Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 660 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

Fr a = wa —_—- “o> —~—_ - a Re ————s ain ae Maite tole —* ae ~” = : tr tyme _ —— a ee oo - ’ ee — —— _ ~— - oe - Murray Hill, and swear that 10 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case. as If the trio were in the conspiracy, then it Frank Lester through one of them. CHAPTER XII. SUSPICIONS. , WHueEN he reached the Murray Hill Hotel Dick sought the head clerk, with whom he had conversed on his first call. He was a pleasant, accommodating man, and Dick did not hesitate to approach him. ‘Are you well acquainted with Mr. Fred Ferris, sir?” Dick inquired. ‘‘No, not well acquainted, although I have seen the gentleman frequently.” ‘Have you seen him around the hotel very recently, do you remember?” ** No, not since yesterday.” ‘« Does he call here often?” ‘Yes, almost every day.” ‘‘Do you happen to know whom ke comes to call upon?” ‘‘ Miss Lester, I presume, as they occasion- oT, go out riding.’ his was evidence enough to satisfy Dick that English Jack was right: Fred Ferris was a traitor, and a colleague of Louise! Dick did not attempt to call upon the lat- ter. He wanted to see Ferris, first. But, whether purposely or not, Ferris dic not show himself, so Dick waited all day, till dark, and then, disgusted, he went back to the Morton House. Here, contrary to his expectations, he found Ferris engaged in a game of billiards. ‘‘Why, hello!” he exclaimed, as he ran the game out on his opponent. ‘‘ Where have tn been? I’ve been waiting for you, all ay.” ‘* ’ve been searching or rather waiting to meet a traitor,’ replied Dick, with sarcasm— ‘*a traitor, by the name Ferris.” “What do you mean?” _ ‘* Just what I say. Have you found Bill Breck, yet?” ‘No; he’s not to be found anywhere in the city.” ‘‘T presume it would be hard for you to find him when you have not been looking for him, Mr. Ferris.” “I do not«know what you mean, Of course I have been looking for him.” ** Of course you have not. Serving Louise, and taking her carriage riding is not what I supplied you with money for. You have not been looking for Breck, at all, for it is more than likely that you know where he is, and what has become of Frank Lester.” _* This is infamously false.” ‘It is true.” ‘‘ Who has been stuffing you up with such a pack of lies?” ‘«My informant, sir, was the hotel clerk.” ‘‘Then, he is a liar, too.” *“Do you deny having been to the hotel?” ‘‘No. Ihave been there several times in hope of running across Breck.” . **TDo you deny calling upon Louise?” 3 “‘Tdo. Haven’t even caught a glimpse of er.” | **You deny, also, then, that any of these charges are true?” | ‘‘Ay! ay! But listen: I swear upon m word of honor, as a gentleman, that the fol- lowing charges are not true: First, that I have not been searching for Bill Breck; second, that | know where he is; third, that I ever had anything to do with him or Louise; fourth, that I saw, or had anything todo with Louise during my visit to the hotel; and fifth, that I have been in a convey- ance of any kind, with Louise, I swear that these charges are unjust and infamous lies, who ever uttered them, Some one evidently has been trying to blackcap me.” ‘* Are you willing to go before the clerk of you had not called upon Louise?” : “Yes, I am!” ‘* And that you never had her out carriage- riding?” ‘‘I’d swear to it, before a justice of the ought not to be difficult to get tidings of | peace.” ‘‘Then we will start at once.” ‘** You are foolish!” ‘* How so?” ‘* Because day-clerks in all the big hotels go off duty at six o’clock. It is now eight. You would not stand one chance out of ten of finding your interesting informant.” ‘*T have more than one.” ‘What's the name of the other?” ‘*T refuse to disclose his name.” ‘‘Well, it is my right to demand to know!” ** Why so?” ‘ Because you have preferred grave charges against me, which would ruin my soci standing and good name.” ‘*Cannot help that. You have been seen in the company of one who is to be arrested by me, on a serious charge, and it is my duty to arrest you as her confederate on the charge of abduction, with possible murder. This, as a United States criminal detective, ; am enabled todo. Are you aware of this act?” ‘“‘T know nothing ahout it. If I am arrested, it will be a dear job for you, let me tell you.” ‘*Ban! Now, see here! On conditions, I can save you from immediate arrest and incarceration.” ‘‘ What are those conditions?” ‘‘Promise me that you will remain on the inside of this hotel—not venturing outside— until you are wanted by me, and you will not be molested, and nv one will be the wiser for what has passed between us. Do this, and you may pass some time yet without ex- posure or arraignment!” ‘‘T promise, faithfully!” ‘‘Remember! the hotel detective, and an aide will watch you, and any attempt on your part to escape, will result in your arrest. ‘In the mean time you will have a chance of meditating on the advisability of turning State’s evidence!” ‘‘Do not fear!” replied Ferris. ‘‘If lam under the ban of unjust suspicion, I shall not attempt to escape, and thus confirm the suspicion. Iam much obliged to you for your leniency, under existing circumstances, As for turning States evidence. I cannot very well turn, when I have nothing to divulge!” ‘*Oh, you can’t foolme. Youknow more of this case than you care to acknowledge. I'll give a winning horse on that. If you want to save your bacon, you will expose the whole fraud, for the whole three of you will be convicted on what evidence I have already secured.” ‘* What evidence is that?” ‘Time enough to learn that when you stand before the bar of justice. Good-night. Keep your promise to remain here and you will not be molested.” ‘‘I will remain here. When you have gone deeper into the matter, you will be pre- pared to exonerate me.” ‘‘T hope so. Good-night!” ** Good-night.” Then they separated, Dick going in quest of the hotel detective, whom he soon found wandering about the building, apparently aimlessly but with an eye to everything and on everybody. Dick had already formed his acquaintance, so there was no need of introduction. ‘Hello, Fleming,” saluted Dick, as, pro- fessionally they shook hands. ‘‘ What’s the news? Anything doing?” “Nothing unusual. In fact things are very quiet.” ‘‘Well, I’ve something to keep one’s blood from stagnating. You know Fred Ferris?” ‘*T reckon I do.” ‘Well, I want you to get an assistant, and either you or he watch Ferris constant- ly, and arrest him if he tries to leave this hotel.” 4 ‘ ich ~~, i.) Soe eS u * : a) . + ‘« What for?” | ‘‘T have him under surveillance for par- ticipation in a crime, which, at present, looks like a murder, I did not lock him up be- cause he promised not to leave the hotel un- til he was wanted. If he attempts to escape, nail him, and send for me.”’ ‘‘ All right; ll do so. He knows better than to try and escape from me.” < So Dick left his prize to Flemitig’s care, and went into the office. + ae He could practically do nothing more un- til he heard from English Jack. bd He intended to leave Louise for the last arrest, and wished to give Ferris time to turn States evidence. | If Ferris did turn State’s evidence, and gave away all the information he possessed, Dick felt sure he could close up the case. The only thing that annoyed him was the uncertainty hanging over the fate of Frank Lester. Was he dead, or was he living? He might not be fifty miles away, and alive and hearty. | In that case he might defend the prison- ers, and Dick would be placed in an uncer- tain light, and unpleasant pee On the other hand, if he should not be found, and no actual criminal proof could be established against the prisoners, they would go free, and Louise, if she held the policies, would get the fortune. What would Dick get? Nothing but trouble and the satisfaction of having made his first real detective fail- ure. : This was the way the matter now seemed to stand. But, only over one_night. Bright and early the next morning, Eng- lish Jack put in 1n appearance and his very aspect betokened good news even before he had spoken. ee CHAPTER XIII. DEADWOOD DICK’S DROP. Dick immediately seized him by the arm, and led him to the smoking-room, where, with good cigars he sat down for a con- ference. ‘* Now, then, fire away,” said Dick, ‘‘ and let me know what news you’ve got, for I’m anxious to know.” “Well,” said Jack, taking a long puff at his weed, ‘‘I found Breck—caught him in the act of leaving the city, by railroad; so I left, also, but I didn’t go in the same car. ‘‘T watched him, however, through an end window. ‘« When he got off I got off, also. An old horse and buggy was waiting for him, driven bya lank countryman, Breck got in and was driven off into the country, ‘<'The old horse could not go very fast, so I foliered. : ‘A few miles away we sighted a piece of woodland. 7 ‘We left the main road there and crossed the plowed field, and entered a sort of wood r ‘‘ We went to the center of the woods, “Here .is a cleared Lge of ground, only meagerly cultivated, and an old stone house of the rambling sort, that may have been built during Revolutionary times, for it looks more like a fort than a dwelling, and is so well built that it would resist a strong , attack. “Into this building Breck went, while the countryman went in, too. “Directly, four long-legged, raw-boned countrymen came out, and began to prowl around to see if there were any spies in the neighborhood. my ‘Finding aone—for I had skinned up @ tree—they went back into the house. «‘There’s more windows than anything else about the house, and I did not dare ven- ture out into the clearing, for fear of dis- covery; so I waited and watched. — ’ ‘comicbooks.co ae ti ‘or EA TN . ec od = ae — - d ‘ hans a 4 , L _| a