Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 813 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

‘ AO, Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. ‘‘ Have you them?” ** Oh, yes, in the safe in my library, and which I know the combination of,” ** Oblige me please by giving me a list of those gems, Miss Marsden,” and there was a4 strange expression upon the face of M‘ss Dickson as she made the request, CHAPTER XX, MISSING, Upon leaving the parlors to obey Miss Dick- son’s request Miss Marsden went across the hall to the library. It was also elegantly furnished, the walls were hung with five engravings in unique frames and there were bundreds of rare books, for the room was a very large one, In one corner, on the right of the large fire- place was a massive desk against the wall, Going up to this Miss Marsden touched a spring, the bronze lion’s feet casters of the desk raised a couple of inches, and witha slight effort of strength at one corner the massive desk swun around on hinges that had not before been visi- ble. y’ y; ly change of expressi * Behind the desk, in the solid wall the pannel- ing looked as it did in other parts of the room; but a slide was raised, revealing tbe iron door of a safe, some eighteen inches in width by two in length, It had a combination lock, which Miss Marsden adjusted and opened the door, Within was an iron space set in the solid wall, with drawers and cuddies, and all were filled with papers, some buckskin Lags of gold, rolls of bank bills, and several boxes evidently contain- ing jewelry. | One of these Miss Marsden took out, and she started, and her face paled as she did so, Hastily she took a key from a drawer and opened the box, when from her now asben lips came a moan, followed by the words: ‘* My God! the jewels are gone! ‘¢T have been robbed of them,” ‘You bave been robbed of Mr, Aquero’s jewels, Miss Marsden?” At the voice behind her Miss Marsden uttered a slight cry and turned, She beheld Miss Dickson, who had noiselessly followed her to the library. ‘Miss Marsden’s face was as pale as a ghost, her lips moved, but she could not speak for full half a minute, and sinking into a chair she geemed deeply moved, “* You can trust me, Miss Marsden,” and there was a world of kindness and sympathy in the words of the visitor, *“T will trust you,” cried Myrtle Marsden, regaining her composure and speech, **' Yes, Mr, Aquero’s jewels are missing, ‘‘T have been robbed of them.”, *¢ You are sure?” ‘‘ Yes, I am sure,” ‘They were in that box?” “é Yy es,” ‘¢ W ho else knew of your having them?” +e father.” ** Where is he?” ‘¢ Away for a few days.” ** Perhaps he—” ** No, no, he would never touch them, for the things in this part of the safe are mine,” ** Who knows of this safe?” ‘Only our old and trusted butler, Buttons, who has been in our family a quarter of a century.” ‘** No one else?” ‘* Yes, my old nurse, now our housekeeper. ‘¢ Sbe nursed my mother,” ) ** They know of tbe safe?” _ * Yes, that it isin the wall, hidden by this desk; but they do not know the combination, and if they did all within would be safe,” ‘* You were to show me a list of the articles of jewelry left with you by Mr. Aquero?” “Yes,itishere” « Miss Marsden opened an upper drawer of the safe and took therefrom a paper. | Glaucing at it, she handed it to Miss* Dickson. The latter looked over it carefully, without a on, , Miss Marsden watched the face of her visitor anxiously as she did so, ‘* Miss Marsden, allow me to ask you to look over your list while I read from my note-book the articles stolen from Mr, Dixey.” Her band trembled as she took the list from the visitor, who took a small morocco-bound book from her pocket and read ‘as follows, delib- erately and with a distinctness that seemed to grate upon Miss Marsden’s ears: \ 23 One diamond necklace and bracelets to te! | ‘* Yes,” almost sigked Miss Marsden, is de Adi . Ps y * > + , —_ << - sie’ LY 2 oa ae fh s12 4 aa\4 = eT eb A i's Se 4 ‘ orn * f - _s ; 3 y mY Ly a + 4 2 . sl ad - “~ we. ic “hee °3 : » e.. ou 7 wm CPay Lr “ : a . ¥ -< »™ - ' x ~ ea & wer > nt in Tee ee rt a). cae © bd a oyee A At Mee LOR os all - 7 or _¢ me | . é ty : eo “ ee One emerald necklace and bracelets to “Yes.” ‘* One ruby necklace and bracelets,” ‘‘1t compares with my list so far.” ‘Two watches studded with gems, chains,” “é Yes,” ‘‘ A diamond back-comb with gold prongs.” 66 Yes. » ‘* A pearl comb with silver prongs.” c Yes,” ‘‘Then follow lockets, rings, ear-rings and hair-ornaments,” ‘‘The same are on my list, Miss Dickson,” ‘‘ Then the jewels of Mr. Aquero, stolen from Mr. Dixey, were first stolen from you.” ‘* It would seem so, ‘* But I cannot understand it all—no, I cannot understand it,” said Myrtle Marsden in a quiv- ering voice, ‘*Mr., Antonio Aquero left these jewels in your keeping?” ** He certainly did,” ‘* You were engaged to him, they were jewels that belonged to bis mother and grandmother, doubtless, and he intimated that they were to and ‘*And Mr. Antonio Aquero left those same jewels with his friend Henry E, Dixey, asking him to keep them until his return from Peru.” **T do not comprehend it, Miss Dickson,” ‘*It surely is complicated, but I see but two ways of accountiug for it.” ‘*Oh, tell me,” cried the unhappy girl. ‘Hither they were found by Mr. Aquero, or taken to him to purchase them back from the thief, and if he informed you of their loss the letter miscarried, or—”’ . ‘Or what?” ‘ ** Antonio Aquero knew the combination of that safe and took those jewels himself,” and the words of Miss Dickson caused Myrtle Marsden to cry out as though in great pain. CHAPTER XXI. A MOST COMPLICATED CASE. Miss DICKSON saw that her words cut Myrtle Marsden to the quick, for they implicated her lover, the man ste had promised to marry, and whom she believed true and noble above all men, For a moment only did Miss Marsden show weakness, and she rallied quickly, regaining her self-contro!, while she said: ‘‘ Miss Dickson, your words are a charge against the man {jove with all my heart and soul, and nothing but his own confession of guilt could make me believe he would commit a crime,” ‘‘ Miss Marsden, it is such love and trust as ours that makes men better ia this world, and Varina you for your faith in the man you are ledged to; but it is my province as a Secret Bemetes officer, to suspect every one and any one, and try and tear the mask of virtue from the face of vice. ‘‘T do not say that Mr, Aquero robbed you, in robbing bimself; but I do say that these very jewels that have been taken from you, were given by Mr. Aquero to Henry Dixey to keep for him until his return from Peru.’ **T do not deny that they are the same, ‘¢ Tt cannot be otherwise from the list.” ‘* And Mr, Aquero gave them to you?” se Yes,” “And Mr. Aquero gave them to Dixey also to keep for him.” e ** It would seem so.” ** You were robbed of them?” ‘* Yes, they are gone.” “ And Dixey was robbed of them?” ‘6 You have told me so, and I cannot doubt this safe?” ‘‘-Yes, for he has seen me open it several times, and I said to him when I put the jewels away, that in case both my father and I should die he ought tu know the combination,” ** And you showed it to him?” ss Yer,” ‘ Miss Dickson looked serious, but asked: ‘*Do you know, Miss Marsden, Mr, Aquero to be a rich man?’ . ‘*T am sure that he is.” : “What proof bave you of it?” ** My father is president of the Gothham Bank, you may know, and Mr. Aquero has deposited very largely there at times, while drafts for large sums upon his bankers in Peru have al- ways been honored,” ‘* This would appear that be was rich, though ed | . ae. 7 ~s< -, y ry bad ° : 1 GT a ed Bh" een, Pd . “ e 2 “Did Mr, Aquero know the combination of os 7 j ’ > . oe a Cay ‘ ew rie $y? f L ” /; y A’ & . ~" mie ee “3 -% ofS. aa. ‘ od . there can be tricks in that kind of business, through handling other people’s money. ** But you are rich, Miss Marsden?” ** My father is a man of large wealth, and I am his sole heir,” ‘** 'W orth a million, I believe?” ‘*He is worth double that sum, he has told me, Miss Dickson, for I am bis secretary.” ‘*T will not detain you much longer, Miss Marsden, but let me beg that you do not speak of the loss of those jewels, even:to your fa- ther.” ‘* Do you mean this?” ‘IT do, for it is better so.” sé How i ‘‘T will find those jewels, Miss Marsden, and the thief as well. ‘* Tf Mr. Aquero is innocent, you shall know it the first, and if he is guilty, you shall have every proof that you are engaged to one who is wholly unworthy of yeu.” ‘*Tf he is guilty, Ll will forever bless you for proving it to me, ‘* Yet what could be his motive?” “Tf he is pot a rich man, those jewels, left in the care of Henry Dixey, and stolen from bim, would be pa for by the actor, who is a man ot unimpeachable bonor, ‘*That money would enable Aquero to keep up his show of being rich until be could make you bis wife, and you are your father’s sole heir, while the jewels, which may not be real gems, would be yours, hence his, ard if bogus stones, then will have served his purpose,” ‘¢ You reasun well for and against; but I will have to have proof before [doubt the man I love,” ‘*'You are right, and I would say remain true as steel until you know the whole truth; but re- member, do not breathe a word of this, even to your father,” re I will keep the secret, Miss Dickson, never ‘* And I will let you hear from me, perhaps see me from time to time; but should you wish to bave me call, or you glean any tidings, send a note to the eare of the New York Chief of Po- hice, and [ will respond at once, ‘* Now good-by, and do not let this worry you until you are convinced of Mr, Aquero’s guilt.” ‘¢ 7 will try not to worry,” was the low reply, and Miss Marsden closed the safe, put the desk back in place, lowering the bronze feet to the floor once more, and then escorted her visitor to the door and saw her drive away in the waiting hack, “That woman impresses me strangely, and yet [ trust ber perfectly,” she muttered, as the vehicle rolled away from the decor. Miss Dickson drove to the station this time, caught a train for New York, and an hour after entered the rooms of Dick Doom in the hotel where he was registered as D. Richards, In fact ‘* Miss Dickson” was none other than Dick Doom himself, in one of his feminine dis- oes as the reader bas without doubt sur- mised, Ce CHAPTER XXII. AN ACTOR OF THE OLD SCHOOL, Aq@atn Henry Dixey received a card, the name on which was unknown to him, yet he told Billy the Bell-Boy to show tle visitor up to his | rooms, There was something about the card that urged bim to do this, for,a man of distinction in his profession, he very uaturally received hundreds of callers, and even more letters which be could not, or would not, pay any attention to, Cranks of all kinds called upon him, love-sick maidens wrote to him, impecunious friends, knowing of his success, constantly importuned him for the loan of an X or a V, and yet, though generous and full of charity, he could not heed one-tenth of the caJis upon him, But this card read: ‘ BARRETT BOOTH BROWN, ** TRAGEDIAN, ‘“* Of the Old School of Acting.” It was Sunday morning, the actor had risen late and had just finished his breakfast, so Was glancing over the morning papers, so bulky in size , yet so full of interesting and instructive matter. | : Billy the Bell-Boy threw open the door with a suppr smile upon his handsome young face to ee the “ Tragedian of the Old School ez Acting. And no wonder, for the man who was known © as Barrett Booth Brown looked like one of the old school, . ; | He wore a cloak of black broadcloth instead / / ° ~ — . ; > Fd ° 7 Pm, wh”, - ,) ‘ . ? / . : ¥ , v~ ; oie : y ' ee a), te “ . J a ow de to ; v>~d',* EA, re ine . fee, -—* .. i ae ae a ae - ~ ge +F ly j ~ je ner ie rea wy é er) ¥ A Z, 4. * * rf i ro / | | ” @ WwW f \ V y Sat .. <> [| | la _. y = 7 tee ~ : - oe __ = bd 7 ‘* Te Paw “ a