The Double Dagger

An urgent telephone call puts detective Nat Ridley in an awkward position: Carl Lemberg, a rival whose methods he distrusts, needs his help with a family matter. In Ridley's Times Square office, assistant Berry Todd greets the request with suspicion and amusement. Lemberg arrives visibly frightened, turning professional rivalry into an immediate puzzle. Their dialogue gives the opening its pace, with questions and nervous gestures gradually exposing the seriousness of the visit.

The story's wider setting reaches into Texas and Mexico, combining detective work with physical danger. In a later nightclub scene, Ridley's possession of a letter attracts attention, an accusation threatens to provoke a quarrel, and sudden gunfire sends him towards the cellar stairs. Quick observation and decisions under pressure drive this dime novel. Readers interested in popular detective fiction can follow a case shaped by wary alliances, concealed information and narrow opportunities to escape danger.