Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 569 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

g* " ay See re % ee. ——~ con. > — i - ri: sie erty Brooklyn Ben. the captain to ‘‘ give them a chance at the pris- oner,” but the request was not heeded. Ned’s gaze wandered and he saw Brooklyn Ben. The discovery was plainly a great sur- prise to him, but he controlled his face as much as possible, and looked away again. That he was greatly puzzled to account for Ben’s pres- ence there was plain, and, if the truth had been known, he was worried far more abcut the boy than about bimself, HS a Y ig the safest way is the best,” the captain fmally observed, ‘‘and I will listen to your voices, men. Bring on the prisoners, and we will soon dispose of them,” Ben was released from the piano, and he and Ned were conducted from the room and, after- ward, down two pairs of stairs. This brought them to the cellar. The captain evidently had a definite plan in view, for he led the way to one side where was a brick wall, not yet finished, with the masons’ material still scattered around. At one point there was a place like a huge oven, some six feet square, and ata word from the leader Ben and Ned were thrust inside. ‘* Wall them in!” added the captain. Ben looked quickly around, The only openin in the tomb-like place was that through which they had been put in, and their enemies seized trowels, plunged them into the mortar, and be- gan to lay bricks to close the opening. The prisoners were to be buried alive! ‘* Look here: I won’t stand this!” cried Ned. He started forward, but the captain drew a revolver and pointed at his breast. ‘Stand back!” he ordered, ‘“‘ you’ve got to stay wherewe put you. Stand back or I will settle you, right off!” CHAPTER IX, THE SHADOW OF SUSPICION. ALL was quiet at Franklin Damon’s house, but it was a painful, funereal silence that hung over the place. The master of the house had not changed in the least during the twelve hours which had elapsed since he was discovered in such a lamentable condition. Not for a moment had he recovered consciousness, but the hopes of his physicians—one of whom remained with him all the time—had grown a little stronger. There had been danger that the wounded man would sink and expire, but he had held his own bravely. Silence reigned in the house, and the servants came and went like shadows. The attending physicians were somewhat sur- prised that Rosalthe had not offered to aid in the sick-room, but the necessity of that was past; a trained nurse had been secured, and the men of medicine no longer wished to see a young girl attempt to perform any work there, The ‘‘ cuckoo-clock ” in Rosalthe’s room struck nine, She glanced at the time-piece, and then arose and went into the hall. She bad some ob- ject in view, but circumstances deferred it. She had barely reached the hall when she was ac- costed by an old man. This was Samuel Eagan, the bookkeeper. Eagan had been many years in the service of the Damons, He bad served three generations faithfully, and had grewn old in their business house. Before the death of Franklin Damon’s father, Eagan bad been taken into the home of the family, and by the terms of the master’s will he was to have refuge there while be lived, He was a plain, honest man, quite intelligent in his way, but far from quick-witted, e noW accosted the young lady with grave respect, saying that he would like to speak witb her. They entered the room, and be began. He first referred to Damon’s illness, and seemed ill at ease, but finally came to the point he clearly wished to reach. ** | have been in the service of your famil almost sixty years, Miss Rosalthe,” he anid, earnestly. ‘*I served John Adams Damon; I served his son, Templeton Damon; [ have served his grandson, Franklin Damon, The famil name is asdear to me as my life—it would kill me to see it disgraced.” The old man’s voice faltered, while Rosalthe was manifestly ill at ease. She nervously re- ‘Tam ina burry, Mr. Eagan—will you kind- ly hasten on with what you have to say?” ‘*T am not wholly ignorant of what occurred here last night,” proceeded the bookkeeper, his voice trembling. ** Go on!” . Ata sie Xi the oe ba e whispered Rosalthe, after a perce tible start. ae wie ‘* | saw you speak with Franklin Damon.” “ Well?’ Rosalthe’s color was deserting her face. ‘*‘T am just as sure as that Ll live that Mr. Da- mon voluntarily admitted to his room whoever dealt him those terrible blows. I heard you say to him that you wanted to speak with him.” sé Yes?” ‘*T did not seemore, I did not enon any thing unusual was indicated by what I did see, but it occurs to me that it would be natural for your guardian to ask you into his room if he wished to speak with you. The hour was then late; too late for him to receive visitors not members of his own family; and I can’t help feeling that he did receive no visitor after you. Perhaps I should have thought nothing strange had you come forward to care for him. You did not do so; you avoided entering his room; and your manper has been very odd. I can’t help thinking that something is wrong.” The old bookkeeper no longer looked at the floor. His gaze was bent full upon Rosalthe’s face, and his expression was a mixture of stern- ness and sorrow, ; ‘‘ Whatam I to understand by this?” asked the girl, almost in a whisper. ‘‘ Heaven help us! I cannot but feel that you know more about the assault than the rest of us do.” ‘* Do you accuse me ?” ‘‘How am I to know? Great heavens! how am I to know? I am miserable and heart- broken!” Eagan wrung his bands piteously. ‘Why should Linjure Franklin Damon?” she asked. ‘*T don’t know; I don’t know that you did in- jure him; but, if you know who the criminal was, in pity’s name tell all at once! You are a Damon, and I have loved you next to Mr. Franklin—the noblest of men, Speak out, Miss Rosalthe—speak out !” The old man clasped his thin hands and looked at his companion beseechingly. He did not receive any encouragement, Rosalthe’s usually gentle face was bard and cold. She believed that she knew the worst now, and was not inclined to aid Eagan in any way. She drew a deep breath which was one Of relief, and there was method in her answer. ‘“Mr. Eagan, you surprise me greatly. I have thought you my friend—” ‘*T was—I am!” ‘“*And you accuse me of trying to commit murder!” ‘* No, no; Ido not accuse you—that is, I am not sureé—” He came to a stop, hesitated and eh : ‘*T thought perhaps you could tell who did it. ‘‘T should be angry with you, Mr. Eagan, if you were not such an old friend; but I dare say you mean well. Your ideas are absurd, how- ever, Would I bea party toany act of violence against Franklin Damon, or any one else? eaven forbid!” The old bookkeeper did not answer, bnt bis thin bands trembled more than ever, and his face was downcast. ‘Of course,” pursued Rosalthe, ‘‘ the crime was committed by some professional villain, if I may use the expression—a burglar, or something of that sort. Hew he entered I don’t know, but such men are very cunning. Why he did not steal anything I can’t say; a dozen things may have happened to prevent. All we can do, Mr. Eagan, is to leave it to the police, They will solve the mystery, and if we meddle, we shail ruin all, Good-evening!” She bad arisen; she now bowed to him and left the room quietly, Eagan looked after her in doubt and sorrow, ‘She didn’t explairkas 1 hoped,” he muttered; ‘*she didn’t declare her innocence as a guiltless person ought. Great heavens! can it be that she was concerned in the attempt to kill Frank- lin Darnon?” / And Rosalthe, moving swiftly along the hall, was at that moment thinking: ‘*He suspects me! He sees that something is wrong. If that simple-minded old man of four- score vears Can see so plainiy, how will it be with the shrewd detectives? Idon't believe that I could endure such an interview with them; think I should break down and confess all.” She came to a sudden, nervous start, as Percy Grayson accosted her, ‘Whither so fast, Rosalthe?’/he asked pleas- antlv. ‘* Nowhere, in particular.” she answered. ‘“ Were you looking for Ned Chester?” ‘No, sir; I was not,” was the curt response, ‘* He bas not returned,” Rosalthe did not answer. ‘Tt seems to me.” continued Grayson, “ that Ned is indiscreet to act so at this crisis. He may me eae ee ee et nce ccc eee > bring suspicion upon himself. You ought to reason with him,” ‘* He is his own master.” ‘* But likely to be master of this house soon— thanks to the ‘lottery of assassination.’” ‘** You can talk with him if you wish.” ‘‘T am not in his confidence in this affair.” ‘* What affair?” ‘The assault upon our uncle,” ‘“* Percy Grayson, how dare you insinuate—” ‘‘ Wait, Rosalthe; let us speak calmly. We talked on this subject this morning, and I gave ou an inkling of what I know. I saw you and ed in the hall last night, which proves con- clusively that he was here, You said that he bad no key, which proves that he was admitted by some one. Who did it, if not you?” ‘**T did not,” interrupted Rosalthe. ‘‘So much the worse for bim. He did not come to see you—why did he come? -Look for the answer in the quarrel he had with Uncle Franklin, and the present condition of the lat- ter.” ‘* You coward! bow dare you accuse Ned—” ‘‘ Because I believe him guilty, and so do ou!” retorted Grayson. ‘Deny it as you will, it is a plain case. You believe—perbaps know— that he is guilty, yet you would screen hin. Well, he shall be screened if you are wise.” ‘Tf Iam wise!” repeated the, mechanic- ally. ‘“Yes. Do you know what I mean?” ‘**T don’t want to know.” ‘*'You must!” Grayson caught ber wrist and fleshed a quick glance around to make sure they were not ob- served, ‘‘Rosalthe,” he impetuously added, “ Ned Chester shall go unsuspected if you say the word. I love you! Be my wife, and my lips shall forever be sealed. It™is for you to say whether Franklin Damon’s assassin shall be known.” s}. CHAPTER X, THE MYSTERY OF LOIS. ROSALTHE looked at Grayson with the utmost horror on her face, She had never liked him, but his presence had not been offensive until this affair occurred. Now he made his proposal with Franklin Damon lying at the point of death only a few yards away, and with the atmosphere of gloom over the whole house; and the proposal was, in itself,a crime. He knew that she cared for Ned, yet would buy her, if he could, at the expense of hiding a greater crime. ‘‘Let me gu!” she cried, trying to free her wrist. ‘*T am not answered,” he replied, steadily. ‘*T can’t answer now.” ‘¢ Why not?’ ‘¢ This is no time—” ‘* It is the best of times.” ‘* Give me a week.” ‘Impossible! This is the day and the hour. Listen to me, Rosalthe! I would not be cruel to you for my life, but I love you; I must have you for my own, ‘Tell me you will marry me.” dois will not! I say, no—a thousand times, o | Grayson tightened bis grasp and bent toward er : ‘* And I say—yes /” he said, in a whisper. * Let me go, Percy Grayson!” ‘‘]T will, but you must hear me first. Since ou are so confused I will give you twenty-four ge to think of it, but bear one thing in mind: There are but two ways in thiscase. Either you marry me, or Sloan, the detective, shall speedily know all about Chester. Choose your own course. Good-night!” Dropping ber hand he turned and walked ab- ruptly away. Nothing in the late scene troubled his conscience, He had thrown off the mask, and, regarding himself as a sure Victor, he walk- ed with a firm step and with his head thrown well back, Had he looked around he would have seen Rosalthe looking after bim with an expression which might well have touched the hardest heart. She was hopeless and in despair, and her face reflected these emotions, The burden she was bearing was heavy for her young shoulders. Grayson disappeared, but she lingered several minutes in the hall. When she went away it was to return to ber own room. Once there she sat down to meditate on her position, but this proved so productive of mental! pain that sbe determined not to be alone. She rung for her maid, and Lois came promp tly. . Until that fatal day dawiied the brightest face in the house had been that of the pretty French girl, but it was bright no longer. She came in ——— ee SL ue ee a