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CONTENTS


  CHAPTER I
  CHAPTER II
  CHAPTER III
  CHAPTER IV
  CHAPTER V
  CHAPTER VI
  CHAPTER VII
  CHAPTER VIII
  CHAPTER IX




  _OLD SLEUTH'S OWN._

  No. 41.

  The Twin Ventriloquists;
  OR,
  NIMBLE IKE AND JACK THE JUGGLER.
  A Tale of Strategy and Jugglery.

  By OLD SLEUTH.

  [Illustration: "Great Scott, the hound spoke!"]

  NEW YORK:
  J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
  57 ROSE STREET.




  The Twin Ventriloquists;

  OR

  NIMBLE IKE AND JACK THE JUGGLER.

  A Tale of Strategy and Jugglery.

  By OLD SLEUTH.

  Copyright, 1895, by Parlor Car Publishing Company.
  All Rights Reserved.

  NEW YORK:
  J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
  57 ROSE STREET.




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THE TWIN VENTRILOQUISTS;

OR,

NIMBLE IKE AND JACK THE JUGGLER.

A Tale of Strategy and Jugglery.

BY OLD SLEUTH.




CHAPTER I.

     NIMBLE IKE ENCOUNTERS AN EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE AND TWO WONDERFUL
     VENTRILOQUISTS PLAY PARTS AGAINST EACH OTHER WITH ASTONISHING
     RESULTS.


"Great Caesar!"

The exclamation with which we open our narrative fell from the lips of
Nimble Ike, one of the most remarkable ventriloquists that ever sent a
human voice rambling around through space under the most extraordinary
inflectional disguises. Detectives disguise their appearance, but
ventriloquists disguise their voices, and make them represent at will
all manner of individualities, in the human or animal. Nimble Ike, as we
have intimated, was a wonderful ventriloquist; he had played more pranks
and worked more wonders with his talent than any other person possessed
of the remarkable gift. He had paralyzed professionals and amazed
amateurs, and with the aid of his marvelous vocal powers had performed
many good deeds on the side of right and justice, forcing rogues to
confessions and scaring schemers and roues out of their wits. He was a
daring youth, possessing many talents other than the gift of
ventriloquism to a remarkable degree. He had never met his match, and
when not engaged in aiding some persecuted person or working with
detectives he amused himself in various ways by an exercise of his
powers. As stated, Ike had never met his match either among
professionals or amateurs. He stood number one as a ventriloquist
wonder. He had been told of a youth who also possessed the gift in a
most remarkable manner. He had never met the youth and was led to doubt
the fact that there was another who came anywhere near him. One day Ike,
having nothing else to do, determined to visit the Metropolitan Museum
in Central Park. He had been there before and enjoyed himself every
time, but he had never attempted any of his pranks. On the occasion when
we introduce him to our readers, he was standing beside a mummy case
containing the linen-bound remains of some poor Egyptian who died
thousands of years ago, and he was deeply interested in the description
and explanations offered by a sallow-faced gentleman who was a great
scientist and Egyptologist. An old maid teacher of an archaeological turn
of mind had chaperoned her class of young lady pupils and had secured
the services of the sallow-faced man with the big spectacles to act as
guide and expositor for the occasion. As stated, Ike was greatly
interested in what the professor had to say; he felt quite serious and
was in no mood to amuse himself, when a most startling, soul-thrilling
incident occurred. The professor had all the young ladies gathered close
around him like so many serious mourners standing around the casket of a
deceased friend. He had been descanting in a very earnest manner and
finally said:

"Now, ladies, if that mummy could speak he would."

Here the professor stopped suddenly, his spectacles fell from his face,
his hands went up and his face blanched, while the young ladies fell
back trembling with terror, for, from the interior of the mummy case
came the astounding announcement:

"I can talk. What do you want me to tell you?"

The words came clear and distinct, and they came, as appeared, directly
from the lips of the mummy; and so realistic was the declaration that
one might expect to see the lurid-looking object rise in its thousands
of centuries old shroud and look forth from the sunken hollows where its
eyes had once beamed forth.

As stated, Ike was standing near the mummy case, but the wonderful
ventriloquist was as much amazed as any one. He did not believe the
mummy spoke--he was too great an expert in vocal deceptions--but he was
amazed all the same, and his amazement arose from the discovery that
there was one living person besides himself who could produce such
amazing results. He glanced around and there was only the one party who
had been standing near the mummy, and that was the professor with the
ladies gathered around him. Some distance off a very trimly-built youth
stood gazing at the stuffed birds in a case. Our hero had not seen his
face; he could not be the vocal deceiver, however, and the question
arose, Who had performed this marvelous trick? Meantime the professor
had gathered his spectacles from the floor and had to a certain extent
recovered from his surprise and bewilderment, and he ejaculated:

"That was most extraordinary."

He beckoned the ladies about him once again, but they came forward very
reluctantly and our hero, Nimble Ike, scanned their faces to learn which
one of the pretty girls was the ventriloquist who had worked the great
trick. All their faces wore an expression of surprise and alarm, and he
was forced to conclude that the voice magician was not one of them, and
his final conclusion was that the sallow-faced scientist was the
culprit--yes, the sallow-faced man with the big nose and goggles had
made the inviting statement, knowing that he could seemingly make the
mummy talk. His surprise and alarm, our hero concluded, was all a
pretense and a part of his little joke, and it was then that Ike turning
away uttered the ejaculation "Great Caesar!" His blood was up; the
professor was a wonderful ventriloquist, but Ike determined to have some
sport and give the professor ventriloquist, as he appeared to be, the
surprise of his life. He determined to make the mummy do some tall
talking and force the professor to a betrayal of genuine surprise.

"Yes," mentally concluded Ike, "the next time you'll shed your goggles
for fair."

Ike was in no hurry, however; he intended first to watch the professor
and find out if he were really the vocal wonder.

The young ladies finally gathered around, for the professor's talk had
really been very interesting. He said:

"Young ladies, I wish to ask you a question. What scared you?"

The ladies did not answer, and the professor again inquired:

"Were you scared by my demonstration or did you, ah--ah--well, did you
hear a voice?"

One of the young ladies answered:

"We heard a voice."

"You did?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then it was not a delusion; no, it was not a delusion, but it was one
of the most extraordinary incidents that ever occurred since the days of
miracles, or, to explain it on scientific grounds, we were all so
engrossed on the subject under conversation that by some singular
psychologic phenomena, our imaginations were momentarily spellbound by a
concentration of all the nerve forces upon a given thought, and thereby
our imaginations were abnormally stimulated to such a degree as to make
the extraordinary deception possible."

The girls stared, but did not comprehend the professor's explanation,
although it was about as plain as scientific and medical explanations
usually are.

Ike was unable to decide. The professor appeared to have fully recovered
and again became rapt in the subject of his discourse. The young ladies
also appeared to have recovered from their alarm and were deeply
interested in all the professor said. Ike, however, had lost all
interest in the lecture. He was piqued, he did not understand how it
could be that there was really another who possessed a ventriloquistic
talent almost equal to his own. As stated, he watched the professor and
finally the good man again arrived at a point when he said:

"If that relic of the past centuries could speak he----"

"I can speak," again came the voice from the mummy case.

The professor stared, the ladies stared, but the expression of surprise
was not equal to what it had been at the first exhibition. The
professor, however, came to a dead stop, he looked slowly around and
finally in a husky voice remarked:

"I do not understand it."

Neither did Ike, for he was convinced that the professor was not the
acrobatic vocalist. The latter, however, was a man of nerve, a genuine
scientist, and he said:

"Young ladies, do not be scared; that linen-wrapped object, that corpse,
that has lain swathed in its funeral habiliments for over thirty
centuries, says he can speak. We will let him talk." And from the mummy
case came the statement:

"I think a fellow who has been silent for thirty centuries should have a
chance to get a word in."

Ike was "on to it." He was too great an expert not to fathom the
mystery. He had met his match at last. He was fully assured that the
lithe-looking chap who was studying the ornithological department was
the ventriloquist, and our hero muttered:

"You are having lots of fun, mister, but now I'll give you a scare."

The ventriloquist stranger was still gazing in the bird case, when close
to his ear came the startling announcement, seemingly from the bird
case:

"What's the matter with you? Why do you disturb that poor old Egyptian
who has been asleep for over three thousand years?"

Ike's test brought its result. He saw the strange youth give a start. He
turned about, but he did not look at the talking stuffed bird; he turned
around to see who it was that had so cleverly matched him. It was a
great game all round. The professor was bewildered, the ladies were
bewildered, and the young fellow at the bird case, who had bewildered
every one else, was himself bewildered. In fact, Ike, the master, was
the only one who at that moment held the key to the whole mystery, and
knew just what it was all about.

Ike enjoyed his momentary triumph, and so for a few moments nothing
startling occurred.

The professor kept repeating, "This is most extraordinary," and the
balance of his party evidently thought so.

The young man who had been looking in the bird case, however, as it
proved, was a "Jim Dandy," as the boys say. He was not to be kicked out
so easily. He also, as our narrative will prove, was an expert and a
very brave and resolute lad. He walked around looking into several cases
for a few moments and then quietly edged over toward the mummy case
around which still lingered the professor and his party, and Ike
realized that a most remarkable duel was portending--a duel between two
wonderful vocal experts. Our hero had fully identified the young man on
whom he had retorted as the individual who had made the mummy speak.

"I'll have first shot," thought Ike, and as the young man passed close
to a second mummy case and stood a moment looking at the bandaged face
as a "throw off," the relic of a thousand years appeared to say to him
in a hoarse whisper:

"Look out, young man, look out, you may get hit with a club made three
thousand years ago."

There was a perplexed look upon the young man's face for a moment, and
then his bright, clear eyes wandered around and he too fell to a
discovery, as he believed.

The professor meantime had become exceedingly nervous and he said:

"I believe I will adjourn the lecture for to-day."

As the professor spoke, there came a voice from the mummy case saying:

"Yes, you had better adjourn it forever, for you don't know what you are
talking about."

The professor advanced close to the mummy case to gaze directly at the
lips of the three-thousand-year corpse. He was determined to solve the
mystery, but as he bent over the venerable object there came an
unearthly yell that froze the blood in his veins. He leaped back, the
young ladies ran screaming away and there would have been a great scene
were it not that at the time there were no other persons in that
particular department of the museum.

The professor led the way down to the office to tell his wondrous tale,
while the young man who had first started the joke approached and gazed
intently on the face of our hero, the great Nimble Ike. The latter
returned the gaze and for a few moments it was a duel of stare; neither
appeared disposed to open the conversation, while in the mind of each
there dawned a suspicion, and finally the young stranger mustered up
sufficient courage to ask:

"Say, young fellow, who are you?"




CHAPTER II.

     A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS
     AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.


Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the
question with a similar one:

"Say, young fellow, who are you?"

"I asked first."

"Did you?"

"I did."

"Well?"

"It's your place to answer."

"Do you want an answer?"

"I do."

"I'll tell you something: you asked the wrong person. Go and ask that
stuffed owl who I am."

The young man stared.

"You want an answer to your question?"

"Oh, come off," said the young stranger.

"That settles it," said Ike.

There came a smile upon the face of the youth and he caused a voice to
come like a halloo from away down the other end of the room, inquiring:

"Say, owl, who is this young chap?"

Ike was amazed, but the owl uttered its peculiar hoot and answered
seemingly: "He's the devil himself."

The halloo came again.

"I thought so, for he is not square; he don't keep his promises."

"Why not?" asked the owl.

"He promised you should tell who he was."

There came a hoot and an owlish sort of laugh, with the statement:

"His name is Isaac Andro."

"Nimble Ike?" came the halloo.

"Yes;" and the owl added: "Now it's your turn to keep your promise."

The halloo came in answer:

"I am Jack the Juggler."

Ike at once advanced, offering his hand and saying:

"Shake, old fellow, I am glad to meet you. I've heard about you."

"And I've heard about you. I am delighted to meet you."

"And I am delighted to meet you," answered Ike.

"We must be friends."

"Sure."

"We can have a heap of fun."

"We can."

"We are against the deck."

"We are."

"Will you visit me at my home?" said Ike. "Go with me now."

"I will be delighted."

"Do you live in the city?"

"I did live here, but I've broken up my home."

The two wonderful lads wandered off together--Ike the ventriloquist, and
Jack the juggler, also a ventriloquist and hypnotist.

The two soon arrived at Ike's house and the latter showed his guest all
through his place, exhibiting his contrivances. Ike ordered a meal sent
in and the two remarkable geniuses sat down in a very social
conversation.

Ike told his strange, weird story, all about the old necromancer and the
mysterious box. And Jack told all about himself, and finally Ike said:

"See here, we are two of a kind."

"We are."

"Let's become partners."

"I am agreed."

"Take up your abode with me."

"On one condition."

"Name your condition."

"I am to share the expense of living in this house."

"Agreed, as it don't cost much to live."

Neither of the lads had told their romance. They had only told the
simple story of their lives, and when the meal was over they commenced
by mutual consent to practice together, and so several days passed. Ike
with his unusual brightness invented a signal code so they could
converse with each other and no one else understand their talk. One
evening the two lads were playing a game of billiards together in a
well-known billiard room, when a very handsome young fellow entered,
whom Ike at once introduced to Jack as his friend, Henry Du Flore. Ike
and Du Flore held a few moments talk and then Du Flore departed. The
moment he was gone the ventriloquist said to his new comrade:

"That young man is a detective."

"He don't look like one."

"He is a splendid officer, brave, shrewd and persistent. I have several
detective friends, but I've taken quite a fancy to this young fellow and
I am aiding him all I can."

"Is he a Frenchman?" asked Jack.

"No, he is an American born. His father was an engineer on an ocean
steamer. He was drowned when Henry was quite a lad. Henry was left an
orphan at an early age, compelled to knock around and pick up a living
as best he could. He got appointed on the police force, won promotion
and is now a regular detective. I want him to make a great success, and
I am aiding him all I can."

"I took a fancy to him at the first glance," said Jack.

"I am glad of that."

"Yes, I am in with you and when we can do him a good turn we will."

"I am much obliged to you, and we can aid him right now. He has been
assigned to run down some burglars who are infesting a section of
country over in Jersey. The gang has become very daring. They are very
expert and the losses of the people have been heavy; they have raised a
fund which is offered as a reward for the capture of the thieves. The
chief in New York is anxious to aid the officials across the river and
has detailed my friend Henry on the case. It will be a big thing for the
young officer if he can run down those thieves."

"We will secure the big thing for him," said Jack. "I've had a little
experience in detective work."

"So I've heard."

"When does he start in?"

"I am to hear from him later."

The two ventriloquists finished their game and walked over to a table
where two experts were playing a great game in presence of quite a crowd
of witnesses. Ike and Jack were both very fond of the game, although
neither of them could play an expert game, with all their talents; their
genius did not run in this direction. It is remarkable that a great many
men who are expert in one direction are singularly deficient in others.
There was a party of young smart Alecs watching the game. They were very
boisterous and demonstrative--really interfered with the players--and
they were very unmannerly in several ways, pushing forward and crowding
quieter people in a very rude manner. Ike and Jack fixed their eyes on
the dudes and then exchanged glances; and that exchange of glances meant
a little fun for the tricksters and discomfiture for the boisterous
dudes, the sons of rich men who because of their social position were
permitted to cut up their capers where better youths would have been
kicked out of the place. The dudes every few moments would break through
the crowd and go to the bar, and upon their return they would push
through to the front, shoving others aside as though the balance of the
beholders were mere serfs; and in pushing through upon one of their
returns, Ike became their victim. The young ventriloquist did not submit
to be pushed so rudely and said:

"See here, Mister Man, you should wear better clothes. You are such a
pusher you should have gotten ahead in the world."

The youth stared and the bystanders laughed. The joke was a good one.
Many times it could be applied in a crowd, for there are so many rude
people who appear to think there is no one in the world besides
themselves.

"Don't you like it?" demanded the pusher.

"Oh, yes, I like it," answered Ike with a laugh. "It's quite an honor to
be knocked around by a thing like you."

"I'll punch you in the head if you say much."

"Oh, I won't say much. I'll be as quiet as a lamb. I won't even bleat.
It's all right; excuse me for being in your way. I am proud--very
proud--to be knocked aside, certainly."

At that moment there came a voice asking:

"Why don't you rap that dude on the head?"

The dude looked around to learn who had offered the bold suggestion, and
then demanded:

"Who spoke then?"

"I did," came a voice, but no one appeared to know just who the "I did"
was. But there came the suggestion:

"Don't look so fierce. You're around to swipe pocketbooks, you are. I
advise these gentlemen to be on the lookout."

The three dudes all closed in close to each other. Their faces were
white with rage and they had just liquor enough in them to be anxious
for a brawl, and one of them said:

"I'll give a hundred dollars to know who spoke."

"What will you give?" came the voice.

Ike stood still and apparently as mute as a sexton at a funeral.

"You haven't got a hundred cents; you just hung your last drink at the
bar."

"You're a liar," came the declaration from one of the dudes.

"And you're a thief, or let's see your money."

The dude went down in his pockets, drew forth a roll and exclaimed, as
he waved it aloft:

"Here's my money. A hundred to ten you are a liar, and a hundred to one
you dare not show your face."

"Here I am."

The voice sounded as though the speaker stood directly in the midst of
the trio of dudes. The "chappies" looked at each other in amazement.

"Send for an officer," came a voice. "I've lost my pocketbook."

It appeared as though the voice came from the opposite side of the crowd
to where the dudes were standing.

The dudes were dumfounded; indeed, the game was stopped and the owner of
the billiard hall walked over to learn what the row was. Very well, at
this point the row commenced. One of the youths, calling the proprietor
of the hall by name, said, or seemed to say:

"You go away from here, you duffer. We own this place and don't want any
of your interference."

The declaration took the proprietor's breath away for a moment. He just
stood and gazed, when another of the youths appeared to say:

"Charley, why don't you smash Decker in the jaw? What business has he to
come around here and interfere with our fun?"

"Who are you talking to?" demanded the proprietor, his face white with
rage.

"_You_," seemingly came the answer from the dude.

The proprietor could stand no more. He made a rush. He did not care at
that instant if the dudes were the scions of the governor of the state.
He grasped the chap who it appeared had given him the insolence by the
loose part of his trousers and the collar of his coat, and he walked him
French fashion toward the door. The youth made a vigorous protest. His
friends also joined in, when the bartender rushed from behind the
counter and seized another of the "chappies," and a guest who was a
vigorous fellow seized the third one; and then commenced a grand march
toward the street door, and each one of the dudes was thrown into the
street and a kick was administered to each as he was thrust out. Poor
dudes! they had not been guilty of the particular sin for which they
suffered, but they deserved all they got, just the same, for they had
made nuisances of themselves.

Jack and Ike left the place. They were delighted with the rebuke they
had administered, but the fun was not over. The three dudes were
standing at the corner of the street talking over their grievances. They
espied Ike and Jack and one of them said:

"There are the fellows who drew us into this trouble."

"Let's hammer them."

Neither Ike nor Jack were formidable-looking chaps, and the dudes sailed
for them. Well, a lively scene followed. The two ventriloquists were
both lithe, active athletes, and the way they polished off the
"chappies" was a sight to behold, and they were having a heap of fun
when suddenly both were seized by the collars of their coats and found
themselves in the grasp of two stalwart policemen.

Neither lad was scared. They did not mind their arrest on such a trivial
charge at all, and they were led off. Ike asked by signal:

"What shall we do?"

"What do you think?" came the answer.

"Shall we be locked up and raise old Cain in the station house, or shall
we make these officers dance right here?"

"Let's make them dance," came the answer.

The lads struck a good chance even as the word was passed. They were
passing a tenement house and a man had just raised a window to close the
shutters or something, when there came as though from the man a mad cry
of "fire!" The officers stopped short, and again there came several
cries, seemingly from different parts of the house. The officers let go
their hold upon their prisoners. A fire in a tenement house was a far
more serious matter than the arrest of two youths for fighting in the
street. As stated, the lads were released, and they darted away to
secure hiding places from which they could witness the fun and
excitement, and there was excitement. One of the officers rapped for
assistance and the second one ran to the fire-alarm box to give the
signal, and officer number one made a rush to the house. He found the
door open and he ran up the stairs shouting "fire! fire! fire!" The
tenants rushed from their apartments and there followed a scene of wild
confusion, and while the yelling and screaming were at their height two
engines arrived, also a platoon of police, and the firemen of the engine
company entered the house, but still there was no sign of either fire or
smoke. A thorough examination followed. No signs of a fire could be
discovered. The sergeant in charge of the platoon of police asked the
two officers who had given the alarm where they had seen the fire. They
protested they had not seen any fire, but that a man had raised the
window of one of the front rooms and had shouted "fire!" The firemen
meantime were thoroughly convinced that there was no fire, and they were
mad at being called out on a fake alarm. They commenced to abuse the
police, who protested that the cry had come from the house. The tenants
had all returned to their rooms and they also had been loud in their
protests and threatened to make a complaint at headquarters.

"From what room did the cry come?" asked the sergeant.

The two policemen pointed out the room. The sergeant, accompanied by the
two officers, went up to the room. There were several very respectable
men in the room and they all protested that they had given no alarm. All
declared that they were prepared to swear that they had not. The
sergeant was bothered, and said to the two patrolmen:

"This matter must be explained."

"We did hear a cry of fire."

"No one else appears to have heard it."

"We heard it."

"Where is your proof?"

One of the officers said:

"I wish we could find those two lads. They heard it."

"We can't find them."

The two men were ordered to report at the station house to answer
charges for their lark, as the sergeant termed it. Other men were put on
the beat and our two ventriloquists crawled forth from their
hiding-places and Ike said:

"That was a pretty severe joke."

"Yes, it was very amusing."

"We must do something to save those men or they may be broke."

"How can we do it?"

"We can."

"How?"

"We'll rattle the sergeant on the same scheme," came the answer.




CHAPTER III.

     THE VENTRILOQUISTS DO RATTLE THE SERGEANT AND HIS PLATOON AND AGAIN
     RAISE OLD CAIN IN A MOST REMARKABLE MANNER.


The two vocal experts fell to the trail of the sergeant and his platoon,
but kept well out of sight. They were determined to set the two
patrolmen right after getting them in such a bad scrape. The whole
charge against them was having claimed that they had overheard cries of
fire. The sergeant was discussing the matter with the roundsman when
suddenly from a private house before which at the moment they were
passing came a series of wild, frantic screams, and the next instant the
screams were followed by cries of "fire! fire!"

"Well," exclaimed the sergeant, "it's a fire this time. Run to the alarm
box and summon the engines."

The roundsman dashed off to give the alarm and the sergeant ran up the
stoop of the house and commenced to bang on the door with his club, and
the two ventriloquists were enjoying the joke. The door of the house was
opened by a gentleman enveloped in a dressing-gown, who in great
excitement demanded:

"What in thunder do you want?"

With equal excitement the sergeant demanded:

"Where is the fire?"

"What fire?"

"The fire in this house."

"There is no fire in this house."

"Then why in thunder did you yell 'fire, fire?'"

"No one yelled fire. What is the matter with you?"

The owner of the house discerned that it was a sergeant of police to
whom he was talking. "Have you gone crazy?" he asked.

"Gone crazy! No; but what did you mean by yelling fire?"

"I did not yell fire. Every one in this house has been in bed a long
time."

"Who was it screamed?"

"No one screamed."

"Do you mean to tell me you did not yell fire?"

"No one yelled fire."

"And no one screamed in this house?"

"No one screamed."

At that moment the engines reappeared and the owner of the house said:

"I'll have this matter inquired into. If this is a joke you will find it
an expensive one."

The foreman of the engine company approached and demanded:

"Where is the fire?"

"There is no fire," said the owner of the house.

"No fire?"

"No fire, and I don't know what the officer means by banging on my door
and arousing my family at this hour of the night."

"And I can't understand," said the foreman, "what he means by calling
out the engines every five minutes on a false alarm."

"There is my platoon of men, there is my roundsman. They will all
testify they heard a cry of fire, followed by screams, coming from this
house."

"Then your platoon of men and your roundsman will testify to a
falsehood," said the house owner.

"Is there a fire in your house?" demanded the foreman of the engine
company.

"No, sir."

"Is there a fire anywhere around here?"

"No, sir, not that I know of, unless it's in the upper story of these
policemen."

"Say, sergeant, let me ask you one question: Have you received orders to
test our department by these false alarms?"

"No, sir, I'll swear and prove that there came an alarm of fire from
this house."

"That's what your men said down at the tenement house. I reckon it's a
night off for the police department, or else they all want a night off.
But let me tell you, if you didn't receive orders to give these fake
alarms I'll know the reason why you did give them; that's all."

The sergeant was clear beat out. He apologized to the owner of the
house, went down among his men and asked:

"Did you men hear those screams?"

"We did," came the answer.

"Did you hear the cries of 'fire, fire?'"

"We did," came the answer.

"All right; we'll find out about this."

"How are you going to find out all about it, sergeant?" popped in the
roundsman.

"I don't know."

The roundsman was a friend of the two men who had been sent to the
station house in disgrace, and he again asked:

"How about Jones and O'Brien?"

"I've been thinking about them."

"We heard it; they claim they heard the cries. I don't see how they can
be held responsible."

"I don't know what to think of it."

"Can I advise?"

"Yes."

"Send the two men back on post and say nothing about the whole affair.
That's my advice."

"Roundsman, it's all very strange."

"It is."

"It's one of the mysteries of the century."

"It is."

"I am not crazy. I'd think so, only we could not all go crazy."

"I'll swear I heard the cries."

The platoon started for the station house. The men were all greatly
mystified, but a greater mystery was yet to confront them. The
ventriloquists had been witnesses of the result of their pranks and
determined to press the matter along. They followed the platoon at a
safe distance, one of them going around the square so that they
approached the station from opposite quarters. The men were just in the
station; the last man was passing the door when right at his ears
sounded a wild, unearthly yell, followed by the cry of "Fire! fire!
fire!" The man stood like one paralyzed, then the sergeant rushed into
the street. Not a soul was near, and yet even while he stood there again
right at his ear sounded the weird cry, "Fire! fire! fire!" The man was
dumfounded. He stood and gazed in wild dismay. The sergeant at the desk
came rushing forth, demanding:

"What's the matter? Where's the fire? What are you all standing here
for?"

"Do you think there is a fire?"

"Didn't you hear the cry?"

"Yes; did you?"

"I did."

"Then go find the fire. We've heard cries of fire all the night, but
devil a fire can we find."

Jack and Ike had had fun enough in that one direction and they started
off toward Ike's home. They had not gone far, however, when they struck
another little adventure--a very peculiar one. Indeed, possessing their
singular talents they were continually running into adventures, as their
gifts gave them great powers in every direction. A little girl had
stopped a crabbed, sleek-looking old gentleman and had asked him for
alms. The man had said:

"Go to the station house," and he spoke in cruel, hard tones. The girl
with a sigh turned away, and Ike said:

"Let's give that old skinflint a dose."

"Agreed," came the response.

Ike ran forward and dropped a silver dollar in the girl's hand and then
slid along and joined Jack. The two secured advantage ground, for the
old gentleman had stopped to gaze in the windows of one of the great
hotel restaurants. Suddenly there sounded in his ears:

"Cruel, cruel old man!"

The old gentleman looked around in every direction and saw no one near
him, yet the words had sounded, as stated, close beside his ear. While
he was still gazing again there came a voice, saying:

"Cold, cold-hearted!"

The old gentleman looked around in an amazed manner, and with anger in
his heart, but he saw no one. He became a little bewildered, when again
there came a voice saying:

"Go to the station house! Go to the station house!"

The old man turned pale. It was the most mysterious incident of his
whole life, and again came the words:

"Go to the station house!"

The admonition sounded close in his ears, and yet there was not a living
soul near him that he could see. He began to tremble, and again, even
while he glanced around, the voice repeated:

"Please give me money for bread," and there came the response in exact
imitation of the old man's tones:

"Go to the station."

"Great Mercury!" ejaculated the man. "I am pursued by a phantom."

"Yes, you are pursued by a phantom, you who refused to give a poor child
money for bread."

"I'll give the next child I meet a dollar," murmured the old man in
trembling tones.

"You promise?"

"I do."

"All right; I'll leave you until my presence is required again.
Good-night."

The old gentleman moved toward his home, and it is to be hoped he became
a more charitable man.

The two lads started on their way and were moving on up Fifth Avenue
when Ike, who was quick-eyed and observant, saw a man rush out of a
hallway. The fellow's actions were suspicious and our hero remarked to
his companion:

"Hello! Jack, there is something going on here."

The two lads determined to trail the man. They saw him go up the street,
where he joined a second man. The ventriloquists stole up close, and
both being lithe and active they were able to secure a position very
near where the two men stood, and they heard one of them ask:

"Are you sure it's dead easy?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure you have the right house?"

"Yes."

"That woman is very smart."

"She is?"

"Yes."

"How do you know?"

"I've been watching her for weeks. There is something strange about her
and her movements, but she's got the stuff; of that I am sure. She lives
alone in that big house with only one servant--an old man--whom we can
silence in about two minutes. She is a stranger in New York, and does
not appear to have any friends. If we can get in there and away again we
can make a big haul, and all in good movable swag. I'll bet she's got
twenty thousand dollars' worth of diamonds alone, and where there are so
many sparks there are other fireworks, you bet."

Ike and Jack appreciated that, indeed, they had "tumbled on to a big
thing." The men did not talk in particularly low tones; no one appeared
to be near them.

"We need a big haul."

"We do."

"I am run way down."

"I am also."

"We struck a big thing when we followed that woman from Boston."

"We did."

"We are not known in New York and the scent will be on natives."

"That's it exactly. We can get away with our haul, return to Boston and
read the papers and learn how these smart New York officers are closing
in on the robbers."

"Yes, yes."

Both men laughed in a very complaisant manner, and one of them said:

"It will prove the softest trick we ever played. We are in luck to
strike a neat, clean affair like this."

"We are, you bet. When will you work the racket?"

"I've got all the points down. We'll jump in and do the job to-morrow
night."

"At what hour?"

"Well, about two o'clock is a good time."

"Where will we meet?"

The man named a meeting-place.

"I will be on deck."

"We will have this all to ourselves."

"We will."

"And I tell you it's the easiest job we ever struck, and we'll make a
big pull."

"That will suit me to a dot."

"The police here are on the watch, for crooks are running riot in New
York just about these days."

"So I see by the papers."

"They are all too noisy about their jobs. We'll go it slow, easy and
sure."

"We will."

The two men sauntered away and the two ventriloquists followed them. Ike
expressed a desire to learn where they "hung out," as he put it.

The men went down to a small hotel on a side street and then the
shadowers once more started for their home.

On the way Ike said:

"Jack, it's a great thing to possess our power."

"Yes, but it does not require our power to capture those fellows. All we
have to do is notify the detectives and those men will be gobbled. Any
one could do that."

"Yes, but we can have some fun. You must learn that I like to do these
things my own way and give those rascals a lesson beyond the mere
punishment they will get for their crimes. Do you know, I take a very
serious view of housebreaking."

"You do?"

"Yes, I do."

"I am with you there."

"It's something terrible to be securely sleeping, as one feels, and to
have one or two of these devils steal into one's house to rob, and if
need be do murder. Robbers are a mean class, and I could never
understand the sentiment of romance that is thrown about them. I look
upon it as the most cruel and cold-blooded method adopted by any class
of criminals."

"I am with you, but you said you proposed to adopt a peculiar method in
capturing these fellows."

"Yes."

"You may lose them."

"Not if the court knows itself. They feel dead sure. They think they
have everything dead to rights. They will move with less caution than
usual. It appears there is a lady living in that house practically
alone; from what we overheard she has many valuables. The chances are
that if discovered there would follow a cruel murder. I tell you, my
experience here in New York has been a strange one. Just watch the daily
papers and learn the number and variety of crimes that are committed.
Already there has been a call for an increase of the detective force,
and it's needed; but in our humble way we'll do a neat job in the line
of justice; yes, just once at least."

"What is your plan?"

"I'll think it out and reveal the whole business to you; but besides
arresting these fellows and saving the lady, I want to give them the
surprise of their life."

"It's easy for us to surprise people. We are doing that all the time."

"We'll give these fellows a big surprise--a stunner."

"Then you have decided on a plan?"

"In outline."

The two lads arrived at their home and were soon resting from their
singular labors. On the following day Ike revealed his plan and Jack
heartily fell into the whole scheme. Jack loved surprises and enjoyed a
good joke equally with the inimitable Ike.

Ike owned a variety of animals, all of which were well trained. Had he
concluded to appear as a professional performer he would have astonished
his audiences beyond all belief. Among other possessions was an immense
Siberian bloodhound. He had owned the animal from its puppy days and it
was one of the most remarkably trained dogs on earth. Some men possess a
peculiar talent for the training of animals. It is a special profession.
Ike possessed this special talent to a great degree. He and Jack went
forth. They had their breakfast at a near-by restaurant and played no
pranks. Both the ventriloquists were very particular; they only played
their tricks and exercised their powers where there was a purpose to be
gained. After their meal they proceeded down to a point where they met
Ike's new friend, the young detective whom our hero was anxious to
serve. To him he said:

"Du Flore, we've got a great catch for you."

Ike proceeded and related all that had occurred, and when he had
concluded, Du Flore remarked:

"This is very strange."

"It is?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I am already on that case."

"You are?"

"Yes."

"Well, that is strange."

"It is wonderful," said Du Flore.

The latter was a rising man in the profession. He was a powerful young
officer, and, as we have intimated, very brave and ambitious.

"I've a strange story to tell you, Ike," he said.

"We are listeners."

"It is a very strange story."

"So you said, and repeating that fact is not opening up your story."

"Well, you see, in these prosaic days we seldom strike a romance just
like the one I am about to relate. You remember a great wedding we had
in New York about ten years ago?"

"I don't," answered Ike bluntly.

"Well, the daughter of a very rich man married a German nobleman, and a
few years after their marriage they separated. She ran away from him. It
is the old story: he and all his relatives felt themselves so much
better than the young American girl. They insulted her in the grossest
manner--and made her life miserable. She bore it for a long time, but
being a full-blooded Yankee woman, beautiful and spirited, she
determined to stand it no longer. Her father had been smart enough to
secure all her fortune to herself during her life, and one bright
morning she just dusted and left the count and his high-bred relatives
to pay their own bills. She had done so for years and only received
insults and snubs in return."

"It's the fate, I reckon, of most of these rich American girls who are
marrying foreigners," suggested Ike.

"Yes, I reckon they could all tell sad tales a year after their
marriage. This case, however, is a refreshing one, for in the end the
Yankee girl recovered from her blind adoration of rank and came down to
a good common-sense view of the full value of money."

"Go on and tell the tale."

"That is the story. She just skipped, and, as I said, left her high-born
relatives by marriage to pay their own bills; and now I come to the
American end of the strange romance."




CHAPTER IV.

     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.




CHAPTER V

     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 ventriloquists gave 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 rolled him 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 death to 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 are thousands 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 which we 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 had _struck his man_ at 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 surprised look 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 the stolen 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."




CHAPTER VI.

     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 the lady 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 of the 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 apartments and 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 cards _for 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."




CHAPTER VII.

     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 merely seeking 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 up to
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 no one 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."

"Then why do you ask me who she is?"

The question was a cute one.

"There is a mystery here."

"Is there?"

"There is."

The old man appeared to be a clear-headed, nervy individual, although he
might be a miser.

"What is the mystery?"

"I said I knew the original of that picture."

"You did."

"I will say I know one for whom that picture might be taken as a
portrait."

"You do?"

"I do."

"Who is the person?"

The old man was again all eagerness and attention.

"I will not say yet, but I would like to know who the real original of
the picture is."

"I would first like to know who you are and how you dared force an
entrance into my house."

"You shall know all about me later on."

"Oh, yes, that is what you said, but it is not satisfactory. You say you
know one for whom that picture might be accepted as the portrait?"

"I do."

"The picture is mine."

"I will not dispute that, but I tell you there is a mystery. I can see
now that the party I know is not the original of the portrait, but the
likeness is very remarkable--yes, wonderful. The party I know could be a
twin sister."

"Say, young man, what is it you are trying to accomplish?"

"On my honor, sir, I am telling the truth. Is your real name Ward?"

The old man showed signs of great excitement as he demanded:

"What business is it of yours who I am?"

"Is your real name Sidney?"

The old man uttered a cry, and advancing toward Ike seized his arm and
demanded: "What do you mean? Who are you?"

"We had better settle right down to full confidences, Mr. Sidney. I tell
you I am your friend."

"Will you explain your words?"

"I will."

"Do so."

"I asked you if your name was Sidney."

"You did."

"I know a young lady named Sidney who could be taken for the original of
that picture. I concluded she must be a family connection; indeed, I am
in the habit of putting little bits of evidence together and I arrived
at a conclusion, following a suspicion aroused by the strange
resemblance; that's all. I am telling you the truth."

"You look like an honest youth. Come upstairs with me. We will talk this
matter over. My name is Ward; yes, my name is Ward, but I once knew a
man named Sidney. He was the friend of my boyhood. I have not seen or
heard from him for many, many years."

"Did he go to California?"

"Yes, he went to California. Yes, yes, I remember he did; but come
upstairs. I wish to talk to you."

The old man led the way to the room on the second floor, and,
remembering what he had seen in the lower part of the house, Ike was
surprised to behold the air of comfort and neatness presented in this
apartment.

"Sit down," said the old man.

Ike obeyed and the old miser continued in an eager tone:

"Now tell me about this girl who you say is the daughter of my old
friend Sidney."




CHAPTER VIII.

     IKE MAKES A MOST REMARKABLE DISCOVERY AND ALSO PICKS UP CLUES WHICH
     ENABLE HIM TO START OUT INTELLIGENTLY ON A SHADOW FOR THE BOND
     THIEVES.


Ike had his own suspicions, but he did not project them. He was going
very slow, as he hoped to draw the old man on and force him to a very
startling confession. He told the story of Sara Sidney--told it in a
straightforward, simple manner. The old man listened attentively and
betrayed considerable emotion, and he muttered:

"How unfortunate I have been robbed! How much I might have done for this
daughter of my old friend! But alas! I am a poor man now--yes, a poor
man."

"All your wealth can be recovered."

"Oh, they all say that."

"Who says so?"

"The detectives who have been here; but they will never recover one
dollar. I will never get my property back."

"That is what your niece said," projected Ike suddenly.

The old man almost screamed as he said:

"My niece! What do you mean?"

"I will speak plainly. I cannot be deceived--this man Sidney was more to
you than a friend. I recovered the stolen property of Sara Sidney; I
will recover your property."

"Who are you, young man?"

"You may call me the devil or Tom Walker if you choose, it makes no
difference. I will recover your property, and now I tell you I know your
name is Sidney and the girl I know is your niece, and that accounts for
the wonderful resemblance to the portrait of your daughter."

The old man glared.

Ike, as our readers will observe, was pressing right ahead in his
impressions. He had arrived at a conclusion and he was assuming a tone
calculated to force the old man to an admission. He said:

"You need not fear. Your niece is independent; she will not become a
burden to you. She is a brave, true, energetic young girl. She has some
means--enough to maintain her until she is in a position to support
herself by her labor. I tell you, when you see her you will be proud of
her."

The old man was very thoughtful for some moments but finally he said:

"Can I trust you, young man?"

"Yes, you can trust me."

"My real name is Sidney. I did have a brother who went to California.
This is all very strange. I have not heard from my brother for nearly
thirty years. If what you say is true this girl may be my niece. When
can I see her?"

"You cannot see her until I have caught the thieves and restored the
property or come to you and admit that I have failed."

The old man appeared dazed and Ike said:

"Tell me your story. Yon can trust me."

"I believe I can," said the old man; "I will. I have admitted that my
name is Sidney, and that I am a brother of the Sidney who went to
California. I went to South America and while there met a young American
girl, the daughter of the United States consul. She became my wife and
one child was born to us; but alas! my wife died, carried off by fever,
ere the child was a year old, and from that moment I devoted my life to
my daughter. I am of humble birth, and I set to work to accumulate a
great fortune for my child. I brought out masters from Europe to educate
her. She was beautiful, amiable, bright and accomplished, and I was
happy. But alas! death came stealing along one night and wrapped its
cold arms around my child, and I laid her beside her mother. From that
moment I lost all ambition, all interest in life. I had heard many years
previously that my brother was dead. I had never heard of his marriage
and did not suppose he had left a child. Strange fate! I live, but my
child is gone; he has gone and his child lives. I converted all my
wealth into bonds, money, jewels and securities, and I came home to
America. They call me a miser, alas! In my own way, secretly, I have
been aiding the poor and needy for twenty-odd years. The portrait you
see is a portrait of my child. In the South, you know, girls mature very
fast. She was but thirteen when she died. Well, I have had no interest
in life. I fear nothing, I have cared for nothing. I have only been
waiting for death to come and claim me. His visit has been long delayed
and now my wealth is gone. I did not care, but now I do care, for if you
are not deceiving me I would have had something for the child of my
brother; and you say she resembles the portrait. Well, when my brother
and I were boys we greatly resembled each other. And now listen to me: I
accept your gage. I will not ask to see my niece until you have made
good your promise; either you shall recover my fortune or you shall come
to me and say you have failed."

"It will be strange if I ever come to you and say that I have failed.
You can trust me. I seek no reward, but I believe I can recover your
fortune, and now I have a double motive for doing so."

There came a quick, searching glance to the old man's eyes, but he said
nothing until after an interval, when he declared:

"Recover the fortune and you shall not complain of your reward."

"Have you talked much to the detectives?"

"I have not, because until now I was indifferent."

"If I can secure the slightest clue I will promise success. Have you any
recollection of the appearance of either of the men?"

"Yes; I had a struggle with them before they chloroformed me."

The old man proceeded and gave quite an accurate description of one of
the men.

"This is great!" said Ike, and he asked:

"Where did the struggle take place?"

"Down in my parlor. I heard them down there as I heard you, despite your
care, and there I met and fought them until overpowered."

Ike went down to the parlor. He spent one minute gazing at the portrait
and then set to work. He had associated so much with detectives he had
their methods down to a fine point; and besides, as our readers know, he
was naturally a perfect wonder in shrewdness and cunning. He drew his
mask lantern and the old man asked:

"Are you a detective?"

"A sort of amateur," came the answer.

Ike got down on the floor, face forward, and flashed the light of his
mask lantern over every inch of the carpet, asking questions of the old
man as to just where the first grapple commenced, and soon he cried,
"Eureka!"

The old man had become eagerly interested.

"What have you found?"

"All I need, added to your description."

Ike had come across several strands of hair. He rose from the floor and
held the threads under the full glare of his lantern, and the old man
exclaimed:

"I remember; yes, I did grasp one of them by the hair and must have
pulled a few locks."

"Hardly a few locks, but enough," said Ike.

The young ventriloquist obtained what he most desired. He had the
description, as stated, and he knew the color of the hair of at least
one of the robbers. Let him find one of them and he well knew he would
not only run down the men but the "swag." He felt quite jubilant, and
after a long talk with Mr. Sidney, in which he gave the old gentleman
very minute instructions, he passed out the front door, and as he did so
a man seized him.

"Hello, young fellow! what are you doing in there?" came the question.

"I am not in there; I am out here," answered Ike coolly, and at the same
instant Jack ran up and said:

"Look out for that fellow, Ike. He's a bad one."

"I want you," said the man.

Ike suddenly drew his mask lantern, which he had not extinguished, and
flashed the light straight in the fellow's face. The man uttered an
oath, drew a revolver and made as if to strike Ike a blow, but instead
he received a rap on the head which felled him as though he had been
hit with an iron bar. As the man fell Ike leaped over his form and he
and Jack sped away. Our hero had reasons for speeding away, for he
believed he was on to a great thing.

Once out of sight Jack asked:

"What happened; Ike?"

"Wonders upon wonders, Jack; it's a night of wonders. I can't stop to
tell you now; but who is that fellow? You said he was a bad one."

"I'll tell you. While I was waiting for you I saw him and another man
come stealthily down the street. I stole behind them and overheard their
conversation. They were not looking for you, but some one else. I think
when you came forth they mistook you for the man they were looking for."

"They are not officers?"

"No."

"We must trail that fellow. He is probably associated with the robbers."

The two ventriloquists worked a transform and separated, but both were
making for the one objective point and both got on to the trail of the
man whom Jack had so opportunely knocked over just as he aimed a blow at
Ike.

As intimated, they got on the trail of the man and followed him until he
met a second man on the Bowery. The latter had come from a saloon--a
brilliantly illuminated gin palace. He stood right under the glare of
the electric lights and Ike had a clear, full view of him.

"There's our man," said Ike.

"What do you mean, Iky?"

Quickly Ike stated that he had received a clue and that he identified
the man standing in the doorway of the gin palace beyond all question as
one of the burglars.

"This is great!" said Jack. "Let's close in on him, and I'll try a
little hypnotism on him."

"You may have plenty of chance yet for the exercise of your mysterious
power, Jack."

We will here state that Jack had given Ike an exhibition of his wondrous
gift as a hypnotist. Ike was the greater ventriloquist, but he did not
possess the hypnotic power; while Jack possessed it, as the readers of
his former adventures as recorded in Number 19 of our series are aware,
to a remarkable degree.

Ike was not naturally excitable. He was singularly cold-blooded, but
upon discovering his man so soon his blood did course rather rapidly
through his veins.

There is one other fact we wish to state: burglars, as a rule, do not
leave the great cities. They find them safer hiding-places than anywhere
else, despite the great number of detectives hovering around. There are
all sorts of burglars--the bunglers and the accomplished chaps who
proceed on almost scientific principles. These men are strategic. They
study out all their plans weeks in advance. They calculate all their
chances, both to accomplish their burglaries and also to prepare for
their retreat and hiding. Ike calculated that the men who had robbed Mr.
Sidney were accomplished and veteran crooks who would be likely to
remain in the city, especially after making such a big haul; and when he
secured the specific clue he calculated upon finding his man, but
certainly did not hope to drop on him so soon.

"What shall we do?" asked Jack, after a few moments.

"We will follow this fellow. He will go home by and by, and----"

The lads did follow the man, but he did not go home, and they were
destined to have quite a long shadow ere they ran their game down. They
located him in his haunts, but did not trail to any permanent
abiding-place; and finally, well on toward morning, they returned to
their home well wearied out but hopeful. Ike was sure the man would
remain in the city and that he could locate him almost any time when he
needed.

It was late on the following afternoon when our hero visited Sara
Sidney. He listened to a long and hopeful talk of the girl's plans. He
did not say anything direct, but did project:

"Suppose you should find your uncle, and he should disapprove of your
plans?"

"I do not expect ever to find my uncle."

"Well, now, I once made you a promise."

"I know you did, but remember, it is thirty years since my father saw
his brother."

"Well, some men live to a pretty old age. I am sure I will find your
uncle."

"What makes you so certain?"

"Oh, it came to me in a vision. Yes, I will make you a positive promise:
I will find your uncle. I know that he is alive, or was a few weeks
ago."

The girl became quite interested, and she looked very animated and
beautiful as she urged Ike to tell her how he had learned that her uncle
was living a few weeks previously.

Ike, however, did not tell his tale, but he hoped to tell her in the
near future, and with it also add the wonderful narrative of the
recovery of a great fortune.

Three weeks passed, and during that time either Ike or Jack or Detective
Du Flore was on the trail of the light-haired man whom our hero had
identified as one of the robbers.

One day Jack asked:

"Ike, are you sure you have the right man?"

"Yes, I am sure, and we'll get down to him."

"Possibly the fellow knows we are on his track."

"No, but he is well aware that detectives are liable to be on his track
and he is playing away from his lair; but he'll go home sure."

On the day following the conversation recorded Ike was on the trail. All
three did not "dog" the man at one time--they did so alternately. It was
Ike's "tour," as boatmen say, and the ventriloquist struck his "lay" at
last. Hope is the propelling force of energy, and it was constant hope
that made our hero so persistent on the track of his man. Often during
the three weeks he had visited Sara Sidney. He enjoyed her importunity
as she urged him to explain what he meant when he told her that he knew
her uncle was still living. It was delightful to him. The girl was a
constant charm to him when in her presence, and a memory of her sweet
personality haunted him when he was away from her. Yes, he had a strong
motive for sticking to the trail, and, as intimated, he at length fell
to a great lead. He had followed his man to Staten Island, or rather
followed him on board one of the Staten Island boats, and then a great
game commenced. He saw the thief wander all over the boat scanning the
face of every man and woman on board, and the ventriloquist made a
second discovery. He had seen the man exchange signals with a
fine-looking lady on board, and as the burglar wandered around Ike saw
the lady watch him in a most intent manner, and he muttered as a great
suggestion came to him: "At last! At last!"




CHAPTER IX.

     IKE'S PERTINACITY IS REWARDED IN A MOST REMARKABLE MANNER--HE
     PROVES ALL THEORIES AND REDEEMS ALL PROMISES.


The exchange of signals between the burglar and the woman was an
incident of great significance to our hero. The burglar was a very
gentlemanly looking and acting man--a fellow far above the usual
personality of robbers. Ike was after him, however, and in his own mind
had arrived at a conclusion. A little time passed. The man made the
circuit of the boat, appeared to be satisfied and returned to the cabin
where the woman sat. He walked boldly up to her and they engaged in a
very earnest conversation, while our hero muttered: "At last! At last!"
When the boat reached the landing the woman went ashore alone, and Ike
was in a dilemma. He did not wish to lose sight of either of them. He
believed he was not only on to the burglars, but also going direct
toward the hiding-place of the stolen property. He decided to follow the
woman, but knew how necessary it was to be very careful.

We will here state that nearly all burglars have women confederates, and
we will also state that the most romantic denouements have time and
again followed the running down of an expert burglar. Burglars are not
all vulgar, rough men. Some of them are rascals possessing aesthetic
tastes. The police records will show that many burglars have been
married to very reputable women whom they have kept in total ignorance
of their criminal life. It is upon the records that burglars have been
known to be very fond of their families. Of course, these cases are
exceptions, as the usual housebreaker is a vulgar rascal. Ike, however,
knew of many singular romances connected with criminals and believed
that he had fallen to one, a romance of a peculiarly exceptional
character.

As stated, he desired to follow the woman, but did not dare show his
hand. He left the boat, however, and a few moments later saw the burglar
pass around to the returning boat. It was evident he had met the woman
and was about to return to New York.

Ike boarded the Staten Island rapid transit train. He had seen the woman
go on the train and she rode to the third station, where she alighted.
Our hero was on the alert. He alighted from the train also. His disguise
was a good one. Again, in a rural district he could lay away back. He
followed the lady until to his surprise he saw her enter a very handsome
villa house, and then he remembered he had overheard just one word
between the lady and the burglar. As he saw her enter that villa
residence he fell to the significance of the man's words. He intended to
visit the house that night, and our hero was put to his wits' end to
decide upon his course in the emergency. Two propositions were presented
to him: Was the stolen property in the villa, and did the man intend to
come that night and take it away, or did he intend to remove it from
some other place and hide it in the villa? The ventriloquist meditated a
long time and finally decided he had the burglar located. He had the
villa located. He had reason to believe the man was to visit the villa
that night. The chances favored a double catch--the burglars and the
"swag."

Ike determined to return to New York, notify Jack and Du Flore and with
them return to Staten Island and stand ready for a grand denouement.
Before returning, however, he "piped" the house a bit and saw a man
greet the woman as she stepped upon the grand piazza. He then returned
to the station, muttering as he went:

"It will be great luck if we capture both burglars and all the swag.
Great ginger! what a man the young Detective Du Flore will be!"

Our hero arrived in the city, got in communication with his detective
friend and told his story. Du Flore was all excitement. He said:

"Ike, you have got on to the whole business, sure, and you've done it
all yourself. Yes, that property is in that villa. We will have a great
sensation for the public, who are never tired of great sensations, but
we will give them a dandy this time, sure."

Ike, Jack and the detective got themselves up in first-class disguises,
and taking different boats proceeded singly to the Island, where they
all arrived just about dark. They met and our hero indicated the road to
the villa, and some time later they were all laying low and on the watch
near the house where they expected to make the capture of the season.

It had been arranged between Ike and Jack to exchange signals, but it
was some hours before they had the opportunity and then Ike signaled
that their man had arrived. Our hero recognized his gait. The rogue went
straight to the villa, which was illuminated on the first and second
floors, and the woman evidently heard the step, for she came to the door
to meet her friend. The ventriloquists and detective came together and
held a few moments' conversation, and it was decided that Ike should
steal into the house, as he was the one most experienced in that sort of
work. Ike started right in. He had reconnoitered the house earlier in
the day and knew just where to effect an entrance. He succeeded, and
once in the house he went very slow. He saw no servants and decided they
had all retired; or, as it proved later, had been granted a holiday, for
only one servant was in the house. As it also proved, this servant was
really a confederate and had retired. Ike observed that all the lights
on the lower floor had been extinguished, and he ascended to the second
floor and fell to his old game of peep and listen. The man and woman
were seated at a table. The latter was a sharp, shrewd-faced woman. Ike
heard the man say:

"Mosely will not be here to-night."

"Then what do you propose to do?"

"Look over the swag."

"Do you not think it risky?"

"No, the detectives have given it up as a bad job."

"How do you intend to make a division?"

"The jewels are all yours. The money and bonds we will take."

The woman's face betrayed her delight.

"All right," she said; "such a division is agreeable to me. I will bring
the bonds and let you count them over."

"Are all the windows tightly closed?"

"We can close them."

"Do so."

The woman did close all the windows, and then going to an adjoining room
returned in a few moments, bearing in her arms, we will say, a bundle of
bonds. Ike well recognized the documents. He had seen so many
bonds--indeed, had captured so many at different times from thieves. The
woman laid the certificates on the table and the man said:

"Where are the jewels and the money?"

"I thought they were to be my share."

"Certainly, but I wish to look them over. I wish to see the full amount
of our great capture."

The woman's face displayed a little disconcertion, but she went to the
adjoining room and soon returned, bringing with her a jewel case and a
bag which clinked, showing its contents to be gold. The man opened the
bag and tossed gold and bills on the table, and his eyes glittered as
his glance fell upon the wealth.

Ike had seen enough for the time being. He slid down the stairs, gave a
signal and was joined by his friends. To them he told the wondrous news.
He said:

"We've got it all. It's right to our hands." As stated, he told the tale
and then led his companions into the house. A programme had hastily been
arranged. They all gathered at the door of the room. Just one moment
they stood and then there sounded a wild, weird shriek, and it appeared
to be in the very room where the robber and his female pal were counting
the gold and examining the jewels. The shriek had been sent forth with a
purpose. Both the man and the woman were paralyzed with terror, so
sudden had come the yell, in all its shrill and piercing distinctness.
As they stood and gazed Du Flore, armed with a pair of cocked revolvers,
entered the room. The man attempted to draw a weapon, but Du Flore
called out:

"Hold on there! you're covered."

Ike and Jack entered the room. Both were armed, and Ike went directly to
the woman and in a strange, weird voice said:

"You do not wish to die."

"Throw up your hands," commanded Du Flore.

The man did not obey. The click of a hammer sounded in his ears and he
muttered: "It's all up with us, Maggie. Who is to blame?"

Du Flore was a powerful fellow. He suddenly leaped forward and quicker
than a wink struck the man a blow that felled him to the floor. The
robber was unprepared, and fell as though shot; and Jack, ever ready as
usual, clapped the darbies on him while Ike with singular dexterity
performed the same service for the woman, and the job was over.

It had been a bold, well-played game from first to last.

The bonds and gold and jewels were scooped into a bag, the man and woman
were led down the stairs, and a little later the whole party were on
board one of the Staten Island ferryboats. Jack remarked:

"The servants in that house will wonder where their mistress is when
they walk downstairs in the morning."

The two prisoners were taken to headquarters, and within two hours the
"pard" of the robber was captured on information which the chief of
police secured from the woman. The mystery of the robbery had been
solved, and on the following morning our hero proceeded to the home of
Mr. Sidney. He found the old gentleman in his usual placid humor, but he
did display just a little excitement when Ike said:

"I'm ready now to introduce you to your niece."

The old man stared.

"Is it possible?" he ejaculated.

"Yes, sir, it is possible. It's true your fortune has been
recovered--every bond, every dollar, every jewel."

The old man stood a moment lost in deep thought, and finally he said:

"This is indeed wonderful--yes, very wonderful!"

"It is true, and now I go to prepare your lovely niece to receive you."

Ike did proceed to the home of Sara Sidney. He found the young lady in
quite a happy mood, and her lovely face became radiant as she entered
the little parlor where Ike waited to meet her.

"I am so glad you have come."

"Indeed!"

"Yes."

"Do you anticipate the news I have to tell you?"

"I do not."

"I have great news for you, but first let me tell you a strange tale."

Ike proceeded and told the tale of the robbery--told it as though he
were merely relating an interesting story with which Miss Sidney had no
connection--and proceeded and told how he and his friend Jack, with
Detective Du Flore, had recovered all the stolen bonds, money and
jewels.

The girl listened and was deeply interested, evidently believing that
Jack was merely telling a tale of his success, and she said when he had
concluded:

"You are one of the greatest detectives on earth."

"I will not lay claim to that distinction until I have found your uncle.
You know I told you I had a clue."

"Yes, and it would be so strange if after all these years I should meet
my father's brother, my uncle."

"Would you like to meet him?"

"How can you ask such a question? Do you know what it means to be alone
in the world?"

"Yes, I know exactly what it means to be alone in the world. I am alone
in the world. I do not know that I have a living relative on earth."

"Ike, you never told me your story."

"Shall I tell you my story?"

"Yes; I should be delighted to hear it."

"I will tell it to you. All I can remember of my earliest days is that I
was traveling around the world from city to city with a strange man who
bade me call him uncle. He was a great magician. He taught me his trade.
I had a natural aptitude for the business. I evidently possessed a gift
in that direction, and he cultivated my natural gift so that I became a
wonder to him and a wonder to myself. Well, one day, without any
previous warning, the old man announced to me here in New York that he
was going away--to leave me. I was amazed and heart-broken. He had been
in America a year when he made the announcement. He would not tell me
why he deserted me; he would not tell me where he was going and would
not assure me that I should ever see him or hear from him again. And
what was stranger still, although I knew that he was rich--for together
we had been very successful--he was leaving me practically penniless.
All he gave me was five dollars, and when I reproached him he said:

"'You can earn the money you need with your wonderful gift.' He gave me
a great deal of good advice as concerned my conduct while making the
struggle of life."

"Did you not ask him about your parentage?"

"I did, but he refused to give me any information."

"Did he deny knowing about you?"

"He indicated that he did know the story of my earliest life, but he
refused to give me any information. He did say, however, that some day
if I lived I would learn all about myself."

"How cruel he was!"

"It would appear so, but after all it is proved that he knew what he was
talking about. He said I could earn all the money I needed with my great
gift, and his words have proved true. I have not wanted for anything
since the night he so strangely disappeared. Before going he gave me a
box and told me I must not open that box until I was twenty-one, or
until such time as I might fall into some dreadful calamity; then, when
all other means failed, I was to open the box."

"And you have that box?"

"I have."

"You never opened it?"

"I have never opened it."

"Oh, how I would like to see what is in that box!" said Sara in an eager
tone.

"No doubt you are a true daughter of Eve, but I will not open that box
until I am one-and-twenty. I have never had any excuse for opening it,
as far as having been overtaken by any dire calamity. My life has been
pleasant and successful. I have been enabled to perform many good deeds
for people who needed aid and assistance."

"You did a wonderful deed for me."

"I propose to do more for you. I propose to find your uncle."

"But that box, Ike?"

"Well, what about the box?"

"Are you sure it is safe?"

"Yes, I am sure it is safe."

"Oh, how I should like to be present when you open that box!"

"Maybe you can be," said Ike.

"Oh, I should go wild in anticipation."

"Some day--not now--but some day I may propose a condition whereby you
may earn the privilege of being present when I open that box."

"No doubt it contains some wonderful secret."

"It is possibly a secret concerning me. It may inform me that I am the
unknown son of a beggar, or it may tell me that I am a prince, a lord or
a duke."

"A prince, Ike! Yes, it will inform you that you are a prince."

"The prince of ventriloquists," said Ike with a laugh--a very merry
laugh.

"Oh, Ike, you are really a lord or a duke," cried Sara in tones of great
enthusiasm.

Ike observed her enthusiasm, and, for reasons which our readers shall
learn when we tell the story of the opening of the mysterious box, our
hero was quite pleased, and the girl again said:

"Ike, remember your promise. You are to give me an opportunity to be
present when you open that mysterious box. Oh, how I would like to learn
its secret! Not for myself, but for you. It will be a great and
pleasing discovery when you open that box."

"Maybe I have a great and pleasing disclosure to make to you now."

The girl's face assumed a sudden pallor.

"What do you mean, Ike?"

"I made you another promise. I told you I would find your uncle."

"I see, I see! You have found him?"

"Yes, I have found him."

"I know now why you told me the story of the old miser and the loss and
recovery of his treasures."

"You discern why I told?"

"Yes."

"Why did I tell you?"

"I hardly dare answer."

"Do not fear. Tell me what you suspect."

"That old miser is my uncle?"

"Yes, Sara, that old miser is indeed your uncle, and I have a great
surprise for you."

Sara was thoughtful a moment and then asked:

"Are you sure he is my uncle?"

"I am."

"You have absolute proof?"

"I have."

"And I am the niece of a soulless miser!" murmured Sara in a
disconsolate tone.

"No, he is not an old miser--he is a warm-hearted, generous man. I will
tell you more about him later on."

"But are you sure you have the proof?"

"Yes, I am sure."

"Tell me what the proof is."

"I am going to show you the proof. I have a great surprise for you.
Come, put on your hat and cloak. You are to go with me and behold
something that will make you stare."

"I shall not stare at my uncle; and again, Ike, I assure you I must have
positive proof."

"You shall have positive proof. This is a most strange and remarkable
romance. It is fate. I am a strong believer in fate. I have encountered
so many strange incidents during my short life. See my meeting with you;
remember the tragic incidents that followed. You intended to drown
yourself in the park lake."

The girl's face became ghastly.

"No, no, Ike."

"Yes, I know."

"I will admit the temptation to drown myself after the discovery of my
loss was very great; but no, no, I would have recoiled at the last
moment."

"I am so glad to hear you say so. I do not think much of people who on
the appearance of every little trouble rush to kill themselves. It shows
lack of mind strength. But come; I am to take you to meet your uncle."

The girl hesitated. She did not appear as glad as Ike had thought she
would be. The fact was, he did not know the lovely girl yet. He was to
learn more about her later on, and there was to follow an intense
romance as a result of his meeting with this lovely little lady from the
far West.

"Come, your uncle awaits you."

"Does he know about me?"

"Yes."

"Does he accept the proof?"

"He will when he sees you."

"What do you mean?"

"That is my little secret for the present. I tell you I still have in
reserve a great surprise for you--the proof for you, the proof for him.
It is a most remarkable coincidence, and here again fate comes in. Yes,
yes, there is a wonderful surprise for you."

While Ike was talking he could not keep his eyes off the face of the
lovely girl. Its changing expressions made her look wondrously
beautiful. He was charmed--charmed as he had never been charmed before
in all his life. We will not say yet that he had met his fate, but we
will say that he was in a very dangerous position.

Our hero finally persuaded Sara to go and prepare herself for the
street, and together they started to go to the home of the old miser.
When they arrived in front of the house the girl stood still; a shudder
passed over her delicate frame and she said:

"Must I enter that old miserable-looking house to meet my uncle?"

"Yes, but I am surprised. I do not understand your reluctance."

"Never mind. I must go and I will."

Ike led the way into the house. He had completed all his arrangements
for the meeting. He knew just what he was about. Once in the house he
led the fair girl into the parlor. There had been no cleaning done.
Everything was moldy, old and decaying as upon the night when Ike first
forced an entrance. The girl looked around in a disdainful manner, and
again Ike did not understand her mood. She did not appear even pleased
when he had thought she would be so delighted. He dusted off a chair,
bade her sit down and then he lit the gas; for there was gas in the old
house. After lighting the gas he went to the covered picture and said:

"Sara, look at this and tell me how old you were when you sat for this
picture."

As he spoke he removed the cover and the beautiful face of the old man's
dead daughter was revealed as pictured upon the canvas. It was a
beautiful painting, and the resemblance to the living girl who gazed
upon the face was marvelous. She did not speak--she could not speak. She
just gazed with all her eyes.

"This is something I did not promise to find," said Ike; "but it is the
proof that Mr. Sidney is your uncle. This is a portrait of his----"

Ike stopped short, and the girl gasped:

"Go on. Of whom?"

"Mr. Sidney's daughter--your cousin--the daughter whose place in his
affections you are to supply; for she is dead, and that is why he lives
the life which led people to believe that he was a miser. He is not a
miser, but a kind, generous, liberal man, and in finding your uncle for
you I have found one whom you can and will love."

Sara appeared to be completely overcome with astonishment.

"I do not understand it," she said.

Ike had told the story of the robbery. He proceeded and told the
previous history of Mr. Sidney, and when he had concluded he said:

"It's all very strange and wonderful. Indeed, mysterious are the ways of
Providence, but the most remarkable feature of this whole series of
incidents, Miss Sidney, is the fact that the portending denouement was
all brought about through two very mean and contemptible robberies. But
all's well that ends well, as I've often had occasion to say in the
past, and I wish you to meet your uncle."

Ike had no reason, however, to go and call the old miser, for there
occurred a most unexpected metamorphosis. Our hero had just concluded
the last remark above quoted when he chanced to turn, and there stood a
fine-looking old gentleman, clean shaved, his hair cut and his attire
perfect. Ike started in amazement, for despite the startling
metamorphosis he recognized Mr. Sidney. Sara also beheld the old man,
and she stood and gazed aghast.

For a few moments both stood and gazed at each other as though they were
looking upon a visitant from the grave. It was Mr. Sidney who broke the
silence. He said:

"Indeed you have brought to me my child from the grave. I need no
further proof. This is my niece."

Sara's voice was broken as she said:

"No, no, there is no call for proof. It is wonderful--it is wonderful!
It would appear that my father had come to me from his grave."

"My dear child, your father and I were twin brothers. Forty years ago we
quarreled. The quarrel was due to me. I have mourned your father long
before he went away to California, and now that he is dead this is more
than I deserve that he should have left as his legacy to me a child to
solace the remaining years of my life."

A little later Jack and Du Flore entered the room. Many explanations
followed and also a very enjoyable time.

Jack and Ike had performed several great feats, but later they were led
into another series of adventures together which we shall relate in
Number 50 of "OLD SLEUTH'S OWN," wherein our readers will learn the
thrilling romance of the life of Nimble Ike, the most wonderful
ventriloquist yet known in all the world, and also will be revealed the
secret of the mysterious box.


THE END.


NOTE.--Remember there are some charming stories in the back numbers of
"OLD SLEUTH'S OWN." Back numbers are always in print. When books are
ordered in advance they will be sent as soon as issued.




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Transcriber's Notes:


Italics represented with _underscores_. Bold represented with =equals
signs=.

Added table of contents.

Page 4, added missing comma after "60c."

Page 38, changed "had became enraged" to "had become enraged" and
"become angry" to "became angry."

Page 48, changed "mean time" to "meantime" for consistency.

Page 52, added missing open quotes to first two paragraphs on page.

Page 59, changed "starred" to "stared."

Page 61, changed "statemen" to "statement."

Page 65, changed "politicially" to "politically."

Page 74, changed "althugh" to "although."

Page 82, changed "aked" to "asked."

Page 85, changed "Burlgars" to "Burglars."

Page 96, changed "appeear" to "appear."





End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Twin Ventriloquists, by Old Sleuth

*** 