Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 423 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

; : a 7 Be 61 oO; % eS meee ee ts oo chair, while a low moaning sound came from his white lips. Mr. Ditson eyed him curiously. ‘* What is the matter, Foster?” “Tam too faint-hear ted,” he replied, with a hollow effort at a laugh. “That thin has sick- ened me. To think of a woman witha finger like that getting it caught in such a fatal trap, and torn off in that horrible way!” He raised his hands involuntarily to his face. The detective fixed his eyes on him. ‘*T fancy the lady can spare a finger,” he cool- ly said. ‘‘ She seems to have been well paid for ring and finger.” He pointed to the safe, whose door he had flung open. lt looked as if the burglars had succeeded in some way in obtaining a portion of its contents. The bundles of bank-notes were tumbled over the safe bottom, as if overturned by some in- strument. ‘* Do you know what money was there?” ‘‘ Yes,” answered Foster, with forced com- posure. ‘¢‘Then count the contents and see what is lost. Iwill take charge of my lady’s ring-fin- ger. It will be strange if such a very neat clew does not put us on thetrack of the bur- glars.” CHAPTER II. THE MYSTERY OF THE RING. THE detective was right. The burglars had succeeded in paying themselves for their trou- ble. Twenty-five thousand dollars were missing from the contents of the safe. Mr. Foster made the examination and report with what composure he could. But a shadow of pallor clung to his face. Something seemed” to have giv en him a terrible nerve shock. While this investigation was being made the detective was not idle, He had made a thor ough study of the bank, examining every point with the utmost minuteness. The open drawers, the scattered paper, the floor, the walls, the doors and windows were all intently studied. And not a movement, or expression of face in any of the clerks, escaped his quick eyes. He finished bya second close study of the marks on the safe. ‘‘ What time do you open your doors, Mr. Ditson?” ‘* At ten o’clock.”’ ‘itis ten now.” Mr. Ditson, who had recovered his composure, took the hint, and gave the order to open the bank for business. sane then invited the detective into his private office. ‘‘'What conclusion have you come to, Mr. Shar ?” he asked. one. Iam yet at sea.” ‘** None?” _ “This work was done by old hands. How they got into the-place is not clear. There are some scratches on the lock, but I doubt if they oa new ones. I fancy they must have had a ke an ‘A key! How could they get that” Mr. Sharp shrugged his shoulders. ‘* Who knows? That j is one of the things to find out. Who carries your key, Mr. Ditson?” “Davis. Will Davis. A thoroughly reliable man. Has been with me these ten years.” ‘Call him in here. I would like to question all your clerks in succession. But who is this Mr. Foster?” ‘Foster? He is the very soul of my business. He is a minor partner, too. That is, he has an interest in the profits, in addition to his salary. This loss partly falls on him.” “You don’t suspect him?” ‘¢Oh no! And yet the sight of that finger had a remarkable effect on him ‘Ves, I saw that. But he is a regular baby that way—as soft-hearted as a nervous wo- man. But Foster’s sound. He is the very soul of honor.” Another slight shrug of the shoulders marked the officer’s opinion. ‘‘ Send in Davis, Mr. Ditson.” Davis was sent in. The other clerks followed, oné by one. Mr. Sharp questioned them all j ina uiet, half-indifferent manner, as if he had per- ect confidence in each particular one. He gained no information bearing on the robbery. n hour was occupied in this investigation. At its termination, Mr. Ditson entered the office. ‘* What results, Mr. Sharp?” ‘None. These men seem innocent. There is one point I would like to-know. I understand that Mr. Foster left the bank yesterday at an earlier hour than usual. Do you know why?” ‘*T have no idea.” ee Lh) Se ime IE i wees em ’ . } Pes The Lost Finger. ‘‘T wish you would ask him, Butno. That is not. wise. Leave it to me to find out.” ‘* You are not doubting him again?” ‘*Oh, of course not! Idoubt nobody, but I do want to know everything. That is an odd pe- culiarity of mine. I am always wanting to know. But todoubt? Certainly not.” Mr. Ditson looked at the detective’s face, which wore a very faint smile. ‘*There is one thing I would like to know,” the banker broke out suddenly. ‘* How did that finger get into the crack of the safe door? Why at a spot, it was not open a quarter of an inch ‘‘ There is another mystery goes along with that,” answered the officer quietly. ‘‘ How did they get the money out of the narrow crack at the top of the door? I haveatheory. I may be wron but I think I am right.” What j is it?” Mr. Foster entered the office as they spoke, and stood listening to their conversation. ‘It is this. The door must have been forced wider open than we found it. It would take a wide crack at the top to insert their instru- ments and draw up those bundles of bank notes. But iron has a spring. It was held open by some tool, a shine! or the like. In their opera- tions this tool was disturbed and forced out. The door sprung partly shut, and at that mo- ment the woman pal of the ‘burglars had her finger carelessly inserted in the crack. The sharp edge of the iron closed on it like a pair of shears. It was nipped off so that it only held by a fragment of flesh, and a quick jerk of terror tore this asunder.” ‘What a frightful accident!” exclaimed Fos- ter YW ith a shudder, his pallor returning. It is evident, Mr. Foster,” replied the detec- tive, fixing his cool eyes on him, ‘that you have not been brought up to butchering. The sight of torn flesh seems to sicken you.” ‘* Yes, I can’t help.” He seated himself as if from a feeling of faintness. ‘‘ That is my theory, at any rate,” continued the detective. ‘‘ They were very likely scared awa by the accident.” ut why did they not stay to recover the finger?” asked Mr. Ditson. “It is strange they left suc h a dangerous piece of evidence ‘behind them,” ‘Who knows? They may have rushed away in a panic. Some alarm may have startled them. Or the wound may have been bleeding dangerously, and had to be hurried away. Men do many foolish things in ticklish situa- tions,” A momentary silence followed these words. ‘Will you let me see that finger again, Mr. Sharp?” asked Foster, suddenly. ‘Certainly. Idon’t want tomake you sick, though.” He drew out of his pocket the hand- aang in which he had wrapped the crimsoned troph ry, I fancy I can stand it now,” answered Mr. oster in a calm tone. He bent over the finger, examined it closely, and carefull oe mau Da the ring. “That wi Thank you,” he said, in a oe yalet. Se calm, though still somewhat pale, et the detective noticed one telling indica- tion. There was a deep red line on his reat lip. He had bitten into it until the blood was ready es ral the finger?” h 0 you, recognize the ger?” asked the officer, fring his eyes on the face before him. + No, ” answered Mr. Foster, quietly. e fe the ring?” There may have been a severe inward strug- gle, but outwardly he was calm and com- . He had overcome all show of emotion. Mr. Sharp continued to gaze at him for a few seconds. en he took his hat from the table and rose. ‘That will do, gentlemen. must be continue outside. I know of only one set of burglars fit for this job. And I think, with this bit of evidence, the case will not be hard to handle. Good-day. He walked to the door, opened it, and stepped into the outer room. The two bankers remained. “Well,” asked Mr. Ditson, think of the affair?” ‘* That we can safely leave it in Mr. Sharp’s hands. He seems to know his business.” ‘**T hope so. It is a heavy loss,” ‘‘For that two thousand that was. stolen from the receiving teller’s drawer I wish you to ae me responsible. It was my fault it was ost.” This investigation “what do you | WEOR hen he looked up his face was steady and |, 3 sss ssn Mr. Ditson looked at him curiously. **'What took you away so early, yesterday, Foster?” ‘*T should not have gone. It was to escort a lady friend to the. cars. She was takin a train for Boston, and asked my escort. I did and am ready to pay for it.” e will think further of that, Let us to business now.” The business of the bank that day went on as quietly as if nothing had happened. The affair was kept quiet, as Mr. Ditson did not care to be deluged with a host of curious ques- tions, or rundown with an array of reporters. It was certain that when the strange incident of the severed Unger was made public the whole town would agog with interest and curiosity. Mr. Foster attended steadily to his duties. He seemed pettecty quiet and assiduous, and no one could have essed that there was any emotion in his breast, except from his continued paleness. The main traces of his morning excitement were astrange look in his eyes, and an occa- sional movement as if he was forcing himself to drive away awkward and disturbing thoughts. Toward noon he. rapidly dashed off a brief note. Leaving the bank for his noon lunch, he Cispatched this to its destination by a district messenger boy, directing him to return the an- swer at a certain eating saloon. Mr. Foster lingered long over bis lunch, his eyes fixed on the door in seeming anxiety. It was an hour before the messenger made his appearance, and handed the banker a small sealed note. He tore it open with fingers that slightly trembled despite himself. But a look of deep satisfaction eg over his face as his eyes quickly devoured the contents. ‘“Gone!” he muttered. ‘‘ Then my fears were naught. I knew it wasimpossible. It was in- sane > folly to think it. Yet that finger!—that ring! Ah! there is an extraordinary mystery hidden behind all this. What is it? Shall I ever solve it?—But Estelle! No! no!” He rose, tore the note into a thousand shreds and scattered them in the gutter as he walked along the street toward the bank. At five o’clock that afterncon Mr. Foster reached his rooms. They were situated in a handsome residence on one of the up-town streets. He flun himself into an easy-chair, and passed his hands across his brow. ‘**T have never gone through such a day in my life before,” he said, with a sigh of relief. ‘‘ To May a part such as I have play ed! It would ‘iave killed a weaker man.” He smiled in the consciousness of strength. ‘* What is next to be done? Shall I seek— No. That detective suspects me, He may have me tracked. I must first find if sre— But the note I received is enough. And I saw the Express start on its road for Boston. Why can- not I drive these foolish ideas from my head? There is one way to settle it. I will telegraph.” He hastily wrote a dispatch, and rung fora servant. “Take this to the nearest telegraph station. Bring me the answer as soon as it arrives.” He took a book and tried to read, but the characters seemed blurred on the page. He could not bring his mind down to the fictitious tale of life. ere was too deep a real tragedy at play in his brain wo hours passed before the ans wer arrived. He tore it open with nervous fingers, and ran his eyes eagerly over the contents. It read as follows: “Yes, Iamsafely here. Arrived after midnight. Am well, but it tired. Thanks for your solicitude. *“*ESTELLE.”’ He gave a deep sigh of relief. = Then all is right, and I can drive that gnaw- ing anxiety from my brain. But he ring? The mystery still hangs about that. Why did I not mention that in my message? By Heaven I cannot sleep or rest until that extraordinary affair is settled.” He rose, seized his bat, and left the house, But he seemed to have no special object in view, unless it were to cool his blood in the brisk No- vember air. He walked about in a desultory fashion, without aim or destination. If there was really a spy on bis track, as he thought possible, said spy was likely to have a confusing time of it. He finally ended by taking a car on the Ele- vated, and rushing down-town at locomotive speed. PT aie the train at a station well down- town he sought the main office of the Western lv | 900 - _— Is | | | ) = ae a! +l ~ , 7 5 i ‘i . : ‘ * sae Ma’ _ Pid « - 2 oe. ; aoe =