Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 810 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

~ - ig ~" ee FS wea -— Se = - om - < —_— me - — + a - . ~~ + erm _ 14 3 “ , - ° 4 > < i<3 aati te? en. 4, ir t r Se . - — ; ee ee, “ a ’ > z r ~ . searchingly, as though wondering at his getting so much where he had expected to find it hard to get even a little, Miss Gilburt was the next witness called. ** What object had youin going for a walk up through the glen on the day in question, Miss Gilburt,” she was asked. ‘‘ Merely that, sir; the object of a walk,” was che reply. ‘‘Then you did not set out expecting to meet Robert Rohnwald?” ** No, sir; I had not heard from him in seven years, and knew not where be was at that time.” ‘You went down through the wood path to the trout pools, where you stopped, as is proven by a piece of your dress found on one of the bushes aside from the path, What did you stup for?” ‘¢T heard loud voices asI came around the rocks just above the pools, and thought I recog- nized Robert Rohnwald’s,” ** And so you did.” té Yes.” ‘Tell the jury what you heard,” “They were quarreling, and I heard Robert threaten to kill Gustav, unless he took back something he had just said, I was frightened, and fearing that my presence might bring on a fight between them I ran quickly away.” ‘‘ Hal” cried the prosecutor, ‘‘A threat to kill, mark you, gentlemen of the jury. Had ‘you any idea, Miss Gilburt, that Robert would carry out that threat in the manner he did?” ** He certainly spoke as though he meant what he said,” ‘*Then you did not see him strike the blow?’ **T did not.” ** Do you think he did strike it?” **T do not.” ‘*Then, may I ask, why have you told so much that is damaging to bis case?” ‘** Because, sir,” with diginity, ‘‘I am sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” ‘* And for which we are greatly obliged to you,” said the prosecutor, and he made hera polite bow as he dismissed her from the chair. The next witness called was Adolphus Green- ‘wood, He was pale and slightly nervous, at first, but soon got control of himself and told the same story he had told at the inquest. Then the prisoner himself was called to the stand, ** Robert Rohnwaki,” was tho first question, “where were you on the night of Auguat sixth?” **T attended a wedding in Washington, where {served as groomsman,” was the straightfor- ward reply. **Cap you prove that!” **T can, sir.” ‘*'You will be given opportunity to do so. Now, pleas3 tell your version of this affair of the murder. Why you came here asa tramp, why you and your half-brother quarreled, why you threatened him, and all about it.” And so the prisoner did, telling his story fully and truthfully from beginning to end, **A cunningly devised tale, a very cunningly devised tale,” said the prosecutor, when {he had done, ‘* But, it will not serve you, sir. The circumstantial evidence against you is too strong. Nothing can break it down, and you are already doomed for your fiendish crime,” The prosecutor then called the attention of the jury to every point in the gase; the finding of the blood-stained staff, the tracks, and all, CHAPTER XVI. BROADWAY BILLY'S .VIDENCE, LAWYER PERCIVAL took up the case for the defense promptly. The first witness he called was Adolphus Greenwood, greatly to the surprise of all pres- ent, ‘“* Mr, Greenwoo1l,” he asked, “at what time did you set out to take tuat ride on the after- | noon under consideration?” * It was about five o'clock, sir, I think; I did not note the exact time,” The witness appeared to be uneasy and nerv- ous, more so than he had been when called to the stand before, ‘That wood road, we know, is not much traveled. Did you take any notice’of the tracks indicating what manner of vehicle had last passed that way?” **'No, sir: I did not give it any thought or at- tention,” “Are you acquainted with the team and wagon with which Farmer Barringer usually comes to town?” The prisoner’s nervousness was increasing. ** Yes, sir.” ‘‘ What is it, please?” ‘* A horse and a mule, with a wagon with broad tires,” -** Exactly, And, you did not see this track on the road when you went for your horseback ride?” ** 1 2id not.” “And yet it was there when you passed along that way; we have proof for this,” ‘*J—I did not noticethem, How do youknow they were there?” ** Because, your horse went over the road af- ter that team bad come in, as the tracks plainly show. Mr. Barringer came in between seven and eight o’clock, How do you account for the disparity in time?” ‘‘ [—I don’t account for it; there must be a mistake somewhere,” ‘*[t is quite evident there is, sir, The mistake is in thinking Robert Rohnwald was the slayer of his half-brother,” Greenwood turned white to the lips. The prosacutor looked at him in amazement, as did every one else. ‘* So, Mr, Greenwood,” the lawyer went on, ‘* one false statement is brought home to you. If you were on band to witness the meeting be- tween the half-brothers, it -was certainly not at the time you took the ride along the wood road. The testimony given by Peter Goodluck and Miss Gilburt proves that. What have you to say to this?” ‘¢ They—they may be mistaken in the time, as well as [—” ‘‘ Impossible; the time has been fixed well enough, sir. Thatis all for the present. I will now call Doctor Graves.” Greenwood stepped down, and the old doctor took his place, ** Doctor, you examined carefully the wound on the head of the victim in this case, I be- lieve.” **T did, sir.” ** Do you think, sir, it was made with a wea- pon like this?” He held up to view the half-peeled hickory club Robert Rohnwald bad carried on the pre- vious day. The doctor took it and examined it critically. **I do not think this was the weapon used, sir,” he said. ‘‘ The wound shows a dent that was plainly made by a protuberance on the weapon used, Besides, sir, the blow would not smear the weapon with blcoi like this is stain- ed. ‘* Thank you, doctor; that will do,” ‘ The doctor gave back the stick and stepped own, The room was in silent hush, every person eager to learn more, ‘**T will now call Mr. William Weston, the distinguished young detective from New York,” said Lawyer Percival, Thera was a stir at once, and every neck was craned to see Billy, There was a second or so of suspense, when the Jew, Moses Cohen, rose in his place and stepped forward. On reaching the witness stand ho removed his disguise, and lo! it was Broadway Billy. There was a moment given up to applause. ‘*Mr. Weston,” tha lawyer inquired, ‘‘ what brought you to Roseford?” “T was sent for by Mrs. Rohnwald, to un- dertake the finding of a will that had been stolen.” ‘* By what train did you come here?” ‘*]came on the engine of the Flyer, and witnessed the running over the body of Gustav Rohnwald,” ‘Did you make any particular discovery then?” ‘*T did, sir, I discovered that the man had been dead when placed on the track, and I re- solved to look into the matter further when I had time.” ‘What became of the rope with which he was bot Ma q?! **] put itin m ket, sir, thinking it might be useful as a > are Dolph Greenwood was ashy white, now, and bis forehead was damp with perspiration. ‘*When did you learn who the dead man was?’ ** When the body was brougbt home to the manor, I was there at the time, talking with Mrs, Rohnwald,” ** And you took the case with the determination to solve the mystery?” » **T did sir.” ** Have you succeeded?” **T have.” “Is Rubert Rohnwald guilty of the crime?” Broadway Billy’s Wipe-Out. ee a ** He is not,” ‘* And you can prove it?” ts l can,” ** How ?” | ‘*‘ By putting the crime where it belongs,” ‘hen you have discovered ;the murderer? Who is he?” ‘¢ Adolphus Greenwood !” “Tv'salie! I say it’sa lie!” cried Greenwood, leaping to his feet, ‘* You cannot prove it on me! I defy you to do it,” ‘‘It is the truth,” retorted Broadway Billy, sternly. ‘*' You are the man who killed Gustav Rohnwald! I would never make the charge without the proofs to back it up.” Greenwood was pl:iced under arrest at once, in spite of his protests, and the case proceeded, ‘* Now, Mr. Weston, please tell, in your own way, all about the case from your standpoint, and let us see whether you are right or not, Tell us when you first suspected Greenwood, and all about it,” ‘When I set out from the manor, after the body had been brought home,” Billy began, ‘‘ in company with Coroner Parkerburg and others, to go to the scene of the crime, 1 ,.was on the alert for whatever might take place. We bad gone but alittle way when Mr. Greenwood met us and inquired what had happened, When told, he immediately recalled a tramp he had eecen that afternoon, and the words be had heard him having with Gustay Rohnwald. This is point Number One, ‘*He had seen the tramp again, later, and knew where he was sleeping in the wood, and led us there. This is point Number Two, ‘* With the prisoner, we went on tothe scene of the crime. The first thing discoverea there was the blood-stained stick, which was re- cognized at once as the onethe tramp had been seen to carrv, and then came to me the con- viction that Robert Rohnwald w°s innocent of the murder. No one but a fool would leave such a clue to be picked up by tke first comer. I had instinctively decided him to be innocent, by his words and manner, at the time of his arrest; this confirmed the belief. This stick bad roore the appearance of having Leen /aid there on purpose to be easily and promptly dis- covered, This is point Number Three, ‘‘ Looking further, I found a small knife which I putin my pocket without showing it to any one. Greenwood asked what it was, butI did not tell him. Still on the search, D-found the trail of tracks and Llood where the body had been carried up to the railroad bank, and telling the others not to mar them, I followed them to the top. Greenwood was unvaturall7 intent on all I did and said, which is point Number Four, ‘¢T did not go forward to the pluce where the body had been run over, but most of the, others did, While they were gone I madea close ex- amination of the clothes the tramp had on, There was not a drop of blood on them any- where, This could hardly bave been possible, had he carried the body that distance. I said nothing about that. And, when he assured his old friend, Mr. Goodluck, most solemnly, that he was innocent, it only confirmed my own decision, .- To test it, I proposed taking one of his boots and fitting it to the tracks, to which be gave consent, readily and gladly. The test was made, and to all appearances the boot did fit the tracks exactly. But, so might the boots of a hundred men have done, being of the same size, That test was not satisfying to myself, though the others unthinkingly accepted it as proof of the priscner’s guilt. But, the track woere the test was made was not perfect, while those at the bottom of the bank, in the rain-washed clay, were perfect. I called no attention to these, keeping them for further investigation. It was there, at that time, that I first bad a suspicion of the truth—that Greenwvod was the man wanted, When it was found that the boot fit the track so nearly, there was, 1n his demeanor, such exultation as only a man escaping a great peri] would betray. ‘‘ When we returned to the village I went to see Mrs. Rohnwald again, as I bad promised to, to tell ber what I had been able to learn, There I had occasion to mention Mr, Green- wood’s name, and the manner in which 1t was received gave me another suspicious thought against him, He had, it was shown, been trying to win Miss Gilburt, but in vain. He knew he had two rivals, the half-brothers Robnwald, With both of them out of the way his png might be better. That was point Number Five, ‘* When I left the house { went forth in a ise, Procuring some plaster, I went back to the scene. of the crime, and there I mixed the plaster and poured it into two of the most to ee + eee + A ge a rt eg te, a —— Se eee ee eo ee a eee a ee ee ee . = = -_