“The Forced Crime; or, Nick Carter’s Brazen Clew,” will be the title of the long, complete story which you will read in the next issue, No. 152, of the Nick Carter[Pg 43] Stories, out August 7th. In the forthcoming story you will find more of the adventures of the famous detective in running down the members of the Yellow Tong. Then, too, you will also find several articles of interest, together with an installment of the serial now appearing.
Sheridan of the U. S. Mail.
By RALPH BOSTON.
(This interesting story was commenced in No. 148 of Nick Carter Stories. Back numbers can always be obtained from your news dealer or the publishers.)
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE.
“I’m a fine sort of lover,” Owen muttered to himself, with a mirthless laugh, as he left the post office, and proceeded to the residence of the Reverend Doctor Moore. “A man ought to believe in the girl he loves, no matter who else he has to doubt in order to do so; yet here I am giving the preference to Pop Andrews, refusing to believe that there’s any possibility of his being a liar and a thief, when I know very well that either that must be the case, or else Dallas must be guilty.”
But although he argued this with himself, Owen realized that it was not a matter of sentiment, but of cold logic, which had caused him to decide in favor of the veteran letter carrier.
In a very despondent frame of mind, Owen rang the doorbell of the clergyman’s house, hoping that the reverend gentleman might be able to tell him something—some little detail which he had not thought to mention to Superintendent Henderson—which might put an entirely new complexion on the case, and enable him to solve the mystery without accusing either Dallas or the letter carrier.
He found that Doctor Moore was a pleasant little man, several years past middle age, with a kindly smile and an air of unworldliness which the inspector was not surprised to find in a man who would send a hundred-dollar note in an unregistered letter.
Owen explained the object of his call, and the clergyman readily agreed to give him all the assistance he could in solving the mystery.