Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 522 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

. ge WP o4 be va 2 & .— ho la *“*T thought you were cremated in the grocery store fire?” ‘*That is what everybody thinks, and [ want them to keep on thinking 90, for awhile, at least, ou see. Hence, the reason for my disguise of ullwhack.” ‘* Why do you wish to suppress the facts of the case?” Dick inquired, curiously. ‘‘ For the simple reason that a rascal expects to realize by my death, and I don’t want tomake myself known until | get him in my power so I can squelch him. **'You refer to Duncau McDonald?” “Yes, You seem to know him.” ‘*T know very little good ef him. You are right in supposing he expects to benefit by your death. I know that, full well.” ce How 9”? **from the little circumstance that I was present in the insurance office when your will ye signed, and the insurance made upon your ife!’ ‘‘ Tf that is the case, you, then, were the Clay Coleman of that occasion, who witnessed my signature.” ‘** Just so. I had orders to arrest Pillbury for aforgery formerly committed in Yankton; but, as [ plainly saw that he and the fellow McDonald were putting up a job on you, I made up my mind to forego the arrest, until I could further investigate.” ‘*T see. Well, I suspected this treachery, and when a decoy notice was sent to my wife, to go to La Force’s, | made no particular objections to her going, as Lsurmised it was a scheme to get her away,soan attack could be made on me, So I held my own counsel, and remained on tke alert, and when I smelled chloroform entering my room, I lay perfectly still, knowing that, as my window was down from the top, the drug tng have no particular effect on me, if I slept. ‘** By and by, the chloroform ceased to pene- trate my room, the door opened, and an asso- ciate of McDonald’s, Black Bud, looked in. Ap- pearing satisfied that I was under the influence of the drug he closed the door, and went down- stairs. I immediately escaped by the side stair- way and made myself scarce. ? Concluding to baffle the conspirators, and have revenge upon them, I adopted this dis- ise, and remain incognito. And now, as I ave learned you are a detective, and as you are a little better acquainted, | suggest that we work together for the conviction of this ras- cal, McDonald.” ** Agreed!” Dick cried, thrusting out his hand. ‘*T am already in possession of considerable data concerning him; for his is not a single scheme against you, but a scheme of double—ay! treble magnitude, by which he expects to come into three large sums of money. ** Firstly, he expects to get ten thousand dol- Jars out of the insurance on your life, and a power over your wife. Secondly, a woman re- cently died, leaving a fortune to her children, and in papers she left behind, she expresses the belief that her husband, who died before her, left a fortune, similarly disposed. From what I have gleaned, I am satisfied that this McDonald is in possession of all this data, and is scheming to corral all the boodle. Just how he expects to do it, 1 am not prepared to state at present; but if you are ready to join issues in the matter, I presume we can work the case to a satisfactory conclusion.” “Then, that settles it. Henceforth we are detective pards, until we have run Duncan Mc- Donald to earth!” ‘*Hooray! By ther great ham-bone that phos- pene old Joner, thet’s what I say! We're our on us now, an’ ef we can’t make ther fur fly, why ye kin call me a durned superannuated snappin’-turtle! Why, in honor uy ther event, Fairfacts, Pll drop out my jackass, Thunder- bolt, from ther partnership 0’ ther Three Aces and a Jack, an’ you kin hev his persish!” ‘*Thanks!” smiled Fred, while the others ughed. ‘* Ef I were allowed to sling in a suggestion,” spoke up Johnny Smile, ‘tI should say et would be appropriate to make his nibs Jack No, 2; then there’d be Three Aces and Two Jacks, ts rp is a full hand, an’ ginerally scoops the ““You’re right,” Deadwood Dick assented, “and so we'll christen Fairfax Jack of Clubs, — But now let’s make a break to get out of here, without further delay.” ' ~The light of the candle had almost entirely expired, and it was therefore necessary for them _ fellowed; then the trap was closed down. “f A..¥ Dick first ascended the ladder, and the others . . i% ° Deadwood Dick’s Three. = ae 8 eR eee The next thing done was to listen, Overhead there were sounds of revelry, which proved that the place was still patronized by its usual habitues. ‘Well, boys, I allow we shall have to make a break for liberty, and shoot as we go!” Dick an- nounced, grimly. ‘* Not if we can get into the small room above without difficulty,” replied Fairfax, ‘‘ for there is a window in that room, I noticed, which opens out of doors.” ‘““Good! Then we're all right.” They experienced no difficulty in reaching the room above, and, as noiseless as cats, made their escape from the building. They failed, however, to find their horses, and so re-entered Bismarck on foot. Before doing so, however, they visited the lone cabin, where the Three had donned their dis- guises, and here the quartette made another and entire change, coming forth as rough miners, equipped with mining implements, and pro- ceeding to a moderate-priced tavern in Bis- marck, they secured a comfortable room, with four beds, on the upper floor. Here another consultation was held. ‘*T have been thinking,” remarked Fairfax, ** while on the way here, of your associating the names of Luke Lenton and Duncan McDonald, in connection with the suspicion that the former had been kidnapped by the authority of the latter. Does this supposed scheme of McDon- ald’s have any connection with his plot against me?” ‘T am not certain. If you will listen I will tell you the story I heard from Peggy Park- hurst, and you can form your own opinion,” “ Albright. Go ahead.” Accordingly, Dick narrated, in detail, the story of the deceased recluse, adding in con- clusion: ** After Peggy Parkhurst’s burial, I concluded to open her papers, in order to gain information that [ was not able to get from any other source. As it happened, I was successful. One paper stated that Peggy Parkhurst believed her former husband, Butler Bates, had left behind a large fortune, and his son, Burton, would be sept out in search of his sister. This paper also stated that Duncan McDonald, who was a relative of the deceased woman, had for years been scheming to get hold of her fortune, and it was her belief that he also knew the where- abouts of the Bates children, and kept all tidings of them from her, albeit she had paid him to obtain for her all possible information of them. ‘‘On coming into possession of these facts, I at once came to the conclusion that, since Mc- Donald had arranged to leave Luke Lenton en- trapped, it rather’ stood to reason there was a possibility that Lenton really was Burton Bates, whom he wanted out of his way, until he céuld succeed in his schemes!” ‘‘ Nota bad inference, perhaps,” Fairfax said, thoughtfully.” But, what would Burton Bates be doing out in this country?” ‘‘Here in search of bis sister, no doubt. If my solution of McDonald’s villainy is anything like correct, why, chances are large that he has some intimate knowledge of the whereabouts of Burton’s sister, the adopted parents of the girl having settled somewhere in the Far West.” ‘*Do you know what the name of these people were?” ‘* Fulton, I believe.” ‘* Fulton ?” hs Yes. PP] ‘“‘Tndeed! And, what was the Bates girl's first name.” ‘¢ Frances.” Fred Fairfax jumped to his feet, excitedly. ‘‘ Frances?” he ejaculated. ‘* Then, by heaven, I have the very person you are looking for! My wife’s name is Frances, or, Fanny, for short, and before sLe married me, she was the adopted daughter of a family named Fulton, who lived in Yankton, but who are now dead. After their death, Fanny came to Bismarck in search of work, and I met and married her. ‘* Only a couple of hours before the grocery store fire, Fanny and I were talking ower mat- ters in regard to her antecedents, and she said she had never been able to learn aught of her early life, except that her true name was Bates, This seems to prove, conclusively, then, that she is the lost heiress!” ‘* By Jove, you’re right! It is luckv we have met, for now we can easily baffle MCDonald’s villainous schemes, where, had you been cre- mated, matters would have been more difficult to unravel, Have you seen your wife since the e ** No, but I hear she is very ill!” rrr cer SSS SS SE SD ‘Yes. I have employed Doctor Disco to at- tend to her, and as he says she will undoubtedly recover all right, it will perhaps be best that you remain incognito for a while. -I will per- sonally communicate to her that you are alive, and will visit her when she is fully recovered.” ‘** Good idea!” Fred assented. ** And now,” continued Dick, ‘‘ this room will be our future headquarters, and when not em- loyed, we will meet here, and compare notes. our work, Fairfax, will be to wait upon Luke Lenton, and tell him that [ want to see him at the earliest opportunity, as I have valuable news for him, concerning his sister. When you spring this information on him, you can easily tell whether or not he is Burton Bates ‘*In the mean time, as I have some work im another direction, you, Avalanche and Johnny, can occupy yourselves in shadowing Duncan McDonald, and listening, so far as possible, to what he may have to say to others. If all works well, we'll have the schemer behind the bars before another week passes!” CHAPTER XII. DICK AND FANNY. Dick then went down-stairs, for, though 1 was after midnight, the hotel was not yet closed for the night. Somewhat to his surprise, Dick found Doctor Disco in the office, looking over the register, He did not venture to speak to the man of medi- cine, until he was about to leave the hotel; then Dick touched him on the shoulder, saying: Were you looking for any one in particular, sir? Disco turned with a start, for he was a man who rarely forgot a voice, and at once recognis- ed that of Deadwood Dick. ‘Yes, my friend, I have been searching at every hotel for you, for I presumed you would return t) town under an assumed name, and in disguise. What name are you registered under here?” “John, James, Joseph and Jerry Gray, miners, from Bowie.” ‘‘That’s good! You were mighty lucky to es- cape the attack made upon you.” ‘* Yes, I don’t know but | was. Fairfax?” ‘* T left her a couple of hours ago, and she was. feeling better, but is very sad. What I wanted to see you for most particularly, was to get fur- ther directions in regard to tbis fellow, Mc- Donald. He called to see Mrs. Fairfax, during the evening, on, as be said, important business, T advised her to send down word that she could not see him until morning, when he might call, and she did so. I preferred to let you know, before such an interview took place,” ‘Quite right!” Dick said, thoughtéully. “TI want to arrange matters so I can overhear the interview. I suppose you told Mrs, Fairfax what I told you to.” ‘‘'Yes, and she expressed much joy to know that you were her friend, and desired to see you at your earliest convenjence.” ‘Very well. Iwill call upon her, Is she in need of anything in particular that is not already at her coramand?” ‘Nothing that I know of,” ‘© Very likely I will call the first thing,” Dick said, and soon after he and the doctor parted. Quite early the next morning Dick paid a visit to the La Forces’ home, and, on making himself known, was conducted into the presence of Mrs. Fairfax, whom he found bolstered up in an easy chair. She was very pale, and had evidently under- gone great mental suffering; but she greeted How is Mrs. him with a pleasant smile, and evidently was. glad he had called. ** After Doctcr Disco told me about you, and that you were a detective working out the mys- tery of the fire, I have been anxious to see you,” she said. ‘‘ Despite the fact that they say m poor husband was consumed by the flames, cannot bring myself to believe it, If he had been burned up, it seems to me that some trace of his remains would have been found!” ‘‘Tt would seem so, Mrs. Fairfax, but no re- mains have been found, and that is not at all surprising to me.” ‘“TIndeed? Why not?” | ‘‘Hrom the fact that your husband was not consumed in the flames at all!” . ‘‘ What! Do you mean to tell me that Fred is really alive, sir?’ and Fanny sprung to her feet, excitedly. , ‘Yes, Mrs. Fairfax, I am bappy to be able to inform you that your henbani is as live and well as I am myself. anal gt as you are not st ong enough to 1 Ke ene eae te * Pray do not get Soe gi books.