Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 777 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 “That was my strong point, sir,and I had amore fun than a basket of puppies.” The chief laughed in spite of the seriousness of ‘the situation. ‘* Yes, I'll warrant you got all of the fua out of it you could, Dick Doom, for, somehow, you can find amusement at a funeral.” ‘*T look on both sides of life, sir. ‘‘ But you should have seen me as Chumley, the fat boy, for I did enjoy it, and Mr, Gray- burst and Mr. Gibson fairly shadowed me to see the fun.” ** And saw it?” ** Oh, yes, sir; for with a parrot, Italian, mon- ‘key, old maid and some colored folks, | certain- Jy had the material for a circus,” ‘‘ How many disguises have you got?” ‘‘ Some twenty, sir.” ** And all perfect?” ‘* As they can be, sir.” ‘‘ All this time you had a prisoner in your ‘state-room ?” ** Yes, sir,” ** And then?” ‘**T went on up to Memphis, and Mr. Gray- aoe and Mr, Gibson came back on the boat as did, ** I still remained as the fat boy, and as I had hhoped, I caught my men,” * Who?” ‘* Blackleg Bill and Buck Staples,” ‘* “bey boarded the boat again, then?” ‘*'Yes, sir, at Vicksburg, and they had the cheek to get two up-river men into a game with them,” ‘* And cheated them?” ‘*They were beginning to do so, when I took a look over them and somehow they got rattled and couldn’t cheat,” ‘** You were the fat boy then?” $s Fou, irs” ** And then?” **They lost some money and then paid it in counterfeit bills,” +s A h 7 **T followed out of the cabin, got my revolver muzzles against their backs, so managed to walk them off toa state-room, when I ironed them, ‘Then I led Buck Staples to another state- room, offered bim his freedom, as I had no murder charge against him, and so got the whole story from him. **Lalso learned how two of the band, Sam Syxes and his wife were playing their game of robbing passengers, so I then let the fat boy go ashore, was metamorphosed into a lady detec- tive, after allowing them to rob me, arrested ‘them both, so*that I have the whole band now in irons on board the Eclipse, and wish you to drive down with me to the levee, so we can fetch them to jail.” ** Dick Doom, you are the veriest ferret I ever saw, and you have done what we never could accomplish before, break up the Blackleg band upon the Mississippi River,” said the chief earnestly. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE FERRET ON ANOTHER TRAIL, WueEn Dick Doom felt that he had secured ‘the ‘‘ River Rats” as Diamond Jack and his band were called, he set Buck Staples free, as he promised, with the admonition never to be seen that part of the country again. Then, as Dick Doom he took a run upon the various steamboat lines leaving New Orleans, and managed to pick up several more characters who made their prey upon travelers, These were brought to New Orleans and turn- ed over to the chief, after which the young detective went off on an expedition for his own amusement or interest, He had intended going up to The Feras Plantation for a visit, but learned that Gordon “Grayhurst was away, and Marion had returned to boarding-school, It was the Christmas holidays before he again returned to the city, on the call of the chief of | mag who had several rewards to pay over to im, and also a certain matter to consult him on. ** You are penny getting quite a fortune saved up, Dick, and will be a rich man if you keep on winning rewards as you have been doing,” said ‘the chief. ** Yes, chief, but to me it all seems like blood- =e: ‘Yet still all money goes at one time or an- other, for evil purposes, and I shail hold on to what [ have, at least until it aids me to secure more,” ‘* Well, that is right, for you bave well earned Dick Doom’s Destiny. it, and no man has ever risked more for gold, or worked harder, though I do you the justice to say that you never worked for the reward, but for the capture of the criminal.” ‘* That has been my motive, sir. ‘‘ But you said that you had a matter to talk over with me?” ‘* Yes, Dick,” ‘In the detective line, sir?” ““ Well, you shall see,” ‘‘ Your manner implies, chief, that it is seri- ous,” ‘*Have you heard lately from your friends, the Grayhursts?” '* Not since [ left, sir. ‘Tl hope there is nothing wrong there?” ‘‘ Well, Dick, I fear that there is,” ‘** Please explain, sir.” ‘* How old is Miss Grayhurst?”’ ** About sixteen, sir.” ‘* Well, she is married.” ** Married?” ** Yes, Dick.” ‘* Marion Grayhurst married?” ‘*T feared it would hit you bard, Dick,” ‘* No, no, sir, not as you think, for I was not in love with Marion, except that I regarded her as a sister.” ‘©T am very glad to bear that.” ‘* But this is so sudden.” ‘‘ It was to me, for I regarded her as a mere child,” ‘* When was she married, sir?’ ‘¢ Two months since,” ‘‘ You know whom she married, sir?” ss Yes,” ‘* Was it Gibson?” ‘* That is the man,” ‘* Valentine Gibson?” ac Yes.” ‘‘He met her brother on the Eclipse just six months ago,” ‘* Yes, you told me of their meeting, and that he saved Grayburst’s life.” ‘* Yes, and traded on that to win the sister.” ‘‘T suppose so, while I believe he got young Gray burst into a corner.” ‘* How so, sir?” ‘*T think, though I may be wrong, that he won his money at a gaming-table, and sold his notes back to him for his sister’s hand, for she was infatuated with Gibson, I have heard, and the brother alone stood in the way,” ** Chief?” sé Yes, Dick.” ‘*T made a mistake not to sift the past record of that man before I went away,” ‘* You think it was bad?” ‘é I do.” ‘‘ What reason have you?” ** Well, sir, I will tell you.” ** He stands well here, “That may be, sir, but hear my story.” * All right, Dick.” ‘*T overheard a conversation on the river once, between two young doctors, ‘*They were going to seek homes to settle on, got acquainted, and become friendly,” ‘* A bond of sympathy they bad between them, Dick.” ** Yes, sir, ** One was telling the other bow hesaw a man on the deck below who reminded him of a person who called upon him in the city where he was studying medicine, and told him his name was Valentine, that he was a doctor, and had just lost a most remarkable case. ‘*It was a wealthy planter, and as the family would not submit to a post-mortem, he wished to know what was the matter with the man, and said he would pay all expenses for the recover- ing of his body, ‘This he did, and the students discovered that the man was in good healtb, and had died by poison, ‘The doctor, Parsons was his name, never had another call from Doctor Valentine, and so decided that the old planter had been put out of the way purposely. ‘* He said the planter’s name was Gibson.” sé Ab 1” ‘*] wrote all down, as soon agI went to my state-room, but I did not see the ) Se he pointed out to bis friend, and whom he yowed was the Doctor Valentine who came to see him. ‘*He went upto him to renew the acquaint- ance, but was told that he was mistaken.’ “That looks suspicious.” “Yes, sir, and Doctor Parsons furthermore said that he had the skeleton of the old planter and intended Arosa ty be: into bis office, **He has settled here, for 1 have seen him often, and [ shall go and ask him just where that planter lived, . Err ‘‘Then I shall go there and see if Valentine Gibson is known in those parts, ‘*'Yes, I will go at once, sir.” CHAPTER XXIX, TRACKED. Two weeks after the conversation just related between the New Orleans chief of police and Dick Doom, the latter came again into the office, ‘* Back once more, Dick. ‘*T am glad to see you.” ‘‘Thank you, sir,” and Dick Doom dropped into a chair in a tired way. ‘* Well, Dick, what news?” ‘““T saw Doctor Parsons, sir.” “ Yes, ” ‘“‘T told him that I knew, no matter how, of bis having been given the body of the planter to dissect, and asked him simply to give me the lo- cality.” ‘* Which he did?” ‘‘ He seemed to regret exceedingly the affair, for he had no idea that he was playing into the hands of a designing man, and told me just bow it was, ‘‘T went up theriver to the place nearest where the planter lived, drove to his home and found strangers there. ‘* The home had been sold out by the heir,” ** Hoir?” ‘Yes, sir, ason, and he had gotten cash for everything and gone away, no one knew where,” ‘* What was this beir’s record?’ ‘‘ Very bad, sir, and it was said that bis father had intended making another will, and disiaherit him, when he was suddenly taken ill and died. ‘A few hinted at his being poisoned, and at last there were a few who decided to dig up the body and investigate. ‘But that very night the grave was opened and it was said that the medical students took the body.” ** Ah, I see,” ‘* Public opinion was, however, so bitter, sir, against the son, that, as I stated, he left, con- verting all bis belongings into cash.” ‘‘ And the name of this heir?’ ‘*Ts Valentine Gibson.” The chief whistled. ‘‘He knocked about the world and at last came here.” | ‘¢ You are sure it is the same man?” ‘¢ You know Mr. Gibson, sir?’ “Oh, yes,” ‘‘ Here is a photograph of the Valentine Gib- son who was the beir of the old planter.” ‘This photograph, Dick, was taken some ears ago, but it is the same man,” ‘*So 1 felt sure, sir.” ‘* Another thing, Dick,” ‘¢ Yes, sir.” ‘‘ Have you seen the papers lately?” ‘* No, sir, not one,” “ You know nothing of what has happened to Mr. Grayhurst?” ‘*‘ My God! what has happened now, sir?” ‘¢Mr. Gordon Grayburst is dead,” ‘*Dead! Gordon dead?” ‘* Yes, I am sorry to tell you.” ‘* Poor Gordon.” ‘‘Tt is sad, Dick, but worst of all he was killed in a duel,” ; ‘* Killed in a duel? and Dick Doom’s lips quivered. ‘* Yes, he was killed ten days ago.” ** Who killed him?” ** A fast young fellow by the name of Clyde Carlysle,” ** Clyde Carlysle?” ‘* Yes, a man about town of late, but who isa stranger bere,” . ‘*T never heard of him, sir,” ‘“‘ He was a great friend of Valentine Gibson.” ‘A friend of Valentine Gibson, and yet kill Gordon Grayburst.” * It looks bad, Dick.” _ “Tt does, sir, very bad, after the record I have discovered of this same Gibson.” . ‘‘ It wasa quarrel at the club, and Carlysle in- sulted Grayburst, who knocked bim down, | ‘‘ Then Carlysle challenged him, and as Gibson was not there, Grayburst asked a man to be his second with whom be bad no friendship, and as bis brother-in-law just then came up, Carlysle asked him to act for him, ‘Gibson stated that he did so, hoping to be the better able to arrange the matter.” ‘¢ But the duel was fought?” ‘Yes, and Grayburst was shot dead,” ‘¢And Carlysle?” _“ Was unburt.” *¢ And Gibson?” is Went home to break the news to his child wife, PST EPS gt ee Ee Te 4 ~. he +