Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-12-09
THE BOY DETECTIVE.

The case is hopeless. y
So spoke the great criminal lawyer,
and as he did so he sighed deeply.
"Tell me the facts again, said his
companion, a bright appearing youth Of
8, as he took notebook from his pocket.
81 will, said the other dejectedly,
''but | fear it can avail nothing. We
can prove that Mrs Goodlot has beer
missing since Aug. 2. We know that
she had quarreled with her husband and
that he had threatened her life. We can
show that on the night of Aug. 2 the
defendant generated ozonotic 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 difficulty''
What is the effect of ozonotic gas OF
human tissue?" asked the youth, with q
thoughtful expression on his face.
1t converts all animal matter into
gaseous vapor Within ten minutes aft
er the body had been put into the tank
there was not a trace of solid substance
left. "
81 will examine that tank. !"
"You?"
"Yes. !"
"It is guarded constantly. They will
kill you. =
"We shall see y
He arose and, after shaking hands
with the great criminal lawyer, passed
rapidly to carriage in waiting. The
reader may have suspected ere this that
he was none other than Eddie Parks,
the newsboy detective.
"Haltr'
As this word was spoken revolver
cleaned in the moonlight
The watchman 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
gruff voice from the gloom. and po
liceman stepped into view.
81 am glad it was you, said the
watchman in relieved tone of voice.
"We have instructions to shoot and kill
any strangers found near the labora-
tory.
The next instant the watchman felt
his throat clasped as if in wise. He
heard voice at his ear, Maintain
quiet, or l will throttle you "
In few seconds he was bound and
gagged. The policeman took the keys
from the prostrate form.
Nov, my good man, stay here until
return, F" he said gleefully. With that
he threw off his disguise.
1t was the newsboy detective.
Before starting on his perilous night
trip to the chemical laboratory our here
had studied plan of the interior of the
vast structure, so that, even in the pitch
darkness, it required but few moments
for him to find the tank in which the
ozonotic gas had been generated.
Taking can opener from his pocket,
he cut a circular opening in the tank
and crawled in
After few minutes he emerged with
satisfied smile on his face.
AS he approached the doorway al
which he had entered he saw four men
standing in the moonlight. The other
men on guard had discovered the bound
and gagged watchman.
They were waiting for our hero tc
return.
II will not be captured, he said,
drawing his trusty revolver.
At that moment his foot struck bot
tie, which fell and broke with 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
fed up one flight Of stairs after another.
Below he could hear the curses and
ejaculations of the enraged watchman.
Suddenly he emerged into an 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 defiant shout he leaped far out
from the tower and dived for the river.
At 10 O'Clock the next morning James
H. Webster, the great criminal lawyer,
was seated in his office.
There was a knock at the door, and
Ralph Dumont, counsel for the defend
ant, entered the room.
81 came to tell you that the foolhardy
youth who dared to visit the laboratory
last night is no more, said he, smile
of triumph lighting up his malignant
features.
"Deadl" exclaimed the great lawyer,
blanehing 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 cen never convict Anthony
Goodlot. .
Don't be too sure of thatP' came a
quiet voice from behind.
"Perdition exclaimed Ralph Du-
mont
Eddie Parks, the boy detective. was
standing III the doorway
As soon as James H. Webtser saw our