Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 524 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

-_ eR - ‘** T spoke about the hotel robbery, you remem- ber,” he said. “‘ Well, I did the job.” ‘‘ So I understood before.” ‘¢ And [ll show you how it was done,” Taking the keys, he opened the larger trunk. It was empty, except for a few articles of clothing. These were taken out. “Quite a sizable trunk, eh?” Burke said, as he straightened up. * You're right,” Brace agreed, ** Almost big enough to hold a man, eh?” ‘*Thunder! I sbould say it ts big enough.” Redlight Ralph started. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning from the sky, came a new theory of the means of poor Daddy Gray’s murder. Had not the murderer been concealed in one of these very trunks, able to get out and in at will? And did not that account for the fact that the car had been found securely locked on the inside? It was a startling revelation, and Ralph watched now with increased interest and bated breath. Burke laughed again. “You are right,” he said, it is big enough to hold a man, Brace; and now I will show you a trick that will surprise you a little, I think.” As he spoke, the man stepped into the trunk. ‘* Now,” he said, ‘‘I will le down, and then ou are to lock the trunk and strap it securely. o you understand?” ‘* Yes; go ahead, and I'll lock ye up fast as ye want.” Mr, Palmere settled down and curled himself up in the body of the trunk. ‘Shut it down,” he ordered. ** Are ye all ready?” Brace asked. ** Yes: shut the lid and lock it.” Brace obeyed, and in a moment the big trunk was securely locked and strapped. ‘* Tt is all fast,” he announced. Half a minute passed, and then the end of the trunk was seen to open, inwardly. The end was half turned toward where Red- light Ralph was concealed, and he could see the whole performance plainly. His blood ran cold with horror as he realized how foully Daddy Gray had been taken un- awares, and as he realized that the murderer was actually before him. Little did any of the four imagine that a pair of watching eyes were upon them. The end of the trunk was opened inwardly by the man inside, it being divided into four tri- angular sections. When closed, these sections fit so neatly together that, disguised under lines of paint—as they were, they could not be dis- covered witbout a careful inspection with the object of finding them. Assoon as the end was opened, Mr. Palmere crawled out into the room. Brace and Mrs. Tyler looked the surprise they felt, ‘* By gosh!” Brace ejaculated, ‘*‘ but that beats th’ Dutch!” Mr. Palmere smiled. ‘“You see our little game,” he said. ‘* Mrs. Palmere, or *‘ Madame Sil-ylla,’ locks me, her hus- band, up in one of her trunks, and sends them to some first-class hotel. She arrives there next morning, usually, though sometimes at the same time the trunks do. In the night that hotel is robbed, It is always a mystery. I arrive next day, or day after, and in due time am shipped away again. It isa delicate trick, and has to be wisely handled, but we have got it down fine, If 1 want to leave the h I close these ends by pressing so,” indicating and closing them; ‘‘ but if not, then I craw) back and lock myself in until Madame Sibylla arrives. Isn’t it fine?” ‘Tt is, an’ no mistake; but I sh’d think it was mighty risky.” . “So it is, as I said, and it has to be handled tenderly.” : And so they talked on for some time, while the watcher stood and fondled the revolver he held in hand, almost unable to resist shooting the wretch down in his tracks. Here was the full explanation of poor Daddy Gray’s murder, 2nd here was the murderer, Here was solved the mystery of the Express rob- Th was a wonderful case, and it might have one on for a long time without discovery, had it not led to murder, And to Footboard Frank would belong all the credit of having cleared the mystery up. Ralph wondered where he was, but knew that he would come there sooner or later, so decided a nese enn ie ee ee ee The Engineer Detective, —$—— es to remain right where he was until he heard him, Then he would be on hand to assist him. The conversation was running on, and Brace Tyler had just voiced his suspicion that Burke could explain the Express-car mystery, if he would, which Burke strenuously denied; when suddenly there came a resounding knock at the front door that caused them all to spring to their feet in the greatest alarm. The supreme moment was at hand; and Red- Mght Ralph grasped his revolver yet more firm- ly, and quietly waited. CHAPTER XIII. A BATTLE IN THE DARK. In the mean time Footboard Frank had not been idle. On the contrary, he was putting his shoulder to the wheel—so to say—gallantly. Having secured the warrant, his next business was to serve it and arrest the persons he sus- pected. How should he do it? He knew that it would be nothing short of folly for him to go alone to the old house, and he did not want to call the police to his assist- ance. Thinking he might possibly catch Ralph in his office, he called there, Of course he did not find him. He had no time then to go to the house to look for him, when it was no certainty that he would meet bim there if he did. Then for the first time it occurred to him that perhaps Ralph himself had gone to shadow the old house. Be this as it might, it did not alter the fact that he, Frank, must have help in making the arrest. It would be two te one against him at least, and perhaps when he entered at one door, the very ones he wanted would make their exit by bh of another. hat would not do at all. guard against it. In this emergency he thought of his comrades of the road. **Just the men,” he decided, and at once he set out to look for some of them. In a short time he had found Conductor War- ren, who agreed at once to assist him, and ere long two others were added to his force. With these three he set out immediately to find his intended prisoners, They were only a short distance away from the station when they met Joel Spottem, the de- tective. He stopped them. ‘“‘Ah! how d’e do? he remarked. ‘‘{ suppose nothing new has turned up in relation to the murder, eh?” ‘We have not given up our idea, though,” Frank answered, evasively. - ** Still think it was murder, eh?” re Yes, as strongly as ever.” ‘ Well, I hate to spoil your hopes, but I guess you wil never be able to prove it.” No, perhaps not. But you must excuse me, Mr. Spottem, for I am in a hurry.” ** Certainly; good-night.” Frank and his friends responded and passed “ and in due time they reached their destina- ion. ‘‘ Here we are,” said Frank, ‘and now we must get to work. This is a new business for me, but with your help I hope we won’t make a mess of it.” He looked around for the man Ralpb had promised to send there, Seeing no one, he had'a misgiving that per- haps his birds had flown. he man would keep out of sight, though, of course, and he might be there in hiding. He regretted now that he had not suggested some signal by means of which the man could be found, if there, But it was no time for regrets or delay then. ‘Come on, now, and file silently in,” Frank said, as he held open the gate, ‘‘and make as wide a circuit as you can to the rear of the house.” Luke Warren and the other two obeyed, and rank closed the gate noiselessly after him when ney had passed, and followed them. hen the rear of the house was reached, rank stationed two of the men there, and then he and Luke returned to the front. The windows were now all closed, but they heard voices within. . Going up on the porch, Frank cautioned Luke to be ready to guard the door, and then he raised the knocker and startled the echoes with- in the old house, He certainly must 13 ‘Who can that be?” cried Burke, as his face assuméd a ghastly paleness, “ Hang me if I know,” responded Brace, ‘‘ but I soon will. You all stay right here an’ keep quiet, an’ I'll go to th’ door,” ‘‘TIt may be only some pal o’ yourn,” Mrs. Tyler remarked. As for Mrs. Palmere, she was the worst- frightened of the four, and rushed teward her husband with outstretched arms, ‘* There, now, croaker,” Burke warned, as he waved ber back, ‘this is no time for shedding tears on me, so keep off! I may have worse business to attend to shortly.” As he spoke, tle rascal drew a revolver and examined it hastily. Meantime Brace had gone to the door, Redlight a left his place by the glass door, and quickly unlocked and opened the one leading into the hall in order to listen. Brace opened the front door at that moment, and Ralph heard Frank inquire: ** Are Mr. and Mrs. Palmere here?” ‘* No, sir,” Brace answered, ‘‘ they ain’t.” Redlight Ralph sprung out into the hall in- stantly, shouting: ‘* Frank, he lies! They are right here in this back room! Come on!” Brace was thunderstruck, and for the instant was unable to move or speak. Not so Frank. He sprung forward imme- diately, dealt Brace a blow with his revolver that sent him to the floor, and then rushed on to join Ralph. In the same moment, though, Burke threw open the door of the room he was in and sprung out, making a rush for the rear door and shooting back the bolts in a twinkling. “Stop!” shouted Ralph, * or I'll fire!” ‘Shoot and be hanged!” cried the hunted man, as he flung open the door, Ralph did shoot, two shots in quick succession, but the man had swung the door shut the instant. he was out, and the bullets did not reach him, Instantly a scuffle, shots and shouts were heard on the porch, and with a cry to Ralph to look after the others, Frank, who had barely paused, rushed right on through the hall and out. At the same time, too, Luke Warren was having a desperate struggle with Brace Tyler: and, just as Frank sprung past where Ralph stood, the two women rushed out and Mrs, Palmere sent a bullet within an inch of Ralph’s face, It was a desperate fight. The young engineer flung ores the door just in time to see a final shot fired, as the desperate man threw off the two men who had endeayored to stop him, one of whom was wounded and fell down; and then the fugitive sprung away toward the street. Frank fired after him, but without effect, and shouting to his men to rush in and help secure the others, he started in pursuit. The man who.was wounded was now out of the ibe ep but the other obeyed Frank’s order without delay. Springing into the hall he found Ralph, whom he recognized at once, owing to his false beard having been torn off, struggling desperately with the two women, who fought like very tigers, ith a bound he was at Ralph’s side, and then he grappled with Mrs, Tyler, leaving the other to Ralph. Mme, Sibylla was perfectly insane in her rage at being taken, and fought desperately, trying hard to use her revolver again. his ph had managed to prevent her from doing, and now, relieved of Mrs, Tyler, he soon overcame and disarmed her, Mrs. Tyler was a much stronger woman, and the man who had taken her in band found that he had his hands about full. He was a strong oung fellow, though, and it was not lung when learercapian was forced to vield. The struggle between Luke Warren and Brace was still going on, In semi-darkness, and it was doubtful which would win. é' Redlight Ralph realized that Luke must be as- sisted, and looked around for some means of se curing Mrs. Palmere in order to go to help im. Luke, however, was yet good for his man, and was determined to hold him, Barely one min- ute had elapsed since the tumult began, but it seemed that sufficient noise had been made to arouse all that quarter of the town. With the shouts of the men, the cries and screams of the two women, the spiteful crackin of the revolvers, it had been a minute of wildest noise, excitement, and confusion. Nor was it ended yet, DOO ~~ Soe ee ow : a * - a at ‘S.com