With Links of Steel, Or, The Peril of the Unknown

trouble yo

he

the

g, evidently. Come on,

ernoon, and almost two weeks subseq

appears in that the Carters had utterly failed to accomplish anything against them in the interval mentioned. Despite

had vanished as if the

d completed its engagement, and

ved Venner as a visitor; but never a sign of the diamond gang, or of

he called upon Nick about the stolen diamonds, expressing a hope that they would be recovered

ter of fact, the famous detective was in quite a quandary over the case, because of his convictio

up against men as good as himself, and his vain work of the past ten days served only to ag

ter was drawn toward a group of men in one of the park walks, somewhat removed from the stre

he and Chick entered the park. "Officer Fogarty is

ene, and the park officer at once recogni

here, Fogarty?

the motionless fo

tersely. "We've

with a toss of his head toward half a score of men g

on the greensward, and evidently had fallen from one of the park seats upon which she had been resting, and upon which her straw

rd of two of string, evidently removed from a small, square box, which

al features, and he quickly knelt besid

so had approached. "I find her hand still warm, ho

, perhaps," su

't thi

hy

lump, her cheeks full, and she appe

he is

oubt

ty girl

e is any writing o

ck; not

s this? It is punctured with tiny

is, b

while sitting there on the seat. See, C

, Nick. W

Nick was holding the sheet of pa

hey possibly had been made with some design, and perhaps formed

such

she jabbed the pin through

kind, from which she probably

end me a hand, Chick, and w

moved the girl's lifeless form, and

, which displayed a blue silk lining through the metal apertures. Plainly enough it was a lady's jewe

ually knitting closer and closer; and all the while Officer Fogarty, and the g

reat detective not only was making some startling discoveries, but also was arriving at deducti

" whispered Chick, dropping to

and for several minutes the t

e, Chick; and quit

I

panion, of some woman of wealth or distinction. Her attire also indicates that. Hence so valuab

ame o

itial. Not a ma

is e

es

obbed of its contents, he

d Nick, between his teet

, Nick! What

girl was foul

, with an involuntary ga

nly appear

the m

s the m

no signs of

near the pulse. Notice that tiny red spot, barely observable.

you call my a

hing. I am conv

ot likely to

d with ideas and suspicions, which I wish to consider and put in or

pin is poisoned,"

t think

poss

ent. Look a

el

ned Nick. "Notice that the pin went through the spaces in t

y enoug

ar puncture in the in

s a faint tinge

," whispered Nick, significantly

you're ri

k, impressively. "I wish to conceal these discoveries until after I have considered them more fully,

around in search of any evidence indicating that such a cri

t either side, the seat was somewhat obscured from the view of persons approaching along the walk from either direction. Several trees cast shadows ne

several features, then gl

find a

which to i

pur

p of paper. Other than her purse, there is only a latchkey in her pocket,

nodded Nick. "I'll have just a word w

ective Carter?" inquired the

startled glances of the several men who heard his nam

s dead, sir

. You had better take the proper steps for the removal of the body. This box and wra

right

, how long ago did y

ute before yo

the first

as,

l about here before d

, s

g here just before you arri

d not

. I'll get any other

rn away, a young man in the crowd

ease! I saw that girl, about half an hou

abruptly to

our name?"

enkins

our ad

, and am employed by Hentz

the girl walking this

s,

pear to be o

lking and laughing, and seeme

girl's name, or

r; nor anythi

ut her companion, the gen

d, as one might do who was loath to bring trouble

now the name of the

it, p

sir, is Har

tly, yet his countenance did no

ver, and the same thought

mployed by Thomas Hafferma