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Title: The Photographer's Evidence Clever but Crooked Author: Nicholas Carter Release Date: May 3, 2020 [EBook #62010] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S EVIDENCE *** Produced by David Edwards, Nahum Maso i Carcases, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net Transcriber's Notes: The original spelling, hyphenation, and punctuation have been retained, with the exception of apparent typographical errors which have been corrected. For convenience, a table of contents, which is not present in the original, has been included. Cover CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. A DOUBTFULL CLIENT 5 II. MR. SNELL IN TROUBLE 15 III. A GAME OF WATCHING 26 IV. PATSY’S DANCING LESSON 42 V. CAUGHT IN THE HILLS 53 VI. PATSY IS FORCED TO SLEEP 62 VII. THE MYSTERY OF GEORGE SNELL 76 VIII. THE RANSOM 91 IX. A CALL TO COLORADO 104 X. WAITING FOR NICK CARTER 118 XI. A SUSPECT AND AN ALIBI 132 XII. THE JOURNEY TO HANK LOW’S 146 XIII. AN ARREST 156 XIV. SNAPPED 172 XV. DADDY DREW’S DIVE 183 XVI. HANK LOW’S LUCK 194 NICK CARTER STORIES New Magnet Library Not a Dull Book in This List ALL BY NICHOLAS CARTER Nick Carter stands for an interesting detective story. The fact that the books in this line are so uniformly good is entirely due to the work of a specialist. The man who wrote these stories produced no other type of fiction. His mind was concentrated upon the creation of new plots and situations in which his hero emerged triumphantly from all sorts of troubles and landed the criminal just where he should be—behind the bars. The author of these stories knew more about writing detective stories than any other single person. Following is a list of the best Nick Carter stories. They have been selected with extreme care, and we unhesitatingly recommend each of them as being fully as interesting as any detective story between cloth covers which sells at ten times the price. If you do not know Nick Carter, buy a copy of any of the New Magnet Library books, and get acquainted. He will surprise and delight you. ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT 850—Wanted: A Clew 851—A Tangled Skein 852—The Bullion Mystery 853—The Man of Riddles 854—A Miscarriage of Justice 855—The Gloved Hand 856—Spoilers and the Spoils 857—The Deeper Game 858—Bolts from Blue Skies 859—Unseen Foes 860—Knaves in High Places 861—The Microbe of Crime 862—In the Toils of Fear 863—A Heritage of Trouble 864—Called to Account 865—The Just and the Unjust 866—Instinct at Fault 867—A Rogue Worth Trapping 868—A Rope of Slender Threads 869—The Last Call 870—The Spoils of Chance 871—A Struggle with Destiny 872—The Slave of Crime 873—The Crook’s Blind 874—A Rascal of Quality 875—With Shackles of Fire 876—The Man Who Changed Faces 877—The Fixed Alibi 878—Out with the Tide 879—The Soul Destroyers 880—The Wages of Rascality 881—Birds of Prey 882—When Destruction Threatens 883—The Keeper of Black Hounds 884—The Door of Doubt 885—The Wolf Within 886—A Perilous Parole 887—The Trail of the Finger Prints 888—Dodging the Law 889—A Crime in Paradise 890—On the Ragged Edge 891—The Red God of Tragedy 892—The Man Who Paid 893—The Blind Man’s Daughter 894—One Object in Life 895—As a Crook Sows 896—In Record Time 897—Held in Suspense 898—The $100,000 Kiss 899—Just One Slip 900—On a Million-dollar Trail 901—A Weird Treasure 902—The Middle Link 903—To the Ends of the Earth 904—When Honors Pall 905—The Yellow Brand 906—A New Serpent in Eden 907—When Brave Men Tremble 908—A Test of Courage 909—Where Peril Beckons 910—The Garoni Girdle 911—Rascals & Co. 912—Too Late to Talk 913—Satan’s Apt Pupil 914—The Girl Prisoner 915—The Danger of Folly 916—One Shipwreck Too Many 917—Scourged by Fear 918—The Red Plague 919—Scoundrels Rampant 920—From Clew to Clew 921—When Rogues Conspire 922—Twelve in a Grave 923—The Great Opium Case 924—A Conspiracy of Rumors 925—A Klondike Claim 926—The Evil Formula 927—The Man of Many Faces 928—The Great Enigma 929—The Burden of Proof 930—The Stolen Brain 931—A Titled Counterfeiter 932—The Magic Necklace 933—’Round the World for a Quarter 934—Over the Edge of the World 935—In the Grip of Fate 936—The Case of Many Clews 937—The Sealed Door 938—Nick Carter and the Green Goods Men939—The Man Without a Will 940—Tracked Across the Atlantic 941—A Clew from the Unknown 942—The Crime of a Countess 943—A Mixed up Mess 944—The Great Money-order Swindle 945—The Adder’s Brood 946—A Wall Street Haul 947—For a Pawned Crown 948—Sealed Orders 949—The Hate that Kills 950—The American Marquis 951—The Needy Nine 952—Fighting Against Millions 953—Outlaws of the Blue 954—The Old Detective’s Pupil 955—Found in the Jungle 956—The Mysterious Mail Robbery 957—Broken Bars 958—A Fair Criminal 959—Won by Magic 960—The Piano Box Mystery 961—The Man They Held Back 962—A Millionaire Partner 963—A Pressing Peril 964—An Australian Klondike 965—The Sultan’s Pearls 966—The Double Shuffle Club 967—Paying the Price 968—A Woman’s Hand 969—A Network of Crime 970—At Thompson’s Ranch 971—The Crossed Needles 972—The Diamond Mine Case 973—Blood Will Tell 974—An Accidental Password 975—The Crook’s Double 976—Two Plus Two 977—The Yellow Label 978—The Clever Celestial 979—The Amphitheater Plot 980—Gideon Drexel’s Millions 981—Death in Life 982—A Stolen Identity 983—Evidence by Telephone 984—The Twelve Tin Boxes 985—Clew Against Clew 986—Lady Velvet 987—Playing a Bold Game 988—A Dead Man’s Grip 989—Snarled Identities 990—A Deposit Vault Puzzle 991—The Crescent Brotherhood 992—The Stolen Pay Train 993—The Sea Fox 994—Wanted by Two Clients 995—The Van Alstine Case 996—Check No. 777 997—Partners in Peril 998—Nick Carter’s Clever Protégé 999—The Sign of the Crossed Knives 1000—The Man Who Vanished 1001—A Battle for the Right 1002—A Game of Craft 1003—Nick Carter’s Retainer 1004—Caught in the Toils 1005—A Broken Bond 1006—The Crime of the French Café 1007—The Man Who Stole Millions 1008—The Twelve Wise Men 1009—Hidden Foes 1010—A Gamblers’ Syndicate 1011—A Chance Discovery 1012—Among the Counterfeiters 1013—A Threefold Disappearance 1014—At Odds with Scotland Yard 1015—A Princess of Crime 1016—Found on the Beach 1017—A Spinner of Death 1018—The Detective’s Pretty Neighbor 1019—A Bogus Clew 1020—The Puzzle of Five Pistols 1021—The Secret of the Marble Mantle 1022—A Bite of an Apple 1023—A Triple Crime 1024—The Stolen Race Horse 1025—Wildfire 1026—A Herald Personal 1027—The Finger of Suspicion 1028—The Crimson Clew 1029—Nick Carter Down East 1030—The Chain of Clews 1031—A Victim of Circumstances 1032—Brought to Bay 1033—The Dynamite Trap 1034—A Scrap of Black Lace 1035—The Woman of Evil 1036—A Legacy of Hate 1037—A Trusted Rogue 1038—Man Against Man 1039—The Demons of the Night 1040—The Brotherhood of Death 1041—At the Knife’s Point 1042—A Cry for Help 1043—A Stroke of Policy 1044—Hounded to Death 1045—A Bargain in Crime 1046—The Fatal Prescription 1047—The Man of Iron 1048—An Amazing Scoundrel 1049—The Chain of Evidence 1050—Paid with Death 1051—A Fight for a Throne 1052—The Woman of Steel 1053—The Seal of Death 1054—The Human Fiend 1055—A Desperate Chance 1056—A Chase in the Dark 1057—The Snare and the Game 1058—The Murray Hill Mystery 1059—Nick Carter’s Close Call 1060—The Missing Cotton King 1061—A Game of Plots 1062—The Prince of Liars 1063—The Man at the Window 1064—The Red League 1065—The Price of a Secret 1066—The Worst Case on Record 1067—From Peril to Peril 1068—The Seal of Silence 1069—Nick Carter’s Chinese Puzzle 1070—A Blackmailer’s Bluff 1071—Heard in the Dark 1072—A Checkmated Scoundrel 1073—The Cashier’s Secret 1074—Behind a Mask 1075—The Cloak of Guilt 1076—Two Villains in One 1077—The Hot Air Clew 1078—Run to Earth 1079—The Certified Check 1080—Weaving the Web 1081—Beyond Pursuit 1082—The Claws of the Tiger 1083—Driven from Cover 1084—A Deal in Diamonds 1085—The Wizard of the Cue 1086—A Race for Ten Thousand 1087—The Criminal Link 1088—The Red Signal 1089—The Secret Panel 1090—A Bonded Villain 1091—A Move in the Dark 1092—Against Desperate Odds 1093—The Telltale Photographs 1094—The Ruby Pin 1095—The Queen of Diamonds 1096—A Broken Trail 1097—An Ingenious Stratagem 1098—A Sharper’s Downfall 1099—A Race Track Gamble 1100—Without a Clew 1101—The Council of Death 1102—The Hole in the Vault 1103—In Death’s Grip 1104—A Great Conspiracy 1105—The Guilty Governor 1106—A Ring of Rascals 1107—A Masterpiece of Crime 1108—A Blow for Vengeance 1109—Tangled Threads 1110—The Crime of the Camera 1111—The Sign of the Dagger 1112—Nick Carter’s Promise 1113—Marked for Death 1114—The Limited Holdup 1115—When the Trap Was Sprung 1116—Through the Cellar Wall 1117—Under the Tiger’s Claws 1118—The Girl in the Case 1119—Behind a Throne 1120—The Lure of Gold 1121—Hand to Hand 1122—From a Prison Cell 1123—Dr. Quartz, Magician 1124—Into Nick Carter’s Web 1125—The Mystic Diagram 1126—The Hand that Won 1127—Playing a Lone Hand 1128—The Master Villain 1129—The False Claimant 1130—The Living Mask 1131—The Crime and the Motive 1132—A Mysterious Foe 1133—A Missing Man 1134—A Game Well Played 1135—A Cigarette Clew 1136—The Diamond Trail 1137—The Silent Guardian 1138—The Dead Stranger 1140—The Doctor’s Stratagem 1141—Following a Chance Clew 1142—The Bank Draft Puzzle 1143—The Price of Treachery 1144—The Silent Partner 1145—Ahead of the Game 1146—A Trap of Tangled Wire 1147—In the Gloom of Night 1148—The Unaccountable Crook 1149—A Bundle of Clews 1150—The Great Diamond Syndicate 1151—The Death Circle 1152—The Toss of a Penny 1153—One Step Too Far 1154—The Terrible Thirteen 1155—A Detective’s Theory 1156—Nick Carter’s Auto Trail 1157—A Triple Identity 1158—A Mysterious Graft 1159—A Carnival of Crime 1160—The Bloodstone Terror 1161—Trapped in His Own Net 1162—The Last Move in the Game 1163—A Victim of Deceit 1164—With Links of Steel 1165—A Plaything of Fate 1166—The Key Ring Clew 1167—Playing for a Fortune 1168—At Mystery’s Threshold 1169—Trapped by a Woman 1170—The Four Fingered Glove 1171—Nabob and Knave 1172—The Broadway Cross 1173—The Man Without a Conscience 1174—A Master of Deviltry 1175—Nick Carter’s Double Catch 1176—Doctor Quartz’s Quick Move 1177—The Vial of Death 1178—Nick Carter’s Star Pupils 1179—Nick Carter’s Girl Detective 1180—A Baffled Oath 1181—A Royal Thief 1182—Down and Out 1183—A Syndicate of Rascals 1184—Played to a Finish 1185—A Tangled Case 1186—In Letters of Fire 1187—Crossed Wires 1188—A Plot Uncovered 1189—The Cab Driver’s Secret 1190—Nick Carter’s Death Warrant 1191—The Plot that Failed 1192—Nick Carter’s Masterpiece 1193—A Prince of Rogues 1194—In the Lap of Danger 1195—The Man from London 1196—Circumstantial Evidence 1197—The Pretty Stenographer Mystery 1198—A Villainous Scheme 1199—A Plot Within a Plot 1200—The Elevated Railroad Mystery 1201—The Blow of a Hammer 1202—The Twin Mystery 1203—The Bottle with the Black Label 1204—Under False Colors 1205—A Ring of Dust 1206—The Crown Diamond 1207—The Blood-red Badge 1208—The Barrel Mystery 1209—The Photographer’s Evidence 1210—Millions at Stake 1211—The Man and his Price 1212—A Double-Handed Game In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the books listed below will be issued during the respective months in New York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance promptly, on account of delays in transportation. To be published in July, 1927. 1213—A Strike for Freedom 1214—A Disciple of Satan To be published in Aug., 1927. 1215—The Marked Hand 1216—A Fight with a Fiend 1217—When the Wicked Prosper To be published in Sept., 1927. 1218—A Plunge into Crime 1219—An Artful Schemer To be published in Oct., 1927. 1220—Reaping the Whirlwind 1221—Out of Crime’s Depths To be published in Nov., 1927. 1222—A Woman at Bay 1223—The Temple of Vice To be published in Dec., 1927. 1224—Death at the Feast 1225—A Double Plot The Photographer’s Evidence OR CLEVER BUT CROOKED BY NICHOLAS CARTER Author of “The Barrel Mystery,” “The Blood-red Badge,” “The Crown Diamond,” etc. Illustration STREET & SMITH CORPORATION PUBLISHERS 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York Copyright, 1902-1903 By STREET & SMITH The Photographer’s Evidence All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian. Printed in the U.S.A. THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S EVIDENCE. CHAPTER I. A DOUBTFUL CLIENT. “Mr. Carter, can I trust you?” It was in the great detective’s own house that this question was asked. “Well,” was Nick’s quiet answer, “if you had any doubt on that matter, why did you come to me?” His caller looked nervously at the floor. “There’s no use in talking to me,” Nick went on, “unless you do trust me. A detective can do nothing for a client who does not give him his confidence absolutely.” “Of course,” the other assented; “I did not mean to offend you.” “You haven’t offended me.” “I am so disturbed by it, you see. So much depends on secrecy. It is so terribly important that I found it difficult to make up my mind to consult anybody on the matter; and yet I know by your reputation that you are a perfectly trustworthy man. There is nobody in the States more so.” While the man was speaking Nick was studying him. In fact, the detective had been doing that from the moment the man entered. He was apparently about fifty years old; a well-dressed, prosperous-looking man, who might be a merchant, or a lawyer, or a banker. Nick did no guessing. The man might be anything else. He had given his name as George Snell, but he had not sent in his card, and he had not said where he belonged. Word had simply been taken to Nick by a servant that a Mr. George Snell wanted to see him on “most important business.” “He isn’t an American,” was Nick’s only conclusion from what had been said thus far. “An American would not have spoken simply of ‘the States,’ as he did.” There had been a pause after the caller’s last remarks. “Well,” he exclaimed then, “I’m not coming more than two-thirds of the way across the continent for nothing. I set out to consult you, and I will do so.” “That’s better,” said the detective; and, willing to help him tell his story, he asked: “What kind of a case is it, Mr. Snell?” “I suppose you’d call it kidnaping; but there’s robbery combined with it, and—and also —also blackmail.” Mr. Snell hesitated and stammered a little at the end of this speech. Nick merely nodded. “To begin with,” continued Mr. Snell, “I come from Wenonah. You may not be aware that the Government of England has made a large section of Western British America into a province and called it Wenonah.” “Yes,” said Nick, “I am aware of that.” “You are a well-informed man. Few Americans would know the fact, for the province is so young that it isn’t down on the maps yet. You know, also, I suppose, that the capital of the province is a town called Manchester?” “Yes.” “That is where the crime was committed. It happened a month ago. The governor of the [5] [6] [7] province, Bradley is his name, gave a party at his house. All the prominent families of the town and country around attended. There was dancing till a late hour. “Then, when the guests were going away, it was discovered that the governor’s daughter, Estelle, was missing. She has not been seen since.” “How old is the child?” asked Nick. “Child?” echoed Mr. Snell, in apparent astonishment. Then he seemed to understand, and added: “It is natural that you should use that word, but the girl is twenty.” “Oh!” “She’s the governor’s only daughter, and heiress, therefore, to his property, which is very great.” “Has nothing been heard from her?” “Indirectly, yes. Her captors have offered to restore her for a ransom.” “Has there been any attempt to deal with her captors?” “Yes, but nothing has come of it. There is doubt now whether she is really in the hands of kidnapers.” “Ah! what then?” “I haven’t told you the whole story, Mr. Carter.” “Go on, then.” “The day after she disappeared it was found that a considerable amount of jewelry had gone also.” “Did she wear it at the ball?” “Some of it, most of it, in fact. But that was not all. There were also missing certain State papers and some private documents belonging to the governor. These are extremely important. They must be recovered at any cost.” “Are they more important than the recovery of Miss Bradley, Mr. Snell?” “No, I wouldn’t say that, but they complicate the case badly. An offer has been made to restore them.” “And the girl?” “No. That is, there was one offer to restore the girl and another to deal for the return of the papers and jewelry. There seems to be a double gang of villains at work.” “Possibly. What about the blackmail you mentioned?” “That,” answered Mr. Snell, hesitating, “has to do with the stolen papers.” “Something shady in the governor’s past?” Mr. Snell looked at the floor. “I wouldn’t like to say,” he replied. “Some people might think so.” “Evidently the robbers do think so, eh?” “Yes, for they put a big price on the papers.” “I suppose the matter has been investigated by the police of Manchester?” “No.” “Then how did you communicate with the robbers?” “I didn’t say that I had communicated with the robbers!” exclaimed Mr. Snell, hastily. “No, but I supposed it was you. Never mind that for a moment. Tell me more about the disappearance of Miss Bradley.” “There isn’t much that I can tell. She must have left the house soon after midnight, but she wasn’t missed till three hours or more later.” “Was she engaged to be married?” Snell looked sharply at the detective. “You’re a keen one,” he said. “No, she wasn’t engaged, and that is another complication. “Well, it is known that she was in love with a young fellow who wasn’t liked by her father. Naturally he wasn’t at the ball. It is thought possible that she eloped with him, and that the offer of the robbers to restore her was a bluff.” “Was her lover a rich man?” “Decidedly not.” “Then you think she may have taken the jewelry to sell for her own use.” “It’s possible, yes. I’ve thought of it.” “And that the robbery of the papers simply happened to come at the same time.” [8] [9] [10] [11] “That might be.” “Has Miss Bradley’s lover been seen since she disappeared?” “Yes.” “What does he say?” “Nothing.” “Indeed! I should suppose he would say a good deal.” “He goes about his business as usual, but he is under constant watch. It’s plain enough that there is something on his mind.” “I should think there might be, in any case. What is his name?” “Cecil West.” “And what is your relation to the affair, Mr. Snell?” The visitor seemed startled. “My relation to it?” he echoed. “Certainly. Do you come here as the representative of Governor Bradley?” “Oh, no! not at all! the governor didn’t send me.” “Who did, then?” Snell looked uncomfortable. “Do you need an answer to that?” he asked. “Of course I do. I must know whom I am dealing with.” “But I gave my name——” “It is not enough.” The detective spoke rather sharply. Mr. Snell hesitated and then said: “Mr. Carter, I cannot see why I should be dragged into the matter at all——” “But,” interrupted Nick, coldly, “nobody has dragged you that I am aware of. I certainly didn’t.” “You are trying to do so now, Mr. Carter.” Nick arose. “There is no need that we should talk longer,” he said. Snell also stood up, and he looked very much troubled. “I see that I have offended you,” he said. “I didn’t mean to. You see, Mr. Carter, a great scandal might come of this. It is very important that there should be none. The governor’s position might be lost——” “At this moment,” said Nick, “I care nothing for the governor’s position. You have given me some facts in a case that might be interesting, but I don’t propose to tackle it unless I know what I am about.” “We want you to look for the girl and the stolen papers.” “Who are we?” Snell hung his head. “Excuse me a moment,” said Nick; then: “I think I heard the telephone ring. When I return I hope you will have made up your mind to trust me. If you haven’t we can’t do business.” He bowed and left the room, but he did not go to the telephone. Instead he went to a room where Patsy, one of his assistants, was reading and gave him a few rapid instructions. Then he wrote a telegram and sent it to the nearest office by a servant. Patsy got his hat and went downstairs. “Now, Mr. Snell,” said Nick, when he returned, “are you ready to tell me what I want to know?” “I can only say that I want you to act in behalf of the governor.” “Does he know that you came to New York to ask this?” Snell did not answer. “We are wasting each other’s time,” said Nick. Snell made a last appeal. “I may be doing wrong,” he said, “but I beg you to look into this matter. You can’t help seeing how important it is.” [12] [13] [14] “Well,” replied Nick, “usually I have nothing to do with a case where any facts are concealed from me——” “I am concealing no facts.” “Pardon me, you refuse to answer one of the first questions a detective would ask. I was going to say, Mr. Snell, give me a few hours to think it over and come again. Will you call to- morrow morning?” “I will.” “Very well, till then.” The detective went with his visitor to the door. Mr. Snell said “good-evening,” politely, and started down the street. A short distance behind him went Patsy. CHAPTER II. MR. SNELL IN TROUBLE. Nick had not taken time to tell Patsy very much about Snell. “There’s something up,” he said to his assistant. “I have no idea what it is, but I want you to shadow this man and see what becomes of him.” “Do you think he’s a crook?” asked the young man. “Not yet. He may be. If so, it won’t be the first time that a crook has tried to throw me off the track by calling on me. I simply feel that there’s something queer in this, and I’d like to find out about it. So I shall ask this man to call again unless he makes up his mind to tell me all the facts.” Snell refused to tell all the facts, and so Patsy slipped out after him. He had not gone far from the house when the young detective became convinced that another man also was following Snell. This made his work very difficult, for he had to look sharp against betraying himself not only to Snell, but the other man. Snell went into a drug store and bought a cigar. The man who seemed to be following him loafed on the opposite corner. Patsy turned down a street, and dropped into a doorway, where he made a swift change in his appearance. He was at Snell’s heels again when the man from Wenonah went on. The other man seemed to have disappeared. “I was mistaken,” thought Patsy, “or the second chap is a better shadow than I am.” For some blocks he kept up his chase, never losing sight of Snell, and seeing nothing more of the other. Meantime Snell was apparently wandering around aimlessly. He would stop at a corner and wait a full minute before he made up his mind which way to go. Often he changed his direction. In this way he got into a neighborhood which was very quiet in the evening. Part way down a block he stopped suddenly, stood still for a moment and then went close to a building. He was then in such deep shadow that Patsy could not see him. “Somebody spoke to him,” reasoned the detective. He went cautiously closer, and before he could see anybody he heard the sounds of voices in conversation. What they said it was impossible to make out. The detective dared not get close enough than that for fear of attracting the attention of the men. There seemed to be two of them. Presently he heard one voice say: “I won’t do it.” [15] [16] [17] One of the men started away. “It will be the worse for you, then,” growled the other. The first man hastened his steps. As he came from the shadow, Patsy saw that it was Snell. The other man was darting after him on tiptoe. He had one arm drawn back. “Great Scott!” thought Patsy, “he means murder!” He gave up trying to conceal his actions then. Running forward as fast as possible, he shouted: “Look out!” Snell turned quickly. The other man was close to him, and let his hand fall. With a great leap Patsy was up to him just in time to catch his arm. But it was too late to stop the blow entirely. A slungshot in the man’s hand slipped from it and struck Snell a glancing blow on the head. “Ah!” he cried, and staggered. Patsy dashed to assist him, and caught hold of him in time to prevent him from falling against an iron fence, which probably would have broken his head. The would-be murderer was dashing down the street. Patsy could not be in two places at once. He wanted to chase the unknown criminal, but his first business was with Snell. This was not only because Nick had sent him out to shadow Snell, but because the man seemed to be badly injured. He was groaning and trembling so that he would have fallen if the detective had not held him up. “Better sit down a minute,” Patsy suggested, “and let me see if there’s anything serious the matter.” Snell sank to a doorstep, and Patsy made a quick examination of his head. “That was a nasty blow,” he said, “but I think your skull is sound. Aren’t you feeling better?” “Yes,” Snell replied, “I am. I was more frightened than hurt, perhaps. I am greatly obliged to you.” “Don’t mention it. Let me help you to your house. Do you live near?” Snell laughed a little. “Near!” he repeated, “I should say not.” “Will you have a cab called to take you home?” asked Patsy. Again Snell laughed. “It would be too long a journey,” he said. “I am a stranger in New York, and I am staying at the Fifth Avenue. That isn’t very far away, I believe.” “No, and you can get a car at the next block, if you want to.” “I’d rather walk.” He got up, and Patsy held his arm till they came to the corner. “I don’t suppose your friend will tackle you again,” said the detective, then: “but I haven’t anything to do, and if you like I’ll walk with you to the hotel.” “You are very kind,” Snell responded; “suppose you do. I confess that I am very nervous.” “He had it in for you, I suppose,” remarked Patsy. “Yes.” “Don’t you want to speak to this policeman about it?” An officer was approaching. “No! no!” exclaimed Snell, hastily; “I have my reasons for keeping the matter quiet. Don’t for Heaven’s sake, say a word.” “All right. It’s no business of mine, but if any fellow had thumped me like that I should want him put where he couldn’t try it again.” “I don’t think he will try it again; at least, not in New York. I’d rather not talk about it.” [18] [19] [20] “Just as you say, sir. Want to stop in at a drug store and get your head bathed with arnica?” “That would be a good idea.” They entered the next drug store they came to, where it proved that Snell had suffered nothing more than a painful bruise. After that they went on to the Fifth Avenue Hotel. “I am very much obliged to you,” said Snell, halting in the doorway. “Don’t mention it,” Patsy responded. “Will you come in and have something?” He looked as if he hoped Patsy would say no, but the detective was glad of any excuse to stick to him. “Yes,” said Patsy, “don’t care if I do.” Snell nodded silently, and led the way into the hotel. As they were passing the desk the clerk spoke to him. “Mr. Snell,” he said, “there’s a telegram here for you.” “Excuse me,” said Snell to Patsy, going quickly to the desk. He took the envelope handed to him, and opened it with trembling fingers. When he had read the message he crumpled the paper in his hand and frowned. After a moment of thought, he turned to Patsy, saying, “Excuse me” again, and went with him to the barroom. Snell poured himself a stiff drink of whiskey. “Once more,” he said, raising his glass, “I thank you for coming to my rescue. Honestly, I believe I should be a dead man this minute if you hadn’t. Here’s your health.” “Thanks,” responded Patsy. “Now,” continued Snell, “I don’t like to leave a man who has saved my life, in this abrupt way, but I’ve got to. This telegram calls me out of town, and I must lose no time in getting ready. Won’t you leave me your name and address?” “Why,” answered Patsy, “I’ll give you my name if you want it, and address, too, but it isn’t likely that we shall meet again if you don’t live in New York. My name is James Callahan,” and he gave an address that the detectives sometimes used. It was a place where any letters that came to strange names were promptly taken to Nick’s house. Snell made a note of the address. “My name is Snell,” he said, “and I hope we shall meet again, Mr. Callahan. I must say good-by now.” They shook hands and Snell went to the elevator. “I wish he had dropped that telegram,” thought the detective. He looked at the clock. It was an hour and a half to midnight. If Snell meant to leave town at once he could hardly hope to do so until midnight, for that was the hour at which through trains started from most stations. There was time to make a report to Nick and get back again if that should be necessary. Accordingly Patsy hurried to Nick’s house, and told his chief what had happened. Nick looked very thoughtful. “I had about decided that the man is crazy,” he said. “I sent a telegram to the chief of police at Manchester, asking if he knew of any robbery of jewels, State papers, or anything else of great importance within a month. I also asked if there had been a mysterious disappearance within the same time, and if he knew who George Snell was. Here’s his answer, received five minutes ago.” He handed a telegram to Patsy. It read: “Nothing doing in crime here. Never heard of George Snell. No man of that name lives here. “Dinsmore.” “Dinsmore,” said Nick, “is the chief at Manchester now. He used to be on the New York force, and I know him well. Now, if there has been a serious crime at Manchester, two thousand miles away, isn’t it strange that I should hear of it in New York before it is known there?” [21] [22] [23] “It beats me,” said Patsy. “And it looks as if Snell was the chief crook in the matter,” added Nick. “But, if he is, I can’t see what he’s driving at. After getting this telegram I thought he was crazy, that he imagined a crime had been committed, and I didn’t mean to have anything more to do with the matter. “Now I am interested. What you have told me shows that there’s something up, something very mysterious. “I think we’d better keep our eyes on it, Patsy.” “Well?” “Go back to the hotel and get on Snell’s track. Follow him across the continent if necessary, and keep me posted.” “All right, boss.” “Better take a cab. Leave your grip in it until you know what station Snell is going to. Then stick to him like a burr. There may be more attempts against his life.” Patsy was gone in a minute. When his cab halted at the Fifth Avenue he did not leave it, for he saw Snell coming out. The man got into a hotel carriage, and told the driver to take him to the Pennsylvania Railroad station. This was done, and, of course, Patsy followed. Snell bought a ticket for Chicago, and Patsy, who stood close behind him at the window, did the same. They were almost side by side as they went to the ferry-boat, Patsy, of course, so disguised that Snell did not recognize him. Snell went to the forward end of the boat and stood near the rail. The detective sat down in the men’s cabin. Hardly had he taken his seat when a man came aboard whom he had seen before. It was the one whom he had suspected as shadowing Snell from Nick Carter’s house. CHAPTER III. A GAME OF WATCHING. Patsy thought that this was the same man who had come so near killing Snell. He had not been sure of that at the time, for he had not been able to see the would-be murderer’s face. Now it took only a sharp glance to satisfy him, for the man’s motions were a little peculiar. He had a way of bending his head to one side which Patsy had noticed in the man who had shadowed Snell. As he remembered it the same sideways hang of the head had been the case with the would-be murderer in that instant when he saw him darting after his victim. “So,” thought Patsy, “he’s at his game again. Been watching Snell, probably, ever since the attack. There’ll be trouble if he finds his man on board.” Nothing could have been plainer than that the man was looking for somebody. He went part way through the cabin, giving stealthy, side glances at the men on the seats. When he came to the doorway that led to the upper deck, he went up. “He won’t find Snell up there, I think,” said Patsy to himself, as he got up and went forward. The detective went as far as the door that opened upon the forward deck. Looking through it, he saw Snell leaning against the rail. Nobody else was out there. At that moment the boat had hardly got beyond the end of the ferry slip. Patsy sat down where he could look the length of the men’s cabin and also glance through the glass in the door at the forward deck. In less than a minute he saw the stranger coming down the stairs from the upper cabin. [24] [25] [26] [27] He was still walking slowly, and peering sharply at the passengers. When he had come as far as the door, he halted and looked through the glass. The detective could see his face. He saw the man’s brow wrinkle first when he perceived that somebody was standing alone by the rail. Then his lips were pressed hard together, and he nodded as if satisfied. Evidently he had recognized Snell. For a moment longer he stood there, hesitating, perhaps. Then he gave a side glance at Patsy, who sat so close that they almost touched each other. The detective seemed to be deeply engaged in reading a placard hung on the opposite wall. The man softly opened the door and went out. Patsy was on his feet instantly. Looking through the glass, he saw the stranger slink into the darkness by the side wall of the boat, there being a space thus shut in between the cabin door and the open deck where Snell stood looking at the water. “What a chance,” thought Patsy, “to sneak up and pitch his man overboard!” The stranger stood motionless a moment. Then he edged forward. At that Patsy quietly opened the door and stepped out. The man did not hear him. His attention was too much taken with what he was going to do. Snell was motionless. The boat was about in midstream. Patsy’s muscles quivered as the stranger glided swiftly up and placed his hand on Snell’s shoulder. Snell whirled around, with a gasp of surprise and alarm. He put up his hands to push the man away, and tried to back from the rail. The stranger kept his hand firmly on Snell’s shoulder. For a second or two the men jostled each other, but it could not be said that they were struggling. The stranger seemed merely trying to hold Snell still. Patsy heard him say: “Keep quiet! I am not going to hurt you!” Evidently Snell was somewhat relieved at this, but he was still frightened. “I’ve a good mind to have you arrested,” he said. The other laughed. “You’ll think better of that as soon as you see a policeman,” he retorted. “You’ve tried to kill me once to-night,” said Snell. “Well, let that pass. I didn’t succeed, and now that you’re starting West I shan’t try again.” “What do you want of me now?” “I want to talk with you.” “On the same subject?” “The same.” Snell gave a hasty glance at the river. “Think of jumping in?” sneered the stranger. “No,” replied Snell, with a shudder. Then he looked back toward the cabin, and saw Patsy. Seeing that he was perceived, the detective walked easily forward and stood looking at the lights of Jersey City. “This is no place,” said Snell, in a low tone. “Of course not. I’ll go on the train with you.” Snell started uncomfortably. “I presume,” the other went on, with a harsh chuckle, “that you engaged a stateroom on [28] [29] [30] the sleeper, and thought that you would lock yourself in and so be safe for the night. Fortunately, there’s room for two in a stateroom.” At this, Snell said nothing, but went back to the cabin. The other followed, and both went inside. “Well!” thought Patsy, “this is a puzzler, and no mistake. Are they both crooks? and have they had a falling out? “One is certainly a would-be murderer, and Snell is plainly in great fear of him. “I should think he would be. “I wonder if they will actually occupy the same room on the train?” They did. Snell, as the stranger had said, had engaged a stateroom, and both went into it immediately on going aboard the train. Patsy secured a berth in the same car, and, as he turned in he wondered whether one man or two would come out of that stateroom in the morning. It seemed to him most likely that the stranger would make an attempt to murder Snell during the night. “If it were my business to take care of Snell,” thought the detective, “I’d invent some way to do it; but it isn’t, and I’ll just wait and see what happens.” With that thought he went to sleep. In the morning he touched the button beside his berth before getting up. When the porter came he asked: “Is there a dining car on the train, Charley?” “Yessah,” replied the porter. “Breakfast will be ready in twenty minutes, sah.” “All right; then I’ll get up.” “Sumfin else yo’ want, sah?” “Yes. Put your head in here, Charley?” The porter put his head in between the curtains. “Have the gentlemen in the stateroom turned out yet?” asked Patsy. “No, sah; ain’t seed nuffin’ of ’em.” “Were they quiet all night?” “Yassah. Leastwise, I didn’t hear nuffin.” “All right.” “Friends of yours, sah?” “Not exactly, but I’m curious about them, that’s all. You needn’t say I asked any questions.” “No, sah—thank yo’ berry much, sah. Won’t say a word.” The porter had received handsome pay for his silence, and Patsy knew he could be trusted. He dressed and went forward to the dining car. As he passed Snell’s stateroom, he listened for the sound of voices, but none came. The detective wondered if there was one man in that room who couldn’t speak. Having plenty of time to kill, he spent an hour at the breakfast table. Before he was ready to go, in came Snell and the stranger. They sat at the same table and appeared to be in good spirits—at least, the stranger was. Snell looked rather haggard, but he talked with his companion, and without any apparent fear of him. “Strange!” thought Patsy; “but I’m glad my man is still alive. I want to find out what it all means.” He went to the smoker, and after he had been there half an hour or so, Snell and the stranger came in also. They did not talk much as they smoked their cigars, but no one would have guessed that one had tried to kill the other less than twelve hours before. So it was all the way to Chicago. The two men were together all the time, and there was hardly a minute that the detective did not have them in view. It was early morning when the train arrived in Chicago. [31] [32] [33]