Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 432 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. ae cry of astonishment on recognizing the figure | The matter of the ransom remains. That is a ful to accuse men of reputation of crimes with- out a particle of proo®, A surmise is no proof.” ‘*But you say it is impossible that he could have returned. I do not see that, He could have — over to Florida, if necessary, and re- turned by sail.” ‘I say so because I can prove what I say,” re- turned Mr. Corlish, sternly. ‘‘I have here a telegram from Mr. Fletcher, which was sent me from Havana on the night of the robbery. A man cannot bo in two places at once. And here is a letter from the same party, which came to hand to-day. Youcan see thatit has the Havana postmark. The writing I know well to be that of Mr. Fletcher.” Will’s face sunk at this information. The quick theory he had built up on learning of the oath of revenge vanished in the face of the new information. As Mr. Gorlish had said, a man could not be in two places at once. ‘*He might have employed an agent,” falter- ed Will, as he held out his hand for the letter offered him. ‘* Pearson Fletcher is not fool enough to put himself in the power of a villain, - Your theory will not hold water, young man,” ‘*T fear not,” answered Will, dejectedly, as he dropped his eyes to the letter he held. A sharp exclamation burst from his lips, and a quick start gave indication of sudden and deep excitement. “What is the matter?’ demanded Mr. Cor- lish. ‘*That hand-writing!” ‘*'W hat ails the hand-writing?” ‘See here! Are they not the same?” He drew a scrap of paper from his pocket and laced it beside the letter. It was the scrap he ad found on his uncle’s desk, ** Yes, they are the same. That is Mr. Fletch- er’s writing. Where did it come from?” “From Mr. Middleton’s desk! In his house- office! In the room where the safe containing the diamonds was placed! I found it myself, in one of the papers on his desk. It was dropped there, I believe, on the night of the robbery!” The twomen looked at each other with staring eyes. In Mr. Corlish’s there was a startlec surprise. In Will’s there was a mingled hope and triumph. CHAPTER xX. THE DETECTIVE ON DUTY. Wuuie these affairs were going on, that of the ransom for Count Ormond was in progress, It was evident that the captors of the supposed nobleman had kept their promise to the detec- tive, and that the main villains knew nothing about the escape of their prisoner. An offer to pay a ransom of twenty-five thou- sand dollars within twenty days, was made and accepted, through the columns:of the Herald, It was agreed that the money should be given tosome trustworthy detective, as agent in the transfer, and that the latter should pledge him- self to act honestly by both parties. This bargain made, the work of raising the money proceeded. The ladies who had started it went diligently to work. They were all soci- ety ladies of wealth and influence, The capture by brigands of a nobleman in the streets of a city, stirred up society as it had never been stirred before, and the work of collecting ths money went briskly on. Such collectors as these could not be repulsed, andin less than a week’s time the ransom was nearly made up. At the end of this period one of the fair col- lectors called on Mr, Middleton, book and pen- cil in hand, and wearing enough jewels to have paid the ransom herself. ‘“We want but one thousand more,” she pleaded with the broker, ‘ And, think of poor Count Ormond languishing in prison for the want of a paltry sum like that! And with danger of a horrible mutilation if it is not paid!” ‘Some people consider a thousand dollars a considerable sum,” said the broker, dryly. ‘‘ Particularly, sober republicans like me, who don’t take much stock in Italian counts,” “That will not do, Mr. Middleton. It was yourself introduced the count to society. He is a friend of yours, You are jesting with me.” ‘*He is my friend as a man—no* as a count,” replied Mr, Middleton, smiiing. of the man that is in him, I don’t mind putting my name down for five hundred on your neat little book.” ‘*Make it a thousand, Mr. Middleton!” spoke a voice in the door of the office. ‘‘ You will lose nothing by it.” The broker looked up in displeasure at this interruption, but he sprung to his feet with a ‘*Tor the sake | that stood there. ’ ‘* You? Is it possible?’ he exclaimed. told me he had seen you, but—” ‘* You are detaining the lady,” said the new- comer, pointedly. ‘Tell her to put down your name for a thousand.” Mr. Middleton still stared at the speaker in open-eyed astonishment. ‘* Yes—certainly,” he cried. for a thousand, Mrs. Wilson. right. Make it a thousand.” ‘Many thanks, my dear sir,” said the lady, beaming on him with a sweet smile. ‘‘ And a thousand thanks to this gentleman for his ex- cellent suggestion. Can we have the money to- morrow, sir? We hope to release Count Or- mond from his terrible position immediately.” ‘Certainly. Any time you wish.” ‘* With one proviso,” said the new-comer. ** What is that, sir?” ‘Simply that Mr. Middleton has the privi- lege of selecting the detective who is to act as the go-between.” ‘* Well: thought of,” exclaimed the broker, catching at the idea. ‘‘A good suggestion. I fancy I can find the man.” ‘There will be no objection to that,” answer- Mrs. Wilson, sweetly. ‘‘ Any one named by Mr. Middleton, I am sure— Good-day, gen- tlemen. I see you have business. And I am eternally indebted.” She bowed herself out, politely escorted to the door by Mr. Middleton: He returned hastily, with a look of wonder yet in his face, John Logan!” he exclaimed. ‘Is it possi- ble? I as good as told Will he was a liar when he said he had seen you.” | ‘It was Count Ormond those fellows captur- ed,” answered the visitor, easily. “‘ They might have kept him. But when he became transform- ed to John Logan, detective, it was a different affair. Your nephew told youthe truth; I have been out of their hands for a week.” ‘* But, how about this ransom, then?” ‘*Oh, bless you, the ringleaders in the plot don’t know that their bird is out of the cage. Who they are I don’t know yet. But I am bound to know. I have my hands on the little fish, but the big fish are yet swimming too deep forme. The ransom is a bait to catch them.” ‘Aha! Who are they?) What do you sus- pect? What is the real meaning of this out- rage? That is what I want to find out. only a vulgar game to extort money. Orit may be a deeper scheme, The villains may have re- cognized me as a disguised detective, and taken this move to get me out of the way. I fancy the diamond robbers are at the bottom of the plot!’ ‘“You don’t tell me that!” exclaimed Mr. Mid- dleton, ‘“‘And you suspect somebody. You told me you did. Who is the guilty man?” “T can name no names. I have no proof yet. ButIamon theright track. Wait till I unearth this scheme.” ‘“*T cannot wait,” cried the broker, with stern impatience. ‘‘ I have now but twelve days in which to recover the jewels. I must have them by that time, or—something serious will happen. I have pledged myself to return the diamonds on the honor of Silas Middleton, that never yet was tarnished. I have sworn to return them on demand if alive to do so. See here, sir, Read this. Here is the demand.” He thrust into the detective’s hand, almost with violence, an open letter, The latter proceeded to read it, while the eyes of the broker were fixed on him with deep eager- ness and impatience. t is not necessary to give the words of this letter. It was dated at Havana, Cuba, some ten days before. It stated that the writer felt benefited by his short stay, but that some im- portant business required his presence in New York on a certain date. He would be back and would call on Mr. Middleton for the diamonds loaned on the 25th of the month. It was abso- lutely necessary that he should have them on the evening of that day, for important family reasons, The epistle was signed ‘‘ Pearson Fletcher,” in & peculiar hand, that seemed familiar to the de- tective, though he could not place it. * Will ‘*Put me down The gentleman is It may be ® conversation continued for some minutes longer, after which Mr. Logan turned to go. ; 7 ‘I have found but the one clew,” he said. That relating to the capture of Count Ormond. The parties concerned in that have baffled me as yet, though I have used every art at my command to discover them, I suspect the ring- leader, but have not yet been able to nail him, net into which they must fall.” ‘‘Then let it be put through without delay. Every day now counts, There is one thing more, You engaged that I should choose the detective who is to deliver the ransom and re- ceive the prisoner. Who ain I to choose?” ‘You may choose John Logan, alias Count Ormond.” Mr. Middleton looked at him with a stare of surprise. ‘* Well, I declare,” he exclaimed. ‘‘ That will be a queer complication. So you are to pay the ransom for your own release, and be handed over to yourself. I don’t see how you will manage that.” ‘* Tt will be something of a job,” smiled the de- tective. ‘‘ But I have done worse ones. Trust me to work it out.” He took his leave with these words, leaving the broker much encouraged by the result of this unexpected visit. The shrewd detective smiled to himself as he made his way through the streets. He felt re- sources within himself far deeper than the broker dreamed of. ‘¢ Every man to his business,” he muttered, as he made his way to the cars. A half-hour afterward found him at his office. Here he looked over some Jetters that awaited him, He was interrupted in this by the entrance of the young man in the dress of a laborer, who has already been introduced to the notice of our readers, ; The detective looked up with an air of in- quiry. ** Any luck?” ‘* Yes,” was the reply. What?” ‘‘Thave learned who our man visited in the Franklin street den.” : ‘‘* Ah! His name?’ ** Tom Spicer.” ‘““T knew it!” with an air of satisfaction. ‘‘That completes the chain, Look out, George Duncan. ll is not plain sailing before you. Well, Harry,what else? Is Tom Spicer shadowed? Who is he?” ‘‘T never saw him before,” replied the spy. ** Joe thinks he has twigged him, but don’t remem- ber where. A sporting character is Mr. Spicer. He bets on horses and g OF pools. I have set the boys to look up his record on the turf.” ‘‘That’s right. Anything more?” ‘‘ Duncan called on him Jast night,” continued the spy. ‘‘He was tracked to Spicer’s rcom, They had along talk. This morning Spicer set out early. Joe folléwed him but got thrown. He is a keen one, is Spicer. Joe ain’t no fool, but his man played the back door trick.” ‘*He smells the rat then? No matter, his trail will be taken up again. There are eyes at the other end of the line.” He rose and took his hat. ‘*T must look after this business.” ‘* Any further orders, Mr. Logan?” ‘*No. Keep up your guard. But take care you are not suspected. It will never do to scare our foxes from their work. Lay Joe ee the job. If he has been twigged he is not safe, He walked from the office, ard into the street, making his way down-town toward the ferries, Here he crossed to Brooklyn, and proceeded westward through the river streets of that city. tre long he had left the thickly built up portions of the city behind him, and reachec a region where the houses were alternated with open. lots. ; This region passed he emerged into a space of partly open country, whose houses were very thinly scattered. He turned his steps toward one, yet at some distance, Which stood alone at a point not far removed from the waters of the Kast river, The place locked deserted. Nota soul was visible. The lower shutters of the house were closed, There was a show of neglect in the high weeds that grew plentifully around it. The detective did not need a second look to re- co nize it. It was the house in which he had spent two days as a prisoner, He gazed over the fields between him and the house, Nota sign of life appeared. The weeds that grew everywhere gave the place an aspect of solitariness. . The detective gave a peculiar whistle. Almost instantly a head appeared, just visible in a 3 a of ironweed. The eyes turned swiftly in all directions. The signal was repeated, COmMmIc ek de Cra ot. ee = 2 ae)