The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-01-13
THE BOY DETECTIVE.
"The case is hopeless. -

''The case is hopeless. -
So spoke the great criminal lawyer.
and as he did SO he sighed deeply y
Tell me the facts again, said his
companion. bright appearing youth of
9, as he took notebook from his pocket
II will. " said the other de1ectedly.
but fear it can avail nothing We
can prove that Mrs Goodlot has been
missing since Aug 3 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 z the
defendant generated ozonotlc 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 on
human tissue?" asked the youth with
thoughtful expression on his face
lit 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 >
Il will examine that tank.
"You?''
Eyes.
sit is guarded constantly They will
kill you
1--WE shall see. -
He arose and, after shaking hands
with the great criminal lawyer, passed
rapidly to a carriage in waiting The
reader may have suspected ere this that
he was none other than Eddie Parks.
the newsboy detective.
"Haltl'
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
gruff voice from the gloom, and a po-
liceman stepped into view
II am glad it was you," said the
Waterman in a relieved tone of voice.
I'VE have Instructions to shoot and kill
any strangers found near the labora-
tory y
The next instant the Waterman felt
his throat clasped as if in a wise. He
heard voice at his ear, Maintain
quiet, or | will throttle you. y
In a few seconds he was bound and
gagged. The policeman took the keys
from the PROSTATE form.
Nov. my good man, stay here until
return, - 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 hero
had studied plan of the interior of the
vast structure, so that, even in the pitch
darkness. it required but a few moments
for him to find the tank in which the
ozonotic gas had been generated.
Taking can opener from his pocket,
he cut circular opening in the tank
and crawled in
After few minutes he emerged with
satisfied smile on his face.
AS he approached the doorway at
which he had entered he saw four men
standing III the moonlight The other
men on 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 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
CALCULATIONS of the enraged Waterman.
Suddenly he emerged into an open
tower He had reached the topmost
point of the great building Over lOC
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
Fl Webster, the great criminal lawyer
las seated in his office.
There was knock at the door, anc
Ralph Dumont, counsel for the defend
ant, entered the room
II came to tell you that the foolhardJ
| youth who dared to visit the laboratory
last night is no more said he. a smile
of triumph lighting up his malignant
features
DeadI exclaimed the great lawyer
blanching perceptibly
ies-,is,ad He was pursued to the
tower and Ieaped into the river He die
not come to the surface So you see
Mr. Webster. that your trump card has
failed You can never convict Anthony
Goodlot
Don be too sure of thati came
quiet voice from behind
'Perdltlon exclaimed Ralph Du
mont
Eddie Parks. the boy detective, wa
standing III the doorway!
AS s.4Dn as james H. Webtser saw on
nero alive and we'll he rushed toward
him with open arms.
Ralph Dumont hurried from the room,
muttering curses
He seemed surprised to see me. -
said our hero, laughing merrlIy
You are indeed brave youth, - said
the great lawyer, gazing at our hero in
admiration But tell me. have you Sc
cured any .evidence?'
Il have, replied our hero modestly,
and taking small paper from his pock.
ct he unrolled it and showed a false
tooth