Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 810 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

~ . ~ So... > - = -_ ¢ na r - ss of nf ‘ee ge" . ‘step. 12 are charged. I will begin by telling yon, pri- vately, that [am convinced of your innocence, You know who I am, of course,” ‘* Yes, Mr. Weston; and let me say that [am glad to know there is one who will believe my story in spite of appearances, [am as in- nocent of the crime as you are, although [ may have to bang for it, for 1 do not see how [am going to sweep away the terrible evidence that stands arrayed against me. Do you see any hope for me?” ** T do see hops for you, Mr. Rohnwald.” ** Thank God for that.” ‘‘T think Ican assure you that you will be cleared at your examination,” ‘So soon! Then do you think I will escape trial for the murder? Your words lend me new life, ** Yes, I think you will escape the trial, for, if fam not greatly mistaken, another will take your place before then.” ‘* Who is that other?” *Tcannot tell younow, You may be sure, though, that I would never give you this hope without good ground for its support. You must not mention it, however, for | want it to appear yet that I think you guilty.” ‘“‘Then I'll never breathe it, Mr, Weston. I have beard of you, and I know you are a detec- tive worthy the name,” ‘‘T want to aska few questions, Mr. Robn- wald,.” ‘Ask as many as you like; Ill give you ara Ao and truthful answers to them all, ‘When you came here yesterday you were aware that your father was dead?” sé T was,” ‘Did you know anything about the will he had left?” ‘* No; that was a part of the matter I wanted to learn about; how he had left the property.” ‘*Good. Now, were you aware of any secret recess anywhere in the wallat the manor-house?” ‘* No, I never knew of such a place,” ‘*‘Never heard your father speak of such a place?” sé No, sir,” ‘* Well, there was such a place; a small niche in the wall above the mantel in the library, and in it your father’s will was hid.” “(Gustav mentioned yesterday that the will had been stolen, and he accused me of the theft, I have since found that such is the general opin- ion here in the village. A good opinion my old friends have of me, truly.” ‘** Yes, that suspicion is against you, as well as this of the murder, It was upon that case I was called here by Mra, Rohnwald, who wanted the will recovered and the truth brought to light concerning it, She did not think you guilty, understand me, But, she wanted the truth,” ‘* Perfectly right; I am glad she took that When was the will stolen?” Billy gave him the date, and he was thought- ful for a moment. ‘‘ Ha! the date is a fortunate one for me!” he presently exclaimed. ‘I can easily prove where I was that night.” ‘* [ am glad to hear it, If you can prove that, ‘the present case will be weakened ayainst you by half,” ‘‘And I can proveit. I attended the wedding of a friend of mine in Washington as best man,” ‘* Excellent! Now there is light ahead, sure enough, Keep this to yourself for the present. We will hold back our heavy guns for the ex- amination,” ‘ Just as you say.” ** Who is your lawyer?” ‘‘ Mr, Percival, I bave sent for him.” ** He is inclined to think you guilty, with the rest, I believe.” ‘* Whut makes you think that?” ‘* He did not want Mrs. Robnwald to employ a detective, having in mind the honor of the family name and your safety together,” ‘* Some influence has been at work here against me, Mr, Weston, during the time I have been absent, to change everybody so against me, Men who knew me well should know better of me, ‘For instance, the old station-agent.” ‘Yes; he is true,” ‘**And you will see the whole town swing around on your side, too, as soon as we get down to busiuess,” ‘* T hope so.” “TT knowit. But, if Mr, Percival is to handle our Case we must take him into our confidence, will go and see bim immediately, before be comes to see you, and will have a talk with him, He was at the inquest, and looked very dis- itressed.” Broadway Billy’s Wipe-Out. ————— nO LLL LLL LL LL LLL LL LL ——e——eooooee oO eee ees - ‘*Tt was enough to make anybody look blue,” | “You are right; but, it will presently make | somebody else look not only blue, but green and yellow all around in spots as well.” At that the prisoner smiled, and after a few words more Billy took his leave and went in quest of the lawyer. He was closeted with him for half an bour or more, and when he left, the lawyer looked de- cidedly brighter than when he had come, After that Broadway Billy disappeared. He had been seen at the hotel, but no one could say just what had become of him, This was strange, too, for the worthy citi- zens Of the village had been keeping him under their eyes pretty closely, to note his doings, But, he was gone, and no one knew how, when or where, It wasin the afternoon that astranger was geen at the station, pacing the platform as though awniting a train, No one knew him, and little attention was paid to him, for a stranger at a railroad station, anywhers, is no strange sight; for there, if any- where, strangers are to be encountered, Tnis stranger was a solidly built man, per- haps thirty years of age, at a casual glance, and had a full black beard. He looked not unlike a Jew, and yet the like- ness was not very pronounced, It was the black beard, no doubt, that gave the impres- sion. He had nothing to say to anybody, but paced to and fro attending strictly to his own business and leaving other persons in the same highly commendable occupation. Finally a train drew up and stopped, and two young men alighted. These looked around asifin search of some one, and they had not long to look, for the man who had been waiting rushed up to them, kissing each in turn in the true Israelitish fashion, When the train went on the three bent their steps in the direction of the village hotel, talk- ing eagerly and earnestly among themselves, At the hotel the man inquired for board and lodging for a day or so, asking for a room with two beds, He could be accommodated, and registered thus: ‘¢ Moses Cohen and Brothers, New York,” That done, he casually let out bis business at Roseford, which was to look around with the idea in view of opening a clothing store there, After some talk among themselves and others in the bar-rcom, asking questions concerning the prospects of their venture, and so forth, the three retired to their room, There, as soon as the door had closed, one of the younger of the trio proceeded to stand on bis head. Is it necessary to explain that these were Broadway Billy and his ‘* beagles?” Billy’s telegram had brought them to his aid. As soon.as Happy Harry had righted himself, and all had taken seats, Billy said: ‘*' You answered promptly, boys, and you have carrie out the role well, and I’m proud of you, Now Ill give you the case.” ‘¢ And them kisses!” exclaimed Harry, ‘‘ That was too good, boss. You are good at kissin’, an’ if I was a gal Td set my cap for you, you bet!” ‘** Tt bad to be done, to make the deception per- fect,” said Billy, smiling. ‘¢ Yes, I s’pose so. But, boss, let’s have the ease, for we are jest dyin’ ter get in our fine work on it, ’specially Seth. He don’t say much, but he is thinking as hard as ever he can.” ‘* Well, here it is,” said Billy; and, in low tone, i OOO -—_— he gave his apprentices a full and complete bis- | tory of the whole matter to date. and now it remains for you to help me to make it perfect.” ** And we'll do it, you bet! Hey, Seth?” The silent partner nodded, ** And, don’t forget your names,” Billy further cautioned, ‘* No, brother Moses, you shust bet we won’t; mine is Levi and Seth’s is Abraham,” ** Well, we have been long enough here in our room, boys,” said Billy; ‘‘ we must now go out and cast about fora location for that clothing emporium,” They left the room, and were soon busily en- gaged in the work they had given out as having brought them to Roseford, And so passed the afternoon, and when sup- per time came they bad not succeeded in finding a store, but they had become pretty well ac- quainted with tbe town and its citizens, CHAPTER XIV. BILLY'S WORK, DONE, It was some timasafter supper when Broad way Billy again made bis appearance at the hotel, this tims in proper person. ‘* Hello!” greeted Dolph Greewood, who was on the piazza when be came up, ‘* we thought you had gone back to the city, You slipped away from us on the sly.” ‘No, I haven’t gone yet,” said Billy, taking a chair near the young man, ‘‘ I haven’t quite finished.my work bere, The matter of thestolen will hasn’t been cleared up, you know,” ‘* But, it’s plain enough who took it, : should think,” ‘‘It may seem so, but suspicion isn’t proof, you know, The prisoner has denied all knowl- edge of it.” ‘¢ That he naturally would do.” ‘““Of course; and, if guilty, the proof has got to be forthcoming to fasten it upon him,” ‘* Well, I suppose that’s so. How are you go- ing to do it? Can you prove he was here that night? Or can he prove be was not here?’ ‘‘] have got to prove he was here, in order to fix sche crime on him, How it is to be done I do not know, unless I can make the gir! confess what she knows.” ‘* You think she had a hand in it?” ‘* Does it not look reasonable?” ‘* Perhaps, if you want to look at it that way; but, I hold Carlotta Gilburt to be as good and pure as an angel, and I don’t think she would take any part in such a piece of business,” ‘‘ But, women are strange creatures,” argued Billy.. ‘* We know she loves Robert, and she would not say anything at the inquest that would injure him if she could help it, She may be as guilty as he is himself. To judge by looks ‘and appearances only, he is as good and true as she can be,” ‘¢ The evidence is all against him, though.” ‘*T know it; and, I may be able to bring some of it against her. Don’t you see?” ‘What do you mean?” ‘‘ Well, suppose it was she who stole the will, how then?” ‘*¢ Impossible!” ‘‘Nothing is impossible, where a woman is e~ncerned, And, what if it can be shown that she killed Gustav.” ‘‘ Good heavens! you can’t think that?” ‘‘fam merely supposing the matter, to see bow it will fit,” ‘*Itis folly to think of itin that way. She could never carry the body up and tie it to the rail, “ Besides, the tracks were plainly those of Rob,” ‘‘ Well, naybe both of them together bad a hand init. What errand had the girl out there that afternoon about that time? There is some- thing strange about it all, as you must admit,” ‘¢T don’t see anything init. I believe she was simply taking a walk, as it is given cut; and that sbe was in timeto hear something of the “That feller is innocent, of course he is,” de- | quarrel, and, being alarmed, she ran away as clared Ha:ry, as soon as Billy had done, ‘* Seth thinks so, too; I kin see it in his off eye. What’s more, lll bet my hat the other feller is the guilty man.” ‘‘ Mind, his name must not be breathed,” cau- tioned Billy. ‘Take me for a jay?” asked Harry. ** Hardly.” ‘‘Then don’t think we're goin’ out an shout our secret from the housetops, so that he that runs may get there, or whatever the quotation is; we ain’t that kind; and ’specially Setb.” ‘*T know I can trust both of you. Now, for the work you are to do; and you must put your- selves right down to it, to do your very best, A little slip on your part may throw al! the fat in | a corner. My case is half complete, | the fire, you know, fast as she could.” ‘Then why did she not report at the station what was the trouble? Instead, she deceived the old agent,” ‘¢ That is easily explained.” ‘¢Then explain it to: me,” ‘Why, apprehending what might bappen, she would not say anything for fear of getting Rob into trouble, If he bad got off unseen, she would never have opened her lips, is my idea,” Tiere was little in the argument Billy was advancing, but it served to draw thoughts from the young man. hile they were talking, two ragged youth passed down the street and disappeared around Billy noted them with satisfaction, and con- cOoOmMmICcbDOO eee — 7 . — é : a nl A et ey, A - ee a ee ee, ee othe ee 6 ——