Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 524 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ee 2 ae as ae 4 “So we beli = « ne é on _ before.” — atte “T fancied I had ayo . “4 * 5 0 fr Oh, yes. _ Mr. Palmere, Mme. Sibylla’s , came _ down-stairs and passed out through the office ¥ once showed his perfect willingness to allow the boxes to be exami Calling a man, he gave the necessary order. Frank was conducted down-stairs to a room where all goods were unpacked, and there the _ boxes were shown to him, One of them had been opened, but the others, there were four in all, were still in the same condition in which they had been received. Footboard Frank began a careful examina- tion of them without delay. He turned his attention first to the one that had been opened, “Where are the boards that were removed from the top in opening this box?” he asked. They were soon foun “These are the ones, sir,” the man who was with him said, as he picked them up. Frank looked at them carefully, and then turned to the box from which they had been taken. Ends, sides and bottom were all carefully scrutinized, but no trace of a bullet was to be found. The examination of the second box brought a like result. When be turned to the third box, though, the Engineer-Detective made a discovery almost im- mediately. On one end of the box, near a top corner, the end of a nail was protruding; it was a wrought- iron nail, of the round kind, and the point was quite sharp. It had glanced, while being driven into the sideboard, and the part that extended slantwise through the end board was about half an inch in length, Under that protruding end was a small bit of cloth, which looked as though it had been torn from the coat or trowsers of some one who had handled the box. It was but a trifling piece, but it was large enough to prove its color and texture, It was of Scotch goods, of a gray color, with threads of yellow and red inwoven, eedless to say that Frank removed it at once. ‘“What is your name?” he asked of the man who was with him. ‘* Thomas Quinn, sir,” was the answer. Frank made a note of it. ‘* And where do you live?’ he then inquired. ‘* At No. 26 Fourth street, sir.” That, too, was jotted down. ** Now, Mr. Quinn,” Frank then said, ‘‘ I want you to examine this bit of cloth, and then re- member where you saw me find it.” Mr, Quinn looked at the cloth, and said he would be able to patie it again; then Foot- ok Frank put it carefully away in his pocket- He continued his search for the supposed missing bullet, but no trace of it was found on any of the boxes, hanking the man who had assisted him, and also the proprietor for his permission to make the search, Frank went away. He visited two other stores, and also three private houses where some of the goods of the us night had been delivered, but he ob- no further clew. Everywhere he received ready permission and assistance, as soon as he made known his errand. But his search was fruitless. When he left the last of the thrée houses men- tioned, he was not far from the Grand Hotel. He thought of the two trunks. ‘*{ will call there next,” he resolved, and at _ once turned his step: in that direction. uired: _ Entering the office, he ing copiers lene iag hee? respon erk, *' there is,” 3 Is she in?” 2 I taink so.” “What room does she occupy?” ** Parlor No, 4.” ** Where is that?” ‘*Second floor, Shall I call a boy to show “ No; it is not necessary. I have been here “My name is Frank Forrester.” & Bxactl Ad _ Well, say, is there any further clew to the r ‘of Daddy Gray? { understand Mr. si mead, toe superintendent, still insists that er. | eve, but there is no further clew.| eS 20 6 Bias ‘ . ‘ You are an engineer on the The Engineer Detective. ‘‘That is Mrs. Palmere’s husband,” the clerk observed, ‘‘ Her husband?” exclaimed Frank. ‘‘ Why, I was under the impression that she came here alone! There was no reason why I should think so, though. It was a mere impression.” ‘* Well, she did come here alone, for that matter,” the clerk explained. ‘* Her husband was already here, then?” ‘*No, not that. He came here about an hour after the woman arrived.” ‘*That seems rather strange. He must have been stopping somewhere here in town previous- ly, though.” ‘Yes, undoubtedly,” “ But,” Frank suddenly exclaimed, ‘‘ he is the very person I want to see!” and ha turned to see which way the man went, ‘‘“You inquired for Mrs, Palmere, though,” the clerk suggested. ‘* Yes: but I did not know she had a husband around.” ‘* Well, you’re too late,” the clerk added, as he glanced out through a window near him; “ the man has just boarded a car,” ‘Oh, well, it does not matter greatly. I will go up and see the lady, Either of them can auswer the question I want to ask.” And the Engineer-Detective went up-stairs and made his way to Parlor No, 4, at whose door ne knocked. After a moment the door was opened by Mme. Sibylla. ‘“ Are you Mrs, Palmere?” Frank respectfully inquired. ; “| am, sir,” the woman responded, ‘*My name is Forrester,” the young detective explained, having no Se nae in concealing his identity. ‘*I am an employee of the M, CG, & O. Railroad. I—” ' “Was it fancy, or did the woman give a slight start and turna little pale? Frank was not cer- tain. ‘* [ have called here on a little matter of busi- ness,” he went right on, ‘‘ May I come in for a moment?” “Certainly,” the woman consented, and she stepped back and permitted him to enter, ‘“Thanks,” Frank said, he stepped within and closed the door gently; ‘‘my errand will keep me here but a moment,’ | Will you be seated?” the woman half-way invited. ‘*No, itis not necessary. I can state my ob- ject in calling ina few words, You may have eard a murder was committed on the train last night, and—” The woman had seated herself in a large arm- chair, leaning back gracefully, with her arms resting upon the arms of the chair; but, at men- tion of the word *‘ murder,” her hands clutched the ends of the arms with a quick, nervous grip, and she sat bolt upright, her face ghastly pale, and her eyes staring wildly. Frank knew not what to make of this, Surely the mere mention of the crime should nut cause her to start so! But, he reasoned, what possible knowledye could she have of it? None, assuredly. Striving not to let her notice that he had ae served her agitation, he did not cease speaking, but continued: xpress ‘* And I am trying to assist in clearing up the: mystery.” he woman trembled, and the muscles of her fair face twitched. ‘The coroner's jury,” Frank went right on, ‘have decided that it was a case of suicide, but our superintendent is not satisfied. He does not believe it, nor do I. We firmly believe that John Gray was murdered.” Mrs. Palmere fair] asped, and her ; itatidn was terrible . at ank was astonished, and was completely at loss to account for it, Could this fair woman possess some knowledge of the crime? ‘ But,” the woman asked, iu faltering tones, ‘why do—do you come to me? I— I— “Twill explain immediately, ma’am. There was a chamber of the dead messenger’s revolver empty, and we who believe that he was mur- dered, desire to find where the ‘bullet from that chamber went to, We have examined the in- terior of the car carefully, to find some trace of it, but without success, and I am now looking for it in some article that was in the car that night. It is known that you had two large ks come here by Express last night, and that they were in that car, I—” was interrupted, ly, beads of iration were starting ott upon her forehead, her eyes were dilated and wild in pre gd ke and suddenly springing to her feet e cried: ai. Wale ~ The woman’s face had become perfectly ghast- t. .. Ft “ is + + > 4 ‘ ‘ es — 7 - a ~ ; ~~ - a) a. wee 2 ean e a we a 7 - ; ? y ~ eS ‘ . pale’ ™ vi) x ry Se “ A ad nee = > “44 a B...9 in fh. s ‘ ae ¢ - oad ¥ « i” fe: ’ Pal , . : i Pa “ay ae rn ~* : “‘Oh! my God! it has come at last!” As she uttered the words she threw up her arms and fell heavily to the floor in a faint, CHAPTER VII. THE OTHER BULLET FOUND, For a moment Frank Forrester stood power- less to act. He knew not what to make of so strange a result of bis call. Little had he dreamed of anything like this! He must learn the cause of it. No matter how he gained the explanation, he must have it. Surely, Mrs. Palmere had some knowledge’of the crime! What did she know? Only a moment the detective stood idle, and then he A ie across the room and gave a pull at the bell-rope, That done, he next threw open the door, so that whoever came in answer to the bell could enter directly; then taking some water he stooped down ky the insensible woman and be- gan to bathe her temples and rub her bands. A servant soon appeared, @ woman-servant, who took in the situation at a glance, and at once sprung to lend her assistance, Frank was somewhat excited, for he was not used to anything of this sort; but he was a man of nerve, and outwardly be remained perfectly cool, ‘‘Help me lift her to the sofa, sir,” the ser- vant requested, ‘‘and then I will bring her to,” Frank did as asked, and the servant relieved him of the dilemma. He might then have retired from the room, but he had come there with an vbject in view, and that object had not been attained, He wanted to see the two trunks! Looking around, he discovered them standing in the rear end of the room, on the opposite side of the door from where he stood, Going to where they were, be began a hasty but careful scrutiny of them, to find, if possible, the mark of a bullet, Suddenly he was interrupted. The servant sprung to her feet and exclaimed: ‘‘Say, sir, what caused th’ leddy to faint anyhow? And what are you a-lookin’ ‘round them trunks for? Are you a thief, and have no right here, sir?” ' ‘Tt am nothing of the kind,” Frank returned coolly. ‘TI am here on an errand of business, and ne to perform it if ‘all the women in the house faint, I am an officer.” This last was a step beyond the truth, but Frank had a point to gain, and knowing that such persons usually hold a detective in awe, he did not hesitate to make the statement, ‘Oh! excuse me, then, sir,” the servant said; “T did not know that. You see, one can’t be too careful. Indeed, though, I’m not much sur- prised to see an officer here.” Hello! what did this mean? The servant turned again to her task of being: ing the woman to consciousness, but Frank look- ed quickly up and asked: ‘What do you mean by that?” ‘‘ No more than I say, sir,” was the none too clear reply. ‘I want you to tell me what you mean,” the detective insisted, severely. ‘* Well, I mean what I said,” “Say it again, then, and make it a little plainer.” . . e I said I am not surprised at seein’ an officer ere, ‘Well, go on on and tell me why,” ‘‘ Because I have ears on me head, and I have heard things that makes me think this fine lady is none too honest. When she and her man are at the table, theyre to the queen’s taste; but. here intheir room they don’t agiee worth a cop- r. et What is your name?” Frank asked. rT Maggie olan, sir,” ' Frank made a note of it, and then ‘again turned to the trunks, é He knew that his time was limited, and his work was not done, He could question the ser- vant some other time, if it was necessary, Taking hold of cne of the trunks ta ulled it out from the wall to look at it on all sides. It was only moderately heavy, The examining of it did not take long, and no bullet nor trace of a bullet was to be seen. — Pushing that trunk back, he laid hold upon the other and larger one. That one proved empty, and came out of its place with an ease and quickness that-was_ sur- Frank nearly fell, for he had exerted consider- ‘‘This is rather strange,” he mused, as he thought of it. ‘‘ No doubt, though, it contaimed . i : oa | ce i -/ : \ tar} we ran] ‘ ’ yy ¥ Ue , ~ oe Ei dl “ * ry : eal ’ bs ; 7 F . 4 7 . ‘ .