Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 777 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

tg - 7 ‘** Poor Marion!” ‘¢7t would be well for you, as an old friend, to go and see her, for they say that her mind is un- settled by her grief, and they fear she may take her own life.” ‘¢ That would be terrible.” ‘‘ You will go to see her, Dick?” ‘Oh, yes, sir; I will go this afternoon.” ‘It will show her that she has at least one friend,” ** Chief, ‘¢ What about Valentine Gibson?” ‘¢ How do you mean?” ‘‘T believe that he is the murderer of his father, and as such he could be made to hang, upon the testimony of Doctor Parsons and my- self, ‘* Beyond all doubt,” ‘‘ Now, Marion loves this man, and it would simply kill her, did she know the truth.” ‘* Very true; it would be well to keep our se- «ret about Gibson for the present, at least.” ‘*T think so, sir, for I could not be the one to adi another grief to that poor girl.” *¢ No, it would not do,” ‘‘Then we will drop on Valentine Gibson, Dick?” ‘‘ Yes, sir; for a while, at least.” ** Tt is best.” ‘* Now, sir, I wish to know about this man, Carlvsle?” ‘* He left immediately after the duel, and it is said forgot to pay numerous debts he owed here in town,” | ‘Of course be can be found and brought back.” ° ‘*Oh, yes, but it would do little good, for it was said to be a square duel, and here no man would be punished for killing a man in one,” ‘‘Then, for the present let him go; but now let me tell you that I brought Diamond Jack’s valet back with me,” ‘* Black Diamond?” ‘* Yes, sir, [found bim on a Pullman car as porter, and he is as great a scamp as his mas- ter, so [ brought him along, for he is a valuable witness, too,” ‘* Did he come willingly?” ** After I persuaded him it was the only thing he could do, sir.” ‘‘ Where Is he?” ‘‘T sent him to prison, sir.” ‘* Well, he shall be cared for.” ‘‘Now I will go to The Ferns, sir, and see poor Marion,” and Dick Doom left the chief’s office. CHAPTER XXX, DICK DOOM’S MISHAP. WHEN Dick Doom left the office of the chief, he started at once for the rooms which he al- ‘ways occupied when in the city, and where he bad made for himself a cozy little home, little as he occupied his quarters, He intepded making a toilet, for he wasina ‘traveling suit, and then drive up to The Ferns plantation to see Marion, What Valentine Gibson thought of his coming he did not care, for he felt indeed the interest in her that a brother would feel, He was just crossing Canal street when sud- denly there dashed toward him a pair of horses running away. A glance showed him that the coachman had been throw from the box, and that there were ladies and children in the carriage. Springing forward he grasped the rein of one of the animals, and was dragged along by them at a terrific speed, Straight for the river they ran, and but for that form + to them they would have gone into the Mississippi. But Dick Doom held on with a grip like death, and in the end his weight began to tell, and at last he checked their flight, but not a moment too soon. : Then, when those in the carriage were saved he let go his hold and fell ina heap upon the ground. Fortunately the chief of police just then drove by in his buggy, and lifting the unconscious young detective into his vehicle, he drove rapid- ly homeward, sending & Messenger on the way to call two of the best physicians in the city to attend to his injured friend. The chief’s wife at once had a room pre- ared for him, and soon Doctors Stone and errick drove up and the young hero was placed in their bands. ‘* A fracture of the left arm above the elbow,” said Doctor Stone. ‘A broken collar bone,” added Doctor Herrick, Dick Doom’s Destiny. ‘* A foot half crushed, evidently trod upon by one of the horses,” ‘* And his head has been bruised badly.” ‘ Almost any one else wonld have let go thus injured,” ‘‘But he saved the lives of two ladies and three children,” said the chief, ** A splendid fellow,” Doctor Stone said. ‘‘We must bring him out as good as new,” added Doctor Herrick. “Yes, but it will take a long time,” was the answer, ‘‘Tf devoted nursing will help, he shall have it,” the chief said. ‘* Who is be, chief?” ‘*A young man who often comes to visit us, sir, and whose name is Dick Doom,” ‘* A strange name. ‘SW hat does he do?” ‘* Travels.” Then the arm and collar-bone were perfectly set, the crushed foot put in position and dressed, and the patient left to rally from the shock. But fever set in, and it was months before Dick Doom was able to sit up and gaze out upop the flowers in the cbief’s garden, Be was as weak asa child, but soon began to rally, and a few weeks after began to feel like his old self again. His arm and collar-bone were all right, as good as new, and except that his foot was stiff for a while, he felt no inconvenience from it, ‘* How long have I been sick?” he asked his de- voted friend and nurse, the chief’s wife, one ay. ‘¢ Just four months, Dick.” ‘‘ Ah, what a long while have I been dead to the world, ‘‘ But I saved those ladies, did I not?” ‘‘- Yes, and three lovely children.” ‘‘ That is a recompense,” ‘‘ They came each day when you were so ill to see you, and send you flowers daily,” ‘¢ They are very kind.” ‘“‘Mr, Adolph is a very rich merchant, the husband of one of the ladies, and father of the children, and he says that he is going to make you junior partner of his firm.” ‘‘ He is very good indeed, but I was born for a detective, anditis my destiny and none other will I follow, ‘‘No, no, nothing can win me from being a ferret.” After a short silence Dick Doom resumed: ‘“And I recall now that Il bad some secret work to do when I was burt.” | ** Dick.” The voice of the chief’s wife was low and sym- pathetic. ‘* Yes, madam.” : ‘‘Are you strong enough for me to tell you some bad news?” “Ob, yes, for nothing can hurt me now,” he said with a sad smile, ‘‘ Tt is about your old friends of The Ferns,” ‘¢Of Marion, for Gordon is dead?” sé Yes.” ‘* Has Gibson deserted her?” ‘* Sbe has left him.” | ‘‘ Loft Gibson, her husband?” ‘¢ Yes, forever.” ‘‘ Ah! you mean that Marion is dead?” ‘Yes, she is dead,” ‘* Happy Marion.” ‘*Shall I tell vou of her?” cc Yes,” ‘*- You are strong enough to bear it?” “Oh, yes,” ** Well, Dick, Iam sorry that you did not see ners eae fate seemed against it, to lay you up as i ‘But she was watched after her brother’s death, for fear she might take her own life, for all feared that her mind was impaired by her sorrows,” ‘** And she did take her own life?” ** Yes, Dick, so it is believed.” ** Tell me about it.” ** Well, she got away from her attendant one evening, the negress dropping off to sleep, and going to the river she went off in her little boat. ‘The boat was found, with her hat and gloves in it, and this showed that she had evidently i into the river and thus ended her own ife, “ Alas! what a fate, what a cruel fate,” ‘“*Tt was, indeed, Dick,” **Her father killed by being thrown from his horse, Marion becoming the wife of Valentine Gibson, Gordon falling in a duel, and now Marion dying by her own hand. ‘ How strange fate bas pursued them, while I, without bome, kindred, yes, excepting you and the chief, with no friends, I live on and prosper, 15 ‘‘ Nothing takes me off, I am hard to kill, and so live on to carry out my destined career.” ‘““You are spared from all the dangers you have passed through for some good purpose, Dick,” ‘*It may be, and it may not be, ‘* But where is Valentine Gibson?” ‘¢ He has gone,” ‘* Where?” ‘‘No one knows; but his grief was so great that he settled up his affairs, sold the property he came in possession of by his wife’s death, for she left him all im her will, and went away, some say to foreign lands, but no one seems to know, ‘‘ He began to drink heavily, and it is thought that he will soon end his life ina drunkard’s grave,” ‘Or on the gallows,” muttered Dick Doom. Then he asked: ‘‘ What does the chief think of all this?” ‘¢He is here, so ask him, Dick,” and as the lady spoke the chief rode up to the gate, sprung from his buggy and entering the cottage gave the young detective his usual hearty greeting. CONCLUSION, What the chief thought of the death of Marion Grayburst, he soon made known to Dick Doom in hisown way, ‘* You see, Dick, remembering the secret we held against Gibson, I was naturally prejudiced against him, ‘‘ When the news of his wife’s death came I went myself to The Ferns to investigate. ‘‘Byery one on the place, and around it, I questioned, and I put Valentine Gibson through a cross-examination that would break down almost any man. ‘‘ From the people I learned only of his perfect devotion to bis wife, but I also discovered that she did not love him,” ‘‘No: had she loved her busband she would never have taken her own life from grief for her dead brother, in my opinion,” said Dick Doom, quickly. ‘‘You have hit the nail upon the head, I feel sure. ‘‘T believe she married the man to save her brother, end when he was taken from her, then she was glad to go, too. ‘¢ She took her own life, I am convinced.” ‘‘ And Valentine Gibson?” ‘‘ Well, I rather liked the fellow, and certainly pitied his grief. ‘‘He spent large sums in an effort to find his wife’s body, and failing, was almost crazed. ‘‘ At last he got rid of his property at great sacrifice, and set off on his travels, going no one knows where.” ** Chief?” ‘6 Yes, Dick.” ‘‘Somehow I am suspicious of that man, I cannot help it, and some day I shall ferret out all the secrets of the death of Gordon Grayhurst and his sister Marion.” And Dick Doom kept his word, for he fol- lowed blindly on in tbe destiny which he felt in his heart shaped his ends, THE END. Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Hurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 119 Mustang Sam 3 or, The King of the Plains. 186 ie Saiewkk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch. 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Glant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trallers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path. 208 The Boy Parday; or. Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Rarranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. 885 Old Double Fiat; or, The Strange Guide B55 The King af the Wooda: or Daniel Boone’s Last Trail. 449 Kit Fox. the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Traller. 677 Chineapin Dan's Second Trall. 688 Chineapin Dan’« Home Stretch. 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head. TOS Light-Heart Lute’s Legacy. 718 Light-Heart Lute’s Last Trail. 728 Silverblade, the Shoshone. 729 Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay. 789 Silwerblade, the Hostile. 748 Silverblade, the Friendly; or, The Border Beagle’s Boy Pard, A New issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library ‘+ for sale by ati newsdealers, five cen ts per copy, er sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Sireet, New York. ~~ !