Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 813 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

co. od ——_—- « closing the blinds and lighting the gas, the de- sective set to work for a thorough search of the premises, He took out bis note-book and began leisurely with the locked draw in a writing-desk, a pretty piece of furniture in one corner of the parlor, He jotted down notes of what he found here, and seemed much interested, He Jeft all as he found it, go that no one could have told that a paper bad been disturbed, Once more he looked over the photograph al- bum carefully, and then went to the bedroom, Under the bed was a large, strong trunk, and upon one end was a name which Dick Doom wrote down. The magic key opened the trunk, and in the bottom, among a lot of clothes, was found a tin _ box, also locked. But this yielded to Dick Doom’s key, and he gave a whistle at the contents of the box, He saw therea lot of money—bilis, gold and silver, and some jewelry. He looked carefully over the latter, noting down just what it consisted of, and then counted over the money. ** Seven hundred in gold, ninety dollars in sil- ver, and four thousand in bills, ‘‘A pretty large sum for one to have in his possession whois only a bell-boy in a fashiona- ble hotel. ‘* Bi ly the Bell-Boy is, I may say, quite a rich youth,” B The money and other things in the box were noted down, the articles in the trunk were a carefully through, and all replaced as ound, _ Thetrunk was relocked and put back under the bed, and next the detective went to the rear rooms, His search was deliberate, and though his notes were made in every case where he did not care to trust to memory, and he left nothing unlooked at, Every drawer, closet and receptacle fell under his eyes, and it was only after three hours had gone by that he seemed satisfied with his work, — He then opened the blinds, as they had been, put out the gas, glanced about the rooms to see that he had Jeft nothing undone that might betray the presence of a visitor, and left the a . ] Without seeing any one in the halls he made his way out, and going to the waiting cab gave the driver an order where to drive, . It was to the hotel where Billy, the Bell-Boy was working, and be nodded to the lad as he ’ passed through the corridor and approached the Ce, To his question regarding Dixey’s being in he was told that the actor would doubtless be back from the theater within half an hour, He strolled about the hotel, weut to the par- lors and thence up to the floor, where, as Mac- kent Mackento-h, he bad a room, Watching to see that he was unobserved he ei into his rxom and closed the door, sli _ Half an bour after a man in the garb of a clergyman came out of the room, @ On ous - ee nr eSsL af —— Du.) ap + int naar ; = 5 -- a3 7a Fs wy ~4 Pe ir ae oe ale -- — -_— 4 a ie oe 4 | ye wv Ww i s ms ry ‘ fe ‘J « hi ——_ * A ‘= ¢ ¥ aS te ® : q r win - amazement of the clerk a pen to register, asked j af to the cler "3 sur . _ clerk, with sympathy, in either case, for > <- : ’ ° jag wb bd 4 : tr si rs ea ti { __ He wore a high hat encircled with crepe, bis clothes were buttoned close, a white tie and standing collar gave bim a benign expression, which spectacles added to. . | His overcoat was also of clerical cut, and his gloves were black kid, eee _ There was an expression upon his face which Was a cross between the woeful look of an Irish undertaker and a heathen Chiuee, so doleful was it, for bis chin was dropped, the corners of - his mouth drawn down, and his eyes had a far- Away gaze, as though he had asked himself the question: © ore yf M bee shall I do to be saved?” and had re- ceived the response: ‘** Read the answer in the stars,” ~ He made his way to the office, and to the who was handing him in doleful tones to see: _ “Mr, Dixey, theactor.” , _ He banded over bis card, and Billy, the Bell- Boy was sent up with it to the actor’s room, and prise returned with word to: “Show him uP | __ “The Sky Pilot has gone up to pray for poor _Dixzey, or ask him for a contribution,” sai fhe CHAPTER XVI, | “PARSON DICKSON.” iv sf ‘d j ’ 7 there had come tohimacard upon which was the name; ‘ Sih skeet s ‘ NEAR. Ny “ly , + Bae > . ’ . i ’ yf eee zt) ee 54 i ; * Ws 4 wes 3: ’ ioe caer Oe aa ’ OV eh “» ei « mi Ci etek y. ") # a = X Saree : pot , J AY 4 . \ cy A's, ae i , . ‘at Oe v4 7 ~ — ‘2 iy 2 O~ Ferg ; ** a - ‘ Phan gs e~ * 1m ore ake Rita Say vee ee! ' v » wi » el . J ” . b as =, ¢. a ry ¢¢ ee om | friends,” | | _Heyry Drxey arose to greet his visitor, for | Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. j ‘REVEREND RICHARD DICKSON,” But the card was turned down at the corners in such a way that it brought back to the actor the remembrance of what Dick Doom had told him about receiving any one who came with the pasteboard so marked, When the detective entered the room the actor felt that he saw u stranger; but he received him politely, baie him be seated and handed to him a box of cigars, . Billy the Bell-Boy left after showing the visi- tor in, and refusing a cigar the latter said: ‘* Shall I have to introduce myself to you, Mr. Dixey?” ‘* Ah! you are then Dick Doom?” ‘* Yes, Mr, Dixey.” ‘The last time | saw you, Dick Doom, was in petticoats, so I failed to recognize, ~ ‘*T have been a little suspicious of your sex ever since, and am glad to know after all that I have not to depend upon a woman in this detec- tive work, though you can certainly imperson- ate ove to perfection.” ‘‘A mistake in a disguise in my work, Mr. Dixey, migbt spoil a case and cost me my life. ‘*T bave called to kuow if you bave any news to communicate,” ** Not a word,” ** You have heard nothing of your Peruvian friend, Aquero?” ‘* Nothing, for he is in Peru, 1 suppose, at this time,” ‘* Have els? ‘* No, for I had hopes of recovering them be- fore I need worry him witb their loss.” ‘* Tf he returns, you will pay him for them?” ‘* Yes, though, as I am not overburdened with riches, as much as I bave made, and am making, it will eramp me, “Still, in honor bound, as the jewels were left to my safe-keeping, and they have been stolen, I shall hold myself responsible and pay Aquero every dollar of value he puts upon them, if it breaks me,” *t You take the honorable course, Mr, Dixey, as | felt that you would; but we must hope that you will not have to pay the money, and that the jewels will be found.” ** Have you any clue, Dick Doom?” you written him of the loss of his jew- ‘*There is complication, mystery and sur- | prises in the track [ am on, Mr, Dixey, a wheel within a wheel, so to speak, and yet I believe that the secret key to the situation is nearer to being found out than when I last saw you,” was the guarded response of the detective, while the actor replied, with a slight show of impa- tience: | ‘*T confess that I cannot see all this mystery attached to what looks to me only as a very clever robbery of my trunk by some party un- known,” ‘ ‘* Still, I see more in itthan a robbery of Henry Dixey, the actor, by parties unknown.”, ‘“And you keep your suspicions ‘under cover?” | ‘*T never express a suspicion of any man or woman untill have proven that my sfspicion isa certainty; but now let me ask you if yeu have thoughtover among yourintimate friends one single person whom you might have even the shadow of a suspicion of?” ‘‘ Not one, and it would hurt me to feel that I bad such a false friend.” Circumstances, temptations and stern ne- cessity, Mr. Dixey, have caused the noblest men to go wrong, yes, aud women, too, : *T hear many prate against one who has sinned, being very severe upon him or her, as the case may be; but Lalways ask such unkind slanderers if they have ever been tempted, and resisted, under like circumstances,” | _ “TJ see vou are a movalizer, Dick Doom, as well as a detective: but you are right in what you say.” 44 — | you gave us, and his passage was paid. ‘*One must moralize to be a successful man- hunter, Mr. Dixey, oe) | “4 detective must getat the bottom of buman nature, understand the motive that prompts, nose a character as a doctor does a disease, dia | fend then he can know where to strike.” ood argument, indeed, and from “It is a } your words I fear you suspect some one of my ‘* No, no more than any one else, who has access to your rooms; but may I ask to look at | that photograph of Mr. Aquero again?” |p ne Gartabeion q nly, there is the album,” } Dick Doom looked tively,and asked: © =) 9. “Is there anything written on the back?” _* Yes, take it out and look atit.” _ | The detective did so, and read aloud: ; y ; me . : ; bd 4) 4" " et ete ADAIR Gn)) Veale wy Ca | Bing ta” i + ey “bh * OL TS that Pa f r stay." + re - + ae’ ° "7, ala ' ort. ~~” AVY TA Is eUTS at the photograph atten- TEED TRE Peet df CME YA ¢ “To my esteemed frie:d, the preserver of my life, ' ‘Henry EK. Drxey, | “With the devoted friendship of | ‘‘ ANTONIO AQUERO, i ‘“* September, 15—.”’ The detective ].oked even longer at the writ- * ing than be had at the photograph, and closed the album without any comment, which caused Henry Dixey to ask: ‘‘ Why do you lay so much stress upon Aque- ro’s photograph?” ‘‘1t is a question I hardly know how to an- swer,” ‘‘He ig the loser, or would bs, if I did not recompense for at least the intrinsic value of the jewels, which I believe are heirloom-.” ‘‘] have studied your face and motives, Mr. Dixey, just as closely as I have the Senor Aque- ro’s,” was the calm response of Dick Doom, and the reply puzzled the actor more than he cared to admit, for after the detective departed he muttered: ‘‘ That clever ferret intends to implicate some one whom I least suspect io this robbery,” CHAPTER XVII. SOME LETTERS. THE second day atter h’s visit to Henry Dixey, in his character of the Reverend Richard Dickson, Dick Doom sat in bis pleasant reoms in the hotel which he made his heac\quarters in the city, and where he Was known as Richards, His mail bad just been brought to him, and seated before the fire, after breakfast, he pre- pared to open his lk tters, ) - The first he took up was in a large envelope, and opening it he took outa photograph, | The letter was as follows: ‘Norra PuaTre, NesrasKka,/ Nov, 28th, 18—, ** Vr. D. RICHARDS:— ‘* My Dear >In:—Your letter reeeived with inclos- | ure, asking for photograph of party you described | and whose name you gave as Antonio Aquero, with all ioformatioa of the person in question which it is in my power to give. “ Phe photograph I send you I made two years ago and the gentleman was a Peruvian by the name o A. Aquero, forso he wrote it upon my bcoks. - He was a handsome man of thiry, well built, dressed with elegance and spoke English well. ‘‘fetold me that h» had come to North Piatte to purec?asea ranch, b :t had not dene so. as the death of the owner had. put off the sale indefinitely. 4 ‘*Ooserviog my «rt rooms he bad droppedinto | have a photograph taken. DS ' “T learn that be left our town the day after, and know nothing more regarding him, and can find no one to give me the slightest informa'ion about him. : ‘* With respect, — . ‘*W. H. Broacu, J * Photographer.” Dick Doom glanced fixedly at the photograph and said: ee ‘‘Tt is from the same negative as the one that. Dixey has,” : 3 . Then he took up another letter and read: °F cE SouTH AMERICAN 8. 8. Co, we Novy. 30th, 18—., t ‘Mr. D. RICHARDS:— My Dean Sir:— We are just now able to give you the information asked for regarding Antonio Aquero. | ; ‘The name was registered upon our books for passage on our Thursday steamer, upon the date “Tis name therefore appeered in the published list of passengers; but the captain of steamer, just | returned to port, informs us that Mr. Aquero left the ship at fayvana; with the excuse that openin ne mall after he left, he found that be must stop a lat port. | é FA Me : “This is all the information we can give regarding the gentleman, excepting that our captain repre- sents him to have sailed with him before and knows him to be a man of large wealth and belonging to an aristocratic old Spanish family in Peru. war . a> * Yours truly, © 5 “WILLIAM DONNELL, — | * Agent.” ‘ oe e Another letter was from the chief of police at = Washington, stating that ‘Antonio Aquero” ~ was reported by the acting Peruvian ministerto belong to a prominent family of wealth, and = after traveling extensively abroad he had visite ed the United States, where he had spent four years asa cadet ata military school, from his — 4 .* M”) twelfth to his sixteenth year. ¥% Sle He had met in Washington society a young lady who was a reigning bel e, rich and beauti- — ful, and wasengagedtoher, j= | | | "He bad left for Peru some months before to make all his arrangements for settling in the Vin ohech eet the hile ‘and address of the lady was given,and Dick Doom jotted thom = : . » . : gS a zs vive eelew 2 ee LS > dv 7 ee J ? ’ \¥ ae ‘wt ‘ ; ~~. 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