The double dagger

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

75909

Title

The double dagger

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this fast-paced detective thriller, Nat Ridley faces a terrifying new threat: the Tola gang, a ruthless secret society wielding poisoned double daggers. When his rival Carl Lemberg is paralyzed by fear, Nat must infiltrate the gang's Mexican oil empire to rescue his friend Cora and avenge his friend Dan Steele. Blending action, suspense, and cross-border chases, this tale delivers a classic pulp adventure where wit and courage triumph over terror.

Summary up to 500 words

In Nat Ridley's *The Double Dagger*, the renowned detective is summoned by his rival, Carl Lemberg, who is terrified that his brother, uncle, and assistant have been murdered by a mysterious organization. The investigation leads Nat to the Mexican town of Rolamotaza, where the sinister Tola gang, led by El Capitan, controls valuable oil wells. The gang seeks to reclaim these assets through terror and has kidnapped Cora Ardell, a key figure connected to the Lemberg family. Disguised as a cowboy named Pocus Pete, Nat infiltrates the dangerous environment of the oil fields. He befriends a local cowboy, Lazy Ike Nolan, and gathers intelligence about the gang's operations. Nat discovers that the gang's headquarters is strategically built to straddle the US-Mexico border, a loophole used to evade law enforcement. To get closer to the truth, Nat adopts a second disguise as a deaf and mute Mexican peon, successfully infiltrating the gang's inner circle. While posing as the mute ally, Nat learns of the gang's plans to kill him and take Cora. During a tense meeting, the gang's suspicion is aroused when they realize their supposed deaf mute ally is actually Nat Ridley. A chaotic shootout ensues as El Capatin and Don Castro attempt to attack him. However, Nat's disguise is fully revealed when Don Castro pulls back his sleeve, exposing white skin beneath the brown dye. Nat escapes into the adjacent room, which is actually US territory. He blows a whistle, signaling waiting US revenue officers, Baldy Stoler, and Berry Todd. The Tola gang members, believing they are on Mexican soil, are arrested or killed. El Capitan and Don Castro are shot, and the remaining gang members surrender. Nat successfully rescues Cora, avenges the Lemberg family, and secures the oil wells for their rightful owners. The novel concludes with Nat returning to New York, having rid the country of a desperate and dangerous organization.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/75909.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg75909.epub

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Categories

• Fiction
• Mystery