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SLEUTH'S OWN
L3B.
,0 DENTS.
ONDER JACK,
THE DETECTIVE;
OK,
HE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
9. s. OOILV
WONDER JACK,
THE DETECTIVE;
OR
The Witch of Manhattan.
By OLD SLEUTH.
Copyright, 1894, by Parlor Car Publishing Company.
All Rights Reserved.
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WITCH OF MANHATTAN;
OR,
WONDER JACK, THE DETECTIVE.
CHAPTER I.
"HELLO, sis! what's the matter?"
A little girl one rainy night sat crouched on the coping
of an iron rail on a side street leading from the Bowery.
She was weeping and appeared in great distress when a
street gamin camo along and addressed the inquiry with
which we open our narrative, and in sobbing tones sho
answer*- 1 :
"I am hungry and mamma is hungry."
The gamin looked upon her pale face, illuminated by a
pair of large blue »
"So you are hungry and mamma is hungry?"
« Yes."
"Well, you wait here for a few moments and I will get
you something to eat. You bet, no one can cry hungry
'1 me when there is so much to eat lying around
The lad walked away and started up the Bowery and
iie arrived opposite a baker's shop and on the counter
tfas a pvat pile of bread. The lad peeped around ;i
moment furtively and then stole into the shop, "lil":
fat l«af of hivad and dashed out just as (he cry aros<
!'!" Tin; thii'f didn't stop;
he had hid the lo;iL' of bre;ul und.T his j;u-ket ami
< >"
6 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
away like the wind. He turned the first corner and was
going at full speed when suddenly a great pair of arms
were stretched out. They closed and the lad was in the
grasp of a "cop."
"Aha! Mister little ginger, I've got you."
The lad was not at all disconcerted, but answered coolly;
"Yes, you've got me."
"You've been stealing."
"That's what I've been doing."
"I'm sorry, lad; I hate to take a boy in for stealing
bread these hard times, but law is law and stealing is
stealing."
"You're right, cop, but come with me, will you?"
« Go with you?"
"Yes."
"Where, and what for?"
"I want to show you something."
The "cop" was an old-timer and he walked with the lad
around the square until he arrived at the spot where the
little girl sat, expectantly awaiting the return of the boy
who said he would bring her something to eat.
"Do you see that child, cop?"
"Yes."
" I never set eyes on her until about five minutes ago.
She was crying. I asked her the trouble and she said she
was hungry and mamma is hungry. I lifted the bread for
her. Now take me to my room."
The *'cop" walked up to the girl and asked:
"What's the matter, sissy?"
"I am hungry."
"Where do you live?"
The girl, who was about nine years old, looked up in the
]( cop's" face with her lovely blue eyes and told him where
she lived.
"And have you nothing to eat in the house?"
Til 7 oh' M A MI AT r AN. 7
"We haven't hail anything to oat since yesterday noon."
" \Vliy didn't you apply to some of Uio charity bureaus?**
, in the city two weeks, sir. We
don't know where to apply."
..u havo only been in the city two weeks?"
68, sir."
'•' Where did you come from?"
"Down on Long Island/'
"And you have no money?"
"Mamma did have a little money. She paid for getting
our things down here and paid the rent, and she was out
looking for work a week ago when some one stole all her
money."
" Why did you come to the city?"
"My father was a sailor. He was drowned from the
schooner six months ago and mamma had to leave town
and come to the city."
"W!
"I cannot tell you, sir, but we had to come."
"Give her the bread, lad," said the oth'eer, "and let her
go home. I will look into her case to-morrow. Where
did you steal the bread?"
The lad told the number of the store and the name of
the own
" You have the name and number down pretty well."
" Yes, sir."
"II«»w is that?"
"Oh, I only borrowed the bread. I intend to go in
3omti tlav and ]-:iv for it."
" YI.U needn't bother your head, lad, 1 will stop around
and pay for ! i
;d 1 will pay you T\e got
number."
n've ;/«! iny DUU
;, 1 alvv; I am a tfiOti
8 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"Don't you know it's wrong to steal under any circum-
stances?"
"I don't know much about it. All I know is the little
girl was crying and hungry. I had no money and I lifted
the bread, that's all."
! ' Do you think it right to steal under any circumstances ?*
I suppose not, but I couldn't help it."
"You may get into serious trouble some day."
"I am used to that."
"Used to what?"
"Trouble. I am always iu trouble."
" Where do you live?"
"Everywhere."
"Have you no parents?"
"Not now."
"Are your parents dead?"
"I guess so."
"Don't you know?"
"I don't know anything about it."
"Kow long have you lived iu New York?"
«I don't know."
"You must know something about yourself."
^"All I know is I used to live with an old woman. Sho
said I was left with her by a sailor man who said he was
my father. He gave her some money and said when he
returned from sea he would pay her big. He never came
back. The old woman told me this the night before sh(
died. I reckon I was ten years old when she died and IV
knocked around ever since. Never had no home since."
"What have you done all these years?"
"Anything and everything."
"What do you do for a living?"
"I used to sell papers."
"What do you do now n"
"Nothing."
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN. *
« Too lazy to work?"
"No."
"Then what is the matter?"
"I am a victim, that's all.0
"A victim?"
"Yes."
"A victim of what?"
"A lie."
"Tell me all about it."
"If I do you'll take me in."
"No, I won't."
"Honor bright?"
"Yes."
"The cops are looking for me."
" So you stole before, eh ? This is not your first offense."
"Yes, it is."
"Then why are the cops looking for you?"
"Yon won't believe me if I tell you the truth."
"Yes, I will."
"I'll swear to tell you the truth."
" That's right, do so."
"I was putting up one night in a ten-cent lodging house.
A.n old man came there one night who looked like a tramp,
but he was stuffed with money. He was robbed and the
clerk of the lodging house had me arrested. I jumped the
pen and they've been chasing me ever since."
"How long ago did this happen?"
"A mouth ago."
"Do you know who robbed the old tramp?"
"I've my suspicion."
"Who did it?"
"The clerk who had me arrested."
The policeman was thoughtful a moment and then saidt
" You've got my number'""
"Yes."
10 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"Will you see me again some day?"
"Mebbel will.-'
"Promise."
"Can't."
"Why not?"
"Mebbe I'm going away."
"Where?"
"To sea. My dad was a sailor, I reckon, and I've got
an idea I'll follow his profession."
" How old are you ?"
"I don't know exactly. I reckon I am somewhere
around fourteen."
"And you have really told me the truth?"
" Yes, I have, and "
The gamin did not have a chance to finish his remark.
A man suddenly leaped upon him, exclaiming:
"You slippery eel, I've got you at last!"
"Not yet," came the answer quickly, and the lad slipped
out of his jacket and was away in the darkness like a
shooting star. The man started to follow him but the boy
was too nimble foi him and got away.
On the day following the incidents we have described
the policeman who had "nipped" the gamin went to the
address given by the little girl. He found a plain but
comely woman in a neatly furnished apartment and she
verified the story told by her little daughter, and when
asked why she had left the village on Long Island she
related how she had excited the enmity of a man down
there who had started in to persecute her, and she had
thought it best to make her tome in 'the city. She said
she expected to get work in good time and earn an honor-
able living, and we will dismiss the woman from our story
for the present, with the statement that she did get work
through the aid of the nobleman, who proved to be a
THK WITCH OF MANHATTAN. 11
kindly man, am! she was able to carry out her desire to
earn an honest living.
In the meantime, after his escape from the detective,
the little gamin wandered down to the river front and
secured shelter in a pile of lumber where he slept through
the remainder of the night as peacefully as some more
•:ortunate lad in his snug feather bed.
Ten years subsequent to the incidents we have related a
well-known captain of police was walking through his
precinct taking observations when he was met by a young
man who was one of the best specimens of athletic manhood
one can meet anywhere.
"Hello, cap," accosted the young man as he came face
to face with the precinct captain.
"Hello, Jack, what are you doing up in my precinct?"
"Oh, I am just hanging around, cap."
The police captain smiled and answered:
" When Wonder Jack is hanging around there is some-
thing in the air."
Wonder Jack was a detective — a very young man who
had been appointed on the force at the age of twenty-one
and who had earned in five years a reputation as one of the
bravest, keenest and most successful detectives on the
force. Jack Caswell was a general favorite and despite his
youth was looked upon as a very valuable man. lie had
earned the pseudonym of Wonder Jack owing to .-everal
very remarkable mysteries he had solved, ami it was the
via: ' nat were usually assigned to him, and it was
this fact that had led the pivciw.t c-.aplain to remark
"When Wonder Jack is hanging around there is something
up."
The, captain and tli-- : ve stood talking for some
minutes \\heu to the surprise of the captain the detective
said:
12 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN
"By the way, cap, it's strange you and I should have
Miiet just here."
"It is?"
« Yes."
• '"How?"
" You don't know that we are old acquaintances?"
•" It's -news to me if we are."
"Yon never asked me for the money I owe you."
* Money you owe me!" exclaimed the captain, in a tone
of mil-prise.
"Yes, money I owe you."
" What are yon getting at, Caswell?"
"It'strife I owe you ten cents, and I've been in your
debt a little over ten years."
"You owe me ten cents, and you've been in my debt a
little over ten years?" repeated the captain.
"That's true."
" Say, Jack, you have the reputation of being a great
joker when you've nothing else to do."
" Well, I am; but I am not joking now. I owe you ten
soents fair and square, and I tell you it's strange we met
JEst here."
"You are talking in riddles, Caswell. Come, man, talk
tup. What are you getting at? Am I under suspicion, and
are you * working' me?"
"JSTo, captain, I am in dead earnest."
"What are you getting at?"
"Look around; don't you recall a very interesting
sxperience you had just on this very spot about ten yeara
ago?!'
"I don't."
"Sure?"
" Yes, I am sure I do not recall any strange incident, and
I say, Jack, if you are not joking talk up, for you are
perplexing me."
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN. 13
Jack was silent a moment, but after an interval said:
"Captain, do you recollect about ten years ago you
i*rrested a lad for stealing a loaf of bread?"
"By ginger, Jack, what are yon going to tell me?"
"It's true, cap; you paid for the bread and the thief
said some day he would pay you back. Here's your ten
cents."
"Jack Caswell, are you that boy?"
"Yes, I am."
" How is it you never called my attention to your identity
before?"
" Well, my reasons were various, but here is your ten
jents. Do you want interest:"'
"Jack, I've got interest a thousand times in recognizing
pou as that little vagabond. And do you know I've often
thought of you and that night?"
"Is that so?" ^
"Yes, I don't know as I should ever have recalled it if
it had not been for the romance that followed that little
incident."
" Was there a romance that followed it?"
" There was, sure — one of the most interesting romances
you ever heard tell of. Did you ever hear what became of
the little girl for whom you stole the loaf of bread?"
"No."
" You Itave never seen or heard of her since r"
" No."
"Well, well, had you made yourself known to me sooner
I would have told you the story."
"Tell it now."
"I will; but first tell me about y.nnvelf. I remember
our ward detective MiipjUMT you that ni/lit and you
him the slip and that, is the \\^l 1 rein r having
r h; ;ird <>f you until n,->\v. and 1 litih- dreamed :t
you building u;i .station that you were the
U THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
little bread thief. But come, tell me all about yourseH
and then I will tell you about the little girl. It's a great
story, a wonderful denouement."
"I was unfortunate during the early part of my life,
cap, and now let me tell you something. You will believe
me now."
"Certainly I will, and I believed you that night, didn't
I? If I hadn't I'd have taken you in and have locked
you up."
"That's true, and so is this true; that was the first time
I ever stole anything in my life, but somehow when that
little blue-eyed girl looked up at me and said she was
hungry I couldn't stand it, you see. I had just been look-
ing in that baker's shop at those loaves of bread, for I was
hungry myself, but I wouldn't 'lift' one to appease my
own hunger. But when it came to the little girl I made
up my mind on the instant and I nipped the bread. Well,
I fell into good hands and I really believe that was the
turning point in my life. You see had I gotten away with
that steal for the girl I might have argued that once hav-
ing stolen I might do it again. A bad argument, cap, but
little gamins don't know logic, you must remember, and I
tell you I felt my conscience prick me."
"By the by, Jack, you told me your story that night.
Did you ever discover your parents?"
"No, sir, but I reckon I've honest blood in me, for I
always felt a desire to tell the truth and do right, and I
had no teaching in that direction either. And, cap, I
stand a testimony to the declaration that honesty is the best
policy, and I've since proved it in a hundred ways. That
night I strolled down to the river and found a bunk in a pile
of lumber. Well, it does seem that fate was around that.
Hight, I woke early and was sitting on the pile of lumber
when I heard a scream from the river. I knew what it
meant, I've heard those cries several times. I had heard
15
that lime. I lea; ; iie end of
the [M,;:m -ind i i nigh, was a lad struggling in
tin1, water and la- could not swim. Well, I am a regular
dog, lik :amins around New York. 1 was a
swimmer, and o?er I went and caught the lad just
in time, and I held him above water until they could lower
a boat from the ship and we were both hauled on board.
The lad was the captain's son and he knew I had sav«
boy's life, and after he had given mo a good breakfast he
asked: 'What can I do for you, lad?' I answered, 'Take
me to sea with you, captain.' 'I'll do it,' he answered,
'if everything is all right.' And when he heard my story
he agreed to take me to sea with him as cabin boy. I tell
you, cap, it was a fortunate adventure for me. I sailed
\ ears on that ship and the captain's wife took a great
fancy to me and she became my teacher. I could neither
read nor spell and we had plenty of time on that ship and
I took to it. ftho was instructing her own boy. You see
before she married the captain she had been a Yankee
schoolmarm. 1 soon caught up with her boy and we
studied together and when I left the ship I was as well
educated as most boys who have been to school from four-
teen to twenty. She had plenty of books and I became a
great road IT."
" You didn't like the sea?"
"'Oh, yes, but I became ambitious, cap. I thought with
iny education I could make my way bettor on shop
when ai'liT tin I he captain returned to N'-w Y-'ik
I left the ship. 1 had some, money and I set out t<
merchant, but something occurred that led me to uhango
my mind."
" What occurred, Jack?"
"After I had been in a house (wo \eais they failed, and
a frisud of mine said he could get m« on the police force.
I determined to become a ..n ami nere i am, and
16 fHR WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
now yon have the whole story of the little bread thief n*
to date, captain."
• "It is a remarkable story, Jack, in some respects, but
similar incidents are occnrring every day."
"Yon are right, cap. I've come to learn some very
trange life histories since I've been on the force But
tell me about the little blue-eyed girl and her hun<nr
mother." to J
"I promised the girl I would call and see her mother tho
Wowing day and I kept my word. I found her a very
e woman <<md very pretty. She was raised in a town
down on Long Island and after the supposed death of her
husband a lawyer there wanted to marry the pretty widow
She refused him, very fortunately, as the sequel will
He commenced to persecute her and she fled to
the city and after being here a week was robbed of all the
money she had. She did not know enough of city life and
in despair, when almost starving, sent her little girl out to
beg and you stole the bread that kept them from starving.
Ml, I took an interest in the woman, got her some work
:lo, and she lived along nicely for two years, when lo
one day her husband, who had been supposed to have been
drowned, turned up alive. He had been washed overboard
•om his boat but caught on to a log and sustained himself
for several hours when he was picked up by an outgoin*
boat bound around the Horn for California. They could
do nothing else but take him along, meaning to transfer
mm to some incoming vessel. But a storm drove them
out of their course and the result was he went on to Cali-
fornia. He argued that his wife, believed him dead. He
reached California and wrote to his wife that as he was
there he would try his fortune on the Pacific coast. She
never received his letter. He wrote several times and in
the meantime joined a party going off prospecting in the
mountains. They struck it good and he remained there
THE WITCH OF MANHA TTAX. 17
for two years ami picked up quite a snra of money, then he
came east and after a long search succeeded in finding his
wife, and found her under circumstances that were very
gratifying to him. For, as he told me, dark and aggravat-
ing suspicions had shadowed over him. He took his wife
hick with him to California and to-day he is a millionaire.
I have a letter about once a year from him and when my
daughter was married he sent on a present that made our
eyes water, and he has offered me all kinds of inducements
to accept valuable acknowledgments. That is the story,
Jack, and I can show you a photograph of the blue-eyed
girl for whom yon stole the loaf of bread, and she is a
beautiful young lady now."
Wonder Jack listened with a great deal of interest to
the captain's story, and when it was completed he said:
"That is the spot right there, cap, where I first beheld
her."
"Yes, I recall it now, since you remind me of it, and I
can exclaim in amazement, 'what will a night bring forth!'
but come and I will show you the girl's picture."
The two men proceeded to a near-by saloon where electric
lights made clear every line under a radiance almost as bright
as day. The captain drew a wallet from his pocket and
produced a photograph which he handed to the detective.
The latter took it, fixed his eyes upon it and his face
assumed a look of ill-concealed surprise. The captain
\ ed the singular expression upon the detective's strong
face and demanded:
"What now?"
"Is this a photograph of little blue-eyes?"
"Yes."
"You are sure you have not made a mistake and given
mo the wrong picture?"
"I have made np mistake."
18 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"It's very strange," muttered the detective, in a reflex
tive tone.
" What is atrange, Jack?"
The detective did not answer immediately. He appeared
lost in deep study.
"Bo you recall the face, Jack?" asked the captain.
"I only caught a glimpse of that face and yet it made a
deep impression upon me. Yes, I remember it well, that
is the face of the little girl."
"And do you recognize the child in the young lady?"
The detective did not answer the question, but said :
"It's a remarkable face."
"Jack, you are on to something."
"Ami?"
" Yes; I am not a detective, but I am an observer."
"Captain, did you ever recognize a person in your
precinct who bears any resemblance to that picture?"
"Aha! I knew, yes, I knew you were not hanging
around in my precinct for mere amusement."
"You do not answer my question."
"No, I have never seen any one who resembles that
picture."
"No one who would remind you, of the picture?"
"No."
"And what \$> this girl's name?"
"Alice."
"Her last name?"
"Alice Swartswood."
"And she resides at present in California?"
"Yes."
"Her father is a millionaire?"
"Yes."
"No doubt about that?"
"None whatever."
"It's strange."
THE WITCH OF MANUA TTAN. 19
"Jack, will yon tell mo what you are getting at?"
"Captain, you have heard of the Witch of Manhattan?"
" No, I have not "
The detective smiled and said:
"I don't wonder."
" Will you talk straight out, Jack?"
"I've dubbed her the Witch of Manhattan."
" Tell me about the Witch of Manhattan and her connec-
tion with that picture."
" What makes you think the Witch has any connection
with this picture?"
"I have been watching you."
•' Mebbe you think I am bewitched."
"No."
"Cap, they count me pretty smart in solving mysteries."
" Yes, they think you are a wonder."
"And yet I am at fault just once. I am dead beat."
"Beaten by a witch?"
" Yes."
"Let's hear about it."
The two men had seated themselves.
"There is a thief in New York who has evaded every
ofiicrr in the business— a female thief. Sometimes she
appears as an old woman, sometimes as a beautiful
young lady. She lias worked on men's sympathies
and lulled them until she secured u chance to rob them.
At other times she appears before them a golden-lwiivd
girl and bewitches them and robs them. She is the most
cunning and the most successfnl thief in certain directions
that evej- appeared in New York, and thus far she has
baffled every officer put on her track."
" Has she baffled you?"
" Yes, so far."
kk J!id you ever see her?"
"There's the rub, captain. We all think we have
20 THE WITCH OF MANHA TTAN.
her and none are sure. She is the qneen of sirens, an
alluring mystery, who is plundering right and left with
delightful impunity."
"And yon have all failed in tracing her?"
"We have."
"What are her methods?"
"I've told yon her methods. She begniles and then
steals.
"Large amounts?"
"She takes anything lying around loose. Her last
rploit was the stealing of twenty thousand dollars in
negotiable bonds."
"Did she negotiate them?"
"She did."
"And got away with the money?"
"Yes."
"She mnst be smart."
"She is."
"And yon think she is in my district?"
"I have no reason to think so."
Then you did not come np here to look for her?"
*No, I was sent for to meet a gentleman who stated he
nad very particular business with me."
"Who is the gentleman?"
"I have not seen him yet."
"You know who he is?"
"No; I was only requested to call at a certain aurnber
atid send in my card to the master of the honse."
" Where is the honse?"
Jack gave the number and the captain exclaimed:
I know that house."
"You do?"
"Yes."
"Then yon know now what I am doing np iu J0nr di*.
I want to inquire abont that house."
ncffOf ijv. 21
"If hioned house, Imilt some time dur-
ing the revu!ui;<;". \< IIM. ant for sixteen years."
"It r.pp> 'itpicd now."
•ortcd to me that it is occupied. The
Yielding l)rl«Mi'js to an estate that was in litigation. Pos-
i settled and one of the heirs occupies
"Then you know nothing about the present occupant?*'
lo."
"The party, whoever it is, has been there but a few
ks."
"Not OVCT t\vo weeks."
"Ail right, captain, I will go there and pick np my
information from the party direct."
A little later and Wonder Jack appeared before an old
double house .standing back fully twenty feet from the side-
walk line. He passed through the gate, rang the bell and
1. It was some time before his summons was answered
and then an old man, evidently a servant, opened the door
and demanded:
"What is wanted?"
.Jae.k handed in his card and said:
" I'lease deliver it to the master of the honse."
The old man took the card and iu a few momenta
returned and said:
•• I'l.-ase euMie in, sir."
Th" detective was shown into a large parlor after passing
:!i a broad hall, lie found the furniture old-fashioned,
: i'di and nin.^ive. All the hangings were faded,
but a the materials were of the richest character.
He did not be: ingle article that appealed new and
, and vet eYervl.hi!:;^ h;ul been and burnished
up, and looked pea! and eonifortahle.
Thu deteetivr \va.-; QOinpell it some littlo time
'itured to turn n}> the gas so ho could study more
22 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
readily his surroundings, and he boldly wandered around
the parlor; it was a way he had. He was always investi-
gating, and it was this habit which enabled him to get on
to a great many facts at different times. He wandered
into the rear parlor, when his attention was arrested 05
beholding a portrait. It was the picture of a young girl,
and our hero stood and gazed in rapt admiration, for it
was a beautiful face. Well, he had beheld many beautiful
faces ^in his time-, it was not an unusual event to see a
beautiful face, but there was something in the expression
of this face which aroused strange feelings. The artist
had been a man of genius and he had succeeded in putting
upon canvas a face beautiful as we have indicated and
clothed it with an expression that caused one to become
interested at once. The portrait represented a young
girl, and despite her apparent youth and wondrous beauty
there was a sad look which was actually startling in its
life-like distinctness.
The detective was still gazing with rapt attention when
a roice demanded:
"Well, now are you prepared to give me your attention?"
The detective turned and beheld an old lady, tall and
stately, and with a very stern expression of countenance.
"Excuse me, madam, I was absorbed in admiration; that
is the most striking portrait I ever beheld."
The lady did not deign to explain who the original was.
Jack hoped she would; on the contrary she asked:
"Are you Mr. Gas well?"
" That is my name, madam."
"I sent for you."
"I beg your pardon, madam, I thought I was to meet a
gentleman."
"I do not know how you became possessed of that im*
pression. I sent for you."
"Madam, I am at jour service."
277, i TTAX. 28
'.•illy.1'
,Ia>-k did iiiii, ask why she had sent for him expressly,
and si ded to reveal her reason unasked.
" I had heard ahout you," she said.
A slill maintained silence.
" I have been informed that yon are a very shrewd man,
ami an hone.4 man, and a gentleman, who can he entrusted
with the most conlidential business."
" I am always true to them I serve, madam."
"So I have been informed; and it is a very delicate busi-
ness I have on hand for you to undertake."
"I am prepared to listen, madam."
44 It is a case of robbery."
"Tell me about it, madam."
"It is an extraordinary case."
u can tell me all about it, madam."
"I will ihvt lull you something of our family history,
not that the narrative will directly bear upon the mystery,
but I de>ire that you should know whom you serve."
"I am ready to listen, madam."
" 1 am ! "f the man who was the real heir to a
. This house was a part of the estate. My
brother's father loft this property to him."
" Madam, why do y< air brother's father?"
0 he was my half-brother only. My mother
i widow when §be married my brother's father, and
d hf K ft me, a sum of money, but
ill th ile he Irfl to my brothers, and immediately
1'ollowed a lawsuit, which was only finally decided
" Who • : the will, madam?"
" My br« i.ali'-hrtjtlicr."
MI- own hrnihrt ?"
had a sun when he married my
motl n-r, had been
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"Yes, sir.
"Proceed."
"My stepbrother was disinherited."
e was an only S0n, by the first marriage?"
8"' 6 ^ D0t meutionetl in the will."
"Yes."
"In whose favor?"
*'In favor of the jonnger sons."
;< And the elder son who contested?"
He died a bankrupt."
"And why have you told me all this?"
Again the detective smiled, and said;
AH right, madam, I am glad to have -ill =
possession, direct and collateral." ln
"Onr family, sir, is purgned by „ Nemesis „
of
No, sir."
THE WI7VII OF MANHATTAN. 25
" Madam, if every robber was looked upon as a Nemesis,
there would be a great many avengers of that sort in the
world."
"An ordinary robbery would not mean much, but this
robber is persistent, ingenious, and dangerous, and unless
his robberies are checked we will become impoverished."
Again the detective smiled. The remark was very
womanly and yet the old lady appeared to be a person of
nerve, good sense, and courage.
" Will you give me the details?"
"This house has been entered three times, and property
to the amount of ten thousand dollars has been taken;
family heirlooms, valuable gems, and five thousand in
securities and money, which were held here temporarily."
The detective smiled, and the old lady observing hia
smile, asked:
"Why do you smile?"
Jack, who had a keen sense of humor, said:
"Madam, if they were stolen, they certainly were held
here only temporarily."
" I should have said we were compelled to keep them
here over night and that night they were stolen."
"And have you any clew to the thief?"
"Now, sir, comes a test of the reasons why I sent for
you. Can we rely upon your absolute friendliness?"
"Will you explain, madam?"
"I want this thief caught."
"I see."
"But I do not wish any of our family to be implicated
as prosecutors."
" Minium, if that is your desire, there is no need to catch
the thief. A complainant must appear."
"I do not care so much about prosecuting the thief. I
have another purpose."
"What is your other purpose?"
26
THE WITCH OF MANHA TTAN.
" You say /fo's or her 9 "
"Yes."
"Why?"
It is possible the robber is a woman »
aTor r ds for belie;ing jt possibie that
"Yes."
"Will you state your grounds?"
•Several members of our family have been his or
Jack Caswell almost leaped ont of his chair. It was the
that the »^nol "bbe
the -^nons Witch of
°f
"Yes."
"And his name?"
"Theodore Peale."
°r6 ee
Theodore Peale was the man who had been
am, who is the original of that picture?"
bhe was the daughter of my half-brother,"
Where is you* half-brother?"
"He is dead."
;<And this young lady? Can I see her?"
''No, sir,"
a ^ t0neMd ***** *<>« a
Til '[ OF MANHATTAN. 27
""Why not, ni:id:i!ii:'"
1."
"The original of that portrait is dead?"
- V
" Uow long has she been dead, madam?"
" X.-ni'ly ii year."
4k Who is the owner of this estate now?"
"I am."
" Yon told me, madam, yon had three half -brothers."
" Yes, sir; I said I had three half-brothers. I am the
last of the family. Death carried off all the family, even
my niece, who was the residuary heir of her uncles when the
will was decided in her favor. She was the sole legatee.
I was her heir."
"And you are now the owner of the whole estate?"
"I am, as the heir of my niece."
"Have you any family of your own, madam?"
"I have a sou."
"Does he live with you?"
"No. He resides out west."
"You spoke of a nephew, Theodore Pealo."
" Yes."
" Is he the son of one of the brothers?"
"No, he is the son of one of my own brothers."
"I think, madam, that now I have the family history
Jown pretty well."
"Yes, sir."
"Do yon live here alone?"
"No, a granddaughter resides with me."
" You recently took possession here?"
"Yes, sir."
"Now, then, madam, you wish to find the thief?"
.-3."
"You o!o not want the thief a r rested?"
« No."
#g THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"What -am. I to dor*
"Merely run the thief down, and identify him or her."
" And you can give me no clew as to the identity of the
ihief?"
"I cannot."
"Bow am I to begin."
"You are a detective?"
"Yes."
"You might set a trap. The thief may visit this housa
again."
The detective wanted time to think the matter over.
He had listened attentively to the story of the lady, as
stated, and during the whole time that she was talking he
bad watched her closely, very closely, and he finally said :
"Madam, I will give this matter some consideration, and
see you again."
"You will decide upon a plan?"
"I will."
"You will not'take any one into your confidence?"
"I will not at present."
"Why do you put in the reservation?"
"I never positively bind myself. I will agree not to
take any one into my confidence without consultation with
you."
"That is satisfactory; and now remember all I desire at
present is that you will identify the thief."
"I am not to make an arrest?"
"No; but your identification must be positive and
absolute."
"Atid then?"
"You will have earned your reward, and I promise you
it shall be the most munificent payment you ever received.'
"Madam, you have not been perfectly frank with me."
"I have not?"
"No."
THE WITCH OP MANHATTAN. 29
"Why do you think so?"
* You have a suspicion as to the identity of the thief P"
"On my sacred honor, I have not."
"And you cannot give me the slightest clew to work
upon?"
"1 cannot."
"I will see you again, madam."
"When?"
"After I have fully considered the whole matter." .
Tho detective departed and as he walked along the street
he v, ;ed by the precinct captain who said:
"Jack, I've been on the 'lay' for you."
-Well."
"How did you make out?"
*' i haven't made anything out, except that it is another
f the Witch of Manhattan, and the affair is becoming
complicated."
" When I can be of any service to you, let me know."
"I will."
Jack returned to his lodgings. He sat down and thought
the whole matter over in his mind. He was satisfied he
was engaged in a very remarkable case, and he reached a
conclusion that there existed the most startling possibilities
in the ail'air. lie passed a sleepless night. Ho had been,
haunted, he remarked when he arose in the morning — •
haunted by a face— and that J'aee wan the sad, beautiful om
represented upon the canvas in the old house where he had
held the strange interview concerning the mysterious robber.
It was true the face had haunted our hero and tin
features represented 141011 that canvas were indelibly fixe4
upnii his ineniorv.
"When 1;< iii the morning he recalled all the inci-
ivlntrd l»v tin- woman and he wafi more and nmni
perplex, d the closer In* studied the faets, and he muttered
"There is a mystery here deeper than 1 can solve a
30 THE WITCH OF MA NSATTAN,
present There is some devilm-ent somewhere. I am not
satisfied that the woman was honest. Her instruction
w«re strange and unusual and therein lies the germ of mv
suspicion. One thing is certain, the Witch of Manhattan
the Nemesis. Now, then, I will start out and make a
ie study m one direction anyway, and then I will set a
rap, but a different one from that suggested by the old
The detective's first move was a visit to the office of
Iheodore Peale.
He went into the man's law office, and sitting down
waited until the head of the office was at leisure, and he
had an excellent opportunity to study the man. In due
time Mr. Peale was at leisure, and he called the detective
into Ins office.
"A little."
The lawyer started and asked:
" What have yon discovered?"
' Sir' that y™ ai'e not the only
"Oh, no; the thief whom yon call the Witch of Man-
3 very impartial in her peculations. I have had
several people report losses to me, and, by the way, that
was a happy thought of yonrs, dubbing her the Witch of
lanhattan; how is it you fell to that name?"
fell 10 it from the fact that yon told me that t *
rming yonng lady who robbed yon dubbed herself a
Manbattan' a desce»^t of one of the old
fact?*' J6S' l remember' and she did dwell npon that
"Mr. Peale," said the officer, "you tell me that this
thief has robbed saveral of your acquaintances?"
THE in 7V .77 OP MANHATTAN. 31
"Yes."
! itivcs of yours?"
>h, no. "
Tlu- detective was thoughtful a moment and then asked-
" Have YOU an aunt living at street?"
"Oh, yes."
"I've seen that lady."
iir sent for you at my suggestion."
" It appeal's that your aunt is also a victim?"
There came a light in the man's eyes that told much to
the keen ofli«
" Oh, she should not have told you that."
-She did."
" i suppose it's all right."
" It may be, but I see you have misled your aunt."
"I have?"
" Yes."
"How?"
"She appears to think that your family alone are the
victims of the thief."
Again there came a very suggestive look in the lawyer's
eyes, at least the look was very suggestive to our hero.
"She told you that, eh?"
* Yes."
"I suppose she thinks so."
"One more fact, sir; you say the thief negotiated the
bonds?"
- Yes."
u Where did she negotiate them?"
The lawyer named a hank.
" You did ii"t tell me (hid before."
"You asked MID the question 1 could1 not answer. I
1 rained and since you repeat vour question I answer
it."
' "Under what guise did the Witch appear at the bank?"
32 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
had better go and gee the officers of the bank;
they can tell yon better than I can."
"I will go and see them," said Jack, and upon gaining
the street he muttered:
"Great Scott, I am knocked out on one surmise, that ie
sure."
The detective called afc the bank and learned that a
respectable old lady had called, bringing with her letters
of the highest character.
"Were the letters genuine?" asked Jack.
"They appeared to be, but the real owners claim not."
"Then you are losers."
"We may be," came the evasive answer.
The answer meant a great deal to our hero, and he
determined to start in on the trail of his life.
That night the detective appeared at the house of Mrs.
Thomas, and said after some talk:
"I will remain here to-night, with your permission."
"Why should you, sir?1'
"I thought it might be desirable to you."
"No, there is no need."
Jack expected his offer would be declined, but he had a
purpose in making the request, and after some little time
he left the house, but he had gotten his points, and had
decided upon his move.
It was about midnight when the detective appeared
before the old mansion. He was gotten up in an excellent
disguise, and acting on information he had obtained
earlier in the evening he gained an entrance to the house.
He moved noiselessly along on the lower floor. All was
dark and still, and he took up a position in the parlor,
He had his mask-lantern with him, and he flashed its light
on the portrait which had so fascinated him. He remained
in the house for two hours, and finally concluded there
was nothing to be learned and he stole forth and gained
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
fche street. He was pacing almvj:, lo.--t in derp thought,
when he was around hy being pa.vod by a lady. The
latter was heavily veiled and the hour was after two o'clock
in the morning.
As wo have stated, the veiled lady passed him, indicating
that she had come from the direction of the old house.
Jack walked along after the lady and decided upon a
bold move. He stepped up beside the female and said:
"Excuse me, but can I be of any service to you?"
The lady did not appear at all frightened, but answered
promptly:
"No, sir."
"Do not fear to ask a service, miss," persisted the
detective.
"You can do me a kindness," said the lady.
"I thought so."
"Will you?"
"I will."
"Then please go off about your business, and let me
alone."
We will here state that a most singular premonition had
presented itself to our hero's mind. He could never tell
how he came to realize the suspicion, but he always after-
ward claimed that he was urged to commit the act he
did under the strongest impulse of his life. He suddenly
reached his hand forth and tore aside the veil, and for an
instant he stood paralyzed, and the nest he lay bleeding on
the sidewalk, stricken by a blow from a club, and the lady
disappeared around the comer ere our hero cluild i
his feet. Ho had received a pretty powerful blow, but the
stroke of the club was nothing compared to the shock of
surprise1. When .lack tore aside. tli.-it, veil there'
••led before him the face of the original of the portrait,
the pictured i'ace that hail haunted his memory, and the
discovery was more stunning than tho blow, and the latter,
as intimated, had been a powerful stroke.
34 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
Jack rose to his feet and he muttered:
"I am dead beat. Great Scott! I am on the mystery of
my life. Mrs. Thomas told me the original of that por-
trait was dead and had I not been knocked down by a
crack on the head I would swear that I had seen a ghost,
and I am no believer in the supernatural."
Our hero was completely mystified, and the more he
revolved the matter over the mystery deepened and became
in its elements more remarkable.
The portrait represented a youthful, sad-faced, and very
delicate girl, and yet the blow that knocked him down was
dealt with force one might expect from a powerful athlete.
Jack was a very powerful man and no light blow could
have knocked him from his feet.
Again he muttered, "I am completely nonplused, but
as I live I will solve this mystery."
On the morning following the incident we have described
the detective again appeared at the house of Mrs. Thomas,
and when the old lady with the dignified mien joined
him he asked:
"Madam, did your mysterious thief appear last night?"
"No, sir."
"Let me ask you, how many times has the Nemesis been
in this house?"
"I should say three times."
"And the last visit?"
"Was made about a week ago."
The detective had purposely taken a seat near the por-
trait which had so interested him and he suddenly
demanded:
"!B the original of that portrait dead?"
"Yes."
"So you told me."
"I did, and why do you ask me to repeat the declara-
tion?"
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN. ft
"Because I have another question to ask."
ry well, sir."
• you know of any living relative of the family who
resembles the original of that picture?"
Tin; woman hesitated a long time and then asked:
" Why do yon ask me that question, sir?"
"The face appears like one I have seen before."
"How long since?"
"Within a year."
Again the woman hesitated a long time and then said :
"I reckon it is only a chance resemblance; you know
resemblances are very common."
" I have either seen the original of that picture or one
who bears a resemblance so striking that it cannot be
accidental."
u If you saw the face within a year it was not the original
of that picture, for the original has been dead nearly two
years. The party you saw must have borne a chance
resemblance."
Jack was more and more mystified and finally he asked:
" What am I to do if I run down the thief?"
" You are to report to me."
"That is all?"
"Yes."
"I am not to make an arrest?"
" No, all I desire you to do is to locate and positively
identify the robber."
"Madam, let mo ask you; it would appear that the
original of that picture was a blonde."
"Yes, sir."
Tlio detective, in the brief glimpse he had of the face of
the veiled girl who had knocked him down, recognized that
she had dark hair.
During the talk recorded .lack kept; hi* ey-\s fixed on
the woman and he recognized that she was very fur*
&6 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
and watchful and very careful and guarded as to every
reply she made. When he left the house he determined
before proceeding further to verify the story the woman
had told him, and he did with results we will record in the
following chapter.
CHAPTER II.
As WE have stated, Jack was convinced that there were
some strange and weird elements in the affair which he nad
in hand. He did not know just exactly whom co suspect
as the conspirators. One fact was assured : there were otners
engaged in the game, whatever it might Je. Thus iar he
had fallen to nothing that would indicate tnat Mrs. Thomas
was not an honorable woman, am; .^iucere in all that she
said; but one fact was plainly apparent— whether honest or
otherwise she was nee absolutely frank with him. All she
had told him might be true, but she had not told him all
and then again the one other mystery was the marvelous
strength of the seemingly delicate female who had so deftly
knocked him down.
The detective proceeded to the surrogate's office and
there he learned facts which appeared to confirm every
word that had been told him by the woman. The facts
concerning the family appeared to be correct. The elder
brother had been the contestant in the suit. The will was
made in another State where the bulk of the property wa«
located, also all the personal estate. The property in New
>rk was represented by the old house above mentioned
which had been the homestead of the family for three
generations. The present owners came into possession
under the decision in the courts in another State, and it
3came necessary to present proofs only in New York to
icquire title, and Mrs. Thomas was the legal owner of the
Mtate as the heir of her niece, the daughter of her half-
THK n 7 T( -a o F jr i .v/r. i TTA N. 37
brother, who under th- of the court became sole
and took possession j: to her death.
Despite the fact that the old woman's, statements were
fully confirmed the defective, .-'nice having met the veiled
woman whose features he had disclosed, and also despite the
singular conditions under which the mysterious thief was
to h" located, indulged a suspicion. He was ;i natural an-
and he easily figured out conditions which would
permit of the grossest frauds, and his final exclamation
was:
"I've got a tangled mystery on my hands, but I'll get
at the truth if it takes the rest of my life."
-tated, t!',' ><j was fully possessed of a suspicion
of fraud and wrong somewhere. He could not account for
his suspicion based on any actual facts, but there were
little indices which impressed themselves upon his mind,
and his suspicions were very positive and well defined.
He made up his mind to run down the veiled lady, and
the following two days and nights were devoted to strategic
movements, barren of results however.
On the third day he received a note asking him to call
upon Mrs. Thomas. He went to the house and found the
lady laboring under u spell of great excitement and she
told him they had been visited by the Nemesis on the
night previous.
u Did the thief get away with anything?" asked Jack.
>, but I now fear that for some weird reason my life
danger."
" Will you di-srribe what occurred?**
The. staid old woman told a strange, weird story and
during the narration our hero dissected i he tale and reached
his own conclusions, lie ivmained -omr time in the house
with Mrs. Thomas and lose to go when
the lady said:
"I wish yoi' would wait here a moment, I have some-
thing to shcu- vou."
38 THE WITVH OF MANHATTAN.
Mrs. Thomas left the room and Jack sat with his eyes
cast down, when a ray of bright sunlight shot in through a
turned lattice and there revealed a single thread of hair.
Detectives are always on the alert and always quick to dis-
cover any little thing within the line of their suspicions,
Jack picked up the single thread of hair and quickly
ensconced it in an envelope and awaited the return of Mrs,
Thomas. The lady soon put in an appearance and after
showing the article she wished him to see asked:
"Have you any hopes of running down the mysterious
robber?"
"Oh, yes."
"You understand fully that you are to make no arrests.
You are merely to locate and report."
"That is the understanding, madam."
"If you carry out your mission successfully your reward
will be large."
"I will carry out my mission successfully, you need not
fear."
A little later the detective departed, and proceeding to his
lodging he drew the strand of hair from his pocket and
examined it carefully under a glass, and we will disclose
the result by the exclamation he uttered.
"I'll be hanged if it is not a clear blond. It came from
the head of some blond-haired miss, and let me see, the
original of the portrait is dead. Hang me, if this mystery
is not getting more and more tangled."
Jack thought over his talk and he clearly discovered
facts that were very suggestive, and not the least of these
was the command not to arrest the thief. He was to locate
the Nemesis only.
Jack started in to trail Theodore Peale. He had met
the man several times but knew very little about him. He
lay one whole day near the man's office and late in the
afternoon got on his track. Peale upon leaving his office
Til! 1A. 39
went to ;i fashionable hole] re- taurant . Jack, wlio waa
under a di d tiic place, and saw a lady enter
short! who went . t-» \vanl tin- table where Peale had
I. The man rose to greet her and soon they were
seated at the same table, where they enjoyed a gorgeous
repast. Jack maintained his position. He studied the
woman well and reached a conclusion concerning her. She
handsome woman, but her beauty was of the co;
sort. Her manners also indicated a woman of little refine-
ment and one who enjoyed all manner of dissipations.
When the meal was concluded Peale and the woman
separated, but not before our hero had managed to hear
the woman say:
" I will see yon to-night?"
The man smiled and answered:
" Possibly to-morrow moruing at an hour not far removed
from to-night.*'
It was about eight o'clock in the evening when Peale
separated from the lady. 'They had been three hours at
dinner and evidently had enjoyed a merry time.
Our hero decided to follow the man and he "lay " upon
his track until he saw him enter a gambling den which we
will here state ruined inure men during the year it thrived
than any other gambling den that was ever started in New
York.
I Vale entered the place and became engaged in betting.
t. at high rates and was a loser. Our hero ma:
to ma '(uaintance. As we have stated, Jack was
excellently disguised and lie felt lie could relv upon his
ise to escape d. He and his "qu.
:-arily quite intimate. Peale was a ;
and our hero had the privilege of accommodating
him with a loan of lifty d<
iVak- was a lilt!. of wine and then
ia the time when heir caution and talk.
40 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
Jack calculated Peale would talk and he asked him quite
a number of questions. He seemingly received "very frank
answers, but they were not confirmatory of any suspicions
indulged by our hero.
It was well on toward midnight when the two men
separated and Jack fell again to his man's trail, and to his
surprise he discovered that Peale even at so late an hour
intended to pay a visit to his aunt, Mrs. Thomas. Jack
saw him enter his aunt's residence and the detective man-
aged to get into the house. He had been there so often
he had the plan of the house \vull in his mind and it was
an easy thing for him to gain access. He stole along and
discovered the nephew and aunt engaged in a consultation.
"You have had your own way and this is the result,"
Jack heard Peale say.
"How have I had my own way?"
" We were safe enough, but you, urged by unwarranted
fears, must go and call in a detective. In doing so you
commenced playing with edged tools."
"How?"
" You were anxious to discover and locate our Nemesis."
"Yes, it is absolutely necessary. We do not know at
what moment our secret may be disclosed."
"You feared the "Nemesis."
" I had reason to do so, as I am assured that an avenger
is on our track. Theodore, it is too great a property to
lose."
" We were all right. Had you not acted on your own
responsibility we should have been all right."
"You do not appreciate the danger."
"Yes, I do; but we could have trapped the Nemesis
ourselves."
"You expressed fear."
"But that did not mean surrender."
" How have 1 surrendered ?"
: WITCH OF MANHATTAN. 41
"By calling in this detective. He is more dangerous
than the Nemesis."
"N"
"I have something very startling to tell you."
"Indeed!"
"Yes."
"Tell me."
"That man is not 'piping' the Nemesis."
" What is he doing?''
"'Piping' vs."
The woman stared and after a moment demanded:
" What do you mean?"
"Just what I say; that man is 'piping' us."
"Why should he 'pipe' us?"
"Because by some strange and possibly occult process
he has fallen to the suspicion that there is something
wrong."
" How do you know he is 'piping' us?"
"I know it well enough."
" You were always a suspicious man, my son."
The detective had been informed that Theodore Peale
was the nephew of Mrs. Thomas, and now the woman
called him "my son," and Jack had learned facts that con-
firmed his suspicions. Indeed it had ceased to be a suspi-
cion. He was well assured that some great deed of wrong
aad been committed and these people were scheming to
hide their tracks and make their deed a permanent
success.
" I may be a suspicious man, and my suspicions are well
confirmed this time."
" Yon say hu is 4 piping' us?"
.•3."
"You must have some proof."
"I huve."
"What is your proof?"
4% THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"He was 'piping' me this very night. I played my part
well."
"He was 'piping' you this night?"
"He was."
"What nonsense!"
"It is true, and I tell yon a more dangerous foe is on
our track than the Nemesis, or the Witch of Manhattan, as
the feller calls our dummy."
A second great disclosure was made to the detective.
There had been no robberies; the schemers were using a
dummy to rob themselves and this disclosure opened up
the fact that there must be a real heir somewhere, a victim
of a deep and well-laid conspiracy. Jack was indeed »
wonder in his ability to put facts together.
There followed a few moments' silence broken at length
by the woman, who said:
" Do you really mean to tell me that the detective has
been 'piping' you?"
"I do."
"And you are sure?"
"lam."
"What can be his purpose?"
"He suspects something wrong. We could not carry
out such a scheme as w^ have and be able to conceal every
little fact liable to arouse suspicion. I knew that we were
all right until 3rou called in this man."
"I thought we might locate and — < Well, you know."
, " Oh, yes, that part of it was all right. We did it suc-
cessfully in one case but we should not have employed any
one as keen as a detective to do the locating."
"We have tried ourselves and failed."
"It is true, but in the end we would have succeeded."
"Or at any moment all might have been exposed," said
the woman. " It was necessary that we should act quickly."
"We must act quickly now."
THK WITCH OF MANHATTAN. 43
"How so?"
"Undo the mischief that has been done — in other words
remove the peril \\v have invited."
" What do you muan?"
That detective."
-Well?"
"Unless something is done onr game will be defeated.
We are winners. We hold on, however, by a very slender
thread at present. Suppose the detective and the Nemesis
should come together?"
"Well?"
* Jt would be good-day to us, or rather to the millions."
"And what can we do?"
"I'll tell you."
"Do so."
" We must get rid of the detective."
"That can be done easily enough."
"It can?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"I will dismiss him."
The man laughed.
"Why do you laugh?"
" Well, it is very astonishing, mother, that a woman as
cunning and clear-headed in some things should be so weak
and near-sighted in others."
"What do you mean?"
"You say you will dismiss the detective."
"Certainly."
"What will he care?"
"That will take him out of the case."
"You think so?"
"Why not?"
"Why, mother, it will start him in. Yes, we have made
a great mistake."
4* THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"We have the money."
"Yes."
" What can we not do with all this wealth absolutely at
our disposal?"
" We can do a great deal, but it is hard to think that you
should haye invited a Nemesis number two."
"Who is the Nemesis number two?"
"The detective."
"And you really think he is dangerous?"
"I know he is."
"We will get rid of him."
"Not by a dismissal."
The detective peeped and saw the woman's face. It
assumed an expression simply fiendish as she said:
"Yes, by a simple dismissal."
"Never."
"You do not appear to understand me."
"Tell me."
" We will dismiss him. Yes, and he will not trouble us."
"Do not talk in riddles."
"We will kill him."
" We must; but we thereby invite a second peril. It is
not an easy affair to put a detective out of the way."
"We will do it, easy or not easy."
"We must do something, for I tell you in plain word*
that man is on our track."
"To-morrow 1 will arrange to dispose of that man."
"Oh, yes, and invite new complications. It is very
unfortunate."
"How will I invite new complications?"
"In disposing of this man."
"Leave it to me."
"What will you attempt?"
;< Never mind. He will he out of the way."
" Will you explain how you mean to do it?"
THE WITCH OF MANHA ZT. • 45
"He will enter this house .some day and never leave it."
man thought u moment ami .said:
"That is the only way you can do it. The deed must
not be entrusted to any mu- else."
" Y"ii can leave it, to me."
A little later Theodore Peale left the house flnd the
detective determined to stay in the house, and after
the old woman had retired to her own room he had ample
time to revolve over in his mind the remarkable disclosures
verieg that had come to him. He could not
understand why the woman called her nephew her sou, or
her son her nephew. There was some deep design in that
singular {':>>•(. Indeed, the whole matter was each moment
niiig a deeper and deeper mystery.
-Ia<'k had nisconeed himself in the parlor. He lay
lieil upon a sofa and he was engaged in deep study.
He was battled as to a solution of all the complications.
•ailed the finding of the strand of hair and this led
him into a train of thought. He had "piped" down to
• •upants of the house and could only identify three
iding in the old homestead — Mrs. Thomas
and a man and woman, both the latter foreigners, and as
far as he could discern they were Swedes. Then, as stated,
he recalled the strand of blond hair and he muttered:
" There is one occupant of this house I have not seen
The words had hardly escaped hi.-- lips when he beheld a
sight that caused him to lie and stare like one par i1
: It that he was gazing upon an apparition. A K-male
robed in pure white suddenly appeared in tlu1
In her hand t!. an ied a little lamp and she
1 with a Blo a regular Lady Macbeth
but the feature- were hear. til'1.'.!, and the
LT€ made a second \ iling discovery. The
apparition bore a remarkable resemblance to the portrait—
TBa W1WB OP MANBATTAIT.
,„„«„,,,
He ood a
operations tW h red that for
T^fXh±^Jejriwrtiiii*:*;
gained the street he nn,tlt, ' ' f°rth all<3 8S he
n eu
I will soon «fl Sth'
"'
TV/ IN. 47
v the blond lady would remain in the
house. future d.iy he could trail down to discover
her. Tht'iv weiv other fads IK.- needed t-> ,-mdy.
• •ur readers know Jack had been to the surrogate's
otlice and had ascertained considerable, and all he had
It-arm- 1 appeared to con linn the story the woman had
••.oil to him, and it was just here where he wi atly
tilled. He deVrminecl to know more and on the morn-
ing following the incidents we have described he packed
his valise and left town.
Jack's destination was the city where the trial had taken
place. He determined to learn from the records and other
sources the real facts of the great suit that had lasted so
many years, and which had been so stubbornly contested.
Jack arrived in the town and had little trouble in getting
on to many facts not interesting to our readers. lie
learned the name of the counsel for the contestant and
from him learned some very startling facts. lie learned
that there had been two contestants. Contestant number
two claimed to bo a sou of the younger brother in whoso
favor the decision was finally given, but absolute proof was
furnished that this young man was an illegitimate offspring,
his own mother appearing and admitting the facts under
nination.
We will hero state that the cross examination to which
this mother was subjected did not compare to the one i
ducted by the detective in his interview with the lawyer,
and the clear, discerning mind of our hero perceived little
suggestions which appeared to point to one of the n
skillfully arranged plots ever conceived for the stealing of
millions. And when Jack ( 'aswell took the train to return
to New York he had mapped out a line of i -ion
which promised great re.Mills. He knew all he would ha\
contend with, he full , fl he would encounter,
for he : '••/d that, the ! a hold and des*
48 THE WITCH OF MANHA TTAN.
The detective arrived i
Fh detectn-e d,d not go near the woman Mrs Thomas
nntal he rece.ved a message from her requesting h to to ca
°'ci-- j- — .it:
- «•« .i
any progress?" ^ ^-
"I am surprised at your non-success "
'We cannot do these things in a day, madam."
' have been some creeks engaged on the case
THE WITCH OF MANHA TTAN. 40
"Are you 1, madam?"
"I will be frank, I did think something would be accom-
plished by this time."
•• Do you wL-li to employ some one else?"
- Now you are taking an advantage."
"I jim?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"I have given you my confidence; I do not feel like giv-
ing it to another. It is a very delicate business."
The detective fixed his eyes on the woman and asked :
"Why should it be, my dear madam? If it is an ordi-
nary case of robbery it is simply to find the thief; but you
exact very peculiar conditions."
"You think so?"
"I do."
"Y^ou are at liberty to withdraw from the case."
"I am perfectly willing to do so, madam."
The woman was thoughtful and there came a wicked
look in her usually cold, gleaming eyes.
"I do not wish you to do so. I know you are an honor-
able man and you have the reputation of being a very
shrewd man. I should think you could locate the thief."
"Madam, I have done all I could to locate the thief."
"You have the most accurate descriptions of her
appearances."
"Yes, mudam, and that is all I can get from any of her
•victims."
There was great significance in the detective's last state>
ment and it was a true one. All he could get from the
victims of tho thief was ;i description, no little facts or
clews that might lead to a <U'U-<'{i<m.
"You once proposed to remain overnight in this house."
"I did, madam."
"At that time I declined to permit you to do so. I
50 THE MITCH OF MANHATTAN.
now desire that you remain here several nights in
succession."
"For what purpose?"
"I think you can catch the thief."
"All right, I will remain here to-night."
"How shall we prepare for your remaining?"
" You need make no preparations at all, madam. I will
simply remain in the parlor and conduct my campaign
according to my own plan."
"Let me tell you there are reasons why I am very
anxious to capture the thief. After the capture all the
evidence you need will be forthcoming. Conviction is
assured and then you will receive the largest fee yon ever
received in your whole experience as a detective."
Our hero especially noted the statement "After the cap-
ture all the evidence will be forthcoming." Here also was
a very grave suggestion in connection with all the facts
he had in his possession.
"Then you will remain here to-night?"
"I will."
The woman and the detective had extended their inter-
view beyond eleven o'clock and Jack had said:
"I will insist that not a person leave their room after
twelve o'clock. I will not be answerable for the conse-
quences."
"What do you mean?"
"It may be that I will be compelled to shoot. I do not
wish to make a mistake."
Jack watched the woman's face closely as he made the
statement and beheld an expression that spoke volumes to
him, and the woman said unguardedly:
" That would be a short way out of it."
" What would be a short way out?"
"Were you to shoot the thief down."
"I may be compelled to do so."
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN. 51
ulf yon do you will earn your reward ami it will be a
large one."
Tin-, detective was leading the woman on. lie was
gaining verification of his darkest suspicions.
•• Very well, madam, you had better retire arid leave the
house to me for the rest of the night."
Jack believed some attempt was to be made against his
life, and he had spoken under the inspiration of that
suspicion.
The woman finally retired and our hero was left
in possession of the lower part of the house, and once
alone he revolved over in his mind all the possibili-
ties. He did not anticipate meeting with any one
from without. He did expect to meet wita some one
from within the old house. When once alone the
detective fixed himself on the sofa. He was well
armed, he knew his weapons were in good order and he
determined to be on the alert and there dwelt in his mind
hut two subjects for study: The fact that all the evidence
was promised after capture, and the fact that the death of
the thief would end matters most satisfactorily.
Twelve o'clock passed and not a sound had been heard
once, so one o'clock and two o'clock, and it was well on to
three o'clock when our hero became aware that some one
was moving about in the room. He drew his club. He
placed more reliance upon his locust than he did upon a
pistol in the darkness, and as he sat and listened the query
was presented — what is the game? It Was a critical
moment and death hung in the air. It, w, ;;ry that
he should be very careful, and yet it was equally neces.-
.t he should change his position, and the chances were
the party or parties moving in that room knew his position
exactly.
Jack believed it was an assassin. He believed he was
the intended victim; in fact, he had ciphered out tlie
52 THE WITCH OF MANHA TTAN.
whole programme for getting him out of the way. The
people had indeed arrived at the conclusion that in em-
ploying him they were playing with dangerous tools.
Our hero with a movement as noiseless as that of a
mouse slid from the sofa to the floor and then he crawled
off to one side, and as he lay still again he mentally
'declared he would give a thousand dollars just to flash his
lantern light for one second, but he did not dare do it.
But as the moments passed he became perplexed and
finally he questioned of himself:
"Can it be possible that indeed a thief has entered the
house?"
Jack had been very noiseless, but he soon had reason to
believe that the party knew of his presence and that
brought him around to his original conclusion. The seem-
ing intruder was some one who knew of his presence before
entering the room and there the party stood. There was
just sufficient light for the detective to see halfway across
the room. The individual was in the shadow beyond.
Jack was trying to discern when the party moved a little
and came within the area of light, and the detective made
a discovery which changed all his ideas. He discovered
that the mystery was a woman. He could only see her in
dim outline but the latter fact was fully established.
Jack was perplexed. It being a woman dismissed the
suspicion of harm intended to him, and it made plausible
the possibility that after all the thief theory was genuine,
and that at that moment he was gazing upon the veritable
Witch of Manhattan.
"Where am I at?" he muttered. "It does seem that in
some directions these people are proving their statements
to be true."
The next consideration was, what should he do? Who
was the woman? If not the Witch was it possible it was
the iron-limbed female who had knocked him down that
night when off his guard?
i TTA y 53
Hei1 : to another fact; the intruder was
with him
if he iii'hvd int-<i: ;iture, and that was his game.
detective had taken his observations while lying
r.p-m tlie floor. He slowly rose to his feet and started to
•e toward the figure of the woman, when suddenly
. a report and a crush, and ere our hero
could recover from his .surprise, for ho was taken by snr-
e, tlio intruder vanished.
Jack made an r'T.irt at pursuit. At the same instant he
QQ aware that the house had been aroused. Mrs.
Thomn.-; came rushing down the stairs carrying a light.
the ottlcer in the. hall and she demanded:
•• [la\ • you killed him;'"
Jack, despite the excitement of the moment, noted the
inquiry " Have you killed him 9"
"No, madam, I just escaped with my own life."
ML; fired at you?"
'.'es, madam, he fired at me."
" Was it a man?" the woman demanded.
k saw that she had fallen to her error and was evasive,
answering:
" I can hardly tell; it was in the dark."
" And the thief fired at you?"
"How unfortunate!"
"I think it was very fortunate."
"That I waa not killed."
%< VMM are a man of courage. "
dam, any Mian can be murdered. Courage is no
'inst murder."
•k 1 wish you had iirrl and your aim had been true."
.ot much eh;'ii<v f,,r aiming in the dark."
" And the thi
54 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"Yes."
"I suppose you can retire now."
"Yes, madam."
"Will yon go oil duty to-morrow night?"
"I will."
Jack went forth to the street and he was very thought
fnl and muttered :
"It's a mystery; it's a mystery. That woman is indeed
very deep and cunning and I had a narrow escape. She
told her sou she would down me. Well, she came very
near making good her promise. JSro, no, I see through it
all now. She intended to throw me off when she asked
'Did he shoot or did you shoot him?' A great game,
madam; yes, a great game. You played the thief well!
All right, the next time I may do the shooting and the
thief may be winged at least."
The detective's soliloquy as recorded will indicate to our
readers the line of his suspicion. He believed the thief
business had been a ruse and a part of the plan to murder
him and get him out of the way. A knowledge of tl:e
game of an enemy is always of great advantage to a good
detective. Jack was a good detective and he was prepared
to keep another vigil and give Mrs. Thomas another
opportunity to play her game. "I'll solve that end of the
mystery next time," he muttered.
On the day following the adventure we have describee!
Jack called upon the woman. He found her cool and calm
'as usual and she again expressed her regret that he had not
downed the intruder.
"Never mind, madam, I escaped and the next time I
will have a different tale to tell. I may show you a dead
thief."
"I hope you may, and you will bo well satisfied with
your reward."
That night Jack was on his way to the house when he
; '/"/'. 4 2V.
The, lath']1 was going t-
on his mother.
")d enouu-h," muttered our hero. "I will have a
>W to hciir her tell her dear boy how near she
to hiving out the 'dangerous tool,' the de tee live."
? the son enter the house. It was after elovon
A. The detective managed to gain an entrance also
«tnd he was at his ju.-.-t ready to listen just as Mrs. Thomas
M, so he overheard her very iirst words and
itartlingly confirmatory of his latest susjii-
" \\Y11, auntie, did yon succeed in downing your detec»
tivi
j >, and I have something to tell you."
"Well?"
am vindicated."
" Von are vindicated?"
" M v jioliev i.-: vindicated."
Mt :
" Yes."
"How:"
"I had the detective on watch here last night."
"Well?"
. nd h? came,"
"He did?"
"Yes."
«W<
" I/r almost. kilh:d the detective."
at se.i once niore. In those few words the
• an had dispelled i suspicion.
-What hap] .1 IVale.
"As I tuld you, I had the (Jett-.-tive on wateli and he
• him, made an attempt to
pistol at the oflicer at short
" An<l inir-se,! hi
66 THtt WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"Yes."
"How unfortunate."
Jack's original suspicion was reyived but even within the*
moment it was dispelled again as the woman said:
"It was not unfortunate. That detective is our only
hope. Next time it will be the other way."
"How?"
"The detective will shoot, and then we can defy the
Vorld; all will be over."
"Mother, you exaggerate the danger. In my opinion
there is more danger from the detective than from the
other quarter."
Peale sometimes addressed his mother as auntie and at
other times he used the more endearing title.
"You fear the detective?"
"I do."
"And I fear him. We have underrated him all these
years. He is a man now, and each hour becomes more
dangerous."
"Great Scott!" was the detective's ejaculation under his
breath. Those few words were the most extraordinary
confirmation he had received, and he muttered:
"I begin to see light now."
"I fear the detective," said Peale.
"That is only an idea of yours."
:<No, the man has been dogging me as I told you, and
he is ferreting out concerning some ore else. He is play-
ing a deep game and it is against us. It is a pity you ever
ualled him in; everything was all right. We have played
the greatest game ever attempted. We have played it
successfully— we have won a million."
"What you say is true, b»t remember w§ had a great
many confederates. Any one of them may get sour aud
communicate with the one person and then- "
"Bah! we would have been all right, but now I feel the
greatest alarm."
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN. 5\
"Yon do?"
"I do."
"And the detective is yonr bugbear?"
"Hois."
" That man is devoted to his own interests and therefore
to ours. I tell you within a few weeks I will have the
one we fear and have reason to fear where he will do no
harm, and then the detective and all our other confederates
become harmless."
"I have a plan."
"What is your plan?" \
"Let us turn everything into cash and get away."
"No need."
"You can sell the real estate."
" We must not call attention to our doings so soon.
Remember there are those who understand our whole game,
but what they lack is proof. Let us once get rid of him
and then we can sell and go or hold and stay with none to
molest us or make us afraid. I tell you we are not safe as
long as he lives."
" You promised to get rid of the detective."
"I've changed my mind."
"And I tell you he is the one we have most to fear.
He is liable at any moment to get in contact with him, if
he has not already, and then where are we? I tell you
the detective must be put where he can do no harm, or
thu day will come when he will put us where we will be
harmless."
The detective had heard enough and left the house, and
once again by himself lie muttered:
"lean have no misunderstanding now, all is plain and
clear. Tin; mystery is solved. All that is lacking is the
evidence, and 1 will get the e\ iik-nce."
Jack was walking alonic in a thoughtful mood and
muttered unconsciously aloud:
5b THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"I wish I could find that mysterious 7m/?."
The words were still echoing along through the night
when suddenly our hero was confronted by a woman. As
usual she was veiled, but Jack was not at a loss as to her
identity. The woman advanced to him boldly and asked:
"Are you an officer?"
"I am."
"Your name is Caswell?"
"That is my name."
"Will you go with me?"
"Why should I go with you?"
"I think I can aid you."
"Aid me?"
"Yes."
"In what?"
"In your present business."
"What is my present business?"
"You are seeking to solve a mystery."
" And you -can aid- me?"
"I can."
"How?"
"Come with n.e."
"All right, I will go with you; lead on."
The woman led the way and the detective followed.
He did not attempt to remove the veil or seek to establish
the identity of the woman — he felt well assured as to her
identity. She was the woman with the strong arm — the
•woman he had seen in the old house and who had shot at
him, and indeed at last he was nearing the goal. Neithei
spoke as they walked along and Jack was not surprised
when invited to enter a coach. He followed the woman
into the carriage, but he was watchful and ready at any
moment to grasp his weapons or his inevitable "billy."
THK WfTCJI YffATTAN. 59
CIIAPTKR III.
THE <'ARRiA<;r: wa-- driven for fully an hoar. Jack
knew 'm was being driven out of town and yet made no
.est, nor did he ask a single question He was on the
)lution of a great mystery and that was suffi-
lle was ready to take all chances, brave all perils.
In good time the carriage was stopped. The woman
alighted and in a tone of command said :
Follow."
Jack obeyed. Tie was ready at that moment and tinder
all the circumstances to follow to heaven or. the other place.
Thd woman led the way up an embankment ami a little
later there could be seen the glimmer of light through the
darkness.
"I wish you to accompany me to that house," said his
conductress.
The woman spoke in very commanding tones. Indeed
for a female all her movements and her words were very
decisive.
The two soon reached the house, a building which was
but a slight advance on a shanty. Once within the door
Jack looked around. Only rude furniture fell under his
observation, and on a common deal table stood a kerosene
lamp. The woman pointed to a seat near the window.
Jack settled himself as directed, the woman closed the door
and seated herself at the table in a position facing her
visitor.
" Von do not appear to be surprised," said the woman,
who had not removed her veil.
"I am surprised all the same."
44 You are?"
"lam."
* Yon have an excellent way of concealing your surprise."
"Yes, that is my way usually."
80 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"Have you no questions to ask?"
"No."
"How is that?"
"I propose to let you do the talking."
"Yon are a friend of Mrs. Thomas," said the woman
abruptly.
"Oh! am I?"
"Are you not?"
"You appear to know.5'
'•"Will you answer me?"
*We will assume I am her dear friend."
•*You are a very cautious man."
«« Yes."
"But you are an honest man."
"I trust you are also," said the detective.
The woman gave a start. Jack wished that at the moment
he could have seen her face, but the aggravating veil
intervened.
"Did you consider your words?" came the question.
"I did."
"Fully?"
"Yes."
"You said I \? as an honest man."
"Did I?"
"You did."
"I said I trusted you were also."
"They were not idle words?"
"No."
"Will you explain?"
"No."
"You are very abrupt."
"lam."
"Why:"
"Because I am here to listen to you. I've got nothing
to say only in answer to what you say."
THE WITCH OF MA NHATTAN. $\
« Your name is Jack Caswell."
"That is correct."
" You are a detective."
"Correct again."
"You are employed by Mrs. Thomas."
"Correct again."
"What are yon to do?"
•l You know so much concerning my affairs you should
know niy special eniploymeut."
"I trust you will an^vei' my question."
"I may on one condition."
i% Name your condition."
"I wish to see your face."
" What has that to do with your answering my question?"
"I wish to know the person who addresses the question."
"It does not matter."
"But it does."
"And are you particularly anxious to see my face?"
" \o, but I make it a condition."
The woman removed her veil and Jack for once in his
life started in dire amazement. He had anticipated
beholding a youthful face; instead he saw one of the most
hideous-looking physiognomies he had ever beheld. In-
deed his surprise was so great that for a moment he
remained Bpeechl
Tlio woman laughed in a manner that was really |tar-
tling. It appeared as though he were confronted by some
witch who had undergone a marvelous transformation. As
the creature's whole manner changed, even the tones of
»ioe, a chill permeated the detective as this seeininglj
old horror asked :
"Are you .surprised i
«lam>
"I have fulfilled your condition —you have seen my face."
" Y'es, and you can cover it up auain."
C2 THE WITCH OF 3TANHA TTAN.
This permission appeared to amuse the old horror and
she said:
"You don't think I am very beautiful, do you?"
"Hardly."
" You expected to behold a charming young girl?"
"Sure."
"You can answer my question now."
"No."
"Why not?"
"I am not answering questions to an old witch."
"Ha! ha!" laughed the creature, "I am the Witch of
Manhattan, the real old genuine Knickerbocker Witch."
"I reckon you tell the truth," said Jack, in a peculiar
tone.
"I have fulfilled the condition— ^answer my question."
"Repeat it."
"What are you employed to do?"
"I may scare you if I answer."
"No."
"You are sure you will not scare?"
"lam."
"I am employed to catch the Witch of Manhattan."
The creature laughed.
"You do not scare," said Jack.
"No."
"Haven't we had fun enough?"
"Yes."
"Then let's get down to business."
"All right."
"You say you are the Witch of Manhattan."
"And you think your work is done."
"Certainly; I have found my game."
"What will you do9"
"Arrest you."
"Oh, you will?"
Til : ','/<• V. \.\IfATTAN. 63
88. M
"That is contrary lo your orders."
..rain greatly amazed.
" It ?, my orders?"
"How?"
" You were only to locate the Witch of Manhattan, not
t, her."
The detective was perplexed and very thoughtful. The
singular interview had assumed a very strange phase.
He recognized the fact that it was necessary for him to go
very slow.
There had followed a moment's silence when the crea-
ture asked:
kk Have you located me? Can you identify me?"
"I think I can."
"Then you can go and get your reward, and it will be a
rich one."
Jack fell to the truth; there had heon a double espion-
age. While he had been trailing Mrs. Thomas and her
son or nephew some one had been trailing them also and
he ha<.? been included in the trail. It was evident this old
witch had by some means learned the conversations that
had occurred between Mrs. Thomas and himself, or it was
another deal on the part of the old woman whom our ht:x
was now convinced had* stolen the Radclitt'e estate,
Jack was not disconcerted, lie was down to a case
tiled for a display of those wonderful qualities that
irned for him his complimentary sobriquet.
There f"l!,iw:'d a moment's silence. The detective was
:;ig upon his plan of action and In ined by a
start! ncnt to clear up one. phase of the mystery.
ki Y<»n think 1 can go and claim my reward?"
" STon are miitali
64 TEE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"lam?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"I am claiming nothing from Mrs. Thomas."
"You are claiming nothing from Mrs. Thomas r~
repeated the old witch.
"No."
"How is that?"
"I am oa to her game."
The old witch had been cool, but when our hero made
the statement recorded she betrayed great agitation. She
forgot to chuckle.
Again there followed a moment of silence and then the
old witch repeated:
"You are on to her game?"
"I am."
"What is her game?"
"I do not know why I should make a confidant of you."
"You can."
"I am not assured as to your identity."
"I am the Witch of Manhattan."
"That settles it— you are the robber."
" I thought you were on to their game," came the star-
tling suggestion.
"lam."
"You are sure?"
"lam."
•'Then you must know there are two Witches of Man
hattan."
"Aha! that is so, eh?"
"You must know it."
"I must?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"One is a golden-haired maiden. I am not a golden*
haired maiden."
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN. 6&
* Let me ask you one question."
"Proceed."
" Do you love the Thomas woman?"
" Why do you ask?"
"Answer."
"No."
" Then I reveal a secret. She has not long to live."
Suddenly and in a perfectly natural voice the old witch
exclaimed :
"That she-devil ha^ lived long enough."
The detective was satisfied the old witch was not a
decoy in a new scheme of the Thomas family.
"So you think she has lived long enough?"
The old witch remained silent and the detective con-
tinued:
"So you think there are two Witches of Manhattan?"*
" Yes."
" You are Witch number one."
"Well?"
"Who is Witch number two?"
"Ho wean I tell?"
The detective suddenly changed his whole manner and
he said :
"Come, my young friend, you have played your part
well, but the play is over. Let's come down to business,
real business. You are a Radcliffe; why did you invite
me here?"
The old witch laughed and said:
"How funny!"
"What is funny?"
"You call me a Kadcliffe."
"I do, and I propose to nnmask you. Yes, 7 have
known all along who yon are. You are the Nrniivis; you
are the natural son of llniry RaddiiTe. You have a game
— what is it? Do not attempt to fool me any longer."
6tf THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
The old witch suddenly leaped to her feet and so did the
detective. The latter leaped forward and grasped the pre-
tended old woman. A desperate struggle followed. Jack
had the battle of his life on his hands as far as personal
strength was concerned, but the old witch was encumbered
by her clothes. Otherwise it might have been a question
as to who would prove conqueror. Jack had the advan-
tage and succeeded ia bearing the old witch to the floor,
and he also succeeded in clapping on her the " darbies "
and she was at his mercy.
"Well," said the detective, "I reckon I can locate you
now."
"I am at your mercy," said the old witch.
"Yes, you are at my mercy."
" There is but one reason why I took this chance. );
" What was your reason?"
"I know you to be a man of honor."
"I do not think you have made a mistake."
" I propose to appeal to both your honor and your mercy."
u You can do so safely. "
"I am Anthony Radcliffe."
"Oh! you are not the Witch of Manhattan?"
> You have not been deceived at any time, you are the
victor?"
"lam."
"I have said I will appeal to your honor and mercy."
"You said so."
"Then release me."
A sudden and strange impulse led the detective to fall
to the spirit of young RadclinVs proposition and he imme-
diately released him and said :
"Young man, I am your friend, you can trust me. I
believe you have been wronged. I am an impartial teetifier.
I have obtained facts that have led me to this conclusion.
Yon can trust me — now tell me the whole truth."
'ilcil OF MANHATTAN. 67
"Do so."
" First let me remove my disguise. I wish you to behold
my real face.
"All right."
"1 will return in a few minutes."
Tho disguised party moved toward a door opening Jnto
another room, when the detective called:
"I kid! can I trust you?"
"You can."
"I will."
A moment later the officer was alone, and in giving his
confidence and trust he relied entirely upon his discern-
ment and good judgment.
Fully half an hour passed and there entered his presence
one of the best-looking youths he had met in many a day.
As the young man entered the room he said:
"There shall be no more concealments. I am Anthony
RadcliiTe."
Jack surveyed the youth from head to feet. He beheld
a youth whose features were wonderfully like those in the
mysterious portrait. His eyes were blue but his hair was
dark brown. Jack was running several theories through
his mind and after an interval said :
"No, there must; not be any more concealment. There
are several singular incidents in this affair, several mys-
teries. I reckon you can open thorn all up and explain
everything."
"How much do you know?" asked young Kadcliffe.
Jack had decided upon his coum- and lie proceeded and
told all the facts that, led to hi.- hrim- • iillrd into the case.
He related all thai, he had 1< .(1 all that he suspected,
iiul then demanded:
"Now tell me who you are?'*
*! am Anthony Radclifte."
68 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"That is your real name?"
"It is."
"And you have a right to the name?"
« I have."
-' Who was your father?"
" I am the son of the man to whose heirs the <
awarded the Radcliffe estate."
"You are?"
"lam."
"And who was your mother?"
"My father's legitimate wife."
"Then you are the real heir?"
"lam."
The detective told the story as it had been relat
him by Mrs. Thomas, and then said :
"Now explain how much of her story is true."
"I can trust you?"
"Yes."
"You are really my friend?"
"lam."
"I will tell you the story. Mrs. Thomas claims
the half-sister of my late father. The claim is false,
is personating my aunt — she is a fraud. My father
man who, because of an injury, became mentally ^
This woman secured control over him and from the I
ning plotted to steal the estate. When I was a
child I was sent away and placed in charge of a w
who later on testified that she was my mother,
retained control of my sister."
" Where is your sister now?"
"This woman claims that she is dead."
"You have been in the old Radcliffe house?"
"I have."
"You have seen the portrait of the fair girl?"
"I have."
/ TCH OF MANE A TTAN. 69
" Wlio :
•• I ilo not know."
:liat a portrait of your sister?"
"I do not know. I have not seen my sister since she
was three yours old. I have bnt a faint recollection of
•lit I have a suspicion."
'1 what is your suspicion?"
" I believe that is a portrait of my mother."
nor trait of your mother!'' ejaculated the detective.
88."
Our hero recalled the glimpse he had had of the woman
in white who resembled the portrait and who had been so
summarily draped away the night he was on watch in the
old house.
%i \Vhere is yonr mother?
"I do not know."
"Is she dead?"
" 1 do not know. They claim she is dead as they claim
that my sister is dead."
"What do you claim?"
"I have reason to believe that my sister still lives."
"And what is yonr theory?"
"They won the verdict in the court against my uncle.
That part of the story as told by Mrs. Thomas is true.
My sister became the heir. Suddenly my sister died.
Proof of her death must have been furnished — probably
man u fact u red, as these people had everythiM^ in their own
—and they produced a will wherein this Mrs.
le heir of the property as nearest of kin."
>w what do you Bi
"I have indicated I bilicve my sister still lives or was
murdered. Ewaea an tin the court through c<
and t , rd that I was an illegitimate son. The
woman v, ho had always taken core of i: t<> me as
her child ar.d her • I believed she
h."
70 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"How did you learn to the contrary?"
"The woman repented and told me the whole truth, and
told me she believed my mother still lived and also my
sister."
"How long ago did this confession take place?"
"About six months ago."
"Did the woman furnish you proofs?"
"No."
"How is that?"
"She was about to confess her perjury. She threatened
to do so unless these people did me justice."
"And why has she not kept her word?"
"She has mysteriously disappeared."
"Murdered?"
"I fear she has been murdered."
"You have been haunting these people?"
"I have."
"Did you ever steal anything from them?"
"No."
k< What has been your purpose?"
"I have been 'piping' them, lioping to learn that my
tnothe? still lived, that my sister still lived; and also hop-
ing to obtain evidence against them."
"How is it they did not put you out of the way?"
"I have been too smart for them. They have tried to
murder me or capture me, but I have evaded them."
"How about the Witch of Manhattan number two?"
"She is one of their confederates. They are arranging
evidence and proof so as to identify me with the thief and
thus put me out of the way. If they could once capture
me they would have abundance of proof of my guilt. They
are great people for furnishing false testimony. That
Thomas woman is a really wonderful woman."
**How did you learn about me?"
"I have been secreted in that house and I have listened
71
to cot, and the Thomas woman.
: iurcd that you w<
i!i:ill. I lll'l: '[lie Of
•wrongdoing, and I deti rained to meet you and throw
on your mercy. Heretofore I have worked
M Von met 11113 one night when yon were disguised a» a
woman.''
"I did."
.d those robberies are all * fakes'?"
"They are."
"Only intended to manufacture evidence wherewith they
can put you out of the way?"
u Ves."
" Who is the Witch of Manhattan?"
" I do not knov.
"Have you any suspicion?*1
"No; I have tried to run her down but failed."
" How is it you called her the Witch of Manhattan?"
'•'1 .- Jit at. an interview between yon aud Theo-
dore lV::!e :-.nd learned you had dubbed the mysterious
ui the Witch of Manhattan."
laim the Witch has robbed other people."
-uler the guidance of I Vale and with his conniv-
ance slu- has done so, or rather appeared to have done so,
In my opinion lie was the thief. All was contrived, H«
ingenious man — an areh-e. inspirator."
"And you believe \«'ur mother II.
" 1 do."
" And your
"Tes.'r
"And you have outKned their whole schemer*
M f l:a •
her."
es."
7% THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"If your mother lives we may find her also,"
"Yes."
- " How have they succeeded in making it appear that
your mother is dead?"
"I believe that in the case of both my sister and mothei
substitutions have been made, while my mother and siatei
have been held secret captives."
"This has been an extraordinary game in case it is
proved that yonr suspicions are correct."
"Yes, sir, but with your great knowledge of the world
you can readily see how under all the circumstances the
game could be played. I was but a child, my sister also;
and my mother a poor, weak, heartbroken woman. So
you see it only re^nii'^d boldness, more than cunning, to
carry out their scheme."
"You are right, youn%o: man; yes, you are right. And
now how are we to beat their game?"
"In the first place we must find my old nurse, the
woman who swore to being my mother."
" You think she is alive?"
"Yes."
"What makes you think so?"
" Simply because they have not sought to establish her
death as they did the death of my father, my mother and
my sister."
"Do you think it possible your father lives?"
"I believe he is really dead, but it is possible that he
lives."
"You firmly believe your old nurse, the woman who
swore falsely, lives?"
<<I do."
"What is her name?"
"Susan Werner."
"If we find her she can furnish proofs?
"She will confess that her former testimony was false
THK Wl'JVU OF 73
A.nd then again if we find my sister and rny mother she
will know of facts that will aid us in identifying them
both."
"They admitted in court that you were really a icn of
the maker of the will?"
"Yes."
"They claimed, however, that you were not his legiti*
mate, sou?"
" Yes."
" If we prove your legitimacy you become the heir? "
"Yes."
"And your sister's will is null and void?"
« Yes."
The detective meditated a moment and then said:
"If we secure possession of Susan Werner we have got
'em, anyhow."
>k We have."
"If that woman lives we will find her, I will promise
you that much, young man. And now we will work
together."
"Then you accept my story?"
"I do."
"You believe I am the real heir?"
"I do; and if you act under my advice we will establish
all the facts. The first thing for us to do is to find Susan
Werner."
"No."
" What would you propose?"
"If my mother and sister are alive they are in the j.
of these people/'
uat is tn,
MVe mii£l find them first."
i think that your mother, if alive, knows of
your existen.
%ti believe she thinks me dead."
74 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"And your sister?"
"She probably knows nothing about me."
"And the Witch of Manhattan? You have some i'let
as to her identity."
"I have not."
" This is your home?"
"At present, yes."
"You live here alone?"
"I do."
"Under what guise?"
"As an old woman."
" You must have worked your disguise well to escape
detection."
"I have, but I have another home. This is jny refuge."
"Who supplies you with money?"
" A lawyer who will bring my case in court when I secure
the evidence."
" Your case will never come in court."
"Necessarily so."
"No, I will wind these people up so that in order to
unwind they will be compelled to confess all and make full
restitution. And now one word — I am to undertake your
case?"
"If you are willing."
"lam."
"Then I know I shall recover my own."
" In order to do so you must follow my directions to the
letter."
"I will."
"Then you must remain right here as the old woman
until you hear from me. I have a test to make. I have
reason to believe that .your mother really lives."
"You have reason to believe so?"
"Yes."
"Will you tell me on what you found your suspicion ?"
TUK WITCH OF MANHATTAN. 75
Thts deteeth ! venture in the old house,
telling how he saw the seeming apparition who so greatly
resembled the portrait. The young man displayed con-
siderable agitation and exclaimed:
"Indued, you beheld my mother."
"I will know within twenty-four hours."
GUI hero held an extended talk with the young man
and then departed in the carriage which had been placed
At his service. On his way back to his lodgings he thought
the whole affair over in his mind and fully realized the
desperate chances that were to be taken. He recognized
that the conspirators had so successfully entrenched them-
selves behind the law that his moves must be independent
of the law, and he fully appreciated the cunning and skill
of the people against whom he was pitted, and could see
that in an emergency they were capable of the moat des-
perate deeds.
Jack reached his home and on the morning following
his remarkable adventure he sallied forth, determined to
make a bold move.
Later in the day he received a note from Mrs. Thomas,
lie called upon that lady, who informed him that she had
no more use for his services. Jack accepted his dismissal
quietly and without protest, and this caused the woman to
turn pale. She had expected and even hoped that he
would protest or at least ask an explanation, and she
accepted his ready acquiescence to his dismissal as very
ominous; for after the departure of the detective she wa*
d by her sou and to him she said :
" 1 have followed your advice."
" You have done well."
" You think so?"
lo."
"On the contrary that man is now free to turn all his
efforts against us."
-78 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"He was working against us anyhow. He was om foe
from the beginning. Now we can treat him as a foe."
"He is a very brave and intelligent man."
" One fact is assured — he suspects us and has been on
cur track. He will make us trouble unless " The juar
stopped short and Mrs. Thomas urged:
"Proceed."
" You can guess."
" Unless he is out of the way?"
"Yes."
" Well, let him look to himself. His days are numbered
now that I know he is our foe. We have gone too far now
to let one life stand in our way."
There was a malignant gleam in the woman's eyes as she
spoke.
"We must not strike unless we are sure."
"You need have no fear. I have a man in my employ
who needs only one word from me and the deed is done."
A little later mother and son separated and so matters
rested until midnight. Theodore Peale had warned his
mother against one possibility and she had assured him
that she would guard against it.
It was two hours after midnight when through the dark-
ness in the great parlor of the Eadoliffe mansion there shot
a ray of light. Iu the center of the floor stood a masked
figure and in the latter's hand was a masked lantern, the
mask of which he had just slid from before the bright little
spark of light, and he sent the glimmering streak from
point to point around the great room.
The singular figure presented a strange appearance. As
intimated, he wore a mask upon his face, a loose gown-like
robe enveloped his whole person and on his feet he wore a
pair of regular Indian moccasins, and a strange and weird
sight would have met the eyes of one who suddenly might
behold him as there he stood, his body motionless save
TH I OP MANHATTAN. 77
as his arms slowly moved as ho changed the direction of
tlie sharp ray of light.
Fully thiv.- minutes parsed and under the circumsL.
three minutes were quite a spell of time. Finally the n
closed the mask of his lantern and moved slowi
lessly toward the door opening into the hall. On<
hall he stopped arid again the sharp ray of light passed
mur the various recesses.
It was a fact worthy of ohservation that the man kept
one hand close to his side, and a close and shrewd observer
I hi have discovered that while he moved his arm and
kept the ray of light glancing around from object to object
his head was turned a little to one side, and he was really
'•ring the space in his rear with covert glances. Thus
the seeming pantomime proceeded, for it was all movement
and gesture, not a murmur escaping the strangely acting
man's lips. At length he moved to the foot of the stairs
ling to the upper hall. Here he again closed the mask
o\er his light and stood still, and then a most startling
incident occurred. A second figure suddenly rose up and
immediately there followed, a struggle — a desperate noise-
less struggle in the dark. The combat was a brief one,
for one of the contestants was borne to the heavily carpeted
floor and then under a Ihish from the mask lantern, iti
slide once more removed, a very exciting tableau
exposed. One man lay stretched upon the broad of his
Back, a little way off on the floor lay a stiletto which .
lently been knocked from the prost.ru; !,\
ligiirii in the long robe, who held him pinm>d
to the floor. The masked figure after throwing his ;
of light around in several direeiions finally ll
full in the \ niu:i\s face and then t in
a very low tone.
"Utter one outcry >" s»iM i:
you die."
73 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
The prostrate man made no answer and the victor again
said :
"Your intentions were good but I was on to yonr move.
You would have received a big price if you had succeeded
in plunging that ugly knife into me."
"I was justified," said the prostrate man.
"Speak low, very low."earne the warning. "Raise you;
voice and you die."
"I will speak low."
"Kemember that I hold your life in my hands, and now
mark me, I want you to go with me into the parlor. ' Auj
attempt to raise an alarm will prove your death knell."
"I know my peril."
"You do?"
"I do."
"You say you were justified/'
"I said so."
" What was your justification."
"I believed yon to be a burglar."
This last remark, as our readers will observe, indicated
a recognition; and indeed there had followed a recognition,
for the masked man as he bore his victim to the floor had
spoken a. name, and the latter had either recognized a voice
or was governed by a conclusion when he appeared to
assume that the victor was not a common burglar.
The detective permitted his man to rise and led him intti
the parlor, and ha said:
" Goetf'e, I did not expect to meet you again."
The man remained silent.
" I see you are up to your old tricks."
"I am seeking to earn an honest living."
"You are?"
«Iam."
"By murder?"
"No."
ijr. 79
"Yon intended to murder mo."
•'I was employed in iliiri house as a private watchman.
The house h.t -'ibed rfevc.ral times."
The detective laughed'in a quiet way and .said:
"That will do for yon to tell, but it don't work with
no."
"I did not know you had any interest in thia house."
* You did not?"
"I did not."
"And you say you wish to earn an honest living?"
"I do."
"I will, give you a chance to earn an honeat dollar and
then "
The detective stopped short.
"Go on, sir."
" Yon will leave the country, or go to jail, that's all."
"I will be glad to earn an honest dollar."
"All right, i will talk with you later on. In the mean-
time I will let you remain here until my business is con*
«lnded. I will make sure of your remaining, however."
"You can trust me."
"lean?"
"Yon can."
"I will not, all the same; but yon can answer me one
question."
"Proceed."
us I h< woman who is mistress of this house?"
e is not here to-night."
* She is not hen I,?"
"No."
" Where is she?"
"She went away, fearing I might have ail encounter
with a burglar."
Again the detective laughed ;md said:
"All right, stick to you; <>u tell me the
truth?"
80 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN,
"She is not really here in the house?"
"She is not."
"Who is in the house?"
"Only one servant and myself."
" Where is this servant?"
"In her room, I reckon."
" She knows of yonr presence in this house f*
"She does."
"What are her orders?"
" To keep her room unless there is an alarm of
"And where is her room?"
The man located the room.
" There is no one else in the house?"
"No one but yourself."
" You know the risk of deceiving me."
" That is why I am telling you the truth."
"And you are telling me the truth?"
"lam."
The detective proceeded and in a manner peculiarly his
own bound the man hands and feet, bound him so he could
neither move nor speak, and as he concluded the detective
said:
"I reckon I can depend upon your awaiting my return."
The man did not answer, he was securely gagged.
Jack left the room. He proceeded direct to the room
where the man Goeffe had said the one servant awaited an
alarm of fire. Jack listened a moment at the door. He
heard some one moving inside and after an interval he
rapped. The door was opened a little way, a head was
protruded and the demand followed:
"Is there anything you want?"
"Yes," said Jack.
"Will you come in?"
Jack entered the room.
THE WITCH OF 81
The woman appeared to be acting on an assumption.
She did not look at the detective, but as she stepped across
the room she asked:
"Well, what do you want?"
"I want you," said the detective.
Th',» room was fairly well lighted and as the detective
-'p:»ke the woman turned with a look of surprise and alarm
on her face, and asked :
"Who are you? What do you want hen
"I told you what I wanted — I want you."
The woman glared a moment and then like an enraged
tigress sprang upon the officer. A really desperate str
followed. Jack appeared to he in for desperate struggles,
and he had a tough time of it ere he subdued the woman,
who bit and scratched like a wild cat. The detective, how-
ever, succeeded in subduing her, and, not wishing to indi-
cate his identity, he bound her with stout cords which he
had brought with him to use in an emergency.
The woman fought all the time, but our hero succeeded
in binding her and then he set her in a chair and for a
moment or two studied her face. The woman was able
to talk and finding herself powerless she used her tongue.
"Why am I treated iu this manner?" she demanded.
"You will learn later on."
"What do you intend to do with me'r"
"Are you anxious to know?"
"I will know."
" Yes, I will give you an idea."
The detective romnn ii^ed to form a noose. Th0
woman's face as.-umo.l an ;:c.
"Do you intend to murder t;! Vmamled, in tonei
of wildest alarm.
•' 1 do, I inea'i !
The woman nnde ;• pi"iji,:i wirh her lii : ongh
about to scream, 1 Id her speechless and hoi
effort to scream was o il'ul pan torn imo.
88 THUS W1TOH OF MANHATTAN.
Deliberately Jack formed i;he nouse and the woman la
a husky voice managed to ask:
"What can I do to save my life?"
"Oh, you do not wish to die?"
"I cannot -lie."
"And you are willing to save yoar life?"
"I will do anything to save my life."
"You can do so."
•'How?"
"Confess."
"I have nothing to confess. I have done no wrong to
any one."
"How dare you tell me that?"
"It is the truth."
"All right, I will accept it as the truth. If yon have
nothing to confess so much the worse for you. Yes,
madam, you are doomed."
The woman's terror increased. She looked like one with
the noose already about her neck.
"Spare me," she pleaded.
"Only on condition that you confess."
"I have nothing to confess."
"How long have you been in the enijj-uv of Mrs.
Thomas?"
The woman was silent.
"Your silence is a confession."
"Then spare me."
"Only on condition that you answer all my questions.''
"I have been in the employ of Mrs. Thomas for fiv.-i
years."
"Then you know all her secrets."
•*No, she never trusted me."
"It's a pity you have no information to give me, and
must die."
The woman writhed in torture and murmured:
THE wircn OF .v.i A ir.i TTAN< 83
"Has it come to
k> Yes, it has come to this."
" You will murder me for the sins of another?"
"No, for your own sins. And now, madam, we will
get right down to business, as it is said. Will you co
and live, or refuse and die;? I have no time to waste.
I must, In- moving. If I stiangle you it will be the tenth
death I am responsible for to-night."
Our hero's words sounded terrible, but the bloody mur-
ders he claimed to have committed are easily explained —
his victims were mosquitoes. The woman, however, was
in such an excited condition she appeared to accept his
declaration as real, and her face became blue with terror.
" What can I tell you?" she asked.
" You are custodian of a female prisoner in this house?"
"No, no!" almost screamed the woman.
The detective tested his noose, when the woman fell ovei
in a dead faint.
"There she goes!" ejaculated the detective, and he set
to work to bring her around. As she revived he pre-
tended to withdraw the noose from around her neck.
"Oh, mercy!" she pleaded.
" Will you confess?"
"I will."
* Where is Susan Werner ?"
"I do not know."
"Is she living?"
MI do not know."
" What do you suspect?"
ue was alive three weeks ago."
u Where is the girl Louise Radcliffe?"
"Oh, spare me!'' pleaded the woin.in.
"Answer my question or the next time you will complete
the journey."
Tho woman appeared to fully comprehend his ghastly
allusion and in trembling tones she answered:
64 TEE WITCH OF MANHA TTAN.
"I fear she is dead."
"You are not certain?"
"lam not."
" When did yon last know of her being alive ?w
"Who are you?"
"Answer me — that is my name for the present."
"I know she was alive three months ago but neither ol
the persons named are in my custody."
"I know that the party in your custody is Mrs. Kadcliffe,*
"I feared this," moaned the woman; "yes. I feared that
some day my sins would find me out."
"Yes, madam, sins always find out those who commit
them, and sooner or later retribution overtakes the sinner;
but answer me."
" What will become of me?"
"You die unless you answer me."
"And I will be murdered if I do."
"No, you shall be protected."
"I do not care to be protected. Give me my freedom and
I will protect myself."
" What will you do?"
'Flee away to my own country."
" Reveal all you know to me and you shall have a chance
to flee away."
"I know but little."
"Tell me all you do know."
if There is a lady under my care.**
"In this house?"
"Yes; I have always treated her well and I ha?e
tested her many times."
"Who is the lady?"
"She claims to be Mrs. Radcliffe."
"She resembles the portrait in the parlor?**
"Yes."
"She is in this house?"
:. \JJAT7 85
«Y
Vill you !
will cof? • life if I do."
"It will cost YOU your life if you do not."
"If I do will yon let me escape?"
"I will."
UI am innocent of any crime save that of gnilty knowl-
I have only been the nurse and custodian of that
"oinau. I love her and why I have been so false to
not tell."
" You can atone for all now. Lead me into her presence."
- I and prepare her to receive you."
10, madam, you must load me to her."
"You di
"I do." .
The detective as he spoke held aloft the threatening
noose.
'mil escape?"
- Yes."
-When?"
" tm mediately, if yon so desire."
•• Release im- and I will lead you to the poor lady."
Tiie detective only partially released the woman, and
while doing so his heart was bounding with delight and
sntisfar.iion, for he was into the very heart of the mystery
and would .-non hiive the arch-conspirators at his mercy.
CllAl'TKli IV.
B knew that the moment he seen rod ;«>n of
any 01 . . . . <",ni:;in^ ii - would
send . ,tion into tl. lii-vod he
would within ; noint in the game.
I do
86 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
not trust yon. I am watching you and any attempted
tricks on yonr part will prove fatal to you."
"I will attempt no tricks. I am glad to make what
reparation I can. 1 have been blind; it is a delight to me
to place that dear, beautiful woman in the hands of those
who will protect her. But I tell you one thing — you must
be prepared."
"Prepared?"
"Yes."
"Against what?"
"She is guarded by a man who is one of the most des-
perate scoundrels on the face of the earth to-day."
"I will take care of him."
"You are, sir, I believe, a detective."
"Well?"
"If so you are accustomed to combats."
"lam."
"Let me explain. Mrs. Radcliffe is confined Vi a >oom
on the top floor of this house. The room is bi.il t hi the
very center. It is padded and thick- walled so as to pre-
vent any sound going forth. Indeed it is a wonder ;;i its
construction, as all sounds go through a prepares construc-
tion to a chimney which carries the sound up. in the air
through a high chimney, and one could scream u, 1 ?cream
in that room and never be heard."
"You say the room is guarded?"
"Yes, a man is there night and day, only rev sved by
me a few hours in the day."
"And is he armed?"
"He is, to the teeth; and he is always on hi* g«»ard.
He is a very powerful mau, and as 1 said a desperate ieilow
who will fight to the death."
"He will get all the fight he wants,"
"I will tell you all.*
"Do."
i# 87
11 without one word of inquiry any
strain appiar on that il'.or, so you will ha\(- to
I- dii your «juard. Of course 1 cannot accompany you
The woman > a halt at the foot of an enclosed
stairway.
"Do you mean to trick me?*
"I do not."
k' You can never hide from me if you do. Better havo
mnity of these people than mine."
..m seeking to make peace with my own conscience.
It is v for me that you should prevail over this
man. if yon tail 1 am at the mercy of desperate people
\vhu will become my foes."
*• \Vhut would -,011 advise me to do — shoot the man down
i, he of ton tileeps. i I'- fears no danger as a rule.
You :i him."
"T ru. -i. mo, I will; and where will I find you?M
" 1 will a\vait you here. If you win I go with yon, if
you fail 1 will ike a\v;;y at once — lieu to the uttermost parts
of the earth."
4k You will have no • to llee."
•d for an encounter and the weapon
,,is billy, lie had a regular police
dub, and as our ivudi-r.* all know, in the hands of
how to u«e it in a close encounter it, id the
Jaek op- >!<K»- and slowly ancended the I
II • had i lantern ready, and hi.s club, and slowly
-•d until i 1 with tlie t!
it, for thr Btaif (ip« ned right into the
<l chanih il i:i all old-fashioned hou.--.
lit hurn-
..Li'.tl well-
g$ THE WITCH 0*' MANHATTAN.
guarded and padded room of which the woman had spokent
and thus far her statements were confirmed.
A moment the detective glanced around, then ascended
the remaining steps and as he did so a man suddenly rose
up and confronted him, as though he had actually slid
down from mid-air.
Jack was hardened to surprises or he might have
momentarily lost his head, and an instant's consternation
would have proved fatal, for the man held a club in his
hand and was prepared to strike. Indeed his silent weapon
was twice the length and heft of the billy carried by our
hero, and even while Jack was taking in the above facts
at a glance the man swung his club in the air and made a
vicious blow at the detective. The latter managed to
spring aside and it required a good eye, nerve and agility
to do so, as the fellow having missed one blow followed up
the attack, and for several seconds all the detective could
do was dodge, And he did prove an artful dodger, for
the man exclaimed with an oath:
"I'll get you yet, you infernal thief."
"Hold on, old man," answered Jack, "I am not a thief.
You are going on too fast."
"I am, eh? Well, here goes for a settler."
The man had thrown aside his club and had drawn a
pistol which he cocked and presented, but ere he could fire
the weapon was knocked from his hand.
In discarding the club the fellow, made a mistake, but
he did not know that our hero was armed with a "billy"
or he might have held on. As stated, Jack knocked the
weapon from the man's hand just as he was about to fire,
and as the little gun rattled to one side on the floor Jack
followed up his advantage by dealing the fellow a rap on
the head which brought him to his knees. He was not
conquered, however, for he drew a long knife, recovered
his feet and made a rush, and with au ordinary person he
Til 89
would h • '1 in his assault, but he was not
dealing with an ordinary person. On the contrary he was
>iling one of the coolest and most nervy men on the
force, and the detective' well maintained his reputation,
for lie played around his assailant like an acrobat, and his
elub moved with the rapidity almost of a scintillation of
light. Watching his opportunity he landed a terrific blow
on his assailant's head — a blow which caused the fellow to
veil and fall to the floor — and quicker than the movements
of a frightened mouse Jack was upon him and as quickly
clapped the darbies on him, and then he coolly exclaimed
in imitation of a blast man:
"It's all over."
Indeed it was all over as far as the combat was con-
cerned. The man lay with a battered head and helpless
v, ith the k' darbies" on him, and lie was sullen indeed.
*v My friend," said the detective, "I reckon you've lost
a job."
" Curse you," said tho man, "if I had been prepared for
you [ reckon you would never have gotten away with me."
" IJut [ have, all the same, and no\v how is your
prisoner?"
" I have no prisoner.
"Dou't tell that tome. Come, coine, where are yomr
keys?"
"I have no keys."
"Oh, you haven't?"
"No."
The detective looked the man over thoroughly. He had
drawn his mask km tern and flashed the light full in the
fellow's face and after a little asked:
" What do you know?"
>k 1 don't know anything beyond the fact that yeu have
got the best of inc."
"It's bud for you, old man, if you do not know any-
thing."
90 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
" What do you expect me to know?"
" I expect you to be able to tell me a heap. If you can't
I'm sorry for you, that's all."
Jack had made great progress. He had one prisoner
down in the parlor, bound hands and feet, he had the
woman at his command, and he also had the fellow who
had been acting as custodian; and he reasoned that if he
could not go very deep into the workings of the mystery
it would be very strange.
The man was a sullen, desperate fellow as the woman
had said, and he answered:
" You will get nothing out of me."
Jack laughed and advanced within the vestibule of the
central room and there he beheld a door doubly bolted.
He slid the bolt and stepped into the outer room, for he
had been informed that there were two rooms. He ad-
vanced to the second room and after several raps a voice
inquiied:
"Who is there?"
" Are you prepared to receive a visitor?" demanded our
hero.
" Who is my visitor?"
On the impulse of the moment Jack answered:
"A friend and messenger from your son."
"Enter," came the immediate invitation.
The detective pressed the door open and the next instant
stood in a room very comfortably furnished. There was a
lamp on a table and the apartment was fairly well illumi-
nated, and standing by the table was the lady whom the
officer had seen just for one moment the night he was on
watch in the parlor — the woman who so strangely stood as
a living counterpart of the portrait. The lady was cool
and self-possessed and said :
"Did I understand you, sir, that you come as a messen-
ger from my son?"
'Ill i Of1 MA \N. bi
" Vos, madam."
u I have waited a long time. I expected you."
The deteelive. was really ama/.od.
" Ymi expected me:'" he .said.
«] did."
•• Ma\ I ask on what you based your expectations?"
•; 1 know that sooner or later this great wrong would be
" Then you are the victim of a great wrong?"
k- I am; but who are you, sir?"
The detective decided that it was better to be frank and
explicit from the start and he said :
"I am a detective officer."
" I welcome yon. Tell me about my son."
"I will, madam, but first tell me about yourself."
"Do yoi, not know?"
" I do not, and it is necessary that I should to enable me
to aid you."
"My story is briefly told. I am Mrs. Radcliffe. Mv
husband is dead. We had in our family a woman named
•h."
• it Thomas?"
"That is the name she has adopted," said the lady.
4* Proceed, madam."
u She is a wicked and designing woman. She determined
to secure my husband's fortune. She resembled a strp-
•;r of my husband and sho determined to personate the
iad\
" What is the name of the g.-nuine stepsister?"
"Thomas."
"And where is she?"1
"She has been de:ul many year! and this woman has
Dilated her. She \vas present when my husband died.
1 wa-' <>.< 11 believe fur a time lu.st my
on. \V1 t found mvselJ' a
92 TSB WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
prisoner, my children had "been taken from me, and I have
been a prisoner ever since."
"Have you ever heard from your children?"
"Yes, Mrs. Thomas has kept me informed concerning
my children."
"Has she given you exact information?"
"I do not know."
"When did you see your children last?" 1
"Not since the night their father died."
This story did not agree with the statement of Anthony
Radcliffe, and we will here state that later on the discrep-
ancy was fully explained.
The woman related a great deal to the detective which
our readers will have verified as our narrative progresses.
Jack told his story and finally said:
" Madam, you are to leave this house with me."
"I am ready to go."
"When?"
"At once."
"Prepare yourself and I will await you outside."
At least thirty minutes passed and the woman appeared,
and strangely enough was equipped for the street. Dur-
ing the interval Jack had seen the nurse and that woman
had also prepared herself for a departure.
Jack released the man in the parlor. He had his rea-
sons and knew he could close in on the fellow at any time.
The detective took Mrs. Eadcliife to the home of the
captain of the precinct. He had arranged for this part of
the programme and it was daylight when he sought his
own apartment.
While Jack slept the sleep of a man who had performed
a great deed, some very stirring events occurred. Mrs.
Thomas returned to her homo just after daylight. She
entered the house; all was still. She ascended to her own
room and rang her bell. She waitfd and no one answered
UV. 93
• the nurse's room and then a
;ul her mind. She ascended the stairs
and «i monu i:t later dif the man who Lad acted as
guardian and jailer. The woman uttered a cry and de-
manded:
tt What, doi'o this moan?"
" It means" answered tho man, " that the other side hare
pla\. d a great game."
" Speak, explain!" cried the woman.
" Your bird has been stolen from you."
" How daie you?"
"i dare tell the truth any time."
" Will you explain in plain language?"
" 1 will tell you all 1 know about it."
The man told his story and the woman moaned:
"I have been betrayed."
o, but. you have been out-played, that is all. You
would not take my ad \ ice. Dead men tell no tales. With
tlie dead all planning ceases. You permitted your friends
to live, they have been active and vigilant and have
out-played you, that's all."
•• And the woman has been taken away?"
" Yes."
"And the nurse?"
'k I reckon she has been carried off also."
nd Goeffi
"He may have been in the game against you, I do not
know. I always warned you against that fellow,
will you kindly release.' me? I hau- lain here a number of
nouis a.s you see me."
"It is tlie work of that man Cas\\vll Mrs.
Thou
it is his work, no doubt."
" And we are ruined."
"It looks that way now."
94 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
Mrs. Thomas released the man arid bid him go at once
for Theodore Peale. An hour later Peale appeared. To
him the woman told the story of their disaster and he said:
"What else conld you expect? I warned you."
"What can we do now?"
The man meditated a moment and then said :
"All hangs on one life."
"The detective?"
"Yes."
"What can we do?"
"You know as well as I do."
"I tried to do it. I had arranged to have him put out
of the way."
"Oh, yes, in an indirect manner, and you have failed."
"What can we do now?"
" He must die at all hazards, or we must make terms."
"What do you suspect?"
"Suspicion will not avail us now."
"Can he be in communication with Anthony?"
"I believe he is. Of course I cannot say for certain,
but it looks that way."
"I have failed."
"You have."
"Can you not succeed?"
"I will try."
"Do so; we are in great peril at this moment."
" The fortune is in great peril. We could deal with all
the rest but this detective — he is a terror. I fear all is lost
unless we can get rid of him."
"You have money at your command; act."
"I will, at once."
"And what shall I do?"
"Remain here."
"I am liable to arrest."
"$To, no; you need not fear. He is not going to make
any t is
now itli."
" Hr nui art."
: tool. Np could never ;
anything in court."
" He has that, woman."
" Hah : we c.an prove her a lunatic and an impostor. He
knows that."
" He may produce Anthony.''
" Wo have already established his identity. No, no, the
game is not lost yet. There is but one incident that can
him a 'dead cinch' on ns."
-And what is that?"
"If he should secure Susan Werner we are lost."
•• Hut you forget."
" Louise?"
« Yes."
"Bah! we can attend to that end of it all right, bat
•in Werner would prove fatal. She is a witness of
record. She could recall her testimony, mako a fall con-
ion and the fortune would go one way and we the other
— to jail. You can make up your mind that CaswelPs
objective point at this moment is the woman Werner."
•• He can never find her."
" 1 f he lives he will. The whole scheme rests on his life.
We must di.-pose of him or :Mirrend»T, that's all."
M And you will see what you can do?"
"L will make one ulTort and if 1 fail the '
irrender."
ite iii lli«- day when i.^ucd forth.
n< • M up in t, to
;ty \\ here Anthony Iladci' hiding.
nan he ; .perieneu and some time 1
moth-. • n wen- :
Jack di-. :iain with .M . .nd her son—'
96 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
he had business on hand. He desired to find Susan Werner.
Theodore Peal 3 had told the truth — without that woman
all his efforts would prove of little effect.
Our readers may not understand the situation and we will
here state that in following the narrative they have fol-
lowed the true facts, but here was one side of it only.
Facts are facts, but it is ofttimes a very hard task to
establish them in court and in most cases it takes years'
to do so, even when the truth is most patent to every
impartial witness. Jack had the facts, but there were
decisions of the court against the true heirs, and a regular
coup cVetat was needed in order to establish the real facts
and secure right to the wronged.
The detective began a tentative game. He commenced
to skirmish around for an opening. He knew that the
Thomas people would attempt a bold and desperate game
and it was his purpose to "get on to their game," as the
saying goes, and beat it. Night came after a day of
skirmishing. Jack learned a great many facts. He had a
way of "getting on to things" — a way of his own — and he
put himself in the way of the man Peale, whom he knew
was captain on the other side. It was along about mid-
night; the detective had about made up his mind that the
play for that day was over, when a young man seemingly
under the influence of liquor suddenly approached him and
said :
"Hello, boss."
"Hello," answered Jack.
"Come a step with me, will you, boss?"
Jack moved off with the young man and when they were
some distance from the glare of light flashing forth from
the hotel the stranger said :
"You're a cop."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
Til \N.
"How do von ki:
k' You v 10."
'Ms that
«I
II?"
" 1 have something to give yon."
• it."
" There's a great bunco game to be played to-night."
Jack pretended to be all interest.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"How did you get on it?"
"I am the selected victim."
" You are?"
"lam."
The detective laughed and the man said suddenly, per^
mitting a change to come over him :
" You think I am under the weather."
"Oh, no."
k< Yes, you do."
"Well?"
"I've only been playing it."
"Oh, I see."
"That's straight; I am as clear as a glass of ice-water."
"Good enough."
"If you will work in with me you can make the best pull
ever made."
" I am with you, honey."
" J am invited to a house where they are to wo:'
game, and I want you to lay in with me."
" I am with you.'1
" \Ve must invent an ;ice."
"We can do that easy."
"Can you work a transform?"
"lean."
$£ THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"Come the old countryman dodge?"
"lean."
"Will you?"
"I will."
" Meet me in half an hour."
"Where?"
"Eight here."
"In half an hour?"
"Yes."
"You will be on hand?"
"I will."
" There is not a scheme in this?"
" Scheme !" ejaculated the young man.
"That is what I said."
"I reckon you ain't in it. Good-night, boss$ I can find
one of your profession to go in with me. I liked your looks
and thought I'd give you the job. There's nothing in it
f >r me only fun and glory."
"All right, get another man."
"You pull out?"
"No, you are throwing me out."
"I'd like to have you in it."
"Then talk right."
"I've told you all there is in it for me is fun and glory-"
"So they have put up a job?"
"Yes, and I am to be their victim. You see I've been
around town a few days throwing off the 'stuff' and they
think I'm a soft victim, and I'd like to give 'em a
surprise."
"You can do so."
" I can and will, and you can have some of the fun and
glory."
" You want me to meet you here in half an hour?"
"Yes."
" All right, I am in for the fun and glory. In half an
hour I will be here."
Tiir young man walk. parations
to make. He had ut-lnok ; such
seheme and was well prepared. II, • sauntered back to tho
red tho ivading-roum and sill ing down at a table
fiminu'invd to thrum with his lingers on its surface. It
1 a simple and natural act, but in that simple and
seemingly natural act lie was in the most delinile manner
ying information to tho proper quarter. A ft
distant sat a business-like looking man reading a paper.
Jle did not raise his eyes from the paper, but he took in
the finger telegraphy all the same, and received the fullest
and most definite instructions.
Having arranged that end of it, the detective sain
to the street. He passed down toward the parallel a
and on the way worked a complete transform, and on the
minute, one half hour from tho time he parted from the
man he had made the appointment with, he was on the
spot again, prepared for the night's adventure. He was
not kept waiting. The young man showed up on time and
said :
"I see you are on hand."
" I am on dock."
" You've worked it well."
"Think so?"
"Yes."
« Do I look old?"
"Very."
"Good enough; now wo are ready for the steerers."
•k We are."
The two started along tho street together and as they
proceeded the young man said :
•' Vv'e will have to play this very neatly/'
-Oh, certainly."
•*1 have been in tho house where they are to play me.".
"All right,"
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"You see they have been working up this job for some
time, and they now think they have everything down fine."
«Isee."
"I will enter the house and when they are about ready
I will say I have a friend outside who wants to get some
of the 'queer.'"
" Yes, that is a good scheme."
" I will come out and signal for you and introduce you as a
friend from out west, and once inside you will watch the
game and at the proper moment close in on the rascals."
"Yes, at the proper time I will close in on the rascals/'
"We will have a great time."
"You bet we will."
"It will win great laurels for you."
"You bet it will, if we are successful."
"That will depend upon you."
"Oh, yes, I know it will."
The men had proceeded several squares and finally the
guide stopped short and said:
"There is the house."
"All right."
Jack beheld a very respectable-looking residence.
" I will go in and in a little time when all is ready I will
signal you."
"I will be on the alert."
The young man left the detective and ascended the
stoop of the house. He rang the bell. The latter act was
a "guy" as the detective well knew.
The young man was admitted into a dark hallway and in
a low tone the man who had admitted him asked:
"Is it all right?"
"Yes."
"Did he make any objection to coming with you?"
"No."
The young man was led into a rear room where there
were four men, and one of them said:
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN". 101
"Yon are here?"
"Yes."
" Alone?"
to."
" !!«• is with yon?"
" \Vaiting outside for a signal."
"What was your racket with him?"
"As you arranged it."
"He made no protest?"
"He fell right into the trap."
"He did?"
"Yes."
"This looks bad," said the man.
"It does?"
"Yes."
"How?"
" Pel rather he had been more particular. He is a very
cantious man and it looks as though he was on to the
game."
" You can bet he is not. Your plan was a dandy one.
He is just on the jump to catch a batch of 'steerers.' "
"But he knows he cannot do it alone."
"He is on" his guard."
"You think so?"
"I know he is."
Another of the men here spoke and said:
"It makes no difference; on his guard or off his guard
^e've got him the moment he steps inside that door.
All it requires is nerve."1
"lint suppose there are others at his call?"
" lie will never call."
" I>ut they will track him to this house."
"Suppose they do; they will never find him."
" \Vu run great r;
•t the way we have arranged it. If wo once get him
102 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
cold we can carry what is left of him away according to
our plan,, : This -house will be deserted, and it will only
be a mvsterv, that's all. And we have enough behind ua
p sure."
The young man" who hacl acted as guide said:
"But here; there is one thing you overlook."
"What is that?"
"If he has pals around I have been spotted."
"Your 'cover' was good."
"These men have a way of going under one's 'cover.' "
"You can skip."
"But my pay?"
"You will get it."
"When?"
"As soon as the man's eyes are closed."
" I would not go on with this if I thought I was spotted,
'cover' or no 'cover.' "
"What do you think?"
"I do not think he is oil to the game at all."
"Then we are safe."
"Yes, that's my idea. Are yon all ready?"
"Every man must be at his post."
"When do you strike?"
"The moment he enters the door a noose will fall over
his head. It will be drawn close and there will follow a
few kicks and the game is ours."
"It's a dangerous undertaking at beat."
"It's a dead sure game."
"Suppose we fail?"
" We can't fail."
The man who was offering the objections was evidently
more cautious than his companions. He evidently had
more experience and he said :
"You never can tell about these detectives. We must
make sure."
101
" \V will liave a report
ill a
• and \v;iiU'il, and in the meantime
our In ;• the lion also was waiting, ami
u litli walking down the street. He j
and a; lie did so stumbled and full.
nd and picked the lad up, and while doing
so in a rapid manner the lad imparted certain facts, mid
.in-1 his ftvt with the detective's aid walked oil' down
the street, limping as though he had hurt himself as ho
fell.
Jack meantime stepped under a gaslight and leaned
•t the post like a man who was tired, but while under
that post he moved his hands several times to his hat,
which lie removed and replaced, and at the same time he
muttered:
ateh a Xcw York weasel asleep, eh! I guess not."
While the detective was getting his report the men in
the hack room were receiving theirs. A man joined them,
coming from the rear yard, and upon his entrance the
evident leader of the party asked:
"Coast clear?8
"All clear."
"No one around?"
" No one."
"Sure?"
M Yes."
ntlemen," said the man, "we can now ipvite our
'.n in."
Up to ihi-- time the men ha i .nd with
aled, and each physio^n.miv w-is of a d-
pallor. They appeared to full; :'ul peril of
ere abott
. all save th-
who had acted as guide.
104 THE WITCB. OF MANHATTAN.
"Is all ready?" came the question in a hoarse voice.
"All is ready," answered each man successively.
"There must be no failure. If the noose fails you all
know what to do. It will be our only chance."
"We appreciate that fact," said one.
> "You all do?"
"Wedu."
It is not necessary to state to our readers the plan of tiu.
assassins. It has been sufficiently indicated in the
dialogue we have recorded. One fact was patent — they
were a desperate party of men, determined to commit a
terrible and atrocious crime, and all their plans had been
carefully laid, so that it did not appear that there could be
a possibility of failure.
"Our lives are in it," said the leader.
" Yes," came the response.
"If we fail it will be worse for us. Success will not
incur half the risk that failure will, and if we fail now it
will be our last chance."
" We cannot fail; the man is at our mercy." t
"We must show no mercy. We are acting in sell-
defense. Our lives and liberties are at stake."
Thus do men who meditate crime appease their con-
sciences, or seek to do so. The leader said : " Our lives
and liberties are at stake." He partly spoke the truth,
but it was their own evil deeds that had imperiled their
lives and liberties. Had they been honest men they -would
not have been in any danger at that moment.
"Go," said the leader, addressing the guide who had
sought to lead our hero to his death.
It was a critical moment. The man started as directed,
and the others arranged themselves for the carrying out of
their contemplated crime, and with a man less cautious
than Jack the chances would have been sixty per cent
greater against him. As it was the detective was running
105
risk, althoii. irnrd and to a certain e
well ; ink-ntioiid and contemplated
metl;
Tin/ v;iun^ man passed from the house. Jack waited
at the point where ho had been left. The guide approached
and said in a low tone:
"It's our turn now."
"They are ready?"
« Ves."
"How many are there of them?"
"There are four of the scoundrels."
"What excuse did you make?"
"I told them you carried my money."
"And they let you come for me?"
" Ves."
"They expect me?"
" Yes."
" They have no suspicion that you are putting up a job?"
"No."
" Yon are sure of that?"
I am."
"Remember, these fellows are worse than rats when
cornered, and if you think we run any risk you had better
adjourn the affair for one night."
"No, they are ready; we are ready."
The man's voice trembled and the detective said:
" You are losing heart already. '
"No, what makes you think sol""
"Your voice trembles."
"I am excited."
"Is that all?"
" Ves."
" I will have to depend upon you if it comes to a fight."
"You can."
"You will stand by me?"
106 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN
"I will."
"To the bitter em}?"
"Yes."
"All right, lead on, and woe to you, my friend, if there
is any trick attempted on me."
Jack went with the man across the street. He ascended
the stoop, following his guide, and the latter said:
"I have a night key; we can go right in."
"All right."
"Follow me quickly."
"Sure."
"There may be some one lying around, you know."
The latter was a weak remark. It was evident the guide
was losing his head, but as our hero was well posted he
did not question. But our readers will observe his won-
derful nerve, for despite all his knowledge and preparation
the chances were against him. It takes but a second to
kill a man and sometimes help at hand can be half a second
too late.
The guide entered first and here is where our hero most
wonderfully betrayed his presence of mind and coolness.
He stumbled and fell against the side of the door, tripped
on the step. He caught himself and did not fall, but he
gained a few seconds of time and at that moment a quarter
of a second was a gain. He stepped inside the door,
which closed after him with a bang, and something fell over
his head. A ready knife caught the rope on its sharp edge
and the men that pulled fell in a heap, for the rope wa/
severed. Then Jack opened the door and three men who
might have seemed to have risen from the ground leaped
into the hall. Two flashes from masked lanterns illu-
minated the hall and four men with clubs leaped forward.
There followed cries and blows, and in less time than we
can tell it five men lay bleeding and partly insensible,
scattered around on the hall floor and in the two rooms.
TU \N. 107
The scheme had failed. Th pris-
oners, eo well had he planned and aot» t. the would-
be mur<; I of whom wore handcnll'ed and dragged
into the rear room and planted in cjiairs or laid out on the
floor. The light was turned on in full and there were the}
- — safe, hut not sound, for every one of them had
received a crack on the head.
They had tried their game and like a streak of lightning
Nemesis had swept in the door, defeated and discomfited
avery one of them.
We will here explain how Jack was so well prepared.
As has been stated, he had all along anticipated some such
game and he had a lad at hand, a boy who at some future
time we will fully introduce to onr readers. This lad was
what may be called a little fiend in the way of "piping."
He had his instructions. He was lying aronnd every
minute for any emergency and when the youth arranged
with our hero for the raid on the "steerers" little Jim
Slick was at hand. He had received a signal, and when
the guide parted from our John, Jim fell to his trail. The
lad followed him to the house where the conspirators were
assembled. He gained an entrance and lay low until the
man went again to meet the detective. He overheard
every word spoken by the intended assassins, learned their
plans and intended mode of attack, and the boy who
stumbled and fell near the waiting detective at a later
perionl was Jim Slick. His fall was a ruse, and while the
detective was picking him up he unfolded the whole
scheme, and when Jnck went to the lamp post and fooled
with his own hat lie was signaling to his pals what to do.
His stumble at the door was to give his pals time, and !
were at hand and made the rush in at the proper mom
and thus our hero's counter-play was a success and the
mirderers were hadl\
Having the assassins at his muroy the detective examined
108 THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
3aeh one of them, seeking to find the man whom he kne-vf
had put up the whole diabolical scneme. Peale was not
among the rascals. He had put up the deal, as the men
say, but he did not share their dangers. He had selected
two desperate characters, men who for a few dollars would
stand at nothing. They had secured the services of two
others and had laid the plan.
The question arose with the detective, "What shall I do
with them?" He considered for some time and after tak-
ing one of them into a room and putting him under a
strict and searching cross-examination he decided that the
men were hired for the one deed and knew nothing about
the secrets of the arch -schemers.
Jack considered the whole matter well and finally said
to the leader :
"I've got your mugs; I can put my hand on any one of
you when I want you. I do not want you now; you can
go."
The five men were released and started, and the detec-
tive muttered :
"I wonder who this house belongs to? I will investi-
gate." He did investigate, but arrived at no satisfactory
result, and finally said to his men:
"We will leave the matter until to-morrow."
All hands left the house, and our hero proceeded to his
lodgings, intending upon the following day to call upon
Mrs. Thomas. He ran down to facts which he believed
would permit him to work the woman pretty close to a full
confession.
CHAPTER V.
Otf THE morning following his startling adventure he
proceeded to the old Eadclifie residence. The house was
closed — the birds had evidently flown.
IM 109
As v, ,] tho as.-
to depart, and tlu-ir K:adi-r according to agreement pro-
ceeded direct to the JiadrliiTu hou.- IK; hud
direct mrt innneiliately after the death of
•minus and her son were awaiting him. The
man entered their presence. He was pale and laboring
under great excitement, looked like a man who had com-
mitted a murder, and the man and woman who awaited
him also looked pale enough to have been murderers.
Fur a moment after the man's entrance not a word was
spoken. Mrs. Thomas dared not ask the question, neither
did her son, for both knew how dire would be the conse-
quences in case the diabolically concocted scheme had
failed.
"Well?" at length ejaculated the man in an interroga-
tory tone.
" You have earned your reward?" Mrs. Thomas ventured
to say.
"No."
" Von have failed?"
" Yes."
The man spoke abruptly.
"He did not appear?"
"He appeared."
"And yon failed?"
u We did."
"He got away?"
• "No."
"How ihenr*'
" lit- got away."
" What do you mean?"
"Just what
•:ik, man! What has happened?"
" Have you a game against that man?"
"We have or we would not have employed yoi
HO THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"Give it up."
"Will yon tell us what has occurred?"
" The men or women do not live who can beat that man."
"Will yo^ speak and tell us just what occurred?"
"I will."
"Do so."
The man told his story and added:
"No better scheme was ever arranged, and yet in some
way that man got on to it. No loophole was left open for
him to get information."
The woman and her son exchanged glances.
" We are lost," said Mrs. Thomas.
"Not yet," answered the more hopeful Theodore.
"He now knows our game."
"lie has known it all along."
"He now has absolute proof."
" He has had it all along. We are paying the penalty of
ycur woman's work in calling a detective into the affair."
" Who could foresee all this?"
" I certainly foresaw it. I told you the moment I learned
of your move just what we might expect. My words have
been more than verified."
" You appear to know so much — what will be his next
move?"
« I cannot tell."
" What will be our next move?"
" The game is not lost."
"What can we do?"
"Bribe him."
The last words were spoken after their assassin had left
the room to await instructions.
"He cannot be bribed," said the woman.
"He can be."
"No; here I am more farseeing than you. He has the
woman in his charge, it is evident he has Anthony also in
'I tho
we arc paup-
'• \\ M paupers. We will lie called upon in pay
the penal i MU ste-p backward for u«i — -wo must
u And you arc still hopeful?"
in/'
" What shall he our next move?"
The man's face assumed the hue of death as he said:
"We must make sure."
"Of what?"
"The last link," came the answer, in a hoarse tone.
* What do you mean?"
"Can you not discern?"
"I cannot."
"Susan."
u She is safe."
"Not us long as she lives. Let that man once get pos-
session of her and we are doomed."
" And what do you prop'
" We tried to settle the detective."
"Yes."
"And failed."
"Yes."
~ We must not fail when it comes to settling 8
Get her out of the way and we destroy all el,
They may hring us into court
"The real mother "
"J5ah! tin- court records are a-aii
son, and court
to dispose of. Ti. All
OUT moves have befeD in
because of your 01 We could
thing if that detective lu:«i o the cade
to become our wo-«t Nemesis."
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
"And what can we do?"
"I have told yon ; but we must vacate this house for the
present, so as to guard against all possibilities."
" What possibilities do you dread?"
" All the chances are against us as it stands. We must
hide for the present — hide in a respectable way of course/'
" Leave this house?"
" Yes."
" That would be an absolute confession."
f( We can confess as far as that man is concerned. He
ksaows all and now all he is planning for is proofs, and
he will get the proofs if he once gets possession of Susan
Werner."
" He will never find her."
" We can hope so, but we cannot tell. The man is a
wonder, lie is an overmatch for us. Just see where we
are; we had everything all safe and now we are in greater
jeopardy than at any time since we started in to win this
great fortune. We had it safe and sure, but, alas! your
infernal fear of Anthony will prove our ruin."
"Suppose they never find Susan?"
" They never will."
"And then "
" In a little time we can defy this man."
"But he has the widow?"
"Yes."
"And the son?"
; Yes."
" We will still be in peril."
" Not as long as the- records of the court stand, and
those records will stand forever. I did not dream }ou
would ever invite a stranger into the game. That was
your great mistake and our ruin, but it is still in our
hands. Yes, let us get Susan and Louise out of the way,
and I will go into court and meet this man openly. He
THE WITCH OF MANHA TTAN. H3
can prove nothing, and we can put np a job on him in
time, and also sonic day fix Anthony. As to Mrs. Radcliffe,
we have nothing to fear from her. She is a Junatic; we
ran prove her one; in that direction our proofs will be
complete. It is Susan; she is their sure card; if they get
possession of her we are undone."
" What can we do?"
" It is life to life. She must be removed. Even now 1
believe she is dying. It is only a matter of a few weeks
with her at best. All we need do is wait. She once in her
grave we will be safe enough. We will wait now, but we
have already waited too long."
A little later and mother and son left the house. There
was nothing really strange in their doing so — under ordinary
circumstances it is a common affair for people to close their
houses and go away.
As stated, Jack had gone to the Radcliffe house and
had found the people gone and the house closed, and he
muttered:
" Well, well, I suppose they think they have given me
the slip, but we don't do business that way."
As the detective spoke a satisfied smile flitted across his
handsome face and again he muttered:
"I anticipated this move."
Jack proceeded to a corner which was a regular rendez-
vous point for him. He lay around for a few moments and
then ejaculated:
" Aha! there he comes and now we'll know."
A moment later and Jim Slick came sidling up like a
snowflake blown against a fence. The lad was peculiar in
his movements — very peculiar — and as he came up to tho
detective his face was very cxpiv^ivi.- and he said:
"I have located 'em.''
" I thought so. Whoii did they flit?"
" In the early morning,"
1 14 THE WITCH OF MA NHA TTAN.
" And where are they DOW?"
"In a hotel down on West street. The old woman is
tinder cover/'
"And the man ?"
"He is there."
" How long ago did you leave them?"'
tf Seventeen minutes ago/'
He had located the hotel for our hero, and Jack
a"vay, and in less than seventeen minutes he had the
hotel under espionage. He recognized that Mrs. Thomas
had selected an excellent hiding-place under all the cir-
cumstances. The hotel was the resort of country traders
who brought produce to the city, and the last place that
would under ordinary circumstances be selected for a home
by other people.
The detective had not lain around long when he saw a
man looking exactly like a farmer come forth. The man
lolled around for a little time and then re-entered the hotel
reading-room, and the detective muttered:
'" He is playing it well; he might beat some people, but
I am on to him and his scheme/'
It was fully half an hour before the farmer came forth
again, and the detective saw him go down toward the
Cortlaudt street ferry. Jack was under a disguise and he
followed. The man passed into the ferryboat and Jack
followed. When the boat arrived on the Jersey side the
man ordered a hack, the detective also, and gave his orders,
and he knew just how to give orders under all conditions.
The hack containing the farmer was driven away and after
half an hour's ride it was halted. The farmer alighted and
proceeded across the meadows afoot.
"A good scheme," muttered the detective. He knows
he cannot be followed. I wish I had ft flying machine, but
lacking one I'll Meg it/"
The detective made a great detour and he had a hard
THE }\ MANHATTAN. 115
time of it, but he crossed the meadow and reached the K
hard ground nearly half a mile above the point for which
the fanner was making, and our hero remarked:
•• That fellow's looking behind him all the time. He is
guarding against followers. That's wrong for him, but all
right for me/'
The farmer in good time reached the hard ground and
the detective commenced to act the role of the artful
dodger, and he did so well that in good time he saw the
farmer enter a house standing alone — a regular farmhouse,
a dilapidated old building. And it was but a quarter of a
mile from the house to the bay shore.
Jack lay in the brake, well contented., muttering to
timself:
"It's all over."
The latter was a favorite expression of the detective and
was a term having a great deal of signiGcance. He had
been lying low for nearly two hours when he aaw the
farmer come out from the house and look out toward the
bay.
" Well, I'll <>at my hat," cried Jack, "if he hasn't
arranged this *ell. He expects a boat and intends to
carry his prize away by sail; and now what shall I do?"
The detective was alone. He was brave and courageous
enough, but being so well down on the scheme he did
not wish at the last moment to take any chances. He
was assured of two facts. In the tir^t place he had i
ognized the pretended farmer from the start — the man
was Theodore Peale, and he was equally cei tain that he
had trailed to the hiding place of either Susan Werner or
the lovely girl, Louise Radcliffe.
Jack, as intimated, had thought the matter all over nirl
his conclusion was that the man Peale had been preparing
for this move several days. He also discerned that the
ichemer would have a boat lying oft in the bay and possibly
116 THE WITCH OF MANHA TTAN.
he would have on board quite a crew of desperate fellows.
There was one possibility in the detective's favor. It
appeared as though Peale did not intend to make the
removal until after dark, and the detective calculated he
would have plenty of time for his own movements. He
was still on the watch when he saw a movement of the
grass behind him, as though some animal was rooting
through the mire. Jack watched, recognizing that the
beaat was making straight for the spot where he lay con-
cealed, and he prepared himself to scare the object away,
when suddenly the movement ceased; and Jack was ponder-
ing over the incident and finally drew his revolver. He was
a man who did not think he knew it all; there was a possi-
bility that smart as he was he had been trailed, and he did
not mean to be taken off his guard, and thus he " lay low/'
when suddenly a little human head was protruded through
the grass, and our hero ejaculated.
"Great Scott!"
" I am here," came the announcement.
" Yes, I see you are here, Jim, you marvel. What
brought you here?"
"My legs."
" How did you come?"
" I walked."
" What led you to come?"
" Habit. I thought I might be wanted. *
" You're a jewel, I do want you."
" I thought so."
" How did you do it?"
" You left an open trail."
"I did?"
" You forget one thing."
"I do?"
"Yes."
"What's that?"
I
777 I OF MA FHA TTAN. \ ] 7
"There is Indian blood in me/'
" I should pay so."
" It was an easy trail."
•• And what do you know?"
-••thing."
A'hat have you been watching?"
cm."
•thing else?"
"No."
" I've business for you."
" I thought you would have."
"You thought right."
" What can I do?"
" There is going to be some rjoating."
" Oh, that's it?"
"Yes."
" And you want a boat?"
"I do."
" Who will sail her?"
" Mr. Ready."
" He's an old sailor?"
" He is.
" Where do you want the boat?"
" Eight off there."
"When?"
"As quick as she can be brought around after sundown;
and I don's want her far off when the sun drops to the
west."
"All right, you shall have your boat."
The dot- : ve the wonderful lad some further in-
structions, and Jim Slick stole off through the brake with
the snake-like movement that had brought him the:
When once apiin alone the detective exclaimed:
" Well, that i,-; iinrncn.se. That lad is llie most remark-
able human being I ever struck. Hux- 1 am called
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
der Jack. Why, that lad is a greater wonder than me,
a thousand times. I am commonplace compared to him.
I never heard or read of a being like him. He appears to
read the future — not the mind, but events. To think of
his showing here at this moment! In all his life there
never was a time when I needed him as I do now. and
here he is, and there he goes to carry out instructions
which will enable me to close right in on this whole business.
I'll have this fellow Peale a prisoner."
It was well on in the afternoon when little Jim slid
away, and all the hours our hero lay low until near sundown.
Early in the afternoon he had seen a small schooner
cruising off the house. He had seen signals from the
schooner and he knew they had been answered. The
signals would never have been noticed by one not
looking for them, but Jack was looking for them and his
watch was rewarded and he muttered:
" I went through this scheme just right. That schooner
is in communication by signal with that fellow Peale.
Well, well, their game just suits me. I want the woman
quietly smuggled on board. "
As intimated, Jack had watched through the long after-
noon and he saw a small tug go steaming away toward the
Staten Island ehore and he exclaimed:
" There she is, as sure as guns. Little Jim is a marvel
indeed."
Even as the detective spoke he heard a chirp and the next
instant little Jim came crawling to his side.
"She is there," said the boy.
" I Bee she is."
" You're hungry, boss. I've brought you a bite."
Jack was indeed hungry and glad to get a bite, and
after devouring a sandwich he said:
"How is it?"
"All right."
TIL AN. H9
" Who come
" Ashley ;uul Brown."
" Where arc they?"
" They'll be lien4 as the sun goe? down. I thought you'd
'.ike to be relieved/'
-That's right."
3 soon as the sun gets a little lower you can go aboard
>ig."
" And that's all right."
" I thought so."
Sure enough, as soon as it was dark Jack and Jim made
»ur and gained the water front, and there was a boat
drawn up in a little inlet. Jack got in and the boat was
pulled out, and half an hour later Jack and his pupil were
on the tug which had run in to take them aboard.
\\Vre all right now, boss/' said Jim.
u as the lad spoke our hero saw that a large yawl
containing three men had put out from the schooner and
was being pulled in toward the shore. The tug in the
darknes* was able to run in pretty close, although it was a
2! ear night. The detec ive was on the watch, and by hia
side stood the sharp-eyed little Jim, and the latter at length
•aid:
" They're pulling out to the schooner."
•' I Low many are in the yawl, Jim?"
"I'll teH you in a few moments," said the lad, and
quicker than a Hush he slid overboard into the water. Ho
; like a little cutter. Jack would have protested,
.-•he had time. Ten minutes}1
a little figure, ca.ne stalling along the tug deck aft where
Rid:
•• I've got it."
•• 'i m the schoon
M Yi-s.",
" T;
120 TEE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
" Yes, sir."
"Well, what did you make out?"
" Two women and four men are in that boat.**
"Two women and four men?"
"Yes, sir."
"Three went ashore?"
" Yes."
" Six are returning?"
" Yes."
" Six will go on board the schooner."
" They are aboard."
" Good enough, Jim. It's all over."
The schooner set sail and was gliding slowly- -very
slowly along, when the tug made for her and ran so close
that people on the schooner hailed, saying:
"Keep off, you are running right into us."
The captain of the tug paid no heed but held his course,
and soon the tug was right along the sailing vessel and
four men leaped from the tug to the former. At once
g'aat excitement followed. One man who had run from
<he cabin made a rush toward the rail, intending to leap
overboard, but Jack was upon him, seized him, and
•aid:
" No, no, Mr. Peale, you can't swim away from your
crimes."
In less time than it takes to tell, it, the darbies were
clapped on the fellow. The rest of the men on the
schooner offered no resistance. All hands, at least those
who were on to the game, saw that a play had been made,
and that it was a losing game. The others did not care, it
was not their funeral. Jack ran down into the cabin, an<3
a sight met his gaze that caused his heart to thump. In a
berth lay a pale-faced woman, and reclining on a lounge
was a beautiful girl. The latter bore a remarkable resem-
blance to the picture in the old Radcliffe house.
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN. 121
Addressing the woman in the berth Jack said:
" You are Susan Werner?"
"I am/'
" And you," he said, addressing the beautiful girl,
"you are Louise Radcliffe."
The girl did not answer, but gazed in amazement.
Our hero entered into full explanations and remained
with the two females. A few moments and he had both
removed to the tug. He also had Theodore Peale carried
en board the steamer, which was immediately headed for
New York.
Our hero returned to the ladies after the tug was in
motion and he held a long talk with them.
In due time all hands arrived in the city. Peale was
left on the tug and Jack took the ladies to the house of his
old friend the captain of the precinct. A reunion
followed, for a message had been sent to Anthony and he
was present to greet his mother and sister. With the
former he had held several interviews previously.
Jack in due time sought his home, but on the morning
following he held a long interview with Mrs. Radcliffe and
her children, and then he proceeded to the hotel where
he knew Mrs. Thomas awaited news from her son. He
gained the woman's room and knocked for admission. Mrs.
Thomas opened the door in person, and upon beholding our
hero, for he had thrown aside all disguise, she stood and
gazed with terror imprinted upon every feature.
" Madame, your sou awaits you."
" My son?"
" Yes."
"Where is he?"
" Come with me."
All life, all energy had deserted the woman, and ihe
Buid:
"He is in jail?"
THE WITCH OF MANHATTAN.
" You will lead me to him?"
"I will."
"Is he injured?"
"No."
A little later, and the woman entered a, carriage with
the detective and both were driven to the dock and soon
went on board the tug, and mother and son stood face to
face.
Indeed it was all over. Both realized it, both were dis-
posed to make a complete surrender.
A month later the courts had passed upon the matter.
The confession of Susan Werner was sufficient. Anthony
became the heir, the sole heir, under a will, and the
daughter did not figure in the proceedings. The reason
for his beiug the sole heir was explained in the will.
Susan Werner was convicted and pardoned at once.
Mrs. Thomas and her son were permitted to go free, for
their discomfiture was so complete the real heirs did not
choose to prosecute, but permitted it to be assumed that
all was the result of a series of blunders. Jack was largely
rewarded on having done so well. He bid his friends
adieu and started for SHU Francisco, where he hoped to
meet the girl for whom he stole the loaf of bread, and
some day we will relate his wonderful and romantia
adventures in the Golden State.
THE END.
"OLD SLEUTH'S OWN" SERIES,
Etch boofc fa the following list is written by that fcw&oi writer "Old
Sleuth," and is for 2 i!o by every atvadcabr for 10 o*ats, or they will be
lent t y mail, postpaid, for 10 centc each, or six books for 60 ots. Addreii
Oil orders to J. 8. CGIL7IE PUBLISHING CO,,67BoidSt.tKew?ork-
, JO— Yankee Rue, the Ex-Pugilist Detoctive.
11— Cool Tom, the Sailor Boy Dotoctlvo.
12— Aggravating J oo, the Prince of Fun and Mischief.
1 3— A Clever Boy Selective. A Tale of Magio and Ventrfloqaism.
14— A League of Tltree; or, A Boy's Detectivo Btrataeemu.
16— Woodehnclt Jerry; or. The Terror of the Town.
10— A Straight-out Detective ; or. New York under a FlastUsht. A
Tale of Wonderful Incidents.
17— Three I.titlo Trnmpa; or Footing It to the \7eet.
18— The I/ittle Colonel; or, Fun in a^d Around Boa Serpent
19— Jack the Juggier; or the Wonderful Boy Hypaot
80— The Runaway ; or, How ITe Get into West Point.
81— The Three Boy Detectives; or, The Story of Threo
Country Lada.
22 — Yonns Ginger; or Fun in and Around New York.
23— Snap and Jenny, the Song a«d Dance ArSitts.
24— Bicycle Jim ; or, A Smart Boy Deteetivo.
25— A Littlo Cowboy in New York 5 or, In Search of Hia Dad.
5 6— Archie the Tumbler ; or. How He Became a Great Jockey.
5?7— Flyaway Ned; or. The Old Detective's Pupil.
23-Preston Jayne; or, In Search of His Dad.
29— *«Bn die "Dunne, the Exquisite Dctectira.
80— A Little Giant ; or, The Feats and Frolics of an Athlete
81-A Young Al&adin; or, The Old Miser's Ward.
8S~The Duko of Oniafcr.; or, The Adventures of a Littlo Giant.
83— Kefton The Detective ; or. Tho bonder of th» Age. A Genuin*
- C Id-Time " Detective Tale.
8 V-Billy the Tramp; or, The Hreter? of a little Boater
£o— A Cute Boy Detective ; or, Maerio Dick's Phenomenal Trail.
&G— The Prince of Ventriloquiata; or. Nimble Ike's Greatest Triok%
ST— Cad UXettl, the Female Defective SiratrgSat.
88— A Wonderful Detoctive; or Magic Dick's Greatest Shadow.
89— Resolute Jack ; or, UPS and Downs in New York.
40— Little Deed Sure. ; or. The Seer AM
41— The Twin Ventriloquist*; or If Imble Ike and Jack the Juggler.
42— Amzl the Detective; or, Moruing. Noon and Night la Mew York-
43— Tracked on a Wheel; or, Bicycle Jim's Great Chasd.
44— Cr a«oe Harry; or, The T
4o— A Terrible Youth; or, Magic Di, . ra« la Purl*
4(3— A Golden Legacy; k.
47— The Kf ng t PraoJjg.
48— Arlie K£ r lr h t ; or. How He Became a NavAl Oad»U
or. Adriltiul\dw ^ork*
"6LD SLEUTH'S OWN" SERIES.
book in tLe following list is Mmttea by tliat famous writer w 014
Elsnti," and is for sala by every newsdealer for 10 osnts, or thay will be
esnt by mail, postpaid, for 10 cents sac!il or six books for 50 cts. Address
&11 orders to J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING CO., 57 Eose St., New Y«r&
S0-~Ni3Jable Ifee's Mystery ; or, The Secret of the Box.
61— TTtee lilt tie Miner ; or, A Poor Boy's Great Find.
651— A Boy Fugitive; or, Fooling Eis Pursuers.
53— Tlie Mechanic's So n ; or. From Penury to Wealth.
54— Triclcs and Trlnaiphs; or, Jack the Juggler's Ordeal.
55— The YOHHS Engineer ; or, Makiog Her Spin.
66-vDetective Hanley ; or, The Testimony of a Face.
67— Nimble fike's Romance ; or. The Mysteries of a Cavern.
68— Gipsy JBeno, The Detective.
59— Selective Gay; or, The King of Disguises.
60— A Feinala Ventriloquist ; or. A Pretty Girl's Magic Feats.
61— His Greatest «« Shadow :» or. Jack the Juggler's Last Trail.
62— Lorle; or, The Phantom Ventriloquist,
63— The Two Conspirators ; or, A Great Surprise.
64— Detective Kennedy ; or, Always Beady.
6/i -Malcolm the Wonder. >
66— Jack Breakaway ; or, Always on Top.
67— Weaver "Webb ; or, The Young Champion.
68— Plucky Bob; or, The Wildest Boy in The Land.
69— Jolly Jese; or, The Boy Who Won a Princess,
90— A "jTen Bay Mystery; or, the Wonder's Shadow in New York,
71 -A Great Boy; or, The Find of a Million.
•72— Creco tfee Swordsman ; or, The Man of Mystery.
73— XisigBley tlie Detective; or. The Single Clue.
74— A detective's Enigma ; or, Malcolm Weir's PuzzHng " Shadow."
76— A Plucky Girl ; or, A Farmer's Daughter in New York.
76— Days and Nigb-ts of Peril ; or, Nimble Ike In Harness Again.
77 — Carrol Moore ; or, How He Became a Detective.
78— Grant McKLenzIe ; or. a Boy's Battles and Struggles.
79— Breezy Frank; or. A Great Disguise.
SO— Zantelll; or, A wonderful Pursuit. A Romantic Detective Storfi
81— " Straight to the Ularb ;" A Detective's Trick.
82— Young Bash; or, The Detective's Apprentice.
S3— life in N ew York. A Thrilling Detective Tale.
84— On the Wing; or. Detective Bird's Great Capture.
85— Under a Veil ; or, His Greatest Mystery. A Detective
86— A Straight Clue ; or, Malcolm Weir's Great Feat.
87— detective Payne; or* A Shadower's Wonderful Adventures.
88— A Famous Boy ; or. The Story of a Homeless Hero.
89— A Great Capture ; or. New Tactics in Detective Work*
90 — Desznond Dare ; or, Taking Desperate Chances.
91— The Wizard Tramp. A Thrilling Detective Story.
Cb.au.ee; or* The Wls&sd Tramp's
" OLD SLEOTS OWN" SERIES.
JStofc bcok in tL; following lict is written by tliat famous miter <f Old
V* anil is for sale by every newsdealer for 10 oenta, cr they will be
S3-.it "by mail, postpaid, for 10 cents oaoh, or six books for 50 ots. Addreta
c!l ordarg to J. S. OGILV1E PUBLISHING COM 57 Bose St., New York.
* 5— A llomarkable " Shadow ;« or, Detective Payne's Tragic Quest.
94— Dead Straight; or, Harlow Jack's Life Mystery.
95- - Allio Baird, the Settler's Son. A Weird Tale of the Wilderness.
gG-Creitou, the Detective ; or. Following a Light Clue.
01 -JWarl* «ha Syncing GSr3. A Great Story of New York Life.
88 -A Clowe Call; or, Detective Mead's Dilemma.
09 You MS Vigilance ; or, A Broken Link. A Detective Narratiye.
lOO^A Daelaing Fugitive ; or, Tnio to His Purpose.
1 01 — Clycle, the Resolute Detective ; or, His Own Mystery.
102— lively Lnke ; or, Keen as a Eazor.
jftily Preston ; or. Ready f or Anything.
I Ol--Tho Twin Athletes ; or, Always on Top.
1 05— Sctli Rond ; or, A Lost Treasure Mystery.
106— Jacli and Gil; or, The Wonderful Adventures of Two Acrobat*.
1 07— Tl»«s King's Detective ; or, A Now York Detective's Great Quest.
1O8— A Remarkable Feat; or, Jack and Gil's Great Detective Work.
1 09— Tom, the Yonng Explorer ; or, A Magnificent Reward.
110— Two "Wonderful Dotoctivce; or, Jack and Gil's Skill.
1 1 1— A Mystery of One Night ; or, Detective Murray's Single Clue.
1 ia-A Succesoful " Shadow ; " or, Jack and Gil's Greatest Oatoh.
1 13— A Beautiful Fugitivo ; or Saved by a Detective.
1 1 4— The Mancrdale Mystery. A Strong Detective Story.
1 J 5— OTho Central Park Mystery ; or, Detective Work in Netf York.
1 16— Detective Dale 5 or Con. timouies.
1 1 7— A Strug, sle to TVln ; or. A Gypsy Boy's Secret.
118— Thrifty Abe; or, From the Bottom to the Top.
U9--Krruifcay, the Detective.
120 — Glpvcy Hoae* the Female Detective.
121 - Young Harold ; A New Er.claud Boy's Adventures. )
12*— Norval, the Detective; or. Dodging and lliding. /
<.~ocing Cbanncev.
I id-Daring Maddte; A Groat Detective Story.
Red Cecil, the Detective*
126— A Detective'* Daughter.
127 -I ire Bomb Jack ; or, Freaks of a Mystery Man.
128— An Amazing Wizard ; or, Th iauce.
urvfclousKoc?
130— Only aPho?o;;raph; c .pton'aC^uec^^
•> Tragic Qu«i»X ; or, A JL*.
132-V»vel. TLo \V
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"I swore to my father on his death-bed that The
World's Finger should never point to a Davanant as
amongst the list of known convicts, and that oath I
will keep."
To W. HANSHEW 13 the author, and a writer of
more exciting and sensational detective stories cannot
be found at the present day.
One reader writes: "I thought I would read a
chapter or two of THE WORLD'S FINGER, to see what
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Eureka Detective Series.
All of the "books in the Eureka Series
(1 each one
eived
1 . Ask for
the Eureka Series detective boc>:
Inspector Henderson, the Central
Of tice Detective. By H. I. H«
Mis Evil Eye. By H. I. Han
Detective Johnson of Men,
Orleans. By Uarrie I. Hancock,
liarry Btouut, the Detective. By
T. J. Flanagan.
Kar«-y Sharpe, the New York De-
tective. By H. Rockwood.
6 Private Detective No. 39. By John W. Postgate.
7 Not Guilty. By the author of " The Original Mr. Jacobs."
8 A Confederate Spy. By Capt. Thos. N. Conrad.
9 A Study la Scarlet. By A. Couaii Doyle.
10 The UnwlHing Bride. By Fergus W. Hume.
1 1 The flan Who V inished. By Fergus W. Hume.
12 The Lone Inn. By Fergus W. Hume.
13 The World's Finger. By. T. Hanshew.
14 Tour of 'the World ici Eighty Days. By Jules Verne.
15 The Frozen Pirate. By W. Clark Russell.
16 Mystery of a Hansom Cab. By Fergus W. Hume.
17 A Close Call. By J. L. Berry,
18 No. 99 ; A Detective Story. By Arthur Griffith.
19 The Sign of the Four. By A. Conan Doyle.
20 The flystery of the flontauk mils. By E. L. Ooolidge.
21 The Mountain Limited. By E. L. Coolidge.
22 Gilt-E(!ge Tom, Conductor. By E. L. Coolidge.
23 The Mossbank Murder. By Harry Mills.
24 The Woman Stealer. A Romance of California. H. Mills.
25 King Dan, the Factory Detective. By G. W. Goode.
26 A Rogue's Life. By Wilkie Collins.
27 The King's Talisman. By Sylvaims Cobb, Jr.
28 The Double Duel. By Sylvaims Cobb, Jr.
29 The Captive Bride. By Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.
30 A Dark Plot. By Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.
31 The O!<! Hill Hystery. By iort.
32 Five Sherlock Holmes Stories. }u A. Oonan Doyle,
33 The Han in Black. By {Stanley J. V
34 The Famous Bat-dick Case.
35 flystery No. 13.
36 Macon "Moore, the Southern Detective. By J. R. T
You can obtain t'
this one, or wo will mail
or any five for $1.00. Address all .
J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
P. 0. Box, 767.
57 ROSE STREET, NEW YORK.
F
IVE SHERLOCK HOLflES
DETECTIVE STORIES.
By A. CONAN DOYLE.
We have just published, in ONE VOLUME, bound u
paper cover, the following FIVE best stories by him
1. THE REB-HEABEB
2. A CASE OF IDENTITY.
3. A SCANBAL IN BOHEMIA.
4. THAT LITTLE SQUARE BOX.
5. JOHN BARRINGTON COWLES<
This book contains 192 pages,
and is bound in heavy paper cover
vviili attractive illustration, the
same as shown in the cut herewith.
Everybody who reads is familiar
with SHERLOCK HOLMES.
There is not a writer living at the
present time whose work can be compared with thai
of the author of this famous character, for intense in-
terest clear-cut narrative, and delicate detail.
The above book will be sent by mail, postpaid, te
any address, upon receipt of 25 cents.
"Wo also publish the following books by the same
author, each having the same attractive cover as
shown in above illustration :
SHERLOCK HOLMES. A STUDY IN SCARLET
$£YONU THE CITY. MICAH CLARKE.
THE S!GN OF THE FOUR.
Any of the above books will be sent by mail, post-
pg/id, for 25 cents. Address all orders to
J. S. OGILVIE FUBLISEX?>T& COMPANY,
67 EOSE S2KEET, FEW
KING DAN), THE
FACTORY DETECTIV&
Eureka Detective Series.
All of the books in the Eureka Series
are clever detective stories, and each one
of those mentioned below has received
the heartiest recommendation. Ask for
the Eureka Series detective books.
Inspector Henderson, the Central
Office Detective. By H. I. Hancock.
His Evil Eye. By H. I. Hancock.
Detective Johnson of New
Orleans. By Harrie I. Hancock.
Harry Blount, the Detective. By
T. J. Flanagan.
Harry Sharpe, the New York De-
tective. By H. Rockwood.
6 Private Detective No. 39. By John W. Postgate.
7 Not Guilty. By the author of " The Original Mr. Jacobs."
8 A Confederate Spy. By Capt. Thos. N. Conrad.
9 A Study in Scarlet. By A. Conan Doyle.
10 The Unwilling Bride. By Fergus W. Hume.
11 The Han Who Vanished. By Fergus W. Hume.
12 The Lone Inn. By Fergus W. Hume.
13 The World's Finger. By. T. Hanshew.
14 Tour of 'the World in Eighty Days. By Jules Yerne.
15 The Frozen Pirate. By W. Clark Russell.
16 Mystery of a Hansom Cab. By Fergus W. Hume.
17 A Close Call. By J. L. Berry,
18 No. 99; A Detective Story. By Arthur Griffith.
19 The Sign of the Four. By A. Conan Doyle.
20 The riystery of the Hontauk mils. By E. L. Coolidge.
21 The Mountain Limited. By E. L. Coolidge.
22 Gilt=Edge Tom, Conductor. By E. L. Coolidge.
23 The Mossbank Murder. By Harry Mills.
24 The Woman Stealer. A Romance of California. H. MilK
25 King Dan, the Factory Detective. By G. W. Goode.
26 A Rogue's Life. By Wilkie Collins.
27 The King's Talisman. By Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.
28 The Double Duel. By Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.
29 The Captive Bride. By Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.
30 A Dark Plot. By Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.
31 The Old Hill flystery. By A. W. Marchmont.
32 Five Sherlock Holmes Stories. By A. Conan Doyle.
33 The Han in Black. By Stanley J. Weyman.
34 The Famous Burdick Case.
35 riystery No. 13. By Helen B. Mathers.
36 Macon Moore, the Southern Detective. By J. R. Taylor.
You can obtain the Eureka Series books where you bought
this one, or we will mail them to you, postpaid, for 25 cents each9
or any five for $1.00. Address all orders to
J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
P.O. Bos 767. 57 EOSE STREET. NEW YORE.
Stockton, Calif.
TAT. UN. 21. 1908
933346
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