"Well, Ike, that was high," said Jack.
"It was."
The boys started to walk up the street, when they meta veiled lady who was walking rapidly along. Ike stopped short and said:
"Jack, that means something."
"The veiled lady?"
"Yes."
"What makes you think so? There are plenty of veiled ladies knocking around every day."
"That's so; but do you see that lady's excitement?"
"How can I when she is veiled?"
"But you can see it in her movements. Let's follow her and learn what is up. I tell you we will be on to something before we know it and I'd like to do some one a good turn."
"I'll let you investigate and I will go and do a little business I have on hand."
The youths agreed to meet later. Jack went his way, and Ike, who was a persistent fellow, followed the lady. She turned into one of the large office buildings. The ventriloquist followed and saw her enter a lawyer's office. He remained in the hall, and it was fully an hour before the lady came forth. When she did her veil was raised. Ike recognized that she was very beautiful and refined looking, and he saw also that she had been weeping. As she dropped her veil he fell to her trail. She descended to the street and with slower steps proceeded on her way. Our hero was a good-looking chap. He had increased in strength and stature since first introduced to our readers in a former story, Number 6 of "Old Sleuth's Own." He determined to follow and seize the first opportunity to speak to the pretty maid, who evidently was in some sort of trouble. While following her he was joined by Jack, and a little later Ike, who, as has been intimated, was observant, saw a man turn to follow the veiled lady.
"Hello!" he muttered, "the game is opening up. I wonder if that fellow is acquainted with the girl, or is merely following her on speculation?"
The girl walked through Nassau Street as far as the City Hall and boarded a Fourth Avenue car. Jack and Ike boarded the same car, and as the latter glanced in at the lady he saw that she was giving way to considerable emotion under her veil, and he also observed that the man who had started in to follow her had secured a seat directly opposite to her and had his evil eyes fixed upon her; for the lad discerned that the man did possess evil eyes.
"Jack," he said, "we are on to something, sure."
"It looks so."
The lady left the car at the park and started to walk through that great pleasure ground. The man left the car also and followed the girl, and it is needless to say that the two ventriloquists also followed on a double trail.
"The lady acts very strangely," remarked Jack.
"She does."
"And I've a suspicion."
Ike's eyes brightened up as he asked:
"And what is your suspicion?"
"She is going to throw herself into the lake. She is in trouble."
"But why does the man follow her?"
"I believe he is a rascal who means her no good."
"And I mean to see that he does her no harm."
"Suppose she does plunge into the lake?"
"We will fish her out."
From the course that the lady took it did appear as though she really intended to drown herself, as Jack had intimated. She finally, however, sat down on a bench near the water of the lake. The man stood off at a little distance watching her. The ventriloquists also lay off, ready to be at hand in case of emergency.
JACK AND IKE PLAY A TRICK ON A BAD MAN AND VERIFY IKE'S SUSPICION THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING UP—THE BAD MAN TAKES A SWIM INSTEAD OF THE VEILED GIRL.
JACK AND IKE PLAY A TRICK ON A BAD MAN AND VERIFY IKE'S SUSPICION THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING UP—THE BAD MAN TAKES A SWIM INSTEAD OF THE VEILED GIRL.
The girl removed her veil a moment and gazed into the waters of the lake and her beautiful face was revealed. The man who had been shadowing her had a chance to observe her beauty. Ike had his eye upon the man and arrived at a conclusion. He concluded from the expression on the fellow's face that he was a villain and meant the beautiful girl no good. He was very handsomely dressed, wore diamonds of the biggest sort and altogether appeared like an individual whom a young girl would have good reason to fear.
"Jack," said our hero, "that fellow is a bad one. He means the girl no good."
We write girl, for the veiled lady was but a mere girl, as revealed when her veil was removed. She had only removed her face covering for a moment. The man advanced toward her and the lads stepped closer, hiding in the shrubbery to the rear of the rustic seat where the girl had placed herself. As the man approached he said:
"Why, Miss Galt, good-morning."
"I beg your pardon, sir," said the lady; "you have made a mistake."
It was the old trick—merely a pretense to speak to the girl.
"Is it possible I have made a mistake?" said the man.
"You have certainly made a mistake."
If the man had been a gentleman he would have apologized and have moved on, but he said:
"It's so strange. You are a perfect picture of the lady I know as Miss Galt."
"I am not Miss Galt, sir, and you will please not address me further."
"It's a beautiful day," said the man.
The girl betrayed her surprise from under her veil, but made no reply, evidently believing the man would move on; but instead he approached nearer to her. The girl rose as though to walk away, when the man said:
"Excuse me, but are you sure you are not playing me a little trick? Are you really not Miss Galt?"
The girl started to move away, when the man looked around furtively and then boldly approached. The girl was terrified. She attempted to scream, when the man actually grasped her arm. She was paralyzed with fear; she could not scream. Her eyes expressed her terror, her face became deathly pale, and no one can tell what might have occurred if at that critical moment Ike and Jack had not darted forth, and Ike exclaimed:
"Hold on there! you scoundrel, what are you doing?"
The man was large and apparently powerful. He glared at the two slender youths, and evidently concluded that with but little effort he could toss them both into the lake if so inclined. He said:
"You two young rascals, how dare you address me?"
He had released his hold upon the arm of the lady and the latter, woman-like, remained, hoping even in her weakness to be of some service to the two handsome youths who had interfered in her behalf. In a few moments, however, she learned that they did not need any assistance. These two young wonders were perfectly capable of taking care of the big insulter of womanhood.
In reply to his words to them, the two ventriloquistsgave him a laugh. He became enraged. He felt mean anyhow, as he had been caught in a contemptible act. He was prepared to become enraged very readily.
"You laugh at me, you young rascals?"
"Certainly we do, you mean scoundrel."
"You call me a scoundrel?"
"That's what we call you."
"You two rascals, get away from here or I'll hurt you."
"You will?"
"Yes."
"You can't hurt any one. You're a big fraud."
The man moved toward the speaker, when a dog barked savagely at his heels. He leaped in the air and turned quickly, but there was no dog there. He supposed the fierce animal had skipped away, and with an oath he advanced another step toward the laughing and jeering lads, when again the dog barked savagely at his heels, and again he leaped in the air, but there was no dog visible.
The man was confused, and Ike said:
"You are a villain. You should be lynched or ducked."
"Let's duck him," said Jack.
"It's a go," answered Ike.
The man gazed in amazement at their audacity, and he was about to make a rush, when seemingly there came a gruff voice behind him, preceded by a shrill whistle.
"Hold on there! what are you about?"
The man thought that indeed a park policeman was at hand. He turned. He was standing near the edge of the water, for the ventriloquists had purposely changed their own position so as to draw him down in that direction. As he turned Ike ran forward head first and made a clear dive straight at the small of the man's back. Over he went, face forward, paralyzed by the blow, and then the two lads jumped on him. Over and over they rolledhim toward the water. At this instant the lady interfered, but her protest came too late. The man was rolled into the water about waist deep, and the water restored his strength, and there followed a mighty floundering as he struggled toward the shore. The boys roared with laughter. The man crawled out and made a rush for them, when again the dog barked at his heels, and he made a leap in the air; and as he turned and saw no dog, terror seized him, and a sudden impulse, for away he ran like a deer, all wet and dripping as he was. Then Ike advanced toward the veiled girl and said:
"Excuse us, miss, but he got just what he deserved. We saw him seize you and we made up our minds to scare him out. We will bid you good-morning. He will not molest you again."
The girl stood and gazed in silence a moment and then said:
"I thank you," and involuntarily she added: "Oh, what shall I do?"
"Are you in trouble, miss?" asked Ike.
The girl had betrayed herself to a certain extent, and she answered:
"Yes, I am in great trouble."
"Possibly we can aid you."
"No, no, you cannot aid me as readily and manfully as you did just now."
"But possibly we can."
The girl looked the two handsome lads over, and again she murmured, as though unable to control her emotions:
"Oh, what shall I do?"
"We can help you."
"No, you cannot help me."
"Yes, we can."
"No, no; I wish you could. No one can help me; I am ruined."
"Come, we will walk away from here and you shall tell us your trouble. We can aid you. You will find out that we can."
They were both bright-faced youths. They had just given an exhibition of their nerve and courage.
"Come, do not be afraid. We can aid you, no matter what your trouble."
"It's so strange," murmured the girl.
"What is so strange?"
"That you should offer to aid me."
"Well, we can aid you. That's our mission in life."
The girl did not understand the remark, but she was charmed with the two bright-faced, honest-looking lads. She said:
"I am half inclined to tell you my trouble. I am a stranger in New York; I have no one to confide in. Yes, I will tell you my trouble, but you cannot aid me."
"I reckon we can aid you, no matter what the trouble may be."
The girl walked away with the two ventriloquists, but occasionally she glanced back at the lake and both the youths were convinced that she had really intended suicide.
When some distance away from the lake and in a retired part of the park, the girl said:
"Mine is a very strange story. I do not know as you will believe it."
"We will believe anything you tell us," said Ike gallantly.
"A week ago I came on from San Francisco. My father died a year ago; my mother has been dead for a long time. My father knew he was to die, as he had an incurable disease, and he gave me all his savings, converted everything he had into cash and placed it in my hands, and when it came near the last he told me after his deathto come on here to New York. He said he once had a brother whom he had not seen or heard from for thirty years. 'My brother may still be living; if so he will be your friend and protector, and you will not be dependent upon him, as you will have five thousand dollars.'
"After my father's death I remained in San Francisco a year to complete my education, and then I started for New York. The money I had changed into non-registered bonds, and I put them in my trunk. I arrived in New York a week ago and went to a place to board that had been recommended to me by a friend in San Francisco. Last night I opened my trunk to look at the bonds and discovered to my horror that they were gone. I at once informed the landlady, who told me she could do nothing, that she knew nothing about my bonds. She evidently did not believe my story. She looks upon me as a swindler. I saw in this morning's paper the name of a lawyer. I called upon him to consult him, but first I went to the captain of police in my district. He evidently did not believe my story, and then, as I said, I went to the lawyer. I told my tale to him. He said he could do nothing for me—I must depend upon the police. He also, I think, did not believe my story. They look upon me as an adventuress. I have no proofs. I have no way to prove that I ever had the bonds. They have been stolen, and in claiming them I am losing my reputation. I am looked upon as a swindler myself. I tell you the truth. I did have the bonds and they have been stolen from me. I am ruined. No one will believe me. You do not believe my story."
"Yes, I do believe your story," said Ike, "and we will recover your bonds."
"You will recover them?" exclaimed the girl.
"Yes, we will recover them."
"No, no; never," she said in a despairing tone.
"We will see about that. When did you last see your bonds?"
"The night after my arrival in New York."
"Where?"
"In my trunk."
"After you had arrived at your present boarding-house?"
"Yes."
"Is there any one in the house whom you suspect?"
"I know not whom to suspect, but they were stolen after my arrival in that house. The landlady refuses to believe my story; the captain of police refuses to believe my story, and the lawyer to whom I went and offered one thousand dollars as a fee refuses to believe my story."
"And my friend and I do believe your story, and we are the only ones who can aid you in recovering them. One would have to know you to believe your tale. It is indeed a strange one."
"And you do not know me."
"Well, we have other reasons for believing your story. I tell you we will recover your bonds. You can rely upon my word."
"How can you do it?"
"We have our own method for going about it."
"The landlady has hinted that she would like to have me leave the house. I have no money to go anywhere else, for all my money I had placed in my trunk and that is gone also."
"How much money did you have?"
"I had over two hundred dollars."
"And it has been stolen?"
"Yes; whoever took the bonds took my money also, and my jewelry—for all my valuables were in my trunk."
Jack looked at Ike in a dubious sort of way, for the story was becoming quite odd. Ike, however, believed the tale. He said:
"It's hard luck to lose all that way, but you shall have it returned to you."
"I don't know what I shall do."
"Did you tell any one else in the house about your loss save the landlady?"
"No, I have not said one word to any one else, and the landlady told me not to do so."
Ike was thoughtful a moment and then said:
"I will find your bonds. In the meantime I believe it well for you temporarily to find another boarding-place."
"I do not know where to go."
"I can recommend you to a very nice, motherly lady who will see to your comfort."
There came a look of sudden suspicion to the girl's eyes and she said:
"I have no money. I do not know what to do."
Ike, as our readers know, possessed wonderfully quick and observant eyes, and he could discern in a most remarkable manner.
"You need not bother about the money part of it. I know this lady well; she is a very reputable person, the widow of a man who was a great detective. She will be willing to wait for her pay until you recover your money and bonds."
"But I may never recover them."
"Yes, you will recover them; on that point you can make your mind easy. When I and my friend here set out to accomplish a thing we never fail, and you shall satisfy yourself that the lady will really become your friend before you take up your home with her."
Ike had organized a great scheme. He was satisfied in his own mind that the money had been stolen either by the landlady or one of her boarders. He had a way of bringing people to a betrayal that was all his own. He held some further talk with the girl, and then asked:
"What is your name?"
The girl hesitated.
"You need not fear to tell me your name. I will go with you if you choose to the captain of police and he shall vouch for my honor and loyalty."
"It is not necessary," said the girl, who was really bright and self-reliant. "My name is Sara Sidney."
"Miss Sidney," said our hero, "we will go to the home of the lady where I propose that you shall board while I am conducting the hunt for your missing bonds. You can satisfy yourself of her respectability before you remove to her home."
The girl hesitated.
"You need not hesitate. I will not only find your bonds, but I will find your uncle for you if he still be living, or his sons or daughters in case any of your cousins may be living."
"Why should you take all this trouble on my behalf?"
"I will confide to you a secret: I am a sort of detective. It is my duty to look out for you."
"I will go with you," said the girl.
Ike arranged to meet Jack later on and proceeded with Sara to the house of the lady where he proposed she should remain. The moment Sara was introduced to the lady the latter won the girl's confidence, and our hero left his charge with his friend, and the latter arranged to go with Sara and have her trunk removed. Meantime Ike met his comrade Jack, and the latter said:
"Well, Ike, I yield the palm to you. Yes, sir, you are the most observant and quickest person I ever met. I thought I was great, but you are the greatest fellow on earth, in my opinion."
"Well, it is strange how we chanced to fall to this girl, so beautiful and so helpless."
"Yes, she is beautiful, and I will say that there arethousands of undeveloped romances in New York at this very moment."
"Yes, that is true; if a man desires to get into an adventure of a strange character he can easily do it here in this great metropolis."
"Say, Ike, she is a beautiful girl."
"She is indeed. Have you fallen in love with her?"
"I don't know."
"I wish you'd find out," said Ike, with a very meaning smile on his face.
"Hello! is that the case, Ike?"
"Is what the case?"
"Are you dead gone so soon?"
"I don't know how I am, but she is a lovely girl and her case is a peculiar one."
"And you have promised to recover her bonds?"
"I have."
"You have undertaken a big job."
"You think so?"
"I do."
"I'll get them."
"You will?"
"Yes."
"Have you a plan?"
"I have."
"Will you tell me your plan?"
Ike revealed his plan to Jack, and the latter said:
"Well, I'll be shot if you haven't a head for a detective, and it's right here where our gifts come in."
"Yes, sir."
"And you want me to aid you?"
"Sure."
"When will you start in?"
"At once."
The same afternoon that the incidents occurred whichwe have related, Ike, gotten up in good shape and furnished with a letter of introduction, called at the house where Sara Sidney had been robbed, and he succeeded in engaging board. He pretended to be an art student, and the first night he appeared at the dinner table he glanced around to take in the general appearance of his fellow boarders. He was just the lad to measure human faces. He had questioned Sara very particularly about her fellow boarders in the house, and he was well posted when he sat down to the table, after the usual introduction in a general way. The people he found to be the usual representative class that one finds in a city boarding-house. There was the doctor who occupied the rear parlor, a lawyer, two lady typewriters, one a creature who knew it all from A to Z. There were in all about twenty people in the house. Ike went over them all. He studied in his quiet, cute way every face, and did not see one person whom he was led to suspect, and the sequel will prove how unerring was his facial study of those people. When the meal was about half through there came bouncing into the room a young man. He was a bold-faced, bumptious sort of a chap, and as he took his seat he ran his eyes over the people assembled and then asked:
"Where is Miss Sidney?"
The landlady said:
"She has left us."
The young man was thoughtful a moment, and then asked:
"When did she go?"
"This afternoon."
"What reason did she give for going?"
There was an interested look in the young fellow's eyes as he asked the question.
"She gave no reason."
"Where has she gone?"
"I do not know."
"I must find out," said the youth. "I was greatly taken with Miss Sidney; she was a very charming young lady. We shall miss her."
At that instant there came the announcement:
"Miss Sidney left the house because she was robbed."
Every one started. No one appeared to know who had spoken, but the young man gave a start, turned pale and asked in a voice that trembled perceptibly:
"Who says she was robbed?"
At that moment the landlady returned to the room. She saw that something had gone wrong.
"What is the matter?" she asked.
No one answered, and there followed a moment's awkward silence, broken at length by the bumptious young man, who said:
"Some one stated that Miss Sidney left here because she had been robbed."
The landlady's face flushed scarlet as she said:
"Who made the statement?"
No one answered.
"It's false," said the landlady, "and I should like to know who said she had been robbed."
"I said so."
The voice appeared to come from the old maid typewriter, and the landlady at once exclaimed:
"Miss Gaynor, did you state that Miss Sidney left here because she was robbed?"
"I did not," declared Miss Gaynor, indignantly.
"I said so," came a voice from the far end of the table.
The landlady looked in the direction indicated. An old man sat there and the voice was that of an old man.
"Did you say so, Mr. Smith?"
"I did not, madam," declared the elderly gentleman in an angry tone.
Again there followed a silence, when the landlady remarked:
"It's very strange; if any one makes such a charge, I wish they would come out and do so openly."
"Mr. Goodlove made the statement," came a voice.
Mr. Goodlove was the bumptious young man. He at once rose to his feet and in an indignant tone declared:
"It's a lie, I did not make the statement. Who says I did?"
"I do," came the answer, and it appeared to come from the young lady typewriter number two, who was a pretty, delicate-looking young girl, quiet, modest, and least likely to speak out boldly.
The man Goodlove looked at her and demanded:
"Do you dare say I made the statement?"
"I said nothing," she answered timidly, adding, "I did not speak at all."
"What is all this ado about, anyhow?" came a voice. "Mr. Goodlove knows better than any one else that Miss Sidney was robbed; why does he pretend ignorance as to the cause of her leaving?"
The young man turned ghastly.
"Who spoke then?" he asked.
"Oh, it's no use asking who spoke; you know all about the robbery."
"Whoever says that is a liar."
The landlady was becoming greatly excited. She said:
"Miss Sidney did claim that she was robbed, but I have proof that she is an adventuress and a blackmailer. She told me she had been robbed and she really wanted to work upon my sympathies. She did not possess anything to be robbed of, and I told her she had better go away."
"You did right," said Mr. Goodlove. "I did not wish to tell you, madam, but I suspected all along that the minx was an adventuress."
A voice came, saying: "You've changed your mind; you said she was a lovely girl and that you were very much taken with her. Well, I reckon you did take."
"Who spoke?" demanded Goodlove.
"Oh, you know who spoke, and you know more about this whole affair than any one else. The police are after you."
The man wilted as he asked:
"Did Miss Sidney hint that I was the robber?"
As Goodlove spoke his eyes wandered around to learn who it was who had addressed him.
"No, she didn't accuse any one; you have accused yourself. You were seen, however, to deposit a whole lot of gold."
"She didn't have any gold," came the excited declaration.
Ike hadstruck his manat last.
It was a strange scene in that room at that moment, and the great mystery was who did the talking. No one appeared to know and there was great confusion, and it was because of the confusion that no one appeared to recognize, as stated, who was doing the talking.
There came a voice demanding, when Goodlove said she had no gold:
"How do you know? Were you rummaging in her trunk?"
The man became confused; indeed, he looked as though about going into collapse.
The most mysterious part of it all was the fact that no one knew who was doing the talking. The people looked into each other's faces and could not discern, and yet the voice sounded distinct and clear. Some one was talking. Who was it?
During all this time Ike was as mute as an owl after dawn. He looked around with an inquiring and surprisedlook upon his face, seemingly as greatly mystified as any one, and the voice pitilessly continued:
"Better be careful, Mister Man. The detectives have their eyes on you."
Goodlove turned to the landlady and almost yelled:
"Madam, send for an officer. This is going too far."
"I will not have an officer in my house; no need."
"But, madam, who is it insulting me?"
"I do not know."
The landlady was as much dazed and mystified as any one.
The voice, however, ceased—became hushed; but a strange feeling pervaded those who had been witnesses and listeners during the strange scene. One after the other they rose and left the table and the room. Goodlove and Ike remained. The fellow looked over at Ike sharply and said:
"Say, my friend, did you notice who used the insulting language?"
The voice was again heard. It appeared to come from the hall and the words were:
"That young man does not know anything about it. Don't question him, you thief."
Goodlove rushed out to the hall. There was not a soul there. He ran up the stairs, but saw no one. Each one of the boarders had either retired to his room or had gone out. Ike left the table and passed Goodlove in the hall. He did not speak to the man, but went to the hatrack, secured his hat and stepped out to the street. Goodlove meantime entered the parlor and commenced pacing the floor. The landlady joined him.
"Madam," he said, "this is a most extraordinary occurrence."
"It is, sir."
"You were present. You know who made those insulting remarks."
"I do not."
"I will know, madam."
"I hope you will be able to learn, for the occurrence will do me great injury unless the mystery is explained."
"There is no mystery about it. You have an impudent rascal in your house. Who is your new boarder?"
"He came to me highly recommended."
"It's all very strange, madam."
"Can it be possible," asked the landlady, "that the new boarder is a detective?"
Goodlove's face became ghastly. He walked more rapidly, and finally, seizing his hat from the hatrack, stepped out to the street. He had gone but a few steps, however, when a hand was laid on his shoulder—a heavy hand. The man would have shrieked if he had not been actually paralyzed with terror.
"Hello, Goodlove," said the man who had seized him. "Where are you going?"
The man trembled, but could not answer.
"Well, we've got you, mister. But let me ask you, is this your first offense? If it is it's all the better for you, that's all. We may let up on you, but we've got you dead to rights."
The man managed to gasp:
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, come off! We've got you all right. We didn't close in on you until we had all the proof. Where are the bonds you stole from Miss Sidney's trunk, and the money?"
The detective talked in such a matter-of-fact tone, with such absolute assurance, that the culprit was all "broke up." He just wilted.
"Who says I stole the bonds?"
"Oh, come off! don't attempt that. Old man, see here; do you want to be locked up? Turn over thestolen property, and if this is your first offense I'll let you go; but if you attempt to deny or play 'possum I'll lock you up and you will go to Sing Sing Prison; that's all."
"How strange!" muttered the prisoner.
"Strange that you were found out?"
"Yes."
"Why, you fool, we knew all the time that you stole the bonds. Thieves always get found out, but it depends upon how smart they are in getting away. Crime never pays; criminals always come to a bad end. This is your first offense. You have learned a lesson that will last you all your life. It always pays to be honest; it's always a losing game to be dishonest. Now what is your decision? Will you go to jail or surrender the stolen property?"
"If I surrender it will you let me off?"
"As this is your first offense I will let you off, and as I do not wish to spoil your future chances I will say nothing about your guilt. But let me tell you, if you ever steal again you will surely be caught and will pay the full penalty."
"I will surrender the property."
IKE RECOVERS THE BONDS THROUGH HIS FRIEND, DETECTIVE DU FLORE, AND HE AND HIS FELLOW VENTRILOQUIST FALL INTO NEW ADVENTURES.
IKE RECOVERS THE BONDS THROUGH HIS FRIEND, DETECTIVE DU FLORE, AND HE AND HIS FELLOW VENTRILOQUIST FALL INTO NEW ADVENTURES.
The property was surrendered—the bonds, all the jewelry and all the money to a cent—and placed in the hands of Ike, who, when he met his "side partner" at their home, said:
"Well, Jack, I didn't need you. I caught my fish easy."
"Yes, 'dead easy,' as the two robbers said."
"They missed, I won."
"You did."
"So much for this adventure. To-morrow I will return the stolen property to the owner, and then——"
"What then?"
"We will lie around for a new adventure. We're having a heap of fun."
"We are, and doing a heap of good even if I say it myself."
On the day following the incidents we have related Ike and Jack in company called upon the young lady for whom they had done so great a service. She received them in the little parlor, but she appeared very anxious and careworn, and she said after the usual greetings:
"I am very unhappy."
"You are?"
"I am."
"Why?"
"I cannot remain here with this good lady when I am unable to pay for my board."
"What will you do?" asked Ike, a pleasant brightness in his eyes.
"I do not know what I will do. I am already in her debt."
"You are?"
"Yes; she paid my board bill at the last place when she went with me to get my trunk."
"And you think you will not be able to pay her?"
"I do not know what I will do."
"You can pay her when you recover your stolen property."
"I will never recover that."
"Did I not promise that I would recover it for you?"
"Yes, in the goodness of your heart you did; but thelady here, with whom I am staying, says the chances are very much against my ever recovering my property."
"And has she intimated that you had better find another home?"
"On the contrary, she has told me I can remain here as long as I please—until I find my uncle or secure a position that will enable me to earn my living."
"You can set your mind at rest; when I promise a thing I usually keep my promise. I will not keep you in suspense. Here is your property restored to you."
The girl almost fainted, so great was her excitement. She could not speak for a full minute, but when she did find voice she exclaimed:
"And you really have recovered all my property?"
"You can recognize your own property; here it is."
"This is wonderful."
"It's jolly good, that's all. I said I would recover it and I've kept my word; and now you are independent."
"Oh, I am so grateful! How did you do it?"
"Well, we did it."
"Who was the thief?"
"One of the boarders in that house."
"Who was the guilty party?"
"Whom would you suspect?"
"No one; they all seemed good people."
"And you had no suspicion?"
"I did not suspect any one particular person."
"A young man named Goodlove was the thief."
The girl stared.
"He was the thief?"
"Yes."
"I never would have suspected him, he was so kind to me. He was the only one to whom I told anything about myself."
"Yes, and he took advantage of your confidence in him to rob you."
"I did not tell him I had any money."
"He evidently suspected you did have, but all's well that ends well; and now you will remember I made you another promise."
"You said you would find my uncle."
"I said I would find him if he were living."
"And can you succeed as you have in recovering this property?"
"I can and will, if he is alive. And now can I advise you?"
"Yes."
"Make your home here for the present, until such time as we report as concerns the whereabouts of your uncle."
"Now that I can pay my board I will gladly remain here. I propose to take music lessons and become a teacher. I shall be self-supporting. I am pretty well advanced in music already."
"That is good. Can we call and see you occasionally?"
"I shall always be delighted to have you call upon me; you have proved yourselves my real friends. But will you tell me how you managed to recover my bonds?"
"Not to-day; some day we will tell you all about it."
"And Goodlove—is he in jail?"
"No, it was his first offense and we let him off. He will leave New York, however, and start afresh. I think he has learned a lesson and will become honest."
On the day following Ike and Jack were at breakfast in a restaurant when they overheard the proprietor of the place and a customer discussing a great robbery that had taken place under the most startling circumstances. Ike, after the meal, secured a paper and read the account. The robbery was indeed a very startling one. An old miser had lived in a tumble-down house for twenty-odd years. No one knew that he possessed one cent; indeed, his neighbors were not aware that he was the owner ofthe old tumble-down house in which he resided. He was seldom seen on the streets, then only at night. He never begged alms, lived in the most frugal manner, as was supposed, as no one could tell where he did procure his food. He occupied the little old house alone, and, as stated, had gone on for years, never attracting any attention until one morning through the police the startling announcement was made that the old man was really a possible millionaire. Thieves had broken into his old house, chloroformed him and ransacked his apartments, and according to the old man's statement had carried off gold, bills, silver bonds, and securities to an amount which under all the circumstances appeared incredible. Indeed, as it appeared, the police had been in possession of the facts of the robbery for several days, but they had doubted the old man's story, doubted that he had ever possessed any property at all, but later revelations established the truthfulness of the old man's statement beyond all question. As it also appeared, the old man had gone to South America when a very young man. He had returned to New York twenty years previous to the time of the robbery, and had then purchased the old house where, for reasons of his own, he had lived seemingly the life of a miser. The papers spoke of him in contemptuous tones as an old miser, and said by intimation that it served him right to be robbed. It was a just retribution visited upon a man who for the pure love of possession had denied himself the comforts of life just to accumulate his hoards, which were useless to him and the thousands of needy people whom he might have aided. The robbery had been a very mysterious one. No one had been seen by any one lurking in the vicinity of the house, but some time between midnight and morning three men, as the old miser declared, had entered his house, had chloroformed him and then had deliberately gone all through his apartmentsand had taken everything of value they could lay their hands on. After the robbery, as it appeared, the old man had refused to take any one into his house as a guard. He did not relish the visits of the police, but declared that everything portable of any value had been taken. He had been very methodical and had the numbers of most of his bonds, and the usual notifications were sent to dealers; but it was well known that quite a number of the securities were unregistered and negotiable. Indeed, as it proved later, the old man was mistaken; the bulk of them were negotiable. Besides the securities, jewels of great value and hoards of gold and silver were taken.
Ike and Jack read over the account and later met their friend, Detective Du Flore, who knew all about the case, and he said:
"I was coming to see you. I wonder if we can get in on this job with any hope of success?"
"I don't know about the hope of success," said Ike, "but we can get in on the job."
"I will tell you something privately: there is an immense reward offered. It will be the job of our lives if we can run down those plunderers."
"We can try."
"Ike, you are a wonder, and hoping to have your aid I have had myself specially assigned to the case. My reputation for life will be made, and we will all receive a big sum of money. I owe my present reputation to you. The capture of those two burglars has set me away up, and if I can solve this mystery and run down the robbers I am a great man."
"We will see what we can do."
"It's a great case and some of the oldest men on the force are on it. I would like to prove a winner."
"We will do the best we can."
"You have a great head, Ike."
"Thank you; I'll do the best I can."
"What is your plan for a starter?"
"I must have a chance to think the matter over. It will take me two or three days to make up my mind, but let me tell you, Du Flore, I have an idea that we can solve this mystery and get on the thieves."
"We are just made for life if we can. When will you see me again?"
"In a few days or in a few hours possibly," said Ike.
The detective and the ventriloquist separated, and as Ike and Jack walked away the former said:
"Jack, we've got a big job on hand. Let's walk down and take a look at the old miser's house, for to-night we may wish to play burglar."
"What do you mean?"
"I am going to take great chances. I am going to get into that house."
"Sneak in?"
"Yes."
"You will get into a scrape, I fear."
"Eh, Jack, do you fear? I did not think you knew what fear meant."
Jack laughed and said:
"Don't take me so quick, Ike. All I intended to convey was that we should be cautious. That house will be under surveillance. It might prove awkward if you were caught sneaking into the old man's place."
"Would you sneak in if you had a plan?"
"To own up square, I would."
"All right; we won't be caught, and if we do, with your brave aid we'll get out of the scrape. I've an idea—a very funny one. I won't tell it to you now, or even you might call me a crank. But I tell you, I am going to take big chances and get into the old man's house on the sly, in spite of the police, detectives and every one else. I've a scheme."
The two lads arrived in the vicinity of the house and scanned the surroundings very carefully, and as they walked away Ike said:
"We have a chance for a joke on hand, Jack."
"Yes, I am on to it."
"What are you on to?"
"We have been spotted and a detective is on our track."
"Yes, a snide. We'll give him a lesson."
"When?"
"Oh, we'll shake him now, but to-night we'll show up again and have our fun, and with our fun we'll do some business."
The ventriloquists were right. They had been spotted and a "snide" detective was on their track, and the youths did succeed in giving him the "shake," and they just kept under cover until night, when, having fully arranged for their adventures, they issued forth and proceeded again down to the old miser's house, and just as they suspected the "snide" detective got on to their track again, and the second time he started in to follow them he was satisfied he had struck something. As Ike and Jack walked away the former said:
"Now the fun commences. We will give that fellow a great steer."
Ike and Jack were both well posted all over the city of New York, and they proceeded to a public-house which had been for years under the surveillance of the police. It was a regular thieves' resort and many a bad fellow had been trailed from that very house. Once in the house they sat down at a table and called for their beer, and, as both suspected, in a few moments the "snide" entered. He pretended to be looking at everything else but the two youths, when in reality he was watching every movement. Ike had been revolving in his mind how to give the fellow a layout. He knew the man well. He was a real"snide"—a detective beat—in fact, not a genuine detective, but the agent of a detective agency. He thought himself, however, very smart. Ike, as stated, knew the house well, and knew that a number of very prominent politicians were in the habit of gathering in a back room on the second floor, where they indulged a little game of cardsfor fun only, and discussed their political plans. They were men away up politically, not thieves in the general sense of the word; at least, they were not liable to arrest, and they were very bold and resolute and had a very high idea of themselves. Even while Ike sat there he saw two of these men enter the place and pass through a rear side door to the hall.
Ike knew these men well. He was aware, as stated, that they met in this room to discuss their political plans. They were in session, and after a little while the "snide" who had been watching the two ventriloquists crossed over to the table where they were sitting and pretended to have met one of them before.
"See here, mister," said Ike, "you are barking up the wrong tree."
The man gazed in astonishment.
"We are not under glances now, but there's bigger game in this house."
The "snide" recognized at once that the two young fellows were "on to him," as the saying goes.
"Who are you fellows anyhow?" he demanded.
"Oh, we're just out, we are. You have no use for us, nor we for you."
"You say there's bigger game in this house?"
"Yes, there is."
"Give me the points."
"Oh, you can't work it alone."
"I can't?"
"No."
"You give me the points and we will see if I can."
"Go and get your pard. It will take two of you, and I'll let you on to a big call. I want to get square; that's how I stand."
"You put me on to a big lay and I'll make it worth your while."
"You will?"
"I will. You know me, don't you?"
"I only know you are a cop, that's all."
"Did I ever have any dealings with you?"
"Never; but I want to get square. There are a couple of men in this house who swore us away once."
Our readers will bear in mind that both the ventriloquists were under a disguise that permitted them to play the role they were working at that moment.
"What is the lay?"
"Oh, it's the old miser business. I knew the moment that thing came out who did that job."
"It may be you did," said the detective wisely.
"Do you think we were in it?"
"You may have been."
"Then take us, and we'll have the laugh on you and the real game will skip. I say I can set you on to a dead sure game to prove your arrest."
"You can?"
"I can."
"How?"
"When I agree I can do it easy enough, but you had better get a pard. These villains are wild fellows; they might do you up."
"I'll take chances."
"You will?"
"I will."
"All right; I'll give you the points."
IKE RESORTS TO A VERY CUNNING TRICK AND USES HIS GREAT GIFT IN A VERY REMARKABLE MANNER—HIS JOKE IS FOLLOWED BY STARTLING RESULTS.
IKE RESORTS TO A VERY CUNNING TRICK AND USES HIS GREAT GIFT IN A VERY REMARKABLE MANNER—HIS JOKE IS FOLLOWED BY STARTLING RESULTS.
The man's face beamed. He believed he was on to a big thing. We have not attempted to go into the full details and describe just how Ike got down to his deception. We have just outlined the conversation, but for the purpose he had in view our hero talked straight to the point and his proposition was not an unreasonable one; it was just the dodge to hook a fellow of the stripe of the "snide." Our hero knew just how to work his trick and adapted his plan to his man.
Ike had his fish well hooked, and then he became very confidential. He told his man to go to the rear room and play off so as not to attract attention. The man obeyed and a little later Ike joined him, and then, after looking around furtively, still maintaining his play, he said:
"In the rear room upstairs are the fellows who robbed the old miser. They are discussing a division of the swag. Now, if you want proof I'll go up the stairs with you and you can overhear their talk and get all the points—get your men located."
The detective's eyes bulged. He, of course, recognized the possibility that Ike was giving him a "steer," and then again it was possible he was giving him the real facts.
"You needn't take my word," said Ike. "All you have to do is listen at the door. They are not looking for eavesdroppers. Make sure of your points, then away with your information, get your aids and capture the whole gang. I'll teach those fellows to give it to me in the neck," concluded our wily hero.
The "snide" and Ike stepped into the hall and noiselessly moved up the stairs, and as they approached the door of the room where the politicians were the "snide" heard the murmur of voices. No ventriloquistic trick was ever played better in imitating the murmur of several voices behind a closed door, and as the "snide" drew close to the door a voice was heard to exclaim:
"Hold on! that is not a square deal."
"What do you want—the earth?" came the retort.
"No, but I want my share of the negotiable bonds," came the answer. "You fellows are taking all the easy things and giving me the registered ones. They're no good, you know, and I want you fellows to remember I fell to that old miser and it was I who put up the job. We made a good haul without any blood-letting. I want a square deal, I do. Everything is hunky; we've given the police a dead steer away and we're all right. Don't you fellows try to rob me, do you hear?"
The "snide" heard and his face became radiant. He stepped away from the door and said to Ike:
"You go away. It's dangerous to be around here."
Little did the speaker know how dangerous it really was. He was destined to experience the full force of the danger in a most remarkable manner a few moments later, for Ike managed to perform a second marvelous ventriloquistic trick—one of the most wonderful of all. He managed to make, seemingly, a woman scream in a shrill tone:
"Look out, in that room! There's a sneak peeping at the door."
The words had hardly left the woman's lips, as it appeared, when the door opened. The "snide" was actually caught with his ear to the keyhole, so suddenly had the door opened. Well, a scene followed. The politicians were really discussing a very important political matter. They looked upon the "snide" as a sneak who was merelyseeking for information to steal it, and they were mad. Indeed, there was danger around there just at that moment.
As intimated, the politicians were mad; they believed this "ward heeler," as they mistook the "snide" to be, had gotten on to their whole little affair. They did not stand on ceremony—they just broke loose. They were all really toughs, and the way they went for Mister Snide was lovely to behold, especially had any one been present who really recognized what a mean sneak the "snide" was.
"Let me get at him," cried one politician. No one interfered. He was permitted to get at him and the first blow knocked the "snide" to the landing of the stairs. The second blow was a terrific kick which sent him headlong down the steps. He, fortunately for himself, did not break his neck in his descent, and gained his feet and made a rush into the bar on his way to the door to the street, but he did not get there before one of the politicians was at his heels. He received a kick that lifted him clear off the floor, then another man took a rap at him, and at each kick up he leaped involuntarily; so, with kicks and raps, he was knocked clear out to the street, and there stood the two ventriloquists to see him come forth. Ike expected him, and the young fellow's expectations were not disappointed; a worse laying out no sneak ever received. The man fell helpless on the sidewalk, and when a policeman ran to his aid he told his tale and yelled: "Arrest those men. They are the robbers of the old miser."
The policeman believed the man drunk or crazy, and rapped for assistance, and when his mate joined him they toted him off to the station. All the way the man protested, and when he arrived at the station he told his tale to the sergeant. The latter was bound to give the story his attention. He led the man back to the resort and upto the room. The politicians had reassembled. The sergeant knocked for admission and was let in. Well, a scene followed.
The sergeant knew every man present in the room, knew that none of them were crooks, and he was confirmed in the impression that the man was drunk or crazy. The "snide" was led back to the station house and put in a cell. He yelled and protested, and no wonder. He foamed at the mouth in his excitement. The most partial observer would have counted him crazy.
Ike and Jack, however, had accomplished their purpose. Our hero said:
"The road is clear now; that fellow was hanging around the old miser's house all the time. Now I reckon I can make an entrance and interview the old man."
The two ventriloquists proceeded down to the old house and arrived just in time to meet another embarrassment. A policeman entered the house just as they arrived in sight.
"Hello, Ike," said Jack; "what's that?"
"A disagreeable discovery."
"That fellow is probably going to remain in the house over night."
"It looks so, and yet the papers said the old man had a guard and had declined to go to other quarters."
"We must get rid of that fellow."
"It is possible he will not remain there."
The hour was about eleven o'clock and Jack, after looking at his timepiece, said:
"Possibly he has just entered to see that everything is all right with the old man."
The lads waited around for about an hour, when to our hero's delight he saw the policeman come from the house. The two young men had made a thorough search around the neighborhood and were convinced that there was noone on the watch. After the policeman had been gone some little time Ike bade Jack remain on the watch.
The daring young man then leaped the gate of the old alleyway and passed around to the rear of the house. He saw the glimmer of a light shooting forth from the windows of the room on the second floor. He remained a moment studying the rear of the house, then descended the areaway and in a few moments managed to gain an entrance, although the door was bolted on the inside; but the woodwork had rotted and he easily gained an entrance, as stated. All was cold and damp. As he stepped inside the hallway he drew his mask lantern and glanced around. It was a dreary sight that met his view.
"I reckon," he muttered, "the old man never comes down here and it is a wonder he is alive, living over all this filth and decay."
On tiptoe Ike ascended to the parlor floor. He entered the front parlor, and as he flashed his light around he experienced a shock of surprise. There were articles of great value lying around; marble statues had rolled from their pedestals and had fallen to the floor, and on the walls were very valuable paintings, their frames moldy and the pictures apparently ruined. There was one picture that had been covered, and at a glance our hero discerned that it had been cared for—the only article in the room which had evidently ever been dusted or cleaned.
"A picture of the old fellow's wife," thought Ike, and after a moment he added: "I will have a glance at it."
The young man was doing a nervy piece of business, and yet he was as cool and deliberate as though in his own house. He moved about with great care and in a noiseless manner, and he advanced to the picture, removed the cloth, flashed his light upon it and recoiled as though gazing at an apparition. It was the one great surprise of his life.
There he stood, as he supposed gazing upon a portrait of Sara Sidney, the beautiful girl whom he had served in such a signal manner. He stood gazing in rapt attention, and so engrossed was he that he did not observe a counter-light in the room, nor become aware of the presence of another until he was startled almost to a condition of terror when a voice demanded:
"Who are you, and what do you want here?"
Ike turned and beheld a strange-looking old man standing within a few feet of him. In his hand the old man held a light, and his deep, sunken eyes were illuminated with a strange gleam as their glance rested on the ventriloquist.
"Are you Mr. Ward?"
"I am Mr. Ward," came the answer. "Who are you?"
"Your friend."
The old man chuckled and said:
"You are here to rob me, I suppose; but, Mr. Burglar, there is nothing left for you. The scoundrels who came here before took everything—yes, everything."
"I did not come here to rob—I came here to aid you."
"To aid me?"
"Yes."
"I don't need aid; if I do there is aid at hand."
"You don't understand me."
"Well, let me understand you."
"I came here as your friend."
The old man chuckled again, and said:
"I need no friends. I've lived many years independent of all friendship. But what do you think of that picture?"
There came an eager light in the old man's eyes as he asked the question.
"That picture is a mystery to me."
"A mystery?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I hardly dare tell you."
"Do you know anything about that picture?"
"Shall I speak right out?"
"Certainly."
"I know the original of that picture."
"Young man, you lie, and you need not come here with any such wild story. Hark you, I have but to give an alarm—touch a button—and I will have a whole platoon of police here."
"You do not need the police."
"How do I know?"
"I will convince you."
"You will convince me?"
"I will."
"Do so."
"I repeat, I know the original of that picture."
"Are you a maniac or a rogue?"
"I am neither."
"Let me look in your face."
Ike stood with his face turned toward the strange old man. The latter thrust his light forward and carefully studied the ventriloquist's features.
"You do not look like a rogue or a maniac."
"I am neither."
"Then why did you force yourself into my house?"
"I came here as your friend."
"I need no friends."
"Yes, you need me."
"I do?"
"Yes."
"How is it I need you?"
"I am going to do you a great service."
"You are?"
"I am."
"How?"
"I will recover your bonds and all the property stolen from you."
The old man again laughed in a strange, weird manner, and said:
"That is what they all told me. I have not yet seen my bonds and jewels."
"We will talk about that later on. What I desire to know is, who is the lady whose portrait I see here?"
"What business is it of yours who the lady is?"
"I tell you I know the original."