Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 432 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

de 12 The form of a tall man arose where the head | ** Jist general supervision, that’s all. The big had been seen. He walked with long strides to- | gun wants a report, and the go-between is come ward the detective. after it. Hesays as how the ransom affair’s in ‘‘ Anything?’ demanded the latter shortly, | good shape.” when the map came within hearing. | “Right. It will be ready to pay over in a The latter jerked his thumb over his shoulder | few days. You are good for your share. But toward the house. | you must be ready to hand over the count to or- ‘In there now,” he said. ‘‘Came ten min- | der.” utes ago. A sailor-looking chap. Blue rig. | ‘** Dunno how that’s to be did.” Blue handkerchief. Puton. A baby could see ‘* Maybe we can manage it,” laughed the de- he’s no sailor.” tective. ‘‘Sit down. Let’s talk it over a bit,” ‘*Come,” said the detective briefly. | A chat of a half-hour succeeded. It was like He led the way toward the house, waikxing | a watch dog consulting with a brace of wolves. steadily forward, ' But John Logan knew thoroughly what he was Yet he watched it with the eye of a hawk. | about, and the men he had to deal with. His Every nook and corner, every door and win- | boldness was a point in his favor. It aided to dow, was keenly noted. cow the villains. But the fact that he was They had reached within a hundred feet of | working in their interest was his main point of the house when a low ‘‘ hist” came from the lips | safety. They knew well that John Logan was of the spy. a man of his word. Instantly the two men sunk into the weeds At the end of a half-hour he left them and re- and disappeared from sight. They had van- | turned to the city. The plot was fully laid, Only ished as suddenly as though they were but | its execution remained. shadows, Two days afterward it was announced in At the same moment the door of the house | the Herald that the ransom was ready to pay opened, and a man stepped out. He was dress- | over, andasking how the transier should be made. a as had been said, in a rough sailor’s garb. The reply came in the shape of an ill-written He stood for a moment speaking to a man who | and spelled letter demanding that the transfer had accompanied him to he door. should be made through a detective to be chosen Then he turned and walked away, passing | by the kidnappers. He should come alone, to a the concealed men so closely that he could al- is to be named. He would be watched, and most have touched them. It was the‘face of Tom Spicer. Not for ten minutes did the spies move; then a cluck of satisfaction came from the detective’s lips. ‘*Twigged!” he declared. ‘‘I know my man now. Tony Bender, as I’m a sinner! He shoved the ‘ queer’ in Chicago two years ago. I have him under my thumb, and can crush him like a fly if he kicks,” if he brought any one with him, or laid any spies, the affair was off. If he came alone, and brought the cash, the count would be released. ‘*'The plan is accepted. Name your detective,” read the next advertisement. ** Jack Logan, the Ferret. Time, the 20th Oc- tober,” came the answer. ‘it is a bargain. The plan is accepted. Communicate hour and place 65 letter.” These advertisements consumed several days. It wanted but two days of the date named when Logan received a letter, in a more cultivated hand then the preceding one, but evidently dis- guised. It laid down more fully the plan of the kid- nappers, which was skillfully devised to prevent FIVE minutes after the disappearance of Tom | any treachery on the part of the authorities. Spicer, the detective knocked at the door of the | It ended by saying that another letter would be solitary house. The spy was not with him. | received on the afternoon of the 20th, stating That sly individual was, in fact, tracking Tom | the hour and place of the tran<fer. Spicer through the environs of Brooklyn. | Logan facial on reading this. His knock brought no response. He repeated ‘‘Cute in them,” be remarked. ‘‘ They are it, after waiting for several minutes. ll re- not going to give me a chance to lay a trap in — Sn ssssseeestesnsessseseeeeeeneee ——--- -- = CHAPTER XI. THE END OF THE FIRST TRAIL. mained dull and silent. advance. They don’t think it safe to trust a de- ‘* It is plain I haven’t thesignal,” he muttered. | tective too far. But wouldn’t they be slightly “That was an oversight, But I fancy I can | surprised if they knew the neat little trick that make a signal that will bring an answer.” | awaits them?” He drew from his pocket the pistol by whose ! He dropped his head on his hand, and fell into aid he had escaped from that house, pointed it | a train of reflection. at one of the upper windows, and fired. | ** This is not all plain sailing,” he said to him- There came a sharp report, followed by a loud | self. ‘‘I wish I could go to the bottom of the crash of broken glass. | scheme. Let mesee. There can be no question Almost instantly a head was thrust out of the | that Count Ormond was suspected by George window fired at, while a fierce oath came from | Duncan to be aspy. He was got rid of accord- the - ingly. But it is not sure that Duncan’s game is ‘What the blazes is up?” came the furious | the Middleton diamonds. If it is, then the dia- exclamation. ‘* By thunder and lightning! Pll | monds are put well out of the way, or the count split— Hallo! It’s you, hey?” would not be released. If not—then who has “T reckon so. Hardtomatke you fellows hear. | the diamonds—and what other rascally game is Slip down, Toby, and open the door. 1 want to | afoot?” chat with you.” He was interrupted in his reflections by the The head was withdrawn into the room. In | entrance of the laborer-like spy. a few minutes there came a fumbling at the | ‘‘Spicer has been at work this morning,” he door. This was thrown open, and the villainous | announced. ‘‘He has been traced to Mr. Miad- face of Toby Myers appeared. | dleton’s place of business. He was shown to The detective looked at him sharply. | the broker’s private office, and was closeted with ** Where’s Jake?” he asked. him for fifteen minutes, After he came out he **Inside. Coming in, Mr. Logan?” went to a bank and afterward met George Dun- es.” can in a saloon in cne of the down-town streets. He walked in with as much indifference as if | They talked for an hour, and then parted. I he was coming among friends, instead of into a | left terriers on their track, and came to report.” house occupied by desperate foes who had every Logan sat with his chin resting on his hand, reason to hate and distrust him, looking intently into the speaker’s face. He sat A few steps brought them into a room where | thus for a minute or two without a reply. Then ‘stood Jacob, with a surly frown on his ugly | hesprung quickly up and seized his hat. countenance, ‘* That looks like daylight abead,” he remark- ‘* Kind 0’ Fough, fir’in’ pistols into a fellow’s | ed. ‘‘I must see what’s in the wind at once.” house,” he growled. He left the office, and walked ata brisk pace ‘Tf the pistol hadn’t brought you I’d fired a | to the establishment of the broker. ten-pounder next,” coolly remarked the detec- It was a busy place, a dozen clerks being tive. ‘‘ But that isn’t to the point. So you've | actively engaged. had a visit from Tom Spicer?” a ‘** You know that?” in surprise. ‘*V’d be a poor sort of detective if I didn’t | know all trifles of that sort,” answered Logan. ‘What did he want? Did he find out that the Tam afraid Mr. Middleton cannot be seen just now,” came the answer to his request for an interview. ‘‘He has important business, and gave orders that he was not ,to be dis- turbed.” bird had flown?” ‘‘ He willseeme. Take him in my card,” re- His keen eyes were fixed on their faces, seek- | plied the detective. 4 an answer in their ions. The clerk djd so, and returned with the an- ‘Not much,” laughed Toby. ‘‘ We ain’t quite | swer. sich goslin’s. Hedon’t smell nary rat. Didn't even ax to see the count.” ** What brought him here, then?’ ¢s This way, sir. Mr. Middleton wishes to see ou. He followed, and was ushered into a well- Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. a OS ggg RR a TLE... —_—_ __ 7~ appointed private office, in which sat the broker at a table deals, which was thickly strewn with papers. Mr. Middleton was intently examining a paper that lay before him. He lifted his head on hear- ing the door open, and politely motioned his vis- itor to a chair, His eyes were fixed on the detective with an eager questioning, though he said nothing until the clerk had retired and cfosed the door hehind him. Then he spoke in a half-whisper. ‘What is it, Mr. Logan? You are here with some purpose? You bring me news, good or bad?’ ‘* No,” answered Mr. Logan, in his quiet tone. ‘*T come to get, not to’ give. Tam in search of news, good or bad.” ‘* Ah! I do not comprehend,” ‘*'You had a visitor two hours ago.” ‘“‘T have had a dozen. Whom do you refer to? What is the party’s name?” ‘*T fear that would be no clew,” laughed the officer. ‘‘The man has as many names as fin- gers. The person I refer to is a stoutish indi- vidual, of medium hight, with a long nose and small eyes. He wears a sandy chin-whisker; dresses rather loudly, in a sporting fashion. Not hard to distinguish from your sober busi- ness visitors,” ‘The broker nodded his head, with a gesture of surprise and doubt, ‘‘Your description is unmistakable. He has been here. William Wilson isthe name he gave.” ‘**A new one. Put on for the occasion.” ‘‘Ha! Then what am J to understand by this? Is there anything wrong about the man?” ‘*T rather fancy so. What was his business with you, Mr. Middleton?” ‘* Perfectly legitimate. Itwassimply to place with me some Chicago and Rock Island stocks. I have had negotiations with the gentleman be- fore. We concluded the bargain to-day. He delivered the stock certificates and received my check in payment.” Mr. Logan looked interested. ‘** How much, may I ask?” ‘*A good round sum. Fifty thousand.” The detective whistled. ‘*Ts there anything wrong, Mr. Logan?” asked the broker, uneasily. ‘* The transaction was a regular business one. I got the stock ata fair feure, but not below themarket. Do you fancy they were obtained by foul means?” ‘* Have you the certificates here?” ‘‘Yes. Here they are. Nothing crooked in them that I can see.” Logan examined the documents with the keen- est scrutiny. He looked up after a minute. ‘* Have you any other Rock Island stock?” ee Yes,” ‘**T would like to compare it.” The broker left the office, and quickly return- ed with a bundle of stock certificates. He was growing more uneasy. The detective cast his eyes on the papers un- folded before him, and placed them side by side with the other ce apie He continued his scrutiny for several min- utes. He raised his head at length, with a satis- fied look. ‘‘T thought so. Forgeries!” he said. With an exclamation of surprise. the broker sprung forward and snatched up the papers. He scrutinized them closely. ‘You are mistaken!” he declared, emphati- cally. ‘* Not at all. See here.” One by one he pointed out slight discrepancies in the :locuments, until after some difficulty, he Lrought the broker to his way of thinking. ‘‘Tt is extremely well done,” he remarked. ‘Spicer never did that work. It is beyond him,” ‘* Spicer?” ‘“Yes, Bender, or Wilson, or any othername you wish. He has a good assortment. But this is not Ais part of the job. It is his business to shove the queer, The manufacture was done by another hand. I think I know the artist.” Mr. Middleton turned uneasily to the clock, It marked the hour of five. ‘‘ He left here shortly before three,” he said, ‘‘ He was anxious to get the money before the bank closed, Isent one of my young men With him to identify him, as they would not pay that sum to astranger. Wait a moment.” He touched a bell. An attendant entered in response, ‘* Has Jones gone yet?” ‘* He is putting his coat on to go.” ‘* Send him here.” A well-grown youth, with an intelligent face, entered a moment afterward. ‘‘You went this afternoon to the bank te . —— a | ee _—-— -