, 1897-11-13
THE BOY DETECTIVE.

1.-The case is hopeless"
SO spoke h great criminal lawyer,
and as he did so he sighed deeply.
"Tell me the facts again." said hi.
companion, a bright appearing youth Of
y, as he took a notebook from his pocket.
Il will" said the other dejectedlv,
but l fear it can avail nothing. w.
can prove that Mrs. Goodlot has beer
missing since Aug. 2. We know tina,
she had quarreled with her husband and
that he had threatened her life. We can
show that on the night of Aug. 2 the
generated o2onotic gas in his
chemical laboratory, and we have every
reason to believe that he put his wife
into the gas tank, but to prove it-ah,
that is the dificulty!''
"What is the effect of ~ozonotic gas OH
human tissue?" asked the youth, with. a
thoughtful expression on his face.
at converts all animal matter into
gaseous vapor. Within ten minutes aft
er the body had been put into the tank
there was not u trace of solid substance
left"
II will examine that tank"
"YouY'
Yes"
at is guarded constantly. They will
kill YOU
we shall see"
He arose and, after shaking hands
with the great criminal lawyer, passed
rapidly to Il carriage in waiting. The
reader may have suspected ere this that
he was none other than Eddie Parks,
the newsboy detective.
HALT"
As this word was spoken a revolver
CLEANED in the moonlight.
The Waterman standing at the great
doorway Of the Goodlot chemical labora.
tory strained his eyes to see what the
object might be that was approaching.
"All right. Don't be afraid, came q
grutf voice from the gloom, and Il po-
liceman stepped into view.
II I'M glad it was you," said the
Waterman i'll o relieved tone of voice.
1--WE have instructions to shoot and kill
any strangers found near the lubora-
tory
The mex instant the Waterman felt
his throat clasped as if in a wise. He
heard u voice ut his ear, Maintain
quiet, or l will throttle you"
In = few seconds he was bound and
gagged. The policeman took the keys
from the PROSTATE form.
Now, my good man, stay here until
l return" lie said gleefully. With that
he threw of his disguise.
1t was the newsboy detective.
Before starting Gil his pcrilous night
trip to the chemical laboratory Il hero
had studied Il plan of the interior of the
vast structure, so that, even i'll the pitch
darkness, it required but IL few moments
for him to find the tank in which the
ozonotic gas had been generated.
Taking u can opener from his pocket,
he cut II circular opening i'll the tank
and crawled i'll.
After a few minutes he emerged with
q satisfied smile Oh his face.
AS he approached the doorway at
which he had entered he saw tour men
standing in the moonlight The other
men OIL guard had discovered the bound
and gagged Waterman.
They were waiting for our hero to
return.
II will not be captured, " he said,
drawing his trusty revolver.
At that moment bis foot struck Il bot
tie, which tell and broke with a crash.
The four men came through the door
way. Our hero turned and ran.
He knew that all the doorways were
locked. His only hope was the stair
way.
The pursuers were close behind. He
fled up Il flight OF stairs after another.
Below he could hear the curses and
CALCULATIONS of the onraged Waterman.
Suddenly he emerged into all open
tower. He had reached the topmost
point of the great building. Over 100
feet below him was the placid river.
The pursuers came painting at his
heels.
There was no time to be lost.
With a defiant shout he leaped far out
from the tower and divod for the river.
At 10 O'Clock the next morning James
II. Webster, the great criminal lawyer,
was seated in his office.
There was u knock at the door, and
RALPH Dumont, counsel for the defend.
mt, entered the room.
~ came to tell you that the f~oolhardy
touth who dared to visit the laboratory
last night is no more," said he, a smile
of triumph lighting up his malignant
features.
"Dead!' exclaimed the great lawyer,
blanching perceptibly.
"Yes-dead. He was pursued to the
tower and leaped into the river. He did
not come to the surface. So you see.
Mr.. Webster, that your trump card has
failed. You can never convict Anthony
Goodlot."
Don't be too sure Of that!' came a
quiet voice from behind.
"Perdition! r. exclaimed Ralph Du-
mont.
Eddie Parks, the boy detective, was
standing In the doorway
As soon ~ JamesH n. Webtser saw our