Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 813 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. ik a ee ee ee ee __A fourth letter was from the proprietor of the “hotel in Washington where Mr. Antonio Aquero had lived for months, giving the information that he had lived in expensive quarters, had his carriage and horses and paid liberally and promptly for all be got. ‘‘He certainly bas a good character from every quarter,” muttered Dick Doom as he took upa telegram, addressed also to ‘' D, Richards,” Breaking it open he read as follows: ‘Sent you message by cable and telegraph as directed, and return you herein the amount left over from the payment you made on the same. ‘* With'n is the answer received, * Operator W. U. TEL. Co.”’ The answer was dated at Limu and read as follows: “Senor Antonio Aquero left here eighteen months ago, and now in United States. “Seek information at Peruvian Legation,” Dick Doom turned to his table and wrote as follows: ** CHIEF OF POLI°E, Havana, Cuba:— | ‘*Antonio Aquero, Peruvian, arrived on South American steamer, Sept. 1st. Find him and wire full particulars. Information secret, “Dick Doom, ‘* Spectal Officer, U_S. Se ret Servite, *' Care Chief of Police, New York, U.S, America,”’ A messenger was called and dispatched with this, in a sealed envelope, to the main office of the Western |Union Telegraph Office, it having been franked as on ‘‘ Government business,” Late that nigbt the answer came: Antonio Aquero arrived as stated, left next day for Panama,” ‘* Now | will go and make an exchange of photographs,” said Dick Doom, witb no comment ** Do not believe me impertinent, nor prompt- se) “ee ee Oe eee ‘** But Iam a feminine ferret, and as such was ed by idlecuriosity in what Iask, for it is of | called in to try and fathom the robbery of a cer- interest rather; but may I inquire if you are ac- quainted with Senor Antonio Aquero?” The face of Myrtle Marsden flushed at the di- rect question, but she replied calmly: ‘* Yes, Mr, Aquero is a friend of mins.” ** You bave long known him?” ** Some two years,” ** May I ask where you first met him?” **] first met him abroad, in the Italian moun- tains, where he rendered our party a signal service,” ‘¢ And again in Washington City?” ** Yes,” ‘Is he now in the United States, Miss Mars- den?” ‘* He is not,” ‘‘ Where is he, may I ask?” ‘* At his home in Peru,” ‘¢ Thank you.” ‘‘Will yop answer one question more, and which is decidedly personal,’ ‘* Upon one condition, yes,” ‘‘ Name the condition, Miss Marsden,” ‘It is that you give me your motive in com- ing here and making these inquiries,” **T shall do so, Miss Marsden,” ‘Then to the personal question?” ‘*Are you engaged to the Senor Antonio Aquero?” An indignant light flashed in Myrtle Mars- den’s eyes, but she answered calmly; ‘*T am,” ** Thank you, ‘** Have you a photograph of him?” *¢ Several.” s ‘May I see them, Miss Marsden?” ** Something in your face and manner prompts upon the telegram from Cuba, and going to.the | me to answer your questions and do as you re- hotel where he was known as Mackent Mack- intosh, he watched his chance, slipped into his rooin, then into Dixey’s, and quickly placed the photograph sent him by Broach of North Platte into tbe album, taking out the one that had the | good returned with several pho writing on the back. quest, ,so I will show you the photographs, though I sball bold you to your conditions,” ‘* Do so, Miss Marsden,” Myrtle Marsden arose and left the Saree but tographs, These she handed to her visitor who looked at Unless Dixey removed the photograph from | them attentively. the album he would not observe the exchange, CHAPTER XVITI. , MYRTLE MARSDEN. THE day after the reception of the letters and telegrams by Dick Doom, aslenderly-formed woman, well-dressed and heavily-vailed, came | to the one given out of the detective’s rooms at the hotel where he lived, and going out into the street made her | way toa carriage-stand, é “To the Hudson River Day Boat,” she said, One was like the photograph Dixey had, and that which had been sent by Broach, the pho- tographer, from North Platte, Nebraska, to Dick Doom. Another was taken in the uniform of a captain in:‘the Peruvian Army, and several years prior to Dixey, for it appeared A third was more recent and taken by Sarany in New York City. There was a fourth in the garb of a gentleman and she reached the up-town landing just in time | rancher, taken on horseback and in 2 mountain- to catch the Mary Powell as she touched tbe | ous country, evidently by an a:mnieur photo- At the Tarrytown landing the lady went ashore, and backman, entered his vehicle and was driven toward the country, grapher, for there was no mame uy nit, **May I glance at what is written on these r some conversation with a | photographs, Miss Marsden?” ** You may,” was the low response, The visitor did s0, and upon the back of each awa ) ‘After a drive of twenty minutes the vehicle | photograph something had been written other ae ie is ae ' ete - darkest of blue and dreamy, and her ‘s brid and clad ina gown of blue silk that was aud added: ; aioe holy te with y _ Miss Marsden turned into a lar ® arched through handsome “ornamented grounds, and guteway, wound | than the name, **T have a photograph here that you may see, drew up at the massive stone steps of an elegant | Mi-s Marsden, and also read what is written: mansion, => Filia 53 _Aservant in livery met the visitor at the door, and carried her card up-sta after usbering paintings and works of Preseutly there came a rustle of silk npon the stairs, and there entered the parlors a young and beautiful girl of perhaps twenty years of age, . Her hair was of golden hue, her eyes large, form ‘per- art were ‘ most becoming. « Miss Dickson,” she said in a rich, low voice as she glanced at the card she held in her hand, | | you are Miss Myrtle Marsden?” re- | plied the visitor, | | ** Yes, and ¥ upon it, but remember our conversation is con- fidential.” : : ‘“Y will so regard it,” and Myrtle Marsden her into the richly-furnisbed Parlors, where | took the photograph handed to her, and glanc- be seen upon | ing at it, cried: ‘‘ Why, this is one Mr. Aquero gave to Mr, Dixey, the actor, who saved his life at Long Braneb!” py .* Yes, it is the same,” said the visitor, ** May I ask you bow you got possession of this photograph?” | | _"T will tell you, Miss Marsden, for it will ex- plain why I came to see you.” . CHAPTER AIX, MISS DICKSON UNEARTHS A SECRET, YRTLE MARSDEN seemed really impressed _ Yes, Lam Miss Marsden, and may Task if I | with her visitor, for there was something about fail to recall an old a is beyond Lape iit Si : , ei may ardon me,” a the visitor raised the vail, as 4 “ 4. - uaintance, for your vail “No, we have never n t bef re, Miss Mareden but I bave sou ih bg efo +2 you will permit.” « * nk ¢ . : a n tet Be seated, please, and let me know how I can serve Your to have a confidential | ciation of surprised Lut politely | between us shall be held in strictest confidence.” the serene, handsome face and se]f-possessed manner of Miss Dickson that commanded respect, “You have been so kind, Miss Marsden, to put up with the very pointed questioning of a stranger, that] wisi to now prove my appre- it by telling you, why I came to see you, but again let me beg that all that passes “ T shall so consider it, Miss Diekscn,” om pees let me tell you that I am a detective,” | they bad been sent to him to Washington, tain distinguished person of some rare jewels,” ‘* All another actress advertising ber stolen jewels?” asked Miss Marsden, with a smile, *‘On the contrary, this is an actor, and he seeks no advertising by giving publicity to his loss, for he bas demanded that the robbery be kept a dead secret,” ‘And an actor?” ‘Yes; ono who does not have to resort to clap-trap for his advertising, for I refer to Mr, Dixey.” ‘“Indced! I have met him and admire him greatly, for after an evening with Mr. Aquero at the theater, he was inviled to join us at sup- per and did s0, ‘*T am sorry to learn that be has been robbed, and hope that the loss was not heavy.” Yes, the value of the jewels will go as high as fifty thousand dollars, if not more,” ‘* | am so very sorry to hear this,” ‘Mr, Dixey lives at a hotel, and the jewels were taken from his rooms there, the thief hav- ing to open no less than four locks of peculiar design to get at them. ‘*Mr, Dixey reported Lis loss to the proprietor and the chief of police, and insisted that the rob- bery should be kept a secret, while he has been as anxious to catch the thief as to recover the ems, ** T hope that he will do both,” ‘**'The chances are that be will, fr there are good Secret Service men upon the sv f co—” ‘* And one woman,” Miss Marsden said with a smile, ** Yes, | ** But let me say that these jewels did not be- long to Mr. Dixey, but were iutrusted to his keeping by a friend,” “That makes it harder for Mr. Dixey,” “ ‘ . “It does, for the friend is away from the > country, and knows not of bis loss, so that Mr. Dixey is anxious to get both jewels and thief be- fore his return,” ‘i ‘TI tru: t that he may do so, certainly.” ‘“*T also have that hope. ‘* But there is another strange thing about this robbery, for in the same trunk with the stolen jewels, were Mr, Dixey’s own jewelry, in value about five thousand dollars, ‘This was not touched, though a pin, given Mr, Dixey by tho friend, to whom the other jewels belonged, was taken from the little box in which the actor kept his own property.” ** This is remarkable indeed,” "So remarkable, Miss Marsden, that it sug- gested to me that the robler was no common person, and had a deep motive for this deed of taking only the jewels belonging to Mr, Dixey’s friend, and the pin given to him by that friend,” | ‘* It would certainly seem so, Miss Dickson, ** But can you find no clue?” | ‘‘T have clues and clues, see motives and mo- tives, but yet have not been able to find a miss- ing link to make the chain complete, and so I called upon you for help,” “Upon me?” 6s Yes,” . ' “How: can J help you, Miss Dickson?” asked Miss; Marsden in evident surprise, ** When I tell you that was the one who owned the jowels, and who left them in Mr, Dixey’s keeping, you may better understand,” jewels in Mr. Dixey’s | keeping?” slowly asked Miss Marsden, — ne He cid, . ‘ ave Dixey’s word forit, Miss Marsden,” “Then it must. be so, though I was not cae | that Mr, Aquero had eny jewels of such value 4 in his possession.” Might he not bave and you not know the We) fact?” | sendy ah “tis possible, yet not probable,” ** Why do you think so?’ | “Twill tell you frankly that Mr. in yi keeping certain ‘* What they were he told me and list, though I never openedjtie box, that be should take the k he would not do, — ‘i cw : gave me @ I insisted . Antonio Aquero Aquero left — Jewels, until his return, © y with him, but this: 4 A ers ‘ ty Wy ; of ’ . ‘) tert 4,46 ial ad Ay J ¥ ats Pe Pe “* Si, * : ae * fae; . ey ah YS ‘* He told me then that all his family jew Is re were ip that box, for after his mother’s de he was then sojourning.” ¢ ~ - t> wher sa! ta eae we ido bi.* pe eR hide A Reena Sf : & woman detective?” asked Myrtle} ‘Then you certainly have good reason f nl Eh gate That is ust it, Miss Mareden, for you can | Marsden in surprise, and she added, with a | lieving that hé had no others, though he ia de} an Boe ger eames : that need aid, but I seek infor- | smile: | vie 4) | trust to the Aceping of Mr. Henry ah Dixey ‘the — YT never make rash promises, Miss Dickson, | for a woman, as you know me | ceane| ‘Those he Jeft with me, and which I will WA ae ei, 5 aaa t aa r ge y w men say our sex Cane sc me, and wi i will) a Th eee Santee then I will understand | not keep asecret.” ie Prankly, toll you, he said should be mine, he told _ oN get SOE RO OPT es ite 1 ag It depends upon the woman and the secret, ' me were over that emoun iit wralaey icone pee “a Y cee roar EER RRR US a a Tah ret ot Ga aes ea head NAY geek Sis be fF) ) Seay at: Teen ae ts aS et ao a ale ts Pe Ep Eee "i Tne dae ooh ben ; 7 a oo mS SOP care Mea Deitit Tee Wee tans & youwy ee ie. ae : " * +t 4, ‘ j ay hi FPS i Drak ‘ vi ong 5 ‘J Sik’ ing p> tl f " Ch yi my Fy i AE ~N “ em Net Anes 40 - Way ay pub ay Gas 4 . 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