Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 777 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

eg Mar Pie ~ The mansion was large, rambling, with wide halis, wings and piazzas, and the grounds about it were picturesque and beautiful. In the very prime of life Colonel Grayhurst had died, having been thrown from bis horse and killed, He had left two heirs, Gordon, a youth verg- ing on manhood, a dasbiag, whole-souled fel- low, a worthy descendant of a proud race, and Marion, a fair maiden not very long in her teens, a little fairy in face and form, yet a child-woman who appeared older than sle was. The two, Gordon and Marion, were returning from a borseback ride one afternoon, when tbe young girl drew rein where the road ran through a clump of woodland, with a thicket growing upon the levee not far away. The grand Mississippi rolied by a hundred yards distant, upon their right, while spread- ing fields of sugar-canestretcbed inland for miles away. In the distance was seen the mansion of The Ferns, and up and down the river were here and there visible other plantation homes. “‘ Brother Gordon, do you know I never pass this spot without a shudder, and a regret,” said Marion, and her eyes fell upon two grass-grown graves just off of the highway. ‘*T do not wonder, sister mine, when here father so nearly lost his life, and you just es- caped being kidnapped.” * Yes, and but for that brave boy, Dixie Gray, both would have happened—a boy tramp he called himself, who bad camped for the night over in that thicket, ‘“‘There was his little tent, his dog and all, and right there in those bushes the two men who lie in those graves, lay in ambusb. ‘‘ Father and I little dreamed of danger, and poor Tom had no thought of death as he sat on the carriage-box, driving us rapidly homeward, ‘Tt was late in the afternoon, anc a storm was threatening, so Tom drove rapidly until be reacted this break in the road, ‘‘T recall it all as though it were but yester- day. A shot rong out and one of the borses fell; a second followed, and Tom was killed; a third shot and father was wounded and the two higb- waymen had us at their mercy, when another shot came and one of the assassins fell dead;a loud yelp, and a fierce dog had crushed the throat cf the other in his sharp teeth, ‘Then a mere boy appeared at the door of the carriage and coolly told us that there was no danger, that he had seen the two men land from a canoe, had watched them go into ambush, and came to the rescue,” Marion had told the story.impressively, as though her brother had not beard it a score of times before; but he’ had listened with deepest interest and replied: ““ Yes, brave Dixie Gray—a boy, yet a man. I was so glad that father took him bome with him, made him his secretary for a few months and then sent him off to school.” ‘‘ 16 was the cause of our baving to-day our inheritance, Gordon, for Lawyer Thurston had taken the old will, which made him executor and gave him so much of the property, which fatber owed him for gambling debts. * Oh, brother! 1 hope you will never gam- ble.” | The face of the young man crimsoned, and as though to change the subject, he said: ‘Yes, Marion, poor Dixie, after getting Lawyer Thurston’s unkind letter, saying that he was not remembered in the will, went his way, and then suddenly turns up here, and find- ing how we had been defrauded, told us, and showed us that there was a later will, found it and the witnesses, and sent Thurston flying from the country in disgrace,” ‘+-And will not accept even the legacy in the will for him,” ‘‘ No; he refuses it; but he certainly has money, and in contidence, Marion, I will tell ou that I believe he is a detective in New Or- eans, though he has not admitted it.” ‘‘ Tt must be so, brother, for see how he un- earthed the villainies of that man Dandridge, who, a gentleman in society, was the leader of a band of outlaws.” ‘* Yes, that must be how Dixie gets his money.” ais But, he does not go under the name of Dixie rav.’ ‘* No, but I happened to catch sight of a let- ter one day, which he received, and opened, and it was addressed to Dick Doom.” ‘‘ Dick Doom? What a strange name.” ‘* Yes, and it can bardly be his real one,” ‘* You do not believe Dixio Gray is his real name then?” “TIT do not.” Dick Doom’s Destiny. a ‘* He is such a mystery, for we really know pang of his early life, well as we have known im. ‘* Nothing, yet he is a boy witha history, I am sure. He is true as steel, brave as a lion, and a noble fellow through and through. ‘If there is aught bad, or wrong in Dixie oe he certainly keeps it well hidden. ** But, come, this spot has caused us to go far back into the past. We will ride on home.” They wenton at a gallop, both riding with the grace and ease hatural tu the people of the far Soutb. As they neared their house they saw some one upon the piazza. ‘* It is Dixie!’ cried Marion, and the visitor received a warm greeting from both, He was a youth of eighteen, with a face al- most womanly in its beauty, a form at once slender, graceful, vet firmly knit, and muscular, ‘* IT have been away for some time, Gordon, so came up to see if you got your affairs all straightened out, after Thurston’s handling of them?’ ‘* Yes, indeed, thanks to you, Dixie. We got all back, and lost nothing. We have your leg- acy, too, at your call, my dear fellow, and call for it you must.” ‘* Thanks, I do not need it; but I have come to tell you, in confidence, that I have fully de- cided upon my future career.” ** And what will it be?’ **{ feel that I am a detective by destiny, so shall follow my fate. But, remember: this is a secret,” CHAPTER ll, DICK DOOM’S DESTINY. THe chief of police of New Orleans sat in his private office conning over bis morning reports, when suddenly there entered unannounced the youth whom the readersaw the day before at be Ferns Plantation, and whose mysterious career had been talked over by Gordon Gray- burst and his sister, The chief wasa stern-faced, firm-looking man, one who had been a gallant soldier in his early life and who was naturally fitted for the ardu- ous duties devolving upon bim as a master fer- ret. He sprung from his seat at sight of the youth, and grasping his hand said warmly: ‘* My dear Dick, bow glad [ am to see you, ‘*So you decided to come Lack again after all, to the field where you rendered such good ser- vice as an Unknown Detective?” ‘*'Yes, chief, I decided to come back, after an absence of six months, in which I have been fol- lowing a trail of my own.” ‘*T recall that when we first met you told me you had certain Secret Service work to accom- plish upon your own hook,” ‘* Yes, chief, but what itis I cannot tell even rou. ‘*T consider that I, with others, were grossly wronged, and [I cut loose from my home, kin- dred and all, to track a mystery to the end, **So far I bave been unsuccessful, but 1 have been enabled, while on my own still hunt, to do much service for others.” ** You have indeed, Dick,” ‘** Nearly four years ago, I was, as a tramp, on my way to this city, following my determina- to be my own detective. Then, fortunately, I was enabled to serve Colonel Grayhurst, and his vag, a and through his kindness I was great- ly aided in my education, and so the better pre- pared for my chosen vocation, ‘*When I would receive bounty no longer, after the colonel’s death, | again started on foot for this city, and by a mere accident, while bid- ing in a lone cabin on the river, I learned of the secret band of villains known as the Loyal League of the Golden Gallows,” ‘* Yes, and I got the credit for all your splen- did work in bringing tbem to justice, simply be- cause you insisted upon remaining unknown.” ‘* And I still so insist.” ‘*T have not forgotten that you captured a dozen criminals, murderers, pickpockets, bur- glurs and counterfeiters; that you, dressed asa girl, took a position as clerk in the Santa Cruz Cafe, and brought that whole outfit to justice; that you ran to earth tbe chief of the League of the Golden Gallows; sent a dishonest lawyer a fugitive from the country; sent two men to the gallows, and eight others and three women to prison for long terms for counterfeiting and other crimes, while the handsome rewards for their capture you generously divided with my detectives and police officers, ** Now, I recall these things, as also the fact that Master Dixie Gray did not care to be known as Dick Doom, and Dick Doom did not let it be known who or what he was,” ‘ ‘ ‘i sia® @ le ee A hae Pa def The chief spoke earnestly and Dick Doom made no reply, Then the chief resumed: ‘““T bave not forgotten that I was not assassinated, and when I, being forewarned, sought alone to capture my assassin, I found two instead of one, and had you not been biding tbherr I surely would have been killed at the door of my own home. ‘“* Detective Royal also owes you his life, for, a prisoner to those counterfeiters of the Santa Cruz Cafe, they were killing bim by inches when you rescued him, ** Now, you still say you wish me not to tell who has done all this remarkable good,” ‘*] demand it, chief, for by remaining un- known I can do the most work and accomplish the most good. Just now I am again in the harness,” ‘* Ah! you will again be a detective?” ‘There is no need of my trying to escape my destiny, chief, so I have come back to go to work,” ** Good! and when?” ‘*T shall this time extend my field to the steam- boats on the Mississippi River, chief.” ‘‘Of all places the one for you, Dick Doom, for the Mississippi River has mysteries untold for you to solve; yes, the Detective of the Mississippi is just the thing for you,” said the chief of police with enthusiasm, CHAPTER ITT, OVERHEARD, A YOUTH, with every appearance of being a hayseed, one whose look stamped him as being what city folk call a greenhorn, was sleeping peacefully in a chair upon the forward deck of a steamer booming down the Mississippi River, Two gentlemen were walking up and down near him, admiring the scenery and talking to- gether, Both were young men, and as they halted in their walk, one glanced over to the deck below and said: ‘*See here, Parsons; do you see that man standing there by the gangplank talking to the mate?” sé Yes,” ‘‘ Well, I never forget a face, or, at least, [ pride myself upon not doing so, and if I am not very much mistaken, I met that man under very peculiar circumstances just a year ago.” ‘*Do you mind telling me what they were, Hilgartner?” ‘* No, as we are both followers of Ausculapius, and therefore there is a bond of affinity between us, I do not mind, for I betray no secret to out- siders, that is, to men out of the profession of surgery and medicine,” and Doctor Parsons glanced at the serenely sleeping hayseed youth. “Oh, he’s asleep; and besides, he’s from %wayback, so would understand nothing if he heard it,” said Doctor Hilgartner, for they were both young pbysicians who had met by ac cident upon the steamer some days before, and were going South to find a place where they could practice their profession.” ** You note the man I mean?” ** Oh, yes.” ‘*A man of striking appearance, as you see, with a somewhat fast look, well-dressed and courtly in bis manners.” ‘* Yes, he is all that you say.” ‘Tt was in the last year of my course in col- lege, when that man, if J] am not mistaken, came to my rooms and asked to see me, ‘‘] had as a chum a fellow-student, so we asked him up to our room and he made known his business, ‘*It was in effect that he was a young phy- sician, and from his conversation there seemed no doubt of that, who was practicing in a coun- try town ip Renkoesy ‘‘He had been called in to attend a wealthy old gentleman, a planter, who was dying of some strange disease. “The planter died, and the family would allow no post-mortem examination, and he dared not dig him up and investigate for him- self, | ‘“So he came to tell us that we could get the body in a certain way, he paying all expenses, so that we diagnosed the case thoroughly in a post mortem, and kept the results for bim when he should call for them, ‘‘His plan was to have us, with what other students we wished to ask to belp us, go up the river to a certain point. ‘“Then we could make our way by night to the little family burying-ground, dig up the body and carry it to the river, where a boat would be in waiting. ‘‘ They could row to the city in this boat in a Geom EGnooks.< : ‘ x las a p ts! 6 : : aa ‘ , ae Pi ese ahi F = jet +s “aah oy pee Te My z a —- Cats. —— SS ee eee eee - ei - . a ‘ % .l—= = oe « ~ «st * —