Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 471 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

have hinted to me that in their opinion, there was something suspicious and mysterious con- cerning the suddenness of his death.” ‘‘How soon after death, was your father . buried?” ‘*The next forenoon.” *¢ Are there any morecircumstances, on which ! you base your suspicions?” ** There are.” ** What are theyl” ‘‘ Well, in the first place, it appears that my father was buried in his best suit. On my re- turn, having occasion to search through the house, in quest of the will, I made the discovery that his every-day business suit was missing. Surely, it does not look reasonable that he woul have been buried with two suits of clothes on,” ‘‘T should think not. What is your theory?” “‘ That my father was stabbed, while he slept, | and the blood-stained suit burned up.” Bozeman Bill whistled softly, and stroked his | blonde mustache. ‘‘ Have you confided this matter of the miss- | ing suit to any one?” he asked. | “No. Ihave kept my own counsel. I didn’t ‘even mention the discovery to my step-mother. | Another thing that strikes me unfavorably, is | this: ‘“My uncle, Horace Hinton, has heretofore been a professional gambler, and although he had a room in my father’s house, he and father were never on good terms. Since father’s death my step-mother has made Horace her business manager, and superintendent of the mine, and the gossips of the camp are whispering it about that it is not unlikely that he and my step. mother will eventually become man and wife.” se Ah!” This much Bozeman Bill uttered, and then re- . Japsed into silence, apparently turning the mat- * ter over in his mind. / ‘© What was your step-mother’s maiden name?” he finally asked. * Alecia Le Clair.” ‘*Of French descent, eh?” | ‘*T suppose so,” ** How old?” . ‘¢ About thirty years.” | % <«‘*Where did your father meet and, marry her?” é ** Tn Chicago.” “What kind of a looking man is your uncle, Horace Hinton?” , “He is a large built man, and—ah! there he is, now. You can see for yourself!” + A man had just entered the saloon, and was -. making his way toward the bar. He was tall and heavily proportioned, and ' Tag >r genteel of dress. 11s face was dark in complexion, and not par- ticularly good looking. His eyes were jet-black, and his heavy mustache and closely cropped hair were of the same hue. | A sinister expression lurking about the eyes would be apt to impress one that he was not a man of the finest scruples. ‘So that’s your uncle, eh?’ Bozeman Bill queried, after taking a good look at the man. “Yes, that’s the man. He’s one of the most expert cards sharps in the West.” © . / ‘He looks like a gambler. Are you two ae or friends?” ** No, indeed! We do not even speak to each other.” es Horace Hinton procured a drink at the bar, and then, in turning around appeared to dis- cover his nephew and Bozeman Bill, for he stood a moment gazing toward them, Then, he seated himself at a table, facing “them, and picking up a paper, made a pretense of reading; but he glanced over the top of the ‘paper, at them, every few seconds. | ‘‘ He’s watching us!” Harry commented. ‘I | “suppose he is wondering who you are, and what be ‘we are talking about. % ba | “Tet him wonder!” Bozeman Bill replied. | “‘That’s all the good it willdo him. Now, re- ; fterring to your case, Mr. Hinton, supposing ) Mee Site ions 4 was murdered—who do you suppose ‘did the jo - “Why, I should naturally lay the crime to my step-mother, as she was the one most bene- I don’t believe she ever i fited by the demise. es , y but married him for his ie cared a cent for father, money.” | ‘ Would you t your uncle of being’ in collusion with her, in such an event? el se “Vos, They have always been rather inti- Mate, since she came here, and the very fact of ma making him her business manager Z0es to f- show that they understood each other, pretty be ~wiaih ”» | % iN “Perhaps you are right. Where is your fa- 4 ge in é |, | ther’buried?” | “s ac ; . } AL aa Bozeman Bill of Big Brace. ‘‘Up the gulch, a ways. I will show you dur- ing the day, if you like.” “Very well. Now, then, what you want of me is to establish that your father was mur- dered, prove who the murderer was, and find out, if possible, if the will in existence is not a forgery?” ‘Exactly. I will pay you your price whether you succeed or not. I have a little money of my own, and shall not be close in a matter like this. I will pay you a hundred dollars down, if you like.” ‘‘Keep your money. I have plenty for my present needs. I will think the case over, and see you later. You will excuse me, now, while I get some breakfast.” ‘ Certainly!” Then, after a few more words, Bozeman Bill sought the dining room, Janet Earl having pre- ceded him a few minutes.” CHAPTER IV. THE WIDOW’S VISITOR, HAMILTON HinToN, was, prior to his death, one of the most influential men in Big Brace, and the wealthiest. | He owned the Hinton Mine, individually, and although no one positively knew, it was general- ly supposed that he had a large fortune in ready cash stored away in his safe. His residence, which was acommodious affair, and had only been built about a year, was a fine looking frame dwelling, tastefully painted, modern of design, and supplied with piazzas and balconies. ! It was surrounded by a tasty fence, and the grounds were ornamented with flowers, shrubs and conservatory plants—all of which was a novelty in that wild region. ; The house was meaty homie an the whole ap- pointments having been imported from an astern city. When Bozeman Bill entered the dining-room, after leaving Harry Hinton, he found the long main table surrounded by a full complement of hungry miners, citizens and guests of the house, so that there was no vacant seat for him, and was about to retreat to the barroom, when a colored waiter approached him, “Step right dis way, sah!” he said. “De young lady says you can hab’a seat at her table, sah.” me! He led the way to a round table at which Janet was seated, at the further end of the room. She welcomed the detective, with a smile. ‘There is plenty room for you, here, sir,” she said, ‘‘and T will be happy to have you break- fast with me.” ‘Thank you,” Bill said. ‘‘I shall be only too glad to avail myself of your kind offer.” He seated himself, and gave his order, and he and Janet were soon chatting quite sociably. ‘“‘T shall be afraid to step out of doors, for fear of encountering that ruffian who assaulted me, last night,” Janet said, after they had con- versed awhile. ‘‘Have no fear of him!” Bill replied. ‘I don’t believe he will attempt to molest you again. If he does, level a revolver at him, and he’ll let you alone.” ‘‘ But, I have no revolver.” ‘*T will give you one. I have a small one in my pocket, which will just answer your pur- pose, >and producing it, Bill handed it to her. ‘Do you know how to fire it?” ‘“Oh! yes. I have fired one off a number of times.” ‘Then you're allright. If Jake Jug approaches you ae this at him and he'll mighty quick aul OI. | “ery well; I will follow your advice. You are very kind, and if you will name the price, I will pay you for this weapon.” ‘Don’t think of such a thing. I make it a present to you, for { have a pair of my own, of larger caliber, and of somewhat different pat- tern. Breakfast over, Janet returned to her room, while the detective left the hotel for a further stroll about town. During the forenoon, Janet came down-stalrs, attired for the street, and looking inexpressibly charming. : Colonel Corker presided behind the office counter, and she approached him rather timidly. ‘‘T would like to inquire, sir, if you can di- rect me to the office of Mr. John Jones, the law- yer,” Janet said, as she finished buttoning her gloves. | “Mr. who?” queried the colonel, his heart fluttering like a schoolboy’s as he gazed upon the vision of loveliness before him. — | ; ‘ z q : < “6? me) f ’ m ‘“Mr. John Jones, the lawyer, sir,” Janet re- peated. | ‘* Jones? Jones?” repeated the colonel, reflect- ively. ‘‘ Why really, miss, I know of no such person. You say he is a lawyer?” “*"¥ oa; air.” ‘‘ Let me see: Jones, eh? Jones, a lawyer! No, I am positive there is no such a person in Big Brace.” ‘* Indeed!” And Janet pagan to feel uneasy as she remembered what Old Avalanche had hinted at while they were on their way to the ce ‘Perhaps you are not acquainted—” ‘Tut! tut! miss. I know every man, woman and child in this camp, ’cept possibly a few that have come within a day or so, and I'll swear to it, I don’t know of any John Jones. You've likely made a mistake in the name, The onl lawyer in Big Brace, is Phineas Fink, whose of- fice is across the street, up stairs.” _ But, sir, while I was in Chicago, I received a letter from this place, signed by John Jones, hich summoned me here, to attend to some business matters?” The colonel closed one eye and whistled softly. ‘‘That’s strange,” he declared, ‘ Perhaps if you inquire of some one else you may succeed in locating your man, but [ll be blamed if I know anything of him.” ‘Tam sure it is very singular that I should receive a letter from such a party, and yet not be able to find him,” Janet said. ‘*‘ There is an- other matter I would like to inquire about, if it will not be putting you to too much trouble!” ‘‘No trouble at all, miss! In fact, it is a su- preme pleasure to answer questions to one so fair as you.” anet eae no attention to the intended com- pliment but went on; | ‘‘T understand that a gentleman of this place, named Mr. Hinton, recently died?” she said. ‘* Yes’m!” ‘‘ Did he leave any family?” ‘‘Yes’m—a widder, who was his second wife, and a son.” A Could you direct me tothe Hinton residence, sir?’ ‘‘ With pleasure. Just step to the door and I will p’int it out to you,” and vaulting over the counter as spry as a dry-goods clerk, the colonel led the way and pointed out a stylish-looking dwelling a short distance away, ‘‘That’s the Hinton place,” he said, ‘‘ an there’s where the widder hangs up her night- cap.” Thanking him Janet descended the steps to the street and made her way toward the resi- dence in question, but not without misgiv- ings. What would be her reception? Had she been decoyed here to Big Brace for some evil purpose by some designing villain? If not, why was she not able to learn some- thing in regard to the John Jones who had writ- ten her? Surely, asa man of prominence in the town, Colonel Corker ought to know whether there was such a person as Jones or not. When Janet reached the Hinton residence she rung the bell and awaited an answer to the summons, ‘‘T’ll be brave!” she said to herself, ‘‘and not let on but what I’m positive that I am Mr. Hin- ton’s heiress, whetber [ really am or not.” The door presently opened and a servant-girl appeared. ‘I called to see Mrs, Hinton?” Janet simply said. ‘‘ Walk right in, miss, an’ take a sate in the arioor, an’ [ll be afther callin’ ber!” | he servant, and Janet was ushered into the par- lor, which was furnished better than many an Eastern home. The servant disappeared and a few minutes later Mrs. Hinton entered. . She was a tall, well-formed woman of thi or thereabouts, with a haughty carriage, cold, ers features, grayish eyes and light-brown air. It could not be said that she was particularly handsome, nor was she homely, There was a certain something, however, rather repellent—something in her cold counte- nance that suggested the worldly woman in the fullest meaning of the word. i She seated herself in an easy-chair and glanced at Janet inquiringly. | ‘‘ Did you wish to see me, miss?” she asked. “Yes, ma’am,” Janet replied. ‘‘I am Janet ‘‘ Janet Earl?” repeated Mrs. Hinton. ‘ Why I don’t know that I know you, miss. ave we ever met before?” Me ) ; * . _ ‘ ’ P ix ' J - ‘ . ni Ft. ‘ * + d + ge