A League of Three: Boy's Detective Stratagems

A League of Three; or, A Boy's Detective Stratagems

This serial by Old Sleuth follows Madison Heath, a seventeen-year-old orphan and gifted athlete, who leaves his mountain village in New York to investigate the disappearance of Addie Velkanau, a fourteen-year-old girl he deeply cares for. After Addie fails to write from New York City, where she was to work as a copyist and music student, Madie learns she vanished three weeks into her employment—possibly abducted rather than dead. Before departing for the city, Madie swears a blood oath with his two companions, Peter Ogallah (of Indian descent) and Ludlow Woods, pledging that if any dies in pursuit of the mystery, the next will continue the investigation until Addie's fate is revealed. The narrative begins Madie's journey toward the city, highlighting his physical prowess, woodcraft skills, natural detective aptitude, and determination to avenge any wrong done to Addie.