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
"How did I interfere with him?"
"He was arresting yonder man, he says."
"Lock him up, officer!" shouted the inspector. "Lock him up!"
The policeman took a firmer grip on his club and made a rush at Old King
Brady, whom he grasped by the collar.
"You're my prisoner!" he exclaimed. "If you resist, I'll club you!"
While this was going on, Gibson grabbed La Croix and dragged him over to
the door, exclaiming:
"You come with me!"
He designed to arrest the man and get the credit for it, while Old King
Brady was fighting with the policeman.
But his plot was doomed to dismal failure.
Old King Brady flung back the lapel of his vest, and exclaimed:
"Do you know I'm Old King Brady, the Secret Service detective?"
"What!" gasped the policeman, glaring at his badge.
"If you don't believe it, you can come to the station when I pull in my
prisoner. That fellow is a Custom House inspector all right, but he's
sailing under false colors. We were both after the same man, as I am
working for the Custom House. I caught the man, and now he wants to take
the glory of the capture. See through his game?"
The policeman did.
He released the detective.
Then he made a rush at the spiteful inspector, and poking and jabbing him
with his club, he put Gibson out of the hotel.
The inspector finding himself baffled, departed in a fury for the whole
crowd was laughing and jeering at him, and one of the spectators threatened
to report his meanness to the Collector.
Old King Brady now seized La Croix.
Accompanied by the policeman he went to the Church street station and there
met Harry, who had just brought in Clara.
The prisoners were put in cells and the Bradys departed.
Going straight to the Custom House, they were ushered into the Collector's
room and gave him the details of their work from start to finish.
When Harry handed over the seized diamonds he was delighted, and praised
the pair in the most glowing terms for their efficient work.
He declared that they had broken up the most dangerous gang of smugglers
who ever infested the United States, and expressed his regret that he was
unable to keep them permanently on his staff.
Gibson, he declared, would be dismissed in disgrace.
The detectives then went to Secret Service headquarters and reported to
their own chief, saying their work for the Custom House was finished.
Soon after that the trial and conviction of the La Croixs and their
accomplices took place.
It is safe to assume that they got the extreme penalty of the law upon the
evidence furnished by the Bradys.
When they were disposed of, the Secret Service detectives returned to their
regular duties on the force.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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