Out of a Labyrinth

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[Illustration: "Then the vigilants post themselves as a wall of defence about the building."--page 423.]

OUT OF A LABYRINTH.

by

LAWRENCE L. LYNCH,

(Of the Secret Service.)

Author of "Shadowed by Three," "Madeline Payne," "Dangerous Ground," "The Diamond Coterie," etc., etc.

Chicago: Alex. T. Loyd & Co. 1885.

Copyright, 1885, by ALEX. T. LOYD & CO., CHICAGO.

Copyright, 1882, by DONNELLEY, LOYD & CO.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter I. A Bad Beginning. Chapter II. The Enemy Makes a Move. Chapter III. Scenting a Mystery. Chapter IV. Chartering a Dummy. Chapter V. En Route for Trafton. Chapter VI. Jim Long. Chapter VII. We Organize. Chapter VIII. A Resurrection. Chapter IX. Mob Law. Chapter X. Two Fair Champions. Chapter XI. A Cup of Tea. Chapter XII. A Big Haul. Chapter XIII. 'Squire Brookhouse Makes a Call. Chapter XIV. Mrs. Ballou's Pistol Practice. Chapter XV. Preparations of War. Chapter XVI. Fly Crooks in Trafton. Chapter XVII. Southward to Clyde. Chapter XVIII. A Sewing Machine Agent. Chapter XIX. Haunted by a Face. Chapter XX. Some Bits Of Personal History. Chapter XXI. "Evolving a Theory." Chapter XXII. Two Departures. Chapter XXIII. A Shot in the Dark. Chapter XXIV. Jim Long Shows His Hand. Chapter XXV. In Which I Take Jim on Trust. Chapter XXVI. The Trail of the Assassin. Chapter XXVII. An Angry Heiress. Chapter XXVIII. Jim Gives Bail. Chapter XXIX. Vigilants. Chapter XXX. A Chapter of Telegrams. Chapter XXXI. Carnes Tells His Story. Chapter XXXII. Amy Holmes Confesses. Chapter XXXIII. Johnny La Porte is Brought to Book. Chapter XXXIV. How Bethel was Warned. Chapter XXXV. We Prepare For a "Party." Chapter XXXVI. Something the Moon Failed to See. Chapter XXXVII. Caught in the Act. Chapter XXXVIII. "The Counterfeiter's Daughter." Chapter XXXIX. "Louise Barnard's Friendship." Chapter XL. The Story Of Harvey James. Chapter XLI. A Gathering of the Fragments. Chapter XLII. In Conclusion.

OUT OF A LABYRINTH.

CHAPTER I.

A BAD BEGINNING.

It was a June day; breezy, yet somewhat too warm. The slow going old passenger train on the slow going mail route, that shall be nameless in these chronicles, seemed in less of a hurry than usual, and I, stretched lazily across two seats, with my left arm in a sling, was beginning to yield to the prevailing atmosphere of stupidity, when we rumbled up to a village station, and took on board a single passenger.

I was returning from a fruitless mission; and had stepped on board the eastward-bound train in anything but an enviable frame of mind; and no wonder! I, who prided myself upon my skill in my profession; I, who was counted by my chief the "best detective on the force, sir,"--had started, less than a week before, for a little farming settlement in one of the interior States, confident of my ability to unravel soon, and easily, a knotty problem.

I had taken every precaution to conceal my identity, and believed myself in a fair way to unveil the mystery that had brought grief and consternation into the midst of those comfortable, easy-going farmers; and I had been spotted at the very outset! I had been first warned, in a gentlemanly but anonymous fashion, to leave the neighborhood, and then, because I did not avail myself of the very first opportunity to decamp, had been shot from behind a hedge!