Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 426 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

He knew just as much at the end of the four days succeeding Gril Guyandotte’s capture, as he had known before—and no more. The Gypsy camp still remained in the lane. by order of the sheriff, while at Honeybrook farm, Mrs. Jacobi and Floss had settled into their position of housekeepers for the farmer, and they wrought such a bright and cheerful change in the plaee that Mr, Norris was more than pleased. “It seemed like old times, when Betsy was alive, an’ sprucin’ things up,’’ he remarked, with enthu- siasm; and as for Sam, the old man seemed to take a keen interest in him. Early in the morning of the fifth day succeeding uyandotte’s disappearance, being tired of racking is brain with thought, Sam concluded to rest him- self with angling for some of the varied species of fish said to exist in the Dark Pond, So he rigged himself a rod, attached bis line and hook, secured some bait, and set out. After wandering along the shore of the pond for some time, he finally found a shady nook, just back of Ivy Cottage, where he felt sure the fish would bite. Sam had learned from farmer Norris of the vin- egary nature of Priscilla Tanglefoot, and he con- cluded that before he began to fish, he had better try and strike up a bargain with her, or there might war. So approaching the cottage, Sam found the spin- ster in a rear a“bor, where she was v gorously ma- nipulating a churn handle. She stopped short, when she raw Sam, and eved him suspiciously. ““Mornin’ to ye, ma’am!"’ Sam said, doffing his hat in true Chesterfieldian style. ‘‘ be you the perprie- tor o’ this ‘ere Garden o’ Eden?” ‘‘T am the proprietress /” Priscilla declared, ‘I am Miss T nglefoot. What do you want?” ‘* Tanglefoot did you say?” * onl ‘‘ Jehu! but that’s a reg’lar o'd daisy-bender of a name, ain’t it? Reckon yer paternal pergeniter must ha’ bin a rail-ferce contractor, eh?” ‘‘Noneof yourinsolence, sir. What do you want?”’ ‘*Me? Why, I want to strike up a bargain wid yer.”’ ‘* What Find of a bargain?” ‘* Waal, yer see I spied a place back o° yer house, where I calculated fish might bite. So, bein’ a square sort 0’ a rooster, I sed ter myself, sez I: *Sam’l Slab- sides, et wouldn’t be right fer yerter makea mo- nopoly o’ this thing, an’ ketch all ther fish wi’out dividin’ ther spoils, like ev’ry Senator does. Fer instance, heer’s a poor lone widder ’—” ** Widder!” fairly screamed Priscilla. ‘* Why, you impudent hussy, I’m no widow. I’m a respectable maiden lady.”’ “Ye don't say!” and Sam with difficulty choked back a snort of laughter. ‘‘\Why I thought you’d been married, Ye look it. But, as I was sayin’: ‘Here’s a poor lone maiden lady. an’ mebbe she hey a tooth fer fish’; an’ so I jest trotted up ter see ef | couldn’t get yer consent ter let me sh, an’I go halvers with ye.” ‘You give me half you catch?”’ “- Yes, that’s my way ov doin’ business wi’ wim- ** All right, sonny—go ahead and fish. You ap- pear like a nice, honest sort of a boy, and I'll send you out a bowl of buttermilk, pretty soon. Do you ike buttermilk?” ““You bet! Ijest dote on et. “An’ ef ye should make a mistake and put a hunk o’ bread into it, I'd One et, an’ say you were a saint, or suthin’ o’ the sort,’’ And wiih a laugh, Sam skurried back to the fish- ing-grounds. ‘I'm in luck,’”’ he muttered. “I’ve made a mash on the old maid, slap-dab. She didn't kinder sweeten to my ‘ widder’ racket, but I guessit’s all right, an’ I'm solid fer the buttermilk,”’ When he had fairly got settled down to fishing, Sam found that he had not overestimated the spot, The fish bit splendidly, and in an hour’s time, he had called in quite a number of the finny tribe, some of which were bass full two to Ata in size, Fishing was a prime sport, with Sam, and he be- came so engrossed in his occupation that he was unaware Of any one being near at hand, until a leasant voice caused him to lovok around and be- jold a young lady sitting on thegrass just behind him, Tne young lady was Miss Dolly Denning, and be- side her, on the grass, was a little pail of butter- milk, ‘4 “Phew! hills!” Sam_ ejaculated, staring at her. “T thought you was sick. “You did? Why, how do you come to know any- thing about me, sir? “Oh! I've heard o’ you. Yer Dolly Denning, ain't you?” es “Yes sir. But whoare you?” and Miss Denning regarded the boy eagerly. his was the first morning she hrd been able to be out of doors since the murder, thanks to Dr, Ken- dall’s efficacious treatment. She was looking pale and wan, and there was a look of deep sorrow about her eyes and mouth. ‘I’m Sam Slabsides,”’ the young fisherman re- plied. “‘Onless you aire familiar wi’ Senatorial government matters, guess you never heard o’ me. Glad ye’r’ gittin’ better, tho’. ‘Spect yer tuk it orful hard about Frank’s death, eh?” ‘It was @ great shock to me," Dolly replied, her lip uivering. But, you speak as though you knew him?’ “ Kinder reckon I did. ‘Twa’n'’t but a few hours before I discovered the murder that he an’ J had @ confab over yender, ’cross the lake.” Sam Slabsides, the Beggar-Boy Detective. 13° ‘You did?”’ ss Yes’m.”’ , * Then, you are the boy who discovered the mur- der?”’ ‘** You bet,”’ “What were you and Frank talking about, over yonder across the lake?” **Dunno’s I orter tell you. Yer don’t look well.” **Oh! tell me! tell me! I can bear anything now for | have become reconciled to my loss,”’ ‘** Ye liked Frank, then?’’ ‘Ay! I worshiped Lim!” **He didn’t think so. He found out that you was givin’ ther judge a show in ther game, ‘But UVll tell yer "bout the lake. I found Frank over yonder jest in ther act o’ gittin’ ready ter com- mit susanside.”’ “Yas, he was takin’ off his togs an’ waa goin’ ter drown his sorrer in ther pond. He got all ready nigh "bout ter shuffle off: then, lookin’ over here, he raised his hand on high, Jike a Bartholdy statue an’ sez: ‘Oh, Dolly! Dolly! Dolly! how c’'u'd yer be so cruel, when yer knew I luved yer so!’ or suthin’ ter that effect; then he spouted a lot about yer marry- in’ the jedge, an’ allowed he'd give ther fish a square meal by soakin’ in ther bottom o’ the pond, ‘Jest then, I, Sam’! Slabsides, who was sittin’ on ther fence takin’ it all in, axed him hed he any ob- jections ter my ’propriatin’ bis earthly togs ter me own use, arter he war safely registered on t’other side o’ Jordan, When he see’d me he got mad as a hornet an’ concluded ter pomyme the job. He tried ter bribe me not ter tell on him but couldn't, an’ that made him madder yet, an’ mountin’ his horse rid off like greased Jightnin’ after a speckled en.” “This is very strange; I never gave him any cause to believe but wat he was my preference,” ‘*Pears he’d got et inter his head thet yer was engaged ter marry the judge.” “IT was forced into that promise,’ Dolly said, growing slightly paler, “‘but I never intended to eep it, as Frank should have known, Do you think, then, that he committed suicide, and that no one murdered him?” ae Nix.”’ “Why not?” . ‘“**Cause I axed him ef he did etan’ he sed no,” “Poor Frank!’’ Dolly said, and she held her handkerchief to her eyes. ‘‘ Lloved him so much.” “Don’t cry,” Sam said. ‘“Tain’t no use cryin’; besides I'll lose all appertite fer the buttermilk. Jest hand et heer, an’ see me make et evaporate,” “Oh! ITeannot! I cannot believe that it is Frank who is dead !"’ Dolly sobbed. *'Yer can't?” ’ ‘‘No, no! I try to believe it, but something seems to whisper to me—“ No, it is vo¢ Frank!” Sam finished the buttermilk—-a good three pints of it, too—and wiped his mouth on bis shirt-sleeve, ‘Well, now thet yer come ter speak about et, J don’t believe et wer’ Frank, neither. ‘Oh! don’t you?”’ And Dolly looked up with piteous eagerness. **Oh! I'm so glad!’ “Yas, I've hed my doubts all along ef et were Frank whois dead.” ‘* But the one who is we claims to be Ralph!” ‘*Yes, I know he does, but et has struck me he was playin’ the part fer a purpose. ’Pears Frank sed the day of the murder, that you shouldn’t ma the judge, if he had to shoot you both at the altar. Mebbe he’s playin’ off Ralph n order that he may wait for that time to come, “T don't think that could be his object. Oh! sir, I wish you would see him and tell him that I want to see him on a matter of importance. If I could only have a few minutes’ conversation with him, I could settle all doubts as to his identity.” “Tl doit, by Jingo! When ye want any trottin’ — did jest callon me. When d’ye want to see m s? ‘* Any time he can make it convenient to call.” “Allright. You can bet I'll see to it jest as soon as I kin get me peepers sot onter Ralph-—as he calls himself.’’ Dolly went slowly back toward the cottage, a gleam of hope in hersad eyes, Sam gave up fishing, and dividing his large mess with Miss Priscilla, much to her gratification, he set out for Honeybrook farm, with his mind on his splendid catch rather than on matters more important, CHAP7ER XV. saM ‘‘ LAVESDROPs,”’ At Larchmont, after the funeral, things took about their usual course. It would be some time yet until the sitting of the Court, and the judge kept closely to home. Indeed, after the funeral, he was not seen to leave the premises at all, and, if he did, it was at sucha time as he would not be observed, This seclusion, some of the neighbors alleged, was owing to Frank's demise. Jessie also remained wholly within the house, and as for Ralph, the only place he did Bo was to R—., where he drank more moderately than had been his wont, and positively declined to join his old asso- ciates at the gaming-table—* on account of Frank’s recent death,” he said. He was moody and uncommunicative, and more ster otic person hinted that something was wrong wi m. Just’ after lamp-light, the evening following the occurrences last narrated, Ralph was lounging upon Ei i the parlor at Larchmont, with a book in an > He was not reading, but appeared intent upon studying the outlines of a shadow upon the ceiling, caused by the chandelier. The entrance of the judge caused him to glance at that personage, but he made no effort to rise. As for the judge, he drew a chair near to the sofa, back of which was a bay-window, the thick lace curtains of which fell just behind the sofa. ‘*What’s the matter. Ralph? Are you not feeling as well as usual since Frank died?” ‘** As well as usual—yes.”’ “Then why are you so gloomy? Something must disturb you, for you were always light spirited.” ‘“* Frank’s loss, of course, oppresses me,”’ “‘Iam sorry to hear that. Now, Ralph, I've cota communication to make to you that may startle you. Can I trust you to keep forever the secret I am to tell you—this, when I te!l you that for keeping that secret you will, in avery short time, become sole owner of Larchmont, and have five thousand dollars to jingle in your pocket?" ‘You can!” was the unhesitating reply. “Im not so scrupulous at trifles as Frank was.” ‘*Showing that you have sound sense. But, to explain: Circumstances have arisen, owing toa past which you know nothing about, that make it im- erative I should get out of this country without delay. When I go, I wish to take Dolly Dennin with me, but, I fear she will refuse to leave on suc short notice, or to marry me at all. But she must. I will not be baffled!”’ “T understand, sir.”’ “Very well. Here is my plan, and you must help» me to carry it out. To-morrow evening early, you are to visit Miss Denning, announce to her, in secret that you are really Frank Jamison, instead of Ralph, and propose to row her across the pond, to the opposite shore, where a minister is in waiting,, and there be married.”’ “She will refuse, of course!”’ ** Don’t fool yourself. With regret I am forced to acknowledge that she loved Frank Ceres and her promise to marry me was extorted by threats on the part of Priscilla Tanglefoot. On finding Frank alive, she will be overjoyed, and a little per- suasion on your part will induce her to take the trip. ate open er to keep the marriage asecret.’” ** e ae ‘* Well, when you are about in the middle of the pone ou are to ask her to smell of a handkerchief will furnish you, which will be highly paren One sniff will place her in the power of a potent drug, and she will take another sniff, declaring the perfume to be delicious, and then, without suspi- cion = will soon become unconscious,"’ as e ?’ ‘*- Well, T will be close at hand in a boat, relieve you of your en! be and that will be the last you or an one else will ever see of us on CY as ter I'm have my plans all laid, and shall not fail. the R—— one, Larchmont and five thousand in bank to your credit, are yours.”’ ‘*RBut I guess not! girl’s disappearance?” ‘‘Oh! that’s easy. Your call at the cottage must be short, and, in that interview, you must arrange matters to have Doliy slip out of the house at. eleven, and mect you on the pond shore. ‘Priscilla and she occupy different apartments,, and the former invariably retires at nine o’clock. So she'll be asleep when Dolly leaves; and when it turns out that both Dolly and I are missing, it wil? naturally be concluded that we have eloped, and no blame will fall op you.”’ ‘““AndIam to receive five thousand dollars and. Larchmont for this?’’ ** What’s to become of Jessie?" ‘*Let her get married.’’ “This is to be done to-morrow night?” “Yes. There is another thing I will let you into when you promise to do as 1 have outlined.” ‘I promise, certainly. I'd be a fool not to.” “Very well. That part of it is settled, then, and Ishall depend on you. Now forthe other: Have you had any suspicion that, for a couple of years ack, a counterfeiting plant has existed in this town?” “7 Wee,'? \ “What gave rise to such a suspicion?” “That ghost racket up at uncle Van Gelder'g mansion ’ “Well, you areright, A gang has existed, and the thing has worked mighty successful. Besides myself, I have three confederates. They do the work; lam the boss—they simply are my employees. ‘“* Indeed !"’ ‘‘Yes. The plant is so securely hidden that alt search has failed to find it, Ithas brought me in riches. WhenI am gone do you want to sition?” **T do, you bet!’ ‘Very well. I willarrange it. When I am gone one of the men wiil wait upon you, in the dead of night, and conduct you tothe scene of the opera- tions.” : ‘* How about the ghost business?” “That’s all easy. Pipes run between floors and ceilings, so that any person in the mint can cause & yell to go to any partof the house. The mysterious parlor slap, that has: puzzled so many, is adminis- tered by one of the men, the quickest person you eversaw. Hecan slap you and disappear through a noiseless trap before you can turn around. & trap is not in the floor, but in the side of the wall, directly in the opposite direction you would be look- ing when you wheel around after ing mepbed. ‘The trap is a thin rubber panel, dividing in the How am Ito account fer the my po- center. when pushed nst, and is painted so as to resemble a solid panel of woodwork. A noiseless leap carries him through this panel, which instantly