Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 716 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. oe was going away when my husband heard him,’ ‘* Ah-ha!” ‘He sprung after him, and they met and Reg in the hall, where they had a furious fight. My busband got the worst of it, and was left bleeding and half senseless on the floor of the ball, That was when and whbere Howard ‘Crandford got blood upon bis sleeve.” ‘*But the knife,” Dick intimated, ‘‘ Did he use a knife in fighting your husband?” ‘* Heavens! how did you know about that?” the womancried. ‘“ Are you gifted with powers more than human? He did havea knife, butdid not use it, I found it in the hall, while the struggle was going on, and hid it,” ‘*Give me that knife immediately,” Dick com- manded, The woman rose to get it, and Dick smiled at the success of his ruse, He bad never hoped to strike a truth with a shot so at random. CHAPTER XIV, SUSAN ROYLAN’S WILL. Two things had been upon Dick’s mind all along. One had been, to account for the blood upon the prisoner’s sleeve; the other, to learn what had become of his knife. Now, it would seem, the first-mentioned bad been explained. = yipony. what he had concerning that night’s work, on the part of Howard Crandford, he had come to the conclusion that he had left his lodgings with the knife in his possession, nowing the danger of the evi) mission upon which he was bent, it did not seem likely that he would go unarmed, And what handier or better weapon could be have than the bowie-knife? He bad taken it, of course, as Dick had be- lieved. And now that point made sure of, bad he used that weapon upon his aunt? And was he, after all, the murderer? Presently the woman returned and laid the knife in Dick's band. Dick looked at it critically. {t was dark with long disuse, and there cer- tainly were no recent stains upon it, or evidence ‘that it bad been cleaned. Taking a small rule from his vest pocket, Dick measured the width of the blade, and found it to be an inch and three-quarters. This was just the size of the weapon with eo the murder had been done, a strong point. The woman watched this operation, and when he had done, Dick told her of the coincidence, to call it sucb. ‘‘ Heavens!” she gasped, “then I shall have hanged him!” =» ‘* it is a terrible piece of evidence against him, that is true,” Dick agreed. “Oh! why did I not think of this before? Why did 1 ever mention this to you, sir? Go! Go at once, and leave tne)” ‘“‘T am about ready to take my leave,” Dick assured, ‘ But before I fo let me impress one thing upon your mind. That is, that if you are called upon to testify, you had better tell the bh truth, It wili be better for you if you 0. ‘*Go! Thatisall I ask of you, sir, My hus- band may appear at any moment, and would discover all, ou do nct know the danger you are in’ Should he find you here he would kill you.” Dick smiled at that. that score. . “Two might play at that game,” he re- minded, ‘* But, as I have no excuse for staying longer, I will now go. Bear in mind what I have said.” Little more was said, beyond another appeal on the part of the woman, to be spared any ex- re, and Dick was soon away from the ouse and making bis way in the direction of the e ‘* Well,” he mused, as he hastened along, ‘‘ my still hunt is progressing. I am getting at facts by piecemeal. Perhaps I sball have the whole thing in my hands after awhile. But what of Howard Crandford? Only one thing stands be- tween him and the ro of my other suspicion, ets, * at the jail, be was again admitted into the cell. ‘* Well, what do ycu think of this?’ he asked the ama displaying the bowie-knife, _ * Where did you get that?’ the man excitedly demanded. ’“T found it where you lost it,” was the an- ewer. ‘In the residence of Crandal Ingerslee.” He had little fear upon ** Curse you)” the prisoner cried, ‘ you could | , of 7 fs é : ‘Moree a) ~ to ee Ay ' ie f p+) 4 v Le -! «bs ity 3 . hy , Fy ras ce Jae. ena ak hee P. 9 he s * : ‘ x I ‘ss wet ‘s &. .* Ss 7). | ow ea eke re r ‘ : . . SERGE aa i yy A . « 4 ; ex Pate om ¥ ae - . - 5 4 ef Fe ae (¥ ~~ : Ps : VE th, ue fa of A ote . ec mw i en’ ; and that is, the truth. | bring a secret out of the middle of the earth, I sae Do you know this is going to hang me?’ ‘*No, I don’t know that it will,” responded | Dick, easily, ‘“‘though it is a terrible point against you. Do youstill declare that you are innocent?” “Tdo. I still swear that Iam innocent. This blade never touched the body of that poor wo- man. ‘*But it was in your possession at the time when you were in the house.” you have cornered me, and I must admit it, ‘* And you lied when you said you did not know where it was, It all tells badly against ou,” ** And wouldn’t avy man have lied—lied like a trooper—under the same circumstances? [| think so. I knew that this one thing, more than any other, would condemn me, if it needed anything further.” “*T have with Celia ‘‘ And of course you know everything, now.” ‘* Everything except one.” ** And that is—” ‘* Who killed Phoebe Roylan. termined to make one more effort to find out, Do you still assert that you bave no suspicion who did the deed?’ ‘‘Tdo. I am puzzled more than I can ex- ress,” ‘*Has itever struck you been Dick whispered a name, ngerslee,” informed Dick. But I am de- that it may have ‘*Good heavens! You cannot mean it!” ‘*T do mean it, and only one thing will lead me to drop the matter and look no further.” ‘+ What is that one thing?” been ferreted out by you, and there is no longer reason why I should be silent,1 am going to make a fight for my life.” ‘That decides it, then. I go on, and press the matter to the end. If | am wrong in my 8.s- picion, however, I am afraid it will go hard with yous" ‘“AndsoamI, But, since you have mention- ed it, Ido not think it is impossible, But it is horrible—horrible !” This was uttered with such genuine force and see that it decided Deadwood Dick for once and allin the opinion that Howard Crandford was indeed innocent of the awful crime. From the jail, Dick went to a place agreed upon between him and his ally to which word to him was to be sent, When he reached there he was justiu time to meet a messenger with a note for him. Paying the bearer well.and telling him to loiter around the Roylan ‘house in waiting for anotber job of the same kind, Dick opened the note and read it. It informed him that Susan Roylan had sent for the lawyers to come to the house and make ber will, which she bad decided to bave done im- mediately. And a hint was given Dick that he might invent some way to come with them, n this last Dick saw that once again did his little helper and he agree fully upon a point. Leaving word at the place concerning bis in- tended movements, Dick lost no time in present- ing himself at the lawyers’ office, Both the lawyers were present when he en- tered, and were talking together in an excited way. And Dick was with them before the ‘iva bad time to think about intercepting im, “You are going to make Susan Roylan’s will{” Dick asked, ‘*How did you know that?’ they both de- manded., ‘* It is my business to know a little of every- thing that is going ou in the matter,” Dick quietly returned, ‘* Yes, we are going there,” was the acknowl- edgment, then. ‘* But we are debating what ex- cuse to offer for delaying the signing of this will. There will be no reasonable excuse for de- laying it.” “*T bave changed my mind about that,” Dick apprised. A word of warning in tbe note from Kodak Kate bad led him to this. _ “* You have!” in surprise, **'Yes,” ‘*And for what reason? You were deter- mined upon it only a short time ago,” “*T bave my reason, rest assured, Besides, have you any rigbt to alter any plans this wo- Pp ” ¥ A confession from you that you did it your- self, ‘‘ Which you will never get. I did not kill Phoebe Roylan; and now that other things have just come from having an interview man may bave? Hasn’t she full and sole right to dispose of this wealth as she sees fit?” ‘She certainly has, sir; and it was upon that we were considering. She has the right and power, and the only thing we could do would be to make some delay in responding,” ‘‘Let us go, and at once, and let the will be made, I will go with you as a witness whom you have chosen.” ‘You? She will recognize you, and—” ‘‘ Will she?’ And then and there Deadwood Dick made a change in his appearance that caused the two old ‘gentlemen to look at bim in amazement, Had ‘they met bim upon the street, or had he entered their office in this disguise, they would never have suspected his identity. Oliver Upp, the office boy, almost dislocated his Jaws, so wide did he allow his mouth to drop open. _ “There is little danger that she will know you,” Samuel admitted, ‘‘ Come, and we will go and have the business over witb.” When they came to the house they were shown into the little rear sitting-room, where Susan Roylan was awaiting them, sitting stiff and pas- sionless, seemingly, in a great easy-chair. The window was open, to admit light, and Dick had a good chance to study the woman’s features, Her face seemed to picture a heart as cold and unfeeling as stone itself. “Who is this man?” she inquired, indicating Dick. ‘t Merely a person whom we have brought with us to witness the instrument,” Mr, Daniel an- swered, This seemed to satisfy ber, and Dick took a back seat where he was out of the way, but where he could observe everything. When the lawyers were ready, the old woman proceeded to dictate what they should write, and with the keenest judgment and sbowing of men- tal strength. A merely nominal sum was set apart for How- ard Crandford, provided he should be acquitted of the charge against him. Then everything else was lert to the woman, Mrs, Pratson. The will was‘ finally in order, and was duly signed and attested, after which it was given in- to the keeping of the lawyers. “ Now | am ready to die,” the woman sighed, letting go her will power and falling back into the chair, limp and seemingly exbausted; “ and I care not how soon the summonscomes, I want to join my sister in that better world, if I be per- mitted to enter there. Pray go, and leave me alone with my sorrow.” CHAPTER XV. LUCKY CLEW; QUICK WORK. DEADWOOD Dick was more puzzled than ever. Surely bis suspicion against Susan Roylan must be groundless, in spite of all the points that went to strengthen it, If guilty of the awful crime, could she talk like this, and act the part to such perfection? He did not deem it possible, And yet it was not by any means impossible, A woman capable of murdering her sister in cold blood, would certainly be equal to almost anything else, But these words bad about them the genuine ring as of coming from the beart, and Deadwood Dick was, as said, puzzled. Let us consider, for a moment, upon what ounds Dick’s suspicion had keen formed, _ First, it bad come like a flash upen bis mind, at his first meeting with the woman, It had re- fused to be driven cut, but bad gained a hold upon him, There was an impelling motive in the dispute the sisters had bad over their prop- erty. And then the aversion she had to looking upon the dead woman’s face, or of going to the room where the crime bad been done. “All these things bad lent their weight toward strengthening the suspicion, and once formed, it. In fact, hard to break away from it. pe AP se) ¥ the other, pia sg ory proof, one ee or could settle the vexing question. And that proof was what must be bad, and what the detective and his able little ally were i ro ems upon preys. ick accompan : and stopping ves exchange & word with Kodak Kate in the hall, followed them from the bouse. “Well,” observed Mr, Daniel, * that business is done.” “ And the will isa fact,” added Mr, Samuel, ‘Which seems to dispose of Howard Crand- ford’s chances, whetber innocent or not,” ob- served Dick. the lawyers from the room, © **Not if your suspicion proves correct,” said | Mr. Samuel. ‘ + Ld ’ a\ ' Weg a OY jeihe) elt aS ee wf) «& (4a, o ; ’ _ - wd ¥ ‘7 i (Et i. iE “In that case it can be success- as. € at a a E€DOOKS.CO “Me « sd A pe