Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 413 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

_ passed the spy on le” - Captain Coldgrip in New York. 7 the girl to decoy Captain Coldgrip here, but this is A Se in nec teste plumes. Tn God’s name, | where is Floss?” Papa Pangborn was speechless. CHAPTER VII. FOLLOWED AND LOST, ‘‘ DISCOVERED just in time!” muttered Cap- taln Coldgrip as he walked back from Papa Pangborn’s. “I have dealt with disguises be- fore, but never with one like that. This trail is growing interesting. Let me see; I have an en- gagement with Ferguson Fowler to-night. I will move toward his house. The New York Croesus will be somewhat disappointed over the | report I have to make, but I want a little hght | on a certain subject, and I will improve the op- portunity to get it.” | The detective turned into the first street he | struck, and waited for a car. | While he stood there a man who was power- | fully built, and looked like a cool fellow, had his | eyes fixed upon him. ‘‘He didn’t stay long at Papa’s,” this man mumbled. ‘Can it be that Foxy failed to ac- complish his play? He had the captain in tow when I met him awhile ago, but here is the ferret alone. Where is Foxy?’ Captain Coldgrip could have answered this question, but the watcher did not bother him with it, and he saw the sleuth board the first car that came along. ‘* Going somewhere, eh, captain?” laughed the big man. ‘‘Tll pass a little time in shadowing you.” And a moment later be swung himself upon the same car. It was about ten o’clock at night, and the car was comfortably filled. Captain Coldgrip walked inside and took a | seat, while his watcher stood on the rear plat- | form, and watched him furtively through the window. The car kept on; the man on the rear plat-_ form grew uneasy. ‘Ts he going to take me to the porer regions?” he growled. ‘‘ Foxy’splay must have Pha you new business, Claude Coldgrip. ang the luck! When are you going to get out?” If the detective was trying to worry the watch- | dog at his heels he was succeeding in an admira- | ble manner. | Finally, however, the chase seemed to come | to a close. | | i Captain sap ak left his seat hurriedly and the platform. ‘* He didn’t recognize me,” the man murmur. | ed. ‘He doesn’t know I have anything to do in | the game.” The city ferret left the car and walked toward | a line of cabs that stood in front of a well-known hotel. ‘He's going to try another mode of locomo- | tion,” laughed the big man, ‘‘Go ahead, cap- tain; you will find the Raven at your heels — wherever you go,” Claude Coldgrip accosted the driver of one of the Tig and the door was immediately opened to him. | The Raven Jeaned forward to hear the order, but failed to catch it in its entirety. The cab started off with the detective on the inside. “ ‘*Not yet, my Gotham tracker!” exclaimed the big man, and then he walked to the driver | of the next cab. ‘* Did you ever follow a cab?” he asked. *‘ More than once, sir,” said the driver, grin- | / ning. | g , van you shadow the one that just started off? ‘*T can.” , ‘‘Then do it. Money is no object. You will | stop when I issue a command to that effect, In a minute the Raven, Foxy’s old ;artner, was again in the detective’s wake, and a new race had begun. “Tm a weasel if I am a big one! Ho! ho! captain. Sly as you are, you can’t make many unobserved moves in this game.” The Raven knew the great city well. Every now and then he glanced out and recognized the buildings on either side. He thought himself in luck; he did not believe | that the detective had taken more than a passing _ notice of him. ——_ Of course they had stood face to face on the | platform of the street car, but it was only for a | moment, and then but a glance had been ex- changed. Captain Coldery’s cab preserved a rapid flight until it had gone some distance; then | the horses began to slacken their gait as if the detective was not very anxious to reach his - destination soon, All at once a number of loud shouts and cries were heard up the street. The Raven opened the cab door a little and listened. ‘Runaway! Clear the street thar! Pull up | your horses, cabby! Jerusalem! you'll be crushed!” These cries sent a thrill through the Raven, he threw the door wice and shouted at his driver. . “Whatis it?’ he cried, ‘“ What kind of a runaway is that?” laughed. ‘‘ A brewery team!” said the driver wheeling | ‘They'll catch | a stern voice behin his horses toward the sidewalk. the hack ahead—can’t miss it, sir! By Jupi- ter! Thar she goes!” ‘** More than drugged, Captain Coldgrip,” said im The detective wheeled in a flash, and saw him- self covered by a man whose face was half- At that moment there came a crash that | hidden by a dark mask. drowned the cries of fifty excited people on the sidewalks, The heavy brewery team had struck the de- tective’s cab with all its cyclone force, and al- most pulverized it! Horses, wagon and cab were mingled in start- ling confusion, and the most courageous of the spectators were already on the spot. The Raven sprung from his cab and ran for- ward. The driver of the detective’s vehicle was pulled from the wreck—dead! ‘* That’s all,” said a man, ‘Thank Heaven! **Tt had a pas- the cab was empty.” ‘* Not quite,” said the Raven. senger at the time. He’s in the wreck some- where—probably under the horses.” The crowd went to work with a will, excited- ly watched by the big spy. There was a lurking gleam of intense satisfac- tion in the Raven's eyes, ‘He got it from an unexpected saa have to lift my hand to do said. ‘* Thar’s no man hyer, boss,” some one said as half a dozen men raised the crushed cab. ‘** Not there?” Raven Rob betrayed his eagerness as he leaned forward. ‘*Thar’s nobody hyer,”’ was the positive re- joinder. The Raven stared blankly at the sport where he had expect_d to see the dead body of the de- tective, Captain Coldgrip was not in sight! ‘* He was in the cab just before the collision. I don’t understand why he ain’t here now,” the Raven said, ‘*I kin tell yer why, mister,” uarter, an’ I sung out a Eble voice, and Raven Rob wheeled instant- y upon the speaker. ‘*A man dropped out o’ that thar cab down on the corner,” continued the boy. i im up,” he | ) ' cm ee ‘Tt hap- | ‘*'You have cume in time to render me a little assistance,” continued the masked person. ‘I never thought I should be obliged to you for help in a time of need. Stand where ycu are, captain.” he man came toward the table with his re- volver still leveled at the detective’s head, | When he reached the table he placed upcen it @ small pyramidal-shaped pastille, beside wLich be quietly struck a match, ‘“'You’ve heard of pastilles before. Ha! ha! captain!” laughed the man. ‘‘ They are very werful, sometimes. My interview with Mr. owler bas just ended, It was too much for him, you see, I light the pastille thus, captain. Now stand still while it burns. You won't fall hard. At another time and place you may fall like a butchered bullock.” The detective fixed his eyes on the little object burning on the table. The singular cdor arising from it was filling the room and strangely affecting him. “This is the same infamous agent thatgave ~~ Ferguson Fowler four mcnths of insanity!” he | said to himself, and the next minute he sunk te the floor. . CHAPTER VIII. A WOMAN OF NERVE, ‘““TreLit me all. What was the result of your 4 mission ?—success?” * It was some time after the events just record- b ed, and this question was asked by an impatient and beautiful woman in another part of the city. Wait till 1 rest a moment.” said the man addressed. ‘‘Il bad an adventure totally un- | looked for. Ferg Fowler bad an engagement *2) with a certain man, but he did not come until I 4 had played my band, I had to deal with the visitor, also. reat Scot, woman! a dangerous: man is on the trail, sure enough.” ‘* Aha! you mean Captain Coldgrip, the detec- pened I was lookin’ that way an’ saw what I | tive?” exclaimed the woman, her black eyes thas did. That’s why thar’s no coroner’s job under | suddenly flashing. 1a thet bu’sted vehick.” ‘* Nobody else.” | Ke The Raven seemed to lose his breath. ** And you met him at the house?” mo Captain Coldgrip had given him the slip for ** 1 did.” 123 all his pains. He was ready to curse himself | The face of Queen Helen grew pale; she took Pte roundly for something he could not have a quick stride toward Elegant Ahab and clutch- a avoided, | ed his arm. ee ‘*Mebbe he knew me after all,’ said Raven | ‘‘There was but one thing for youtodo ~~ Rob. ‘ff he did he would be anxious to give | under the circumstances,” she said. ‘‘ Did you ‘ ch me the slip. Ive lost the game. now and wait for Foxy’s report.” Deeply chagrined over the outcome of his ad- venture, the Raven went back to his own hired I can go back cab and gave the driver new orders. ‘This is one on me, Captain Coldgrip,” he ‘The next success belongs to Raven Rob, whose claws you shall feel before you're many hours older.” Meantime the detective had executed the movement seen by the boy. In more ways than one it was a narrow es-: cape, for he had not gone a block down the new gy ere the runaway team crashed against the cab. “I don’t want you at my heels just now Raven Rob,” he murmured in undertones. “f will show you a startling hand in the near fu- ture, for ve are in this diamond dragon game, as I well know. Foxy, your friend, met with a reverse to-night. You'll wait some time for his report, I think.” ot long afterward Captain Coldgrip rung the bell of a house that stood in the middle of a number of fine residences, The ring was almost immediately answered, tig he had been expected, and he stepped in- side. *‘ffe is asleep in the library, sir,” said the man who had admitted the detective. ‘“ He has been expecting you.” The detective passed straight to the room where he expected to find Ferguson Fowler, whose mansion he had entered. He walked easily, although the heavy carpet under his feet gave out no sounds. _ The next moment he opened the door that led into the library and entered. A soft light pervaded the place, and at once showed Captain Coldgrip a man lying back in a Re ngf | cushioned chair, apparently fast asleep. Before he had advanccd three steps he recog- nized the features of the millionaire banker, and ina moment he stood bes'de his chair and was looking down into his face. Ferguson Fowler faced the elegant little table which occupied the middle of the room, His face was paler than usual—it was almost as white as his whiskers—and his heavy eyelids were closed. Captain Coldgrip laid his hand on the banker's shoulder and shook him Lightly. The eyes did not open, y shook him harder, but with the same re- suit, ‘Great God, this man has been drugged!” ejaculated the detective, } | | i | | do it?” The man seemed to recoil from her look. : **No! I left him harmless fcr the time,” he ot ‘‘The ferret was in your power and youdid ban not crush him! What do you mean, Ahab? E did not send you to the Fowler mansion to ea play a hand like this, Bowery Burt would not ‘ ave played it.” sf ‘Curse Bowery Burt!” grated Elegart Ahab, ‘‘He was to decoy Captain yOnRER into Papa —— Pangborn’s man-traps to-night. oss was tO have been the decoy. Why didn’t he keep his ie word? The Gotham ferret would not have in- vaded the Fowler house if Burt had kept his - word.” eo ‘* But what did you do?” asked Helen. “‘How far did you advance the cause of the Dragom League?” ae. ‘Not very far!” said Elegant Ahab, light- ing a cigar and throwing himself into a chair with a display of ill-humor. ‘I found a stub- born man in the Jibrary.” ne ‘“'You found one there once before,” respond- ed the woman with a smile. ‘*Yes and the discovery cost us four months of suspense!” growled the handsome villain. ‘‘Ferguson Fowler was not delighted to see me. I don’t think he actually recognized me but then something seemed to tell him that L was at his house for no good. I got admitted without trouble; the man we have beyond the millionaire’s door understands his business.” “But he admitted Captain Coldgrip, you say?” ar refusal to have done so would have cost him his place. That was allright. Fowler was expecting the detective, and Sleek Samhadto — admit him. The banker clmost sprung from his \s chair when he saw that Iwas not CaptainCold- erip. LTheld him down and looked bim in the . eye. [reckon he thought of another pastille, for he did not move, but looked at me till he grew white,” ee **'You had him in.your power then,” saidthe woman exultingly.. ERiey > “* $4" i : ‘ a “ P, ba Bil) Tie Le - Rt An WoT : +> ‘ in + ee “Ly ’. Sr "ce ‘‘T thought I had—completely so,” (Son ““Then you failed?” ‘tp ‘“ Wait till lam through. Ibroughtthemat- ter up in a way that impressed him. Itoldhint — that I could lay my band on the stolen papers and the diamond dragon, I said I was thorough- ey ly conversant with the contents of the papers, __ that I knew where the real owner of thedragom was, that I could lay my hands on4fer in a short S time, that I knew all about the ruin of the eh. Percys, that [had tracked the criminal from ~~ the crime to his palace home—all thisand more JOO <€om (E