The Twin Ventriloquists

his identity at once, and met t

fellow, wh

ked f

d y

d

el

r place t

want an

d

asked the wrong person. Go and

ng man

answer to y

," said the y

tles it,"

nd he caused a voice to come like a halloo from

who is this

d its peculiar hoot and answered s

loo cam

is not square; he do

?" asked

you should te

an owlish sort of laug

e is Isa

e?" came t

ed: "Now it's your tur

oo came

ck the J

ced, offering his

am glad to meet you.

out you. I am deli

hted to meet yo

t be fr

ur

ave a hea

ca

against

ar

at my home?" said I

be del

live in

e, but I've bro

her-Ike the ventriloquist, and Jack the j

through his place, exhibiting his contrivances. Ike ordered a meal sent

e old necromancer and the mysterious box. And J

we are two

ar

ecome pa

m ag

your abod

e cond

our con

e expense of livi

t don't cost

brightness invented a signal code so they could converse with each other and no one else understand their talk. One evening the two lads were playing a game of billiards together in a well-known billiard room, when a very hands

g man is a

t look l

I have several detective friends, but I've taken quite a

renchman?"

was left an orphan at an early age, compelled to knock around and pick up a living as best he could. He got appointed on the p

him at the first

glad o

and when we can do hi

ery daring. They are very expert and the losses of the people have been heavy; they have raised a fund which is offered as a reward for the capture of the thieves. The chief in New

him," said Jack. "I've had a lit

've h

es he st

ear from h

art Alecs watching the game. They were very boisterous and demonstrative-really interfered with the players-and they were very unmannerly in several ways, pushing forward and crowding quieter people in a very rude manner. Ike and Jack fixed their eyes on the dudes and then exchanged glances; and that exchange of glances meant a little fun for the tricksters and discomfiture for the boisterous dudes, the sons of rich men who because of their social positio

etter clothes. You are such a pusher you

any times it could be applied in a crowd, for there are so many rude pe

ke it?" deman

th a laugh. "It's quite an honor to b

in the head if

even bleat. It's all right; excuse me for being in your w

t there came

rap that dude

rn who had offered the bold s

spoke

ppeared to know just who the "I did

o swipe pocketbooks, you are. I advise

faces were white with rage and they had just liquor enoug

dred dollars to

ou give?" ca

pparently as mute as

d cents; you just hung yo

e the declaration fr

hief, or let's

kets, drew forth a roll and e

n you are a liar, and a hundred t

e I

directly in the midst of the trio of dudes. Th

" came a voice. "I've

e from the opposite side of the cro

hall walked over to learn what the row was. Very well, at this point the row commenced

fer. We own this place and don'

away for a moment. He just stood and gazed,

the jaw? What business has he to come

demanded the proprietor,

y came the answ

nch fashion toward the door. The youth made a vigorous protest. His friends also joined in, when the bartender rushed from behind the counter and seized another of the "chappies," and a guest who was a vigorous fellow seized the third one; and then commenced a grand march toward the street

red, but the fun was not over. The three dudes were standing at the corner of the s

lows who drew us i

hamme

uists were both lithe, active athletes, and the way they polished off the "chappies" was a sight to behold, and they were having a

heir arrest on such a trivial charge at all

shall

think?" cam

ain in the station house, or shall we

hem dance," c

citement, and there was excitement. One of the officers rapped for assistance and the second one ran to the fire-alarm box to give the signal, and officer number one made a rush to the house. He found the door open and he ran up the stairs shouting "fire! fire! fire!" The tenants rushed from their apartments and there followed a scene of wild confusion, and while the yelling and screaming were at their height two engines arrived, also a platoon of police, and the firemen of the engine company entered the house, but still there was no sign of either fire or smoke. A thorough examination followed. No signs of a fire coul

d the cry come?" a

re were several very respectable men in the room and they all protested that they had given no alarm. All decla

er must be

ear a cry

appears to ha

hear

is your

he offic

find those two la

't find

or their lark, as the sergeant termed it. Other men were put on the beat an

a pretty s

was very

g to save those men

an we

ca

ow

geant on the same sch