Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 810 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

Broadway Billy’s Wtpe-Out. **Then you think with the rest that Robert is guilty, do you?” ‘‘T have not said so, madam, Ob the con- trary, [ see some reason to think he may be wholly innocent of the theft.” “You do! You surprise me, sir, when every- body else seems so positive it must ‘have been he that did it, Wull you tell me upon what you base that idea?” ‘““Tf he was the thief, why did he leave the secret door open and the envelope on the floor? Would he not have been more likely to have closed the door in the wall and leave no trace of his visit?” ‘Oh! that has been brought up, Mr. Weston, but Mr. Percival has disposed of it, You see, it was so well known that Mr. Rohnwald did leavé a will, he argues, trat it would be to Robert’s interest to have it known the will bad been destroyed, ” ‘*T don’t think so, and on that point I can’t agree with the lawyer, Tat is the best proof that the will existed ut the time of Mr, Rohn- wald’s death, and if the witnesses are all living and can remember the conditious of the will, it might be hard for Robert to break it, even if destroyed,” ‘“‘T had not thoughtof that, I don’t know how that point woud be in law,” ‘Nor do I; it was only a thought that came tome. But, I think Robert would bave been more apt to leave no trace of his visit, for then he could raise the argument that, no wil] being eee perhaps bis father bad destroyed it before édiaa,” ** Upon my word, Mr, Weston, your reasoning in the matter seems sound. Still: there is much against the ali man. Pernaps some noise in the house alarmed ‘im, and he left in such haste that Se forgot the door and dropped the envel- ope in his flight. But, I do not pretend to know; that is why I have called upon you. Will you take the case and eudeavor to solve the mystery ?” “T will, and with much interest, I cannot, however, promise success; | seldom do that. And, it may prove a slow case, I may bave trouble to find Robert Robuwald, and I certain- ly shali not find him readily if he is guilty. In that case, he has no donbt put distance between himself and this place, and will endeavor to prove an alibi, If innocent, he will be able to prove the alibi, no doubt: though that would not prove that he bad no band in it, for he might have taken some one into the ‘scheme with him, and his accomplice may have been the one who did the work. Now, with your permis- sion, 1 will ask some questions, madam,” Just then Billy fancied he heard a slight noise outside the window, CHAPTER VI. THE TERRIBLE NEWS COMES HOME, THE young detective was seated sv that he could command a view of the window without turu:ng his head, and he cast a quick look in that direction. But, no one was to be seen, and as the sound was not repeated he gave it no fur- taer thought then, If loud enough for him to hear, it was certain- ly loud enough for the woman’s ears, she being nearest to the window; and as she paid no atten- tion to it he set it down in his mind as having been made by some trifling accident; perhaps by a cat moving along beneath the window. And, sie having given bim permission to ques- tion her, he now proceeded to inquire into the particulars of the whole matter. ‘“Dol understand you, Mrse Robnwald, that you never knew why Mr, Rohnwald hated his elder son?” ‘“‘T never knew in particular, Mr, Weston, Gustav was his favorite,” ** Which of the sons was your favorite?” ‘¢ You ask me a hard question,” ** Why is it hard?” ‘‘Woman’s reason; because it is, Ksowing that Mr. Rohnwald mjstrusted Robert and al- most bated him, as you express it, I suppose I looked upon him with somet ing of the same sus- picious feeling. But, I never spoke an unkind word to bim, toaat I can remember,” ‘** What was your opinion of his character? Was it good, or was it bad? You certainly know that,” ‘‘T never knew any evil of him. He was gloomy, almost morose, in his father’s presence, und spent most of bis time in the woods and around the village, seeming to avoid the honse all he could, Gustav was with bis father a good deal, and was quife petted, I once s-oke to Mr, Robnwald about it, but he dismissed the matter so abruptly that [ never ventured to mention it again,” — e+ ——__ -- -- Cr OO Or SO ‘And what is your opinion of Gustav? If you had any preference between them, in whose favor did it lie? All this is important to me, and it will help me to reach right conclusions,” so do not think me over inquisitive. .“ Well, I liked Gustav; I have nothing in the world against him; but, ‘feeling a good deal of sympatby for Robert, he has naturally been more in my thoughts, and after be went away | came to know that l regarded him with a good deal more affection than I had ever shower I had for him before. To be very frank with you, Mr, Weston, [I hope you can prove him innocent in this matter ; but, [ have told you just bow black it appears against bim,” ‘* What was his reputation in the village? Since, as you say, the whole place seems to be against him now, he could not have been very well thought of, one would naturally infer, Can you tell me anything about that? Trifling items are sometimes important.” ‘* Robert was well thought of at the time of his going away, I have reason to believe. Now, however, mention of his name brings a shake of the head avd an ‘I- told-you-so ’ ook upon a good many faces, There are those, however, who stick up for him. For instance, there is Peter Goodluck, the old station- -agent at this place, with whom Robert was a favorite; he will not believe the boy is guilty of the theft of the will, and stoutly maintains that Mr. Rohn- wald did him a great injustice; that he never understood the lad’s good qualities as he should have known them,” ‘* Another question, Mrs, Rohnwald, You have told me that Robert and Gustav were rivals for your daughter; which one did the young lady regard with most affection? This may have some bearing upon the case,” ‘* She loved Robert—loves him still, This sad affair is breaking her heart, I see there is no use keeping anything back from yoa, for you will have it out, anybow, I have told you that my object in sending for you was that the will might be recovered because I and my daughter have interest in it; but, that reason stands only secondary to the m ain reason, that for my daughter’s sake I must bave the niystery cleared up, if possible, There are two reasons running parallelin this, One is, if Robert is shown to be innocent, I have given my word to my cbild that I will favor his suit for her hand; and the other, if he is proven guilty, then she has pledged her word to me that she will wed Gustav.” ‘*'Then you have been urging her to marry Gustav, I can understand, but she bas refused, because she loves the absent Robert. You favor the younger man because he 1s the heir to the estate, I take it. Now, if both were poor, or both alike rich, which had you ratber see her wed?” ** Robert.” The answer came promptly. Again Billy fancied he heard a noise outside by the window, but this time it was even less loud than befo'e, and he gave it no attention, The conversation was being carried on in ver low tones, and the young detective did not thin it possi ible that an eavesdropper could overhear, even if there was one. ‘* Your choice is named promptly,” Billy re- marked, ‘* Not because I have anything against Gus- tav; because [ know Carlotia loves Robert.” ““’A nother question: What was your object in having me come at so late an hour, Mrs, Rohnwald?”’ ‘*Tn order that idle gossip migbt have less to say, for I am sure you have come with all the caution of your calling, sir; secretly.” ‘* As secretly as possible: I had to inquire where vou live, of course, but that was all, Tbat was your only reason, then, why 1 should come by night, madam? If not I ought to kuow,.” ‘** You suspect some other reason?” ‘* No, not necessarily; I thought there might be some particular person whom you would not want to know that you have employed a de- tective,” ‘*T see again, Mr, Weston, the folly of trying to hold back anything from vou or to deceive you in any degree, My confidence in you is growing constantly, and I am sure you will succeed with this case,” “But, that does not answer my question,” “True, The reason you have suggested was my main reason for having you pay your visit tome by night. I donot want Lo wyer Percival to know of it, if [can keep it from him, at any | rate for the present. He bas advised against it, you understand, abd he is my lawyer,” ‘* What was his reason for that? Does he not waut some effort made to find the will?” | ‘*T will tell you. With all the rest of the village, nearly, he thinks it must bave been Robert who took the document, and be would spare bim if he could,” ‘* While you, who profess to like Robert better than Gustav, in your secret heart, would bave me bunt bim down and drag him to justice, even though he loves your daughter and she loves him,” ‘*] am sure, Mr. Weston, that you understand me well enough, even though you pretend not to do so, You are so quick to read what I have partly tried to hold back, Iam sure you have not failed to understand what I have meant you should understand, I will, however, speak out plainly.” ‘* lt were better to do so, madam,” ** Well, I bave told you my daughter loveg Robert. If there is a person in the world who knows him well, it is she, and she stoutly main- tains that he is innocent; she declareg it is im~ ossible that he can be otherwise. Had he nown where that will was, and had wanted to destroy it, he would have come here openly and above-board and done it. His nature is too noble to allow him to play the thief. This is her argument; and so positive is sbe that, in spite of all appearances, I, too, believe Robert is in- nocent, So, I do want the will found and the guilty one punished, If we are mistaken, and it is Robert, well and gvod; but, if he is innocent and you can prove him 80, ’ better still, Now, sir, you cannot fail of understand- ing me,’ ‘No; you have made your whole ‘object plain,” ‘‘ Ts there anything further you would like to inquire about?” “Yes; concerning the whereabouts of Robert Rohnwald,” ‘*T have not the slightest idea where he can be, Mr. Weston,” ‘No; but your daughter? If any one can give me a clew to him, it is she, I am sure,” ‘She does not know. I have asked her, and she declares she has not heard of him since the day he left here seven years ago.” “That is bad; | hoped to get my start from her, But, perbaps his old friend the station- agent can give me the clue [ need, Perhaps he has heard from him at some time or other during bis absence,” ‘¢ Possibiy; I cannot say.” ‘* And this is the whole matter of the business for which you called me?” ‘Yes; you bave heard it all, fully, Take the case, Mr, Weston, and solve the mystery if yow can. What is your fee?” That part of the business was speedily and sat- isfactorily adjusted, and the young detective was about to take his leave when many heavy steps were heard on the piazza and the knocker resounded through the house, ‘Mercy! what can that mean?’ cried Mrs, Rohnwald, in alarm, Her face had grown suddenly pale, and she stood with her hands clasped as if apprehending. something terrible, The steps of the man-servant were heard im- mediately, and at the same time Billy caught again the sound he bad heard twice before jst outside the window, and this time he decide know what it was, With a single step he was at the window, and was just in time to see a woman in a light dress disappear around an angle close at hand, Some one had been eavesdropping, and that person, he guessed, had been Mrs, Rohnwald’s daughter, Carlotta Gilburt. And, be was not mistaken. By that time the man-servant had opened the door, and excited voices were for a moment heard, when the servant came running to the door of the room in which his mistress and her egller were, which be flung open hastily without pausing to knock, and he looked like a man who had seen some terrible a parition, being as pale as death and his eyes widely dilated. ‘‘My God! what is the matter?’ Mrs. Robn- wald Sina ‘What has happened? It is noth- ing to Carlotta, is it? Speak, man! Speak!” The trembling man-servant stood with his mouth open, but the power of speech seemed to have deserted him utterly, for the moment. By a desperate effort, however, he managed to gasp out: “Mr, Rohnwald!—Master Gustav!—he ‘has been killed—” There was a woman’s piercing shriek in the hall, followed by a fall, and Broadway Billy sprung out, Mrs, Robnwald efter him, Prone on the floor of the hall lay a woman, the woman of the same light dressof which Billy had caught a glimpse a moment before at the | oele) Comic S. , nr ie ~ ~- ~ . . —_— ee i . sd . x —, eS ee eee . i tle nent . : : a - ” ee eee - com ON > et A