mi' CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY j.~t.,,l U'',Uu—/:i/ ,'rady. "I have an idea that this is likely to prove a very interesting "case." CHAPTER II. THE BOY, WHO WAS HUNG BY THE HANDS. Chinatown, New York, as is pretty generally known, lic>: at the lower end of the famous Bowery. It consists of two principal blocks, the one on Pell street, which .is little more than an alley of one long blocks from the Bowery to Mott street. And the rear block on M6tt street — ^which is winding, and hence meets Pell street— back to Chatham Square. Add to this crooked Doycrs street, which is only an alley, and you have all there is of Chinatown, New Y'ork. Bait this does not take in all the Chinese, by any means.' There is "Little China" over on North Sixth street, Williamsburg, and besides this there are Chinese scattered all over the different boroughs of Greater New York. So to find the so-called Red Lady was not likely to prove an easy task. Mysterious white women often flit through Chinatown, get up a certain reputation and then vanish. For all the Bradys could tell,- this Red Lady might now be in Boston or San Francisco. Still, for all that, their reputation with the United States Secret Service Bureau had to be maintained. The Red Lady must be found. The Bradys, having finally finished up at the office, went home to supper at the old house on Washington Square, where they have kept bachelors' hall now for a number of years. They did not find Alice Montgomery there. Alice has a suite of rooms of her own around on Wav- erly Place. f But she was not there, either. The fact was Alice had already begun on- the Chinese case — Secret Service end — and was then supposed to be in Chinatown, attending to business. And Alice is particularly adapted for such work, for the reason that she possesses the rare aceomplishnient for a white woman of being able to handle the Chinese lan- guage. The daughter of a missionary, bom and brought up in China, Alice can both speak and read that difficult tongue, hence her great use in the Chinese detective cases taken up by the Brady Bureau. The Bradys took their time at their supper. They were in no hun-y, for it was intended to give Alice opportunity to do a stroke of detective business in the early evening and to join her later on. Thus it was not until after eight o'clock that Old King Brady and Harry started. Even then they were so little in haste, and the evening being a pleasant one in the Indian suminer, that they walked all the way to Chinatown — not such a very great distance, by the way. Turning into Pell street the Bradys covered about half its length and then ascended to the top floor of one of the low, old buildings, so common on fhat block. This one was next door to a high, modem tenement, which swarmed with Chinese. Here Harry tried the dcwr. It was locked. '■'She is not here yet," he said. "Perhaps she has been and gone," replied Old Eng Brady. "Get out your key and open the door." ilovr it has often happened that the Bradys have found it convenient to locate in Chinatown for days to- gether. To make this easier it has been their custom to hire rooms. On several occasions they had hired this whole floor — there were four rooms — and so frequently had this " os- - curred of late that they had kept the floor under rental, and now it was proposed to put it to use again. Harry unlocked the door and flashed his electric light about; "Why, this is singular!" he exclaimed. "She hasn't been here. Everything remains as we loft it last." He knew for a certainty that what he said was so, for THE BRADYS AFTEE THE TONG KINGS. it had been arranged with Alice that in case she went out before th* Bradys came that she would leave a card on a certain table, saying where she had gone and when she ^vas likely to return. There was no card. on the table, and Alice never for- ^ots. .\s the windows'had been long closed and the room was very stuffy, Harry proceeded to open them and air the j)lace. Old King Brady got a duster and was clearing off the furniture wheil Harry suddenly gave an exclamation which called him to the window. "What is it?" he asked. "Will you be good enough to look up there?" breathed Harry. He pointed to the rear wall of the next house. There hung a boy, either desperately clutching a rope ■or with his hands tied to it. The other end of the rope passed in under the <\'in- dow sash. "Great heavens!" murmured tlic old detective. It was throe full stories down to the courtyard below. The boy hung motionless, making no sound. It was pretty dark, but in a way the detectives coul* •make out the upturned face. He looked to them like a boy badly scared. •"Shall I give him the call?" asked Harry. "Why, no ! It might startle him and make him let go Jiis hold," was the reply. "I think he is tied there. Governor." "So do I then." "Looks as if the Chinks had hung him out of that window by the hands." "It does, indeed. Let us get on ihe roof. We will be about on a level with him then. Perhaps I can manage to catch the rope with my hook and draw him over so we can get at him." "Your ladder hooks, you mean?" "Yes." "Good job you have them. Come on." The scuttle opened from a closet there in that back Toom, tmd the Bradys lost ho time in ascending to the roof. Here it was light enouglt, for tlio many arc lights in front of the Pell street restaurants make it almost as bright as daj arouftd that ]iart of Chinatown in the early evening. • _ The Bradys hurried to the angle of the building. They were now about on a lino with the boy. "Hello, there!" called Old King Brady. "Are you tied to that rope, or what?" "I'm tied!" answered the boy, in a tone which showed the terror he felt " By Chinamen ! For heaven sake, save inej__in^£jj!i,^^ '-^"3tf~thesame instant the window was raised and two Chinamen peered out. Old King Brady drew his revolver. The boy yelled for all he was worth, as well he might, for one of the Chinamen at the vidndow was now trying to cut the rope. This the Bradys saw as they peered around the comer of tlie building. On a fire escape platform stood a girl in a red dress with an upraised stick in her hand. She brought it down on the head of the Chinaman with the knife and then darted in the window. Old King Brady was quick to act. He fired up at the two Chinamen, who instantly van- ished. Harry expected to see the boy go whirling down into the yard. But his was a light weight and the strands held, al- though iJie rope had been partly severed^ as it proved, "Save me, mister! Oh, save me!" moaned the boy. "Take the revolver, Harry, and guard the window," said the old detective quickly. "I don't think I hit either of those wretches. They may come again," An even while talking. Old King Brady was working, and that rapidly. He' produced from one of the many mysterious pockets of the wonderful blue coat a pasteboard case. Opening this he took out what appeared to be a tan- gled mass of black twine, very fine and very strong. It was Old King Brady's remarkable rope-ladder, which he so often finds occasion to use. But the cord was in anything but a tangle. The old detective readily shook it out. To the ends of the perpendicular strands were attached two stout hooks, by which the ladder can be fastened to a window ledge or cornice. Old King Brady let out enough ladder and threw the thing out against the rope. That throw was a miss,- but when he threw it again the hooks caught, and the old detective pulled, the boy com- ing forward with the rope. It was a delicate operation, but the little fellow had sense enough to keep as quiet as possible. Harry, pocketing the revolver, now leaned forward as far as he dared. "A little more, Governor! Just a little more and I'll have him !" he exclaimed. ■''I'm about at the end of my rope, I'm afraid!'^ mut- tered the old detective. Of course, as the rope was drawn on, it caused the boy to rise higher. Harry got him by the ankles and hold on. But his hands were tied to the rope in a most peculiar fashion, .and who was to cut hini free, for i3E Old King Brady once let go it was good-by to the boy, and the chances were Harry would go over the cornice with him. "Heavens! AVhat shall we do?" gasped Young King Brady. "Keep cool! Let. me think!" was the reply.' But there was no time given for thought, for at the same instant one of the Chinamen again showed himself at the window. He held in his hand the dagger he had used before, and with one quick slash he severed the rope. Fortunately,' Harry saw him and was able to brace him- self for what followed, but if the boy had been anything but the light weight he was, it would have spelled death to both. Down went the boy head first, Harry bravely hblding on. THE BEADYS AFTEE THE TONG KINGS. Chances are he would have gone with him if Old King Brady had not dropped his ladder, put his foot on it and thrown his arms about his partner, And all this was done as quick as a wink. The Chinaman, vanished instantly he had used the knife. No sound came from the boy as Harry drew him in by the legs over the cornice, ^e had fainted. When they laid him down on the roof they thought he might be dead. f-Let us get him downstairs at once," said Old King Brady, "Have we attracted any attention then? He looked about, but could not make out that anyone vrag watching them from the windows which overlooked the roof. Jt would scarcely have been so anywhere else in New York. But the Chinese are peculiar in many tilings, and one of their greatest peculiarities is the strictness with which they mind their own business. The Bradys jaanaged to get the boy down the ladder. They laid him on a lounge, loosened up his clothes and "bathed his head with cold water. This did the business, and in a few minutes he revived. But it was long before the ghastly look left his face and his voice trembled constantly during the talk which followed. They did not let him speak at "first. Old King Brady mixed a spoonful of whisky with water and made him drink it. Tlien he and Harry sat down quietly and waited until the boy spoke. "You have saved my life all- right," were his first words. "Ittdeed, yes, my boy," replied Old King Brady. He^moved back then and motioned to Harry to do the talking, feeling that the young could do better with the young. "What did they hang you out that window for?" de- manded Harry, bluntly. "To make me tell something I wouldn't tell," was the reply, • "Are you a lobbygow ?" ■*I don't know what you mean." The reference was to a class of boys which exist in Chinatown, doing errands for the Chinese women who are never seen on the streets. These are called in Cliinese, "low-gui-gow," or China woman's dog. It has been corrupted into "lobbygow" by the boys themselves. "What's your name?" demanded Harry, dropping the subject. "Charley Trevanion, sir." The Bradys looked at each other curiously. Here they were on their Eed Lady case, it seemed. Apparently they could not get away from it whatever tuw they made. **We are detectives," said Harry. "We would like to know more aibout this business. Those men ought to be arrested for what they did to you. Do you want to go to the station and make a charge against them if we arrest them." "No, sir. I don't want to do that. It wouldn't do me any good to have them arrested, and it might do me a whole lot of harm." "In what way?" "I want to find my sister." "Have those Chinamen got your sister?" "I don't know whether they have or not. I don't think so, but she is married to a Chinaman, and I want to find her. If you are detectives, perhaps you will help me to find her. I'm only a poor boy and can t pay you any- thing, though, but if I can find my sister I am sure I can pay you later on." "That's all right," broke in Old King Brady. "Wfe'U help you,, my boy. Never mind that money part. Tell us all about your sister and we will see what can be done." CHAPTEE III. ALICE HAVING BAITIvD ITER HOOK GETS A BITE. If Alifce had gone directly to the rooms she would prob- ably have decided to wait there until tlfe Bradys came before starting on her work. Now the job which Alice had laid out for herself was rather peculiar. ft was an idea of her own. The talk that afternoon at fhe office after the orders came from Washington was how to find the Eed Lady. As for easily putting a finger on Wing Wang, that was not to be thought of. For if the information furnished by the Secret Service Bureau was to be believed the man was something of a power among his people. Not only was he well-to-do and engaged in the danger- ous but profitable business of smuggling, but he was also head of several secret "tongs" or societies. The papers stated that he was 'known as the "tong king.'" Thus it was to be assumed that the more tongs Mr. Wing Wang had attached himself to the more secret he was likely to keep. Indeed the papers expressly stated that he was known to assume various disguises. Alice's scheme was this : She reasoned that if the Eed Lady was known in Chinatown the quickest way to gain information about her was to personate' her and let -someone mistake her for the real thing. The Government had furnished a poor photograph of the woman, much soiled- Old King Brady had not recognized the picture of Emil Trevanion as in any way resembling it. Indeed, he was doubtful if it was intended for the same peifson. '- - - -^ . But as Alice had not seen this later photograph she had only the other to go by. It represented a flashily-dressed young woman, wear- ing a big cartwheel hat and a heavy automobile veil. Someone had written, "All red. Veil included," over the picture. Alice accordingly went home and made up after that fashion. THE BRADYS A'FTER THE TONG KINGS. Her stock of dresses is enormous and it was no trouble to do this. Of course it was useless to attempt to closely copy the face of so poor a photograph, but on this' point also she did the best she could. And thus attired, she got down to Chinatown, with the intention of going to the rooms and waiting for the Bradys, after making the rounds of Chinatown once or twice, for Old King JBrady had ordered her not to go in- side anywhere, unless into a public restaurant, until either he or Harry were on hand, to shadow her. Now Alice had baited her hook with red, and as it happened she caught a fish fax sooner than she had ex- pected. For she had not gone ten yards along Tell street when a young Chinaman, in American dress, fell in alongside of her. "Why, Em," he said in good English, "how dared you come out? What would Wang say?" Here ^as a man probably well acquainted with the Red Lady. 'ITie prompt mention of the name Wang was guarantee enough for that. Alice hardly knew what to do. "I don't care what Wang says," she replied in her natural voice. It seemed to go all right. "You run a great. risk," said the man.. "If Wang knew he might even kill you." "I tell you again, I don't care what Wang says nor what he knows." They walked on. It was hopeless to try to keep up the deception for any length of time. Alice realized that. She resolved to makp a bold bluff and abide by the re- sult. So she astonished the sporty Chink by saying in his own language : "Who do you take me for, anyhow ?" The face of the man fully showed his amazement. "You speak Chinese like that?" he asked. "I can speak as good Chinese as you can." "So you can. Come to the Tuxedo and have supper with me." "I don't mind." Here was a man -syho assuredly knew the pfeople the Bradys were out after! Alice was determined not to let the opportunity slip. With the silence of his race the Chinaman said no more until- they were seated at an out-of-the-way table in the famous Tuxedo restaurant and the ehop suey had been order ed.' " _,, -~— -^ -~~"0f ceiirse Alice put back 'her veil when they sat down. She watched the result with all eui*iosity. It was not whaf she expected. ~ , If Ali<^ was able. to read the Chinaman's face correctly, then he- still took her for the Red Lady. And his next words proved it. "You have been fooling me, Em. You could speak Cliinese right along." "Now look here, my name is not Em, and I don't know you at all," said Alice. The Chink gave a start. "Do you mean to tell me you are not Mr8, Wing Wang?" he demanded. . "I mean ijo teil you just that. My name is Susie Price. What^s yours?" "Oh!" "Telling your name ?" "Oh, yes ! Joe Ling. I took you for a friend of mine. It is wonderful how much you look like her. She always dressed in red, too." "Is she so much of a friend?" "Well, no, she is not, either, since you ask me that way. We can be friends all right, though;" "Oh, I guess so! Let's eat our supper first and then we will see." It was a great discovery Joe Ling had made. ,A white woman who could talk, perfect. Chinese. . He could not understand it yet, but he was captivated by Alice's beauty and quite willing to be instructed. ■ And by one way and another she led him on until at last" she knew she had scored a most iniportant point. While Joe Ling admired Mrs. Wing Wang greatly he had a deep-seated hatred of her husband. Alice was sure of it — she read it in half a dozen ways. He asked her at an early stage of the game how she learned to speak Chinese as she did. Alice gave it back to him that she was an orphan, who had been adopted in infancy by a rich Chinaman in San Francisco as a companion for his daughter, and the story sesmed to go. And now Joe Ling let it be known that he was a crook and willing to do nnything for money. Alice responded by telling him it was just the same with her. She added that she had just come up from New Orleans, where she was wanted by the police. ' Now it took time to reach this stage of the game, and Joe Ling appeared to have completely dropped the sub- ject of the Red Lady and Wing Wang, the tong king.. But he came back. to it now.~ "Susie," he said, familiarly, "let's talk English now. I've got something I want ^o say that these fellows must not catch on to." "Go ahead," replied Alice in English, in which lan- guage the remark was made. "How much money have vou got?" "Not much." "What brought you down to Chinatown to-night?" "I wanted to see it. I never was in New York before. I'm not afraid of you Chinks." Joe Ling laughed. '-*I believe you," he said. "I don't believe you are afraid of anyiwdy. Where are you stopping?" . "Find out. Will you come to the point?" "The point is, do you want to make a good stake to- night — say, a hundred?" - "Sure thing!' How can it be done?" "I took you for the white wife of Win? Wane- ■' " . "Yes." ■ ,,. \ . ^ . ^ ■ ' "Now tell me honest, do you know Wing Wang, for he- THE BRADYS AFTER THE TONG KfNGS. is a man' who is known in every Chinese colony in America?" "No; I honestly don't know- him." "Then let me' tell jou that your resemblance to his -wife is really remarkaWe, even to your dress, for it is a notion of hers always to dress in red. She used to travel "with Wing Wang everyvyhere and was allowed to go about freely until he got jealous of me. Then he locked her up somewhere here in Chinatown and did his traveling alone." "la he in New York now ?" demanded Alice, seeing her way clear to put the all-important question. ^ "Yes, he is. Look here, Susie, I want to marry that -woman. If you will help me — and you can — I will give you a hundred* dollars." "But how can you marry her when she is married al- ready?" "I can make Wing Wang so jealous that he will get a divorce. I hate him. He is the head of one- secret tong and Fm the head of another — ^see ?" -"Highbinders? On Leong?" "No, no ! Neither of those. Both are dead secret and no white woman — ^indeed no white man — ever heard of them. Will you help me to do this?" "When?" "Now— to-night." * "What risk do I run?" "No risk at all." ^'But'what do I have to do?" "just to' show yourself in a certain place for one sec- ond with your veil down." "And I get a hundred dollars for just doing that ?" "Yes, and perhaps more." Alice was puzzled to know how to act. It would "be breaking orders to listen to this proposi- tion, but then it would not be the first time, and Old King Brady never said much when she did it. Moreover, she would be able to locate Wing Wang by so doing. Let it be underjstood that as yet Alice did not know that the Bradys were out for the Red Lady. On the spur of the moment she decided to take up with Joe Ling's proposition, and she told him as much. Alice expected now that the Chinaman would go into more detail about the matter, but instead of that he shut trp like a clam. "All right," he said. "We will sure win. Now to show yon that I am in earnest, I'm going to give you half down." He pulled out a big roll of bills and handed Alice fifty dollars. They then drank a small coffee and Joe Ling got up and told Alice to follow him. It was dangerous business; and the brave girl knew it. Could she have foreseen what the immediate result was to be, she never would have gone. - Joe LingJed her around on Mott street. "Now I must leave you for a few minutes," he said. .:^'Keep. your- veil down and don't speak to anybody. I'll be. backajifefe as quick as I can." . .- ;ahe saw him: ent^r dn old tenement on the lower side. -jiiiriNo one spbke to Her, nor paid any attention to her. Alice had half a mind to slip around on to Pell street, in the hope of meeting Old King Brady and Harry, but she felt that to be found missing from the block might spoil all. It was well that she did not go, for Joe ling was back in no time. "It is all right," he said. "Come on." They entered the house by the basement way and passed through to the rear room. Here an old Chinaman sat solemnly smoking a long bamboo tobacco pipe. Alice judged that there must be opium mixed with the tobacco, by the smell; He nodded to her familiarly and, touching a spring, opened a secret door in the side wall next to the chim- ney. Joe Ling led on down a narrow staircase and they came into a sort "^of round hallway, from which four doors opened off. Joe Ling unlocked one of these doors and ushered Alice into a room, ,quite elegantly furnished in the Chi- nese style. There was a bamboo couch against the wall on one side withered curtains draped around it. Beside the couch was an opium lay-out on a low stool. "Now then," said Joe Ling in Chinese, "what you want to do is to lie down on that couch and pretend to be asleep." "To make Wing Wang think I have been hitting the pipe?" inquired Alice. "Never mind. Ask no questions and you will not be responsible for anything which may happen, but in case anything should happen to me, I warn you that you will be in great danger. If you want to back out, now is your time, for I must say I admire your pluck and I don't want to see you come to any harm." "I'm not backing out," replied Alice, decidedly. "Go ahead and finish your job." "I'll finish my instructions first," said the • Chinaman. "Look here." He pushed aside the curtain and leaned over the couch. "Touch this spring, and a panel as long as the couch itself will open behind you," he explained. He touched the spring as he spoke and the panel was revealed. "Now all you have to do is just to roll througli and push the panel back," Joe Ling went on to say. "You will drop on a mattress, and then it fa "p..to jou to get through the secret passages, which will take you out 6 it' to - Pell street, which you will do as quick as you can. Ill give you the password." It "was in Chinese, and a word the meaning of wliich Alice did not understand, nor did she ask. "I'm going now," said Joe Ling. "Remember, this is absolutely all you have to do. Whatever happens, trust me and keep your mouth tight shut." Alice then lay down on the couch and Joe Ling, hav- ing arranged the curtain to suit himself, told her how to arrange her red veil, which was so as to partially show her face, and then departed, leaving the door open be- hind him. THE BEADYS AFTER THE TONG KINGS. And Alice lay there, wondering what was to come of all these peculiar preparations. -She was s^n to learn ttat the end of the whole singu- lar' business was to be very different from that anticipated by Joe Ling. CHAPTER IV. CHARLEY TRBVAIIION'S STOKY. The .supper at the Tuxedo had taken up so much time that it was just when Old King Brady and Harry rescued the boy, Charley Trevanion, that Joe ling left Alice alone in the secret room. Old King Brady now undertook the questioning of the boy. But before doing so he resolved to take the lad into his "full confidence, for he felt that he was likely to prove an important ally. So the first thing he did was to produce the picture of Mrs. Wmg Wang. "Know that lady?" he asked. "My sister!" cried Charley, and he 'shed tears. "As 1 thought, my boy," replied Old King Brady, add- ing: "And now before we proceed any further, let me tell you that we detectives have been^hired to find your sis- ter. The man who hired us is a lawyer named Pincher from Covington, Ky. Do you know him ?" "No, sir. I never heard of him," replied Charley. "I live in Covington, too, but then it is a large city, you know." "Yes, I know. Can you imagine why this lawyer wants to find her?" , "Oh, yes, sir! I'll explain all that. ' He probably thin"ks he can make a big fee out of Emily. You see, Mr. Brady, she is heir to a big estate which was left her a few weeks ago by our uncle. Judge Thomas Trevanion." "Ha! So? Now we begin to understand. How much?" "Oh, I don't know, sir, but it is more than a million." "And you come in for your share?" "No, sir. The will was made a great many years ago, before I was born. My uncle was an old bachelor. He has left everything to Emily, who was a great favorite of his when she was a little girl." "And your father and mother?" "ITiey are both dead, sir. After my sister ran away and married this Chinaman, everything went wrong. Pirst my father Jiedr^He scarcely ever spoke after Emily left "Hmne. My mother said his heart was broken and I guess it was. She died three weeks after he did." "And who was left of the family besides yourself and your sister?" "There was no one but just us two, sir. My father left no money and my imele would not do a thing for me. I have had a real hard time of it, Mr. Birady." "L can imagine so, my boy. But now to come down to date. What started you out to find your sister? Was it this fortune?" "No, sir. When I heard about my uncle having left her all this money I did not know where Emily was. We had never lieard one word from her after she left us, but the other day 1 got a letter from her, which I am going to show you. That is what made me come to New York." "I want to see that letter, Charley. But tell me, when did you get here?" "Only to-day, sir. I had a right hard time of it." "I should judge so. Prom the looks of your clothes, I should imagine that you had been jumping freight trains." "That's just what I had to do, sir. I had no money. I could never have got here in any other way. But please read the letter before you ask me any more questions, Mr. Brady. Then you will understand." Charley had taken the letter from his pocket by this time, and Old King Brady now took it and read aloud as follows : "New York, Nov. — , . "Dear Charley: "I am addressing this to the old home and* I don't know whether it will ever reach you or not, for I know that papa and mamma are both dead. Perhaps you have gone away from there long ago. "Charley, I am in great trouble. My husband, who used to treat me well enough, has lately become greatly changed. The fact is, Charley, he' has grown very jealous of me, and that without the least cause. He now keeps me locked in a room underground and I am never allowed to see anybody. I have come to hate him, so that I can hardly bear the sight of him. If this state of things keeps up much loliger, I believe I shall surely go mad. "I said I never saw anybody; that is not quite true. I see my husband, of course, and there is also a woman, who looks after me. It is she who has promised to mail this letter. Whether she will keep. her word or pot, I can't tell, hut if she does, I beg and implore you to try to do something to rescue me. "A Chinaman named High Dock, who lives on the fourth floor of No. — Pell street, must know where I am. He always pretended to be my friend, too. "As for myself, Charley, I don't know where I am, for I was under the iufluenee of a dinig when I -was brought into this place. Perhaps if you was to show this letter to Uncle Thomas he might help you, but, of course, I don't know how he took my marriage. "Charley, I can't write aily more,' and I had so much I wanted to say to you, too; but all I shall say is, dear brother, help me if you can. I- am sure they keep me drugged most of the time. I ha.ve grown terribly weak and I am very wretched. So once more I ask you, Char- ley, to help your unfortunate but ever-loving sister, "iBMILY." "A pitiful letter," said Harry. "Why Avill these whit^ girls persist in marrying Chinamen?" " "Why, indeed," replied Old King Brady. "She killed father and mother all right," said Char- ley. "Still she is my sister and I would have tried to help her, anyway." ' "And knowing what you, knew about your uncle's will you were all the more anxious?" added Old King B;rady. "That's it. So I started, and I got here. I weh.i«to that house and inquired for High Bbck. I f ouhd acbiiple THE BEADYS AFTER THE TONG KINGS. 9 of CMnamen in the room I was directed to. They both acted queer 5nd I think they were half drunk or some- thing. One of them said he was High Dock, and he be- gan, asking me all sorts of questions about my uncle. He seemed to know he was dead and to know that he had left S lot of money, and he wanted to know about his will. " I was so scared at his manner-^he wouldn't tell me a thing about Emily — that I started to get out. Then they both set on me, and when I wouldn't tell them who my, uncle left the money to they tied my hands and hung me out of thfe window. Mr. Brady, it was dreadful! 1 don't know how I ever stood it. I thought I was a goner, sure." And this was Charley Trevanion's remarkable story. Old King Brady now put the question that he had been waiting for a chance to put. "Who is your uncle's heir in case your sister was dead when he died?" he asked. But Charley did not know this. He had never seen the will; he had never talked with anyone, who had seen it. All he knew was thai? it had been in all the papers when Judge Trevanion died that he had left over a million, and that it all went io his niece, Emily Trevanion, who had run away and married a Chinaman three years before. By this time Charley had pretty well recovered from his fright — ^it does not take a boy of his age long to get over such things. The Bradys drew aside to consult. ''This is all very important," remarketl Old King Brady, "and now we can understand what it is all about." ''But who is behind Pincher?" questioned Harry. "Somebody who is able to exercise a pull on the Secret Service Bureau, that is certain," replied the old detective. "So it seemed to me. If we only knew." "The recommendation from the Cincinnati commis- sioner, slight as it is, proves it. This point has to be de- termined; also who is the next heir after this girl." "If Alice would only come. I am beginning to feel anxious about her." "It is certainly singular that she does not come, but we cannot wait idle on that account. I think we better leave the boy here and look into this High Dock matter. We can arrest that pair. Perhaps some clew may be ob- tained in that way." "And what if the boy takes to his heels while we are gone?" "He won't do that unless he is a fraud, and in that case we don't want him." "He can hardly be that." "Next to impossible, I should say, unless he is acting as a^tool for somebody. I " At 'this instant there came a low knock on the door. "Answer, Harry. You are disguised^" said the old de- tective. "I'll keep hack." Harry had been making some changes in his appear- ance while Old King Brady read the letter and talked with Chalrley. ; ' This that he might be ready to jump in and help Alice if she appeared suddenly. ■ He Went to the door and opened it slightly. "Oh! I— ^—pardon me! I imagine I've got into the wrong shop!" Old King Brady heard a familiar voice say. It was the voice of Mr. Thomas Tuppet Pincher ! There stood the little Covington lawyer, who had evi- denLly been imbibing freely since his call on the Bradys. Mr. Pincher was drunker in his legs than he was in his speech. "Pardon me," he said again, waving his hand. "Case of wrong pew. Good evening — sir !" He pulled away and, steadying himself by clutching the bannisters, started downstairs. "Pincher !" breatJhed Old King Brady, as Harry closed the door. "That's what ! Pincher — very much off !" "Shadow," said the old detective by a secret sign, of which the Bradys have a regular code. "Stick to the job !" he added aloud. "It seems a good chance to find out something definite." Harry was gone like sf flash. Old King Brady went to the window and looked up at the window of High Dock's room, from which a bit of the rope still dangled. "Charley," he said, "I am going after High Dock. Perhaps I shall arrest him. Stay here until I return." Charley assented, and Old King Brady now left. He had no sooner gone than the boy got up and went to the window. A restless fit was upon him, and no wonder. He was worried lest Old King Brady should get into trouble with those two Chinamen on his account. He raised the sash and peered out. There had been a light burning in the room all along — Old King Brady knew that before he started out. Charley could not get any view into the window, how- ever. It was decidedly warm, and he stood there by the open window thinking of what his fate might have been when suddenly a shot rang out. It startled the hCj more then, anyone else in China- town, apparently. For Charley was the only person who looked out of a window. People never do look out of windows in Chinatown when there is shooting going on. "Could the sound have come from High Dock's room?" Charley asked himself. He could hear someone shouting in Chinese. Then suddenly there was a crash of glass. This came from High Dock's window all right. Half the sash went whirling down in fragments into the courtyard below. And at the same instant Charley caught a glimpse of the brim of a white hat projecting through the break. It was Old King Brady's hat ! From the way it came and vanished it was evident that the old detective was having trouble with someone. '■'What if they down him?" thought Charley. He waited. Nothing further happened. He craned his neck, but could not get far enough out of the window to obtain any view of the interior of the Chinaman's room. 10 THE BRADYS AFTEE THE TONG KINGS. And still he -waited. Fifteen minutes had now elapsed — then it was half an hour. "That old man has got himself into trouble, surest thing," thought Charley. "He helped me, I must help him. I am going up there to see." CHAPTER V. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BOWEEY. It is slow work shadowing a drunken man. Mr. Thomas Tuppet Pincher was certainly good and full, and it was particularly slow work shadowing him. For when he got down on the street the little man drew himself up with an air of great dignity and walked so slowly that it almost seemed as if he was making no headway at all. He was trying to find a number, and he three times consulted a little memorandum book. Each time he would put on a *pair of eyeglasses and study the book. Then, removing the eyeglasses, he studied the numbers on the houses. Nobody paid the slightest attention to him. Nobody ever does pay any attention in Chinatown, ex- cept the slummers, who stare at everybody. Twice Mr. Pincher made a feint of entering a doorway, but each time he pulled back. At last he seemed to give it up in despair, and he leaned back against a house and stood there staring, help- lessly. It seemed to Harry a good time to butt in, so he ap- proached and said: "Excuse me, sir, but you seem to be looking for some- body you don't find. I know Chinatown pretty well. Possibly I can help you." Pincher put on his eyeglasses and stared. "Who are you?" he demanded, thickly. "Just happened to notice you," replied Harry. "You needn't be afraid of me. Who is it you want to find?" "Nonej)f_your bjisiness'P'**''"" "^^'"^^z' "v — „^-- "Oil, if you put it that way " "That's the way I put it! None of your business — none of your blame business — see?" "All right, boss. 1 beg your pardon. No offence, I hope?" "But that is offence. You are a confidence man — that's what vou are." "Oh, no, I'm not!" "Yes, you are. I'm dead on to your kind." He pulled out a dirty pocket handkerchief and mopped his forehead. As he did so a bunch of greenbacks came out with it and' fell on the pavement. Harry stooped and picked the money up. "If I was a confidence man I wouldn't be giving you this now," he said, extending the moijey. There were tens and fives and ones in the bunch, as much as fifty or sixty dollars, Harry thought. "Whaf s that?" demanded the little lawyer, putting his hands behind him and evidently suspecting some trick. "Monev you dropped," replied Harry. "I dropped?" "Yes." "Young man, I never drop any money. I — er^-have none to drop. I — er^— dropped all mine years ago." "All the same you dropped this. I saw you do it." Pincher brought his hands around in front. "By jove, you are right!" he exclaimed. "I remember now that I did have money. The occurrence is so unOsual that I temporarily forgot it." His hand closed on the bills. He fumbled in other pockets. , "Yes, yes," he said. "I — er — ^you are right. The money is mine. . Got into the wrong pocket. Thank you. I sup- pose you are looking for a reward?" He slowly separated the bills and then handed a five to Harry, who declined to receive it. "If I was what you just accussed me of being," he said, "you never would have got your money back." "Well, that's so. I — er — I owe you an apology. Won't you take five?" "No, sir." "Make it ten. I'm — er — I'm flush to-night. Occur- rence is so unusual that I — er— I temporarily forgot." . "No, no! I don't want your money." "Come and have a drink then. That is, have a drink r yourself. I — er — I don't- drink." • "When you've had enough," replied Harry. "You're a wise man. If all were like you then there would be no drunkards in the world." Mr.' Pincher, who had put the money away in his inside coat pocket, drew himself up with great dignity. "Do — er — ^do you mean to accuse me of being drunk?" he demanded. "Not by any means," replied Harry. "AH I meant was that you may have had one or two and know when you have had enough." The little lawyer immediately shifted his position. "You're all right," he said. "You're a gentleman. I'm — er — I'm another. You speak the truth. I-^-er— I have had one or two. In fact, I've had three or four." Putting his hand alongside his mouth, he added in a confidential whisper : "To be strictly accurate, I've had five or six and I don't want any more." , , "Come on," said Harry. "Let's get around on the Bowery. We. are attracting attention here." "And why, may I — er— may I ask?" replied "Mt. Pinch- er. "Why should I go with you, whose — ^whose name even I don't know. True you found my money, aiid for that you have my gratitude, since you won't accept any other reward, but that is no reason why I should travel with a stranger." _ ~ "He does not recognize me, that's one good thing," thought Young .King Brady. He handed the lawyer a card, reading: "Mr." Henry McPherson." ^ Pincher put on his glasses and read the name aloud.' "McPherson. That's Scotch!" he said. "My name is Pincher. T. T. Pincher. Mr. McPherson, I am pleased to have— er— to have met you. Do you kiiow I think we will go back to the Bowery, unless you can help ine out here." , . ■- By a long, roundabout road, Mr. Pincher :had come just where Young King Brady wanted to get him. ' ,:■ / THE BRADYS AFTER THE TONG KINGS. 11 "%lij certainly!" eaid Harry. "Only too pleased to help you. Now tell me what I can do. Are you looking for some Chinaman ?" "For a Chinaman ! No, sir ! No, sir ! Why on earth should I be looking for a Chinaman?" "But they are all Chinaman around here." "Wait!" said Mr. Pincher. Out came the greasy wallet. Out of the wallet came a sealed letter. "Read that address, sir," said the lawyer, "and you will see who 1 am— er — after. If you can steer me to his place of abode I shall be — er — be under obligations. Further obligations, I may say." The address read: "Chuck Mullins, No. — Bayard street, New York." It was the name of one of the most notorious strong- arm men of the Bowery section — a man well known to the Bradys, and who knew them in turn. "Well ! Chuck !" thought Harry. "He won't go back on me !" "Why I know that party!" he added aloud. "You've got the wrong street !" "Have, eh? I kind of thought so. You see this man's — er — personal appearance has been — er — has been de- scribed to me by the writer of that letter. He has red hair, sir-^the man, I mean — ^not the writer. Just now I knocked at a door, which I thought might be the right door. Proved to be the wrong door, because man had brown hair. I pulled away, sir. Pulled right away. Can you blame me? I think not." "Certainly not," replied Harry, with a light laugh. "You did all right. I can steer you to Chuck MuUms' if you want me to; only say the word." "Well, do it, then," assented Pincher, and after that he gave up and took Young King Brady's arm. He appeared to "he more wobbly in his legs than ever after he got hold of it and stopped trying to take care of himself. So Harry steered the little lawyer around to the num- ber on Bayard street, which proved to be the same as the house on Pell street in which the Bradys had their rooms — Whence the mistake. But Chuck Mullins was not in, nor did Harry suppose he would be. Pincher seemed immensely disappointed. "I really don't know what to do," he said. "I— er— I am very tired. I ought to be in bed. If I could get a little sleep 1 should— er— I should feel better. Really, I don't know what to do." "Where are you stopping?" asked Harry. It appeared that the lawyer had left a grip at the Occidental Hotel, corner of the Bowery and Broome street^ although he had not engaged a room there. It also appeared that he had oflly struck New York a short time before he turned up a;t the Bradys' office. Harry proposed that they go to the hotel, get a room and that while Pincher lay down for a nap,. he would undertakev to find Chuck Mullins if he was to be found. ' • After some further long-winded talk this was agreed to, and Harry left th^ little man on the bed. He tried to make him give iip the letter to the strong- arm man, but this was refused. Harry now pulled out and left the lawyer to himself. "He'll be sober if he can get an hour's sleep," he said to himself. He hurried back to the rooms. The door was unlocked and there was nobody in. It puzzled Harry not a little, and worried him, too. He could not understand why the door should not be locked if Old King Brady had taken the boy away. He waited a few minutes and then, locking the door, started off. He wanted to see this Chuck Mullins' business through. But where to find the strong-arm man? Harry had not the least idea where to look for him, nor even if he was in town, but one thing he did know, and that- was that it would be useless to look for Mullins in saloons, for this particular crook made it a boast that he always rode on the water-wagon. To Young King Brady it seemed that his best chance would be to look up the wardman of that precinct, and at last he found him on the Bowery and made himself known. . "Chuck's around to-night, Harry," said the wardman. "I seen him about half an hour ago, going into Jim La- velle's. Perhaps he's there now." "What! He isn't drinking, is he?" demanded Young King Brady. "Not at all. Chuck never touches the suds, but he had a feller in tow what looked as if he might have been hitting it up heavy. If you don't care to show yourself in Jim's in your disguise, I'll go in for you." "I wish you would," replied Harry. "Not that I mind showing myself, but I want to say a few words to Chuck alone and I'd just as soon not have anyone trailing after us." "I'll fix that," said the wardman, and away he went. He was successful, too. Inside of a few minutes he returned with Chuck Mul- lins. Thanking the wardman, Harry got away with Chuck and they started up the Bowery. "What's in the wind?" demanded the strong-arm man, puzzled probably to know why he had been sought. "We've got a Chinese case on hand. Chuck, in which yen can help us a lot," replied Harry. "Can we count on you?" "Sure thing, Brady!" w%s the prompt reply. "But it may interfere with your own business." "How? Haven't any business on hand just now, so I don't see, how it can." "There is a lawyer here in town from Covin tgon, Ky. ; he's got a letter of introduction to you." "Well! Is that so'? From me brother, most likely. He lives out dere." "Same business. Chuck?" "As meself? He's a dead game sport, if dat's it. Wlio's his nibs<"' "Name of Pincher." "I tought so." "You've had a letter from your brother?" "Well, to be honest, I have. But it don't go if you don't want it to go, even if he is my brother." 12 THE BRADYS AFTER THE TOXG KIXGS. "I'll 1}e frank with you, Chuck. We are after a white woman who is married to a Chink." "Wouldn't you have come near hitting de bull's-eye if you had said a red woman ?" "You know- her all right, Chuck. She's the party." "De Red Loidy of Chinatown. She's Wing AVang's wife." "Exactly. Where can she be found?" "You can search me, Brady. Hain't seen her in months. Dey say she's dead, and dat Wang Icilled her." They were just crossing Hester street. A man, wear- ing a shabby military cloak and a slouch hat, was coming towards them. Raising his head he looked hard at Chuck, who stopped short, with an exclamation which would not look well in print Instantly the man whipped out a revolver and fired point blank at Chuck Mullins, then taking to his heels. "Gee! I'm a goner!" gasped the strong-ann man, clapping his hand to his left side. His legs doubled beneath \um and he sank in a heap at Y'oung King Brady's feet. CHAPTER VI. ALICB HITS THE LODGE OF THE SECRET TONG. Alice lay there behind the rod curtains, wondering what was going to happen next. For half an hour nothing happened. All was as still as death there in that underground room. It was beginning to grow decidedly monotonous when, footsteps were heard descending the secret stairs. It was evidently a Chinaman who was coming, for the footfalls were those of slippered feet. Alice raised her hand to the secret spring. She was taking no chances. Of course she had long ago drawn the conclusion that the expected one ^ouM be none other than Wing Wang, "the tong king; what was going to happen after he saw, as he was expected to suppose,' his wife lying there in the bimk with the opium lay-out alongside of her? And Wnig Wang came, and Wing Wang saw ! He gave one sharp exclamation and made a dart into the room. Instantly, Joe Ling appeared behind him with a huge revolver, which he discharged. The shot was a miss ! Such lightning quickness as Wing AVang displayed, Alice had never seen. He drew, he turned, he fired, and that before Joe Ling seemed able to get in a second shot. No miss this time ! Joe Ling dropped with a sharp cry. And Alice dropped, too, for she saw that the game had gone the \vrong way. Pressing the secret spring the panel opened, and Alice rolled through the opening, landing on a mattress about two feet down, as the panel fell back into place. She raised her hand and gave the boards a push. The secret spring clicked. For the moment she was safe. Alice scrambled iip and worked her flashlight. There were two bolts on the inside of the panel,* one at each end, and these she shot. None too soon, either. Wing Wang was already pounding upon the panel. Clearly he did not know about the secret spring. Alice was not waiting for him to gain the information. She was now in a short, narrow passage, with a. door at one end. Hurrying forward and, finding the door unfastened, she passed through and bolted it on the other side. She was now in a room, whibh was evidently a fantan joint, and unoccupied. There were bolts on the door on her side, and she. hastened to shoot them. Feeling reasonably secure for the moment,' Alice pro- ceeded to make a change, for which she was provided with every facility. Alice was now attired in sober black and, after making a few changes with her face, she looked like anybody but the Red Lady of Chinatown. And all this time not a sound ha(J been heard. Alice now det^^iTtiined to follow Joe Ling's advice and get out on to Pell street through the secret passages, if such a thing was possible. That the Chinaman's scheme had ])een to arouse Wing Wang's jealousy by sending him word that his wife was in that room and then to murder him, she had not the least doubt. Most effectually had the tables ))pcn turned. There was another door to the fantan room, which was locked, but Alice managed to get it open with her skele- ton keys. A winding passage lay beyond. • This brought her into a room in which were many boxes and small bales. Alice saw that some of the bales held opium. There were also many clothes hanging from iDPgs, some of which were women's clothes, and among them were the dresses and'bonnets of Sisters of Charity. That they were disguises used for smuggling in China- man was apparent at a glanc^. And now Alice found herself up against trouble. There was another door here, but jt opened into a small room containing many chairs, with Chinese scrolls hanging against the walls. ^ It looked like the meeting room pf some secret tong, probably one of those which Wing Wang was at the head. From this room there was no apparent way of getting out, except to return hv the road Alice had already trav- eled, and it was the same with the storeroom. And yet Joe Ling had positively assorted that there was a way out on to Pell street. Puzzled to know what she ought to do, Alice was prowl- ing about when certain soiinds behind two big boxes, pned one upon another, warned her that she wa.s not likely to be alOnc long. Something had to be done. There was an empty packing case own there !" said Charley, pointing to the hole. The wardman flashed his light down throu^ the open- ing, Charley looking over his shoulder; "You little liar!" he thundered, again clutching the_ boy's arm. "Now you come along with me !" It was a case of no bag. CHAPTER VIII. "j. A. W. — ^JAW!" Harry's first impulse was to follow the man with the cloak, and perhaps he might have done so if Chuck Mul- ling had not groaned out. "Stay by me, Harry! Stay by me! He's done me! Dis is de time I get me finish!" ' "Who was he? Give me his name and address, first thing, so I may go for him!" Harry exclaimed, as the crowd began to gather. "No, I'm a dead game sport!" replied Chuck. "I don't do business dat way. All I'll say is dat we hate each other. He swore to do me at sight, and I swore to do him. I gotter take me dose — dat's all." But he changed his mind when at the Hudson Street Hospital, where Harry landed him, the doctors told him, after a careful examination, that he had but a few hotors to live. Then he begged that Young King Brady, who still lingered in the building, should be sent for. Harry came, all sympathy. THE BRADYS AFTER THE TONG KINGS. 17 He listened to certain dying requests and promised Chuck; that he would see them executed, which we may as well say now he did. Then Chuck said: "Harry, I've changed me mind. I won't tell you noth- ing ahout dat snoozer, beyond de fact dat he is a crook. But I will tell you his name an' if youse can run him to de chair, I believe I shall rest easier in me grave." "Tell it!" said Harry. "Don't delay !" "He's Bill Felter. I tought he was out West some- where. He's wanted in New York. If de bulls once get him, it's de chair for his, and not on my account, neither." "Do you mean 8,673, Rogues' Gallery?" demanded Harry. "Forger, confidence man, all-round crook? Once a captain in the United States Army ?"' "Dafs de bloke. He really was an officer in de reg'lar army, too. Dey tell me he's a graduate of West Point." There was more to it, but true to his claim of being "a dead game sport," Chuck MuUins gave nothing away con- cerning Captain Felter's quarrel with himself. And that night Chuck MuUins died. It was good riddance to extremely bad rubbish, of course, but just the same. Young King Brady always wished that he had not sent the wardman to Jim La- velle's. After leaving the Hudson Street Hospital, Young King Brady went back to Chinatown and called at the I'cll street rooms. The door was still locked, and when he entered Harry found nothing to indicate that apyone had been there during his absence. It seemed most mysterious. He now began to grow seriously alarmed about Alice. And well he might, considering how far advanced the evening had- now become. And another and still more important reason existed for his anxiety. The fact, is, Young King Brady has long been in love with his partner. As yet he had not made the headway he could wish. If Harry had had his way they would have been mar- ried long ago. :, -1, i But Alice is devoted to her profession and will not hear to settling down to the monotony of married life. There was nothing to be done in the matter, however, so Harry began to think of his case. He wanted now, more than ever, to get a look at the letter to Chuck Mullins, which still remained in the pos- session of that inebriated limb of the law, Mr. Thomas Tuppet Pincher. .So he concluded to get back to the Occidental Hotel and ascertain the present condition of the little man. At the hotel, which is the oldest on the Bowery, Harry was not known, but as soon as he explained who he was, he found the night clerk perfectly ready to lend him every assistance. ' • • i, "I brought that dnmken man here in connection with a case Old King Brady and 1 are working on," Harry explained., "If you could open the door and let me into his room without disturbing him, I should take it as a great favor." 3.1.11 The name of Brady was quite sufficient, and the clerk went upstairs with Harry and personally opened the door with a pass-key. They found the little lawyer lying on the bed, dead to the world. "Going through him?" demanded the clerk. "That's my intention. I want you to bear witness that I take nothing valuable." "Just Jet me see your shield again. We have to be particular, you know." "I want you to be particular." The clerk examined the shield. "That's all right, Mr. Brady. Go ahead and do your work," he said. All Harry wanted was the memorandum book and letter. He got botli, but the former ainounted to nothing. The letter, which he tore open without ceremony, read as follows : "Covington, Ky., Nov. — , . "Dear Brother: "dis will make you acquaint wit me frend, Mister pinches ; he's out for some gal what's married to a Chink I tink he wants her dun up though he didn't say so ; he's got de dough, get yer pay in advance, noting fer me i come in troo another. Yours, JIM." "Does the letter tell you what you want to know?" demanded the clerk. "Exactly what I wanted," replied Harry. "I'll stay here until' he waives up." Taking the hint the clerk left. Harry had no idea of wasting time. He concluded to give Pincher the time it would take for him to smoke a cigar and get quieted down, and then to arouse him. "And so, after all, it is just as well that Chuck got it as he did," he thought. "He would have taken that con- tract all right. I wonder how much rtioney this fellow has." He had not inte];fered with Pincher's cash, but now he went for his pockets and got at it. There was still a lot in the fat roll. Harry figured it out that someone had given the man $2,000. He had just restored the money to Pincher's pocket when there came a low knock on the door. Harry got up and opened it. It required considerable self-control to keep an un- moved face, for there stood the murderer of Chuck Mul- lins outside. Captain Foltcr seemed a.' much astonished as Harry was himself. "Beg your pardon. Perhaps I've got the wrong room," he said. "I was looking for a party by the name of Pincher." He looked at the number on the door and remarked that it was the one giyen him by the clerk. "It's all right. Pincher is here," replied Harry, open-' ing the door to its full width. Captain Felter glanced at the bed as he entered. 18 THE BRADYS AFTER THE TONG KINGS. say he was," he replied, disgustedly. "I should "Drunk?" "As you see." "Humph ! You a friend of his?" "Evidently he doesn't recognize me," thought Harry. "How can I lead him on?" "No, I'm not his friend," he said aloud, and on the spur of the moment he resolved to tell the truth. "My name is Brady," he added. Captain Felter gave a start and looked hard at Harry. "My name is Dinsmore," he said. "I'm from Coving- ton; this fellow's home town. I came to look him up^ for I was afraid he would get on a bat. It's a habit of his." "I judge so. He certainly needs looking after." "Are you looking after him?" "As you see. He has got a lot of money on him and he needs to be looked after." Captain Eelter dropped into a chair. "Mr. Brady, I may as well tell you that I gave him that money." "Well?" "Oh, I am not proposing to take it away from him. The fact is the man came to New York on my business. He was to engage a detective to look up a certain matter for me." "He engaged one." •'You?" "Yes." "Are you one of the Brady detective*?" "I am Young King Brady." Captain Felter shifted uneasily in his chair. His face assumed a disgusted look. "I will be frank with you, Mr. Brady," he said. "You were not the party ho was instructed to engage." "Is that so?" "Yes." "Perhaps he could not find the party you suggested." "I didn't suggest anyone in particular." "Oh, I understand ! Let me be as frank as yourself, Mr. Dinsmore. It isn't that you object to me personally, but that you think I am not the right sort for the job." "That's it" "Perhaps you are wrong. The job Mr. Pincher gave me was to look up a Mrs. Wing Wang, white girl from Covington who married a Chinaman. Is that your busi- ness?" "It is." "Come!" said Harry. Half confidences are no confi- dences.. I'll tell you just what I've been doing. Pincher came to me with this case of his and paid me a very lib- eral retaining fee." "How liberal?" "Five hundred." "Had he been drinking?" "He may have had one or two, but he was perfectly able to attend to business." "Did h9 say what be wanted done with this woman in case she was found?" "He said he wanted to have a few minutes' talk with her, and after he had done that she would be willing to go to Covington with him." "Traitor!" muttered the captain. The word was spoken so low that it was doubtful if he intended Harry to hear. "So you think he meant to sell you out?" demanded Harry, determined to bring matters to a head. "Oh! You heard me?" "Yes." ■ "Well, I do think so. He wouldn't have gone to you if he had not had that intention." "Wait !" "You wait a second!. .Is Old King Brady working' on the case?" "I don't know where Old King Brady is. -I am the one who is working on the case." "I see. Go on." "I was about to say that Pincher left me after giving me money and orders. I came down to Chinatown to look for this woman. Then I ran into him, so drunk that I had to bring him up here and put him to bed. He talked differently then." "Well, say !" "He was looking for Chuck MuUins, the strong-arm man. Said he wanted to have the girl done up." Captain Felter's face was a study. Harry had now worked him up to the point where he wanted to get him. "He does not know me," he said to himself. "Let him^ put his proposition. It will come all right." And it did ! • , Avoiding all allusion to Chuck Mullins, Captain Fel- ter, after sounding Harry in various Vays, said suddenly : "Perhaps the way Pincher put it when he was drunk was the right way. Sunpose you take what cash he has got loft, and " ' • ' . H« paused. "Get the Red Lady of Chinatown out of your way?"' replied Harry, filling out the sentence. The captain nodded. Harry was silent. "Perhaps you consider that out of your line," continued the captain. "It is a little. But — ^" "Well?" "How much money has he got about him?" "Don't you know? I give him two thousand'." "I do know. He has thirteen hundred and some odd " "It's yours." "Not enough, Mr. Dinsmore." "Can you put your finger on this woman?" "I can." "Then I'll make it enough if she never bothers me again." "1 can arrange the thing, I suppose," said Harry; "but the -price ?" "Make it even two thousand?" "No, sir!" "What then?" "Make it even five thousand'?" "Phew ! You are high." "High, man!" cried Harry, assuming sudden excite- ment. "What's five thousand to a man who is working for a million?" ^ THE BRADYS AFTER THE TONG KINGS. 19 Captain Felter sprang to his feet. , "Who told you that?" he hissed. "He didnH, for he didn't know !" Suddenly Mr. T. Tuppet Pincher turned over on the bed. "J. A. W. — ^jaw!" he muttered. "What you two jaw- ing about? Quit it and let's all have a drink !" CHAPTER IX. IN THE OLD SEWEK. The illusion was so perfect that even Alice, sharp as she was, found herself deceived there in the dim light of the hanging lamp which had guided her steps through the secret passage. But it was only for the moment. Then she saw that the supposed guardian of this secret shrine was only a dummy, made up' of a suit of ancient Chinese armor, a mask and so on. But Alice had come to the end of her rope. There was a little niche in the wall cut ofE by a red curtain, with a Chinese chair inside. What- it was intended for Alice could only guess, but ,certainly there was no way out through it. Nor could she find any other way and, although she knew that there must be a way somewhere, Alice was obliged to give it up. The situation had now become serious, for she could hear the jabbering of the Chinamen in the distance. The lodge was certainly out and the crowd was coming. A female caught outside the secret meeting place of a Chinese tong ? Poor Alice knew that if she really was caught she was as good as dead. There was only one thing to do, and that was to get in -behind the curtain and hold her breath. On came the shuffling Chinks and, in an instant, the secret was revealed, for the first one who came up to the fake guardian got hold of the image and turned it around. Peering out from 'behind her curtain, Alice saw that a trap door had raised itself overhead and there was a lad- der slowly coming down. By the moving of the iirage the signal had been sound- ed to the real guardian of the lodge door above. The Chinks climbed the ladder and departed. More came straggling along. Alice-was able to watch them all. High Dock and his companion were not among them. Now someone shouted High Dock's name from above. The answer came from the distance: "Coming ! I'll close up ! Don't wait !" ^'Little good it will do me," thought Alice. "After they take up the ladder I shall be as bad off as before." ) She h'stened with the closest attention. As High Dock and his companion drew nearer she caught what they were saying. . "I will: do nothing about it to-night. I want to think it over, High Dock," the man said. , , The x>ther urged his case when they got to the ladder. "You mean to see Wing Wang and ^ive me away," he finally said, with some display of anger. "If you do, then beware ! I'll follow you till " "Hush!" broke in the other Chink. "Don't say it, or , you may regret it. No, High Dock. I do not mean to give you away. That, I swear, I will not do, for we are old friends. A man has a right to confide in a friend and the friend must respect his confidence, but you must re- member that Wing Wang has also been my friend. Be- fore I decide between you, I must consult the joss." High Dock's reply to this was just a dissatisfied grunt, and they went off together up the ladder, which was then raised and the trap door closed, Before this was done High Dock put out the lamp, and Alice again found herself in darkness. Satisfied that it was all over for the night, so far as the tongers were concerned, Alice hardly knew wbat to do. But sTie had no intention of remaining idle. She could always go back by the way she had come. Thtere might be a chance of thus escaping danger, as it seemed on the face of things. But before trying this she resolved upon another and more thorough search for some other outlet where she was. She had scarcely begim this when she heard somebody moving about overhead, and she shot back behind the cur- tain. It was well that she lost no time, for the trap door was immediately raised, the ladder lowered and down came High Dock's companion, carrying an ordinary lantern. He was muttering to himself in Chinese. Now to literally translate Chinese would make sen- tences scarcely readable — that must be always borne in mind. What the fellow was saying meant something like this : "The scoundrel ! I'll fix him ! He will try to persuade my friend, will he? I'll put Wing Wang wise to this game !" Perhaps he knew secrets within secrets connected with this place — things which even High Dock did not know. It looked so. The Chinaman picked up the man in armor bodily and stood him to one side. The figure was attached to a square of planks, and when these came away an open trap was revealed beneath. Evidently there was a ladder in the opening. The Chinaman descended into it and disappeared. He was going to the tong king. "What was to be done ?" Alice asked herself. Of course prudence would have suggested that to at- tempt to follow this man was the last thing she ought to do. But the detective fever had seized Alice again. She was thinking of the Red Lady. If High Dock got her, the unfortunate creature was done for. Certainlv she ought to be told of the good fortune which might be hers. Alice determined to go on the warpath again, and it is safe to assert that there is not another female detective in New York who would haVe dared to take the risk. But Alice took it, and she descended that ladder with her flashlight. ^ It took her into an arched vault about twenty feet 90 THE BEADYS AFTER THE TONG KINGS. long, and at the end was a little door, which stood open. Beyond the door was a still longer arched way, evi- dently an old and uusual sewer. "Come, this is no Chinese work," thought Alice. "There must have heen some old brewery or something of the sort here once." The passage ran both ways. Off to the right Alice could see the glimmer of the Chinaman's lantern. "Oh, if Old King Brady was only here to help me out in this !" Alice exclaimed, half aloud. And then, as if in echo to her own words, came the answer behind her. "Old King Brady is here — somewhere!" Startled, of course, Alice stopped short. She had put out*her flashlight, not wishing to- attract the attention of the Chinaman. "Who spoke?" she exclaimed. "Say, miss, are you the lady detective what the Bradys were waiting for?" demanded the voice. "I am." "Miss Montgomery?" "Yes, yes ! Who are you?" Somebody was coming foriivard now. Alice turned on her light and saw a shabby boy. It was Charley Trevanion, of course, and it will be recollected that Alice knew nothing of him, except what she had heard High Doc)^ say. "Whafs your name? Where is Old King Brady?" she asked. "I'm Charley Trevanion, miss. As for Old King Brady, I'm afraid he's dead all right. You don't know how bad I feel about it, and I have a right to, for he saved my life to-night. I only wish I had been quick enough to save his." "Look here," said Alice, "you must be the boy High Dock hung out of his window ?" "That's what I am, miss. How did you know? You must have seen the young fellow, I suppose?" "You mean Young King Brady?" "Yes." "No; I haven't seen him. No matter how I know. It would take too long to tell. You are Mrs. Wing Wang's brother?" "Yes, ma'am! Yes! Say, someone must have told you. Mebbe you have seen Old King Brady. Mebbe he's alive, after all." "I have not seen Old King Brady. From what you tell me and what I have heard, I'm afraid he may be dead. But tell me more — tell me all about it, and tell it as quick as you can." Charley. told about th<3 affair of the bag and his own adventure with the wardman. As for the end of that part of the performance it need only be said that the wardman started to take the boy to the' Elizabeth street station, but oij the way Charley, who managed to wriggle out of his clutches, took to his heels and made good his own escape. "And after I got away, miss', the old man was on my •mind," he went on to say, "ao I came back to that bmld- ing and hunted about till I found a rope. I let myself down and started to see if I could find out what became of him. I had just only begun when I seen that Chink come down with the lantern, and then I seen you. That's the whole story, miss. Now you know all I've got to teU." "And the bag is gone?" demanded Alice, her hopes rising. "Yes, miss. Clear gone." "Then Old King Brady is not dead. It is not so easy to kiU him. We shall find him yet. Lead the way back to this hole you came down through." "Sure ! Might I ask, miss, what brought you here?" "I'm doing detective work," replied Alice. "That's enough for you to know. Lead on." It was but a few steps back to the place, and the sewer ended a few stfeps further on. AlicdJiashed her light around. "Why, there's your bag!'' she exclaimed. Somebody had given it a toss over behind the open- ing and Charley, having only liis matches to aid him, had pot seen it there. The bag was empty. Alice took it up and examined it. "Cut with a sharp knife!" she exclaimed; "and look! Here are the remains of the rope he was tied with !" "Sure thing!" cried Charley. "He couldn't have done it himself, miss." "No; he could not have done it himself." "Then someone must have come along here in 'the short time I was away." "It certainly looks so." "If that fool detective had only had any sense we might have came down and caught on to something."- "That is what should have been done. But we must investigate, Charley. Besides being my partnter, Old King Brady is a very dear friend." "It's a good thing I met you, miss." He could hardly realize what a good thing Alice con-' sidered'it that she had met him! The light of the Chinaman's lantern had long, since disappeared, but there was only one direction in which to continue their investigation. Alice now undertook to explain her own situation to Charley as they walked along through the damp," foul- smelling passage. "And the Chinks mean to get my sister away from Wing Wang.!" cried Charley. "You say they mean to kill her? How will she get the money then?" '^ "What I mean is," replied Alice, "that after she gets the money tRey will probably kill her. This High Dock is after the money. He doesn't care anything about your sister. I heard him say as much." They were drawing near the end of the passage, and Alice was satisfied that they had already passed under Pell street. As she flashed her light on before her she saw a lad- der ahead. "There's your way out, Charley," she said. "It must lead into some celkf, I suppose. We have to be very careful." They listened at the foot of the ladder, but could hear no sound. "Shall I sneak up?" asked Charley. "Perhaps you better." THE BEADYS AFTER THE TOXG KINGS. 21 "I'm the smallest. I can get my head through that hole easy." - The hole above the ladder was a round one, and quite large enough to permit a man to pass. "Take the light," said Alice, "but don't use it until you have listened, and not tlien, if j'ou hear the least noise." Charley ■ got up the ladder and, thrusting his head through the hole, . remained in that position some min- utes. / Then he looked down and said : "I can hear people talking, miss, but I can't make out what they are saying. I think they are talking Chinese." "Come down and let.me try it," said Alice. "What do you find up there — a cellar?" "That's what it is, miss. Shall 1 flash the light first?" "Yes, do so." "Just a cellar, miss, fuU of a lot of old trash," reportei Charley, looking down again. "Get up into it," replied Alice, "and I'll follow you." Shte started .lip the ladder, Charley flashing the light as she came. CHAPTER X. UP AGAIXST THE TQNG KING. Qld King Brady went out after the tong king. At this stage of the case, although they came together, it can scarcely be said that he got him. The case was rather the reverse. It was the tong king who got the old detective, tot, while Old King Brady lay there bound and helpless in the ba^ after the departure of Charley Trevanion, along came Mr. Wing Wang. The fact was the tong king who killed Joe Ling was feeling rather shaky as to his OAvn safety, although he had no knowledge of the fact that the Bradys were out after him. ProbablT this was why he kept away from the meeting of the secret tong over which he was expected to preside, and why he came sneaking into the cellar of the new house, Intending to get into the old- sewer which he had been making use of for some time,, instead of using the passage which led down from the undergroimd den of the secret tong. Wing Wang needed no rope to get down with, for lie had no intention of coming up that way again. He just lowered himself through the the hole, held on by his hands and dropped. ' And as he did not iise a light or stop to look v.lierc he was going, as a matter of course, he dropped on the bag. It is hardly ])ossible that a;iyonc can step on a human being and not know it, even if a big gunimy sack Joes en- close the "form divine." Wing Wang was a lightweight, but Old King Brady naturally, squirmed at the contact. Thus -the Chink missed his footing and fell, to get up again, swearing after the manner of Chinks and to won- der what he had run up against.* , The tong king, had a flashlight and he brought it to bear on the bag. Probably he thought he was .up against a crime, com- mitted by some of his fellow tongers — friends or foes — when he got out his knife and cut away the covering. No doubt he expected to see a dead Chinaman inside. But what he did not expect to see was Old King Brady, whom he, in common with every other opium-smuggling Chink in the United States, knew by sight. If Chuck -MuUins was "a dead game sport" in his way, then Wing Wang was another, after the way of the Chinese. He wore diamonds and a heavy gold watch and chain, his clothes were the latest thing of the best Bowery tailor. In short. Wing Wang was a pretty good-loolgng Chink, and Old King Braxly recognized him by his picture as soon as the Chinaman flashed his lantern down upon liis face. "'Well!" exclaimed Wing Wans. "Old King Brady, the detective! Well!" And he said more in Chinese — probably things as un- complimentary as possible, but they were not understood. But as for Old King Brady, of course, he could say nothing on account of the gag. But Wing Wang soon settled that by tearing the gag away. "You are Old King Brady, the detective !" he ex- claimed. "I am," was the faint response. The foul odors, combined- with the loss of blood, had about fixed the old detective. He was feeling decidedly shaky. It seemed to him that he was liable t9 faint away any instant. "How came you here?" It seemed best to tell the truth — ^indeed, the old de- tective was in no shape to make up any romance just then. So he murmured: "High Doc-k!" and then drifted off into the land of nowhere. When he "came to himself he was free from the bag and his bonds. Wing Wang was bending over him, holding his heaid up out of the mud. "Feeling better?'' he asked. "I'm alive," murmured Old King Brftdy. "And it's a wonder you are, old man." "Yes." "Oh, you don't undersland! Three tongs have sworn to put you out of business." "Ah Vl Wing W^ang might have added tliat he was head of all three, but he kept that interesting piece of information back. "But I am not killing you now," he added. "I coiild easy have done it, too. Tjy to get on your feet." It was accomplished with the Chinaman's hel'p. "Now you come' along with me and I will see what can be done for you," added Wing Wang, holding him tightly by the arm. They walked slowly through the old sewer, the China- man lighting the way with liis electric lamp. They proceeded thus until they came to the ladder, the old detective gaining strength as th'f'y proceeded. He was thinkihg hard, too. ti THE BRADYS AFTER THE TONG KINGS. He believed Wing Wang when lie said that three tongs in Chinatown had sworn to kill him. Although he did not especially fear these people. Old Kiag Brady knew that he was a marked man — ^had known it for some time. If Wing Wang was the leader of any of these tongs then his situation was certainly a dangerous one, he rea- soned. It seemed up to him to get on the right side of the Chinaman if he could. As for Mr. Pincher's oase, Old King Brady had not taken it very seriously until he encountered Charley Tre- vanion. And now it seemed to him that his only hope, if the long king knew that orders had been issued by the Secret Service Bureau that he should be gathered in, was to play this Trevanion business against the other. As Secret Service work always comes first with the old detective he resolved to do that very thing. He got up the ladder with less difficulty than he ex- pected. Wing Wang following. They had now come into a small room littered with old boxes and barrels, which had evidently been partitioned off f iir>m some cellar. Old King Brady judged that it didwaot take up a third of the fjill cellar space. "You stand where you are, old man," said the tong Jdag. "I'm going to get a light." He vanished behind a pile of boxes and was gone some little time. Wiben he came back with a lamp, Old King Brady was sitting on a box leaning back against a barrel, looking what he was, a very badly' used-up man. ^Have you been shot?" demanded Wing Wang. "No, stabbed I" said Old King Brady. "Who by? HigTiDoek?" "Yes." ''Why?" "It's a long story. I am almost too weak to tell it. If i t»uld only lie down somewhere." •"Oome with me." Wing Wang got him by the arm and helped hun airough a door behind the boxes, entering a snug little T«om, fitted up in Chinese style. Here there was a bamboo couch, and he made Old King Brady lie down on it. Presently he came along with a little whisky and, after this had done its work, he proceeded to examine the old detective's wound. ■''Why it is nothing," h^ said, "but you have lost a good <5eal of blood. That's what makes you feel so faint." ^'Help me to the street and 111 pay you well," said Old King Brady, making a bid for freedom. ■"TJo," ^Do you mean to hold me a prisoner here?" ^Yes, for the present. I've got away your revolver and inife. Y'ou are entirely in my power, old man." -^ -realize that ; but don't you think you are making a ■migtaTce in holding a Secret Service man a prisoner?" ^Perhaps. I intend to make it, though. Do you know who I am?'' "Can't say I ever saw you before — ^no." "All the same you know me. The Secret Service men have got my picture. I know that. You have seen it, of course." "You speak good English, my friend." "Why wouldiCt I? I was horn in San Francisco. I have never been out of the United States except to Can- ada, but you can't turn the question that way. I am sure you know me, all right." "Tell me your name and then I shall know you." "I am going to do that. I want you to understand just what you are up against. I dm Wing Wang. In this Chinatown and every other I am Imown as the . tong king." Old King Brady drew a long breath. "My friend, I am very glad you told me this," he said. "I have something I can tell you which is sure to interest you very much if you will only set me free." "What?" "Is it a bargain?" "How can I make a bargain until I know what it is you have to tell ?" , "If I tell all then there will be no chajice to make a bargain. Wing Wang." "Well, that's so, too. But I can send for High Dock. He will tell." "He has nothing to tell. What is more, I don't think High Dock is your friend." "I am not so sure but what you are right about that." "Listen, and I'll give you a hint. You are married to a white woman. For a long time she was known as the Red Lady of Chinatown." "Considering that you don't know me you seem to know a whole lot about my affairg, old man." "They say you have killed her." "It's a lie ! She went on the street too much in her red dress. I put a stop to it — ^that's all. She is my wife." "Then you are a lucky man." "What do you mean?" "I mean money." "Money! Do you mean money coming to mv wife?" "Yes." "That's impossible ! Her father and mother are both dead. When they died they scarcely left enojigh to bury them." "All the same I repeat that I mean money, and to show you that I know what I am talking about I will tell you who your wife was before you married her. She was' Emily Trevanion, of Covington,, Ky." Wing Wang, greatly excited now, began pacing up and down. "Tell me more!" he cried. "If you set me free I can easily prove to you that there is money coming to Mrs. Wing Wang." "Is that so ! Old man, you must tell ! Is it her unole !" "Go ask your wife if you won't set me free. Wing Wang. I'll not say another word until I find myself standing a free man on Pell street." "I'll take your advice!" cried the Chinaman., "I will ask her and she shall {ell me all she knows !" With that he opened another door and bounced put of the room. THE BEADYS AFTER THE TONG EINGS. St He was gone a long time. Now Old King Brady was feeling weaker than he would have cared to own. He closed his eyes and, after a little, from sheer weak- ness,, he dropped asleep. When he awoke he heard the sound of yoices out in the cellar, talking -excitedly in Chinese. Wing Wang's face was readily recognized, but the old detective could not make out the other. He lay there listening to what to his ears was senseless jabbering and heartily wishing that he possessed Alice's wonderful gift and could understand what was being said. And at that same moment, if he had but known it, Charley Trevanion and Alice were coming through the old sewer. The conversation ended abruptly. Both Chinamen came in where Old King Brady was. ^ "So you have waked up, old man," the tong king said. "In good time, too. Come, I will introduce you to my wife. She wants to talk with you. Are you able to walk now?" ".lust that and no more," the old detective replied. H^ was to be introduced to Mrs. Wing Wang, and he was expected to talk to her while Mr. Wing Wang listened on the outside. How to head the tong king ofE in this little game. Old King Brady could not think, as he followed him through the door. CHAPTER XI. HAERT STRIKES A BARGAIN WITH A SCOUNDREL. Harry and Captain Felter looked at each other — ^bot^ looked at little Pincher, as, muttering, he turned over on the bed. T. Tuppet Pineher was asleep again in a moment. It did not seem likely that he had even seen Captain Felter or knew who he was talking to. This complication safely passed, Harry wondered what he should do. And while he was wondering the captain held up his finger and motioned to Harry to come out in the hall, which he did. "We don't want to get him awake," the captain said. "The fellow is more or less of an idiot, anyway. I hired him -because I didn't want to come to New York myself and— well, to tell the truth, Brady, I was drunk when I made the deal, which I regretted afterward. Still there were reasons for me acting as I did." "Yes, and good ones," thought Harry. "You must have been drunk or crazy when you came to New York where you are wanted by the police, I fancy." But aloud he merely said : "Well, Mr. Dinsmore, and what is it to be?" "Hold on ! I want to understand this situation first," replied the captain. "Who told you I Kas out for a mil- lipn?" ' "Now that's my business," replied Harry. "Do you suppose I have studied my trade as a detective for noth- ing? I hardly think it. I know what I am talking about —that's all." Captain Felter looked anything but; satisfied.- "It's all right," he said. "I suppose you will explain that part of the business when you get good and ready, but if I agree to pay you this large sum when do I get the girl and what do you propose?" "You may get her to-night," replied Harry. "Come with me to Pell street, where I have rooms. You want to keep in hiding and you can't have a better place." "I want to keep in hiding! Why? What do you mean?" demanded the captain, half angrily. "Just what I say. Once more let me assure you that I did not go into the detective business yesterday. Your phiz is in the Rogues' Gallery of this town, my friend. I can't see that you have taken any particular precaution in the way of disg-uise. You are liable to be picked up by a plainclothes man any minute." Captain Feller's face paled. "Brady, I'll admit that you are right," he replied. "I am wanted by the New York police." "I know that well enough. You better come with me.'' "But I want to understand definitely about this woman. If you get her, what do you propose?" "What yon propose. Leave that to me. Want to see her first?" "The trouble is, it won't do me any good to see her. I don't know her at all." "Then you shall hear her talk and admit her own iden- tity. Will that do?" "That will do fine. Can you arrange for that ?" "I think so, if you will come to my rooms." Harry felt that if he could only get him to the Chinia- town rooms he might, with Alice's aid, if he could find her, be able to work some sort of admission out of the man. "I'll go," said Captain Felter. "You seem to be -the right sort and I am glad now that things have turned the way they have, but we want to get that money first." "ril attend to.that. And the rest?" "You shall have it, but I can't pay you now." "That will hardly go." "It will have to go. I haven't got it. I admit that I staked Pincher, but 1 got the money from somebody else. I shall have to strike the same party for more."^ "Very well. Don't try to go back on me, though. If you do, I'll make you sick." Harry opened the door and slipped into the room. ' He did not exactly like the idea of going thrtfagh Pincher's pockets, but it seemed best to clip the fellow'"? wings, and Harry felt sure that when he found his money gone he would come whirring about the Bradys' office. By that time Harry felt that he should know just how- to act. Pincher was now sound asleep again, and it proved' an easy matter to get the money. Harry came out with it in his hand. "Ha! So you have got it!" cried Captain Felier. "Well, put it up! That's the first instalment of your pay. Now let us go." They went out on the Bowery and proceeded to Pell street. *'Stay here at the door till I make sure the coast is clear," said Harry, and he hurried upstairs. Everything remained as he had left it, so he returned and brought- Captain Felter up. •4 THE BRADYS APTER THE TONG KINGS. "Why this is all right !" exclaimed the captain, looking around. "A fellow might lie dark here indeJSnitely ; but say, you can't live here?" "Not at all, but we keep these rooms, to use when we are working our Chinese cases." "I see. Any danger of Old King Brady dropping in?" "Yes; he might. Do you know him?" "I have seen him. He knows me. I don't want trou- ble." "I'll fix that," said Harry, and he wrote on a card: "This gentleman is a friend of mine. H." "Now I'm going out to look for the Red LaSy," he said. **As I told you, I think I can put my finger on her, and I propose to bring her in here if you want to see her." "If she comee in she mu^t not go out again, except to her finish." "I'll fix that. She need not know who you are. I sup- poBe you would not even object to— i — " "Well?" ' "Doing her up if it came to that." A fiendish look came over Captain Pelter's face. "She's got to be done up by somebody," he said, "but when I hire a horse I don't propose to walk unless I have to." "We'll get her first," said Harry, and he left the house. He had not the remotest idea what he was going to do, but he felt that it was something to have got on the blind side of this murderous crook. If I see nothing of the Governor or Alice I'll get back with a policeman and we'll run him in," he said to him- self, as he walked up Pell street. Little did he guess the strenuous adventures his part- ners had been having. It was now about midnight. Here was a case crowded into a few hours, and the end was nearer than Harry supposed. He had gone but a short distance, keeping an eye out on all sides for Old King Brady or Alice, when a boy sud- denly came up alongside of him. It was not until he touched his arm that Harry saw that he was Charley Trevanion. "Oh^- 1 am so glad I met you !" Charley exclaimed. "I was just going to the rooms to look for you. Miss Mont- gomery " "Well! Well! What about her?" broke in Harry. "Wants you." "Wants me! Where is she then?" "She's in a secret cellar. The Chinks have got Old King Brady a prisoner. He's been stabbed. You want to come right away." - This was enough to start Harry, of course. The rest of Charley's story had to be told while they were on the move. But Harry only got part of what we have already told — ^Alice's part. Climbing up into the cellar, Alice listened to the talk of the Chinamen in the room, beyond which was the room in which Old King Brady went to sleep. She heard enough to give her a key to the situation. That she was listening to Wing Wang and that he had Old KiT)g Brady-a prisoner there underground, was mad© plain. So Alice, not feeling it safe to tackle these two Chinar men herself with no other help than the boy, gave whis- pered orders to Charley to get back to the rooms and see if Harry could not be found. Charley was loath to leave her. "Go on and have no fears," said Alice. "I'll hide here behind these boxes and I am safe enough. I should not leave, anyway, until I can see Old King Brady safe." And Charley, fortunate enough to meet Young King Brady on the street, guided him to the opening in the old sewer. Meanwhile Alice remained listening. But the talk had now ceased. For a time all was silence. Curious to know what it meant, Alice ventured nearer the door, which was closed^ She put her eye to the keyhole, not daring to open the door, but could see nothing. The only conclusion she could draw was that the two Chinamen must have penetrated further into the_ secret rooms. She was wrong. They stood with their ears pressed against the panel of another door, listening. Now would have been the time to nab them ifHariy had only been on hand. Harry was coming,, but before he got there the silence was broken. » Suddenly Alice heard one of the pair- eslclaim in Chi- nese: "Why they've gone! They've escaped!" Then there was a rush and a door slamilied. Alice opened the door where she was listening and peered into the room beyond. It was empty.' Before she could make a move she heard a slight noise behind her. Light streaming out from the room showed her Harry just coming up through the hole in. the cellar floor. CHAPTER XII. CONCLUSION. When Old King Brady got into that inner room he saw that at last he had come up with the Red Lady- of China- town. And, even now in her imprisonment, she was dressed in i:ed. She was sitting in her rocking chair in a neatly f]ir- nished little room, partitioned off in the cellar,. bolstered up with pillows and looking the picture of despair. She raised her head and looked at Old King Brady curiously as he came in with her husband,, who > spoke a few words to her in Chinese. Wing Wang then immediately retreated and closed the door. That his idea was to let his wife and Old King Brady do the talking while he did the listening act, there can be no doubt. THE BEADYS AFTER THE TONG KINGS. 95 €€ REGU4.AR SELLING PRICE $200.00 OUR GRAND PREMIUM CONTEST BEGAN IN AND IS NOW RUNNING The five readers who send us the largest number of coupons cut from "Happy Days," beginning with. No. 787 and ending with No. 798, will each get an . MOTORCYCLE It is a high-grade machine, guaranteed by the manufacturer to be of 3?^ horse-power, and capable of a speed of 45 miles per htfur. SEE CURRENT NUMBERS OF "MAPPY DAYS" FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION. Don't miss this chance to get a motorcycle for nothing. ANYBODY CAN ENTER THIS GREAT CONTEST. Get as many coupons as you can and save them until the contest closes. Then we will notify you in "Happy Days" when to send them to us. The names and addresses of the winners will be published in the paper, with the number of coupons they send in. THIS IS A FAIR AND SQUARE CONTEST EVERYBODY HAS AN EQUAL CHANGE TO WIN TRY TO WIN A MOTORCYCLE It was a bit of cheap slyness, which was typically Chi- nese. "Sit down," said Mrs. Wing Wang. "Take a chair. Wang says you have been stabbed. I am sorry. I wish there was something I could do to help you, but you sear for yourself how it is with me." "I am afraid you can't help me," replied Old King Brady, dropping into a chair. "Are you an invalid, ma*am?" "Not at all. I am a prisoner." "Like myself." "You have come to a bad place, sir, and you have run up against a bad man — my husband, I mean. I have no doubt he is listening to me now. He's always peering and Ksteninig and spying. I don't care if he does hear me say it. How did you fall, into his clutches?" "It is not exactly as you put it, Mrs. Wang. Your hus- band saved my life to-night." "Did he then? I ^vish he would save mine by letting me out of here. He says High Dock stabbed you because you w^ere trying to find me. I can hardly believe that. High Dock is my friend." * "It is true, Mrs, Wang, and I am afraid High Dock is not your friend, any naore than he is a friend of your husband. He is a schemer. He is planning to get hold of a fortune which has been left to you," "What !" cried the Red Lady, "A fortune left to' me ! I can't believe ! Who would leave me money?" "It ia a fact, but I shall not tell you who left this money. I shall tell nothing more than I have told imtil Wing Wang sets me free." But as he said this Old King Brady took out his memo- randum book and 'wrote : "We will talk one way with our mouths and another with this book. The fortune is over a million, they say. It was left by your uncle. Judge Trevanion. Say no more about it, aloud except to keep urging me to tell you. Write here if there is any Avay out of this room except the way I came in." Mrs. Wang "tumbled" instantly. She began a stream of talk and questions which Old King Brady parried. Meanwhile they talked with book and pencil. Mrs. Wang learned all Old King Brady had to tell in this fashion, even to the fact of Charley's lucky escape. Old King Brady on his part learned that there was a secret panel in the wall, but that Mrs. Wang did not know how to Work the spring. The old detective, still talking at random, got up and began to study into it. Meanwhile Wing Wang could be heard talking to some- one in the other room. At last this talk ceased. Old King Brady wondered who could be with the tong king, and he asked the wife by look, but she wrote that she had no idea. M THE BRADYS AFTEE THE TONG' KINGS. Silence soon followed. .Still talking, Old King Brady continued to study the problem for some time, but without making any headway, until at last in the most unexpected fashion he solved it, for the spring was in the floor and he touched it accident- ally with his foot. The panel opened noiselessly. "No, ma'am, I will not tell you any more about'" it until Wing Wang puts me out on Pell street," said the old de- tective aloud. And as he said it he pointed to the open panel. Mrs. Wing Wang got up and glided towards it. Old King Brady pushed her gently through the open- ing, passed through himself and closeid, the panel. The old detective got out his electric light and flashed it They were in very narrow quarters. Here was a ladder leafling up to a trap door. "Clearly our way lies up this ladder," said the old de- tective. "Follow me." * * * * iti * * "Well, so we meet at last!" whispered Harry, as he joimed Alice near the door. "■Your tong king ha6 just passed from the room beyond this to another. If you are good for two phinks, now is your time." "Right ! HaTfe you your revolver ?" "Yes." She drew her revolver. Harry bad already drawn his. "Boy, can you shoot straight?" he asked. "Sure thing/' replied Charley: ' "Then take, this revolver. I have another. Come!" And he threw open the door, pasSfng through the other door into the next room. The secret panel stood open — the ladder was revealed. "The Governor has given them the slip all right and has taken the Red Lady with him," said Harry. They climbed the ladder. It brought them out into a closet, and from the closet they ^topped into the hallway of one of the old buildings on the north side of Pell street. "Our help is not needed," said Harry. "Let us hurry to the room. No doubt the Governor has taken the Red Lady there." Harry hurriedly explained about Captain Felter to Alice, Charley listening, of course. "Why, that man's my cousin !" exclaimed the boy. When they reached the door of the house in which the Bradys' rooms were, Harry paused. "Alice, have you your Red Lady disguise about you?" he asked. "Surely, Harry." "Then I've got a scheme. If you can get into it and show yourself on the street, the chances are ten to one that if Wing Wang sees you, and he probably will, you can lure him into this house." > She hurried upstairs. Just then Old King Brady came hTirrying up. "Well, Governor!" exclaimed Harry. "Here I am, what's left of me," panted Old King Brady. «My sister?" blurted Charley. "Boy, I've got your sister and I have put her. in the Elizabeth street police station for safekeeping," replied the old detective. "You, can see her now if you run around there with my card." Charley lost no time, you may be sure. Meanwhile Hapry explained his scheme for trapping the tong king and hurriedly told about Captain Filter. "Well, upon my word!" exclaimed Old King Brady. "I hear Alice coming downstairs," said Harry. "I will go up and meet her," said Old King Brady. "I will hide at the head of the stairs and be ready to pounce on Wing Wang when he comes up." "Oh, I think so !" - Alice was down in a minute, dressed as the Red Lady. Thus again she baited her trap and again she promptly made her catch. '• . ^; For she had not been standing ten minutes in that door- way when Wing Wang came along alone. He came — he saw — he "was conquered ! He madcf a rush, for Alic'e as soon as ever his eyes rest- ed 'on the red dress. , ... She flitted up the stairs and the ^ong king chased after her. The Bradys got him there in the hall. It was the old detective who snapped the handcuffs on. And Captain Felter, 'wrho looked out to see what the noise was all about, was promptly served the same way. It was the case of a single evening. It was but a littl^ after midnight when -all "w^ ended, so far as the Bxady^ were concerned. The last act was the capture of High Dock, who vas found in his rooms. ,; Wing Wang went to the electric chair for the murder of Joe Ling, and his wife was thus freed. ^ Captain Felter's "was the same fate, for the shooting of Chuck Mullins. High Dock got ten years for attempting Cliarlev's life. Little Pincher escaped, for the Bradys did not bother him. "Whatever became of th-e man, ho one knows, fbr he failed to return to Covington. Chances are he fills a drunkard's grave. Mrs. Wing Wang in due time came irito her uncle's' large estate. Charley and his sister now reside in the Fiar West,, where the woman's story is not known. As for the rest, tlie Bradys came in for a fat jeward when the Red Lady finally got her affairs settled. The old detective always declares that the quickest case he ever worked out to a. finish was the one we have now been recording— -The Bradys After the Tong Kings." THE END. Read "THE BRADYS' BOSTON DOUBLES; or, TRAPPING THE PAKE DETECTIVES," which will "be the next number (566) oi "Secret Service." SPECIAL NOTICE :-.All back numbers of this weekly, except the following, axe in print : 1 to 6, 9, 13 43, 46, 47, 53 to 56, 63, 8L If you cannot obtain the ones you want from any newsdealer, -send the price in money or postage stamps by mail to PRANK TOUSBY, Publisher,, 34, Union Square, New York City, and you will receive the copies you order by return mail. NOVELS FOR SALE BY CHARLES BRAGIN, 1525 WEST 12th STREET. BROOKLYN 4. N. Y. THE JAMES BOYS FRANK JAMES On The Trail. One of the first "dime novel" bandit stories, published in 1882. in Mor- rison Sensational Series No. 46. Price $1.00 postpaid. THE JAMES BOYS IN NO MAN'S LAND; or The Bandit King's Last Ride. By D. W. Stevens. With extra lurid illustrations. N. Y. Detective Library No. 438, price $1.00 postpaid. JACK WRIGHT and his Electric Stage; or Leagued Against the James Boys. 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ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM; or The Wind Specter of the Black Feet (see iUus- traiion) One, of the longest of all dime novel thrillers, price $1.00 postpaid. GENTLEMAN JOE; the Gilt Edged Sport; or Beating a Royal Flush. By Jos. E. Badger Jr. Log Cabin Library No. 159, price $1.00 postpaid. DEADWOOD DICK, the Prince of the Road; or the Black Rider of the Black Hills. The first of the great Deadwood Dick stories, Beadle Half Dime Library No. 1. price $1.00 postpaid. 3Heu(v> y^.t'^fim' DIAMOND DICK JRS. CALL DOWN; or The King of the Silver Box. The rare Diamond Dick Library No. 175, price $1.00 postpaid. CAMP EM THE ROCKIES. Snake Eye Sol and his pards fighting Indians. Camp Fire Library No. 59. published 1888. price $1.00 postpaid. EDWARD S. ELLIS. Seth Jones; or Captives of the Frontier. The first story written by Ellis, in Beadle Half Dime Library No. 8, price $1.00 postpaid. HORATIO ALGER. Adrift in New York; or Dodger and Florence Braving the World. Brave & Bold No. 45. $1.00 postpaid. 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Prentiss Ingraham. Early biography. Beadles Pocket Library No. 383. price $1.00 postpaid. CALIFORNIA JOE, the Mysterious Plainsman. By Col. Ingraham. Beadle Boys Library. No. 54. published 1882 price $1.00 postpaid. A ROLLING STONE. Career of Col. Prentiss Ingraham by Prof. Wm. R. Eyster. Beadle Boys Library No. 13, published 1832. price $1.00 postpaid. ROVING JOE. the "Border Ruffian". Life of Joseph E. Badger. Jr. by A. H. Post. Beadle Boys Library No. 7, published 1882, price $1.00 postpaid. BUFALLO BILL. The Gold Bullet Sport; or Knights of the Overland. By Buffalo Bill. Beadle Dime Library No. 83. published 1878, price $1.00 postpaid. ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM; or The Wind Specter of the Black Feet (see illus- tration) One of the longest of all dime novel thrillers, price $1.00 postpaid. GENTLEMAN JOE; the Gilt Edged Sport; or Beating a Royal Flush. By Jos. E. Badger Jr. Log C