Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 569 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

COS eee ee ‘‘ Where? What for?’ ‘‘There’s murder been done, or if it isn’t one now, it’s liable to be. He’s hurt the worst way!” ‘Who is hurt? Be precise |” The boy leaned against the railing and strug- gled manfully to recovér his breath. “It is Framklin Damon, of Clinton street—” ‘*T know the place. What’s the matter?” ‘‘We found him in bed, this morning, un- conscions. Somebody had struck bim on the head, and we think be can’tlive, The doctor hasn’t come yet.” ‘* No clew to who did it?” ‘* No, sir.” ** Who are you?” ‘“‘My name is Benjamin Hamlin, and I work there—” ‘*] think I know the boy,” roundsman, ‘‘ Don’t they call Ben? ” ‘* Sometimes, sir.” ‘‘ Brodby, take two men and go with the boy,” directed the sergeant. ‘“‘If you find his story confirmed, do what you think is necessary and make prompt report. As soon as I can finish my present business I will aid you, if neves- Don’t talk at random. r, interrupted a you ‘ Brooklyn a he officer named lost no time in getting away. He remembered the house occupied by Franklin Damon, though he did not know the man. He asked for particulars as they hurried along, but there was very little to tell. Mr. Damon, who was avery regular riser, had not appeared that morning as usual, though events soon showed that he had an important engagement with a friend. This gentleman, unwilling to wait, had insisted upon seeing Damon according to agreement; and when re- peated knocks at the chamber door had met with no response, the caller had taken the house- maid’s key and opened thedoor. Mr. Damon was discovered in bed, insensible, and with a serious wound upon his head, This was all that ‘* Brooklyn Ben” could tell, except that he had at once been dispatched to give the alarm. When asked for a list of the members of the family, and the servants, he gave it/as follows: Franklin Damon, owner of the house; Ro- salthe Damon, his ward; Ned Chester, his nephew; Percy Grayson, a distant relative; Hannah Damon, aged relative; Samuel Eagan, a bookkeeper; and the servants—Jules Lefranc, male cook: Lois Beauvais and Kittie Miles; and Timothy Killion the cuachman. Brooklyn Ben, himself, completed the list. Percy Grayson walked out of the room where the doctors were fighting for Franklin Damon’s life, with Death for an opponent. He was a tall, blonde young man with a face which, at first glance, did not seem to indicate any great strength of character. He was moving along the hall when there was a rustling sound and a young lady came hur- riedly to his side. She was pale and startled of appearance, but her eyes were tearless, Evi- dently, if she felt the blow it had stricken her in a way more dangerous than that which finds relief in tears. ‘ ‘‘ Percy,” she tremulously whispered, ‘‘ what do the doctors say?” The young man shook his head, ‘* Nothing favorable.” ‘ Surely, be will not—will not—die?” She could hardly utter the words, ‘*Step into your room, Rosalthe. This is not a good place to talk; our voices might be beard in Uncle Franklin’s room, in which case we should speedily have the doctors after us. The have put the house under military rule, as it were. Now we can talk,” he added, as they en- tered her room. ‘‘Is—is he conscious?” the girl asked, her thoughts concentrated upon One point. ‘* No, nor is there much chance that he will be. The blows which deprived him of con- sciousness bid fair to keep him in that condi- tion. His only wounds are on the head, but they are serious. I dare say there is an injury to the brain, The doctors have not yet given a de- cided opinion, but they say, informally, that Uncle Franklin will either die in his present state or lie several days as he is—in brief, that he will not recover his senses at present.” ‘* Tt is terrible!” “‘ Of course,” pursued Grayson, looking at her attentively, ‘“‘this is liable to prevent the dis- covery of the assassin. Were he to become con- scious, he could tell who struck him.” \ j rol ey i", ; ; | t . aes . 4 if — - . a * oi hal : wy! - : » ,* : , 4 ad yee \ ; ee oe eS _ rooklyn Ben. then her gaze again dropped. ‘* Of course,” she replied, in a low voice, ‘‘ 1¢ is singular that no one heard a disturbance | | Rosalthe, you don’t know how [I honor | | Shy of course, heard no one prowling | during the night.” as Yes.” ** Did you sleep soundly, Rosalthe?” ¥en,’ + And, around?’ ‘*{f did not.” She answered saree! gaze was still averted. even defiantly, but her and ill at ease, but this was not strange, con- | sidering the tragedy of the house. ‘The police will soon be here,” son, ‘and then we shall all be questioned,” The girl drew a long, tremulous breath. Gray- | himself more son lowered bis voice and, bending his head close to hers, asked: ‘*What do as suppose they will say when they know of Ned Chester's quarrel with Uncle Franklin?” Rosaltbe started back as though she had re- ceived a blow, the startled look in her dark eyes became more noticeable. She looked at Grayson with a terri- fied expression. ‘‘ Who would dare tell them of that?” she de- manded, ‘‘ Who can hide it? Everybody in the house knows of the quarrel, and it will soon be public property. It makes it bad for Ned, I admit.” ‘‘Percy Grayson, what do you mean? You know that Ned never harmed Uncle Franklin. How couid he? He was not here last nigbt.” ‘* Are you sure?” Grayson asked the question quietly, but his gaze rested upon her face with pitiless attention. Rosalthe could not well look worse than she had done before, but she made a start again, and pressed her hand unsteadily over her heart. ‘‘T am sure,” she replied, after a pause, her voice once more defiant. ‘‘He went to stay with his friend, and he had no key to this house. How | dare you cast any insinuations against him? ‘‘ Gently, my dear Rosalthe—” “ Be still, sir! 1 will not hear such words! I know how you feel toward Ned, because he stands between you and Franklin Damon’s money, but—” ‘‘ And I,” interrupted Grayson, catchin by the wrist, ‘‘ know how you feel toward Ned Chester! You love the fellow, and you are none too good to shield bim from the consequences of his crime, if he committed one.” ‘‘He would commit none.” Grayson looked sharply around, to make sure that he had no other listener. ‘* You and I may as well have an understand- ing,” he said, in a bharsb whisper. ‘‘ Rosalthe, you are not the only one who knows what hap- pened here last night!” She released her arm‘with a quick movement and started back. ‘‘ What do you mean?’ she demanded, almost gaspingly. ‘Don’t ask me to explain here; walls have ears, you know. Let it be enough that I know how you left your room during the night, and what you saw !” ‘*T did not leave my room!” she declared, but she trembled in every limb as she spoke. ‘ Pardon me, but I know what I am talking about. Don’t be afraid that I shall tell on you ; we can’t undo the past, and may as well let it rest. My sympathies Are all with you, Rosalthe, and you can depend upon me to help you all [ can. Of course an outsider would not look upon Ned’s case as leniently as we do, and all must be kept quiet. Rely upon me to help you; consider me your unswerving friend.” r, Grayson held out bis hand as he ceased speaking, and smiled broadly, and seemed anx- ious to array bimself as being the best friend Rosalthe had, but his hand was not accepted. The girl was recovering her coolness somewhat, and though the frichtened look did not disap- pear from her face, she answered with increasing firmness: ‘* You talk at random, Percy.” ‘Por once you are wrong; I am talking right to the point.” ‘* Then I don’t understand you,” ** Shall I explain?” ++ Yes,” “Tf you and I told what we know, Ned Chester would at once be placed under arrest for the assault upon Franklin Damon.” ‘* What do you know?” ‘¢ As much as you do,” ‘* You evade an answer, sir.” ** What would you have? Shall we tell all we her Rosalthe looked at the speaker for a second; | ' i She appeared nervous | which i a ENS NTN me tn aa know here, where a servant may overhear it? Last night, Rosalthe, you were in the hail, and you know what you saw there—whom you saw there. For Ned’s sake, let us say DO more, ou—ad- mire you—for your noble loyalty. 1 have al- ways thought you the noblest, best and fairest of women, and vow I love you—I mean, admire you more than ever. For Neé’s sake we will say no more, but bear in mind that I am your friend forever!” The last words were spoken with an intensity she could not fail to understand, She did understand them, and more. If Grayson had | declared in plain words that Ned Chester bad ' —E Her pale face grew paler, and | resumed Gray- | been Damon’s assailant, and that it was in his power to expose him, he would not have made lainly understood. ould he not tell all that he knew, words, taken with the events of the past, explained even this to Rosalthe. The price of Percy Grayson’s silence was her love! She gazed at him as he stood smiling evilly into her face, and new horror fell upon her, She had felt that there was more before than And whys anyway? His _ she could bear, but the end was not yet, A servant appeared at the door. ‘‘The police have come, Miss Rosalthe,” was the announcement, CHAPTER IL. THE POLICE COME, THE condition of Mr. Damon left Rosalthe mistress of the house, but she was not di to face the officers of law. She mechanically directed the servant to show them in, and then turned to Grayson. ‘* Will you attend, to them?” ‘Tf you wish,” Without another word she started to leave the room, but paused abruptly at the door, For a moment she hesitated, and then turned back. ‘‘ T will stay,” she announced, Grayson bowed. He did not need to ask the cause of her sudden change of purpose; he knew that she was determined to be present, and see that he did not say anything to injure Ned Chester. Mr. Grayson, however, had not one word of comment to make. Brodby and his fellow-officers came in. He bowed to Rosalthe, and addressed Grayson: ‘‘ May L ask who is in authority here?” ‘‘1t “ig Miss Damon,” courteously replied a wave of his band. Percy, with to know the particulars of this af- ‘“T wish fair.” ‘They are, unfortunately, very simple; that is to say, we know only the bare details. Mr, Franklin Damon was in good health and spirits last night. This morning \he was found insen- sible in bed, with serious wounds on his head. The doctors will not answer for his life, and say that if he lives it will be several days before he will recover consciousness. There is some in- jury to the brain, I dare say!” ‘Are you Mr. Percy Grayson?” “Yes, sir.” “ And a guest here?” ‘‘ For the last two months—yes,” ‘‘Have you found,no clew to the would-be as- sassins?” ‘‘ None at all; Mr. Damon's door was locked; the windows of the room weré duly fastened. Neither? the door nor the windows bave been tampered with.” ‘‘ How many keys were there to the door?” “Two; Mr. Damon’s own, and the chamber- maid’s.” ‘‘ Where are they now?” ‘‘The second was used and, I dare say, is still in the door. know where Mr. Damon’s key is.” “ Who is the chambermaid?”’ ‘Her name is Lois Beauvais.” “She keeps her keys during the night, of course,” ‘*'Yes,” “T would like to see Mr, Damon, and the room,” Brooklyn Ben, who had accompanied the officers, was sent with a message to the wound- to unlock the door We do not ed man’s room. He quickly returned to report with his examina- that the doctor was throug tion, and that the officers could do no harm by examining the room fully. When they wentin, the doctor, accompanied by his colleagues, came out. Grayson asked for a report, manner was quiet, but Rosalthe studied the physician’s face with painful interest and expectation. “J can only repeat what I informally said be- fore,” answered the doctor, ‘* Mr..Damon has, perhaps, an even chance to live, but what the result ‘ will really be po buman power can DOW ~~ -