Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 813 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

© a « : - ee Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal, 11. of an overcoat, and one flap was thrown up tragically over his left shoulder. His boota were pointed at the toes, the heels were high, and his rather tight-fitting black pants were held down with straps, Upon his head was a black slouch hat, of the Italian banditti style, and when he threw off his cloak it was seen that he had a velvet vest, with red dots in it, a ruffled shirt, and blue swallow-tailed coat and brass buttons, His collay was bigh, and he wore a sable silk stock in lieu of a cravat. Then he slowly drew off his black kid gloves, his eyes fastened upon the comedian of the new school of acting the while, Dixey bad risen at his coming, and his pale, mobile face was very serious as he gaw his visitor, though the corners of his mouth twitched with a smile, ‘“*Mr. Booth Barrett Brown, I believe?” he said, politely. “T am, sir,” was the decided response, as though the speaker’s name had been called into question, ‘ How can I serve you, Mr, Brown?” | ‘*T will tell you, sir, when that girl-faced monkey has left the room,” His reference was to Billy, the Bell-Boy, who had stood grinning at the tragedian until refer- ence was made to him, when he shot out of the door like a rocket, at which Lixey, glad of an excuse, burst out laughing. | The tragedian tben strided, rather than walked, toward Dixey, thrusting his fingers through the long, black locks that fell upon either side of his head, while his hair in front was banged, in fact worn just as the young girls in Philadelphia wear their hair to-day, He wore a glass in one eye, was smooth shaven, and had an expression as though he was constantly making a spéecb, ‘‘Be seated, Mr. Brown, and, as a brother actor, allow me to take the liberty of asking you why you did not set your B’s up in line to read Brown Barrett Booth, giving the most famous name last?” ‘¢ Because, sir, Booth is not the more famous name, as there are more Browns than Booths.” ‘Granted. Pardon my unwise suggestion and tell me how I can serve you,” **Do you not know me, sir?” ‘*T have heard all these names, sir, I admit, yet must confess to never having had the honor of meeting you personally before,” ** Not to know me, sir, is to argue yourself un- known,” “Very true, sir; but that is my misfortune and not your fault, ‘* At first, when I received your card, from a certain something about it, I supposed it was a visitor whom I was expecting,” ; “And I am that visitor, Mr, Dixey—Dick Doom, the detective, and at your service,” said the supposed tragedian of the old school of act- ing, in his natural voice, to the great amaze- ment of the actor, Henry Dixey sprung to his feet and held out bis hand, while he cried; ‘Dick Doom, you are the most thorough actor Tever saw! ‘* Why did you not go upon the stage?” The eyeglass dropped from the left eye, the face assumed its natural expression, and the wig of long black hair was removed, while Dick Doom said, seriously: : ‘‘T am an actor, Mr, Dixey, and my stage is the world, my audiences the good and the bad of man and womankind! CHAPTER XXIII. THE CHIER STARTLED. | Henry Drxey was silent fora minuté after the discovery of who his visitor was, and then said | “T have told the chief, Dick Doom, that you | could not deceive me again; that you would be oRnO, Be matter what your disguise, the mo- ment | scot eyes upon you. “Tn fact, I had ailbet with the chief that I would recognizs yon, and I bave lost, even after u sent the marked card, which !ed me to sus- tthat it was you, — “ How on earth can you so change yourself, for you are a couple of inches taller; you look as thinas afree lunch fiend, and your expres- sion was that of a man passed fifty.” “ Well, it is art I suppose, some might say genius, for you have the same talent, if I may so put it, of impersonation, taking the real whenltakeatype . “For instance, how well you took off that Scotchman who attended the theater several but then he was such a guy and s0 easy to take off,” Dick Doom smiled and replied: “T have come for another talk with you about those stolen jewels.” “Wire away, ** But have fn any news to tell me?” ‘I wish to know something more of Aquero?” Well?” . ** When did he leave those jewels with you, or that is, how long before he sailed for Peru?” ‘“The night before, for he came to me after the theater, and sailed the next day.” ‘* Did he say anything to you about them?” ‘*T do not remember that he did, other than that they were heirlooms,” ‘* Ho was engaged?” ‘6 Yes, or bad been, you know.” ‘* To a Peruvian lady?” ‘No, a very beautiful American girl, for I met her once, and saw her in a box at the theater several times, ‘‘She was an heiress as well, I believe.” “Did he tell you that the jewels had ever been stolen?” ‘* He did not.” ' ** And he gave you no idea of their value?” ** None,” ‘He seemed to always have money?” ‘*Oh, yes, In that way he appeared to be amply provided,” ‘Did he refer to any date when you might expect him back?’ ‘** He said he would be absent for some months, that was all, and that I could well understand, as be was going to Peru,” ‘Well, Mr, Dixey, although I can give you no direct information in og ee to the jewels, 1 can at least tell you that I have Yyound another link which goes to make up the chain of evi- dence,” ‘‘ Ah! against whom?” ‘*T do not know.” : ‘*] bave observed that you are particularly interested in your questions about Aquero, the loser of the jewels,” ‘* Hardly, for you will pay him their full value; but to get at bottom facts I must begin at the fountain head, ‘*T will sea you again before long,” and re- moving his wig, he took up his hat and cloak and departed, Billy the Bell-Boy saw | im as he went through the office, looking every incha man of tragedy and he watched him until he saw him take a cab and drive away. Bae Bree ‘Some poor actor whom Mr. Dixey has help- ed, and now he is flush he takes a carriage in- stead of the street-car,” resumed Billy as he gazed after him, Upon arriving at his other hotel, Dick Doom made his way up to his rooms, slipped in unseen, and was soon in his character of D, Richards, Writing a note he dispatched it by a messen- ger, and soon after the chief of police called, ‘Well, Dick, I answered your note in person, to have a talk with you, and the twomen you wrote for I have ordered to be here in half an hour. ‘*Thank you, chief, I wish to put them both on the same mission.” ‘¢ Tt is important then?” “Only to track a boy.” | ‘¢Ah! a boy mixed up in this diamond deal n?”? ‘ Well, yes, sir.” ; : “Have you made any discoveries, Dick, for you have not been near me of late?” ‘‘T have made a discovery, chief, and I[ will tell you what it is,” “Well, Dick, you know best,” ‘‘Those Dixey diamonds, as you always speak of them, were stolen by some one from a lady, in whose care Aquero left them, and then, left fo the keeping of Henry Dixey, they were again en, ** Dick Doom you startle me.” ‘*T was startled myself at the discovery, sir, when I made it,” ‘This complicates matters, for Aquero, you Say, left the jewels with a young lady?” to her, , z And they were stolen from her?” They were, sir, though she did not the theft until I called on her two days ago, and she went to look them up at my request.” : Aquero left them with her?” %y ‘Yes, sir,” a end Aquero left them with Dixey?” ‘* Were they the same jewels?” * Yes, for her to’keep for him, as he is engaged r. know of ‘* See if they are not the same,” The chief glanced at the two lists and cried emphatically: ‘*'The very same, by Heaven!” CHAPTER XXIV, TO SHADOW A BOY, THE chief continued to gaze at the two lists until he had convinced himself beyond all doubt, that the those stolen from the lac iy in question,, and the onesof which Henry Dixey had been robbed were the same, ‘** What do you make of this double mystery, Dick?” asked the chief after awhile, ‘What is your opinion, chief?” asked Dick Doom answering the question by asking one, ‘*[ should say that this looks bad for Antonio Aquero,” ‘*Upon the face it does, and that was the opinion I formed, sir,” ‘* Ho was engaged to this lady?” “Tt was,” ** And will return to marry her?” ‘Oh, yes, for she is very wealthy,” ‘* You will watch for his return?’ : **] am watching now, jin case he should an-~ ticipate his expected time for returning.” **Could be bave given those jewels to the young lady and then stolen them from her, to give them to Dixey to keep and then steal them _ from him?” Aen ‘Tf he did, his purpose was'a most sinister one, chief, ae 3 is playing a very deep game,” n ‘* Wor ‘‘It can be for nothing else that I can see now; but these must be vane men,” A knock came upon the door, as Dick Doom spoke and in answer to hiscall two men entered.. One was an elderly man, the other about twenty. They saluted when they saw the chief, and not knowing Dick Doom, oné of them said: “We were told to report here, sir, to Mr. Richards,” ‘This gentleman is Mr, Richards, Barney.” zoe two men turaoed to the detective, who said ; ‘*[ wish you for special duty men, for you are to shadow a boy.” ** Yes, sir.” ‘To doso successfully you must not act to- gether but separately.” , ‘* We will, sir.” ‘*“One of you had better goto quarters and rig out asa hayseed, an old farmer, and the other as a drummer, having your sample cases,” | ‘Yes, sir,” they replied in chorus, ‘*Toe one I wish you to followis Billy, the Bell-Boy, and he is at the —— Hotel, ‘He is off duty at midnight, and you are to sbadow bim wherever he goes; but to save you as much trounle as possible here is his address, and be will doubtless go there, ‘Tf he does, then be will make an early start for the country, just for what point I do not know, but 1 havea suspicion that it is Jersey, and he is to be shadowed to his destination, ‘When you have placed him,return to me and report just where it is, only let me know who he has gone to seeand anything else you can find out of use to me, . | ‘* You, sir, who are to play the drummer, can gO there as a peddler, so fit yourself out accord- ngly.” ‘ We have peddlers’ packs all prepared for just such work, Mr. Richards, and all kinds of disguises,” the chief said, ‘y ‘That is the very thing, then, ‘** Men, here is money for your expenses,” and Dick Doom banded each man some money, | _ Thanking him they took their leave, and then — the chief said; ‘ ‘** Botb of these men are good ones, Dick, but — why would not one do?’ S ‘* Because one might lose the game; two would | hardly do so,” (, ¥ ‘Very true; but you told me the other day ind this boy Billy was in your pay as a detec~ — tive, ‘* He is, chief, and that is why I wish to get | better acquainted with him and what he does,” __ **T see, you doubt him,” 2 ‘Until 1 know my man, chief, I have him — shadowed, or shadow him myself, "a «Then I know just who I am to trust,” . ‘* And therein lies the seeret of your success, | ** But, fy ne wad ~ Moly a ee from Dixey F, upon your deceiving n your sea,” Mi Ves, he said he bad lost @ bet; bat that rig did change me greatly, and I confess that [I ony “3 times.” _ 4% | ‘Here is a list I obtained from the lady, and | really did look like aback number of the foot- — a “Tf applause was a criterion I made a hit, | another list from Dixey. lights.” Ee