New Nick Carter Weekly, No. 38 — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ee P _ The prisoner must be locked up. mule in the stable for the night.”’ Fee ae I send for a friend?’ asked wagot2" said Trim, ‘‘offered to drive me to Puebla.’’ ‘Was it this man ?’’ pointing to Pedro. **No, sir.’ ‘*Did you ever see this man before ?’’ ** Never.’ ‘*Go on.”’ ‘“The driver evidently took a “‘We had some trouble about it and he left me; so I found the right road and came on alone. ’’ “Extraordinary !’’ muttered the chief. Then he looked at Trim sharply. ‘“‘What’s the matter with eet cloth- ing ?’’ he asked. Trim looked down and saw the big rent that had been made by the knife of one of his foes. ‘‘T just said that I hac the driver,’’ he said. | ‘*Clothes like that aes, tear easily,”’ remarked the ch ief, uy eet. to me as if that was made by a knife on Trim 1 made no reply. you nothin g further to say trouble with Not ¢ at present.’ _ The chief drummed on “the table a = mom ient, “ _ “This has a serious loc k, ” ‘he ‘aia at “, “Hold the farmer also and put his tief looked sui prised and: turning le pe olicemen mea 3 bgt ee | NEW NICK CARTER WEEKLY 17 were found, was to return home, but the ficers would not listen to him. He was led away while another officer prepared to conduct Trim to a cell. ‘*You may go,’’ said the chief to this officer. A moment later therefore the room was deserted except by the chief and his secretary and Trim. “I don’t pretend to understand this matter,’’ the chief said then, ‘‘but 1f you are acquainted with Antonio Perez I take it for granted that you can’t be guilty of what the farmer charges you with. ‘‘Before Perez comes, however, I should be glad to have you explain fur- ther how you came by that cut in your clothing.’ ‘‘As a matter of fact, chief,’? Trim re- sponded, “‘I was set upon by a gang of ruffans in the forest and had to fight for my life.’? ‘‘I| thought we had cleared the country roads of bandits!’’? exclaimed the chief. ‘One of them lies dead at the spot where we had the fight,”” Trim added. ‘‘Indeed! Then we shall” be trace the oth er villains.’ 7 “Did tee pee you tae ‘*No. 7 “Then you’re fortunate. ; ‘But why didn’t you explain this be- fore ?’” “T thought that after I’d told Perez about the matter it would be easy for you — to believe me.”’ | ‘‘VYou had no need to fear,’’ returned the chief, contemptuously. “T flatter myself that I can read char- acter and I can see that you’re not a man to tell an untruth.’’ *‘Dear me,”’ thought Trim, “what will 2 the chief say when give ny name straight f°: he _ pe I did Aloud, he said : | 00d ian to send out a detail ‘of men to bring in the body of my driver.” a ‘*VYes—yes!”? exclaimed the chief. Se ok was 8 gusta about to do so.”’ : nes chief really ad : F i é . * 7 =| ft f iq ' | 7 | res 4 i ~ 4 | * a sabe fcr. ex could er