Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 813 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 ** From Dixey’s description of it, I wish [ had seen you in it.” ‘‘ You may some time, chief; but now I have work for some of you to do,” ** Certainly, I shall be glad to aid you.” ‘‘T wish you to kindly send word to all the South American steamship lines, those that run to the West Indies, the Bermudas, Mexico and Southern ports, to have one of their special offi- ‘cers on the watch for Antonio Aguero’s com- g.” : are you think, then, he will return quiet- 4y “Yes, perhaps incog., and I wish to learn of dis arrival, and just where he goes ‘*Tf he returns openly and goes to the hotel where he stops, of course the time and money spent in watching for him are thrown away; but then if he returns secretly, it will be time and mouey well spent.” **T confess that I can see no motive for his re- turning secretly, Dick.” ‘* He did not go to Peru.” © “What?” ** He did not go to Peru as he intended.” ** Do you know this?” ** ] have the proofs,” was the calm reply, CHAPTER XXV. LINKS IN THE CHAIN, THE chief became more deeply interasted ‘than ever, at the words of Dick Doom, and said: ‘* Let me have the proofs, Dick,” ‘Well, chief, he sailed for Peru, as I before atated to you, but left the ship at Havana,” ‘‘ [ wired the chief of police at Havana, to find that he had sailed from that city two days after his arrival, and I have a letter, received to-day, .. following the telegram, | The letter states that passage was engaged on the vessel, a sailing vessel mind you, for Antonio Aguero, from Havana, before the coming of that gentleman to Havana,” ** Indeed?” - ‘* Yes, and ho sailed for Panama, and I have ‘word from there that he crossed to the Pacific, but did not take a vessel down the coast to Peru, ‘though he engaged passage on one, “Instead, he returned across Panama, and ‘then I lost track of him, or rather my inform- ant did, and thatis why I am now watching all of the Southern and South American steamers for his coming.” ‘‘Tt seems strange how he has tried to givo the idea of going to Peru, by engaging passage, and yet hay not gone.” ‘‘Hiven to the exteut, chief, that should his leaving the steamer at Havana be discovered, he went to Panama and engaged passage on the | steamer down the Pacific,” ‘‘ This would look as though he was trying to throw some one off his track.” ‘* It certainly does look so, chief.” **May he not, after all, have gone on to Peru?” “6 No,” ** You are sure?” ‘*T have news from vived there,” - You have not been idle, Dick.” **T have’ been trying to find the owner of those jewels, chief, as well as the thief.” ‘“‘T see, you connect the owner with tbe thief,” ‘*T make no charges against any one yet, - -chief, only if [ find the owner of the jewels I wil be able to trace the motive for the double rob- _bery of them, the robbery of the two persons to ‘whom they were intrusted for safe-keeping.” _ “Did you find ont tbe difference in time be- " A Silas i) being left with the lady and with | xe Peru that he has not ar- ‘* Yes, it was just three months to the day,”, ** And the discovery of the theft of them from the lady was not known until you called upon ae NE No” Ni Wa + There was no feigning on her part?” Ch, no, she is above that and true as steel. | _ * She believed the jewels in her keeping until. _. Tasked her to look for them.” | t a Die? course you know who she is, socan judge, ick, | “She is Miss Marsden, the daughter of the _ millionaire banker,” tthe to __. * Ah, she is wealthy and could have no motive for underhand actions, while knowing ber now, _ 1 am aware that she is one of the noblest of women,” | D, : ; 7 . ; I wish to know as soon as possible just where | this Billy the Bell-Boy goes to-morrow, and I ‘ a, al ‘ . : 7 . Ui fol \i @ ees f \t REM Ss ape Bee On Pvp se mae aes * + _——<—— ee —— Ree will doubtless learn’ something Iam pnxious to ¥ * - , ete iat Ma giles | ae et tae, Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. — Antonio Aquero, whether he comes openly or secretly, and [ will be better able to act,” ‘* You lay considerable stress upon the move- ments of that bell-boy, I see,” ‘** Yes, I do.” ** And I cannot shake out the belief that some one of Dixey’s intimate friends is the thief,” ‘*] have the same belief, chief.” *§ You? **] thougbt that you believed that Aquero was connected with the robbery, for | have gleaned that from your movements and conversation,” ‘*I may, yet is not Aquero one of Mr, Dixey’s _ intimate friends?” ‘*True, yet what motive would he have in rob- bing himself?” ‘That is just what I am anxious to find out. ‘When 1 know the motive I know the thief, and knowing the thief I shall recover the jewels,” was the confident reply of Dick Doom, ‘Well, Dick, you are a clever schemer and I always wager on your winning. ** Dixey believes in you too, yet for the sake of a bet, he wagers against you,and we have a bun- dred up on the result,” ** You will win, cbief.” ‘* Kgad, Dixey will be glad to lose to have you win the game of solving the mystery you are playing, and I would give much to have you do 50 ) **T well know that; but I will win.” ‘* You are most confident,” ‘Do you think Antonio Aquero left jewels worth fifty thousand dollars in Henry Dixey’s keeping not to return for them?” ‘*T see your point—you are sure he will re- turn?” ‘* Sure,” | ‘** But if he be the thief?” ** He will still come for them,” “Why?” *¢ Shoald be not doso he would bring suspicion upon hims-lf,” ‘* Very true,” ‘Then, too, thief or honest man, he will re- turn to claim his prize in life’s lottery.” . ‘* What prize is that?” “Myrtle Marsden, the millionaire banker’s ars gl was the smiling response of Dick oom, CHAPTER XXVI, THE SHADOWERS’ REPORT. THE night following the conversation just related, between the chief of police and Detec- tive Dick Doom in the rooms of the latter at his hotel, the two men sent to shadow Billy the Beall-Boy returned, They sent up their names to * Mr, Richards,” and attired in their disguises were ushered up to the rooms of the young detective. ‘‘ Ab, gentlemen, you kave returned?” said Dick Doom, recognizing them at a glance, through their make-up, one as anelderly farmer, the other as a peddler. ‘ ‘Sit down and let me hear what you have one. ii de first, please,” and he looked at old Hay- seed. “Well, Mr. Richards, we found things about as you said, for the boy went to his home for the night end left it at seven in the morning. “He took the train for Red Bank, New Jersey, and there got a hack to take him on to his house, — : “Seeing him talking to the driver I asked, as I went the same way, if I couldn’t ride along tco, for smail pay, and the boy told me to jump in at hisexpense, — ‘‘A few miles out he stopped at a handsome country home, and, as I said I wanted to go further on, he gave the driver extra money to take methere, — y “I felt sorry to be shadowing him then, but business is business, and duty is duty, so I rode on until I told the driver I could cut across fields and sent him back, , ‘*{ did cut across fields, made a circuit and |: came back into the road and waited for Brewer, here, who was coming along as peddler, | *] goon saw him coming and told him the house where the boy stopped and he went on while I returned to the hotel in Red Bank to await his coming. : cL Pt 4 will tell you now what he did.” . “You did well, Mr. Barney, and now, Mr. Brewer, I'll bear your story?” said Dick Doom, ‘* Well,fsir, I struck the place about an hour after the boy arrived.” ** Describe the place, please,” : ‘* A large mansion, surrounded by ornamental groans and mossy acres of finely cultivated - findout | | | | | dands.” ee ; i? “Then I desire to know of the return of | ‘The homeofarich farmer?” _ ; ‘aly _ . rit . a , r , : NST : ; : By : ty , “= > LA 2 4 ON. eis hs . 4 , a eie' fr , jar AS ass 4. 4 hal +, % a. . et : eu * 3 \* F wer’ . il es a md 4 — a= © ———s ss. ee ‘ Yos, sir, of a very well-to-do widow, sir.” ‘* Her name, please?” ‘¢ Hartwell, sir.” ‘* Well?” “She is a Peruvian lady, sir, but married an - American naval officer, and came to America to live, ‘* His father dying left him that home, and at the naval officer’s death, six years ago, Mrs, Hartwell and her two children were left his fortune, which was considerabls, I learned,” ‘¢- Was the boy one of her children?” ‘¢ Yes, sir, for she has a son and daughter,” y And Billy, the Bell-Boy, is the son?” Fen. sik" ‘* And the daughter!” “Ts away at boarding-school, sir, I learned.” ** You saw the home?’ ‘**'Yes, sir, and it is an elegant one,” ** Did Billy remain there? ‘* No, sir, he came back to Red Bank, and took the evening train for New York, though neither Barney or myself dared let him see us.” ** You were right; but did you gain access to the home?” ‘‘ Yes, sir, for they gave me dinner, though they did not buy anything I offered for sale,” ‘What kindof a woman is Mrs. Hartwell?” ‘‘ A handsome, red-faced woman, sir, and she speaks English with a sligit accent.” ‘“* You too have done well, Mr. Brewer, and I' thank you both for your services. ** But did Billy, tue Bell-Boy, go on duty again’ to-night at the hotel?’ _ 7 ‘Yes, sir, he went to his rooms, changed the clothes be had worn during the day, and re- turned to duty at eight o’clock,. ‘‘ Having seen him back where we had shad- owed him from, we returned to report to you,” ‘‘Thank you,” and with a reward for their services that seemed to please them by its liberality, the two shadowers took their leave of ‘Mr, Richards,” . An hour after Dick Doom passed through the corridor of the hotel where Billy worked, and saw the boy on duty. He made his way to his room—which he held as Mackent Mackintosh—and soon changed his dress for that of the Scotchman, Ringing his bell a boy promptly presented himself, but he told the lad to send Billy to 1 him, The boy disappeared on his errand, and told Billy, aading: | “You gits all the big fees, and now I s’poses that Seotch freak wants ter give yer a dollar jist for nothing.” Billy laughed and went hastily up to the room of Mr, Mackintosh, sa ‘Well, Billy, my lad,” ho said in his broad Scotch accent, ‘‘ where have you been all day that other boys have had to look after me?” ‘6 T wept home, sir, to see my mother,” “That was a good lad, ‘6 Does sue live in the city?” ‘‘ No, sir, out in the country.” ‘‘ What do you call the country here, Billy?” ‘‘ Ont in New Jersey, sir.” | And would you rather work here in the wicked city all alone, than live in the country with your good mother?” ‘No, sir, only I must work, for there is @ duty for me to perform,” and the boy half-turn- ed away as tears came into his eyes, and his voice quivered with emotion, | ve CHAPTER XXVIT,. DIXEY’S DISCOVERY, | Trp disguised detective seemed touched at the sudden feeling shown by-~-the boy and said vickly: | ) ae Colne: come, Jad, I did not mean to hurt you by anything I said, only I think one of your age, who could be with bis mother, under her shelter- ing care, should be there,” 7 von, sir, if 1 could only be! But I cannot— 20, | cannot! | Fe cath ‘“‘T went home to-day and saw the spot I loved so well, the dear old place where I was born, and my poor mother’s face told me plainly that she was anxious and longed to have me with her, | “Tt moved me deeply, sir, and when you spoke of my mother just pow, it all came back to me a ain.” . Pee jae er Well, lad, you have a good heart, and you should return to your mother, and not remain in this wicked city.’ . SAS ota Nae “No, sir, no/ Teannot!?. _ gueey s ‘¢ Ts she so poor, then, as to need your aid?” ‘*No, sir, it is not that; but then IT have a duty to perform, one I have devoted my life to “You have been kind to me, Mr, Mackiptosh, : . oe the q 7 - , 7 e ; ie, | cv ¥ ‘ 2 2 FS. ; 7) ¥ ra : « oer 77 - + tho r dual ’ 7” a a eee ‘ ~ ee, O See —-—. = = SS + > » ts ” A “hi 2 - ee ‘ e | ee | é | "7 > “ ee . __—_ s oD eur | a * but I can say nomore, notevento you” = = ow “Where does your mother live, lad? 2 2 2 \ pat) Ory We P| », i dee al 7 , - <" f % > z vva -- ae cr pbsin ety | y : y Z MicvoDOoOoOkK >. = | - = L }\ AN | > ‘ ~~ i f | -— i