The Detective in Rags

The Detective in Rags: The Grim Shadower This serialized romance of New York Secret Service life by Doctor Noel Dunbar begins with a ragged, elderly tramp arriving at the Hudson River estate of Colonel Alfred Markham. When the arrogant young man of the house sets his dog upon the stranger, the tramp defends himself with lethal efficiency, killing the beast. He then reveals himself as the boys' uncle, shocking the family. The narrative then flashes back decades to Captain Guy Grayhurst's return to his ancestral home after years at sea, his adoption of twin cousins Austin and Alfred Markham, and a tragedy involving lost love. Alfred, a West Point cadet, secretly loves Estelle Placide, his brother Austin's fiancée and daughter of a wealthy merchant. When Boatswain Joe is murdered aboard Grayhurst's anchored brig, the captain's health declines. Upon his death, his will—which cuts off one brother—becomes the catalyst for subsequent conflict, establishing the setup for the mystery and detective work to unfold.