Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 716 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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fully contested, But I doubt the correctness of that suspicion, now,” ** And so do I,” declared Mr. Daniel. ‘* You heard the woman’s parting words to us, Do you imagine & woman guilty of so heinous a crime could talk like that? Ido not.” ** My experience has taught me to trust little to appearances,” remarked Dick, ‘‘ for seeming angels often turn out to be very devils. But im- pressions, while often correct, are sometimes away off the truth, and it may be so in this case. I admit that I am mystified,” ‘* But what are you going to do about it?” asked Mr, Samuel. ‘‘Give me a little time,” answered Dick. “That woman’s guilt or innocence is going to appear before many days, maybe before many hours,” When he parted company with the lawyers, Dick went once more to the jail. It was his intention to inform Crandford that all hope was lost, and that his doom was about sealed, By that means, since the man had declared he would make a eo for his life, he hoped to draw something out of him more thaa hehad yet tuld, It was not unlikely that the fellow had some suspicion against some one, nor was it altogether improbable that he might know who really had done the crimne. Dick meant to make one more effort. When he arrived there he was none too soon, for the hour was about up when the jail would be closed against visitors for the day. But that would have made little difference in Dick’s case, perhaps. Still, he was well satis- fied to have it as it was. ** Your woman in black has been here again,” the jailer informed him. *“‘She has, eh?’ Dick made response, in sone surprise. ** Yes; ee gone away.” Dick was admitted, and the two passed along to the cell where Crandford was held prisoner. The jailer opened the door, and Dick was about to step in when he stopped short with a start of surprise. Instead of Howard Crandford, the cell held the woman, Celia Ingerslee! * Your prisoner is gone!” Dick cried. ** Gone! Greatest excitement prevailed immediately. The alarm was given, and a search was insti- tuted without delay. Deadwood Dick had not stopped a moment to speak to the woman, but bad hurried out and away. He understood the escape at a glance, The woman had put her ekirt, shawl, hat and heavy vail upon Crandford, and in the disguise he had walked boldly out. The jailer, never dreaming of such a thing be- ing attempted, had had no suspicion whatever until the discovery was made. Dick made all haste in the direction of the prisoner’s lodging, believing the prisoner would g° there immediately, for the one purpose of aying off the disguise, and perhaps to provide himself with means of esce This turn of events made the matter even more mysterious than ever. Now it looked as though Crandford’s guilt was positive. When he neared the destination in view he saw the disguised man ahead of him, walking as swiftly as was consistent with safety from exciting suspicion. And Dick saw something more, Behind the escaping prisoner, and keeping pace with him, was another man, whom from a description he had had of him, Dick recognized as Crandal Ingerslee. “Whew!” Dick whistled. ‘There is going to be a humming on the breeze now. I see through the where | thing. Ingerslee has follow- ed his wife to the jail, and thinks this is she. He must be blind as a bat, not to see the cheat.” The escaping prisoner went straight to his lodging, and let himself into the house with a key. in erslee followed, rung the bell, passed some words with the person who camo in response to the summons, and also entered. _ Deadwood Dick was right behind, and when the door was opened to him he displayed his badge and demanded to be shown as quickly as possible to the room that had been occupied by oward Crandford. The servant led the way, but before they had reached the door of the room the sounds of a struggle were heard. . Deadwood Dick was upon the scene quickly, and saw two men engaged in a desperate fight. With weapons in hand, the detective ordered them to desist, but Ingerslee paid no attention Deadwoo te bim, and it was clear that he was seeking the life of his antagonist. Seeing this to be the case, Dick had to inter- fere, which he did with no gentle hand. But the worst came of it. Suddenly the enraged husband turned upon him, displaying a strength Dick had not given him credit for, and while Dick was defending himself against his attack | the prisoner escaped, Craniford had grabbed up a hat, and tearing | off the skirt, darted out into the hall and away like a shot, sending back a laugh of derision as he disappeared, The struggle lasted for some moments, and by the time Dick had finally disengaged himself, and was trying to make the man understand that he was not in league with Crandford against him, Crandford had made good his escape, ‘*Curse my stupidity!” the man exclaimed. ‘““He has escaped me, I took you to be his friend, helping him to get away.” ‘“* Yes, he has got away from us,” agreed Dick, “‘but he will bave to be sharp to elude the police, His escape is known all over the city by this time.” ** And I took him to be my wife, fool that I was,” ‘“ What is this man to your wife?” Dick de- manded. ‘* What is he to her? Curse him, he is her lover! But I will have his life. I swear it!” ‘* Let us get back to the jail without delay,” advised Dick. ‘* Your wife is there, a prisoner in bis stead. Her action proves all your suspi- cion against her to be true.” Tkey returned immediately, talking over the mattersby the way, Dick had a clearer understanding of it, now, and saw plainly that the woman and Crandford were two precious bad ones, at best. When they arrived at the jail another sur- prise, aud greater, awaited them there. The cell was open and the woman was gone, No one knew how, when, or by what means she had got away. Deadwood Dick jumped immediately to the conclusion that the whole thing had been pre- arranged. If not that, then it was the doings of the woman entirely, and showed.her to be a per- son of keenest shrewdness in the time of emer- gency. The jailer protested that he knew nothing about it, and could not account for the disap- pearance, How the woman had ever managed to get out of the cell, was a mystery calculated to baffle them all. It was guessed that she must tile been provided with keys and an additional isguise. ead wood Dick and the dishonored and en- raged husband made a basty examination of the cell, and Dick discovered something lying on the bed that gave him the key to the situation im- Sate iG One glance at his discovery, and he was out of that cell and away, too wee even for Inger- slee to follow him. But Dick had told him to await bis return. What Dick had discovered consisted of two railroad tickets to a point in Washington, and knew immediately that flight was intended. Hastening to the nearest station, he obtained two policemen, and in a little while they were at the railroad station ready for the guilty pair. Within an houra man and woman entered the station, a couple to whom Dick at once gave at- tention. If their game, they were in disguise, but that was looked for. Their actions were nervous and hasty, and their glances at the clock were impatient. Dick and the policemen kept their eyes upon them, Dick in disguise, too; and soon Dick ob- served something that made his reasonably sure of his prey. The woman felt in her pocket, and then gave a great start, speaking to the man in the greatest possible agitation. The lost tickets, was Dick’s thought, and he directed the officers to make the arrest. It was done, and Dick stepped forward before they could recover from the shock the arrest gave them. Taking bold of the man’s beard, itcame off in his hand, and Howard Crandford stood reveal- ed, It needed no unmasking of the woman, then, to discover who she was, “A pretty cute trick,” Dick remarked, with easy coolness, ‘‘ but you see we have nipped om little game right in the bud. Take them back to the jail, officers, and see that they are locked re in cells too far apart to prevent their talk- ng, A crowd was beginning to collect, but it was all over now, and the policemen led the prisoners away in one direction while Dick d Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. ——— a 13 took his departurein another. The lost ground had been recovered, and now for the pushing ahead to the end. CHAPTER XVI, SOMETHING LITTLE EXPECTED. Drapwoop Dick’s first care was to visit the place where he should hear from his ally, if she found it mecessary to communicate with bim., There was nothing there for him, and the day being spent, he repaired to his hotel to get something to eat and take an hour’s rest. It had been a busy day with bim, He had little hope that the case would be cleared up very speedily now, It might take weeks to get at the bottom of the mystery. Certainly, he thought, it would require several days. It would be a game of patience, now. The prisoners, with nothing more to lose would. be stubborn, But he was nearer the end than he thought, He had not finished bis su; per when what was his surprise to have Kodak Kate touch him on the arm. _ ** What is it?” he asked, in amazement, ‘‘Tt is now or never,” was the brief answer. ‘** Come.” Dick dropped everything and accompanie@ her out. He knew that something of importance: was at hand. He understood this from the fact that she had come in person, and that sbe bad not only beem to their ed-upon place of meeting, but had come on the hotel with the hope of finding him there at that hour, ‘“Well, my brave little second self, what is it?’ Dick asked, as soon as they were out upon the street, ‘‘Susan Roylan bas sent me out to bring @ priest to the house,” Kate informed bim, ‘*-You are the priest,” she added, “‘andI have come for you.” ‘*7’ll be darned if I don’t believe the gun is: loaded too heavy for Deadwood Dick this time,” Dick cried. ‘‘lhave my doubts about playing that role, Kate, and that’s the truth.” ‘You must play it,” the little Snap Shot urged. ‘Susan Roylan is going to make a con- fession. She is in such a state of mind that I don’t believe she is going to live twenty-four hours. It is now or never, as I told you.” ‘*T see that I have got to undertake it,” Dick agreed, ‘‘and, fortunately, I bave been present at such scenes once or twice, Iwill do it, and do my best, even though a failure is the result. But I must have time to prepare. I will be there in one hour, and you may tell her so,” They parted, and Deadwood Dick, finding @ cab, went in haste to get the two old lawyers. He wanted witnesses. i He had previously learned where they resided, and found them at home, With a hasty explan- ation of the situation, they were fired with in- terest, and accompanied Dick at once. Dick’s next move was to get the proper dis- guise, and as soon as that was accomplished the three hastened to the house where the priest was. e ted. he lawyers stood back while Dick applied for admittance, for it would spoil everything if their presence was su ted. But it was Kodak Kate who opened the door, and Dick burriedly explained his plan. | e was shown into the little sitting-room at the end of the hall, and when he had entered, and Kate admitted the lawyers, and accompani- ed them into the front room, where a sliding door, a little ajar, gave them every opportunity to overhear all that was said beyond, Meanwhile Dick had explained why he, a strange priest, had come. The one sent for, be offered. ‘beter unable to attend, bed requested him to come in his stead. And he bau takena position very close to the sliding-door. He had reason to believe that the woman’s confession would not be made in a loud tone, Susan Roylan was all broken down, Her nerves were all unstrung, and a single day seemed to have aged her ten years, ‘Dismissing her old servant from the room, with strict orders to go down to the rooms below and remain there, the aged woman closed the door after her and turned to the supposed priest, falling upon her knees before him. For several minutes she neither moved or spoke, but her lips moved in prayer. During that time Kodak Kate heard a step in the hall, and a hand tried the knob of the door Jeading into the room where she and the lawyers were. But this duor Kate had taken the pre- caution to lock, The hand was removed, the knob clicked icbooks:com