A BOLD GAME.

Northland Age, Volume VI, Issue 34, 18 April 1910, Page 7

A BOLD GAME.

(Copyright.)

• ONE OF THE MOST STARTLING MYSTERIES OF CARTER’S EXPERIENCES. ♦ fiy the Author of "Caught in Their Own Trap,” "The King of Smugglers," Etc., Etc. raßT~"io. As Arden left the house by the front door, Nick also left it by the tide exit, and fell in behind him as the knave started down the street. He knew that Arden would not look back, nor give any sigu that he expected or feared he might be shadowed. If this was an invitation party, a sort of spider-and-rty game, as Nick now felt certain it was, he knew that he could follow Arden without any marked display of caution, and that the latter would be only too well pleased at observing the detective on the trail. Nick therefore exercised only just enough care to prevent this miscreant from suspecting him of any deeper design. Arden returned by the way of the Elevated Kailway, and crossed to Williamsburg by the Grand-street ferry. Nick was his constant attendant, sometimes near, sometimes more removed, and not once did Arden appear to observe him, or evince the slightest sign of one apprehensive of being followed. On approaching that low district which was the scene of that morning however, bis conduct underwent a change. He looked about in all directions, as if to make sure he was not observed, then dived abruptly into an alley leading to a yard near the head of one of the piers. Nick instantly emerged from the door of a tobacco store into which he had dodged and started in pursuit. "The cur is playing his game all right." he said to himself. "He now implies that he wants to escape notice, yet he knows well enough that lam after him. I’d better be ready for what is going to happen DOW." The alley led to a yard, and on emerging into this Nick caught sight of his game just disappearing between two of the pier sheds and making for the dock on the opposite ilde. It then was after seven o’clock. Labourers had returned home, the pier itself was deserted, and, so far as Nick could have told, he and ArJen were the only living beings in the immediate neighbourhood. Dusk was already approaching, and within another half hour the gloom ■>f night would fall over the dismal scene.

Arden now doubled on himself and Increased his speed, and yet not once did he look behind him. Returning up the pier on the opposite side from that which he had come down, he kept well under the wall of the sheds, and finally gained an aperture in a high fence, through which he quickly vanished. This, as nearly as he could tell as he approached, Nick decided, led into a small rear yard of a low house fronting on the street above. Without hesitation, yet ready at any moment to ward off a blow at his head with a club, Nick slipped through the hole in the fence and entered the yard. As he did so there sounded from some quarter which he could not then determine one long, shrill, piercing whistle that might have been the noise of some street urchin, a wharf rat, or the call of seme boatman on the rear river. But it sent through Nick, at least, a thrill of satisfaction like that of ronscious triumph. "Chick, by all that’s good and great ! " was the thought that flashed on his mind. The sound had scarcely died away on the evening air, however, before the expected ocourred. So suddenly he could scarcely tell whence it came, a rope fell over his head and about his neck, and wa9 instantly drawn tight by the hands of a man behind him. At the same moment Arden sprang from an outhouse near by thrusting a revolver directly under Nick's nose and hissing, sharply : "Up with your hands, butler, or I'll shoot ! Not a sound, mind you ! **

The ruffian who held Nick from behind was Joey Kennedy, who had silently followed the detective through the fence, almost close behind him. Though half-choked by the rope, Nick at once raised his hands and replied to Arden : "Don't shoot ! I’ll squeal ! For God’s sake, don't shoot !" But for the whistle Nick had heard he might have put up an entirely different kind of argument. As it was, he foresaw the finish of these scoundrels, without the need of taking the hazard of a ball in his own heart or a knife between his ribs.

"Drop your arms to your side !’* hissed Arden, with his countenance now depicting all the evil in his nature. "Do what I command or you will not live to repent a refusal ! ’’ "Oh, I throw up the sponge ! *’ growled Nick, instantly lowering his Arms. "Any fool might see you have the best of me now." i “Now and for ever ! ’’ sneered Arden, with the weapon still pressed to the detective’s head. "Make him fast, Joey ! "

I "You leave that to me, lad ! If be slips a knot o’ mine he’s welcome to tie the 1 me round my own neck.” "I*ll have one there soon enough." muttered Nick while being securely bound. - i "You see, Jimmie, lad," said Joe, '"he’s now showing his true colours. I told you 'twas ten to one the new butler was a detective. Rip off this wig from bis block and I’ll bet you’ll find "Oh, you’ll find Nick Carter !" Nick himself curtlv interposed. "It Jb about time we came down to a dead level with one another, you dogs, and I’ll save you the trouble of spoiling my wig. I may need it again for the likes of you." "It is Nick Carter ! " said Arden, •with a terrible look on his face.

"Run him into the house, Joey. We will settle with him there. I’ll fix the board in the fence."

Without resistance, JJick allowed himself to be led into the house by the back door, and Kennedy grimly signed for him to take a seat in the kitchen.

He had barely complied when Jimmie Arden also entered and threw off his coat and hat, closing and securing the door behind him. Mingled with the satisfaction and vengeful triumph in his evil face there was that look of desperation which men wear who feel themselves hunted to the death and who know that by murder only can they avert their own downfall. "Strike a light, Joey," he said, hoarsely as he locked the door. "It’s light enough, you fool," replied the cracksman with a growl of grim disapproval. "We don’t need a light for the work we have in hand. If there’s no light within, we’re dead sure no eye from outside can spy on what we’re doing." "I guess you’re right. Yet I’d have liked one more look at this famous sleuthhound. I reckon you’ve run down the wrong game this time, you infernal trickster." Yet it was by no means dark in the dingy room. Through the dirty back window the fading daylight still was shed, giving the room the appearance of twilight. Arden swung round with his last words, and glared at Nick, who sat motionless in the chair he had taken.

"Not the wrong game, to my way of thinking," Nick coolly retorted. "The right game, as I have felt tolerably sure from the first. All I wanted was the whole chain of evidence, and now I have it."

"Much good it will do you," sneered Arden, acting as if’tempted to deal him a blow on the face. "We’ll see." '&£» "You’ll never live to see ! "

"Is that so ! " "I once told you that I'd wipe out of my path any one who came in my way." "Yes, I remember it." "And I will do it."

"I am still on earth," retorted Nick, significantly. "But not for long, you dog ! You will sleep to night under the waters of the East River."

“Well, the sheet’ll be damp, but I ought to sleep soundly." "We’ll make sure that you do. never fear that. And you’ll not sleep alone either." "Fishes ? "

"No. A woman !" hissed Arden, with a fierce display of bitter triumph. "I will teach you to play a butler, # and her to spy upon me. You may enjoy your night in company. It may prove as profitable as your last night’s work together." "So you have hor here also," returned Nick, not sorry that the scoundrel’s vicious satisfaction was given words. "I thought as much." "And no doubt flattered yourself that I should not tumble to your game," snarled Asden. " Let me alone for that, Nick Carter. I think you now have found that I am your peer in craft." "I can tell better at the finish, Jimmie Arden,” said the detective, drily. "Up to the present time I am very well satisfied that I have the best of you.” "Well,” cried Arden, striding nearer, "there’ll be no future time for you. I give you my word I’ll make sure of that." "Is that so ? ” "You’ll find it so."

"And when does this little performance come off ? "

"Children and fools arc put to bed at dark."

’Ah, then the time draws near." 'You’ll find

"Oh, dry up this talk, Jimmie," interrupted Kennuly, with a growl of disapDroval. "You’ve nothing to win by it, and you might lose. We’ve yet to Brake ready." "Set about it," cried Arden, sharply. "I’m ready when you are." There was not a word spoken in the next five minutes.

Both of the ruffians fell upon Nick, and with another piece of line secured his feet and legs much as if he were about to be hanged.

The detective surveyed their operations with a grim look on his face, but offered no resistance. Yet he wondered what Chick was then about.

That he had followed Kennedy from Blaney’s store and that he would show up in time to prevent any further tragedy, Nick had not a doubt. For he knew by the whistle that Chick had seen him shadowing Jimmie Arden, and must know that he was now in this scrape.

Having bound Nick’s feet, the cracksman next forced a gag into his mouth, and bound it with a handkerchief.

Then Arden threw’ open a trap in the floor, and disclosed a short flight of stairs leading down to a cellar. "Roll him down, Joey,” he growled.

This Kennedy did, without the least compunction, and Nick went bowling down the stairs to a clay floor below. Then the trap was dropped with a bang and the detective found himself in total darkness. CHAPTER XXII. THE TABLES TURNED. Except a bruise here and there, Nisk was uninjured by his fall down the cellar stairs. Bound as he was, however, and landing flat on his face, the experience was far frpm agreeable. But he had solace in the fact that he now had all the evidence that he had been seeking, and in the belief that he soon should break better than even with the scoundrels. The cellar into which he had been cast was damp, with pools of water standing in places, much as if the fridc at times worked in, and not a solitary ray of light broke the Egyptian darkness As he rolled over to bring his face out of the wet clay, there came to his ears a sound a few feet away, like that of some person in distress. Nick instantly guessed the truth. "The governess,” he said to himself. "She, too, is confined here. It is a safe bet that they mean to drown us both after dark. I wonder is she, too, is gagged ; or if His train of thought was interrupted by another sound from the same direction. It was as if the

woman was working ner way towards him over the floor, and then the question Nick had asked himself was answered

He heard her voice speaking in a whisper and knew she was not gagged. "Who are you ?” she added, "and where ? "

Nick gave a low groan, which conveyed the information desired, or a part of it. The next moment he felt Nellie Green’s arm pressing upon him but her awkwardness told him that she, too, was bound with a rope. "Who are you ? " she asked, bending nearly over him. Nick worked himself up to a sitting posture, and gave his head a violent shake. She seemed to understand him. "Ah, you are gagged," she said, softly. "What need of that, the fools ? You wouldn’t be heard from here if you Veiled your lungs out. Are you the butler from the Blaneys’ house? If so, give me some sign.” Nick gave a grunt which, under the circumstances, easily passed for an affirmative.

"I understand you to mean yes," whispered Nellie. "And are you Nick Carter, the detective ? "

Nick gave another grunt. "Good enough !" muttered the woman. "I’m glad of that. We’ll fool those fiends yet. lam ready to confess the whole business and take my medicine, providing I can ring them in for the same dose. Turn your head this way, so that I may try and loosen the gag." Nick instantly lowed in such a way that she, by rising to her knees—for her hands were secured behind her—could with her teeth get at the knot in the handkerchief which was tied, behind. It was awkward work under the circumstances, yet not exceedingly difficult, and at the end of three or four minutes Nick felt the bond loosen and then give way. It enabled him to expel the obstruction from his mouth, and he breathed a sigh of relief and said, softly : "Good for you ! I’ll not forget it. You have grit and perseverance, if you have nothing else." "I have enough else, if I could get free from here." "How long have you been here?" "Since morning." "I suspected it. Do you know what sent Arden to Blaney’s house this afternoon ? " "Of course, I do. I heard him and Kennedy plan the thing before they pitched me down this infernal cellar." "Tell me." "Kennedy tumbled at once to the fact that the butler who had betrayed Arden, which I was fool enough to disclose, must be a detective, and most likely you." "I see." “Then they decided that you prebably had not disclosed any of your suspicions, and that you would aim to locate them." "Yes." "Arden then took the chance that you would follow him here, if "I see it all now," interposed Nick, "I suspected before, but I am not sorry to have it from your own lips. You see, you are willing to turn State’s evidence if you can convict them ? "

"More than willing." "I hardly ought to accept it for I myself have sufficient evidence against them ; but there are some things in your favour lately, and I’ll do what I can to lighten your sentence, providing I land the lot of you."

"That’s all I’ll ask of you," said Nellie eagerly. "Will you do what you can to help me get out of here ? " "I will ! Indeed, I will 1” Nick did not much anticipate requiring her help and he asked the question only to sound her and to justify himself in the lenity he had promised.

"Turn round, with your hack to mine, so that I can reach the knots in the rope with which you are bound,” he commanded. "I’M see if I can loosen them and set you free."

"If you can I’ll do the same for you,” Nellie softly cried, working into the position named. "Meanwhile we may continue talking," said Nick, at once setting to work.

‘I want you to tell me all ‘I will do so."

"Who is Kennedy ? ” "His name is Joe Kennedy. He came from Australia six months ago."

"Oh, ho ! If I mistake not he is wanted for burglary and murder in Melbourne." "He is the man." "And who is Jimmie Arden ? " "To my eternal shame and undoing my own husband. He has already done time in the West. I was a respectable girl and well educated, and did not know what he was when I married him, but I discovered soon enough." "And since then you have stuck to him ? "

"Yes, hut I have been a fool to do so. lam not naturally inclined to vice and crime."

Nick could believe this. While at Blaney’s house he had seen in the woman indications of an early life of refinement and he could now guess what this Jimmie Arden had done for her. It was an old story, and Nick, whose kindly disposition for the unfortunate is proverbial, felt sorry for her.

"So Arden does not come from England ?’’ he said, inquiringly. "He never saw England except on a map,” said Nellie, contemptuously "His right name is George Green.” "Humph ! Is that so ? ”

"It is true, sir. I was in Boston when these two men met, and they sent for me to come here. They had planaed the scheme which you—Ah, you have it untied.”

"Yes,” said Nick, as he finally broke away the knot at the woman’s wrists. "Now you are free." « "Wait a bit now, until I get behind you," she whispered. “I will do as much for you. Have you a knife ? "

"I had one, but Arden relieved me of that and my revolver." "No doubt. Never mind. I*ll accomplish it with my fingers or tear the nails off."

"Meanwhile go on with your confession," said Nick. "What was this scheme ? "

Working hard ar Nick's bonds—a work rendered doubly difficult by the darkness—Nellie Green readily continued.

"It was a scheme to do Blaney out of one hundred thousand dollars," she replied. “Kennedy knew of a man then in Australia, named Jimmie Arden, who had just come from South Africa with a lot of diamonds. This suggested the scheme, for Kennedy knew the man’s history, and so posted my husband that he could assume his identity. They did this in case of any slip-up, which might arouse suspicions leading to inquiries at Scotland Yard concerning Arden.” "I have cabled there.” "Is that so ? You found they reported as Jimmie stated ? " “Precisely.”

“Yes, of course. That was Kennedy’s idea, the taking of Arden’s name.”

“As a matter of fact, then, they had no diamonds."

“None at all, sir. They enticed a clerk at Blaney’s store into the scheme, and he provided the stones out of the jeweller's own stock long enough for Arden to deceive Blaney and get ” “I Gan guess the rest of it," interposed Nick. “What is the name of the clerk ? " “Frank Magee." "Still in the store ? " "Yes, sir." “Now about the burglary. Did you let them into the house ? ” “I did." “Kennedy and your husband ? " “Yes.” “Any other ?” "No." "Who shot Henshaw the butler ? " "I did, sir. I did it in a moment of intense excitement, and fear of failure and arrest."

"It is bad for you just the same." "I have said lam ready to take my medicine, providing”— “I think the provision will be all right,” Nick dryly interposed. "Ah, you have started the knot." "Yes,” Nellie quickly whispered. “Bend your arms a little, so as to ease the line. That’s better.” For five more minutes the woman worked upon the knots as if her very life depended upon her success. Their talk had occupied less than a quarter of an hour, and at times during the interval the heavy tread of the men on the floor above could he plainly heard.

But the work in the cellar was uninterrupted. At the end of another five minutes Nick’s hands were free. To free his feet was then a comparatively easy task. Yet the last rope had scarcely been cast off when Nick heard the kitchen door opened, and then the tread of the men in the gravel of the hack yard. The fact that he could hear from outside so plainly led him to suspect that the cellar was provided with an entrance from the yard. Helping Nellie to her feet, he hade her remain near the stairs.

Then he went up and tried the trap in the floor. It was secured with holts above, and resisted his efforts to force it. Returning down the stairs, Nick next examined that side of the cellar adjoining the back yard. He found what he expected.

Three or four stone steps led up to a slanting bulkhead door, inclined at an angle from the wall of the house. Nick paused there a few moments and listened. Though he heard no voices at first, the sounds made by the scoundrels moving about the yard reached his ears.

Then he heard the splash of an oar in the river, and then the grating of a boat’s nose against the wharf beyond the rear fence of the yard. “They mean business, surely enough,” he said to himself.

As if to corroborate his impression, the growl of the English cracksman now reached his ears.

Evidently the burglar had secured the boat to the wharf, and had returned to the yard by the hack gate. “Got the rocks together ? ” he asked.

‘.‘Yes,” replied Arden. “All we shall require.” “Have enough,” growled Kennedy. “Once under water, those two fools must never show at the surface again.”

“I should say not, Joey. I’ll get a few more, and make dead sure.” Nick went hack and rejoined Nellie. “They have a boat out there, and are collecting rocks with which to sink us in the river," he said, quietly. “That so ? " replied Nellie with a coldness that startled him. "I fancy we can now give them a fight. I wish to goodness I had my revolver."

“Feel about here, and see if you can find a club of any kind or a stone."

“I’ll take one side. You try the other."

The nerve of the woman pleased Nitk. Though she surely realised that death was staring her in the face she spoke as composedly as a girl ordering a pint of milk. Before they had fairly begun their search, however, the ruffians approached the cellar door. The next moment the bolts were shot, and the trap thrown open. Nick darted to Nellie’s side and warned her to be silent.

A faint light was thrown down the stone steps, and against the background of starry sky the figures of the two men about to enter were plainly revealed. “Come on,” growled Kennedy. “Lend a hand and we’ll lug ’em out.”

“The woman must be gagged.** "I’ll see to that.” And Kennedy started down the steps. Nick waited till he reached the cellar. Then with a bound like that of a lion, the detective was upon him. His hand, with knuckles like a cluster of iron knots, shot straight out from his shoulder. It caught the cracksman fairly on the jaw, hut the head and jaw of Joey Kennedy were like iron also. Though he went down under the awful blow, a roar was mingled with the crash of his fall. "By thunder, they’re loose ! ” he cried. Nick did not wait for him to rise

for he saw Arden, at the top of the steps, draw his revolver. With a bound up the three or four stones, Nick landed a blow in the pit of the miscreant’s stomach, doubling him over like a jack-knife. Then he caught him bodily, raised him clear of his feet and hurled him squarely at the ruffian now rushing up the steps. Their collision was something terrible, for Nick Garter’s power at such a moment is not to be described. It can he likened only to the frenzied strength of a madman, a fury resistless and overwhelming. Before they could recover, Nellie Green had darted by and over them, and joined Nick in the yard. Nick instantly slammed down the cellar door, and shot the bolt.

At the same moment a cheery voice rang out behind him. "Well done, old man ! " it cried. "You have them in their own trap ! Little need, however, for I’m here at the finish.”

Nick swung round like a flash. Chick stood laughing gleefully not six feet away. And through the hole in the fenoe and from the alley leading in from the street, the yard was fast filling with blue-coated officers of the city police. Nick thrust out his hand.

"Good boy !” he cried, heartily, and as coolly as if they were sitting at breakfast. “I heard your signal, and I knew you’d he on hand.” "I’d have taken a hand sooner,” laughed Chick, "only I wasn’t dead sure of your own game, or what you had learned, and I didn’t want to spoil any of your plans.” “You have done just right, Chick. You located this place, through the visit of one of the dogs to Blaney’s store ? " “Precisely Nick.”

“I knew it. Lend a hand here, officers, and we’ll have the scoundrels out.” A roar sounded through the closed cellar door.

It came from Joey Kennedy. “By Heaven, I’ll shoot the first who shows himself down here ! ” he thundered, fiercely. Nick approached the door. “Hark you ! ” he cried. “Unless you surrender, I’ll order every man here to shoot into the cellar. I’ll give you one moment to decide.” The threat operated admirably.

Before the minute was up, both of the scoundrels had signified their readiness to yield and be taken out.

And about an hour later both men, with Nellie Green, were safely lodged in prison. Their capture was quickly followed by that of Frank Magee, who was arrested at his lodgings and the whole gang were then safely lodged in custody. Before midnight Jack Blaney’s release was obtained by Nick, and the young man was sent to his home, made wiser no doubt by his experience and the lesson he had learned. It may he said in conclusion that the promise Nick had made Jack Blaney’s lady friend was punctiliously kept, and her little indiscretion never leaked out.

With the exception of Nellie Green, the participants in the curious felony planned and the crimes committed went to prison for a long term of years and to this day are behind the bars.

Though given a life sentence for her part in the crime, Nellie Green was, at the end of five years liberated. This she owed to a complete reformation of character and to Nick’s intercession in her behalf. She at once entered a convent, and her life is now devoted entirely to religious work and to charity. Part of the ten thousand dollars lent by Blaney was recovered, and so the curious case ended. For the part Nick Carter had taken in it there is one gentle girl at least, who cherishes an undying admiration. This is Rose Blaney. i THE END.