Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 569 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Brooklyn Ben. a say. If he lives, however, he is not lixely to recover his senses for a good many Gays,” Rosalthe breathed a sigh of relief. Was it because Mr. Damon had an even chance to re- cover, or because he would remain unconscivus for a considerable time? She looked up and caught Percy Grayson’s gaze fixed meaningly npon her. She felt at that moment as though she could strike the man with all the force of her woman’s arm, Brodby soon brought his men back, He had decided very clearly on one point; the assailant of Mr. Damon had not broken into the room. The one door and the two windows were intact. Mr. Damon’s own key. had been found on the floor of his room, partially behind the door, It had either been thrust under the door, after the assassin had locked it on the outside, or had been put there to create that impression and deceive the police. Which was the correct theory he did not yet know, The officer was inclined to be suspicious, and he asked that Lois Beauvais be summoned, She came promptly—a pretty French girl who, very likely, had been gay and saucy the day be- fore. That seemed to be her nature. Now she looked very much like her young mistress; she was pale and nervous. Brodby questioned her rapidly. ‘** Your name is Lois Beauvais?” “+ es, air.” “You are chambermaid here, and carry the be gt ic keys to the upper part of the house, eh? “Vou, Gre” ** Does any one else ever have these keys?” * Once ina great while Miss Hannah Damon <loes.” ‘ Distant relative, and superannuated house- keeper,” tersely explained Grayson. ‘* Did she bave the keys last night?” oes 3 eS iy > “ Did any one but you have them?” “Did they} possession?” **Did they leave your possession ** They did not.” ** State where you keep them day and night.” ‘In my pocket. There are but a few of them, anp I carry them ona ring. They never leave 2uy pocket except when 1 open a door. They stay there day and night.” **Do you know that they were all there when you re last night?” ‘* No, but they were all there this morning, and the doors of my room were securely bolted and locked, and the windows were tastahad. No one could have entered my room.” ‘* You have a room-mate?” ‘* Yes, sir; Kittie Miles, the table-gir],” ** Send Kittie here.” Lois hastened out, and Kittie soon appeared. Like Miss Rosalthe and Lois, Kittie seemed ner- vous and greatly shocked. She was a prepos- sessing young woman. She told her story frank- ly. She had nothing to do with the keys, but was sure no one could have entered their room while they were asleep. Like all the other wit- nesses She had heard nothing suspicious during ‘the night. ‘We shall have to admit that Damon’s key, not the duplicate one, was used to lock his door after the deed was done,” observed Brodby, though he was not ready, in reality, to admit anything of the kind, He now settled down to his work in earnest and questioned every member of the household within his reach—these being Miss Rosalthe, Miss Hannah Damon, Lois and Kittie, for the females; and Grayson, Mr. Eagan, Lefranc, Benjamin Hamlin and Tim Killion for the men. He bad several questions to ask each, but to all he addressed the following inquiries: Had they heard any suspicious Sounds during the uight? Had they seen any suspicious person hovering around? Did they know of trouble between Mr. Damon and any other person? To eack of these came the undeviating reply— 0! Brodby began to think that he had grappled with a genuine mystery. Damon had received no company during the evenings there was no sign to show that any one had broken into the house; Lefranc, whose duty it was to secure the house before he retired, declared that he was sure it had been properly secured; yet, Some one had assaulted Franklin Damon with murderous effect, if not intent. Who had done it? The officer decided that tha assailant had been a member of the household, or that he had been admittedsecretly by a member of the household, or that he had been secreted there when the doors were locked for the night unknown to any one inside, Which was it? Brodby looked at Percy Grayson. ‘*Tt seems to me there is one member of the household missing,” he said, ‘*‘ Where is Ned Chester?” Rosalthe’s face grew tremulous; it lost the small amount of color it had gained during the last few minutes. “Ned stayed with his friend, Albert Marsh on Henry street, last night,” readily replied Grayson, ‘* Where is he now?” “By Jove!” quoth Percy, “I don’t believe anyone has sent word to him. This is inex- cusably negligent. Here, Ben Hamlin, go over at once and notify Ned. You know the house, don’t you?” ‘* Yes, sir,” answered Brooklyn Ben. Just then the door-bell rung. 3 Ben left the room, but just as he reached the head of the stairs a hand was laid upon his arm, He turned and saw Rosalthe Damon. ‘““You need not go,” she said, hurriedly; ‘‘that is, I think Mr. Chester is here now. I think that was his ring. Wait here!” : She hastened down the stairs, and Ben D ing in irresolution. He knew that the order to bring Chester, being practically indorsed by the official, outweighed his mistress’s order, but it would do no harm to wait a moment, Rosalthe opened the door, and Ben saw that it was, indeed, Ned Chester. The latter came in quickly... Rosalthe closed the door, and then grasped his arm, “Do you know?—have you heard?” she de- manded, in an agitated whisper. Ned Chester thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his coat. He looked at her without emotion. ‘* T have heard that Franklin Damon is lying at the point of death, and that it was the work of an assassin.” ‘* The police are up-stairs, Ned.” “Why not? He wasarich and eminently re- spectable gentleman!” was the reply, with an undisguised sneer. ** Ned, don’t speak that way!” ** How should I speak?” ** At this time—” ‘*T will not bow at his feet at this, or any other time.” ‘*Ned, he is unconscious, and they expect him to lie that way for many days to come, The police’ have no clew, whatever.” Rosalthe’s manner grew more earnest, and one would have said that she was ing to convey some idea to her companion. He, how- ever, did not, or would not, understand. ‘* Indeed?” was his careless response. ‘*They are questioning every member of the household. It seems that they think the as- sassin may have been an inmate of this house, and hope that he will betray himself under ex- amination.” ‘“*Ah! Expect him to be a fool, as well asa rascal, eh?” “*Ned, Ned!—don’t speak in such a harsh way!” ‘“* My esteemed cousin, I have no tears to shed over Franklin Damon. Do you want me to act the hypocrite?” ‘“* { want you to remember that the police are going to suspect somebody. We have all gone in nervously, and talked in hushed voices. If you Ho inso defiantly, what will they think of you His face suddenly softened, and he took the hand which she had laid upon his arm, his man- ner undergoing a complete change. ‘‘Pardon me, Rosalthe! Your kind words are duly appreciated, and I thank you cordially. The whole case may be summed up in few words: I am no friend of Franklin Damon, and I am not going to act the hypocrite now that he is—” ” ‘‘-You must not let them see that you are not his friend.” “ Why not?” ‘Can't you guess?” << No M2 | “Oh! Ned, Ned! this will not do!” cried the girl, in a frightened manner. “‘ You know— you must see—Ned, no one has told that you ad trouble with him, and you must not fell. If you do, the police will suspect you !” “On the ocean,” Chester answered, “we act | as we feel, and show the white feather to no one, Wait!—hear me out, Rosalthe. You now more about the ways of city life than I do, and I feel that I could follow no more friendly, no more interésting prompter than you. For your sake, I will go in and be as aren alamb. Are the police waiting to see « Yes.” ‘**1’ll go to them at once, and for your sake, Rosalthe, I’ll see that Iacquit myself well, For your sake! Man could have no greater motive for his actions!” CHAPTER III. SHADOWS OF MYSTERY. Youne Chester pressed Rosalthe’s hand warmly, and then turned and went steadily up the stairs, She looked after him with an anx ious, troubled expression which made her look years older than she was, There had beena time when the last words he had uttered would have fallen pleasantly upon her ears, and, per- haps, have brought increased color to her face but she scarcely realized now that they had been spoken. ‘Pray Heaven!—” She whispered the two words, and then check- ed herself abruptly. Whatever prayer was in her heart, her lips did not utter it then. Young Ben Hamlin bad seen and heard enough of this interview to cause him some wonder, but he had no desire to act the spy, and he had drawn back and tried to act a digni- fied part. | He saw Chester as he came up the stairs, an was impressed by the expression on his face, Usually Ned was jovial and hearty, bringing the customs of the ocean to the land, but a change seemed to have come tohim, His face bore a scowl, and hs was clearly very much dissatisfied with something. As he reached the hall his face cleared promptly. ‘* Where are they?” he asked. ‘In there, sir,” Ben answered, pointing. ‘Very well.” And then Chester walked into the presence of Brodby and his fellow officers, Even Rosalthe could not have found fault with his manner then. He toned down his sailor manners, and walked into the room quietly, yet with a age Saad of interest. ‘*Mr. Brodby, this is Mr. Chester,” said Gray- son. Both gentlemen bowed. ‘“You are Mr. Franklin Damon’s nephew, I believe?” said Brodby, at once. **T am, sir.” ‘¢ When did you hear of your uncle’s misfor- tune?” ‘‘ Half an hour ago, possibly. I was with my friend, Alfred Marsh, who liveson Henry street, when we heard one man tell another on the street. I made inquiries, learned the facts—as far as the man knew them—and came here.” ‘* You stayed’ with Mr. Marsh last night?” “cc Yes. ” ** At what hour were you here?” ** At about eleven A, M.” ‘Was Mr. Damon then in his usual spirits?” **T did not see him.” ** How was that?” **T hardly know, except that he was in his study. Isaw only Miss Rosalthe Damon and Mr. Grayson.” — Percy smiled in a peculiar way at the first art of this answer, but the smile was not seen y the officers or Chester. ‘*In case Mr. Damon should die you would, I am informed, become of all his prop- erty—that is, vou are his direct heir.” * Now you mention it, I believe I am.” ‘*“As such you must be greatly interested in the case, Pray, what is your theory as to the crime?” ‘“*T don’t know that I have one.” ‘“* Indeed!” said Brodby, in real or affected surprise. ‘““You must remember that I don’t knowa thing about the particulars.” ‘They are significant. No one broke into the house: no door or window was tampered with; the windows and door of Mr. Damon’s room were found fastened; and it is clear that the assailant retreated through this door. There were two keys to it—Mr. Damon’s and the chambermaid’s, The former was found upon the floor, where it may have been pushed by the guilty person under the door. e chamber- maid declares her keys did not leave ber posses- sion last night. Here the mystery begius. Now comes another int. Who was the criminal? The question, How did he get into the house? is not half so mysterious as, How did he get out? Every door and window was found properly ia Sa How did the would-be assassin get ou Brodby paused and looked significantly at Chester “Tt grows mysterious,” admitted Ned. « Decidedly $0. No man can pass out through - ee aa ad a my. ae — »_< I | i - - s “a at ‘ > * -