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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 32 X 1 2 3 4 5 6 .^."S. 1 N^vK-N/^ . V^-^^VCV '. . " 31 ic THE AMERICAN LIBRARY /T^apaele apd Bracelet: OB. THE DEAD MAN'S SECRET. i A THRILLING DETECTIVE STORY, BY EDMUND C. STRONG. MJ^m National Library Bibliotheque nationale ■ ^»^B of Canada du Canada THE NATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, TOaONTO. ^^ ^€.<'L . R^Si /I re tt lo fii lit: ec eb tn ev do inl ■wn cm tei Mamcle and Bracelet; =HlOR,{~SE The Dead Man's Secret. oocooocoooo ^oooooooooooo. A THRILLmG CHICAGO DETECTIVE STORY. By EDMOJ^D C. STRf!j\rG. < i CHAPTER L A TEniilBLE CRIME. Jnfv'^lSHn f°™'°« o' the fourth where f •«e hands wen cle. .h "°» •"■'' °' ''"v. i '••3 blood etill'frk^kr d : n'"'"" r'""'' 'he W ^s there--the ,, me lin« 1 °,^''*''"'- ^'^th Ij^trks of a struggle ?,tV.L"'« '<"•'"• 'ho 'h- twin sist.rf of «,^; ''*''■^""•^'hat Ci'Djo. had ,„arkod ths n 1 f!,?f '^.- ""'' i'" ^'ver(/d h's "- io^^^^ '^ «'"f"' Bceno i '« ''ard tho r.e uo ho;.«e n '^?"' ' *''' f^^'^h ' hr^t-nfelligonc-^of a ;;.,":": ''P>-«'»1 'he to:' long d.ys aftenvird^ fi, ","'* ''•"no that. , i;.Sf!rt,^';!J^^^SHc te,o.n.p^ ; «) alarms weie s oliv (. ,'1 I [''I'eated: ' i'''Se.K spelling ouithH I '■'^'' '^J' ^'''I^x '-f'he machinerv of dm' i lion thn hands of ,-. '"^ w^ in mo- P'"^e of ,he ciTv, a, the v:,'*"^ ^^-^^ ^^^ '•;'n.!nand,.rs dirVcted ho,. '"'"' I'recinct l;^ mpid routine of officii?'" '^ I'"'""") <^' rhe crime. Less thnn •'"'^est-gnion « as the rhampJon of « « ^ts mitial proffraaa »,» i •'"'"•'"•e. ability and ,^ '"'7""">t and o,. . I»'' I a.it routii." • •■','"' ■^f'^eh.. " McDonnell. Heh .aok '*"^i,^'""'on. B,.ft a, I B.vrne^ llnbbard. anil li.fff "■"■ «»'!^l«y. t"o ^.S'^8 of '7"' of justic^iEdw?;;? K ;^" "•^^p^t- j"f l^f't-olives ^'""'•'rd Keating, Chief l'-'"'!ui!'^,e"'::j:s«°;,,'^">--en. ' j^e'-^ran., grown 4u , ' £ "* '"•.'*"'>• '"d h'«.ippoitonm.. t of d,f.l '"""■'• ""dor ''•■'ne par-H of , n.n.voW ^". '"''"'• ''e- "tiug with d-xtPioV,™ ■' """•''•"£•. opor- , omftrkabie I or (hro,,,;h hJH aids a if, .''"/" »">'-"naWy in- fro.,; l.'l,M,hon» ,>,. , °^ duty, ,.„the.' , Po^sible de.!/ rof^Tf;:!, •'-' .n>i".,t.,.st cnm.\ '"' newly diseov i-.id I , '' did not tjiko him io„., .„ I r^u ts o;' the caso. Hi- r' '" '"'^^•'ss tho «"d perp-oxM as bv g,nd t^I "''" '^"""-er I'n.ovtsfVom offi,.erson b ' ^"'•^'""•Hn.j ""ir,!,.r n,,,do more pat, n/t. T"" "^ 'ho tn.;h tha^ the trng:,;''.!^ etlvi',^"'"''^'^^"^ or :b" imr, liotnf-'r^"'^'""' another invest,;,. t„;„ ,f '^^, ,1 '[""'-e case. i„ Z h.mself fa,,„ ,^ f^co^JitK detective tinds der.d . c|,.wi:.s c,iu,e ^^''''^'^^^'y n.ur- as'i's?n"?^r^ve^t;r "° '-- °^ the doae the unknown to hirn'^'iV ^'^'^^ had found. There was .,r. ''''''^^ had been 'h ■ commi,s.sion of the o^fn?""' '"»"^« for uo knowledge of th« ^,^?- "^""t of all [es« vietim^auif.. ]A, :^i"*y "^ *'« hap: but the idea wa« ended asi^" ^^,'''P"ed. at last the police, after an '^''"'^"'hle. »"d " ■ thothronus'who isUed the "'"''" *° have renains lay identify the nmJ'^'''^*^'"'« 'he °»ove,l the body to he Z, '■^'^ '"*°' '«- impression that the .L-^"®' ^''^h the would be shelved amid t,'*"^ ■''«=' horror terious cases too da^ IJ^d "n''''?^^''^^''- hnman effort to fathom '°eii.lioable f„r W.th the last detail of the c«se i„ his 0' '^ '•0(1 profi- 01 tlifi advance, rmont and ex. '" Bi^nrkcd the «•'. KbPisoJd U(i Steele, ytortiv,, ooera- "1 tho distic'a 'tuutou, B.'h il '»». Bucldoy.' 'liero Hat i., I'oiico h.'a I. oiindancl iin- ','l<'Stui08 of * 'he (lopart- '■"tiiiif. Chief 1 I l)(>i.ii cen- >''oifi'oss and anion, iiid ^rvH'\ uiidor liiljor, l,e- MANACLE AND BUACFLICT. h'lip, oper- iiil iiccu'acy pp oonfedpr. remarkable Pe'sonaily It cises of 'y iHiirn no "ly, ,.iitijer- »' wiiniteit •JiHcov rod ossess the 'W soinhor 3'i<'rn..()in" '""of (ho *<-'le, and ■ to have here the Dan, re- •ith the horror ofmvs- ible for i» hJK rioMi'Hfiion, the Chief pondered thouffht- ully over it. Then be sent directions for two of his deteitivjH to be sent to him J hoy were bin oounselors and most trusted aids ju all important and difficult c ises and the trio had built ud a brilliant record for efficiency when they worked together in p'HVions years. Two men answered the Chief's snmmous a moment later -in nothinf? alike save a crtain indication in the features of each of the possession of rure ch.iracteriHiics of courage and shrewdness. Both were al- ready famous as 'let^ctives. having laid the foundation of a repr.wition wh ch in after years became national, and invested eanh W'th the highest official authority possible in the municipal detective st-rv ce. 'Iholaiger of the two. utalwart, power- f nl, and straiKht as an arrow, was a monu- inent of nerfect physical development. : HiH name, John Miea. hi\d been a terror to ' evil-doers sineo be tjist entered the Dolice force, while his s,t,'tcity in tra.niK down a ' criminal was o.ly equaled by his perti- ' n loity, once engaged in a case involviaB endurance or hardship. * i His companion, Joseph Kipley. was of lower build, his sot head and broad, square ' siionldeiN K ving liim an aspect almost leo i.i;;e. His .ye was never still, and o.ie icion and armst. and, less demonslra- Mve than his confrere, was far more rer- rtuasivo and magnet c where long. exhau;t- iva pumping" of a malefactor was re- qmred. Together they wer.' the strongest "teim" ot d.tectives Chicago ever knew, nnd a glance wou^d have toM t^e most casual ob- s. Tver that they were men whom no obsta- cles could daunt in the i)ursnit of a crim- mil, no adverse circumstances prevent their steady march to official usefulness and promotion. From the reports on his desk and his own theories regarding ihe case, the Chief related the circumstances of the artesian '^^.'L?"^"*®'" »» a 'ew gmphic words. Ihe case 18 a mysteriona and difficult one, he said, but we must find a slartim? point and work rapidly, l detail yon for tlie scene of the murder, Kipley. Make a search for weapons, and question the peo- ple m the vicinity. Shea and mvself will visit th > morgue, and he will rejoin you 8 later. The experienced Kipley needed no de- ttuled instructions as to his duty, and left the. room at once. Oar first task shou'd be to loam « ho tue murdered man was," suggested Shea. Exactly," replied tho Chief. "That once ascertainrd, we may liuce him, learn wii.. he WHS. his circumstanoesand hinass». flutes. J he knowledge will be pretty cer- tain to place us on tho tr.il of his assassin. Come, we will go to the moiffue at ouoe. What IS your theory of the case?" "Tuat it is c jurder f,.r gain or revenge, and that an acquaintance, possibly a warm friend, murdered the victim." Why do yon think so?" ' Because this man was decoved to the place he was murdered. No bne knows hini in tho vicinity, and it is a secluded spot a stmngor would seek to avo d. Some friend lured him to the i)laee under pro- tense of a swim or a wiish, sav inst even- ing. He was no professional thief, for ha used a m/.or to kill him-a w.apon no regular criminal employ.. He even loo'i I away his clothes, so that thev might not : serve as a clew to his identity. " The two o:iicers surv-.'ve T the body of ^ the Mctiiu of the night's tragedv silently when they reaehe 1 the morgue, 'for over , iiiilf an honr they examin-d it cIosl-Iv As they drew away fn.m the slab their eyea met infelh-eutly. ' Intuitively each discerned that the o her bad nia 'ean iniiorlnut discovery. "Vou have discoveied somefhiu"'" in- quired the Chief. ■ "Yes. That man's throat was cut after ' he w.is dead," repiiod Shea The ( hef sta, d. I^Why (I'o you i. ,,;- 'iae that'?" "Because bacic o his ear the skull is crushed in. A rocker a cad-el robbed biin of lite, and his thr ,at was ait to mu- tilate him or to distract suspicion toaplausi- Die theory of sniciile. " rh'^t^ mystery deepens," remarked the ynief. 'I also have made an important discovery. "In what way? " ''I have learned the man's business." Shea looked curious. "Did you notice his feet?" inquired tho ^' Not particularly." "They are stained a dark brown. Wher- ever this man worked, and that. too. re- ceatly, he was engaged in a Usk where somestro-g tanning solution was in use. We have done all we can do he,re. I shall give orders to have him photographed, and the body preserved in ice for possible idea- tincatiou. "Shalll rejoin Kipley?" "Yes. and repoit your succasa to-njrrht " Shea found his industnous partner hard //I ou (he case at the aceue of the ■t work luuider. hnlT^^n """^ '"'.'""«'> '*>'" «P°t 'or S,n /.J"" '",;'% ""°"" " Hl'ort distance from the well the iiiKht i.reviouB ami work..! out th« c:ow uutil ni/jjafall Thev K-pt wi.l.>n.„« their <.ir,.uit of iuveHtiea- t.on Lour by ho,,,., and had fov,„. d a the- ory to woik on which, in Ih.. i«ht of later CM. ntH. piovod to 1,0 u correct ou "' 1 he murderer will never b.- found l.v i iHi-'lit. tor ho has loft no dew behind bin I Unti,., TUe,e s „o doul.t'lnU th.it he «■ J, ' some tannery. To-uionow we ' wL':'; ''''''"'} •*''" "*'""i^«. most j ott^eily •'-■'" *' '" "'" ''°''^'" «'«rn port j tJ^'T '' 'nof o|""""s task that the de. ' v! I'rT'",''- ''','"''' ncconipliKhment ".i-;'.,.„tl,v !acilita;ed bv the Chi-f hind- ,'ur iVr'-' " rH"'r "'""ot.'"M'b8 of the Mowioutine W(U'k washksome to the^e einer. n,an-eatcher.s. whos • abilities w re r.u.,vr,..iu,red m this cla.s of work but the n,vs,,r,..„. aspects of the ease fa.e"- natod thHu, and amused thei; profTssioiml zeal. a,Hl they worked l«bo.io„s% and wS . I'hey visited a dozen tanneries, but the ' nc u,es ,l,ey had of the n.ur.ie.ed m,.,! I ^ereno ,veoKui>-.,.d. At last they u^.tTa &tli "''fu •^' " "1"*' '-'nery^.uMr he I i thebookkeeinrof the establishin nt i Btai-ted as hey exhbitod the picture I know th;,t ii,an." he said, i.rouij.tly .;'^.'V|''''^^'"^'*>s looked gratiti,',]. iJul he work here?" inquired Kipley. "When?" ,, "I-nst week. He has been missinc sinoa the day before the Fourth of July " ^ _ What is his name?" "Aaron Jobanseu. " Au exclamaiion of satisfaction bbeas trit]iii|ihant lips. "At lust.'" he breathed, fervently kMow ouy man. You are sure it is 'he'- ' the ;uro;^?uly''J'"' ''" ''^ '"^^ -«»>' Of ■'How much?" •Fonrieen dollars. I rem, mber dis. tine ly he amou, t and the circumstance '• fuJH^^^''']}'^ '^'^ fi^es and two ones 2rke.l.'^' ^^■'■^°""'- '''"^ ^'*« PeouUaely "How?" "It had been torn and pasted together. " MANACLE AND BRACELET. swept "We I "What with? • "A yellow hair-o 1 label. The Iab«l wa.. h."t'"Sr:e' :;' / "'^•^ • ''^'^^ v tt/ r one C?e: "-fT"''*''" " "^""^"^'^ °' The detec:ivo8 Htored away all this vdti able .uto.mation i,, ,heir uulu Z •l^Ta wo. k in earnest Within an hour thev hod onnd'^hr';"'',, ''V''""""" boarded- had found the lan.llor-l an,| „„ostio i.d him and gained so ne ad litional informati^a I wh,eh reawakened ail their pro Wna'lT I Aaron Johansen was a rei)utable Dane of Ct? i'S'^ ""'>'•• ^^■''"" '"" ««-• i'S Home Sirmil '" ^" ''"'^^''''Si'-"'. ^^0 l«,„llord ' friendi""Vom,n '""'****' ""'^ "° '»"""'<« man Johansen h^irhC o^lmbw"! somewhat ,l,R.olulechaMctor. """""''y » ^What \va. h s name?" Alfred lluItKreu. " t,nw.,«i;"?i'?' ":•'". '■yf'volved another im- poitan lact. liui.gren had not been s.eu soa h;. 1 lert ihat same ..vvniu", presmua bly with h.m to visit a frie.al^ho resided oyer i„.vo„a the atesian well ■• '^^*"'^«'* n,„ ! " "■'"■' o^^i,"?-' '1own-we have shadowed !o«.ma..sure.".ema>.l.edShea.astheyl^J I ihl} ' "'t*!^'^ revelrttio is corroborated this theory. It was learned that a ni.n exact v I nns^eriug Ilult-ren's description k°d been s-ea .na sal .on about half a mile f 'om he cle^'"He"h ,1^\''"' '"" ^'"" "'""'- «t-i. iio h'xd shown qu te an amount of =^Jn'"'!i;S:^^^^^*^'^-«-"^thf "1 cut a man's throat with that last uigh' " JJetective persistency likewise revealed the existence of an old man. a watVhmaa ' linHavfn TuJ^''^ ^"-^^ Johansen and iiuitgun. Ihey had visited him to"ethep Sund J<'baDsen's body had been clo^elj!^ questioned this important witness "Yes. '°" "^ Hu'tRren again?" he ask.d. "When?" ask.'Ji^'J?''^' ^V'; ^t 'eturued here ari.l "How much was it»" "Thirty dollars. "Have you got the money yet?" ies; he did not letum again." The Inb«I was. rfootly tLHt th» « recmreiii'e of ay all this vilu- iuds, and '>e«aa 1 hour they Lad bdnrded,' hud iiOHtio id 4 - 4-4. Tlie chain of ovilonce was perfect. Hut where was the criminaly .An inotfoctnd watch was set on the old man's house ln'it Hnlfgrcn never returned then. His doscriptioi was -iveu to overv po- lice officer in the cily, but tlie most per- sistont search failed to reveal his where- abouta. "Ilemnsthaxelrft the city," suK-rsted : bnea, after a diy of unsuccessful quest "I don't think so. lie will return to bis : old hnuiits with the fatalistic persistency > of the murderer, replied Kipley. Ihe ensuing day thoy secured Johan- ■en s former landlord as a unido and ox- I plored the entire district where Ilult.'ron ' lived. I It was almost dusk when the two detec- 1 lives and their eomimnion v\ ore seated on I the railroad track discussini,' the situaiio'i A visit to Hulttiren's form -r friends and haunts had not pro.luoed a siuale trace of his jiresent whereabouts. Suddenly Shea spram; to his feet. A Hoiitiiiy iigure was walking down the railroad tr.\ck. Ain't that our nii.u?" • domnnded of the landlord. ^tJr' -^f •^/''''l'*' H.lt.^reu," cried the other, excitedly. in ft moment the two detectives had reached the side of the man they had been seekinKftU that day. It was, indt ed Hultflren He resisted arrest, but Sheas strong hand hol.l him in a grip like iron. An hour later a patrol wago-i drove the defectives and their prisoner to the Central i'olice Station. The triumphant offlcirs (hnist him uirougn the open window into the verv presence of the Chief. ^ "l^^^^\^^,^J^^^'d<}TeTl" they announced to the exci ed detectives and reporters who thronged the room. Hnltgren's face was a dead pall of ter- ror and guilt. He coilld only speak a few words in the English langunse. but these he employed voi^iffirouslv to deny the crime imputed to his charge. In hia pocket was found a razor with dry Hfains on lis blade, lui-r pronounced bv nnalytical chemist lo be humau bloo,!.' an I enemist lo he human blood. A Hum d consirtiitimi nino'lg the d.-toc tives resu ted iu a ,le.i,i,m to try one of the most ghastly of .'xperimentM on the prisoner, in the hope of makin- bis Rtubborn denial n'wo away. Cairiajes wer. procur-'d ,in,l a larce nuin.erot .let. oliveg and reporters staite.l t.ir the moryue. Here ihey found that on a.xoutit of the oxtieniely hot Weather Job uise , s bo,|y ha.l been remove! to the i.v chest i resor- vatioii 1 ox of a hospital farther south. Miduivht, silent au.l solemn, broode.l j over the ,inrk and snmber stru.'ture into which, without a word of waruinif Hiilt- ! gron was lod. " ' .. ^" ^ *,'',","'' '■''°"' '" ^y •* 'I'fkeriMK lamp they held him before an immense box. In this, packed in ice, wis -lolianson's ; l)o.ly, aropesurr.mndintr the waist run- ; ning over a beam and behind th • b .x , One .)f the otheers. amid a d ath-like , stiiln.Hs vent out of view and b.'gan dmwing the rope. ^ Slowly as if arising from the «rave. •Aaron Jchanseu s bodv camo into view, the sf, rin- i;y..H and i,-a!);n- throat c,m!r.)u'.:nK the horntiod jirisoner. '•p.m't hang nie - don't ban- me!" Klmoked the wretclieu man. tear n- at his throat and re oiin.;, wbito as marble and tremb in,' in evorv limb. One hour laterthe stiou- inm door of tbe C ouuty Jail clanged t.) on A'frcd Hult- gieii. J :slice had b -en sure ssful. the m.ssion of th.. an so far executed. Xh.; murderer ot poor.Uron .(ouinsen was alone to ip- Ijeal t.) the erring jud-ment of nun and the mercy of the (iod he had disolvved ihe great case of Detectives Kip'ev and Shea w-as termmated-a case in whicii they showed themselves prodigies of shrewd- ness and ethcieney. It is snc'i in-n as these, faithful and nn- faKeiiug to a high public trust, who have taught the great criminal classes of the community that the wages of sin is d.»ath and have secured to the reputable citi/en hfrrf ""'' "'^'''^' ^°'' ^''' P-°l'«"y and Let the warp of tictio i, intermingling with the woof of reality, claim for the novelist his time-honored priviJe-e of weaving from such tragic scenes as the artes.an-well murder a story that shall have the semblance of poss.bility. Let the romancist oontiuue in his own wav the esploits of such men as Kipley and Shea, without exceeding in plot or in- -<2> 8 «>!„• °® ""'"^ fiKiiinst u •-<2>' >'";«us to his take this "eet-oar he oom. '"'sinpss •n in I he " expeii- <'tU;,N of mni.'.s of « eh.iir, "Jil ecu. '" nitir- Thij- mnn i« one of th.- luoMt oxnerl mci. K m Anj.nca, and whim ho nhot l.n.l kiUvd lu.v hmibcr otlic r, AiiioUl M.itin a Tenr Hine.;. I hw. ro to l.unK tL» . riM,., liom.. tr. hiiu ftn.l f.Tret out his lu niy , vi] •cticingof guiii ,111(1 revi'iiKc "1 btlievo ih.>t I Nh.ll -hoitiyh.v,. thi. e..nue.ui.« link of e^i.^,lu•e that wiil , n- e lal«.tt to ho iho loader in a cnuutfrfoitiiiK ■chiinoi.l oiiiiiiiiiqis lui. iiitndo " "Meai.tiine. howov.i, ho iN enwiL-eil oti ■oine D.w. lot tlmt inlorestH vet i.ii/.zl k ,., . Its K,i.nit^.Mn,.o I huviiot yoi fatho.ho.i; buiuHt M.^ht ho „„>,, i„ ^^ ,„st„„nint. . vo.KmI woiiMii «ho«o face I . o.ihl not s... •^"I """.'; V^"l>"'l> v»'ii'i« und ho.iotifui' Mae is his »(.,M,u,piii.t, in hii niw piot, •aid gh 1 fi-fto, d to hor p'uco of roHidome I hoBo I wo were ,,0 upd l.v a third imrt.' a woman ovi.lont:v a Heiv.mf. The latto; ban lod laloo t i Hn.all packaRo, for which bOKMv Iw: i\ Jai„',> aiuouut of niouev plafd It lu a oufulni m box. The trio I then K, tMMted. and Tidcott wulkod west ' laNsed lb,, artosinn well ' • ' into lb MANACLK AND nRACELET. iiiootinK wb, ro a siUK'le diamond lla.Led lortli liiiuinuOHly. I h" dfcteolive nu.od for honjo time r*. Kur.ln.K the n„rtra.t will, iho d«opt.„t ad- unration A wave of indignation and ,S :t If a. ,- '"'' ttnng the 1 ox ...,., ^^, ''■'• '}" '' '"ixiouH to got rid of ii. Wb, tbfr it coutaiUK u clow tu the uvxy luvs- tt;riou» moves of tbJH mau nul Lis acco n- phco or not, It has soinr i.ni,ort.uU boa'ri.,.. on the caso in hand. " TLo doteo.ive drou- the box from his p(Mk. . It «n. std! dam,, from its co\;a . w.lL tl;« w..t.r and some Miinly clav a - hered to its wdes. Lan-don removed the adjustable toi, and imno.sly drew f rlh a flexible ^nt bu kv obje. t, tight. y folded. ^ V^v'^^f^'" ''^ """'""'^ed; "no, canvas. Why. itsa).ictureandnn<.il paintinK " I.iH fare expressed a growing wonder ns he begaii lo unroll the inclosnre of the box ,,n,l at last it lay across (he Uible Itwasnfanoly p.iintfd, f.ill.:eu..th no- trait Rplendidly e'vecud. and Knjafl those fine touches of harmony and color which show the work of a true artist Apparently cut hastily and roughlv from its frame neither this treat u em nor iu being^tolded.ntheboxbaa destroyed Ue Infolded it present, d to the critical eye of the detective the portrait of the most beautiful woman he had ever neen ini*intoT''*'\' " young girl .jusi bloom- face a^.d dear, magnelie eyes tl.at bespoke Jiuth ''""'^ """ '"■'eii^"^^' of h.':„py She was simply dressed, only one . ma- in thepicture-a peculiarly 8ha,,ed brace let cixiiclir.g a ^^h:le tiperlnc; wrist and trail of Talcott. An li(,:,rlat-r th,' doto.tive pacd slowlv o ami iro on the opposite side^f the tS oa. eIo..,,nt a,mrt,n..nl honse. loo;.ted on a lashionaldo tboiiiiii^difare. . This h.,uso lie had N w", the veiled iisso- c a e of Harvev Taleotf cter the n'-^t I 'eu-'us au.l be grow in crested as he d.s. t. rne.1, at ,,ne of tlie windows of the tin. |Hf floor, the form of a woman ho neoa- ni/idatonoe. " «ho was dressed as if aw.iitini,' some one tie noti' e.l a movement on the worn m a part that revealed mtnitivcy to his ° V. c tnelmindthatsbebad uotic. d him, and that her suspicions were aroused. night and hise put this woman on ffuard?" he muttered. "If so. I must sume a new disguise. Ha! what is woman about now?" Ho could see her without being i.er- which sheltered him. became the wit ■ esl of some V, ry peculiar and interestinti . v- w/ndow. ^"■' "' '^' *'""''" "t *^« Hesawher make a (inick motion of her hand as ,f to wave back some approaching pel son in the street b low HF'"icning Looking in iho direction her warn n» Res.me ind rated the detective started is he saw pause and step into the street so as o be out of his sight" the fo m of he mau ho was shadowing, H.ii vev Talcott winZI^^^!:r::„;^fit:-™'^'>'^tthe of all these Jt;«Kge-m;meu;ei""'* '^•""^*"« f..^„ .1 ^,"'' *^'8"«!,'i'? >'•"' 'o keen away from the hor.s,. The si.g e ;;l..nco «. e last her as. the 8 'I i MANACLE AND BKACELET. ■■'Used hfir o„=^.- I . moans of He saw her seleof m. "' "'"''livu. gether, "place h.o'?" **"= of » hem fn woman '.hrtZ i i^tlv^'^^''^'^- — «s complice in thevei-vl/ '?™«^' J^"' ac. Bhe probably slZLa'l,:' 'I't ^""^'^^^ «^en- movement watching her 'rolnlVfio cr 'a'^a^ftf '■« -'-<-i » word ■ ^;,w message; • ^''"^ ^'^^ ^'^'Jow fraiaed ■L>on't come'" i7.srt?t/is,rv?p'«--^-y ,^^ ill write." ^ -^^'s t'me it was- a-relesITcrnl^'^iS '^'-'^^ -i^e with the window It ; ^o^=-me:.t as «;„. ,'.^ yonde, house for a iml ' '^b^^"' ^'" watch tehds writiuR to TalcoT rf r ""manin- "'f'-cept that letter." -^^ ^ '^°i»J'f only J^' or half an hour i,<> doorway watchiu f tL'T'""'''' ^^ the uarrowiy. "'"- ^l^e house opposite ''am.J^i'vX'onwor"^''* '" J««'. It Oue was the ve !«,/ ? ^"''''- bo(h womp,, dow. the oth.l'e ide*;^ rf i""^«'- "f the whf: honse, for she was L- ''""'" "^ ^h^ »"d deferentially to J' "''■'" ''"emivelv «'.«med to be giy^in^ ,Z 'companion who I directions. ^ ""« '^^^ «ome particular op^fe the ^em'Srt'hrf '^'^ "^ -«'-' envel letter started down thf 'l"*"" «'°«ed. and the he was at no loia f« j , procedure. '"'^ *° ^e^iw „ ^„«„, ^, '^eaeSSe^,-*J; doorway and turned '"•I'mnsT;;^ '^"^^ °"e 'lock "'^"^ ^'^^ ^"' , J- must have that 'pt , » .^ of 'a fll'si ?ii"l whiskers, the utilization .fr5r,!:!»,».'"'SAt„.t «rP'^^'^SgShr-«ono, «|S^b^or'^°--^''-truck her hand °'|'^4TSa£^^^^ anwL'j!'"'-«^-'-e my letter." She cried, wat-d^andt^/tlvSr^ *?, ^^^-^hle fo,. ^^AtSsithtCFr^^"^^^"^ ■'^fta^e^^^-g;^;;-; he hiccoughed. turo^ash:';£,:n;;;|;--lLangdon-sfea- h'« 'e,.„ea .huu.ienn^s^^^/'^^ieut eour^ a flash ""ess disappearing iikg M^ttivo?Sc;u.^«''^«'«"er directed to ■ P'« one^'^Lan^ido.-^ Possession was a sin, I for contin-S , ''^^'^' '''^^i pIZTa ?;;;"ud the sidewalk h";J f "'^ ao,i;.d'er,^ I let er and secreted it '^"'"'^'^ 'he real hiat^;;,^SS;'i;-^yj>mmy letter in « the girl. ^ ^""^ ''^^"ded the latier t^ , |he riTl &t^,-,.^;^J«. discovered and I tents. ■ *• ^ must inow it., con out teartug it. '^ 'he mciosure with-" Revise a moans of doorway and turned a--vantgir, ',li '.'ti^r." he decided no scheme of these 'I's personal ap. rfi ^i*? ^*'' n°d the nbable air of in « look like anoth. "8 stoDs at an un. b ows he saw the tJie letter tighOy he execution of c detective work " he fe.gaed in." ered against her, 'truck her hand 'tl» a slight cry 'ter," she cried, > stumble for- "togiiin PCS. ve. ioromaut ear- ^t^d ber, af the ' liJccoughed. «r from his ugdon's fua- ^uieut court, 'peaiijij, lijce t ■r directed to ^■»s a Sim- °t pre);ared uoundoriiig 3d the real letter in ^ lie lat!er to '^ered and 'nded des- t hitve no its con- aP of th* 'U'e with- Then his eagle eye scanned the contents iBpicil.v, comj)iehen8ively. It read: I have carried oat niv navt of the MANACLE AND BRACELET. 9 . part of tlio pro gramme to remove touWesomo obstai-l.-s from our path for the iittaiuiuuut of a million or mo. ley. Tilt) picture affair is afll settle 1— thanks to Mane, who will not fail us to-uiL''it Tlio carriage and mywilf will i,o on hand *"d,you niusl not fail to seal., th" ,.u's:.b wall t''e Clifton mansion, on Lakunide Turraco at eight o clock proeisoly. The girl will arrive then. Everything is ar- ranged, bimidy carry out agreed iustruc:ions and we cannor tail. Use (..xtremo caution, as I bjliovo we are be- ing watched. The letter bore the siffnature c' - single onme— Viola. '^ The delective did not jiauso to unalTze the contents of the missive just thou " He re3ea:ed it iind again reached the stoet. Glancing ahead he saw returning slowly i to the spot where he hid left her the serv- aiir-girl. \ She was scanning the blank envelope in bet hand and the pavement alteruitelv, ' ^ith a bewildered air. "The transformation of her letter to a Blank envelope has been dr^o .ver d," cnni- ni.'iited Liui.dou, grimly. Instanlly he assumed his druakeu role ay the time the girl had re ched the p ace where he was the detective had seat- ed himself on the cu;b. Ho sat there s^^aying to and fro unstead- ily, holding the letier in h s hand, and luanndering over a dismal son" •• I ou're the man ' cried the girl, as she reoogni.ed h-m. ".Say, v hire's n.v letter?" i^ mgdon looked up with druukeu un- steadiness. "What letter?" he hiccoughed .V letter you made me lose. There it is in your hand. Give it to me, give it to me, insisted the girl, escitedlv. ' Ceit'nly, cerfnlv. Oh' ;yi'!!ng letter; this 'is mine' Langdon, as the girl seized the i„ and hung down the blank envelope. "Made a terrible mistake. Had instanie of (La- ziness Wouldn't lose it for worlds. Got a ten-thousand-dollar check in it." The detectivo chuckled with satisfa.'tion as the girl disappeared, evidently eutir Iv unsuspicious of the trick that 'had been played upon her. He became serious and thoutjiitful again, however, as he rumi-iated deeply over his recent discoveries in the case In hand 1 am on the Hght track at last." redect- ofe^efl r ';. 7^^ '"^""^^ °f t'^^^" peo- ple are directed against a certam Clifton ' g ive you continued real letter jiiiinsion, on Lak' side Terrace. I will I transfer my attention to that place, and be ! on hand at eight o'c.'ock to-night to shadow Harvoy Jalcott's latest game. " Long before that hour, however, the de- teclive was in the vicinity designated, one ot the most tasluonable portions of the city, lie iearned tha' ihe lonely occupant of a certain magnificent mansion with line grounds, and surround d by a high stone wni:, v,us a sec u lea and eccentric million, aire named Genenl Clifton. The old man had lo, an i which he allowed no one to -ee. hnvm- it eurt ;ined aw.ay in 11-^ ^ibiary. a sort of shrine of worshii') for the beautitul being he had scut for to cheer bis lonely ii;'e. Shoitly alt r dusk th - det ctive skirted ^ the wall surr,;uuding th ■ mansion, a d at a convenient spo; spring over it. : Ih n, ensconcing himself in the dense I sna.i^r.v of a clump of lilacs, he i)repared to ivaich and wail for developments I . Hero, undoubt dly, th.. laiiiatorv steps m some myster.ous tr.igedy wore 'to take place tbat evening. The mansion was gloomy and dark ex- cept whre the shaded fibrarv windows showed a li,-ht within that aparfm»nt . A few nnnules later the sound of car- riago whee.s echoed in the stone-paved cout at the rear of the mansion. .\lmo4 at the same moment a stealthy form sprang over the stone fence But this the detective d d not notice, ■lust then he was absorbed in watchin-' the front of the mansion. A carriage bad driven up, and a woman's figure aligtfted from the vehicle. .^he ran up the massive steps of the man- sion and rang the bell. The dnor apening east a fall shower of light over a face divinely fair. "The original of the beautiful portrait.- breathed Langdon, intensely absorbed ia I 10 ■r 'til i vey Tulcou '^1' i**';^'^'-^^^- f««« of Har. MANACLE AND BEACELET. in 8)i«aouL„ down . ,/;'^y ?f "'^ "■••«^''ive times. ""'' ^''"^e <^f mod ru Of ^£ ^i^ii^s^it^-r'^r'*-'"'^' L.m«don,- had ."scued f^ '*'' , 'let ...,iv.. that vory day wt in,! ?""> 'lesfriunion the door, and T' tS.? ^Sll'd?'^'' ?/°^"' radiant beauty of vo.uh .» ' '" "^" the soft ligbt oMhe h II 'u"^^?'''" "aler "Eiliel!" '•h.indeiiiT. '-The accents of lutnv i,^ wer. expressed in (.ente" !*"^' '°^^ lou8 voice as he tb , p h 9'^^" ** "''^^"1" awarmembnue ^ "' to his heart iu andt;r:t^p7^^,t^:^''f- ->d face Bhe c;las„ea huZn 'lliT 'f'^'^^''^ »« tome'no?.tl*°"^'''^''---^°''''«W. fomnn:;p"oL'e"'".Y h '"''^•" ^'- ''^e moments for month. t)A^l^ lounfed the living only tor th.\ '^^' 'I'-eam.ng, face thou, npp,?r i^on:. ■ 'iToTwe';^, "^' '»' .*«-'«¥. To-' •vour RoicTeu f ure ^f. ^"^^''^ '^'""^ f^'' ^,r"^« - ^^ ^o^^rsi.??- ro^S^^:j:;S,!:;^o>^Wtoher {:;;^oSS'ss^:!^;;{riedS^''^i-;; l^'ow. b..ts&S,^^«'i^''' cloadodL.^ hours.' "suieuea all my lonely "Ami hr saw it? ' i-thel Clifton blushed lik« th ■ mantled rose as ho h ''*® cnmsoa- the.iuery ^'^ "'"orousjy yenturcd , baui^' .h • r rir dliJS'"^' '"i::^ ^''«^^'^' " 1^^'hiuessof nir '"""' ^'l** "««"^-''i Sijfi pouted prettily. nnced hu,,f°;:^';^. A^^f'^* ^Io''ton, my affi- siuce I s . ,rii- woT'^' " " '^^° y«''" and ..o s :,ot even Zrl f ""'l"^"" y'^"^. he may have^orStti^'m/ '' "^'"'''"^ '^'~ troth, never |,yS" ■"^'' ^"^^'^ *° ^'« •'And y. t he is absent'" «--inmoSfSE-iety crossed V'-'p'-u^,LT:f^Si-':;--''V2 "^'.v lor the°fu^„"'-C all 'J '",:''".« -'^^ au!;"'= fl»«b pale cheek. '^ momentarily to his chS:unj'hi;e":rL'^r"' •^f ^"^'^'^ '° « «atmoLionle^8 a^;Je5roh?« '^^^^^r. he inR emotions ^ ' " '^'"^'•""'1 absorb- ' T£'^>?^;lnni:::ff'r' fZ'"^''^' «'«^'v. appeared ' tw"?m"om^nt l,^""!' ')' ff'-^' was withdrawn """'"'"''»"« "s stealthily «tr«nRely like to'^hVe"!!? Irer^a^iS; MANACLE AND BRACELET. anxiety crossed (lel-ght glared within the apartment with the seaiphing. venomous glitter of a serpent watohina its expected prej. Of all thiK the mute figure of the o'd millionnire took no note. H." only aroused himself when a (juiok ring at the door-bell awoke ihe echoes of the silent m;iusiou The librniy door opened and closed on a man whose open hamlsome face 1 eumcd eagerly, longingly into that of Geue:ai Gl.fton. "She has come?" he asked as the r hands met. The o'd mnu bowed asseutingly. Vine nt Morton iittert'd u cv\ "of unbounded. "And she is as ihariuiuy as ever— the same innocent, loving ^irI 1 Uav.^ not s. en it seems, for ages? When sluill I see her'" "Not to-night. \ay, Vincut, do not cross inc in mj will to-uij^-Lt, " he saivl hurriedly, as a sbide of disi.jioiulmint aros.-od his visitor's face. •aieiiK-iiiber ;he perils that have menace! mv reput^itiou and my fortune— remember your promise to ad me. remember that Ethel Clifton's young life must never be shadowed with the knowledge of the fatal secret that has robhed me of a son and has clouded mv existence so darkly." "^ "As you say then," replied Vincent, re- signedly. "But hours seem w.-oks after waiting for two yea:s. Our love came like a (fash when we met in Italy in the long ago. Since then our letiers have woven anew the rhain of regard we mutually ex- perienced. -Why, I have almost forgotten how she looks. " "As beautiful, as radiint as a tlower of mom. Ah, Vincent. I tremble to think that ui making her my heiress, in bringinsi her here, we may expose her to trouble or grief Bhe IS like a te: der bud— storm and sha- nf'ht "'""^'"^ ^"^'^^ ^^ ^""''' ''®'"'' '° " "She shall never know either,' cried Vinceiit impuls.vely. "It will be -ny task to shield and protect her. But I see vou are auxiousabout the result of mv mission " You sought the man at the p'tace I di- lec.e 1? ' "I sought the vile blackmailer and sioun- drel you so fear and dread, Harvey Tal- oott, yes." •' ^|And the result? ' "Was fai ure— utter failure and defeat " A moan of pain and concern broke from General Clifton, and his white face grew "You directed me to find Harvev Tal eott .' ,e.»me.-l Vincent, as the old man sank to a chair and his ha.fl dropped on his breast in apparent despi r "I did go It was at the office of a peUiJ ,-ging rascai 11 of a lawyer. The sleek, self-possessed knave refuser', to e anmit hirself. I im- parted your i)ioposi ton. Th ho deliver up to you ceitfiin impels compromising the honor ot your dead son. I ollered him hfty thou-and dollars to do so and 1. ava the ronnl'y." ,.,'«,"'' ^^ rei-used?" inquired Goneial tlmton, in a low tone. "Absoliitely. He ianghed in my face; , said nothing loss than half vour entire for- tune would buy him ott'. and intima'ed that if that was not soon paid he would I have all. Oh, my blood bo.led. I could have struck down his evil, mocking face as he stood there. Whv do you fear this man? What is tli-is terrible secret he pos- sesses that makes you his slave. Tell me a.I— -do no, niak' me work in tiio dark I surely deserve your conflden.e." "Xo, no. I c inuot t.ll you— I will not burden you with a ■ eeie; you have no ri-ht to share. That man, Haivey Talcott, Ss- sassin, thief, and perjurer, holds me in his power. Let that suffice. Ho is a distant rel ,tive of the same evil bn.od cs Viola Dale, the cousin of Ethel, who tried years Kr..oe to inviegle my sou Ernest into an al- . Iiince ol mairiagc to lecuro my wealth. Ihosetwomay he pi, ttiug to-ether, she with herinl:aiateknow.'e!l!;e of my affairs, he with the secret in his possession which would dishonor my dead son's memory, bring ie,)rortcli on my reputation, and Rh,;do'v and blight nil the future prospects of the woman you love." He paced the flc or like a madman as he spoke. "You will not tell me the import of this secret?" pleaded Vinctnt. "I cannot. I dare upt. But listen," cried General Clif;on. with sudden energy "I am aroused at last. I have sought to tem- porize with this scoundrel Talcott, and it aas befln in vain. I will now defy him 1 romise mo, if you wish to aid me in my dilemii a, to obey my instructions blindly as in the past, and I may foil him yet. " "I promise, diar old friend. Have I ever doubted the wisdom of your aciions?" "Never, never" criod Clifton, fervently. You have beea like a son to me— heaven bless you for your tidelity amid my hours of grief and dark despair. The oompio- mismg pa;jers Harvey Talcolt holds are in a measure useless without he obtains pos- sesfiio : of this," The old man had stepped to a large safe standing in one corner of the apartment. .•\.s he swung open its nouderous iroa doors he revealed lying in the bottom ot the safe a heavy wooden box. This his index linger pointed out. "There," he said, tremulously, "are the 12 1 J, ,!i MANACLE AND BRACELET. •dditioual proofs of a secret in H BRACELET. Think n,, J^:.. .T:. -o« aro mv^HH^,] .. "' "'^ .'ilone, Gen.^r,,] r-r.A" .^'• who monads' '^e ' " , ^ "^^ ^"^ n>H„ itl.v. Ilmvere;. oatoI^i"J'''\J°'' ^'"P"'^- omies aro waich ng this honl^ '^ 'i "^^ «"- mates. r^„ in^ff«„f . "^^ "'^'^ ''s in. recently beeTmrn^^fn"*' """'"Pts have I wish you (o remove it t^ *'*'"^" ""^^.v. a" Harvey Ta S n,, ^'''^^' '* "'^'^^^'-^ , re.vhit.-' -'a'cj^s cnuniusr can never -feranrst:;:ieX^l;^-'en box from the ned it to his Te7k^ ""''°' "'* ^'^iRh^. car! ';.v past his comprehension'" ^'^*^"'^^^«- 1 1 will deA finV^'!',,^^ "^^.u-'-^d. while if: mentally to' a L wild!?,' 1"? ■"''''"f' owning '«^« his cC;;iSS" all this n,ys? nei 'te,^°:^/^- ;-?;lo not leave the and Kecr.tly .'nte the , °" T '^°'"' '''^"1™ the librar/wi dowopL" f'-/^^"' ^^'»^« euro the box whiel wH ^; ?'.'!^'- '"^'^ SO" ■vou on th.. desk. 'V w'll t "^^ '''' '^'■^ ^■'r a carriago so„„.wbere i/ th J v-' -'■ '° '=''''^« per.Setd'V'i^enr"^""'^'^^^'' -J^ed the Ta^^Ht-jtci.'r..J,":j, '1^^ l^pths Of box is snf.-ly hi.lden awa "'• •„ ^^^"'^ ^^^ leved. Yoiwi wed .thpl '"'i ^'^^ '«- "'eniies. "i n /« f .„T" T'^'f "'^h niv - city or count v. s w^,, i T '" "^"^^' "'l^'-'r wiliaranv'^.e":'!- ?;"••' ^° '^«- ou cent £th,l from ^;'^;''>"y l'"'■^^ mno- sh tme or sorrow " "'■'' shadow of ^J swear it." solemny asseverated Vin. "Then uo now fr^. r i g look m^er^ll^i^^^i^- .:°'^;" ,"•-- Ethel my Putiro fortune P '"^V^"'"'^' mstn,ctionstore:„rn Tn „ jY""^"'l'ei' my camiouslv, lor the box ^°"''' secretly. , a lurkTng Sr " ^'°"- ^"' •^'"'^ «^^em to fe.r ^ ;;i do. more than you I He advanced to n lif i > i curtain hun.- 1),,° ^ " .'" "'*""ve where a I Slnnced ^WtT loWnrco^V'-' ^''^ ''«'''' be ' "m^'Uiti, ent fullV/, ^...n"^'*^ ""'«"oa on the a he ny gold franie' °'^ Po^'rait held in tans wildly, lo.ecS f'it'''^'' the cur. sieruation '^C'^'le.! w.ih a oy of oou- ,.v — "^'"'^ "inu vou ima«ino , lou are armed .^ Von l^^:"f:. Of assault or dofenst' -a toy in appoamuce h,ff i" ^"'«"o •^ea on in skflYfuKl ""a/d tt''^''''"^ ■ ■'"" i^uc young "trrtat heavens'" i,« • ■ W-' eyes rive el '^,; , ' fJ'cnlated. hoarsely, the ,, etu.e. lid,' ;' ' ""™'*- "t'^^t ,8 not ; «l "eL-'d'«il!i'lvf !li'' !;'■' *'^'''^"'' l-'s bands C'cPt ove,. t!,e ' h,do u si '"' ''^ f»™ had e.v. s that had note v , ' ^ '"^ '*"'^t.r ^■".o;-' f.n an li„„ '^^ "j^ '""7"V"t'u that n..l!n,„ai,eslbotste"s ''°" ^^adoued the "°i^;^!:rS:t?f-^--S'''^^'-''^«'^ ioftl;:';i.S,^ S:- ---!-- th«,. ad «n's !.ur,)ose^t,f4r ,:;''' "^ ""^ "««"«- to the «oor\,i?h ,''^;°,^:^"<''^' ^^''"on s'ank His assailant a,rLi ',,",, „ prostrate form. T , n 'I * '"""'"''"^ "* 'be cliandelier and turu"d^^»• -'^''""*:' '° 'b« ■iVm i:;;^';^„, ^^^^^^ I tive 'n.nuto^in the da^'k.^Jtf ''^^- ^ ^^ ^,,. weapon papers and sound.s as nV f ''" »"«t'ing of .the knife of the n„. °^^'', ^o^ were uidible u. h! '!:^"°g "Pen . ThSn'aTJ" ",!•"''?« '" 'be r'oom.'-° ■-" bore away what^ee nod TSTh '■^'"'°«'»' H"i^' an hour later a second form ap. lie apartment as he 'e y over all he hnd lent later. I Cliffou Reemed fo IS former lethargy of 'oed the cur- ■lib a ci-y of con. -'i'«ted. hoarsely "ait. "that )8 nbt tliroat, his hands 'y •'"'■. ho sta". to Ih,. iloor " o.ilt'iv form had I'lie sini-tor oveiaMiit in that " shiuloued the i'lPd the desk ed the stilefto 'I'ljg it, glided )d. ilovprthPhoad • f (he fiasas- i-inule ripid, 1' Clifton sauk nomont at the 'P'ang (o the o light. For lie vnstling of 'leaking open oom. ieavy burden i", rehiined, the form of then all wag Jd form np. MANACLE AND BRACELET. peared at the window, crept in, took up the box still on the desk, and then went away There was the sourd of the low rum- bling (if carriage- wheels leaving the vicinity A low. quick whistle echoed on the ai-' lent air of the gard<-n. It was fol owed jy a piercing scream withm the house. A minute liter the front door opened With pale face and flying hair the maid Mane dashed down th ; maible steps, (ill- ing the a r with the awful cry: "Murder!" At that moment Laiigdou the detective lying lusensihl- in tlie garden from a cow- ard. y blow in the d irk, returned to con- sciouiuess, opened his eyes, and spvan" to his feet. ^ ^ 18 CHAI'TKIJ IV. U.VDEri AKKEST, In a single instant the detective was all alert, and every nerve ai.d energy aroused to actiou. Th it ominous cry of murder had assailed his ear wiih waking seusibilitv. and he r.- ahzed that it was the warniu;,' crv of the culmination of some direful tragedy. While he lay ii helpless victim of Har- vey Ta.cott's assaut, the plots of the schemer had been pvogn ssin.', he felt as- suie I ami he i owerlei,s to pr,;\ent them. lerhaps that hour of uncousciousue^s meant the loss of imjortaut links in the chain of jnirigue bem:^' forged about the millionaire and his devoted friends. The present demand, d his attention. He dash cl from the garden to the front of the house. He caught the terrified housemaid bvthe mm as she screamed forth the announce- ment of some tiagic crime. Already her cries had aioused the street, for a policeman and several citizens came rushii;g to the spot. "Stop: • ordered the detective, striving to silence the girl's frantic cries. "-What has hapjiened?" ^^She t ,rnod a pale, frightened face upon | "It's mnrder, " she wailed. i Where':'" ! "In the house— in the library. Mv mas- ter-General Clifton-they have murdered turn— they have murdered him." i "Who have murdered him? Come, mv i girl, try and spe.ik coherently " ^„'^5'i''i J'^'^ '"■'^^ """^ sobbings the house- ' maid told her story. She had heard her master civ out for help, and had heard him fall. TerriiJeu, she had crein to the window of the dining-room, and had seen a man drag- ping a body toward the alley in the rear of the ma: 81 on. bho had alarmed the cook. They had gone to the library and found the room in disorder and covered with blood, and her ; youns mistress, Ethel Clifton, just arrived that evening, fainted dead away on the staircase. In a moment Langdon was the alert de- teciive. He dispatched the policeman to the rear of the house, while ho himself hurried to the library. 'J he s( rvant had spoken the truth. Evi- dences of a ghastly crime were scattered on .very side. The desk was in disorder tlie safe ransacked, the carpet and window- sill cover d with blooJ. A dagger-sh. ath lay on the floor. The detective picked it up. read upon it the lu- lals stamped in gold, "V. M.," and placed It in his pocket. ' Langdon returned to the hall. The housemaid, Marie, sat on the stairs, rock- ing 10 and fro, and moaning bitterly bee here, njy girl, where is vour mia- tress? ^|0h, sir, you mean Miss Ethel?" les. You wiy she knows somelhine of this crime. "She must, sir; we found her in a faint almost before the library door. " "I must see her." Marie sprang to her feet with an alacrity . that was almost suspicious, and barred his i progress. I ;; t ) h, sir, you can't, " she ci ied. I Why not?" { "She's fairly frantic with terror and grief, and wove sent for the doctor for her " ^ cry well. I will see her when she's i calmer. Now, then, could vou recognize I the man you saw leave the library window?" ISO s.r. I was so frighfened'l onlv no- ticed It was a man ordinarily dressed." 1 he policeman Langdon had sent to the ''®u)ru . '^°^^^ returned atthat moment. Iheres no sign of the murderer or the body that way," he reported, 'except bio .d- stains leading to where carriage- wheels be- "Hurry to the nearest patrol-box and telephone the occurrence." ordered Ian-' don, as he exhibited his official stiir. "Let the police be on the lookout for all car- nages traversing the streets. " At that moment the patrolman whose bent was m the vioiniiy enteied the gate. I know something about this," he re- marked to the detective. "What?" '•A suspicious movement an hour since " "What was> it?" "About an hour and a half ago, as I was 14 m I! "D.ilyoii kuow him'" .nZ!f.' /'t *'"'' u^M- '^'iif^ent Morton. Half anhomliitei', while patrollin" mv bp,.f f carrmgudvovo up about half-^.y no ii* block an stoni'ed T), 1 ^ ^ ''^^ out. H. entoreTthe gatS'verv ^tS.^'v' window " I'r «^ "°'">'' " ''^ ' bm& wmaow. I know Ijq ^.^ jntitnatfl nf ii,„ house, and passed on. When TSt to th« next CO. nor he came out of f he -nTte ^rJt mg a large wooden box." ^ ' *'"'^- ;'Did he get into the cariinge'" Th '';,"*°^'' '''■'''■« »*"y very mpidlv " The d ^ti.ctiv.Mlid not stop to theori/e the'iSSL"'""-"-''''-'^ interrupted nrlT^" ""^. *''" '''°^«' the carriage Mr Morton went away in." About n mile. "•■*". "C^iU you tiike me there quick?" < I com se. " "Hurry up, then." Langdon hastened to tlie carriage and ^pVircr^^'-'^'^^^-ndrhtpS After traversing one of the avennen fn, some distance, he paused in front of a fsHhioiiabe private hotel. ^ * Here's the place," he said. LanX/" "" "" ' "''""-" -d-ed fi,J?M®°il:f'"^? ^'^^ structure, and learned in'lhf seSX""'''^'' ^ -'^« °^ -- , the^m^Totrte' '""^ ^°°-' -° o' "Come in. " curiously ot his visitor "'l"»nngiy and The detective wa« » keen stodent of hn- MANACLE AND BRACELET. Mr. VincontMr,r»«..'A'u. i";*- ies, «.c..rM„",v,.-':T,":5U,.ir. had ca St „ tiu "(•"'""k"* 1*'" apartment^ I "ies. " 'r^MHT°ou!lvwi^>,''""^^' ^'^'^ '■^f'™"1 «nr- : j^^PtMously with a carriage half an hour j Morton was silent 'and^SurSStofho'" '^^ "^n.ry w.ndow, |.vonde?d?dvoun:tv^^"''«^""^ '^^^^ box ' doih?Ti ^f'-rton'a n,iud was in a whirl of aoiibt and unceriamtv * tiowr.'^^' '■'g*'' ''«.>■«" "«k these qnes- As an officer of the law on tl,B tr. i c ThSirK?"'^^^*^ ^"'- " — -t or two. my\cdonr?t^%^''?I'>- '°f''>™ed of ' tWice o u'ic.ht Tn H ^''"^'''*^ Clifton's hroughraw^'Lrblx.'^^ ''"'"'' ""« ^ .^^L,ft it to the table here; I must exam- j.pA cry of dismay broke from Vincent's citel^;,'' "'°''°' ^' ^°°«." he cried, ex- jn^t'iceSand^t ■°'''- ^'« ''^'^'^^'^ o^ £^;;^;Je^enX^S;^=-on.^^^ ol.''sa^: °''"^'°^' *^' '^« «o;:r**waa "T9'"v'^^* opened this box?" charge toZ^put K ^^.l^^^l^^^ -^ •There are fresh mirk^ oTbToo^on it.- J nther favorably im- ' 8 a^penrance. ton? ' he Mid, inqoir- k you a few questions. . to be plain with you, r that wooden box in MANACLE AND BRACELET. 'peated, vaguely. "I "d was ia a whirl of " moment or two. bo demanded, Morton, is that Vincent started. " \ our coat is also stained. " "I (lid not know it before," ninrninred Vine lit, a manifest agitition coiniiif,' into hiK manner. "Speak. sir," he cried, siul- flenly. "Something has hanre ed— what it. ,t " 'I he detective fixed a searching eye on h'H fompanion. "Do you not know? slernly. "I certainly do not." "Nor surmise?" "No." "It is murder. Mr. yours?" He had suddenly rovoaled to Vini'ont's vK'w the da.'ger-aheath fonml on the floor of the library. " i es, " Clime tho etioked utterance of the dnuJ'oundeil Vincent. "And this— look?" 'J:.e detective had torn off the lid of the box. It was filled with bonds, deeds, and notes and across thiMii. still drijiDiiiR \vitli blood' v.ft>; the fatal blido which liad dealt tho rni lionaire hip death blow. "Merciful heavens! my stile'to. G 'ii- e-nl Clifton— speiik, I implore von Geu- tral Clifton " ■ Has been muid.r-d, and f arrest you VII cent Moruui, for the crime." ' '. white horror came into the yount,' man's exjiressive face. " i on arrest me I' hi^ ropeatod. "You ar- r H', me, his fricn.l, hi-^ cunfidmt " Stop. I am simply doin< mv dutv. You sec the proofs a-ainst yon ^'■' Great heavens: you'cininot suspect me 15 me ] understand .'t all. He warned li •■■■■ enomii's " H.- 8lopi:ed abiuptly 'i he dot-^ctive's e » vas be' t uj)on h m. He ivali, ed now. .n'"re tlianever, thatit was necossarvto ion- C'lla!! evidence of the secret G u.'ral Clif- ton laisolouH cherished. Bm what meant the ghasily contents of *''e box? Surely this was never what Gen- eral ( hfton intended him to eonceal. A glimmer of tho truth, that the enemies of Gtneral Clifton had se lured the real contents of the box, mingled with the grief heexpenencedo'.er the death of his be- lo.ea friend, well-ni'.h overwhelmed him. Mechanically h? followed the detective The latter took the fatal box with him into the carnage and gave the order to the driver .o return to the Clifton mansion. "I am innocent of (his crime. I was ig- Eomnt of its commiss on, 1 swear it " broke forth Vincent aftLT a long lingo of silence. " " t " ' The detective did not reply. "It is the work of enemies— f^r Oeneral Clifton h id aiiemies, and thev have threat- ened his welfare and security for years. I bog of you to waste no time in following d'.wn a f d-e clew, for I shall establish my innoce ee. The real assassin will esrape. " Lan^don made his way through the thron,' at the gate, and led his prisoner into tht' bouse. Vincent had grown terribly pale, and hia face I xpvossed the deepest anguish, as he thought of tho stricken Kihel Ciflon. "Thr,' is a youn^' lady hove, my afli- anced bride," he venluied to say "to the detective. "I itii])lore you to allow mo to see her. This torrible oecuneuce will break her heart. " "You mean Miss Clifton'" asked Lane- don. * "Yes." "It is her evidea.^e that will convict you cr esiablish yo!ir iunooonco," said the de- ' teetive, ominously. In a room at the rear of the hose on I the second floor the d.'t olive jmused, beck- I onod to an ofKcer in uniiorin, and refjnest- ed Vincent to remain in the apartment until he retiiin (1. At th' door. Tho room wa ; darkened, but the outlines of a figure crouched in moan;i:g n.iserv on a couch met ♦b" detect! v's visio i. He did not an. .roach her, for her hys- terical grief aft" cled him. Through the maid he directed a few iiointrd (luestious, and heard the sobbing replies without even seeing the fa e of the sfricken heiress to all (Jeno al Cliiton's wealth. Then Langdnn returned to the room in wh.ch he had left his prisoner. His face was set in a mask of sternness and decision. "Mr. Morton, " he said, cilmlv, "you say you are the affianced Husband of Miss Ethel Clifton?" "Yes." "And she would have no object in accus- ing you unjust'y?" ]'None," replied the mystified Vincent She was a witness to the crime com- mitted in this mansion to-night." Then she knows tho assassin?" "Yes, she even knows his name." "Ah," cried Vincent, hopefully, "then 16 ■iM be dome jnsfJce will be vindiciited name— tell it tome." ♦1,1.^ 'r*"* Mortou. She swiars poNitively that Hho saw you mun^er her i.ucle. •• ^ the'"yor'.!i^';:,:::^,:;"««'^'-^" '"^^^^ »'"' ^"•'^ The .!ete..tiv(., with a wiiiRp.rocl word to the olhcrrto tjuiird '■- left fli" room. Overwhelmed, dnmfounded, the miser- ?''•" ^"■'"" "t '.' t<'^Hble mistake rea.i/ed the nwful poNiiion eireum^tuncos ha fo'ced h m into. ' "I ^ee_tMll,"he.pied. -A plot deep as hnt.hasl.o.: wo^e,l aho„t th , minder d man and the wo,„nn I love, .^he has be deceived, half.cra.ed by the m,mtVan the US.S.I SI,,. w,th fi,„,lish ,:eftne,H, has lea ZT^''°:.' "•"" «f "PParent crime X eaiiiiot le'riove. He saw for himself th;. jirison. the mis- r^Uirli ,•/"■'""''' uiunlere,'. while poo,' mer!.,Jl " "",'.'"^' '' fe"«".'ess at tlie merey of her nncje's p tU ss enemies. A prisoner, he was iiowerle-s to aid 'ier, t ev.-n duii uise h,r mind of the nm,' She had made, as he supposed, in ad- judging hun guilty of killmg Gen.'ra! Clif- Free, dis^'uised, he mi. ht yet traeo down the asRasKin whom blind j.istioo was al- lowing to slip through its hands. iiScape!" A wild thrill pervaded his being as he fin.s,,od forth the word. "* Heglnnc.d at the ) oliconian earelessK- oungmg at the door of the ap.rtmeut and thou at the garden below Beneath the window stood the familv carriage, the driv.r on the box evideaty pressed into serv;. e by the police ^ The wiiidow was open, it w,is a jump of less than ten feet to the w.iting vehicle th;1'i'i3ow^i,r'''^'^""''"''^"'^^«P™"«*» fw I ' °'"=«"'nD's lips, he was llvinr, through space. ' '^ flisfe.t stinck the top of the vehicle his hands swept the amaz d coachnm n to the^ground as he tore the lines iVom his And then, as a sh^.t whizzed by his head he directed the frightened steeds to tlu; court, and, Iraversin- its length with the ^eones.s of the wind, disappeare in he darkuess and gloom of the night MANACLE AND BRACELET. at last. The niansion and its vlcinitT was a scene of bnstle and excitement. °' direS^^nl?'/",'"''*- °°''?' ^^^ «P*«"de. t irecteii ,ind led an immed ate pursuit of euSdei?"''''''',"^ "°"^'« ""«^""^Ua ab'S o' Mortml""' " '™" °' ^4^^^'"'''- [mniedi,it,ly, however, the patrol tel I Uw. would be npprehen.:ed befo.e mora. ! He set at work himself to close the in- vestigation of the cose in haii.l and an hour later sat in the library wheie the sup (•"Hed (ra-edy h:,d taken ,;i,u-e !oo i,?,, ,t a .ugebrilliant,with.ce,Lrclia:";n ':et? |X^ro?^''''''''"-^''-^l^'-'l^-'fo-d \\ith him was another detective the de psrtm.nt hud dis, at..hed to aid in ferretfn: ' Hoi'"''''^""' "' ''^ "'''""•• '' ""'" "''"ief th.'i'la^t 'er"'"v'™' *" ^^ '''"'» *" 'n^^" S^i'l • , . ; \"' Pnriioses of robbery and iut..rest combined this man Morton has murdered ( o-i.enl Clifton, • ^ .jobbery of what y impiired I.au'^don I le safe and his contens. Ym "«; notes— "''°"""""' ^''''^'*' '^'"^ds. "«d CHAPTEli V. A DARK MYSTERY. «c™ *^^/P?,':« «* *«^ minutes after the escape of Vmcent Morton, the Clifton ■ Urn they were v.iluoless to the thief for tney were not nci otiable '■ ' ^ litS"l,u"h°';aM"""' '"'^"''■^'^ "''^^'^ * ^ ,'!'m"' .''•'*' ''"«i"^'"J? the millionaire he would at one enrich the heiress Ethel Cl.Uon. whom h. intended to mam- " So tar m the ease Langdon hid not ex cenee'of";),'^'""'"" "' '" '^'-' «""' «' ^^^O- cenee of the prisoner. Now, howe'.er, he said, cdmly I arresMid N'incent Mort( n! I have , found almost irrefutable j.ronf.s of hw [gnilt. I remember that even the mUlion TZVi'T' '''' -^^^''-^'^ wfe claim that he IS the assassin, and yet T tell you c<,nfiden:ia]ly, Vinee.it Morton never murl dered Genera' Clifton." •=*«»• mur- Howard stared at his credulous anui/.ement. "You are mad!" he gasped. "There is ga£."'"'°'"'' '° -'^'l Morton to Ihl •Then tliey would hang an innocent man No sane ,ii;in would commit a murder Tmi leave the house as openly as Morion did Furthennore the housem.iid's story does not agree with the facts in the case. She Bays she heard General Clifton cry out and fall and saw also the assassin drag the "Wefl-" "" *^'°"S*' ^^^ ""^"rt " •Miss Clifton says she saw the crime companion in in- I .;3 I m 1 ii !init.v was a scene of t once of the upisode. iiumodiate pursuit of im hour's URHiduous a trace of fhewLeie- ->• ver, tbo patrol tel- '•e hcixlqmirt'rs of biiped timt tue fiipi- udtid Ijel'oie moru- :'lf to close tbe in- '• in hand imd nn 'I'liry whoif tho siip- 11 p'lU-o, l(io,iri|,' iit a I'litei' diaiiioiid sot- li h ho Lad found r dotectivo the de- <1 til aid in ferreting iiti'nir, u niuu mimed 3 1)!uin to ine," said iscs of robberv and • iiiim Morton has >u.'' iuqnirod I.angdon. 'iiiitou.s. You nay eilH, bonds, and 5SS to the thief, for "KfTfi-ed Howard a Ju millionaire he he heiress Ethel ed to mnrrv. " ,'don hid not ex- the guilt or inno- cdnily; Morten. I haTe !e |)ro()fs of his, evi'u tlie million- iH'ed w fe, claims Id vet r tell you, orton never mur- ompanion in in- isped. "There is d Mortoa to the an innocent man. lit a murder and as Morion did. lid's story does 1 the case. She ifton cry out and saRsin drag the 1 the court. " B saw the crime I, . MANACLE AND BRACKLET. ooramitted. If their storieH are trao Mor- ton never did the deetj, for tiio alarm waa not given until long after ho "eft the place " '• But ha may have rotiiriiod later and teken the body away." " No, for he ouii account for every min- ute of hia time through the coachman and patrolman, excepting the few moments ho waa in the library." " He may have had accomplices " "That may bo, but tliero in no use fol- lowing a blind trail when a plain clew ex- iata under our nosoa," " lu this house." " Yes." " What do Vdii mean ? " " That. purpoHoly or through the error of careless plottors, a mistiiko has been ma.le I in tolliiif,' a story which is part of the scheme surrounding this tragedy." "A mistake?" echoed Howard, vaguely Exactly. The houaemaid, Marie, and the heire>i.^, Mmh Clifton, hare not told the truth. " .^a he spoke this oiuiuous sentence in- ▼olviug a ttrnble suspicion of a ooncpir- acy aga nst an iuiiooout man. and reveal- ing the keynote to his theorv regardiu" the crime, Laugdou rose to liis feet. " His companion .^eemed to be studviu" over his words, but he asked; ° "Then you aro pursuing a new line of action based on that ibeorv " ;;Ye8." ' "Can I be of any service to you?" "Not at present. I shall personally be- gin an outside investigation. Later if I need you, I wi 1 apprise von of the tact." ihe detective wilked from the room leaving his companion considerably mvs- titied over his revelations. Langclon did not remain about the house but weut briskly down the street, his head bent in profound thought. Ho haa formed a dermite theory in h's mind as to thw mse under consideration " C^oiiig back over the earlier events of ' that evening, he recalled the line of inci- dents which had combined to brinr, him upon the scene of action. The note he had inteceited from the 17 woman "Viola" to Haivev Talcott hid a'- most predicted the tragedy of the eveuin'' la cott it was who ha,l knocked him iu- sensible at a vital stage in rbe game Was It inconsistent to s appose that the crafty Taleott might not have prepared a deft scheme to accomplish some hidden object by removing the millionaire from his ma!a? *^^' "'™® "''"" '^^ innocent \Vith the same clever trick of arttftca night he not have deluded Ethel Clifton into believing her lover guilty.- 1 In so doing ho robbed her of two friondu at one blow, and left her wealthy, innocent. hILTfonned **' *' '''* "*"°^ "' *'*" '''"'^ ''' One startling discovery had arouand the detective s suspicions in this direction In watching the housemaid, Mario ha Had become positively assured that aha was the same woman ho had aeon meet Viola and lalcott and give them the por- trait ho had found at tho artesian well. Underlying all this is a plot-a motive I have not yet fatliomed," murmnrod Latigdon in an intenso tone of voice, iho improbable story of the crime the housemaid tells shows her to be in league with those others. The woman Viola wrote tliat the game was for a million. I must look beyond the escaped priso.u.r for tlio hidden clow to this iuo.it mysteriom orimo. ' He determined to retrace his way step by step to the garden episode, lalcott had been there and Viola had said she wimld join them. JSomething deeper than robbery was involved, bnt what'> lo trace down Talcott and Viola, to shadow them step by step till I connect hem directly with this case, must be my task, decide, Langdoti. 'Tho womib hint I will loso no time. The uncle luuidered. the lover a fugitive from jus- lie... wrongfully aceus d" and driven to madness and despair by the api)arently ,er. vn V'J^fV^''^ "^ ^'" «>!•''• *liB unprotected JUhel Clifton, with her millions, is to be he victim of those human ghouls who Uave timed their nefarious plots to the tiuetion of a second. Good. I will take the liail. I will deliver this poor child of mis-^ fortune from their baleful power. I will not rest night or day untill have learned the entire truth of the great Clifton mys- He aroused himself with all his old energy and coufidonee. He rapidly for- mulated his plan ot action like a g'eneial marshaling his forces on the field of bat- It was one man against another, he thought. He httlo dreamed «hat a fonni- dable coniederatiou pf deft, unscrupulous schemers would oppose his -.vay to success. ' He did not know it then, but the task he ' undertook was destined to prove ihe moat ti-agic and difficult of nil his eventful life CHAPTER VL TBACKD DOWN. One hour after daylight Langdon the de- lective paused before the same house in which he had the day previous seen the womaa wnom he know to be Viola. 4 If ^* :§ 18 'MANACLE AND IIRAC !r«u,^,..;;;rr':^z.:^'-^''er,,oi.^,,,,,, HLET. cotiij.lce (,f If, ,,, , coin))] (..ty i (Iifio-. hoii-ohofd It Th . ,1 liirv J'oott. P'o^ I ^£l; o7 let '"''^ '"'^''"' oharred |t. etivo iln , rtSHiiwed 'H an «c. ".Vow (h It'll, a (lii floor. •• .vnmrk, d L. L :;. ' "I'r '''t ««"""'! iinve a „,„j, . {',,iP''.''- -^I'ss Viola I igiiJBo I neu VttOt, who Nfood '">; Rill, "hn said totb 10 ler- S.l'".f^.'^'".-Mnra Hlie'd only been here a Oone whor'or" , ^ ''"lit know. a«.V <>r (wo. " to pack „„. All X hn,i t.""^"''*^«''" and when I cme toher romn . !''® , Kr.de. , gone." ""' '0""J ii^aiu nhe was j »'»i (lu> Hche uUw • "'' '■"'"°' i" league .'««'iO'Iont from tli£r,ff>''''P*''' ^^e ha,i te^^S^A^S' '"''-- ^-pocket and i-'>!^«:LcS,S^^ of ,..,«. -V^ee hero, n.y «irl - ho «„,vi I T ^"'"™" ""'l V o'a '^''' t"'"'^'''! ^^^ ly; "I'm very auxion; fn « ,"'• Pe'sunsive- ^ ""e of them hore m;« ,. T anxious to &ud a tmce of the ^-.^f" compelled o sernr. °''''''- "^ ''"^e ' «'de hell,. n,„i i,„;° T."'« ''"m^' «r.,s'.v out. a ,,„,.,„„„ ?""e wonder. Vt'H, sir. ' VioJ:'!L!:^''^;;»;''^toa«entlem,„f.„,j,.,J .fl'^K.rl nodded a^s'uti.fi,';^"^ ^"''""''"l "Whore?' '-"^''b.u'di""'o;;";h' ","""'^«' ^^ « roo,„ |l'"nl..vard '^ °" '^^" '"^t-r ..ul of o oil" ■"'■vod, too.'' r'mu h oM *' ,^« ^^'^"•' H" 'lid not sfM , "'^''K»<1. nivf^irl" "'•'-'se.l curio it"; , " ^;!rV'>.'!>" '<«on'j '"""•'"^!:;i':ip--'odtoe.. ly. lady ;B!!i;oK!:.'^'^'*"''^«^p^o«.- B"t>on can How, Hir'f" ro^S^strSlSeTa-nTan^'^^""^^ -« '^^ qnestiona. " ' ' """ ""swermg a few "Follow mo, Kir. '• Becond lioor'of 'ttZ;V ^^ "^ '^^ i '^^'"'"^ "^'°^''"^' " ''"'' ""'" nshered the detective i'no^°* '"'"''- °°'' u ^•"'P'' " Pn^ the nan. . «idehe.;;:';^;ru«-;-sonu.tr.,syc The""n' '^"^'°" «»'l Per. ^on "'^'"^ "'- coS^na.^'^:,.>-!%bPword. he recent iotter, and mn- "K f "•^' "''^' ^^ '> Non are becomine sn.. ■ ^""^ ""'^ I'ear- , tant in th.ir demLd ' t""' ""'> ^^orbi. rid of them afte we havi '""*' ^"^^^ <" Ket Clifton plot.' li^ve curried out the an. bio ...ui,D uH last oocntTi..* k 1 . ~'-^" I --■.,^ 1, . - '■ uDD ua(i »o.u«n in h„ looking "™»''»'"<1 by the , bim. """ "" """it bd ,li„js2j Jew forth ,evo«l ohnrre-l •wonder, I wnnt to aHkyo,, ^tetoa«6nlleinanf„rJi,i. "' 1 Mr. Imiv. V TnlcottV"! itleiuiif, '• '"0.1 a number of a room tho low,,r , nd of o citv I ^ ..n7„ Ty "ntf.red ' provided he LaN,,' >f file gul with anyes- ""•"n"'g of his .[„es. 3el ho proceeded to ex cli'«rrod ,,aper he had ' fia«meti(H of Jt.tt«r« ,;;;,-^'eJh.uipa«.,;dS- e tlie woidH: "I have ^eoaresomotrMSTou" "J.nd two ...sefiU " . i'ltelligiblo word, he . ':.7'le"«ly „:,rt of a > .Uarton and Pear- \.J *'^*" ^''^e to get lifive carried out the "O towarr th<' nlii,.a dth stores und-r it. wily in the upper '««ncla8 rooms for le stairs, and located servant had directed n side corridor he °<"- of (he room a as going through a knob with one foot. e transom into tho F* "{ *'it*"'«"or of I to the floor again, MANACLE AND BRACELET. f.Bi then !)o«;nn pacing up and down th< It 01 rcMUeHBly. If ho'iiKivou us the glip aftor all our hard work for him, I'll ^ivo tho whole «(•' eme to the police aa Huie as luv uuiiio In Barton." the watchiiiK detective heard the uuo mutter to hiuiHitii'. tn dome tiiuo the latter continued his bill' it proiiiemide, pansinif, tlually.ag a man oame up the HtiiirN. • Pearson !" ejaculated the man. "Well did you tiiid hiiu? ■ "I think I know where be in." "Good. You (hiuk he's tiyiut? to set rid of US?" ">fo; I think he's staying away from the room here for fear it's being watched. " "Hv the police?" " Exactly." "Then he's foolish." "Why 80?" II He's left his uluudor in there." "Howdoyouknow'i'' iuquirod Pearson. I climbed to the window and looked in. You know that iron casket we alwoys sup- posed he kept his money in?" " Yes. " "It's in there. I saw it. Let's force the door oud be sure of thut much, any way." see If Talcolt intends to act siiuare ou last mght 8 afl'air. " The detectiTe smiled grimly as Talcott's name was spoken. He had struck a pro- gressive trail, it seemed. The two men descended to the street, and he followed them. It wns uot a diffi- cult task of shadowing, for thev were so engrossed in discussing their aff.iirs that they never turned to observe the tireless cautious detective on their track. ■A-'^ast the. came to ou alley, and entered the side-door of a down-town saloon. i.angdon was close upon their heels, and saw them pas^ down a corridor and through a door. ° He reached the door ere it closed after them, and held the knob for an instont. J.nen he opened the door. It closed to after him with a slam, and he found himself in a little dark hall. At Its other end was a door leading into the rear yard. A small window looked into a room in which 11 gas-jet was burning, and he saw Uie two men in this apartment. Stotioniiig himself at the window, he prepared to watch and listen. Pearson waved his companion to a seat at a table. ^^I'^fJ'^gp and find Talcott," he said. "I ..••••n uc a up-suiira !li:aog< a square Ing him wan the mau tho deteotire •lieil to see -Harrey Talcott 1 ho lali r wore a dlsguiee that the ej- pert detective instantly penetrated. There was an an^iy ghue in his > ves, and his brow was gathered in a deep «.cowl "Heo here," he Slid, irritahlv, "what ara you fellows hounding mo around for' " "ye ain't houudlntr you around. " replied Uartou HuUeuly. "We're oulv looking for our rights. " * I^What rights?" "You know well enough— our pay for work done. "Vou'llgetit, never fear." "When'/" "To-mcrrow. " "You promised it to-.fiv. Yon told m to conie to your room this i .ruing, and vou weron t theio to meet us a-. igieeJ. " ''Haveyou noHense' n, w do I know but what tho police aro watil. iig tho place?" ihey aint. " "How do you know'i"" "Because wo were just thei here, Mr. Harvey Talcott, is i. deal or nut':'" • "Certainly it is." "Then why don't you do th fair thine? You got some plunder last night - ' "About four hundred dollars; ('..reitis " lalcottduuga roll of bills on tho table between the two men. Neither of them touched It, but sat glarin,' sulleul at it. I; inally Pearson brought his i >t down on the table with an echoing thun v "It won't do." ho grouud ot, Harvey Talcott, I'm going to be pi yoa Me and my partner didn't i necks last uight for no four hundr lars, and you didn't get an oi.l mill out of your way for any such amour Talcott's face was pale with rage. "Its all I got, I tell you," ho began Mebbe; but you're banking on r itnr« results, and we're entitled t;a share i it You can't fool us. One ,/omau w .an't drugged and carried away, and anothe- let into the house, for nothing. We know .your game. You're playing lor o million. Its a share, or more money cash down, The man paused ominously. "Or what'?" demanded Talcott, olenohing UIB UHtS. "You know we'll spoil your play as sure as fate. For .some moments the rage-filled Tal- cott and his sullen, determined accom- plices confronted each other. Tho watching detective in the corridor without, intensely stiirt!«d and intfrcat«.i at a new element of mystery, stood regard- ing them ttxedly. "Mr. u with >k our dul. iuair« 20 I J!f I " At last Taleott spoke Wiih « „ ^ g;.re that Poo:,/eo'4air/Eis\^nS hi "Well, well, we won't nnftn-pl Toi, *i. mouov ftiifi I'll _"""•' 'luttTe I. iakethe partners in theTcheme ■' " °'' '"'^"'^ "^ ''^ '.l]]fj'ej-e will you meet ns?" s Jel"/"' '^ I'Jov ns fair and we're true as ""h r,f IV' *^'""' ^''-- '"^ lost •• ' ''"''^'"^'^^ deeded aaurite'tb'e'^ .^P°'°- ^^''^"'^"'^ front entrance. '''''^°°" "^^ ^^''^ MANACLE AND BRACELET. th^l^^mldn^to;^?; -?yr/eeSer ^^^-^-'•- *''<^*. too. -omt,'t^,fi:eV'?;!,S-"' it. at th.t tiu,. Hivsterv ot tL^ n f/ '■ "''•^'"'S tl^" -.^e^«h4L.i'^so5i;^^^n^-cS- aeain. ,uul he lisTe^^h.te'tly ^''"'''"•^S thri:;[;:n'ro^eto^x,r"rL:;^ "''■ "^ send u, to jail. He int mi. ' ' """^ '^'^'^ ;:j;oube!Lvet£^?^sS^^;^j;"°"-"i He IS can j'c of u d fLf. ...,.„-^ „, ,, ^ cioeupon,he,rh3eisasBi't;n'!lXS SmM ?o%rceSoLH' '^•*^''* *W. Death it, ' '"""^ ^«a^ object be- eaSy!' ^'^ ^'°' «"*^" ^^«^on asked. of lead " "^ t»e,iyy enough to befall "Maybe it is. " "No: it's where he keenn >,,•» We're BO much aboT..?«JlP H^ money. into some out-of The T '*''^^' ^"^ ""^ ««* , jj „ « out-of-the-way place and open from^nd wal^e^f^out'otaT?^ *° *^« ^''^^ _ He sprang to the re^r ,!„„-. *u.. .. ^^^^ ^'as'cft ]!ar on had sno^Sf^'^" ^°'iS-f:^;;j:f^";-.«^>"^ ti^^ ^^- wa/Sy£^^'^^:-J.-'li^'T^^y'" ^« mite shell? we , sed o hL'^*' °/ *'^" '*>•"'*- in the mines. •■ ^""^'^ ''•^^^ ^e were "Break it open." "All right; h:ind up a rock." iVvirsou did so "Now hold It whiM strike. case '"'-^ '°'"' *'''*''='' "1«'1 A deafening explosion rent the air. on the iron followed b sr-room steps te- nd Bai- I CH.^PTI;:,'; vn. Th > iron casket, as Harvey Talentf,. ♦„ b"ta.Nn;^;rar;U7Be--'r^ki,^r„i"o'^^ mite shell. ■' J"nd of dyna- sJiiS^-eS.nr'UsS'^^ti"^^ -pa.iontob^liev^'^;:-Sel^-:°^-^ . At all e.entThirseere" «^'';''^«''-J'ves'> ;-Jei.'t.er to Viola S^Xjn'-S at£r,5^S°,.X'2r-^-"- For,a.;hoex,lo,i„no|.curred,Lang,toa witnessed a sight he never forgot. '1 °° ^\^ "m. ' bat this some Leavy object be- get?" Pearaon aRketl, «8 in a drawer and tho leavy enough to be fall he keeps hig money, a. any way. Let us Mt le-way place and open their way to the lak» tonal.ttlepier.whjro 'ars, they seated themi crept upon them al- peorm!? over the tim. 1 their movements await the opeuing of to arrest them, satis- rve some very impor- ^lifton tragedy case. lia>l spoken of was a :>r iron and tin. k;e'veeot no key," he m<)s me of tue dyua- have when we were a rock." strike, cewled on the iron 'n rent the air. n VIL '•■^ J'iUE.NJ). wn Of stronpr nerves, '" 1 Ijorror ii.s, „ mo- Milusion, he realized arvey Talcotfs two to term it, was not 'iitiicle for money i-ii kind of dyna- I it either for just I';esonl, or to em- iiesperate manner r.'geil l.aiton ,ind ca'^ket contained iild carry it away. or eiiii their lives? et^wish expressed 3 had been accom- rth r use for were i'ntL. burred, Langdoa " forgot. The tei-ribly fatal power of the explosive wrought d'jath and destruction on ever» Bide. •' A sickening sense of horror overwhelmed the detective as he saw the two men blown with awful force across the pier. Shreds of human flesh and sbiittered projectiles tilled the air. The detective himself was buried beneath a heap of lum- ber which the shock of the explosion had overturned. When he crept forth he saw the maimed forms of the conspirators, torn and mu- tilated, yim; on the pier, into which a large hole had been blown. They were both motionless. Death sudden and terrible, bad overtaken them in a moment of time. Au example of the base treachery which crime invariably awards its votaries^ it also indicated the full depths of Talcotfs deadly Bchemes. •' "The evidence of these men would have convicted Talcott," murmured the de'ect- 'j^'^ "Their removal makes the trail more d Jtcult, but I must have iiodeliy in fo'- lowing it afresh. " He left the spot at once, and to the first po iceman he met reported the fact that two men in opening som- . xplosive on the pier had been instantly killed. Then he hastened to the place where he hved, and, arranging a disguise suited to represent an ordinary laborer, took ni) the trail anew. .u^^-r''? ^^^ °°^ '^o doubt in his mind that lalcott and his accomplices had been tM actors in the tragedy at the Clifton mansion. He was less anxious on this score than in probing the real moives underlying the commission of the crime. Why had murder and intrigue been wrought? Why had so deep a tra-edy oc- curred? Surely not to secure what small amount the safe in the library of the man- sion contained. No. Langdou reasoned that a bo d, hid- den scheme for a million was invo!ve(t in » 1 this, but how did the plotters hope to obtain the fortune of the murdered mil- Iionaire? Little did the detective imagine the deft plot soon to be revealed to his inquiring Without knowing it, he stood on the I ttreshold of the discovery of one of those i bold schemes which, in their intri.'aev and dexterous operation, once in a vhile be- wilder and startle the country. His first move was to locate Talcott agiuu. He had thought it would be an easy task A visit, however, to the place where he MANACLE AND BRACELET. 21 had last seen Talcott revealed no trace of He !e irned, further, that his man had visited his room, and, securing a saohel, had settled his account with the landlord and left for good. All that day he visited every place to which in days past he had traced Talcott Atiastheseeminglv struck the broken trail. About a week previous he had one day seen Talcott enter a little shop located on a down-town street near the river. The proprietor was an old man who seemed to keep a store for the sale and purchase of old stamps and coins. He had noticed Talcott in earnest con- versation with this man. and at the time set_^them down for familiar acquaintances, lo this pace, a little store which ap- peared to be the entrance to a large wan- dering brick structure ia its rear, Langdon wended his way. Night wa^ just falling, and he boldly ap- pro iched the windows and glanced in pre- tcndini,' to be examining the trays of coins on exhibition. The same oM man he had seen before was seated at tho coiin'er. writing some kind of a letter. i'rom where he stood the detective by rtoining hs vision could plainly make out the hrst word; written upon if th'l~*~^"^'^'°" ^'" ""'^ *'° ^^^ '""'' This was what had been wriften so far and It revealed to Langdon the fact that the old coin-dealor was without doubt a go-between of the pi , iters. If so, he knew of Talcotfs whereabouts, and the detective determined to act boldly He entered the shop as if in ^-reat haste, having tiiken a letter from his pocket be- forehand. Approaching the counter where the oM man wan, he leaned over and in a myste- rious whisper uttered the single word' * 'Talcott!" .The coin-dealer started and arose to his leet. His keen, small eyes sweeping Lane- don s fa.e searchinglv, he d -manded- "Who are you?" "Afriend-ameBxengor. I have a letter for Talcott. "Who from?" demanded the coin-dealer suspiciously. ' "Viol.i," The old man extended his hand. ■Give it to me. I II s,.e that he gets it " •><). Its a niat(er of haste. 1 am -o hand It to him only, and at once," and L.an/don mark- r, -r. a ilourish of showi g (he pretended missive in question. He'll be here in an hour." "When does the bout s.i ;?" ^.|, ■ 22 M r.i: >l^ li -J •• (I % I This qnestiou, based ou what Lancdon tbeteS^^^^^^^^^^ ^owa to Where is it? "No; from Viola." noX'£l%-rt,' ^,'''' ^l^e^ent the A thrill of the utmost perplexitv filiA.i wi^^f "J^^'^l"'' ?« ^« pursued hfs way the Otftfn'',^^ "'"^ coiu-dealer mear a^bout uri^K- *°° mansion and Marie? M^irM^"^""^ '^ * <^"k naj-sterv yet " de olaed the detective- "imf *i,„ •,•''"■ "S- Boon be in my hands." *^^ ''''^^ ^" The broad wharf at the river was Anf!,» ly deserted as Langdon reached T" '" A large number of all kinds nf =i,- •nd boats were moored at the^lock ^'^' dkrkness.' '°'^ «''°'e toward him in t'he He drew aside and waited until th^ ,,,„ ^Thr.' ''^cWy opposite where he was Then he stepped forth, caught the oZ; by ^the arm and peered clSsely fnto*S «f3"^^-'' ^''^*'°"' I believe?" he said in diSuL'."°^""« *'^ «*^«'- -^^Se tis" J^lfo" started violently. -Oh ye'sTt*is'"-'"'T'r' r-"*^^ *'^ga°- iX^ „ xaicott, for some time Win ChLf oTpT^ '"^ ^-^ ^'^^ office ofSe SforceV^°""''°''""^'I''^^« ^«" tl^e^e hrl^if PP®"^i" ^'^^^"^ Talcott, stru-^Blim? to 5^ "i*"^*^ ^""^ 1^*8 captor. "I is^ rLa don the detective. " t' ■ ^' « ijang "Whl/'^r ^"^''^'^ ''S^*' "^y Wend." « A 1 •? , ^° y°" ^^""1' of me? " ^A Jittle conversation. " About what?" Talooit clenched his hands ragefully A! }Z P''"'"'"''- fo*- another "^ i-^^ plotter gtew deathly pale. lasrw^ds^^ThViire'd 't '''^fr;^ overwhelm his Soner ^'"'^Pletely tnere was an opening under the pllnk?"as MANACLE AND BEACELET. the iir mur- conv°eVsalion'."'P°'^« °' overhearing •^Wh^l'l^"?"/ ^'°^^ ^^^ silence. der')"tb«°^''°°^ °^*1^« Clifton "Eve^thTg •" ""°'"^- froithr\re'r^-..t^e victim, except Rms5VKSs"ar^'^^'-*'^ "'-^^ W« viS' itrHi^''"'",''*' P°<^J^«t the brilliant exactly tits this chnh, r,^ ^ ^ library, and you lostTt in the'd-iu'-ir' P.^P''*^ the victim of your crime'"" '''"^^^^ ^'''^ amait'utd te'r'*' ^ '"^ *^' '-"'"^ him:elT'"^'''^°"^^^^-*°i)lio:,aire The original of the ,2^ "^ mo'-ement. possession, he recaJJorf'^^'"''^ «''" '« his graph vividly. '^''*"«'^ tfae mental pho'o- -|noSVtr^?freSf;^^-!^---th.re or^forra to the other '^'"'"'^ ^" ^^ face s<'hfl,n„!.'""'° «f th true The housemaid ATi,.;,^ ' mon8,.,.nd a horHln";^ ^ir'*-^'' ^'« «"™- fnce he observed that sh! ,^n"\ """"^P^ *»*« him as the dete.t vf of the IT/ '■««°«"''^e A fl .m officer of the In^ "'i.'P'«^'o««- wished to appe.r. and h, l^Zl «.^«T^«r, he ,„,V°^-'-'^epoLrsri^;-C,, I'll'y con.rastiDR wifh L, f • '''":'• ^™'J<'w uessed at the window bv t""'""'^^ "'^ "*- mi uutes previous ''3' I-angdon a few . "Miss Clifion is verv ill • ,. n"cle'8murde,^r ^ '"'=«"* Morton, hei Mane showed the d-t,.«.- . and 8t:,ted th.t she wo ,??'<■ * ' '^-^"''mrv tress of his wishes '' '"'""" her ni:s. ae^t£":^u;..w, his con- -«on-thau;;i:r2ar;;^^''- jne. With m^ tl^reVwTf •/'!''• ^ " S from .[..oad, as bisirTv Sil^""^ '"''' him , J aiJi not mist ,ij,.,f '' ^ "''3' companion. " deed ^'iol„ D^,, ., ^'-'l; J his woman is in- "nintcse to e^f vo^^"""'*"' ^-^sdon ?« ^h. VOU Dictm^u"! affected interest. "Y^n ll/-'"'''''^ '' with abroad you s.iy ■ ^"" ^^"^ '^ to him from "ouf'ment. "^ ^<" « sudden de "Mice. !,«,,.,;"£,,''' ""'■"« •tiimom.nr, """•-•""■""■™— 0-...„«b.Mi„cli,. fk the curtains nntl '^\L ""^f ''""«^' «« 'ne pic.'nre of the >me(l home the pre l^lCmton as ^a f the woman he had ''•d'-n at the upper jnumured. his face these plotters " rtarus to drop and ni-d the souud of e stairs. ;eued and a woman . Koobinur e floor ami retired. me Words: ir, " offhemostpoivB. 1. tHewoman-the at the window— MANACLE AND BRACELET. sir. she mur- flie detective ovenieut of ' his the ber eave- i-rrible 3. you if you know 5 that has robbed <'"gl.T. hiscon- ■" "D impostor nuer. '^' 'lie woman "es. Ho live.i J ii'Hj sent him yeompaniou " « woni.m is iij. d Ltingdoa in ;'n"rke I, with '" to him from Oh, to lose Vi it is terri- nt Robbings, to the alcove picture mj sudden de- pocket the I'om thear. brown it. anionienf'H ton, butyournncle had another picture he also valued highly. " "Indeed. What was that?" inquired the woman. Bomewnat surprised at the detec- tive's ominous manner and tone " '/'Aw.' " Witl: a quick movement, the detective flung open the rolled oil portrait in his hand. The woman staggered back, paled to the co'.or of marble, and stood transfixed— dumfounded-co.npletely taken off her guard. "That picture— that portrait, "she gisped and how came you by it ? It is " ' "The one General Clifton possessed un- til it was stolen from him and yonder one Bulistituted in its place. Madam. I know you. Your evil schemes are revealed. I demand to know at once what have vou and yonrac'om.-ili.es done with the ori" lual of this i)ortr,iit, the real Ethel Clif ton? " 25 Miss Clif. CHAPTER IX THE TWO POKTRAITK. For some momjuts the womau whom the detective had so suddenly an I start- Iingly coufrouted with (he portrait of the real Ethel Cbfiou, seenioa depr.ved of the power of motion or •oii-bt. She could only st ire blankly at the pic- ture in the detective's liaiid and reali/.e that she had beeu completely unmasked and that her gime was a losing une. Lau-doa did not speak a word He stood silently, tix.nlly r g.irding her, and studyi.ig how, having confronted her wi,h an evidence that he was master of the sit- n ttion, he could induce her to confess all the details of the {)lot she was workin;,'. ■ He could see from her cruel, scheiui.ig fiice that this would be uo easy tisk. and that when she recovered her self-control she would be a crafty and deJi int foe to deal witl). Sutldeuly the stony mask of minglid terror and amazement on her dark face was i broken. i Her eyes were withdrawn from the pic- ' tuie, and wandering l)cyrmd the detective, rested on some object that attracted her attention. Glancing sidewise into a mirror that stood at one end of the room, the detective saw the cause of her distnu'tion. He could witness an active pantomime going on at the door of the library. This had been cautiously opened by the housemaid Mario, who undoubtedly* had overheard all that had. been said. She was now making expressive motions to her mistiess of encouragement and counsel. , F^^^ plainly said, as the detective trans- lated them: "Defy him— all is not lost yet!" Then the door closed, and the woman Used her eyes on the detective's face. A hard look of hatred came into their depths, as if she could kill him where he stood hid she dared. "Who are you?" she demanded, in a hoarse, harsh voice, Btrugglinij hard to re- gain control of her emotions. " "A detective, as I have announced to yon. Madam, I think we undt-rstand each other. Be seated. " He dropped the cur.ain over the portrait in the alcove, and rolling up the picture in his hand, restored it to his pocket. The woman's eyes followed his move- ments, and her hands worked nervously, as if she would tear from his possession't'his terrible evidence of the plot he ha 1 hint- ed at. She had sunk into a chair. The detective followed her esamjile, and faced her un- fiin hingly. He saw that she was pri'parinf; herself for : a desperate combat against all thu shrewd- nes-i and iiower he had at his command. ; " In a word, madam, " he said, " I know i you. I The woman's lip curled with pretend, d scorn. ! "Von know me," she repeated. "You j have never seen me before until this mo- { moiit." I "You are mistaken. I saw you two nights since. " j "Where?" I "With your two accomplices, Harvey Tal- 1 oott and the housemaid here, Marie. I "That night thi; picture I have shown vou ! had beeu cut from yonder frame and vour j own substituted. , "I traced that picture to the place where j it had been thrown awaj , and recov- ! ered it. " The woman did not speak, but Langdon discerned that she was overcome at his rapid statement of facts. "later, I was a witness to your clever telegraphing from your window to yonr nc complies Talcott. " The woman started violently. Evi- dently, up to this moment she 'had not knowa the identity of her visitor. "Yes, Viola Dale, for that is your name, I witnessed that episod ?. I even saw you send a l-tter to Harvey Talcott. which I read. I can even lepeat its contents to you. " Not a word from his awed listener, only her breathing grew quicker— her dark face paled slowly, steadily. "Later still, " continuetl Langdon, coolly. 26 fi llll :l !i teM T ^„ f" ''^^ f'lSments of two let- ueoiomaucer. ^° ^®^® some the mu^,erof%?J?:, Sou^''""'^«'^P ^'^ aorn„nf th""''" ',''°^ ^"^ ^'^"t lam uotig. aornnt of ho cuimmution of your plans At the same time you arrived nf f».o rear court in a carriage ""^"ed at the Ethd SSu'';!:)?"^ ,'^^ murder, the real ar-ucred ^^Ttv lr'"^« - '.-onspirators '^ ^'"^ '""^'^^^ «' '^e ^er^bSS^^S-£^^--P'ot- unniSl*SS^e:!^^X'^;y?^'--^arsh. ^0 eartb,°every ^ne' "^^^^'"P"^^^ a^e run shall have m.??eporr" ^^-""^'•'o^. Justice -^S^;;2'^i;dr^^-<^^ope flitted 2aS3S?-«^ cape me ^ I shaK V"'' *"^'t' ^^^ ^'»'' ««- :AnTthaU8?» ' secured my object." part^""^*' " <'°'"Plete confession on your MANACLE AND BRACELET. ;;And if I refuse?" The jail." ^Jhe woman shuddered at the ominon. The hmfl'° ^f. *'«"' "°d touched a bell "M^vi "'1""*"^ instantly appeared "brfS'L^e ,?;rps^'.i aca^lnirone^o'i.oice. maid.TsuSf°""''''«^«'i*be house. n<^pst,d, and she must her home, ress her wraps, g them, ptiy to the de- ■ and perempto- origiuai of tha MANACLE AND BRACELET. 27 "I have told you thai" "You make it a condition of my liberty. I ajjree. " The detective followed the woman from the room and down she steps of the mausion "Is it far?" '"Yes." "Then I will hail a cab when we meet one. A single word, Viola Dale. I know that your plotting heart is a volcano of hatred for me, that you are schemini,' to en- trap and baffle me. Be careful. I will not be unprepared to net summarily against you or vour accomplices. " The woman wa-f silent. Even after the detective had hailed a cab and sat by her Bide on the seat slje did not speak a word. She had herself given the order to the driver— a vaguo direction as to stre ts. Its delivery seemed to indicate that she was still wavering iu her determination to lead Langdon to where Ethel Clifto.i was. They had proceeded about half a mile, when the detective started. He had observed a peculiar odor in the air of the cab, which was becomina heavv and tainted. He snddealy reached fo.ward and seized the hand of his companion, tearing a tiny phial from its clas]). Coolly opening the window, he flung it out into the street. His companion, evidentlv prepared for euch contingencies as the present one, had attempted to rob him of coiisciousne.ss by means of a pov.erful nnicsthetic. He could see her bauds clench fiercely as she rea'ized that her captor was keenly ■watchful and shrewd as herself. At a street near the river she told him to order the cabmm to stop. 'We will walk the rest of the way," she said, shorlly. Langdon paid and dismi'^' d the cabman. Tha woman led the way vu the street, aud paused finally. Langdon started as he recognized the building. It was the same place that he had visited that afternoon— the store of the old coin- dealer. The windows and doors were secured with old-fashioned outdde shutters, and no light was visible withi i the place. "Is this the place? "asked her companion. "Yes." "And Ethel Clifton is here?" "I do not know that. " I^Then why do you come here?" "I wish to obtain some information of a friend. " "Oh, the old eoin-dealur?" remarked Langdon, carelessly. Viola Dale started. "Do you know everything?" she hissed out, angr-'ly. "I know that he is a mutual friend of yourself aud Haivey Talcott." "i'craaps. " "Oh. I am certain of it. He was writing yon a letter this afternoon. Ah.' I see by your faci' you received it." "AVhat letter?" stammered the woman. "The one beginning, 'Viola— Talcott will sail on the lioat.' " The woman recoiled aghast, as Langdon repeated what ht; hud reail that evening of the coin-dealer's letter to her. V/as there some diablerie in this man's movements? She almost tottered as she gave a peculiar vap at the door. It was opened a moment later. The old coin-dealer appeared, a lamp in his hand "You, Viola!" he cried, iu a tone of the deepest surprise. "Talcott has just come." The detective started as if dealt a oui.'k blow. "Talcott alive and here!" he murnflired. "It's too late to retreat now. This case will require some skillful handling iu .the next hour, " ,.* He was not wrong in his surmise. As he crossed the threshold of the old coin-deal- er's store, unwittingly, unconsciously, he was entering upon one of the most start- ling aud perilous ei)isodes of his eventful career. CHAPTER X. IN DEADLY PEEIL. The detective had kept back in the shad- ow of the doorway, and the coin-dealer had not yet noticed him. He was about to address some further remark to Viola that would have thrown still further light on the fact so surprisiu" to Langdon, that Talcott was still alive and in the place, when Viola made him an im- perative gesture to silence. At the same moment the detective stepped into the room. The coin -dealer stared keenly at him, and then started back with an ejaculation of amazement. "Why, it's the man who was Uere this afte;noon. " "What of it?" demanded Langdon. coolly. "Why, Talcott said that— that " "What?" "Oh, he must have been mistaken. He got mixed up in telling about some trouble he had at the river. It's curious, though." Viola Dale looked suspicious, but the detectiva's eye was upon her, and she re- menibered his warning. This strange man, who seemed to know her very thoughts, impressed her with a 28 *! MANACLE AND BRACELET heart had never expert-' - *«"or her cruel enced before. """ ""^er expert- I Xh^ very place. J^^^ »nd retn-ned to this o4i' ^X'he'tfeS '^« ---dealer BcnbodhimastheSfe '„^^ ^'»'' Je posed upon the K wm?^. "}"' ^"^ '«» ter fiom Vio.'a. " " P'ofended let THm rtni». J__» Th **^ »• K*"icuuea let- "" «urraco, " ^ **"" iiues upo boUeve (hat there had hT "'^ 'nclined . The '^etoctive ',e emfne/?""" '''''^^'^■ luformat.on he could of th. " «u"'" ^l""' suspected the truth or vfi """> ''^^"'■fl he on injunction of «iience '" °°"^'' «""^ey -liie coin-dealer had I«,i ti, inner room. ^^ ^'^^ way info an I' Wan a strange lool-;., numerous doors of esU f, P'""^' ^a^iuR panels in the wall ^ ""'^ ^"'^"09 and : „ — ' ""-cuve «„, ^^ The furniture itseif wn= I ^ «^ *''°^'.v o • er the the tloor seemed to be u,uf •?r»''«'-. and -^e understood n Phe.l Mith tm,. doors """«""»".v well sup? ! P»«oner was about i.aijgdoii decided that thn « ■ . : \ ^^^ was writing ;, 'h>s apartment w„,„ "i^.^ "^'u store and sent-uc«s «,i, 1 .u^^ " l^e^weTn' hTrli^r^ '"^ P'-^'J t''- match antemeJt'o^be'ah?-""'^"''^ "^0 table ffuoiful imag.nary drl™'-'*^'"^' scribbling its surface. ^ *'"°'«« and lines upon ■^ot a movement u ^Ped the watcSurevt''^ ,.^°^*ver. Plieil Mith trap ,(0(,rs •' "— ""P- l.aijgdoii decided tiinf > K„ i h>s npartn,ent wo e « nmV''^''°'« ^'^ Bome mysterious osiabl shS, entrances to ion say Talcott is w"" ^ ^®^°"''- he com-.lealer. in a tone n/ ^^ """^e^' °f lessness and familiarity ««sumed care- How is the girl'"' j deteetire, waruingiy " ' ^^'^^'spered the Then aloud, he said- ,d*ea™'S';cr.u7„"r''«'? o, n, furious assent. °™"" choked out a »aiUo'.nS.'" "'*'' ^^h« boat ought to g'oVetha'itor'a S"Sl ""'^'^^ ^- she sat "'^ table near where jjponitthecoin-doaler had placed the cantlyut the coin-deaTer^' 'ooked signifl" At a fi'lannn r„„~j-." 'he"mSe'sJ^l,:f*«^ *°. '>«' "'ovementg said, "^"^h' hurts my eyes at niga," ha -^stSrestro?d''r^^°'-or- The detective sn« "(•('^f^'^ened glass. nio^e slowly o er the suJfn "" J^"'"^ '""^e .He understood now wr.°l.'^^ '"^le. isonerwns nl.,..,*°°"^ wh.it his shrewd . \0 ordinary visio , V k; • '^e match. .^:SiWe. but to\he old eo n V'V"« ^^^ '^^ Jis black gla.se. t w ,„ '^""i^'- through nous. ^ "" ' 't Was perfectly lumf. At 1 °°'o.dealer — " 8'gnifl- magic. " ""■' 'fieased as if b} ■ihe coin-dfiiilc 1 ^°"- andLangdon'^l'lln^eXe"^ '"*« "^ <"»«*'. ofUrdinTStr'^'' ^-' --e^ him toS^S^^-!;^-J-deaIer seemed clasped Ungdon iu a w^e lik«""' \}' "^"^ „.He could not move nnt . ^n^hraee. His arms titfhtlv nf,.? ^^^^"^^ himself self moved r^aJlS^lyrS- '^ ^^" ^'- 4^trap.uthetloorwrstleasedasifb, owever. became more 8 o Laagdon'8 rapid 'old him that 1^1. I' about the girl /te^ ' ^ *^®y '"'" '^■"'■'^ a fortune " _ i'erhaps, ' was (he equivo a! reply. Barret?' "°' "^""^^ '^'''' genuineness. ;;Xot at all. " ''Then why not do as I wish'J" ^ You ask too much mouev. " ^ Ihe vilue is there." ''Hnw''^ '^ ^u"-'^ ?''^ °°' ''•'''^ed to me." How can they be.-"' tS.'^'-A"^ ,'''^, d-^teetive trace you here?" Talcott looked Klum. " uerer "You see, mv dear friend Talcott thpr«'a ■•Rn?M ' "^ ""'^ '? ''" «*°l^n goods/'"' "Wh Jo'^""^"" "''"®'^- ' Ci;SnSthem.°°' '"^" ^^''^ «°°«~' "How is that?" MANACLE AND BRACELET. '£t'S^r;ci'^'^^^"^^'°-'^' 'All right. ' ._ifeK",r'ii"g the Clifton fortune?" '•That will goou be ours " traci'"^''"' the police don't get on your "How cnn thoy?" "How did Lana,f );, do it?" th6!;.,irde'e'r^'''""^'"''^'« ^"'"'"'^ "> be short time, as heiress to the Clifton for I *"?!• «^ejvi» be a rich woman/' '°'" And then we'll divide " BarS""'"''- "bout the ,drl?" continued ;; You mean the real Ethel Clifton?" Tf '7°i:T'f*"^ °'8bt; perhaps before then iUr r ,^1" * "?"' ^'*^ *be accident at th; liver I d have been awav by now " "Is she tnictable'''" ' "Yes." "And will go with you'" "I have frightened" her so that she be heves her lover guilty of her uncle's mnr" der and his reputation in mv pow % " \Vha. do you propose to do with' her?" Take her to some distant town " And then?" "Keep watch over her for a time. When lllloTtune^ssecxiredshe shall hare he? "That's the plan. I see no obstacle to ;;£5;,^to55S^™^*'*^«--y." ccretly, as a weddinj? II. I'll glvo you the five 'tied avnriclonsly, .u." Vreeinent that yon use r our Rcheme." iftou fortune?" ours." lice don't get on your I do it?" nous detective iifluallv i'oing Tulcott, but he h him, any way. " -3d Unrnet. his body for papers igJug to my watch- ee here, Talcott. the Hike no mistake. I uy of the police but nr connection with elieve Morton to be 3f the way and not II suspect Viola of Clifton, and in a o the Cliftoa for- woman." le." le ^arl?" continued thel Clifton?" •0!n here. " Hhaps before then, the accident at the • by now. " ?" • 80 that she be- her uncle's mnr- a my pow-r." to do with her?" ;ant town. " 'or a time. When e shall have her B no obstacle to Qe in port at th» imet, the money. " •irojr" *°" * ^* ^ gambling, and fling it "I promise you, no. " "^ery well. Ill get it for you.- Has Viola returned home?" "Yes." Barnet left the apartment, and Talcott begau airansing tho jewo's in the box 1 he detective Kot down from the win- dow and crept down the stairH. His companion was where he had left MANACLE AND BRACELET. 31 window m pro- ngaiust the "Ifi there a means of escape that way'" asked the latter. ^ "Not for the present. I am gointr to '•''•Vnd'l''"'''" *** ^"°" "^ " '^ vacated" "Kemiiiu here till I return. It is because I may not return that I tipoak to you You know my business? ' "Yes; you have told mo-^a detective " 1 cume here on the track of a very ini- portaut case. " ■' "The Clittou murder? Yes." Lanf,'rlou Ktarted violently. "How did you know that''" to dfwXlt. •■'"'"'' ^"''''"'^«°'"«*'»>"H "You?" murmured Laugdou, louiul surprise. "Yes." "In what wiiy?" "I restored to justice a clew murdt'ier. " "What clew?" whoi tS'iilSt"""'''-^""''' ^°«* '^' *^« osu""^'''*" could scarcely conceal his cnri- "Who are you? AVe have met before I remember your voice. " "Do not question me now. When we leave this bu.ldmg I will tell you. Pro- ceed with your directions. If you should not return here » suoum Liingdon would have liked to have nues- tioned his stranfje friend more closely about his iiiystenous connection with the case m hand, but the latter seemed to de- sire to aynid it. "If I should not return here in an hour endeavor yourself to escape." "How?" "That T cannot tell you, but escape where I fail. " "And if I do?" "Go at once to the police and have them search this building. " "I will do as you say. " "Very well; remain quietly here till I 1-- — — *«., i,.^,i£- una ptlBBou. ■ Langdon returned to the landing at the top of the stairs. yon might Again he mounted the inside sill and peered over the transom. In tlie room beyond. Talcott was seated smoking a cigar and looking over some papers. ""UJD The jewels were still in the box behind him o:i the tible. The detective descended to the floor and be«an cautiously to raise the window at the Hide of the iiiuifiug. He wished to avail himself of a means o^^escap,. in that direction if it were pos- I „ ^'"' ."'^ ^'OU''' .vard yawned forty feet be- neatn him. ! . As he looked along the side of the build, lug. however, hj saw directly under the windm^s of the next room, a small, purta- I'le pliittoiiu. ^ li was secured by ropes to the roof, and lel'tther" ^^ pointers, recently, and The windows of the room m which Tal- Siforiu '""'" '^"'''''^'•' "^°^'-' '•"'" '""vable i-auguou saw that they were open. and. leauuig forward, saw. too. thSbox of iow! meiiT *'"'''' '" ""^ '"•'"'^'" °'^' ^^^ "P'"'- To wrest from this villain and his infu- iiious accomplice, the coin-dealer, Baiuet. tlieir booty was a ile.isaut task to the vet.^ eian deteetive. Langdon acted ou a quick impulse. He climbed cautiously out upon the platform and began to traverso its le gth He reached the second and farthest window in the room where Talcott sat mo'ue"*^ ''^ *° '■^'"''^ '^'*^ ^i8 It was only a few steps to the table. The : detective could not resist the tenipfcitiou to [ recover General Clifton's stolen wealth He stepped into the room, cautiously crept to tiie table and t)ack to the window again. "luuuw He had just reached the platform, when the jewels rattled in the bos. 'J'ulcott turned like a flush. One fleeting glimpse of the detective's face aroused him to quick action tnif! ^Pr°?.,*° ^^^ window, drawing a knife as he did so. With one blow he cut the rope support- ing one end of the platform. ^^ Itushmg to the other window he severed £h oThglit.'"'' "''^ '''' '"P'^*-^ °* * ^./"i'^^^f *?*'*®«''*'^«-P»^ed court, be- rore tne detective conlri mnnii %« ..,:1 j._ of the stairway hall, the platform went crashing through space in the darkness and gloom of the night. ^at^uosa I -m ih- ill CHAPTER XII. ■nil HOUHE OK HBCHETH. hftd been piooipitnted to tho ■ton« n».J? court forty feot below the Itd'T "^"""^ Ittloott had roco;/n zed him m ,i k . i .ho,.«ht less of th^ ie wo: s at^iho" mo^t Ho heard the platform crash on thepova. ment, and adjudged his foe done for tt Hia evil face waa aglow with mali/mant taumph as h„ glauoeJ down intoThe C new and then retreated into the room refpVired"?'''"'''' ^''"'''' '^^ °°''»-deaIer, coSa°niSt::^£2rBi^""*""-"' - ^^• "They are gone." "Gone!— where?" -«Tv.° *^1?°J^^K ^^^°^' '»'>8re the enemy we thought dejid is now lying. * crushed mangleil heap." ^ ** trusnea, He pointed coolly to the open window and^to ,he cut ends of rope da'ngling fro^ tioSr i lrntt^?o^ '""^ -^^p"'- amalmeut" •^"°" "^""^" ^« »'"'«'»• *» ope'' "Whatlsiiy. You claimed to haye dis pojed of Langdon the Shadow effectu. ^' That is true. I did" "You are miNtaken." "Impossible!" "A moment sinoe ije aoDearad af n.«t ra7th5tS^«'- hrcs^^hl'^-wl ulousV^""' ''"■" ^""""^ ^"''''^ '''"^^■ ba:?5i;jj^^.iCh:';!i!iSs^ room. He seized the jewecasTCiu'J^ Ihlre'aSd"-!!?'''* '^« ^1^"-- l^'Sng tur^^ng rr ''■ """^ ^"'^«'' *<^"-»y ren'2d'him^.'-''''^'^°''"-^°°"j''"'«IP" - "Yon?- "Yes." "In what way?" «n'^^^°»'*'* °* '^« '""e ot two ropes ?hlSh SS^c^... "»^ -- --' l^Sg "We must search tho court at once and Wen. saiu Barnet. "It is fortunate the MANACLE AND BRACELET. prirate propertjr, bear a u,\V\ '■ ,''»'l"«ed and Hut how dul he egmpe? oharmed1"fe''"%„^"' ''" '^"•"' «« ibe lowelH tJrHt." Tiilrott pointed to the window ibe shrewd Ua.net Nbook hi. h^A a'^eZij'-'K.i'-«pXJ-^ "AH right," he remarked. "VUbo dow> tered, grimly. ***'' °® °»a*- "i'erhaits not!" tinlSy. '''"■'''' '"" "J'*"'*^ °Ie«'y. dU, upon\e'^;r,^^^ oJ'fhe'Srt'ril S."?.* coin^dealerhad left the 'Sr 'a?d' ?ij Thoy were spoken, too in n f„„.iu. voice that of the veteran' de°tec"ti/riSi had been in too mauy hair- breadth IslsaDi? in the course of bis eventful life to Fo^ his self-poHsesHion even under such LT ilous circumstances as those which ^«-i surrounded the episode narrated '^ ^ liangdon had not accompanied the nUt He had not time to regain the wimlo^ wheuciihe had crept unon thi\7ii ^ when Talcott had d^^^ove'red hfm P"""'™ w heii however, the keen-witted det«« tive realized his danger, and d iViued ^!? cottH intention to neve^ the second ro^e" he ki:ew that ho must act promptly to e-.* cape certain and terrible death (iuick as a flash he sprang UDward. seized the second rope above thf window clambered from the platform, nimbTe as a sailor, and was ten feet up the toII ni^L .nyo^the cable just as TalcotUnSfe^'s:?: The latter never thought of the nosul. b.hty of this deft maneuver, and dfd not chance to look above bis head. tJnt n mpments, his feet resting on th« top of the projecting coping of the window above which he had clambered, the d»teo tive clung to the rope. ""^ cend 1te'ft?h"*'^^°'''^« »'««»- to - a„^l*Ale,°i^S°l"f«*«.'i«85=end. for tU. -•.""•' i-img uim to tae end of thm rope, with no foothold beneal^ him ewSJ* id prirata property. Br t ho rtoomi to bear « onoy " 18 window. t NJiook bin head larffo pnokn^u of « jowfla you BbaH ■aid. od to be satiafisd rked "III go down ad beroro morning II place of safety.* pi • 1 liiiruet, aa h« iitd peered forth, dtlective's oare«r wager," ha mat. okea clearly, dl«« hey seem to float court until the old window aud th« 00, in a familiar m detective, who r- breadth escape*, itful life, to loM under such per- those which had larrnted. ipauiod the plat. ■o instant death, jain the window on the platform red him. en-witted deteo. nd diviued Tal- he second rope, promptly to ea. eath. sprang upward, )ve the window, rm, nimble as a the wall cling, oott's knife ser. ht of the posaU 'er, and did not lead. !et resting on the ; of the window )red, the deteo- a began to m> 9cend, for tUa tLd end of th« lath him exoapt the window, from which his enemies might be glancmg forth ut any moment „*^K '^S",'? ^°*' **"P^ *° '■'-'Siiin the window of the hall Btarway and rejoin the stranse fnend he had met in the cellar of the Place, nor conld he remain where he was for he was satisfied that some one would soon visit the court below, and, discover- mg that he was not there, would institute a search for his whereabi)nts. Clambering up the frail rope, the detec tive finally gamed the ledaie of a window about two stones above the floor whence he had just escaped. Itwasclosed, but he managed to raise the sash, and cautiously climbed into a room that was completely in darkness. His eyes becoming gradually accustomed to Its black gloom, however, fioally made out dimly its mtenor from what light of the night penetrated its windows It was a furnished room, that is, there was a carpet on the floor and a table in its oenter. Along its side were arran^jed what op- peared to be a series of wardrobes. Groping his way stealthily about, as his hand touched the table, he became con- scious of the fact that it held an object of dil°mmr ""''*^ *° ^'"^ '° ^^^ present ".\ dark lantern!' l;e murmured, in a aatisfaed tone, "and matches. I will ven tnre to explore mv snrroandings " In a mom»nt he had the lantern lit and Its rays directed about the apartuasnt A genuine Ruiprise confr-nted him as he opened one of the wardrobes and exam- ined Its contents. The room setmed to be a vast repository for the most elaborate and varied d sguises Each wardrobe contained at least a dozt n sets of wearing apparel, besides wi<»s false whiskers, spectacles, and minor arti- cles of that class, and on a shelf was a tray of cosmetics and dyes for chancin" the complexion. '' "This house must be th^ headquarters of some band of crimna's hitherto unknown to the police," decided Langdon Immediately he resolved on a quick and bold course of action. He would assume one of tliese disguises and penetrate still farther into the mvster-' les of this strange house. In an v credibly short period of time for he was an expert in the art of dis- guises, the detective had so completely changed his identity that his most intimate tL T"'. ? ?"'■** '"''^'' *° recognize him. Wo' l^ 'auterri unri a minoi ruciliiated his operatiouB m this regard, and then, sat- MfleJ w;th the result of his labors, Lang- MAXACLE AND BE.^CELET. 33 don shaded the l;iiiterii and opened the siijgle door that led from the room He found him'iflf in n dark hall, and travorsmg this, came to a narrow staircase.' He hesitated about descending this with- out some pielimi ary exam nati(m. At Its foot was a green baize sv\inehi<» door, beyond which were lights, and the sounds of numerous voices engaged in va- nousconversitious. ' The clinking of glasses, and anon the click of ivory checks, such as are emploved \n gamoling-rooms, ijave him a hint as' to the probable occupan 'y of the apartments beyond the siaircas.^ "^ '^'nk I understand it now," he solilo- lT5-f .VThisplacahas but one eutr.nce and exit, the store of the coin-dealer -Here, behind it, in this rambling old liZlT' ^^ ^"' ? I"^'^' """i unsuspected resort for criminals. aJii^.u^- ^^7 ^'T ' *° ^'^e, to divide and se 1 their plunder, and to disguise them- selves when ue-essary. f,/f'i!l° T^' ^''^^ ''°",''* '"^ loag unknown to the police, unless the utmost caution was exercised to prevent out-ijdprs comin" in And, on the samn theory, it is doubtful alive'^' """"'* ^'■'"'Slit "lere over leavea "There must be soma password of en- IhmZ'll "''• rf ^ '">'»8ine it will be as difhcult for me to leavo h re as it was for the man m the cellar to e lee an entrance However. I will trust to circumstances a a my disguise to carr»- me through " Linsrdon went do.vn the st.irs and ijoldly pushed open the green baizp door It opened into an ante-room. and be- .^ond that, smoking, dri.iking, and playinir cards, were as many as a score of men -Ihey were so engrossed in their occupa- tions ihat when he glided into the main ap.irtment no one seemed to notice him He congratulated himself on so easily enter ng the eh rmed precincts of this clioice coMsrrogition of cut-throats and th eves, and he at once set his wits at work to ascertaiu a means of leaving the place At one end of the romi was a small bar. pies dod over by a stalwart ne^ro .Liugdon, us he passed him", ordered a sfU puffing It coolly, as tho;,gh an old deni- zen of the place. A man at his side sat watching a came at cardsrttihenext tanle. K»'"o ai Lnugdon ventured to address him ^ Quite a crowd to-night." he said.' don^ hie'jri.^'."^"'""'' "'8^'^ '^' ""y •I must get to work in an hour, all the same, remarked Lingdon. carelessly How can youV" .;4 r 'if 34 "Why not?" •'That's true; I for-ot thnt. " -Ungdon saw tb.it he liiul very nenrlv commuted a Rerious error ^ ^ Ihe tm.i bv his slile took him for a hnr gJar or sneak-thief hke himself an^iwi mn-arted a valuable piece of Tutuf mSn to J.angdon arose and sti oiled about thp ..cm. He found that several 8ma"leraparf nieuts completed the extensive luite of rooms beyond the mail one °^ in one of these he sat down at a t^hi, Ssfe^Te'rf ^■^^>-^"«^^ ^ P-^ o^ p:5Er^j£^S°:r?hr^i;i he started and listened intently ' ^'° on vi. • ''"'^ °^''* apartment two men were co.versrng in earnest, guarded tones^ and he at once recognized their voices as ),« The latter was speaking jn.ste..^a.outan-thilan7?r^,--; TaSr-'°^""'^'^^«°«""^?"'-qtzired! "And found no one there?" | it a? mean?*'*'"""' ''^ ««"«• ^^l^"* <^oos leftiCTiJUS"""- ^^ '•^^^^ ''""'^ ^-« '-Apparently not. He is probablv hirl den^somewhere abou. it. rshaT soon ^.^y^V' «'?."enenced a sati"t". for L'L'nte"refit''whr nfe'lt '^'^'^ ^'*'-« the room. ^^^^en the latter re-entered foJ^hi^^""*^ '" ^"^^^ ''««° drinkins freelv for^h.8 manner was more reckless Vndre: ♦hi^" ®T®'' f»"8don at the table hand! n« the cards, and sat down in an opposS cha^r T I^JJ ^^"^ y°" " K«™e. " he said Langdon was no gamester »n/i ».„* a cards 88 he did stroncfSt'crlme S^t ! MANACLv AND LiiACELET. CHAPTER XHL "WV, t i_ ,^ WOUIiLE GAME. What shall it be?" I 3'^ffMe? What you will." gaml'Lu :Sckfy;,^'a' And'the^t".""^^ i "A doulllo efg ' '^ and th« /*f ""f placed a gold co.,^„a thSb'e ' ^'"''''''^ ciSt^? SS^S^Sd^ ow;^ni|^Sfdrrr«^-^'-'° card takes the stkkes " ^ '"«^'*''' ' 'Agreed. " ti."r„:r *■"""■"•"■•■"•"■• «.o- It was an article of ornampnt 4i,„ > watch-chain he had worn^ fV,! "?^ ^""^ j murdered millionaire '"^ °* '^* ettort, ■'^'*®"^J' 'he nsk was worth the They began the so-cal!etop!" Talcott was about 10 start toward the main room to cai for assisance. The detective b oc.ied his way. " Harvey T.ileott." he said, in a low im- pressive lone of voice, "J hold in my pocket are\o:ver ie«d\ lor use, my fiu' er on tlie trigger, your life at the touch of mv hand. •' "If you attempt to call for help or dis- obey me-if jou do not at oiico lead the way from this place— I swe.^r to send a bullet to your eiavFn heait! ': - 1 ■fii 36 iij, Hi «»d you? eVn ^l.^''''7'"*"««- for you whe^eV^stond-"""' '''• ^ -'" kill you ed spusmodicuny ^^ ' ^'« J^""''" cleucL- glance, and he 8l«4 to nr'.f'''" ','''"«''«'*« ■ the hoarsely mutterSd word '"' ^'''' ^"^ he'SSd^roSh'tio' ^^^--y '--"-ent as an£thenupaZt/rrnrri.r/'"^''- ..o^er" ro';:"^ " ''''"''^^' ^^^^Z^t still j^AIl the apartments they had entered were up|Trrta^l£^?,«'I stairs ran LanldoT"'^"" '''^^''^ me?" demanded "To the roof. " tel£T'Tbl laS"/, ^". ''^'^'^''^ ot the de- made a quTck move'm?;;^" -^^ ^'^ P"-'- E^^^TrtL%X,t^l ^t?'- in a flash. Placd his foot onVLll sSn "''^''"^^ ThVdarP;,t°^J ''''•-2> '^-oom. r ''^ -^vSt^S^;^-: BomS'hidr rn'oTanlsi" to'^V' "^ »".^- '"^^ ed in a kind of fr«m«T' , I'eoome bulk- of tne high door thou'^r't*' i^^ bottom' ! just disappeared ^ ^'''*' Talcotthad | "» the dark TalcnH M^?^ °** •*'« euemv MANACLE AND liRACELET. exposinar t'Ut leaiiiuff over tliu i l'i'''-'lM„?bedetoct,Veifl;:;"'' fono^::)'t^^l.;:,;:.;;i<^i[7""- Quarter tiansom over the o ur^ju t ^ L*^i"' °'^' '^« di.'tic(ive. ■' ' 'ocked upon the apjeted.'^ '"'' "' ^"'•"«*- '»>« coin-dealer. fire?%tfco'n?estr ""^ "^^^^"'^^'^ t.o , ht made a nuS tn?t'"" ""''!""' «"«• «ud I glided no^ls^LT' ""^ '^'^^ d,.tec.vo I room, ""'^^'^ss'y 'o another part of the i"f h^aS'ii^^th^-tair'r "^' ^-^ *-- «pot where a large piece of V.L*'^'"^ ^° " paper was tacked nfon it "'^^ ""°"» Hffel?t"up-S couSv:^^ ^^« '"-- He hind it. ^ "'"^ ^'^^^ an aperture be. at present, for vS «t fif ^'' "^'"'^ t^"" consultation told tha h « f °°' •'" ^"""y about to enter the rnmn J enemies were The space underThr"^ overpower bim. appe«red^to :ianfdo„-n^'a Eth° '^V^''" plane. " smooth, inclined a -r^iJ,d of%Sil?eat '^'"^^''^'^ -* J^aedoor^-asb^^sroSfhtTeS-,,, ShaaowwenrwS41r-,i-Rdonthe OHArXER XIV! r , , FOUND, the'^ai^^^.H'^dir; Sk?n/^^^ which accompanied hi; SflifM'T'""?'' room where he Jiad been m.^L^^ f™"" *•»« the weapo.s of his Jne^i^f ^ '^« t*'^'^* «f anfp:r.rd'it^'j't^^^ sawdust and ashes ^ " * '^^ap <>< thrX'h'wh"cth?aT'^*"^i*^« «•>"»* long, narrow box emXverf'nr*^''* ^«^ • in the pnst to eonve^th. r!f "* l""^^ ""»• 8mo.7h w fh us ente"' i'^ •f''*^^ ««»« ••The^.wirs^eTdsc^v'er'*7ilt''rr'- come this wav." Ma«on47s- ->-' .-^ '"**• -ust be on the ground-flt^iof Sl^^' « Juor nnd exposing ivc H tire. " ot from n iif>w quarter Kot the g:Mssof the ' ■'"'' locked upon the met. the coin- dealer, now iK-tween two innune(iualone, nud t«ic UiovtDient. yolver at the- sinaie t t<) the room. plniioing tijg g j.^^ rkness. and the detectivo nother part of the curious as. in feel, roll, he came to a 'of heavy manila ■nd was loose. He el an aperture be- hererer it led, it IS peril worse than the door in hnsty Qis enemies were ndoveipowerhira. paper in the wall » smooth, inclined inrprisesand mva- he provided with lats. over the ed!?e of eir downward. u. he relaxed his inclined plane It. Langdon the ) a shot tV! ore experienced jting sensation a flight from the iide the target of i. ich as fifty feet. amid a heap ot d that the shute scended was a at some time use of a factory building. its sides, worn ?i.clle progress, r^that I have • detcctiw, ~i 3f this strangtt house. Which wa.v shall I go to evade mv enemies?" He stumbled over heaps of refuse, and final. V came to a door standing hnlf-opeu and leading to the outer air. "Freedom at last!" breathed Langdon fervently. He stepped over the threshold of the basement, and out into the fresh air of the night. He had reckoned too hopefullv, however tor he discerned that he was still a pris-' oner, and within the confiues of the coin- uealers house of secrois. . 'f his open spuce was evideutlv the court into which the platform bid fallen, for he imagined that he could see its wreck a few feet away. What windows opened on the court as far as the second story were closely and stoutly There seemed to be no door opening into the court besides the one b.^hind ."him. and another directly across the openim,'. Toward this, bent on investigatki" everv possible avenue to escape, the detective proceeded. e stood startled and transfixed for a moment or two, as his eyes met a strange eight. ° The door bofore him presented an omin- ous appeai-ance, for imbedded in its sur- face, as if flung there by some tremendous toive, were three g.itteriug knives. They seemed to convey an ominous warning to the spectator, as if thev wer> indicative not only of the three lives that l^i^^.'^P!"'®'^ between the plotters and the Uifton fortune, but also of the number of the plotters themselves. "What are they placed in this dramatic manner for, I wonder?" mused Langdon He then deeded that thev constituted a warning, and built up a p:ausible theorv that the inmates of the place knew what tneir appearance meant. Be.yond the door, dorbtless, was some secret apartment whither only Barnet and bis familiar associates might penetrate. *u u?''^; *"•* Langdon thrilled at the thought, the innocent vfitim of all Tal colt's plotting, the beautiful Ethel Clifton might be imprisoned there. ' ,, '^'he detective did not delay longer to try the door With its ominous armament of menacing steel. 1- "o:*;'»ed readily, and revealed a dimlv lighted hall beyond. ^ At the end of this was another of those strange staircases with which the place seemed to abound. At its top was another corridor, from Which a dozen or more apartments led off, MANACLE AND EBACELET. 87 and some of which opened upon a larae skylight. " Cautiously traversing the corridor. Lane- don came to a sudden halt. ' Across the skylight, where an interior window looked into one! of the apartments ott the hall iiis eyes fell upon the outlines i "t a 1 yhied room. Within its confines, sentod at a table, her tiice bent upon her hands, w,is a woman Her gold..n hiiir clustered thickly over a brow of marbie whiteness, and her grace- and "Tf*"^"'"*^ bent in a pose of terror A wild deli-ht surged in the detective's heart as he stood regarding her closely Had he at last found the girl for whom he was seeking? Should he ponetiate to her presence ut once? Xo He saw her start violently, and then crouch down again in her misery, as a voice fell clearly on the silent air of the I corridor. I It was that of Harvey Talcott, and he was coming directly down the hall, and ! evidently toward the room which Langdon was watching. s>*"" The detective had barely lime to turn the knob of an adjoining apartment and hide himself in its darkness when Talcott came into view. He could discern that he was not alone and both he and his companion came to a halt directly before the door of the apart- ment in which the detective was ensconced \ou must not remain here any longer. Talcott. f:poke the familiar voice of the plotters companion. The listening detective recognized the tones as belonging to the ubiquitous Bar- net, the coin-dealer. ;;Why not?" demanded Talcott Because yon are getting the house into trouble. "In what way?" "In what way?" repeated Barnet, angrily Can you ask, remembering what has taken place here to-night?" "You mean the detective?" iv,^^''"',]"^^ """^ ^""^^ betore crossed the thresnold of this hou e? How long will it bo the safe retreat it is, if the police once suspect its existence?" alo^*'''^ <"*'» they? The detective is here |]Well, what of it?" »K!^ V"^ ^^^ *''™: ^^ cannot escape." We have not found him yet A man who IS shrewd enough to climb a frail rope to our disguise-room, and then boldly ab- pear in our midst, is a foe to be fear«^ Be«ae8, lie is not alone." ;;Not alone?" repeated Talcott, startled. JNo; He had a companion with him. 38 ;> :!!■ i "Who is he'" thetonce' wilAV^-fn -^"^ """"^'^ here "Veiv u«ii T '''^'^'Dg mound." '■YKnthaJe"ir.*''^^^«°-''-«-y- "Aud the girl?" ;|Mu8tRo with you. " All right. Where had I better CO?" ^.^To some new and n>ore remo^^lLe of "In the citv?" "Yes." "^ ;;Why not the boat?" I It may not be safe. The detective MANACLE AND BKACELET. «waybymeL°so'ftS,."*'-^*'^« ^"^ __ ihot J8 true. " and'iea'rrif'Siat^ot^f " •^"■^' ^ '-o- theTvharves." -' '"'-^ <*''e watching "And meanwhile'" "I rttill .1; . and the white, broad hrnL'"*T°8 ^"''^^ hid from his viJfnn *l, '/ ''"^'«'' mask longed to see '^' ^^*"«« ^e so Powe'r" d?dVa^ve7Trot?"^-"^»* '«" ""•^Sirl his iin.vm- . exercise over tonld" induce he 1"" ""'•"»'"•• '^t he will.' ^^ hei to wear a mask at Ms dea;SrringC:,^el\'r T/^"'-^ ■'> en. -yf^eryt\.f.;'i-4/^-^m'lr P^^''^ '^^ 'rapiSU'^^rvoS'-tr'^V'^"'-. mf. I am a fnend. ' "°* '^'""'^ '^o«> lehfnJ''tho'sii,'^r°„^'-f«°a«eentsfrom fn-^nds;" "^'^ ™"«^^- 'I have no ;;Youareinerrn,, Even now tho^e who going to leave bore and I wfil^""' ^"" ''^'^ "age and some tiusty aid/ «! 1^"!® " ""'- door.ofthenr/t'iZlo^Ar"'^ ^«-'» '^- me^nt'thS IfhTd^^'rr'* '^-P-t- woman who had so «rn^'^^ l^^ m.v«terions have sworn to rrotect «nT ""'' ^^'''^ ^ho here in your sei-v?ce'' "'°°' ^'"' "« Yes. Ethel CJifton,"! know von ■• nia1kirwo7,,^~^«^--tL^"softhe n?o:^i?^^"^j;^-'-^ nnfor, "I hive come to rescue vmi t„ ^^ "'opievious. betweeK two*'mo^"« "'''f^'^ *° thejloor I sbe"^?;;? ;n"f;;'^'*'"%'"?' y°° t^^ure me<" rough. quicVaSn's^o^Solt' ""■ ^^« i -« -s'is" ^""'^ '^ ^''^ ""-* ^^-'--nd- «Sr^3x:'V^^f.siiS^-- ibid;^^^^ new 'I wish vou to be r«.^'"'° r' ''^^ '""m time." the detecHve hea,^'^'' *^ ' °""°'e« proceeded again down t,« ''" ■^''' "" ^^ "Whn ;., fil "own tue corridor seek? I ^mteTeX i^°*. '''^ °°« ^ mav," murmured t ' % ^^^ ^'^'^ ^hat it ^ ^^iKoletS^'.fif-V-l'y- ^ Miss Chf ton, are you mad? ■ ■V, -.uimurec Langdon det.; --- ' ^'^^'"' Clifton-ohf what do I ^f^^:^J?^:P^^^^X^^^ - heaven. fl^^,i"J?donit8k Ob, he or,en«H ,. .J «^?.«ion and denial.-; "'"'^ «P'"n all this — ^ &..i.c:u 10 me def door of the next room. w. sa-if ,,!'"" ,""' ■•""'d _ U.g you torture me!" le most heart-rend- ried away to a new r friends may never Dd. I beg of you een me." I mad?' a— oh! what do I hat. In Leaven's i explain all this MANACLE AND BRACELET. 89 d, all the wrongs ae shall be fitJy not know my po- you. Abandon n if I were free, my liberty if i that I obey the — -^-iCin my uiq veathis will." "In heaven's name, what new mystery is here!" "Go, go! ' cried the young girl, hyster- ically. "If you rescued me to-morrow I would deny that I was Ethel Clifton. I would claim that I never was a prisoner, except of my o.vn free will and consent." The detective had met startling surpiises in the course of his long and varied ca- reer, but none to e-iual this. He fairly staggered where he stood, as he sought to comprehend what subtle in- Unenee held this beautiful girl a slave to the will of her villainous captor. He did not know ih;it the secret mystery General Clifton had exercised was now bearing terrible results for the innocent and helpless child to whom he had be- queathed the legacy. "I will fathom this mystery. I swear it!" he cried, in an intense tone of voice. He advanced to the side of the girl, and with o le quick movement tore the mask from her f ac >. 8he uttered a frightened cry, and sought to cover her face wth her hands. The s&me beautiful features that had beamed on General Clifton two nights pre- vious now looked upon the detective. "Ethel Clifton,' he said, "for the sake of those vou love, I beg of you to tell me what infamous falsehood the man who holds you here has told you, that you fly from those who would befriend you." The beautiful creature before him paled, and moaned, and cowered at his words. "I cannot, I dare not. Oh! death were better than that my reappearance should doom to disgrace and sutteriMg those who have loved me." "It is false!' cried Langdon. "I see it all. The man you fear has frightened your timid soul with base falsehoods. I will refute all— only tell me what has he told you, what influence has he exerted over you that you even seek to deny that yon are Ethel Clifton?" "I will answer that question." A calm, steady voice spoke the words. Turning, startled and dismayed, Lang- don the Shadow faced a gleaming re- volver, leveled directly at his heart by the man he had sworn to hunt to his doom Harvey Talcott. CHAPTER XV. STARTLINti AD\'ENTUBES. Talcott had entered the room nnper- ceived, and his appearar-ce, so startling and une-:pected to the detective, seemed to overwhelm Ethel Clifton with terror. She fell back with a cry thit thrille.'l Langdon's heait to dre.id uncertainty and pity, 80 anguished was its utterance. "Replace your mask," ordered Talcott sternly. "Remember my power, your promise. As to you. the tables are turued, my friend, the detective." sneered the vil- lain, turning upon Langdon. As he spoke he uttered a qnick, pecul- iar whistle. The sounds of tramping foot- steps could be heard approaching the place. The detective never imperiled his life uselessly. He realized that he could not in any way benefit or rescue Ethel Clifton for the present, and he knew that in a few moments' time Talcott's hurrying emissa- ries would surround and capture him "Take care, or I will fire!" Talcott uttered the words warningly, as the detective took a step backward. The threat was put into execution a mo- ment later. A terrified shriek rent Ethel Clifton's lips as a bullet went flying past Langdon's form. It lodged in the woodwork of a door, the knob of which he had just seized. Langdon, however, uttered a crv of dis- may as he closed the door after him. For he was in a small, confined closet, a veritable death-trap. Talcott evidently knew of his limited quarters, for he kept firing through the door. He had emj)tied his revolver as two men dashed precipitately into the room. One of them was the coin-dealer. Bar- net, and he asked excitedly: "The detective?" "Yes." "Where is he?" Talcott pointed to the splintered door of the closet. "In there, dead by this time, I'll guaran- tee. Come, Bamet, I must get the girl away. "Yes. the carriage is ready. I'll attend to the detective." Talcott seized the sobbing, agitated Ethel Clifton by the arm, and almost rough- ly drew her from the room. She followed him with the shribkiug yet unresisting dread of a being oppress- ed with some tenible power of menace and domination. Bamet pointed to the closet door as Tal- cott left the room. "Open it, Bartley." he ordered. The man did so. The coin- dealer peer- ed curiously over his shoulder, expecting to see the dead body of his troublesoae foe. "Empty!" he gasped out "We are trick- ea again. " He could scarcely credit the evidenoa of his senses. This enemy in his hoiis» 40 ta.! escaped thTt 4"y " '*'"' Langdon Nor had he While Barnot MANACLE AND BRACELET. fi'lo. andw u'deUranfl ^"'^^/'^g on thai liouse critical"- ° ' ""°" "'«Pect (ho As hi) passo'd in th« fnii i «tieet.lamn L,m»L„ "" «'"''<' o^ tbe r-'cogmtiou.' ^""^''"'^ 8"^° -> quick start of ^'"luaane. While Barnot nn,i i.,„ ! *' i^^",^'iiuiou. ° i-'^n. ouirc oi sage of his body °* *''® P^«- anJ'rjhisle't'd ^r''''' ?"« " ^l'^". dnringTa cott'8 wn^?™?,^^"'''* remained investigation"^ '"""'"^« """^ Garnet's JC^KThTflt? '^'^"'^^•^•^^ '- a new n nm ^c .. ■? "•'' ....I ,, 1,0 •;."""'''»iu<-'a intense. his Htra«4jo friend of iL ""^v"''"' '« fl°d had tradSh this far «L^^ .*'^''.'^' ^^^om he hours preTiousiv ' ^ '°'* «'«^' "^ «ome wa?th';"cVdefctiv:"l''" *."• r^^^'-ber. the Clifton manafonf)-'^^?'' ^'^ '°«" " centre wi.n^le^'tUuKLf " ''^ ""»• lae latter had now drawn back in the the gni to a new n. " ^°°/ *°«'»"-y "^^'v ! ^-Ll "erta nly Howa.d. the detecHv. "'"' wai;LSusor'^^''^'°P°'t^el^o„se view\p?orfu:rrd o'° «'^ '''^"^ -"^ <» person Jos'^n The Tabynnth^of u/ ""'"''^^ ous rooms and corridors """""■ vions\anS:%?:"h«^l?'* ,? ^''"^^ °'de- trap door atl^sTop'' "'^'^ '""nd a closed | trail after all mTntd wor?'"J°r *^l I lifted readily.^ He imacinpd h i ^''^v «gual Howard!" '"■ " ' ^'^^'d dark ligure lurking in the ha ibeln^ '*T" - ^^^^tse^'med imoossihln *„. .... ... did so, but he hnrrieS^v .^l^!i°T."« ^e l;n.I.s^lanc;'-^r^^y-^^ thJ;?otu°rV:nce"*'b'r''^'^ BpecSo, aU ! cited. ^°'"'' 'became very much ex- I Cimot'" Z SL?° T', ".ry Ethal froji .,**'„- ... "«<="« '""• rntiy the exTenten^ an/ way"""" '" holding hisS sLeak?n^°L*"' ^°'c« by ion to Lis face ^P«»l"n«r-trampet fash- .— . 4«,D uour. - -o -J 1 "Howard!" ■ "• " ^""*^" ^^^'^ «Pon theiwonderingi;"ab"uUim '^ ""^ ""» "'^ did so, bu he hurl ^^ ^"" ^^i°^ "« ^^ the aperture closed ?hl^ "'*'"'"** **"°"«J^ iookedarounlWm ^°°' »''*''*'. and Th^bulirg^ Sed" o^ -««^°tory one. structure on one side bnt f^"'^^' ''"°'^ stories higher nnHn Kin , *^'? ^^s three bj a X?r X'.ir'; "■"''■''" »p ' .ii:;;. >o sefimed to have some the vicinity. )uml down in flout of the building on that Jr and anon inspect (ho the full ^]„rp of j^^ m gave « quick start of J!" be breathed intense- doing here? Can ha a trail as myself v" ew that Howard's mis. 9 to endeavor to find r the celi.;r, whom ho nd lost sight of some iader will remember, i Lacgdon had met at liB iiR'htof th«mur- diately after his ren- ■ tne river. |f^^"-«igtted, and his thftt the man below . iHe detectivo. iJt'fr '^'^^kinthe instthe corner of the fttching some one in Id Laugdon. follow, carriage drive up to loment, a man came he coin- dealer. ted spectator of all amevery much ex- carry away Ethal i shall lose the work. If I could le, for if he called * nught be heard It was doubtful if 1 uncoufined voice idea entered the was a large water- at his mouth. 'erved that it ter. Jt where Howard tube," he mnr, can utilize it? ay way." lie opening of the jflDe his voice by OR- trumpet fash- ' start and aiora MANACLE AND BRACELET. 41 A grim smile of •atisfaclion illumined Langilon's face. Howard had heard him. "Here, in tlie water pipe. I am talking from the roof. It is 1, Langdon." He could tell from the movements of the man below that his everv word had been heard distinctly, for Howard'h fac" «as lifted toward the top of the building bt- wilderedly seeking for some trace of the mvsterious speaker. "Do not betny, surprise, or make a sus- picious movement, for you may be watched. Indicate by three taps on the pipe that you hear and understand me." Tap -tap -tup! The detective's heart beat wildly. He could not e-ciipe, hut he was in diicct com- munication with a trusty ally, to whom he could impart sufficient to sixin bruif^'aforce of police to raid Barnet" s vile den of crim- inals. Just then, his eye sweeping the street cau<,'ht sight of a new movement in front of the pi ice. j .V man had come out oti the pavement. ' and following him was another man lead- ing by the arm a fenmle figure. "Thegivl, Ethel Cliflou." murmured the detective. "I must lose no time in think- ing of luy own safety. The trail of TaU oott and his prisoner must not be lost. " And then through the water-pipo he called excitedly to Howard; "A carriage has jnst driven to the front of thebuildiag. A mau is carrying away a girl. At any risk secure or follow her. It 18 a case involving a million in money and half a dozen human lives. " He saw Howard dart from the alley, way a moment Liter. The impetuous young detective had but to receive the word of command from his veteran associate to act promptly and ettectively. "He will not lose the trail," murmured Langdon. "He will return here later and rescue us if we do not effect our own es- cape. " He saw the carriage drive otT. As it turned the next corner, a form glided from the pavement and clung to the rear axle. It was the intrepid Howard— another earnest ally of the detective— on the trail of the gieat Clifton mystery. Laugdon determined to lemain on the roof for a time, at least. He imagined that a search for him there would be less likely to occur than in the interior of the house. "Howard will understand that I am in trouble or in danger, and will be sure to return to this place as soon as he has lo- ""iV:.; '"''■' '^^ '"5 carnage, de- cided the detective, i-angdon was about to ensconce himself near one of the chimneys when two dark forms sprang from behind its shelter. He drew his revolver, but it was knocked from his hand before he could use it. A pair of strong arms encircled his own in a vise-like clasp, while Barnet, the coin- dealer, confronting him cried, triumph- antly; "Ah! Langdon the detective. We've caught you at last, it seems. " CHAPTEU XVL THE ESCAPE. Langdon ceased to struggle as he real- ized the futility of his etforts. "What shall I do with him?" demanded Ihe companion of the coin-dealer. "Got him olT the roof first." This was accomplished by Barnet de- scending through the trap door, and hold- ing a pistol leveled at Langdon as a per- p-'iual menace, while the latter desiouiled. The other man followed them, utul, guarded by the wily twain, the prisoner was marched down a series of stairs. "Where shall we put him?" asked the man. "In the low room." "With the other?" "Yes; we'll settle both at the same time." They had come to a halt at a place where a short stairway led to a door. The detective observed that his ca))tnrs were apparently otf their guard, and ac- cepted the present as a decisive movement for an attempt at esoane. He suddenly dashed down the staircase. A mocking laugh greeted his action. He understood its significance a moment later, for, as he pushed the door opnn he found no foothold beyond. ' He went down like a shot through the darkness, and landed with a dull thud on the hard stone floor of some cellar rt/om. The door shut behind him, and the place was in utter darkness. Somewhat bruised and almost stunned by the heavy fall, Langdon rose to his feet. He imagined he heard some one breath- ing and moving about the same apartment of which he was an occupant. Before, however, he could investioate the matter, a flood of light suddenly il- luminated the place. It showed a large, damp apartment ev- idently underground The walls were brick, the floor cement. I'rom the floor overhead a movable panel had been slid back. Through this a flood of light permeated the apartment Langdon looked up curiously. A man was leaning over the apertui-e, and by the 49 liil b" eih & '"' '"'"'^ *"« '•'^ ^l-'k room hlB^.I^m^'*''"*'" •""''«'» « « "^d touched Zat •" '^^ """"^^ '» d^f^"' Talcott Qt ]ik7Z8e]fr •'^'"'■'"^d;-'' PriBouor here "Look I ''"^f ">'o this vile prisou." «'i-«^me!lTm7«,r.^'*'-"'«°«'<''8"od It was not Barnet, but they knew «. t.„ tive?'"°' '^"«'" •>« °"«d to the two cap. eye. and what porti^ of h,« 2*^^. °^*' ""^ not protected by ^''beafd was *a °Z!, "l scars, doubtlfiHoi^r ,^„„ j • * "n*"" <>' Langdon. "^^ ^'^ ^°" ^^"" demanded theStrve'^uffer^?" '*/" ''^quired ;;Yourein'a''lStf.?'^.''°°»"««* „^8uppose we are. " ^ou pee this little glass globe?" The man extended thro.iDh fif/ ^ • round ball made of gC^L j'L''P«'*?«» Bome colorless liquid containing at^ntVf;.'""^" ''^^'^'^ -^ °«riousIy and Langdon''" "'' **• ^'"'t o^ «?- qneried It is filled ^^thal'btle'^'^'"^ "^ "« P°-«- of which will kin a m»n ^"'T" **»« ^apo' minutes' time w^eH Zn^'V^"" ^^« room where you are and f. i? '* '"*« 'J"* the end of both of you^' * ^"'"'^' *^^^'<^ fac^tfoiT r;rui;" tv j^^^,^"^ -«- ^j^^^ ?£trviirLf^5rri!i , _,,,, ^o^,^ «»«ver-aliow "ih^m to MANACLE AND BRACELET. again alive, if he could leave the place help it. agSfed th.rn"SLr TW^T' ''»<' threatened them and in- '"'" "^^^"^ Oo ahead. " "HaVh«r'j^'> *° die Just yet. - help ft?- • ^*"' ^°°''l « they could "Can't We?" "No. " -esp^lL'?"' "*'"'" '""°« to pay foraUttl. All we've got. and it's quite a dnm - A hundred dollars?" 'i""* » ""m- -H!ff'K*?*u™*''' " hundred dollars " hav«?ie^iry ll^^^^,,^'^- Wei,, m :HowwiUyou?"^ •^• ^^Jhenyou'redeadm come down and «'^SJ'o'h,m,butL^.eSed•^"' *"<» onppose we tear ud thn vi™ ^XV'' ??y "Be to you?' '^^ """"'y "» '» do .%°aJ "a1^^'^g;efstwo??" ^*'- ««» more time with you^as U is H '"*''° ^"^ "^Cd't^nl^'lid^^^^^^^^^^^^ "Well, hurrj^r 5^1 ^" I'^'^S^'- ing. and am ani"ouB for^^Vi°« *'"<^ ^«'*- " "Th'ai^V'"-4" '"• -- W^^ ^■°- to offerVoa'?^" "«'««*«"«• !>« a bargain "What is it?" den" ^m ^ake'^n '"' •*V'"=''P« ''•'"» tW« :How ri^hr ^ ° " ""'^ '"'^^ '« life.' "Fifty thousand dollars." ,,iPu re romancine." ;;'No. lamnot." earnestly. «l ^ve donhif iu'*.*^® stranger deposit at the K." ""* '"»°»'»* ^n r^M.don't do me anv oond." B«in alire, If h« oonid wag more nUrmed and ^1' at the fate which and after a minofe'a I the man at the aper- ha said, "I want to MANACLE AND BRACELET. 48 in, to die Just jret." would if they could linR to pay for a little glass globe started, say?" he demanded, ng with the lires^ ibandon your murder- How us to live. " it's quite a sum, " mdred dollars " 'chgame. Well, ru I'll come down and on ' ttered a cry of 3 villain was too 5 Jomarked: jp , the money so it flobe before you can '8 I won't waste any " IB. Here goesT*^ B over (he aperture, ired the stranger Q getting tired wait- »r the money voa Ml me about!" lie. I've a bargaia o escape from thb ch man for life," ley with you?' on me. " cried the stranger le that amount oa good." »P«. Now, heiVf iraw oat» che«k made payable to bearer for the sum I have namuu. " "Fifty tliousund ilollwis?" "Vos. When you luusent it, the check will Le paitl at once. I eft thiit older ex- presuly, lor riaBouH, and the money will be given you without nieiits on the hard stono floor of their prisiiu At the same moment a heavy, pungent odor permeated the apartment. The panel in the ceiling was drawn shut w th an echoing shim. Uitr darkness fell upon the devoted friends in their close, tomb-like quarters. Nt ither spoke -awed, si enced, by the mysierious fate ihat lurked in the air. The litjuid, released from the globe, be- gii 1 to ditluse its vaporout influence through the apuitnient Thi< lirst sensation experienced by its victims was a dull, dizzy feeling in the head. 'J'hen their eyes seemed to swim, and they reeled where they stood. " We are doomed ! " gasped Morton wildly. The detective felt that certain death, in- deed, menaced them. Blinded, choked, by the deadly fumes of the \aporou8 poLson from the globe, he cou d not retain his footing, and reeled to the Hoor with a groan of despair. "Hope!' The word burst wildly from his lips, ai his hand came in contact with the floor. It hiid touched an iron rina sunk into what seemed to be a block of the cement- ed floor itidlf. "Vou have discovered something?" ut- tered Morion, painfully gasping for breati. "Yes! Do not despair. " . "A me tns of escape?" "I ho, e so." The detective drew the ring upward. It Mas sunk on a level with the floor. "Wo are saved!" he cried joyfully, as he felt the ring give way. "Whit is it?" "A iriip-door." A rush of cold air from beneath them I— •'—•J (-ra iti\7 iioBTj amiuBpaoro oC the apartment Laiigdon flutig bftck tl s hesvy tr»p-doQ* he had discovered in the floor. u \Mie.o does it leuj tnr' """'""■ _ilio iiaji-aoor?" bett.r^than the certain tato that 't'KouH into the"Srk '^o',:;"" '"^ '"-''-*- •-!-'• MANACLK AND KIJACELET. PlOUTtlis AT WPHK. Two (lliys Uftor the i)c,.nii,.r,r.A -,» m tLo (Shadow euli.cl h'./m ^ ^""^'lou •'for!''"'*'- " ^''■^""^'e'l Lim,.;don sharply i' or savinw my life. " ""'upiy. .eeme."'"^''" ""'^^ '" '^^ first place, , "I shall never forcet onr to,.,!ui rieure iu the sewer afcrLfin r'"'"'; the trap.door in IJn'rnet h'i- ", ul'e "« *^"'«"«^ 8prm,gintoW n.„in He«'^,. ?ti: ^^ sTrilT"'" ':°™'' *"^"'d the r ver & w«re Btuinei. • ' "'oury. and .DdMei"" ""™'' °« '«"">J '» liberty .»7«Ll,!''>„rbJt'',rS!-,' ™" '""• l>ri)tector Ii,' v.. ■■""'1 or u beloved ".ii»?t;'„5;s:!,„f";|™??v»;,.';""; > ^'rtiiuilv .xh I it. d t H Oil! ) '•"' "^'"^ uunturu|.lMa.;:ic|h4 "''^'■"^•''•^°* \erv well, bolt so. lev..,, ,, refer if MUd the vittiau officpv 'W..' : • i work at one.. " " '""'*' «et ut them f. fathou? ^ ° '-•omphcated for We have two ObieetS tnnffo;,. .1 '■est of the murd-air of Gr"^.rr,m"- «mlthere.cu.,ofyouralli!;;;J^:'iiS'"""' ■ . n,e papeiK coiicermii!,' Geueral 51iitoassec..!t/,hea^y^;;"-,-^« 'he c:ition mansion." took rtwav from .w;?^;:;it'i"^sr'r^"'"'^^^^'^'^ p-sas.i„. We k,:.;' ho he i^"''^ "'* I 'i he woman Viola Dale, at the ruff^, I ^^ lien you have seen he,!- Mked Vin. "■"'«•'"» '"-"J e«l..v. «.in-.'l,i,ea?;;i. £;„»«■■«? tteplM I'll J lh(. hour (if peril oom- urce than, humim wig. t," spoke Vincent, af- i'ave yon discovered o UH to i.rouipt ,u,(i ur. .^hirton," contin- ri.MlHly, "you still do. li Hie in tmcitiK ilown eral CliftcmV" J Niiuient, excitodly. ii*; Uiu iif.ht t(i explore ImN idl.lad mi' of a ,' l.tliil of II holoved U'l Mistice hiivo in. t'luliiiMiico, niui ,ie. tlluc, iiiy time, my r (lisposHl to briijif of the (; (iltvuHsas. luo iiiiiojeut viotiia niiiiriKly at bis en- ^■> hu\ Viuceut ijiul skill auil bniverv of •e. ^ ^.^T!'" I'efer it," • '"e imist sot lit itirely in our Lauds, liiivu ab.mdoned it 10 comiilicated ft,r as if We were on- uew tniil, only ( iuices sur.ouuiiaig lie takiiit,Mi«ay of the Clifton njau- tonttaiu- tbenr. f CicDcral Clifton, tliauce.l wife." iteil Viuceut imx. leeraill^r Geuornl ssin undoubtedly '11 mansion." iiiiiHt settle when '. we pursue tlm he is-Haivev ippeared. and we e. at the Clifton a, for she is still "lis to take their ou fcirtune will er'" asked Vin- sion to-day and . " And Langdon 5 had followed snversation. the ideutJy the plot f f <- lil'l Mil mm 111 .i fli Tlw dotective shadowed their every step. He learned that the man was an emissary of Talcott'8 named Aletyne, sent to inform Vaojk how their plans weie pro.ressing. " Host track of this mnn in following tke woman b«ck to the Clifton mansion " continued Langdoa. "We will leave her la fancied security until we corner the aBsassiii. Then we will arrest all parties. " "Why not now?" "Becaase it would drive those at liberty ftway where we would never find them apriiin. If I arrested \ i- la Dale, Talcott might threaton to kill Etuol Clifton." '■>08, yes, I see. You are right," cried Vincent anxiously. "Barnet, the coin-dealer, has learned of onr escape from the house, for ho has closed his store and is in hidintr some- where until he Jearns if we really tsciped from the sewer." continued the detective. "He fears n descent upon the place. I think I kuow where to lind him when I want him. " "And Tdlcott— you have no trace of himV" "No, but I soon expect to have. I wish to learn, before I arrest him, two points of importance." "What are they?" "first, th3 full significance of his terri- ble influence over Ethel Clifton. " "Ah, the wretch! Believe me, it is in some way connected with the secret Gen- eral Clifton cherished." "That is the other point— I mist know what that secret is, also. Now, then, we must deky no longer. It is Ketliug on to- ward night .i id we must to work. First, to disguise ourselves thoroughly." " That is importint " "In your case especialh', " said Langdon. "Why so?" " "Bec'auKe it would not suit my pla^is to have some blundering detective arrest you for the murder of General Clifton. " "I understand, and I must especially avoid the detectiv.) Howard, you suy. " "Yes, for he believes you guilty." "Why did you not tell him of the true assassin?" "Because I like to manage my cases alone, and an outside detective mi^ht ■poll all my hard work just at the moment of signal success. But you need not fear Howard for the present. He has gone out of the city." "Then vou have heard from him?" "Yes. I found a note from him at tho police headquarters to-day." "Did he succeed in tracing Talcott to his new place of hiding?" .,o, ..c -naa aiocuTcrca on ine Dack of the carriage, but later he found a very val- nabl« elaw for us. " MANACLE AND BRACELET. 45 "What was that?" "He learned that Talcott had sent one of his men to a p.'ace in the country, near Cbicago, to arrange for the final reception of the girl there. " *^ "And you know the place?" "Yes. Y^ou must go there to-night, and watch that end of the line. I will remain in the city. " The detective then gave Vincent minute instructions as to his work. He was to go to Lakeside, the place al- hid d to, and endeavor to locate Talcott's man there. A dis atch or letter to Langdon at po- lice headquarters would report his daily ^ progress. I Thus, if Langdon failed to find Talcott I in tho city, he might be discovered when he removed Ethel Clifton to Lakeside, which was his evident intention. "1 have lonnd ouo clew to our enemies," Langdon remarked to Vin ent, as they com- pleted a most elaborate disguise. Vincent looked inquiringly at his com- panion. "At a low resor; for thieves, near the den of Barnet. the coin-dealer, I saw to-day the man who took your check. " "Ah! the check. What about that?" "I stopped its payment, of course." "Why did you not arrange to have him arrested when he presented the check?" asked Vincent. "He would not undertake to do so. He IS too shrewd for that, and would employ some third party to act for him. The man's name is Hartley, and I have an idea he will communicate with Barnet soou. At all events, I intend watching him." The two men descended to the street. There they separated, Viuc.nt going to a rulroad depot to take a suburban train to Lakeside, and Langdon proceeding to the saloon he had spoken of. It was located a short distance only from the former den of the coin-dealer, and as he entered the detective found it thronged with a low o'ass of criminals, drinking, smoking and playing cards. Behind the bar-room proper were quite a number of little curtained compart- ments, and in one of these Laugdon sta- tioned himself as, aftir watching for half an hour or more, ho saw the man Bartley enter tho place, and after speaking hur- riedly and mysteriously to the bar-teuder, go into one of thdse little rooms. Bartley still wore the green shade over his eye, and the detective grew stern as he recalled how evilly that scarred, murder- ous face had gle imed down at him in Bar- net's den. A few minutes later a bent, vbite-haired ^8 pM "i Sill he snw the Ca^kSZ I^l'* ''*• ""'' ""^ geBin.e to the new oom«, 'l^ * significant '^2' ?«■■' of the ;Ce^'' ^^o «*««« to the -IiB Burnet, and h'e'n innrm„red Langdon. " H.8 ^HUBpioion was verified a monient MANACLE AND BRACELET. "What for?" *® '*"®'- - pocff"'' drew some bills ,,om hi. ' , "" -«P.e.on was verified I "'"^ " ' "" '^ ^^e^KiKoCr heaJ!r«:ri..'^^_?:""^.vr the defective L^"-^.^^-^' .fcraLTB* fl^"^ - passed betwTen B«™°I*'"'S''«*'"'' ^"^ '"s* b.ve decSd^h^^ttt '^' ""^'^'^^ '«'"■<' tofthXir.'^ ir; *° ^"'^«'^-- --i ^-t.e;«7ar°e?otf r.'h ' '"'^ •'^'*°«'^S soumled familiar voices " Yes Whafs^n .?'°' °' ^^^'''^^t ask. way?- ^'* "" the row about, any- escr led. and^w„'£?°?® infernal detectives i n you hnrrr m th^'A " '" *^' dis.a'uce. ■• '• ^'^ '^ '^^'''"'3' is in hearing right, " i^ tt. Se 't on o'? f^ ^""«' Lanodon could hear Bnrtlev r k . ^a'"?"'" «'^"Sd^se?,^S; '*^°'" piete copv of RnrHw ?. ^"8 » cm- ance. ^- '''^""ejs ordinary appe."- red'^tfrheEh""'- ^" ^^^^ '^^^ "car- Wdwer^l^'"K^«S.-Ij.istHa, ^^.T-U. nd it's a dell ... b^ard ;Ve" «rLr '^ '"^^ """^ ^' '«' in« y.b.sh',lo«ed.""'*'''°"'"*«^^' ^"J'ou feltcon,de..t h t he'coallj '^' ^"'^*'"''« .'ii 1.0 careful. " "«^ ass„„,p.i„„ sucoessfu ,v '""^ °"' ^*- ThM ,)o "'"""•Ue, he renorled ;] Wiio for? "Tiilcoti, 1111(1 Iff "»'«y,b.. sh,.lo«ed. ^i Ji bo careful." yontJUZ %f: l: ,^}r\ I . «^»» direct li't!fKdown*?a'r,;^ y°" ntonoetoa Liikorde.'' '" "'^'' oo'^iLiJ named ;;i'ui lendy, if i get paid for it" - iou will, uevei fe«,. V i 'or a (l.ar million iirnvni'^"'?' P,^ °'»e'al. glia.cl m.m lh« place "^ '" ^''' '««' ""d a^z;:i^::Siyr^KSer«-*. -e;';„?:*s;^n^'!rt^'^^'"^--y. iaime,li„te aoJou ' ^""""'' ^''^"^'^ 'or alloS:;^ f ;;;/ 17 S ^^^^ »e'»'-'y « milo. he c . hia!^ ' '° «°' •^"•'« a d'Bta ,ce uuead Who are yoa?" (iiate arr st. 'ueuiiate an imme- tbe^^lXlo'Stnb^elr^^f-- «* arc!Ln-°-^dl^«^"^-^^^^^ Ciit- on p,per"'. irp'osB^bl^^'^^ "^^ «'"'«" th^ltrin^'Sc^^Sf^nebriet^ door-beli. ^ ^® '''*i'« and rang the ^."'"".jPenfid the door. It was iiarvey Taloott. CHAPTEBXVm .. -ine finlse BaHlev -* * ««e«hoId of the pU,tte^--r«,tS'wl!t ae biUa from hi« "You've got a letter from Bamet von say?" asked Talcott. as he closed and se- curely looked the door. mJi?^*''"^': C"P*"»n," replied Langdon. fm i f« ^"' ™*'"°^f ■* "''«*»' unsteadiness nn las far ns possible imitating the gruff guttural voice of IJiirtley. " Give it to me. " The dttectivo handed the missive to Tal- thJntSe§rrn,Sn'°"" '^''^^"^' "^'^ me' faThSn? ' ''° '''^ °° ^"'^ *° ^^'^ "Every time, Captain." kJJ^'''^ 7^?*^ ^""* '° ^e<"P sober, for the busineHs 1 have on hand needs a clear head and St. ly nerves." ' ' right. Give me your orders; I'll > -. '_: Jm, trusly aud true. " ^„ '» t'll T° '**®. '''S '■°°'» yonder, then, aud wn.t tai I need you. We re making an im- l^^leTZmP""'- "''' ''''' ^'^^ "-y A man he hud uover seen before, but ?«1^L^ ^a'cottH, was seated at the table reiuling, and looked up. curiously. ™ °^^/'°\°7"l*^« detective into the chair and settled himself as if for a do«e. AO an appdirauces he was preparing for a careless slumber, and seemed to pay no attention to the other occupants of the k«?„*'"' l»ow«ver. were (he detective's teen senses more fully on the alert for de- velopments. ;Who is that?" he heard the stranger ask. ^ A man Barnet sent me. " »Y """^ ^^' *'°™ ^^^ CO u-dealer?" ^'Anythiug about the detectives?" • , .:.* y®*"''- He advises us to get the girl out of the city." "Well, we're ready, ain't we?" Yes. and with all our plans perfected to »(et every contingenc,." thlT^^.^'' ^^"P*''''® "°™"sk Viola, and jJ^J^'j^.t'omes out. we will still have the "And no trace of the girl can be found " repplemented Talcott. ^""ua, "^None, except that she is dead. " l^gdon started, violently. What did this last Rloomv allnsinn sis- 2ir/ii •*r^"'^,? scheme 6f cuiinln,r and S.^'% ''•'*? ^"'°°"- 'be nnsci-UDulous flatter, devising iu this house'' manaole and bracelet. 47 we were You see." went on Talcott not as safe as we thought, " "In what w ly?" "We imagined first that no one suspected °"?'w''f,°?.y "^ 'b« '^""°n business." Well?" ;;LangKon the detective knew all about it" But he may be dead. " man. He b.;ar8 a chaimed life, aud will de- feat us yet^^if he is alive and wo are not T'm'"!; .?''^/' '^ b^ '8 dead he mnv have told what he knows to some fel ow-.,ilio r— raaybe ihe iimu whom we discover, d clins- ing to the can.ag^ two nights suce. " n.>.'a ,, '" *u *'^°VSb' 'lie girl from Bar- net 8 hjuso here?" ••Ye.s. Kow, then, if it is going o come out sooner oriater that VioU is not Kthel Chfton. and that I was niised up in the tragedy at the Clifton mansion, two th.nss are necessary " "-"'ugB "What?" "J he death of Ethel Clifton and my total dit-ajpearance." ' General Chiton's wealth, a^ nest of kin • iixactlv. i J'^i"'*"'^*'" ''l'®^ *b"' worthy's compan. ion. yiiu are (he pnnce of plotters. " I wish to leave no menus untried to provide against our ever losing the niake we have plaved tor-the Clifton u.il ion<,. After to-night, let the police discover wh.it they may. Ethel Clifton will be prov. eu dead I will bo out of their reach in some hiding plat-e, and Viola will secure the fortune: If not as the s.pposed E.hel Oimon, as (ha real heiress after her. " to-nigh??'^"" '"^^^ *° ""'""^ °"* "" '*''■ "I intend to make events have this sem- blance, lu case of contingencies, yes, Als- tyne. For that I have been plotting siuoe we came h re. " f n "And a clever plot .t is. Has the doctor ^0116 r "Two hours since, and well paid for his share m the affair." l.'And the old housekeeper here?" Both she aud her daughter are ceived. Hist! it is she coming now " Thtre was the sound of a dress whisk, ing thron«h the hallway, and a livbi tan soumled at the door. ^ "Come in," said Talcott. in respouse to the summons. A middle-aged lady dressed in doeo mourning ventured as far as the threshold ^ Her face was sad and tear-staiiie>l. aud irom the covert glauoe he managed tb be^ stow on her Langdon decided tkit the grief she exhibited was genuine He saw a quxk, deceit.ul expression of de. 4a •i m broken accents • '^'°^^ *^" '""^^' <" in one ^'^yTu'i;*.? ««« «-^ «udden Luble it. "A told yoA ""' ''^ ^''"-^ -«-Pated 1 count of mv niece hiA T J 11 "^ **" "«'- the entire month T«f^'" ^"^ y°» ^o'' brief conv^emtion P"""*' '""'^^ '" *'»«*' -ro^seTuro^r r^o£°"'« °°-P*-- ••- l«in, never cease thei7dark^o tiS^r- ^'- must know wh,?it^s " ' *"" '°°*' •""* ^ theroomTOsrTrom^o^- ''•.^1'' "»' '^" rentted^fntdon** '««- »>-• to-ni«ht?" '•wL^A"'girP" ''^ ^^°'^ "«?"-«• "What girl? • * "Ethel Clifton. " "In there." tnrbed. meditations undis- the man had jSs'tXigler"'"''^'' '""'^ apirt^n^^^J rSd^'l^o ^""^^i *^« teotire an object at he «h,hf n?'*"?^? '^«- «»me to a dead halt * "' "'""'^ ^^^ n.oX"'i?d h^'lth^e °i *'f ■""'•' «•- a sfn^f/l'liTa?, '" -^pen^nStook he Razed within the coffin " ''P' *' for there, mate and mnHnnU„. ._ _. parant aea,L, hi, the beiiutifarEl^li'cirftoS: MANACLE AND BRACELET. CHAPTER Xli . , UNMASKED. vet^rde'teS.-'Je^S"""" ^'^^^'^^ *-« fc^;raS^'^«K;i;is wiS of Ter'un«r°°r* ^''^ ''O'^ the traordil^;atirc:"ffirdnrsni^r'- telhgence had been 'exercisel'''' ""'* "'- thf evTdrnco oVxalStW ^'^ '»^'«' ^«" more obstacle in fh« *f""»Ph. for one toward the attainment X "nVY**'^* »"'« ion« had been removed. ' ^''^""^ °»'"- -|KK-Lt^^4-ater.«e jj£S^:KS-;^e.s..hedf^ expressed the sen^e o'^-°^^ migh'y word and sentiment he felt '^'"''** ""PonsiWl*^ Justice! muV/er S^i^^ stelv^lf ^^ -urder-for should know .he eaUowr^^^^'y ^^^'">** emnlv. tearfuX J^TJ '*'"?®'* "^e"- "«»- lips to" the cold 'marb''-"' ' '^"«Wiag face before him "''^ °^ '*>« S'le«^ of 'tte/of iS'l '""''*'^"* child-victim tice 8^1 havfllK/w':' tlf'""''^' J""- the law shall wring Ha JeV Tawfr''*!!^ *" cloWh"eVSr& ''^ -- -«» m^|r Ltd^n^o Src?^-'''^ -P^- menralli?;' "to'arrsr TaS" ^'^ '''^'^' watch the dovelonmfnt i? 1 • "' ,"''*'« «' farther?" ""'^'oP'^^'Ut of his plans sttH p«n.rvn^;,r^ the?alr "'"'^ ^""^ '»»« Iandlady?-ask«I ^u^ti^?S':i[j?J^e.h^^^ MANACLE AND BRACELET. 49 1*0010 and planned schemefl. The hearse and car- riage will be here with the men soon. " There was a ring at the door bell as Tal- oott spoke, and he went to answer it, and returned a minute later followed by two rongh-lookin^ men. "Come, Alstyue," he said, "and you, Bartley, keep a watch from the front door for any suspicious lurkers in the street. " Taloott and Alstyne disappeared within the room where the casket was, the latter asking his companion: "You have the reviving phial the doctor gave you?" I^Yes." " Will the men drive as far as Lakeside?" " Yes, it is better so. " "Why?" "On account of the papers." All this was enigmatical to the listening detective, but later he understood what im- portant facts these vague allusions con- o«aled. The two men were in the room where the casket was for about a quarter of an boar. Talcott appeared at the door finally and beckoned to the pretended Bartley. The detective could have sworn he heard » low, wailing cry like that of a child or woman in -distress, in the room beyond Talcott, but the latter closed the door ab- ruptly. "Take a careful look around the rear of the house," he ordered, brielly; "we can- not be too watchful at this critical stage of the game." Langdon walked down the hall and went through the rambling rear garden. Ten minutes later he returned to the house, his mind fully determined on the course he should pursue. It was evident that Talcott intended to remove the dead girl to some spot near Lakeside. He had noticed a horse and carriage •tandmg in waiting in front of the house Dotibtlessly, too, he theorized, Talcott and Alstyne and himself would leave the city in the carriage. He would allow them to start, call the flrst policeman he saw, and arrest the en- tire party. Full of this determination he entered the hall and started toward the room where the other tien wei-e. Suddenly he paused. The door of a room was partially open, and a light that was not there when he last passed it illumined its interior. • ^ ^^ iaiiiiiuce (he detective wilnessed a 2I. *ft transfixed and bewildered Urn IhomentAHly. A woman stood loaning on the back of a chair, as if from weiikiicBs or g.ief. She was scbbing pitifully, her pale face anguished with eniotion, her eyes haunted with a nameless terror and di-ead. "Great heavens- the dead restored to hfe. It is Ethel Clifton."' fell gaspingly from the raystitied detective's lips. There could bo no mistake. The same fair face and golden hair, the same shy, shrinking glance was there. What did it mean'/ What intnngible mystery surrounded this woman's sudden restoration to life. An impulse of joy and courage inspired Langdon to n rash movement. H« P"8hed open the door and entered the room. He was about to reveal to the girl in hurried words his true identity, to beg of her to fly from her enemies w hile the opportunity offered, to demand from her lips aa explanation of the horrible mockery of death in which she had taken a part. If she still refused under the dread fear of Harvey Talcott he would seize her for- cibly to cany his plan into execution. He took a step forward, but recoiled suddenly. "What are you doing here?" The harsh voice of TalcotI: uttered the words, and Talcott himself, whom the de- tective had not noticed before, stepped from an adjoining apartment. "I came to report that the coast is clear," stammered Lanardon, considerably con- fused at the unexpected confrontation. "All right. Go to Alstyne and tell him 1 U be ready in a moment. " His mind in a maze, Langdon proceeded to the front room. He was so completely mystified with the fast o(!curring episodes of the hour that he sat like one in a dream. Talcott entered the apartment a few min- utes later, "Is all ready?" the detective heard Als- tyne ask. "Yes. " "And the potion revived her?" "At once. Now get tne casket fastened down and remove it at once." "And the girl?" ' ,!T"i '^v*^*^ secretly by the rear way while the housekeeper and her dauahter are at the front of the house " "All right. Who's that?" A violent ring at the door bell and a wild clatter on the sneps startled all ptesent Alstyne proceeded to the door. Ho ^ seeoied to admit ""•'"J. pieuou Visitor, for the sounds of loud and incoherent con- versation aceompahied tliem t<) tie room where the others Were; ^^ 1- .l„1 50 bewildonnont. ^ ° '" the profoundest T^J"'} ^?^^ **>'8 mean?" cried T&loatt Langdon's heart stood still flrh r ^n'o it Ai;':^ -•^"' 'T' °"^^--^: MANACLE AND BRACELET. upon the dead faoe of CHAFiKR XX. A TERMBLE EXI'RRIence fathered himB°fto^«-h„w""°"'''°*- °°fl for liberty '"Se.her for a wild dash «nd's?oo7;,.,^S hS'^5"' ^'^ --^--- j^Hnd,_ I found Barnet and 'then CS Benthisf^J,Xt:;i;^C^^"^««' eniAfe^T"^ ■*""«« '^« '^'-t'ol'l nnd shoot him dow er, Ll ^ f"""* ^^d that lona cSor "'^"^ *^« «°d of J.UBU me sfentonjin voiop .,f t i ^^ shouted out: ^* luleott . . "He cannot have left the house Wo hidmg.nsomeof iheroon's^ '• ^" •'?e\' «™oSr.n''-t;/"^' ^'«^^-- he is. Discoverv t^r ""^ ''P^ ^^hoever min to our ..ver^plan -"''^P" "°^^ "'«='"« langdoii d seerned that he wn^ ,-,> perate aJternat^ves ^' '"'^ "^ *^° ''es- The hnll without was mtrniio^ k * armed men. He mnRf «;♦!, t° ^^ f""' boldly in an unSi n^flT*'°°t^l»«m himself ""equal conflict or secrete — — naa, as he tiieu 18 form ^tX^d'toS'^th^^'^'^f '^ ^.- ""-* 'y^g over thelopT tt S^^' "« «-« -tr^I^K.rJ^^'-jS^-BaUn.lined be. for he hll j,l '2' •'^?" ^l^'' >* would i'>8 the apnrlmeut '"''"' '"^'*"'' "f '««''- conr^eal myself.^ '^'^' ^""'y- "' ^uat V'ber: he cTuldToue to '^ '•"°''' '^"^^'^^ ers. °"''> ^ope to escape the search! earned out of the houLiult" '^""'^ ''^ cliSb .S'lS^^lho'^otr^It^i^^ "^^^ ^°"^'y resomcf. of ..afetv ar.^ V.J* ^"? « desperate as desperate ^ ^" P®"^ ^"8 fuHy fuinen"lh ?n JheT'' '''*° 'i^'°« ^"d layal ;' ho door opened" mSr'Kr" "'■''^'•• Toica '"W^c'LTdl.f.f^ '^'^"'"■^ «-«ted AlsviiA p »" "^'*y no longer. Quick AiB.yne, tisten \u> thp orvffl„ "-iJuick, away," ' '^^ *'o™° and get it pre';Sd^!''^Ja,^,- fe cover was putting tie scC ' i'X^/l{l\^ ^^T' startled hearing ^ *'^" "Pon hia P=^^tf?^^-- f- bis un- thet-;^,,^-^^-J^y,,„ bftedVe'ro^n-iThoreom *'f- P'''^'^™ wei.oht. «"UOHt commeutuig on its It seemed to be carried from tv,^ down a flight of stens slid i^? the room, and then as the doors shut tnl°.,f ***"««• the vehicle started off rSvwih % "'•"'' 'Dg freight. r-'Piaiy with its hr. A choking, suflFociitin" sensp «f .,>■ oppressed the detective ' Invo'„ntL»i'1f^ itSKii^'^-^i^^lvS^ was. close prisoner K^Sio^JTrltig?.? .gffii^s-Sai^-rs^ po?ket'^nr'**^"^''^^-»'>«' open his. Systematically, calmly, he began to cgt,t upon the dead faee of lad contained her sUent •n the trestleB, its cover r the ooflSn. with n the aatin-Iined ty. as he knew it would ^oen Its Inte occupant rtment of the house dly around the room 'hich he had jost en- mother nuans of leay. isht or death if I re J-od, grimly. "I must Bible nook, however to escape the search- t)ie!ithed, wildlv. "If in that I should be ise m it." iver aside and boldly ^- It was a depperate I his peril was fuiJy iLto place and lay "at igest hiding place he tpg detective career nmute later, ed Talcotfs excited no loiiger. Quick, ae coffin and get it as the cover was f^ounda of a chisel place fell upon his Teat from his un- 3w, uo vever. jt "pand carry it to lered the men. the carriage the ' of the plotters commenting on its 3 from the room. •>d into a hearse. utto^«ith a click Pidlywith its Jiv- : sense of misery Invohintaiily he top of the casket. erlul efforts. He 1 almost air-tight ' his presence of ndeven periloug or and open his • he began tocqt^t tne under side of the lid. He experienced a rare sense of relief, as he made a small aperture and the heavy air of his strance place of captivity lifted. *' He busied himself in making several of thi'sa in the casket, aud th n. compara- tiyely comfortable, except for tha rough jolting of the vehicle, he began to consider tis po ition. ■What w 11 be the end of this adventnre. I woude.?" he mused, soriouRly. "They ceruiuiy won t bury an empty casket. "I shall be taken to Honie piuce where they in.end to imp.;, m Ethel Clifton. •! now comprehend fully the scheme of having her appear dead. '"lalcott hired some doclor to adminis- ter a powerfnl dru-, which, robbing her of BLnsibility. added the perfect semblance of death. "While she was in this comatose condi- tion the landlady and her dmghter visited uer and aie honcbt witnesses as to the fact of her death. "Should \ iola Dale's imposture be dis- covered the death oi. the real Ethel Clif- ton will bo proven, and Viola will cLiim General Olifton's fortune as the next le- al heiress of kin. ° 'They will take her to Lakeside, little dreaming that Vincent Mo: ton is there probably watching already the movements ot thei emissary at that place." Several tim s the detective endeavored to torce open the cover of the casket, but from his peculiarly cramiied position was unable to ettoct his purjiose. He resig.ed himself to his fate, finally and endeavored to estimate mentally the distance the hear e had traversed. It at last left the paved streets of the city and emerged upon ine rough counlrv roads It must have been two hours later that tne vehicle came to a stop. Langdon could hear the confused mur- mur of human voices. Then the doors of tne hearse were thrown back. The casket was drawn out and lowered to tlie ground. Then for fully ten minutes there seemed to be utter silence. I'Keady!" shouted a voice, finally. The casket was lifted bodily and earned ' quit,; a distance. It seemed to be lowered several feet and tnen came to a stop. Langdon's heart; took a quick alarm as a Dornble idea took nossession of his mind Was It the intention of the men after all to inter the empty casket? ^ Was he to endure all the honors of bo- A thrill of borror tire's frame.. MANACLE AND BRACELET. CI I A shovel full of earth fell upon the oaa. Kor* For the first time in his life, unable to endure the terxg* his mind depicted in one fleeting, throbbinj? moment of space, the detective fainted dead awuy. convulsed the detec- CHAPTEU XXI ESCAl-BO). While langdon the detect-ve was coi.i? through all these varied and thiillinff ex- ploits the faithful ally he had sent to Lakeside was not idle. Vincent Morton, deeply di>guised. left the city w,thi:i half an hour after parting with his fiiend. * Lakeside was a charming suburban town lorated near the lake aud surrounded with blutts aud dense forests. Somewhere near this place, Langdon had tod \inc'ent, an emissary of Talcott was now awaiting the arrival of his employer with the missing heiii ks, Ethel Clifton. Vincent found the town to I e much scat- tered and divided into two e'ements of society. One portion contnined the re.^idenoes of thfe wealthy, the other the humb a homes and lactones of the place. After a i ami. le through the village Vin- cent decided that a peison of the character Talcott would be likely to employ would natnially find his associates and enjoy- ments at the nearesit tavern. There was only one saioon in Lakeside, and thither Vincent made his way. He found it crowded, and as all present were strangers to him. could not very well decide who among them was a recent air- lival in the village. Fortune seemed to favor his quest, how- ever, for about an hour after Vincent had entered the place an incident occurred which interested him and oaosed him to believe he was on the right trail. A messf^nger had come from the depot with a telegraph message, which he handed to the landlord of the place. The latter made several inquiries among those around the bar, and finally ca'led out: "Is there any person here answering t* the name of AmoldV" That's my name, " spoke up a man who had been seated at a table. "Well, here's a telegram for you. The station-keej er sent it heie because, being a hotel, he thought a gtmnger would be like- ly to come here, " The stranger took the telegram, opened it. perused it cnolly. and resnmr.d hi° place at the table and his drinking onoa more. "He may not be my man, but it will do 53 i ' no h'lrm to cultivate eohloquized Vincent. At least 80 reasoned Vincent. "Are von1"=f " Dice town." heremnrked. cent ^ " " ''"""«" *'«'•«?" inquired VinJ From the city?" he asked ^^• little otoud" '"'' ^ left the city under a .^^Se'L^tKffltll" T¥ « ''o'd van. MANACLE AND BRACELET. his ac(|uaintancc l,^''^^ C'^ugW yon at last. v.>.. came into his face von A?^ """'• '^'^o^ingly: "I understand you Are you acqu«iuted in the city? ' i« L • P|'"'«.»'«"- .V near the river. ^Thera xB^l^n. old corn-dealer there I know ver? "What is his name'" Barnet. " vSlt' ""•' '^'^ '''•» «»■..■ to '7»'o'*^"*"^ ^^^'^ Bamet's place is " And 1 was there yesterdav tj,o i seemed to be deserted " P'^°® " Why'"™'^** « "Bit" from the police, -ItSXTo^L'T^^'^^^e^^ What detectives?" "Langdon for one. " Vincent was oow assured ihnt *v.«, _ .». » cho.™ „e„b., of Ih. cri,„l„l f^ "Oh, yes." "^^°' 'o' instance?" Inlcott. " ihen you aie my man " ihe stranger had" risen to bis feet th^t;.«a:=ri^-omeint^niseyes ^ Vtncent was .horough*^ startled at his the^TatottrnT'*'"* ^™'»^'* ™'' ""^ Ot Fatal mistake! "Twl*^° ^°" '"®'"^^" he asked, ton"^ I tnow"vo7-''"'°''^'- ^*'"'«"t ^or. coi'sSS'"" "^""^"^ •" '»>« Wildest ^t^«ira!ir^-^ ■r3i:^1r'.^/s;njrr^^ ihVvrc^ugiryr aTLT"r*"« ^^ ^«'^»" Yon are mfp,fso„er " ' ^'°''°' *^''''°'>- ;'YeB." ''\yhat has he done— who ar« vnn-)" a Mu-.der! He now saw that it was th^ ^„j i mmmrm bor of the criminal fra- Qyof Barnet's friends?" oe?" id no particular emotion aliont the Clifton busi- J Vincent, boldly V man. " risen to his feet. had come into hie eves iaoin(j. ' onghly starUed at his tat Arnold was one of (coiled in the wildest ^aenly lifted his hand beard from Vincent's MANACLE AND BRACELET. 53 is arm and led ; the lock-np keeper, saying He would tel- egraph to Chicago for inRtriictions. Vincent dareil not imjiart Langdon's sp- orets to Howard, and attempted no explu- nation. Once alone in the prison, however, he bewail to realize that, should Laijg.lo . meet with any mishap, his position was ii serious one. He was allowed (he freedom of (he prison corridor until Howard's return, and he paced to and fro rpsdessly. his attention was abruptly' enchained as he chanced lo walk down m\ end corridor. Two men, doubtless prisoners like him- self, had in some way forced the lock of their cell door and were sawir- pt the bars of the outside window. He watched (hem silently, a wild thought of escape in his miud. He saw them force the bars and climb through the window. I am doomed if I remain and Langdon should not appear to te!l the true story of General Clifton's murder, " murmured Vin- cent in an intense tone of voic :. The next hour of hi-f life was ever af- torwud like a dream to his mind. He remembered gaining (he ground stealthily. Vincent Morton combed through the window of his prison and was at lib- erty. He reached the road, spLul uway from the tow: and dpshid on burehtaded and breutliless through the silent n ght. He drew aside and penetrated (he timber at (he roadside, as he saw i i the distance a vehicle of some kind and some men sur- rounding it. As he came near it he observed that it was a hearse and that the men had just fllle 1 in a newly m.ide grave near by, "Talcott— the girl- the detective;' these were the startling words he heird as the ▼ehiole and its attendants drove away. They aroused him to excited action. He went to the spot where the burial had taken pl'ice, and wi(h a board from a fence near by began removing the newly shoveled earth. A mystery was here; he had heard the niirae of Talcott — it was enough to incite him to action. "A casket!" he ejaculated a minute later, and then, entirely uncovering it, with the greatest difficulty he dragged it from its resting place With his knife and a sharp-pointed stone be pried open the lid. Vincent Mortonbad been distraoled wi(h a'st-orc of theories as to the ucuupant of the casket. The white moonlight showed to him now (he features of the man he had saved from a terrible fate. "Great heavens," he cried, madly "it iB Langdon the dolectivp!" CHAl'TEU XXn. ON THE IKAOIT. At first Vincent Morton deemed hi« friend Langdon dead. The detective was not long, however, in reviving under the mtluouce of the free night air. Mor.on had drigfied him from the casket and pushed this and its cover back into the griive. Langdon arose to a sitting posture, nibbed bis eyes, and looked around. "I lemsinber, now," he muttered; "but how did I escape, Vincent?" "i'es, Langdou." "How came you here?" "By accident— fate some people would call it.' "A fortunate fat? for me then " re- maiked Langdon, with a shuddering look at the giMvo, Vincent pushed the dirt into the hole over the cofiin, so that it might not appear to hnv • been disturl ed. "Tell me, Langdon," he said, "how came you in this predicament? " The detective, after salisfying himself that no one was lurking in the vicinity who might overhear them, proceeded to detail his exiting adventures of the night. Vincent listened, paling with anguish and beoomng enraptured with joy as the detec- tive rebKed the seeming death and later resuscit.Ttion of E(h"l Ciilton. "Langdon, La-gdon!" he cried, "this terrible persecution of my darling Ethel must cease." "It shall." "But when?" "Now, at once. The plotters are some- where in this neighborhood, and I shall not rest until I have tracked them down. Have patience. The trail is closing in. And now as to yourself. Di! you locate TaU cotts emissary at Lakeside?" "No. I was arrested at a time when I believed 1 was nearly succeeding in looat- ingour men." "Anested?" "Yes." "By whom?" "By Howard the detective." In graphic words Vincent told of the scens at the Lakeside tavern (i ad the prison. Langdcn was profoundly coticerned over the recitdl. and looked ^erionstrhftft hi'* companion had oonolttded''. " " "This is most tfuforian«te." be siid. gravtly. ^ \4 M !■■ '! ^ iff 111 :i ■■!'; ibnt nmkeu it still more to " And wljy? • . };'»Jcent looked Ro„i„y. Iam;„",S\'.r««--'-dov-p)aia.hat "V. H, but he nmde the uriost miMin An 1 will fly from Lakeside?" iiXiiut y. '•Then what shall I do»" And then?" .iiew'Sutr'^'"-y-«-»nJ««B«me ^4r,£l-anol^c:; fear for th,s onse is app.oaehiuK ad.mr' jour """^ *^ comuiuuicate with I^ngdon Rave him ft ficfitious name .But you won t want to do that, "he said »ome/- """^"^ y°" "'« °°' t«o venture- "Oh, my investigftiicns will taltn in „^ %7°h?d"b'{/''^ ^''"- '-nsion!^ "** He was Bomewhat concerned and not « ScriSoSe.^"^"'"'^'^ ^-'"- ^-"- rf«^ ^® '^ached the limits of the village h* uuHiuy 10 remove every tmo« nf ^o- w.'^ „«^*"***'''*''"'»"y diHerent disguise i€;iiS— ^-"^ He had paused at n ,>io-.« ...u--. ,, -oonlight -had shown «"little~"waysiS| MANACLE AND BRACELET. s^t?.^\Vvta:;'oW,rT''' ^ removed th.. „. °' '*^** <"oJ<"'. ami beB,dh.h?d wo^^," *^' ''^"''•' ""'l '"^"^ .er"'dS^.„^"',^f"'^« -^PP"'*! that had Joveaiir';.?!^! ? 1 ^'^ ""«"* imposture worn i .7 the o 'i?/" "'i.'^" «'"» ^e ha'i '--^'' coloring ^tam.ui'.a os'e . Tn" roV"S ''Vn'^y Bte.nKHlout.nto'thHrSSR.S" '^''*«^*'- n./n'o"tT.':;t?!.,s?''^H ' "«■•'-' «p-'- tra„,.a ,„rky to allappeamnce «"""'"'' iHt h'o,: 'SrhVr '"'» "?'' •^"'•'' ''t the =£iS!il^f^-pt^ the oiro;rs hat r' ®^<"'«'^ conversation of TnuJ^^J "'^ Which would inst siii? wf£nC';^-^L-^-enrln in^Slf" a"dtinTeSre±«^itf ^; P^^^^ grounds. Lan^dou finaS sat down bv ""^" Ihe early birds awakened him with th«ip where he secured a heartrmeal. "'»'• , We then returned to ♦>./. k»„-.u ._ ^ , ja^io^ observation oY^rrth^Vo^'-serh: «»he(l from his face fn its trace of false color, and Bou eye shade aud false d the apparel that had H nm recent imposture J HO nu under suit he hud »iioi). which resembed man cuiolesHly hab.te.l •urly kinky wig from I It on his head. me beach. Langdon o m'd im one of them watch- ing the shore fixedly. 65 I Finally he made a motion to his oom- piuion to stop the craft, and pointed laud- ward. "lie h:iH seen the signal; he is pointing to If, munnnr d Langddn. "I was not mle- takeu. 1 here is soma mystery about yon- den.^olaled mansion; probably th.) mystery The yaoht was agtin directed shoreward. Jt cauie us near the land as the depth of the water would admit, and was anchored there. A little ynwl was lowered from the dar. Its and one of the men seized the o.iM and rowed ashore. Liingdon had been seated on the beaoh, wa ching all these maneuvers, and as tho niaii stopped ashore he aioso to his feet Assnminr the slouchng gait of a big. la/.v negro his face grinning idiotically. hO apnroached tho J on know how to worK?" iry me, sah." JAnd miml your own business'" dayi;;:!;:'"' '"■''""•-'"■ »'»"^'.'xce,,t pay '■ You'll suit me. Would vou likfl ♦« ♦»), 8 cn,i«o on the yacht yondeJ? ' ^"^^ I 'Aoula dut. ' "All right; wo need an extra mm Nnn, then, you rovv back to tho yacht • ^' ■1. cR, HRxl. th;™t.iKu'r''*'°'*''"'^'"«'^«-" "Wticre to?" "That house vender." "I'll be there in a jifi'y. " Alstyno retuined towarrl th^ i,„ , had indicated, and 1 ZIZ ^^".""^ ^^ The voices of the sneakpra iio ,„„ • , .t^^once as belon/nrto^'a-n«-e'' The latter was speaking 1 brought the yacht 'he «ai^ '•^^ That exigency has arrived." How 80? dam^'' P^"'^ ^''^ ''«^» '^'^'^I^ed for two 'This house?" HS^hrite'cte't« sraii r- yesterday." ' "^ ^'^'^ »" day "Probably or. some other business. " MANACLE AND Bn4CELET. ipi ..nni^*"** "^'^ *■• "ocident. but there im. "Who it ihat?" "Vincent Morton. " Ho/did Jo.?n?/of"thr "'^«'''' ^*'-''- butthelauer eH„!jed •• '"'•*«" '""'"*'<»'». ^^';rhen,heycanuotboin league against >in'M;i:'„Son'''''\vrare'"nr}*"« '^« --« -':!--' change our .'."rt".' ■'' '"""''^'"- I u th'.t vaoht?" txiictly." 'VVheu?" I'At once." "And the girl?" "■I'.'ilicl Clifton?" 'YfiN." fraauM.;''miad"'"'"'^ '"''^'^^ despairing /SiS:,^Z;^.!!;"^-;-w.:ing,y?" of my influenoe 1070111.3 " ^^ P"*^'' '•'^'anS^i^'ir^--'^'^?" in. !or heJ Sh wil/^'r*"^ "'^-' <>'"^h. guio 80 that 8ho m! f^ll^: «: ■' of d,8. "Bywhim'^" ^ ^ recognized." ;>hall I stay hyar?" he asked i?rS°Jtir'^-itf„rme.- bim\ vrtrtoMh\%±'r '^''^^^^-'^ "icl; and arrest T.UcoTt and hi« '„^'" ''"i'°« pat^tl^^t^iiSr^'' ^--'^ -"h boSr?^r?ff ';^«:^- -«^o on means of overpo veiW I^« 1 ^"'"^ the^^&n'^^Se'iy^^-^^ learn ^^ ^^ Vincent Morto"^ SU hTm""l"fe Tnt' cretTrr^'^'i^ "i y«' unfathomed^:: buTS^IhiJ^^^^^^fil'^S't aocldenl, but there wm »» lolereiUod iu us who "■•as folloHiuK the same r iiuiiflers." ated himaelf with MANACI.E AND BRACELET. 67 •mployed to wield Ethel Clifton to bii will ttLd force her to remain a terriiied and uuroRiatlDK captive. Alt T ul)> It holf ni hour'N waiting Al- •tyne cauio dowu to the J.eaoh. He w.18 not ulone. Following him wero Taloott and the tlgure of a woniau whom the defective know to be the pareecnted E»hol Cllttou. ■.ftUK Ion at once pijt off from the yacht The two plotterB piicuil the Laiich»enB.iKed in enruBHt couvereution. They a.lowod tho girl t walk ; Ktlegsly upond down the Hhore. From thi! yawl Lang on «\w thB her manner w.is diBinictod u! i L i,rt-brok a. Just at the boat roucheu i\ ■ bcue! - 68 MANACLE AND BRACELET. the motive. I hold you in '|!'ii!ft|i «Tos.ed in watching the course of yacht from another part of the deck ile kept his eyes on the trio near fh« deck, however, and hi. blood boi red wiTh intoiiecaS. ^ ^^' "'"" ^""^ '°'°« ^'^ «ni!l® Windows Of this portion of the K ZV °P'?' ^""^ '^^ date.tive deter! Z tcen?o'„%Tcr" '" '^^d-o-mentof i^ite='^:f^i-St^^o-^i'ecu' he aSre\ wi'th a'S"" '" ^°"' ^^'•^•>^^" "JVo." Bu?:^hiie'.'Vorroi^""'^" '''^' ''-^ - «^« Langdoii mauasred to select hi3 "basldno- the diHlrncted uioauiiigs of Ktiirf CliZn "WdfC^T" °' Harvey Ta'c'e"""' >v en, then, he was fay ug, "i did dn ceive you m one partica ar. Your nmlfi" Geueral Cif.o ,, is dead. " "'"'^^• *v „]1. you do not at are hidden bei.e.iih r lover is false. I wUl t he anuidered vour was in league w'th it 1 your place as hoirosa 8." eek blanched to the appalled at the bold crupu ous Talcott. detorm ned to break 'used will lit any coBt. i' ast their attempted ' t n3 forever thi« n thrilling tonjs. ' you! " darted to the win- *rsthrongh it be- f the yacht. ic( rn and baffled lipB. ^ ^ " without iba \. MANACLE AND BRACELET. Langdon had sprnng to his feet as he beard the words. He saw the packet of papers rensh the water and drift to the leeward. He thrilled to keen anxiety as he realized their value. They probably contained the'kovto all the mystery of the great Clifton case*. At all hazards ho iiiu^t possess tbem. With a quick movement the detective Bprangto the rn'l of the yiiclit. iind, diving headlong into the wati-rs, disiippeared be- neath the surface of the lake. 69 CHAI'TKltXXV. VIOI,A. Vincent Morton had followed the in- striictions of his friend. Laug.lon (he de- tective, closely, after parting with him near Lakeside. He had recognized the necessity of evad- ing the public hig'iway in cas!- of pursuit and instead of proceeding along iho conu- try road, striirk off into the nut'iennoiitoa paths leading to the woods. By a devious way ho iciiihod a railroad and finding o tr.iiu at the Huiall station" started for the city and reached it in safety. Langdon had given him a key to his looms, and thithur, we.i'-'id and anxious, Vincent at once made hi; n ly. With the morning lie na'd assiinied an entirely different iiiul mue elaborate dis- guise than that which the keen-eyed De- tective Howard had penetrated. He had no particular idea of the line of action he should follow, but he was' not content to remain idle while Langdon was impyriling his life in his intoresfa. "There must bo something I can do," he Boliloquizod. "It wid not consist in shadowing Barnet even if I could find him. for without doubt he now drops out of the case until the ex- pected end -the atl, lament of the Clifton fortune— is re.iched. "The Clifton fortune! Ah, how cruelly and bitterly do the words remind mo of my darling Ethel, of my poor old fiiend General Clifton, of the vile impostor who now rules the mansion in the place of my persecuted affianced bride. "Ah, there is a point where I may signal- ize myself— the woman Laugilon calls Viola Dale. "It is certainly important to know some- thmg about her, although Langdon deems iier, too, a quiet element in the case for the present "Who knows but that, incidentally through watching the Clifton mansion I mnc 0Aln anm^ va}tini^\n i,^fi^^i^„ii^^ ' ""„>■'-" — — - '•■ '•'•'-•smnuuQ. i OBBibly I might secure a clew to the missing papers they undoubtedly stol* from General Clifton. "At all events, I will follow out a plan I have in my mind concerning this woman, viola Dale. "I beheve that either bold ess or shrewd- ness, perhapp both combined, may drive her from her present posit.on of assumed confidence and strength, and weaken the pcver of her evil emissaries." Vincent was acting entirely opposite to tne instructions of the de; active. Like all inexperienced amateurs in de- tective work, he was likely to forget pru- dence where emotion prevailed, and might make some serious errors to complicate the case in Laud. Lingdon knaw this, and little dreamed that Vincent would pursue the active course he followed out that day. And just as the shrewd detective would have ai,t c pited, it brouJit Vinrsnt into new toiiblo. It WIS about noon when Vincent entered a business block down town, and sought the presence of u lawyer he well knew, but not iu his proper person. He feigned to be an old-time friend of (xenoial Clifton, anxious to learn the de- tails of the recent tragedy. Vincent knew this lawyer as the at(*or- ncy of the CHifon estate, and was curious to nBcertaiu it' Viola Dale had yet made any move toward the attainment of the fortune. The lawyer was not loth to impart what intelligence he could to an old-time friend of the muidered millionaire. Ho informed Vincent that there was no doubt but that General Cl.ftou's body had been carried to the river and thrown in. At least his death was assumed as proven eatisfactoril '. "And, his heiress is his niece, Is she not?" asked Vincent, with assumed care- lessness. "Yes, I believe there is a will at the Clifton mansion I clr»w out to that effect. " "Have you seen Miss Clifton since her uncle's death?" "No, as I have been out of the citv until ye; terday. I shall call upon her soon, on a visit of condolence and business com- bined. " "Then you know her personally?" "No; only from what General Clifton told me, and from the portrait of her which he showed me. " Vincent started. "Then he showed you her protrait?" ^Yea." "And yon remember how she looks?" "reifeotiy, for it was a splendid picture, and she has a lovely face; it is dilhcult to 60 '^i forg«t,onoeha»iujf viewed it or it* counter- feit ureaentment. " When Viuoem left the lawyer's office a few minntes later he was absorbed S the profonndest thought. nio^n'Si'*'' *°i*? "'''» ™^d he formed a plan fo. immediate action. ™n^L#"°*K*'^ ^^ possible that Viola Dale 18 not Ethel ChftoQ whose ideniitv she has stolen, " he murmmed. """"'"y «no »,.7' J *"hf }^^ '"^y*" 'Jiere to-morrow "Cortainlj it must demand what she ^rZ»f '^*' ^''"^""8 ^'^«' Olifton. and hergniltmherd.sopp aranoe and ey dent connection with the Ciifton mmder :Jill make a se.ious case against her. «„7i l*?"^ 't* *'««^'' ""ai-ae to pursue and I believe by doing so I can bre.k &«*n^'' r"^^""-' bolSness-perhaJs bC iiX ^^u^^I '^u"' * oo«'«88ioa from her iips of a 1 the truth. MANACLE AND BRACELET. do^''**' ^^^ Jioasemaid, appeared at the inquirecl r'^»ri°!J?i'^« "»»''««"'»' as the fort- A li«.;re-?ha? o'f Vi.u n.. . Is Miss Clifton at home?" Vincent, ma false tone of voice, andhtr"*,^**^ ^^*" ^'"» se^O'ttl time., uml tonlr ' '"'*'^' 'e-^ember his na^ But evidently she did not trace in th« quiet professional-looking caller any re semblunoe to the liKht-sptrited. imSo,^ Vincent Morton sbb had known. '"'"""°'" hi^Ynto"rs;sr"« manS 4n1 wa"nothl°™ ""'' ""'^"^^^ thatViicent saSri':""" '' '" '•'^ conservatory. ,i,.- I wUl see her there." said Vincent. . , •" ^" "ncwiBo ior vibja is thi main actor in the afltair so far as the fort une IS concerned. guise?"^^ ^** *** *^® mansion, but in what "I have it," and Vincent drew a card from his pocket which he had^relesslv picked up on the lawyer's tal.le. ""^^'^^^'^ «„Jr^''\'^ X* '^^"'^"^ the family lawyer a iztutu^x thistr-^'^ "^'^^ ti Jt'o tlTj mansTon" " "'""^ °* ^''°'^'^<'- "I will secure au interview with her and allow circumstances to shape my course of action after I hilt. " "^j i-ourse or Vincent hurried away to the portion of io^.eT """''' *^' '^"^""' man'^.iorwas Toi taring memories of the past assailed his mnid as he at last viewed the lonely house that had beea the scene of so much mystery and sorrow during the past few He repressed his emotions, however and rang he door-bell with a de erm naHon to Viola Dale— stood _._ „.„„,. „„„c.u HI, me ttiought of the vile inip stor who had assumed the nlaea of h,s darl UK EthH.and had robbed her of strokT- ^"'"'^'^ ""** J^PP'-^'-'^at onefeli tn^i!!i^^ '''*'' ^ "^^^ ^'^ angnished heart to loy composure in the coming battte of a A figure— that of among the flowers. belt ?um. ''!'r^ courteously, but his hear* vn^ti ''°"^'y "^ ^8 cast one quick, da- tifulfai'' ■•''"' t^atbewilderinllybeau- At last he confronted the hearH«B. Bchem^r who held humxn iffe so light? H« {• own seiflLh designs so tenacious y He shuddered as he seemed to read be hind the mask of that calm, subdued face the cunnins and cruelty of k demon ' You are from the office of my uncle's family lawyer, the card told me.^' spokl Vioia, in a silvery tone of voice. ^ Vincents emotions at the meeting were as yet too poig, ant for him to truf t h « voice, and he al.owed his host.ss to tak! his HI enoe for assent. ""i^ss to uke 8ai''';ilS,5?:^"^y*°'»-"'"'»c-by.and "Be seated. " She occup- d a so • at the other side of HirS-bS i? :^7b.^;jK the L&ti ^ ^ -' • ^"^e ^^^^l^e of him in.iuirL,- -aii^'*"*""!*^*"* *•■* ^^ai^o. Miss Clifton " said Vincent, as calmly as he could at be Btowing he beiove' name of his fiance; upon the impostor before him, "that by the will of the JateOenerol OUftonrToa a» ma^^e the sole heiress to all h.s weaC?"*** -^=6 imsc c»isi»nt Ufted « biaok-fttnged aid, appeared at the conservatory, air,' '^iola Dale— stood •m near by, aud handkerchief to her eyes in aflfected ffrief and murmured, brokenly: "My uncle told me so the night of his tlOftlu* "That will, I presume, is here In the bouse. Mr. Harvey, who drew up the document, will be here iu a day or two to go over the papers with you. Gener.il Clif- ton 8 affairs are, he says, in a very satisfrtc- tory condition, and the closing up of the estate will be attended with compaiaHvely litUe trouble or delay, as he owed no debts » There WAS a glow of satisfied delight in the face half- hidden behind the handker- chief. "Mr. Harvey, the lawyer, is very atixioui to see you, as he expressed himself when I left the office. He was a warm friend of Geneinl Clifton, and therafore feels a deep interest in you. He has cherished your face since he last saw it deeply. " Th' woman started violently. Evidently Vincent's words conveyed a new phn83 iu the case she did not know of—a new peril to the success of her plots which alarmed her. "My face?" she repeated, vaguelv. "Then be remembers me " "Perfect y well, from the picture Gen- eral Clifton showed him iu the library— the portrait that was sent of yon to vour uncle from Europe." "^ A concerned frown darker i Viola Dales lair brow, but it seemod v . ar away as Mhe thought out rapidly a p'on for over- coming the newdaijgerof which she had been warned. "How long will it be before all this wearisome busiuess of settling up the es- •«e w>'l be conoludedV" asked Viola, softly "Several monthi." Shu started with a little cry of dismay. "So long as that?" she murmured. "Yes, but practi-Uy much sooner. There ift a certain routine to be gone through ' ;]What, for instance?" i "The expiration of a reasonable Jength <.^™® 'or other claimants to appear. ' , Oh! there can be no other claim ints." Then the proving of the will— but that need not trouble vou. The main point will be in establishing vour identity " "My identity! Wby, am I not Ethel Clif. ton .' Does any one dispute that?" "Yes. Miss Clifton, it is already dis- puted. ■' The womaa had arisen to her feet a glowing, dangerous li ^ht iu her eyes ' "Who dares that? ' she cried. . Vincent, calmly; "but one point will be . fltrongly iusistad on. ' *And that is " MANACLE And bracelet. 61 "The certain and comjplete establishfaent of your identity." "It wiU not be difficult. ' 'It may cause delav. " ''Why? ' ''Because the proofs nre not at hand." But my letters and papers I brought from abroad, my arrival here, aud receptron by my uncle. " *^ ^I^T'J"'"' '^a^'Jwriting correspondii.^ with that in your letters to your nncle General Clifton, would practically settle tne point. The woman again started. She saw thit she was sailing in deep wateri-that, clever as her plans had been. ther« were many weak points in their con- struction. It was Vincen.- purpose to confuse and alarm her, and he felt that he was succeed- ms admirably. "Again," he resumed, "Mr. Harvey's rec- ognition of yourself from the portrait would be som thing. " The woman had resumed her seat, and face^ ^''^ "^ ^"^^* *'°°® °^ P"''°' "* ^®' ''Then again, we can write to Europe and verify th J matter before the estate is settled. ,yj"l'» Dale's hands worked nervously. Must all this trouble be gone to?" she demanded, in a husky tone of voice. «D !• "'*'' ""• '* your claim is dispiited." tint Mane, the housemaid here, can prove my identity. " "She never knew you previous to your arrival here. The law assumes nothing but direct proof. " "Is not that dirert proof?" "No; but your recognition by your un- t.'o^!^®'"' <^""«'^' ""fo^ld toe evidence." But he IS dead, " "Yes, or that of another person who has also disappeared. - *^ " """ I "You mean " "Mr. Morton." Viola Dale recoiled vith a low nttriranoe of dismay. "Yon ir >au the flinrdei-er of myfiic;-'" (■he asked. "Vincent Morton, yes. " "The original of this phoiograph," mur- mured Viola, indicating a portrait in a little go d fraobe on the tatjlo between them. "Now, he couid identify you," said Vin- cent. "But tie has disappeared." "He may be found "3"*'*? *>'« recognition would settle tbn matter. ■ — "1 think not, madam." Vincent spoke sharply. He believed the moment had come to '-'J „"jl ' I ' and unmask her in all cbauge in her visitor f^ wnsh this womno, her wif \odness. She acted tlu, manner instantly "whafi**® photograph on the (a Ve. W^ueTy ° ■^''" '"'''" «"■'"' '-'^^ i '' '-nded, Mn))^'*''' ^ !'"-^- -f 'li' "ot think Viapeni Morton would reoog.i.e you ub Ethel OW-' "Wcnid not recoguiiio me?" reneatpH V^oK maH.>t.,ini.gan%ir of oeFendTsS 'No, ma.iiim. " _;And why not, may I ask?" "Whc "? ^« doe'' ^ot know you." ,. Whf,.: i!o«s this .»<„ aiean?" Cl;£ *^r^ii"'*^ ''^'^ y«» >»" '^ot Ethel "^'^ii, ; ou as8u'[!?"''^^''<'"''«>o". With Hurvev Tal "iSnttteef "' ''P'"^^" ^'^'^ -°'^- ^-^ She arose slowly to her fAnf o.,^ fronted him boldly *"'* ''°'*- 8imply'""«'"'^''^*'"'''l'''='"^e."he8aid, The woman uttered a startled cry Impossible."' Hhe gasped forth ^' ^I am Vincent Morton " "BehoT?!''^"'''^'''''°°°'"«^»««-" He tore Bis di8;.uise from his face »nd then the nhn^nn^.^vT' „^.u"®''/?a'«''es. MANACLE AND BR A ok LET. Jnd^^hln th; photograXnTh^ b'j^ whilptirg"!^- ^'^ ""™"-*^. >' « low. i !^^r;r:'^:rs^-''- '»-"'•' •^-things ■''ielof;di,>dwe]luronfl.r''°' "' '^°°"'' "MacJnm " „.!^ 1 U ""^ '"® name. see .hlftTkuoTa'n. '^"''*'''^'- '^^^"P*'^' >«« "Alas, yi a. " fac^^sshen^^i^i^^^^^^'^' her dark -8h;.rL '^,r;i;'«^ -« *° <*«>?" «•»« su?miSttswir«"""'^«°'-*- Bbf mS'ha"nic:iryX'?u'rn!J^ ^"«^'^«-' on ii. r finger. ^ burning a large rm« dem,Kir'''''''^«'""Ih'^v« «"d?"he "i'o^ all. " tnltt?"' '"^ """^^^^ '^"t I have related the yon\Tl'l,^T'''-^°''°''^ d« What command. ■ ''°' ™''«' y""' ««8htest newi;tSerprm«ti^"''^J^"8« "' ">« starS^nkseTylt V^i^fa ilr"^' ^-'o" sa^hti'^^^sa^^^^^ himseKld'^hen' tS "^^-^'^'^ *°-»»- sheSa2;teleer''' '^^''^^^^^'y- «« «he'c?fed.™^HVi's'mv*n^^^'*'"P«fi«'l !'*">." Vincent." .heZvlirT°fT- J^'^""*' ideal cf all my loSs 'fh '"'^""y* '*»« have ever seen whom I co„w1 °°!. '""^ ' ly, passionately. rheforC^ ^°? devoted- wonld abandon for m?.t^'/'*'''°"' «« I from this man He°s ^r'f ?* **«*"'«»» «>y fate, he shall, be' mu7lov':'£e^u^I f, be my onlv ta'ik n^™ i!; , ™e' " shall She touoh^da belUs ^h""''" ^™ ^° ««• " Mariea,ne,?.ed ' ''"'P''''®- '*n„",'{f*^«' "' ^l'^ saw the on the floor. irciork!"Hhe cried, in sur- Thehc insensibli "The J', Lr - ^ ;t the lawyer's clerk. Marie. •eut Morton?" she cried. '! ennble?" another ro..-^^' He ml^ b« T^ '''™ *» andacfo.^. -i.oderTiS^'^'P' ^'""^^^ "A «. >r. u," she ^repeated, iu a )ne of voice, as thou''h upou the name. ° Viacent, abruptly, "you :^st vaguely suspioious mnod f\n;iner. ii near to bin own, and '- "ame o¥or her dark d bxux. wish me to do?" she ; bar attitude of entire that, as if in agitation, pt turning a large ring all I have said?" be that I have related the ent Morton; do what resist your slightest MANACLE AND BRACELET. 63 "Until he learns to love me, " she mur- mured passionately to herself. And bearing tbe insenHible form o; Vin- cent Morton between them, the housemaid, Marie, and Viola Dale left the apartment CHAFfEll XXVL AT BAY. When Langdon the dateetive leaped over the edge of the yacht, he had a definite purpose in view. ECe had overheard all that had been said in the cabin by Tulcott and Ethel Clifton, and had witnessed the denouement to an interview in which the spirited girl had completely baffled her captors. When she tore the package of papers from Talcott's hands and flung them into the waters of the lake, the detective knew that they must be importance. They undoubtedly held all the mystery of the secret that bad blighted General Clifton's lonely life. Their possession to Talcott meant a con- tinuance of his reign of terror over the girl whom he held a captive. To the detective they signified the final unraveling of a tangled skein of intrigiie and mystery, wnich was the clew to the motive of all Talcott's manifold crimes. Therefore, Langdon had not hesitated to boldly spring into the water in an e..deavor to secure the papers. He saw them floating on the waves, the rapid, onward progress of the yacht leav- ing them fast behind. He did not doubt his ability to secure them, but he wished to do so without Talcott being aware of the fact He was an expert swimmer, and he gained the place where the papers were floating in a moment's time. Talcott and Alstyne had reached the deck by this time. They were shouting wildly to Bartley to stop the boat Alstyne had rushed to the stern and vas letting down the yawl. Langdon knew they were observing him, and he execated a strategic movement to deceive them. He pretended not to see the papers, and, striking out with his hand, seemed to drive them unwittingly under the surface of the lake. At the same momtr^t he feigned to floun- der in the water, and disappeared from view, "The darkey is drowning, ' shouted Tal- cott "Quick, get out the boat" The pretended negro, however, never possessed clearer wits. He bad seized tbe packet of papers se- oorely in his haad : he went down. the He remoinotl long enough under water to thrust them in a safe pocket Then ho arose to the surface, puffing and floundering. The yawl hud been put ott", and Talcott and Alstyu" were rowing it rapidlv to the spot where he was. They really believed he would have drowned but for their timely assistance, for l-nugdon feigued the utmost distress and terror. They dragged him into the boat and Talcott asked: "What did you jump overboard for?" "I saw something thrown overboard. sab. "From the cabin?" "Yes, sab." "A package of papers— where is it now?" Langdon scanned tbe water with appar- ent careful scrutiny. "Don't see it now, sab. " He wiped the water from his face with his hands, while Talcott anxiously glanced about them. "The papers are nowhere in sight" he said to Alstyne. "Sunk, probably." "Confusion! That girl has ruined all." "How so?" "The papers through which I held • dread Influence over General Clifton are lost. " "But be is dead." "Still they would be a menace against this girl. " ■'They are gone now. " "There is no use seeking further for them?" "Not the least that I can see." "Then let us return to tbe boat" Langdon imagined that be saw Alstyne start suspiciously as his eyes fell upon him. He stared blankly at the detective, and seemed to be perplexed and startled. When they reached the yacht he be- stowed a second peculiar look at the de- tective. Then Langdon saw him whisper qniokly to TalcoK and point to tbe pretended negro. Talcott stared at Langdon, and uttered an ejaculation of surprise. "I wonder whit's up? ' murmured Lang- don, vaguely concerned. He started to leave that part of the yacht. 'Hold on there." Alstyne Spoke peremptorily, and ad- vanced toward Langdon. The latter panged abruptlv. "What is it, sah?'he asked. Alstyne took out a hnndkerchief. " Your f ace i 8 covered with water, "he said. Oh, yes, sab, de swim in de lake." M . "Here, wipe it oflF," .nd*wglW«l«J.' '"■'"'''"" handkerchief At'l^Al^ *"^ ^'■*'''* '"•"f" AlBtvne'B lips At the same moment Tiilcott drew n « Tolvernudsprau^, forward. ^*'* " '^■ Another spy," ho ejacnlatort foiciblv cnS*^*"" »'«» '""k irtr?aLd"f/'r.*" bru.hiDg off the water had the boat "'""'"^ "^'^'y^^'^ ""H^rise in had trnDleSl'",? "? "^ **"« handkerchief UndmS tidfv I " '''■""^•' t'ansforumtion Lis true iS3y*^' '"'''' ^'^^^'^ '-^'^'^d *» ^.JLangdon the deteotive!" cried Aletyne, atthrrpJ^TS'^^'^^'^''^^"-'^'^ T Jn'„^^® 'iu''®/ °' ^'^ "'"8t cruel enemies Langdou the detective stood at bay ' MANACLE AND BRACELET. ^_^^And yon intended to arrest us in the "Certainly. " with the CHAPTEIi XXVII I-ANODON's PEKIL lesseuem.es Talcott and Alstyn . ' the£er2?S""^'''^'*^"'--"«P0J^e el»«if^'®^ ^^"^ f ^P' foiyraid Ht the first rev Hf l,***^ detective's identitv. '""'^^- TaW* . ^^""' ^°'« enough." muttered o^Sace^""^ "--hingiyLto hls";riB' ''^ow did you come here?" Alstyne propounded the ouery sternlv Langdon laughed carelessly ^ "" •^' eooJr '"^'^""^ ^«"' " «ee.^s."hereplied "J did not hire a spy. " stancwj? °°' * ^Py-" '«P««d Langdon. "What then?" 2 A detective." • "vr'^ the same thing " one/°' '"' "'y *"'«*°«" *» a legitimate "Tracing us down?" -tiacijy. " mi Siime lin- of tacticV. N(,tatall.' Als-vnp „ •^^" ordered, briefly. of safety. ''°' leaving in a pkoe and h?L!:r,.a°;;iJrt'"''* °! ^""'' ^Wtou. to produce uT^uVh^n 'eVecf ' i? '^h'"*'"^'^ the lilnn V of ih riE"'* ^'^^'^ ^»'« in T,.i,«*.' tjiirton mansion tered.^"'K Beo'^f'r''r''*'^': '^'^ ^^'• andmy watclandchain'"'^'' *^^ ''""«'»* remXdTaJ;:-d*or'' ""''"'• ^-" f-'." «£ffiouij\^a:jeveal the .. himLw^S^Llntl'on""''"^^ """^ "'^'^'--<» ;:S;u in onr power yon e rotaiiftte with the (I aroused Alstyne'g nesH, but TalcotfB e and hate, ered, lirfefly. Bute the order. Brned, but he could e from his pock- ;nd a package he leaviijg ,n a pluoe of Ethel Clifton, is to h ive it handy effect, if tho op- hnd produced by ed Viola Dale iii mansion. with Katisfaction zed the picture. )verod," h<^ mnt. ,has the briUinnt »ce, never fear." o reveal the ar- led. I' and addressed tlast." _your career of Jnl'omikejoa." for your life." on one rondi- brillifint I lost mansion. " s known to the 'e in this case • ■ ■■iiiiuu ior- isaud dollaria." MANACLE AND BRACELET. 66 "Do you agree?" demanded Talcott, eag- •rljr, '■^No. " ■^Why not?" "Bewiuse you would never pay the money you promiHe. " "I guarantee it. " "You will never get the Clifton fortune to divide. " So cool and confident was Langdon's de- meanor thit Talcott uttered an enraged ejaculation. "We will get it. and very soon," he said. "Furtheimoie, if yoa kill me my deilh will be Qveuged. " "By whomi-" "That is my secret. Horvey Talcott, you are alteady entangled in the mushi^s of a fatal net of you:- own weavi)ig. The fates areagiinslyon. My death is a tritimg element in this case, for your doom is cer- tam. " His sanguine tones caused Talcott to turn pale. "We will trifle with him no longer," cried I Talcott, hoarsely. "What do intend to do with him,' Alstyne. "Send him overboard." "Now?" "Yes, at once." Talcott proceeded to the stem of boat a' id returned with several ropes. These he tied around La gdon's wrists and ankles, while Alstyne and Hartley held him. They then liiid their captive on the deck. "Is there a tarpaulin in the hold? ' Tal- cott asked of Hartley, when he had completed bis task. "Yes." "Go and get it." "What do you propose to do with it?" inquired Alstyue, curiously. "Prevent Laugdon from troubling us again. ' Alstyne and B irtler w«nt to a hatchway and disappeared in the hold. They were gone BO long that Talcott grew impatieni He went after them and stood with his back to their ctptive looking down into the hold. The ou.look for Langdon was porten- tous. The^r V med to be no possible escape from tn. rate with which his enemies now menaced him. Suddenly he started. From where he lay he could not only see L&ngdon but nlsn command a vlsw of *b= cabin. kf^r a appearing at its open doorway Buddei T attracted his attsntion. asked the It was Ethel Clifton. Hei face was pale, her eyes startled, but a latent intelligence and terror in her beau- tiful face told that she had witnessed the scene that had just taken place on the deck of the yacht. Her linger to hor lips to enjoin silence, she moved so stealthily toward the pros- trate detective that he knew she compre- hended the imjjortance of strategic and decisive action. In hor hand she bore a gleaming knife, half CO icualed in the foMs of her dress, and evidently found in the cabin. Her face fixed on Langdon, whose atten- tion was diverted to the occupants of the hold of the yacht, she glided to the side of the detective. Her trembling hands placed the keen- edged bladi; across the ropes which se- cured Laiigdon's wrists, and severed the tight strands deftly. Then, thrusting the knife into his bosom, she stole back to the cabin. So effective and cautions h: d been the maneuver thit the grateful iooi jn the de- tective's face was mingled with an expres- sion of admiration for her oonrapp iv;\st Witj, *k same determin»tiV..i .i.„(. L ""'' tl»9 and at once. " "^®"' *^r me In detail she informer] uir.V f u ''ishes and the intelligei. a^d i ft ^^ sleeping Vincent, '"^'y- ™P"y on the «kJd ° '"'' '^' "'^^«'' Marie?" the woman ies. • "And approached the subject cutiously?" "Did ho gen I : '""'«'* l»«m to talk.' morninKV^' ^ " '"esseuRer bore thin on iis" o'wn re'pirililifJl''" ^""!^ ^-« nothing to fear'^fm „ fts L; ""i^. , ^^^^^ J-|n,?e What other matt^S'll-ntrSttd'^to" "Ah you ordered." duringVetenfrg.^"^'" '=^"'°8 '««tauoe "^^en he wakes?" onrp^nr-"^'^'''"'''^^^ ^ carry ou^ It was late in the ovenina whfin vi..» . Morton retnrned to ooasolLZ^Z """ ' tion.' X"S *m'r^' ri'' "'^ ->»- imagine wherX Z ' ^^ ""'"'^ »°* lighf'iA ?he"iib;„v^'r' parted and rh. , foln. of"a S^oman'TeiinrintVr^" " ' ment, he recognized 3 m e Th-^- ) sode of the morning i.u i ,„ ^r^ ®P'- j-atedintothe^rb^ri^.°'3ftoT;:, -e ?/tnsibilitrwrerrtrP'r«'^ *° '"^ record for intriguIamT n ?^ ''* ^u"'" P*«* Rternly. ""^'K"e and crime," he said. woJJ:. He'^r.cer'w/zrr^'' ^*« '^"•t asshesaidin'hrs'jfrsrtolT^'^^^^'^-*' ^V. what way?" he demanded" I wisheTrr;if:o"u'^~-% -gry. , i-ashly invoivinrm« 4 * \?.™ ^"^^^' from only Lpe^i;i^?:^e^.££-^!o'^ would lcen?^X2?y.'^^^:a-:;''''««'«r-- "They must" is'^nTof "°Cks7o'tt'* "''^•^'"' « robbed me of Etho] ni,!**^ *'"'"« which diamonds Csled fro„ I?' ^""^ »' «»e Harvey Talcot. It io'?ed^wTth''r'"&"''«> of the murdered General oTin '''® T<^ « I have sworn to hunt do^i'^1'?''' «"<* J^^ Our interests! mSL 7h«i"' ^""^^^ «eparated-underTh« hT; ^*^^„"« '^''ely you, too, must come" ffvn^' It^ vungei^o^ Talcottto escape" ^ " shield and aid He had impulslrely d»im from his o. ind led hira to talk " a messeuRer here thin seon Vincent Morton?" irthemoie believes that r uoneral Clifton " It Morton oame' here ibility. th n. an. I T have ';■ "UtsiderH. Did you matters I intrusted to within calling diatanoe e trouble to carry ou 'vening when Vincent "onsoiousnoss. lizzy, confused sensa. omenta he could not 18. •tarns parted and he i' beyond framed ' •■ - 3nng into the apu VioLiDaJe. The em . : I'ocun id to his mind '«i'.y. indignant flush the bold schemer re- ary and he followed you employed to rob I worthy of your past ad cnme." he said. resented his harsh ere 'most pleading >8t tunes: "' aRood.Mr. Morton " redulously. emanded. mreasouably angry u fi^om arrest, from rouble which would I interests. " 'te!" repeated Vin- ■dam, your interesta oe aught but antag- that, madam? It the crime which "on. One of the your accomplice. \ r^'i^ the fclood I Clifton, and ! r Iowa his assassin. • they are widely ! nf my vongei.u^ 'OU shield and aid ^nim from his MANACLE AND BRACELET. 67 l^ooket one of the dliinionds of tho Rroup stolen from tht! (Mifton nmtiHion thu ni>;ht of llu) miinlcr, wliieh hud come into hiH poHsus-loii from Lau^don, when they es- capeil from liaruet's (len. V inoont Morton extonded the jewel be- tween his ttn^eiH as he spoko, rigo and in- (liunution in his face. "I have notliing to do with General Clifton's rnnrder, or with I[Bi\ey TalcottH diunioud, " -^ lid Viola, calmly, as she re- garded him .without paling at his words; "but again I say our interests must be mutual. " The woman's impressive uia ;uer startled Vincent, and he stared strangely at her ominous face. "Listen to me," she Huid earnestly. "Had I never seen your face, and your fati^ aw my enemy was in my hands, I would have carelessly seen you sacrificed to Harvey Talcott's plots. I have seen you, and my motives are changed. In one sentence I can explain why I Keek to benefit you, why our interests are mutual. I love you." She spoke calmly, slowly, but the latent •motion in her face showed her earnest- ness ;ind fervency. In utter amazement and incredulity Vin- cent Morton stood regarding her. Was this same new p'ot? No. Utter sin- c ty waH in the woman's tone and man- he thought of Ethel Clifton, whom this soman's hatred and thiit of her evil associates had doomed to persecution nnd sorrow, he was about to repel with Kcorn and contempt her hnmb!e avowal. A quick thought drove him to silence. Through this new phase iu her motives, might he not hope to yet f^ain bis desires, and punish her and her accomplices? ilepugnance, abhorrence in his heart, he wore a mask of feigned surprise only at her bold declaration. She mistook his manner for interest. Her pulses quickened as she held a chair for him. ■Be seated, I beg of you, and listen to whnt I have to say." He obeyed he'r with a glance at the open windows looking out into the garden. Viola Dale's confidence in her powers of persuasion and in her security was such that she thus left open an avenue of escape to his advantage. "Call me unwomanly, Kpnrn me, scorn me, if you will, but b.jlieve me," pursued Viola, rapidly, and with rising excitement. 'I love you, and you are the first man I ever loved. Knowing that, you know all. You will say you cannot return my love, that your heart is bound to another. Ah! let me show you what I wiM sacrifice for , your d a' sake, and you will forgot Elhel I Clifton; you will cherish me. " j An involuntary shudder imssod over \ ia- I cent H frame at her words containing s I HUHiiicion of disloyally to the beautiful in- [ nocont oieiinro he loved so devotedly. I "Voii ae mad." he cried, "f uin the ullianced tiu-baiid of Ktliel Clifton." "And yet. if you refuse me, you will never wed her. l)o not shrink from me because I say Ibis. I did not abduct her. I did no! murder hor uncle, but those vho did dir^ ct nie, and 1 have beeu a will.na instrument iu their hands. At your will, I can defeat their plots. Lovo me, wed mo, and I do so. " "And, if not?" "You will never see Ethel Clifton again, and you will die upon the scattbld for the murder of General Clifton." "I am innocent." "C rcumstances are against you." "1 1 an overcome them. I can leave here now — " "No, you cimnot." '|Wh() will prevent me?" "The police. I have arranged all that; you sha 1 not leave here. I have given orders to have the house watched, and any person answering your description at)pre- hended." Vincent started at the woman's cool pre- vision. II And yet you pretend to love me." "Enough to wish you to refrain from placing yourself in danger. It is useless to conceal the real facts of the case Without my iiid, the tangled skeins of the Chftjii mystery can never be straightened out. Abandon all thoughts of Ethel Clif- ton, wed me, . 'I Mvoar to betray those I have plotted I , and sMure her liberty." ■^You will do this? y.,-, ^r.vear it?" "I do. Refuse, Mx.i I remain quiescent and defy you, aira yA will I triumph. The confederation of crime you battle is too formidable for your weak defense or thiit of the police." Vincent had turned very pale. He re- alized that the woman spoke the truth. "Your love, or Ethel Clifton's life, which is It? bveathed Viola, intensely. 'You can save her?" 'Yes. .Agree to make lue your wife, and she shall be restored to liberty." "And you will abandon the Clifton fortune?" " Yes. " "And aid me In the arrest of the murder- ers of General Oliftoa?" "1 swear it." An awful genie of horror settled orer Vincent's mind. Here was the sacrifice, bat it would n- ^ MANACLE AND KRACELET, H«vinK the life of the Tvomon he vl K'lil •OK in te»ed. ml"^„s?J.'*' ^^*'' '"'''•'>'°J.' '»« ^-'^ eagerly. ansSl!'"^'" "*'" «"«*'• '"ninltnouHly. "Your '•Viola D.,Ie,' he said. "I uwee I will wed you-you Bh:.ll hooon.e my wife J'^ ^•HAP'I'EK XXIX. pored for a lonj? swim to the shore Closing the window after him i,^ # «-e.f in the .old Of lfe"„ffe'rV,? S'lSj , It was evidenlly the same portion of th^ iiw/into the water *' '"'"PP^'^ ^^l lie then wmit t?,^,hi\ . u''® HpwikerN. «h'»t .t wan Xe ' hn??"','*^^' ""d found ««^tr5Sl?J;^-,-e down he --o'i"th;fyl:L!;^«^,-"''(«ee that the part of tho boat "' '•"« ^O'^a'd to conceal h^nlsK.nortbem'''''"'^''^'^ Nono (00 soon, howeve''r fnr t„i *. . A.Ht,ne ,iust then ca.eVJthlt'p^.rS ^ It> settled then?" he heard Alstyne say. doc!firf>"'^^'"*'"''«°Jd building on the " f'^x.iotl^. " " That is where Gen'^ral ruft^ • 1 . was taken? " "^i* ™ <- nfton s body "Yes, " replied Talcott "Wo rum main there, however T„.^ v'""'"' there and take thJ L,i It"^ ^^^ ya^ht building " ^ »"' *'''°°«b the old "And then?" ;■ You go and get a carriage. " „ Where will you take the giriv" ■■iri'St'^.^"'"'-^-P'- of refuge." at nn'o7d"wa" '"^' *^^ "'''^' ^- -oored ponlis''a'L.'"P'^ ^■"^^''' '«--' "'nidly „.i«L^„":^P?*'«^"l'^enaced her intosnb. i-g^^r^rin^:rnrtt^„r«^.^^^^^^^ MANACLE AND HRACKLKT. 69 )nd wherotije onbin be. JF|ortnrc.„nd«H the yacht jir^n" ?*'"P'' "«•»"« J to Of voices, hut could not '"t'tv oMhe «p..,.kerH the hatchwfty.und found DMt uol fiiBtflneddown J" *""""' "to and unde- t'WirM,. forhimtopur- flually thitt it wonUf be iH r-roHent pl.»c« of con- ihtun, crept to a dark i»uu reinmiied securely iidows he could HOC that lUR the city. ' night came down he If hiitchwny lehecou!,! see that the ?re all at the forward " b."t"hway cautiously fill It again. ■'' the yacht were seveml ropes, and Im hastened iiionjj them. ^vever, for Talcott and lie to that part of the en-ral Clifton's body Then he atepped Mbore and disnppeared in nn arched roadway which seoincifto load to the public thoronghfaie beyond. The deUotive wua not mIow in following them. While Bttrtley was busy at the cabin he stole avboro. Ho entirod the arched roailway into which, hero and thoro, windows looked from tho structure built around it He oould see Taloott and the girl a few fpet ahead. Suddenly, when near the street end of tho roadway a wild shriek rang out on the still air of the place. Ethel Clifton hal uttered it. at the same time recoiling from Taloott with every in- dication of tenor and alarm. "What is It?" demanded the latter, ama/edly. ■That' face," "What fact)?" Ethel Clifton pointed to a window in the wa.'l "I saw it there at that window, distinctly. •» "A face?" "YeH, yes, I cannot be mistaken. It was " Hhe paused impruNsively. "Who?" "My murdered uncle, General Clifton!" With a cry of superstitiouB terror Taloott seized her arm and hurried hex from the archwa.v. Langdon, lurking in the shud iw, was in- tensely startled as he remembered that Tal- oott had said that this was the place wheie General Clifton's body had been removed. A carriiige was in waiting at the c urb, Alstyne sat on the box with the driver. Talcott opened the door and helped Ethel ( lif ton in. Langdon had ventured near enough (o witness and hear nil Hint was said. He was also prep to pursue the car- nage when it start . .ay. "What was that cryi-"' ho heard Alstyne 'The girl. " "Was she frightened?" "Yes; she imngined she sav/ hor uncle's face at one of the windows. " "Impossible!" "Wait a minute; the place cai not be oc- cupied. I'm going to look again. " Talcott went again into the arched road- way, and glanced at several of tho windows. Anything there?" inquired Alstyne. as he returned. 'Of course not It waa all the girl's fancy. He wsn. to step into th« carriage, when ne star >d baok with a dismayed ery. The opposite door of the vehicle had been silently opened while bis attenUoa was divertod. r.P^,,!*/'"®' occupant of the o)»rriage, hthel Clifton, waa nowhere vixible. "Whati- it.'" iniiuiri'd Alstyue. "The girl is gone!" wa.s the startling n- ply which Harvey Taloott ga.sped forth wildly. CHAPTER XXX. ETHjx'8 njuira Langdon, the deteotivo, was intenaely Btirtl d at (ho mystfrious phagii the oaae had aHHum d. The escape of Ethel Clifton meant dis- aster to all of Hai vey Taicott's plans; boi It also brought about unforeseen oompiioa- tion-4 in his oun calculations. The girl h id certainly evaded her oap- tor ats uht; while their attention was dis- tracted to iho o'd house by the river she had s.lently ond cleverly slipped from their foils. "Gone!" cried Talcott. glanoing wildly around in intense excitement and anxiety. It means disaster and ruin to our everr plan. " ' "Jump in." cried the driver. "I think I eawaform flit around the corner yonder." 'She cannot escape us," remarked Al- styne confidently. "Why not? • "B ciu.se. by driving rapidly to where this street crosses the main thoroughfare you in command a view of every avenue of exit from this district." "Thou let us h istuu— What is it?" Talc, tt asked the question as Alstyne uitereda startled cry and sprung to the ground. Th) building yonder!" be cried ex- oitedly. "Wiiat of it?" 'Eibei Clifton did see a face at the window. " "Nonsense!" "I lUst saw it myself. " ^'Whose face?" "The murdered millionaire, GeLeral Clif- ton. Don t wait for ine. I am determined to explore this mvhtery. " Alstyne dis.ippair.d down the broken stei s of a stairway leading into the base- ment of the place. Langdon saw Talcott spring into the oar- riogo and give a quick order to the driver, The vehicle turned and started at a rapid rale down the street. In a flash the deteotive bad darted from his place of covert and caught at the rear axle of the cab. Xlioio ho clung iouaoioasiy, iiftiag hioi- self so that he could look through th« UttU window at the rear of the vehiole. m 70 ni Taloott had both windows down and was 4"fe'''' ""^'^'^ " '^ °f sntiBfaction '•w?*?P' ^'°P' " ^« <'»"ed to the driver nSawa'r wfw^f Thohorse/arri^n: uiiiK away. We wil] miss the mrl I inaf «aw her dart down the eouit yomlor." ^°'' ♦V, 1 /']^®'"^'"^ abandoned his seat and ^e loaded end of the whip reversed in his ^and^was creeping bac/over the tojof Ere Langdon suspecled the maneuver it fell across his head, and he dropped to the ground stunned and motion'ess'^^ ped tL'hP'e^""'^^^ "^'^ ""««■ -^ ^^''P- "Aspy!" heosDluined to Talcott noinf- "Who is he?" I ri ''^/°?'* ^"°^- He fo;iowe.l us from the exciterlly Drive back to ih < last court and in f u 1 concurrence with the nlots of af ZZT- "'*^*^^^^^ *^^-^ -iRhf Ltd^d As they reached the court Talcott opened the carriage door and sprang out ^ Follo-v me with the cab," he added and dashed pr«cipitately down the lane He saw the form of a woman dimlv outlined in the distance ^'^ court and evidently saw him in nursnif tZl', f'^ ^ «'>• o' f^utic temr and his KlaiSr™""' "^""'* '^' ^^" '° ^™^« 8anin,-n^«''f "i!"^ ""'^'^''^^ ^"^^'^ the spot, sanguine of her recapture A little door in (he wall had evidently stood op.n as she reached it. She h d afSer'Z^' *'" gateway,' seSSred"^ arter Her and was now beyond doubt saffllv cc,ncealod out of his reLh in 'Se nell miutVr!'^^ ,was>igh and inaccessible. He made no delay m rearhing the front of the building It surrounded. ^ He saw that Ethel Clifton could readilv SeTa'nd V'"^ "* '''' '""'=« and garnZ mieet, and theorizing correctly that she had done so and had disappeared! was discom filed and discouraged. "'ucom- Hei-etleoted moodily for some time, and I MANACLE AND BRACELET. then gave a direction to the driver nf th^ vantage of th • momentary neglifreuoe of her custodians at the old buildinl'bv t^l Stealing from the oijnosite nirlo ,^p 4u . When in the coiiri she had seen Tni.^tf bie'l^hi^^l^^ti %ZkuTz': '^r "^-«^. lighted thoroughfare ^ '"'-'^''^ "P°° «» roundell h^' H"^ °°' ^"" •^^^ ^^^'nie.. Sur- ali^.l^d ''ii!^'''^^*""^*'''''^'' <'^*''l. «he little re- alized the power and wiclterlnftHa «# ^ foes, who could deftly bHnl' -nsT.e Lel'f to carry ont their daik and deadly plots I By const int inquiry and nffL „ i She recognized the house as she reached It. She entered the gate and half- wav t„ the steps paused abruptly " *° UwrilSSrer'""'^'^'^''^^"'''"^ She stole among th9 sbrabbci7 aud n to the driver of the 3ar the vicinity of the able than that Ethel n thither? An entire ty— she hnd no other lee Viola Dale and tell nspired; and, forgetfal • had left insensible in Igiug Laugdon dead, bis vaguely formed a! She had, indeed, MANACLE AND BRACELET. gained the side of the mansion. The library windows were open. A low cry of pain rent her lips as its in- tenor was revealed to her startled vision Two persons were seated there. The one was a .beautiful woman, whose dark magnetic glance rested lovingly on a com- panion. The other, pale and agitated, yet betray, ing no manifest aversion to the Piren bv his side, was the man to whom she h.ad plighted her troth in the far pust.und rthe smiling skies of Italy. At that moment a strange scene was reaching u denouement in the library. Vincent Morton had agreed to wed Viola Dale to save the life of the persecuted girl he adored. The womau had insisted oa his making the p)c'd.,'e before a witness, and she had summoned the housemaid, Marie. Thus the amazed and anguisliel Ethel Clifton Lad arrived fatally ia time to wit- ness the denouement of a scene which, mis- comprehending, struck a sudden deatiiblow to all her young heart's love. She saw \iola Dale lay a caressing hand on Vincent Morton's arm She saw the latter turn to Marie as she entered the library. Then, distinctly, clearly, he said: "Mss Dale has sent lor vou to tell you that she will leave the m insiou as mv wife tomorrow." "Oh! merciful heavens, he is false' In nil the wide world I have not me friend in my hour ol' dark despair." A moan of agony, a heart-breaking cry of blea; anguish, the words came brokoiilv from Ethel Clifton s muble lips. Then, her pure, inuoc.nt heart blighted and crushed, she sank to the dewy grass like a striekeu dove, umler the- calm stars' HO placidly, so cruelly gleaming amid the Hilence of the soft summer's night. 71 CHAPTER XXXI. UNMASKED. At that moment the crisis in all the mys- tery of the great Clifton tragedy had ar- rived. The hour of the unmasking of the fair P'wter, Viola Dale, hid apparently come The true heiress was, all unsuspected by ttie schemer, on the very threshold of the discoyery of all the dark plot to defraud her of a fortune. New elements and new motives were in pluy, however, of which neither the silent watcher at the window nor the scheming siren suspected the existence. At that very moment Ilarvev Talcott was uearing the grounds of the maiv-ion LangdoD, recovered jfrom the blow dealt him b.y the driver, was on his way to the same place, and Howard the detective was already within its precincts. Fate seemed to have to have led all these persons irresistibly to the scene of General Clifton 8 murder. With all the interested parties centered Here, was the long tragedy to end? Not vet i or only a moment had Ethel Clifton lain like a bruised, broken flower on the do\vy grass. Love seemed to have been dealt a cruel death blow, but pride and justice snddenlv aroused her to action. What could that scene in the library sis- nify but that Harvey Talcott' s claim of her lovers faithlessness was true. Vincent Morton was false, in collusion with the pretendod heiress to the Clifton millio.is, possibly aa accompliee iu the murder of her uncle. Thus reasoned the angui.shed girl, tor- tured with contending emotions, as her bruin m a dizzy whirl, her eyes bluired her ste.is unsteady, she staggered to her leet and reeled from the spot. Justice! Duty! The words echoing in her heart seemed to nerve her to action. Behind the false smile of Viola Dale lurked the assassin's frown; beneath the surface of a base imposture were dark plots perhaps, mvolving more lives than that ot her hrst victim Gener.il Clifton, "My uuc e's murderers shall be found and punished; let that be my task, now that I ain deserted by all; now that Vincent Morton is false !''*Tied Ethel, wildly, "Let the guilty tremble, be they whom they may. I will nc!, falter. Though the old love and jealousv drive me mad I will consfcrate my life to ferreting out v.uir enemies oh! my uncle " Thus spo\'e the beautiful girl, in a mo- ment transformed from a gtntle, shrinking creature to a cold, determined woman nerved to miyhty action by justice and duty. What recked sh.- that her heart was lac- erated and torn by the memories of a past dead love. What cared she that the mocking face of a rival drove her nearly mad. She was unloved, "her life's purposes broken, and a victim to a plot she deter, mined now fully to oppose, or dij the Nem- esis in a mission in which scheming souls must Buifer for their vile ini(iuitieB, "Stop, woman. Who are you?" On h:ir way to the entrance to the man- sion, past a group of lilacs, the form of a mail Ruddouly siirnng into view and blocked lier patii. She drew.back sightly alarmed, and then, 72 ^ 4i ■■ I'lifi :. •eeingthatit was neither Talcott nor Al sJeredT'""'* ^'' composure and an- thi7mZTo?^'' ^""''°' '^« "»i«''^«« ot She spoke boldly, clearly. Ane man seemed to regard her with pt treme incredulity and amazement "" Impossible?" ho ejaculated. thetrSh. ™® *° ^"''' '■'■ I *^ve spoken Something in her decided tones, in the I oin'^r^^'y "^'-"''^ "^ tor manner Z iw "^ru" P|:'*'»''y «'«'^d aside. ' ' But instantly he shook oflf his mystifica- "T m,?cf ^ • .^® *"'*• ^''""y- but firmly. I must question you farther." •'^ ^By what righi?" "As an officer of the law " A glad cry rose to Ethel Clifton's lips. eageWy."^*^"'^*"'^^' ^^"''^" «bo cried, "Yes, madam, my name is Howard In «f«^''»gt»»«°»">-derer of General "ff ton I wandered here to- nigh L I saw you sur repntious^y approach the windoW"^ yond/r I have the right to question you not t« gratify a private curiositr. but to exDedit^ justice in its workings' in this myXou^ Ethel Clifton had bocomo very pale. 1 he murderer of General Ciifton "she repeated. "Who is he?" ^"""n, sne "Vincent Morion." The fair you g girl utterod a sob of an- C ""'* '""^''^ unste.u.l, whe°e Z It was true then, .she had believed h^r lieved in Viun,. nt's iniioconce, even now Bh. would shidd him from arrest. ^ Uh, It cunnoi be!" she nioaued. t««f.Thi'f h' '""'*'"":.t'^« proofs are incon- testable. He ih now iu the library vondf^- and this time when I arrest h m\^e sha U 1S:SC;" ^"'^— 3-ousayyou^tl' .i^r*" "^.^"nured Ethel, brokenly. h« I.^^^" ? '^^ "°™'"i "ho cllims to be the heire>^8 to the Ciifton millions?" An impostor. " Ethel Clifton's eyes flashed wildly once T^i-^i 'i*^ "^""fl^t ^'^ 'be dark schemer who had stolen her ideutity. ^cnemor ^il'/ ^A T* "n''erHtiind-there is some P'otjiaderlyi,,g„i| tills case." Hm o Tt"*' ""'' "'^ ""'''« was its Urst vic- tim, and r, jost escaped from the hands of his assassin, the second. " "Explain yourself. " "Not here, not now. Follow ma i,,*.^ yonder house. Watch and listen pWle I MANACLE AND BRACELET. impos- IopIpIi yr*"* ^'7°'^^ 'be Vestibule was hebel'l wh'^'*1°^'"»« ''bout to r7^ ine bell, but Howard stopped her * hofeVZ*H^ * P'"^'°'"^ ''^"'y *»» tbe key. •• rf fa K M^""/ ""** °J'«»e.l it gently. , pereilSuVl? ^^'^ '^^ •^'--' '' ^« -^*- '|;^a.:SlXUeSdtr^Jr "bontfn "? ^^'^^'^""'^ °' deception*. *** dreitack' '^^^ ''^^^'^ '»"« »W both Thl\^f suddenly come into view. Ihe housemaid, hurrying toward fh« staircase, drew back with a shock *** Hrfi^r"!*"* ^l*" 'i^m With one hand and drew her toward him. The other crossed her lips and pieventt-d her outcrv ^ thJ^w^Z''''A«^''''" ^^ brmthed sfemlvto anH I"^''/"^ bousemaid. "Leave thi?halL H.f^,.':"*K^'TPu"" »*""• I summon vou» He drew back his coiitand exhibited hU badse of official authority. ^"'''"ea nis Not upon its glittering surface, howevep Th«^1 t^r-fied eyes of Marie fixed '' Ihey had wandered to tbe face of Ethel Cafton. Riveted there they never wan "The end has come! All is Inaf- u ,„ lu Ihen c;enching her handa d»,„ „ moned nil her courage for the ordt«l " h" had determined to face, and d awfi it ofTh7ro"ot^' ^'^"P"^ across th'eT^bi^ H,I^f1i ''■'"' .^.'^''"ble cry of mingled emo . With a face suddenly lighted ud with &^rdTai;;r ^-' ^-- ^'5 res1*d*on fl?]^ '?"?*'"* ^''°''* halo's eye. framed? ''''' '°™ ^''^ "^'^'^^ -^oo^wa; he face of the impoa- •wall." ^ I. Howard followed her nansion. I the vestibule waa nd was about to ring stopped her. ock deftly in the key- opened it gently, i no alarm." he whis- at the face of his revealed in the ms- but in the clear depths determined eyes bo >d or deception. nd the library, both come into view, prying toward the ith a shock, and amazement ria- er lip8. was checked ted its utterance and 1 the inmates of the with one hand and The other crossed her outcry. B breathed sternly to id. "Leave this hall, til I summon you. " t and exhibited his ity- ? surface, however if Marie fixed. ' 3 the face of Ethel they never wun- susemnid retreated detective had or- All is lost; it is the S|ied the stupefied rom (he spot. I about to faint aa tained doorway of hands, sho sum- or the ordeal she and, d awing the iroKS the threshold 7 of minpled emo- . Wild ejaculatioa lighted up with ncent Morton had Viola Dale's eyeg the dark doorwaj MANACLE AND BRACELET. xloi In a flash she recognized the the stolfu portrait. * " Inu m.iiiBut, too, tracing disaster to all li-r j.lans in ihis sudden and unexpected appearanc.>. she knew that sueedv and im- nu'diate action alone would avert' it. Vincent Morton in a monint forgot all his tern .lo sacrifice to the lealous love of Viola Dale. Here was his lost iove alive, restored to her ho.n.>, and apparently by some other ni'iin-i than the age cy of Vio'a i)ale. Purely he was absolved from his pledge to th .' (lark Hfheniir at his side. ^Vith (>ntfi#eiched arms, rapturous, eager hi toigot all save the crowning, tumultuous .loy ot the momeit, and would have spiane to.'ard Etha to fold her in a luvine em! brace. " He stood rooted to the spot, and then reeled back slight ly as two rapid occur- rences took p ace. Wiih a ijueenly gesture of command and repellant dignity, with flashing eys and censuriiig tone. Ethel Clifton had uttered the single ominous word: ■'Back!" At the same moment Viola Dale's jew- eled hand caught his own and drew him toward the window. ^ ''Remember your promise," she hissed, inur love IK safe, but you are pledged sa- credly to wed me," Ethel Clifton advanced slowly, steadily into the apartment. ' Viola Dale, wih the prevision of the crutty plotter who thinks only of ultimate e-cape amid jjossibe defeat, hid forced Vincent almost to the open librarv window Socivtedb>- the folds of the cuifciiu of the djorw.iy, Howtird the detective was au lutere.sted spectator of all that was occurring in the .ooni. Theglai.coof Ethel Clifto i reste^l with bur iin.,' inteusity on (he face of the man Bbe loved, as if to trace there fidelitv or laiseueTS. Then it becamo riveted on the bold, de- K.ait i'eatuios o. ms O'.MMpanion. 73 For a shoif, secoi'd of time the rivals ootifrouti'd ea;'.i otLar. Then, arous.. i by t ilousy, injustice, and gnef, Ethel Cli:.o.< tvirst forth:' •Imposior— accomplice of mv i.iilers— m;irderes8-I know you. The mask is down at last. Ynnr hour of punishment has come. I B5U Etha. Clifton. " Not ft word fiom \ iola Dale. The dusky caoe dul not o\e.n pak. Only w.th a keou speculftfive li:;ht she Seemed oalcLiiui,iug how much power lay neuind her inp nruucu here: b.iv? f»!^,! 'o her own plots did her inexplicablo liberty siguity. ' I know all," continued Ethel; 'the per- hdy of the man who was mv alHanced bus- I "'"V;' • i '"'^''" ■^^■'toessed it, his probable gum in the murder of the only friend I \ had m the world. " j Her voice, bt-gan in stern, condemnatory ace n;s, laltered in a sob despite herself. "Ao, no, Ethe.'; f swear vou have misun- derstood all ■" Mncent Morton, starting forward with tbese words on his lips, i)aused abruptly. bUi-nco. rang m tUiiUiug tones from Ethe, s lij.s. "I have se^u-I have h'eard all. iou cannot deciive me. Though it break my h jart, I will not falter at the bid- ding of justice. MurderoH, to the law von must account for your share in the kiihiisj ot my uncle. General Clifton. " Mola Dale was about to speak in hold, defiant tones to refute the .iccasation in deft craftiness attempt to drive the intruder to reveal what assistance she had at h.md tbat she might know how dei p was her peril." Just then, however, her eyes were lifted to the drapery of the aoor. Sho caught a momeutarv glimpse of the peeiiug face of Howard the detective. She did not hesitate to act, and quickly. iJy her side, near to the window, stood \iucont Morton, stupefied, tran-fixed at the crushing words of Ethel Clifton. What cared she for the failure of all Tal- cotts schemes for gain and her own, so that she prevented Vincent explaining hia seeiiiing disloyally to Ethel? What recked s'he of ihe restoration t g lined the prize she so craved— the love of Vincent Morton i* ^\ ould he, ill the face of Ethel's unej- pected return, disavow his pledged fealtv'^ She could not risk it. She must escnije with him at ojoe. Rajiidly as flashed these thoughts thiough her mind did she act finally. She stepped to the low frame of the win- dow and sprang through to the ground, al- most dr.ii^giug the couf.ised and be'wil- dered Yin ent with her. She iihiiost fell over a form crouched in the grass beneath the window as she di'l so "I will not go with you. Fiendl siren*! you shal not d;ag me awav from the in- nocent -irl who uniustlv believes me false " cried Vincent, suddenly. "Yon must!" Ad she sp,,ke ^ioia Dale, a fierce, jealous rage in her face, lifted her hand. Again from the jeweled ring the poison spraydashed into ttie laco of \ inojut, taken eorrifiiotciy off his yuurd. Again that fatal, d'dly h'thargv of the senses seemed to jiu ede will fl,nd " motion 74 <■:? ■ '^;i »nd the woniiu led him toward the garden 11 helpless captive. She utteied a cry of concern as she gliiuced back at the library. Howard the deteeti>e' had spruns into the room us he saw the wouiaus uiovemout to es ape. Just as he reached th.- u-iudow to sprina fort , in pn. suit of the fugitives, a ti«ure blocki'd Ins pri;n;rc5~. At the same mcme it the familiar voice or .lalcott can. d out to Viola: ^^/"' ?.j^^ '•■"'■'■''"R'* '" wa:tinf,' iu the rear court, rlyl Howard 'drew back dismayed as Harvey iaJcott :evele(l a revolver at liis brea-^t "liack!" he cried, "or I will kill vu." l.tLel Cliftdu shrank awav with 'a cry of terror as she reco.;Di; ed the siui-ter face of ! nor old-iiuie enemy, Howard, the detective, batHed in his de- 1 sign ot pursuing Viola and Vincent, siood : ftt bfiy, Talcott gave the fugitives time to reach '' tne court, then he began io retreat slowly : from the window. I Not knowing how many other officers ! might be lurking about tho house at the call ot Howard, he did not attemiit to again secure possession of Ethd Clifton Ihe game is lost.'" he choked out as he sped trom the window to the court The driver whipped up tho horses as lalcott sprang into the cab. The latter turned fioicelv on Viola who sat a,iixiously regarding Vincent Morton Who lay back in the carriage in a dead stupor under the oflects of the narcotic. "U hat does this mean?" demauded Tal- cott angrily. "What? ' demanded the woman calmly. •• I he reappearance of Ethel Clifton at the mansion?" "You had "better answer that question, ion allowed her to escape." "Confusion, yes!" raved Talcott. "The game is lost, justice knows all. The for- tune we plotted for will never be ours " Viola Dale did not reply. AH her attention seemed centered on Vincent, and the fact incensed Talcott wildly. "Do you hear me? ' he shouted savacely. "\Ve have lost all. ^ ';\yell, I can't help it." n'on don t seem to care much, either'" I do not. I did my part-you failed in yours. Don't blame me. " "Then you drop out of the game»" "\on say it is lost," insinuated Viola coldly. Her quiet tones nettled Talcott irritablv Aot if we devise a new plot. " "What new plot?" MANACLE AND BKACELET. To destroy General Clifton's will, which I makes Ethel Clifion his heiress." I "You h ive that will?" I "Yes!" "She would inherit tho fortune as next of ^■Xot if she died and you then claimed it " Very well. p;ot as you like and count on me, hut Iiivilict failure. ' ';^\■hv?" ^f "■^f"^,'"''^","''® "Sainst us, and I am tired or all this Koheming. " , "V/ell, well, wc will consult with Alstyne ^>omelhuig must be ^loue to regain our" lost groun.l. We must not lose tj^s royal for. ! tunc nearly iu our yiir:.|)." I Viola had slai ted and looked concerned i at the nuiiiioii of Alst.viie's name. j "You L;ive you changed your mind?" Because I love this man— because I have determined to wed Vincent Morton come what inaj*. ' ' "Are yon mad?" ejaculated Talcott amai-.edl}-. "Xo" was the calm response. "I am in earnest, and I will not bo balked in mv design. I love him-I will i.rotect him from your plots to the last. Atbmnt to bathe mo m this and I will betiay "your every plan to iho j.olice." Talcotis bro«v darkened, but he was silent. He knew better than to oppose this woman at such a time. The carriage had been driven rapidly all the time they were conversing. After threading a tortuous course of I streets and lanes, as if to leave a trail diffi- I cult to follow, it at last entered the same street where the detective had been knocked insensible by the driver of the vehicle. The river district was soon traversed and the carriage finally halted. The same frowning structure whence the cab had originally stttrted looked down upon Its occupants. "We stop here?" asked Viola, as she sur- veyed the gloomy edifice. "Yes. temporarily." "What place is it?" "The house where General Clifton's body was brought " I hey dismounted, Viola beckoning th<* fton's will, which 3ire3s. " ortuno as next of then clnimeil it. " u like (ind couut i, and I nm tired a!t with Alstyne. i> regnin our' lost 3 tlii.s royal for- )oked concerned ' name. .voiiy ■ shs iiisl.ed has made him a to marry him, )u the woman's yonx mind?" jan— becauae I iucent Jlorton, iilated Talcott mse. "I am in balked in niy 11 irotect him ;. Attempt to 11 betiay j'our . but he was . to oppose this ren rapidly all US course of vo a trail difli- ired the same e had been driver of tha traversed and cture whence looked down a, as she sor* ral Clifton'* eckoniug tb«» MANACLE AND BRACELET. 78 driver to aid her in conveying the ins. nei- ble Vincent into the place." Talcott went down Rome low steps and Knocked loudly at a basement door. There was the clanking of bolts and chains. A man with a light opened the door. It was Alstyne, but so pale and agitated that Talcott rognrded his disturbed features with a look of concern and startled sur- prise. At that moment, while the ploiters were again safely housed, LanRdou. the detec- tive, recovered from his fall in the street, Lad just reached the Cliftou uiuusiou. At that moment, too, Howard stood in the library, regarding anxiousa- the pale and anguished face of Ethel Cihon. She had just recovered from a deadlv swoon, into which she ha'l fallen imriedi- ately after the flight of Viola with Vi; -ent. And peering through the open window, for the present an unseen actor in the scene. Langdou silently awaited the de- velopments of the hour, which he realized were destined to be of an importunt and Startling nature. regarded his companion un> the key to possession. the you are for love in vour I iiold CHAPTEK XXXIL fiee! Alstyne led the way to a room at the end of a long corridor of the deserted building, aiding Viola to carry Vincent. Talcott dismissed the coachman, and, locking the door, entered the room where they were a moment later. Vincent had been placed on the floor, aiwl Viola drew a stool near to him aud sat watching him anxiously. Alstyue's brow clouded an he noticed her devotion, and looked intuirinfflv at Talcott. * **•' The latter, however, in gra])hic, rapid language, proceeded to detail the occur- rences of the evening. Alstyne listened with growing concern. '•You see, " concluded Talcott moodily] as he completed his recital, "that all is lost,' for the present at last. " "No, not yet," wa.. Alstyue's confident reply. "What do you mean?" demanded Talcott wondoringly. " Come with me. ' Alstyue's manner was impressive as he ltd the way from the room. He entered an apartment farther down the corridor, in which a lamp burned ou a rude deal table. He pointed to a stool and said simply: '•Sit down, Ta'c-ottjl wuuito tilk to you." "^\ hat about?" "Viola. " Talcott easily. ■'What about her?' he deinandetl, "A change has come over her." ••Ah! you noticed that?" "Yes. She no longer loves me. " Talcott was silent. "She has become infatuatenl with man she brought herj just now. " "Vincent M( rton, ves. .Mstyne right. ■• ■•\ery well; now, then, Talcott, of this woman I heljjcd you schemes. A rival has appeared. all the Clifton iortuue i:i my This mm must be removed aud Viola Dale must marry me. or I refuse to aid you farther. " "I cannot inlluonee Vio'a. " "Vou can and must." "How?" "By placing this man Vincent in mv power. " ^ 'I can do that " "iiy craft or threats forcing Viola to wed me. " "I will do what I can." "You promise this?" demanded Alstyne. earnestly. "I do." "Then listen. General Clifton's face at the wmdow of this old structure was no tullacy," "Ha! I begin to understand." "You know," resumed Alstyne, "that this old deserted building was at one time a hiding place for Barnefs baud. We brought General Clifton's bodv here. We believed him dead. Listen " " In low, couti lent tonas Alstvne imparted some startling secret to Talc Jt't. The latter became wildly excited. "Then we can yet wield Ethel Clifton to our will," he cried. "Yes. A letter telling the truth would make her hasten to this plae\ even if she knew that captivity awaited her." Talcott's face was radiant with triumph. <>T^r^^' ''' °°' '°^' 5'^^'" ^e '="eJ. exultantly. vVhere is he:" 'I conveyed him to the yacht. " "Good." "We dare not remain here any longer." "No, it might be known. Ethel Ciifton may have told about it. " "Then we all I ave here?" ''As soon as we send the letter to tha " girl. "Will /),■ write it?" "He must. Xow. Talcott, the man?" Vincent Morton?" "Yes." ;|Whit of him?" "He must be given into my power.* 76 Viola "I will armnge it. Come. They reiurned to the room whore was. Talcott took her aside. ^-And this mnn with me?" indicating Via- "No." "Wii.v not?" '^liecniBo we Lave m impoitant move to miike. audji-u mir^t as.si«t iis "ion wjii (iiko caie of hiui until I ro- turn.- she dem lulcd, (.une.stlv "i.es. ' '.'Be reful. Harvey Talcott. If you de- ceive me I will beirav all." ^ oitnii^'^'°" ''" ^ "'"' '*'" **"•« '^^'^ lo^-^' The worn in p iled. Wi not .luairel. In a day or two ou/ .laus wdl be iKntected, aud you shill have your lover again, ' " Viola, half-saiisfied, cast a tender look MANACLE AND JJItACELET. -i., • •■'-"^w, >ar«i 11 lend" at the iiiHeusible ^ incent and left the n'nce Ialcottac.o„:,.aae.l her, and rctuinrd Ses Mer" ^^"'^'"' ^'""^ " ^^"'' '^'■°- "i'es." ^S.Hi o^; i?''""' ""^ ^°' '"- °^ "1 think so." place.^'° '^^ "' '"" *^' '™''^* *" '""^^ °tlier ';Aud send the letter to Ethel Clifon'" IfeB. ' liui that van?'' Talcott pointed 10 Vincent as h' spoke mmS,%?r^ '''''''' ^^'^ -^ >'«-: Ba'].^ w' 1 go to the yachi and get ready to ' ■ very well. " I'Vou will rejoin ns?" "In a few moments. ' Talcott again left the place Aisiyne walked over to where Vincent Iny and Ivf.ed him bod Iv to las oad poweifal shoulders. " ms nioui. He boro i,im from thn room and nedh|mio tbe a, artment \vhere h. colt '"ys*"'''""" consultation with . He unlocked a heavy oaken door ingakindof cell b yond. A clLaiu and a manacle attached the L'oor, attached to an iron rin-' floor. "^ It wa car- had Tal- reveal- lay on in the 18 rn«tod and on, an 1 had ondeaiU been used to secure prisoners when Ra, liets band infested .he ulace ° ^"• tie laid \ inc. nt on the tloor and tittfl.l the manacle to his wrist ' '^1 "Sr ^=----''^- niov:dmieasI,'J'''''''^"«''"' "'^ Vincent Als.yne closed and locked the door and eye^::^oi;;:„sed?;:;s^;'%«^'"- ^" '^- o?t 'rooT '"' '""P *° ''^« '"'i^-r end Then he liurried from the iilace Jen minutes later, «« (he vacht'set sul Alstyne^ glanced back at the Old TeLa In the win.low of the room in which \incent Morton was „ prisone ^^1. showed the deadly, lurid gl^w of fire ^''" flad he waited a few nnments later he wo^kl have seen the building buis' mto s„tm! °;'*';"^''' j"?'iin8t the dark buildin<> Mirrouiuled by lire and c!in»,us to a w 7e"~; pipe suspended between heaven and eTih M:|s_the victim of his evil plots -^iZui CHAPTER XXXHL THE MYSTERIOUS LETTEKS l.hmTof tiil^'cH?!''"^ '• ^"'^ °°^ ^°*«' the iiDiar.v or the Clitton mans on, even when matr ^"' ""'''^ ^"''^'" '"^^ "^'^ °"it?in" He had arrived too late to be a witness to the appeanuice of Harvey Talcott and ho escape of \ ,o|a and \incent, n/ i'l',""'? """''• l^o^ever, intuitivelv dis. cerned that son.e dramatic episode had iust occurred, and that Ethel Clifton's rea^'- pearance at the mansion had been theT (•a-^ion of a sc uie, the deta b of which m.ght be .mnort.an: enough fo. himto learS I Curious to witness, unobserved th - in ■n':ew .about to ta'or ana fitted I'lPi encircling gi'ip. 1' bcie, " mm. iitisfiictiou. '. as Vincent he door, and to leave the ?iitter in his we by some over his evil fiiiher end Inee. cht set H;iil, old deseitL'd m in which iouer there of lire, its Inter he R burst into k buildins;, ; to rt Water n nud e,'U(b, ts— \inceni !S. ot enter the even when le of its in- ■ witness to tt and the itively dis- lie had just ou's renp- en the o •- of which im to learn •1, ih' in- h:' library 'icteetive . watching be was so 'e with a ng blank. s cimfiis- Le asked. AfANACLE AND BRACELET. 77 "Yes, yes! bit the woman wlio was ncre, nnd \ incent MoitouV" ''They have esc lued, " "TogetherV" she asked, gaspingly. " Vew . A thrill of anguish convulsed the girl's pa'e face, "Then they are leagued together— he is faKe to me," shi> nioanod. ■'Yes, Miss Cliftdii; oeyoiid doubt they are in collusion in soDie gnat schcm i of fraud. At all eM'nts, Vincent Morton murdered your uncie. " "Db, it catiniit be possible!" "The evideni^c alre;idy in my hands con- victs him. H« c:ii)(uro muaus certiin d' ath at the scatt'old. Ethel Clifton lowered her face in her hands and sobbed bitterly. The revulsion of feeling was too power- ful for her to endure iilac'idly. She could scarcely bring her mind toad- judge her allJanceii hnsb nd an assassin. He might be false to his vows of con- stancy, still her woman's heart sought to shield bini from danger, hoiiiiig the njur- der at least might not be placed to his charge. llowa-d proceeded to state the evidence against Vincent Morti u. He told of hi-; Hurio|)titious visit to the Clifton m.iu-iion, of the murder, of the box found iu his ) ossessioii, of his flight, an i Ihially of his certain councct'o'i with the.Talcott ba.d and with Viola Cliftou. As the reader wi 1 remember, Vincont's zeal to eain Howard's conlidence at Lakeside ' result d in an avowed eon lectiou on his part w.tb Barnet, the rascally coin-dealer. Howard, therefore, ignorant of many of the real de'ails of the case, imagined he was right in his surmise as to \iucents guilt, and his coiuidicty with Ta'cott and Viola in their schemes for secuiin" the Clifton fortiv ■. , Ethel bec.une calmer as he spoke. Amid all he said there entered her mind the same suspicion that ha 1 come to the detective Langdon. She dis-erned quickly (hat there was a Tery weak point in the case auainst Vincent. Why, she asked hn^elf, had Viola Dale denied Viuccni s guilt at the first, if he wa^ an accomplice? There were many other details equally as obscure, ami a dim hop ■ came into her mind that Vincent .Morou miiiht not have mardered her uncle. Still the dirk cloud of his evident faith leseuess ho.ered over her mind like a ' .dl. "Wiil you te'.l me your e\]>eiionce in (bis case, now that I have rd.ted i.^y own':''' ia- quir, d Howard. Ethel hesitated. "Yes," she said finally, "I will tell you She had jiroceeded with her story for only a few moments when there was an iu- terrniitiou. I 'J'he housemaid, Marie, kad entered the , room w:tli an anxious look on her face. "J must K|.eak with you alone, Jlisa Clif- i ton," she Slid. Howard, from Ethel's story of the maid'i evident conip'icitv with \iola Dale, mis- tmsled l.er, but Ethel bad arisen with an ai^ of surprise, and had accompanied Marie Vi a retired portion of the room. "I ha\e a I, iter foryou, Miss Ethel," she said. "From whom'" asked the young girl, be- stowi ga suH.iuious loo'i oi'i the girl. I do not know. A man brought it to the door. It must bo important, for be comes from Harve / Talcot . " Ethel Btar;ed at the mention of that dread'd name. She took a sealed enve!oi)e from the girl a ha' d, and the latter Withdrew to the hall without. "I h .ve received it letter.' said Ethel to .Howard; "t .xcuse me wh le I read it, please. " Howard, bowed courteously, but looked nuuoyed and mystified at ihe'episode of the letter. Ethel tore off the envelope. There were two in closures. How.iid, watching her face clcfsoly, saw her start and pale quickly as she perused the outside missive. Sl.e seemed to be fairly overcome with ' terror as she read the second. Her eyes closed with a spasm of pain, and she crushed the letters in her hand convulsively. Howard sprang forward, as he feared sh." was about to faint for the second time. She recovered herself, however, and waved iiim away hysterically. "I must leave you, " she said in a chocked, unnatuial tone. Howard looked concerned, distressed. "Miss Clifton," he said, gravely, "I mis- trust that you have rec.eived a letter that has a^'iiated you. As a detective, as a friend, I ask you to confide in me its con. tents.' "No, no, I cannot; I dare not. I beg of you to believe that I am acting for "he besc. " "Voii intend to leave the house in an- swer to that missivo':' "Yes." "And it is frcm a friend''" Ethel besiided. "Su. hat I must obey it." "The tuqi of an euemy to once more get iv. JOU tOQ ^^ MANACLE AND BRACELET Jn hi8 power. perhnpB. mIhs Olif- I "Fiicfy." Noi'St" fwT '"'^"Ho'^^M into Lie bin, nc", u I ,, /^'"" "'J'-^ten till he hrw liouso 'a be r;e;'Se tf I' ■'' '^' ^^^ loBtt.i.ofthel^Sj,:^[f^^--Jie CHAPTEI! XXXIV tou^ ua, tLe result alreaclv tofnl^^L If Viola made nny demonstration is tn safe bands, aud th„t slV h m-d Kl V'" We.uitime tbe helpless vir.«ii,, r,p ai . , tne I Jle bad aroused from the iethar^- inf„ fbieb the narcotic admiui.rJrK5.-Vi ° then I For heaven's sake do uot det.iin nu. If tiiS.7^'''^ bemtated for a moment or two ' then uHin;- on a Rudden impulse, opened i fST nfft'' '".'"^ *'^'° '^« corridor ' could 1.,.^ W," ^'"' ^l'«"l'l>^-av---l, but he coum h ar her convpr,!,,;, exeitediv with •av"^ •■If'"'"^ y"»-ert:.,^.'Mirie was ^Tplau." •*''"'''^'° evade bim adopt Fiveniinutes later a veiled form cnme the^teps' ''"" ""'^ '^^^^^"^ «'««''l'^S- cl^wn Howard waited n mo^^ent aud started m silent ,,ursuit of tbe fiRure ItisLtheK ,ifton." he muttered must not los. :.,;!;( of ber. "'""'"^^^ He starteii ,.,f. j.e reached the gate famiCV '"'!:'^ ''l^-'"''''^ at his Hide-a laminai i .mc,.' Qpoko hn name. _ Howara.'" " i'ou, Lan!'d';i-''" "Yes. I - ' passed in garden. We mu9Tfoilow"vouder woman tor I anialmost positive her .nemi.s ba?e £.;r h'er rnd?" "'""^ *° '-•« ^-' -«y Thsy separated and the solitary veiled figure before thm. was trailed closeh Her actions pu/.x.led them not a littli> for after walking nearly a mile she retraced h"r n! msiom '''"'"'^^ ^'''''^^ '' the Clif!;,n She was about to cuter thf- fionf ri^«,. "Miss Clifton," he be-an ^^■■I am not Miss Clifto^n."' replied a pert ardt:d^sX:^°^sii:;^^£SS:i; nin-e^.ir^nn^''^''" fl"Ped-baffled," re- \!'~f''^-^"'*^don, coucer.iedlT. :J5ubt&s^^^^°"«'^---'-'i^" "And cxcbnnged her miiid pniposely t ) cvadt I ha'dtst'him."""" administered by- Viola I mJI^ ""'!''' "^^ *^"t he was m a small ell lb?da'lTtt'T'''°'' '^' «'«"* oaken do"; ne attemnted to v ko k..* *> i "."""• securedtoa JinViu he tfoor an^'- '''''' preveute,] from doing so ' "'^ ^' "^■'^ ou^VSinSSlu'^^SSS^ he nude a violent tug at tbe chain '^ ""• foS' h!u Iwe iti^^ii^sHl/'^ ^"^ «"^^ He was Fr« ; ' '^ '^^ opposite wall. I J xi^ ^"^ • "o«ever, only the irnn handeutt remaining o:> his wrist ° ^^Hecinnbodt, the transo u and peered al^ni gi^tSis^l^/S ^'"^ ''■'' -«- i?H?HS— =-- He dashed through the transom a •AS free tn m ike hi.s He wandered vainl uscapo y over the old struct- MANACLE AND BRACELET. 79 nre, seek iiiR some aveuuo of escape, but findiug unne. More tliati once he wns forced to pause, and, di/.z.y-Loiidod nnd confused, leulized that the full effects of the drua Lad not vot departed. All n«o!iized aeuso of emotion drove him to ke 11 distress, as he dimly recalled the scene iu the librai-.y aud the strauxe ap- pearnueu of Ktliel Clifton. "She thinks me lalso— th; world ad- judges mo au nssftHsin," he iiuirmured cnu- cerufdly. "I must escape and find I-aii"- doii or 1 am lost." " The tile ha 1 spread through the budd- ing as at lust he tound a window in the basomi'iit broken and without hiirs. He was on the edge of the wharf, im ! the fresh night air. ius.ead of reviving him, seemed lo drive him to still deeper stu'tor and lethargy. ' Excited cries in front of the building told him that the fire had been discovered. Doubtlessly a throng was gathering, lie would be couspicu nis if h ; went through < the arched court, and the jiuliee mij,'lit find, recognize, and arrest him where he was. | A coxl scow, uuloided, was moored near I the wharf. It would allord temporary ref- | u^'c at least, and ho climbered upon it and ' climbed down the notched centor-i.ole into its hold. He was in a driumy stupor ere he real- ized it. He slumbered soundly for hours, unaware of all that was transpiring about him. When he awoke at last all was silent about him, and the darkness aud loneli- ness was intense. He arose to his feet with unsteady steps nnd climbed to the deck of the flat-boat. At a j,dance he discerned that it had been moved during the night. It now lay moored on the banks of the ri\er, apparently some miles from the city, and was one of a largo number lying near the shore waiting lo be loaded from a docJi piled high with coal. His exact location ho could not deter- mine. How far he had been removed in the old flat-boat he was unaware. He was confused and baiHed as he attemj.ted to think out the events of the night. Across a dreary waste, near the river, was a li'^'ht appijreutly emanating from some building. He made his way toward it, and found it to be a lonely tavern frequented by river- men. The sleepy landlord in the bar nodded acquiescently as Vincent asked for lodging f.T the night. Do what he could, he could not shake olt' completely tlie deadening sensation of the drug that had robbed him of consciooi- uess. He learned that the place was some miles from the city, so, va^u 'ly forming a plan to return in the morniu:;,'and once more essay to f(dlow the lo>t trail, hi' sought rest. Thi !■ Honof (lays of wtariness aud ' cxeit' ' aine with sleep. H' "red piifoundlv. While thfl i P'ots . avey Tileott Were goiuj on un . interruptedly, h ■ was all unccniM'ious of I their operations. I \Vith a cry of dipiuny uud chagrin he ' awo'ie at Ia4 The sun was seting; ho h id slumbered through the night and th« following day. ' Hour.s of valuable time lost," he imir- nnirod conce;nedly. "Time enough for my enemies to leave the eitv ami cover evei-j- trace of their whereabouts.' He hastened to th s lower floor of the tavern as h,- aroused himself, hurriedly partook of a meal, paid his bill, and left the jilace. ! Ho retlect.d deejdy as he proceeded along the shore oi the riieraud made his way in the direction of the distant eity. Darkness had com,- down, nnd he was nbout to strike '.ti' to s me more frequented hghway, when he became interested io watching a vncht moored near thr shore. li was a strange craft for those waters, and Vincent, without knowing whv, began to s))eculate ui)(m its mission in this out- of-the-way place. Ther ■ ajip ared to be nn'y one person aboird, and h , with the aid of a lantern, was visiting the cabin, the hold, and the deck in turn, in mak.ng all snug aud trim for the night. As the light of th; lantern floshtd across the mans face, \'inc -ut Morton started with a koLii look of reeognition. 'I have seen that man's face before," he mus d. "but where?" He h id to reflect but a moment to deter- mine this pjiut. The man on the deck of the yacht was the sauK- iiiau who had atteuq.led to kill L;ingilon the deieetive nnd h mself in the underground room in Liarni-t's house by lui-ans of the glass globe of jioison. It was indeed iJartley. aud, as Vincent re- gardi d his evil feature-, he decided that ho would watch him for a lime at least. Perhajis tills man's apjieiiMnce here bore some relation to the schemes of Harvey Tnlcott. Possibly by keeping track of him he might be enabled to regain the tr.iil of his enemies. If ho could do this, he would feel ab- solved from his rash promise to wed Viola D.ile. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 150 ^^^ 2.5 2.2 m lia ill 10 L25 i 1.4 18 1.6 i Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 yS ^V .^ :\ \ .A ^* [\^ ■<^ ^ ;\ '-C^"^^^ ^ V" ^*t^ Ux ^ fO Ha hiwl made a dfinit.. pleilue to her coniiua..|,t on the u Ht.,iiU....i „f Eib.i ( liltou t.. li".;iii'li'->d tht-lantrru nud left the boat. ile walk.'d biisliiy alonj,' the b .nk of the me.-, and > lucont at a dist i ce shadowod iiim unsiispoctcd. i Bartl. y finally d vprffed through a liltlo I grove of trees and .uuu! to a place hcvond which, located ,,1, a linio branch of tho ' Btreain, was a singular-looking buildin- Half faiui-huuHO, half mil , it was glooiD.v iu the extiemo. It -.vas surrounded by old lumner and rubbmh of various kin Is, and behind a pile of th;s \inc.ni glided as llaitlev 'ip- proiched the lower door of the place' It oprned lit his knock, ho ent.'icd, aud the i.oor closed. 15.V the light shiniuR from within Vincent caught sight of th,. face of the man who had admitted IJartlev. It was Ilaivey Talcott. "Thr.j are there, murmured Vincent, in- ensely excited. "What had I better do? lie turn to the city a: d stcure police aid and arrest them? •'I dare not. The moment I make un ap- peal to ihe police I lay myself open to ar- rest as a fut-itive from justice. "My position is a most unfortun te one. lam hamlicaiped at every advantageous movement 1 would make. "And y.t by watching ihess peoi.le I may gun some new point of inforiuation of benefit to Hi \" He stole across the space between his p.ace of concealment and th • building/ to gain its shadow and oudeavor to eiiect in entrance. As he d:d so ho paused abruptly and glanced down. "^ Then St -oping over, he picked up a -lit- terim. object th.t hndattra.t. .1 hisattention. He tittered a cry at once exultant aa,I hairi '"" '•Pco.u,/e 1 the object in his For it was u bracelet peculiarly framed and haviu- a diamond center in its rich gold seiting, of rare brilliancy and value Atii Ldance \ incait Morton recognized It, and Ins manner w, in'cnsf '«• ...ri;.,tf„i I as ho rcmembeied v. hex he Li , iast seen it. i MANACLE AND BUACEI.ET. T-.l'T'r..^ '••''"," betrothal gift sent to J.the, { liltou in Itdy over a vear prov ous. it w.,s the sam ■ bracelet that showed in the j^tolcn portrait; he could not be in error llow n ul It c.nie here.' Had it been lost "iH.e these plotiers Were dia-giug Ethel ; CiUion to this nesv pi ,co of conlinement. :. !ace it in his pocket. Amid the excitement of the past few hours he ha,l almost foryotten this cold cruel reminder of the hatred aud villainvoC his enemies "Manacle and bracelet!" he murmured bitt, rly: the one a reminder of the heart- less cmelty of the foes who seeks to de- stroy my reputatio.i and mv life. rJJo","*^''W"'''''"'"'"^'f ">e Hashing Kold and jeuels that iiive lured these p'ot- ters t,. nurigue and erimo. ' "f will keep them both, an 1 cherish the menioues they invoke until (h. day comes \Mu-nI..an boldly produce them to con- trontthe vile schemers who have perse- cuted my darln.g Ethel and driven me to become a tngiitive from justice. How comes the bracelet here? Is Ethel (littou a prisoner in that buildingv" I wii; soon know. Disaster aud peril have attended every stei. I have takeli in "IXath may lie my reward this time, vet iovp, Ethel Cliflo.i. He stole around the building, and in- spected it closely. At one iilaee, where a light cleamed hrough the broken blinds of a wi.Xw fn the secoml story, he essayed to reach the place and peer in. A half. ruined trellis ran up the side of tbe budding near, the window, and this ^ mceut en icavore.l io ascend He man v^ed to nearly gain .he wir dow. iu,l by leaning over and clinging to the Eoml '^ ' ''' '''"' t^^« ^P^^'^ent his\*i It '^''' '^'^ " '^'<^''i"<'"lnt'0" escaped A\ nil -Urn g, am izud eyes ho glanced into the room through the bro';en blinds. A siyht that made him doubt the evi- . one,, o his senses overpc.wered him with the Wildes am i .ement aud uncert.iiiitv ^^^Great hcuensl-he .....i. -rt cannot For the room beM tlnee O'cnpants. 'thai gift sent to 'r It year prcv ous. t Ihat showed in 111 not l)i; ill error. Had it heen lost ■ dirt^'j,'iujr Ethal if coulliieiiient. it she wns apiin 1 IiIr lips l'erve;i:- lit of tlij woman ugaiust the iron as he pioceed'jd )f the past few olU'ii this cold, 3d aud villainjof he murmured er of the he&rt- 10 si'eks to de- y life. cf the Hashing iired these p!ot- m 1 cherish the Ih',' diiy couifB e them to cou- ho have per»e- 1 driven me to tice. here? Is Ethel uildingv" ister and peril have taken in 3tt and his ac- I this time, yet 5f the woman I Iding, and in- lip:ht gleamed f a window in I to leach the p the side of. low, and this d. 1 ihe wir aow, ■lingiug to the the apartment atiou escaped s he glanced J'jon blinds, oubt the evi- ^red liini with Jcertainty. "ft cannot i-upants. M.\N.\CTiE AND BRACELET. 81 Two of tuem wer _■ Harvey Taloott and the man AlstjMje, The other! At him, half reclining in a chair, weak, pale, and appar ntly lieipL.-s, Vincent Morton stared in the profouiulost bewil ;ermeut and mouicntury superstitious doubt. "Genera! Clifton, or his M])irit!" brok^^ in a gasping murmur from Nincvufa lips. "AVhat mystery is 'his ' Crash! Amid his exciteme ' he had been cart- leSH of his moveiiieuts. The next moment thi) fiail trellis work g ive way. He was precipiiated to the ground with a violent shook, although not seriously in- jured. He lay perfectly quiet for a momer. i or two, fei>,riug the crash might have beun heard in the room abovu and its cause be investigated. No movement p.t the window, bowerer, indicated this to be true. He crept from the sjiot a moment later, and sat dow i onii pile of lopjs to rellect. He was dazed, stunned, bewildt-r.d at this new complication in the mysteriois case in baud. '"I cannot comprehend it all." Le mur- mured in an in'eiise tone of voiou. "I am utterly at a loss how to proceed. "If Langdon, the detective, were only here. If 1 only had his frieiidly counsel and aid," A form he had not noticed, Inrkiiig in the shadows of the place, stole sikntly co his side as he spoke. A hand rested warniugly on his arm, and a familiar voice spoke: "Langdon is hfere." A stlad cry of delight escaped Vincent Morton'p lips as he turned quickly and rec- cognized the speake.'. It was Langdon, the detective, CHAPTEK XXXV. TRAPPED. "Come." L&agdou drew his friend and companion, Vincent Morton, away from the near prox- imity ot the building they had been wat li- ing. With a siugie peremptory word. Once in a, spot where their voices might not accidentally be overheard by any lurk- ing spy, the detective confrouted Vinceut curiously. "How" came you h ne?" he asked. "By sheer aceidc-nt. " "Wheu? ' "An hour since." "Tell uie b iofiy all that has occuirjd ! Biuce I saw you 1 ist. " In rapid, graphic outline Vincent de tailed his adventures since they had lust met. Ill doing HO lie Ruppliedihe missing links in ihrt cliain (if the narrative. 'J he detective listened interestedly to his recital. "And you?" Inquired Vi':cent As concisely, the detective told of the vaiicilaud excitin:,' ejiiBodes in which he had taken i)ait during the past few days. Af(er Ica.ing Howard and the clif on mansion lie hud gone at once to the burn- ing stiuctuve at th j river side. 1 hence he bad traced the yacnt, and, an hour jireviouH. hud located Talcott in the |iliice to which Vincent had so strangely b( en led by IJartlcy. "Theci Ethel is again a captive of Talcott and lii:i accomplices?" imiuired Vincent anxiously. ••Yes." "And believes me false?" ".-he will soon know the truth." "Then you propose " "To arre-t all hands." "AVhen?" "At once. We must make no mistakes this time." "I hope not." "Talcott believes that I am dead, and that they ar:; seciire in their new hiding place her(!." "Undoubtedly." *"I will allow them to dwell in fancied se- curity while 1 hasten to the nearest telo- cr.iph staion. ' "Eor what purpose?" "To send to the city for sufiScient police aid to surround the house and ari'est its occu|)ants. " "And I am to remain here?" inquired Viucent. "['util I return, yes. Yon forgot to tell mi", you climbed the trellis yonder a mo- ment since. ' "Yes." "What did you see?" Vincent manifested a quick excitement and agitition. ••Ah, I forgot!" he cried. ."Forgot what? ' "To tell you what I saw. Langdon, the dead has come to life." "What do you mean?" demanded the mystitiod detective. "That tliese p'otters cannot now hope to Be 'tire the Clitton fortune." "How is that.' "Nor can I be arrested for murder." "I do not und-rstand you." "Gen rd Cbftou is alive." At this startlii/g ainou'icem n' Iiangdon recoiled as if dealt a sudden blow. 82 MANACLE AND BRACELET. «/i *■ ^'. '^.*.^'**' ^^ «'"ed iucredulouslv. "General Clifton alive?" "Yes." "ImposBible!" "I jU8t saw 1 imin thit room yond?r." The detective's expr^Bsi'o face was the picture of aniazenieut aud doubt. "You are positive? ' he asked slowly. les, 1 saw Lin* ilistinctlv." ^r^'^^il,^^*'*'® vilJaius did I'lOt murJer him niter all?" " Apparently not." „ "^lijcent, " said the deiective seriously, tbis discovery places the cage ou an eu- tiroiy new basis. " "I see that. " I noT? uudeistauJ how Harvey Talcott ng.iin induced EthelCliftou to leave home." ^ lou mean the lett.rs you spoke of?" . "Yes. Alstvne foiiud General Cliftoualive in the old buiUting by the r.ver side." ' vl^ere they su])po9ed the.- had left him dead? "Exactly. They took him to the vacht, and threatened him into writing to Ethel Clifton, and she hastened to obey him." "Ihit is how she comes to hi their prisoner agaiu. " "It must be so. AVe must return to the bmtdina; and investij?ate all this new mys- tery, ' said Langdon, r-iliectively. "Then you will not telegraph to the city ipr pjlice aid, as you intended?" inquired V incent "Not yet" "Why not?" "Because it may precipitate General Clifton in trouble. " "You mean about the seoret Talcott holds regarding his son— the papers thatcompro- niised the family honor?" "Yes." ■'TJien you hope to secure these?" I hope to learn all about this hidden mystery bafore I act delinitely. nade him curious and inter- I-angdon started toward the building ' \ou remain within cah," he ordered Vincent. "Until you return?" "Or signal. Yes. If I whistle thus " nud Langdon gave a low. peculiar signal It m Jans danger." ^ ' "And I sha.l come to your rescue?" "Not at all." "What then?" "Hasten after the police. ' "I understand." Viueent ensconced himself near a pile of lumber and saw his companion disappear ill the direction of the building. . Langdon, the detective, was Inteuselv engrossed in the case in hand. The new nlemcnt of mystery that had api>eared esteti He saw within the possible scope of a Bp -edy accomplishment the utter defeat of all Harvey Talcott's evil plots. In the stractnre he was now approaching tTTJT.*M'f;' "'^ '•'^ I rincipal. parties to the great Clitton mystery. He was site to 'proceed vMth prompt tmaau'^ "measures of arrest e.£cept for one Tal 'nf?i"^ f'l', '"''' ^'"^ ^^"^ ^°' years (. littoa that meuicbd his welfare aud good 'aaiue. B""" Langdon was anxious to make a brilliant capture but he did not wish to in olve General Clifton in trouble. "I must learn the truth concerning this family secret," he decid'd tii'/'f^^.P^ " '? "^^ "^"'"''e which it would kill the Generel to hive made public i .""niust certainly be a forcible one to I give lalcott so terrible a power over the millionaire. "And yet may not this verv secret be a vile plot of Talcotfs, in Which Genera* Chfton )s himself deceived? nottiml1i.°I ^'^ '^^'■''i'^. >"t'^'8"ty could no \^l UuUy be concerned in a crime, and Imfi fn?^^'' 'r '"'y'"'~ '^'^ credulitv w ith a false story reg. some alleged past misconduct of hit -.^n "I will learn the truth. 1 will rescue the Tl«« T ^n"- .•;'« '^^"'•"ess blackmailers. Then I will jail the entire band for at- tempted murder and conspiracv " Langdon proceeded silently 'around the building. „n'^V"'/^^fP'^^•,^.P°'"* of ftdvantage. and hastened to avail himself of its benefits He had seen a light at a window on the Bide of t'ie buildiug near the branch of the riv6r. The curtain was down, the window open. ihe night breeze swayed it to and fro and anon disclosed a woman's form paciuff the apartment restlessly. " "It must be Ethel Clifton," he decided A shea projected from the buildine at this point and its slanting roof came di- rect y under the window. The detective scaled the shed and becan to creep np the roof. ^ He reooued the window and arose to his His hands lestel on the sill, and he peered into the room past the corner of the curtain. ..tI'?**^^* Clifton!" he murmured, excitedly it IS shr, •' The young girl was pacing the floor with a pale face and dejected air. ious and inter- isible scope of a 18 Utter defeat of OtH. low approachiug icipal. parties to il vMth prompt, It except for one that for years a.-^iiiist General elfare aud good make a brilliant nisb to involve concerning this 3 which it would de pul)lic. forcible one to ?ower over the ery secret be a which General integrity could n a crime, and his credulity some alleged oon. will rescue the > blackmailers. band for at- •acy. " ly around the of advantage, 'of its benefits, window on the I branch of the window open, it to and fro. s form pacing " he decided, he building at roof came di- led and began d arose to his sill, and he corner of the ed, excitedly. the floor with MANACLE AND BRACELET. a3 The dotectiT ' wisheil to uttnuit ber at- tent on without exciting bei- iilarm. He drew asidn the curtiiiu niul mur- luurod hiT niiui • soflly. "MiwH Chfton!" Ethol p lUS d, started, mid glauci'd at the window I'riimin ; the faco of the dettcivc. Do not cry out," warned Lan^jdon. "Do you renienit)i'r nin? ' Kthi'l had drawn near the window, and ro;,'aided the di'tectiv^' with startled Rlauce. "Vos: ynn are thi' man on tlieyncht." "Vhose lifo yon saved, and your friend." "I know that. You are the detective." "Vo8, yes. You will trust aud obej me to leave here. " "I dar«.! not. My uncle is alive, a prisoner," "I will rescue hiiu. " "But the secret against his name. Be careful: some one is coming." Lnnpidon dodgeil down as the door of the roo.n opened suddenly. Tttloott and Viola Dale entered the apart* uieut. The former uttered a cry of rage, and turned out I ho light. '•Do you wish to attract attention to the house?" he demanded angrily of Ethel. "Beware! Y'our uncle's life is in the bal- au e. " "Infamous plotter, whvt scheme do you now propose?" "A signature to a certain document from your uncle. Come, he awaits you. " The trio left the room. haugdon stood at the window, undecided what to do. The door opaned agiin, and siuue one seemed to be s.'arching for some object in the dark. "The girl has returned, " decided the de- t'ctive. "1 wi'.l venture to apijeal to her to fiy at once, and leave her uncle's rescue in my hands. Miss Clifton!" Tliere was a fluttering, rustling sonnd within tn ? apartment. A woma I's form came to the window. "You must e-icape, and at once," spoke Laugdiin. in a low. rapid tone. A whispered response was made, less agitited thin excited, although he noted it not at that moment. "How can I?' "Bv* climbing through the window." "No, no; there is a safer way." "From the room itself?" "Yes, yes." "You know the wav?" "I do." Langden climbed over the window sill and dropped into the room. "Quick," he said; "lead the way." A rtoft hiud clasped iii.s o>vu, u low voice murmured: "Cogie." "Can wo evade Talcott and the others?" "Yes, y-." In the daiknesB ho alloNvcd bis guidi; to lead the way. They loft the room and Ir.iversed an ua- lighted hallway. Then his companion led the way down a flight of stairs. Tbeio was a door at its end. She tighte.ied her clasp on tho detective's hand. "This way, " she whispeio 1, turn tltuously. She flung tho door open sud^leuly, and fairly dra,'ged tho detective into a large lighted Bp iitment. Three men, its occupants, in.stantly s])rang to their feet at his abrupt appear- ance. They were Talcott, Alstyuo, and Hartley. AVith be )t brows and tierce looks they regarded the intruder. "Who is this? ' demanded Talcott, ex- citedly. Too late to retreat, Langdon regarded hi.i guide with profound dismay as a low, mocking laugh esc.iped her lips. Turning, hi-; amazed eyes met, not the face of Ethol (!lif;ou, as he had ezpecte 1, but that of Viola Dale. "Duped! truppedl" ho uttered, in a tone of tho deepest cliMgriu. Three glittering revolvers confronted him as he took a retreating step, while \iola iu triumphant tones announced his identity. "An inii)ortant capture, m,v friends," sha cried, exult lutly. "It is the detective." CHAPTEU .\XXVL IN (ArTrvnv. La-gdon (lid not attempt resislance in the face of the formidable armament which opposed his retreat. " You are a very clever woman, Viola Dale," he remarked cooily, with an aflfected careless laugh, " but some day you will over- reach yourself." Talcott, of all the three plotters who had arisen to their feet, stood amazed aud alarmed at this unexpected appearance of the detective. "Are you the evil one himself?" he gasped out. "Xo, but I seem hard to kiH," smiled Langdon. "How did he escape?" muttered Talcott. ■ "I saw him bound, weighted, aud suak ia the lake. " "You are mistaken," replied Langdon. "I accompanied the yacht to the city. Talcott seemed terribly concerned over the my-^terious escape from death of the detective. "Will nothing kill this man?" he asked, hopelessly, of Alstyue. 84 "Take onro'" cried the Intter Buddcnlv. lhe\v,irmn|;{W,isuj,rent.rnI one. Closolv w,i uhiiig LauKdon. Uo had Been th.' hitter Uiiiko II Hiis|]i( iipiis mciv.'jiieut. The detective had reiueiuljeied thr Hi'- Tl," ''°'«''"^" « 'lisguise for a few mo- "Ah: I understand." i,v 1^"'' '"'"' " ''"''' •'"""* around the vicin- Aistyne left the room as he spoke. „../ ,"■''' '\';""' ''"''' ■'» li'""' Iftt' r tlint the , c 'u,^ \.'UL'ent, on the outside. m;ulo out a stealthy figure luiking near the walls of me ijiuiding. He had -rown impatient waiting, and imxnl%^ 'M'P-'.rauce of Langdon. as he supposed the new comer to be. with re- 'let and suspense. n„^7'f'iV' "^? ''etective's peculiar attire and false beard and hat wereproseui in the ensenib.e of the lurking «gure \ lucent whistled low and distinctly. I he hgure paused, and raised a beckoning j The motion indicated caution and obedi- I (Snce '"°^°* followed the other at a ; He was led into the building through an open doorway on the lower floor. ^ Langdou," he whipered, as the other be- ».n^o ascend a staircase. "Have you found "Hist:" was the warning response. > Inctnt kept following his guide At they- reached the landing he was suddenly seized from behind. Bound securely, before he could realize It, Ho was flung into a lighted room I Lan^-don lound like himself, regarded j him with a look of dismay. !=■""«" Aistyne removed the detective's disguise he had borrowed to delude Vincent into ca])tivity. "Two of them captured," ha remarked to Hartley. "Watch them closely " •I will," replied Bartlev grimly . He sat smoking his pipe on a stool, eye- ing the prisoners from beneath his shas£/v eyebrows with a satisfied, malignant ex- pression on his evil lace. _'Look the door after you," he called to the departing Aistyne. "All right. " Langdon was consumed with impatrence and chagrin, and paced the floor moodily Vincent, pale and distressed at the fail- ure of their plans, stood silent, leaning against the wall and regarding Bartley Evidently not satisfied with having their captives bound and imprisoned, the ploU ters had determined to prevent an escape this time by appointing a constant guard ovor their movements. Langdon found his hands and arms se- ink I will bor- for 11 few mo- ■ouml the vicin- le Hpoke. r lat. r that tlio ilHide. iiiiulo out far the walls uf t waitinf,', aud iUUj,'(lon, iiij Lo 1)0, with It;. peculiar attiro 1 prtseni iu tho ire. ilintinctly. oil ft beckouiiij{ ion and obedi- he other at a If,' through au oor. i the other lie- ive you found sponso. is guide. As ■vns suddenly souM realize room. 2lfi regarded ve's disguise Vincent into hj remarked lely. " Illy. a stool, eye- 1 his shaggy alignant ex- he called to I impatrence 3or moodily, at the fail. )nt, leaning ing Bartley laving their , the plot* an escape ^tant guard d arms se- MANACLi: AND IIIUCMILLT. 85 L'lirelv hound, mvl nil e Vorls to 1 urnt the BtiOii^' ro; es ihoiihI uimvnjini,'. MtMUtim , 111- was I'crtiiu Tivlcott and Alstvno uoio perfecting ihiir ]>liins to bo- c'uri' the Clil'toii foituiif. .\ti invalid old man, im nai'(>i'.M five the Clifton millions to snc(;cs-.;'i;l ]''o'ter^. The srhemi'S oneo Kiir.-.e ki'u), Lan[,'don's work was all undone, and lio iiiif(ht not bo unable to prevent the Cliflons boinj,' vic- timized. "I must rer;a'n my liborty, ' ho muttered grimly, deHporately. "1 nni>t know this new plan of Harvey TiUcott to extort miiuoy of General Clifton, and the mys- terious secret which gives the plotters their power. His eye brighfeniil as it fell upon Hart- ley, Apparently the ally of the plotters felt secure as rej,'iir'lcd his captives, for he paid 1 o furthar attention tn them but dozed placidly as ho smoked. Luin,'.lon extended his restless pacing of the floor. HO that he passed behind .\lst.ne several times. He had devised a rash and daring plan to ^'et nil of their gaoler. Ho tiiially paused stealthily, gathered himself for a spriuf,', and leaped upwards. Tied a.s his hands were, he j^ave to his feet a bounding jump. They flighted on the back of the unsus- picious Bartiey. TLc lat' r went forward as if propelled from a cannon. l£is hiad struck the opposite wall with a crash. Thi n with a single moan he sank in- sens ble to the floor. Langdou hurried at onco to where Vin- cent stool auia/.ed y witnessing this bril- liant movement on the part of h s corn- pan' on. "Quick!" he said, "let me release your bonds. " "How?" inquired the mystified Vincent. "With my teeth. ' In two minutes lime Langdon had bitten apirt the strands of rope secnriiig his friend a prisoner. Once free, Vincent set the detective at liberty. The latter at once tried the door. It re- sisted ad efforts to force it open. Langdon glanced out of the window. "The Lrround is only forty feet below," he esplaineil to Vincent. "But how shall we reach it?" There was a large heap of rope lying in j oi e corner of the room, and of theso the il"tecliv s on made i long, stout cable. Securing it I > the side of ihe window, he I east a last t;lance ,\t Hartley. ' "Ho will not awiko from that blow for a , t me," lie runiaik.d. I will descend first, you follow me. " "And then?" "We will make our way into the lower portion of the buiMing again." Liiiigdon dropi ed over the edge of the window and disa))peared in the darkucsn below. As the ropo slackened finally aa if re- lieved of its weight, Vincent followed Lis c.vample. He ieache;| lo (trlllMllI llUtOll. ■'\(llll- lUl- ll! Ituo*. in sceunl. 1. M kma.ier. ,.u,l .nu!d In, n„u- th... eni of it. Now 'a Vo must a.r'o .K;r; : .r,..,! C hi,.,u. in.^-.t.te.l ton... , t . loll,... ,„. i,.,i,,„ .■ ,f„7 ". ;/ *^,'„,", •Ihen .vo;. ™lus,. to SI-,, tins pipor. • fhcm>e - • •1 (In. I will not l.liMd ,n , iHx niv uaui • ! Ami iLi -ecivt^ " to a pni-'r (L it nmy cumj.ronns,. mvsolf Kvflrv .muM- refri-.u- to it «iml' »..< ten' s'',l'Z''' '"""' '""'''" '" •'"'" '" '""- i ' ;!'"'^ ''*"• '"'^ ■"■ "" ^'"•'•' f""" '"v l'!'..rvy "Tlifs.l »•.,„,. I '■ ^ •"'""">■"" '"'«'Hle. ' 1 value iioitli.'r. ' "ji^ ,,.,,, j ■• "Vour n'..cc th -n. ■ • .Vame uiih m u^.ce to c1,h iis. it " f.:eTaVl^:^:::i-' ^'- ^'^-'^ ,.j.;ryw.u, co,.,.,st;;;r}^t^nn,i.- ••von w,h do well ,o asrec to ihese ' ,a >er """ ^"' •'°" '" -*'"'" '^•• term. " c. :tiuicd Talcott. -Then we w.ll The two .T.ttc s Lit Ibe room abandon the case. ti, , ... , '. ; . mt! loom. J he wutcllln,^^ lutt rested detective heard tb ' iloor l.ickod on (he oiitsi.le. Ethel Ciilioii H1111..4 nsid ■ tlie sliawl, and ru.shid t.) he:' iiii.lc's sid ■. "Oh uncle uncl-l" sh.. cried, 'is th.aro "And I shiil return to niv home.' ' "Ye.s. "And my niece with me? " "Ceit,7V' ^'"'"'"^ "^ '^« ^ ■''^'''''' ""-■ '^'^"'^ seem iudispnUible " price of tlie Sflcret I linld reu.iidino vnur ' "A. i fK;^ .: •, . '">"^l"'"'"ie. dead Pon.' 1 — .u leg.iuijng >our -^iii this cnme—it mvoives Lis reputa- Genemi Clifton turaed a shad ■ pa'er. "''As au honest man, yes." J, |iur.i,i}i(i, bfl e the pr lof.i of I (' ifloa, with ■llo not <|H rtk lii'iiu ,'li \'i K' 'lit I plot. 'I'his is oil iiiiHt ajr '0 uoii wU.'ri' u this paper I Mm di'scribiii^; .''■ s|)oke of are coruer of the 0, sho -obbed how ful'v her lese (ioBperati! »lcott, hnrHhly 'r your proji- S llSil It. ° . fn t0n iniu- 1 lo nif,'ii thi' )0!I1. ett'ctive heard le. lie shawl, uud ied, is thero -•riri-e.'" oniuily, ft:" rfortuue with jwerles <. It bout Eraest, spiitiible. " ta his reputa- M.VNArLK AND HIiACi.LKT. 87 • IV I rafiill?" ' N •, no, If I Clin unly iniHt I'.iUo i to deiivor up t'l. iiipcr- I w.li bn coutfiii to ioif) hi»'! til" foitii e. " "Vou wi'l not do ihiit, <1 iierul Ciiftoul" Kthel ri'coiled \vith n siiirt el ciy. (!«>n r.il Clirtou h lit' ro.e ou h'> couch, iU I ■'iiiriHl woidmli;]. :it the open w,u- ,Jow looki 8 on III) ih b.i cuny. It tiMini'd n liicti uud ii^;.nt« uiil'iiiuiliitr to biiii, l)ut lithe', cried .o.voU'iy; "Wo lire siived! ■ Wi.o in Le . " asked Clifton anxiously. ".V fii nd to ui; the do id y enemy of our fOfS. " ''I luu I de ective, Gouonil Clittnu,' in- tornipted I illii^doii, :nlviiiiri;ij; ialo the room, "an 1 1 lud' e.i uouio to Ka>e you. " "It is iiupos-ilde. " "No, Arouse yourself, exert youiself, for von must li-ae here." He advunc d to n little stand near the coneh. It eouti'nod, besides viirioas phinls of Tnedicuie, a bottle of Romha'I we escape.'' " "By youder window. "There is a ladder there, then.'" "No. .1 lope; but do not fear. It is stout and the distance to the ground is slight, "Com', mil 1 ', let us not d lay. urged the agitated Ethel. "And whither shall I go? " inquired Clifton, ■' There is a settlement near here. Hasten tliiili'i. liut you w II liiKt a friend b.luV til a d . ou. A fii nd.' ■ y< -; Vncm Mi.riou.' vii ilml imp Htill lowo!'. iliow the eiiitiiiiH «r tlio conch luoro oIOHely, aiuUikmKii pair .f colort'il rvo- glttSHOH in his hm.tl, dr. w the el ith.'S of the concli over all his foim except his fmn. IliH impoHiiioii wub ccrtu nly a runmrka- blo III e. mill oiitiri'lv lifo-lilio mid niitiiriil. Ilia wnnl, h' rcHiiiilih.d (ioucnii Clif. ton ill Kt'iionil aiipeaiuiioo most stian(,;olv. Tho Kiiiy hair and board and p. ni i'ed fm were aided in their etleot bv tlie dim li(;)it in the apaitniiiit lie iiiul juht got coiuforlably ensconced in the bed whcntlioro wis the Hound of tho door being unlorUed. Talcott entiTid tho room, followed by AlHtyue Tho former cast a careles-. s,'lanoe at tho doft y iinnnKed Hhawl over tho chair, and, an Liiuj,'doii had unticii uttd, mver siis- pectiil thit Kihol t'liltou was not an inmate of the apart nit'i:t AlHiyiic Mink to a chnir by Ihu iloor, us if tobdly nnliilerested in th""inttrview about to occur. •You've got it terrible Rloomy here," re- marked Talcott approaching the couch. Laiigilon WU8 a natural iniiuic and ven- triloiiuist, and did not fear to veiituioa re- ply- III a well-feigniil imitation of General Clifton's tones, ho said: "Thii 1 ght is bad lor the eyes." Thi'ii ho iilacod tho coloied Hpoctacles t\i tvso, thereby still t'urluer disguising his face. "About this 1 uper?" said Taloott. 'Have you ileciileil.' ' "Ye^." "You Will sign it.' " demanded Talcott (agtrlv. "Willingly." Talcott unfolded tho document he car- rie.l in his hand, with an esultont look on his face. "Piov sioiially," supplemented the false General Clifton. Talcott fron ned darkly. "How provisiouallyV" "You i>romised t> toll about tho hiding- place of the papers." "Referring to tho secret of your son. Ernest.-'" "Ves. " ■'^Vell, I will, but sisu first." , "No, the infomalivn first." "And you ac^'iee to then «ien this docu- niont?" •'I do." "Vfry well, they are hidden awav near l..aKi'Mi(|o. " "Wlnre,'" "I" a coffin." Lai gilon Ktiirtf'd. He now recall d tho converhation he had overh anl tianspiro in the houne in iho oity, where Kthel flifton was supposed to have diod. ' 111 that interview an alluHioi hud been mad.' to certain pipois in connection with ilic niok burial. Tho ciiskot in which he had so nearly been bulled alivo conuiued, then, tho groat Clifton sei rot. lie thrill d to ipiick exoitement as he reaii/.i-il th • impnrtunce of this discovery If I'alc'oii told Iho truth, and ho proba- I biy lid. iho papers once Kccured, ihe vil- I lam was comi.eteiy iliBurined from further , peiseiiitiou of the CliftouH, once these pa- I peiH wore found bv Langilon, or destroyeil. j lulcott Hcemed to gn.w iniii.itieiit i.t the long silcn. of the i r.temleit Clifton. i ''.Vow will you sign the paper.'" he asked. I l..uii;^don hid iiolermined on a decisive ni'Vonieut. "YoH, " ho said. Tnliott nil t lined to Alstvne. 'Ihe alter brought a \nn and ink to the Biilo of ihc couch. l4inf,'d.in l'ei..'iioi I extreme woaknosB as he seii'eil the pen. Wiih suspenseful delight Talcott watch, d hini hcrawl a signalmo at the boitom of the eloKely written ilociinnmt. Ill his Katisfactioii and iiiipitienee he fnirly tore the pap.'r from l.an iihu's hand. Ho carrieil it to th... lamp, his eves fileam- in- with triumph. ' " •Msi' n.' followed him. intorestedlv. " I'h,- I'ortimo is ours at list," oiiod Tn'. oott oxultint'y. ".Vpart of'it you m.'aii," corrected Al- styne. "Tho rest will be ours quite as easily in time." ■' Langdon crept silently from the couch. Cautiously he ilr, u a revolver. It was one that hud been taken from him by JJurkley when Viola Dale led the detect- ive nto tho power of his enemies an hour pipvious. IIo had recover, d it from Alstyno when the hittor was ovei powered in Iho room on the niipor floor, whence himself and Vin- cent hul escaped by tho ropo. He sio.id ready now to capture his two foos who Were engrossed in perusing the dociinienf. Suddonly a wild cry rang from Tab ott's hps. "Confusion!" he ejaculated,, "we haTo been duped." d«a away aaar »rKOtion hi) hnd hullHM iu lllu 18 autipotteil to Nio:i liiul been )uutetion with bud 80 nearly tbi'u, the Kruut liti'iiient lis be •hu (liMoovciy. mil ho prolm- Miri'd, I he vil. d trom fiiithor once thesi' pu- or (lestroyi'ii. ip'tli>.>ut lit (be I Clil'toii. ler.'" he iisked. on a dtcibive le. nd i' k to thtf reikknoNB iiH he lilcott watch, d bottom of the upitionct! he i'.mIuu'h hand. I lyos glenia- t'stedlv. ," ciioa Tii!. jorrocted Al- > rts easily iu the couch, er. ceil from tiim (1 tbo detect- uii s nil liour Istyuo when iho room on elf and Via. ine his two perusing the rom Tall ott'e ,, "we have MANAOT-F AND BR\rr,T,KT. 89 *T)aped!" erhoed Alxtvue axoUedlv. "Wliat do von iiionii?" "Look at that Hinmlure." "Im it not (leuoru: Clifton's aiKtiature?" "No, road," "Liii>{lon, the diti'itive," road AlHtyno. Until ni'ii turned ■ VuH. K*-'"''""" I- I HiK'md ilmtdoonii I'lit, B!i I Oi iii'i'iil Cl.fon iiiwi liH niece hive ei- oaped to II pluc' of safety. As if I'otntlod for a niiJiiii,'Mt, the two batllod plottoiR stood regudiu^ the do- tocti in tin- widest ani;i/. im ni. Tiny lould scttri'oiy credit the evid no | of tliinr HniiB' s. 1 I'.'it til'' voi(\o of L'ltiKdon rnuif fainilinr- ' ly II, .0 1 thoir ho,\rin;,'. and us ih"V ^ja od at liiiii iliey disi'oinod his nritinal featuruit ' ovt'ii tlir iitth liis as--uiiioil disj^ iisi'. Lini ilo I bad leveled Iho revolvor di- rot'tly at tbi'm. "Moveuiul I tire," ho said menaciiij"' "Oe I'lGinon your Ram" is tudcd, and yoi are my inisoners." In Iho faro i>f bis d •torniined bea in,' and the i o: ed weapon in hs hiiul, (ho batllid pli.ttofs w ri« motionless and silont. "\on will o' oy mu iiniilioiluly," ro- Bumud tho detective ciiliiily, 'and mar h from Ibis pluc ' ahead of mo In tho nmreHt hottU ment, where I shall hand you over to tho iiolice." ".No. we will nit." Alstyne, tlamiiiK with nii,'G and chaRiin, spraui,' toward l.auf,'dou boldly. He bad d;awn a revolver, rei kloss of the det ct.ve's threat. 'I'h • latter pii'led tho trigger of the wea- pon in his hand. Its slmi'p click was followed by no ex- plusion. Evidently Bartley had removed the car- tridges. With a cry of dismay, Langdon flung the revolver to the fioo;-. Alslyue fired at him pnint blank. Narrowly escaji iig the sboi, the detec- tive d.isb d toward the window. He H|)iang to tho balcony i.ud made a jam 1 for the rope hanging m ar at baud. As bo gra-iied it a d 'r.sive lan,'h eans.^d him to '^lanee up. ,\t the window above was Hartley, evi- dently recovered from his insousibiiily in time to prevent the deteclive'K meditated es- cape. He held a knife in bis haul, and its gleaming blade swept the surf.ioo of the roi)e. Its strands part 'd and the detective was precipitated tbioii^b spaeo. At the same mom'.'Ut Talcott and Alstyne Mieori/.od, Oen- \ -re safe by ibia rr.ieliu)^! the balcony, fired down inio the d.tikness. l.au,'do:i could no' repreisac. of pnin as he reiiebed thr i^u\ ind. HiH font Hi'ein"d sprained by th> fall, for it was with d'llU' Ktv Ihit be limped out of ram;o oH the sho's >d' I..h enoniios. Him plan hid in part, failed most di*' asiroiisiy However, he b pofidlv er.il Ctlftou and hiii neic tini". He boarl Tale itt urgi' Alstyne ex 'itedly, to liuiiy from the lalcony and intercept tho d.tei'tivi's escape. l,aiit,'dou could s arcely limp aloiij,', so gri at was the pain in hl-^ spniiiie 1 limb "i must I (It b' caiitured now," h" iiiut- fered, uriiiily. I miiBt secrete myself un- til the search is pas'." He leaked ijiiiekly around, and then m 1 lo lii< way a^ rapidly as pos-ible to- ward the bianoli of tho liver near at bind. .V |la-lio:it, pailially lo.ided with wood, was moor.'d to die liaiikfl. .lus a< be clambereil uiion it, be could see ibue lurrying fornis dash from the buildini? from which h,; bad just escaped. He liopeil they bad not peieeivoil him, but be lost heiirt as bo beard them nttor an excited shout He climbed ov^r the w )od and iuto the opiu bold of tlio boat. There b' ciept to a dark corner and await'd dovflopuvnts. 'Ibo,,- were not slow iu reveal, ng tliom- selves. A few moiiieuts later three forms clanibeiod over the juIes of wood. "i Riw him CO. lie liere. ' ciied Alstyne. " Then he must be in the hold, " suggested Talcott. •' Ves. Bring a lautern, Bartley. " The man addressed ran back to the old buil ing. He reap; eared a moment later with a lantern. Its rays showi.'d to the detective his mur- derous eui'iuies grouped around the en- tr .nee to the hold. The illuniiuation, too, revealed his crouching forn, to his eu-niies. Talcott aud .Mstyue rnisod their revolv- ers to fire at him. "J'ak ' c.ire!" cried Bartloy, wurniugly. The men sprang asido at bis warning C17. With a cr.isb a huge mass of wood be- cara'.i dislodged. It rushed down tow irds the hold with crnsliingto.ee, and tUl d it complete'y. Tho iicli'iu, souJiUf,' the overweiiibt to the bow of the boat, caused it to dip. If 90 The recoil of the crnft sent its side ng.unst a prDJoetin,' timber ou .b.- dock. i here was au oiuinoiis f^-urRlm^' soiukI ha boat IS sinking- ciie.l Talco t in alnrni. "Hun our fiiond. the .ktective, is ilou- lor Ibis tuiio sure,' mutteivd Alstvne com- IJlaccntly. il:- w. rilH FBt'ined true. liiiiiiis.,U(.d in tlio hold of tlic boat, which WIS last siukui- f,,,:a sic-bt, xvhat rh.mc ■ tor hie had tiio impor.iud d^ ti-ctivoV WAXACLT; AN!> BHACJ^LET. CHAPTHU XXXIX. T.VN,.J,l:lJ '-iil.lN.s. One month af.er the o cnrrence of the events detiiled in the la-t chapter Ibo C;if- ton case had assumed a Ptniugo aspect. To tb.' police it was a mvsterv abaud'onc-d UK too inip.netr.ible for lucid iiivest,gatiou lothe i„iblic it became the . x.-itoiuoiit ot a day, and tboa pissed into- the archives 01 tHe past as an almost fortjottpi! ira ' dv In the Vic nitv otth.Ciilion mansion -osl Bip was sii.l busy with its details, tboV-h oiily mcidcuti'lly and r>-::iote,v. i There tne certa n mud.-r of Cienenil Uiftcn and the stculiug of bis bodv was i accepted as ii fact, The supuoHod assassin, Vincent il .rton was said to have i;oue to some foreign couniy to escape justice. " ..>.„. „.- .,„„ untnv •viane. tbe honsem lul, still had charge at i I- the lu-escnt, the veteran detective dis- appears irom tbe case and all its va-i.'d workings. ■ ^' A strange case of co'.'ateial disappoarnce wa- made mmifest a week Inter Howard, th • del. .tive, received a note at poli.H- bead.u.uters one eveuiuL'. au- paifu'.ly from .Laiig(^,oi:. ^ i f.I^« ^^•' "t 'uoiice io the place it a! pointed for a i.'ieeti'i;,'. i „f ^y'"'V'7i*' ""'"^ ^ ''"I^ o^' ■'"'i'c"tf or not at least Howard Iroin that dav b.d nor I been seen by any of his pohee eobeague. Ill s,. tv,o detpctivrs had disappeared as su.-l nlyandi-iystenoisiv as thon.;h tbe enilh Had swallowed them from tne si^ht ot man '^ t-'o fa.- there was a clear field for the nn- molested o| eratioiis oi' Harvey Talcotfs plots, lor two of bis most dangerous ene- mies vyere apparently effect' allv removed treiu hi- path. inordr to fully comprehend the con- dition of at iurs one n.onth after tbe ei.isodo o; tbosinkingof the.le.t-bod the re.uler liiUSt be told briefly ,.t iho .ccurre ces ht subsecnieut to iif the fam:!y mansion to v.su some friend in a (distant city. Whether th .'lawvcr himself accepted this as th.- irntb shn did i.o. know. -•dane s, emod to consider the dis ipear- ance ot the deteciives a> > vi.lence th't ibe piai s ot lalcott were succeeding, and -bo re;iiained at her po^t of duty, awaiuug liis orders and fr,,ther develo, meuts in the tion to succee I alone, wi ! i.i. into emnla' , !1 t)o tl and case dies ■r with the '•ecret of some t;reat ■sed by hiinsR'f on y, and if he >ult of all bis work is lost. ,tiia' is l)linded, the vutiin helpless, vil ainy anl ciime triumphant, be- cause no ie| ort ov record of the deti ctive a iliscuveries is niaile maint'est. 'Ibis is a del'i ct in the secret-service svB 0111 which only the jnivaie detective a'geuc es in-ist on ob\iati g by a system of daily written leports of iheir opeiatives. I'.Vrtii there a certain scope of secrecy ia retained by tAe detective. How miiiy murder rs. almost tiaced to then doom, have e-caiied bec;'.nse the de- tective who li.i I Ineu trailing thom dies, and the secret of their guilt with him. Of all this \ iijci nt Morton was one morning about a covery. As has been slated, almost despair. ug but m t yet diunted he had, after .eavinu hospititl. delernuned to once more ir.ice oi his lost love. He' was alone in the (piest now, but was not hopeless of accomplishing his pur- po.--e bv iiatieut. earnest toil. His 'first visit had been to the Clifton mansion. He had assumed a disguise which cou- stituteil almost a iieriuanent change in his face, manner, and tone of voice. His r c. nt llness had mad(> his feitures unnaturally thin, and this aided his assump- tion, so that a careful and successful make... tbiu.ving week after his re- the seek he The attcm ants told him thit he bail been _ __ found, insane from a wound in the temiile ! up completely irouccaled his uue iileutity, and fe er, wandering the streots. | He found no one ct the Ciifton i.mnsiou This v,as the state of the greiit Cliitcn ] but Maiie, the housemaid, and another myster, one month after the apparent death ; servant of Langdoi:, the detective. Ever\ important a'tor in the trag;'dy had disai)pi aved from iiublic view except Vin- cent Morton. And this man, disheaitened at the dis- astrous eKiieiienco of the pa-t, and be- wildered at the Htian^;e complications sur- KUiuding Uim one bri-lit niuining in August siaited forth to r< new the broken ipiest for the woman he loved. In^"i'*^'y ^'^ duems the coast clear now Ah! the luwyur— General Clifton's family counselor. 1 will visit his office and see if he cannot afford m6 some iul'ormation that . may put me on the trail of thw schemers." \iucont had consumed the morniu" 'n his investiRatiois, uud it Wiis lito in^the afteruoou when he reached the ollice of the lawyer. The iittoruey's clejk showed Vincent into the rrivate oilice. "I will learn for you when he wiil re- turn," ho said, and l-ft the visitor alone while he went to make inquiries as to his emi)lo.yer from the other clerks in the office. Vince.it naturally glanced a; the cases and cabinets around him, some of which probably contained pajiers referring to the fortune of the unforlunate General Ciftou Naturally, too, his gaze windend over the table before him, and h • starte I as amoug several ojjon letters lying on : he desk before the arm-chair usually occupied bv the lawyer his eye fell upon a "mi.ssive which contained the nan;e Cliftou several times. He could not resist the tomi)tation to uerusethe letter as it lav before him ^o keenly anxious was he to gain some clew to the captora of Ethel Cliftou. He thrilled to (]uick excitement and de- light as he read the missive. Evidently it had been received that verv day by the lawyer. Seemingly, too, he was now absent on a visit to its writer. And that writer in a flash of thought Vin- cent Morton decided to be Harvey Talco t The letter was brief, and rerjiiested the lawyer to call that afternoon to see the representative of Miss Eihel Clifton, heir- ess to the dead Ge- eral Clifton. The lawyer was assured that there was reason fo.' the secret course so far pursu 'd in Miss Clifton's communiciitions to him- self. Al) this, it was stated, would be fully ex- plained if the lawyer would &1II at a tiuiii- be.- written on the margin of the note. Ihis location the susDonseful Vincent noted carefully, and de"teri,iined to act u))o:i his newly acquired information at once. When the clerk returned he informed \ lucent that the lawyer might not return for an hour yet. "Will you" wait his return or leav- your name?" asked the clerk. He had his mind fully mad£(.up that he MANACLE AND BRACELET. I a"''}'^ ^"c ?.' °"<"' '" ^^^ place where the I sender of the note to the lawyer resided I r „ 1 ^"^,, SettiiiJ^ on toward dusk as' he ! reached the place, which was located on a retired reside .ce street in the southern por- tion of the city. ^ At a glance ^■incent recognized in the selection of this new place of hiding of the conspirators, for such he decided it to certainly be all the prevision and cmftiness of Harvey Ja cott. A small stone house, set well back from tue strea. Jt was surron:ided with shrub- bery in fiont and at one side. Beyond, it joined a high brick building stre'et '''^° apparently to the next At a glance Vincent discerned that this place had doubtlessly been chosen with a J,lfZ i? ^?"4f ''■*"'^' '-'^'' '^"«1 entrance the street ''' ' '"'''•^°'»'-^ apparent from Seveml limcs Vinceut ja^sed the house tiyinj^ to devise some plau bv which he mi^ , be enabled to effect a safe entrance. At last he decided cuaplau of action, and oner '^' "'^ "*™ "' '*'"'°'i «' In Its iiriniary execution ho did not con- suiue much time. lor the space of about live miuut>s he was gone from the vicinity of the house W hen he returned he bore under his arm a green bag such as lawyers sometimes hand' ** ''"*^^ '^® "^' l^'^P'^" '"» liis He now proceeded boldly up the graveled walk leading to the front eutrauce (o the house. _ The door was supplied w;th a heavy old- tashioued knocker, and he was about to lift this when h ■ d cided to try the door To his surprise and delight he found it was neither iockeil nor l)olted, and he opened it, closed it after him, and found himself standing alone in a broad nn- uucarpe;ed hallway. IJoors led off into rooms from both sides ut this, and the sounds of voices, engaced in aniiuatv. i conversation, reached Vfu- cent's ears vaguely. He ;ojated the" a)mrtment whence the sound emanated, and decided toact boldly. A door slightly ajar showed two rooms, in I he further one of which were seated seve.al persons. The ante- room was unoccupied and was L;lo(miy and quite dark. Once i 1 its shad- ows, ^lnceut could hope to overhear the conversation going on in the ailjoiuinff ajartinent. If lie could glide to a chair in some re- mole corner, he would for the present, at least, be undiscovered bv any one. !e where the er resided. dusk as Le located on a southern por- :uizeil in the liiiliug of the lecidoil it to nd craftiness II back from I with shrub- ick building to the next led that this iORou with a ud entrance )l)arent from d the house ),v which he t'e eutruuoe. faction, and n action at lid not coa» minutes he le house. ) under his > sometimes tpers in his he graveled auce to the heavy old- ibout to lift door. lie found it id, and he and found -)road, un- both sides 38, engaced •bed Vfn- hence the act boldly. 3 rooms, in ere seated 1 and was 1 its shad- erhear the adjoining some ra> resent, at ill MANACLi: AND 1!KAC1^-LKT. 98 Lnter, if confrdutcd, be wou!d ( rotenil to Imve como to Ke > the lawyer, a id bo bml framed a jilau'iiMo oxciise to m.iko thut (•erson for lollowiuK biiii hither. Vince.it i.iished 1 pi?a the dcoi .ilightly, und hteiilibily glided into the aute-rooui. He sbnuik to tie Hhidow of llie folding door^*, iin i said; to a eliair staiuliii^,' ibete without a\)\) .reiitly attr/iciiu'.; the at;ci-lioa of the occu; iiuts of the next iji ntment. He could both sec' and lieur what w.i.s tiausiiirinj,' in that room, :ind be became in- tent y iib-;i>ibrd in tui« t sk. 'Vi.u piueo belli three oecuiianls besideB bimse f. Ujie be could not aoe, but his soul thrilled to wild ku.sijbubo as bo divined that it could be no other than Eibel Clifton. She WIS lying upon a couch, a sbaw' thrown over her, and beside ber sat the l.;wyer of the Clifti.n estate. Harvey Talcott and .Vlstyne, both ele- gantly diess'ed, and ])resenting the ai pear- auce if repu able, well-to-do citi/ens, sat at a table conversing with the lawyer. Near the couch, wi-aiing the garb of an atttndaut, wasVola Clifton. Vincent read in all this tha successful developm 'it of 'J'alco t's plots. He doubted not but that some specious story of fraud and duplicity was now im- posed upon the lawyer. Jo this Eth 1 Cliitou, crushed and help- less under the old terror of her enemies, was an uuwillint,' v<"'ty. Vincent slra ued bis bearing to catch the full imjiort of the first words sjiokvu. Harv( y Talcott was the speaker, and he ^\aB saying: ■' Vou will see, sir, that we have bad a reason for remaining away from the C.if- tou mansion. ' •'Yes," replied the lawyer. "You have acted '"^'»« CIIAPXliU XU. '[• 1 I. PLOrXEUS IN COUNCIL vJ 1 !■? *u ^^V'^en^'y .i"9t seen the law- coLf l^" ^^'"'^' ^bile Alstyne hid E irr^f^^t H^^np^'itmentinto which Ethel Clifion had been coiveyed. «nii .. n°^ ^^'' ''li'ef plotter in the cove e.1 ^ilr ^''""? '^' ^''f'-^" ^''^'^ of i'« co\etedmilli„u. betrayed the profoundest satisfaction and delight. =o,'7^®.lr'^"'^'' 's completely deceived," he KeludeiK'''''^'™"^''^*^'^"^'-'''^ piu^-sJs^rs^e:''*^^^'^^''^-' \es She fears to refuse to submit, for she believes her uncle is still in our power. " "Andyou think he is dead?" Undouljtedly. " "AndLaiigdou? ■ ey'e^"^'^ ^^ "°* "^^ ^''" 1'®"^^ before our "Then the coast is dear." "Yes. Howard is our prisoner in a Iciely country mill, aad Vincent Morton has undoubtedly fled the conntrv. " Alstyne looked complacent and Sitisfied, inen to-morro .v we obtain the fortune?" he asked. "Enough of it to !«st until the real estate beco;nes ours. " "iY'l' the }^irl continue to obey US'"' "She must." "A'd then we leave the country?" „H \ould perhaps be best. " __ Viola has forgo ten Morion." ^o; she only awaits the culmination of our plans to had him a,'ain." Alsfyue's I row ner in a it Morton ti I Sitisfied. fortune?" the real U8'."» 7" nation of I changed bere?" MANACLE AND BRACFLET. 96 "Erirtly." "Ihu t it a little dangerous?" "Whity" "Counterfeiting." 1 "Mhy?" 1 "Bicanse if detected we would all get in trouble. ' "hut we are safe here." "Ptvhaps," replied Alstyne; "still we have enough money coming lu without run- ning that risk." "From the Clifton fortune?" asked Tal- cott. "Yes." "Still Bartley wanted the counterfeit plates OS Lis pay for services." •".Vnd he and the men are working at them?" "In the basement, yes." "They form part of the Clifton secret?" "Yes." "And the papers?" "Aie in the vault, yonder." The listening Vincent started violently. At the same inonient he prepared for a Btrugg'e in case the men shL uld come to his place of concealment. Evidently snch was their purpose, for he heard TaU ott cross the floor in the direc- tion of the vault. The door moved, Vincent held his breath with suspense. The lock jarred and the irou bolts jangled noisily. Then, with an echoing slam, the ponder- ous door closi d upon the dismayed Vincent Morton, a prisoner within the vault. lHAPTEK XLU. in the vault. For a moment Vincent Morton's henrt stood still as the closing door grated harshly on his hearing. Then utter silence, tomb-like and som- ber, aocompnnii'd a sutiocating sense of peril. He was shut in the vault, and he knew not how soon he might perish for want of fiesh air. All sounds from the outside aparta ent were now shut out from his hearing, but he decided that Takott aid Alstyne must have left the room. After a mou:ent or two he tried the door, but it resisted his reo.it strenuous eii'orts to turn back the ponderous bolts. Blindly, despairingly groping his way tibout *hb vault, Vincent thrilled to sudden hopefuli.css as his ham' touched a lamp upon one of the shelves at the side of the comjarlment. He had soon lit a match, and, as it ig- nited th«' laniii, a tiim glare of nd anoo re- realed the interior of the vault. He could tell by its flame, and from the fact that there was a Hiniill ventilalor in one corner of the room, that, while he might sutler some diseomfort, there was no lilie- lihood of suffocation. '•I will hfive to remain here until the vault is again opened," he decided, "unless I can force the lock. Meantime a search among the 1 apers I see here may not prove profit- less. " He remembered having heard Talcott tell Alsiyne that the papeis referring to the Clifton secret were concealed within the vault. '1 here was a mass of documents in the place, and over these, by the aid of the lamp he had lighted, Vincent pored for over an hour. His eye brightened, and he uttered an ejaculation of interest and delight as he at last unearthed a time-worn packet hidden away in a remote corner of a shelf. It was inclosed in a large envelo) e, and bore the inscription, "Papers relating to Clifton secret," evhlently in Talcott's hand- writing, He tore open the envelope, curious, eager to scan its inclosure. He glanced at one of the documents with startled eyes, and then hastily thrust the packet into his pocket. There had sounded a suspicious click aA the door. With bated breath and concerned, sus- penseful eyes Vincent watched the door, and baw its bolts, from some outside pressure on the knob of the vault, slowly, cautiously move back in their sockets. Friend' or foe, he must be ready for a conflict. Vincent blew out the lamp and merged the interior of the vault into darkness. The door opened. There was no lamp in the outside apartment, but the dying liuht of day outlined a man's form between the open doorway and the window of the apartment beyond. Vincent determined on a bold dash for liberty, as he would certainly be discovrred by any one entering the vault. " A strong hand barred his progress as he attempted to spring over the threshold of the vault. Its grasp held him a close prisoner. "Who are you?" spoke a hoarse, impres. sive voice in his ear. Vincent did not at first reply, but he stared fixedly at the face of his captor aa both retreated into the apartment. "The man who was watching at the win* dowV" he murmured. "Yes." "Then vou are not a friend to these peo- ple?" I: t; m I I ! I>fi ^1 ^^o, M . sati-iio,! |,„h, \Ucnicon,l,in.. in .IpfoMtinij tlie ..lots ot thi.se vilaiMs. th,.n, ■ h,- s.iiii. ' I ''tit I do not kuMW yon." '"Vou .sli i!l in time."" ".Vud wliy not now," '■Became, if wo full, t is hotter that I am Vincent sUiied sliangelv at the other U>Mr interest in th^s .-..e-" he began. Ixesul s iuthen.unaskinK„f HaivevTaU cott and l,m evi! •.(•eo:i,,,liees, and in the ( 'lifton " ' "■'^'"''"»^'* i^'t'm. Ethei "Then you knew her:'" | 'Ves. Listen; you are my-itified hI mv ' Iiossib e conneetion uith 'Id, oa-'e "Let it sullice th;a I ius Theie«„sa light frame ladder secured to the .side of the light 8h..ft. auddese'?n^''f V '^« ""p'oyo'l to asceud nuci descend to clen'i fne windows, or f>-" .-•, »u V wi% mil au them. • "Itiiol (lifton must he rescued this very night this very hour, if possible "Whe„ she is once beyond the power of il;> and etteetively. ' There was the' ring of i.npressive. earn- est^ sincerity and eoutid.n.e in th.. strangers Despite himself. Vinceut .Morton not b;it trust in h s ."^ta eii„.„ts /'Who.vei you are, "he said, imju'es^ively 1 beli.ve m you. and trust to vour guid- ance. • ra""' "The,! c,,me; we must not del.iy in sur- prising and arresting these villains at once. " He led the way from the room as he spoke. They found the hall in darkne8«. Oropiug their wiy about, and endeavor- ing to locate the persons they sought, thev peaetrated seveml a..rk corridors ' «„3!)i'"f," "',"' ^'^ """" ^'"^ apparently de- serted he lower portion of the buildiu-. for no lights were visible. The stranger had told \-incent about see. ingh.m locked in the vaut, and afterward hearing Tahott tell Alstyue that thev won d building.'" "'"'^'' "'"■*""' °^ '^« "«^f The structure th^y referred to was evi- ■icaj) " ia N ineeut :< dauntless bravery suggested an ii.{;r.i^'::;iLir:ilh:i:s«'--'^« aseett." ""'''•'' ""^' ''""i°''«ly ^'^ began its .As he ueured the window whence the : ghf em .naf<.d, he peered stealthily w h^ the roomljcvoiid. ' It was H comfortably furnished apart- IK. a, an 1 held wo oc upants, whom Vin- cen' coul.l «en i.'ainlv. "• > lu The window, too, was open for punioses rui^Sl^bp^'lIi^l-S'-S-'"^ Btm.ding at he door as if ready to deiurt quirin". '' " ''^''•" '^'"'^°" ^''^8 io- ;;Ves, sifo and quet for the night." ieserted ami , vig^ j:|^;S^e ^^^ ^^g^^ Alstyne left the room. Talcott wis alone. He sat at the table with his back to the window, a pen „, his hand, a;., arently m- fleeting deeply. •^ " For some' moments Vincen^ Morton watched his enemy in siK.nce "*""»" i.^'^.l/i'f.^^ «"* "'»" ■»'»"« a"i apparently ates ftom his assooiales and coufeder- A sudden impulse seized him to make a rear with the ■^ ItiroU'^h :t llll"Ut. ciiuie Hopiir- w a broiid I i> e, and ii 11,' its radius bad one or der Secured •d to UHceud ows, or, ia igRosted aa whore the ti into the e begftn its .'hence the iily w h n !ied apart- vLom \iii. r i)uq)oses rh'ar what Kb writing slyne wafl > dt'ixrt. ; was in- qht/' ire night's Jiigtask." ig occnrs ris alone. ;k to the •ently re- MortoQ )parently sont'eder- I make a MAX'.rT.F- ANP BRACELET. 07 liold, p-ompt ett'ort to tiiialiy mitwit and do- font Ih s iiu)r nci;iled jiiotlfr. Ho bid a roolvcr in bis pocket, and g'tting it rondy f%^r iia;iii'diiiti- use bo liimb (I noinelossly intn tln' room. Silently bi' toie uror. ,d ;lie lulde, and ( ui"tlv ;iid d to a <■ air direi'tly oi)posite ll.uv.'y lalcolt. 'rh.i» was a dotcrnaiiod glittor in Vin- cout Morton'iJ eyes, and bis lip- w>.ro com- ^ Iire^KL'il, bis f ice stern mid resoJule. i Tidcott snd lenly bio'.iiiig up. recoiled ] V, ,tii a violent start. '• Ho sat staling at the iutruiicr for u ino- uu'ut or two in oiien-nioutbod bewildoi- iLiellt. ! "Who arc you? How came you here?" he | iiuallv nasped forth. Evideiiily b:' did not recogni'.o Vincent. | "I am your deadli»\st cueiny," c.ime the I slow, aolemn response, a d I ba\ o couio i h re to kill you if you do not insbintly ac- j cede to mv denmds." i "Vincent Moiton!" breathed Talcoft. i turning deadly pale and recognizing the : voice of the man be snnpo-ed to be dead or i A fugitive from iustici'. | Vincent lifted the revolver to a level with Harvey Talcott s heart. I "Mo.e, or nia';e an alarm, and you are a ' dead man," ho said uupicssively. "Harvey ' Tide itt. the ead of ad your evil schemes has come, i'nsb o.er »o me tbr wriiing material-; tiet'orc you .j Wi b a era, en fare and sullen yet iilirigbt- ed manner tho plotter obeyed Viucout's miindate. •'Now, then, I will begin. I'n incmbcr, if you make a treacherous move I will tire," warned Vincent ineimcin^ly. He beldh s revo vcr in oue baud. With tho other bo s^i/ed a pen from the idil ■, ilijiped it into ilie ink and remarked caim'y: ■ Harvey Talcott, yo-,r career of fraud and crime terminate ; iiere and now. I will Mrite. and you will sign. ' "Sign what?" choked out the craven Tal- cott. "Your deitb warrant!'' fell mercilessly and impressively from V ucent Morton's Upa. CIIAPTlv; xr.iii. THK CONI'E.SSION. A (piick pallor o'. erspread Harvey Tal- colt's face at the ominous words of the in- truder. He bad but to glanco at the deteimiueil face and menaciu'^ eyes of Vin v>ut -Mor- ton to know fhit his ni'ssion was a serious and deadlv one. raacinuted, spoUbound, terrified, he sal glaring at I be euemy so suddenly and niya- loliolisly leve ded. ' Mv death wariant? " he repeatoil hoarsely, "Vi.s." "What do uii mean? ' "I mean that 1 shall write out somethiufj for you to sign." "A statement— a letter " "Yes, a cimteBsioii of your crimes." A shudder convulsed the fr ime of the desj erado. He was at bay. the tables completely turned, and in the ))Ower of an implac d;lo onemy. He did not speak further, but sit leaning back ill hi. chai.- immovable, as \ incent MoHon began wriiing. His bind tlew r.ijiidly over the white page, his eye keeping a side watch upon the man he had determined to hunt to his doom. The p igo was tinisbed at last. Vincent looked up at his enemy. "Beginning w th your first uppearaice in the Clifton tra;.;edv," bo said liniily, "1 have brieliv outlined your crimes. Hurvey 'I'al- cot . I wish you to sign that pajier." "And if 1 refuse? quavered on the era- ven s lips. "Y'ou invite your death. Choose, and ijuiekly. I am d termine I." There was an oniinou- click of the re- volver. Talcott grated his teeth vengefuUy. but took up the peil. "Sign!" cominiiided \'iiicont sternly. . Talcott, about to oliey b ni, piused straiiAoly- I At the siiiiie niouieiit the revolver was I torn tiom \'inceiit s Imnd i Alstyne returning to ihe room uiicvpeet- ' edly hid prevented (be consummation of ' \incen* Morion's desi'.,'n. i Till' latur arose to his feet, disirmed aud i dis'iiaved. i AVitb Ida/ing e' es and miMgnant. tiiim- ' iiiiant face, Ha'voy I'lilcott waved aloft Ihe \ jiaper Yinco it had written. i "My d ath warranti" he cried exultantly. ' "Ha, ha! iti- your own. Vincent Jloifou, ' this document, a vague confession of tho crime ii wbi'h you were concerned, would Bend you to the gallows. "It is in your own handwriting, appar. ontly a confession you began, but failed to sign. Now, who is tho victor?" Vincent Morton did not reply. Instead, he made a quick dash for the door. V-fore h s enemies cou'd obstruct bis ( d progri'ss he was i" the ball without au^. wishing down its K I'l. A shot wbi/.zed by his bead, as in the 98 dirKiK'sRho run stmiR it to a door apinii- ently ifiuliiis' tn th.outNiile. !j^i> I'looii itjitf'y the building, evidently at one time a factory was located. Vincent clun- to this fiail and swaving wue with desiierate tenaeity. It strained (ind'a\e with ulnrm n" ten- Riou. I owev,. , and ho began to deBi.e"nd its luclmed 'en',th. He clnnK to it resolutely, nlthouth it eut his han( 8. He reaehid (he ground with a shock, and sank to the eailh eonlusid and half- stnnned. ] A thoiinht that the iiliice nii.dit b<. searched for some trace of him bv his eucmiea I can->ed him to setk son:e place of coi eeal- ' ment, and he cast about him for seme ave- i i.ueof exit fnmi the court into uhich he I Jttad lal en. ! His fad had deprived him momentarily of a leifecf, active control of his liml.s and as he saw an oi eiiini; leadin? ain nr- enily into the cellar of the bmldimj he climbed throm b it. "I.et ihciu search for mo now. ho mut- 'ered, us ho fo: nd himself tem) oraiily safe. 'lean nniai.i (piiet here imiil the chase ib over if ihey look for me at all ' 'I ho place he had f;aincd, as has ken Btat<'d, seemed to be the ahmdoned boiler- room and engine-house of some old fac- tory. The flrorwas covered with ashes and Vincent observed that the place was built on to the miiu strn tiire. -"i his may lead into the bid'ding I have just left, he Fo:ilo(iui/ed, "and thence to the sir(et, " j lie found, as he crossed the floor in the I darkness, ihut the main cellar of the e fire ' Btiueiure was indeed open to hinr f ( r glan( im; ahead, a dim Lalo of M^ht show, d activity ind life in a portion of the base- ment some distance away. WANAc'LK .^Ni) m;..\fi:i i;t. He boKin to ualk toward this, bis curlog- 'ty and interest fully aroused. Near the front of "tiie basement a pair of Bt;iirs led to tlio upper tlooro. A rou^di boud i artilion inclosed (jiiite a I'lge since that was moio h il itable than the rest of the ceilar. , He e there were -everal persons .nRa^od in worl.in«,it some my^teiious ooenpation. mat this liibor was of a nefarious char- acter \iuccut did not doubt, when he re- m.mbered Talco;ts ai!ui(n to < ertain pouiiterfcit plates in his conversation with BIS accomplice, Alstyue. Final y Vine, nt elided around the edce of the partition and belind a large box. Pcerii g cautiously from his new plnoe of cone, alment, he b.gan to study the details ! ot ihe sc lie b. foie him. Th re were senie lour men in the cellar. •Ml of them wtrerou^'li, evil.\isaged per- sona whom he decided at a glance to be members of the criminal fraternity. One of them he recognized aa' Hartley j and ho watched his movements closely I 'Jhe latter seemed to be the leader in the I business under operation in the cellir I Ho was tiitfing hither and thither direct- ing the mm, \Oiom Vincent could make out were engngcd in some engross.n-'occu- I pat ion. ° I He finally made out what they were about. I There was a lough hand-press, and this ; two m ■ I were man'pulating. I Their cmipanious w. re folding away I sheets of i ap. r as fast as th.-y left the ' pi ess. "Thes.. men are connteifeiting," mur- mured Vincent. "In some way, I judge, from what I heard Jalcolt say, son:e counterfeit plates formed an e'ement in tho Clftou secret. "Th. se plaies Talcott has giv.^n to Bart- ley as his reward for his services in the past against the Clifton estate. '.'f^'"''.'^ T '1°'' l^is colleagues are printing on tho Dills hero and now. "If I could only s. cure their rresta' such a time, it would involve Talcott in a new complication he could not readily explain away. " - i- Vincei t drew back out of sight as he saw a ma 1 come down the stairs from the floor above. It was Alstyno, aul with a serious faoo ho beckoned to Bar Joy. Tho latter followed him out of range of the h.'aiin'^ of tho other workmen. They stood within only a few feet of the ppot whore Viuccui was concealed. The latter listened intently to theconver- Bation that ensued. », his curios- out a piiir of ostd (jiiite a I itiible than uci-nimtioii. aiious t'har- whea he re- lo reitftin r'Hiition with ind the e(?se irge box. Jew jiliicf of ' the dt'tiiilg ti the cellar. visngedper- JJIJACKI ET. A brief but doclsivo Btruguli' tirisiiud. Vinci nt WM8 um rpowend nud (lriiKK<' \v:ll dnw lols to seo who will bo his execiit oner. " .\!styiie wrote several numbers on a piece of paper and lore it into strii)s. "Tho lowest number must kill thiaman," he Raid. The men drew the papers, and read the numbers written on iLem. "One," spoko u deep, cadaverous voice. The DObsessor instantly stepped forward. He had drawn a revolver, 'and without another vord advanced to where Vincent stood. The ofhe. va'ched hioi with breathless interest. Vincent Mijv. \ i^rtfa as the man reached his i-v.U The latter !.a>! ;,iv..tued a few urok words into c's e-.r. ^Mhen I )ii\\ prei,,,d to be fatally shot." Merciful heavens.' my mysterious friend at jhe vault," ejaculated Vincent. "Yts, in disyuise, and bent on saving JOB. Du aa I say. There is no bullet in the revolver. . We must delude these vil- laius. " "Fire!" ordered Alstyne, impatiently. The Htrcn^er lifted his rtvolver. There was a ll.iHh and a report. Wiih an arpaieut cry of pain Vinoont aior;ou H head fell upon his breaHt. To all Hen.blance ihe M„j,'e Hhot had Hilled Iho last eiu my to he eountorfoifers anij to II rvey Ta'( ott's plots. CHAl'l'EFl XLV. AT llIK MWsidV. It was ten o'clock the morning after th« appearai.eu of ihe lawyer at the now ron. de/vou.s of Harve.v lalcott und his accom- plices. The episodes of Ihe night previous had terminated, as the plott- is Mippo-od. in the death of Vincent Morton in the cell,,r or the house. They were unaware of the existence of the new friend \ incei.t had found. Nor did they know that he had left the plai e with r.artley and liiH men He had managed to imiiose himself clev- eiiy 0,1 the counlerfoiti;,g bind as a friend sc t by luleott. Amid the excitement of the hour his dc ception had not been investigated or dis- coveiod. Thus •'•ftlcott adjudged all his enemies defeated ui ti.eir afemjits to thwart thi success of his plans. He Rupi)osed that ho would receive thi * day from the lawver a large portion of Vin- cent Moitou s foriune. He had I ome time previous sent Genera' Clifton's will to thi' lawver. This he asserted Kthel Clif'.ou had found in the library immediately utter tho murder of her uiiele. Ethel herself was completi ly under 'h- po'ver of T.ilcott. I His meaaeos of killing her unolo if she I reiused to aid him in secrrai < ,). .'. -tiino led her to despa ringly ol - ,■ i i.n. ,,;tes. He pretei ded that' General Clifton was his prisoner in soiii" secluded spot. At ten o'clock llaivev Talcott was await, luga rojly to a letter he had sent to tho lawyer. Alstyne had been his messenger, and the note he carried informed the lawyt r that they awaiti d his pleasure in iho matter of the settlement of tho Clifton fortune. Alstyne returned about an hour later. He handed his accomplice a letter which Talcott tore open ea;:erh% His brow clouded as he perused the brief inclosure. "I would prefer that you meet at the Clifton mixnsion," ihe letter read, and ap. pointed a iate Lour in 'he afternoon for the interview. The delay irritated Talcott and aroused hi-- ' i;- pic'ona. iflp 'M'' olver. port. I'uiu Viuoont breiiNt, iiK'e Hhot IiikI ('iiuiitt)i'fuituri* ninf? iiftrr fh" thii new roi,. ml hiH accom- liri'vions had mpt'o^oil, in n in the ci'Ilur existence of >iin(1. had left (La himself clev- id as a friend Lour his diu yftted or dis- his eneni e« thwart tb 1 receive tb: * irtion of Viu- sent General on had found ?r ibo murdtv Iv under ihi> uncle if she y i). .■' ''line I Ciiflon was spot. tt was await- l sent to tho igcr, and the hiwyi r that 10 mutter of oitune. our later, letter which sed the brief meet at the md, and np. noon forlht) and aroased ill MANACLE AND BRACELET. 101 These latter, however, he allayed as he recalled the fact that his enemies had all bee 1 safely disposed of. "The old lawyer is notional," he decided, "and perhiip-i it is as well that we close the matter at the Cliftou mansion." All that day he reveled iii auticipntion of the royal fortune within his grasp. He would preteiul later that Ethel Clif- ton had returned to Europe. Armed with a (iower of attorney, he would secure the balunee of the fort uie as soon us the estate was tinally settled. It was shortly before night that a carriaso left th ' place where Vincent had traced the lawyer the evening previous. It contained Ta'cott, Alstyne, Viola Dale, and Ethel Clifton. The lattjr was veiled, and seemed ill and despondent. "libmember," was Ta'cott's warning to her. "If you aid us in securiugthis money you shall be free. " "And my un;;le?" "Shall be restored to you." They were welcomed at the mansion by Marie the housemaid, aud shown into the library. Here the Clifton tragedy had begun its fateful cour-e. Here it was destined to end, althou^'h in a manner entirely ndverso to the cherished plans of Harvey Talcott. Within the library two men were seated as Talcott and his "couiiMmion entered the apartmeit. One of them was the family lawyer. The other was a stranger to Talcott. The latter stared searchmgly and sus- piciously at the stranger, who was a digni- fied, august man about sixtv years old. "You will wonder at my as'.-.ing you to come here," spoke the lawyer, arisin ' to his feet as the othL-rs became Boated, "but it was on account of this g'utler"'^n." He indicate the white-naired stranger as he spo^e. "What interest has he in the matter, may I ask?" iiKiuired Talcott, resentfully, "Only that of a friend of General Clif- ton." "What of it?" "He desires to see justice done."' Talcott was mystified and silent. •'He desires, before this money you ask is paid over to Miss Clifton, that further proofs of the death of ner uncle be fur- nished. " Talcott grew pale with ill-concealed rage and chagrin at this unforeseen interruption to his carefully arranged plans. "I imagined that the death of General Cliftou had been accepted as undeniable,'' he remarked. "There are no actual proofs," replied the lawyer, calmly. "Why not?" "Because his body has not been found." "You were willing to assume his decease yesterday? ' "That is tnie, but I have changed my mind since then." 'ialcott began to grow uneasy. He fore- saw trouble in the near future, and was be- coiuinc; alarmed. "Have you found anv proofs tending to show that Gen ral Clifton is still aliTe?" he asked, as calmly as he could. "I have. Talcott stiirted. "What are theyV " he asked, anxiouBly. "'ITiis gentlem;in here has seen him sinoe the time of his supposed death." "Impossible!" "It is true. ' The stranger had spoken. His eyes fixed anflinchin,^ly on Talcott, he uttered the words impressively and calmly. Something in his voice caused the Bcbem- er to start and pa'e visibly. 'You say vou have seen General Clif- ton '.■'" " Yes. " "When:-" "With n a week." "You must have been mistaken." "No, 1 am not. " 'I'he schemer was silent. "I even Bpolted, and puui>bi'd. | "You start; you are alarmed at last. You ' would seek to fly. Beware. "Since you arrived iu this bou-e every avenue of escape has been cut olf. •The police now guard every exit with orders to deal siKnmanly with "you or any of your band who attempt to leave here. "Harvey 'Julcott, the end of all your evil schemes h,is come at last, and you are in the power ->f the law." "Who are you?" Talcoit, white as death, trembling in every limb, propounded the ciuestiou gasp. ingly. "I am the man whom of ad others you hate; whom you have unsuccessfully en- deavored to hound to death. Behold!" With a sudden u.ovemeut the stranger tore from his face his false beard. "'Langdon, the detective'" came in an appalled murmur from Talcott's lips, "Yes; not dead as, you sui>posed, but here to confront you iu the midst of vour dark villainy at the moment of your ex- pected success. Sit down. A true to life drama will he enacted iu this room i>re you leave it, and you must be its witness." Before the stern, accusing face of the detective the amazed and startled Talcott recoiled speechless. He sank to a chair, and, an expression of sullen chagrin and hate on his craven face, listened to Langdon's impressive words. "It was you," began the detective, "who attempted to murder General Clifton. "His own words will convict you. "It was you who have sought" to kill my- self. ' 'When yon left me for dead in the flat boat I escaped. "A window at the end of the boat en- abl.'d me to gain the water and then the land. "I was badly brui-ed and injured, but in a week I was again leiidy to resume the lost trail. "By accident Iran across a man livingin an old hut near the scene of the flat-b°oat episode. "There I found General Clifton, ill to death and delirious. "I nursed him back to hialth. Together to-day wo returned to the city. "He is here now. ' I'he curtains of the alcove adjoining the I library were thrust asii'e at that moment. I On the thr. shoM. pale, and thin, and j phantom- like, stood the owner of the Clif- : ton millions. I lLi east one look of deep condemnation i on Talcott ;iud his dismayed associates. Then his arms opened "to receive to their loving enibiace the form of his beloved niece. Ethel Clifton was sob' ing on his shoul- der, as L .ngdon continued his story. "We went to the lawyer and learned all This very day, loo, we learned that Ernest Clifton was alive. He is hire." A second form stepj ed from the alcove. It was the man who had saved Vincent Morton from the vault and from death in the c liar of Talcott's new rendezvous the previous evening. "This man," continued Langdon, "is the suffering victim of a long plot on your part. "Escaped from the servitude to which you condemned him years ago, he returned iu time to penetrate your haunts, and to save the life of Vincent Alortou, doomed to death by your associates. "Thus you are co: fronted with the terri- ble evidence of all your crimes. "You cannot escape. The hands of justice surely, relentlessly hold you within their gras)). •Ban ley and his acconipliceg were ar- rested at Ernest Clifton's instigation last night, niter he had destroyed their coun- terfeit mcnev, face of the irtled Taloott tzpression of craven face, live wordR. tective, "who Clifton, t jou. bt to kill my- d in the flat he boat en- nd then the jured, but iu resume tho nan living in the flat-bout Jifton, ill to h. Together 'Ijoining the liiit moment. 1 thiu, and of the Clif. mclemnation i^50oiate8. eive to their his beloved Q his shou!- Htory. 'earned alL that Ernest I the alcove. eJ Vincent im death in lezvous the don, "is the ot on your e to which he returned uts, and to >n, doomed ih the terri. Is of justice fithin their B were ar- igation last their couu- MANACLE AND BRACELET. 103 "We have a trace of the detective How- ard, whom you lured to imprisonment. "Vincent Morton, escaped the death you menaced him. will soon be here. "Mnrie, the housemaid, your accomplice, has confessed all. "For cruelly murdering a fellow detec- tive years ago I swore to hunt you dow/i, Har\ey Talcott. "I have kept mv promise. Yon will be teiribly punished. "What do you say now? So dramiitic had been the rapid denoue- ment of the library interview that Talooit had seemed like a statue. Now, however, he aroused himBelr. A su'len glow cf hn'e came into liis eyes as'he glared malignantly at the rninited Cliffons. ,, 1 i 1 1 With a powerful effort he called to hw i aid all his fiercest defiance and boldness. "I say— beware!" he hissed out, ma.i^- Q&DtlV '•Of what?" demanded the detective, calmly. "Oi my vengeance. "You are disarmed, powerless." "\o I am not. I coi-.l'ess I attempted to kill General Clifton. I .cki.owleilge I Bchemed for his fortune. 1 have lost. Well and good, but you dare not am st ■Are you mad?" uttered Langdon, dis- dainfully. "No. General Clifton, again I say be- ware. I can blast your fa.r name. My old power still ieuiaius. Airest me and I will reveal the fatal Clifton s.cret." I General C'iiflon shuddered and recoiled at the direful menace which still had ap- parent influence over his mind. ■ Ethel moaned in desi air, as if all their old troub'e had returned suddenly. Only Langdon was calm, incredulous, in- , diti'ereut. . But a now speaker was aroused to action at Taleott's words. ! It was Ernest Clifton. "Coward! kna-.e'.' he cried, in wild ex- citement, "no longer cling to that baseless - fabric of a lie an.l a fraud. Father, this man has ini} osed uion you " •Allow me to deal with this mercenary scoundrel," interrupted Lanpdon. "Harvey Talc tt, your old threats have no longer any power over your former vic- ^Listen, General Clifton, till I tell you the truth of the secret tliat this man has caused to emb.tter your life. " Some years ago your son, Ernest Clif- ton, was an engaver iu a neighboring city. "He chose the busiDess because he did not wish to idle his time away, "Your distant relative, Viola Dale, had attempted to ensnare him Into a marrlagtt and failed. , ■ " She and Harvey Talcott then devlBed a scheme to get him into trouble. "Talcott, whom he had never seen before, got aciiuainted with him nnd pretended he wished some bank-note plates made for • company of which he was the President "Several letters passed between them. Your sou made the plates. '•It was then that Talcott informed him that he had so conducted tho affair that it would look as if he was a deliberate coun- tertei'er. . ■■ Ynur son fled when Talcott insisted,^ a« the price of his silence, that he wed Viola Dale. , , ., "He believed he stood in peril of the re- sults of a (leo)) plot iu which he was inno- cent of anv crime. "He fled to tho West and was roportea dead. » r,. . t* • "Later some accouipnci s of Jacottim- 1 ri-oi od him at I'alcott's instigation. "He escaped a month since and came "When ■ on fiist learned of his flight you went to the ritv wl.ere he had lived. "You found the counterfeit plates and belie^ed vonr sou a crimimd. ■'Harvev Talcott had the letters, you th« plates, which ii]>iiarently showed a deep crime. , ^ 'For month'^ he endta\ored to secure a lar"e reward from you for their deliverv. ■■I'he night of your atten pti d murder I vou inlemiedto liave Vincent Morton con- ' vey these plates in a box to a safe place. "Harvey Tab ott secured them and placed a dagger and :-onie papers in the bos, which i later, found iu \ ir cent's possession, seemed to implicate him iu your murder deei_ly. TUese p'ates were aft rward buried in a ' casket, and then given by Talcott to his ao- comi lice, Bartley. ] "'Ihis is the entire story. Your sou, like \ yourself, innocent of iute,. ,ed eriii e, fe:l a victim to thrivil machiuauons of an un- '• principled piotter. " , , , „ ._ "Can vou piove that? broke sullenly I from Ta'lcotfs lips, as the detective con- i eluded his story. ' "Yes." "Aid the letters and the plates prove otherwise. Tring it to a court of law, and see if I did not indeed ay a cunning snare to entrap Ernest Clifton iu crime." Langdon looked serious, but said calmly: "You h;.vo not got the letters. ' "I know where they are." "You do not." A voice spoke at the window suddenly, clearly, startling every occupant of the li- brary.' ^ il 104 At the Bame moment a glittering object Tpartmept *" '" *^^ ''^°*^' °^ '^® Thud.'' ' Every eyp stired curioasly at it Hnrvey Talcott recoiled with a shudder Son "" uttered a startled ejaciila- For, interlinked one with the othw. there on the table lay a mauncle and a brucelet! (^HAl'TER XLVn. CONCLUSION. The next moment Vincent Morton sprang fche'lier '"'"'^' ^"^ °''^'' ^'-^° ' bxiLT^f .f;oftL'[;;ife" '«''^ '"^'•'^^'^ -^ himself'"^ followed the action by appearing Now, flushed with excitement, hecastone tender look upon the woman he loved, and then fixed his glance on Harvey Talcott Do you see them?" he cried, pointingto the objects on the table. '"tiuK"" "That manacle is the one bv which vour accompli .e, Alstyne, bound me to a horri- ble death, whence Iprovideutialiy escaped. It IS embiemiitical of the iron will and "uelty of your band of criminals. The bracelet, typicil of the gold in plot- fang for which you risked all. comprises with the mnnacle a memento of evidence a^inst you in the terrible persecution to «'?. y°" ^•*'*'e subjected your victims lo-day they confront you. To-dav I— rescued last nisht by Ernest Clifton and escaped my bonds an hour later, and on your trail till now-assert that you do not know where the letters are with which vou iaye 80 long menaced the welfare of the Clifton family. " Talcott WHS silent. ^J'^^" '^i'^""* ^ *""'' *'°™ tl»e vault where you placed them; the counterfeit plates are in my possession. " A sullen cry of rage escaped from Tal- cott s lips. "Foiled! baffled!" he raved. "But I will not be dragged to the jail like a common criminal Al.styue, a bold break for liberty ere it is too late!" "ueny, I^lcott hud sprung to the window ,„ Be warned!" cried Langdon, dienacing- ly. lou cannot escape. Everv exit io guarded by the pohee." ^ "'' *^ I, ■*■ /'^ -n^ P'""^ '^^^ » } portion of it referring to the counterfeit plates was kept secret Ihen amid the excitement of similar and t^ pa't"'' "^'^*''' '' ^"^'"^ * ^'"'y of Viola Dale was not punished for her share m Harvey Ta!cotf8 crimes, but was sent out of the country at her own requrst Alstyne, Hartley, and Baruet were how- ever, tried on several charges, and sen- tenced to long terms of imprisonment ?n the State penitentiary. Marie, the housemaid, was discharged from service, and with a wholesome fear of the po.ice went to another city. Howard, the detective, was found imnriH- oued m a suburban haunt of Talcotfs ac- complices and liberate d. Thus at last the tangled skeins of destiny were unr.nveled. and all the past made clee ; ihere was a happy wedding at the Clif- ton mansion when Vincent Morkjn led to the altar the millionaire'. beautiTul niece. Happier still were the long ,^o!deD years succeeding that event, when General Clif- MANACLE AND BRACELET. 105 ton and bis son agaiu knew the delights and peaoefalaesB of a home blessed with wealth Bud oonteutinent. Within its poitiiis Langdon, the detec- tive, was ever a welcome guest. Often, when he revives he dark past by alluding to its mysteries, he exhibits the mauaole and bracelet he keeps as a me- mento of the Clifton vase. It tells how brave, reliant hearts evolved light from darknesB, happiness from misery. It also tells of the certain, inevitable doom that ever overtakes the criminal, Iron and gold, manacle and bracelet, iron wa:p, golden woof, it is emblematical of all the lights and shadows of life. And the happy denizens of the Clifton mansion never regard it without again iiv- in<;; over the jast, in which that same Man- acle and Bracelet bore so mystical a part in bringing to light what was esteemea t0 be The Detid Man's Becret. TBB KND. 4 kericao Detective Librafv. 1. INVISIBLE IVAN, THE WIZARD DETECOTE- or the Secret of the CeHs .... .... ....^C; .... Price llcts. 2. THE OBIME OF THE TUNNEL : or the Mystery of € the Lightning EzpresB .... Price"^ cts. 3. THE PfiETENDED DAUGHTEB: or Acting a Part . Price 15 c.«, 4. THE MIDNIGHT TBA6EDY: or the Crime of the Broker's Office. ... v ■ -.^ *f: ..,■( rnce 15 cts. 5. MANACLE & BRACELET : or the Dead Man's Secret. Price 16 cts. ^^m