Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 810 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

a me ee a _ » er ae ee ee « ee ee Ly, Ce ee ee ee | eee —- ee ee LS ee ss le WA a tinued his talked with Greenwood, in argumenta- tion. ‘You seem to talk as though you would ar- rest the young lady upon suspicion,” Green wood presently observed, ‘TI believe I could do so with good grounds for the action,” assured Billy. ‘‘it is not my intention, however, If sheisin any way guilty, it will come out,” ** But, she is not guilty; I could swear to that, almost. Knowing that girlas I do, 1am sure there is nothing evil in her.” ‘‘Perhaps you have tender thoughts in that difection,” laughing. “T won’t deny it,” ** it will be convenient for you, then, to have the rival brothers both out of the way. It’s an ill wind that blows no good,” Greenwood looked at Billy searchingly. Billy met this scrutiny smiling, awaiting his response, ‘*You are heartless to mention such a thing, sir,” Greenwood said, ‘‘ At sucha time that is furthest from my thoughts,” **T gave it out as a joke only,” ‘It’s a serious joke, with me, more about it.” * Very well; just as you please; but, do not mention what I have said to you in confidence.” While Billy was talking be took a small pen- knife from his pocket and began cleaning his nails with it, He was at the same time keeping watch upon the man beside him, and presently saw him start as liis eyes caught the knife. Billy did not look up, just then, and when he did so Greenwood had regained his composure and carried on the conversation without appear- ing to notice the knife further. This knife, by the way, was the object which Billy had picked up at the scene of the crime on the previous night, It would appear that, recognizing it, Green- wood knew who its owner was. Broadway Billy remained with him all the eve- ning, even detaining him when he would have taken his leave, and finally Greenwood came to regard bim as a pretty good sort of fellow. illy entertained him with stories of some of his adventures, not in a boastful way, but natur- ally, in response to guestions asked. The hour was late when firally they parted, They had remained on the piazza all the time, and while there the two ragged youths had been seen again, passing up the street, After Greenwood had gone, Billy took a stroll, and was seen no more that night. Later on the three Jews came in and retired to their room. ‘* Well?” Billy cautiously asked, when they bad closed the door. ‘¢ He’s. our mutton, sure!” exclaimed Harry. Seth nodded approval. ‘‘ What have you discovered?” ‘©The boots and the cut rope.” ** And an old coat with blood on it,” added Setb. ‘* Where are they?” ‘Behind the wocdshed at the Woodlawn Manor.” ‘*Good! Now we are coming at the thing in good shape. L'il compare the boots with my laster molds the first thing in the morning, and if they are a match the case is complete.” ‘“* And you'll be able to get Rob out before he gets sont up for the grand jury, sure,” Harry de- clared, exultantly. ‘* Yes, if I get the proofs straight enough. The examination comes off to-morrow, and the prosecutor thinks he has a sure case.” ** And he don’t like Rob worth a cent, and will be glad to send him up.” ‘So I think, from whatI have been able to learn. It will be fun to disappoint bim.” ‘“‘ But,” spoke up Seth, ‘‘ suppose our man gets alarmed and lights out? He may, when he finds the things gone, you know,” “True enough,” agreed Billy. ‘You !boys will make it your business to keep your eyes on him to-morrow, and all the time until bis ar- ‘¢ And if he goes to skip out?” *¢ Nail him, at all hazards,” ‘‘ Why not take out a warrant and arrest him now, aod so take no risk?” suggested Seth, ‘*That would be the proper plan,” assented his chief; ‘‘ but, I can’t miss the fun it wil] be to spring the trap at the examination to-mor- row, ‘That's the stuff!” ejaculated Harry. ‘It would spoil all the fun to do it now and let everybody eome there prepared for what was to Please say no ‘come off, No; let’s shock ’em like with dyna- raite.” a a : ¥ Broadway Billy’s Wipe-Out. = 7 es eas acacia SS -: a 4) ** You boys have done good work,” Billy com- plimented, ‘‘ and it only remains for you to keep it up to-morrow and the thing is won,” Broadway Billy against the field—a clean wipe-out,” suggested Silent Seth, ‘* He and his team,” Billy corrected, ‘* That’s opinion that Rob Rohnwald is a guilty man; all save one or two very near friends,” ‘¢ And everybody is going to get astonished,” cried Harry. “Tf nothing fails,” said Billy. ‘*I think I have the case well in band, and it has been worked out more quickly than [dared hope, I was up all night last night, taking casts of the tracks and hunting for further evidence, and I got, what I was after as I have told you.” - After some further talk they retired, Billy being well fagged out. Atanearly hour they were up again, how- ever, and immediately after breakfast Billy left the hotel, Stepping out of sight in a convenient place he removed his disguise, and at once proceeded to the Rohnwald residence, When he had been gone a little while his team set forth upon the business that bad been in- trusted to them, which will be made known in due time. Arriving at the manor-house, Billy had some talk with Miss Gilburt, after which he went out to the rear to look for the things the boys had mentioned to bim as being there, Bebind a shed he found them;a pair of old coarse boots, an old coat with stains of blood on it, and a rope on a stick, such as gardeners use in marking out the ground when planting. There were two sticks, but a piece of the rope was missing. One of the servants carried the things into the outer kitchen, and there Billy examined them at bis leisure, his face lighting up as he did so, The case was his, now. The boots matched the plaster casts of the tracks in every particular, and the rope he had picked up at the time of the finding of the body was the very piece that had been taken from the gardener’s sticks, The case was as good as won, CHAPTER XV. DAMAGING TESTIMONY, WHEN the young detective had finished his work each article had been properly labeled, and they were all done up into as compact a bundle as possible, This bundle, for the present, Billy left in the care of Mrs, Robnwald, telling her in what man- ner of disguise he would be when he came for it; or, if not himself, then his boys, He left the manor and went in the direction of the hotel. As he came noar there he met Dolph Green- wood, who seene' somewhat troubled in man- ner, Billy knew well enough what the trouble was, but he did not let on that he noticed anytbing unusual about the man. {t was the first time they had met that morn- x. ‘* Good-morning,” Billy greeted, Greenwood responded, and then inquired: gers anything new in the case, Mr. Wes- 0 ‘There don’tseem to be room for anything new,” Billy answered, ‘* The case seems as plain as it can be.” ‘** Against Rob, you mean,” “Of course, The people here would lynch him, [ believe, if they could have their way about it.” ‘** Yes, 1 know. There was a guard around the jail all night, to protect the prisoner. If he is guilty, though, he deserves to be hanged,” ** Most assuredly.” ‘* T meant to say lynched,” ‘*No; the law here in Jersey is speedy enough,” ‘*By the way, you haven’t discovered any- thing new, have you?” “* Little room for further discoveries now,” Billy made reply. ‘* The prosecutor has a sure thing.” ‘* Well, it’s too bad, but if he is guilty he must answer for it, that is all. He was a fool to come here as he did with sucb a purpose in his heart. ‘* Are you going to stay here to be present at the hearing?” he added, ‘* Yes, I suppose so,” Billy answered, ‘* As a witness?” ** Yes, if I am called on.” ‘* Your testimony will damage Rob’s case.” ‘*Can’t help whose case it does damage to, about what it is, for everybody is settled in the Neen Sse ewe ——S a Tl Greenwood, must be told You know,” ‘Certainly. And then you are done with the matter, I suppose?” ‘* Yes, I guess so, for I don’t think my ser- vices will be required any longer. The mystery is all solved.” ‘‘Is there any other detective here, do you know ?” ‘* Not that I am aware of,” ‘*T was going to say, if there is any chance for Rob, and if they are going to try to clear bim, I stand willing to aid all [ can iv the work,” ‘¢That’s good of you, anyhow, when 80 many are against him, I guess the case will not re- quire any further detective work after the bear- ing, however, I think it will be settled,” ‘‘Then you see no hope for Rob?” | ‘““You know just how it stands, Mr, Green- wood,” ‘But, ’m asking you what you think about ” ‘‘ And Ihave told you the prosecutor has & plain case,” Toe man looked at Billy sharply fora moment, and dropped the matter, They talked on fora little while about other things, and then parted, and after that Billy wae seen no more for a time, The examination was set down for eleven o'clock on this day, the day before the funeral, It had been proposed that it be postponed till after the funeral, but the peoplecf Rosefcrd bad: urged it. Everythiag being so strongly egainst the pris- oner, there was a sentiment of vengeance against him strong enough to bave lyncbed him witbout trial, could a leader have been found, ‘The people were fairly crying for his life, The situation had been regarded as serious on the previous, night, and the jail kad been guarded, It was the very brutality of the deed that en- raged the people, The murder tnd been as bad’ as a deed well could be; but, when the body was: deliberately tied to the railroad track, that made: the crime so appallingly beinovs that it was no wonder the people of the village were excited almost to rashness, A very litt'e would have precipitated trouble, The hearing was to take place in the court- house, and precisely at eleven o’clock the bell. was sounded, Kverybody was on band at the hour, and the court-room was packed full of people, A judge bad been summoned, and was on the: bench to hear the case, The prosecutor opened the case by giving the story at Jength in his own way, and by the time he had done, it could be seen plainly what the mind of the jury was, After that recital the witnesses were called,,. one by one, and the proofs were piled up a ainst the uvfortunate prisoner thick and fast, It was about the tame as had been given at the inquest, with some changes, These changes were in the testimony given by the old station-agent and by the young lady,, Miss Gilburt, ‘* At what time, Mr. Goodluck, did that tramp: pass your station?” the prosecutor asked, ‘* It was about five o'clock,” the answer. ‘**'You have seen the prisoner since in the dis- guise he had on when arrested; did you recog- nize him as the same man you saw then?” «I did.” “Then, you say, he and the tramp were the same?” ‘“Tdo, sir?" "= ‘* Did you suspect then who the tramp was?’ ‘* After he had gone past the station I noticed something in his walk which made me think of Rob Robnwald.” ‘‘ But, you did not think it was he?” ‘No, I did not think it possible it could be,” “Of course not. No one would have dreamed of his coming herein such a guise, Now, sir how long was it after the tramp had passed when Miss Gilburt came to the station in an ex- cited manner?” ** Perhaps twenty minutes,” ‘* You noticed that she was excited?” “ST aid. ** And you mentioned it to her?” +6 Yes,” ‘*'What did she say?” ** She pretended the train had frightened her,” ‘You believed that, then?” ‘* Hardly; but I let it pass, I thought at first she had been frightened by the tramp,” ** Did you ask her if she had seen the tramp?’ ‘Yes, but she evaded the question and soon went away. I noticed when I asked her that, she seemed to grow yet more pale,” The prosecutor looked at the candid ¢ld man The truth @) boo