IKE AND JACK LISTEN TO AN ODD NARRATIVE AND WITH THE DETECTIVE LAY
PLANS TO MAKE A GRAND CAPTURE.
Du Flore, continuing his narrative, said:
"The lady has a son who some day will be a count if he lives, and she
stole her own boy when she ran away, and she has put that lad up in New
England with her Yankee relatives, determined that if he lives there
will be one count who has had a proper bringing up. She has just
returned from a visit to her son. He is thriving finely, but one day
while in Boston she saw her husband and believes he saw her, and she
fears he means her some harm. She left Boston immediately, and on the
train and boat became conscious that a man was dogging her steps. She
believes the man to be a confederate of the count, but the story you
tell me leads me to determine that the man was merely a common thief,
attracted by her jewels and the prospect of a robbery. It was probably
his intention to rob her on the road, but she, thinking her husband was
on her track, was very careful and cautious. It appears, however, from
what you tell me that the men have shadowed her down to her home and
have made plans to rob and possibly murder her."
"I reckon," said Ike, "that this is the true solution. The count may
show up later on."
"I hope he does," said Jack.
"Why, partner?"
"Well, we'll make his life miserable--make him feel that it is better to
be in Germany without a dollar than in New York with a million. We must
protect this American woman, that is dead sure."
"Will we? We will, you bet; but now we have those thieves to look after
and I have a plan," said Ike.
"What is your plan?"
Ike related his plan. The detective preferred to adopt another course
for the capture of the rascals, but he was well aware of Ike's wonderful
ability, and for reasons thought it best to let the remarkable youth
have his own way.
Later Ike took Du Flore around to show him where the thieves were
staying, and as good luck would have it he had a chance to point out one
of the rascals.
Later Du Flore called upon the countess, and acting under Ike's orders
he let her indulge the idea that her house was to be visited by
emissaries of her husband, and she said:
"Then I will flee away."
"Only to be pursued and shadowed again."
"I have managed to keep out of his way for nearly two years."
"That is all right, but we want to put these men out of the way. They
are walking right into your power."
"How?"
"We can claim that they are burglars and scare the life out of them
almost, and we may scare the whole party--count and all--back to
Germany."
"I don't think they mean to do me any harm. The count is not a bad man.
He believes, however, that he has a right to the child. He has a legal
right, I believe, and I propose to keep the child away from him, at
least for the present."
"Then the best plan is to let him go back to Germany."
"I do not understand why these men seek to enter my house."
"They may think you have the child here, or it may be that they are
thieves who have learned some facts from the count, and they may intend
to rob you. At any rate, I have positive evidence that your house is to
be invaded and I wish to place a guard here, and I will be at hand at
the proper time. In these days, when so many strange crimes are
occurring, it is always better to be on the right side every time."
"I believe you exaggerate the danger, but as I am in your hands for my
own protection I will agree to any plan that you may propose."
"I will introduce two remarkable youths into your house. They will be
accompanied by an immense hound. I ask you to permit them to do just as
they think proper in adopting measures for the capture of two men who I
am sure will make an attempt to enter your house. Afterward I will have
much to reveal to you, but at present I know I am acting in your best
interests and in the interests of your son."
Du Flore explained to the countess how the two youths would enter her
house, and then departed.
Along about six o'clock in the evening, a poor-looking old man applied
at the door of the house of the countess. He was admitted, and a little
later quite a stylish young man also sought an entrance, and a little
later still the poor-looking old man and the stylish youth were alone
with the countess, who was disposed to ask them a great many questions.
The lads were sorely tempted to give the countess a little initiation,
but concluded to reserve their didos for the two thieves.
At about eleven o'clock the countess retired to a room on the top floor.
She proved very complaisant, doing in all things just as requested,
although it was evident that she was a very spirited woman and
wondrously handsome, as she was still under thirty.
The two ventriloquists lay around until twelve o'clock, when they
entered the bedroom proper of the countess, her vacated room for the
occasion, and they went through a very amusing rehearsal with the hound.
The lads were both very jubilant, for they were in their element--about
to carry out a scheme which was a delight to them.
"The robbers believe they are to have a walk-over," said Jack.
"They will," responded Ike, a twinkle in his eyes; "a walk over to the
station house, and then a smooth ride up to Sing Sing Prison."
"Will your man be on hand?"
"If he fails I'll act as his substitute. We are going to capture those
robbers, and don't you forget it."
Thus the boys continued to talk until about two o'clock. Both were on
the alert, and Ike said:
"We are not to be disappointed, our game is here."
Sure enough, they could see the narrow gleam from a mask lantern. The
burglars were at the open door of the room. A moment passed and an arm
was thrust forward. The light from the mask lantern shot over the room.
Apparently, in the bed lay a sleeper. On the dressing bureau was a box,
evidently a jewel case. A mirror permitted the two lads to see the
movements and faces of the two rogues, and there came an expression of
triumph and gratification to the face of both as their glance rested on
the jewel case, and indeed the surroundings all appeared to indicate an
"easy thing," as one of the fellows had put it the previous evening.
They were very deliberate in their movements, and when satisfied that
the road was clear they stepped into the room, their eyes fixed on the
bed where the sleeper was supposed to be lying. They had arrived
half-way across the floor toward the jewel case on the dressing bureau
when suddenly an immense hound confronted them--arose before them as
though he had suddenly come up through the floor. The men were both
armed and carried their weapons ready for instant use, but they stood
and glared. They were paralyzed, as it were, with astonishment. The
thing was not quite so easy at that moment, but one can imagine their
bewilderment when, as they stood and gazed, the dog appeared to say in a
singularly doglike fashion, after a regular dog yawn:
"I've got my eye on you fellows. Don't attempt to use those revolvers or
I'll chew you to mince-meat."
One of the men managed to ejaculate:
"Great Scott! the dog spoke!"
The men were struck nerveless, and their terror and bewilderment
increased when the dog appeared to say, with a strange, doglike laugh:
"It's dead easy, old man; it's dead easy."
The men's faces became ghastly and one of them in gasps managed to say:
"It's the devil!"
"No, you are the devils, and I am after you; yes, I am, dead sure. You
miserable skunks, to steal into a house to rob!"
The men were struck speechless and they lost all power to move
voluntarily. They stood and trembled involuntarily, and the dog
continued:
"Oh, isn't it dead easy? What a bully old swag you will carry to Boston!
The New York detectives will bark up the wrong tree, but I won't. No,
no, you rascals, I'll bark you, and I am a New York detective lying
around here for Boston thieves. I reckon Boston became too hot for you,
and you thought you'd try your hands here; but, my dearies, when you get
out of a New York jail I'd advise you to go to Alaska. There it's dead
easy for a good slide, but you can't slide back to Boston from here with
your swaggy--no, no. Just watch my tail waggy, you villains."
The men were just dead gone, and then the hound appeared to say:
"I told you that you had barked up the wrong tree this time. I'll bark
now."
The dog did bark, and the latter was genuine. He had secured his signal
and his bark was followed by the entrance of Du Flore, accompanied by a
second officer, and the two detectives did not stand on any ceremony.
They just clapped their irons on the two nerveless men, and then Du
Flore said:
"Well, gentlemen, this was not so dead easy after all."
With men to talk to the thieves to a certain extent recovered their
nerve. It was too late to avoid them, but they did ask:
"What is that?"
They pointed toward the hound.
"That is our chief of police," came the answer.
The two burglars were carted off, and we will here state that their
"dead easy" thing did land them in Sing Sing Prison, for the proofs were
dead against them.
When the lady was informed of all the particulars she was greatly
surprised and exceedingly grateful.
A week passed. The two ventriloquists, having no serious business on
hand, determined to have a little sport, and one day they visited the
Stock Exchange, determined to throw a little confusion in among the
brokers. They secured a good position at different points, and having
arranged their programme prepared for active work. They saw one man who
was conspicuous as a shouter, and as it appeared both formed a dislike
for the fellow on appearances. He yelled a hundred of a fluctuating
stock for sale. A man close at his arm appeared to make a bid. The
fellow turned round sharply to accept. The man who had appeared to make
the bid repudiated having done so, and the stock was again offered,
seemingly bid in also by the same man, and when the seller again offered
delivery the bid was repudiated. The seller had become enraged. He
suspected he was being fooled. He became angry, words followed, and a
crowd gathered around. The excitement ran high, when suddenly, right in
the midst of the crowd, there occurred the loud barking of a dog and
there was a general scatter, but no dog was seen. Then there came the
grunt of a pig and a dog appeared to attack the pig. The latter squealed
and seemed to be running all around the room, and immediately there
followed a regular barn-yard chorus. Confusion reigned. All business
came to a standstill and the question arose, who was doing the barking,
the squealing, the cackling and the quacking? One accused another, rows
followed, pandemonium reigned and amid the confusion the two authors of
the whole trouble stole forth to the street. They had a heap of fun. An
investigation would have followed, for the men believed the trick had
been played by some of their members, but so general had been the
confusion no proof could be obtained, and later the business of the
exchange proceeded.
"Well, Ike, that was high," said Jack.
"It was."
The boys started to walk up the street, when they met a 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.