Fritz to the Front, or, the Ventriloquist Scamp-Hunter

On a scorching August morning a crowded ferry leaves Philadelphia for Atlantic City, packed with laborers, tourists, and a lively mix of characters. Among the throng sits a fashionable young woman, alone and clearly unwelcome to the boisterous roughs who prowl the decks. When one drunken brute tries to force his attention, a quick‑witted newcomer steps in, hurling the bully down the stairs and sparking a commotion that draws the whole boat’s eyes.

The incident introduces Fritz, a sharp‑eyed observer who has a habit of turning everyday chaos into clues. He soon discovers that the heated crowd conceals a far stranger secret—a mysterious relic that seems to animate a ventriloquist’s dummy with its own will. As the ferry cuts through the Delaware, Fritz’s curiosity pulls him deeper into a game of wits, promising a clash between street‑wise bravado and a hidden, unnerving menace.