Nicholas Carter

“ Nick presently found the man, and his impression of the woman faded to utter insignificance. He discovered him in one end of the building, that nearest the river, evidently engaged in repairing a leather belt which hung over a wheel of part of the overhead machinery, and for a moment Nick was fairly startled by his appearance.
For Ardley was a giant in stature, a huge, hulky, red-featured man of about fifty, with a mop of hair that hung like a lion’s mane over his brow and ears. He was a type before which ordinary men wilt away to utter insignificance. ”

“ I am a pretty good judge of men, and there is something about your appearance that tells me that you are a newspaper man. Am I right, sir?”
Miggsy smiled graciously. “You are a good guesser, mister; I am on the Daily Bulletin,” he said, fervently hoping that the other would not inquire as to the specific nature of his duties.
“I knew it!” the good-looking man exclaimed triumphantly. “I can tell a brother scribe every time. Shake hands, old chap. I, too, am a newspaper man. My name is Gale—formerly of the New York Daily News, now of the Oldham Daily Chronicle.” ”

“ Nick smiled and knocked the ashes from his cigar.
“It is not very difficult to understand,” he replied, with patience unruffled. “There were two reasons for it, Mr. Langham.”
“Two reasons?”
“Yes. One, because the likeness between Chester Clayton and David Margate, or Doctor David Guelpa, in which character this exceedingly clever rascal then was posing, is a most extraordinary one. I doubt that two other persons could be found, not excluding the most perfect of twins, who look so precisely alike.” ”

“ All of this enlightening conversation was plainly heard by the listening detective. Mingled with the voices of the others, he occasionally heard those of Morley and Conroy, also the heavy tread of Dugan when he strode into the building, and Nick then knew that the entire gang was gathered there.
“So that is how it was accomplished,” he said to himself, when a momentary lull in the conversation followed Margate’s last remark. “That’s why the milk is in the coconut. But don’t get gay too quickly, you rascals, for you may throw a shoe.” ”

“ Nick looked up through the opening and saw the malevolent face of the rascal, also the gleam of light from the revolver aimed down at him.
“Take your hand from your pocket,” Margate sternly added. “Make sure it’s empty when you draw it out, too, or you’ll hear something drop.”
Nick removed his hand from his pocket.
“I already have heard something drop, Margate,” he coolly answered, leaning against one of the plank walls.
“You’re lucky to be alive after it,” returned Margate, with a malicious leer.
“I’m not the kind that dies easy,” Nick retorted. ”

“ I don’t mind admitting to you that the Bulletin’s treasury is in none too flourishing a condition just now. We are obliged to turn over every cent before we decide to spend it.”
“I don’t want anything out of the Bulletin’s treasury,” the girl said. “The price of these pictures, Fred, is the forgiveness and reinstatement of Miggsy.”
Carroll’s face grew grim. “Nothing doing,” he said firmly. “I’ve no use for traitors. What that young scamp did shows that he is thoroughly vicious. You can’t reasonably expect me to take him back, Melba.” ”

“ Miggsy decided that candor would be his best course. After all, there was a chance that he might be able to convince this nice young man that notwithstanding his painful youth and his lack of actual experience, he was quite competent to cover police for the Chronicle.
“I’m afraid I ain’t quite as old as I look, Mr. Gale,” he began diffidently.
“That doesn’t matter,” was the reassuring response. “Age is of no consequence. It is ability that counts, Mr. Miggles.” ”

“ When he had finished, Melba Gale’s pretty face was very grim. Her hands were clenched tightly and her eyes flashed.
“It’s an outrage!” she exclaimed. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Miggsy, for doing Mr. Carroll such a bad turn; but I realize that you were strongly tempted by those who have far more cause to feel ashamed of themselves; so I am going to ask Mr. Carroll to give you another chance.” ”

“ You are not too busy, I hope.”
“Too busy!” Ardley echoed the words with a fierce, derisive snarl. “I ain’t busy only with this cussed belt. That can wait. Sure you can talk with me, Mr. Hudson.”
“Good enough.”
“I’m never too busy to talk along with a gentleman. Important business, eh? What’s it all about? Sit there, Mr. Hudson.”
Ardley, with his sonorous voice rolling forth more heartily, as deep and full as the bellow of a bull, pointed to a cheap wooden chair, near which the detective was standing.
Nick accepted the invitation unsuspiciously. ”

“ His huge figure struck a small door at that end of the building. It broke from its hinges, and the crash of it was mingled with that of the ruffian himself when both struck the floor.
Patsy did not hesitate for an instant.
“Hands up!” he yelled, striding toward the startled group. “I’ve got bullets for all, and I’ll drop the first who reaches for a gun.”
Margate did not reach for a gun. He had been struck by Ardley when the latter fell, and he was within a foot of the broken door. He moved like a flash and darted through it.
“Hang him!” thought Patsy. “The worst of the bunch.” ”

“ Toulon stared like a man nonplused.
“Nick Carter there?” he gasped. “Drown him like a rat? But that will be murder. It means——”
“Never mind what it means, you milk-and-water monkey!” Margate fiercely cut in. “I know what it means if we let him live. I’ll wipe this cursed dick out of my path, if it’s the last thing I do in this world. Throw the lever, Ardley! Throw the lever and drown the infernal sleuth!”
Patsy Garvan was in the building before the last was said. ”

“ Nick glanced at him and remarked:
“This is a fine river, Mr. Dugan, from which a good deal of power must be derived. I see there are a number of mills farther up the stream and nearer the town. Sawmills, aren’t they?”
“Yes, sir, they are,” nodded Dugan.
“What’s that nearest one, that having a sign on top?”
“That’s not a sawmill. The man who runs that place works over old rubber and culls out the best of it. He makes it into rubber tubes and pipes.”
“What’s that name on the sign?”
“Ardley,” said Dugan unsuspiciously. “His name is Ben Ardley.” ”

“ Chick cried approvingly. “It is, indeed, a pleasure to serve such a girl.”
“This is not all,” Nick added. “Take it from me, Chick, we shall find another scrap of veil before going vary far. Since she was thoughtful enough to drop one scrap, and able to accomplish it without being detected, she would not stop with that. We shall, unless I am much mistaken, find others along the road.”
“The trail of the blue veil,” cried Chick. “That would show us the way. Let’s hurry on.” ”

“ Chick saw his design and pursued him, whipping out a revolver. At the same moment he caught sight of Patsy Garvan and the cornered gang through the broken door. Without pausing, he yelled at the top of his lungs:
“Keep them covered, Patsy. I’ll get this other rat.”
Patsy heard him and recognized his voice. It was like sweet music, too, in Patsy’s ears. He felt, then, that he could have held up a regiment.
Margate had a considerable start on the detective, and he already had cast off the launch and was cranking the motor wheel when Chick approached the bank. ”

“ Chick saw Nick approaching and caught the ominous gleam in his expressive eyes.
“What’s up?” he asked quietly, hastily meeting him.
Nick now said what he really thought.
“That devil has got in his work again.”
“Not Margate?”
“I fear so. Both bride and groom are missing.”
“The deuce you say!”
“Nothing could have been pulled off, however, under the eyes of this mob on the steps and veranda. Slip around to the side door and see what you can learn,” Nick hurriedly directed. “Keep your eyes open and nail any one acting suspiciously. Get word to Patsy and send him to the rear door. ”

“ He had arrived just in time to see Jane Ardley come out of the back door of the house, from which she walked away several yards, and then turned to gaze up intently at an attic window, so intently and for so long a time, in fact, that Chick naturally gazed in the same direction, wondering what occasioned her interest.
He then saw that the attic window was closely curtained. He could see, too, that the curtain evidently was held in place with several wooden slats running across it and nailed to the casing.
“By Jove, that window is barred,” he said to himself. ”

“ Gale smiled. “Yes, my father does own the Chronicle,” he said simply. “I have come to help him run the sheet. We are going to introduce a lot of improvements, and run the paper on the lines of a New York daily. By the way, Mr.—er—Mr. ——” He paused inquiringly.
“Miggles,” said the boy. “Mister Charles Miggles.”
“Thank you! By the way, Mr. Miggles, one of our first changes will be to enlarge our reportorial staff. My father has asked me to get him some good men. How would you like to work for the Chronicle?”
Miggsy could scarcely believe that he was not dreaming. ”

“ Gale was somewhat discouraged, but suddenly he brightened up. “Well, here’s another suggestion, captain,” he said. “Why not try what bribery will do? The Bulletin’s photo-engraving plant is run by a fellow named Neilson. What’s the matter with sending somebody to see him, and offer him a good price to hand over the negatives and destroy the cuts?”
Callman nodded approvingly. “That sounds much better. But are you sure that the man can be bribed?”
“Pshaw! Every man has his price,” was the cynical reply. “And I don’t suppose this Neilson hates money more than most of us.” ”

“ But the fact that she recognized him as Fred Carroll’s office boy, who had on several occasions been the bearer of missives from that young man to her, added greatly to her interest.
“Why, Miggsy,” she exclaimed, stepping up to the grief-stricken lad. “What is the matter?”
The weeping boy removed his knuckles from his eyes long enough to learn the identity of his fair interrogator.
“I want to die!” he wailed. “I’ve queered meself with the Bulletin, and I’ve been handed a lemon by the Chronicle. I want to die. It ain’t no use livin’ any more.” ”

“ Gale received this admission with a pleasant smile. “Lack of experience isn’t of much consequence, either, Mr. Miggles,” he said. “As a matter of fact, we prefer to take on green reporters and train them to our ways. So don’t let those things worry you, old man.”
Miggsy’s face lighted up at these words. “All right, then,” he cried eagerly. “If that’s the case, I’m on.”
With a smile of satisfaction, Gale hurriedly led the boy to the Chronicle Building, and bade him wait in the editorial room while he went in to have a short preliminary talk with his father in the latter’s private office. ”