Chapter I: Preface: Dear Boys

I hope you will be glad to read of the further adventures of Larry Dexter. He has made some progress since you first made his acquaintance in the book "From Office Boy to Reporter." He has also advanced in his chosen profession from the days when he did his first news-gathering for the _Leader_. In this volume he is sent on a "special assignment," as it is called. He has to find a New York millionaire who has mysteriously disappeared.

How Larry solved the strange secret, I have woven into a story that I trust will be liked by all the boys who read it. I have taken many incidents from real life for this story, using some of my own experiences while a newspaper reporter as a basis for facts.

The things that happened to Larry are not at all out of the ordinary among reporters. The life has many strange surprises in it. If I have been able to set them down in a way that will please you boys, and if you enjoy following the further fortunes of Larry Dexter, I shall feel amply repaid for my efforts on this volume.

Yours sincerely,

HOWARD R. GARIS.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE WRECK 1

II. ASHORE ON A RAFT 10

III. THE MAN AT THE HUT 17

IV. RESCUED FROM THE SEA 26

V. LARRY'S SCOOP 33

VI. A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE 42

VII. LARRY OVERHEARS SOMETHING 49

VIII. AN INTERVIEW WITH SULLIVAN 57

IX. EVERYTHING BUT THE FACTS 64

X. THREATS AGAINST LARRY 73

XI. A MISSING MILLIONAIRE 81

XII. A BRAVE GIRL 88

XIII. WHERE IS HE? 94

XIV. IN THE TENEMENT HOUSE 100

XV. LARRY'S SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT 109

XVI. SULLIVAN'S QUEER ACCUSATION 118

XVII. GRACE GETS A LETTER 125

XVIII. LARRY IS BAFFLED 138

XIX. GRACE ON THE TRAIL 148

XX. LARRY GETS A SCARE 156

XXI. TRACING RETTO 167

XXII. GRACE IS SUSPICIOUS 174

XXIII. CAPTAIN TANTRELLA ARRIVES 180

XXIV. RETTO IS CAUGHT 186

XXV. IN THE HOSPITAL 192

XXVI. A NEW CLUE 200

XXVII. THE DETECTIVE'S THEORY 208

XXVIII. A TERRIBLE MISTAKE 214

XXIX. IN HIS ENEMIES' POWER 222

XXX. MR. POTTER IS FOUND--CONCLUSION 229

LARRY DEXTER'S GREAT SEARCH