Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 238 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ee -- Oe ee eee _- ne altbeugh he lay silent and apparently asleep. His mind was too deeply occupied with strange thoughts to sleep. The moonbeams struggling through the open foliage of the trees enable him to see the forms of Brandt and Ogilvie ly- ing near. By their respirations he judged they were asleep, but in this be found he was mis- taken, for suddenly one of them rose to a sitting posture and gazed carefully around him, then rose to his feet and crept noiselessly away through the bushes—was gone a few moments, then returned. and lying down, drew his blanket and once more became motionless, Owing to the darkness, Ptolemy Frodd was unable to tell whether the man was Brandt or Ogilvie; but he was satisfied of one thing—that all was not right—that the fellow’s silent move- ments looked very suspicious. But he had no time to make an investigation of the matter, tor the hour for changing the guard had come, and he was one of the parties that went on duty. The night passed away and day dawned bright and clear. ‘e*, e first man astir was young Ogilvie. He expressed himself as feeling quite well after his night's sleep, despite hisinjured arm. He visited the wounded in the tent and inquired after their health; then alone he sauntered leisurely out upon the island, and when he reached the lower side, he sat down near Matt Hohn’s grave with his back to the grove. Here he sat, appareanly in areflective mood. Presently he stretched himself out in a reclining attiude with his elbow resting on the ground and his head on his hand, While in this position he dug a little hole in the sand and dropping something in it covered it up. Then he arose, paced to and fro a few minutes ina sort of a reverie. He looked up and down the river. He caught sight of a bird skimming along the surface of the water toward him. He drew his revolver and fired at it, then turned and walked briskly back to eamp whistling as he went. But his movements had not passed un- ebserved. The eagle eyes of Ptolemy Frod had marked every one of them with a vague suspicion. reakfast was finally announced and all sat down to the repast. All missed the happy, boyish face of Shocky from their midst, but none felt the loss of his resence more than pretty Aimee, With the rst streaks of dawn she began casting eager looks down the river for the return of her boy- jover. After breakfast the wounded men’s injuries were dressed by La Fleur and Frodd, and then the cares, fears and speculations of another day megan. ot the sign of a foe red or white—was to be seen along either shore. Ptolemy Frodd was restless and uneasy. No ene failed to notice this but all accredited it to his apprehension of impending dangers. Finally the old detective walked down across the island in a sort of mental abstraction. With his eyes on the ground he walked on around to Matt Hohn’s grave. Here he paced to and fro across the t where Ogilvie bad reclined a short time before. A little t of damp sand marked the spot where, as the old man believed, the gambler had buried some- thing and in going backward and forward he managed, by a dexterous scrape of the foot to remove a little sand from the spot every time he passed. Finally his sly work was rewarded by un- earthing afolded paper. He stooped and picked it up at the same time taking up a large pebble. The former he thrust in his bosom, the latter he tossed out into the river. Still he continued his pacing, but finally sauntered leisurely away toward the camp. He found Ogilvie engaged in conversation with Aimee. Brandt was on guard and Rocky was molding bullets for La Fleur. Entering the tent where Tom Ackerman and Roger were in conversation, the old detective took that paper from his bosom and opened it. Altbough a man of the most remarkable self- control, bis face assumed a look of sudden sur- prise and bis eyes were cast with a quick furtive glance around him. The exclamation that involuntarily rose to his lips was stifled in a forced cough. wet, The paper he held in his hand was the certifi- vate of Humbolt’s acd Ethel Robertson’s mar- riage at the Fairy Grotto! ———or CHAPTER XII. FRODD AND OGILVIE HAVE A TALK. Nurraer Roger Millbank nor Tom Ackerman noticed the expression upon the face of Ptolemy — -_ The Parson Detective. -—— + Se eee ———— el Frodd, as the old man folded up the paper and returned it to his bosom. Addressing some pleasant remarks to the wounded men, the old detective rose and left the tent. His fingers burned to grasp the throat of the gambler Ogilvie, for there was no doubt left in his mind now as to who the double-dyed villain, Rufus Humbolt was, The discovery, however, caused him a pang of deepest regret, for he had formed a good impression of the handsome Frank Ogilvie, gambler though he were. But what was he todo? He was almost disarmed by this sudden surprise, for his sus- picions had been fixed upon another; but Ogilvie must be arrested, and since Rocky had been a boon compapion of the young gambler, it was not unlikely that he would take sides with his friend, and thereby complicate the dangers they were already surrounded with. While revolving the matter in his mind, Ogilvie came up to him, and taking bim by the arm, said: " Frodd, let us take a walk.” Although in no mood to trifle with him, Frodd walked along with him to the lower end of the island. Seating himself on the sand, the gam- bler said: ‘* Be seated, Mr. Frodd.” Ptolemy sat down. ‘‘Now, Mr. Frodd,” the gambler said, ‘I want to talk with you; for a preacher, you have always placed confidence in me—-at least I have thought so, and | assure you I have re- spected that confidence, and now want to make a confidant of you.” ‘‘ Well, I never betrayed a friend,” said Frodd. ‘*To tell you the truth,” Ogilvie went on. ‘‘I am a gambler for policy only—my real calling being that of a detective.” ‘What? Ogilvie, the > pee a detective?” exclaimed the astounded lemy Frodd. ‘+ You, sir.” Frodd turned to the man, made a motion or two with his hand, then extended that member to the gambler, who, on taking it, exclaimed: ‘*By Judas! is it possible youtoo area detective, Frodd?” ‘‘Have I not proven myself such by the ~ and grip of our association?’ responded the preacher. ‘* Yes, but how isit that we haven't discovered this before now?” ‘*Because you are a gambler and I am a preacher.”’ Ogilvie burst into a laugh. <° v ~ 1 a ar —e i to show ou,” and he began n the san Y “It’s not there,” said Frodd, with a smile: ‘*T had my eyes on your movements and got the ae ‘Ptolemy Frodd! you're a bold, slick old eel; but what about that paper, my dear sir?” ** Does it not explain i “ip . . a why hav’n’t you hinted this to me be- ore ‘* Because some suspected you of being the villain, Humbolt.” . 7 ‘*Well Ill be eternally blest!” exclaimed Ogilvie. ‘‘ Frodd, 1 have been working alon the Missouri five years and never got into su a mixed up affair. Some three months ago I came to River View hunting for the murderers of the Ramseys, of St. Louis.” ‘‘ Indeed!” exclaimed Old Ptolemy ae from his ket the ring that Humbolt ha given Ethel, and banding it to Ogilvie; ‘‘do you Pp that, my gay gam-bo-lier?’ ‘‘Tt’s one of the Ramsey jewels!” declared ate in astonishment; ‘ ee sir, I never trusted you of being the gall y ty!” ai two men indulged in a hearty good augh. Ptolemy Frodd gave a full history of the wedding at the Grotto, the attempted assassina- tion of himself by Humbolt, and the history of the ring so far as he knew it. “Then,” said Ogilvie, ‘‘the man who at- tempted to kill you—the man who gave Ethel this ring is the man to whom you gave this cer- tificate?” mY 66; air.” “Then our friend, Major Brandt is Rufus Humbolt !” ‘* Judas Iscariot!” burst from the old detec- tive’s lips. ‘* Yes, sir,” Ogilvie went on, “last night while you and Brandt slept, I went through his pockets. I found it in an inner pocket of the coat he had hung up to dry after you and him had had your dip in the river. Didn’t you notice the — had been wet? DPve had my eye on that gentlemen for months and have been watching for some clew as to who he 13 me eee ee ee ee e-em really was, and when I saw him hang up his coat I could not resist the temptation to inspect the pockets; and I must say the result has been a good one, I came along with you on purpose to watch the surveyor, and now I think he’s the man we both want.” ‘Very likely,” replied Frodd; ‘‘ I know he is the man that that truce-bearer demanded yes- COrAy and, by the way, that truce-bearer was one of the witnesses to the Fairy Grotto mar- riage. vee now are developing fast. Brandt is undoubtedly in league with the Indians and may be responsible for our present dangers, I am satisfied now that he is Night Hawk, whom Shocky and I overheard in conversation with the Indian, Black Bat; and if he is all this, he is the man who killed Matt Hohn in the fight, for Matt was shot in the back. And furthermore, having failed in killing me the night | gave him this paper, he crossed the river last night to finish his work. That affair at the Sentinel was, on his part, a premeditated murder, and if he is permitted to run at large much longer he will hurt somebody, for he strikes at the back.” ‘Yes, we want to put an end to his move- ments pretty quick now, for if he misses that paper © may get uneasy and give us the slip. ecan only be staying with us to put you out of the way when the opportunity is afforded. But what can be at the bottom of all his work? —his conspiracy against Roger Millbank and you, and his desire to be the unknown husband of Ethel Robertson?” ‘*T think he is some scoundrel that knows of Ethel’s being heiress to a fortune somewheres, and he’s trying to get it into his possession. With this certificate of marriage and the evi- dence of his two confederates he could easily establish the fact that he was the husband of Ethel, and thereby gain control of her property. This of course, is only my opinion of the mat- ter. It may be still worse when the truth is known.” ‘Well, we must put him under arrest at once,”’ said ves ‘“and we've got to go about it carefully, for if Brandt is Humbolt he’s a daring, desperate man, and might put a chunk of lead through one or both of us,” So saying, the two rose and walked back to the little grove. Brandt was not there, but in looking around the detectives saw him walkin me e beach at the upper end of the island. His footsteps were quick and short—indicative of uneasiness of mind. Was he beginning to mistrust something? he e certifi- cate from his pocket? But there was no time for mental speculation, and so Ptolemy Frodd, followed by Ogilvie. sauntered along leisurely toward him. Brandt did not notice their approach until Frodd's shadow fell across his path, so dee was he absorbed in thought. Just as he looked up the old detective laid his hand upon his tail and, looking him straight in eye, said: ‘*Major Brandt, you are—” But here his ay were cut short by Ogilvie, who suddenly cried out: ‘‘My Gop! Fropp, LOOK UP THE RIVER!” CHAPTER XIII. A DREADFUL MOMENT. PTOLEMY FRODD turned his head and glanced “4 the river. A cry burst from his lips. To s surprise and terror he beheld no less than a score of logs and dug-outs floating down toward the island, and over the top of each he could see the muzzles of from six to ten rifles, while ever and anon the tufted head of a savage was seen to pop up. The dug-outs were partially filled with brush and sand, and both they and the logs were floating sideways down the stream. ‘Merciful Heaven!” cried the old detective ‘‘ there are a hundred or more Indians behind those boats and logs!” ‘We're in deadly peril, Frodd!” said Ogilvie; ‘‘T must warn our friends,” and he ran back toward the grove. A grim smile overspread the face of Brandt. as he glanced up the river and then at the ex- cited, terrified face of Ptolemy Frodd. The advancing foe was over two hundred yards away, and moving slowly with the cur. rent. It would require several minutes for them to reach the island, for their breastworks were floating at the current’s will. They could hurry them ut little. Frodd did not arrest Brandt, but, turning, he burried tocamp. Death inevitable was staring all in the face unless they could escape from the lower end of the island in the boats before the foe landed, Men were at once sent to take the boats around to that point. 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