[Illustration: IT WAS THE LAST SHOT. AS HE FIRED IT LARRY LEAPED TO ONE SIDE TO ESCAPE THE LION’S CLAWS.] LARRY DEXTER, REPORTER OR STRANGE ADVENTURES IN A GREAT CITY BY HOWARD R. GARIS AUTHOR OF “FROM OFFICE BOY TO REPORTER,” “THE ISLE OF BLACK FIRE,” “THE WHITE CRYSTALS,” ETC., ETC. _ILLUSTRATED_ New York GROSSET & DUNLAP Publishers Copyright, 1907, by CHATTERTON-PECK CO. _Larry Dexter, the Young Reporter_ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. A Reporter’s Mistake 1 II. Amateur Night 10 III. On Track of a Deal 19 IV. On a Chowder Party 28 V. Man Overboard! 36 VI. Larry in Danger 45 VII. Larry Has an Offer 53 VIII. The Agent’s Proposition 61 IX. The Big Safe-Robbery 69 X. Working up the Clew 78 XI. A Search for the Blue Hand 86 XII. Larry Meets His Old Enemy 94 XIII. In Which the Deed is Missing 102 XIV. A Strange Offer 111 XV. Sign of the Blue Hand 119 XVI. A Vain Quest 127 XVII. Setting a Trap 136 XVIII. Election Night 145 XIX. A Queer Letter 155 XX. Solving the Cipher 162 XXI. The Gas Explosion 170 XXII. A Family Heirloom 178 XXIII. Mysterious Notes 186 XXIV. The Circus 195 XXV. The Last Warning 204 XXVI. Larry’s Narrow Escape 212 XXVII. Jimmy is Missed 221 XXVIII.