The Twin Ventriloquists

ch a bad scrape. The whole charge against them was having claimed that they had overheard cries of fire. The sergeant was discussing the matter with the roundsman when suddenly

it's a fire this time. Run to the

ced to bang on the door with his club, and the two ventriloquists were enjoying the joke. The door o

hunder do

itement the se

is th

t fi

e in thi

o fire in t

nder did you yel

ire. What is the

was a sergeant of police to whom he was

ut what did you me

ry one in this house has

s it sc

e scre

tell me you di

yelled

screamed in

e scre

nes reappeared and the

d into. If this is a joke you

engine company appr

is th

e," said the own

fi

cer means by banging on my door and arou

n, "what he means by calling out the engi

an. They will all testify they heard a cry of fi

ur roundsman will testify to a f

house?" demanded the fore

, s

ire anywhere

f, unless it's in the upper

stion: Have you received orders to tes

ove that there came an alar

lice department, or else they all want a night off. But let me tell you, if you didn't rece

apologized to the owner of the house

n hear thos

" came t

the cries of

" came t

e'll find out

out all about it, sergean

n't k

men who had been sent to the station

Jones and

thinking

eard the cries. I don't see how

ow what to

I adv

es

t and say nothing about the w

it's all v

t

he mysteries o

t

think so, only we cou

r I heard

e of them going around the square so that they approached the station from opposite quarters. The men were just in the station; the last man was passing the door when right at his ears sounded a wild, unearthly yell, followed by the cry of "Fire! fire! fire!" The man stood like one pa

e's the fire? What are y

ink there

you hear

did

d

eard cries of fire all the nigh

er little adventure-a very peculiar one. Indeed, possessing their singular talents they were continually running into adventures, as their gifts gav

oke in cruel, hard tones. The girl w

hat old skinf

came the

oined Jack. The two secured advantage ground, for the old gentleman had stopped to gaze

cruel

near him, yet the words had sounded, as stated, close beside his

cold-he

with anger in his heart, but he saw no one. He became a

n house! Go to th

most mysterious incident of his wh

he stati

t a living soul near him that he could see. He began to trembl

and there came the response in exa

the s

ulated the man. "I am

ntom, you who refused to give

meet a dollar," murmured the

pro

d

u until my presence is re

his home, and it is to be hoped

Ike, who was quick-eyed and observant, saw a man rush out of a hallway. Th

ere is something

second man. The ventriloquists stole up close, and both being lithe and active they were

ure it's d

es

you have the

es

an is ver

e i

es

o you

servant-an old man-whom we can silence in about two minutes. She is a stranger in New York, and does not appear to have any friends. If we can get in there and away again we can mak

bled on to a big thing." The men did not talk in par

d a big

e

run wa

m al

g when we followed th

di

New York and the scen

urn to Boston and read the papers and learn how these

s,

very complaisant manne

ever played. We are in luck to str

. When will you

down. We'll jump in and d

hat h

two o'clock i

will we

med a meet

l be o

e this all t

wi

asiest job we ever struck,

l suit me

h, for crooks are running riot i

e by the

bout their jobs. We'll go

wi

loquists followed them. Ike expressed a desir

n a side street and then the shadowe

way I

eat thing to pos

se fellows. All we have to do is notify the detectives

y own way and give those rascals a lesson beyond the mere punishment they will

u d

, I

ith you

house to rob, and if need be do murder. Robbers are a mean class, and I could never understand the sentiment of romanc

proposed to adopt a peculiar me

es

ay los

we overheard she has many valuables. The chances are that if discovered there would follow a cruel murder. I tell you, my experience here in New York has been a strange one. Just watch the daily papers and learn the numbe

is you

u; but besides arresting these fellows and saving the

rprise people. We are d

fellows a big su

ave decided

outl

. On the following day Ike revealed his plan and Jack heartily fell into the whole

one of the most remarkably trained dogs on earth. Some men possess a peculiar talent for the training of animals. It is a special profession. Ike possessed this special talent to a great degree. He and Jack went forth. They had their breakfast at a near-by restaurant and played no pranks. Bo

ve got a great

hat had occurred, and when he h

s very

t

es

ow

eady on t

u a

es

hat is s

erful," sai

n. He was a powerful young officer, and, as

story to tell yo

e list

very stra

ating that fact is not

omance just like the one I am about to relate. You remembe

answered

can girl. They insulted her in the grossest manner-and made her life miserable. She bore it for a long time, but being a full-blooded Yankee woman, beautiful and spirited, she determined to stand it no longer. Her father had been smart eno

f these rich American girls who are

owever, is a refreshing one, for in the end the Yankee girl recovered from her blind a

nd tell

her high-born relatives by marriage to pay their own bills;