Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 793 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Dick Doom in Chicago. 9 then I told her that T lived on West Adams street and had seen her there. “‘ She said that was where her sister lived, and I knew I was on the right track. ‘¢ There were two cowboys on the ranch, but I knew that their businees was not punching cows, except as a blind, and so I determined to keep an eye on the Express Office. “T gota room near, and two days after up came the woman and one of the cowboys, and sy sent off a package for Doctor Paul Mat- ews, ‘“‘T then wont in, told the agent who I was, imitated the pe on the kage, and writ- 4 note with a blue pencil on Express paper said: ‘“* Come at once to ranch for it is necessary—Just time for mail. ours, DOLPH,’ ‘‘That was the name one of the cowboys had been called by, 7 “Four days after Doctor Paul Matthews got off the train at Denver and I was there to re- ceive him.” CHAPTER XVI. THE GOLDEN FETTERS. ‘*WrLL, Mr. Doom, I see that the New York chief sent me the right man in you, for you have tracked down the counterfeiters which all my force failed to do,” said the Chicago chief, who had listened to the story of Dick Doom with the ‘deepest interest. ‘“T will tell you, sir, the rest of my story if ‘you wish,” ** By all means, for it ig as entertaining as a movel,” ‘“*‘I met the pretended parson at the depot told him I was a new manon the ranch an Dolph had sent ne to meet him and bring him to the hotel, for there was some trouble which I could not explain, but Dolph would. ‘‘ He walked into my web as innocently as 4 fly, and once fn my room at the hotel I covered him with my revolver, and slipped my gold haod-fetters upon him.” ‘* Your gold handcuffs, ir?” ‘* Yes, sir, for I havea pair of solid gold fet- ters, warranted to fit any wrist.” ‘*T would hke to see them, Mr. Doom.” ‘‘ You will, shortly, sir, for Parson Paul is oc- cupying them just now.” ** Indeed! ‘* But where is he?” ; “tf left him in the keeping of your officers, ‘‘What a strange conceit to use a pair of golden fetters.” ** Yes, sir, I suppose it is; but I have queer conceits, and to manacle my prisoners with golden fetters was one of them, ‘“*T then sent for an officer, to guard my man while I went out to the ranch, ‘*T took these officers with me in a carriage, pretended we had broken down, and asked for shelter at the ranch. ‘*T wasin diszuiso, as were the detective offi- cers with me, two of them being dressed as wo- “We were made welcome, and I saw Dolph and tie other man there, besides the woman, “That night we watched, and at one o’clock we entered a secret room up-stairs, to find the three of them at work making counterfeit money, the two men being the engravers and inters,”’ ‘*A magnificent capture, indeed, Mr, Doom.” “So we thought, sir, and we carried our pris- oners back to Denver that night, jailed them, and left two officers in charge of the ranch. ‘* The plates, press and paper I turned over to - the Denver chief of police, with the woman and the two men, while I started to Chicago with the Parson, baving just received your letter.” Splendid!" said the chief, “Yes, sir, the counterfeits were splendid work, for the paper used even had the silk thread through it that the genuine bas,” ** And your man is here?” ‘“‘ Yes, sir, for I did not see fit to disturb the Denver authorities about requisition papers, and so brought him with me in a quiet way. “T put up at the Grand Pacific, then called a carriage, an’ drove bere t0 8¢e you, ** But, there is work yet to be done,” ri And what is thes, Mr. Doors 0 Visit the Parson’s qu rs at once, u West Adams street, arrest the woman ovat and search the place for all that may be evi- dence against the man.” *T will go with you, if you wish.” | ‘‘ With pleasure, chief; but now I will bring ia my man.” “With the Golden ,Fetters,” said the chief, with a smile, ** Yes, sir.” Going to the door Dick Doom called to some one Outside, and an officer approached with a prisoner, This prisoner was dressed in black, with high silk hat and might be taken for a physician or a clergyman, He had a bright, intelligent face, with a kind- ly expression, but was now pale and nervous, The prisoner’s hands were clasped together and upon the wrists were a pair of solid gold fetters, us the chief saw when Dick Doom led him toward bim. “Chief, allow me to present Doctor Paul Matthews, alias Domino Dick, alias Sporting Sam, alias Spartan Saul, alias Captain Cos- mos, alias Parson Paul,” said Dick Doom, in his quiet way, while tbe chief replied: ** Doctor Matthews, Iam most happy to meet you [ am sure.” “I don’t doubt it, chief, but I gave your crew the slip, and but for this slick ferret who is so toney that he uses golden fetters, you’d never have set your grip on me,” **T will not contradict you, doctor, for you say what is so, and Mr, m deserves the greater credit for catching you.” “He got the whole outfit, me included,” ‘** No, not all,” averred Dick Doom, ** Yes, you have,” say | say no, doctor,” ‘*I’'d like to know what more, and whv else you want?” ‘*T want more yet,” ** You want the earth, I guess,” ‘‘T want Mrs. Matthews, doctor,” The counterfeiter started and turned a shade whiter at this; but he recovered his assurance quickly, and ith a Jaugh answered: ‘* You cannot get what is not, my friend.” * Well, I can try, ‘*Come, chief, are you ready for that drive with me to No. — West Adams street?” The counterfeiter uttered a cry like a tiger at bay, and raised his manacled hands as though to spring upon the young ferret; but, there was a look on the face of Dick Doom which checked his intention, and dropping into @ chair be groaned: ‘*My God! I am utterly ruined.” ‘© You should think of wreck before set sail in dangerous waters, doctor,” reminded Dick Doom, and ata sign from bim the chief called in a couple of officers whom he told to lead the prisoner away to a cell, ‘‘One moment, please, for I will need m Golden Fetters, chief, elsewhere,” and Dic Doom unlocked the prisoner’s Manacles and placed them in his pocket, while steel handcuffs were slipped upon the wrists of the counterfeiter in their stead, CHAPTER XVIL. A MAN WITH AN OPINION, THE place on West Adams street was reached and Dick Doom rung the bell and with the chief awaited response, The door was opened by the same woman whom Dick Doom had before seen there and he asked innocently: ‘Is Doctor Paul Matthews at home, madam?” ‘* He is not,” The reply was rather curtly given, ‘Ts Parson Paul at home then?” s No.” ‘Til leave a line for him then,” and the Ferret of the Golden Fetters entered the door, followed by the chief, who closed it after him, The woman looked surprised. ‘Is Domino Dick at home madam?” Sap woman started, changed color and re- plied: J. Ido not know whom you mean.”. i Or Spartan Saul, Sporting Sam, or— : What do you mean, sir, by coming here?” ‘“‘[ mean, madam, to arrest you, that is all.” ** Arrest me?” So I said.” ** And for what?” ‘* As the accomplice of Parson Paul.” sie He boards here and J know nothing about m, No morethan you do of Mr, and Mrs, Brainard and Dolph Bedford of the ranch near Denver,” ‘¢] do not understand you,” ‘*Then I will make myself more plainly un- derstood, ‘Tam Dick Doom, detective, and I arrest you as the accomplice of a counterfeiting band, ‘* Now you comprehend me, do you not?” The woman uttered a cry and sunk down upon +d awe t te Mat * ’ + * H Cn ee _— the stairs, while the chief stepped to the door and made a signal which brought two detectives to the house. ‘Guard this woman,” said Dick Doom, who seemed to be the leader, and with the chief he went up-stairs, The two were gone for half an hour and upon their return the ferret said: “We have found enough evidence of your guilt, madam, to condemn a dozen women, “You will go with us, for these officers will be left in charge of your house, ‘* Get ready, please, for a stay in prison.” The woman moaned, pleaded, and then be- came calm, Robing herself for the street, and taking with ber a small sachel, she accompanied the chief and the ferret to the carriage in waiting and was driven to the prison. ‘Well, Mr. Doom, that was the quickest and slickest haul I ever knew, ‘“‘It will pay you five thousand dollars, for that is the reward offered for the capture of the counterfeiters,” ‘Thank you, sir; but I will only take half of it, so please divide the other among the needy of the force,” ‘¢-You are most generous, sir, and your kind- ness will be appreciated, ‘‘T hope we can keep you with us in Chicago, for we need Just such a man as you are to give us new life.’ ‘‘T will remain for a while at least, sir, for I am interested in a most remarkable case t have been reading that happened in your city.” ** Indeed, and what case is that?’ ‘*T happened to come upon a roll of old papers in the hotel in Denver, they baving evidently been left there by the former occupant of the m, ‘‘ Observing a blue pencil mark upon one I glanced atit and became interested in what I read, ‘‘ All the other papers were marked, and the more I read the more deeply I became absorbed in what I considered a most remarkable case.” ‘‘T do not know to what case you allude, Mr, Doom?” “ To the murder of Miss Clarice Carroll,” ‘‘ Ah! but that was no murder,” ‘* Indeed?” sé No.” ‘‘ What then?” ‘+ A case of suicide.” ‘¢ Who said so?” ‘¢ Why there was no thought of murder in the ” case, “A young girl, eh?” sé VY ” ‘Very beautiful,” ‘‘ She was,” ‘¢ Rich,” ‘‘ Tmmensely,” ‘* And she took her own life without cause?” ‘* Well, it was hinted that she had cause,” ‘“*Chief, Tread the papers I alluded to, and then sent money and gota man to forward me every clipping bearing upon the case. ‘*]l even got the very latest news in that quar- ter, and I put all the clippings in a scrap- and studied them as I would a lesson in al- ebra,” “* Well?” ‘‘The more I studied the more I became con- vinced that the girl did not committ suicide, that it was a cage of diabolical murder.” ‘‘ Why, Doom, you astound me, for no one has ever taken that view before.” ‘* You are mistaken, sir, for some of my clip- pings hint that a burglar did the deed, though there was no property taken.” ‘“ Yes, but that was a random shot to try and get at the bottom facts.” ‘‘ Still I will stake my reputation as a ferret that it was a case of murder,” ‘* But the motive?” ‘* That is to be discovered,” “There was not a thing taken, either of jewelry or money, for I was up at the Carroll ouse the morning after the discovery.” ‘Then robbery was not the motive.” “Why, the young lady killed herself with a jewel-hilted stiletto she had purchased herself in Italy, and the blade was found sticking in her bosom, while she lay back dead in a chair,” ‘* She was an only child?” ‘‘ Well, there was a son by a former marriage who afterward appeared upon the scene,” ‘So I read.” . 4 Yes, and he is the joy of his old father’s fe. ** Do you know bim?” “* Mr, Carroll or his son?” rT Both,” 4 | tvs ‘yf ey .. .- scomicbhooks-com