Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 130 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

“4 - ++ + ee SE ———— we - oe we wee | - + ee -_—- _— Spencer and found in his private drawers the pack- age of counterfeit notes which were such serious evidence against him. Then there was the journey to Chester, and the letter which pointed so closely at a guilty connivance with the forgers. Harry’s lawyer had not succeeded in getting all the rebutting evidence he should have had. He had not sought it in the right quarters, and knew nothing of the whereabouts of the red-haired man, who was s0 prominently mixed up in the affair, nor of the temporary arrest of Sol Sly for his strange proceed- ings in Spencer’s house. ogan, of course, was aware of all these facts, but was not at liberty to divulge them while Dick’s plans hung fire, as they at present did. The case was not called till the afternoon session of the court, and would evidently not be finished that day, as the witnesses for the prosecution were examined and cross-examined at great length. During its progress Jack Bounce entered, accom- ed by Mrs. Milton, whom he succeeded in help- g toa comfortable seat in the rear portion of the court-room. Near by her was another well-dressed, young-look- ing lady, so deeply vailed that no feature of her face could be distinguished, but who seemed to take an v Piacgteg interest in the prisoner and in the evi- ence. Jack had only partly obeyed Dick's directions. He had not told Mrs. Milton for what purpose he brought Detective Dick. ee ———— ne = et + The court-room was nearly emptied ere Mrs, Mil- ton could remove her eyes from the face which had so deeply engrossed her. She turned away with a CeeD. FEY, and left the room, accompanied by her escort. ‘* What will they do with him?’ she quietly asked. ** Will they send him to prison?” There was deep feeling in her quiet voice. “They cannot, since they have accepted bail for his appearance,’’ answered Jack, though not at all sure in his mind whether the alderman’s bail- bond would be respected by the court at this se. ious stage of the case. 1ey had not gone far before he was arrested by the touch of a trembling hand upon his sleeve. He turned to behold a deeply-vailed lady. “Will you a tell me your opinion?” she timid- ly asked. ‘I know so little of such matters, Is the evidence against him’”’ ‘** So far it looks so.”’ “It is all very dark tome. It seems terrible,”’ ‘“*You have heard but one side, Miss Andrews,” said Jack, kindly. ‘‘In court business you can only Sy oa both sides have been heard. I hope for e best.”’ Yet there was a shadow of anxiety in his tone which he could not conceal. “Who is this lady who is so deeply interested in the accused?”’ asked Mrs. Milton, “Miss Andrews, a youn friend of his,” lad her here, simply saying he had been requested todo | answered Jack. Miss Andrews ‘Jet me make you 80 pre party who had employed him. He prefer- red to see it she would discover anything without previously formed expectations, But in that crowded room it was not likely that she could aimlessly select any familiar face. She sat looking with little interest on the assemblage, and listened with less interest to the evidence. “Why have you brought me here?’’ she asked, at length, of her escort. “This is very wearisome to me.”’ ‘“*Tean’t say,’’ Jack stolidly replied. ‘“‘I am only obeying orders. Look about the room a bit and you may find something to interest you.” | It was with a sad smile that she followed his di- rections, her eyes wandering in a desultory fashion over the oddly diversified faces that made up the audience of the court-room. Jack was listening to some prolix statements, of no possible importance, drawn from a witness by persistent questioning of the lawyer, when he felt a sudden, almost flerce, clasp upon arm, and heard a quick whisper in his ear. Who is that?’ The words were given in a sort oR ’ ere?’ he asked, following the direction of her \ ere finger. “There! behind the railing.” “That is poe Spencer, the prisoner, the party who is being tried."’ ‘*But whois he? His face thrills me with such a strange feeling! Can it be—’’ she paused, while her eyes eagerly devoured every lineament of his face. ‘* He is a music-teacher by neces ge explained Jack. ‘* He has fallen into trouble, though I fully believe him innocent.”’ ‘*Innocent! Could guilt rest there?”’ pointing earnestly to the open and ingenuous face of the pris- oner. “ But you know more of him. I met him on our stairs yesterday. I felt then that he must be my ost son, I seem to gaze upon my husband, restored to life and to youth again.’ ““T know nothing more,”’ returned Jack, evasively, ‘‘and did not dream that he had any connection with you.” This persistent whispering was beginning to annoy the court, and the crier eae eee silence. Mrs. Milton said no more, but she had suddenly acquired the deepest interest in the case, and her eyes continued to rest on the face of the prisoner with a devouring intensity. The hour of three came, and passed, and the case | acq i uainted with Mrs. Milton, a Boston lady who is here on a very important errand.” **T am in search of a iong-lost son,’ explained Mrs. Milton, paren ‘*T know not what, but there is something in the accused that has stirred my soul more deeply with hope than aught I have met in the whole twenty thao of my bereavement.”’ Helen looked with interest on the saddened face of the mother, as she threw back the thick vail which had concealed her own features. “There is some mystery about Mr. Spencer’s birth!’’ she cried, eagerly. ‘‘He knows not who were ot ntere ¢ Mrs. ton looked with an intense glance into the sweet, eager, beautiful face before her, now lit up with such a hopeful earnestness, “Can it be?” she cried. ‘ Oh! I know,I feel that it vd He is—he must be—my dear, my long-lost son!”* “TI hope it may nee Zon iiest tone. his ; Jack’s attention was at this moment called by an- other touch upon his arm. It was the small, shrewd face of Dick Darling that now appeared at his shoulder, but full of an eager light. “Tell Frazer to fire up the yacht instanter /” he commanded, in a deep whisper. ‘‘The music’s oin’, The fox has headed for his hole, and it’s ut time the hounds were out. You must be on the river by dark. If things go right we'll bag the rove so,” answered Helen, in ‘I know nothing of his early whole gang.”’ ‘* That’s good news! One minute, Dick.” He turned to the ladies, who had entered into an oe Tt ‘y al right” h id, joyfully. “ Harry rT Tage e said, ovfu be. Spencer will be cleared. We will have Svidence to- morrow morning, if all goes well, that will utterly turn the tables on his enemies.” Ss. “Oh! I eg it may prove so!"’ cried Helen, with ands, aig h “Say not a word of this; particularly not to Mr. Williamson, if you should see him. A word might defeat all our plans.”’ * Do not fear, sir. You can depend on my si- ence.”’ “Better depended on his own,” muttered Dick, discontentedly. ‘‘I don’t like young folks, ‘ticu- larly young wimmenu folks, brung into bigness of mine.” - toes TY ou are not such a Rexane yourself, Cc for the prosecution was just ended. Under these | Master ard,”’ said Helen, with a musical laugh. circumstances the judge adjourned the court, givi “T've arnt a thing or two, anyhow. Don't back the defense until the next day to prepare their evi- | down afore most men—I don’t.” dence in rebuttal. “I don’t know but what I had best do something Mr. Williamson had been in court during most of | to relieve your suspense, Mrs. Milton,” now an- the hearing of the case, occupying a chair in the | nounced Jack, in a decided tone. ‘This anti- lawyer’s inclosure, and a deeply interested auditor | quated young gentleman is our employer in your of the evidence. His keen eyes occasionally rested airs.’ . on the face of the prisoner, with a problematical ““This boy?’’ and Mrs. Milton looked with doubtful look. It would have been difficult to tell, from his | eyes upon Dick. expression, which side of the case he favored. _ Yet the young detective never looked better. He He looked frequently at his watch, with a slight | was attired in a new, and, for once, a well-fitting show of annoyance, and at length rose and quicklv | suit of clothes. His face had been washed to the left fhe room, an hour before the adjournment, as point of polishing, and it was astonishing what a some imperative engagement called him away. good-looking butterfly had emerged from a very Yet there was a look of satisfaction upon his face. lain ch “It is going against him,’’ he muttered. ‘They cannot overthrow the evidence of those notes. Helen was there. Her vail could not hide her from me. Yet I fancy she cannot continue her infatua- tion for a convicted felon. Harry Spencer has been inmy way,in more modes than one. And the ridiculous boy thinks me hisfriend! He little knows that a friend with an interest in your disappearance is tenfold more dangerous than an open foe.” He little knew that a concealed foe was on his own track at that moment. A keen-looking boy had lett the court-room immediately behind him, with a look of equal satisfaction with his own. : * [t's ripenin’,’’ he thought, with a confident air. ‘The fox don't leave his goose ‘cept there’s some- thin’ mighty stirrin’ in the air. Bet high he’s streak- in’ for Chester; and he don’t go down there only on one bizness. It'll be queer if we don’t carry off Harry Spencer on our shoulders to-morrow.” And Dick followed his Brey with all the keenness of a sleuth-hound, no double or turn sufficing to throw him from the trail. salis. me | . Milton?” demanded Dick. es.”” ‘**Got some bizness with you, ma’am. Not to-day though. Got too big a job on hand to-day to take in any more work.”’ **Do you know anything concerning me?’ she in- quired, doubtfully. ‘I trust my hopes have not been Keeed in vain. Can you give me any assur- ance?”’ ‘** Guess I know the lay I’m on,” answered Dick, a little offended. ‘‘ Won’t say nothin’ to-day. That's sot. But maybe you'll reckernise this.” ee held up in his hand the medal, with its curious chain. ‘*Great Heaven!’ cried the mother, snatching it from hishand. “Itis my son’s! Oh, sir! where is he? Take me to him and you shall receive a mother's deepest blessings.”’ ‘They'll keep till to-morrow,” announced Dick positively. ‘“‘This is a bizness that can’t be put through in a minit, and in a public place like Inde- pendence Square. Come, Mr. Bounce. Our bizness reer SS et eee ee” * rr i nT TT won't wait. We must leave the ladies. Mrs. Milton kin keep the medal till lsee her ag’in. Be mighty keerful of it.” ‘Thank you,” said the deeply affected mother, seizing and pressing his hand warmly. ‘ You have given me more happiness than I have felt for a life- ime.”’ “You kin save yovr thanks til! to-morrow, Miss Helen,’ suggested Dick. ‘*‘When I git your lover out of his scrape.”’ And the irrepressible boy hurried Jack off, leaving the young lady's cheeks dyed with deep blushes, é will not here enter into the details of the lo conference that ensued between Dick and his trio detectives. Suffice it to say that asa consequence thereof a small, swift steam Agi known as the Lightfoot, stole quietly out of the Navy Yard at about the hour 3 nine that evening, and moved slowly down the ver, The moon was not he up, and would not be until near midnight, and the waters lay daik under the glimmer of a thousand twinkling stars, as the boat lowed her — slowly along, with no evidence of haste in ber deliberate movements. There were on board our three officers, and six or eight other persons, but no trace of Dick wickets he night was far advanced toward midnight when they arrived at a point in the river at a short distance above Chester, and slowly steamed up and down, well out from shore, their eyes fixed keenly upon the land. ‘Ain't it high time we were hearing from our scout?” asked Hogan, impatiently, as a clock on board struck the hour of twelve. ** Dick's likely waiting to get all his birds in the cage ” Jack explained. half-hour more more passed of this une sus- pense and then there neice on shore a faint flash, as of a match which had been lit and instantly ex- tinguished. Again, and n, the flash broke out. “That's the signal!” cried Jack, joyfully, ** Pat her head ashore! In ten minutes more they had all landed on the low wharf at the fisheries, the suddenly wakened fisherman starting up in wonder. “'That’s your sort!’ cried Dick Darling, suddenly appearing from the gloom, “ Foller me! But as ent as aregiment of mice'” CHAPTER XXII. A RIG HAUL. Tue silver rim of the moon had lifted itself, a half- hour before, above the dark Jersey horizon, and it now poured its mist-shrouded beams in a faint flood upon the restless surface of the river, and Jit up the fore-ground with a dim luster that brought out all objects in relief. ‘Don’t you be reset youre rey cried Dick to the fishermen. ‘ 'Tain’t shad we're arter, this time. But maybe one of your nets omens come in handy, for spect to make a haul of big fish; reg'lar sturgeons of fellers. We're goin’ for the ghosts." “‘ Best keep clear of them,” cried Dick's old friend as the shadowy line of the yacht’s crew filed past. “ They ain’t canny things to play with.” ‘Oh! don’t you be ‘feared,’ called back Dick. ‘Guess we’ve got some med’cine here that'll cure the old house of its bad sperits.”’ Cautiously the dark line moved toward the desert- ed mansion, which rose, magnified by the faint moonlight, like a dun castle upon their path, ‘*Got them bagged,"’ whispered Dick to the officers. neat whole caboodle. Been on the watch ever since The portal of the haunted house was reached, The empty rooms glowed with a forbid look u the intruders. It appeared indeed as if hobgob might select this place as one suited to their natures on ae which they might pursue their revels undis u . After some last giecw see directions to his fol- lowers, the chief of which was an injunction to si- lence and to be ready with their weapons, Dick led the way forward. The rooms were too dark for strangers to make their way with the caution necessary, and the light of a dark-lantern was flashed forward along the hall, illuminating the narrow track along which they were slowly creeping. ‘““Careful!’’ whispered Dick. ‘‘ Here's the stairs we're to go down. They're slippery. Put your feet down hard, but not noisy.”’ He led the way as silently asa specter. In fact, if any of the occasional visitors to the ghost-ridden mansion had been now present, they would have vowed they saw a host of its uncanny inmates, on onward like shadows, without the sound of a footfall. The cellar reached Dick grew doubly cautious, | Marshaling his hosts he enjoined them to have their . weapons ready, and then led them into the dark | alcove in which lay the door to the secret room. Taking the lantern he searched ai the wall in ; which he had seen the door opened. seemed all | alike, a series of roughly-squared stones, wih mor- | tar between. The door was so deftly made that no one without previous reasons for suspicion would | have deemed that it was a mere imitation of the wall before which Dick now paused. There was a slight line run ing irregularly up and down between the apparent layers cf stone, to all appearance an old crack 'n the wall. But the shrewd boy who now stood before it had the best of reasons for knowing better. M a sign of caution and readiness to his followers, he k a short crawbar from the hards of the nearest ofthe men. He then clused the lantern and handed it back to the same man. They were now in almost utter darkness, Silence. EOomichooks —~ com