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 lakeand her beautiful face was revealed. The man who had been shadowing herhad a chance to observe her beauty. Ike had his eye upon the man andarrived at a conclusion. He concluded from the expression on thefellow's face that he was a villain and meant the beautiful girl nogood. He was very handsomely dressed, wore diamonds of the biggest sortand altogether appeared like an individual whom a young girl would havegood reason to fear.
"Jack," said our hero, "that fellow is a bad one. He means the girl nogood."
We write girl, for the veiled lady was but a mere girl, as revealed whenher veil was removed. She had only removed her face covering for amoment. The man advanced toward her and the lads stepped closer, hidingin the shrubbery to the rear of the rustic seat where the girl hadplaced 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 movedon, but he said:
"It's so strange. You are a perfect picture of the lady I know as MissGalt."
"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 approachednearer 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? Areyou really not Miss Galt?"
The girl started to move away, when the man looked around furtively andthen boldly approached. The girl was terrified. She attempted to scream,when the man actually grasped her arm. She was paralyzed with fear; shecould not scream. Her eyes expressed her terror, her face became deathlypale, and no one can tell what might have occurred if at that criticalmoment 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 slenderyouths, and evidently concluded that with but little effort he couldtoss 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 serviceto the two handsome youths who had interfered in her behalf. In a fewmoments, however, she learned that they did not need any assistance.These two young wonders were perfectly capable of taking care of the biginsulter 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 acontemptible 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 hisheels. He leaped in the air and turned quickly, but there was no dogthere. He supposed the fierce animal had skipped away, and with an oathhe advanced another step toward the laughing and jeering lads, whenagain the dog barked savagely at his heels, and again he leaped in theair, 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 arush, when seemingly there came a gruff voice behind him, preceded by ashrill whistle.
"Hold on there! what are you about?"
The man thought that indeed a park policeman was at hand. He turned. Hewas standing near the edge of the water, for the ventriloquists hadpurposely changed their own position so as to draw him down in thatdirection. As he turned Ike ran forward head first and made a clear divestraight 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 andover they rolled him toward the water. At this instant the ladyinterfered, but her protest came too late. The man was rolled into thewater about waist deep, and the water restored his strength, and therefollowed a mighty floundering as he struggled toward the shore. The boysroared with laughter. The man crawled out and made a rush for them, whenagain the dog barked at his heels, and he made a leap in the air; and ashe turned and saw no dog, terror seized him, and a sudden impulse, foraway he ran like a deer, all wet and dripping as he was. Then Ikeadvanced toward the veiled girl and said:
"Excuse us, miss, but he got just what he deserved. We saw him seize youand 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, asthough 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 oftheir 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 twobright-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 youcannot 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 sheglanced back at the lake and both the youths were convinced that she hadreally 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; mymother has been dead for a long time. My father knew he was to die, ashe had an incurable disease, and he gave me all his savings, convertedeverything he had into cash and placed it in my hands, and when it camenear 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 forthirty years. 'My brother may still be living; if so he will be yourfriend and protector, and you will not be dependent upon him, as youwill have
five thousand dollars.'
"After my father's death I remained in San Francisco a year to completemy education, and then I started for New York. The money I had changedinto non-registered bonds, and I put them in my trunk. I arrived in NewYork a week ago and went to a place to board that had been recommendedto me by a friend in San Francisco. Last night I opened my trunk to lookat the bonds and discovered to my horror that they were gone. I at onceinformed the landlady, who told me she could do nothing, that she knewnothing about my bonds. She evidently did not believe my story. Shelooks upon me as a swindler. I saw in this morning's paper the name of alawyer. I called upon him to consult him, but first I went to thecaptain 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. Hesaid 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. Theyhave been stolen, and in claiming them I am losing my reputation. I amlooked upon as a swindler myself. I tell you the truth. I did have thebonds and they have been stolen from me. I am ruined. No one willbelieve me. You do not believe my story."
"Yes, I do believe your story," said Ike, "and we will recover yourbonds."
"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 inthat house. The landlady refuses to believe my story; the captain ofpolice refuses to believe my story, and the lawyer to whom I went andoffered 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 whocan aid you in recovering them. One would have to know you to believeyour 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 wewill 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 mytrunk 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 allmy valuables were in my trunk."
Jack looked at Ike in a dubious sort of way, for the story was becomingquite odd. Ike, however, believed the tale. He said:
"It's hard luck to lose all that way, but you shall have it returned toyou."
"I don't know what I shall do."
"Did you tell any one else in the house about your loss save thelandlady?"
"No, I have not said one word to any one else, and the landlady told menot to do so."
Ike was thoughtful a moment and then said:
"I will find your bonds. In the meantime I believe it well for youtemporarily 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 yourcomfort."
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 observanteyes, 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 greatdetective. She will be willing to wait for her pay until you recoveryour 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 yourfriend before you take up your home with her."
Ike had organized a great scheme. He was satisfied in his own mind thatthe 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. Heheld 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 youchoose to the captain of police and he shall vouch for my honor andloyalty."
"It is not necessary," said the girl, who was really bright andself-reliant. "My name is Sara Sidney."
"Miss Sidney," said our hero, "we will go to the home of the lady whereI propose that you shall board while I am conducting the hunt for yourmissing bonds. You can satisfy yourself of her respectability before youremove to her home."
The girl hesitated.
"You need not hesitate. I will not only find your bonds, but I will findyour uncle for you if he still be living, or his sons or daughters incase 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 dutyto 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 houseof the lady where he proposed she should remain. The moment Sara wasintroduced to the lady the latter won the girl's confidence, and ourhero left his charge with his friend, and the latter arranged to go withSara and have her trunk removed. Meantime Ike met his comrade Jack, andthe latter said:
"Well, Ike, I yield the palm to you. Yes, sir, you are the mostobservant and quickest person I ever met. I thought I was great, but youare the greatest fellow on earth, in my opinion."
"Well, it is strange how we chanced to fall to this girl, so beautifuland so helpless."
"Yes, she is beautiful, and I will say that there are thousands ofundeveloped romances in New York at this very moment."
"Yes, that is true; if a man desires to get into an adventure of astrange 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 hisface.
"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 apeculiar 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'sright 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 ofintroduction, called at the house where Sara Sidney had been robbed, andhe succeeded in engaging board. He pretended to be an art student, andthe first night he appeared at the dinner table he glanced around totake in the general appearance of his fellow board
ers. He was just thelad to measure human faces. He had questioned Sara very particularlyabout her fellow boarders in the house, and he was well posted when hesat down to the table, after the usual introduction in a general way.The people he found to be the usual representative class that one findsin a city boarding-house. There was the doctor who occupied the rearparlor, a lawyer, two lady typewriters, one a creature who knew it allfrom A to Z. There were in all about twenty people in the house. Ikewent over them all. He studied in his quiet, cute way every face, anddid not see one person whom he was led to suspect, and the sequel willprove how unerring was his facial study of those people. When the mealwas about half through there came bouncing into the room a young man. Hewas a bold-faced, bumptious sort of a chap, and as he took his seat heran 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 thequestion.
"She gave no reason."
"Where has she gone?"
"I do not know."
"I must find out," said the youth. "I was greatly taken with MissSidney; 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 youngman gave a start, turned pale and asked in a voice that trembledperceptibly:
"Who says she was robbed?"
At that moment the landlady returned to the room. She saw that somethinghad gone wrong.
"What is the matter?" she asked.
No one answered, and there followed a moment's awkward silence, brokenat length by the bumptious young man, who said:
"Some one stated that Miss Sidney left here because she had beenrobbed."
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 shehad been robbed."
"I said so."
The voice appeared to come from the old maid typewriter, and thelandlady at once exclaimed:
"Miss Gaynor, did you state that Miss Sidney left here because she wasrobbed?"
"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 andthe 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 wouldcome 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 feetand 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 ladytypewriter 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 atall."
"What is all this ado about, anyhow?" came a voice. "Mr. Goodlove knowsbetter than any one else that Miss Sidney was robbed; why does hepretend 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 isan adventuress and a blackmailer. She told me she had been robbed andshe really wanted to work upon my sympathies. She did not possessanything 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 alovely girl and that you were very much taken with her. Well, I reckonyou did take."
"Who spoke?" demanded Goodlove.
"Oh, you know who spoke, and you know more about this whole affair thanany 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 hadaddressed him.
"No, she didn't accuse any one; you have accused yourself. You wereseen, 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 greatmystery was who did the talking. No one appeared to know and there wasgreat confusion, and it was because of the confusion that no oneappeared 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 intocollapse.
The most mysterious part of it all was the fact that no one knew who wasdoing the talking. The people looked into each other's faces and couldnot discern, and yet the voice sounded distinct and clear. Some one wastalking. Who was it?
During all this time Ike was as mute as an owl after dawn. He lookedaround with an inquiring and surprised look upon his face, seemingly asgreatly 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 feelingpervaded those who had been witnesses and listeners during the strangescene. One after the other they rose and left the table and the room.Goodlove and Ike remained. The fellow looked over at Ike sharply andsaid:
"Say, my friend, did you notice who used the insulting language?"
The voice was again heard. It appeared to come from the hall and thewords were:
"That young man does not know anything about it. Don't question him, youthief."
Goodlove rushed out to the hall. There was not a soul there. He ran upthe stairs, but saw no one. Each one of the boarders had either retiredto his room or had gone out. Ike left the table and passed Goodlove inthe hall. He did not speak to the man, but went to the hatrack, securedhis hat and stepped out to the street. Goodlove meantime entered theparlor 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 greatinjury unless the mystery is explained."
"There is no mystery about it. You have an impudent rascal in yourhouse. 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 adetective?"
Goodlove's face became ghastly. He walked more rapidly, and finally,seizing his hat from the hatrack, stepped out to the street. He had gonebut a few steps, however, when a hand was laid on his shoulder--a heavyhand. The man would have shrieked if he had not been actually paralyzedwith terror.
"Hello, Goodlove," said the man who had seized him. "Where are yougoing?"
The man trembled, but could not answer.
"Well, we've got you, mister. But let me ask you, is this your firstoffense? If it is it's all the better for you, that's all. We may let upon 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 untilwe had all the proof. Where are the bonds you stole from Miss Sidney'strunk, and the money?"
The detective talked in such a matter-of-fact tone, with such absoluteassurance, 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 belocked up? Turn over the stolen property, and if this is your firstoffense I'll let you go; but if you attempt to deny or play 'possum I'lllock 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. Thievesalways get found out, but it depends upon how smart they are in gettingaway. Crime never pays; criminals always come to a bad end. This is yourfirst offense. You have learned a lesson that will last you all yourlife. It always pays to be honest; it's always a losing game to bedishonest. Now what is your decision? Will you go to jail or surrenderthe 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 wishto spoil your future chances I will say nothing about your guilt. Butlet me tell you, if you ever steal again you will surely be caught andwill pay the full penalty."
"I will surrender the property."