Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 777 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

——— } vf sé Yes.” ‘Suppose we turn state’s evidence, do we go free?” ‘No, for I do not care for any information I cannot get unaided.” ‘‘Then that settles us.” ‘“* Tt does.” ‘You won't take big money or a bribe?” “T might be tempted, but then there is Davy Dunn.” ‘¢ We'll pay bim big money too,” ‘‘ Then there is the fat boy.” “ We'll give him the same as the others.” ‘‘ You forget the parson.” ‘* He'll sell out cheap.” ‘‘ Op the contrary he will not sell at all.” “Try bim,” ‘¢T know that he will not.” “Can’t you help us to escape without the others?” *¢T could, yes.” ‘* And you will?” ** No. ‘‘ But here is your breakfast,” and the detec- tive went to her state-room door, closing the one between after her. * Set it there,” she said to the waiter, and soon after she spread it before her prisoners, Then she went out to get her own breakfast and bowed most graciously to Gordon Grayburst and his friend Gibson. They sought her after breakfast and asked her to join them upon deck in a promenade, but she declined as she said the two old people whom they had doubtless noted were confined to their state-room, and she wished to be with them as much as possible. Then she dismissed them with renewed thanks for her drive, and good-by. They saw that she did not care to continue the uaintance ashore, begun on the steamboat, so bowed and retired. Early in the afternoon the Crescent City came in sight, and Miss Cassell, when the steamboat landed, went ashore and entering a carriage was driven rapidly away. The passengers departed from the steamer in twos and alone, and soon all had gone, Valentine Gibson accepting the invitation of the young planter to go at once to The Ferns with him. But there were fine state-rooms upon the steam- boat, which as many waiters were told to guard until relieved. This they did foran hour perhaps, when a police officer came on board the steamboat. The waiters were relieved from duty and the officer took charge. When nightfall came the chief of police ap- peared, accompanied by Miss Cassell. «She led the way first to the state-room occu- pied by Diamond Jack. The prisoner was there, sullen and pale, He was relieved of his irons, handcuffed toa police officer and sent ashore to enter a carriage and drive on ay’ Blackleg Bill went next in the same way, then Sam Sykes and his wife, after which Buck Staples, not in irons, left with the chief of police and Miss Cassell, and were driven rapidly to Headquarters, while the baggage of all followed in a van. — CHAPTER XXVI. THE FERRET OF THE MISSISSIPPI. " Waren Miss Cassell, the Lady Detective, left the steamer she was set downar Police Head- quarters, The chief goon after admitted her to a private interview with him. , He arose politely, while without raising her vail she said: ‘* Miss Cassell, sir,” ‘¢ And how can I serve Miss Cassell?” he asked “ By listening toa long story I have to tell ou. ‘ The chief of police looked at his watch and said: F “7 can give you just ten minutes, Miss Cassell.” ‘*}’}] need an hour,” and the vail was raised, while a laugh broke from the lips of the visitor. ‘See here, Dick Doom, when are you going to stop fooling me The chief was not angry in the least. ‘Oh, chief, I like to see how well I can play the girl, you know, and if I fool you then I have no dread of any one else, _ “TT half believe you 4re a girl, you play your part so well,” : I play a man’s part just as well, I think,” es, I believesyou do, se i eee + 8 Se i Oe eee EO A er Dick Doom’s Destiny. ‘‘ But when did you get in?” ‘*On the Eclipse twenty minntes ago; but as you have only ten minutes to give me why I’! call again.” ‘‘You'll do nothing of the kind, for as Miss Cassell I expected you were to pour into my callous ears a tale of woe.” ‘*T have a long story to tell you.” “Fire away.” ‘* How is your wife?” ““ Never better, and asking every day if Ihave seen you.” ‘* Thanks. ‘¢ But now to work.” ‘* Well?” ‘‘ Do you know a man in town by the name of Valentine Gibson?” ‘‘ Yes, a rich young sport.” “ Anything against bim?” ‘‘On the contrary, a very nice fellow, I have heard.” ‘* He has nerve?” sé Yes,” ‘*T think, though, I can place him in some acts of long ago that may give him trouble; but I don’t know, am not sure, and they can wait.” ‘‘ Have you seen him? “cc Yes.” ‘* Where?” ‘‘On the Eclipse, for he went up the river with me.” ‘* He often takes trips, ‘* Many on board?’ ‘‘ Yes, quite a number,” ‘* You went as Miss Cassell?” “cc No.” ‘‘T don’t believe you; and guess Gibson fell in love with you.” ‘* He was very kind, when [ was Miss Cassell, and not unkind when I was somebody else.” ‘You bave been masquerading again, eh?” ‘*Oh, yes; I started as Davy Dunn, a young gent from the Mississippi Hills, on my first visit to the city.” ‘‘T’]] bet you looked green.” ‘* As the Emerald Isle, chief.” “ And what did you discover?” ‘Young Planter Grayhurst was on board.” ‘* He knew you?” «< Not he,” ‘“Did he gamble, for his father was once a heavy player?” “ He did get into a game with two gamblers.” ‘* Who were they?” ‘“Two of Diamond Jack’s gang.” “ Ah! you are getting intoresting.” ‘I caught them cheating him, as he also did after they bad won five thousand from him, and when he accused them, though he was unarmed, one attempted to kill him, | ‘‘T knocked up the weapon, the other drew, and Mr. Gibson saved Gordon Grayhurst’s life by killing the gambler.” ‘Good! one out of the way, though it was a pity he was not banged.” “The otbers had to retire with their dead comrade, and I followed. “f overheard their talk, joined them, and— well, there is no need of telling all about it, I forced them to give up the five thousand they won from Mr. Grayhurst.” ‘Good for you, Dick Doom.” ‘* They went ashore with their dead companion, and I returned to the cabin. ‘‘Diamond Jack had played with Mr. Gib- son, and won his money, and challenged Mr. Grayhurst, ‘*] chipped in and said I would play. ‘‘ We threw dice to see who should play the gambler, he furnishing us his gold box and dia- mond-studded dice.” ‘‘T have beard of them.” ‘‘ Here they are.” ‘ Ah! how did you get them?” ‘““Won them.” “They are simply superb.” ‘‘] won with three sixes the three throws and then played the gambler for this box an dice,” ** And won them, too?” ‘< : yes.” “IT did not know that you gambled?” “TI do when I find need to, and candidly I have phenomenal luck, chief.” **I do not doubt it.” \ _ “T gave Mr, Grayburst his money, and I saw it worried Diamond Jack when I told him I was a missionary and talked Blackleg Bill into giving it 5 ‘*T won Diamond Jack’s chann, also, and con- siderable money, ‘Ts not this pretty?” He handed over the diamond star as he spoke, and the chief was greatly delighted with it, iar eieeeeeeen eer en ———— ne mm 8S ES — 13: ‘‘ Now let me show you how I can throw sixes: every time.” ** Do so.” ‘* Do you see the ace?” «+ Yes.” ‘‘] push it with the end of a pencil and it: touches a spring inside. ‘‘ That spring brings a weight from the center down to the ace, and you see it comes sixes nine times 1n ten. ‘T can manipulate it with my finger-nail, as: Diamond Jack did, so no one suspected him,” ‘* You did?” ‘¢ Ob, I am naturally suspicious.” ‘* And beat him at his own game,” “Why not, when armed for it,” was the cool query. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE FERRET CONTINUES HIS STORY. ‘‘ Anp then, Dick?” said the chief, “Well, sir, I went on deck and had a talk with Diamond Jack, and then sought my state-- room, ‘*T was called out some time after by what Ff believed a waiter, who whispered that he be~ lieved the boat was on fire. ‘* It was Diamond Jack.” | I see,” “He dealt me a blow with a billy, which would have crushed my skull, but for the wire frame in my hat.” ‘* The villain.” ‘‘As it was he knocked me down, stunned,,. searched my pockets and threw me overboard,” ‘* What?” ‘‘The water revived me, I swam ashore, and as the steamer had a bend to round I gota man to drive me across, slipped on board when the: Eclipse landed and gained my state-room.” ‘‘Dick Doom you amaze me more and more,””’ ‘“‘Of course the gambler did not get my money or anything else, and when I came out the next morning it was as Parson Arie) Shep- herd.” . Carrying out your destiny of a born detec-- tive. ‘* Yes, sir, and as Parson Shepherd I discover- ed that many suspected Diamond Jack of hay- ing murdered me. ‘I made myself generally obnoxious, which I enjoyed.” ‘Oh yes, the fun in you will crop out, Dick.” ‘‘When night came 1 had the boidness to de- nounce gambling, and say that it should not be. done in my presence.” ** Good!” ‘*] saw that Diamond Jack intended to play” with Mr. Grayhurst, and I was determined to prevent tbat.” ** Just like you, Dick.” ‘Well, sir, I drove Diamond Jack out of Social Hall, followed him on deck, and made: him my prisoner.” ‘*- You dared do that?” ‘* Why not, sir?” ‘“ He is a very desperate man,” ‘“‘T had the drop on him, sir, so I clapped the steels on his wrists and took bim to a state-room next to mine.” ‘‘Of course the captain knew your game?” ‘‘ Yes, sir, Captain C—— and the clerk were. both in my secret, as I bad to have it so.” ** Of course,” ‘**T told Diamond Jack that I was Davy Dunn, whom he had tried to murder, and then I ironed him to his bed and left bim. ‘**The next morning the gambler and the par- son were missing, and that created talk. ‘But a fat boy, Charlie Chumley, came on board, and you should have seen him, ** Who was he?” ‘‘ Well, sir, he bad his fun with the waiters, the passengers, a parrot, a monkey, an old maid, an organ-grinder from Rome, and everybody else who came his way. ‘“‘T wish you to see that fat boy some time, sir, for I will put the rig on for you.” “The rig?” ‘* Yes, sir.” You?” “Yes, sir, I have a suit of india-rubber which blows up well, and with a wig on, —— ers in my cheeks, a wide collar and odd dress, I make the nicest fat boy in the world.” ‘A countryman first?” ‘‘ Yes, sir, a youth with goggles and sandy: hair.” ‘*Then a parson?” : ‘* With spectacles, @ gray wig, a change of ex-. pression, and an ecclesiastical-cut suit of clothes... sir.” *‘ Next a fat boy?”