Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 551 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

been foully slain, it was worse yet. A man who bad never made an enemy—yet he had been murdered. Mystery hung darkly, omincusly, painfully | about the matter. The coroner’s jury had tried | to obtain light, but all their work had been in vain. Noclew had been gained to the identity of the assassin. The shades of night were falling, and Nicholas | Hunter stood and looked drezrily at the big, old- | fashioned building from which the old squire would go forth no more—from which he bad gone forth to rest in the bosom of mother earth until the end of the world. Nicholas was only a boy, and a humble one at that. He had been anemployee of Squire Hem- enway, though not in his service in the full | sense of the word. He had done odd jobs at va- rious times, sometimes as a help of Martin Con- nors, the superintendent of Hemenway’s farm, but more especially had he been the old gentle- man's attendant when he drove about town on | official business. ‘ It was generally known that he went along simply because the old squire liked him, for he was not needed to watch the slow-going old black borse Hemenway drove. The latter had been kind to Nicholas, and the boy had repaid bim by lavishing all his affec- | tion upon the good old man, Nicholas was of very humble origin. His father was a fish-ped- dler, old, poor in pocket, uneducated, and, on the whole, ignorant. From his mother the boy had inherited an active, intelligent mind, but she died when he was five years of age, and fur ten years he had almost ‘* brought himself up,” as the neighbors expressed it. In early yearsthe Jad had been noted for un- usual quickness of wit and a rather sbarp tongue; and, because of this, he had been nick- named *t Nick Nettle.” As he grew older he saw that saucy boys were universally disliked, and he became as _ respect- ful to all who deserved it as the best-trained boy of the town. His quick wit remained, and to the day of cur story he was called Nick Nettle. The death of the old squire was a severe blow to him, and ‘his heart was heavy as he stood looking at the big house on the evening before referred to. The old squire had been murdered, and, thus far, he was unavenged. Theoflicers of law were at work, but, as before stated, the coroner’s jury bad not been able to name the guilty party, or parties. Yet, there were suspicions, and the voice of rumor was busy with the names of Martin Con- nors, Sarah Connors and Jason Bostwick. ) W ho were they? Connors was the superintendent of the Hemen- way farm; Sarah was his wife; and Jason Bost- wick was the old squire’s heir, These persons were suspected, and the first two had been sharply questioned—Bostwick lived in : another State, and had not yet appeared on the ; scene. Then, it may be asked, w4oy was he sus- — Simply because an unknown man had en seen coming out of the bouse, and many of the neighbors believed it to have been Bostwick. All questioning, however, failed to implicate ' Connors and his wife, and they went their way, 7, not proven guilty, and not proven innocent. The particulars of the murder were as simple as they were tragic. Squire Hemenway hed ' been found dead in bed, the morning of July } twenty-first. He had been stabbed to the heart, - but the knife was not to be found. There were no noticeable signs of a struggle, and, as far as was known, no robbery had been committed. The occupants of the house had been Connors ‘and his wife, and aservant-girl named Ellice Cone. Nobody suspected the latter, for, though er >, not regarded as very bright, she was believed to be a good-hearted creature; but the Connors had never been liked—bence, the suspicions against them. Add to this that they had seemed to be hand- - 4n-glove with Jason Bostwick when he made his ne _ rare visits to his uncle, and the vague ground a” ~ for suspicion may be seen. Pg! ‘Hemenway was known not tolike Bostwick, erent ee and it was thought that he intended to make a if will which would cut his nephew off from the 1n- awe we)... eritance, | ie oe Suspicion seized upon all these circumstances, sand when Thomas Nelson, a villager, certified ¢hat he had seen a man coming out of the old - house on the night of the murder, Rumor leaped to a conclusion, This man had been Bostwick, and he had killed rs, So said Gag ‘ the old squire, aided by the Con ~ Rumor, but there was nob sn ator i DS | u ge ; - . : ‘ - * be fi . . ' ; s Ss é ~ ’ - . ay v4 ~ 7. . aes ’ . rot, ta * oe ede 7 te nine an ‘ . ; . , Oa beets ad y- 4 . i + yr * a? . , ef * - . 4 b-' * . , 4 . ° Y, F Mi Tx oe _ 3 es Ce . ” . PA . . ws e a - * Nick Nettle, th | | Cp —— Nar AY pom glia ie say - , -* ‘ ae Si. > att RES eV A 0 she Se atid of —— — —S —_—— Nick Nettle thought of all this as he stood in the gloom and looked at the old house. He, too, suspected Connors, if not Bostwick, but the fear was strong within him that the wanedy would never be cleared up. While he stood there a man adyanced along the road. Nick saw at once that he carried some | sort of a traveling-bag, and grew interested, and when the unknown knocked at the door he grew | doubly interested. One moment cided: ‘¢ T'll see if it is Bostwick!” He on his place of observation and walked toward the house, At first he moved rapidly, but soon abated bis pace. fied that he would be employed no more at Hem- enway house, Martin Connors did not like bim, and would probably treat him roughly if he was seen, Hence Nick determined to use secrecy. Availing himself of the well-known position of the various buildings, he approached the house at the rear. He knew there was no better place to make an observation of the kitchen, and to this room the visitor was likely to go. Silently he glided forward until he gained the desired position. Then he made use or his visual organs. Connors and his wife were there; and there, too, was a tall, dark-faced man who was po stranger to itor was Jason Bostwick. The latter bad removed his hat and taken a chair. Connors and his wife both stood near. The first sight of the trio gave Nick Nettle a feeling of additional resentment. The old squire seemed utterly forgotten—or did these persons rejoice that he was gone? No shadow of his tragic death seemed to rest upon them; they were laughing and talking as cheerfully as though the grim destroyer, Murder, hed never stalked through the house. Nick felt a choking sensation in his throat. He was only fifteen years old, and Squire Hem- enway had been the kindest of friends, ‘“Twant to hear what they are saying,” ps the boy, and he moved close to the win- ow, The voices were then clearly audible, ‘“ T little thought when I was here last that I would come now as master of the place,” re- marked Bostwick, looking around with an air of satisfaction. ‘‘ Strange things sometimes happen,” replied Connors, nodding. “As, for instance, here,” ** Just so.” ‘‘ No clew to the slayer, Martin?” ** No, sir.” ‘“ Any drift at the inquest?” Connors rubbed his bristly chin, ‘** Well, yes.” “Ah! What was it?” ‘They put the screws on me,” On you ?” wl ‘Lord save us! How was that?” ‘Oh! you see the old fools had to poke their noses somewhere, and show their wisdom, S°0 they lit on me.” | Bostwick looked sharply at bis companion. “Did they accuse you, Mart?” ‘No; but I was questioned right sharp. You see, I ain’t a favorite in town, and I had to bear the blame of not being a goody-goody.” ‘Did they say anything definite?” “No,” © 1... “Then I reckon they don’t suspect you.” “Oh! as to that, they can’t prove a thing against me.” ‘¢T wish we could fix up an alibi,” put in Mrs, Connors. ‘‘Don’t try it!” emphatically replied Bost- wick. ‘* You'll get into a mess if you try to lie out of it, and I don’t believe you are in the least danger.” ‘“{ don’t care a cuss for them!” declared Connors. [|] help you out, if suspicion takes a definite ‘form. I am now master of Hemenway, an after all you have done to make me that, I am not going to go back on you.” “Sup you are suspected too?” Bostwick laughed, “Tam safe enough, I am going to benefit, not lose, by the death of the old man.” ‘*T hope so, Mr. Bostwick.” ‘Have you reason to believe there is a will?” abruptly asked the visitor, = Nobody has claimed to know of one?” “Notinmy hearing.” — | - a ly ots - * P 7 * : A's i iz 4h a 4 eo f. io A yy Oy Se “ *-) in) ; ha. * “a a, Nt ° + y no Lac 7 . ‘“» ? d e Boy Shadow. ne \ mystery of the | he hesitated, and then he de-— He was fully satis- | Nick. As he bad expected, the vis- | sc No.” _“T propose to do it this very night. I don’t like the present situation; you know how com- plicated it is. I call myself master of the old squire’s broad acres, but my bopes hang ona thread, I shall never be satisfied as things . stand,” _ “Td hate to see you lose the farm, sir.” | _ _** By the fiends, | don’t mean to lose it!” de- ' clared Bostwick, striking his knee, _‘* I’ve risked too much to jose now. W-<e unto any one who | gets in my way!” | ‘‘He may get served as the old squire did,” muttered Connors. ‘* He may, yes.” ‘‘ No, no!” exclaimed Mrs. Connors. ‘ Don’t say that. ‘I’ve seen enqugh of that sort of ' thing. Ugh! it makes my blood cold.” Bostwick laughed, ‘You're all right, Sarah, and 1 know it; but | IT don’t toink there will be more blood shed. Now, give me a bite to eat; I will search for the _ will afterwards!” CHAPTER II. < | THE GARRET MYSTERY. | Tur woman began to burry around to get her _new master’s supper, while Connors and Bost- wick talked in a tone which carried no words to the hearing of the listening boy. Nick Nettle had found this conversation deep- ly interesting. It was strange talk for innocent persons. The trio had shown their want of de- cent feeling clearly, and much that they had said was suggestive in the extreme. | His old suspicions grew stronger. The talk | had been just such, he thought, as they would have used had they been guilty of murdering Squire Hemenway; it was clear that tney had ! a something that was not open to the light , Of day. | Mrs, Connors set out a quantity of food on the table, and Bostwick began eating with good Boo cree He was in the best of spirits, and talked of unimportant matters in a lively way, which made his more ignorant companions _ laugh heartily. In the meanwhile Nick was meditating. Bost- ' wick had said that be would search for “‘ the will” ag soon as he had finished eating. Nick . — had a strong desire to know the result of this _ Search, and there seemed to be but one way of doing it, . ; } | This was to enter the house secretly. ‘ee 7 He knew this would not be bard; he had so Ba often been inside with the old squire that he ; knew nearly as much about the place as an 4 other person. It was vot leck of means whic an caused bim to hesitate. lt was the fact that he iG must enter unlawfully, if at all, and he was too A, honorable to fancy such work, ‘i ‘‘T can’t do it,” he decided, oT. Then he thought of the murdered i agli and. ‘ the possibility that such a step might lead to a the unmasking of the guilty parties. if His mind changed; be determined to make the attempt. | Sa After that the rest waseasy. Passing around one corner of the house he came to a shed in the form of a ‘“‘lean-to.” It wasthe work of buta =~ | few moments to gain the roof of this, and, as a he ascended, he was brought toa window atthe end of the main bouse, a The next question was, was it fastened? He knew it had never been in the old squire’s day. He tried it. It yielded readily to bis touch, All beyond was perfectly dark, but he moved y a e| quietly inside. He had no fear of heing discov- * * ered then. The only other inmate of the house _— op besides those in the kiteben—the servant-girl, — 4 Ellice Cone—had gone to her home, cem or permanently, fi | ick knew that he must play a sherp gate | while Bostwick’s search was going on, &@ 6 x, at once took what be thought was a favorable — | position, He did not intend to stay all the — while in one place, but move around @8 was necessary—something which the arrangement of the big, square bouse made feasible. 5d aa He stood Dy the door of a certain roomand | waited. The voices of the trio below weredim- ly audible. A few minutes ,and then he ts heard Bostwick move back from the table, Ry The crisis was near at band. . A short paused followed, and then | ena: sounded on the stairs. Bostwick, Martin and = = Sarah slowly ascended. The former bore @ nn lamp in his band. Bit eee RS a « WThere will you look first?” Martin asked) es inet. _“ Thaye rnmm tty thoroughly.” poe Dae Pil give it another try. Ts i just as it we oh eS } Ay hee a0 re ™ 7 . An, a " é - » a od bs “or pNP eA ‘ . ii. ? ai » 4 aw 7 - > =