Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 426 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

‘ Sy f —: ’ - * Sam Slabsides, the Beggar-Boy Detective. a before he left, Doctor Kendall got Ralph Jamison out of his drunken stupor, and took him in where his brother lay white and rigid in death. That Ralph wasshocked and horrified was evident, he gave away to no outward expression of emo- ion, He appeared to utter a silent prayer over the dead; then, with a groan, he turned and walked mechanically from the house. The morning passed rapidly, and when the time arrived for the coroner’s inquest, at least a couple of hundred people gathered at Larchmont, eager and curious. When the county coroner arrived, a jury was at Once impanneled, and the body of the murdered man was viewed. The crowd then ecpnned to the big hay-barn, where it was thought best to hold the inquest. The premises were viewed, and a new discovery made, namely, that there was a trail of blood from the highway to the barn! Therefore it was evident that the murdered man had been attacked while walking along the road, although there were no other signs than the blood of a desperate struggle having taken place. After some little delay the examination began, and Judge Jamison took the stand. — His name was Lennox H. Jamison, he stated, and he was the foster-father of the deceased, and like- wise of the brother of the deceased, the two young men being known respectively as Frank and Ralph Jamison, Was the judge positive that the murdered man was Frank, and not Ralph? Yes, he thought he was, although he could not swear to it, as he had not questioned his living son, mor had anything been found on the murdered man’s person to meee him, and it was a well known fact that the brothers were exactly alike. Were the two brothers on friendly terms? Yes, entirely so. When had the judge seen them last, together? The night previous, near the Gypsy camp, where they were conversing. ad he seen them later, separately? Only Ralph, this morning, when he was recover- Sig trom a spree. 4 a0 the judge any idea who committed the mur- er None whatever. Farmer Norris testified that he bad been aroused from bed by a young Jad, who had stated that there was &@ murdered man at the barn—Frank Jamison. The boy had gone on to notify Judge Jamison; Nor- cis and his hired men had hastened to the barn, and found Frank Jamison b eathing his last. Some other like testimony followed and then, Sam Slabsides was put on the stand, and told substan- tially the same story as on theprevious night. He was cross-questioned, by the coroner, but nothing was gained it. ** This boy is rather a doubtful character!’’ Judge Jamison said, ‘and is the only one who seems to know much about the mysterious affair. Therefore I deem it necessary that he be held in custody, pending a further investigation. ** You will have to secure a warrant for his arr. st,” said farmer Norris, “‘andin that event I will go his bail, m any amount. So there’s no practical use of bothering the boy. It is not at all reasonable to <7 yp that the hoy was concerned in the murder.” don’t know about that. “It won’t do any harm You seem to havetaken a peculiar 99? t to make sure, interest in the vagabond, Norris ‘So |have. He isa worthy young lad.”’ ‘* Well,” the coroner said, after Doctor Kendall had testified to the cause of young Jamison’s death, “is there any one else who knows anything about the matter?’ “I’ve got suthin’ to sav,’’ a rough-dressed fellow said, stepping forward. “I’m Jim Bilks, an’ I work fer Priscilla Tanglefoot.”’ ** Well, sir?” ee ell, late esterday afternoon, I was mowin’ in a field *j inin’ t e@ lane, an’ nigh the cottage, when I see’d Dolly Denning an’ Ralph Jamison comin’ from the direction o’ the Gypsy camp, an’Isee’d one 0’ the Gy ps sorter doggin’ ’em. It ’roused my curios- te hid by the fence to see what was the racket. ‘* Well, sir, how ant gs know it was Ralph Jami- son, who accompanied Miss Denning?” ‘Because, when they got opposite me, the young man sed he guessed he wouldn’t go no further, an’ Dolly sed I’m ever so much obliged to you, Ralph, goo -afternoon;”’ then she hurried On, to the cot- tage.”’ ** Well?” ‘‘ Well, when Ralph turned to go back, he saw the Gypsy standing behind a tree, close by, Ralph made for him an’ demanded who he was, Gy psy sed he wasGril Guyandotte. Ralph wanted to know what he meant by dogging him. Gypsy said he wasn’t dogging—that he had come for qa walk, Ralph good as told him he was @ liar, and drawing a pistol, told him to get back to camp, or he’d pat a bullet through him. and to keep away from the cot- tage, if he valued his personal safety. The Gypsy went, but he looked as if he could murder Ralph with a good will. That’s why I reckon it’s Ralph that’s murdered, an’ not Frank.” ‘*T do not believe it. Frank never drank, and Ralph did.’’ Judge Jamison spoke up. ** and Ralph came in, this morning, in a beastly statc of intoxi- cation. ‘* Where is ne now?” ‘* He is here!’ a voice cried, and the young inebri- ate walked unsteadily into the sbabaick's presence, His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked rather hagga hor % S$ a re ‘“*Are you Ralph Jamison?’’ the coroner demand- s I am.” ‘Where were you last night?” ** In R——, playing cards and drinking.” “When did you see your brother, last.” ‘**At Maple Lane, just at dusk. He was angry at the judge who be claimed had robbed him of Dolly Denning’s affections and made threats upon the judge’s life. So great was his anger, that he left me. and walked rapidly toward home. I followed, slowly. {passed Larchmont, and went on to R——, but saw nothing of Frank about the house.” “Is this story about your encounter with Gril Guy- andotte correct?” ~ .o," * Then there is no longer any doubt but what the dead man is Frank Jamison?”’ ‘*None, whatever.”’ ‘**Have you any idea who could have committed the crime?”’ “That question can better be answered at court. I could not give an opinicn at present, as I might be dead wrong.”’ The coroner then charged the jury, and they agreed upon the verdict that Frank Jamison came to his death through the fatal effect of three dagger wounds, administered by a party or parties un- known. When the verdict had been rendered, farmer Nor- eg arpee to depart, but Judge Jamison called him ack, *“T have ordered Constable Sager to arrest this boy, Sam Slabsides, on suspicion of having been concerned in the murder, and shall take Ring at once to R—— for a hearing. If you propose to go his bail, you had better go along.”’ And soto R—— the majority of the crowd went. Sam Slabsides was taken before a magistrate, and had a hearing. It is useless to recount it here, He was rigidly examined, and Baye precisely the same general story he had told at the inquest. All the cross-examination failed to divert his testimony in the least, and the occasional witty answers he Sees OF his outlandish phraseology, won him many ends. Nevertheless, he was bound over to court in the sum of two thousand dollars’ bail. Being rich, farmer Norris pleasantly qualified with bail bonds, and Sam was released. The suggestion having been put that Gril Guyan- dotte might have murdered Frank Jamison, believ- ing him to be Ralph, a warrant for his arrest was promptly sworn out, and the constable and a posse of men sent to arrest him. As soon as Sam’s bail was fixed, he and farmer orris set out on their return to “* Honeybrook,’’ the good farmer’s home. It might as we!l be added, right here, that Norris knew all about the letter Sam_ had found, for the young tramp had shown it to him. ‘*He, he!’ Norris chuckled, as they trudged along the dusty road. ‘Jamison tried hard to get you committed to jail, Sammy, but old John Norris has got as much power as he has,”’ ** Yes, an‘ ye’r’ the best friend I ever had,’ Sam re- plied, gratefully. ‘‘I’ma swearin’ senator if Iwon’t make it warm for his judgeship, ‘fore I'm ninety year old. D’yer know, I believe 4é knows where old Felix is?” ‘* That’s what I think, and that he has caused him to be put out of the way. Knowing that you were with Felix, and fearing that you might know too much, he wanted to get Pht into jail on a serious charge, where you would have no power to harm him,’ “ By jingo! That's it, you bet. But he didn’t come it, did he? Nix-ee! An’ now, when I git my detective machine workin’ right, there'll bea s’prise round these diggin’s, eh?” ‘Yes, my boy: but we shall have to go slow—we shall have to go slow. I’m your friend, and will help you what I can; but we must plan well before we pitch in. There is no doubt in my mind now but what Milo Mitchell is a desperate man, and your movemenis must be guarded with extreme caution. Ir Jamison or Mitchell really suspects you of know- ing anything of Jacobi’s story, and that you have an eye on him—the judge—he will not hesitate to plot mischief against you. The first, and only thing to be done, seems to me, is to find Jacobi.” “Yes,” Sam assented, thoughtfully—* that’s what is On the bill for first act. What will foller will hev to be found out by ’sperience.”” His head was full of jostling thoughts in connec- tion with his new detective enterprise, and it was liable to take some time to get them straightened out so they would run smoothly. Once he succeed- ed, he surely had grit and push enough about him to make something out of the case before him, CHAPTER XI. THE CONIFAB IN A CORNFIELD, THE party that left R——, headed by Constable Sager, to visit the Gypsy camp, did not meet with the success they had anticipated. On arriving at the camp, they found everything quict and orderly, but their inquiry for Gril Guyan- otte was met with the assertion that Gril was not in the camp, had not been since daybreak, and that nothing was known of his whereabouts since, Nevertheless, a thorough search was made, and Jim Bilks, who had come along to identify Guyan- dotte, failed to find any one resembling him, So, in order to get further orders from the sheriff, the party returned to R——; the con: table, however, ordering the Gypsies not to move from their en- i igs until further notice, under penalty of arres a . . The fact that the Gypsy was not to be found at the camp, seemed to indicate that he was hiding somewhere, and if hiding, why, unless he was guilty of the murder? Accordingly, the sheriff bad a reward notice posted at every approach to the town, and for miles around during the day, and the excitement ran high. Numerous parties, covetous of the money offered for Guyandotte’s capture, started forth in search of him. and the surrounding country was scoured thor- oughly, but without result. At Honeybrook farm, Sam Slabsides put in the ee of the day quietly, after returning from t—., In under the shade of a great oak tree upon the lawn, he lay stretched out upon the grass, busying his brain both with conjecture, and forming plans. He had made no attempt to visit the Van Gelder mansion, for one of the scouting parties had gone in that direction, and he concluded he had better keep away from the place, for the immediate present, at any rate. . oward evening, farmer Norris called him into the ouse, ‘*Sammy, can you ride a horse?” he asked. ‘* Can I!” exclaimed Sam, * well, I should murmur and blush! Why, [’m a reg'lar daisy-bender, you bet. Used ter ride in a circus, couple seasons ago, till the show bu’sted, an’I had ter fut et home. Don’t know much ‘bout ther good p’ints uv ther anymile, but I kin ride like a reg’lar ranchero.”’ * Very well. I want you to ride over to R—— and mail a letter for me, which I forgot to do to-day. While you are there, get yourself a serviceable suit of clothing, shoes, shirts, a hat, and whatever you may need. If there is any money left, you can keep it for pocket change.” And Mr. Norris Jaid a stamped letter in Sam’s hands, and on top of it a fifty-dollar note. Sam's astonishment can better be imagined than described. ‘*Why—why I don’t wanter take this!" be said, “These 'ere togs are big enough fer me.” * No, they arenot. You are deserving of better ones, and you are welcome to the money; and now pees s0 as to get back before it is long after . ar “ed After thanking his benefactor gratefully, Sam went out to the stable, where he found a saddled horse in waiting for him in the charge of one of the farm hands. Mounting, Sam galloped away toward R—— in high spirits, When he reached the town, he first of a}l visited the post-office and deposited the letter, then, he set about making purchases. ‘* Thar ain’t no sorter use 0’ my making a dude out o’ myself by sportin’ around in expensive togs,” he argued, ‘‘an’ so I'll go lightly an’ have some money left.”’ Accordingly, he was judicious in making his pur- chases, and when he was supplied with a suit of clothes, shirts, collars, hose, shoes and hat, he still had over twenty-five dollars left. Hiring an expressman to deliver the articles at Honey brook farm, he next sought a hardware store, and here purchased a revolver and cartridges, a bull’s-eye lantern and some strong cord, The clerk, who had been present at the hearing, looked doubtful when Sam asked for the articles. “T don’t know as 1 have any bi siness to sell such things to you,” he said. ‘ What do you want them for? Are you going to start forth as a highway rob- ber, or what?”’ ‘“*T’m goin’ ter start forth as what!’ Sam replied zood-naturedly. *‘ Just you toss out the articles, an your cash is ready.” ‘But, I want to know what you are going to do with them?’ ‘Well. if. you wanter get down that fine, I don’t mind tellin’ you that to vindicate my character, I’m goin’ ter hunt up Gril Guyandotte, who is accused of the murder. Thar ain’t no noose goin’ around this senatorial speakin’-tube of mine—not if I know it, So, Guyandotte bein’ a desprit character, I s’pose I might have to face him with a steel muzzle.”’ The argument favored Sam, and he got the ar- ticles he desired. He then remounted his horse, and rode back to- ward Honeybrook farm. It was not his intention to stop at the farm, but to ro on to the Van Gelder mansion, and there subject the place to another careful exploration. He changed his mind, however, and stopped at the farm long enough to stabl> the horse, and tell farmer Norris of his proposed venture. ‘You had better be careful, my boy,” the farmer said. advisingly. ‘*The place, as you know, is sur- rounded with mystery, and there is no telli.g what trouble you may get into.” ‘‘The more the merrier,’’ Sam replied, “I’ve got a ‘pop,’ and if the ghosts come skylarking around me, they will get all the cold lead they needasa tonic, Guess ther ghosts won’t git no chance to crack me alongside the jaw to-night—not ef J know myself.”’ So. after supplying himself with some matches Sam left the farm-house, and took his way toward the alleged haunted mansion, He had not gone far, when he heard a girlish voice eall out: ‘*Sam! Sam! Is that you?” ‘*You bet it’s me; but who and where are you?” Sam re phied, razing about him inquiringly, for it was so dark he could scarcely see ten feet before him. A moment later his query was answered, in the shape of Floss, the Gypsy girl appearing before him, “Now, co you see who J.am?” she said, with ¢ musical laugh. “I had a premonition that you comic W