Old Sleuth

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ The exclamation with which we open our narrative fell from the lips of Nimble Ike, one of the most remarkable [Pg 6] 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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." ”

“ Burglars are not all vulgar, rough men. Some of them are rascals possessing æsthetic 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 [Pg 86] with criminals and believed that he had fallen to one, a romance of a peculiarly exceptional character. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 [Pg 50] 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." ”

“ He then returned to the station, muttering as he went:
"It will be great luck if we capture both burglars and [Pg 87] 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." ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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?" ”

“ 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. ”