Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 716 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

tae e = Fear -~ ~ + . 4 ¥ " . ~ +* Bees es <5 _- 7 * ~*~ » ' ¢: _ - - 5 -“ r - I ED Syme me rn a nr el > rs oo ; « # id * - = = -~ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. . — She noticed that the lady did give a slight | find your patron, as you call the person who en- start at ber first glance, but recovered immedi- | gaged you in the matter?” ately, and as Kate hesitated about speaking, said: * You wanted to see me?” ** Tf you are Mrs. Ingerslee,” was the response, ‘‘*T amshe. Ido not remember ever to have seen you. I presume we have never met be- fore. ‘We never have, to my knowledge, madam,” Kate made answer, ‘I received your note this morning, with the hundred dollars inclosed, and | The woman had paled, her eyes were starting, and she interrupted: ‘My note! $ Hundred dollars! sat ‘*Not at all, madam,” was the quiet assur- ance, “You must be. Who are you?” ‘‘T am Kodak Irate, whom you sent for, or rather—” ‘* Kodak Kate! Sent for! Surely you have made a mistake. I never heard of you; have no knowledge of you.” But the woman’s face had not recovered its color, and her hand trembled slightly with the excitement she could not repress, The little detective smiled. ‘*Tf you insist that 1 have made a mistake, I Are you su I have,” she remarked, ‘‘I have come with something important to say, however, madam.” ‘“*T was never so mystified in my life,” the woman declared, in a manner that was well- calculated to {make Kate doubt her being upon the right track. ‘‘ But you have roused my curiosity to the highest pitch, Who and what are you? if you will nit me to ask that,” ‘“ All I can say, since it seems certain that I have made a great blunder, is, that I am a detective. But, it seems almost impossible, too, that I can have made a mistake in this instance. I received a note from a Jady this. morning, in- closing a hundred-dollar bill, with instructions to go at work immediately upon a certain case which I will not mention yet. Now, having discovered something of great importance—so great, in fact, that I dare not follow the direc- tions of the letter further, for fear of getting my patron into serious trouble, I set out to find her to report, My effort in this direction has lei me straight bere.” The woman’s lips were compressed, her whole manner was that of the greatest possible strain of excitement. ‘You fairly thrill me!” she ejaculated. ‘*You have roused my woman’s curiosity to the highest pitch, Still, I must insist that you have, made a wonderful mistake, and one that I cannot possibly account for. I will not ask you to disclose anything, but I am burning with interest, as I will not deny.” “Well, if you are really not the woman who sent me the money,” Kate remarked, ‘‘ you cer- tainly cannot know anything about her, and so I will make one statement, since it can do no barm.” ‘No, Ido not ask you to disclose anything. Still, if you are free to do so, since you have thus far awakened my interest—more than in- terest, why—” _ ‘You are entitled to a little enlightenment, and I will ye it, that you may know the im- portance of my coming here—that is, of my desire to find the person who employed me. That hundred-dollar bill was stolen money, and was probably stained with the blood of a horrible murder!’ ‘* Oh, heavens! You do not mean it!” The woman had sprung to her feet, her face a picture of horror. Kodak Kate was looking at her keenly, and a gleam of satisfaction shone in her sharp eyes. “You do not Anow what a shock you have given me,” the woman immediately added, ‘I am so nervous; the least thing upsets me, and such a horrible statement as you—I almost fainted, I believe.” ‘‘ Bnough to shock any one,” Kate assumed, “ But, how in the world did you ever make “pews. a mistake as to come to me?” the woman asked. ‘‘ That, since I have made 80 serious mistake,” was Kate’s answer, ‘‘I dare not reveal to you. { will take my leave, and I am sorry that I have troubled you. But I would ask a favor of you, madam,” ; — “ And what is that?” was the quick demand. ‘That you will reveal to no one what I have said to you. It might be the means of getting an innocent n into serious trouble.” __ ** Rest assured that I shall respect your wishes. But, what do you intend doing, since you cannot | 2. ** Really, I hardly know what to do, The af- fair has taken so dangerous a turn that, in jus- tice to my unknown employer, I believe | ought to drop it right where it is and investigate no further.” **T beli@ve I would dothat, Thereis no know- ing what awfulconsequences might result if you went further. But, it is not for me to say,” *“*That is what I shall do,” Kate spoke de- cisively. ‘‘I have no desire to figure in the matter any further, working in the dark. 1 shall drop the case at once, [ think, and keep secret what I have learned. It can do little good to make it known,and it might do much harm, I bad better look into it no further,” CHAPTER VIII. DOMESTIC DISCORD, THE little camera queen had done nobly, and she felt like congratulating herself upon her fine playing and the success it had brougit. » In her mind there was no doubt that this woman was the person who had sent her the note and money, and engaged her services in the case. Her deep excitement, her nervous anxiety, and now, last of all, the relief she seemed to ex- perience when the camera detective told her she intended to drop the matter and investigate no further. The success was greater than the little ‘‘ Snap Shot” had dared dream about, She anticipated with exultation her reporting to Deadwood Dick. ** While I know nothing about the matter,” re- marked the woman, ‘‘it seems to me you are taking the right course in the affair. If what I suspect is trne, thereis no telling what trouble might come of it, even to yourself. You cannot imagine to what a pitch you have roused my in- terest,” *T sup 1 have, and no wonder,” was Kate’s response to that. ‘‘ But, 1 dare not en- lighten you any further than I| have, for that would be to break the very resolve I have just formed, So pray do not ask me any questions, I am very sorry that my mistake has caused you all this trouble, or if not trouble, then excite- ment, at least; but I felt sure that I was upon the right track.” ** Well, I cannot ask anything, of course; but you see how very easy it is for oue to be mis- taken. Have you no means of finding out who your mysterious patron is?” ‘*No means whatever, now, since this has gone wrong. I could report to certain lawyers, but I will not do that, now,” | ‘*No, I agree with you that that ought not to be done, out of justice to your unknown friend. For surely the person must be your friend. It might cause her untold trouble.” “That is the situation, and you can under- stand how I am placed.” ‘‘ And the woman gave you no address? Nor ave directions how to reach her, in case you ound it necessary ?’ ** Neither, madam,” “Well, well, it is mysterious. It is like a chapter in thrilling fiction. It is just possible that she may communicate with you again, though.” ‘* Yes, it is possible, but I do not look for any- thing further from her. I am of the opinion that her first message was her last—that it told everything in few words, and ended everything.” Kate had risen to take her leave. At that moment the front door opened, and steps were heard in the hall. Mrs. Ingerslee immediately showed great per- turbation, and her finger went to her lips, a sig- nal of caution. The other door opened immediately afterward, the door of this room they were in, and a fall, dark man entered. He was evidently at home there. ‘* Pray tell Madam Christie,” the woman was saying to Kate as the man stepped in, “ that I have not yet made up my mind regarding the garment, I may drop in to see her to-morrow, That is all, I will show you out.” She had laid a hand upon Kate’s arm, now, and pushed her gently but forcibly toward the oor, The little detective quickly understeod, and we the cue, ““T will carry the message, madam,” she meekly assured, and allowed herself to be forced from the room without further remark. The woman did not fullow ber into the hall. but closed the door bebind ber at once and turned | to the man, stepping toward bim with bands out- | .| man who had entered? | j | ' | | a stretched in welcome, and a smile upon her face, Kodak Kate had no excuse for tarrying, so opened the front door and passed out and has- tened away. She bad gained much, but was only the more disappointed that she had not been able to gain still further clews and-evidence, Who was the Why had sbe been turned away so very suddenly at his coming? ‘*Deadwood Dick was right,” she mused. _ “This is going to be a big case, before it is done And how strange that I sbould be associ- Brave, noble, chivalrous But, what with. ated with bim again! Dick Bristol! I could almost say— am I thinking about!” Whatever her thoughts were, they caused a flush to mount to ber cheeks, and she glanced about her, as though to see whether any one ob- served. But, let us return to the house she bad just left, and witness what passed between the wo- man and man she had left in the room, The man took the proffered hands, but with never a smile upon bis dark face. And his face was adark one. It seemed to wear a habitual scowl. He was good-looking, but his countenance was marred by its expres- sion of—what? Suspicion seemed to be his rul- ing expression. On his nose, at this time, was a strip of plas- ter, and a dark circle under one eye looked as though he bad been having a bout at fisticuffs, He was elegantly dressed, in perfect taste, and locked like a Spanish gentleman of blue blood. He probably was of Spanish descent. ** Who was that woman?” he asked, coldly. ‘*Only one of Madam Christie’s persons,” was the smiling answer. ‘* How am I to know that?” was the suspicious demand. ‘* What business brought her bere?” ‘** Now, really, Crandal,” was the smiling re- sponse, ** I am half-determined to laugh at you. Can’t you take my word for it? Or, if that won’t do, didn’t you hear what we were talking about as you came in?” ‘* Well, forgive me, pet, but it is my passion- ate love for you that makes me so jealous of even a woman. I will share your affection with no one. Do you understand that? With no one!” This last came out fierce and strong. ‘* And no one asks you to sbare it,” was the smiling rejoinder. ‘* My love is all yours, so do not let that trouble you any. But what brings you home at this unexpected hour?” ** Have you forgotten what date this is?” ** T believe it isthe twelfth.” ‘Right. And what about the twelfth?” ** Upon my word, I do not know what you are coming at, Crandal,” ‘‘ What! Have you forgotten that thousand dollars that is due to-day? Is it possible that bets are going to tell me you baven’t it? By eayens! but I'll investigate that story of yours—” ‘* Ha, ha, ha!” in a merry ripple of Jaughter, “but you do get so excited, you dear old dear, you! Why, I have had that money laid by for a good many days, and never once thought to aie it to you. I will go and get it immedi- ately. She disengaged her hands, tripped lightly away to the door, opened it, and continued on up the stairs. The man looked after her with his dark face scowling, and bis eyes burning with a ligbt that was unmistakably jealousy. And the woman, the moment she was out of the room, allowed her own countenance to alter suddenly, The smile vanished, and in its place came a hungry, wistful, hunted look that it was itiable tosee. It looked as though she hada eavily-burdened heart. She was not gone more than a minute, and when she returned, she had in her hand a num- ber of crisp, new bank-notes, The smile was upon her lips again, as she entered, and extend- ing the money, she said: Here it is, Crandal, every dollar of it. And I assure you that it is returned with grateful thanks to you for the kindness,” ‘AHumph!” the man muttered, taking the bills and glancing at them. There were ten of them, each of a hundred dollars—one thousand dollars the sum total. Having counted them, the man thrust them into his vest pocket, and that done, turned upon his wife—such was their relation—and de- manded: a Now, I want to know where this money has nD. ** Crandal!” a ~