Old Cap. Collier Library No. 379: The Lawyer Detective — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

~ ‘‘Ah! then you know him well?” ‘‘T know and fear him, Hilton.” ‘*Why do you fear him ?” ‘‘Let it pass now. He is not a good man, and he may do you harm, should his mind run that way.” ; The young half-breed’s mind did run that way, as Hilton knew, but he did not make mention of it to his aunt. He could see that she was already deeply troubled, and he did not wish to add to that trouble in the least. ‘““Don’t alarm yourself, Aunt Julia, I can take care of myself,” said the young lawyer, reassuringly. ‘‘ But tell me your troubles, aunt.” ‘*Do you think I have troubles?’ ‘“That I do. I know you are not happy, and I should like to hear all about it. Is Rena undutiful ?” ‘“No, no, Hilton, not a word can be said against her. She is one of the best and no- blest girls I ever knew. I believe I should have died before now but for Rena’s love and kindness.” “Can you trust her ?” Ragsdale remembered what he had heard in the grove an hour before, and to say that he distrusted Rena since that would be put- ting it mildly indeed. “IT would trust her with my life, Hilton, and it is for this reason that I am sorry to see her with Benay Flash so much.” ‘“ You might speak to her about it,” suggest- ed the young man. " ‘‘T do not like to seem officious or meddle- some.” Then she turned to go. ‘‘ Won't you tell me about your troubles, aunt ?”’ ‘‘Not to-night. I wish to speak with vou before you go away, however, Hilton. I have much to tell you.” Bidding him good-night, she went out, clos- ing the door gently after her. She seemed kind and gentle now, as he re- membered her in the past, and yet he could see that her last marriage had been asad mis- take. Poor woman! She trusted her step-daugh- ter fully, when, as Ragsdale now believed, that young lady might be working in secret against her. Benay Flash had spoken of a plot, a con- spiracy in connection with Mrs. Tripp and Olive Chester, and Rena had not reproved him. It needs must be that the beautiful young girl was a party to some unrevealed crime, perhaps to the murder of his unfortu- nate cousin. ‘‘T shall constitute myself a detective from this time on.” decided the young lawyer, ‘Cand I shall trust no one until I know him to be worthy.” It was a late hour before Ragsdale disrobed and fell into repose on the bed under the eaves. The window to his room was up, and a faint breath of night air stirred the curtains and fanned his cheek. With this for a benison, the lawyer-detect- ive visited the land of nod. How long he had slept the young man did not know, when he was aroused by a strange sound, Rising to a sitting posture, the lawyer snatched his revolver from under his pillow, and glared toward the window from whence the sound seemed to proceed. Again the sound—an awful, hair-lifting yawl, that seemed to chill the marrow in his bones. Then a body was dashed against the win- dow-sill, which fell back to the floor with a dull thud. After this an awful silence. ‘‘ What in the nation is it?” cried Ragsdale. He waited a few minutes, then sprung up and drew on his clothing. Then he lit the lamp and proceeded to investigate. On the floor under the window lay a large cat, quite dead, with wide-open, staring eyes that sent a shudder all over the young law- yer. “Mercy!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ 1 wonder what ailed pussy. She looks as though she had suffered awful agony—ah!” Ragsdale recoiled suddenly. He had discovered the cause of all the trouble—a hideous-looking reptile, that re- sembled a lizard, yet was different from any- thixg the young Denverite had heretofore THE LAWYER DETECTIVE. seen. It was of a dirty brown color, slimy and glistening, about six inches in length. This reptile had fastened itself on the feline’s throat, and to the lawyer’s horror he saw that the dead body was fast swelling, indicating poison. Ragsdale glared about him. It was not pleasant to occupy the same room with a poisonous reptile. His eyes fell on a stick in one corner of the room. Seizing this he dispatched the venomous lizard with a well-aimed blow. During all this time no one stirred in the house, although it seemed to Ragsdale that the inmates could not have remained asleep during the noise. ‘‘T’ll not sleep any more to-night,” thought he. ashe glanced at the dead cat. After a few minutes given to reflection, he lifted the dead animal and flung it out into the night. Consulting his watch, Ragsdale found it al- most morning. He had not long to wait ere day dawned in the east. It was soon light enough for him to make a thorough investigation. Under the window lay a large-mouthed empty bottle, which he was sure had not been there when he retired to bed. This at once suggested a horrible thought to the amateur detective. Some one had brought the poisonous rep- tile and placed it in his room for a purpose. Naturally enough the young lawyer thought of Benay Flash. There was no knowing what a jealous man might do, and yet Ragsdale could lay his hand on his heart and say honestly that the colonel’s factotum had no cause to be jealous of him. | However much the man from Denver had been attracted toward Rena Tripp at the out- set, he was now deeply, and he believed just- iyi, Pagauncen against the beautiful young girl. Dropping the dead- lizard into the bottle, Ragsdale went below when he heard some one stirring. The first person he encountered was Tribune Tripp, who, it seemed, had returned bome during the night. ‘‘Hello, Hilton! I’m glad to see you,” and the plainsman put out his hand. CHAPTER XIV. DETECTIVE SHADE. RAGSDALE did not take the proffered hand. ‘‘Be you mad at me, Mr. Ragsdale?’ “After your attempt on my life that is a superfluous question, Mr. Tripp,” returned the lawyer, coldly. . ‘Well, well, I don’t understand you now. The idea that J should attempt to murder anybody. You must be crazy, young man, absolutely demented. I’ve as good a reputa- tion as any man in Wyoming.” ‘“You must have a short memory, Mr. Tripp.” ‘Explain. Confound me if I know what you're driving at. I do remember that I saved your life once in Cheyenne, when we were coming North in company; but that I ever attempted to harm you is preposterous, absolutely preposterous, my boy,” and the plainsman slapped Ragsdale’s shoulder in a really hilarious and friendly manner. ‘‘ Have you forgotten the lynching party ?” ‘‘No, by gracious! 1 haven’t, and | have you to thank for permitting the murderer of poor Olive Chester toescape. He’ssafely out of the country now, and I’m afraid will never be brought to justice,” roared Tripp, his face becoming more rubicund than ever. ‘‘T am not convinced of Demming’s guilt,” answered Ragsdale. ‘‘In fact I have good reason to believe that he is innocent, and that the real murderer is still on the Big Horn.” ‘What an idea.” And yet the keen eye of Ragsdale detected something in the face of the man confronting him that told of deep uneasiness. ‘‘T think I could put my finger on the as- sassin, Mr. Tripp.” ae Eh 2 ‘Did you not understand?” ‘Don’t think J did.” The man from Denver repeated his words, ‘Confound it, young man, if you cau ie, 15 this, what are you waiting for?’ demanded Mr. Tripp, bluntly, almost defiantly. ‘*T’m biding my time.” ‘* Bosh!” ‘You may not think so when the hand of justice falls.” The keen eyes of the young lawyer-detect- ive fixed themselves in a penetrating gaze on the face of the bluff plainsman. That worthy became suddenly confused. ‘‘T have something to show you, Mr. Tripp.” Ragsdale held up the wide-mouthed bottle, in which was the dead reptile. “What do you call that ?” The speaker glared at the hottie; and the lawyer could see that he was agitated, a sure indication that he knew something of the in- famous work of the night. ‘“‘T want you to tell me what you call that, Mr. Tripp,” said Ragsdale, sternly. ‘‘ Well, I’d call it a specimen,” said Tripp. ‘‘Some doctor left it, maybe. I’m sure it’s nothing but a harmless lizard, anyhow.” ‘‘Do they grow in plenty around here, Mr. Tripp?” “Plenty of them.” ‘¢ And they are not poisonous?” 6é No.” ‘* Are you sure?” ‘* Of course I am.” ‘¢ Would it be possible for this little reptile to bite anything and cause death ?” ‘‘Didn’t I tell ye ’twarn’t a poisonous var- mint?’ growled Tripp, somewhat testily. ‘‘ Where'd you get it, anyhow? It seems to be stone dead.” ‘‘ Yes, it’s dead enough now,” returned the man from Denver, “‘ but it was lively enough last night. Some one was kind enough to turn the reptile loose in my bedroom af- ter I had retired. I have an idea the one who did it supposed it to be of a poisonous species, Mr. Tripp, and to tell the truth, I have the proof that itis a venomous thing. If you'll accompany me up-stairs I will prove it to your entire satisfaction, sir.” The plainsman, being under suspicion, as he could not but know, went with the lawyer to the room the latter had occupied during the night, and there saw the dead feline where the young man pointed it out through the open window. ‘‘T flung it out there,” said Ragsdale, ‘“ but the work of death was done right here in this room.” ‘¢ Kinder strange.” “Yes, it is strange.” ‘‘T don’t see how it came to be in this room. Did you see them when you come up to bed ?” ‘No. then.” ‘‘Do you think ’twas put in by some one after you come to bed ?” ‘‘T am sure it was.” ‘‘Then this must be investigated.” ‘‘] mean it shall be.” The two men descended to the lower regions once more. ‘‘Better not say anything to the women about this, Mr. Ragsdale,” suggested the plainsman, as they went down-stairs. ‘‘"Tain’t necessary to frighten them.” ‘‘T agree with you there.” And so Mrs. Tripp and Rena were not in- formed of the cowardly attempt on the life of their guest.” While Tripp was at home Ragsdale knew it would be out of the question to seek an inter- view with his aunt, so, immediately after breakfast, the young man walked over to Three Oaks, promising to call again soon. Ragsdale was sore over the theft of the sorrel mare, and could not help thinking it ex- tremely kind in Rena not to censure him in the least for the loss. He had offered to make up the value of the mare to his aunt, but she refused to permit The bottled reptile was not here it. ‘| Colonel Redhart had finished his morning meal, and sat in his accustomed place smok- ing his ever-present pipe when Ragsdale put in an appearance. ‘© Come and set here, lad,” said the colonel, motioning toward a chair at his side. ‘‘I reckoned mebbe you went off mad last night, and. dum me, ef I'd blame ye much nuther, tor reckon I wasn't in ther perlitest mood | last night.” 1 hall not dispute you, colonel,” COA C NOO SS