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

CHAPTER I

THE WRECK

Into the city room of the New York _Leader_ hurried Mr. Whiggen, the
telegraph editor. In his hand was a slip of paper, con