Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 774 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

_— asked, somewhat scornfully. ‘‘ You were sum- moned for the purpose of investigating this sin- gular and sad affair, and—” ‘** That is just what [ proposetodo. I beg you not be offended by anything I may have said, 1 have formed no opinion, | assure you, for that isnot my way. Ishall not form an opinion till everything is settled in my mind, Doctor, I must see Captain Scudd.” | ** At once?” ** At once,” ** He is all broken down over this affair, for this young man was a beloved nephew. He was Charles Thornton’s guardian.” ‘** Did Thornton have any money ?” ** Yes, I believe so.” ** And this was in the captain’s bands?” “ec Yes,” | ‘Was young Thornton steady?” ; ““T regret to say.be was not. He was in- ‘ lined to be wild, and the captain was obliged to keep a strict hand on him,” Carter arose and took the doctor’s arm, then he led the physician t> the spot where the revol- ver lay. ** Please note the position of that weapon very carefully,” was his request, ‘* You see it is about three feet from the couch, toward which its muzzle points. This is not of great im- portance; but I wish to examine the weapon, and the coroner will ask about where it was found,,and its position,” He had taken a paper-weight from the desk and, when he lifted the weapon, he placed the weight on the spot where it bad lain. Then he took the revolver to a window and critically ex- amined it by the light, muttering aloud: “Thirty-eight caliber—one chamber dis- charged—no marks on the weapon to tell owner —self-cocker—Jonee & Markbam, makers,” Having examined the revolver,to his satisfac- oy tion, he returned it to the spot indicated by the paper-weight. ‘‘Have you made a discovery?’ anxiously asked the doctor. ‘* Nothing of especial note,” was the reply. ** Now I wish to see Captain Scudd.” ‘*[ will learn if be is prepared to meet you.” The doctor left the room. While be was gone, Carter busied himself making note of ey everything. He discovered there was but one fh way of entering and leaving the room, There : were two other doors, but they led to closets, " Captain Scudd had plainly been a sea-captain, and that he had made a comfortable fortune was apparent, The doctor soon returned with the announce- ment that the captain was waiting in the parlor to see the detective. | ‘** Be as considerate as you can with your ques- ; tions,” urged the old physician. ‘He is in a bad way. Do not shock him, I beg of you.” Clear-Grit Cal followed the physician to the parlor, where he found a rather corpulent, square-jawed man of about sixty awaiting him, This gentleman was seated in a comfortable chair, and a man-servant was fanuing bim, As the physician and the detective entered, Captain Scudd dismissed the servant, who immediately i left the room. . ** You will pardon me for not rising, sir?’ he said, in something like bluff frankness. ‘“ really feel unequal to the exertion, You are Calvin Carter, the detective?” ‘*T am, sir.’ ‘** And the doctor—he has told you—” ** He has told me a great deal, I wish to learn much more,” ‘*T shall be only too glad to give you any in- | formation possible. This is a terrible affiair— terrible! I do not understand itl— Doctor, did you lock the door of my room?” ** I did, captain,” “That is right. I waot noone but yourself and the detective to enter there till the coroner comes,” ‘* Have you sent for the coroner?” asked (al, ** Not yet, sir—not yet. I wished your advice, Iam so torn to pieces! Poor Charley—poor boy! God, sir! I loved that boy! I thought as much of him asif he were my own! Yes, sir, I did! It was not my fault that he wasa little wild at times—no, sir! You won’t think it was my fault? I did my best by him. He was my younger sister’s son—Harriet’s boy. 1 have no sons of my own, sir—no children, I bad a boy, but he is over in Greenwood, And now Charley is gone! Poor Charley! l1tisa hard blow for an old man like me!” Cal was closely watching the man’s face as these words were spoken, trying to read Captain Scudd’s character rightly. It was no easy task, for he knew it was not impossible the man was playing the bypocrite; but he was forced to con- = * —— _ eee N,N ~~~ Clear-Grit Cal. fess be was acting the part skillfully—if it was acting. The captain fumbled with his hands and pro- duced a handkerchief, The detective thought he was going to wipe his eyes, but he blew his nose instead, If the old salt had wiped his eyes with that handkerchief Cal would have been in- clined to believe be was trying to make an im- pression, but what he did was so in keeping with the character of the man as the detective bad sized him up that Carter was favorably im- pressed, The pbysician was a very neryous man, He could not keep still, and his hands were in con- stant motion. He really annoyed Carter, who tried not to notice his nervousness, ‘This isa sad affair, captain,” said Cal, ‘‘I trust you will be able to give me all the infor- mation possible,so I may get at this business quickly.” The old salt straightened up in his chair, ‘* Go on, sir,” he said, ‘‘ I am ready.” ‘* Well, to begin with, do you think the young man took bis own life?” Tbe captain fell back, his face turning pale, ‘*T really can’t say—I don’t know what to think.” And then, with a sudden vehemence that startled the detective, he cried: ‘Of course he did? What else could have happened? Yes, sir, be took his own life!” ‘* Then why did you summon me, sir? If you are sure of this, why should you need the service of a detective?” “It was my wife—Mrs, Scudd thought best that a detective should make investigations,” ‘‘ And why did you not summon one of the regulars?” Once more the captain tried to straighten up ‘* You understand, sir, we have a desire to keep this matter private,” ‘A difficult thing to do,” ‘*'You do not think we shall be able to do so?” ‘*Frankly, I do not.” The captain’s face, which had been pale at first, was now flushed crimson, and he mopped it nervously with bis handkerchief, Cal Carter was watching and noting every move and aes | change, “*l am sorry. I suppose it will be in the newspapers, Condemn the newspapers, sir! That is what I say, sir! They ought to be!” **Some of them had, that is true. You sa your nephew was inclined to be wild at times?” “IT regret to confess it, but it istrue. Not that he was a bad or vicious boy,” he hastily added, ‘*On the contrary, he was always gen- tle and kind, Even when he had been drink- ing, he remained a gentleman-—he showed his breeding, sir.” ‘** Had he been drinking to-day?” The captain hesitated, then bowed, ** He had,” ‘* Was he intoxicated?” ‘“‘That I cannot say. He did not stagger when he came in, but there was a wild look in his eyes, 1 asked what was the matter, and he said he did not know. Then I accused him of drinking. He declared he had only taken one oo of beer. Then he lay down on that couch. 6 said something about being drugged, and—” The detective started. «sé Yes, 7 ** W hat then—what followed?” A dazed look came over the old captain’s face and he moved his hands in an aimless manner. ‘What then?’ he echoed. ‘That is what puzzles me. What followed?” Carter leaned forward in his cbair. ‘You do not mean to say you cannot tell what followed?” he asked, almost breathlessly. ‘“That is what I mean,” declared Captain Seudd, ‘Everything seems a blank—I do not remember anything till I heard my wife rapping at the door!” CHAPTER III. SINGULAR STATEMENTS. DETECTIVE CARTER was more than surprised at this statement—he was astounded. He looked at Captain Scudd in wonder, scarcely able to be- lieve the man was in earnest, But evidently the man was never soberer or morein earnest in all his life. The doctor had paused in his nervous walk and was staring breathlessiy at the two men. He seemed to be trying to read the effect of the Captain’s words on Carter. This is a most astonishing statement, cap- tain,” said the detective, slowly. ‘*Do you mean to say you remained in the room till your wife came and still know nothing of what oc- curred?” **T know it is astonishing,” acknowledged the old salt. ‘‘It can scarcely be more surprising to you than to me, but it is true—I swear it!” ** You remained in the room?” ‘‘T presume so, I was in the room when Charley came, and I was there when Mrs, Scudd knocked on the door, I bave no recollection of leaving that room.” ** How much time passed between the moment when your nephew came in and Mrs, Scudd rap at the door?” ‘**7 do not know, butit only seems afew mo- ments to me, It seems that I bad just heard Charley say he was drugged. . Barely had the words passed his lips when I heard the knocking at the door,” ‘* You did not immediately answer when she first knocked?” éé No. ” “Why not?” ‘* Well, I donot know, sir. I believe I tried to do so, but could not seem to utter a word,” ‘* You had not fallen asleep?” ‘Tt is impossible.” ‘*When your wife called your name you re- sponded?” ‘* I did.” ** And then?” **T asked what she wanted.” ** Her reply?” ** Was that she wanted to see me a moment.” ** And next?” **{ called for her to come in; she replied that the door was locked,” ** You bad locked it?” ‘* Not to my knowledge.” ‘* Where was the key?” “In my pocket,” ‘*Then you must have locked it.” ‘**T suppose so,” was the helpless reply ; ‘‘ but I have not the least recollection of doing such a thing.” The detective now fully realized that be had struck a case that promised to prove decidedly out of the usual order, He was becoming more and more interested with each passing moment, Dr. Andros now stood like a statue, staring and listening. He seemed utterly incapable of moving or speaking a word, ‘You were forced to unlock the door to admit your wife?” ° 1h, ar.” ‘* She entered the room?” ** She did.” ** And then—what?” ‘* She saw Charley on the couch,” Captain Scudd was breathing heavily, like a man who had over-exerted himself. He looked up at the physician, saying faintly: ‘* Wan me, doctor.” Dr. Andros hasteved to do so, ‘*Did Mrs, Scudd immediately approach the couch?” Cal asked, after a brief silence, ‘* Yes, sir.” ‘* But you were the one who discovered the young man was dead?” a) No ” “ No?” ‘*Sbe made that discovery. She pointed to the revolver on the floor, but [ looked at Char- ley’s face, ‘Itisa pistol !’ she cried; but I could ony gasp: ‘ He is dead—dead!’” he old salt was very much overcome by the remembrance, and, behind the captain’s chair, Dr. Andros shook his bead warningly at Cal. Although burning with impatience to hear more, the detective held himself in restraint for at least three minutes, making rapid short-hand notes in a little book. After a while, the captain went on, vol- untarily: ‘*T could scarcely believe my eyes, but I was forced to attend to Mrs. Scudd, who fainted, sir, like a woman, sir. I had sense enough to carry ber from the room and lock the door be- fore [summoned any of the servants, so they knoW nothing of what has happened, though they suspect something is the matter.” ‘You afterward returned to the room?” ‘* Yes, sir.” ‘‘ For what purpose?” ‘‘ Well, I could not believe I had not been deceived, I went back to satisfy myself Charle was really there with a bullet-hole in h temple.” ** Did you move anything?” ‘* Nothing.” .** You did not touch the body?” sé No, sir,” i ‘** Nor the revolver?” sé No.” Cal’s face was like a mask, but if Captain Scudd could have read his thoughts, he would have been startled, to say the least, ; ta » , - . ~ - “- ~ 4 - . a "* ~~ ~ “eat “ : - * > fis ad — £ @ ‘ or | \ ‘ Sa “4 Y = Ez ‘ - a = a £ * 4 *