Chapter XXVII · THE LAST OF THE SWINDLERS.

Clancy had fought every step of the way through the woods to the blacksmith shop.

Every convenient tree trunk, every rise of ground, and every rock which he encountered in the course of his retreat was taken advantage of and used as a temporary breastwork.

The fact that no serious injuries resulted from the shooting proves how wary the men were.

Nick emptied his repeater at about the identical time Clancy emptied his revolvers.

Clancy saw this, and gave vent to a mocking laugh.

“It’s anybody’s fight yet!” he yelled.

No longer fearing to show himself, he turned and made straight through the timber, coming out on the road in the vicinity of the blacksmith shop.

Coming upon this blacksmith shop was an entirely unexpected event, but it was one of which Clancy did not fail to take instant advantage.

There was only one man in the shop at the time Clancy made his advent on the scene—one man and the red-headed boy before mentioned.

The boy was having the horse shod, and just before he went to work on the horse the smith had been heating a crowbar for the purpose of repointing it.

The crowbar was still in the fire, one end cool, but the other sizzling hot.

The blacksmith looked up as Clancy burst in.

With a quick blow, Clancy knocked him out of the way, and looked around for a weapon.

The crowbar was prominently in his view, and he caught it out of the fire.

Nick was in the door as Clancy possessed himself of the bar.

“I’ll have you!” roared the Montana man. “My second try at you won’t end like the first.”

“This is your third attempt on my life, Clancy,” returned Nick, springing forward and watching the Westerner warily.

“The third time?” repeated Clancy, resting the red-hot end of the bar for an instant on the anvil.

“My name’s Nick Carter, and——”

A torrent of invectives burst from the robber’s lips.

“I’ll have you now,” he yelled. “I’ll strike a blow for Ramsay as well as for myself!”

He jumped through the door of the shop, whirling the bar about his head in a livid circle.

Straight toward Nick he rushed, shouting his imprecations and vowing that he’d have the detective’s life.

Nick waited coolly, the rifle in his hand.

The robber struck at him, and Nick parried the blow with the gun, leaping in with the quickness of a cat and gripping Clancy about the waist.

From that moment the fight was lost to Clancy.

The Little Giant’s phenomenal strength quickly made itself felt.

He contracted his arms, the awful, viselike pressure slowly but surely driving the breath from the robber’s lungs.

Clancy began to gasp, his eyes distended, and the bar fell from his nerveless hand.

“Stop!” he whispered; “you’re killing me!”

Nick bore him into the blacksmith shop and hurled him to the ground.

Clancy struggled to avoid the handcuffs, and Nick, forcing his arms around the anvil, made the wrists fast.

“Now,” said the detective, “you can struggle all you please.”

The blacksmith was bathing his eye in a tub of water.

“Are you hurt much?” asked Nick.

“Thought for a spell I had been kicked by a mule,” answered the smith, wiping his eye on the dingy handkerchief that was tied around his neck. “Sorry I didn’t come through in time tew help ye.”

“Gee whiz!” cried the red-headed boy, “he didn’t need no help. He downed the big feller easier’n anythin’ I ever see. Gosh, mister, but you’re great!”

The youngster looked at Nick with admiring eyes, and the latter brought out a half-dollar, which he had in his pocket, and which had somehow escaped Clancy’s search and the consequent bath in the river.

“Do you want to earn this, my lad?” Nick asked.

“Can a duck swim?” the boy chirped.

“Then get on that horse and ride up the road. You won’t have to go far before you find a couple of automobiles——”

“What’s them?”

“You’ll know when you see them—you won’t make any mistake. If there is any one with the machines say that I want them brought here. Understand?”

“Like a house afire!”

“Then catch!”

Nick flipped the coin toward the boy, who grabbed it out of the air and stowed it away in his pocket.

A minute later he was galloping up the road.

Several men, hearing the commotion at the blacksmith shop, had come in from the neighboring fields, and they were standing around, looking from Clancy to Nick, and trying to get the true inwardness of the affair from the blacksmith.

“Come outside,” said Nick, amiably, “and I’ll tell you all about it.”

And that’s what he was doing when Chick and Patsy bore down on him—smoking and enlightening the natives.

A few hurried words of explanation were exchanged by the detectives.

“Are all the grips belonging to the prisoners still in the Red Spider?” asked Nick.

“There are three here,” said Chick; “they’re big ones, and heavy as lead.”

“It was the heft that kept the grafters from lugging the grips along when they made their break for the timber,” put in Patsy.

“Open one of the satchels, Chick,” said Nick, “and see what’s inside. I’m a little anxious to know.”

Chick complied.

“Whew!” he exclaimed, his amazed eyes fixed on the contents of the satchel he had opened.

“Gold, silver and bank notes?” queried Nick.

“I should say so!”

“It’s the bank money. I’ll travel in the Red Spider with you, Chick, and Clancy and the man with the broken leg will ride with us. Patsy, you and your man can hum along in the other machine.”

It was necessary to rope Clancy’s legs before he could be put into the automobile; but he was finally stowed away and all was made ready for the return journey.

Nick, before climbing into the Spider beside Clancy, turned to the blacksmith, who was standing near.

“How far is it to the Canadian line from here?” he asked.

“See that pile o’ rocks?” the smith returned, indicating a heap of stones about a hundred feet to the rear of the shop.

“Yes.”

“Well, Canady lays on t’other side o’ that monniment.”

“Great Scott!” exclaimed Patsy; “you wasn’t very much to the good, Nick, after all.”

“It was close, mighty close,” added Chick.

“A miss is as good as a mile,” said Nick, jumping into the auto. “Let her go, Chick.”

* * * * * * *

That evening, at about nine o’clock, the two automobiles drew up in front of police headquarters, in the city of Latimer.

The chief was not in evidence, but he was quickly summoned from home by telephone.

“By Jupiter!” he cried; “you’ve done it, Carter—done it, and with ground to spare.”

“A hundred feet of ground,” grinned Patsy.

“Are you sure they’re the right men?” asked the chief.

“That’s the only kind we capture,” said Chick.

“I believe you,” returned the chief, and shook hands heartily with the New York men and tendered his congratulations.

Cricket and Clancy were taken to their cells, and Spark was conveyed to the Memorial Hospital.

Nick went to the place to which he had taken Clancy in the automobile the night before the start north, and found that, as he surmised, Five Points was there.

Spark and Cricket had also stayed at this boarding house after the robbery, and when they left a nurse had been hired by Clancy to look after their wounded pal.

Five Points’ wound, which was at first not believed to be serious, took a turn for the worse and ultimately caused his death.

Before he died he made a statement, telling how he and Spark and Cricket had joined Clancy, had captured the automobile and made prisoners of the Chicago men, and had confined them in a house occupied by Cricket’s father—a worse criminal than Cricket ever dared to be.

Nick was on the point of proceeding to the place where the Chicago men were imprisoned and releasing them, when they saved him the trouble by releasing themselves and coming on to Latimer—the newspapers having informed them that the Red Spider was at that point.

Aside from their jarred feelings, the Chicago party was none the worse for its little experience.

The bank’s funds were found intact in the satchels, including the twenty thousand dollars paid over to Clancy on his certificate of deposit.

The ownership of that twenty thousand is still being debated in the courts.

Clancy, Spark and Cricket were sent to the penitentiary for life, not on a robbery, but on a murder charge.

By the capture of “the Montana man,” Nick Carter closed his experience with a gang of Western crooks, all of whom had proved desperate to a degree, and as courageous and clever as they were desperate.

THE END.

BOUND TO WIN LIBRARY

This library is “bound to win” its way into the heart of every American lad. The tales are exceptionally clean, bright and interesting.

PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK

To be Published During July

126—For Big MoneyBy Fred Thorpe

125—Too Fast to LastBy Bracebridge Hemyng

To be Published During June

124—Caught in a TrapBy Harrie Irving Hancock

123—The Tattooed BoyBy Weldon J. Cobb

122—The Young HorsemanBy Herbert Bellwood

121—Sam SawbonesBy Bracebridge Hemyng

To be Published During May

120—On His MettleBy Fred Thorpe

119—Compound InterestBy Harrie Irving Hancock

118—Runaway and RoverBy Weldon J. Cobb

117—Larry O’KeefeBy Bracebridge Hemyng

To be Published During April

116—The Boy CrusadersBy John De Morgan

115—Double Quick DanBy Fred Thorpe

114—Money to SpendBy Harrie Irving Hancock

113—Billy BarlowBy Bracebridge Hemyng

To be Published During March

112—A Battle with FateBy Weldon J. Cobb

111—Gypsy JoeBy John De Morgan

110—Barred OutBy Fred Thorpe

109—Will WildingBy Bracebridge Hemyng

108—Frank Bolton’s ChaseBy Harrie Irving Hancock

107—Lucky-Stone DickBy Weldon J. Cobb

106—Tom Scott, the American Robinson CrusoeBy Frank Sheridan

105—Fatherless Bob at SeaBy Bracebridge Hemyng

104—Fatherless BobBy Bracebridge Hemyng

103—Hank the HustlerBy Fred Thorpe

102—Dick Stanhope AfloatBy Harrie Irving Hancock

101—The Golden HarpoonBy Weldon J. Cobb

100—Mischievous Matt’s PranksBy Bracebridge Hemyng

99—Mischievous MattBy Bracebridge Hemyng

98—Bert ChipleyBy John De Morgan

97—Down-East DaveBy Fred Thorpe

96—The Young DiplomatBy Harrie Irving Hancock

95—The Fool of the FamilyBy Bracebridge Hemyng

94—Slam, Bang & Co.By Weldon J. Cobb

93—On the RoadBy Stanley Norris

92—The Blood-Red HandBy John De Morgan

91—The Diamond KingBy Cornelius Shea

90—The Double-Faced MysteryBy Fred Thorpe

89—The Young Theatrical ManagerBy Stanley Norris

88—The Young West-PointerBy Harrie Irving Hancock

87—Held for RansomBy Weldon J. Cobb

86—Boot-Black BobBy John De Morgan

85—Engineer TomBy Cornelius Shea

84—The Mascot of HoodoovilleBy Fred Thorpe

83—Walter BlackshawBy Frank Sheridan

82—The Young Showman’s FoesBy Stanley Norris

81—On the WingBy Weldon J. Cobb

80—Yankee GritBy John De Morgan

79—Bicycle and GunBy Cornelius Shea

78—The Backwoods BoyBy Horatio Alger, Jr.

77—Ahead of the ShowBy Fred Thorpe

76—Merle MertonBy Frank Sheridan

75—The Three Hills of GoldBy Harrie Irving Hancock

74—A Barrel of MoneyBy Weldon J. Cobb

73—Lucky ThirteenBy John De Morgan

72—Two Ragged HeroesBy Ernest A. Young

71—A Slave for a YearBy Fred Thorpe

70—In the WoodsBy Frank Sheridan

69—The Prince of GritBy Harrie Irving Hancock

68—The Golden PirateBy Weldon J. Cobb

67—Winning His WayBy John De Morgan

66—Boats, Bats and BicyclesBy Ernest A. Young

65—Bob, The HoodooBy Fred Thorpe

64—Railroad RalphBy Engineer James Fisk

63—Comrades Under CastroBy Victor St. Clair

62—Life-Line LarryBy Frank Sheridan

61—Track and TrestleBy Ernest A. Young

60—The Phantom BoyBy Weldon J. Cobb

59—Simple SimonBy Herbert Bellwood

58—Cast Away in the JungleBy Victor St. Clair

57—In Unknown WorldsBy John De Morgan

56—The Round-the-World BoysBy Fred Thorpe

55—Bert FairfaxBy Frank Sheridan

54—Pranks and PerilsBy Ernest A. Young

53—Up to DateBy Weldon J. Cobb

52—Bicycle BenBy Herbert Bellwood

51—Lost in the IceBy John De Morgan

50—Fighting for a NameBy Fred Thorpe

49—Lionel’s PluckBy Frank Sheridan

48—The Mud River BoysBy Ernest A. Young

47—Partners ThreeBy Weldon J. Cobb

46—Rivals of the PinesBy Herbert Bellwood

45—Always on DutyBy John De Morgan

44—Walt, the Wonder-WorkerBy Fred Thorpe

43—Through Flame to FameBy Frank Sheridan

42—A Toss-Up for LuckBy Ernest A. Young

41—The Jay from MaineBy Herbert Bellwood

40—For Home and HonorBy Victor St. Clair

39—A Bee Line to FortuneBy John De Morgan

37—Never Give UpBy Fred Thorpe

36—Vernon CraigBy Frank Sheridan

35—The Young Showman’s TriumphBy Stanley Norris

34—The Roustabout BoysBy Herbert Bellwood

33—The Young Showman’s PluckBy Stanley Norris

32—Napoleon’s DoubleBy John De Morgan

31—The Young Showman’s RivalsBy Stanley Norris

30—Jack, the Pride of the NineBy Frank Sheridan

29—Phil the ShowmanBy Stanley Norris

28—Bob Porter at Lakeview AcademyBy Walter Morris

27—Zig-Zag, the Boy ConjurerBy Victor St. Clair

26—The Young HannibalBy Matt Royal

25—Git Up and GitBy Fred Thorpe

24—School Life at Grand CourtBy Frank Sheridan

23—From Port to PortBy Ensign Clarke Fitch, U. S. N.

22—The Rival NinesBy Walt Winton

21—The Young JournalistBy Harrie Irving Hancock

20—John Smith of MichiganBy Herbert Bellwood

19—Little Snap the Post BoyBy Victor St. Clair

18—Cruise of the Training ShipBy Ensign Clarke Fitch, U.S.N.

17—Chris, the ComedianBy Fred Thorpe

16—Lion-Hearted JackBy Frank Sheridan

15—The Rivals of RiverwoodBy Herbert Bellwood

14—His One AmbitionBy Harrie Irving Hancock

13—A Strange CruiseBy Ensign Clarke Fitch, U. S. N.

12—Dick Derby’s DoubleBy Fred Thorpe

11—The House of MysteryBy Matt Royal

9—From Switch to LeverBy Victor St. Clair

8—Clif, the Naval CadetBy Ensign Clarke Fitch, U. S. N.

7—The Boy in BlackBy Fred Thorpe

6—The Crimson “Q”By William G. Patten

5—The Balas RubyBy Capt. Geoffrey Hale

3—Bound for AnnapolisBy Ensign Clarke Fitch, U. S. N.

2—Blind LuckBy Fred Thorpe

1—The Boy ArgusBy William G. Patten

CIRCUS LIFE

Is admirably described in Stanley Norris’ great series of books for boys, published in the BOUND TO WIN LIBRARY. The hero has strange adventures while fighting his way to the top of his chosen profession. Every boy will thrill to the finger tips to read of his many narrow escapes.

PRICE, 10 CENTS PER COPY AT ALL NEWSDEALERS

STANLEY NORRIS

29Phil, the Showman

31The Young Showman’s Rivals

33The Young Showman’s Pluck

35The Young Showman’s Triumph

82The Young Showman’s Foes

If ordered by mail, add four cents to cover postage.

STREET & SMITH, Publishers, New York

Battles on Sea and Land

We heartily recommend our Boys of Liberty Library to boys who have good, red blood coursing through their veins—who like really good tales of adventure.

The books listed below detail the adventures of brave lads who took an active part in the Revolutionary War, who, in many cases, saved the day to the Patriot army when all seemed lost. Read this series boys, nothing you can buy for the money will please you half so well.

1. Paul Revere and the Boys of LibertyBy John De Morgan

5. The First Shot For LibertyBy John De Morgan

9. The Hero of TiconderogaBy John De Morgan

13. On the QuebecBy John De Morgan

17. Fooling the EnemyBy John De Morgan

21. Into the Jaws of DeathBy John De Morgan

25. The Tory PlotBy T. C. Harbaugh

27. In Buff and BlueBy T. C. Harbaugh

For sale by all newsdealers at 10c. per copy. If ordered by mail, add four cents to cover postage.

Street & Smith, Publishers, New York