Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 774 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

‘‘ Captain, this is a most extraordinary story, to say the least. I beg you to consider carefully every statement you have made, and if there is anything you wish to retract—” The captain balf-started from his chair. “Gad, sir!” he cried. ‘* Do you think I have lied? I have summoned you to investigate this affair, not to insult me in my own house!” “| have no thought of insulting you, sir,” calmly returned the detective. ‘‘ When I said those words, | was only thinking of you—of your best interest. Such astory as you have told will have a terrible overbauling by the coroner. You must realize how strange it is—” ‘*T do, sir, I do! [ cannot expect you to understand it, for I do not understand it my- self.” ‘For a time you must bave been quite uncon- scious of ger, that occurred?’ **] think 1 was,” ‘It is simply wonderful! such spells before?” Captain Scudd looked puzzled. ‘“Well, 1 do not know,” he slowly replied; ‘but I think [ have, 1 bave complained to tke doctor here that | was getting absent-minded, for t ere have been times when a whole afternoon has seemed like a minute. lI would go in there to my desk and it would seem that barely was I seated before it was night, and still I know I entered the room near midday. Sometimes I wrote letters or did things of which I had not the least recollection afterward,” ‘*Have you proof that you are troubled by such spells?” ‘* All the proof I have is what I have told Mrs, Seudd and Dr, Andros concerning them.” The detective arose and led the physician aside, begging Captain Scudd’s cere for doing so, ‘* Doctor,” be said, speaking guardedly, so the old salt could not hear, ‘* I have a few questions to ask you.” ‘* Go ahead,” ‘In the first place, you have utter confidence in Captain Scudd?” ‘* Implicit, sir.” ** He has told you of these spells?” ** He spoke of them once or twice,” * What do you think of them?” ‘*T have not formed an opinion.” ‘Well, you must see that this story he tells will be riddled by a coroner’s jury. It will not bold water unless it can be proved beyond a doubt that he has these very spells of which he speaks, And then—” ‘* And then—what, sir?” ** Anotber question will arise.” ** W hat question?” ‘*One with regard to his sanity!” Have you ever had CHAPTER IV. MRS, SCUDD. Dr. ANDROS started. ‘* What do you mean?” “Ts Captain Scudd always in his right mind?” ‘*T have no reason to believe he is not,” ‘‘Then be may find himself entangled in a net that will drag him into very deep water. This affair is bound to make a great sensation,” ‘* {t cannot be kept quiet?” Cal shook his head, ‘ Such a thing is simply impossible.” ‘*}] am sorry—for the captain’s sake, It will crush him completely, for 1 suppose all the par- ticulars of bis nepbew’s occasional larks will be prated through the papers.” “Yes; it will be better tu try to conceal noth- ing, for every point will be nosed out. But, worse than everything else, the captain will be suspected of the murder of bis nephew.” The doctor groaned, ‘That is what I have feared!” he confessed, ‘*It cannot be avoided, It is not improbable that he will be arrested,” ** Arrested?” 66 Yog.” , ** Such a thing must not occur!” **You must see that the case looks black against him, and it is not improbable that much will be discovered that will make it still blacker.” Dr, Andros was pale and nervous again. ‘*This is horrible!” he whispered, ‘* Why, the captain loved that young man as if he were his own son!” ** And still he may have killed him,” The physician fell back, staring bard at the detective, ** Sir—” Cal checked him with a motion, ‘** Careful, doctor—be will hear you. 1 do not mean to say the captain would do such a thing while in bis right mind, but—” What?’ Clear-Grit Cal. ‘‘He may have done su while in a state of mental aberration.” ‘*T will not believe such a thing possible!” ‘* You may be forced to believe. But I have some more questions to ask the captain.” They returned to the spot where Captain Scudd was sitting. ‘*Captain,” said the detective, *‘ you have spoken of your nephew’s occasional wildness, Was he inclined to drink?” A look of pain settled on the old sailor’s face, ‘‘ At times, sir, at times, I have often talked with him, and only last evening I warned him against the pace he was inclined to travel.” ‘* Fad he other follies?” ‘‘ He was inclined to let his fancy run away with him in one other respect.” ‘* What was that?” ; ‘* He fancied ballet-dancers,” ‘“Ah! Anything more?’ ‘* He bet on tne races,” ‘* Was inclined to gamble a little, eb?” ‘‘ Yes, sir. But I do not see how this can con- cern the case at all.” ‘* And still it may be of great importance, The future will reveal whether it is or not. How did your nephew reach the house to-day? Did he walk or come iv a carriage?” ‘*T have not inquired,” ‘¢ Will the butler know?” ‘Tt is quite probable,” ‘“‘Then I will question him later, own a revolver?” ‘* Yea, ain” ** Where is it?” “In the desk of my room—the room where poor Charley is.” * You are sure it is still in your desk?” ‘*T presume it is.” ‘* Doctor, will you kindly ascertain if the wea- pou is there?” Dr. Andros bowed and left the room. Ina few moments he returned, saying the desk was locked, Captain Scudd gave him the keys, and he went back to the room, His face lcoked grave when he re-entered the parlor, ‘¢ There is no revolver there,” he declared. ‘* Not there?” exclaimed the captain, ‘* Well, that is most singular. Are you sure? Did you look carefully, doctor?” ‘“‘T did. It is not there.” ; Again the old salt blew his nose vigorously. ‘**T wonder what in the world can have be- come of it!” he cried. “‘I always leave it there.” ** Was it marked with your name or initials?” asked Cal. ‘* No, sir; it was not marked in any way.” ‘‘The weapon on the floor—that was not yours?” Captain Scudd looked startled, but instantly replied ‘No, sir; it was not.” Cal made some more notes, and then he said: ‘* Captain, I would like to see your wife,” ‘*T am afraid that will be impossible at present, sir,” was the yeh ** She is completely broken down by this affair.” “Tf itis possible, 1 hope she will give mea few mivutes,” ‘* Well, sir, I will see.” The captain arose and slowly left the room, The detective and the doctor looked into each other’s eyes, ‘“What do you make of it?” questioned the physician. ** Nothing yet.” ‘*Do you think you will be able to get at the exact truth?” ‘*T think so, I am not in the habit of failing in anything I undertake. I have a motto, sir, It is ‘Never Say Die.’ For that reason I am sometimes called the ‘ Never-Say-Die Detective.’ ff I am given full swing on this case, [ will get at the bottom facts or go out of the busi- ness,” Dr. Andros bowed with satisfaction. ‘‘ That is the kind of talk I like to hear, and I believe you will succeed.” ‘‘ Was Thornton an only child?” ** He was the only child of the captain’s sister, but Harriet Scudd married a man who had a tiny daughter living. Bartley Thornton was a widower, and I believe the young man’s half- sister is somewhere in the city. Her name is Ollie. She is about three years older than Charley.” ‘* How old was he?” ‘In his nineteenth year, I think.” ‘* He looked older.” ‘* Yes, he looked twenty-one, at least.” At this moment the captain returned, saying his wife would be down in a short time. The detective then engaged him in conver- Do you —_ "_"'aaaQQQQe SS ——e eee Se > Pees +8 ae a ln! se) hae owe” a 7 . ‘ . » a Tt eed re » ‘ sation of a nature that bad little or no bearing on the case, watching his face and trying to ‘*sound ” him. After a little, Carter asked to be left alone with Mrs. Scudder when she came in, Tbe captain and the doctor retired from the room, leaving the ferret to make some more notes in bis little book and run swiftly over the case in bis mind. ‘‘This promises to be a case worth working,” he softly muttered. ‘It is not every day fF strike something out of the usual, and surely this is not common, At present, there seems but one explanation, and that is that Captain Scudd has fits of temporary insanity. In one of those spells be may have killed his nephew, wno was mr br on that cot, all unaware of any dange¥, If this is not the true explanation, f am ready to give no solution at present.” He waited impatiently for Mrs, Scudd to ap- pear, She was a long time coming, and Carter felt that every moment might be precious, ‘‘She is probably a woman of fifty,” thought. Cal; ‘‘and, as the captain explains, this has completely up-et her, Well, this may be but the beginning. She may have many trials to go through before she is given rest,” The portieres parted and a woman stepped in- tothe room. The detective instantly arose and bowed, finding himself confronted by a vision of female loveliness—a beautiful woman who was certainly Jess than thirty years of age, She was a brunette with flashing eyes and red lips, while her figure was supple, graceful and round. She was plump and delicious as a ripe peach, but there was not one ounce too much flesh on ber, Calvin Carter was actually startled by this vision of beauty, and he stamwmered in bis sur- prise. A musical voice asked: ** Did you send for me?” “Tf you are Mrs, Scudd, I did, madam.” ‘“‘T am Mrs, Scudd,” was her assurance, as she advanced. CHAPTER V. NO LIGHT ON THE MYSTERY. THE lady was plainly nervous and excited. She paused beside a clair, resting cne band on the back. Detective Carter saw tbe hand tremble as sbe lifted it, In her other hand she held a handkerchief tightly grasped. | The woman’s eyes drooped before the detec- tive’s searching gaze. Carter was scarcely prepared to meet such a young and handsome female when Mrs, Scudd eres the room, but he quickly recovered him- sell, ‘*Won’t you be seated, madam?” he asked, by way of saying something. ‘‘T bad rather stand,” was the answer. ‘* You —you are the detective,” e bowed, *fam,” “Ob, I bope you will be successful in quickly getting at the truth of thiz terrible affair!” ‘‘T shall do my best, I assure you. I find it necessary to ask you some questicns,” ‘“‘T am ready to give you auy information that can be of service in solving the mystery of poor Charley’s death.” ‘““To begin with, I wish to ask if at any time to-day you heard a sound like a pistol-shot?” “T did not,” ‘* You did not suspect anything was wrong till you entered your busband’s room and saw the body on the cot?” ‘* No, sir.” “ Sar you go to that room?” wp scudd hesitated and her eyes drooped again. ‘*I really do not know,” was her low reply. ‘“* T think I was lonely.” ‘*Great Scott)” thought Carter, though he took good care not to speak the words aloud. ‘*Can it be this charming young creature is really in love with that poddish old sailor?’ He coughed behind his hand, which cansed Mrs. Scudd to rege A lift her eyes, Not till that moment had he observed how darkly mag- netic and flashing were those eyes, Something about them attracted him and caused bim to catch his breath. . Almost as quickly as they had been lifted, those eyes fell before his earnest look. ‘*T sometimes get lonesome and go there,” she explained, as if she wanted to say something, ** Very naturally,” said Cal, although be did not think it was such a natural thing. ‘ You ae at the door?” 7 ‘Yes, sir.” ‘Did Captain Scudd immediately reply?” ** He did not.” ‘* Is this a common occurrence?” ‘* What do you mean, sir?” oe , A: is