The Bradys' Chinese Clew; Or, The Secret Dens of Pell Street

by Francis Worcester Doughty

  CHAPTER X.

  YOUNG KING BRADY IN A BAD WAY.

  Old King Brady concluded that the best disposition he could make of whatremained of Fen Wix, the informer, was to lower the corpse down again,and this he proceeded to do.

  He and Alice then put in a good half hour searching for another secretpanel.

  They failed to find it.

  This left the old detective in no pleasant frame of mind.

  "I suppose we have got to get the police, make a raid on this lane andoverhaul everything," he declared.

  "What about Pell street?" asked Alice. "There are those abandoned secretrooms you were in yesterday. They lie nearly in the rear of this house.There might something come of it if we tried our luck there again."

  "I am afraid not, Alice. Harry and I went over that ground prettythoroughly, still we can try."

  "Is it so that I can go in there?"

  "I don't know why not. We will get back to the room. You can change toyour ordinary dress. Then we will look up the wardman."

  "You don't intend to try it alone then?"

  "No, I think it will be best for us to have help. No use in mincingmatters in this case. There is no telling what we may run up against."

  To secure the wardman it was necessary to go, to the Elizabeth streetstation, something Old King Brady greatly disliked to do, for he hatesto have to apply to the police in connection with his own affairs.

  He got the help readily enough, however.

  With the wardman they went to Pell street and did up such secret dens asthey knew about thoroughly.

  Nothing came of it.

  The rooms were all deserted as the Bradys had found them the previousday.

  It was after five o'clock before they finished up their work.

  Alice was in despair for it was a very serious case and she could seethat the old detective was quite as much concerned as herself.

  "What can we do?" she asked.

  "Our best plan is to ring off for a few hours," replied Old King Brady.

  "But poor Harry?"

  "Listen, Alice, if the Chinese meant to kill Harry I need not tell youthat by this time they have probably carried their intention intoeffect. It will do no harm to delay a little. Every move we have madehas doubtless been watched and reported to those rascals. Mr. Connors,don't you think I am right?"

  "Sure," replied the wardman. "Best thing you can do. You want to reportthat dead Chink, around on Mott street pretty quick, though."

  Old King Brady had told the wardman about Fen Wix's fate, although hesaid nothing about it at the station.

  "Just what I don't want to do," he replied. "Hear my theory. Right awayafter dark the Chinks will probably make some move in connection withthat matter, if they haven't done it already. Opening off that room is asmaller one in which we can hide. If you can stick with us I proposethat at about eight o'clock we all get on the job there and see if wecan't catch some Chink who will serve us to get the secret of that otherpanel, which I am satisfied exists."

  "Well, that's so. It might work out to the good," replied the wardman."Anyhow it seems to be our only chance."

  "It does, and we will try it," replied the old detective. "And now letus pull out."

  Old King Brady and Alice went to the office thinking it barely possiblethat Harry might have escaped and gone there.

  Failing here they went home to supper and at eight o'clock turned up atthe Pell street room again.

  There was nothing to be found here either, so they waited until WardmanConnors came and then went around on Mott street.

  The wardman stepped in first.

  It had been arranged that if he found anyone in the room he should comeback and inform them; otherwise he was to wait there till they came up.

  Giving the man ten minutes, Old King Brady and Alice went up stairs.

  Mr. Connors heard them coming and opened the door for them.

  "No one here?" questioned Old King Brady.

  "No one."

  "Is the corpse still fastened to the rope?"

  "Sure thing. I didn't attempt to pull it up.'"

  It was getting dark.

  Old King Brady and the wardman pulled on the rope and brought up old FenWix again.

  The body was again lowered and Old King Brady and Alice, along with thewardman, took up their stations in the smaller room.

  A tedious wait followed, but along towards nine o'clock the patience ofthe detectives was rewarded by hearing someone enter the other room.

  They had left the door slightly ajar and Old King Brady peered throughthe opening.

  A Chinaman in native dress stood there in the dark.

  Old King Brady drew his revolver ready for business.

  He was not called upon to act, however.

  The man went to the other side of the chimney, which Old King Brady hadexamined with the greatest care.

  For a moment he stood there and then he vanished.

  Unfortunately as he vanished the old detective could not see just whatthe fellow did.

  "Hush!" breathed Alice as he was about to step out into the other room."Someone else coming, I think."

  But it proved to be only some person passing the door on their way tothe floor above.

  They went outside after the alarm had passed and again Old King Bradyexamined that particular piece of wall.

  And this time he found it.

  The arrangement was very peculiar, but Old King Brady mastered themystery and the opening stood revealed.

  Behind the panel there was a very narrow flight of stairs leading down.

  Old King Brady immediately started to descend, flashing his light aheadof him.

  They followed him down into the place to which Harry had been taken.

  There in the niche stood the corpse of the informer, silent and quiet.

  Following the passage for a short distance they came upon two innerdoors, both set at an angle.

  "Which den do you propose to tackle first?" questioned Connors.

  "To the right is always my rule, unless I have reason to change it,"replied the old detective.

  "To the right it is then," said the wardman.

  He tried the door, to find it locked.

  So was the door on the left.

  Old King Brady got his skeleton keys into business and succeeded inopening the right-hand door.

  The usual secret passage, Chinese style, lay behind.

  Listening and hearing no sound they cautiously advanced.

  The passage was not only narrow but it wound around.

  At last they saw a light ahead.

  "Coming to something at last," whispered Old King Brady.

  They stole on, coming up with the light.

  A heavy dear stood open. Behind it were portieres of red cloth, partlydrawn. The light came streaming in between these curtains and they couldhear voices talking in Chinese inside.

  "What are they saying?" Old King Brady breathed in Alice's ear.

  "They think someone is dead," whispered Alice. "That is as near as I canmake it out."

  "Stand ready for business, Connors," said the old detective. "Now forour look."

  Old King Brady and Alice, pushing in between the curtains, saw enough.

  Harry had got himself into a bad fix.

  There he lay on the floor with three Chinamen bending over him.

  One held a box, another a long glass vial.

  What were they about?

  Old King Brady did not stop even to try to learn.

  Calling to Connors he dashed into the room.

  Alice and the wardman equally with himself had their revolvers ready.

  Then it was a case of three against three.

  Taken entirely by surprise, the Chinks surrendered almost without anattempt at resistance.

  The detectives had come prepared with four pairs of handcuffs.

  Thus the prisoners were easily secured.

  "The man who raises his voice dies," cried Old King Brady. "Mind what
Itell you now! I suppose you all understand English, but in case youdon't here is one who will tell you in your own language what I havesaid."

  Alice repeated his command in Chinese.

  There was no talk made.

  Old King Brady then bent over Harry and proceeded to examine into hiscondition.

  It was evident that the young detective had been deeply drugged.

  Personally Old King Brady was inclined to consider the case a veryserious one, but he restrained himself and kept cool.

  "Question them, Alice," he ordered.

  Alice obeyed and there was considerable talk.

  "Is it opium?" asked the old detective.

  "This man says not."

  "I wouldn't risk it, Mr. Brady. Better take him to the hospital," saidthe wardman.

  "I think so too," replied the old detective. "You and Alice get theprisoners out, Connors. Telephone for an ambulance. I'll remain on guardhere."

  It seemed a big risk but there was no other way and this was done.

  But in about five minutes a policeman whom they met on Mott streetjoined Old King Brady.

  His presence was hardly needed, however, for no one came.

  Alice was back soon after reporting that the three prisoners had beenrounded up at the Elizabeth street station and the call for theambulance given.