Nick Carter Stories No. 143, June 5, 1915: The sultan's pearls; or, Nick Carter's Porto Rico trail

A fog‑laden dawn finds the tramp steamer Cherokee slipping into San Juan harbor, when a frantic shout of “Man overboard!” breaks the quiet. Detective Nick Carter, working incognito as the bos’n, and his trusty aides, Chick and Patsy, are already on a delicate assignment: to secure a priceless collection of pearls stolen from a New York millionaire. The sudden loss of a crewman throws the ship’s routine into chaos, and Carter’s keen eye immediately suspects that the incident may be linked to the hidden loot.

The only passenger, Paul Clayton, carries a suitcase rumored to contain the stolen jewels. Carter sends Patsy to check its safety while he and Chick investigate the ship’s under‑belly, where a notorious crook named John Garrison Rayne and his accomplice French are believed to be scheming. Their probing uncovers a web of deceit among the crew, hinting that the missing man might be more than a simple accident.

With the harbor lights just beginning to glow, Carter must decide whom to trust and how to outmaneuver the criminals before the pearls disappear forever. The tension aboard the Cherokee promises a fast‑paced chase through cramped decks and shadowed motives, setting the stage for a classic detective showdown.