Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 813 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

set, as thouga he was greatly distressed at the thoughts that crowded upon him, About him was the evidence of refinement and elegance upon every side, showing cultivated taste in the occupant of the rooms# as also an indication that he was not a transient guest, but one who :hade the hotel his home, There were paintings of rare value, as well as works of art, bijouterie, curios and a fine library. But none of them seemed then to hold attrac- tion for the gentleman, as he somewhat nervously paced to and fro. ‘‘Tt is unaccountable to me, the loss of these jewels, and that not the slightest clue can be found by the police and detectives, ‘* Still, I bave hopes that the chief of police may send me word this morning that they have been found, or at least some {trace of the thief,” The speaker was one who is known to fame as Henry E, Dixey, the actor, more generally called after one of his plays, as also, on account of his striking appearance, ‘‘ Dixey, the Adonis,” Ags he spoke there was a knock at the door and a bell-boy brought in a card, ‘** Admit him at once,” said the actor, and, a moment after, New York City’s efficient chief of police entered the rooms, e was greeted cordially by Dixey, who said, after a moment: ‘* Well, chief, I suppose you bring me some clue of my loat diamonds?” ‘‘T am sorry to say, Mr. Dixey, that it has been just as impossible for my most skilled de- tectives, to find any clue to the thief, or the diamon@s, as it Would be for them to get to the moon,” : The gloom of disappointment settled upon the face of the actor, and he said in reply: ** Chief, let me tell you a secret which I have kept to myself thus far.” ‘Well, sir?” ‘** Those diamonds did not belong to me.” . . ** No, they were intrusted to my keeping by a friend who is away from this city, at present; hence my greater desire to find them than if they were my own property.” **] understand, sir, and I came not so much to announce the failure to get any clue or trace to the lost jewels as to say that there is one per- son in whose power to trace those diamonds I hold every confidence,” ‘““Why not put bim on the track then, at vonce?” “* He is not bere, for his headquarters, I be- Jieve, are in New Orleans,” - “ Telegraph him then, and put him on at any price.” ‘*T will wire New Orleans’s chief of police to send him here, You can then see and talk with him, sir, and see if he will undertake the work.” ote : **Do so, please, without delay, for those dia- monds I must recover, the thief I must find, ‘* But, who is this detective you speak of?” **1 only know, sir, thatshe_ young man, and at times I have almost b ed that he was a woman in disguise, only he possesses wonder- ful strength and nerve, and has never failed upon any case that he has ever undertaken, no matter how shrouded in oe ga it was, or how intricate and blind the tra ; ‘“ His name is Dick Doom, though he deals in aliases and disguises without number and can deceive me as readily as he does any one else,” ‘* 4 marvelous man, surely.” ‘* He isa phenomenon in his way, and when allmy men came iu this morning,baving not the slightest clue to your stolen diamonds, the thougbt flashed upon me that Dick Doom was the very man for the work, and I decided tocall pon you at once and suggest his name,” **T am very glad that you did so, chief, and I shall be most happy to have him undertake the work,” replied Henry Dixey, as the chief arose to take his leave, _ That evening, as he was in his dressing-room at the theater he received a note from the chief F of police which was as follows: *T wired the New Orleans chief for Doom, and he answers that the young detective is now upon his - way to New York, “ He headed him eff with a telegram to his train seertig ets to at onee call upon me. ' “Ww he does so I will send him to you to ex- plain all facts of the case.”’ , ..“Sometaing tells me that this man Dick Doom is the one to trace those jewels,” mut- tered Henry Dixey, as he left his dressing-room to g0 i ba the stage and charm a vast audience with his acting. — ead * ‘ of a : . af i : « ; me a + 4 —" Poe xs 3° eh ~~ =~“ Ba YF - 1 e ~*~ bas > iar Migs ait rs" see Joom’s Diamond Deal. — oo JiCk CHAPTER II, THE ACTOR'S VAILED VISITOR, THE second morning after receiving the chief’s note about Dick Doom, Henry Dixey sat in his rooms smoking a cigar after. breakfast, and reading the morning papers, in which his own name found most favorable mention, The story of his lost diamonds had not yet be- come public, for the actor had made the theft = only to the hotel proprietor and chief of police, A knock at the door was followed by the en- trance of a bell-boy, the same one who had ushered in the chief on bis last visif, He was a youth of seventeen, perhaps, witha slender form clad in a neatly-fitting livery, and a face that no one could behold and not be at- tracted by it, . Rather pale, intelligent, feminine in features and yet strong in expression, and a certain un- readable look haunting the mouth, The eyes were large, dark-blue and shaded by lashes &@ wolnan would envy for their length and thickness, while the gaze from them was beyond fathoming the meaning of, The teeth were even and white as milk, the hair, a dark auburn, curled about the neck and temples, and the manner of'the boy was gentle, courteous and retiring, Why such a boy held such a position Dixey, the actor, bad found himself wondering over and over again, and as Billy, the Bell-Boy, always seemed the one to seek to serve him he had become really attached to the urchin and was wont to fee him most liberally. ‘* Well, Billy, what is it now?” asked the actor in a kindly tone, looking up from his aper. , vA lady to see you, sir.” ‘* Ab! this is a surprise, ‘*Is it one of my company?” he asked, for Billy had been given a *‘ pass” quite frequently, so knew the whole Adonis Company. ‘*No, sir, I think not; but she is vailed heavily.” ** Indeed! a vailed woman, eh? ** Well, show ber up,” end the actor at once threw off his dressing-gown, slippers and smok- ing-cap for more appropriate attire, Soon after Billy ushered into the sitting-room a slender form clad in black and heavily vailed. ‘* Be seated, ma , and tell me how I can serve you,” said the actor, 2onfident that be had before him some fair society girl who had won do, to get upon the stage as a professional, The visitor took the seat, Billy retired: and the actor stood awaiting a reply to his courteous ipgeesy ’ a marte’ him when it came, for she said ab- ruptiy: fi You have lately been robbed of a lot of diamonds, sir?” | ‘*T have, madam, though permit me to say that I did not know that it was known to the public.” ‘* It is not, sir.” ‘Yet you seem to be aware of the fact.” ‘* Yes, as a detective,” y =e a female.detective,” ** Yes, **Ons whom the New York chief has had workiug upon the case, I suppose?” ** Not ei ‘** Have you discovered any clue, may I ask, to the missing jewels?” ‘““T am here now for that purpose, Mr. Dixey.” ) ‘* How do you mean?” ‘*l am here to learn the facts and take my clue from you.” ‘** Ah, yes; but may I ask you to call again, a in @ couple of days, for I believe that the affair has, or is about to be placed in the hands of one who I have every reason to believe will find the diamonds,” ** Who is it, may I ask?” ‘* That I am not at liberty to say.” ‘*T can guess,” ** You can?” ‘ Yes.” ' “‘Pardon me if I say this is not a guessing match; but, after two days, if you wish to un- dertake the finding of the diamonds, and the thief, for miud you, I want the thief as much as Ido the jewels, come to me and I can tell you about taking the case, for within that time I shall have seen the one I am expecting to go up- on toe work,” . ‘* You have little confidence then in a female detective, I see?” ** No, it dence in @ woman finding out just what she i sets out to, discover, whether love, jealousy, ' r oat 7 . rv 4 suc” ‘- “ <7 fa te ah ty a wee on ae : 7 * . .o i 4 ° -the visitor, as Henry Dixey applause as an amateur and sought as so many is not that, for I have every confi- interest or gold be the motive that prompts her search, ** Yes, I baveahigh appreciation of what a woman can do, and if the one I seck coes not come within the time I name I shall be glad to put you at work to solve the mystery, and the reward I offer, let me say, is a Jiberal one,” YY Seregy ‘* Yes, you have the reputation of being ger- . erous,”’ ‘* But I must see your face before I set you to work, for though Ray be wrong, I have the vanity to believe that 1 am a gocd student of humap nature, and JT would not enter into a compact with any one blindfolded.” ‘*] will reveal my. face now, sir.” And as the visitor spoke she raised ber vail, the act revealing her face to the astonished gaze of the actor, for he was amazed at its beauty aud youth, as he had expected to find a female detective a very different looking personage from the one there before him, The visitor smiled, for she saw that she had . made an impression upon the actor by revealing her face, CHAPTER III, SURPRISED, ~ “Ts my face a recommendation, or do you desire better references as to my ability?” asked seemed more and more impressed with the woman before him, He answered her promptly: ‘* Were I engaging an actress, one to play a part in which beauty would be the greatest card, where beauty of face and form are trumps, rather than ability in acting, I would engage ou at sight: but when this is not to be a heatrical venture depending upon good looks, but, instead, is a very serious matter to me, upon which a fortune depends, as well as a matter of honor, I must ask for references as to your capacity for Secret Service work.” ‘“‘ Suppose I tell you the name of the one you are awaiting the arrival of before depending upon me?” ‘* Do so if you can.” . ‘‘He is a young man wao has been a remark- ably successful ferret.” | | | ‘* Granted.” ‘‘ He wins every Secret Service game he plays.” ‘* Well, bis name?” “ Dick Doom,” ‘* Ab! you know this?” demanded the actor with surprise. se es ’ ; ‘** From the chief?” *‘ The chief [ have not seen.” ‘Then you merely guess at what you say.” ** Guessing often gets at the bottom of facts, Mr. Dixey; but [ do not guess; I know.” **Do you know this Dick Doom?” *F do.” _“* Have you known him long?” ‘** Yes, and intimately,” , “ He has anotber name, I believe?” “Yes, Mr. Dixey, he is called the Ferret of the Golden Fetters,’ ‘**T have beard so,” ‘¢ He goes by any name that suits his humor, any disguise that suits his purpose,” You do seem to know him from what | have heard of the young detective,” A Let me tell you that he it was who sent me “Dick Doom sent you to me?” and the actor showed his surprise at the assertion of the beauti- ful visitor, sé Yes,” ‘* Have you any proof of this?’ | “You are right to be on your guard Mr Dixey; it proves your alertness for the tricks and wiles of sharps and adventurers,” and a smile irradiated the fine face, | : ‘‘ It is a serious matter to me, so pardon, me if I ask you for poe positive that Dick Doom the New drieans etective sent you to me?” ‘This letter may explain, Mr, Dixey,” He banded him an unsealed letter which the _ Adonis read aloud. It was worded as follows: “My DEAR DrxEy;— . ‘ “This will introduce to you the master detective of whom I spoke, Dick Doom, King of Secret Service en -©Prust him implicitly and if he does not. get your diamonds and the thief then consider the gems lost forever and ae: detective a dead man. ‘Sh epee CHTER.” “ This introduces Dick Doom, not a woman,” said the actor sternly. ’ Certainly: sot’ t am Dick Doom, Mr. Dixey. ‘‘- You, Dick Doom, the Ferret of the Golden Oaks * wv t, a) « a 4 - y.' y % by s Bef ! & ¥ | 1 « ’ : f 13 | i > 2 ; %. § £4 j" “ é : I y at fp ’ é; # if Me ae i uf ‘** iF “Ay f * ; , ® it ee ea ee a oe 2 2 , : > SS vps mee ' > , o : ipet,? sy lin! oy hare \ e =) ‘% >» ti a | «<> ¢ a, hp we ‘on , : 4 ‘, vat *< ' \ y, \ \ =