Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 810 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 and having heard- nothing about the death of Gustav Robnwald, asked where we were going and what was the matter, seeing the coroner with us, ‘*He was told, and the moment he heard Gustav had been killed he mentioned the tramp he had seen and told what he knew. More, he had seen the tramp again, later, and knew where he was asleep in the woods, and guided us to him. We made the arrest, and it was then discovered’ who the tramp really was, and the cas> against himat once looked darker than ever. ‘¢ Mr, Greenwood recog—’ ‘‘Mr, Green wood!” the young lady exclaimed, interrupting. ‘‘What Mr. Greenwood was ? that?” ‘* Mr, Adolphus Greenwood.” ‘‘He! Howl hate him! Did he know who the tramp was, before the arrest?” ‘* No; he was as much surprised as any one there. But, you say you bate bim; may I ask why you hate him?” ‘It does not matter, sir, since it is nothing which can concern this terrible affair. I pre- fer not to tell, if you please,” ‘ You should guard your tongue a little better, Carlotta,” said the mother, reprovingly. ‘‘Since you have suid so much I shall have to explain the matter to Mr, Weston,” ** As you think best, mamma,” ‘* 1¢ is like this, sir,” the mother said: ‘* Mr, Greenwood has been seeking to marry Carlotta, and not liking bim, she has come to hate him for his persistence in the matter.” ‘‘ Ah! Isee, Well, as 1 was about to say, Mr. Greenwood recognized the tramp as the same one he had seen on the railroad bank earlier in the ovening, or rather in the afternoon; and Mr, Goodluck, who was with us, recognized him as one he had seen pass the station that afternoon. That good old nian tried to bide what he knew, but his efforts to do so only made it the more plain. We went to the railroad bank from there, and on the rocks by the trout pools we found tha half-peeled club, and it had blood and bair on it as proof that it had been the weapon used by the assassin,” ‘‘He is lost—lost!” cried the young lady, wringing her hands, ‘‘Hrom there,” Billy proceeded, ‘‘ we follow- @1 to where the body had been tied on the rail- road track, and the tracks in the clayey earth fitted well the boot the tramp bad on, We took one of them off, and all present were satis- fied that he was the one who had carried the body up there, I[ never saw a case so plain, taking a general view of it; and yet, from cer- tain facts I have picked up, and from ideus I have formed, and impressions that have been made upon my mind, I still think Robert inno- cent, and I hope to prove him so; But, as said, this is to you privately. Openly, I want it te appear that I am against the young man, for the present.” ‘* He is lost, lost, lost!” cried Miss Gilburt, still wringing ber hands. “No not despair,” said her mother, ‘‘ Mr, Weston has made a reputation asa detesctive, and we know he would not say what he does without some good grounds to support bis opin- ion, Still, how terribly dark it is! Prejadiced minds will see in it only a desire to have Gustav out of the way in order to come in forthe whole estate, and to have him out of the way as a rival for the hand of my child here, How little they understand bim! No, Robert is not guilty of this: I cannot believe it; he could never do such a deed, unless—” ‘* nless what, madam?” ‘‘T was about to say, unless Gustav attacked him and he fought to defend himself, and unin- tentionally struck bim a blow that killed him.” ‘¢ Not so,” said Billy. ‘* The blow was intend- ed to kill; no doubting that part of it. But, if Robert did do it, for sake of argument let us suppose, why did he put the body on the track? And, too, why did be remain herein the wood, when the discovery wa3 bound to come early and his chances for escape would be slim indeed after it was known that the victim ha: heen murdered, And, why did he leave his staff at the place of the crime, direct evidence against him? And, could he lie down as we found him and sleep soundly immediately after committing sc hellish a deed? Never! I give you these points for your comfort; do not repeat them, ‘You will see, in part, why I believe him inno- cent.” ‘God bless you for your cheering words!” cried the young lady ‘“*And do you exert yourself to the utmost to bring the truth to light,” urged Mrs, Rohnwal4, -< That I shall do, never fear,” Billy promised, ‘* And now, if you will allow me,I will assume a disguise before leaving the house again, I bave work to do, but you can let the impres- sion be that I spend the night here.” With a few hasty touches the detective dis- guised himself so completely right therein the presence of the two ladies that they could hardly believe the same person stood before,them. And that done, he went out into the night by a rear way, to perform whatever task he had in mind, CHAPIER XI, BILLY’S SILENT SEARCH, On the following morning Broadway Billy breakfasted at Woodlawn Manor, and a little time later came forth from the house and made his way in the direction of the railroad station. He was without disguise, and no sooner had he made his appearance than he was seen, and men in the street pointed him out to one another as the detective who was in town fcr the purpose of clearing up the Roseford mystery. (oite a number followed bim to the station, keeping at a distance behind him, feasting their eyes upon what was to them a treat, a genuine and real live detective; and Billy bad to smile to himself as he noted what interest his presence created in the rural mind. Reaching the station, he found old Peter Goodluck in the office at work upon some report or other for the company. He recognized Billy at once, and opening the door of tha office, said: as Come in here, sir, for | want to talk with you, ‘* Thank you,” said Billy, as he accepted. The office wasof good size for a country station, and at a table in the bow window sata young man who was working the telegraph. ‘*| want to talk with you about this awful matter here at Roseford,” the old man said as he closed the door, **‘ You needn’t mind the operator ; he is my son ” ‘That is all right,” responded Billy, ‘* lm willing to talk with you, sir; but before I do so I want to send a message to New York. You send messages from here, I suppose, of course?” ‘* Yes; just write out what you want to say, and Harry there will send it for you,” So, Billy wrote out a message in cipher, ad- dressing it to— ' *““HILLYARD & MARTEN, **Room No, —, ‘* No. — Broadway, ** New York City.” That message, as the reader will recognize at once, was to his ‘*‘team,” Happy Harry and Silent Seth. The operator counted the words it contained, stated the amount due, and as soon as Billy had settled with him he turned again to the old man, ‘* Well, Mr, Goodluck,” he asked, ‘‘is there something you want to inquire about in partic- ular?” ‘Yes, young man, there is,” was the re- sponse. ‘'I want to ask ye, right out as a man, if you think there is any Lope for Rob Rohn wald,” “The case is very dark against him, Mr. Goodluck,” Billy evaded, ‘* You can see for yourself just bow it stands. Of course, after the inquest we may be able to understand it better,’ “Yes, [see how it is, sir; but I want to say to vou right here that 1 will never believe Rob Rohnwald done that deed, not if he was to con- fess to it I wonldn’t; he ain’t that kind. I have knowed Robby from a boy up, and he’s as good and true as bis mother was before him.” ** Then he is the victim of circumstantial evi- dence the most unfortunate, Mr, Goodluck, is all Tcansay. I certainly hope he will be able to clear himself, but at present that is almost like hoping against hope,” *T know it, I know it: but Tl believe the boy’s story,'no matter what the proof against him is, after what -be said to me last night. No matter what comes, even if they hang him, to me he is innocent and [ wanted to Jet you know just how much faith I have in him,” ‘** I am glad to see you so strongly on the weak side, Mr. Goodluck. T only wish he hada few moresuch friends, The man who sets about proving his innocence has got to work against the whole field, however, and will have no easy task before him, Now, as you believe Rob in- nocent, is there any one else you can suspect of having done the deed?” ‘‘ Nota single one, sir. God forgive meif I Broadway Billy’s Wipe-Out. ened ee CL LS LE LL LL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL ALLL LL, should mention any name without some proof to back up the suspicion witb.” ‘Then do I understand you to hint that you might throw suspicion upon some one else if you would—” ‘* No, sir; no, sir; you don’t understand me to say anything of the kind.” **Ob! Well, excuse me, then, Mr, Goodluck; but, there are some questions 1 would like to ask you, if you don’t mind,” ‘* What are they?” ‘* About what time was it when Rob Rohnwale passed here yesterday afternoon?” ‘‘T should say it was about five o'clock, as near as I might guess; not many minutes before or after, anyhow,” ‘‘That is near enough to it, since you do not know the exact time. Now, did you notice Mr. Adolphus Greenwood going by the station here after that, on the road out yonder?” ‘No, I didi not; but that dcn't signify, for he migbt ’a’ gone a Lundred times and not be seen o’ me.” ‘‘ Well, can you tell me who it is drives a horse and a mule together, with a very broad- tired wagon?” ‘6 Yes, that’s Silas Barringer.” ‘‘And [ saw him come along that road about seven o’clock,” spoke up the operator, ‘‘That road is not traveled much, I take it,” Billy observed, ‘* No, not very much, But, what are you com- in?at, young man? You wouldn’t cast no sus- picion on Silas Barringer, would you?” ‘Far from it,” Billy made reply. “I was merely getting at the time in a certain point I have in mind, that was all. But, I’m afraid the cass is going against the young man ir spite of all.” , ‘Tt looks that way. Foolish boy he was to come here in such a manner.” ‘“Yes; for that very fact will tell terribly against him. And then the fact that the murder was done with the club he carried.” ‘¢ Yes, yes; and the tracks up the bank, whick his boots seemed to fit s0 well— Poor Rob! 1 would almost lay down my old life to save bim, I believe; yes, 1 would do it, and willin’ly, for ! know he is innocent.” ‘‘ But, you can’t offer anything to prove it.” ‘* Not a thing, nota thing.” Billy talked a little longer with the old man, drew out some more points he was after, and went away. He bent his steps in the direction of the vil- lage proper again, and when he reached the hotel of the plece he met Dolph Greenwood. ‘¢ Good-morning,” Greenwood _ greeted. ‘¢ Learned anything more?” ‘¢ Nothing more of any importance,” Billy an- swered, ‘* Been out to the scene of the crime this morning?” : ‘‘ Why, were you going out that way?” ‘“*T thought I would. Daylight is stronger than moonlight, and there may be something to discover,” ‘‘T am satisfied with my examination of the ground last night,” said Billy, ** but if you want to go out that way Tl walk with you. I sup- pose there is a crowd on the spot by this time, though,” ‘¢Yhat’s so, no doubt there is; but, they can’t carry it away with them, that is sure.” ‘* Come on, then, Have you seen the coroner this morning?” ‘‘-Yes, and he is all broke up over the matter. . I guess it is the first bad case he ever had,” ‘What time does he begin his inquest?” ‘¢ At half-past nine, 1 Leligve.” ‘¢ We can be back in time for that, I want te be on hand to hear andgee. I suppose the fellow is guilty, sure enough.” ‘1 don’t see any doubt of it. He and Gus hated each other, and Gus had the inside trac’ of him all around, both in property and love matters, With Gus out of the way he would have the whole thing to himself.” ‘“‘ Yes, that’s true, sureenough, But, why, do you suppose, did he tie the body to the rails?” ‘‘ Don’t see, unless he wanted it to be sure to he found, so there could be no question abovt Gus’s being dead,” “Tf that was his object, I should think te would have merely laid it on the track, to give the impression that it had been an accident,” ‘‘T don’t pretend to be able to guess bis no tive, but maybe be wanted it to appear as a mur- der, out and out, hoping to be able to prove bis - He was in a good disguise, yous innocence of it. know,” ‘* Yes: but he kept the disguise still on, and went and lay down in the wood to sleep, Be- sides, he left his staff at the place where the /