Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 396 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

ae Sey \ The puzzling thing was, that the few men who 2 The Piper Detective. . | + tg ther gob some darruk noight fur ther dirty, mane thrick thet ye’d sarved me.” “* When you got out—yes,” answered the chief, with a load of irony in histone. ‘‘ But twenty years from now you won’t be thinking much about whacking anybody. At sixty men of your kidney are pretty well broken up, be- sides being cautious. However, I never forget, and when you get out I'll have you watched, and see that you do no mischief.” ** An’ how owld does yez think Oi am now?” There was a cunning twinkle in the ferret-like eyes as he asked the question. ‘** About forty, though you look older. The fact is, 1 suppose you are getting to years of dis- cretion and want to square yourself with the po- lice. You’ve got to an age when you see that if you don’t mend your ways you'll come down with a rush. Of course you have been on the cross.” ‘An’ it’s roight yez are. Om one ov the gang, az shure az me name’s Paddy the ; ”? <n th he chief was not a man that usually showed surprise, even if he felt any, but at the careless announcement the whole expression of his coun- tenance changed. Hesprung to his feet, threw his hands up over his head with a gesture that had its meaning and exclaimed: * Down with him!” From a panel-door that had opened noiselessly at the back of the little Irishman, a man sprung out and threw himself upon his shoulders, , The chances were ninety-nine out of a hundred that the action was a complete surprise. It was a racket that had never been worked be- fore, and if it had, the victim would not be able to know much about it. The chief had scarcely expected to show his hand so early in the game, but he had his rea- sons, as a few explanatory lines will show. The Gilt Edge Gang had been getting in some rather heavy work lately, and had defied detec- tion and capture. What sort of men they were could only be guessed at by thenature of their handiwork, and the confused stories told by the few victims that had escaped them. They were operating largely on the west side, and their success had been marvelous. When the stories of the first few affairs came in at Headquarters, the supposition was that the belated wanderer had a sen to strike a roving band of roughs that had taken the oppor- tunity to beat them to a jelly and empty their pockets. After a time, as these outrages increased in number, it became notable that either the rob- bers had remarkably good luck, or they were strangely well posted beforehand about their ey. They made no mistakes, and every man hey attacked had by some fatal chance a well- pocketbook. ciently to be interviewed in the icting accounts of the recovered § hospital, gave such confl - operations of the villains and their general ap- pearance, From what they said, the men were burly ruffians of the lowest sort, who were as ragged and brutal as their work pronounced them. Plenty of men were there in the city to answer the description; but unfortunately none of them _ were eyer on the spot at the alleged time of the ; and the police scratched their heads . ries _ while declaring that it was a moral impossibility that . A ” he th 4 ar «< 4 @ face stove in. - watching a brace of hang-dog-l game remained undiscovered. any such men could pass through their beats without having been noticed. The only thing that at all resembled a clew, ‘was an exclamation overheard by a man whose skull had béen fractured and the whole of his Nevertheless, he had a momen- tary return to consciousness, and in that mo- ment heard a harsh voice mutter: “That's four thousand more fur the Gilt e Gang.” “At another time a police SPY who was ooking roughs, heard, in the distance, the name, ‘‘ Paddy the Piper.” | at had no apparent connection with the gang, yet the men were strangers to the agent, _ and so far as could be told from the description the agent tried to give of them they were none of the known thieves of the metropolis, Putting this and that together the chief was struck with the idea that at lasthe hadaclew. _ For a long time it amounted to nothing. The robberies went on, and the perpetrators of the t began to look as though the force would have to remain at fault until some lucky chance aided them to solve the mystery. One afternoon the chief of police received a letter: “TP you want to get the Gilt Edge Gang and we aa to terms I can put them in your hands. If ou don’t close with me, it will be a long time be- ore you catch them. If you want the chance, and will act on the He} put an ad, in the Herald, ‘Take the butt.’ I will make arrangements then to This might be ‘‘a stall” of some kind, and it ‘might be a bona fide offer from a man who be- ‘lieved he was able to do what he said. The chief took the matter into serious considerations and the result was an advertisement, follow : : ‘ ‘ ua. ¢ ° : Pw ay : . : " _ , a 4 . « P gave. i ee sss sen ——— 3 _— but the disappearance was as inexplicable as it was sudden, since no one had seen such a person leaving the house. Hastily he gave his orders to two men who had promptly appeared at his summons. Then he went back to Captain Har- eos ne by this time, had thoroughly recov- ered. by a careful correspondence, and ending in this interview. So, when the little Irishman announced that he was one of the gang, and that his name was Paddy the Piper, the surprised chief thought it might be best to gather him in first, and come to terms afterward. So he sprung to his feet and gave the signal, and Captain Hardy swooped down on the little man withont even giving him time to suspect what was coming. Between them there was no doubt but that the.victory must be on the side | of the law. ‘** He is gone,” groaned the chief, as he entered the room. ‘*‘ What do you make out of him?’ ‘** 1 make him out to be the best little man that ever stepped on shoe-leather,” responded Hardy, ruefully. ‘* Yes, but what was his object.in coming here? The only difficulfy. was with Paddy himself. What do you make of him?” He wouldn’t hold still! ‘“*He’s a late importation, and 1 have not a Just how he worked the trick was not so easy | doubt but what he was acquainted with some of to see; and it looked as though he must have | the gang in the old country. As likely as not eyes in the back of his head. As Hardy sprung | they have not treated him with the cordiality he forward the little Irishman doubled himself up | thinks he deserves, and out of revenge he is into a sort of ball, and flung himself backward. | thinking of selling them out. Whether this in- Then the captain’s heels went up into the air, | terview will confirm him in his intention or not and his head struck the floor with a thwack that | I am afraid not, but if it temporarily dazed him, while Paddy the Piper’s | does I should say, employ him. Give him carte knees dropped upon his arms, a set of sinewy | blanche to act in the matter, but shadow him fingers clasped his throat, and at the same time from the moment you can strike his trail. | | remains to be seen. Evi- the chief found himself looking: straight into a | dently he is a dangerous man.” pistol barrel. ‘‘ You have hit my idea exactly. When he announced himself so boldly I had a half-thought. that the whole thing wasa bit of bravado. I am no nearer to being surer one way or the other. Butif I can trap him tosea I will.” And while they were talking a detective came rushing in out of breath. “The Gilt Edge Gang,” he gasped, ‘‘ They have killed a man in Greenwich street—just tramped the life out of him. From bis looks, he must have been well off, and they must have lifted a handsome swag.” ae chief and captain Hardy looked at each other. ‘*Arrah, now, w’u’d yez, me honnies? Sure, an’ it’s Paddy the Piper that is able fur the raft av yez! Don’t yez sthur a step av yez don’t | want yer brains bespattherin’ ther floor.” The chief was a man who had taken large chances in his day and he had undoubted nerve, but never had he been so taken aback. He had expected a struggle and an attempt to escape, but this was carrying the war right into Africa. He recognized the man’s wonderful skillat once, while there seemed no mistaking the earnest- ness in his low, compressed tones, Without hesitation the chief threw up his hands. ‘*TIold on, you idiot! hold on! Don’t point that thiiig this way. I'll give in at once. When a man comes wanting me to give him a chance I have to test his nerve. You might know bet- ter than to take it in such dead earnest. Put up your weapon and we'll talk the matter over. if you can give a good account of yourself you shall have a trial. Then if you floor the gang [ assure you it will be big money in your pocket.” ** Yez talk too much wid yermouth. Mebbe it would be ez well ter-+seeif Oi’ve bruk yer fri’nd’s neck before yer promise. Faith, and when the Piper plays that game it ain’t always that they get up.” The chief gave a cry of dismay as the Irish- man coolly arose, returned the revolver to its hiding-place, and threw himself into a chair. Hardy lay without sense or motion. He might very well be dead for all the signs of life that he Paddy the Piper. To-morrow Tl. put another advertisement in the paper asking ond to go to work on his own terms.” CHAPTER IT. ‘* FRIENDS IN COUNCIL.” PRESTON BLAINE, late major in the Confed- erate service, had found himself brought face to face with the problem of life in New York City, and was not above using those talents he had at his disposal. He had been bred to no profession, trade or occupation, and had never earned a dollar in his life up to the opening of the war. Into that he plunged with a whole- souled recklessness, and when he came out, nore the worse physically for a few scars, he fourd that every cent of bis possessions had gone with ** the Lost Cause.” 7 He did not regret, but drifted southward into Mexico, where hesaw more service of a slight|v irregular character, out of which he got as soc n as possible. Then, after more aimless wander- ing, he stranded in New York, and in default of anything better, caught up note-book and pen- cil and dashed vigorously into reporting. He had more success than he had hoped for, since luck favored him at the outset, and after he had obtained a little experience his diligence kept him going. Several times he had been called upon to chronicle the doings of the Gilt Edge Gang, and he was one of the first to sug- gest that the striking similarity in all these crimes was an evidence that there was a band of men leagued together who were the guilty parties in every case. He it was who interview- ed the victim at the hospital, and learned the name by which, in his own mind at least, the organization was called. Without being a monomaniac, Preston Blaine had written and said a great deal on the subject—so much that several of his friends of the quill had given him rene that he might carry his enthusiasm tco ar. He laughed at the warning, for he was one of the most fearless men living: and in addition there were very few better able to take care of themselves than this jaunty little Southerner, with the coal-black eyes and flowing hair. By this time he had got over the preliminary stages of his calling, was able to do good work, and make some money. Makeovers he joying life thoroughly, and was on very good terms with himself, . One afternoon, walking briskly down Broad- way, he heard his name called, and_ lookin around, saw a face that was familiar, though it had been years since he last met its owner— ee cigeoeee ahi | a te he two clas ands in an nt. “Of all me aig ho are the last that I would have thought of meeting,” said Blaine, after the first words of greeting had been given. ‘“‘T heard you were somewhere in the East— India, I think. When did you get back to this great, universal, Yankee land of ours?” Blaine laughed as he spoke. At first he had thought of spoiling the Egyptians, now he began ‘* Begorra, Oi belave yez think Oi mane it,” said the Piper, after a few moments, in which the chief was busying himself with his captain. ‘* Yez n’aden’t be thryin’ ter git the drap on me, fur yez didn’t git up airly enough in the mornin’, Oi kin pull an’ drap yez afore yez kin git ther hammer up, an’ the bell cord’s over yander forninst ther doour. But he’s onl squelched loike. L’ave him alone a bit, an’ he’ll be all i a an’ you an’ me talkr’ason. Does yez think Oi’m ther mon ter tackle ther Gilt Edge? Ef I ain’t, say so quick, an’ Oi'll be oin’!” ‘Stop! stay!” exclaimed the chief, noticing a movement that betokened returning conscious- ness. ‘* You are the man I want. ou can go to work at once. Tell me what help you will require and how you will proceed, and you shall not complain of the, lukewarmness of my aid. But, firsto#all, tell me, whatis this gang? Who is their leader?” , : ‘‘ Begorra,.niver a wan of me knows. It may be he’s ther leader—mebbe it’s yersilf. Tl niver till. An’ ef yez knew phat I wor afther doin’ yez moight be afther thryin’ it yersilf. Shore, when the toime comes Oi'll let yez know, an’ ell do as 1 sez an’ that’ll be the ind av it.’ “You mean, in other words, to run_ the De- partment, and let me play second fiddle,” an- swered the chief, angrily. ‘‘I must know who it is that I am trusting, and why you are willing ~ sell out yeur pals, before I can go any fur- er. Yell thrust me on sight an’ on seein’, an’ why Oi’m willin’ tor sell out is none ov yer busi- ness. Yez bluddy spalpeens, yez ain’t fit fur a white man to worruk wid, but it’s ther best I kin do, O7ll let yez know when I wants yer help, an’ be hanged to yez. Good-mornin’.” Captain Hardy had called the attention of the chief more fully to himself by gasping several times and then opening hiseyesand mouth, very much after the fashion of a dying mackerel. . Now he staggered slowly to his feet and stared around him with lack-luster eyes, ‘* He’s Satan _let loose, George. Close in with him at once. If that’s the kind of men the gang are you will have to fight fire with fire. Never | to feel as though he was living with the Romans, mind me. I am_all right.” and standing a pretty fair chance to become a The captain was refurning rapidly tohissenses ; Roman himself. There was not a spark of bit- —and so was the chief. He wheeled to see what | terness in his tone, though a moment later he new move the little Irishman was up to; but no | did look rather curiously at the general, to see Irishman was there. He had slip quietly out | what effect his careless words might have. He of the room. Se iagl had known him to be a most thorough hater in The chief rushed out and through the corridor ' his time, and was just a little surprised to see ‘ a a « * : * a35 - 3 ih ati 2 Lee \ rN ‘‘ Yes,” murmured the former, ‘‘ I must have- was en-—