An Anxious Search 230 XXIX. In the Enemy’s Power 238 XXX. Jimmy Held Captive 247 XXXI. Searching for the Lost 255 XXXII. In Quest of Peter 263 XXXIII. On the Right Track 271 XXXIV. Closing In 279 XXXV. Nearing the End 288 XXXVI. The Raid 296 XXXVII. What the Old Deed Brought 304 INTRODUCTION My Dear Boys.—Those of you who were interested in the first story of this series, telling how Larry Dexter rose from a copy boy to become a reporter, may desire to follow his further adventures as a newspaper worker. Many of the occurrences told of in this volume are actual ones. In some I participated personally. In others newspaper friends of mine were concerned, though I have made some slight changes from what actually happened. The tracing of the blue-handed man, who blew open the safe by means of nitro-glycerine, is an actual fact, having taken place in the city where I live. He was arrested afterwards because a detective observed the stains left by the acid on his fingers. The riot in Chinatown is similar to several that have occurred there, and kidnappings, such as befell Jimmy, are common enough in New York. There are few reporters, especially on the large papers, who have not gone through as thrilling incidents as those which happened to Larry, for, as I can vouch from many years’ experience, a newspaper man’s life is anything but a quiet and uneventful one. Yours sincerely, Howard R. Garis. _July 1, 1907._ LARRY DEXTER, REPORTER CHAPTER I A REPORTER’S MISTAKE “Copy!” The city editor’s voice rang out sharply, and he held in his extended hand a bunch of paper, without lifting his eyes from the story he was going over with a correcting pencil. There was no answer save the clicking of half a score of typewriters, at which sat busy reporters. “Copy!” cried the editor once more. There was a shuffle among a trio of boys on the far side of the room. “Copy! copy!” fairly shouted the exasperated editor, as he shook the papers, looking up from his work towards the boys who were now advancing together on a run. “What’s the matter with all of you? Getting deaf, or are you tired of work? When you hear ‘Copy’ called at this time of day you want to jump! Now all the way up to the composing room with that, Bud. It’s got to make the first edition!”