Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 720 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

ak Pe @ - ~~ _ a = 4 — 14 : —. — cre. oe - - 3 —s r rary on zi ; ee ee. ee —s = — . : ¢, : S ‘ aecet ON TY a” ’iernegrag i 1ye ow RTT US _.Y A > oe * nm Broadway Billy’s Full Hand. ‘1 do, I do. He must be the last of the line, and with Harry out of the way, the whole estate would be his. Oh! the knave, the knave !/” ‘*That’s what he is, and worse,” Billy agreed. ** But we have got him where the hair is short, you bet, and if we don’t make him squeal, it will be funny. But we have got to trap him.” ‘*Then you can’t prove what you assert.” ‘*Not yet; but it willcome, [ve done it be- fore, and I guess I can do it again. Nothin’ suits me better.” ‘* But where is he? Who is he? Where is he hiding? I must know, I tell youl will know! I must get at him, and—” ‘*There now, there now,I tell you it won't do,” Billy broke in. ‘' You shall not do any- thing to spoil the game, if I can helpit, You must be patient, I know bow you feel, but you would spoil everything if I put you on his track,” * Yes, yes, I suppose you are right; but it is hard to sit here doing nothing, and my poor boy unavenged,” * We'll get around to that allin good time. I have told you that the man is being watched, and he can’t get away eveu if he wants to,” **But isn’t there a chance that you may be mistaken? Perhaps you are raising my hopes only to dash them to the ground and leave me in worse despair than ever. Have a care, Wes- ton, how you—” “Oh! Pm pretty sure of my ground,” assured Billy, ‘‘ or I wouldn’t bave let out what I have. There is a chance to be mistaken, of course, but it is dollars to cents that !m not. To-night will tell the tale, however, if nothin’ bu’sts.” ‘* What is going to be done to-night?” ‘We must lay plans and trap the whole kit an’ b’ilin’ of ’em,” ** Why, are there more than this villain con- cerned?” “Are there! Why, Mr. Rentaway, there’s the p’izenest old nest of vipers you ever heard of in your life!” What do you mean?” . ** Just whatI say. You are goin’ to hear somethin’ that will make your ears ring, before twenty-four hours more, if I am any prophet. Rigttt bere in this town of Santa Fe is the worst old scheme you ever thought of; and I’m goin’ to stick a splinter into it and bu’st it, you bet!” “Young man, you are a riddle to me. I can’t understand you. But I have confijence in ao fens s0 you may direct me to do what you will. ‘““That’s the idee; and you can trust me to bring this thing to a’focus now, if there’s nothin’ wrong about my figures, and I don’t think there is. Butit will have to be worked down to the fraction and then tapered off to tbe fineness of hair. It mustn’t be allowed to spoil on our hands,” ** What do you want me to do?” ““T must have a chat with my pards first, and—” ‘Your pards? I thought there were only two of you.” ** There are three of us on thiscase, We have a genuine detective in with us; but keep this mum,” **T will, I will. Oh, may you succeed, and bring the murderer of my boy to the fate he so richly deserves! The reward will be yours, promptly.” ‘** Don’t mention reward now,” waived Billy, ** We'll talk about that later. I will gonow and tatk with my pards, and then I’ll come back here and let you into our plans,” In a short time he took bis leave, and was soon at the hotel, There he made known to Skinny and Ferret that he had something to say to them, and as ae as they could the three met for consulta- on. Their conference lasted an hour, and when they parted company their plans of action were all laid, It was only necessary to put them into operation. They felt sure of their game, Billy returned to Mr, Rentaway, and made a proposition to him which, at first, almost took anay bis breath, hen the scheme was outlined to him, how- ever, be readily agreed to it, and from that hour the beginning of the end was marked. CHAPTER XVI, THE FARDS GET THERE, THE remainder of the afternoon was spent in seeming idleness, Not a move was made that could excite the suspicion of the suspected Mexican, care being taken to that end, ' When the Mexican went to his supper, how- 7 mek , o- % ’ F J Ay re ba ad *, r , ee * “ ‘, ye t » fice » ” j ve 1 *. ' ’ P rj : — Soa ay eh -* . ee | aed oye pers an . ° . «t - at te wr alt - =| ——" ha am ae - . ¢ _ . —_ ~ + * ie 5 ~ — wwe Fue Pon. wv : a ~~ . ever, then Broadway Billy and bis thin partner disappeared, and were not seen again. But not so the aged Mexican, the detective in disguise, He was on hand, and it was bis busi- ness to see that Miguel Mendez did not get out of sight. No fear that he would. It was just dark when there was a summons at the door of the Lodgelaw residence, It was presently answered, by a woman ser- vant, and into the dark hall filed three men, grim, determined fellows, The last one to enter locked the door, plagng his back against it, and there remained. The others promptly seized the woman,'whose scream rung through the house. Hasty steps were heard in the rear, a woman’s voice demanded to know what was the matter, and the captured servant calling out that she was a prisoner, a door was heard to slam and the steps retreated, In that direction sprung one of the men, leavy- ing the servant in the hands of the other, but he was too late, or would have been, The escaping person dashed to the other door, threw it open, and—was face to face with other determined captors, ** Don’t be in arush aboutit,” cried out the well known voice of Broadway Billy. “It won’t take you long to stay half an hour or so, You are our prisoner, my fine lady.” ‘* Never!” the woman cried defiantly, and she wheeled to run back, but as she started she ran into the arms of the man who had pursued her, **'You see it isall up,” spoke Billy, **so you may as well take it easy. esball have your lovers here pretty soon.’ “Why am I thus insulted, and in my own home?” the woman furiously demanded. ** No need to tell you,” wastheanswer. ‘* You know well enough.” When everything was secure, Broadway Billy retired out of sight for a moment and donned a hasty disguise, That done, he left the bouse, and in a brief time was dogging the steps of Cleverdale Finck, the rascally insurance agent, It was a little time later that Cleverdale Finck received a note in a woman’s hand, it coming to him by a messenger who went speedily off as soon as it had been delivered, Opening it, he found it to be from the woman, the Lodgelaw widow, It was in excellent imitation of her hand, and it invited him to come to the house, She had dismissed her servant, the note ex- plained, and was alone, He was to come to the side entrance, precisely at nine, and enter with- out knocking. It was about at the same time, too, that ‘* Pablo Costo,” at the botel, received a similar message, with similar directions. The only dif- ference was in the time when he was to come. The hour set for him was half-past nine. At nine o’clock a man came down the street toward the residence, stopped for a few moments to make sure that no one was observing his movements, and then crossed, opened the gate and entered the yard, and going on, entered the house, A minute later and Cleverdale Finck was a prisoner, Half an hour passed, and the same was re- peated. Another man came down tothe corner, stopped for a considerable time, finally entering the yard and on into the house, The moment the door closed behind bim a light hand fell upon his arm, and a low Voice whispered: ‘You have come! How glad I am!” He felt the skirts of a woman’s dress touch him, and a hand took his in the dark and led him forward, ** Come right on,” spoke the low, sweet voice, ‘“‘T have something to show you; and then— then—” The words were not supplied, but the break was full of enticing significance, and the man followed where he was led, unquestioningly: A door was opened, and they entered a dark room. Forward then, carefully, until a some- thing barred their further progress, when they stopped, and the voice once more spoke, ‘* Here, now, let me show you a surprise I have for you, Miguel. Look down at this table, and behold!” The voice was'in excellent imitation of that of the heartless widow, the Jezebel who had plotted and planmed too far. With the last word the light of a bull’s-eye flashed forth, its light centered upon the thing against which Miguel Mendez was standing, and ise which he was gazing the instant it was vis- ible, With a scream of borror he sprung back, only | to find the supposed woman's hand closing upon him with a grip of steel, and a cold revolver against his head. He had beheld not a table, but an open coffin! arid in that coffin the body of the murdered Harry Rentaway! lt was more than bis nerves could stand, and he trembled from head to foot. ‘* Miguel Mendez, murderer! you are my pris- oner!” So rung out the voice of Broadway Billy, and in the next moment handcuffs were on the fellow’s wrists. “1 deny the charge,” he faltered. ‘“‘It is not ‘ We shall see about that,” was the calm re- tort. ** Let’s see what you have in your pock- ets,’ The first thing brought to light was a revol- ver, of the same size as that carried by Harri- son .Waldmar, and—one chamber of it was ty! : Firat proof!” cried Billy, ‘‘ There is no use your denying the charge, Miguel Mendez.” “But I do deny it!” was the now defiant re- tort. ‘‘That is not my name! I am Pablo Costo, and none other!” ‘‘ Liar!” cried a voice, On the other side of the coffin stood the othér prisoner, Finck. Atsight of him Mendez quailed. They were known to each other, and had been enemies. The woman was brought in, the scene was lighted, and a goodly number of men were seen to be in the room; among them Barrington Rent- away. Stepping forward to the murderer, and point- ing at him with one band and at the body of the murdered son with the other, he cried, in tones terribly soarp and vindictive: ‘* Miguel Mendez—dog! behold your work! Yo killed this man, my son, your second cousin, that you migbt have all the property of old Mendez to yourself. No use to deny it; we have the proof,” ‘‘ Tt is a lie—a lie!” the rascal cried. ‘I did not kill your son! IT defy you to prove it!” At that moment one of the dead man’s arms was lifted, and a finger pointed straight at the accused, “The crime is yours!” voice, Miguel Mendez reeled back, his face ashy and his eyes staring. ‘Take it away! take it away!” he cried, “Confess!” said the same terrible voice, ‘* Ido; I do!” : The rascal could stand no more, and turned his gaze, another way. The arm in the coffin was lowered, and a man came out from under the dread thing, the one who had lifted the arm and who had spoken the words, It was the detective, Ferret, now without dis- guise, and at sight of him the insurance agent gave an exclamation of horror and despair. He bad not looked for this. Hesaw that all was Jost. ‘“What do you think of it now, Mr. Clever- but-not-quite-clever-enough#” demanded Broad- way Billy. ‘* You have put your foot into it bad, and you can’t get it out again. it wasa retty scheme, but it didn’t work.” “What do you mean?’ was the curt demand, “No need totry to get out of it, sir,” put in the insurance detective, ‘*‘ We bave you dead to rights this time,” No time was lost in forcing the confession from the lips of Miguel Mendez, and as he gave it, it was recorded by a man there for that pur- said a sepulcbral se. P Mendes had come North from Mexico with the one intention of killing Harry Rentaway, who would have had an equal share in the Mendez estate. Miguel wanted it all, and took this means of getting it. Unknown at Santa Fe, he thought he could go there under an assumed name, accomplish his purpose, and goaway without any ore ever sus-) pecting him of the crime, It was_a bold piece of work, but thanks to Broadway Billy and his pard it was balked, The murderer had fired at Harry Rentaway from the hall door of the hotel as Harry was crossing the piazza, and had dodged back into the house immediately without i seen. When the victim of his bullet reeled into the bar-room, the assassin entered from a rear way. No one had suspected him of the crime, and chances had been all in bis favor for getting away. But the New York boys had playeda sharp game, and bad entrapped him neatly, The prisoners were taken away and locked up, after the business of the hour had been finished, 4 - : 4 : / > ds lok 1 ! i 4 ’ : | Fh ei Pa (ty 4 al » a - ‘28 Be ‘ a a eee! Ee eee esa knanwe Agra — . ". = oo . bd ‘ « NASPRORAOCAD 4 ? s , * ‘a ———) —_ © 4 be 5 ant sgh "