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The Plot That Failed OR, WHEN MEN CONSPIRE
The Plot That Failed OR, WHEN MEN CONSPIRE
BY NICHOLAS CARTER Author of “A Plot Uncovered,” “The Cab Driver’s Secret,” “Nick Carter’s Death Warrant,” etc. STREET & SMITH CORPORATION PUBLISHERS 79– 89 Seventh Avenue, New York Copyright, 1903– 1905 By STREET & SMITH The Plot That Failed (Printed in the U. S. A.) All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian. THE PLOT THAT FAILED....
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CHAPTER I. TAMBOURINE JACK’S MESSAGE.
CHAPTER I. TAMBOURINE JACK’S MESSAGE.
“I feared you would not come.” The speaker, a beautiful woman of two or three and thirty, half reclined on a sofa, in an elegant apartment. A gentleman, rather old, had entered the room. He was what he looked to be—one of New York’s money kings. “It is for the last time, Louise,” he said, toying with his watch guard. “And why for the last time?” For a second the woman appeared downcast, and then, rising to her feet, she said, pleadingly: “You swore that you would always love me.” “Yes,” he thund
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CHAPTER II. THE YEGGMEN’S LEAGUE.
CHAPTER II. THE YEGGMEN’S LEAGUE.
At the foot of one of the uptown streets, East River, is, or was, a tumble-down shed, once used as a wholesale oyster depot. At high tide the water came up under the shed to within a few feet of the street. Seated around the room, the night following that of the abduction of the old banker, were seven or eight men, while at a rude table in the middle of the shed were two others engaged in playing cards, and on the table between them were several black bottles. They were a brutal set, the occupan
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CHAPTER III. ONCE MORE ON HAND.
CHAPTER III. ONCE MORE ON HAND.
The bullet intended for Skip Brodie passed within half an inch of his head. As has been before stated, it was midwinter, but the hardy ruffian did not seem to be at all affected by the cold. Instead of striking out boldly for some boats that were anchored in midstream, he swam slowly along in the shadow of the piers, heading his course down the river. The call blown by Nick Carter brought half a dozen police officers to his aid. “Get a boat,” he said, “the villain has just this moment leaped int
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CHAPTER IV. A STARTLING REVELATION.
CHAPTER IV. A STARTLING REVELATION.
After turning Skip Brodie over to the authorities at police headquarters, Nick Carter began in earnest running down Elmer Greer. He had all along felt satisfied that the abduction of the banker had never been planned by Brodie and his rough companions. There was a master hand that pulled the strings, while the puppets danced. Nick Carter felt certain that he had found the leader in the person of Elmer Greer. For two days Nick haunted gambling saloons, theaters, sporting resorts and other places
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CHAPTER V. THE BANKER’S DAUGHTER.
CHAPTER V. THE BANKER’S DAUGHTER.
Nick Carter was found by one of the hotel employees, who notified the clerk. Upon opening the dude’s coat they saw the detective’s badge. A doctor was sent for, who, after carefully examining the wound, declared it but a trivial one. Louise Calhoun had stabbed the officer in the neck, within half an inch of the artery; had her knife penetrated that, Nick’s race would have been run. The wounded man was very weak from loss of blood, but when he had been given a stimulant he insisted upon leaving.
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CHAPTER VI. A DANGEROUS WOMAN.
CHAPTER VI. A DANGEROUS WOMAN.
Nick Carter kept Louise Calhoun in sight, and when she left the store he followed. She walked down Fourteenth Street to Eighth Avenue, and turned up that thoroughfare. At the corner of Twenty-eighth Street the detective heard some one call him. He turned, and saw that it was Tambourine Jack. Crackers was with him. “I want to tell you a hull lot, Mister Carter,” said Jack. “I have no time to listen to you,” said the detective. “Do you see that woman ahead, in the long sealskin coat and the red ha
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CHAPTER VII. BLACKMAIL.
CHAPTER VII. BLACKMAIL.
Mignon Field, fortunately, was not badly injured. It was only a flesh wound, after all, the doctor said, and she would soon be herself again. Nick Carter was rejoiced to hear this at the Field’s residence, to which he had taken Mignon, for he felt a sincere interest in the beautiful young girl. When Nick Carter left the banker’s mansion he did not notice a nice, gentlemanly-looking fellow who followed him. For many blocks he dodged the detective’s footsteps, and when the latter took a car he als
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CHAPTER VIII. A DAY OF RECKONING.
CHAPTER VIII. A DAY OF RECKONING.
Hilton Field was first taken to Sands Point, but on a message from Elmer Greer, brought by the Jew, Moses, he was suddenly removed. The men in charge threw their captive into a small sailboat and headed for the Connecticut shore. The night was fine, but large cakes of ice were met with, which they had difficulty in avoiding. The rascals gave their captive an old suit of clothes and a heavy overcoat, and Mr. Field was quite comfortable, as concerned warmth. It was many hours before they made the
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CHAPTER IX. A PLOT WELL FOILED.
CHAPTER IX. A PLOT WELL FOILED.
The next day Tambourine Jack came to Nick with a budget full of news. He had been shadowing Elmer Greer and had seen him with Louise. “Good!” said Nick Carter. “Where did the fellow lead you?” “Well, me and the bloke put in yesterday in Wall Street,” answered Tambourine Jack; “the night before we were at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, he was inside and I was outside. Last night we visited a chap that is a friend of mine. He keeps a crib down near the Thirty-fourth Street ferry.” “Jack Shea?” “You’ve hi
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CHAPTER X. CAUGHT AND ESCAPED.
CHAPTER X. CAUGHT AND ESCAPED.
After the policemen had departed with their prisoners, Nick Carter tore off his disguise and left the building. He found Tambourine Jack waiting for him, and, telling the youth to follow, the detective went through an alleyway that led to the courtyard, into which Elmer Greer had leaped. There he was, stretched on the cold stones, his pale face upturned. He was not dead—far from it. “You have got me at last,” he moaned, when Nick Carter bent over him. “I thought you were killed.” “I would have b
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CHAPTER XI. WITHIN AN ACE.
CHAPTER XI. WITHIN AN ACE.
Two days later Nick Carter received a telegram. The message was signed by an assumed name, but Nick knew from whom it came. That afternoon the great detective arrived in Norwalk, Conn., and within an hour was closeted in a room in a hotel with Tambourine Jack. Crackers, of course, was also present. The little fellow had done splendid work, and, incidentally, so had Crackers. Jack related to Nick a long story, which, stripped of its details, was as follows: No one of the gang had the slightest su
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CHAPTER XII. TWO VICTIMS.
CHAPTER XII. TWO VICTIMS.
Through a politician, with whom he was acquainted, Wilbur Field—he called himself John Wilbur—obtained a pass to the Tombs, and, upon presenting it, was readily admitted. One of the officers on duty within the prison pointed out the cell occupied by Smith. It was situated at the end of an upper tier, and the visitor found the door open. Smith had plenty of money, and, of course, favor was shown him. He dined on the best that a neighboring restaurant could furnish, while less wealthy malefactors
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CHAPTER XIII. GONE.
CHAPTER XIII. GONE.
Between Little Neck and Great Neck, Long Island, is a small settlement of negroes, who make a living by fishing and doing occasional work for neighboring farmers. At this point Long Island Sound is widest. This was the place where Skip Brodie and Dick Denton took their captive. Dick was well acquainted in this section, having been raised on the north side of the island. “I am afraid to trust those niggers,” said Brodie, when they reached their boat. “The fellow I intend to go to is all right,” r
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CHAPTER XIV. IN THE FLAMES.
CHAPTER XIV. IN THE FLAMES.
Nick Carter and his little friend remained in the cabin of Sam Cole until daybreak. Then they sought Skip Brodie and Dick Denton, but, although they searched the country for miles around and questioned everyone they met, not a trace of the fleeing villains could they find. Tired and hungry, they returned to the negro’s cabin, and, after a short rest, Nick Carter left for New York. Tambourine Jack had informed him that Denton said Wilbur was killed by Elmer Greer, and the latter intended leaving
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CHAPTER XV. RESTORED AT LAST.
CHAPTER XV. RESTORED AT LAST.
Nick Carter went at once, upon arriving in the city, to the place uptown where Tambourine Jack told him Dick Denton had met Elmer Greer. The murderer was not there, and, leaving the saloon, the detective took a position near at hand, where he could see everyone that entered. He had been at his post but an hour when a man, wearing heavy, black whiskers and beard, brushed past him. The man entered the saloon and Nick Carter quickly followed. “That disguise don’t baffle me,” the detective thought.
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CHAPTER XVI. WHOSE THE BRAIN?
CHAPTER XVI. WHOSE THE BRAIN?
It was destined to be rudely awakened. One morning, twenty-four years after the kidnaping of Hilton Field, Nick Carter was sitting in his office examining some important papers when one of his assistants placed a telegram before him. Opening it, Nick read this message: “Come at once to Mr. Hilton Field’s house on Riverside Drive. A murder. (Signed), “Frederic Barnes.” Nick thrust the message into his pocket. “Humph!” he muttered. “And Edmund Greer was released from Sing Sing only a month ago!” H
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CHAPTER XVII. A THEORY FOUND.
CHAPTER XVII. A THEORY FOUND.
The discovery Nick Carter made was this: Where the body had been lying in the room, it had been surrounded by a pool of blood. But, when being dragged across the floor toward the door there had been no dropping of the sanguineous fluid. Then, after crossing the sill, the blood drops became visible and continued irregularly until this spot was reached, where there was quite a good-sized pool! About this there was certainly something crooked. Blood would not flow plentifully one minute, cease the
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CHAPTER XVIII. A PUZZLE TO SOLVE.
CHAPTER XVIII. A PUZZLE TO SOLVE.
The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to. Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship. While Nick did not say anything aloud, he did so mentally. And what he said was: “The presence of this girl is another of the threads of this mystery!” Meanwhile he was not losing a word of what passed between the butler and the girl. The former gasped: “His
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CHAPTER XIX. PROVING THE LETTER.
CHAPTER XIX. PROVING THE LETTER.
Satisfied that the urging of Barnes would result in Miss Doane’s remaining in the house, the detective went upstairs and into the library. The two left behind were too much engrossed to remember that the detective had possession of the letter. Arrived in the library he at once went to the desk and opening it, began to look around. He first took out the ink bottle and carried it to the better light near the window. It was a jet-black ink of heavy consistency, showing that a considerable quantity
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CHAPTER XX. AT THE CHEMIST’S.
CHAPTER XX. AT THE CHEMIST’S.
Nick Carter went downtown. He turned his steps toward the East Side after leaving the cars, and finally ran up the steps of a house. In response to his ring a servant came to the door, of whom he inquired: “Is the professor in?” “I don’t know, sir. If you will step into the hall, and give me your name, I will go and see.” The detective entered the hall, then said: “Now, please be kind enough to tell me positively if the professor is in?” “I don’t know.” “Yes, you do.” “I say I don’t.” “And I kno
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CHAPTER XXI. NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
CHAPTER XXI. NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
Entering the house Nick Carter found Barnes still there. The latter greeted him with: “Well, did you learn anything in your trip downtown?” “Something that may ultimately prove to have bearing on the matter. How has it been here?” “In what respect?” “Anything new?” “There has been a new development.” “Ah! What is it?” “It seems that, after all, the motive was primarily robbery.” “So?” “Yes.” “Something has been missing, then?” “There has.” “What is it?” “A portion of the silver.” “But not all of
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CHAPTER XXII. THE BIRTHMARK.
CHAPTER XXII. THE BIRTHMARK.
High noon was striking when Nick Carter entered Mr. Field’s palatial house the following day. Stepping into the hall he met Barnes. Offering him his hand, he said: “Well, I left you here when I went away, and I find you here now. Have you slept here?” With a laugh, the other replied: “Not quite so bad as that. I have been here the greater part of the time, though.” “Anything new turned up?” “Yes.” “What?” “A certain person has put in an appearance since last night.” “Who is it?” “A lady.” “Her n
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CHAPTER XXIII. THE STOLEN SILVER.
CHAPTER XXIII. THE STOLEN SILVER.
The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold. If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained. And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence. As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to ma
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CHAPTER XXIV. THE PLOT THAT FAILED.
CHAPTER XXIV. THE PLOT THAT FAILED.
It was half an hour in advance of the time when Gorse was, according to agreement, to return to Lorton the silver taken from Mr. Field’s house. Deep in the shadow of a doorway near the entrance to the “fence’s” quarters stood the figure of a man. It was Nick Carter. Around the corner, within signaling distance, were Chick and Patsy and six police officers. Twenty minutes passed. Suddenly the door of Gorse’s place opened and Gorse himself stepped out. Nick drew back further into the doorway, but
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