Table of Contents Chapter I. The Bradys as Custom House Detectives. Chapter II. Nine Smugglers. Chapter III. Caught in an Elevator. Chapter IV. The Clew in the Basin. Chapter V. At a Villain's Mercy. Chapter VI. Two Men in a Box. Chapter VII. A Mysterious Woman in Black. Chapter VIII. Gaining a Few Points. Chapter IX. Crossing the Border. Chapter X. Serving the Warrant. Chapter XI. Subduing a Tartar. Chapter XII. Run to Cover. Chapter XIII. A Human Shield. Chapter XIV. On Harlem Bridge. Chapter

The Collector of the Port of New York sat in his office in the Custom House with a look of annoyance upon his face. Several of his chief inspectors were standing about the room with the most uneasy expressions, for they were being censured unmercifully. "I tell you, gentlemen," the Collector was saying, angrily, "I am very much disgusted with the poor service your department is giving. I am determined to stop this wholesale smuggling. If none of you are capable of doing the work for which you ar

A scene of great animation and excitement was soon transpiring on the pier. Passengers were swarming down the gangplank of the big steamer, crowds of friends were waiting to greet them, porters and waiters were landing the baggage on the dock and stevedores were preparing to discharge the cargo. The two Bradys took up a favorable position and calling the purser of the steamer, they induced him to point out several people whose names they mentioned. These people were the ones whom they had spotte

The Bradys felt convinced that the smuggler and his daughter were working some scheme to take some valuables ashore, duty free. Closely watching the pair they saw them enter the cabin. Following them in, the Bradys observed the pair gliding swiftly down a passage, out on which opened the doors of several staterooms. La Croix and his daughter entered one of these rooms. Rushing forward, the Bradys listened outside the partition and heard the man ask: "Did you geet eet, Clara?" "Yes, papa," replie

A cry of alarm escaped Old King Brady when he saw the Frenchman. "Harry," he gasped, "he is trying to kill us." "There goes the cable!" muttered the boy, and a cold chill darted through him as he heard the ominous snap of the parting strands. "The safety-clutch may save us, Harry." "No! It don't work," groaned the boy as the car shot down. A sickening sensation passed through the pair as the falling car went plunging down at lightning speed. They expected to get dashed to death at the bottom as

The smuggler's wife leisurely left the pier, crossed the street and went in the direction of Sixth avenue, on foot. It did not seem to occur to her that she might be followed, for she never once glanced back in the direction she came from. Old King Brady and his partner did not know much about the woman. Whether she was actually concerned in La Croix's smuggling games or not, they had not the faintest idea. She was a fine-looking woman, tall and stately, with brown hair, blue eyes and handsome f

On the following morning Paul La Croix went upstairs to the man who made artificial flowers and said to him: "Monsieur Reynard, to-day ve go avay to Europe. I 'ave some sings een ze rooms ve occupy zat I weesh to send to a friend een Sacramento. To do so, I must 'ave wong beeg packing case. I see an empty wong standing over zere near ze hatchway. Can I buy him from you?" "I'll make you a present of the big case, and be glad to get rid of it, as it takes up valuable space," replied Mr. Reynard, p

"Old King Brady, your life is in danger." "From what?" "The man you are persecuting." "You mean Paul La Croix, I presume?" "I do. Go back to New York at once." "Madam, I shall do nothing of the kind." "Then you must suffer for your obstinacy." "I am prepared for anything, madam." "Remember, I have given you fair warning. You cannot arrest La Croix on Canadian soil for smuggling." And the veiled woman in deep mourning, who accosted the old detective in a dark street in Toronto, turned as if to wa

Young King Brady, of course, knew nothing about the dialogue which passed between his partner and the girl. But he felt pretty confident that Old King Brady did not know who the girl was. Without the slightest hesitation Harry made his way unseen to the rear car, and boarded the train just as it pulled out of the station. The boy wore a bicycle suit and a false beard. He felt pretty sure he would not be known in this outfit, and passing inside the car, he took a seat. The distance between Toront

As La Croix's party did not seem to be in any hurry to leave Montreal, the Bradys had plenty of time to arrange their plans. On the following day they went to the telegraph office and sent two messages, the first being couched in the following terms: "Collector of Port, N.Y.: Swear out warrant for arrest of Clara La Croix, charge of smuggling, and mail at once to International, Niagara Falls. Brady." The second was addressed to the Customs department at Suspension Bridge, saying: "Keep watch for

Mrs. La Croix and her daughter were possessed of good nerves, for the dramatic entrance of the Bradys did not seem to startle them in the least. They glanced coolly at the detectives and Mrs. La Croix asked, haughtily: "Who are these men?" "Detectives, madam," replied Old King Brady, politely. "Indeed! What were you sneaking in that closet for?" "To learn the true inwardness of your gigantic smuggling scheme." "You must be mad." "No, indeed. We are quite sane, I assure you." "What do you mean by

Old King Brady had gone ahead in an effort to find out what had become of Paul La Croix. Reaching the street he accosted a man at the door with the question: "Did you see a thin man with a black moustache, a high hat, and frock coat come out of here in a hurry a few moments ago?" "Yes, sir. He got in a cab and rode away." "Did you notice the sort of cab it was?" "I did. Do you know Pork Chops, the negro hackman?" "Oh, yes." "Well, it was his rig." "Which way did they go?" "In the direction of th

There was a scene of furious excitement in the hotel dining-room, and during the confusion, Clara La Croix made her escape. Among the guests who had been dining was a physician who ran to Harry's aid and made a rapid examination of his wound. To the many anxious, pale-faced spectators who gathered round, he said: "Don't be alarmed. It's a mere flesh wound and will soon heal up." "Isn't he dead?" demanded a gentleman in a dress-suit, anxiously. "No. Simply fainted from the shock on his system." "

It was a beautifully furnished bedroom and the girl smuggler sat by the window reading a novel when the detectives rushed in at her. She was a cool, level-headed girl, and seemed to possess a remarkable set of nerves for she did not look at all startled by their entrance. Meeting the detectives' look with a cool stare, she asked, quietly: "Well, gentlemen, what can I do for you?" Then seeing the astonished servant lingering at the door, she added: "You may go, Hattie." The servant closed the doo

"Upstairs with you!" gasped Harry. "We can't get out the front door." Old King Brady saw that the girl had collided with the four smugglers and they all fell in a heap upon the parlor floor. The detective rushed up the stairs. On the top landing Old King Brady panted: "Unlock these handcuffs!" Harry obeyed in an instant. Just then the gang came rushing from the parlor, and were about to ascend the stairs when Harry opened fire on them. Bang! Bang! Bang! went three shots. He was a dead shot and c

"Gentlemen, you are our prisoners!" cried Harry. The bursting of a bomb could not have startled the smugglers more. With cries of affright, they glanced around and seeing who was attacking them, they were more startled than ever. The detectives had grasped the wounded men. Seeing their peril, the two uninjured Canadians rushed to the rescue. With one accord, the detectives hurled their prisoners to the planks of the bridge and sprang forward eagerly to meet their foes. The next moment the smuggl

Leaving the prisoner's cell, the Bradys hastened from the police station and hastily getting aboard a City Hall train on the elevated road, they went downtown. "As it takes about three-quarters of an hour to get down to the bridge," said Harry, in anxious tones, "I'm afraid we will reach the Astor House too late to prevent the consummation of that diamond sale." "Well, that depends upon how long it is going to take La Croix and his customer to arrive at a bargain," said Old King Brady, quietly.

When Harry ran from La Croix's room, he passed Andrew Gibson in the hall, and smiled when he thought of the man's coming surprise. Racing downstairs, the boy made inquiries at the different entrances to the hotel, for information about the girl smuggler. A man had seen her go out the Vesey street door. As he was interested in her pretty face, he watched her a few moments and had seen her go hurrying over to Broadway. She had kept on the west side of the street and was evidently going downtown on

After Andrew Gibson rushed from the room in the Astor House, Old King Brady walked over to Paul La Croix and asked him: "Were you going to sell him your diamonds?" "Yes, sair," admitted the terrified prisoner, "but, by gar, I deed not know zat he was wong Custom House inspectair." "Well, that's exactly what he was." "Hark! What eez zat?" "Gibson in the hall, yelling bloody murder." "Ze man ees crazy!" Old King Brady was puzzled by the defeated inspector's actions. But he soon was destined to lea

Read "THE BRADYS AND THE RUNAWAY BOYS; OR, SHADOWING THE CIRCUS SHARPERS," which will be the next number (80) of "Secret Service."...