The Bradys and the Girl Smuggler; Or, Working for the Custom HouseDoughty, Francis Worcester
General
The Bradys and the Girl Smuggler; Or, Working for the Custom House
Doughty, Francis Worcester
American fiction; Dime novels; Mystery and detective stories
However, Old King Brady was getting impatient over the slow progress they
were making to arrest the smugglers. His plan would show a quick result.
That's what he wanted.
The boy, therefore, did not contradict him.
"Any way you say," he replied, presently.
"I'm following out my idea now," said the old detective, as he took a chew
of tobacco. "The moment I saw Mrs. La Croix, I grabbed her."
"She protested, of course?"
"Vigorously. But I locked her up just the same."
"Couldn't you get any information out of her about the rest?"
"No. She wouldn't say a word."
"Acts like an old offender."
"Exactly. Her husband and daughter must be somewhere about the city. I
suppose La Croix sent for the spies. He may have use for them, else they
wouldn't be here. I only hope he hasn't disposed of any of those stones
yet."
"And I've sent a warning to all jewelers, pawnbrokers and dealers in gems,
not to handle La Croix's gems under penalty of the law. I've offered them a
reward for the smuggler's arrest. The villain is bound to keep shady now.
He must know the danger he is in. He's a very foxy Frenchman," said Harry.
"I wish I could find out where the woman lives."
"Nothing easier," said Harry.
"Don't you fool yourself. She won't confess."
"I don't expect she will."
"Then how am I to find out?"
"You said she was shopping in Twenty-third street?"
"I caught her coming out of Sterns' store."
"What's more likely than that she made some purchases and ordered the
things sent home?"
Old King Brady's face brightened.
He had not thought of her leaving her address.
"Your idea is all right!" he exclaimed.
"Of course it is. It only has one drawback."
"And what's that?"
"She may have given a fictitious name."
"True. But she favors the name of Marie Savoy."
"It wouldn't do any harm to try asking for it."
"Come with me and see what we can do."
They left headquarters and hastened to the big dry goods store.
Going to the delivery department they asked the head clerk if he had
anything on his books to be delivered to either Mrs. La Croix or Savoy.
A short search of the record elicited this response:
"I've got twenty yards of dress goods to be delivered to Mrs. M.P. Savoy."
"Bought a couple of hours ago?" asked Old King Brady.
"About that."
"Where are you going to deliver it?"
"At No. 160 Bleecker street."
"That's all."
"Anything wrong about it?"
"No. It's paid for, ain't it?"
"Yes."
"What time are you going to deliver the parcel?"
"Our wagon ought to reach there about five o'clock."
Old King Brady thanked him and they departed, leaving the clerk looking
very much mystified over their peculiar actions.
The Bradys went to the Bleecker street address and saw that it was one of a
row of old-fashioned brick houses with green blinds.
There was an ornamental iron stoop in front, and a furnished room sign
hanging in one of the windows.
"Shall we go in?" asked Harry, hesitatingly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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