Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 524 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

_ on the same road, * senger on the Night _ He straightened up car. | ‘Ts everything exactly as it was found when master began to 2 The Engineer Detective. no reply when we knocked. Then we knew that something was wrong, and broke the door open with anax, There on the floor the old messen- er lay, dead, and every door of the car was ocked—locked on the inside.”’ ‘** Locked on the inside?” ** Yes, sir.” ‘* You are sure of this?” “ Yes, sir, [ am,” | ** And the door that you broke open?” ** That was both locked and bolted,” ** Well, it is a sad affair, and indeed a strange one. I will go down with you at once.” The first speaker in the above-quoted dialogue was Mr. Ralph Raymond, the superintendent and general manager of the Mansfield, Crans- ton & Oakvale Railroad The other was one Luke Warren, a conductor The scene was in the office of the Grand Hotel at Oakvale. Ralph Raymond was a young man, now about twenty-seven years of age; but young as he was, he had held the office of general manager for over two years. And to that office had re- cently been added the duties of superintendent, oe had formerly been superintendent of the road, having risen to that position from the lowly one of fireman, where he earned the sobriquet of ‘‘ Redlight” Ralph; and from superintendent had been appointed general man- ager. One Horace Humphrey had then suc- ceeded him as superintendent, but that gentle- man having recently died, the directors of the road been unanimous in their request to Ralph to.reassume the duties of that office. Luke Wajrren was considerably older than Ralph, he being at least forty-five, and had been an employee of the rcad for many years, It was night, and the hour was eleven. The ** Night Express” on the M. C. & O. had ar: ived at Oakvale only a short time previously, and Ralph Raymond and his wife had been pas- sengers on that train. They had gone at oncé to the hotel, but barely had they reached there when the conductor of the train rushed into the office with the startling intelligence that mur- der had been committed, Ralph hastened to inform his wife of what had been done and where he was going, and then he and Luke.set out to return to the station, and oncé there the two hastened to the car where the murdered Express-messenger lay. : John Gray, or “Daddy” Gray—as he had been popularly known, had been Express-mes- Express for many years, and had been well liked by all who knew him. He had been Ralph Raymond’s father’s most trusted friend, and had always shown a strong regard and liking for Ralph. “My God! this is horrible!” the young super- intendent and manager exclaimed, when he be- held his dead father’s old friend lying lifeless on the floor of the car, and as he spoke he down and laid his hand upon the pulseless breast. . ; ‘‘ Dead, dead,” he said sorrowfully, ‘‘ and who can have done the f eed 7” looked around in the the car was first opened?” he asked of stood near, my ‘‘Yes, sir,” answered the baggage-master, whom the conductor had left in charge of the car while he went to the hotel, “‘ everything’ is just as it wasfound.” ‘J ordered that nothing should be touched until I returned with you,” the conductor ex- lained. . ® oe Ne have tom made any discovery or found any clew?” Ralph inquired, 2 ge “No, sir,” the Deaeeerenncter replied , and there seems to be no clew whatever.’ Quite a crowd had collected by this time, and Ralph ordered the forced door of the car to be c This w then ‘Ralph those who soon done as well as possible, and and the conductor and baggage- | around. — Ralph turned his attention first to the safe. Jt was locked, and the key, attached toachain about a yard in length, was found in the dead mi er’s pocket. A “Bho key was quickly detached from the chain, and the safe opened, | | . see their eyes fell upon the contents, — And soit was. pied . A many wax-sealed envelo were of them Iving in bottom of the safe, but had been torn open at the end and the contents removed. It was a most mysterious affair, —e————s in — ———O OO Oe eee a a ee 1” the three exclaimed, the moment | ‘‘ Has any one been out to notify the police?” ath inquired, ‘Yes, sir,” answered Luke, the conductor, ** T sent a brakeman at once,” “That was right. And now—” At that moment there came a sharp rep at the end door, é‘ ** Who is there?” Ralph demanded, ‘* Police,” was the brief reply. ** Open the door, Luke,” Ralph ordered, ‘‘ and let them in,” The conductor opened the door, and two policemen and one man in ordinary ‘attire entered. The latter was a detective, whom Ralph had met psig bs ‘‘Mr. Spottem,” he said, “‘ here is acase for you. Poor Daddy Gray has been murdered, and we want the mystery solved and the mur-, derer brought to justice.” ‘ The detective looked around sharply in a business-like way, as though taking in every object at one glance. ‘* Has the coroner been sent for?” he asked, ‘* No,” answered the superintendent, not that I am aware of. Shall I send?” ‘‘ No, I will do so;” and turning to one of the policemen he directed him to perform the errand, The policeman started off, and then the de- tective inquired: ‘¢ When was the victim last seen alive?” ‘* When we stopped at Greenwood,” Luke Warren answered. ‘‘ Did you ctop at any station between thtre and here?” 6s No. ” ‘* And when you arrived here he was dead?” 7) Yes.” ‘* Who discovered it.first?” ‘* Well, when he did not open his door the men came and told me, and I broke it open with an ax. Then we found the messenger lying just as you see him now,” | ‘* Has anything been stolen?” ‘‘ Yes,” responded Ralph, ‘‘ the safe has been robbed.” ‘‘ Ah! that was the object then.” ‘¢ Clearly.” | . And which way did the rascal leave the 98 al | ‘‘ That, Mr, Spottem, is amystery. Every door was locked on the inside,” The detective looked puzzled. ‘‘ Was the safe broken open?” he asked. ‘‘On the contrary,” replied Ralph, “it was properly locked.” ‘And the key—was it in the lock as now?” __ ‘No: it was attached to that chain and was in the dead man’s pocket.” * 4 ‘‘1t is strange, decidedly. You say the man is shot?” : ‘+ Teg,” ‘* Where?” | | ‘¢ Hvidently right in the heart. “And you found no clew when you first opened the car?” to Luke, - ce) ‘“‘No; nothing.” — ““No weapon?” | | “‘ Nothing at all.” 2 The detective paused to think. The body was lying crosswise of the car, face up. The left arm was extended, and the hand open. The right arm was doubled under the body in such a way that the hand could not be |. seen. The legs were lying straight out, and the | feet were close togethe r. While he w: ndering, the detective gazed steadily at thebody, oy Suddenly he asked: “Ts the man lying just as he lay when found?” RS ‘Exactly the same,” answered Luke, ‘‘ Then you bave not seen his right hand? ‘* We have not,” None of them fiad thought of it. — ‘Will you bee me lift the body up?” the de- tective request . _The conductor took hold, and together they lifted the unfortunate messenger from the floor pe > him upon the big Express-box. they did so a revolver fell from the lifeless ht | | TE end alob picked it a once. . Raymond?” the | _ “Do you recognize it, tective questioned. . . ‘* Yes,” answered Ralph, ‘‘I do.”. Pe it is the dead 1nan’s own weapon?” _ e- No, ” he replied; ‘Sone chamber has been ‘Then my suspicion is confirmed.” * . 7 4 My , a i _) oo 3 ee f : 7 tail - ; , : “se * : ee ns ‘ > | . a v. 5 - at A P . . \ pare a t: ae Soe Pe OO : * .) on , + 4 *% + Me d Bie >... ¢ i , 2 - ~s » ~ ‘ % # . - > > ? “"'* 7 =" * eat » >> 7) 0 . » " ** What is your suspicion, Mr. Spottem?” ‘“‘ That the man shot himself.” ‘“‘Néver!” cried Ralph, bis face flusbing. “But,” the detective insisted, ‘* every circum- stance goes to in—” ‘‘T care not what the circumstances go to in- dicate,” cried Ralph, warmly; ‘it is a case of murder! Daddy Gray was as honest and bonor- able a ‘man as ever lived! Suicide is not to be thougit of!” ‘* But, sir, you must admit that—” “‘ladmit nothing that strengthens your sus- picion of so noble a man,” Ralph interrupted. ‘Pardon me, Mr. Raymond, but there are facts staring us in the face. We find this car securely locked on the inside. We find Mr. Gray lying dead on the floor. In bis right hand is his own revolver, with one chamber empty. These are facts.” | ‘* And another fact,” added Ralph, “ is that the.safe has been robbed,” ‘‘Exactly,” the detective admitted; “and the safe was locked as usual, so you said, and the key was in the messenger’s pocket.” ‘Exactly, sir. And the fact that the safe has been 10bbed, is proof, to me, that this honest old man was murdered. Do you mean to add that you believe he robbed the safe himself, Mr. Spottem?” ‘‘ Never!” exclaimed Luke Warren. ‘‘ Daddy sé [ was as honest as the sun.” ‘‘T believe nothing,” said the detective. go according to what I see, You say it was not suicide, and I show you things to indicate that it was. Whichis right? The proof is all on my side. You have only the man’s previcus ood record to back you. Many a suppo:ed onest man has—” : Redlight Ralph took a step forward, bis eyes flashing and a hot retort ready upon his lips. In an instant, though, he curbed bis indignation and said calmly: ; ‘* Pardon my show of anger, Mr. Spottem. You did not know Mr, wae § and I admit that the theory you advance mus look reasonable to you. But you can never make me believe ‘‘The facts, as they stand, are before me,” returned the detective, ‘‘ and 1 must accept them.” ‘Then you believe what you suspect?” ‘‘ No, not yet. I shall set to work to clear the mystery up, and the result will show whether I am right or Say a ‘* Very well, . Spottem, go ahead and do your best. And I shall do the same. The name of Daddy Gray shall not bear a black stain if I can remove it. You will take up the case iu the behalf of the State, of course.” ‘* Yes; unless the coroner decides that it is suicide.” ‘Very well; and all I ask is, do your best. What the coroner decides, however, cannot alter | my opinion. Daddy Gray was my father’s tried and true friend long before I was born, He has been my friend. He was an honorable bon- est man. For me toentertain your suspicion for a_ moment, would be to degrade my manhood, No, as heaven is above us. I do not phe your theory! Daddy Gray bas been murdered, foully and cruelly murdered, and the mystery shall be cleared if I have to devote my life to the task. Such is my firm resolve.” a7 CHAPTER II. DADDY GRAY’S DAUGHTER, OAKVALE be é road, the Night ress had reached its desti- nation. But engine and cars were standing in the station just when the train had stopped, and all the trainmen and many of the passengers wer collected: forward on the end of the platform by the Express car. The Express-car was next tothe engine. Then came the baggage car, and next to that was the combined mail and smoking-car. Then followed two coaches and a .parlor-car. | The end of the baggage car that was next to the Express-car was locked, and several trunks piled up against the door. It was impossible for any Express-car while tion. Where, then, if the messenger had been mur- dered, was the murderer? It was simply impossible, too, for any one to — : d leave all the doors. & me leave the Express-car ap locked on the inside. , Was the detective right in his theory of suicide? Just as Ralph Raymond u i - ox hy - ay 1 sien - eS a At : the western terminus of the there were | As he declared, everything painted thatiarey. | . ey TR a aN 4 Pal é , : 4 | | ’ one to leave the = the train had been in mo- ~~ 7 4 a - ‘ . “ Poe _—_ a, _ 5 # 1 eA, + > id ~ » + © (fe “4 - an e * * 4 o r bd - % » t * % > . Le - 7 i oy A