Summaries

Synopsis

"Pawn Tickets," cried Pop Hoagland, "What's the use of bringing pawn tickets to a pawnbroker? You get out and rustle some real coin." He grabbed the urchin's arm, twisting it cruelly until Drew interfered. Drew was a graduate of Pop's school of pickpockets. Spider, or Nancy Glenn, went out, and in front of a tenement stood a handsome machine, in which sat Mrs. Farnsworth and her daughter Stella, and Ralph Harding the wealthy young westerner whom Mrs. Farnsworth was trying to catch for her daughter. Spider, passing the auto, saw a chance in the bag lying beside Stella. Spike O'Neill, a detective, grabbed the pickpocket, who had barely time to stick the bag where she had found it. Ralph saw the "boy" in the man's grasp and demanded to know what he had done. "He had his hand on that handbag," said Spike. "Oh, let him go," begged Stella, and Spike loosened his hold on Spider, who mad a wild dash for freedom. She returned empty-handed to Pop, to find clothes Drew had sent for her. "One fine-looking dame, all right," said Drew. "Come on, kid, I'll take you to a swell dump for supper." They entered a fine apartment and Nancy was astonished to hear it belonged to Drew. At first she was delighted, but presently the part that she was expected to play began to dawn upon her. Drew's voice went on, explaining: "We can pull off some fine deals together. You'll get onto the society stuff." Suddenly she jumped to her feet and made a dash. Down the street she ran, looking over her shoulder to see if Drew was following. Crash! A swerving auto struck her, and she knew no more. "She'll do well, now, I think," a professional voice was saying, "but it is possible that when she comes to she may not remember anything about the accident." Nancy opened her eyes cautiously. She was lying in a wonderful white bed, and an elderly lady, a young man and a doctor were discussing her in low tones. She grasped the significance of what the doctor was saying. "Who are you, my dear?" asked a kind voice. "I don't know," she answered. "Don't leave her, mother," said the young man, and with a start, Nancy recognized Ralph Harding. Her pretty clothes induced them to think that she came of nice people. The result was that Mrs. Harding and Ralph became fond of her, and asked her to share their home. Drew, by his good appearance, had succeeded in being admitted into the most exclusive clubs. He was engaged in engineering a mining swindle, and wanted Ralph for a victim. Harding fell for his proposition. That night there was to be a reception at the Harding home. For some time Mrs. Harding had been missing articles of value, and she thought it advisable to have a detective present. The man sent was Spike. Drew also was present, and recognized Nancy. Ralph had just received word that the proposition was worthless, and he called the man into the library to tell him so. Nancy heard Drew threaten Ralph. As Drew came out Nancy confronted him. She allowed him to make love to her, and stole the list of dummies and other papers. She then wrote to Ralph, disclosing her identity, and saying that she was going away. Spike came upon her just as she gave it to a maid for Ralph. He had seen her relieve Drew of the papers, and recognized her. She tried to elude him, but he held her. After delivering the papers to Ralph, the maid happened to see the butler stealing piece of jewelry. She at once went to Mrs. Harding. Ralph was in the midst of a hand-to-hand encounter with Drew, and was rapidly reducing the man to submission, when Spike entered, dragging Nancy. Explanations followed, and when all the others had gone Ralph took Nancy in his arms and asked her to go back to the west with him.