Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 810 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

, 8B ee ee eee Broadway Billy’s Wipe-O Billy’ S53 PEP OU. EI ee -Out. OE Se Oh pn el oe oe eas ee et down around the curve in the woods, and when | tramp; we must get him if he has not already the Flyer came aleng it ran over the body and | given us the slip,” ‘cut is in two, But “he had been killed before that, for his skull was broke and—” ‘Vl bet it wasthe tramp, I saw him—” ‘My God!” ejaculated the old station-agent, **T had forgot the tramp!” ** What—whet's this?” the coroner hurriedly inquired, ‘*‘Whoseen thetramp? What about him?” ‘“Why,” the young man explained, ‘‘I was ridirg horseback out in the direction of Hope- dale this afternoon, and when I was on the other side of the railroad bank at the place where the brook runs under, | saw a tramp on top of the bank. He had a long staff in his hand, one that was peeled white about half way of its length, and he was shaking it at something or somelody on the other side, and was shouting. Then I heard a voice enswer bim, and I recognized it as Gus Rohnwald’s, He was ordering the fellow to move on, and the tramp was defying bim, I didn’t pay much at- tention to ic.” ‘The same tramp,” said the old station- agent, “1 remember the staff you mentioned, peeled white half-way up. I took notice of him as he passed the station, and I thought then he was a ugly customer, sure as ma sinner saved by grace, And then when he had got a ways past [ noticed bis walk— But just there the old man stopped short, in- terrupting bimself with a fit of coughing ** You noticed his walk?’ the coroner rerpeat- ed interrogatively, as soon as the fit of coughing bad ceased, ‘* Ye—yevs,” the old man said, hesitatingly; “‘ T_] noticed that he walked— That is to say, he walked right in that direction.” The old man had recollected the similarity he had noticed in the tramp’s walk to that of bis young friend, the absent Robert Rohnwald, and ad almost let itout ,when he thought what sus- picion it might cast upon the young man. And, being urged to finish what he had start- ed to say, he hardly knew how to get around the point, for his geod Christian tongue was stranger to a lie, and his hesitation was noticed by all, It was noticed, too, now, that he ap- peared to ba somewhat disturbed in manner. ‘* Did you see the tramp when you came back, Dolpb?” the coi oner inquired, ‘* Yes, I aid,” was the prompt answer. “I wae just going to tell you about that, too, I came back by the wood path that crosses down below the station and comes along by the brook and on out behind Woodlawn Manor, and when I came along by the stone wall behind the manor I saw a fellow asleep on the ground in the mooolight, snd 1 took him to be the same tramp. I didn’t stop to bother with him, but rode on about my business and went up home and put up my horse and thought no more about it; but now it all comes back to me, since you tell me what has taken place, I'll tell you what, let’s go right there, and if the fellow isn’t gone arrest him on suspicion anyhow,” ‘* Just what I was going to propose,” cried the coroner, eagerly, ‘' We'll make sure of him if we can, and if he is innocent it won't be any harm done, What do you think of it, Mr. Wes- ton?” ‘*That’s the proper thing to do,” Billy agreed. ““1f the tramp did the deed it will prove a very simple case, for we can no doubt put the crime on bim fast enough,” The young man called Dolph looked at Billy keenly while he was speaking, and turning to the coroner, asked: ‘* Who is this young gentleman, Mr, Parker- burg?” ‘* Him?” said thé coroner, with pride uncon- cealed, ‘* Why, be’s Mr, Weston, the detective, ssi ew York ; him they call Broadway ty. Tbe young man looked the amazement he felt, for a moment, ‘‘ A detective!” he ejaculated, ‘‘ Broadway Billy! Really, this is fortunate, at such a time. Glad to know you, Mr, Weston, ” giving his band; ‘my name is Adolphus Green wood, what ‘x00d fortune are you here at this time?” Billy bad taken the offered hand. ‘**] bappened to be called on another matter of business,” he explained, briefly. ‘* My visit would have been a secret one, but for this teirible affair, I was at Mrs. Rohnwald’s when the body was brought home, and so, naturally, the case fell to me to solve,” ‘*Then Mrs. Robnwald bad called you in re- gard to the Jost will, I suppose,” ‘* Yes, that was it: since it can no longer be a secref and no harm can be done by letting it — sso ‘* Yes, we'll turn just ahead here, A curious case, that of the will; but, I don’t think there can be much question as to who took it; | think the suspicion bas been put where it rightfully | belongs. Rob Robnwald is the guilty one, and Vll be willing to bet on it,” “Never!” cried Pater Goodluck, promptly. ‘*T say he’s innocent, and that I'll stick to till the day I die. Rob Rohnwald was not that sort. Iknew him as well as anybody here at Roseford, and maybe better, too, and I know he couldn’t do anything of that kind. It wasn’t in him, Uknew Robby.” ‘* Well, you are to be respected for your firm belief in ‘him, anybow, Daddy,” Greenwood ob- served, ‘ Still, you can’t deny that appearances are dark against him in the matter.” ‘*[ don’t care a strawif they are black asa bottomless pit, Dolph Greenwood; that wouldn’t never nake me change my mind,” ‘Will, it’s to be hoped you are right, that’s all, Here’s whera we turn, Mr, Weston.” ‘‘ How far to where the man was seen?” Billy asked, ‘¢ About an eighth of a mile,” ‘* Let every man be still, then,” Billy ordered, ‘fend let the lantern be put out, or carried well behind the man abead of it.. You lead the way, Mr. Greenwood; and you, Mr, Parkerburg, make the arrest.” ‘Ob, no!’ the coroner cried quickly: “ that is for you todo. You are the one to do that.” ‘* Very. well, if you desire it so. Silent all, now. ” So, in silence they proceeded, Billy and Green- wood some yards in advance of the others, The way wasa broad wood-path, curving in frcm the main road and skirting along the wall in the rear of the manor-house of the Rohnwald estate, Preséntly a point was reached where Green- wood showed more caution, and then in a mo- ment more they came to some great trees where the ground underneath was covered with a soft, velvety sward, ‘* Soon, then, Greenwood stopped short, and catching Broadway Billy by the arm, pointed ahead on the right, where, in the border of the moonlight, lay a man, ‘* There he is,” he whispered, ‘‘ just where I saw him,” ‘*T see him,” said Billy. ‘‘¥ollow me now, all, and be on hand to hear what he has to say when be wakes up,” This was spoken to the others as well as to Greenwood, they having come up with their leaders now; and having so said, Billy went ahead toward the tramp. He took a pair of handcuffs from his left hip ‘ket as he advanced, and on coming to tke spot where the tramp lay, caught hold of the fellow’s hands, and snapped the bracelets on his wrists before he awoke, The rest of the party came right up, and were circled around the tramp by the time he opened his eyes and stared around him in a dazed man- ner, This was but momentary, and the tramp essayed to rise, suddenly and with a great start. His hands being manacled, though, he fell back, and as he did so he held up his wrists to see what held them together. ‘* My God!” he cried. ‘* What is the meaning of this, men? What—what—what—” ‘*Tt’s Rob Robnwald!” So cried several in the crowd, speaking at once, They had recognized the voice. Broadway Billy gave a start, in spite of him- self, at this unexpected denouement, while old Petar Goodluck turned away with a choking sob, covering his eyes with his hands. Billy’s duty was plain, and he did not hesi- tate, ‘“Tté means, sir,” he said sternly to the half- bewildered tramp, ‘that you are under arrest for the murder of Gustav Rohnwald. Take—” With a bound the seeaning tramp was upon bis feet Aral omcpea somehow, and he cried out wildly: ‘Gus Rohnwald dead—murdered ! It cannot be; I saw him late in the afternoon alive and well! And I—I— am accused of having killed him! Oh! God, this is too much to bear! Men, ”? ‘Take care what you say, sir,” Broadway Billy continued the caution he had been on the point of giving, ‘‘for whatever words you utter now will be used against you later, r. Greenwood, is this the man you saw on the rail- road bank’ this afternoon? And you, Peter GoodJuck, is it the man you saw passing your out. But, lead the way to where you saw that | station?” | Ce Senses : ** Yes, it is the same person,” answered Green- wood, boldly : but the old station-agent, pale and trembling, waved his hand as though to force back the question, crying out at the same tme: ‘* Do not ask me, do not ask me! I can- not swear it is the same person; how could 1? Do not ask me, I beg of you.” CHAPTER IX, CIRCUMSLANTIAL EVIDENCE, Some facts had been driven home in Broad- way Billy’s mind, quickly, swiftly, surely. First, that this tramp was recognized by his voice as Rob Roknwald; next, that he had been seen by at least two persons on that afternoon; then, that the old station-agent had thought he rec ognized him at the time, If, then, he was Robert Robnwald he was only twenty- -six years old, and must be in disguise, It was a simple’ matter to prove that, and the young detective set about it with- out delay. Taking hold of the prisoner’s hair he gave a slight pull, and hair and beard came off together in bis band! ‘*Rob Rohnwald it is!” cried the the crowd, ‘We knew the voice, and be is the one that did the deed,” ‘‘Tam not the one who did it,” the prisoner fired, ‘* 1 knew not that anything bad bappened till you told me, I cannot believe even yet it is true.’ ‘*Let me caution you again to be careful what you say,” Broadway Billy enjoined, ‘* At present, appearances are against you, but per- haps your innocence will be proven easily enough,” Billy was of the opinion the man was inno- cent, ‘‘ He was a good-looking man, with a bold face and fearless eyes, and the face struck Billy as being one to be trusted. ‘‘] swear I am ivnocent, sir, in spite of all,” the prisoner said to him in earnest tone. ‘* Be- jieve me or not, it is the truth,” ‘* But, it remains to prove you innocent,” Billy rejoined. ‘‘ Why are you here in sucha disguise as this?” ‘* Because I am a fool, first and foremost,” was the forceful rejoinder. ‘‘ And do you admit your identity as Robert Rohnwald?” “All these men know me well,” ’ ‘Yes, we all know him,” spoke up the coro- ner. ‘* And,it appears very (ark indeed against him. Robert Rohnwald, you said you saw your balf-brotber Jate this afternoon; where was it?” ‘‘Down by the trout pocls, by the railroad bank, He was fishing when I came along, and I stopped to watch lim a moment. He madea catch and I spoke to him, and he recognized me, Fool that I was to think I could carry out the character I assumed! 1 might have known I could not do it,” ‘* But, why did you come here like this?” “In order to see how things stood here, and then go away again unknown if I found it bet- ter to do so,” ‘Well, Mr. Greenwood here, who saw you this afternoon, says be beard youand your half- brother having words, It looks bad for you, now, and I only hope you can clear yourself.” “Tet us go on to the scene of the crime,” sug- gested Broadway Billy, ‘* This arrest does not excuse us from that duty, If this man is inno- cent, as he declares he is, we may find something more there. What we are after is the truth, no matter what it is,” ‘* And this is the nearest way to the scene from bere,” said Greenwood, ‘‘Come on, I only hope suspicion can be swept away from this man, It does not seem possible that he can be the murderer.” ~ ‘‘ Shall we bring the prisoner with us?” asked the coroner. ‘‘'Yes, may as well,” Billy answered, They set forward, then, lly again warning the prisoner to take care what he said, and in due time reached the pools, Here the moon shed its full, strong light, and the whole scene was shown as ‘clearly, almost, as by daylight. And, almost the first object to draw the attention of the quick-sighted detective was a stout staff, one with the bark peeled off it one half its length, Springing forward, Billy picked this up and looked at it, carefully. Near one end he speedily discovered a stain of blood, with some hairs with it, proof that this was the weapon with which the deed bad been done, ‘¢ Tg this the staff you saw the prisoner have?’ Bill asked of Greenwood, should say it is, sir,” was the reply. | 900 Mic co