The Ventriloquist Detective

1887 · 32 pages

The Ventriloquist Detective: A Romance of Rogues This serialized story by Edward L. Wheeler (author of the Deadwood Dick novels) opens with a cheap excursion boat from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. A young unaccompanied woman named Madge is accosted by a drunken ruffian; a Jewish-appearing young man named Fritz Snyder intervenes and throws the attacker downstairs. Madge thanks Fritz, and they board the excursion train together. On the train, Fritz entertains himself with ventriloquism, impersonating various passengers and causing an elderly spiritualist woman to threaten a fellow passenger with a pumpkin pie. At Atlantic City, Fritz becomes suspicious of Madge's true motives. He discovers she has registered as "Miss Madge Thurston" and observes her departing with a well-dressed man of thirty-five. That evening, Fritz is summoned to an isolated ocean cave where Madge marries a man introducing himself as Major Paul Atkins in a clandestine ceremony. Fritz and an old fisherman serve as witnesses to the marriage certificate.

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 1 of 32 — 1 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 2 of 32 — 2 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 3 of 32 — 3 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 4 of 32 — 4 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 5 of 32 — 5 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 6 of 32 — 6 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 7 of 32 — 7 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 8 of 32 — 8 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 9 of 32 — 9 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 10 of 32 — 10 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 11 of 32 — 11 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 12 of 32 — 12 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 13 of 32 — 13 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 14 of 32 — 14 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 15 of 32 — 15 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 16 of 32 — 16 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 17 of 32 — 17 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 18 of 32 — 18 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 19 of 32 — 19 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 20 of 32 — 20 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 21 of 32 — 21 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 22 of 32 — 22 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 23 of 32 — 23 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 24 of 32 — 24 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 25 of 32 — 25 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 26 of 32 — 26 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 27 of 32 — 27 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 28 of 32 — 28 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 29 of 32 — 29 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 30 of 32 — 30 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 31 of 32 — 31 / 32

The Ventriloquist Detective — page 32 of 32 — 32 / 32