Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 569 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

eee / “ find you. Do you % in ‘ys : ey i ; ' had his secret and kept it. — wrest your secret Brooklyn Ben. li through, and she detective closed it after them. The ascent of the stairs was begun. Here they met with no obstacle; they went ahead, and were soon at the window where Ben had enter- ed, There Sloan paused, ‘‘One word before we go out,” he said. ‘¢ Where is Chester?” Ben explained, giving it as his opinion that Ned had escaped and gone outside. ** All right,” Sloan replied. ‘* We shall prob- ably see him there, so let me give you a word of warning. You have stumbled upon my secret, and know who I am, but I don’t want any one else to suspect. Will you remain silent, even to Chester?” ** Yes, sir.” “‘All right, Remember, now, that I trust you,” ‘* You sha’n’t have cause to be sorry. I won’t tell a soul, and if, you want my help again, come tome. I rather like this business. ‘*Then you’re made of good metal. I should Suppose such an adventure as this would scare any boy out of his wits,” ** No boy need be scared when he’s in a good cause,” stoutly answered Ben. ‘‘There is sense in that, my lad, but never mind; let us get out as soon as possible.” He shoved up the window and Ben passed out to the low roof beyond. Sloan had used an old ladder, which he hunted up, to gain this point when he entered. Ben slid to the ground, se- cured the ladder and made a way for the de- tective to descend. ‘We're. well out,” observed the latter. ‘I reckon you’ve had ahard time, and I only es- caped discovery when prowling around inside by hiding under the table. We'll go now, but, mind you! if we meet Chester, don’t say a word as to who I am.” Ben promised, and they started for the street. They had barely reached it when they met Ned. His face was grave and anxious, but it cleared at sight of the boy. ‘* What! are you here?” he cried, cso tba been?” “Kicking around in the house.” ** Didn’t you come out when I did?” “No; they caught me,” ‘** And I deserted you! That is a shame, but I am not to blame. hen I got to the open air saw a boy running out of the alley, and thought it was you, I followed him several blocks fore I learned my mistake; but when I did learn it I turned back to help you. I hope you don’t me me?” ** Not in the least.” ** Then let’s make for Brooklyn,” At thismoment Ben noticed that Sloan had disappeared. Ned had not noticed that any one was with Ben, and the detective had seized the chance to get away quietly and avoid notice, Ned and Ben started for the Bowery. Each The latter did not mention Sloan, and Chester made no effort to explain the nature of his business with Exlon Blair which bad made all this trouble. ** Where CHAPTER XIII. BEN’S INVESTIGATION. ROSALTHE’S color came and went as she lis- tened to the Conversation between Lefranc and Lois, It was of intense interest to her, and she drank in every word. What wasshe about to hear? Lois had declared that she knew who had assaulted Franklin Damon. What knowl- edge did she possess! | ules Lefranc was less excited b sertion aud her demands. He stil] f way, preventing ber departure, ‘ You have said all this before, Lois,” he an- swered, ‘‘and I don’t like to have it repeated, Lois's as- ovcked the My dear girl, I can’t see Why you want to leave the house.” , You ought to know.” “ aaa ” fj ly answered th ] 0 ou see,” fiercely re ® gir “that it Sp keep them away from me? Tf I y here they will have the secret from me, s0me Way or other.” 0 youwknow what will be the result of go- ing away ?” ‘I shall be safe.” * Wrong—fatally wrong! Lois, the moment they hear that one of the inmates of the house has run aWay, suspicion will at once fall upon that one, and every effort wil! be put forth to suppose you vould evade the less asa hare pursued by bloodhounds. They would run you down, sure, and then what you most fear would come to pass; they would from you, Believe me, you 7 can commit no more fatal act than to run away.” Lois dropped into a chair. She saw the force of this argument, and was no longer inclined to oppose Jules. Rosaltbe listened with increasing interest. She had her theory of how Damon had been assaulted, but there was a possibility— avery small one, sbe thought—that she might have the wrong idea. ‘* It is necessary,” pursued Jules, *‘ that we all act asnatural as possible, Any little circum- stance may turn suspicion toward the right quarter, and we must be shrewd for Mr. Ches- ter’s sake,” Rosalthe’s new hope faded away. ‘* Damon may not die,” added batranc, ** but if he does we want our young master to enter upon his new career without a scandal. No doubt there was great provocation for the assault, The only way to keep it quiet is for every one to go on aes and give no ground for suspicion, Will you stay in the house, Lois?” met hy **Then go back to your room. I hope Kittie Miles did not see you leave it?” ‘I slept in Miss Rosalthe’s room, to-night.” ‘* How was that?” Lois explained, adding that Rosalthe did not suspect that she had left the room. “Go back, then,” Jules directed, ‘‘ and take care not to waken her.” **T will.” Lois rose to her feet, and Rosalthe, deciding that she bad barely time enough to regain her room, hurried away. If she had remained a few seconds she would have seen something of inter- est. A few more words passed between Le- aon and Lois, and then they prepared to separ- ate. ‘* My dear girl,” said he, *‘ don’t be cast down by this affair. It will all come out right, and when the clouds have rolled by we will leave the house, be mar.ied and settle down in a home of our own.” He passed his arm around her waist and bent to kiss her, but she violently released herself. ** Let me alone!” she exclaimed. ** Mon Dieu!” he cried, in wonder, “t what is the matter now?” “a am not going to have @ murderer touch me! With this vehement declaration Lois turned and fled up-stairs leaving Jules staring after her blankly. ‘* St. Catherine!” he ejaculated, ‘‘ bas the girl gone crazy?” is did not pause. She went to the second floor hall at once, secreted her package in its former place, and, very cautiously, re-entered the room of her young mistress, To all appear- ances Rosalthe was fast asleep, and Lois had re- gained her couch without having betrayed her absence. Rosalthe, however, was awake, and her mind, like her maid’s, was filled with painful thoughts. The shadows of Damon’s house were shutting down darker than ever. The following morning the physicians reported Franklin Damon’s condition unchanged, except that the generally favorable physical conditions gave cause for some degree of hope. As long as there was no sign of a collapse the chances were that his bodily health would be restored. As to bis mind they had no opiulon to give. He might regain his senses fully after a few days, or suf- fer permanent injury from the blows he had received, Time alone would tell. There seemed to be nochange in the household. Lois and Lefranc were about as usual, attend- ing to their duties, but the former took good care not to descend to the basement. She shivered whenever she thought of Jules, and wanted to keep away from him, Ned Chester met the family at breakfast with imperturbed manner. He Imad come home, se- cured a few hours of sleep, and removed al] traces of his nigbht’s adventures, No one, seeing him, would have imagined that he had s0 lately been walled up in a vault and left to slow death. Brooklyn Ben was auother person who had a secret and kept it well. Just before breakfast he looked across the way and saw the disguised detective again at his post. vidently, be had not given up his theory tiat Ned Chester would bear watching, en was in a troubled state of mind. Hehad always liked Ned. and it was painful to think of 1M @8 a villain, but the attempt to regard bim as an honest, innocent man was staggered by the Opinion of the detective, and by certain events Ben had himself seen in the house. The boy had great respect for the law, and for Mr, Sloan, and rrr = = = he was eager to be called into service in b the detective, but whenever he thought of it there arose one troublesome question: What if it should result in sending Ned to prison as Fraklin Damon’s assailant. ‘*] don’t believe he is guilty.” thought Ben, loyally, ‘‘and I wish that I could prove that he ain’t. I ought to give Ned the tip, I suppose, but I have promised Sloan not tosay anything —and, of course, Ned don’t need any caution if he is innocent.” Ben’s mind refused to give up the subject, and he finally made a resolution. Ned was supposed. to bave passed the night with his friend, Alfred Marsh, on Henry street. If he was there all night he could not have been inside Franklin Damon’s house, Ben knew one of the employees at Marsh’s, a youth of about his own age; and he resolved to go over and see him after break- fast, He did this, and found his young friend at liberty. They began to talk, and Ben waited for Pete to mention the assault. He waited in vain» Pete did nothing of the kind; and Ben bad to begin. : & We are all stirred up over at our house,” ** Are you?” ‘*-Yes; on account of Mr. Damon, you know.” “Yea.” . ‘Too bad about him.” te Yes.” Pete seemed determined to answer in mono- syllables, ‘* Were vou here when they told Mr, Chester?” ‘*] didn’t see it done,” replied Pete. ‘*'You saw Ned the evening before?” sé Yes,” ‘‘ What time did he come here?” ** About eight, I guess,” ‘Did he and Mr. Marsh go out?” it Re ‘* Then Ned was here all night?” se Y es. ”? ** Are you sure?” Pete had been looking at the floor, as though he saw something very interesting there, but be now looked at Ben sharply. ‘* What’re you so mighty partic’lar about?” he asked, rudely. ‘* Don’t be cross, Pete, Thisis a private talk between us two, you know. I'd like to be sure Mr. Chester was here all night.” Pete hesitated, and then slowly replied: ‘Tm afraid you won't be sure of it.” “Why not?’ ‘Can you keep mum, Ben?” ** You bet I can.” ‘* Then [ll tell you somethin’. 1+’s beenon my mind ever sence I heerd Damon wes burt, an” it’s troubled me. You are in the fam’ly, an’ I know you like Ned, sol can trust you. I want advice about it, so Pll tell you an’ let you say what I'd better do.” This vague, rambling speech, taken in connec- tion with Pete’s sober looks, troubled Ben, but he readily replied: ‘*Go on; let me hear all.” “Mr. Marsh put Ned in the next room to him, but he didn’t stay there. He left the house im the middle of the night, Ned did, an’ I don’t know where in the world he went. I’m sorry, for Ned was kind to me; give me nickels an’ dimes now an’ then, Ned did.” *“Come right to the point,” impatiently re- quested Ben, ‘* Well, you see it was like this: That evenin” I had a new book to read, an’I got a gcod deal interested in it. The other servants made me go to my room at half-past nine, but I was bound to finish that book before I went to sleep. I didn’t dare ter read in my recom, for the light might be seen, so I waited a while, and then went down ter the basement. There I lighted a kero- sene lamp, settled down in a corner and went to readin’, ‘It took me longer than I had expected, an” it was past twelve o’clock when I, got to the last age. When I was all through I put out the ; ight, an’ was jest goin’ up-staif&S when I heard a key click in the basement door. I hadn't time ter skip past an’ go upahead of him, so I stopped right in the kitchen. Somebody come in, an’ then I heerd a match struck. The gas was lit, an’ there stood Ned Chester.” “And be had come in from out-of-doors?” asked Ben, “ Yes,” “Go on,” grimly directed young Hamlin,” ‘**T couldn’t imagine at first wby he had lit the gas, but I soon see, He took off his coat, an’ then I seen that it was ripped a long way dowm one of the seams. He seemed .to be troubled about it, an’ stood lookin’ at it sometime. Then he put iton ag’in, turned off the gas, an went