Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 524 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

("a y > # 7} ‘ 3 a? » * ~~ \- 7 SAS Ose ee eo AT ey S teat? * ‘ , are 3 Q : ‘ a “oh 5 ~} an = fe _ Wf eh : a p a4 : : 4 ---— -_—-- eee eae ewer her. costumes, as she is an actress, and she has taken them out.” | But, he had no time to speculate. Pulling the trunk out where he could gag it, he looked it over the same as he had the othe. Suddenly he muttered an exclamation. In one end, near a top corner, he founda bullet deeply imbedded in the hard wood; and evidently hindered from going through by one of the rivets that secured the iron corner-cap! Frank examined it closely, and concluded that the bullet had been but recently lodged there. The smut from the dy hia was still on the end of it, as he proved by touching it with his handkerchief with the aid of a pencil, for the end of the bullet was-just below the sur- face. The Engineer-Detective was elated at his suc- cess. Here was the first proof that Daddy Gray had been murdered! There were two bullets now to be accounted for, instead of one! Frank had a strong, sharp knife in his pocket. He drew it out, and without hesitation began to cut away the wood around the bullet to get it out, s While he was doing so the thought came to him that it would be better to have a witness to prove that he had found the bullet there. alling to the servant, he asked: ) ** Ts that woman coming to?” ** Yes,” was the reply; ‘‘ she will soon be all right again.” ‘: Just step here a moment, will you?” The woman obeyed, and the detective drew her attention to the bullet and to the fact that he was cutting it out. If it ever became necessary to prove the point, he would know where to find the witness, He liked to make every point secure. He was proceeding without permission from the owner of the trunk, but, that did not trouble him. He was doing little damage to it. In a few minutes his task was done, and he had the bullet in his hand, It was, so far as he could jude, about the same size as the one that had taken the old messenger’s life. About the same time that the bullet came out, Mrs. Palmere returned to consciousness, Frank pushed the trunk back to its place, and stepped to where Mrs. Palmere was reclining on the sofa. ‘** What happened to me?” the woman gasped. ** You fainted, ma’m,” the servant replied, ** And what caused me tu faint?” **T don’t know, ma’m,” ‘* When did it happen? and—” At sight of Frank she stopped abruptly and gave a start. In a moment she had her nerves under fair control, ‘* Were inquired, | ‘*T was,” was the reply. | ‘‘T am sorry it happened, sir. [ am subject to such fits of illness,” | ~ ‘You are to be pitied, then,” Frank simply remarked, : “You came in and asked me some question, did you not?” she persisted, ; _ ‘‘ Yes; or rather [ started to explain the ob- ject of my ~visit, when your ‘ fit of illness’ came you here, sir, when I fainted?” she “Tam sorry, but of course T could not help it. will you kindly repeat what you started to say?” y It is not necessary now, madam, for I have found out what I wanted to know.” The woman shuddered in spite of herself, ‘* But, tell me again what was the object of your call,” she urged, ‘and what it was you wanted to know.” ‘‘T wanted to know who killed John Gray, the Express-messenger.” | iE “* And you say you bave found out what you wanted to know? . It required a terrible effort for the woman to control herself. " oO F said,” curtly, “iti strange how you could get such infor- mation here, sir.” ** You have been unconscious, madam, and are not aware of what has been passing.” **T know that.” / “And perhaps you do not know that you have been talking.’ : man trembled. oo ‘*'W hat have I said?” she asked, nae the floor?” A ir aoe ’ | | “You exclaimed— ‘Oh! my God! it has eer A, sad ‘ : \ { In spite of her efforts at self-control, the wo- t m “> ete * * = a 4 a ¥ * ’ au - *+ é s — 7 ~~? 1 be - 4 -s ~~ = ‘ — Te - : 4 Sn ? - ‘ The Engineer Detective. ——— come at last!’ What did that mean? Did you not refer to your secret?” Frank was moving by guess but with steady assurance, The woman forced a smile, ‘*T do remember, now,” she admitted; ‘‘ I re- ferred to the spell of illness, which I had felt coming on for some hours.” Did she speak the truth? Frank would have given much to know. It might be possible; and his suspicion that she knew aught concerning the crime would in that case be groundless, But the suspicion once aroused, it. would not be banished from his mind. ‘‘He had resolved to learn the cause of the woman’s strange agita- tion and fainting, no matter how. And had he gained the information now? ‘* Besides, there was the statement of the ser- vant, the avow:] that she was not greatly sur- prised to sce an officer in that room, or similar words. ‘** It was not only your exclamation, though,” the detective weut on, ‘* but what you said; and besides that, walls have ears on a// occasions.” The woman started again, but instantly re- covered her self-control to some extent, and re- sponded: ‘You talk in riddles, and I do not know what you mean. I have requested to know what your errand here was, but since you will not tell me, I must request you to retire at once.” ‘*] will do so,” assented Frank with a bow. ‘‘T had an object in coming here, be sure of that. And my object is gained. 1am sorry to have been the cause of bringing on one of your strange nervous attacks, eg hope you will par- don me, Of course I could not know that you were subject to such fits.” | ‘* You were not the cause of it, my dear sir,” the woman returned,in a firm tone. “As I said, I had felt it coming on for some hours, and your presence had nothing to do with it.” ‘Well, I am glad to assured of that, at any rate,” Frank rejoined. ‘‘ Allow me to bid you good-afternoon.” " Gool-atternson sir.” Frank went away then, and started for the shop of the man who was considered an expert in everything pertaining to firearms. The moment the door of Parlor No. 4 closed after him, Mrs. Palmere turned to the servant and inquired: ‘* Who is that man?” ‘‘He is an officer, ma’am,” the servant an- swered promptly, recalling what Frank had told her; ‘‘a detective-man, I suppose.” ** A detective?” ** Yes, ma’m,” ** How do you know heis? Do you know him?” “No, I don’t know him, but he told me,” ‘He told you! How came he to tell you ?” “Why, you see I didn’t know but he might be a thief, and I asked him his business right ut, ‘** And what did he tell you?” “‘ He said he was a detective, and had business here, and that he meant to finish it if all the women in the house fainted.” | ‘What was he doing?” “Why, he was busy around your trunks, ma’m, and that’s what made me suspect he was up to mischief,” ‘Busy around my trunks?” repeated Mrs, Palmere, springing to her feet instantly. ‘* Yes, ma’m.” “My God! then allis—” ~ Mrs. Palmere checked herself, and left the ntence unfinished. ‘*Here,” she said instead, pressing a dollar into the servant's hand, *‘ keep this for yourself, and do not mention what you bave seen and heard, but go find my husband, Mr. Palmere, and tell him to come to me Without delay.” CHAPTER VIII, : RETREAT IN ALARM. - Tux servant took the money readily enough, as may be supposed, and promised to find Mr. Palmere forthwith and send him up “post haste,” Her intention was good enough, but she was unable to carry it out, owing tu the fect that Mr, Palmere could not be found.. She went back and reported the result of her search for him. sel Mrs. Pal:nere told her then to leave the word at the office for him, eee ree rr ——— —— SSSSeSSSeSSsssSsFSSSSSSSFSSS— o |. It was all they could do, _ ty ‘Do you remember your words as you fell to ; In about an hour Mr. Palmerecamein. He did not pass through the office, but made his way at once to Parlor No. 4. Mrs. Palmere had evidently been weeping for her eyes were red and swollen, ; i . - Vek, re.’ ee , ~~ +7 a. . a -« 7. > * e. —_ . > i on re” Cs ee, . og Fim Ih iE teal ¢ ’ & = ‘2 i ll >, ’ r ‘hea \W owt: = 7 Ba! . a4 j ; A aa a4 = me —— —— eee ae ee e oreee a —————_—_—_— a eer OO OO Oe eee ee eet : at . +F ; das Ae .~ . _ Pm ie ri whe? oe) Ms yp pee, > e 5 aPs. ta n> wo , Lé ~ ~~ ~s @ ‘ q - ~ es . 2. > *%. is: J” pl _ i) ay” Ye 4, —~ : Wer ye SEP NG Pee ee eee ve? . a . - +, * 4 ami ON / | +, ~ee? ‘ * ‘‘ Hello!” Mr. Palmere exclaimed, ** been at it again, have you, croaker? It beats what a e sight of tears you can shed, and not run dry. SE fh Come, straighten out your pretty face, my dear, Yoe 4 for Ihave something to tell you. I have just met an old friend, unexpectedly, and you can’t guess who it was.” Mr. Palmere spoke in guarded tones, ‘* No,” the woman said wearily, ‘I cannot uess.” ‘‘Tt was ‘Brace’ Tyler. He—” ‘‘ That villain! I hoped he was dead.” ‘‘Ha, ha, ha! Brace dead! Not he. And please don’t call him villain, it is an ugly word. Besides, he is an old friend, you know.” ‘‘ Well, drop his name, please.” I bave some news for you that will cause you to forget him, 1 guess. Did the clerk tell you I wanted ou?” ‘‘T haven't seen the clerk.” : ! ‘‘No matter. I sent word to the office for | you to come up the moment you came in, think my presentment of evil is about coming true.” ‘*Oh Lord!” exclaimed Myr. Palmer, in some- thing like a groan, as though he were being bored to death; and he sunk down upon a chair and folded his arms, adding; ‘‘Well, out with it, and let me know the worst. You have it bad, and no mistake, Where has all your nerve gone to?” “You may make light of it, Burke, but I think you will be startled when I tell you what has—”’ Well, what has happened? Come! out with , : a ae er * -—- “ ; Ce Ri <n en: PAIK Se, it. ‘* There has been a detective bere,” “What? and Burke, as the woman called hith, unfolded his urms with wonderful quick- ness and sat upright, staring as though he could not believe that he had heard aright. ‘‘T say there has been a detective here,” the woman repeated. i ‘A detective! Ob! you’re joking,” ‘¢ Indeed I am not.” ‘What was he here for?” ‘¢ He came to examine my trunks,” ‘‘ The deuce!” and the man sprung to bis feet, his face ‘becoming both pale and serious with growing alarm, . ‘And what did you say to him?” he after a moment demanded, ‘* What could I say to him?” , **Thunder! I ask you wbat you did say to him, Can’t you answer that?” Pi > ‘‘ Well, to tell the truth,” the woman conm- ~— , ~* . - ~~ a 5 * wo . ee - - s “ , . = a a >* sg - i ~ PRS Oey . . ee «co => - es i ee “4a **T could not help it.” ‘* Why could you not help it? A pretty mess ou must have made of it!” “TI fear I did, though I did my best to turn art suspicion—” "fad ‘By fainting at sight of a detective—if it really was one?” ‘No, after I came to. But, Burke, we must Re away from here at once, We n.ust not stay ere another hour—minute !” We will remain here long enough for you to tell me all about this matter, atany rate,” the man muttered, as he sat down again, _ ‘¢ Now,” he added, as he leaned forward to- ward her, ‘tell me all.” a a: In trembling tones, then, the woman teld her ° story, relating such of the facts that are known ; to the reader as she knew, and when sbe had done the man fully shared her alarm. ‘‘He said he was leoking for the murderer of that old messenger, you say?’ he demanded, “Yes.” answereill the woman; “he said he ~ was looking for the murderer of J ohn Gray. That was what really unrerved me. oy REPT “And why should that have unnerved you? What do we know about the case?” | The woman looked up at bim. : “What do we know about it?’ he repeated. “We know nothing about it! Doyouunder ga ; eit, ‘Yes; but— , ~~ ‘But nothing! 1t was a case of suicide, Cer- tainly you had nothing to do with it, for you — wus were in the parlor-car all the time—so you Say = and I— Well, can any one say whether I was fessed, ‘‘I did not say very much, forI fainted.” , ‘“*Fainted! Oh, good heavens! worse and ‘ pm, Bec worse, and just like a woman.” Noe | , a ¥ 4 aboard that train or not?” Le ll ? eS “* No, perhaps not; but youcannot getaround the fact that suspicion is_ upon us; else why the visit of the detective, and his state. The man paced the floor in a veryuneasy = ‘We must get away from here at once!"ho exclaimed. Kap! 2 eae ; hee ‘ »*