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. ont into the
ay
hat’s all right,” whispered Nick.
“That’s all right, Matt Bra
“What the blazes do you “mean? My
“name per
‘you's re the fellow who’s going to “do up
. Took as though you could kill a
. tective was in the wire tappers’ den,
“THAPPY DAYS 7
1
“Say, Harz ourt, is it true, about the
old man? Is he really de:
“Yes,” replied the otber yoice.
croaked last night. Say, Matt?”
Vi
~emember that boy?”
“Corney went back on us and the fat
is all in the fire. Matt, I'll give you
twenty-five thousand dollars, if you will
get hold of of that boy, and——'
“He
Here, at the most interesting stage of
the conversation, the voice went off into
unmeaning sow
ey’ve removed the wire!” said
Frank, when 2 Nick Price exclaimed:
“Thi 02”
“I’m sure of it.”
“By gracious! it is too bad! One
word more and I would have known—
well, no matter what. It don’t concern
you. I've got. to get into that Green-
wich street office, thoug!
“Don’t risk your ite, Nick. They are
a desperate ”
. f£ it is Bie Rrate Bray that’s at the
head of them, you are right they are. I’m
going, though, just the sam
cont rice parted with ‘Frank at the
ole walked back to Rector street and
on down to Greenwich, where he entered
a saloon.
- Tle was gone about ten minutes, and
w he came out again his appearance
had completely chang
Instead of the well: ‘dressed - young fel-
low he had been before, he now looked
seedy to the last degree; but still his
dress was not that of a working man,
but rather of a fellow who throush | sdis-
sipations was qdown on his uppers,” as
the saying goe:
He crossed the street, and entering an
old tenement house, groped his way up
the dark stairway to the top floo
tw was apparently deserted.
of the rooms was open and bare
of furniture, The door of the other was
shut, and Nick saw that it must have a
good spring lock upon the inside.
“That's the place,” he muttered. “Now
how to get in? If my story will hold
water, perhaps——” |
He paused. Ther
Suddenly the door was thrown
and a an of unusual size stepped
“What’s aay he demanded gruffly.
“What are you lounging about here for,
“No? Welt" yerhaps it’s changed. I’m
looking for something to do, and I was
sent to you bya friend of yours.
hat’s his name
“Harold Harcourt, ope told me that
Any letter?”
you could give me a
“The deuce you say!
“No. He said his name would be
enough. I’m an old telepho me man and
an.operator. I guess I'll fill the bill.
You urderstand—it’s about the boy.”
Now this was pure bluff on Nick's part,
and designed ony. fo get an entrance to
the wire tapperg’
It worked, bat ‘rather differently from
what the expected.
“Why didn’t you say so before?”
growled Matt, seizing the detective’s arm
and dragging him into the roo “So
are you? By time, a don’t
Bang went the door behind ‘Nick Price.
I 3 make or break now.
CHAPTER XY.
CHASED ALONG CHURCH STREET.
-Bright and early next morning . Billy
Bridge turned up at the broker's office
prepared to attend to business just as
though nothing had occurred.
loor was open and Mr. Carter was
behind the desk as usual. Ie looked
older and grayer. Every line of his face
showed that there was something weigh-
ing very heavily on his mind.
“Billy,” he exclaimed, “where have you
jood heavens, boy, I thought you
“Not yet, Mr. Carter,” replied Billy,
“although I’ve-heen through a Jot since
saw you last. Where's Silverman?”
ve seen nothing of him since. I
shouldn’t be surprised if he had run away.
He might just as well. We are hope-
Jessly ruined. I suppose you have heard
nighes ews. Old man Vanderbeak died last
8, I heard it,” replied Billy care-
les: sly. “Never mind, Mr. Carter, things
will straighten out. There’s other places
besides this t ad.”
“Yes, for you, because you are young,”
fighed ‘the bookkeeper, “but not for me.
ts not easy for an old man to get a
was a movement Oh, ‘bret? me!
you
talk any more-about it now. There’s
going to be a run on us to-day, and I’ve
got to stave everybody of. Get around
to Moore & with this thousand
shares of D., L. & W. It belongs to them,
and they may as well haye it in their safe
before the crash come
opel took the stock and hurried to
ote was kept busy all the morning at
one thing and another. Brokers’ boys
kept rushing into the office and dozens of
men came too, inquiring for Silverman.
Mr. Carter turned them all off with the
reply that the broker was out of town.
“He'll be posted on the exchange at the
close of the Board as sure as fate,” he
said to Billy when in the afternoon Mr.
Silverman was still among the missing.
“Confound that telephone! I’m sick 0
hearing it ring. See whats wanted now,
Billy, there’s a g
Billy went to ete ‘phone, but this time
it was 8 HO | the usual inquiry for the miss-
ing hb
“ello! Hello!
office?” came the ca
It was a girl’s voice, and Billy thought
he recognize .
“Yes, this is Silverman’s,” he replied,
“I want to talk to the office boy.
think his name is Bil ly. Is he in?”
“I’m Billy,” repli ied our hero after pull-
ing Your" the door of the telephone closet.
Is this Silverman’s
“Yes.
Do. you recognize my voice?”
“Wi ho am I?
“Blanche.”
“Yes, yes! Listen to me. I’ve only
got a moment, and I’ve had a lot of trou-
ble to get you; had to. connect with an-
other office, an nd”—b-r-r-r-r
Billy thought SO. Slt he could ‘not
in ute the voice came again:
“Hello, “lly Hello!”
“Tello! | Hello
‘Sten! You ‘are in the greatest dan-
ger. They mean to kill you for what you
did last night. must see you to-night
il. Meet me on. the comer. of
Broadway and Ful ‘eet
ck, T—Helle! “itetio Hello, Me.
Intyre & Lynn! You're not McIntyre?
T’ve made a mistake.
Good-b:
That “vas all. Billy pressed the re-
ceiver to his ear, but could hear no more.
e@ was almost caught!” he thought,
“but she was sharp enough to turn it off.
Apa mest her, or is this only a part. of
t
“i night long Billy’s brain had been
ina whirl, and all day long, too, for that
He “Jonged to confide in somebody and
to be advised as to what was the best
course to pursue,
In fact, he had come to the office with
his mind made up to make a clean breast
lone so,
Garter seemed to have troubles enough of
IS OWN. .
tri Was “the girl Blanche actually his
rie; nd?
Billy thought so. Still he could not
help yomembering | that she was one of the
wire tappers’ gan
“T'll be there anyhow,” he determined,
“No one can do me up in the open street
at that early hour. It can’t possibly do
any harm.”
So after Mr. Carter closed the office
Billy wandered about until ten minutes
before nine, and then came strolling up
Fulton street toward Broadw
were several people ” standing
around on fhe corners, but no Blanche, as
Billy though
Ile croseed” over “and stood by the iron
‘fence of St. Paul’s church and leaned
against the railing, looking up and down
the stree
Ile had not been there but a few mo-
ments when his eyes rested upon a styl-
ishly-dressed young fellow who came
strolling up the Street fringing a cane
and smoking a cigare’
He paused when he came up to Billy
and nodded pleasantly, saying:
! low are you to-night?”
1 right,” replied Billy; -“how’s
“Waiting for anybody?”
“I don’t know as that's any of your
business.”
“No ? T’ll tell you what i is, though.”
“I don’t know you.”
“Told on—dopt go away. My busi-
ness is Bla
This. author St. Billy was on the alert
al
“What do you want?” he demanded in
a low voic
“anche wants you.”
Where is she? I-was to meet her
Tait these days. However, I can’t
her
“She couldn't come. You're to follow
me.”
“Where to?”
ana to Blanche! Can’t you under-
sta
“I understand what you ssay all right
enough, of course,.but I don’t know about
that. If Blanche Wanted to see me she] -
ought to have come
“She’s nearer than. "you think. Come
around the corner into Church street and
you’ 711 find
who “hesitates is lost,” they say.
Billy “nesitated, and omen ney a momen
walked on with the
“You do right to Be careful; 7 ‘he said as
they walked along. “It isn’t safe to talk
there on Broadway. ane’ that we are
where it’s quiet, Ll t
Billy darted one quick’ look at his com-
panion, for the voice had suddenly
change
You vare Blanche!” he breathed.
“I should never have known.
_“Is my disguise good?”
“Splendid.”
“Te fooled you anyhow.
would, but it won’t fool others.
being watched. I am afraid. y
after you, Billy. Harold Harcourt has
offered twenty-five thousand dollars ate
have you put out of the way. You
the heir to an immense fortune ; hats
the reason, and I want to say
look opt! Ilere they are
A was rattling down’ Fulton
street, to which fact neither of them had
paid any attention, but now it suddenly
drew up to the curb and two men sprang
We are
)
a
@
u—
ephat’s the fellow!” cried one.
them! Shoot them!
escape!”
They were too slow.
Before the two men were fairly on the
sidewalk Billy and Blanche started up
hngch street on the run,
u'll stop_if you know what’s good
for you, Z Billy Bridge” called a voice be-
hind
Faster!” breathed Blanche,
‘After
_ Don't Jet them
“Faster!
for their pursuers were following at full
speed.
(To be Continued.)
a
‘*FRED FEARNOT’S SIDE SHOW; 7 OR,
ON THE ROAD WITH A cincus,’* {1S OUT
TO-DAY IN ** WORK AND WIN”? No. 30,
re
(This story commenced in No. 242.
WILLING 10 WORK a
How a Poor boy Won His Way.
By C. LITTLE,
Author of A King at 16,” “Mindin Ti:
Business,” “My. Brother Jack,” % 8
Paper of His Own,” “ You ting -
ob Sampson,” ‘ete, etc,
CHAPTER XIX.
HARRY’S| Masso. PROVES» a MOST TROU-
ESOME ON.
“I thought you wanted t to go to Wil-
letts’?” fail the cab driver, evidently an-
noyed at Harry’s sudden change of mind.
“So I do, but I want my breakfast and
2) chance to wash first. I'll go to the
oe right. I'll call for you.”
a needn’t mind,” said Harry, not’ at
all pleased With the man’s appearance,
“I don’t know really’ how soon I shall
want fo go,
you out of a job.
“Oh, that’s all right.
hotel?" do.
and I wouldn’t want to keep
I don’t have
Shall I take you up to the
“No, I can walk,” answered Harry, see-
ing the sign of an apparently good hotel on
the main street not far aw:
“Oh, you don’t want to * to the Wil-
Kins House,” said the driver hastily.
“That’s cheap and as good. You want to
go to the Mansion House? I'll drive you
there for nothing, because I'll have ‘the
other job.”
left the man stantiny on the walk and
“I don’t like this,” he mused. “What
Nick Gordon doing here? He said he hal
business in Buffalo. I wonder if the bank
did send him to test me? I don’t like the
looks of that driver, and he sieht drive
me anywhere. t look like a man
you could trust, and q am
fake any risks while I have those bonds
1 my possession.”
When Harry was out of sight Gordon
came around the corner of the freight
house and sai
“Well, why didn’ t you get him?”
I have, but he’ '3 going up to the
hotel first to get a wash and something to
eat. That’s what he says, but he must
hi
I thought it
not going to|.w
have had ” cm »before he started. I ghess
he’s on to m
“Well, you go up there and get him.
We mustn't let him get away. - He’s got
some stolen property in that bag, and I
want to get it a
“Well, why don't. you, tell the constable
and have him arrested?”
“I don’t want to do that. I want to
get it quietly. You see, I kind o’ like him
and don’t want to make the thing public.
Just you get hold of that grip and drive
him anywhere and I'll get it from you.
It'll be worth five dollars to you.”
“Bu 't you think it’s funny for
him to come to & quiet place like this if
tu
me pla Ile could have
done it at Buffalo, couldn't he?
“They were laying for hin there, and
They'll be waiting for him
the way place, get a boat and skip right
acro!
“TT ‘m, smart, ain’t he?”
“Yes, but if I can get the stuf away
from him without exposing him I’d rather
do it. It’s the first bad break he’s made
and I don’t want to ruin him for life
“That’s all right. cel I'll go up there
‘im.
pretty soon and est
Harry had not had his breakfast before
leaving for Wilkinsville that morning, so
that he really told the truth when he
ghanged his mind about going with the
“Te. ‘walked to the hotel, hired a room,
left his valise in it, locking the door be-
pind him and then went down to break-
“Afterward he went to the proprietor
and asked if he knew where Jacob Wil-
letts
“Willetts? Let me see, that’s that old
crank that lives out in the woods near the -
lake, ain’t it?
as oom ever seen him. ‘he clerk knows
him, I guess, but he ain’t here now.”
Just then the driver looked in and said:
“Well, boss, are you ready to go out
there ole I can’t get nothing to do and
Td like the job.”
No, I don’t care to go there yet.
Say, Bill, you know where Joke Wil-
letts tives?” asked the landlord.
“Certainly. It’s about two miles south,
in the woods. I’ve been there lots of
ti
Oh, is it? I thought it was near the .
“No, he moved away from there long
ago. You're thinking of Pete Willetts.
He lives out by the lake.”
aybe that’s e one I_mean
Queer’ old Fellow, ain’t he?” to Uarry.
Short, shock-headed, red-faced man?”
he is rather waculiar looking,”
said flares, walking a
“Say, Vl take. you out there for
a quarter,” persisted the driver. “I need
the money, else I wouldn’t.”
“I care to 0 at present, I tell
” said -Harry firmly, “so don’t, tease
so. If I want you I’ i send for you.”
awa! right, boss,” and the man went
a
Ye
ai Wouldn’t go with that. fellow for
” thought Marry. “T_ believe he
me in inute. I don’t be-
lieve he knows Willetts | at all.”
Ife took a seat in the parlor, opened his
magazine and began to read, his thoughts
busy at the same time on his errand and
how it was to be carried out.
Je had managed to fix his thoughts on .
Harry Rowlands, ain’t y
Willetts, Where are the bonds?
the
Harry looked at the man and could
scarcely keep from expressing his dissust.
ellow was so entirely unlike the
description given of Mr. Willetts that the
boy-knew at once that he was an impos-
tor, not being sure, either, that he was not
in fMisguise.
al
I've
yh, you are geod Willetts, are you?”
Marry’ asked q
“Yes, I’ve Seon ‘ooking for you. I ex-
pected you last night. You’ ve, got the
nds, have you? Let me have ’e
: ‘o, I have no bonds for you.
What! You haven’t got ’em? You
hayen’t been robbed? You were sent with
’em, wasn’t you? What have you done
with them?”
I tell you I have wpothing for you,” re-
peated Harry. “So you might as well go
back to those who sent you and tell them
that your scheme wouldn't work,”
“What do you mean?” blustered the
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