Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 815 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 Broadway Billy’s Bank Racket. it. Here is Hickman Shyrock, a well-known merchant of this city, who bas been in the habit of absenting himself from his family and his business frequently-for two or three days at a time, now mysteriously missing; bas been gone about two weeks, He was thought to be in Phil- ee where he bas a branch of his business, but has not been there at all, although it was understood that he was going there when he left home, His wife is anxious about bim, and = us to look him up. So much for that part of it, ‘* Now, the man who was just bere to put the matter into our hands, Spencer Witherton by name, is manager of Shyrock’s store in this city. He told us more about the man than is evident- ly known to Mrs. Shyrock; that is, that in nine cases out of ten when he absented himself from home and was supposed to be in Philadelphia, he bas not been there at all, and no one knows where he was, His face, it seems, has been seen at his Philadelphia store scarcely once in two or three months, although he has been absent from home and his business here about as much as he has been present, But, he bas never been away for so longatime as now, and hence the family want him bunted up. ‘‘ That is the case in a nutshell; and I repeat, it is about as strange a matter as has ever come into our hands, There has been something mys- terious about the man all along, and in order to find him we shal) have to ascertain what that something was. Can we do it?” ‘‘ Do it?” repeated Harry. ‘* We’ll do it, boss, or bu’st the harness trying, that’s all.” ‘‘That isthe way to talk, Harry; we have taken the case and must sift it if we can.” ‘‘ Well, what are you going to do first, boss?” “| think I'll go and see Mrs, Sbyrock.” ‘¢ And what shall we do to help?” ‘You might go to the store and pick up any information that is lying around loose,” ‘‘ Good enough, We are in for it, whether it means a tame case ora hummer; it is all the same tous. Come along, Seth.” Silent Seth was ready, and the ‘*‘ team ” left the office, Business had been dull for a few days, and the boys were anxious to be upand doing, though the present matter did not appear to promise the excitement they liked, When they bad gone out Billy mused a little, “Itis plain that Sbhyrock was not living an open life,” he reasoned. ‘‘ And it may poe me to get on the right track, Where did he spend his time when not at home or at the store, and yet notat Philadelphia where he was sup- posed to be? What was the reason for that game? There issomething crooked here, and Ill have to try to sift it out straight before I can hope to make much headway, Well, I'll go and see the woman first, anyhow.” He rose and prepared to set out, but before he left the office he had another caller, The visitor was a man, one about twenty-five ears of age, well dressed and rather good-look- ng. f Mr, Weston?” he asked, ‘* Vos, sir,” Billy acknowledged, ‘My name, sir, is Vance Willey; I_ am head clerk in the banking house of Gaffner Stiverson, I would like to have you come with me to the bank immediately.” ‘‘ Why, what’s up?” ‘* Robbery bas been done,” ‘‘ Have you notified the police?” ‘‘Not yet, sir; thought we would have yo come first.” | * All right; Pll go with you; but you bad bet- ter let the police take hold of it, too,” *‘ Perhaps we will; but, we'll see what you have to say about it first, and thensact accord- ingly. It is a mysterious matter, sir.” ‘*Most such cases are, sir, In what way is this one mysterious?” ‘‘Owing to the fact that no damage has been done to locks or safe; the safe was opened by some one having the combination,” ‘* And bow many at the bank had that?” ‘Only two; myself and Mr, Stiverson,” ‘‘ Have you seen him since the discovery #” “Mr, Stiverson is at home sick in bed, It is understood that he is quite low, too. I could not bother him with it.” ‘Then itis out of the question that he took the money himself--I suppose it was money that was taken,” ‘Yes, it was money; about twelve thousand dollars in all; al) the bills that happened to be in sight when tbe safe was opened, Looks like a hasty job.” . ‘‘ And, since Mr, Stiversop cannot have taken it, suspicion might fall upon you, being the only other who knew the combination. t about eer Did he not have the combina- tion ‘I am cashier myself, as well as teller and chief clerk, sir. Ours is not a regular bank, you understand; rather an exchange, or private ac- commodation concern,” ‘“Two remarks you have not responded to, Mr, Willey.” 6s Eh?” ‘*T say you have not responded to two of my remarks, I suppose it is out of the question that Mr, Stiverson took the money himself; we will take that for granted. Then, the next one to look to would naturally be you yourself.” ‘* Yes, that is true; I do not like the situation at all, Mr, Weston. Iam asinnocentof the theft as you are, yet I am the only one who knew the combination, in the absence of Mr, Stiverscn. I found the safe unlocked and open when I went to open it for business,” ** Only a little while ago?” ; ‘* Less than half an hour, I think; I came right ere, ‘* Well, let’s go and take a look around and Pll see if we can pick up a clue anywhere,” They left the office and took a car, When they left the cara little walk brought them to the bank, The chief clerk led the way in, Billy following him and taking quick note of the clerks present. There were two of these; one a man of middle age and the other a ycuth of seventeen or so, and ote appeared frightened at what had taken place. ‘¢ There, sir, is the safe, just as I found it,” the cashier said, pointing to the safe as he spoke, ‘*- You are quite sure you locked it last night, are you?” Billy asked, ‘*Ohb, yes; I never fail to make sure of that: I say to myself— You are fast,’ when [ turn the knob,” ‘* Just show me how you do it, please,” Mr. Willey stepped to the safe and locked it, aye then trying it, repeated the words he had spoken. ‘* Not much chance for a doubt there, if you make that a practice,” remarked Billy, as he noticed how it was done. ‘* And I always do it that way, sir; Jones and Jack bere can teli you that,” The middle-aged man and the youth both nodded their assent, ; ‘‘ Now, show me how you unlock the safe,” said Billy. Willey stooped, turned the combination a few times, and swung open the door, No key was used, : Billy was standing quite near, and had tried to catch the combination but found it impossible to do so. It was not likely that either of the other clerks’ had ever learned it, ‘‘ That will do, so far as the safe is concerned,” he spoke. ‘* Now, how did the robber gain en- trance to the office?” ‘¢ Another part of the mystery. Jack was the one to get here first, and he assures me that he found the door properly locked,” ‘* How many carry keys to the door?” ** All of us,’ ** And Mr. Stiverson has one, too?” +¢ Yes,” ‘None of you three allowed your key to go out of your possession last night, did you?” ‘““We seem to be certain on that point,” ay- swered Willey; and to that the others gave their agreement, ‘‘ Tt isa puzzler, true enough, You have not oe anything in the way of a clue, I sup- Se sé ea dl ‘* And the amount missing, you said is twelve thousand dollars,” ‘“About that sum. I can give you the exact figures in a moment by glancing at my books, Shall I do so?” ‘‘ No, no matter; it is large enough, Now, another point: was the money marked so that you would know it if you were to ‘see it again?” ‘* No, sir; it was not,” ‘* How was it done up!” ‘In hundred, five hundred, dollar packages,” ‘* Were these packages labeled?” ‘Yes; the amount was on each, with my initials, V. W., in blue pencil, on the band around the package,” ‘“‘That is something to know, at any rate, though it is not likely we wiil ever see the labels, unless we can come upon the thief quickly, Is there anything further you can tell me% “I think not, sir,” ‘¢ Ts there any one whom you suspect?” and thousand ‘Not a soul, I am at loss completely. My fear is that suspicion will fall on me.” ‘* As it is likely to do. Can youclear your- self if it does?” ‘*T can only prove where I was during the evening, and that Ientered my boarding-house about ten o’clock,” ‘*That will be something in your favor; and, I am well enough satisfied in my own mind that you are innocent. Who, then is the guilty one? **Tonly wish I could point him out to you.” ‘Well, let me take a look around here a little more closely, and then you may notify the police or not, justas you please.” With that Billy began to search around care- fully, with the faint hope that he might find something which would point to the person guilty of the crime. CHAPTER II. BILLY IS PUZZLED HERE, BROADWAY BILLY had a double reason for his remark concerning his belief in the innocence of the young chief clerk, In the first place, he did believe him innocent; and then, in case he made a mistake in his esti- mate of the man, and he was guilty, be would feel himself to be the more secure, Billy reasoned that, had Willey taken the money, he would bave taken care no suspicion could fall upon him—would have forced the safe, or atany rate left some evidence of regular bur- glary. Then, too, be would have had an alibi all ready at his tongue’s end, The search around the office revealed nothing, and Billy went out and looked at the front door, through which entrance was supposed to bave been gained, ‘* There was no mark there of any sort, but he hardly looked for anything of the kind, ‘* How about the windows?” he asked of Wil- ley. ‘¢ All fast,” was the answer. ‘‘ They are sel- dom opened,” Tbe banking office was in what had once been a private house, and a stoop led up to its en- trance, By the side of the stoop was a grating, witha heavy rail around it, to give light to the base- ment floor of the building. There had been steps and a door, at some time, but they bad been taken out and the space solidly walled up. The basement was now used for coal only. Billy leaned over the rail of the stoop and peered through the grating in question, and as he did so an exclamation escaped him, ‘‘ Ha! here may be something,” he exclaimed. ‘’ What is it?” asked Willey. ‘¢ Has the appearance of a skeleton key, How can we get down there?” ‘* Jack can go down, open one of the windows and get out and getit. Jack, you hear?’ He heard, and was already going. Quite a group had now collected by the stoop, and each person was eager to know what Heo the matter, but no information was given them. : The youth was not long in getting down into the space under the grating, and immediately discovered the object that‘had caught Billy’s eye, speedily returning with it. It was a skeleton key, true i Billy took it from him and tried it in the door, but could not make it work, ‘¢ Let us go inside,” he said, then, They entered the office, and the crowd without was left to form their own conclusions by what they had seén, ‘This key has not Jain there long, you see,” Billy called attention, ‘‘ for it is new and clean. It was probably dropped there last night, But, it will not unlock the door,” “* Are you sure you know how to use it?” asked the middle ageé clerk, Jones, ‘‘ Well, there may besomething in that,” Billy re 2 pai And turning to the chief clerk, he ded; ‘You had better inform the police, Mr. Willey, I think, and give them this key, telling them where you found it, I will take hold, too, but on the quiet. That will be the better way, I think,” ‘‘ All right, Mr. Weston; I believe you know what is best.” | Billy took his leave, turning the matter over in his mind as he walked away. A thought came to him and he went back. The chief clerk looked up with some surprise at seeing him again so soon, and came forward at once to learn the reason for bis return. -“ What brings you back?” he asked, | com Cc ee