Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 608 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

The train on the other track, a freight, was still passing when Dan, after assisting his com- panion to his feet, suddenly grasped his wrist with a vise-like clutch, as he listened intently, with bis eyes fixed upon the black darkness be- sein the trestle from which they had come. ‘hen he made a hasty movement forward, still holding the doctor’s hand, “What is it?’ howled Dr. Horne. ‘ You are crushing the bones of my wrist!” In tones that, while firm, would have be- trayed to any one less excited than Dr. Horne was at that time the agitation of the speaker, Double-Curve Dan shouted in his ear: ‘* Another train coming!” “Thunder! Where?’ “Coming in on this track. Itis just around the curve at the end of the trestle,” ** What shall wedo? Jump again?” ““Wecan’t, This long freight train will be in the way. It is slacking up now, and is very likely going to run up and down the trestle for ten minutes or so, putting on new cars and so forth,” ‘*But what are we to do?’ shrieked Dr. Horne, to whose ear the thumping of another train, with the clanging of its locomotive bell, _ now plainly audible. ‘‘What shall we do Dan tried to look up and down. but the black darkness was impenetrable. The trestle ran across an arm of the river, and there was no- where to go except from one track to another, At this moment the headlight of the incoming locomotive rounded the curve, and the train, at @ good pace, bore down upon them, CHAPTER X. A DEAD BALL. Let us go back to Richard Scott. When Double-Burve Dan and Clara Horne were found in the cabinet, and explanations followed about the two burglars who had stolen money from the doctor’s drawer, there was a general exclama- tion of surprise. *Pouy, sure an’ wasn’t that tte shpalpeen as thried to kiss me in front of the American Hotel the noight afore the last wan,’’ said Norah. “I wuz only going to shtay there wan more day, an’ I think I moight have been left alone for thas toime.”” “And what did you do to the fellow? Isuppose he got the worst of it,’’ laughed the doctor. ‘“‘Indade he did, sorr, but not frim me. Faith, wasn’t there a yoong mon up in wan uv the rooms, an’ didn’t he throw a base-ball so that it hit me Sateen in the oye?” * An’ afterwards didn’t I foind out that the mon that throwed the ball was me fri’nd here, Dooble- Coorve Dan, as they call him?’ Dan shook his head modest] **No, I will sp'ake, for it’s the truth Oi’m tellin’ ez. An’ I m’ane to say that he’s a foine lad, an’ aith if Oi warn’t engaged to a dacentb’ye in the ould counthry I'd sit me cap at him, so I would.” There was a general laugh at this outspoken de- claration but Norah was evidently in earnest and cared nothing for the mirth of her Jisteners. ** And now, Mr. Dick, I guess ah better be gittin’ sepa for your father wants to spake wid yez, I ow.’ | This brought Dick'to himself, and reminded him that though he had been proved innocent of the robbery of his father’s oldest friend, Dr. Horne, he was still involved in crime with men of the lowest stamp, who would be likely to betray him at any moment, “* Doctor Horne, don't you think to go with you to meet those fellows to-night?” he asked hesitatingly, as he prepared to go. ‘*No,” put in Dan anly, decidedly. Then, with a bow to the doctor and his daughter, he udded: “Doctor Horne, believe me I know who these men are that have written the note, and it will require careful management to prevent their getting the best of you.” | “Danger!” cried Clara, whose quick ears had Do you think it will be danger- caught the word. ous for papa?’ “Ido not,”’ replied Dav, with ancther smile. “TI will engage to bring him back safely. That is,” cor- recting himself, ‘‘as faras human care can insuro such a result.”’ “Besides, my dear, your father is not quite a baby, and perhaps he may be able to take care of himself under ordinary circumstances,’ observed the doctor, who did not caré to oh Fy) before bis daughter as a helpless creature who could not be trusted alone, ‘*Pxactly, I counted considerably on your own reputation as a brave man,” returned Dan. his graceful compliment mcllified the doctor, and | he said, with a wave of his band: d r “ Dan, throw open your coat, and show what you wear on your vest.” : Double-Curve Dan did so, and revealed the silver qiar that proclaimed him to be a member of the | ew York Secret Service. “4 “A detective!” exclaimed Clara. ‘“‘Oh, Howly Moses! Are ye wan of the saycret " et what ketches murdherers and sich?’’ said “ ea but Norah insisted. I might venture 4 who was very much overcome by the revela- on. ay Dick Scott had known all along that his friend ay , aa mS os “Ww aa . an : gt Pe es ‘Dicks Fr “ ~~ - Saw cs. oe” The Pitcher Detective’s Foil. —eeeeOCQQ—qqQnuqqeeeellelleleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Om MPon-eoEEOeEeeDOTeOOO Dan was a detective, but he had not thought much about it until now, looking upon him more as a base- skill as a pitcher, than ball player, with phenomen anything else, ‘* You think I must not go, then?’ asked Dick. “I do, decidedly,’’ replied Dan. “Then I give in. Doctor, do you remember that Icame here with you to get some medicine?’ ‘*Gracious! So you did. of my head.”’ He pulled open the door of his book-case, and se- lected three bottles, from which he made up a pre- scription, tbat he handed to Dick, with the remark that it would settle his nerves, and relieve the pain in his head. “All right, doctor,” answered Dick, as he stepped ew to the other end of the room to exchange a words with Clara, *“ Halloa! Where's that bottle? Iam sure I put it in here. Surely those fellows would not steal that!’’ ‘* But they would and they did,”’ put in Dan, “I saw them take it.”’ ** What good could it be to them?” ‘* No good, perhaps, unless they wanted to de- stroy evidence of an attempted crime,” said Dan. ‘*No one would want to do that, except one of two ‘men,’ answered Dr. Horre, glancing half-sus- piciously in the direction of Dick, who wasin esrn- est conversation with Clara, and did not observe the look. ‘* The man that took that bottle does, I presume, desire to destroy the evidence.” ‘* Then it must have been that—” “Sam Walker, general] umpire of yesterday’s ball game, Yes, but not a word now, if you please. I'll explain later on,” an- swered Dan, in a low voice. Dr. Horne, mystified beyond expression, could only nod an acquiescence, and admit to himseif oy the game was getting altogether too deep for m. Norah sat with her mouth open, trying hard to comprehend the drift of the conversation, but un- successfully. A few more whispered words to Clara, and Dick Scott, with a ferewell to Dan and Dr. Horne, beck- oned to Norah, and left the house, * A bright young man, that; but Iam no judge of physiognomy if he isn’t worried about something,” observed the doctor. ‘It would be strange if he were not, papa, after the way you treated bim half an hourago,”’ rejoined Clara, with a little pout. ‘** My dear, your old father has beenin the world many years, and he is not over-surprised when those he would have trusted implicitly prove to be unwor- thy of his confidence.”’ he conversation was taking rather an unpleasant turn, Dan Manly thought, as he bade the doctor and his daughter good-morning, with a promise to be back at eleven o’clock in the evening, ready to start for the rendezvous on the railroad track at midnight. ‘You say my father wants to see me, eh, Norah?” said Dick, as he walked around the corner to his own home, * Yis, sorr, an’ faith, if yez will let me say so, he do be ina bad humor. Wid all the row Oi had wid that thafe who rinned up the shtairs, divil a wan of him Kim out of his room to see phwat the ruction was. * Ah)” Dick Scott knew his father too well to be sur- sr pe at this. Mr. Richard Scott, Sr., was a digni- ed gentleman, who would not consider it his busi- ness if his house was on fire, provided it did not reach his own room. ‘Well, sir, what is the matter with your head?" asked a stern, well-preserved man of perbaps sixty years of age, as Dick, witha face almost as white as the bandage over his forehead, stood in the library of his father and waited tu be questioned. ‘Some rascal attacked me on the street, I <u pose for purposes of robbery, but I escaped with nothing more than a broken head.” ‘“H’m! Respectable!” ‘* But, father, I could not help it. I didn’t want to be knocked down and stunned, or—"” “There, that will co,’’interrupted the other, im- patiently. “It is a very strange thing, though, that you will persist in getting into scrapes contin- ually, eet es me and—and—inconveniencing yourself, Dick shrugged his shoulders. His father was evidently annoyed about something, and was pre- pared to find fault with everybody and everything, ‘Is there anything that you want me to do, father?’ he asked, submissively. ‘Yes, thereis. A quantity of unset diamonds —” Dick started. ** What’s the matter? Cold? You hed bettershut the window. Young men nowadays have such miserable constitutions that they are just as likely to shiver in July as in January.” ‘No, father, {am not cold. Why the temperature in this room is over eighty at least," “I should think so—ninety-two, according to this thermometer on my table. Eut never mind about that. There are unset diamonds, brought to Al- bany by a young man, Danicl Manly, 1 think his name is,’ Here he took aletter from the table in front of him, and referred to it, with the top of a penholder running down the lines. Yes, Manly; that’s right. I believe, by the i I have heard of him in connection with base-ball in Albany, but I never saw him, that I am aware of.” That is right, father. He is a ball-player. He known ¢s Slicker, the : wf . > a, ae : ' tart ‘ * “ ‘ All this shaking up I've had in the last half-hour completely knocked it out : + fy. sy - : : > » ® . oy en : bat esyD ey ~~ ve >" nk) Fes ‘ N ~ oe Sa eS 1i isa member of the Albany Club now. He has a double-curve that makes him a terror in the pitcher’s box, and—” Dick grew enthusiastic as he told of Dan’s ability, but his father interrupted him, coldly: “Well, this is not the time for dissertations upon base-ball. These diamonds are consigned to me for safe-keeping by acustomer of mine in New York, a lady, who thinks, wisely, that the bank of Scott : Golden & Co., is as safe a depository as she can find * anv where.” Dick Scott’s breath camo and went in short, quick gasps. This was a revelation to him that he would never have suspected in his wildest dreams. ** Well. father?” “This Dan Manly has not come.” ** When did you expect him?” ‘‘This morning. That is, the 28d of July—the day on which the diamonds were to reach me,” “Tt is not noon yet. He may be here before long,”’ faltered Dick. *‘Here’s a gintleman to see you, sort,” broke in Norah, as she unceremoniously opened the door and entered the room. ** Who is it?”’ ‘“‘He sez his name is Manly, sorr.” Then, in a stage whisper to Dick Scott, “Sure, it’s Double Curve Dan himself, ef you'll bel’ave me.” * Show him up,’? commanded the banker. “ Father, Dll go, if you don’t want me,”’ said Dick, as he moved toward the door. **But I do want you. Stay where you are. I have something very important for you to do.” The young man put bis hand to his wounded head, He felt : s if he could not bear any more excitement’ ‘*Oh, my trouble is more than I can bear,” he eee “*T’'ll confess all.”” Then, aloud: “ Father, ‘“Good-morning, Mr. Scott, broke in the cheery voice of Dan Manly, as the young detective stood in the doorway. ‘‘You do not know me. I presume, but Iam very familiar with your appearance. One of the most prominent men in Albany, of course—"* “There, there!’ interrupted Mr. Scott, Sr. ‘Let us get to business.” A thorough man of the world, if there was any- thing the banker detested it was the slightest sus- picion ox flattery. The detective saw this, and taking the chair pointed to by Mr. Scott, he took out a ncte-book, and referred to it for a minute, while Mr. Scott sat patiently back in his arm-chair, waiting until his visitor was ready to speak. As for Dick, he was the picture of abject misery. He felt that it was only a question of a few minutes when his crime would be exposed, and then— He could not think any further. He felt that his crime was known to the world, and that the hour of retri- bution had come. Bitterly he was expiating the evil into which he had, step by step, been led. His conscience was an avenging demon, from whom there was no escape. Dan at last, with his note-book in his hand, ad- dressed himself to the banker: ‘“* Mr. Scott, I was sent from New York, on the 2ist of July, with unset diamonds of the value of $10,000, the pooner of Miss Eugenia Bulger, to be put in the hands of Richard Scott, Ereq., of the firm of Scott, Goulden & Co., bankers, of Albany.” ‘“Yes,’’ acquiesced Mr. Scott, nodding his head gently as the detective proceeded. “The diamonds I carried with me in a black sachel,’’ continued Dan, “ Howly saints!” muttered Norah O’Connor, who had taken the liberty of remaining in the room on the pretense of dusting. She was a special pi otcgee of Mr. Scott and his late wife, and bad been in the family for a considerable time, until she had what she called a ‘fallin’ out” with the banker, and went to the American Hotel for a few weeks. Now, that she had come back again, she resumed her familiar footing in the house naturally. ‘*'You carried them in a black sachel, eh? Well? said the banker, quickly. 4: At the hotel, 1 put the sachel under my pillow, and “Och! Look at Mr. Dick!” cried Norah, as she ran over to the young man. Dick looked at her wildly a moment, and then fell from his chair to the floor, in a deadly swoon. CHAPTER XI A SLIDE. THB young man had lardly reached the floor when his father was at his side. *“What’s the matter, boy? What'’sthe matter? Y ‘3 guess he must have been more badly hurt than f - thought,” said the banker, anxiously. There wag : no trace of sternness in his voice now, for in hig Zi heart of hearts. his own Dick was bis idol, though he but seldom allowed his fcelings to be seen. Dan brought a glass of water from the hydrant in a corner of a room behind a screen, and it took but a few seconds to revive the patient, and seat him, pone and trembling, but otherwise recovered, on @ sofa. ‘Too much heat, eh, Dick?’ asked his father, Pe peeeonny. “IT guess you raced too much on that ball game yesterday, too.” “ Idon’t know, father. Perhaps I had better go to my room and lie down.” “ No, stay here, whereI can see you. I don't care about trusting you by yourself, while you are so weak. If you are not well enough to listen to busi- ness, then Iwill not treuble you. But just sit still a ie s0fa while I finish my affair with Mr. Man« ' Dick bowed his head. 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