The Bradys and the Girl Smuggler | Page 5

here.
Everyone knows that a couple remain constantly on the watch in their
office at the entrance to the dock."
"Ha! What's that? She's waving her handkerchief to that man who is
coming out on the pier from West street."

Young King Brady gazed keenly at the person in question and suddenly
recognizing him he exclaimed in excited tones:
"Why, it's Paul La Croix, the diamond smuggler!"
"So it is, by thunder!"
"And this beautiful girl must be his daughter, for she greatly resembles
him."
"Harry, I believe that pair are up to some crooked work!"
"We can find out by watching them."
La Croix now went aboard the steamer and joined the girl in the
gangway.

CHAPTER III.
CAUGHT IN AN ELEVATOR.
The Bradys felt convinced that the smuggler and his daughter were
working some scheme to take some valuables ashore, duty free.
Closely watching the pair they saw them enter the cabin.
Following them in, the Bradys observed the pair gliding swiftly down a
passage, out on which opened the doors of several staterooms.
La Croix and his daughter entered one of these rooms.
Rushing forward, the Bradys listened outside the partition and heard
the man ask:
"Did you geet eet, Clara?"
"Yes, papa," replied the girl in a low, pleasant tone of voice. "After I

left you on Maiden Lane, I came right here and mingled with the throng
waiting to meet the various passengers. As soon as the gangplank was
down, I slipped aboard and met the steward. He had the parcel and gave
it to me."
"Open eet so we can distribute ze jewelry about our pairsons. Zen we
geet ze sings ashore ver' easy, an' no wong weel see ze package bulge
out our clothing. Mon Dieu, but I vas ver'--vot you
call--ze--ze--worried."
The crackling of paper was heard.
For a few moments afterward there ensued a deep silence.
Old King Brady silently beckoned to Harry and they retreated a few
paces.
"I'm going right in after La Croix," he whispered.
"We've got him dead to rights," replied the boy.
"Are you prepared for a fight?"
"Oh, yes. I've got a powerful persuader in my hip pocket."
"Then come on with me."
He strode forward and pushed the stateroom door open.
It opened inward and as the room was very small, it pushed La Croix
against the two bunks and wrung the startled cry from his lips:
"Look out, Clara!"
The girl glared at the detectives and demanded:
"What do you want in here?"
"That man!" said Harry, pointing at her father.

"What for?"
"Smuggling!"
"He isn't!"
"We'll search him and see."
The Bradys grasped the excited Frenchman.
His clothing in the region of his stomach was bulging suspiciously and
Old King Brady slapped the spot and demanded:
"What have you got there?"
"Nosing!" protested La Croix. "Zees ees an outrage, sair!"
"Oh, I don't know!" laughed Harry.
"Clara!" roared the man. "Go tell ze captaine, quick, to come 'ere."
The girl slipped out the door and vanished.
Left alone with the man, the detectives laughed and Harry said:
"Unbutton your coat and vest."
"_Sacre!_ For why?" growled La Croix.
"We want to see what you've got stuffed in there."
"Gentlemen, you wrong me!"
"Bosh! Open up quick, or we'll do it for you."
La Croix reluctantly opened his vest and a package dropped out.
He then was of normal size.
"This is what we are after!" laughed Harry, picking up the parcel.

"But, Monsieur, eet ees only a worthless--"
"Silence, sir!"
And Harry opened the mysterious parcel.
It was filled with sawdust.
The man laughed, shrugged his shoulders, and asked:
"Veil, sair, you ees satisfied?"
There was a look of disgust on Harry's face and he cried:
"He has cleverly duped us and the girl got away with the valuables."
Old King Brady was furious.
"Confound her!" he roared. "Come--search this man thoroughly, and if
he has not got any contraband stuff, we'll search the ship and arrest the
girl."
Harry turned La Croix's pockets inside out.
Nothing was found upon his person.
Then they searched the room.
Still nothing came to light and Harry said:
"He has nothing with him."
"Very well. The girl has, then."
"Now, Monsieur, I hope you see zat you wrong me?" said La Croix.
Old King Brady gave him a peculiar look, shook his finger at the
Frenchman and replied in angry tones:

"We know you, La Croix. You are the worst smuggler in this port. It
won't be long before we run you in for your crooked work."
"Ah--how you can say zat?" innocently asked the man.
"We have no time to discuss the matter now, for we are very anxious to
nab your daughter Clara," said the old detective. "But you will meet us
again very soon. Then look