Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 288 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

Electro Pete, the Man of Fire. 23 for descriptions of the diamonds and jewelry | much would you give for something that would which I am supposed to have under my eyes. They smell a rat. But there is no danger for me now, is there? I can read it in your look. You have found everything?” ? ‘‘Nearly everything. So make your mind easy.” As Daniels took the letter from Dimble’s hands, the latter actually sunk to his knees and clapped both hands over his eyes, as if overcome by theJrare good news, And no wonder, poor fellow! ‘Though one of the oldest drummers and trusted of the exten- sive jewelry establishment which he was repre- senting, he had realized the peril and disgrace which must ensue upon so startling a loss—a loss that few houses would tolerate under the sole explanation of mystery which marked the _ disappearance of his trust. The letter was written in ‘answer to a tele- gram sent by Dimble to his*employers, at the suggestion of Daniels; and the-suggestion was intended to make positive that the diamonds were really in the possession of the drummer in the way he had represented, *“*Mr. Dimble.” The drummer looked up. | Another and a glad ery burst from his lips, as he beheld extended toward him, in the detec- tive’s hand, the belt containing the numerous diamonds. With trembling fingers he took if. ‘‘The jewelry,” Daniels said, ‘‘is at present at the northeastern station. It will probably be a day or two before you can procure if. And even then, you must not leave the city, as we wish to use the articles in evidence against the culprits.” ‘Anything! Anything you command!” de- clared the grateful Dimble. ‘Oh, sir, you know that Iam but a poor drummer who has only his salary to support him, and in the city of St. Louis a dear little family of wife and daughter who would have hung their beads in disgrace forever if you had not come forward to help me out of this terrible dilemma. I am sure you bave not accomplished what you have without trouble—perhaps danger. I will de- vote my life to paying you for what you have done, only retaining enough from what I earn to keep my dear ones from actual want. But my heart—my heart, sir, will never realize that { have sufficiently repaid you,” and as if unable beter more, the grateful Dimble sobbed like a ebild. ‘*That’s all rigbt. And I don’t think it will be necessary for you to take anything out of your salary to pay me, Just come right out in full to your employers now; state the whole case to them, and refer them to us for a verifi- cation of the remarkable manner in which you were robbed. You may tell them, too, that we have, on short aeenalnta nce, as much confi- dence in you as they have learned to place through a knowledge of years.” Thus Mark Daniels left his patron. In the office of the hotel he met the pro- rietor, and the news he had to communicate caused that individual’s face to fairly beam. , ‘' Wait a moment, Mr. Daniels.” And presently into the detective’s hand there was dropped a small, slim paper with very much the appearance of a check. ** You may throw open the room recently oc- cupied by Miss St. Dyer,” Daniels said, as he bowed and turned to depart. But he paused and added: “Will you please send this up to Mr. Rath- waite’s room, if be is in?” at the same time scribbling a few words on a card. ‘‘ Certainly.” The young man in room No, — nded rather absently to the knock of the waiter on his door. But when he had read the m that was on the card, he seemed imbued with another life—starting for his coat and hat and almost running forth from the hotel to hail a cab, Daniels had merely written: ‘Miss St. Dyer is waiting to see you at No, —, North Calvert street. DANIELS,” CHAPTER XXX. CONCLUSION, _§rraicuTway from. the hotel, Daniels re- turned to the Agency. j A slight surprise awaited him there in the person of a man who smelled decidedly of chemicals. | The clerk said: ‘‘Here is Mr. Daniels, sir. You can com- municate your business to him.” ‘** You wish to see the firm?’ ““A-h, yes. A wordin private, You pay for information, do you not?” ‘* Always, if it is worth having.” “Exactly, Well, I have something to say and to show you,” : “Step this way.” Daniels led the way to the rear room. ‘‘My name is Blobbles. I am a photographer. Iam on the travel. I carry an amateur outfit with me. I make my livi photographing country residences and the like. About how ae you on one of the greatest mysteries that ave ever been perpetrated at a hotel—that is—” Blobbles checked himself with an affect- ed cough. He seemed to think that he was talking too fast. ‘Go ahead, my dear sir. If you bave a very great mystery, let me hearit. If we can use it to advantage in any way, it will be paid for.” Blobbles, on this second assurance, drew a picture from his breast pocket. Daniels took it and looked at it, for it was handed over in silence. . A dark, and at first almost undiscernible photo it was. But on a close scrutiny, it showed the keen- eyed detective a representation of a man swing- ing from a window by arope, in the darkness of night and about to alight on the sill of another window below. “*It is the half-second process—dry plate,” said Blobbles, effusively. ‘“‘I am living at the Mansion House. Mv room fronts on the center court. 1 have observed the actual of which that picture isa reproduction. I have seen it several times. The second time—always on the lookout for something novel, you know, I had my camera ready set upon the spot. There is the result. It has taken several days to bring out the print; but Iam quite sure that there is something going on at the Mansion House that is worthy the investigation of the detectives. I shall ask no pay until the investigation reveals ae ‘*Thank you,” said Daniels, as he handed back the picture. ‘‘ And as you have been at consid- erable trouble in getting the print. into a recog- nizable shape, here—here—here are a couple of dollars for you, Mr. Blobbles,” He handed the zealous photographer the amount as he spoke. The face of the aa, ger fell. He had an inflated idea of the liberality of the detective agencies in their payments for in- formation, and be believed that he had made a photograph of something that would open up a remarkable case of hotel robbery. Daniels had recognized in the scene a picture of the manner in which Guiseppe Duoro had accomplished his entrance into the room of Oriele St. Dyer. While Blobbles really seemed deserving of more reward for his efforts in what he had done, the detective was, in a business way deal- ing with stale news, hence his small contribu- tion to the genius of Blobbles. ‘* Isn’t it worth more than that?” “ Hardly. For, my dear Blobbles, we have investigated the matter at which this picture hints long ago; the very person who performed this acrobatic feat which your print reveals is now in jail. A word: whenever you have any- thing like this on hand, for which you expect a reward, go to the Agencies first. If your tal- ent as a photographer can be utilized—then you may do something better. Good-day.” With which dismissal, Blobbles went out of the office in a very thoughtful mood. “Hang it!” he muttered, ‘* while I have been pecieoting from my negative, these shrewd de- tectives have sifted the whole thing. I sball remember his advice. If ever I have another like opportunity, I shall do as he says.” It was dusk of the evening by this time. And just as Mark Daniels was starting to- ward Guy’s for a little refreshment, there was an alanm of fire. Simultaneously, as he was on the bottom step of the office, West appeared, * Come,” said the senior, hurriedly. ‘* Don’t you recognize that number?” ‘*Didn’t pay any attention. Where is it?’ ‘“‘Thames and Broadway. Nine out of ten it is at the junk-shop. Come.” Catching a cab at Battle Monument, they were whirled away to the foot of Broadway. And West’s surmise had been correct. It was the frame-built, shed-like premises of the Jew that was ablaze, Before them were the prompt engines; the hose carriages were spinning out their hose por. near plugs, and a bedlam of sounds filled e air. Every one saw that it would be impossible to save the dwelling at the rear. But no one saw what did these two detectives oe had had the place so long under surveil- ance, The cordon of shadows that West had placed there were at front and rear. The man they met, as they hurried up the alley at the rear, said, recognizing his chief; ‘* The house is full of them.” “Of who?” ‘Fellows that are now acting like rats as they scamper about while the building burns, and not a policeman has entered, never thinking of this rear way, I guess.” | “Come,” said West. And followed by Daniels and the subordinate, they leaped the high fence and made toward the side door. Within the dwelling there seemed to reign a vortex of fire. | Out from the windows rolled black smoke; behind the smoke a background of flame, that gave a lurid outline to many forms darting hither and thither. The two detectives knew that these must be the remainder of the wharf rat band, They had fled from the rickety shanty by the ferry- wharf to the house they supposed must contain an abundance of plunder, and in the dusk of the day with a raging fire they hoped to obtaina profit by vandal ransacking. Nimble as rats were they. To and fro, amid smoke and fire they ran— some with bags, some with valises. The night-bird band of Locust Point was broken up, and before they departed for fresh fields they had resolved upon a wholesale plun- deripg of Jacobs’s “‘ fence,” under cover of the excitement of the fire and while the street was filled with the murmur and noise of the alarm from box No, 156, 156!—156!—156! rung the bells, above all of which could be heard the great tongue of Big Sam from the City Hall. Into the dwelling sprung West, Behind him Daniels, followed by the shadow subordinate, Presently revolvers snapped and cracked. Howls came from the midst of that scene of flame and smoke, ‘* Surrender, you scoundrels! Wharf rats of Locust Point, I’m after you!” It happened that the detectives had cornered the majority of the rats in one room—the shop of the Jew. Daniels immediately dashed to the front to bar egress; West leaped before the way to the upees rooms; the subordinate held the door by which they had entered. Oaths, yells and pistol-shots filled the air. But down went bags and valises. ‘*March! Keep in line of this revolver!” cried West, sternly, ‘“‘or down you go, every mother’s son of you. No fooling; and be quick, for the fire wil] ingulf you all in another min- ute. Forward!” Under the revolvers of the three, the remnant of the night-bird band sullenly marched from the burning building. On the outside at the rear, by this time, were several policemen from the Eastern Station, among whom was famous Johnny Carr, With the reinforcement, West had no difficulty in conveying the roguish file to the station. The drama which opened with a remarkable mystery was now really at its climax. ‘Before the undertaker could arrive to look after the body of the arch-villain, Pietro Idello, in accordance with the orders of West, the fire occurred, | A mass of charred bones that were overturned after the fire were reasonably supposed to be those of the Italian. | Baltimore seldom has such sensations as that which arose out of the doings of the Night Bird Band of the Basin, and but for the busy eyes of the ubiquitous reporter, it is probable that this narrative had never been written. Many harbor robberies have been traced to the captured crew which West brought in, and at present there are some awaiting the result of the wounds of the captain of the Norwegian barque, which was pirated by the band. Even while the fire raged on Thames street, Dimble the drummer was on his way to New York, to bave a conversation with his employ- ers in regard to the robbery. He was an honest fellow and determined to see the detectives who had saved bim from so much trouble duly re- warded. He had always thought the profes- sion a purely mercenary one, without anything like the sentiment of desire to simply do what wus right, such as he had experienced in the Monumental City, and the author may safely assert that the firm of West & Daniels received a communication from the New York jewelers | that contained something more than the mere thanks of the firm. Dimble did not lose his situation. The reunion of tbe lovers, Robert Rathwaite and Oriele St. Dyer was a picture that the pen has often described when a devoted couple have been separated by strange circumstances, and on this late page it is useless to detain the read- er with an effusion of sentiment. Suffice it that they were very, very ha in the long explanation which followed, and Mayor Whyte himself, ere he yielded up his of- fice to Mr. Latrobe, the newly elected, made fast the knot between the young Chicago grain merchant and the beautiful girl, Rathwaite, too, remembered the Agency in a pleasant letter that contained an inclosure and an invitation to visit him and his wife at their home in Chicago, whither they departed at once, accompanied by Anice Idello, from whose un- fortunate past had sprung so much to create the narrative herein given. The Jew, Jacobs, is docketed for trial now in Baltimore, asa receiver of stolen goods, And a jury will shortly decide whether Gui- seppe Duoro shall pay the penalty of the mur- der of the man kuown as Electro Pete in the Thames street den of the Wharf Rats of Locust Point, THE END. (Ele) comicbooks: