Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 660 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

cue ee a a Rp gy — 4 I wish tot an expe Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case. ‘“‘T’ve no doubt of that, either. The very looks of him is enough to send him up to Sing Sing.” ‘‘He’s a tough customer, no mistake, Where did you run across him?” ‘* Down on the Bowery.” ‘* Did you speak to him?” “Yes. I treated him. I’ve gota man on his track’ and if anything conclusive can be found out against him, why, I'll nail him.” ‘‘ Bully, for you!” Dick ‘nade arrangements for Josiah to re- main at the hotel for a few days longer, which pleased the old man hugely. CHAPTER XI. THAT LETTER. THe next day, Dick called around at the office of the two companies where Frank Lester had got insured. hi the Prudential nothing was to be learn- ed. ‘We will seize and hold the policy, as soon as it is presented,” said the vice-presi- dent. ‘‘ We heartily commend your efforts to find Lester, and hope you will succeed in ascertaining whether or not he has met with foul play. We shall not honor the policy, until we find out what has become of him.” ‘Do not, and immediately the policy is presented, detain the party who presents it, until you can send for me.’ “We will.” | At the Manhattan office nothing was to be learned, except that an anonymous letter had been received, announcing the death of Frank Lester, at Laredo, Texas.” The letter bore no postal marks, and was unsigned. ‘ ‘*Do you take any stock in it?” asked our ero. | | ‘‘No, not the least. If there was any truth in it, why should there not be a signa- ture?” ~ ‘Prue, Can Isee the letter?” ‘** Certainly.” And the clerk produced it. It was in a feminine style of handwriting, and without place of sending, although dated |. two days before, and read as follows: “Frank Lester lies dead, in Lared® Texas, of ty- hoid fever. The policies will be presented by his eir’s attorney, for collection, af a reasonable period,” | ‘This would seem to indicate that they will not be presented direct, by Louise,” Dick remarked. « “No. If there has been any foul play, she will disguise her hand in it as much as possible. _The policy, when it arrives, will _ most likely be presented by a confederate of ~ hers, who will endeavor to establish the fact that he bought the policy from Lester, and that Lester is really dead, as reported.” ‘*Suppose this is proven?” “Then we have thirty days in which to hold the matter under consideration.” ‘And then—?” ‘* We shall have to honor the claim.” ** Will you write to Laredo?” “Certainly. We have an agent at San Antonio, and he will be instructed to visit Laredo, and find out the full particulars. As there are ten thousand dollars at stake, we Sere leave no stone unturned to investigate this.” ‘*Glad to hear that,” Dick declared, “‘ and -Lwill aid you all I can, you can rest assured ” ‘“Do so, Mr. Bristol. We shall certain] be glad of your assistance, and I can voual that the company will see you well paid for your services. We will notify you by mes- senger as soon as there are any new develop- ments in the case.” “Very well. press?” ‘We have.” “Then please give me a copy of this letter, riment,” | 25 “* Certainly, with pleasure. Here!”—and Have you a copying- Ape. \ v™ yet tt oct sy AS, AN of pa ve i ¢ ces j A ; he wet ie P . ‘ "| > - al : te + a | Fo) Rael aia geet 9 ; 5 + : pbs ~~ é oe a OO — eo __—C<—C''(_“8° the gentleman called to his clerk. copy made of this at once.” n a few minutes Dick was in possession of the desired copy. He then left the insurance office, and went back to the hotel, and to his room. ‘“‘ Now, Miss Louise, I'll put you to the test,” he muttered. ‘He produced some writing materials from his trunk, and indited the following, in a rude, scrawling hand: ** LovursE:—Where can I see ye at once, without coming to the hotel? I’m watched. Send written answer by messenger. *“* Brn. Breck.” Dick then called a messenger, and sent him with the note, with directions to bring back an answer. ‘‘ Maybe it won’t_work,” Dick muttered, ‘but I think it will.” The messenger was gone about an hour; when he returned to the hotel he handed Dick a sealed envelope. . Before opening it, Dick questioned the oy. i Did you see the lady?” ‘Yes, min. ‘‘What did she say when she opened the envelope and read the message?” ‘‘She didn’t say nothin’, but set down ata table and wrote areply. Then she gave me a quarter, and | came away.” Dick opened the envelope and spread the note out on the table. It was written on scented paper, and couched in the following language: ‘*Mr. R. M. Bristot:—Your decoy letter received. If you exp°ct to entrap meinto any scheme, you will get left. I am no fool, nor wiil I pay any further attention to any of your actions, And if you annoy me any morel will have you placed under arrest. Bear this in mind, and save yourself trouble. ‘“LovisgE LESTER.” Dick was not greatly surprised. He had expected some such an answer as this. He had not calculated upon. meeting Louise when he wrote to her; it was only to get a specimen of her chirography, and now he had got it! He compared the two letters. The chirography identically corresponded with that of the note to the insurance com- pany. ’ There was now no longer any doubt, in Dick’s active mind, as to the guilt of Louise. This letter alone was enough to convict her in his estimation. It now remained for him to hear from En- glish Jack and Fred Ferris before making an arrest, or more than one, as the case might be. The prospect of receiving any pay for his outlay and his services, from Louise, were of course now too distant to admit of any consideration. The same might be said of Frank Lester, in case he was found, for, if he had run through with his fortune, he-was not now likely to have any money to reward any one. The only hope, therefore, that Dick had for getting his money out of this venture, was from the insurance companies. If Frank Lester was found alive, they probably would not have to disburse ten thousand each for years to come, and the in- terest that would accumulate on these amounts, in the mean time, would be so enormous that they could well afford to re- ward Dick handsomely. So, at least, he reasoned. Fred Ferris was the first to putin an ap- pearance, from the ‘‘ trail,” and that was not until two days iater. He looked pretty well famished, and all his polish and flashiness seemed to have vanished. So they adjourned to thé dining-room, where, over a sumptuous repast and a bottle of wine, they discussed the situation. “* Well, I suppose you have lots of news?” Dick observed. ‘ _‘*Not much. I found out where Larrezo lives, No. — Mulberry street, He: runs a little one-horse grocery store. I have kep ‘“* Have a 9 a strict and vigilant watch, but there has been no more meetings between Larrezo and Bill Breck, nor has the Italian been away from his store since I saw you last. He has a pretty fair Italian reputation among his countrymen,.and if either of the men are guilty, you can depend upon it that it ain’t Larrezo,” ‘* Well, we can tell better about that when my other emissary comes in,” “Who is he?” ‘English Jack.” “That cut-throat? Why, he is the right hand pal of Bill Breck!” ‘‘He evidently don’t think much of his al.” ‘“‘Don’t you believe it! Breck can twist him around his thumb.” ‘‘All the same I think that English Jack will bring a good report!” ‘If you depend upon him, you can ex- cuse me, sir, I have served you well, but I can not serve a man who will employ a ruf- fian like this chap.” ‘“You are at perfect liberty to suit your own convenience. If you are tired of your job after the money I have paid you, you will know what to do. Iam not the man to dilly-dally with any one. When I say a thing, I mean it.” ‘Very well. I will thank you for noth- ing, as | have earned all I have received.” ‘‘'You' may receive less than yeu think, and again, you may receive more. However, your resignation Is accepted, in preference to that of English Jack.” Although Ferris did not like this, he arose from the table with his meal half finished, and left the room. He had hardly disappeared when English Jack entered, evidently searching for his employer. Sighting Deadwood Dick he at once ad- vanced to him. ‘‘Say,” he said. ‘‘ Wasn’t that Frank Lester a sort of a sport?” ae Ng ‘““Did he know a man named Ferris?” ‘Yes, I think so.” **Have you seen Ferris?” **Oh, yes; he’s looking after another por- tion of this insurance case forme.” ‘* Well, you can bet your boots on one thing!” ‘“* What is that?” ‘Ferris is playing you fora sucker. He has not been looking up any clews, at all. I spose you don’t know that he and Louise are pretty thick together, and that he has been spending the most of his time in her company?” ‘No, I was not aware of any such thing.” ‘** Such is the fact,” averred Jack. ‘“T even saw them out carriage-riding to- gether to-day.” ‘* Are you suré? an ‘‘Yes. They had a barouche, with liveried driver and footman!” Dick uttered a whistle of surprise. ‘‘ Well, here is a go!” he said. ‘‘It looks as if he too was inthis conspiracy.” ‘* You are right. gaged to Louise, as I reckon he is, you can bet he has got a hand in the plot.” ‘No doubt of it, now, I think, I shall, therefore, take to watching him myself, and will give you Bill Breck to look up. And when you do find him, keep him under your constant surveillance, until you report again to me!” ‘Very good. I will do so. I know all ” his resorts and it won’t take me long to find So English Jack once more took his de- parture, | Early the next day Dick set out on his mis- sion to shadow his shadow—Ferris. . Dick having formed a lasting impression against Louise, it was not so hard for him to believe in Ferris’s guilty complicity in her schemes, ‘Eom If Fred Ferris is en- | cbooks.com