Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 716 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

” y + OnRK” & li- the street in front of the house was black with people. Dick pushed tbrough to the door, and was ad- mitted as before, He passed immediately down to the basement, The old domestic was there. ‘I see you bear up well under all this excite- ment,” Dick observed. ** A body can do what a body has to do,” was the response, ** But how is it with poor Miss Roylan?” the detective inquired, ‘* Does sbe hold out yet?” **'Yes; but for the life of me I don’t see how she doesit. She has changed—you wouldn’t be- lieve how she has changed.” ‘* How do mean changed? What is different about her?” ** I have the idea that she is onbalanced in the mind, or is gettin’ so. why, she won't hardly leave me out of her sight, when she has no other company ’round.” ** Well, it is the borror of the affair, We can’t wonder at that.” ‘And she don’t sleep at night; leastways she didn’t last night.” “That is natural, too. No doubt she will employ more help, now, in order to have you with her all the time,” ** Yes; she is going to do that, sir, She told me so this mornin’,’ ‘It is a wise thing, But, what I wanted to ask you, there js nothing new in regard to the mystery, is there?” . ‘“Not a thing, sir. It is the same as ever. Bat, then, there can’t be, for it is plain enough who done the crime, and that is all we want to know.” . To this Dick agreed, and after some further words exchanged, left her. The hour for the funeral soon came, after that, and Dick took careful note of everything that fell under his observation. Susan popes was present, of course, clad in deepest black, her face hid behind a vail, and she trembled and tottered so that two wo- men had to assist her. She did not look at the dead when the coffin was opened, nor did she once lift her vail from her face, Dick noted that the arrangements were indi- cative of the Catholic faith, anda priest was in attendance, a young man, é‘ When the body was carried away, the com- pany following, Dick took the chance to make a thorough exploration of the house, The police were in charge of the place, and everything was free to him, The old servant was one of the two women who had assisted the aged chief mourner, and no one remained save the officers, Dick looked almost everywhere, the officers aiding bim all they were able. But the search was fruitless, Not a single suspicious thing was discovered, and certainly nothing to strengthen the suspicion against Susan Roylan, that sus- picion which had forced itself upon the detec- tive’s mind, Perhaps he was disappointed, but if he was, no one with ‘bim could detect it, but all were struck with the thorough way in which he did his work, By the time the women could be expected back, he had finished, and was standing in the hall talking with the officers, when there camea ring at the bell. ne of the policemen opened the door, and there was a treed woman, with something sug- gestive of a housemaid about her looks, Deadwood Dick immediately recognized his noble little ally, Kodak Kate. No look of recognition ed between them, and Kate asked for Miss Roylan. Sbe was informed that she had not yet return- ed from the funeral, and was let into the rear sitting-room to await her coming, Dick wanted to know what the result of this move would be and waited in the hall, still talk- ing with the policemen, until the women re- turned, And it was not long after that when the result was evident. Kodak Kate followed the older domestic down to the basement, and Dick going down soon after was informed that she had been evgaged. Satisfied on this point and knowing that he need have no further concern for anything of importance that was to be brought to light there, Dick set out to work in another direction, CHAPTER XIII. _ PLAYING FOR POINTERS. DEAaDWoop Dick was ere long at the resi- dence of Crandal Ingerslee, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. The door was opened in response to his ring by the same trim-looking gir] in the white apron and smart cap, whom we have seen before, ‘‘Is Mr. Crandal Ingerslee at home?’ Dick inquired, e did not want to sea the man, but made this inquiry to be sure of his ground before pro- ceeding further, ‘** No, sir; he is not.” So he was informed, promptly enough, ** Then perhaps Mrs. Ingerslee is at home,” he added, ‘* Yes, sir,” the girl admitted; ‘*she is within, sir. Will you see her?” ‘“* IT desire to see her, yes;” Dick admitted cor- rectingly. ‘‘Tell her a gentleman from the lawyers’ office,” Directing him to the hall seat, the girl disap- appeared, soon returning to admit him into the reception room, as seemed to be the rule of the house, ln a little time the woman came down. Dick recognized her immediately as the origi- nal of the photograph in his pocket. ** You desire to see me?” she asked, ‘* Yes, madam,” Dick responded, **T am here on a matter of importance,” ** What is it, sir? if I may ask.” ‘**It concerns the arrest of Howard Crand- ford, madam.” The woman paled, and appeared ready to fall ina faint, so great was the shock she experi- enced, / - an dropped upon a chair, trembling in every imb. ‘*I—I know nothing about that,” she gasped, Dick smiled grimly. ‘*T happen to know better,” he declared, ** What do you know?” ‘*] know that Howard Crandford owed you a thousand dollars, That in order to discharge the debt, be entered Phoebe Roylan’s room to steal the money, Being detected in the theft, he murdered the woman in order—” ‘*'No, no!” the woman interrupted, excitedly, ** he did not kill her!” ‘** How do you know he did not, madam?” ‘* He has told me so,” The woman was unable to hold out longer, sg the searching eyes of Dead wood Dick upon er. ** Well, are you willing to try to save him?” Dick asked. **T can’t, oh! I can’t,” the woman cried de- spairingly. ‘** You believe he did not do the murder?” ‘*T am sure he did not.” **But he will hang, unless every effort is made to save him,” ‘*T know, I know; but what can I do?” **'You will have to tell all you know about the matter. It must be shown and proven why he entered the house at that late hour.” ‘*But that will send him to the gallows, sure. He has told meso. I cannot do that, sir, indeed I can not. Besides, he would not want me to, [ know,” ‘We are not considering what he wants,” de- clared Dick, ‘*A suspicion of the murder has fallen upon another person, but it must be shown why Howard Crandford was there.” ‘* Upon whom has suspicion #fallen?” “I will not disclose that to you, but it is true.” ‘ But I cannot reveal the truth, sir; I will not doit. My husband would kill me were he to know.” ‘“What is Howard Crandford to you?” de- me Dick, . ! spare me, spare me!” was the a I, “You must confess all,” Dick ineinted, ae will be better for you todo so, I assure you. ” ‘But my busband! He will kill me if he ever learns. No, no! I cannot tell, I will not tell. Howard Crandford bas forbid my telling. “ ‘Then my duty is plain,” warned Dick, ‘‘ You must be arrested and held with him answerable for the crimes, You may take your choice;a confession may save you the arrest.” The woman dropped her face upon her hands, weeping. ‘ apr did you ever learn? she sobbingly in- quired, ‘“‘ Crime cannot be hidden,” was the response, ‘* And if I tell you, will you spare me?” . ‘‘I make no promise. If you are innocent you may escape,” ‘** And I am innocent, innocent of any part in this robbery or murder,” , “e aoe me, ee = is pe prisoner to you? must know that point, or [ cannot accept your shh ay oh na ; nid @ was my—my lover, before I married Mr. Ingerslee,” 11 *‘I thought so. Perhaps he is your lover still, and you are oot blameless in all respects.” ‘‘No, no! Heis my worst enemy!” So the woman cried, and she looked up, her eyes flashing. ** Then war need you hesitate about exposing him, and let him suffer as he deserves?” Dick knew well enough why, but be wanted to draw the woman into further statements, if he could, ‘*Can’t you understand?’ shecried. ‘‘ He was my lover, as I have confessed to you. Must I say more? He would betray me to my busband, who, in his jealous fury, would murder me,” ~ But, this money ?” ‘**T borrowed it from my husband to lend to Crandford.” ‘** He forced you to do that?” ae ** And still he had the honor, to call it that, to do a deed of crime to pay 1t back to you. How do you account for that?” ‘** He—he loves me.” ‘Hal now I begin to see light ahead. He forced you to lend the money, using his know- ledge of something of your life to threaten with, and you borrowed that sum from your husband, giving some excuse,” ‘Yes, yes. And I had promised to pay it back at a certain time, and Howard had regard enough for me to make every desperate effort to get it and put it into my hands,” ‘*The most honorable dishonorable fellow I ever heard of,” Dick mused. ‘* But, you will spare me the exposure, will you not?” the woman pleaded, anxiously. ‘*'You will have to trust to the march of events for that,” Dick answered. ‘‘ I can prom- ise nothing. In what regard do you hold this man Crandford?” ‘*T hate him!” was theery. ‘‘Ilhate him, but fear him, He holds the destruction of my hap- piness in his hands,” ‘** And you do love your husband?” **1 do, truly and honestly. Ob! spare me, if you can!” Deadwood Dick had his doubts about this statement, and with good reason. The woman was one whose face did not im- press him favorably. It was a face too strongly stam with deceit, Yet,” Dick reminded, ‘‘ you thought enough of Crandford to visit him at the jail.” ** | have not—” **But you have,” insisted Dick. ‘* You have admitted seeing him since the crime was dis- covered. You went there in disguise of deepest mourning. Do not try to deny facts we are sure of,” * Well, I admit it, though I de not see how it ever came known to you. But I went to see about thismoney. I wanted to.know whether it was blood-stained or not,” ‘* And what did you learn?” ‘* He denied even having stolen it,” ‘* And that satisfied you. Still you seem to know he had stolen it.” ‘* Doesn’t every thing indicate it?” “The same as it indicates his guilt of the greater crime.” ‘*But [am sure he did not do that deed of blood, sir. He would not kill the very woman who would have willed him a’fortune if she could.” 1g Dick was coming to a point he desired to reach. ‘But the evidence against him,” he urged. Tie are we going to get over that? It is itive. ‘The only thing positive about it is that be was seen coming out of the house, Only for that he would never have been ts Fogg pad ‘*T am not so sure about that, Mrs, Ingerslee, There is the blood on his arm, or rather his sleeve; and then the miesing knife.” ‘** The blood I can account for—” Ming caught herself quickly, and stopped short, ‘*You can account for that, eh?’ observed Dick, ‘*‘ How do you account for it, then, Mrs. Ingerslee.” ‘The words came out without thought, sir,” the woman tried to explain, with confusion. | ‘They mean nothing. I was thinking—” ‘* Nonsense!” cried Dick, ‘Tell me what you know, and at once,” With this he displayed a pair of handcuffs, twirling them in his fingers as he eyed the wo- man narrowly, It bad the desired effect. ‘* He—he was in this house that night, sir,’ she confessed. ‘He had come to money. I bad left a door open so that he could enter. He came to my room, left the money, : ‘ rn ee eee ay me the: ~ . 7 ihe tg ON ae - ' h + + - ’ cbooks. ete