Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 716 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

awakened interest in 2 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. One of these bore the words: “KINCARTH & KINCARTH, ‘“TAW OFFICE.” ‘*This is the den I am looking for,” Dick said | make use of me, to himself, Taking mental note of the number of the pocket and went in. Springing lightly up the stairs with his firm, athletic step, he turned to the right and was soon at bis destination, where, on the door, the sign was again to be seen, Opening the door, be stepped within, to find himself in a well furnished and nicely appointed office, and also standing within a railed in- closure.. Right at hand, at a small desk, was a small boy, while further away at another desk sata man with aremarkably bald bead, It was en- tirely innocent of any sign of hair anywhere, Another desk, opposite this one, was vacant. These things Deadwood Dick saw at first glance. The man with the bald head looked up, seemingly with one eye only, but made no other move. The small boy, however, was off his chair immediately and at the railing. ‘* What shall I say for you?” he asked. “Is that gentleman Mr. Kincarth?’ Dick in- quired. ‘“* Tbat is one of him, sir,” was the peculiar an- swer, Dick looked at the small boy in a half-amused way. He certainly could see it was not two of the man, ‘**T mean to say this is Mr. Samuel, sir,” the boy further enlightened bim, in response to his questioning look. ‘‘ Mr. Daniel is out,” Again the man at the desk glanced up with one eye, but without moving his head or seem- ing to look up from his work. ‘* Well, just hand the gentleman this note, He will understand, I guess,” and he handed the boy the paper at which he had looked as he came along the street, which was addressed to himself and had come from this office, ** Yes, sir,” and the boy darted across to where the man of the bald bead was seated. Samuel Kincarth glanced at the note thus de- livered into his band, and then looked up with both eyes and favored Dick with a momentary stare, ‘** Admit bim,” he directed the small boy, ‘‘ and place a chair.” | Back to the railing the boy darted, touched a spring and opened a gate in it, and then flew to BP B a chair for the stranger near the lawyer’s esk, Deadwood Dick had entered, now, and sat — as the lawyer waved his band toward the chair. ‘*Mr. Richard M, Bristol?’ the lawyer ques- tioned. ‘* That is my name,sir. Iam here in response to your note, which reached me none too soon.” he lawyer was a man of sixty years, evident- ly; but keen-eyed and alert as many men at half his age. He had already given Dick a thorough scrutiny. Dick bad done the same with respect to ‘*‘ Mr. Samuel,” and had formed his estimation of him. It was not an unfavorable one. ‘* You were going away, then?’ the lawyer re- marked, | ‘*T was already starting, sir. Another min- ute, and your note would not have found me,” ‘**Lucky it wasin time, then. I jnquired of the police, found where you were located, and sent atonce, I want your services, as my note informed you,” ** And [ am here to lend them, as you see,” smiled Dick. “But we are strangers to you. I hardly hoped you would come,” ‘“* Since I have, though, what is the case you want me to take hold of?” ‘‘ Just a moment before we enter upon that, sir, You are a peculiar man, and I would know more about you,” ‘Very well; ask what you will,” Dick in- vited. ‘* You say you were going away—had already started. ow was it that a note from utter strangers bad power to lead you to change your mind?” Deadwood Dick smiled, sadly perbaps. ‘*My life is devoted to hunting crime and criminals to exposure and justice,” he explained. “*It needed but the mention of a mysterious murder to bring me to take a hand in the busi- ness of finding out the murderer.” ‘Now I begin to understand you. You see, sir, your receut case here in San Francisco bas you. The moment this ~ | crime came to our notice, I said to my partner: ‘Daniel, the man we want is this Deadwood Dick, as be is called,’”’ ‘* Well, you bave got me,” Dick assured, ‘‘ so Give me the story of thiscrime of which you speak,” **T will proceed todo so, You will notice that room indicated, be thrust the paper into his | I speak ir cautious tones, and I see that you are doing the same. Let us continue to observe that caution. It is one of the rules of our office, when a client is present on business, Now for tbe story. Perbaps Daniel will be in by the time | am done. You must meet Daniel before you go away.” ‘** T should like to see him, of course.” ** Daniel and I are one, sir. When you have occasion to call, no matter which of us is here, it is all the same. What is known to one is known to the otber. As I said, we are one.” ‘* Which your office boy seems to understand pretty well, I imagine.” ‘ The suggestion of a smile lighted the lawyer’s ace, ‘*Oliver Upp isa strange boy,” he observed. ‘He says strange things. But, I see you are impatient for the case. Lend me your atten- tion. ‘*Here in San Francisco, until yesterday, lived two old maiden ‘sisters, rich, one about eighty years of age and the other four years older. Now one, the younger, lies cold in death, the victim of an assassin’s knife. **These old ladies were peculiar people, and were as nearly alike in all things as it was pos- sible for them to be. They dressed the same, and had the same ideas upon all points save one, which I will refer to presently. They lived ina quiet way upon a quiet street, and bad one ser- vant. ‘Yesterday morning the younger sister was found dead in her bed, with the wound of a knife in her breast, She was discovered by her sister, who ran screaming into the hall, calling for the servant. At the head of the stairs she fainted, and there the servant found ber. She in turn tock up the cry, ran out of doors and notified a policeman; and so the crime was made known,” Deadwood Dick was listening attentively. He rather hked the old gentleman’s way of presenting the facts of the case. . Kincarth paused for a few moments, as if to get the subject in band as he wanted it, and resently resumed. ‘* You will naturally inquire about this ser- vant,” he went on. ‘She is an elderly woman, nothing under fifty-five, I should say, and has been in the employ of the sisters for years. No suspicion whatever can attach to her. She is as deeply affected by the death as the sister her- self. No need to say anything more about her, as you will probably agree. **T have said that these two old ladies could agree upon every point save one, and that was the manner in which they were to dispose of their fortune at death. You see, their property was held by them jointly, by a complex point of law, and if they desired to make a will it had to be made jointly or it would be invalid. That is to say, neither could make a will independent of the other while both lived. Such was the law upon that particular case. ‘* Now the bone of contention between them was a grandnephew whose name is Howard Crandford. He is about twenty-five years of age, and has been a rather wild and reckless pean Boggy He is the only relation, and in w stands natural heir to all the property, in the absence of a will. Phoebe Roylan, the mur- dered woman, wanted a will made, leaving three- fourths of the prorerty to this young man, the other fourth to go toa woman in whom Susan, the living sister, a deep interest, **Susan would not agree to this at aJl, She wanted it the other way; that is, three-fourths to her friend, a Mrs, Pratson, and the remain- der to young Crandford. They could not agree, and finally came to us aboutit. The estate is managed by us as trustees, you see, though we have no power over its disposition as such, We advised them to make the will leaving half to each. But both were stubborn, and would not come to that\arrangement, Susan would not rmit so much of it to go to the rascal, as she ermed Crandford; Phebe would not hear to such a prorenes being given to a woman who had no legal claim upon them, ‘“* Right there, as I say. the matter bung fire, and that was the situation at the time of this crime, You see, 1 am trying to give voua clear understanding of the case, all around.” ‘**T comprehend,” responded Dick, ** Well, circumstances have combired to point to this young man, Howard Crandford, as the Se. | s-sssss=-tsstssssssesssssstsstses-tei \ Now the question is: murderer. He bas been arrested, and is locked up, charged with the crime, He and Susan had never been on good terms, She did not like him, and he regarded her with the same feeling. Fbhoebe had always been his friend, and had more than once supplied bim with money, robbing hc rself to do it.” ‘* And still he is suspected of the crime?” Dick musea, ‘* Ves, On the night of the murder he was in the house till a late hour, with the murdered woman, in the sitting-room, They were alone together, for Susan would not join them, owing to her dislike for the young man, He bad come for money, and failing to get the sum required, had some hot and high words with bis aged ben- efactress, When he went away it was in anger. These statements came out at the inquest, and the young man was premptly put under arrest. Did he kill Phoebe Roylan or did he not? ‘* First, his own assertion is that he did not. He declares that he did not know anytbing about the crime until he was arrested. On the other band, a night watchman has come forward and taken oath that be saw Howard Crandford steal- ing out of the house at a very late hour; more definitely, about two o’clock in the morning. This, also, the prisoner denies, Again, marks of blood have been found upon bis right sleeve; fresh marks, which, upon examination, prove to be human blood, Still egain, a bowie-knife that was known to have been upon the wall of his room at*his lodging, is missing, and he claims that it has been stolen from bim,” ‘* A pretty darkelook for bim, circumstantial- ly,” remarked the listening detective, ‘*T know it, sir, I know it; but, in spite of ap- ances, I believe Howard Crandford to be as innocent of the deed as I am!” CHAPTER II. DICK AT THE JAIL. DEADWwoop Dick was deeply interested, for this was just the sort of mystery he took de- light in. here was a pause after the old lawyer’s last assertion, during which the door opened, and from his another old gentleman entered, whom strong resemblance to the lawyer, Dick immedi- ately recognized as the partner, Daniel Kin- cart Instantly at his appearance the “strange” office boy who had the predilection for saying strange things was off his chair, and the gate in» the railed inclosure was thrown open, The man entered, with a glance at Deadwood Dick, and went straight to the vacant desk. ‘** Daniel?’ spoke his brother, ** Well, Samuel?” was the response, ‘* Let me introduce Mr, Bristol.” At this name Daniel immediately came for- ward to where Dick sat. An introduction followed, and Daniel Kin- carth fell into the conversation at once. Sam- uel gave him an idea of what had already been ‘Yes, sir; we think the young man is inno- cent,” Daniel coincided. ‘* W ew his father well, and he wasa man of finest honor. If his blood is in the veins of his son, Howard Crand- ford did not do this deed.” ‘‘Have you any suspicion who did, then?’ asked Deadwood Dick, ‘* We have not,” was the answer. ; ‘*'You want me to go to work, then, with the theory of Howard Crandford’s innocence, and to fasten the crime upon some one else. ‘That is it, exactly. We know that the young man is in a set | tight place. The evi- dence of that night-watchman alone would bang him. In spite of all, we believe bim innocent, and we want to prove him so,” Deadwood Dick was thoughtful for some mo- ments. ; “Well,” he finally decided, “I will investi- ute the matter from that standpoint. I hope Peat bring the matter out to suit you; but, rest assured that I shall fasten the crime upon the right party, if Iam able todo 80, even though it be the young man.” ‘We are willing ‘ Our confidence in his innocence 1s strong enough to warrant our giving you that license. “That is understood. Now let me get at some of the particulars of the case that have not been touched upon, In what order were the doors and windows of the house when the crime was first discovered?” “It is im ible to Kinearth. ‘* The servant was so excited that she does not know whether she found doors open or shut, fastened or unfastened. When the that you should do that, ‘ tell.” answered Samuel SS —~—_ ~ -