old saying that it is better to be born lucky than rich, -and it would seem that some men and boys exemplify the old saw. Ike -appeared to be one of these, for just at the moment when he thought he -could stand the craving for a drink no longer a thin ray of light shot -down into the darkness, and the next instant something struck against -his head. He reached up and grasped a bottle, and attached to the -bottle was a piece of bread. - -“I have a friend at court,” was the lad’s declaration, as he realized -that some one had taken pity on him and had lowered the bottle and -sandwich surreptitiously. - -Ike was a hopeful little fellow and he muttered: - -“This means something--it means that it is not ‘all up’ with me after -all. I am going to get out of this scrape, and then, by ginger, some -one will wish they had been wiped out in a cyclone.” - -Our hero ate and drank, and crawling away from his stake as far as he -could he hid the bottle with the remark: - -“I do not know just when I may have a visitor. I’ll be on my guard and -not get my friend into trouble.” - -Having satisfied his hunger the boy went to sleep, and slept very -peacefully. He was waiting for night, and when he awoke he thought -that night must be just closing in if not actually shadowed down upon -the earth and the sea. He lay for a long time and finally concluded he -would investigate. He had little difficulty in freeing himself, and he -crept up the steps to the hatch cover and was able to move it just a -little. He peeped out and saw it was night--a dark, rainy night--and -after peeping awhile he gently moved the hatch aside and crawled on -deck. All his movements were as cautious as a Pawnee Indian scout’s. -He did not restore the hatch cover, but just lay on his back and took -observations. - -He learned that his conclusions had been correct. He was on a schooner, -and, as he discerned, a rickety old affair at that. A little while he -lay and considered. He could see the man at the wheel, and there was -not another person on deck--not even a lookout. The night was calm and -a light rain was falling, but there was no fog. The lights were all set -and it was evident the ship’s crew believed there was no danger, and -thus violated one of the first laws of navigation. Well, those laws are -often violated, and in thousands of cases the violators have paid the -penalty with their lives, while many possibly may have escaped and thus -their violations never became known. - -As Ike lay on the damp deck he thought over his plan and revised it. -He managed to secure a few articles lying around. These he slowly and -patiently dragged over to the hatch and managed to lower them one at a -time. Then he descended carefully, removed his clothing, and rigged up -a perfect dummy of himself. He had the knack of doing so. He adjusted -the chain to his dummy, which he put in a sleeping attitude, and then -he laughed and muttered: - -“It may not work, but I guess it will. Anyhow it is my best card at -present.” - -Having arranged his dummy the lad stole on deck and then crawled aft -to the cabin, and he did so without being seen. He was in his shirt -and drawers only, and presented quite a ghostly appearance. He walked -half down the companion way and glanced into the cabin. The captain lay -asleep in a berth and the mate lay on the floor of the cabin--at least -the man whom our hero took for the mate, and the fellow for whom he had -laid away a little revenge memory. - -It was quite a risky position for the boy. If the night had been an -absolutely clear one he would have had a chance to learn how far they -were off shore, and then he might have decided to take a chance to -steal the yawl and row or paddle ashore. But owing to the rain he could -not see to the shore, and determined to work another scheme. He crawled -around to the side of the cabin projection near the poop window and -fortunately found a roll of canvas. - -“This is fine,” he muttered, and in a little time he was hidden under -the canvas and then soliloquized: - -“Here we are, and here goes.” - -The mate lay on the floor and the captain in his berth, and suddenly -the mate started up. He looked around wildly a moment, and then rising -to his feet approached the berth where the captain lay, and shook him. - -“What in thunder is the matter?” demanded the captain springing to a -sitting position. - -“Were you dreaming, captain?” - -“Dreaming? No, what’s the matter with you? I was sleeping like an -infant.” - -“You were groaning hard, captain.” - -“Let me alone, you fool. I weren’t dreaming or groaning.” - -“Yes, you did groan.” - -“Go off, and keep quiet.” - -The captain settled back and was soon fast asleep. The mate listened -a moment and then spread himself on the floor again and he had just -closed his eyes when up he leaped again and ran to the captain and -shook him again. - -“There, captain, you did groan that time.” - -“Say, man, you’ve got ’em.” - -“No, I ain’t got ’em, but I tell you that you groaned like a dying man.” - -“You have been dreaming yourself.” - -“I’ll be hanged if I have.” - -“Well, let me alone and don’t wake me again, do you hear? or I’ll hit -you.” - -The captain settled back again to sleep and the mate after waiting some -little time also stretched upon the floor once more. He closed his eyes -and after listening for fully five minutes was about to drop off into a -sleep when he heard a cry for help. He leaped to his feet and despite -the captain’s admonition shook him again. The captain was real angry. - -“Hang you, man!” he said; “I’ll knock you down.” - -“Captain, something is the matter with you. The moment you close your -eyes you cry for help.” - -“It’s you, not me; _you_ are dreaming.” - -“But I don’t go to sleep.” - -“You don’t?” - -“No.” - -“And you hear me call for help?” - -“Yes, I do.” - -“What is the matter with you?” - -“I am in earnest.” - -“This is no joke?” - -“No.” - -“Then you’ve got ’em.” - -“I swear I am as clear as a bell.” - -“And you hear me call?” - -“I do.” - -“You swear to it?” - -“I do.” - -“You’re up to something.” - -“Captain, on my life I am telling the truth.” - -“We will see.” - -The captain lay down and the mate after awhile lay down also, when -suddenly, as it appeared, the mate called for help. The captain leaped -from his berth and sprang beside the mate but the latter was wide awake. - -“There, captain, you did it again.” - -The captain laughed, and said: “It’s just as I told you--it was you who -groaned and called.” - -“I’ll swear I didn’t. I have not been asleep.” - -“You haven’t?” - -“No.” - -“Neither have I, and I just lay low and watched.” - -“So did I.” - -“Is this a game you are working?” - -“I swear I am not.” - -“Let’s try again. We’ll both watch.” - -“All right.” - -The captain got in his berth and the mate stretched on the floor, and -fully five minutes passed. Finally the captain demanded: - -“Well, old man, have you been asleep?” - -“No.” - -“Then you didn’t hear it?” - -“No.” - -“Neither did I, so you see you’ve been fooled or you’ve been dreaming -yourself.” - -The captain was just settling back for an undisturbed snooze when -suddenly he leaped from his berth, his face pale and his eyes starting. -The mate also leaped to his feet and demanded: - -“What is it, captain?” - -For a moment the captain could not speak. He was trembling like an -aspen leaf. - -“Tell me, captain, what’s the matter.” - -“Did you hear anything?” - -“No.” - -“I did.” - -“What did you hear?” - -“A groan.” - -“Where?” - -“In the bed there, close to my ear.” - -“Aha, captain, you fell asleep.” - -“I’ll swear I was not asleep.” - -“And you heard a groan?” - -“I did, and I won’t get in that berth again.” - -“I will, captain. I tell you you’ve been dreaming. It was your own -voice you heard.” - -“You think so?” - -“Yes.” - -“And you were wide awake?” - -“I was.” - -“You are sure?” - -“I am.” - -“I’ll sleep on the floor--you sleep in the berth.” - -“All right.” - -The mate got in the berth, but in less than a second he leaped forth -with a yell, and the captain, who had stretched upon the floor, sprang -to his feet. - -“Well, mate?” - -“Captain, I heard it.” - -“What did you hear?” - -“A voice.” - -“You heard a voice?” - -“I’ll swear I did.” - -“And what did the voice say?” - -“I didn’t stop to hear.” - -“I’ll try it; you watch beside me.” - -“All right, captain, I’ll stand right here.” - -The captain lay down in the berth and the mate stood at his side, but -nothing was heard. - -“We’ve both been fooled,” said the captain. “Lie down, it’s all right.” - -The mate stepped away, but he had not got more than two feet distant -when once more the captain leaped from the berth. - -The two men gazed into each other’s faces and finally the captain asked: - -“Is it a judgment on us?” - -“What for?” - -“Receiving that boy on board. Mebbe the boy is dead and is haunting us.” - -“Nonsense.” - -“I want you to take a lantern and go see.” - -Ike had leaped to his feet and he ran along the rail and got down into -the brig in no time. He covered himself up under his dummy and waited, -and a few moments later the hatch was slid away. - -“Say, who is up there?” demanded Ike. - -The man appeared delighted. - -“Help there!” called Ike. - -“It’s all right,” said the mate. “What do you want?” - -“I want something to eat.” - -“You shall have it as soon as the cook is stirring about.” - -“All right, don’t forget me.” - -“I won’t.” - -The mate slid back the cover and returned to the cabin. - -“Well?” demanded the captain. - -“The boy is all right--lively as a cricket.” - -“He is?” - -“Yes; he is calling for something to eat and hang it, I don’t blame -him. Probably he don’t know how long he’s been there. If he did he’d -be starved to death sure. Here’s a case, captain, where ignorance is -bliss.” - -“But how about the voice?” - -“There is where you’ve got me.” - -“I’ve heard the schooner was haunted. It is said that years ago the -captain, mate, and a sailor were murdered on this boat. I never could -prove it true because her name was changed.” - -“Do you know that her name was changed?” - -“Yes, that’s true.” - -“You know that?” - -“I do.” - -“Then the other story may be true.” - -“I’ve owned her for three years.” - -“And you’ve never had any luck in her?” - -“Neither any one else who ever owned her. I thought I might make her pay -when others had failed. I’ll give it up and sell her as quick as I can.” - -“Say, captain,” said the mate in a husky voice, “mebbe this is the boat -in which Hicks the pirate murdered the captain.” - -“Hang it, that’s what I was thinking.” - -“Well, we are not much better.” - -“How so?” - -“We’ve got that boy on board and----” - -At that moment a voice was heard. Captain and mate stood and glared and -trembled, and as both stood there on the center of the cabin floor, a -voice came from the berth. It was clear, firm and distinct and there -was no mistaking. - -“Put about,” the voice proclaimed. “I was once captain of this boat. I -was murdered on board her. I don’t want another murder committed, and -if any harm comes to the boy you have on board both you men will hang. -There were witnesses, there will be witnesses. Get him ashore as quick -as you can.” - -The two men stood and gazed as though indeed they were listening to the -voice of one who had passed beyond and was talking back from the land -of mystery. - -“Heed my words,” spoke the mysterious voice in conclusion, and then all -was still. - -“Captain,” after a long time spoke the mate, “we are in luck.” - -“How so?” - -“We have been warned.” - -“You bet.” - -“What shall we do?” - -“We’ll land the lad.” - -“When?” - -“This very night.” - -“How can we?” - -“We are not more than two miles off the Long Island shore; you know -we’ve been hovering around here.” - -“Say, captain, you will lose your money.” - -“Can’t help it; don’t propose to have dead men haunting me for all the -money in the world.” - -“Let’s take chances.” - -“How?” - -“Run down off Fire Island light, put the lad in a yawl and send him -adrift. He may reach shore, he may not. If he does you are clear of -the dead men; if he don’t it ain’t your fault. But I’ve one thing to -say.” - -“All right, speak right out.” - -“I’d chance the dead men, I would.” - -The words had hardly left the mate’s lips when right at his ear there -sounded a yell that almost froze the blood in his veins. He stood and -trembled like a Macbeth gazing upon the apparition of a Banquo. - -“Ah!” ejaculated the captain, “you don’t mind being haunted by dead -men, eh?” - -“Hush!” pleaded the mate. - -“This boat is haunted, that’s sure. There’s no luck in her and I shall -sell her as quick as I can, and I shall get rid of that boy, money or -no money. And besides I’ve got an idea; yes, I have. Those fellows -might ‘bilk’ me if anything did happen to the lad, and they might haunt -me and blackmail me. It’s all bad business. I never intended that any -real harm should come to the lad anyhow. You were the devil who urged -me on, and----” - -At this instant again there sounded a yell in the ear of the mate and -he shouted: - -“Get the boy ashore. I’ll row him ashore; yes, I will.” - -Ike got back to his place, cast aside his dummy and got into his -clothes. And he wasn’t a minute too soon, either. Before the hatch -cover was removed and the captain started to come down the lad leaped -to his feet, seized the chain from which he had released himself, and -ran back to one corner saying: - -“Don’t come near me.” And he raised the chain threateningly. - -The captain held his lantern aloft and said: - -“Don’t fear, lad, I mean you no harm. I’ve done you a kindness.” - -“You have, eh?” - -“I have.” - -“How? By starving me almost to death?” - -“I ordered them to feed you.” - -“You did?” - -“I did.” - -“Well, they didn’t obey you.” - -“I see you are free.” - -“I am.” - -“Who freed you?” - -“I freed myself and I intended to jump overboard.” - -“It’s lucky you didn’t.” - -“I don’t know that.” - -“You are all right.” - -“I am?” - -“Yes, I mean to land you.” - -“You mean to land me?” - -“I do.” - -“When?” - -“I am heading in toward shore now. You will be all right.” - -“Why did you bring me aboard here?” - -“We found you lying in the street. We did not know what to do with you, -and brought you aboard.” - -“Then why didn’t you treat me well?” - -“Because we feared we might be pursued by the rascals who knocked you -down.” - -It was a weak explanation the captain made, but our hero did not see -that he could gain anything by disputing or arguing, and he said: - -“I am hungry.” - -“You shall have something to eat right away. I’ve laid off my course so -as to put you ashore as soon as it was safe.” - -Ike did not deem it necessary to dispute this latter statement but said: - -“Feed me, please.” - -The captain led him up to the deck, took him back to the cabin and did -offer him some food, saying: - -“It will be all right when you get ashore. And say, lad, I don’t want -you ever to say anything about your being on my boat. I swear I did all -to save your life; yes, I did.” - -Ike was not disposed to dispute anything that the captain said. All he -desired was to get ashore. He believed a great mystery had opened up in -New York which he could solve, and he was anxious to get to the city as -quickly as he could. - -A couple of hours passed. It was just a little before dawn when -the captain hauled to off the Fire Island lighthouse. He had given -directions to his men where to meet him. Ike was standing on the deck -when a lad came stealing up close to him, who whispered: - -“I gave you the water and bread. Don’t ever tell on me or they will -kill me.” - -“What is your name?” - -“Jim Banta.” - -“Do you belong to this schooner?” - -“Yes, but, I am going to get off her as quick as I can.” - -“You did me a good turn.” - -“I know it.” - -“Some day you may come to New York.” - -“I’ll get there as soon as I can.” - -“We may meet again.” - -“I hope so, and then I’ll tell you something.” - -“And I may tell you something,” said Ike. - -Our hero had taken in the lad’s face and he was assured that he would -recognize him should they ever meet again. - -The yawl had been hauled alongside and our hero got in and was followed -by the captain of the schooner, who commanded his men to “lay to” -awhile. - -“Boy, remember,” said the captain, “I was your friend.” - -“All right, captain, mebbe you are proving it now.” - -“I did intend to take you down east, but I changed my mind. I would -have done so in your own interest.” - -“It’s all right, captain, as far as it goes.” - -There were a number of boats flying around here and there on the water, -and the captain said: - -“Mebbe I can get you on one of those boats. They have pleasure -fisherman on board, out after bluefish. There will be no fish to-day, -and they will run in early, and you will be all right. But remember you -are not to say anything about me.” - -“That’s all right, captain, you need have no fear.” - -“I wish I could do more for you, but I believe I have saved your life, -and if we ever meet again I will tell you all about it.” - -Ike was thinking of but one thing--the possibilities attending the -attack on young Burlein a few moments preceding the moment when he -received the blow which knocked him insensible. - -In the meantime the captain had kept on talking and pulling his boat, -and Ike noticed quite a large catboat bearing down upon them, and soon -she came within hailing distance. When the captain called to them the -men on the fishing boat, a merry party, brought their boat to and the -captain pulled alongside and said: - -“I’ve a lad here I picked up off shore. Will you gentlemen take him -aboard and land him?” - -The men were in a jolly mood and bid Ike “come aboard.” The lad was -glad to do so, and waved the captain an adieu as the latter, without -stopping to make any further explanations, pulled away in his yawl. - -The party on the fishing boat had caught one big fish, and they were, -as intimated, in a very jolly mood. They asked Ike a few questions, -accepted whatever he had to say, and went on with their fun. - -Our hero had plenty to eat and could have had plenty to drink if he had -so desired. It was well on toward noon when the men determined to head -for the inlet and go ashore. It had been decided that they would catch -no more fish that day. - -Most of the forenoon they had bowled along under a good stiff breeze, -but suddenly the wind all died out and they lay in a dead calm, and as -is usual they commenced all manner of sport. Ike thought he had seen -about every gambling game that had ever been played, but he learned a -new one that day, and a very amusing one. The party were all gentlemen -out for an excursion, and they were in for fun, and our hero determined -before that boat reached shore he would give them lots of fun. Our hero -was a practical joker. He just enjoyed the possession of his wonderful -gifts and he never missed an opportunity to play a trick--not malignant -ones but just simple little jokes. As stated he was an expert handler -of cards and well up in all manner of games, and therefore he greatly -enjoyed the one organized by the fishing party. There were a great -number of flies buzzing in the cabin and the men all took a lump of -sugar, laid their several pieces on the table before them. Then each -man laid a penny by his lump, and the man who owned the sugar on which -the first fly lit took the pot. The game was called by the men “hop fly -loo.” - -They had considerable sport over this little game, but at length got -tired, and still the calm held on. They lolled around on the boat and -before them lay the solitary bluefish--a big fellow, their only reward -for the expense they had been to for the day. - -As intimated, a dead calm prevailed and the men were listless, and, -like a lot of boys, hardly knew what to do, when one of them asked: - -“If that big bluefish could talk, I wonder what he would say?” - -One of the men answered: - -“He would say, a healthy stomach had got him in more trouble than a -fish who had the dyspepsia too bad to eat.” - -The men all laughed in the most hearty manner. The conceit was a good -one, and another of the party put in: - -“If he could speak he would say: ‘I tried to hook your bait, and, alas! -you hooked me.’” - -A third chipped in. - -“He’d say: ‘Better an empty stomach than a treacherous meal.’” And so -the jokes went on, one saying: - -“He’d say: ‘I wish I’d been too full for utterance, and then I’d have -let your bait go by.’” - -Each joke received the laughter it deserved, and finally the man who -had offered the first suggestion projected his query again with the -remark: - -“It would be a big thing to hear that fish express his thoughts.” - -At that instant there sounded a strange flapping like the sound of a -bird in its flight. - -The men all looked around. There was no bird in sight. They looked in -each other’s faces, for indeed it was a most wonderful incident. All -had heard it, and even while they looked there came the cry of “quack, -quack,” of a wild duck, and the “quack, quack, quack,” sounded right -over their heads. They strained their eyes--there was no duck in sight; -indeed, it was not the season for ducks. They were all sportsmen, and -they knew that, and yet the flapping of wings was plainly heard, and -the “quack, quack,” of the duck, as plainly as a tame duck’s quack on -the edge of a farm pond. - -“Eh, boys, what does it mean? Who shot the last duck?” - -“Who did?” the inquiry went round. - -“And why?” asked one. - -“Because we are haunted by the ghost of a duck, sure.” - -The men were all attention. They had all looked at and watched each -other to see who, if any of them had imitated the flapping, and who -it was who was doing the quack, quack, business. Not one of the party -could be accused. They were all sitting face to face, and in their -midst sat Ike. Not a lip moved, and the quack, quack, continued. It was -impossible that any one of the party could have worked the trick and -not have been betrayed. - -“Say, boys,” said one of the men, “this is rather odd, whatever you may -say.” - -“Mebbe there is a duck in the cabin.” - -The captain of the boat, who was very pale and looked quite serious, -said: - -“There is no duck on this boat, and I don’t like it. I wish you -gentlemen would stop your joking. Captain Brown heard a duck quack just -before that blow when he and all on board were drowned.” - -The party thought the captain was working something on them, and they -commenced to joke worse than ever, and it was still a dead calm. - -“We are going to have a big blow,” said the captain. “I wish we were in -the inlet.” - -“Oh, come off, cap.” - -At this moment the quack, quack, was heard again. - -All the men began to feel a little uncomfortable. They were intelligent -men, but the circumstance was certainly very odd, and it was still more -startling when a voice from over the top of the mast appeared to call -down and say: - -“Ask the bluefish what he has to say.” - -The party looked in each other’ faces. In dead earnest, of course, all -hands believed some trick was being worked on them, and yet it was -certainly a very weird trick--and it did not seem possible that it -could be worked. One of the party said, however: - -“Let’s obey orders; we’ll ask the bluefish what he has to say.” - -“Who’ll ask him?” - -“I will,” said the gentleman. - -“Go ahead.” - -“All right, watch each other,” and looking at the bluefish he asked: -“Old father blue, what have you to say?” - -The whole scene was intended as a joke, but there was a surprised crowd -in that boat when, in a strangely weird voice, the answer seemingly -came from the fish: - -“If I’d had my breakfast earlier you’d never have caught me.” - -Of course it was a joke, of course somebody was working it with a -marvelous skill, but who was doing it? The gentlemen had all known -each other for many years and none of them knew that any one of them -possessed the wonderful talent of ventriloquism, and in fact they did -not believe that such a marvelous gift was possessed by any one not the -best of magicians. Still there was the fish, and still there did appear -to come from him the startling response to the question. - -“Try him again,” said one. - -“You try him.” - -“What’s your game, fish?” asked the man. - -The answer appeared to come: - -“You fellows snatched me from the sea for food, but my relatives will -_dine on you all before this time to-morrow_.” - -Oh, it was a trick--yes, all a trick, but just marvelous enough to make -the men feel very uncomfortable, the circumstance was so weird and -strange. In fact, one of the party, a very nervous man, fainted, and -when he was brought round the oldest gentleman present and the one who -appeared to be most respected said: - -“Come, this has gone far enough. Whoever is working this wonderful -trick had better explain it.” - -The gentleman spoke in dead earnest, but not one of the party -volunteered to admit his responsibility, and the gentleman pleaded: - -“It is criminal to carry this any further.” - -There came no acknowledgment and all the men began to look pretty -serious, and to add to the gloom the captain, pointing to a cloud -coming in from the sea, said in apprehensive tones: - -“It’s just as I feared. We are bound to have a terrible storm. Now if -any one has been working a trick let him own it up, or, by George, -we’re all goners, that’s all.” - -There came the bark of a dog and immediately afterward the terrible -moan of an animal, the same as tradition declares is heard just before -a death--a howl which in rural districts to-day is heard with a -shudder, and looked upon as a death knell. - -After the first strange voice our hero had gone into the cabin and had -lain down on a cushion in full view of the party and had seemingly gone -to sleep. Several times the men had looked at him, but that sleeping -boy could not be the fiend who was working on their terrors, for there -he slept and was breathing as regularly as an infant lying on its -mother’s bosom. - -“Who is that boy?” demanded the captain. - -“Yes, who is he?” asked the captain’s assistant. - -“Wake him up,” said one of the party. - -The captain’s mate did arouse Ike, who rose and rubbed his eyes so -naturally that every one decided at once that no matter whether it were -trick or reality the lad knew nothing about it; and yet it was the most -remarkable occurrence that any of them had ever encountered in all -their lives. - -The captain said: - -“It’s that boy.” He made the declaration despite the fact that Ike had -been aroused, and awoke so naturally, and the captain repeated: - -“It’s that boy or the devil, or it’s the devil or that boy.” - -“What do you mean?” - -The captain was glaring wildly as he said: - -“That boy is the devil. We had no right to take him on board. Throw him -over. He won’t drown.” - -There came a voice saying: - -“Throw him over and you will have the hurricane of your life, and none -of you will ever reach shore.” - -The voice was heard and there stood the lad in their midst, as innocent -looking as a babe. One matter all hands considered settled--the boy had -nothing to do with the mysterious occurrences. - -They were still questioning Ike when one of the men discovered a blood -stain on his clothes. - -The captain of the schooner had scrubbed off the lad’s clothes, but one -stain escaped his attention, and the gentleman who found the mark said: - -“Hello, lad, you’ve been bleeding.” - -“Yes.” - -“The captain said he picked you up.” - -“I know he did.” - -“Tell us about it.” - -“The captain lied, that’s all.” - -“Tell us about it.” - -“Not a word. It’s no time for me to talk.” - -The cloud which had been rising in the west meantime began to increase -and spread, and the sound of distant thunder was heard. The captain of -the yacht looked pale and troubled as he said: - -“It’s going to be a regular cyclone. I wish we were in the inlet.” - -All the party began to betray signs of uneasiness, when there came a -little ripple over the sea. The captain did not dare run with full -sail, but he took in several reefs and shortened his jib sail, and the -boat moved away like a thing of life toward the inlet. - -Ike had been to sea a great deal and had met with considerable -experience and he said: - -“Captain, you’re wrong.” - -“How so?” - -“You will just get in the inlet when the storm strikes us, and we will -be blown on to a bar, and then it’s all up--it’s sink or swim.” - -“What would you have me do?” - -“Reef her down to a pigeon wing and let her run before the wind. It’s -your only chance.” - -One of the party, who had also had some experience, said: - -“The lad is right.” - -The captain answered: - -“I reckon I know my business.” - -Ike stood a moment and then asked: - -“Gentlemen, have you hired this boat?” - -The answer came, “Yes.” - -“Then take my advice; take command of her or this man will run you to -certain death. He’s lost his head.” - -The party was composed of a number of intelligent and resolute men and -one of them said: - -“Here, captain, face her about.” - -“I won’t do it.” - -There was no time to lose. Ike suddenly leaped forward, and without a -word of warning dealt the captain a blow over the head with a death -club used for knocking big fish on the head. The captain rolled over to -the bottom of the boat and Ike seized the helm and brought the craft -around. He then asked one of the men to hold the helm while he hauled -in the jib, and asked the others to reef the sail down to a pigeon -wing. All hands obeyed and they were just in time, for a minute later -the squall struck them and away flew the little yacht over the foaming -waves. - -Our hero had resumed the helm, and he held her steady to the wind. - -The captain had sought to regain his feet, but the men held him down -and bid him lie still, and away they sped over the waters. - -It proved to be only a summer tempest, and in half an hour the blow was -over, and under a steady breeze Ike put her about and made a run for -the inlet. - -But little had been said during the excitement. The captain was -released and sullenly took his helm, when one of the party said: - -“Cap, the boy saved our lives by his prompt action.” - -“I’ll take care of the boy,” growled the captain. - -“See here, cap, it’s all right. We will pay you for the rap you -received.” - -The men made up a purse of twenty dollars over and above the hire of -the boat, and got the captain to agree to say nothing about it. - -At the time Ike took his prompt action two other boats were making for -the inlet. They were just ahead of the boat our hero was on, and when -our party reached shore they learned the sad intelligence that both -boats had run into the inlet, had been caught, blown over and that -seven men and a boy were drowned. Had the boat on which Ike was gone on -she too would have gone over, and probably a few more would have been -added to the death list. - -The men all appreciated the fact and also that they owed their -salvation to Ike’s extraordinary and prompt action. And the result was -they made up a purse of fifty dollars and presented it to him, and each -man gave his card to our hero with an invitation to call on them. - -It was after dark when the party went ashore and all hurried to a -train for New York. Ike went with them and a little before midnight he -appeared at his home. - -Mrs. Pell, despite his warning that he might unexpectedly be away for -days at a time, was greatly worried and rejoiced when he showed up. She -had been waiting for him as she had done on the two preceding nights. - -Ike did not see fit to make a full explanation. He merely said he was -full of business and on to a big thing. - -After reporting as stated he stole forth. He desired to see a -newspaper. He knew that something had occurred and he desired to get on -to it if he could. - -He found a saloon open and secured a paper, and the first item that met -his eyes was the startling announcement: - -A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. A PROMINENT BANKER MISSING. - -“Aha! just as I thought,” muttered the lad, and he carefully read the -article through. There were interviews and speculations as usual, -and also several very dark and peculiar suggestions, and they all -emanated from Mr. Fellman, the partner of the missing man. There were -suggestions of suicide, escape to Canada, and indeed several very -startling theories; and the lad muttered: - -“It is just as I thought. I had this thing down pretty well. The -chances are Burlein is dead--murdered in cold blood--his body in the -river; and all might have been prevented had he only heeded my warning. -But we shall see. To-morrow the papers will have more to announce, and -I--well I won’t say anything at present, _but I’ll act_.” - -On the day following the incidents recorded Ike was out bright and -early. He secured a morning paper and the whole thing was out. Burlein -was a thief. An examination of the firm’s books had revealed the fact -that he had speculated on private account with the firm’s money. He -had sought to hide his losses by falsification of the books and had -committed downright forgery. - -Great sympathy was expressed for his victim, Fellman, and offers of aid -and indulgence on the part of creditors were made on every side. - -Ike read the account with great eagerness, and when he had digested -the account he began to revolve matters in his mind, and he said: - -“The first thing I will do is see the young lady.” - -It had been stated in the paper that Burlein had been engaged to marry -a young heiress, and one of the most beautiful ladies in New York. It -was also hinted that her father was a heavy loser and a victim of the -young man’s forgeries. - -Ike had fifty dollars. He went to work and provided himself with the -necessary articles for a perfect disguise. He got himself up as a -respectable old lady. His genius in the way of disguise was simply -immense. He went around to the house where he knew the young lady -resided. He had little difficulty in learning her father’s name. It was -common enough--simply Alexander Smith. - -Ike went up the stoop of the house, rang the bell and stated that he -desired to see Miss Smith. - -The maid who attended on the door retired, but in a few moments -returned and stated that Miss Smith was ill and could not see any one -that day. - -Our hero had prepared himself, and he handed the girl a note, telling -her to deliver it. The note read as follows: - - “It’s all false. I am a friend of Burlein. I can explain much to you. - I must see you. - - “A FRIEND OF ALFRED BURLEIN.” - -A few moments later and the maid returned, stating that Miss Smith -would see the lady. - -Our hero was shown into the rear library and after some time a very -handsome and stately looking young lady, who had evidently been weeping -and who was in great distress, appeared. She said: - -“I received your note.” - -“And I am glad you granted me an interview.” - -Ike’s disguise, as stated, was perfect, and besides he acted his role -to perfection. - -“What have you to say?” came the question. - -“I have this to say: Burlein is innocent of all the charges made -against him.” - -“Who are you?” - -“It does not matter. What I tell you is the truth.” - -“You say he is innocent?” - -“Yes.” - -“Can you prove his innocence?” - -“I can.” - -“Why not do so at once, and stop these terrible stories that are going -around about him?” - -“We must go slow, miss.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“A mere declaration of his innocence is not enough. We must be prepared -to prove his innocence and establish the guilt of his enemy.” - -“His enemy did you say?” - -“I did.” - -“He has an enemy?” - -“He has.” - -“Who is his enemy?” - -“The man who has started these charges.” - -“His partner makes the charges.” - -“His partner is a villain.” - -The young lady started and gazed aghast and declared: - -“Is it possible?” - -“It is true.” - -“I fear you are mistaken. I do not know what object his partner would -have in defaming him.” - -“Do you wish his innocence established?” - -“I do.” - -“If he is alive we can fully establish his innocence.” - -“If he is alive?” - -“Yes.” - -“If he is innocent he must be alive. He would not make away with -himself if he is innocent.” - -“No, but he has an enemy.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“He may have been foully dealt with.” - -“You are using strange language, madam.” - -“I am, but I know exactly what I say and what I mean.” - -“Why did you come here? You had a purpose in coming here.” - -“I did.” - -“What is your purpose?” - -“Merely to tell you under all circumstances to hold fast your faith in -Alfred Burlein.” - -“I wish you would tell me who you are, and your special interest in the -young man?” - -“Some day you will know who I am. He was my friend, I am his friend, -and I tell you he is innocent. I tell you further his partner is a -villain.” - -“What object could he have in defaming the missing man?” - -“Can you not discern?” - -“I cannot.” - -“I will tell you.” - -“Do so.” - -“He is the thief, the forger, _and he desires to cover his own guilt_.” - -The young lady looked amazed and our hero added: - -“I wonder that you could for one moment believe these terrible stories.” - -“I did not believe them, but----” - -“Go on, miss.” - -“The proofs----” - -“What proofs?” - -“The proofs of his guilt.” - -“Who has seen them?” - -“My father.” - -“They were shown to your father by Fellman?” - -“Yes.” - -“They are false.” - -“My father says they are absolute.” - -“Your father has been misled.” - -“I hope what you say is true.” - -“I am telling you the truth. I will establish the innocence of Alfred -Burlein.” - -“What can I do to aid you?” - -“Nothing.” - -“You do not need my aid?” - -“I do not.” - -“You can call upon me.” - -“No, I do not need your aid. All I ask is that you save yourself much -distress and maintain your faith in the missing man.” - -“You suggest it is possible he has been foully dealt with.” - -“Yes.” - -“Have you grounds for your belief?” - -“I have one proof.” - -“Will you talk with my father? Oh, please do.” - -“Not now; but you can ask your father to withhold his judgment for the -present. Tell him you still have faith in the young man, and I promise -you that if he is alive your faith will be verified.” - -Ike would not reveal any further to the young lady. He merely -reiterated his statement that he had called to restore her peace of -mind. He left the house and determined to work Fellman for awhile, -and proceeded down town. He imagined his man would go to his meal in -company with another. Ike got himself up in a new disguise and went -down and hung around the man’s office, and, as he had anticipated, in -due time Fellman appeared in company with another man, and proceeded -to a fashionable down-town lunch-room. - -Ike had a special purpose in following the man. He desired to learn if -young Burlein was dead, and he proposed to adopt a very novel plan for -obtaining his information. - -Fellman entered the dining-room and immediately a number of men came -forward to speak to him. Great sympathy was expressed and Fellman acted -the rôle of the injured party to perfection. - -The banker took a seat at a table. Our hero had followed in and -secured a seat several tables distant. He had worked up in the rôle -of an old gentleman. He did it well, and he was a perfect imitation -or counterfeit. Possibly no living person could have excelled or even -equaled him in his skill in this direction. - -A little time passed and quite a number of men gathered around -Fellman’s table, and a great many questions were asked and finally -there came the question: - -“Do you really believe your late partner is dead?” - -No one appeared to notice who had asked the question but Fellman -quickly replied: - -“Yes, he is dead. I have no doubt of his death.” - -There came a smile to Ike’s face--a smile of delight. He was a cute -reasoner, and he made up his mind at once that young Burlein was not -dead. Had the young man been dead Fellman he knew would have answered: -“No, he is not dead. He is only pretending to have committed suicide.” -And when he answered that he had no doubt of Burlein’s death, our hero -concluded that the original scheme had been carried out, and at once -there came the question: - -“Do you own a house out on Long Island?” - -Fellman’s face assumed a ghastly hue. He looked around and finally -demanded: - -“Who asked that question?” - -No one fathered the question, and Fellman appeared greatly perplexed. -An instant later, however, the question was repeated: - -“Do you own a house on Long Island?” - -All the party looked round to see who had asked the question, and -Fellman, in a tone seemingly of anger, but really of alarm, again -demanded: - -“Who asked that question?” - -There was a dead silence. - -“I’d like to know,” demanded Fellman, “who asked that question.” - -A voice said, “No matter who asked the question. Answer it.” - -Fellman leaped to his feet and pleaded: - -“Gentlemen, will you tell me who asked that question?” - -No one appeared willing or able to tell him. But the voice once more -put in: - -“Have you a house down on Long Island?” - -Fellman looked over to some of the other tables. No one appeared to -have put the question, but the voice again said: - -“Oh, you villain, you know very well the young man is not dead. Yes, -you do.” - -Fellman appeared like one confronted by an apparition. The perspiration -stood out on his face, and he said: - -“The scoundrel who says that is a liar.” - -The gentlemen who had gathered around one by one dropped away. They -appeared to think that a row was imminent, especially when the voice -repeated. - -“It’s a nice job you’ve put up.” - -It is hard to describe the effect of the strange voice on Fellman. -He did not suspect any supernatural agency, nor did he suspect -ventriloquism. He merely suspected that some person in the crowd was -shouting off the questions, and he believed that whoever it was the -party was representing the real sentiments of some people who had thus -expressed themselves concerning the mystery. He was a cunning man. -He did not propose to remain around and be “guyed” and he left the -lunch-room without even stopping to say good-day to his friend. - -Meantime our hero had gathered up all he needed to know. He was assured -that Burlein still lived and was beyond question an inmate of that -mysterious country house. - -Ike considered a long time, and finally decided upon his course of -action. He knew he could trace the affair down and might possibly -succeed in freeing young Burlein from confinement, but he knew the -full advantage of evidence. He calculated that Fellman had laid his -plans well and was well fortified for the carrying out of his scheme. -Ike had often heard of a well-known detective and he had evidence that -the officer was a square man. The boy knew that a fair reward would be -paid. Indeed Fellman had offered a reward of five thousand dollars for -his partner alive, or conclusive evidence of his death. - -Ike proceeded down to headquarters. He visited the detective quarters -and asked for the man of whom he had heard. He was answered in an -indifferent manner that the officer was out of town. - -“When will he be in town?” - -“I don’t know.” - -The party who made the answers was a clerk. Another man came from a -private office and asked: - -“Did you inquire for Murray?” - -“I did.” - -“You wish to see him personally?” - -“I do.” - -“He will be here in about an hour.” - -“Can I wait here?” - -“Yes.” - -Ike sat down and not more than fifteen minutes passed when a very -plain-looking man, but who possessed a clear gray eye and who was -very quiet in his manner, entered the office. The clerk spoke to the -newcomer and pointed to Ike. The lad was a little on his ear. He had -not fancied the indifferent manner in which the clerk had announced him. - -“Do you wish to see me?” demanded the plain-looking man, stepping over -to where our hero was seated. - -“Are you Detective Murray?” - -“My name is Murray.” - -“Well, mebbe you are the man I want to see. I don’t know, it depends -how smart you are.” - -“I am not very smart,” said the officer with a smile. “All I know I’ve -learned by hard work.” - -“Then you are pretty smart,” said Ike, “since you admit that there are -some people who know something and that you don’t know it all, like -that young man there.” - -“What is your business?” demanded the detective in a rather sharp tone. - -“Come with me and I will tell you all about it,” said Ike. - -The detective meditated a moment. He was a busy man usually, and he had -no time to listen to long romances. - -“If you have anything to say speak out, lad. I am very busy.” - -“Come with me and I will let you on to the job of your life.” - -Murray looked the youth over, and being necessarily a keen reader of -faces he concluded our hero was a very bright youngster, as he put it. - -Ike had spoken in a low tone, and after an interval the detective said: - -“Come into the office with me.” - -“No, not there.” - -“Why not?” - -“Don’t waste time, sir; time is money.” - -“What do you want me to do?” - -“Go with me.” - -“Where?” - -“Anywhere away from sharp ears.” - -“Come along.” - -The detective went with our hero down to the street and said: - -“Now talk up.” - -“No.” - -“What now?” - -“We must sit down. I’ve got a long story to tell you.” - -“See here, lad, if you fool me I’ll cuff you.” - -“All right; I’ll chance the cuffing.” - -The detective led the way to a hotel reading-room, both sat down and -the officer asked: - -“Does this suit you?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then go ahead.” - -“You know about the disappearance of young Alfred Burlein?” - -“Yes.” - -The officer was all attention at once. - -“What do you think of it, sir?” - -“Did you lead me around here to ask me that question?” - -“Yes.” - -“I’ve a mind to cuff you.” - -“No, you will not cuff me.” - -“You deserve a cuffing.” - -“If you will answer my question you will change your mind.” - -“I will?” - -“Yes.” - -“What have you to say?” - -“Answer my question.” - -“Make your question definite.” - -“Do you believe he is dead?” - -“I do.” - -“Well, he is not dead.” - -“Oh, he only skipped, eh?” - -The officer was getting down to business. - -“No, he didn’t skip.” - -“He didn’t?” - -“No.” - -“Then where is he?” - -“_He was kidnaped._” - -The officer laughed. - -“Don’t laugh too soon. I am not saying things for fun.” - -“Do you know what you are talking about?” - -“I do.” - -“And you say he was abducted?” - -“Yes.” - -“By whom?” - -“His partner.” - -“Are you giving me a theory?” - -“No.” - -“What then?” - -“I know what I am talking about.” - -“Then talk plain.” - -Ike started in and told his story. The detective listened attentively -and when the narrative was concluded he said: - -“You are a romancer.” - -“You think so?” - -“Yes.” - -“I can prove my words.” - -“Do so.” - -“I know what you doubt.” - -“You do?” - -“I do.” - -“Well?” - -At that moment the detective made a slash at a fly, but there was no -fly there, and Ike asked: - -“What are you doing? Are you trying to cuff me?” - -“No, I am brushing away that fly.” - -“Have you got ’em?” demanded Ike, assuming a very serious tone. - -“Got what?” - -“You know.” - -The fly buzzed again and the detective, who was thinking intensely and -deeply absorbed, unconsciously made a second dash at the fly. - -“You have got ’em,” said Ike. - -“Got what?” - -“Oh, you know. You think there are flies in the room. Yes, you’ve -got ’em. If you will find a fly in this room I’ll give you a hundred -dollars.” - -The detective stared and the next instant a little dog barked at the -officer’s feet, but there was no dog there. Then a rattlesnake rattled -right under his hand. The officer knew well the sound of a rattler, but -he was on to that last, and he said: - -“Boy, you are a wonder.” - -“You believe me now?” - -“Yes, I do.” - -“Good enough; every word I have told you is the truth; and now I’ve got -a plan.” - -“Name it.” - -“I gave Fellman a scare.” - -“Well?” - -“He will go to his house down on Long Island. He will want to make sure -that his man is there.” - -“You are a wonderfully keen lad.” - -“I’ve got this business down fine, and now are you prepared to leave -town?” - -“Yes.” - -“We will go down town and lay for Fellman. He will leave on the -afternoon train for Long Island, I’ll bet a big apple.” - -“I will meet you in half an hour,” said Murray. - -“All right, sir.” - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -Half an hour later Ike was standing on the corner agreed upon when he -saw a country gawk approach. The latter stepped up to our hero and -asked for a certain street. Ike was thrown off for an instant, but ere -he answered he fell to the truth and said: - -“Bully, old man; you’re good. It’s a great scheme.” - -Murray had assumed the guise of a country gawk and he was amazed at the -lad’s wonderful quickness in going under his disguise. He arranged a -few signals with Ike, and then the two separated. Ike went down to the -vicinity of Fellman’s office. He had changed his own disguise before -visiting the detective. He hung around for over an hour and then saw -Fellman come forth. The banker carried a small traveling satchel and -Ike muttered: - -“Just as I expected; he is on his way for his house down on Long -Island, and we will have young Burlein back in New York inside -twenty-four hours.” - -Our hero fell to the trail of Fellman. The man went to Roosevelt -street ferry and took the Hunter’s Point boat for Long Island City. -As Ike followed on the boat, the country gawk ran against him and Ike -passed the signal, and a little later all hands were on the train for -Smithtown. - -Probably few people outside of Long Islanders are aware that on Long -Island there are spots as wild as in any other part of the country, as -far as isolation is concerned. Indeed wild deer still roam in some of -these recesses despite the fact that some parts of the island are so -densely inhabited. - -At Smithtown Fellman alighted and there was a buckboard waiting for -him. The man had found means of communication or had expected to go -down ere he got the strange intimation in the restaurant. - -It was evening when the train arrived and Murray said to Ike: - -“Boy, I know Long Island pretty well.” - -“That’s lucky.” - -“Are you tough?” - -“Well, I am not tender.” - -“Then we can follow that buckboard afoot.” - -“Good enough.” - -The man Fellman was driven off at a pretty lively gait, but Ike and the -detective kept along pretty well until they got beyond the hard roads -of the village, when the detective said: - -“Now we can take it easy. We can follow more leisurely--no trouble to -follow the trail.” - -There had been a shower and a wagon track through the deep sand could -be easily identified, and besides a horse could not be driven at such a -rattling gait as when on the hard road. - -The detective and Ike were soon in the woods and dense brush, and it -was a pretty hard walk through the sand, and occasionally the detective -would ask: - -“Are you tired, lad?” - -“No,” Ike would answer. - -Thus they plodded along for about three hours, having little difficulty -in holding the track. Occasionally the detective would draw his -flashlight and examine the track, and then they would push on. - -It was just before midnight when they came to a place where a house -stood alone on a side lane, and the chances were there was not another -house within a mile in either direction. The detective remarked: - -“That man could have ridden in the cars to a nearer station.” - -“It is possible he had a motive,” said Ike. - -“Yes, I reckon he did, and now we can sit down and rest, for there is -the house down on Long Island that you alluded to when working your -ventriloquism.” - -The two sat down on a fallen tree and the detective said: - -“If your calculations prove correct, young fellow, your fortune is -made.” - -“My calculations will all prove correct.” - -“I believe they will. You certainly did calculate well as to the -movements of Fellman, and you have done so well I’d like to know your -idea of his scheme.” - -“I have an idea.” - -“Let’s hear it.” - -“Burlein is an open-hearted, trustful young man, to begin with.” - -“From what you say I think you are right.” - -“Now, then, my idea is this: Possibly Fellman has speculated with -Burlein’s money or with the money of the special partner, and he has -gotten up this scheme to cover his own guilt and put all the opprobrium -on young Burlein. That is one idea.” - -“That is one idea?” - -“Yes.” - -“You have another?” - -“Yes.” - -“Let’s hear all your ideas, my lad.” - -“It is possible that Fellman loves the same girl, and wants to blast -Burlein’s character, and win her and her fortune. That is my idea -number two.” - -“Now what is your third idea?” - -Ike meditated a moment and then said: - -“A bowler’s third ball is generally the surest.” - -“Well?” - -“I rather think my third idea is the one that will prove correct. I’ve -studied Fellman pretty well. He is not a man to squander money. I -believe he has put up a game to rob Burlein and the special partner, -and if it hadn’t been for a lucky accident he would have succeeded.” - -“Ike, I think your third ball is the sure one.” - -“You believe it is a scheme of robbery?” - -“Yes.” - -“How could he work it?” - -“Oh, he could hold poor Burlein a prisoner for years, and in time kill -him.” - -“Then we are just in time to bust the game.” - -“Yes, I think so.” - -“He may attempt to remove Burlein.” - -“All right, we will be on to all his movements. And now you are pretty -well rested?” - -“I am.” - -“You are a bold lad.” - -“Well, I am always ready to take chances in a good cause.” - -“Do you think you could get into that house?” - -“Easy.” - -“Are you willing to try it?” - -“Sure.” - -“I’d go myself, but I believe you can work that end of it better than I -can.” - -The two moved down toward the old house. Under the shed was the -buckboard, so they were assured that Fellman, no matter what his game, -had at least put up there for the night. They were standing quite -close to the fence surrounding the house when Murray said: - -“See there!” - -A dark object was seen stealing toward them. - -“It’s a Siberian,” said Ike. - -“Hang the beast,” muttered Murray; “we will have to betray ourselves in -knocking him over.” - -“Don’t you believe it; just leave him to me.” - -“Will you tackle that beast?” - -“Will I? You just watch me, and don’t you have any fear. I’ve got a -good way for serving out doggies, big and little.” - -“But I cannot let you face that fellow.” - -The dog had approached very leisurely, and he was an immense fellow as -he loomed up in the darkness. - -“I’ll fix him,” whispered Ike quickly. “You stand back.” - -The dog came quite near and then suddenly, with a growl and a snappish -bark, leaped forward, and the next instant Ike had him by the neck and -turned him over on his back. The great beast lay silent and helpless. - -“Got a cord?” asked Ike. - -The detective was amazed, but produced a strong cord and Ike -deliberately tied the great hound as a butcher ties a calf for market. -He had also bitted him so he could not make any noise, and then rising -and facing the detective inquired: - -“Well, how’s that?” - -“Are you a human being?” demanded the officer. - -“I am pretty human,” answered Ike. - -“How did you do that?” - -“Oh, that’s my way of serving out ugly doggies.” - -“Tell me how you did it.” - -“I’ll tell you, but I won’t show you. My master was the greatest -electrician that ever attempted to chain down lightning. He made a -machine for me--the only one in the world. I can close my hands on -anything living and give them a shock that paralyzes them. I just -paralyzed the dog; that’s all.” - -“Could you paralyze a man?” - -“I reckon so.” - -Ike suddenly seized the detective by the two wrists and the officer -writhed and squirmed, and would have fallen helpless on the sand had -Ike not let up on him. - -“Ike,” he exclaimed when released, “I’ll give you a thousand dollars -for that contrivance.” - -“Thank you, captain, but it is not for sale. I’ve got out of too many -bad scrapes with that little machine, and I feared I had lost it when I -was taken aboard the schooner; but they didn’t search me, and I am all -right.” - -“Can I get one like it?” - -“Not unless I break my promise. So your chances are very slim, captain.” - -“I reckon with that machine it’s safe to let you go in the house.” - -“I reckon it is.” - -“What will I do while you’re gone if another dog starts up?” - -“Shoot, captain, shoot; that is all you can do. And now for a go inside -that house.” - -Murray at Ike’s suggestion went around to the rear and took up a -position on the roof of a shed where he could lie low and watch the -house, and then our hero made his attempt to enter. He encountered -little difficulty. He managed to get on the roof of one of the -outbuildings. He had seen a light in one of the rooms and knew that -some one was moving in the old house. He got in through an attic window -and moved cautiously toward the stairs leading to the floors below. -He got down one flight and arrived opposite the room in which he had -seen a light, and in which, as he stole forward, he heard voices. He -peeped into the room and made a very startling discovery. There were -two men in the room. One was Fellman and the other the banker’s exact -counterpart. In fact, on the instant Ike decided that number two was a -twin brother. - -The two men were sitting opposite each other and were talking in a calm -and easy manner. He heard Fellman say: - -“So your people have no suspicion?” - -“None whatever.” - -“They may find out you have a prisoner.” - -“I think not.” - -“But suppose they should?” - -“I will say it is an insane relative I am taking care of.” - -“That might do, but the story will get out.” - -“Well, suppose it does. We can move him; but it will be a long time -before any one will find out I have a prisoner here.” - -“Where have you got him concealed?” - -“Suppose I don’t tell you?” - -“As you please.” - -“It is better that even you should not know. You may talk in your -sleep.” - -“One question: suppose detectives should come out here?” - -“Let ’em come.” - -“Are you certain they cannot pipe your prison?” - -“I am dead certain. They could more easily find his body were he in a -secret grave.” - -“Herman, I have reason to believe that I am suspected.” - -“I thought when I saw you last that you said it was impossible for -you to be suspected, and that if I kept my prisoner close it was not -possible that you ever could be suspected.” - -“Well, that is what I thought, but since something strange has -occurred.” - -“What?” - -Fellman told Herman what had occurred, and the latter laughed and said: - -“Is that all?” - -“Yes.” - -“You have no fear. There are two ways to account for what occurred. -In the first place you are nervous. It may be a freak of your own -imagination.” - -“Impossible! I am not a fool.” - -“Then some man who thinks he is smart suspects, but he has no evidence. -No, you have nothing to fear, and were they on your track they can -never prove anything.” - -“Suppose they should trail down to this place? Remember, the question -came: ‘Have you a place down on Long Island?’” - -“All right; let them come down here. It will do them no good; indeed, -it will relieve you of all further suspicion. I’d advise you to invite -them down here. I defy the devil himself to find my prisoner.” - -“How is he?” - -“He takes it hard; between you and me, he will not stand it long.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“He will not stand it.” - -“He will die?” - -“He will.” - -“And I will be a murderer.” - -“Nonsense! You only made him a prisoner. He was putting up a job on you -and you defended yourself, that is all. How about the money?” - -“That end of it is all right.” - -“How much do you receive?” - -“Don’t ask me.” - -“I think I’ve a right to know. It’s an even divide, you know.” - -Fellman fixed a queer look on his double, and his co-conspirator. - -“Do you mean treachery?” he asked. - -“No; nor do I mean to be the fool of any man.” - -“I see now.” - -“What do you see?” - -“I know why you will not let me know where your prisoner is concealed.” - -“You make a mistake. I withhold the place of his concealment as a -matter of precaution only.” - -Ike overheard every word that was spoken. Indeed he thought he had -overheard enough. He did not think it was worth while to take any more -chances at that time, and he made his way out of the house and returned -to where the detective lay on the shed-roof. The two walked off in the -woods and Ike said: - -“I had this thing all down correct. My third ball was the true one.” - -Ike related all that he had overheard--related it all word for word, -and when he had concluded the detective said: - -“Well, lad, you have done a marvelous bit of detective work. I can -hardly realize that it is not all a romance, and I am an old hand at -the business.” - -“What shall we do?” - -“We will go very slow.” - -“But do not forget what Herman said about the young man’s dying.” - -“Yes.” - -“I am thinking of that.” - -“Can we unearth his place of concealment?” - -“Can we? Well, if we don’t we are a pair of ninnies, that’s all. I am -thinking how we had better proceed.” - -“I can tell you.” - -“Go it.” - -“Let’s find the young man and release him at once.” - -“No, no; that will not do. I have a big rôle for you to play.” - -“I’ll play it well if I can, and next time I’ll play my third ball -first.” - -“That will be a good scheme.” - -“I shall return to New York in the morning, Ike.” - -“All right, sir.” - -“I will leave you here to watch Herman.” - -“All right, sir.” - -“You may get on to the young man’s prison place.” - -“I may.” - -“In the meantime I will arrange for a great close in on Fellman. But -there is one party I must see. We want points.” - -“I’ll attend to my end of it here. I’ll watch Mr. Herman.” - -The detective could not return until morning, and they did not wish to -remain in the vicinity of the house, so they went off into the woods -and found a shooting station on the grounds of one of the great gun -clubs, when Murray exclaimed: - -“By ginger, lad, I am acquainted with half the members of that gun -club, if we can only find their clubhouse. Let’s try; we can get a good -bed and a breakfast in the morning.” - -It was just a little after midnight when our hero and the detective -started to find the gun clubhouse, and they were proceeding along -talking in low tones and were in a dense growth of brush and wood on -the verge of a lake, when suddenly both were brought to a stand, and -paralyzed for a moment by hearing a succession of unearthly yells. - -“Great Scott!” cried the detective, “some one is getting murdered.” And -he ran forward in the direction whence the piercing screams had come. A -little way on he came to an opening where he halted and Ike joined him. - -“Look there, lad.” - -Ike did look, and just before them across an open space of about a -hundred yards was an old farmhouse, as it appeared under the moonlight, -for the clouds had rolled away and the moon had come forth. On the -porch of the house sat four men, and as Ike and the detective appeared -there arose a wild chorus of laughter. - -“It’s the clubhouse,” said Detective Murray. - -“And one of the men gave the yells,” said Ike. - -“Yes, the rascals have been drinking wine, and have been shouting in -their wild inebriety.” - -Ike stood a moment considering, and finally said in a pensive tone: - -“I could give all those fellows the _horrors_.” - -“You could?” - -“I could.” - -“How?” - -“Well, I know how.” - -“It might do ’em good.” - -“You know them?” - -“Yes, I recognize the voice of one of them.” - -“Would you like me to do him some good?” - -“I hardly know what to say.” - -“You can have some great fun to-night, captain, if you want it.” - -“I can?” - -“Yes.” - -“What’s your plan?” - -“You go over there and join your friend. I won’t go, but I’ll provide a -great treat for you.” - -Murray as a rule was a very serious sort of man, but he had been a -witness to a little of Ike’s marvelous powers, and he did think it -might be very amusing. But he said: - -“It may be risky, Ike.” - -“How?” - -“Those fellows always have their guns at hand. If anything unusual -should show up, they might take a notion to shoot.” - -“They will never shoot me. They will all think they are ‘_called for_.’ -What’s your friend’s name?” - -“His name is Atwood.” - -“Is he a married man?” - -“Yes.” - -“What is his first name?” - -“Tom.” - -“You are sure of your man?” - -“Oh, yes.” - -“All right; go over and join them and prepare yourself for the treat of -your life. And your friend will get the greatest scare of his life.” - -“Don’t press it too hard, Ike.” - -“No, but I’ll learn him a trick, you bet.” - -Murray started across the opening and had proceeded about fifty yards -when the men on the porch espied him and one of them cried: - -“Hello, there’s a game thief, as sure as you are born.” - -Up jumped the man and a moment later he reappeared with his gun; -but the steward ran out and caught the gun away from him, and the -detective, who had kept right on, got near enough to call out: - -“Hello, there!” - -The men were up to mischief, and one of them exclaimed: - -“Say, Atwood, there is your wife on the other end of the telephone.” - -The detective advanced and the four men approached him, peering at him -under the moonlight, and as he drew nearer he called out: - -“Hello, Atwood, old man! How are you?” - -Atwood stared a moment and then asked: - -“Who are you?” - -“Don’t you recognize me?” - -“No, but come and have a glass of wine all the same. I know you are a -friend of mine.” - -“Sure.” - -The detective stepped on the piazza and Atwood grasped him and dragged -him into the house under the gaslight, and then exclaimed, as he -cordially shook the detective’s hand: - -“Why, Murray, you rascal! where on earth did you come from? Here, have -a glass of wine.” - -The party were all pretty well under the influence of wine, but none -of them were too far over, only full of wine and fun. Murray was not -a drinking man as a rule, but after his long walk he thought he would -take one glass, and he did so, and ate several sandwiches, as there -were quite a number on a plate. - -“Well, old man, where did you come from?” - -“Oh, I had business a little way over, and started to walk to the -depot, but lost my way.” - -“Well, you will stay here to-night.” - -“You bet I will.” - -“We’ve got a good bed for you, old man.” - -Atwood had introduced the detective all round, and the men adjourned -to the porch again and were all sitting there enjoying their cigars -when suddenly a scream was heard--a scream resembling a female in great -distress. - -The men all started and after a moment inquired: - -“What’s that? Did you hear it?” - -They all heard it except Murray, who coolly asked: - -“What is the matter, gentlemen?” - -“What is the matter?” repeated Atwood; “why, didn’t you hear it?” - -“Hear what?” - -“A woman’s scream.” - -The detective laughed and said: - -“Tom, I guess you’ve got ’em.” - -“Got what?” - -“Got ’em bad, old man.” - -“Didn’t you hear it?” - -“I reckon you were the only man who heard anything, Tom.” - -The others of the party began to laugh. They wanted to make out they -didn’t hear, and at any rate they were prepared to make it merry for -Atwood. All hands protested they had not heard anything, and finally -Atwood said: - -“You are all deaf and dumb with wine. Hang it, it was a wild cat I -heard as plain as though I had stepped on its tail.” - -“I guess you did, Atty, old boy,” said Murray. - -The men resumed their seats and were talking over the scream Tom Atwood -had heard, when suddenly there came a voice, as though some one stood -in the doorway of the cottage, and the voice appeared like a groan. All -the men heard the groans and they appeared a little bit dazed, and one -of them said: - -“By ginger, gentlemen, it looks to me as though the ghosts had come -back.” - -“Is the house haunted?” asked Murray. - -“Is it? Well, I’ll tell you. This house was built in old colonial -times. Several people were murdered in this house by the Indians and it -is said that during the revolutionary war a crew from a pirate schooner -made a raid here and killed a beautiful young lady. You can see now -where a tomahawk stuck, and also the hole where a bullet lodged. In -fact, before we made our alterations here there were bullet marks to be -seen all over the house.” - -“Has it ever been reported to be haunted?” - -“Yes; and no one would live here, and we bought the place cheap.” - -“It would appear that the stories about its being haunted are -confirmed.” - -Even while the men were talking the groans were heard again, and one of -the party said: - -“Hang it, I don’t want to sleep in that house to-night. I’ll sling a -hammock out here under the trees.” - -Atwood spoke up and said: - -“I’ll sleep in the house, you bet. I ain’t going to take the chances of -pneumonia because I fear a few walking apparitions.” - -Tom Atwood appeared to be very brave and Murray said: - -“It is a ghost, Tom.” - -“I don’t care, I like ghosts.” - -“And you are going to sleep in the house?” - -“Yes, I am.” - -One of the party suggested: - -“Suppose we all sleep out here and let Tom sleep in the house all alone -by himself.” - -“All right,” came the unanimous response. - -Murray said: - -“Oh, Tom is only pretending. He daren’t sleep in the house alone.” - -“I’ll bet you fifty I dare.” - -Murray was startled at this instant when a voice sounded close to his -ear saying, “Take the bet.” - -“What will you do?” asked the detective. - -“I’ll bet fifty I dare sleep in the house all alone.” - -We will here state that the steward of the club and his little -family occupied a little rear house. The main building was reserved -exclusively for the club members. - -“You’ll bet fifty you sleep in the house alone?” - -“Yes, I will.” - -“I’ll take you, Atwood,” said the detective. - -“And I’ll take you for fifty,” called another of the party, and still -another offered to take the bet. - -Atwood accepted every bet, and in the meantime no more sounds had been -heard. But the moment the bets were all arranged again there came a -renewal of the groans. - -“That’s a ghost, sure,” said one. - -“Yes, but as it is the ghost of a pretty woman Tom is glad to sleep -alone in the house. He always had an eye for beauty and he thinks he’ll -catch a glimpse of the ghost.” - -“No, but I’ll catch a hundred and fifty dollars of you fellows’ money,” -said Tom. - -“You’re dead sure of that, eh?” - -“Yes, I am.” - -“I’ll press the bet,” said the detective, “and make it a hundred you -don’t sleep in the house from two a.m. until daylight.” - -“I’ll take it.” - -The men sat there discussing the remarkable sounds. Tom Atwood, as it -was afterward learned, had been informed that when the wind came from -a certain direction pretty strange sounds were often heard. He did not -tell the latter fact to his companions, but let them talk and wonder -what it all meant, and congratulated himself upon his easy winning of -two hundred dollars, and he said: - -“I did not know you fellows were so superstitious.” - -“Oh, you are awful brave.” - -“I am willing to take a few more bets.” - -“I’ll bet you a basket,” said Murray. - -“I’ll take it, old man. You appear to think I am afraid of ghosts.” - -“You haven’t slept in the house yet, whether you are afraid of ghosts -or not.” - -“I will.” - -“Oh, yes, you will lay around out here until near daylight.” - -“What do you want me to do?” - -“Go to bed.” - -“All right, I’ll go.” But at that instant there came a scream. It -appeared to come from some one standing right in the doorway of the -cottage. The door was in the center of the house, and the men were -seated on either side of it. - -“Go in and go to bed,” said Murray. - -Tom, however, was a little shaky. There was something fearfully human -in the sound of that voice, although very uncanny. - -“Go in, Tom,” urged Murray, and the man made a step toward the door, -when a voice demanded: - -“Tom! Tom Atwood! is that you, and is this the way _you come down to -the club for rest_?” - -Tom Atwood’s hair almost stood on end. He recoiled and glared, and -Murray called out: - -“Hello! That’s the voice of a ghost from New York. You lose the bets, -Tom. You’re working a fraud on us. You didn’t mean to sleep alone in -that house, you rascal.” - -The other men called out: - -“Well, this is a nice scheme, old man. You didn’t tell us Mrs. Atwood -was coming down.” - -Tom made no answer, but just stood, not like one gazing upon an -apparition, but like a man confronted by a more frightful reality, and -we will explain. - -Tom Atwood was at home a professed temperance man, and when he went -down to the club he generally made up for his total abstinence during -his sojourn at home. His wife, as was well known, was a hater of strong -drink, and Tom pretended to strictly conform to her prejudices, and he -stood there paralyzed, believing his wife had suspected him and had -paid a secret visit to the club to find him out. Indeed, instead of -playing a fraud on his fellow members he suspected they were putting up -a little job on him, and that they were all aware of the presence of -his wife in the house, and after he thought he knew why they had all -been so liberal in “setting ’em up” until he got full as a tick. - -“Go in, Tom,” said Murray. - -When the detective spoke to him the man decided that he could solve the -mystery. He could not only account for the presence of his wife, but -the presence of the detective down at the club was accounted for, and -with an oath he said: - -“Murray, I’ll get square with you.” - -“Come in here, Tom,” called a voice. - -“Follow the ghost,” cried all the men, who lost all their terror and -began to think the whole thing was a huge joke. - -“Come in, Tom,” said the voice. - -Tom looked around helplessly at his companions and then entered the -house, saying: - -“All right, Mary, I’m coming.” - -He did go in the house, and the men followed to peep at him and hear -him get a good tongue lashing; but in a few moments Atwood came back to -the stoop looking like a ghost himself. The sweat was pouring down his -face as he said in a distressed tone: - -“Gentlemen, this is no joke. On my honor, no one is in that house. What -does it all mean?” - -“Oh, your wife is playing hide and seek on you,” said one. - -“She is dodging you, old man; she’s here.” - -Atwood walked over to Murray and said: - -“Murray, you are my friend.” - -“I am.” - -“You will tell me the truth?” - -“I will.” - -“Did my wife come down here with you?” - -“No.” - -“Do you know that she is here?” - -“I know nothing about it.” - -“You will swear to that?” - -“I will.” - -Atwood’s face assumed the hue of death. A bright light shone out from -the hall of the cottage. The man stood right before the opening and his -features were fully revealed. He presented a pitiable sight, for he -was a good fellow and very fond of his wife, and a weird suspicion had -penetrated his mind. - -Again he addressed Murray saying: - -“You would not deceive me?” - -“On my honor I wouldn’t, Tom.” - -“And my wife did not come down here with you?” - -“She did not.” - -“And you do not know that she is really here?” - -“I do not.” - -“Boys, I am going to New York,” said Atwood. “Going if I walk every -step of the way.” - -At that moment there came a voice again. It sounded right from the -doorway as before, and it called another of the men by name. - -We will here state that Ike, the wonder, had learned the names of all -the men, and he made up his mind to let up on Tom Atwood and work one -or two of the others, and when the name of number two was called the -man leaped to his feet. He was a violent fellow when aroused. His gun -was standing near and he cried out: - -“I’ll shoot that ghost, living or dead.” - -The whole party made up their minds that a trick was being played. -The man, Bill, ran into the house and looked all around, but came out -without having found any one. - -“Say, fellows,” he said, “this has gone far enough. Let’s sift it to -the bottom.” - -All hands agreed, and it was arranged that one man should stand at -the front door, another at the rear, and that three others should -go through the house from room to room, guns in hand, and solve the -mystery. - -The plan was put in execution. One man went to a closet, opened the -door and fell back glaring in horror, for he was met by a scream -right in his ears which came from the closet. In the meantime one of -the other men had opened the wine-room door and he too encountered a -soul-thrilling scream. He ran shouting away, and the third man also had -an experience which caused him to rush out to the balcony. - -The mystery had not been solved. It was deeper than ever, and the men -were all greatly excited when Murray asked coolly: - -“What is the matter with you fellows?” - -“Don’t you hear the voice?” asked one. - -“No, I hear no voice.” - -“You don’t?” - -“No, I hear no ghostly voice such as you fellows are all jabbering -about.” - -“It’s strange.” - -“No, it isn’t strange. You’ve all got ’em. What kind of whiskey do you -keep here anyhow? Here you are going on like a lot of madmen. Take my -advice, go in and take a big glass of Appollinaris, and take a little -nervine. I tell you, boys, you’ve all got ’em, and you’ve got ’em bad, -too.” - -The men did go in and drink Vichy, and the steward, who had been -summoned, produced some valerian and they all took big doses and calmed -down. The voice was not heard again, and it became the mystery of -their lives. Indeed they all believed they “had ’em.” They were told -it had been a temporary epidemic of snake seeing, and the evidence to -each was so strong they were mystified, and inclined to believe it. It -was not until weeks afterward that Murray undeceived them, and then -he disclosed the truth to Tom Atwood, who was so deeply affected he -became melancholy over it. - -Murray determined to go to bed after the men had quieted down, and he -let Ike in at the window of his room and put him to bed. At an early -hour the lad was out and around, and at the breakfast he appeared as a -lad who brought a message to the detective. The latter invited him to -breakfast and then disclosed the fact that Ike was at work on a clew -for him, and secured the privilege of bed and lodgment for the boy -during such time as he remained there. He also bid Ike not to attempt -any more pranks for the time being. - -Later Murray went to New York. On the same train was the man Fellman, -and Murray had a chance to study his man all the way down on the train. - -Upon the arrival of the officer in New York he went direct to the -office of the gentleman, Mr. Smith, who was a special partner in the -banking business, and who was the father of the beautiful girl whom it -is known young Burlein was affianced to. - -The detective was shown into the merchant’s private office, and after -seating himself said: - -“I have come here, sir, on very important business.” - -“Your name, sir.” - -The detective passed over his card, and as it happened Mr. Smith had -heard of the officer and consequently was prepared to listen to him. - -“I wish to ask you a few questions, sir, and I trust you will answer -me freely and truly, and when I am through questioning you I have some -very startling intelligence to impart.” - -“I will answer you, sir, as far as I can.” - -“What amount have you, as a special partner, invested in the firm of -Fellman & Co.” - -“A quarter of a million.” - -“What do you know about Fellman?” - -“Very little. I invested in the concern because young Burlein had been -in my employ from boyhood, previous to his going into Wall street.” - -“Then you must have known him pretty well.” - -“I did.” - -“How much money did he have of his own?” - -“About fifty thousand dollars.” - -“How much money did Fellman have in the business?” - -“He had very little save his great experience as a banker. He was to -have put money in, but for some reason he could not dispose of his -securities, and I think he had but little cash in the concern.” - -“What is the present condition of the business?” - -“Every dollar is lost.” - -“How?” - -“We have every reason to believe by outside speculations on the part of -poor Alfred.” - -“And is there any indebtedness?” - -“No, I am the greatest loser.” - -“And what do you suppose tempted young Burlein?” - -“I do not know. I believed him the soul of honor, and he was a very -cautious young man. It was the surprise of my life. He was to have -married my daughter.” - -“Have you made an investigation of the affairs?” - -“No, I have pocketed my loss, as the saying goes.” - -“And you have accepted the statement of Fellman?” - -“Yes, sir, as Alfred has run away or destroyed himself, I am compelled -to accept his statement.” - -“Did it ever strike you, sir, that Fellman might be a villain?” - -“I know but little about him.” - -“And yet you did know young Burlein?” - -“I thought I did.” - -“You never saw anything in his conduct that would lead you to suspect -that he could have acted as it appears he has done?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Can you keep a secret?” - -“I can.” - -“Fellman is a villain. Young Burlein is an honest man, and his victim. -Not one penny was ever lost or squandered by the junior partner.” - -Mr. Smith started and gazed at the officer with a look of pleasant -amazement upon his face. His look of pleasure deepened as the detective -proceeded and unfolded his wonderful discoveries and told the story of -Nimble Ike. - -When the narrative was completed Mr. Smith had his points. He expressed -his delight, and further said: - -“When this matter is all concluded I will take care of this little -fellow, Isaac.” - -The detective’s interview with the great capitalist lasted several -hours, and when it was concluded the detective started for the country. - -On the same day that Murray visited the capitalist the latter, in -company with his lawyer, called upon Fellman. They found the man -walking up and down his office with an expression of great satisfaction -upon his face; but there followed a look of consternation when the -special partner announced the object of his visit, and the rogue -Fellman received the first intimation that his cunning scheme of -robbery was not going to prove such an easy and successful venture as -he supposed. - -While the events which we have described were transpiring in New York, -Ike was working his end of it down at the house on Long Island. The boy -discovered a cunning and ingenuity that were really marvelous. He had -telegraphed a certain request to the detective and then continued his -“piping” for facts. - -That evening Detective Murray arrived. He met Ike near the clubhouse -and the lad discovered that his friend had brought a magnificent hound -with him. - -“I got your telegram, Ike,” said the officer. - -“I see.” - -“I have brought one of the best hounds ever raised in this country--an -animal trained to trailing human beings.” - -“We will have use for him. This man, Herman Fellman, is a daring and -cunning man, and I have made a most startling discovery. He intends to -murder his prisoner in cold blood. I’ve been close on his track. He is -a man who talks to himself, and I overheard him muttering, and from -what he said I am sure he intends to do away with young Burlein, and I -believe he intends to do it to-night.” - -“We can get into the house and watch him.” - -“No need. He has several children, besides his wife. They are all -trained in villainy. We will never discover anything by watching him, -simply because the man would evade us, do away with his victim and then -defy us. We could get the proof against him and hang him, but hanging -that fellow would not bring Burlein back to life.” - -“Ike,” said Murray, “you are a born detective.” - -“I may become one. I’ve been thinking the matter over pretty seriously.” - -“You can go in with me, lad.” - -“We will talk that matter over later. What we want to do now is to -release Burlein.” - -“You have a plan?” - -“Yes, I have a plan, and it is to go about it in the most direct -manner.” - -“What do you propose?” - -“I propose to take possession of that house and then go to work at our -leisure. I am certain Burlein is concealed somewhere within a hundred -yards of that old ramshackle building. You and I can find out the -secret with the aid of your dog there.” - -“Suppose we fail?” - -“We can’t fail, or in other words we won’t fail; but one thing is -certain. We must find Burlein alive before midnight or it will be a -search for a dead man, for I tell you that scoundrel has decided to -murder him--yes, murder him to-night.” - -“And you propose we take possession of the house?” - -“I do; and we will make prisoners of every one in the building. Then -we will set the dog to work and with his aid we will find that secret -prison, or to-morrow it will be a grave.” - -“At what hour shall we start in?” - -“We will go down there at nine o’clock. We will go as tramps. We will -ask shelter. We will be refused, then we can provoke him into a row, -and quicker than lightning close in on every member of the family.” - -Murray meditated for a long time and then said: - -“I reckon your scheme is a good one.” - -We will here explain that Murray had disclosed to Atwood the mystery -of the strange noises. The effect upon the man had been so marked the -officer thought it best to relieve his mind, and after dinner our -hero amused the two or three men present from the city by giving them -some very remarkable exhibitions of his skill as a magician and a -ventriloquist, and all hands pronounced him the wonder of the age. - -At a little after eight o’clock Murray and our hero started for the -farmhouse and in due time arrived there. The man Herman was sitting -on the piazza. He was a powerful fellow--a great ignorant lout, but -undoubtedly, as the detective concluded, physically as strong as a -horse, and a man just ignorant enough in a violent passion to kill a -man. If there was a born murderer in appearance the fellow Herman was -the man. - -Murray and Ike approached the house. The hound had been left under a -hedge and as the two apparent tramps drew near Herman warned them off; -but the pretended “cheese eaters” would not obey, but walked straight -up to the porch. - -“What do you rascals want?” demanded Herman. - -“We are tired and hungry; we want food and lodging.” - -“You can’t get it here.” - -“Will you turn us away?” - -“Yes, I will.” - -“All right, we will sit down on your stoop awhile and rest, and you -will sell us a glass of milk.” - -“I will sell you nothing, and you cannot sit down on my stoop. Be off -with you.” - -Murray sat down and Ike followed suit. The owner of the cottage rose to -his feet, his face red with rage and his eyes blazing: - -“Did you hear me?” - -“Yes, we heard you.” - -“Go off.” - -“We are comfortable here.” - -The man, who as stated was a powerful fellow, made a spring at Murray, -when quick as lightning the old timer dealt him a blow with a billy -that brought him to his knees. He shouted murder, but the next instant -the darbies were on him, and then he wilted and became quiet, and in -less time than it takes to tell it the rest of the family were secured -and dragged into the house. - -Murray uttered a whistle and the hound came bounding forward. The -well-trained animal had waited for his signal with the seeming -intelligence of a human being. - -The detective let the dog smell a hat which he had brought with him and -gave the command: - -“Go find.” - -We could fill a book with accounts of extraordinary displays of -sagacity by dogs, and the detective had an animal as intelligent as -any beast ever started on a scent. The great brute scented around for -a few moments and then scratched at a door leading down to the cellar, -and once below he scented and scented, searching here and there, and -for a long time appeared to be at fault; and the detective remarked to -Ike, who stood by with a mask lantern in his hand: - -“He’s lost the trail, Ike.” - -“No, sir, he is only doubtful, that’s all. He is on the trail, just a -little perplexed. He’ll get there; you give him time.” - -“You talk as though you knew the dog.” - -“No, but I’ve been watching him. I know their habits, and I tell -you he’s just bothered a little, but you trust a hound like him to -untangle. He’ll get there, you can bet.” - -A little time and it appeared as though Ike had measured the dog just -right, for the animal went round and round, his nose almost rubbing -against the stone wall lining the cellar, and every time he came to -a certain spot he would stop and scent more particularly and then go -around again, and then Ike said: - -“Mr. Murray, the dog has accomplished all that instinct can do. Human -intelligence must go to his aid now.” - -“I don’t understand you, Ike.” - -“I’ll show you. Call off the dog.” - -Murray called off the hound and Ike went to the spot where the animal -had made his stop. He flashed his light on the wall and only the -ordinary surface that can be seen in any stone wall was apparently -presented, and Ike said: - -“I am bothered as well as the dog.” - -“I fear we’ll be compelled to torture that fellow upstairs into a -confession.” - -“He will never confess, you could kill him first. I know his breed.” - -Ike took a stick of wood and knocked on the wall and listened -carefully, and suddenly he bent his head down and listened more -acutely. Finally he picked up a spade lying near by and commenced to -pick at the mortar until at length he ejaculated: - -“It’s all right, we’ve got it.” - -He worked away and soon had a stone removed and a passage--a very small -passage--was disclosed. There was not room for a man to pass through, -but a child could. - -“You stay here,” said Ike. “I’ll crawl.” - -“Look out, lad; let me test the air. You do not know what you are -doing.” - -The detective drew a candle from his pocket, lit it and thrust it in -the opening. Ike watched, and after a moment said: - -“It’s all right,” and commenced to crawl in. - -The detective drew his pistol and stood guard at the opening, and he -was compelled to hold his hound by main force, for the animal sought to -crawl in after Ike, and the latter fact established to a certainty that -the prisoner was not far off. - -Ike crawled along and finally came to an opening. He thrust his lamp -forward, and a sight met his gaze that for an instant almost paralyzed -him. There before him, stretched upon a clammy bottom in a mess of -straw, lay the body of a man, and Ike decided that it was upon a dead -body he was gazing and cold chills ran through his heart as he muttered: - -“The scoundrels have murdered him and hidden his body here.” - -Even as the lad spoke, however, the apparently dead man moved and Ike -called out: - -“Is that you, Alfred Burlein?” - -A pale-faced man--so pale that he looked like a moving corpse--half -rose and glanced toward the spot whence the voice came. Ike flashed -the light in his face and recognized young Burlein, and called out: - -“It’s all right. I am here.” - -“Who?” demanded the poor prisoner in a feeble voice. - -“The little fraud who tried to knock you out of another tenner.” - -Even as our hero uttered the words he mentally added: “I said I’d get -those words back on him.” - -Ike got into the place and soon released young Burlein, who had been -bound and strapped to a stake driven far down in the soil. - -Burlein attempted to ask questions, but Ike said: - -“No time to explain now. We’ve got to get you out of here.” - -The lad made an examination of the surroundings and finally reached the -conclusion that it was an old cistern, an old ice house, or possibly -an old vault. Evidently it had been closed from without and Herman had -made the entrance through which Ike had come. - -“How did he get you in here?” asked Ike. “He never carried you through -that entrance.” - -“No, he let me down from the top and then closed the entrance over.” - -“Oh, I see. Well, that is the way we will get you out.” - -Our hero left his lantern with Burlein and crawled back and reported. -Then he with Murray’s aid located the side of the wall, fixed the -distance with the two outer corners, and then went out again. They -located the point above where the opening terminated in the cellar, and -then paced the distance, and soon dug down to the trap cover. Finding a -ladder they descended and a little later Burlein was raised to the open -air. His strength quickly returned and he was able to walk with the -detective and our hero over to the clubhouse. On the way he explained -that the little food he had received had been brought to him by a child -who had crawled through the same opening by which Ike had crept. - -Explanations followed all round and Burlein could not find words to -express his gratitude to our little hero, who was reluctant to listen -to the words of praise and thanks that were showered upon him. - -The following morning the detective took the town constable with him -and went over to the farmhouse and carefully examined with Ike the -ingenious methods the man Herman had adopted to hide the two entrances -to the old vault, and even Murray admitted that if it had not been for -Ike’s persistent confidence he would have been baffled. - -The man Herman was placed under guard, the constable and the gamekeeper -from the club standing guard, and on the very first train Murray, our -hero and Burlein started for New York. - -Burlein went direct to his rooms, all hands agreeing to meet at -Mr. Smith’s office at eleven o’clock. At the time named all hands -were there. Murray had gone earlier and had explained the startling -discoveries to the merchant. At eleven o’clock, as stated, the parties -all met in the banker’s office and were stowed away in a little inner -room, and a little later Fellman arrived with his counsel, all shysters -well known around New York. - -After a little preliminary talk Mr. Smith said: - -“Mr. Fellman, I am not wholly satisfied with your statement.” - -The shysters spoke for Fellman and in an independent tone said: - -“That is for your own discomfort, sir. We are not responsible for the -acts of the scoundrel who not only swindled you but my innocent and -confiding client, Mr. Fellman.” - -“No, I am not satisfied,” said Mr. Smith, “and I wish a gentleman in -whom I have much confidence to exchange a few words with you.” - -A moment later Murray entered the office and addressing the lawyer who -was acting for Fellman said: - -“How far, sir, are you implicated in this fraud?” - -“How dare you?” fumed the lawyer. - -Murray showed his badge. - -“Oh, I see!” ejaculated the lawyer with a sneer. “You wish to scare us, -eh? You mean to bulldoze us--blackmail us.” - -“You didn’t answer my question.” - -“No, sir, I repudiate the insinuations of fraud in behalf of my client.” - -“You do?” - -“I do, sir.” - -“Well, we’ll see.” - -Murray gave a signal and Alfred Burlein entered the room. If a ghost -had stalked in the effect could not have been more striking. Fellman -and his lawyer both looked like ghosts. - -Murray again addressed Fellman’s lawyer. - -“You are his counsel?” - -“Well, he called me in, but I did not understand.” - -“Oh, I see, you are prepared to desert a sinking ship. That’s -all right, you can clear decks first, though. And now here is a -proposition: Fellman is to confess, make restitution and leave the -country with his brother in forty-eight hours or take the consequences -of several of the most daring crimes. What will he do?” - -The lawyer looked at his client and the latter asked: - -“Am I to be permitted to go?” - -“Yes, simply because I believe it better to have scoundrels like you -and yours out of the country--better than to have you in jail, for you -might come forth and commit greater crimes.” - -“We accept your offer,” said the lawyer, after a few moments’ -conference with his trembling client. - -The settlement was made, and within forty-eight hours Fellman, with -his brother Herman and the latter’s family, sailed away from New York -forever. - -Ike was well rewarded and Mr. Smith offered to take him into his -business and make a merchant of him, but our hero answered: - -“No, sir; I thank you, but I am going to become a detective.” - -Ike returned to Mrs. Pell. He had made money and he provided a nice -little home, and his prospects were brilliant under an arrangement he -made with Detective Murray, to whom he had demonstrated not only his -remarkable skill as a ventriloquist but also his more than wonderful -keenness in detective work. - -Our story is complete. But in the near future we propose in a new -story to relate the wonderful adventures of Nimble Ike as a detective, -wherein, as Detective Murray’s aid, he performed detective feats in -which he utilized his wonderful gift and his extraordinary intelligence. - -THE END. - - * * * * * - -_MRS. WINSLOW’S Soothing Syrup_ _FOR CHILDREN TEETHING._ - -Greatly facilitates the process of teething by softening the gums -and reducing all inflammation. Will allay =_all pain_= and spasmodic -action, and is - -_=Sure to Regulate the Bowels=_. - -Depend upon it, mothers, it will give rest to yourselves and - -_=Relief and Health to your Infants=_. - -We have put up and sold this article for over sixty years, and can -say in confidence and truth of it what we have never been able to -say of any other medicine: never has it failed in a single instance -to effect a cure when timely used. Never did we know an instance -of dissatisfaction by any one who used it. On the contrary, all -are delighted with its operations, and speak in terms of highest -commendation of its magical effects and =_medical virtues_=. We speak -in this matter “what we do know” after years of experience, and pledge -our reputation for the fulfillment of what we here declare. In almost -every instance, where the infant is suffering from pain and exhaustion, -relief will be found in fifteen or twenty minutes after the syrup is -administered. - -This valuable preparation has been =_used with never-failing success in -thousands of cases_=. It not only relieves the child from pain, but - -_=Invigorates the Stomach and Bowels=_. - -MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP corrects acidity and gives tone and -energy to the whole system. It will almost instantly relieve griping in -the bowels and wind colic. We believe it =_the best and surest remedy_= -in the world in all cases of - -_=Diarrhœa In Children=_, - -whether arising from teething or any other cause. - -We would say to every mother who has a child suffering from any of the -foregoing complaints, do not let your prejudices, nor the prejudices -of others, stand between your suffering child and the relief that will -be sure--yes, absolutely sure--to follow the use of this medicine if -timely used. Full directions for using will accompany each bottle. -TWENTY-FIVE CENTS A BOTTLE. - -=_None genuine unless the fac-simile of CURTIS & PERKINS, New York, is -on the outside wrapper. Sold by Druggists throughout the world._= - -=_MOTHERS_= will find MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP the Best Remedy to -use for their children =_during the Teething period_=. - - * * * * * - -“OLD SLEUTH’S OWN” SERIES. - -Each book in the following list is written by that famous writer “Old -Sleuth,” and is for sale by every newsdealer for 10 cents, or they will -be sent by mail, postpaid, for 10 cents each, or six books for 50 cts. -Address all orders to J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING CO., 67 Rose St., New -York. - - =10--Yankee Rue=, the Ex-Pugilist Detective. - =11--Cool Tom=, the Sailor Boy Detective. - =12--Aggravating Joe=, the Prince of Fun and Mischief. - =13--A Clever Boy Detective.= A Tale of Magic and Ventriloquism. - =14--A League of Three=; or, A Boy’s Detective Stratagems. - =15--Woodchuck Jerry=; or, The Terror of the Town. - =16--A Straight-out Detective=; or, New York under a Flashlight. - A Tale of Wonderful Incidents. - =17--Three Little Tramps=; or Footing It to the West. - =18--The Little Colonel=; or, Fun in and Around Sea Serpent Lake. - =19--Jack the Juggler=; or the Wonderful Boy Hypnotist. - =20--The Runaway=; or, How He Got into West Point. - =21--The Three Boy Detectives=; or, The Story of Three Daring - Country Lads. - =22--Young Ginger=; or Fun in and Around New York. - =23--Snap and Jenny, the Song and Dance Artists.= - =24--Bicycle Jim=; or, A Smart Boy Detective. - =25--A Little Cowboy in New York=; or, In Search of His Dad. - =26--Archie the Tumbler=; or, How He Became a Great Jockey. - =27--Flyaway Ned=; or, The Old Detective’s Pupil. - =28--Preston Jayne=; or, In Search of His Dad. - =29--“Dudie” Dunne=, the Exquisite Detective. - =30--A Little Giant=; or, The Feats and Frolics of an Athlete. - =31--A Young Aladdin=; or, The Old Miser’s Ward. - =32--The Duke of Omaha=; or, The Adventures of a Little Giant. - =33--Kefton The Detective=; or, The Wonder of the Age. A Genuine - “Old-Time” Detective Tale. - =34--Billy the Tramp=; or, The Mystery of a Little Emigrant. - =35--A Cute Boy Detective=; or, Magic Dick’s Phenomenal Trail. - =36--The Prince of Ventriloquists=; or, Nimble Ike’s Greatest Trick. - =37--Cad Metti, the Female Detective Strategist.= - =38--A Wonderful Detective=; or Magic Dick’s Greatest Shadow. - =39--Resolute Jack=; or, Ups and Downs in New York. - =40--Little Dead Sure=; or, The Secret Special’s Aid. - =41--The Twin Ventriloquists=; or Nimble Ike and Jack the Juggler. - =42--Amzi the Detective=; or, Morning, Noon and Night in New York. - =43--Tracked on a Wheel=; or, Bicycle Jim’s Great Chase. - =44--Crusoe Harry=; or, The Treasures of the Lost Ship. - =45--A Terrible Youth=; or, Magic Dick’s Thrilling Adventures - in Paris. - =46--A Golden Legacy=; or, Wonder Jack’s Luck. - =47--The King of Fun=; or, Aggravating Joe’s Latest Pranks. - =48--Arlie Bright=; or, How He Became a Naval Cadet. - =49--Pawnee Tom=; or, Adrift in New York. - =50--Nimble Ike’s Mystery=; or, The Secret of the Box. - =51--The Little Miner=; or, A Poor Boy’s Great Find. - =52--A Boy Fugitive=; or, Fooling His Pursuers. - =53--The Mechanic’s Son=; or, From Penury to Wealth. - =54--Tricks and Triumphs=; or, Jack the Juggler’s Ordeal. - =55--The Young Engineer=; or, Making Her Spin. - =56--Detective Hanley=; or, The Testimony of a Face. - =57--Nimble Ike’s Romance=; or, The Mysteries of a Cavern. - =58--Gipsy Reno, The Detective=. - =59--Detective Gay=; or, The King of Disguises. - =60--A Female Ventriloquist=; or, A Pretty Girl’s Magic Feats. - =61--His Greatest “Shadow;”= or, Jack the Juggler’s Last Trail. - =62--Lorie=; or, The Phantom Ventriloquist. - =63--The Two Conspirators=; or, A Great Surprise. - =64--Detective Kennedy=; or, Always Ready. - =65--Malcolm the Wonder.= - =66--Jack Breakaway=; or, Always on Top. - =67--Weaver Webb=; or, The Young Champion. - =68--Plucky Bob=; or, The Wildest Boy in The Land. - =69--Jolly Jess=; or, The Boy Who Won a Princess. - =70--A Ten Day Mystery=; or, The Wonder’s Shadow in New York - =71--A Great Boy=; or, The Find of a Million. - =72--Creco the Swordsman=; or, The Man of Mystery. - =73--Kingsley the Detective=; or, The Single Clue. - =74--A Detective’s Enigma=; or, Malcolm Weir’s Puzzling “Shadow.” - =75--A Plucky Girl=; or, A Farmer’s Daughter in New York. - =76--Days and Nights of Peril=; or, Nimble Ike in Harness Again. - =77--Carrol Moore=; or, How He Became a Detective. - =78--Grant McKenzie=; or, A Boy’s Battles and Struggles. - =79--Breezy Frank=; or, A Great Disguise. - =80--Zantelli=; or, A Wonderful Pursuit. A Romantic Detective Story. - =81--“Straight to the Mark;”= A Detective’s Trick. - =82--Young Dash=; or, The Detective’s Apprentice. - =83--Life in New York.= A Thrilling Detective Tale. - =84--On the Wing=; or, Detective Bird’s Great Capture. - =85--Under a Veil=; or, His Greatest Mystery. A Detective Story. - =86--A Straight Clue=; or, Malcolm Weir’s Great Feat. - =87--Detective Payne=; or, A Shadower’s Wonderful Adventures. - =88--A Famous Boy=; or, The Story of a Homeless Hero. - =89--A Great Capture=; or, New Tactics in Detective Work. - =90--Desmond Dare=; or, Taking Desperate Chances. - =91--The Wizard Tramp.= A Thrilling Detective Story. - =92--A Desperate Chance=; or, The Wizard Tramp’s Revelation. - =93--A Remarkable “Shadow;”= or, Detective Payne’s Tragic Quest. - =94--Dead Straight=; or, Harlow Jack’s Life Mystery. - =95--Allie Baird, the Settler’s Son.= A Weird Tale of the Wilderness. - =96--Creston, the Detective=; or, Following a Light Clue. - =97--Marie the Dancing Girl.= A Great Story of New York Life. - =98--A Close Call=; or, Detective Mead’s Dilemma. - =99--Young Vigilance=; or, A Broken Link. A Detective Narrative. - =100--A Dashing Fugitive=; or, True to His Purpose. - =101--Clyde, the Resolute Detective=; or, His Own Mystery. - =102--Lively Luke=; or, Keen as a Razor. - =103--Billy Preston=; or, Ready for Anything. - =104--The Twin Athletes=; or, Always on Top. - =105--Seth Bond=; or, A Lost Treasure Mystery. - =106--Jack and Gil=; or, The Wonderful Adventures of Two Acrobats. - =107--The King’s Detective=; or, A New York Detective’s Great Quest. - =108--A Remarkable Feat=; or, Jack and Gil’s Great Detective Work. - =109--Tom, the Young Explorer=; or, A Magnificent Reward. - =110--Two Wonderful Detectives=; or, Jack and Gil’s Skill. - =111--A Mystery of One Night=; or, Detective Murray’s Single Clue. - =112--A Successful “Shadow;”= or, Jack and Gil’s Greatest Catch. - =113--A Beautiful Fugitive=; or Saved by a Detective. - =114--The Manordale Mystery.= A Strong Detective Story. - =115--The Central Park Mystery=; or, Detective Work in New York. - =116--Detective Dale=; or Conflicting Testimonies. - =117--A Struggle to Win=; or, A Gypsy Boy’s Secret. - =118--Thrifty Abe=; or, From the Bottom to the Top. - =119--Ramsay, the Detective.= - =120--Gipsey Rose, the Female Detective.= - =121--Young Harold=; A New England Boy’s Adventures. - =122--Norval, the Detective=; or, Dodging and Hiding. - =123--Young Chauncey.= - =124--Daring Maddie=; A Great Detective Story. - =125--Red Cecil, the Detective.= - =126--A Detective’s Daughter.= - =127--Fire Bomb Jack=; or, Freaks of a Mystery Man. - =128--An Amazing Wizard=; or, The Fatal Resemblance. - =129--A Marvelous Escape.= - =130--Only a Photograph=; or, Detective Kempton’s Quest. - =131--A Tragic Quest=; or, A Baffling Shadow. - =132--Vavel.= The Wonderful Treasure Seeker. - =133--Romance of a Salvation Army Girl.= - - * * * * * - -COMIC POST CARDS. - -[Illustration] - -DO YOU KNOW - -[Illustration] - -That the Fad of To-day is Collecting Post Cards? - -We want to call your attention to Ogilvie’s Packet No. 1 of Comic -Post Cards, containing 25 of the best collection ever made. 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