The Adventures of Ethel King, the Female Nick Carter by Jean Petithuguenin

Author:Jean Petithuguenin [Petithuguenin, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Coat Press
Published: 2014-08-28T00:00:00+00:00

6. A CRIMINAL ASSOCIATION

Dreaded Enemies

Ethel King was at an evening gathering in the home of Mr. Dooner, a rich Philadelphia industrialist who was giving a brilliant reception at his private townhouse on 35th Street. The famous detective, who had for many years maintained an excellent, friendly relationship with the Dooner family, had gladly accepted an invitation to the party. Our heroine was the object of great consideration by the hosts and their guests, because everyone had heard her exploits praised.

To judge by her grace, her friendliness, her feminine charm, you would never have supposed that Ethel King, in the exercise of her profession, frequented the dregs of humanity when necessary and she could, when she had to, accommodate herself to the mores and manners of the most inferior classes.

It was already 7 p.m., but no one among the guests was yet thinking of leaving. The evening parties at the Dooner’s were always so pleasant that they lasted well into the night.

Ethel King was talking with some ladies when a butler came up respectfully.

“A gentleman is asking to speak to Miss King about urgent business,” he said. “He’s waiting for Miss King in Mr. Dooner’s office.”

The servant held out a visiting card on which the young woman read:

Harry Sweed, Police Inspector, Camden.

The great detective didn’t hesitate to answer the visitor’s appeal. When Ethel King went into Dooner’s luxurious office, a slender man with a clean-shaven face, rushed forward to meet her. She had been acquainted with the inspector for a long time. She exchanged a cordial handshake with him and asked:

“What brings you here, Mr. Sweed? You find me very curious.”

“I went to your house, Miss. They told me you were at an evening party at the Dooner house,” answered the policeman. “The case that brings me is so serious that I couldn’t wait there; I’ve come here. Pardon me for having chased you to your friends’ party. You probably know that Camden’s security has been troubled for some time by a gang of scoundrels with incredible daring. A great number of shops have already been pillaged by the criminals. The last one was that of a small jeweler, who, ruined by the burglary, had to file for bankruptcy. But the thieves, not satisfied with breaking into houses, attacked passersby with weapons at night, in the street. The city police are up to their eyeballs in work. We’ve had to double the sentries. The bad neighborhoods are constantly patrolled. Nevertheless, despite my efforts, I haven’t had the slightest success to record; not one of these rascals has fallen into our hands.

“Now, here it is that Browning, the well-known industrialist, has just been murdered, two hours ago, in his yacht, in Camden. The unfortunate man was coming back from a cruise. He was on board alone, with a sailor. The murderers pulled off their job just as the yacht docked. The sailor was struck from behind and lost consciousness. As for Browning, he was found stabbed repeatedly in his cabin. As in the preceding cases, the criminals didn’t leave any clues.

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