Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 813 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

iy Ave / ‘ - Y Daves a ‘are aN t i , "% a 5 j < yr y _ map, when his soft voice suddenly CHAPTER VIII. THE CHI£F RETURNS, WueEn Henry Dixey made his good-night bow, amid a thunder of applause from his admirers be turned from the stage to find the chief of police awaiting him. The two were friends, independent of the mys- terious secret they were trying to solve, and the actor, greeting the chief cordially, said: ‘*Go to the hotel to have supper with me.” **T will, for I am just back from Philadelphia, where [ have been too busy even to eat. ‘‘T drove by my quarters, and having a letter ‘telling me My Man was in town, came up to see ou.” ‘« Yes, I have seen her,” ‘© Her 2?” ‘ ‘* Well, be came in petticoats to see me,” ** One of his clever disguises, but we will talk it over later.” ‘The two soon after left the theater together, had supper in Dixey’s rooms, and lighting their = tli settled back before a glowing fire for a ‘talk, ‘* Well, Dixey, what do you think of Dick Doom?” ‘‘ T like her immensely.” ‘‘ You surely do not believe him to be a woman?” “Piltell you. | ‘“*T had a call from a woman in black, and vailed, ‘ ““When the vail was removed I beheld what I would calla dandy young widow, glad that her loved one had gone to join the angels, feeling ‘that he would be better off far removed from this sinful world. ‘Well, chief, she at last sprung her identity upon me, and I discovered that it was Dick Doom. ‘* He had the official stamp, so I talked it over with him, and gave bim my ideas that the one who robbed me had taken a long time to get du- plicate keys and all that. ‘*Then he asked me to shut him out of the door, and remain in my bedroom for just ten minutes,” “Why?” ** Just to show me how I could be taken in,” ** Well?” **T did so, and when the ten minutes were up I opened my bedroom dvor and was startled at a ** It was that clever dog, Doom.” “lt was, and whata scientific burglar and confidence man he would make, for be bad open- ed my outer door, then ‘my closet, next my trunk, then the box and handed me over my own jewels.” . | | ‘I told you that he was a marvel. . ** He is more, for in tep minutes he had pulled off his outer garb, put.on a Quakeress hat, gloves and kerchief, gotten into my treasure-box and was serenly awaiting me, **[ would then have sworn that he was @ wo- ' changed and he spoke in a deep, rich mauly voice.” : “He isa ventriloquist too, you know.” ‘* No, I didn’t know, chief, ° ‘But I would not be surprised at anything he does, for he beats me ‘* And he undertook your case?” | ‘* Yes, after asking me a hundred questions foreign to the subject.” ¥ keene ‘* Don’t you believe it, for he had a purpose in every question asked you.” : : Weil, I have corfidence in him, the more so that be ays all his expenses, and asks nothing if he fails.” Aare | _ * Yes, that is his way; butif he undertakes it you may be sure that he saw success in it,” “T hope so, for though | would make good every dollar ¥ ” at my own game of imper- to my friend, it would be a heavy blow upon me, _ and I am most anxious to show up the thief,” “Dick Doom will do it if any man can,” “*T have the same faith.” ** He called on me and left a note in which be said you Np ha a rl what was decided upon. ‘*T find that he also sent to Headquarters, got a detective and had some oue shadowed, but who - I cannot find out, as Gordon, the man who served ‘him, was not on duty to-night.” I am sure; but did | eee 4 He will or se ae ee you see that Scotchman in the box to-night?” eh * | © *¥es, I watched him from the wings, and he ea eR Be enjoyed your playing immensely, fur be seemed fs to have no eyes for any one else,” =, * TE he comes to-morrow nigbt, I'll spring his rs a nh be? ? ¢ , r aa OE aceta g on the audience, for I ordered a suit, motte deg SP ga gh sk 3 an all, to-night, to impersonate him, ie ip Re ee as I saw that half the wert nist on to him.” ae Poe late “Do it, nd you'll make & great bit, Yon PRN A ee ces ul es Tage bathe ape sc ik 65 FIO lea Bae ams | eS 8 eto AT'S. a) ie bt yd bets VN r_- peed! of the value of those stolen jewels r 4 a . ‘ « * y + é 2 oe a A! , ne i - e f. J - 4 4 hy : hang Laan’ ¢ beholding a Quakeress seated in my easy-chair.” Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. ** Now [ must be going.” ‘*1’ll see you down,” and the chief from the roum, As they went toward the elevator, they were surprised to see Mr. Mackent Mackintosh come out of his room and walk along near them, He entered the elevator with them, and yet did not appear to recognize Dixey in his ordi- nary dress. Seeing this the chief said: ‘*Dixey, ycu are a drawing card in this city, and I never tire of going to your theater.” The supposed Scotchman started at this, and turning, said with a strong Scotch dialect: ‘*Pardon me, sir, but are you the great actor, Henry Dixey?” sh, am Dixey the actor, sir,” was the modest reply. | i I saw your performance to-night, sir, and I shall have a box to-morrow nigbt—in fact again aud again, for I am charmed,” Dixey thanked the speaker for his compli- mentary opinion of him, and as he parted with the chief, said; ‘*Come to-morrow night and see meim sonate my Scotch admirer.” ** Pll be there,” was the ready reply, CHAPTER IX, THE CHIEF MAKES A VISIT, WHEN Mr. Mackent Mackintosh purted at the elevator from Henry Dixey and the chief, be called a cab and drove to the number given him by Gordon as the house of Billy the Bell-Boy. He left the cab, told the driver to wait around the corner for him, and going up the steps, after a few attempts with a bunch of keys, opened the door and entered, A dim light burned in the halls, and he made his way to the top floor, again put his keys to use, and opened a door upon the left, e found himself in a comfortably-furnished parlor, and striking a light, cautiously began to explore the premises, He went next into a bedroom, also well furnished, and this led into a small dining-room and kitchen, Not a soul was in the house, and all was neat and in perfect order, There were books in the parlor, Koglish French and Spanish, an easel and some painting materials with several well executed specimens of the artist’s skill, a port- folio of drawings, a guitar and other evidences that tha occupant possessed a refined taste, A cheerful coal flre burned in the parlor grate, and there were indications on all sides that the dweller in the rooms took his comfort, anc there was nothing to show that there was was more than one occupant. But, with his skeleton keys Dick Doom, in his character of Mackent Mack- intosh, opened acloset that bad a spring lock upon it, What he, found there caused him to givea low whistle of evident amazement, _ He looked carefully over the things, cisturb- ing nothing to show that they had been handled, and then relocked the door, Going to a table he took up a large and hand- some photograph album, and seating himself be-. fore the fire he leisurely began to look it over. Now and then he made notes of the names of photographers, and upon several of the pictures hesaw there he devoted considerable attention, as thongh striving to impress the faces upon his ssgciabad | At last he arose and turning down the gas, as he bad found it, left the flat, made his way out of tae house aud around to where his cab- man awaited him, He gave the order to drive to the hotel, where he had also made his quarters, as D, Richards, and was soon in bed and sleeping soundly, ap-. parently contented with his work for the day. | It was nine o’clock when be arose and went down to breakfast, and soon after there was a card brought to hin at which he said: — ** Show the gentleman up.” A few minutes after he stepped forward and Dixey accompanied per- << **T have, sir.” ** Good! that means success,” ‘‘T am not so sure of that, chief,” ‘“Ah! you say this who bave never lost a case?” * True, lam given to success, I admit, but then this case has far more in it than is apparent upon the surface,” **So it appears to me and I said as much to ‘Dixey, who is a splendid fellow, and one I hope we can serve successfully, **1T called upon him last night,” ** Yes, at the theater and went to supper with him at his hotel,” ** Ab! you know this?” *Oh, yes, having engaged in the case I must keep a watch on Mr, Dixey’s intimate friends,” assured Dick Doom with a smile. ‘* And began by watching the chief of police,” said the chief, laughing, ‘*T must start at the fountain head, ‘* But seriously, chief, this isa very remark- able case, and to get down to bed-rock requires a great des! of skill, acting and cunning.” “Tf told Dixey if you undertook it you would win.’ ‘*] have undertaken it with a determination | to fathom the secret and bring all parties to punishment, for, mark my words, there are more in this plot, for plot it is, than one thief.” ‘You surprise me, Dick,” ) ‘*T will surprise you still more when I gather up the threads of this mystery,” ‘* You know more than you admit?” ‘‘T know absolutely nothing—yet,” was the response, but there was a world of meaning in the way that Dick Doom said yet. : CHAPTER X, A MAN OF MYSTERY. | ** WELL, Dick Doom,” resumed the chief; ‘* The case isin your hands, Dixey is your client, so do for him all in your power, for he is desery- ing of it,” ‘* Yes, he certainly 1s, and should be protected from what crosses my mind as a plot, as I see it LOW, ‘You know best: but have you told him of your suspicions?” ) **Ob! no, nor do I intend to doso until I know just how matters stand.” ‘** You have seen him act?” se Yes,” ‘* Well, come to-night and see him, for I am ~ to bave a box, and 1 am anxious to see him take off a guy who was there last night, occupying a — box all alone,” oh, Sn ‘* Who was he?” ‘*A Scotchman, whom we afterward met in | the elevator, and hearing me call Dixey’s name — spate to him and said he intended to come to- night, ‘*Struck with bis looks and make-up, Dixe intends to impersonate him tornigbt and the — eudience will recoguize him at once and ths fun will begin.” - a : | ‘‘T am sorry I cannot te there, for I have an engagement, chief, but I bave no doubt the im- — personation will be perfect, knowing Mr, Dixey’s — clever character sketching as I do, “aia ‘*Now what can you tell me about is. diamond robbery?” are | ‘* Very little.” | ‘You put your best men upon it?” j ‘6 very best.” ae ” Without results?” _ “ With no result,” ** You have their reports.” ‘Yes, all of them,” | ort ‘*I should liketoseethem” = # —— ‘**Come any time and look them over.” ** You bave your own ideas of the thief.” one seems now tangible ia the made by my men to find any ‘“* Well, I have formed scores of them, yet not — eich ailures lue whatever.” **’You believe that the diamonds were stolen?” — ‘** Beyond all doubt,” > eo greeted the chief of police as he entered the| ‘ Have you suspected any one in the hotel?” i room, “Yes, and bad shadowed all the servants — ‘My dear Doom I am glad to welcome you | until convinced that the thief was an outsider.” — again to New York,” said the chief cordially, ‘*Whatof Mr, Dixey’sfriends™ = — | ‘Thank you, sir, and I was going to call| ‘I know not one who could be suspected Sane Ly upon you at eleven, but am glad you called, | is, one who is intimate enough with him to gain for, as you know, I do not care to be seen too | access to bis rooms.” Cae es often about Headquarters, or to gotherelunlessin; ‘* Haveyor thought of a woman in the case?” — isruise,” | | ‘* Ab! it would bea strange case indeed that — ** Yes, I know, and it is the best, while every | did not have & woman in it,” hy a ee time you come you deceive me as to who you| ‘That is true, any case without a woman in it — are, as I know to the tune of half a dozen bets | is playing Hamlet withouta ghost.” = = — that [ have lost to you, that I would know you.} ‘You have reason to suspect that there is a— 4 Gut you have een Dixey™ | Woman mixed up in this?” Mg EE eg ae ‘Yes, sir,” _ | ‘*T always look first for the woman, when any ** And taken bis case?” caseisputinmyhands.” ——| ey eee : : Oo Av Cys TAR yt Vat PRG ete ries eae he Pte Roath ear vivares Gy @ a OL @Ke ;