Beadle's Half-Dime Library No. 109 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

— ——--- - oa = —_— -—— _ —_— Edith lay at the verge of death in the rear of her little candy-shop, with California Kate her sole attendant and nurse—a rude but faithful guard to the sick girl. Phineas Porter had been in, once or twice, to see if Edith was well enough to talk, but had found her slightly deranged, and very weak. So he would go away again, promising soon to call, Qnce, in the dead of night, a knock had_come to the door, and on opening it, Kate beheld a masked man standing before her. He forced his way past her to the bedside of the shop-zirl, and watched ber long and earnest- ly. Then, without a word of explanation, he took his departure as mysteriously as he came, Never had she chanced to know im, but Kate cane to the conclusion at once that it was Deadwood Dick. Carroll Holly was still in prison. Since his incarceration, he had not seen any- body except McAdams, the jailer, who came twico a day with some edibles, and who refused to be either communicative or to let in any friends of the prisoner. How many friends he had, Carroll did not know. Certainly not many, for he was almost a total stranger in the strange little city of Rough Shod. What was to become of him Carroll had no assurance, but supposed a trial would take place, and Clancy Adair would endeavor to convict him of a crime of which he was not guilty. Conviction meant for him death, unless something should turn up which be could not now foresee. On the morning of the third day of his incar- ceration, Clancy Adair was ushered into his cell, and left with him alone, the jailer retiring out of hearing. Carroll was lounging upon the cot bed with which the cell was furnished, and did not rise upon his mayorship’s entrance, ‘‘ Well, how do you like your new quarters?” was the first question, and the Honorable Clancy smiled grimly, as he took a seat upon a stool. “T should like them much better if men of your types would keep away,” Carroll replied, bitterly. “Ha! ha! I thought so, and that is why I intruded myself upon your privacy. I knew you would be fond of my company.’ ‘“You think to provoke me. We shall see how you will succeed, I can be as stubborn as a mule, if I choose,” ‘‘T am aware of that. But it makes no differ- ence tome. You are completely in ay power, and you shall feel that power to the full extent. I am mayor of this town, and it shall give me pleasure to hang you, directly.” " ‘‘Indeed! Why do you postpone the interest- ing ceremony, then?” Carroll asked, coolly. _ ‘Oh! I want to give you a fair shake,” Adair repliod, with a crafty smile. ‘‘I believe you would shuffle off with a better grace if you had a fair trial for your terrible crime.” “Clancy Adair, tell me, honestly—do you be- lieve me guilty of that murder?” Carroll de- manded, sternly. ‘'Do you have the least thought that I committed the heartless crime?’ “Qh! as to that, my dear Holly, I do not choose to express my opinion fully. ou were found in a very suspicious Soyer and then you were seen to commit the murder, and I argue that the case is very strong against you— so strong that any jury would agree that it was best for you to take an aerial ascension, 1 order to set an example to other evil-doers.” “Who saw me commit the murder?’ Carroll demanded, coolly, for he saw that it was tri- umph to his enemy when he was not cool, ‘A stranger by the name of Stafford—W illiam Stafford. He was coming in late from a north- ern prospecting tour, and saw you shoot the woman, after “having a violent quarrel with her. I described you to him, and he recognized you as identical with the murderer.” “My God, what an infamous plot to ruin me!” Carroll could not help groaning. ‘ But think not, Clancy Adair, that you deceive me. It is all your devilish scheme from the beginning to the end. You doubtless committed the crime, yourself, and watched until I came along that you might foist it onto me, The man you say saw me is a tool of yours, hired to do your bid- ding!’ ‘Hal hal you shoot your arrows hard, my misguided friend, but can you prove these as- sertions?” the mayor demanded, sneeringly. ‘¢ Ve shall see whether I can not prove them when it comes to trial,” Carroll replied. ‘‘I may possibly beat you and get free, and if I do, Clancy Adair, you shall meet me face to face— sword to sword, in the main street of this town, and die by the stroke of my blade as did my Deadwood Dick as Detective. father by your poisoned blade. Remember, sir, [ have not forgotten my mission of venge- ance toward you!” ‘** Were you loose, I should undoubtedly feel restless, but as you are caged I have no serious apprehensions,” the mayor replied, with a chuckle, ‘‘I must now tear myself away from you, to make arrangements for your trial. Until I meet you again, | hope you will devote most of your time to divine thoughts, as you will need all the spiritual assurance you can get, when you come to my lynch picnic!” CHAPTER VIL. THE DETECTIVE AT WORK, StraicGnT from the jail to the candy-shop, did the Honorable Clancy Adair go, entering the latter without ceremony, as was his wont. In considering himself the ruling power of Rough Shod’s little city, he regarded ceremony in and to others as a useless accomplishment— one of the lost arts, in fact. California Kate was behind the counter, when his Honor entered, dealing out a few cents’ worth of candr to a little girl, and surveyed the Honorable Clancy with evident displeasure. ‘* Well?’ she demande 1, interrogatively, plac- ing her hands upon her hips, her arms akimbo, ‘* what d’ye want heer, ye old bloat?’ ‘*Me? an old bloat, woman? What do you mean by your insulting address?” ‘Jest w'at I sed, perzactly. You're an old bloat, a blackleg, a villain, a cutthroat, and a ruffian, an’ I can lick you quicxer than a cat ever chawed saltpeter. Miss Edith don’t want ye around heer, an’ | know it, an’ so you can jest git up an’ dust as soon as ye please!” ‘Very well. I intend to go as soon as I please,” the Honorable Clancy replied, with a grim chuckle. ‘I came to see Miss Yates, and not you!” “Oh! ye did, didn’t ye?” Kate growled, as grimly as her confroater. ‘‘Ye did cum ter er iss Edith, an’ ye didn’t come ter see me, eh? ‘‘T came to see Miss Yates, on important business concerning the murder of her sister. You will be so kind as to tell her I am here!” Adair said, with austere sternness. ‘*] dunno if I will or not!” Kate said, deliber- ating. ‘‘I reckon et ain’t no good you intend ter dothe gal, you mean soft-soap hypocrite, an’ I opine she don’t keer ter see ye!” **But I will see her!” the mayor averred hotly. ‘‘I will see her, and the woman never lived as can stop me!” ‘* Bet you two ter one now ye lie!” the girl cried, triumphantly, and up from behind the counter she sudden] y brought a pair of cocked six-shooters and aimed them at the mayor. “Ye see I hold two tricks and ye ken’t find one, don’t ye? Now, budge the ninety-nine arto’ an inch, an’ [ll salt ye, sure’s my name’s Jalifornia Kate!” The Honorable Clancy uttered an oath! ““Cuss you!” he growled. ‘‘Put up those tools. They’re too dangerous to play with. I But I want to see the girl.” it. She don’t like ye fer a cent, ter respect her wishes, you bet cave. **Can’t help an’ I’m goin our boots.” ‘* But, listen. Ill give you five dollars, ef ye’ll let me seo her!” ‘‘Keep your money. I ain’t no returnin’ board ner no lawyer, an’ ye can’t buy me, oh! no! At this juncture, the door of the inner room opened, and Edith stepped out into the shop. She was looking very pale and ill, with all the roses fled from her cheeks, and a wild, rest- less expression in her eyes. She was attired in a pretty wrapper, belted atthe waist with a red ribbon, and her hair was combed back and fell in a careless wave over her shoulders. She was so changed that Clancy Adair was startled. “My dear Mics Yates, you are not looking sani hap strong to leave your bed,” he said, handing her a chair, which she however de- clined. ‘*I should advise you to keep quiet a few days longer, until the bloom creeps back to your cheeks. Your loss has been a sad one, but I come to let you know that we have caught the murderer, and after a merely formal trial, I romise you he shall pay the full penalty of the aw, for this unseemly crime!” ‘You have the murderer?’ Edith repeated in surprise. ‘I ee Barry Meredith had long since escaped.” ‘* Barry Meredith, ma’am?” | ‘‘'Yes, Barry Meredith, for it was he and none other who struck Minnie’s death-blow.” ‘Ah! but you are mistaken, Miss Yates. Although I do not know who this — you 9 eee ee —— eo a —— ee _— — moreso - Oe tees: ae eee ee eee ee speak of may be, I am confident you have mis- judged him, for the murderer’s name is Carrol! lolly. He was seen to commit the crime, and was captured at the scene of the murder.” Edith started. Carroll Holly the murderer? She could not believe it, upon the Honorable Clancy’s asser- tion, for the young sportsman did not appear like that kind of aman. She had inquired and learned his name, after his visit to her store— she had been more favorably impressed with as Noe any man she had ever met in Rough Shod, That he, a total stranger, should be the assas- sin of her sister, whem he had never scen or known, seemed incredible—beyond belief, ‘*T du not believe it!” she said, ‘Mr, Holly. is a stranger here—never saw or knew my sis- ter, and it does not lock reasonable that he would kill a person he had no grudge against. On the other hand Barry Meredith was our bit- terest enemy, and no doubt did the bloody deed.” ‘Sorry that I cannot agree with you. Holly was seen to kill your sister, my dear Miss Idith, Surely you must believe such evidence as that.” “But I don’t, all the same,” Edith asserted stoutly. ‘I have my belief and no amount of evidence to the contrary could change it. Y seem to take more than ordinary interest having this man adjudged guilty, sir. Perhaps he is some warm particular friend of yours!” There was a sarcastic taunt in the girl’s tone that caused the Honorable Clancy to wince. ‘‘The prisoner is nothing to me, more than a stranger, Miss Yates,” he replied, with forced calmness, ‘‘I took interest in the case on your account, but I perceive that my interest is un- appreciated by you.” ‘Humph! Ef et was my case, I'd h’ist you outen the shanty on the toe o’ my boot!” Cali- fornia Kate put in, contemptuously. nes} of hen your attention as far as is practicable—no further,” Edith replied coldly. ‘** When does this trial, come off?” “This afternoon, at three o’clock! It will not be exactly necessary that you should attend, you are so feeble.” ‘*T shall be there, nevertheless, and endeavor to clear Carroll Holly,” Edith replied with spirit. ‘‘ He did not commit the crime, I am well nap and if he hangs for it, he will die inno- cent. The mayor then took his de ure, inwardly cursing himself because of his failure to enlist Edith’s feelings against Carroll Holly. Not so sure now, was his Honor, which way the jury aa decide, After he had gone, Edith donned her hat and pretty opera shawl, and tripped down the street, . even though each step cost her an effort, so weak she was. The first place she visited was the hotel where Phineas Porter stopped. It was he she had come expressly to see, and she found him sit- ting upon the veranda, smoking a cigar. He was not ba Ti | the odious goggles, now, and she noticed a really beautiful expression in his eyes as he rose with a smile, to greet her, which was by far too young for a man of his ears. ‘*My dear Miss Yates, it is a pleasure to see you up and about once more,” he said, pleasant- ly. ‘Did you wish to see me—that is, on busi- ness?” . ‘I came to see you for a few moments’ private talk,” Edith replied, quietly. “Then come into the ladies’ parlor, and I will be at your service!” Porter replied, gallant- ly, as he led the way. Edith accompanied hrm, and was shown to a seat, while the detective leaned against a man- tle, and readjusted the goggles before his hand- some eyes, ‘*T came to see you,” Edith began, ‘‘ concern- ing the murder of my sister and her babe.” ‘Ah! yes. I called upon you, but you wen unable to talk, so, that I could say nothing. What is your opinion in the matter, Misg Yates?” ‘* My opinion is that they have got the wrong man,” Edith replied. ‘“ Mr. Holly never com- mitted the murder.” ‘‘ What reason have you for believing this.” ‘*One reason is the fact that neither my sister or myself ever saw the man until he came to my shop a few days since; of him we knew nothing, nor do I now,” “Well, that is one pretty good reason. In law it would serve, if Holly was found guilty, to fetch up an argument that he was insane,” the detective said, smiling. “It is popular, nowdays, to make a criminal out insane, whether he is or not. I, too, am of the opinion that Comic S) oexe) * Ls (e(0)